A non-destructive testing method and apparatus for determining the microstructure of ferrous metal objects, such as cast iron pipe. A sonic wave is induced into the metal object by magnetostriction. A sensor assembly captures the acoustic energy induced in the metal object and sends a signal output to signal processing electronics. The electronics amplify the signal. The amplified signal is then captured by the data acquisition system and analyzed by the data analysis system. The data analysis system may calculate the energy of the acoustic wave or calculate the time from the initial induction of the sonic wave to the Villari reversal point to determine nodularity of the metal object.

This present invention relates to the field of non-destructive testing methods and apparatuses, specifically to non-destructive testing methods and apparatuses to determine metallurgical and physical properties of a ferrous test subject. Iron pipe centrifugally cast from ductile iron will be used as the exemplary test subject throughout this disclosure. Ductile iron is made by treating a low sulfur cast iron with magnesium, which causes the graphite to form spheres or nodules rather than flakes. These nodules give ductile iron its desirable qualities, namely a high modulus of elasticity and, therefore, increased strength. If a certain period of time elapses after the treating with magnesium takes place and before the ductile iron is cast, the magnesium becomes bound up with other elements in the iron and is unable to form nodules. Cast iron in which the graphite forms into flakes is commonly called gray iron. Gray iron has a lower modulus of elasticity. The graphite structure may vary along the length of the pipe, containing both nodules and flakes. It is advantageous for the manufacturer of ductile iron pipe to test the pipe to determine if there is any questionable graphite structure or non-ductile areas along the length of the pipe.
It has been known that the modulus of elasticity in a ductile iron pipe can be determined by measuring the energy of an acoustic wave that has been generated in the pipe wall. The graphite in gray cast iron offers great resistance to the passage of sound waves and, thus, the velocity is lower than that of a sound wave passed through ductile iron. Various methods and apparatuses employing the concept that the velocity of sound waves can be measured to determine the modulus of elasticity in cast iron have been documented and patented.
Diamond, U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,136, discloses a method and apparatus for determining the nodularity of a workpiece as a function of the speed of sound waves through the workpiece. This is achieved by positioning the workpiece at a predetermined distance from an electro-acoustic transducer, or by positioning the casting between two electro-acoustic transducers which are spaced at a predetermined distance. The casting is immersed in water, an ultrasonic pulse is generated by a crystal immersed in the water and has sufficient energy so that it will pass through both the first and second surfaces of the workpiece. Back reflections are produced and the crystal generates signals upon reception of each back reflection. An oscilloscope displays the transmitted pulse and the first and second back reflections, allowing the operator to calculate the total time required for the impulse to travel from the first surface to the second surface. If the crystal is positioned a predetermined distance away from the second surface, the actual thickness of the casting is not required in subsequent calculations which then determine the velocity of sound in the workpiece solely as a function of the time between the display of the pulses.
DiLeo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,163, discloses an ultrasonic nondestructive testing system for measuring the velocity at which ultrasonic energy moves through a material. A pair of search units are provided for propagating ultrasonic energy towards the opposite sides of a workpiece and receiving such energy therefrom. A computer measures the various time delays resulting from the ultrasonic energy propagating thorough the workpiece and computes the velocity of the ultrasonic energy in the workpiece.
Bantz, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,460, also discloses a method of measuring the velocity of sound in a workpiece using transmit and receive ultrasonic transducers spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other in a liquid bath.
In the above references, generation of ultrasonic waves is achieved primarily by some form of electro-mechanical conversion, usually piezoelectricity. The disadvantage of this method of sonic measurement is that it requires a fluid couplant, such as a liquid bath, to mechanically transfer sound generated by the transducer into and out of the workpiece. As the workpiece must be covered with a thin layer of fluid or immersed in liquid, this process complicates testing, making it more expensive and time-consuming.
Buttram, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,688, discloses a method of examining ductile iron using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) system to determine a time-of-flight of an ultrasonic shear wave pulse transmitted through a casting at a selected location, from which a velocity of sound in the casting can be determined. EMATs are the basis of a non-contact ultrasonic inspection method which requires no fluid couplant because the sound is produced by an electromagnetic acoustic interaction within the material. The method disclosed in Buttram uses first and second EMATs arranged on opposite sides of the casting at a selected location. The thickness of the casting is measured at said location. The first EMAT is energized, thus creating and sending an ultrasonic pulse through the casting to the second EMAT. The pulse is received at the second EMAT and the time required for the pulse to travel through twice the thickness of the casting is measured. The shear wave velocity is calculated using the relationship between the thickness and the measured time value. The degree of nodularity in the casting is determined from a pre-established relationship between the shear wave velocity and the percent of nodularity for ductile cast iron.
Thus, Buttram discloses a method for determining ductility of a workpiece without the need for a fluid couplant, improving on the prior art. However, the method disclosed in Buttram requires a measurement to be made of the thickness of the workpiece at the particular location at which the transmission of the pulse is to occur. As such, a measurement can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and inaccurate in a manufacturing environment, it is desirable to implement a more accurate and efficient method for determining ductility of the workpiece without a requirement that such a thickness measurement be made.
Thus, there is a need for a non-destructive method and apparatus for efficiently and accurately determining the microstructure of ferrous metal objects that is suitable for a modem manufacturing environment, that does not require the workpiece to be immersed in a couplant and does not require the operator to know the thickness of the workpiece being tested.
The present invention provides a non-destructive method and apparatus for determining the microstructure of ferrous metal objects. More specifically, this method and apparatus will allow the user to measure metallurgical and physical properties of a ferrous object such as a cast iron pipe without the need for a couplant or for potentially inaccurate measurements. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is composed of a capacitive discharge magnetizer, one or more sensors, signal processing electronics, and a data analysis system. A sonic wave is introduced into the pipe wall by magnetostriction, as disclosed in Watts, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,998. In the preferred embodiment, the firing of the capacitive discharge magnetizer through a central conductor causes the pipe wall to contract. This contraction produces a sonic wave, which propagates through the pipe wall. Multiple reflections of the sonic wave take place, and the sensor(s) capture the intensity of the sonic waves. After processing through the electronics, the signal is analyzed by the computer software in the data analysis system. The time from the beginning of current discharge to the point at which the displacement of the pipe wall crosses an initial rest point, (the Villari Reversal Point), is measured and compared against a known value to determine ductility of the workpiece.
The present invention has many objects and advantages over the prior art. One such object is to provide a method for determining microstructure of a ferrous metal workpiece quickly and efficiently in a modern manufacturing environment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for determining the microstructure of a ferrous metal workpiece without the need for a fluid couplant, thus decreasing the time for testing and reducing the potential for inaccuracies in measurements due to contaminants in the couplant.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for determining the microstructure of a ferrous metal workpiece without the need for a measurement of the thickness of the workpiece, thus minimizing the potential for human error and inaccuracies in the testing process.
Still a further object of the invention is to use the Joule Effect and the Villari Reversal Point in analyzing the processed signal to more easily determine metallurgical properties of ferrous materials.

Non-destructive testing method and apparatus to determine microstructure of ferrous metal objects


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for updating a software component. A determination is made as to whether to update the software component. The software component is updated to form an updated software component in response to a determination to update the software component. The updated software component is automatically tested. A corrective action is performed in response to a failure in testing of the updated component.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for managing software components. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically updating software components.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern computing technology has resulted in immensely complicated and ever-changing environments. One such environment is the Internet, which is also referred to as an "internetwork". The Internet is a set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined together by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from a protocol of the sending network to a protocol used by the receiving network. When capitalized, the term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols. Currently, the most commonly employed method of transferring data over the Internet is to employ the World Wide Web environment, also called simply "the Web". Other Internet resources exist for transferring information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Gopher, but have not achieved the popularity of the Web. In the Web environment, servers and clients effect data transaction using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling the transfer of various data files (e.g., text, still graphic images, audio, motion video, etc.). The information in various data files is formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page description language, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The Internet also is widely used to transfer applications to users using browsers. Often times, users of software packages may search for and obtain updates to those software packages through the Internet.
Other types of complex network data processing systems include those created for facilitating work in large corporations. In many cases, these networks may span across regions in various worldwide locations. These complex networks also may use the Internet as part of a virtual product network for conducting business. These networks are further complicated by the need to manage and update software used within the network.
Such environments, made up of many loosely connected software components, are typically somewhat fragile. Within these environments, deploying a new version of one of the software components involved in the network data processing system is problematic, and may well have far-reaching and unforeseen effects on parts of the overall system that are only tangentially connected to the component being replaced. Even less obviously risky changes are often prone to cause unpredictable and undesirable side effects. Thus, system administrators are often extremely wary of performing updates, such as component upgrades or minor configuration changes, due to these far-reaching effects. When information systems are so critical to modern business, even seconds of downtime can be a serious problem, and tracing that downtime can take far more than seconds. For example, email servers provide a critical component for many businesses because these servers facilitate communications between users inside and outside of the business or organization. An update to an email server that results in errors in delivery of email messages can cause loss in productivity and loss of business for a company or organization.
As software changes to become increasingly "autonomic", the task of updating, configuring, and patching software will, more and more, be performed by the computers themselves, as opposed to being performed by administrators. The current updating mechanisms are moving towards an "autonomic" process. For example, many operating systems and software packages will automatically look for updates based on some event, such as a timer or a particular set of actions by a user. The update mechanisms often connect to the Internet at a preselected location to see whether an update is present. If an update is present, the message is presented to the user in which the message asks the user whether to download and install the update. A next step towards "autonomic" computing involves identifying and downloading the updates without requiring user intervention. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions to deal with the effects, be they undesired or merely unexpected, that such updating, reconfiguring, and patching of software could cause.

Method and apparatus for automatic updating and testing of software

International Business Machines Corporation


A photodiode (10) fabricated in accordance with the method of the invention includes a substrate (11) and a semiconductor base region (12) overlying the substrate. The base region is comprised of Group IIB-VIA material and has a first type of electrical conductivity. A passivation layer (16) overlies the base region and is also comprised of Group IIB-VIA material. A dielectric layer (18) at least partially overlies the passivation layer. During fabrication the dielectric layer functions as an etch stop during a removal of excess cap material, the remaining cap material forming a cap region (14) within an opening that is etched through the dielectric layer and the passivation layer. The cap region is also comprised of Group IIB-VIA material, has a second type of electrical conductivity, and forms a heterojunction (14a) with the base region. An electrically conductive contact pad (20) and an electrically conductive interconnect, preferably an indium bump (22), are formed upon the cap region. The topside surface of the photodiode is substantially planar, and the indium bump may be made significantly larger than the area of an underlying photodetector unit cell.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional heterojunction (HJ) photovoltaic (PV) diode 1 that includes a radiation absorbing mercury-cadmium-telluride (HgCdTe) n-type base layer 2. Not shown is an underlying electrically insulating and transparent substrate. A p-type HgCdTe region 3 forms a p-n junction 3a with the base layer 2. In that the photodiode 1 is typically one of a plurality of photodiodes provided as a two-dimensional array, the junction 3a is contained within an upstanding mesa structure that provides electrical isolation between adjacent junctions 3a. A passivation layer 4 is comprised of, by example, a layer of cadmium-telluride (CdTe) and functions to reduce surface electrical noise states. Contact metalization 5 is electrically coupled to the p-type region 3 and provides an interface pad for coupling to an indium bump 6. The indium bump 6 is provided to couple the photodiode 1 to external circuitry, such as a readout amplifier (not shown). The resulting hybrid assembly is further packaged, as required, for an intended application.
In operation, infrared (IR) radiation is incident on a bottom surface, or backside, of the photodiode 1. Radiation is absorbed within the base layer 2 and generates photocarriers. When suitably biased, minority photocarriers are collected at the p-n junction 3a and the resulting current is detected.
A conventional fabrication process for manufacturing the photodiode 1 uses deep trench etching (3-5 micrometers) to delineate the detector photodiode mesas. In that this etch is isotropic, lateral etching occurs at approximately the same rate as vertical etching. As a result, the mesa structure is tapered, with the top surface area being smaller than the bottom surface area. However, all subsequent processing for forming the contact metal and the indium bump must be accomplished on the relatively small top surface of the mesa. One disadvantage of providing a small indium bump interconnect is that the reliability of the subsequently formed hybrid assembly may be compromised.
At present, the minimum detector unit cell size is limited by the smallest indium bump size that can be placed on the top surface of the mesa. As can be appreciated, the fabrication of photodetectors having a small unit cell size is desirable in that denser arrays of photodetectors can be provided.
It is also known in the art to fabricate photodiodes by other than the mesa-etch technique described above.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,478 E. S. Johnson discloses the thermally driven diffusion of lithium into a p-type or an n-type HgCdTe body so as to form a p-n junction. However, the diffusion of dopants into a layer of semiconductor material forms a homojunction, which is more susceptible to leakage currents than is a heterojunction.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,003 T. Koehler describes the implantation of an acceptor impurity, such as gold, phosphorus, antimony, or arsenic, into an n-type HgCdTe body to form a p-n junction. The implant is followed by a thermal anneal. In an article entitled "Development of HgCdTe LWIR Heterojunction Mosaics" (Proc. IRIS Detector, 1986, Vol. II, pages 251-260) C. C. Wang et al. describe a p-on-n LWIR detector that includes an undoped HgCdTe active layer having a p-type doped cap layer grown thereon. The structure is subsequently thermally annealed to convert the active layer to n-type, achieving a p-on-n structure. Instead of etching mesas, diodes are delineated by ion implantation to form lateral p-n junctions having short wavelength response. After implantation, passivation is applied.
However, in that both of these last-mentioned processes employ ion implantation, some damage to the semiconductor crystal structure occurs. This damage is a source of noise and leakage currents.
It is one object of this invention to provide a processing technique that enables a photodetector unit cell size to be made smaller than the unit cell size presently obtainable with the mesa-etch technique.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for fabricating a planar photodetector that does not require either a thermal diffusion or an ion implantation of acceptor or donor species.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a processing technique that enables the size of the indium bump to be made significantly larger than the active area of an underlying photodetector, thereby increasing the contact area and the overall reliability of a hybrid assembly incorporating the photodetector.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an array of infrared radiation responsive heterojunction photodiodes having a substantially planar top surface to facilitate subsequent processing steps, such as the formation of indium bump interconnects.

Planar PV HgCdTe DLHJ fabricated by selective cap layer growth


Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in proximity networking activity. For example, nodes and/or other computers may record, receive, and/or provide information regarding proximity networking activity. As another example, nodes and/or other computers may act to inform their users of proximity networking activity instances.

In recent times, there has been an increase in proximity networking activity. For example, many users have come to prefer proximity gaming over other forms of gaming, have come to prefer proximity messaging over other forms of messaging, and/or have come to prefer proximity media streaming over other forms of media distribution.
Accordingly, there may be interest in technologies that, for example, facilitate proximity networking activity.

System and method for provision of proximity networking activity information


In a magnetic disk apparatus such as a floppy disk drive, the operating conditions can be readily and securely switched in a detailed manner using a simple construction. A magnetic head 20 is driven or a reproduced signal is converted into reproduction data by switching operating conditions in accordance with operating information stored in a memory circuit 30 where the operating information is set in the memory circuit 30 through external equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic disk apparatus and more particularly, is applicable to, for example, a floppy disk driving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, this type of floppy disk driving device is adapted to drive a magnetic head by a magnetic head driving circuit which is formed as an integrated circuit to be an integral part thereof and furthermore to process a reproduced signal output from the magnetic head. Since its usefulness is greatly improved if such a magnetic head driving circuit may be used in common by various types of equipment, this type of magnetic head driving circuit is adapted to be capable of switching its operating conditions by providing an external switching means.
In particular, the conventional magnetic head driving circuit is adapted to be capable of setting its recording current to two levels depending on whether a predetermined terminal is connected to a ground or not, the switching of such a connection being effected by replacing a jumper plug. Further, other characteristics, such as the cut-off frequency of a lowpass filter for limiting the bandwidth of reproduced signals and an emitting color of an light-emitting diode for indicating an operating condition can be likewise switched by replacing a jumper plug. Thereby the conventional magnetic head driving circuit is adapted to be capable of being used for various types of equipment as an entire circuit board having a magnetic driving circuit implemented thereon or as an entire floppy disk driving device by simply changing a jumper plug to be plugged in.
This type of floppy disk driving device is inclined to intensify a peak shift, as the recording current is increased, although an overwrite is securely effected. For this reason, it is desirable in this type of floppy disk driving device to set the recording current to an optimum value, while such optimum value is different for each magnetic head. In this regard, there is a method in which the peak shift is corrected by correcting the timing of recording data, where the optimum value of such correction amount itself, too, varies by each magnetic head according to the recording current. Further, an optimum value with respect to the cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter for limiting the bandwidth of a reproduced signal also varies by each magnetic head.
Accordingly, it is presumed that, if these operating conditions can be switched in a detailed manner, desired recording data may be recorded and reproduced accurately at a high density. In the conventional magnetic head driving circuit, however, if the operating conditions are minutely switched by replacing jumper plugs, then replacing the jumper plugs becomes correspondingly difficult and there is also a problem of erroneously setting the operating conditions. Further, if the operating conditions are to be minutely switched by replacing jumper plugs in this manner, wiring of the peripheral patterns of the jumper plugs becomes complicated, resulting in a problem that the circuit board is correspondingly increased in size.
Although a method in which the operating conditions are switched by changing positions of soldering instead of using jumper plugs has been considered, it is not yet satisfactory for practical use because of degradation in reliability associated with the changing of the soldering positions is possible.

Magnetic head driving circuit with memory circuit


An internal-combustion engine includes an engine cylinder having an axis, a cylinder top and a cylinder chamber; a piston slidably received in the cylinder and bordering the cylinder chamber; an intake valve, an exhaust valve and an ignition device arranged at the cylinder top; and a fuel injection nozzle arranged at the cylinder top and opening into the cylinder chamber at a location adjoining the exhaust valve.

In Otto engines operating with fuel injection, the fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder by a fuel injector. Dependent upon the moment of such injection, essentially two modes of operation may be distinguished.
In the "homogeneous" operational mode the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at an early moment, generally during the inflow of the combustion air, that is, when the intake valve is open. In this manner, a satisfactory homogenization of the fuel-air mixture is achieved. Such a mode of operation is particularly suitable at high engine loads.
In the "stratified-charge" operational mode the injection occurs only after the intake valve is closed and when the piston, during its upward stroke, is close to its upper dead center. As a result, the fuel is mixed only with one part of the combustion air contained in the cylinder and also, only a locally limited mixing occurs until the fuel is ignited by the ignition device. Such a mode of operation is preferably used in the partial load or idling run of the engine. It is an advantage of this mode of operation that the engine may run without throttling of the intake air and yet, there is no risk that the fuel/air mixture is excessively lean in the vicinity of the ignition device for ensuring a reliable ignition.
For the above-outlined operational modes different processes for introducing the fuel into the cylinder chamber and for forming the mixture have been known. Such processes may be divided into two categories, namely, the "jet-guided" process and the "wall-guided" process.
In the "jet-guided" process the injected fuel jet is aimed directly onto the spark plug. The injected fuel cloud mixes with the combustion air and is ignited by the ignition device. A reliable stratified-charge operation is accordingly ensured only if the spark plug is positioned very close to the injector (fuel injection nozzle). Such an arrangement involves the disadvantage that only an extremely small operational point-specific ignition window is available and therefore a coordination (tuning) of the fuel jet expansion for large characteristic field ranges is critical. Consequently, the fuel injectors used in such systems have to be manufactured with high precision; even small tolerance deviations or changes in the injector during an extended operation may lead to disadvantageous boundary conditions for the ignition.
Thus, conditions of a reliable ignition in the stratified-charge operation may be ensured only by means of a precise geometrical arrangement of the ignition device and the fuel jet. Consequently, the known methods belonging to this category are designed without a definite and intensive charge motion. In the homogeneous operation, on the other hand, it is precisely such a charge motion that would be needed for improving the homogenization of the fuel/air mixture. The result is a loss of power and an increase of the fuel consumption which, in turn, involves a correspondingly increased release of pollutants into the atmosphere.
It is a further disadvantage of this process that because of the direct exposure of the spark plugs to the fuel jet, an increased spark plug wear occurs, resulting in a shortened service life of the spark plugs.
According to the "wall-guided" process, in the stratified-charge operation the fuel jet is deflected towards the ignition device by the wall of the combustion chamber. The resulting intensive charge motion has an enhancing effect. This method avoids a direct impingement of fuel on the spark plugs. Tolerance deviations and the operational condition of the fuel injectors are less critical than in the earlier-discussed jet-guided process. It is, however, a disadvantage of the wall-guided process that the fuel impinges on the combustion chamber wall during a direct injection into the cylinder chamber so that in certain operational conditions an incomplete combustion occurs which results in an increased emission of uncombusted hydrocarbons and soot. This process has been utilized heretofore with intake-side fuel injectors and is based on the generation of a rolling motion of the charge, particularly designed with respect to direction and sense of rotation. This type of charge motion is achieved by providing steep, upstanding intake ports, such as disclosed in European Patent No. 0 558 072. Such an arrangement, however, requires a correspondingly greater structural height of the engine. According to another solution, the desired motional configuration of the charge is obtained by a special form of the intake port or by the geometry at the seating zone of the intake valve, as disclosed in European Patent No. 0 463 613. Such a solution, however, has disadvantageous effects on the quality of flow of the intake system and thus on the fullload operation of the engine.
The intensive charge motion required in the stratified-charge operation is, however, disadvantageous in the homogeneous operation because of the resulting increased combustion noises and increased wall heat losses.

Device for injecting fuel at the exhaust port of an engine cylinder


This invention provides an image processing system comprising devices for producing image signals by scanning an original image, process units for generating video signals by processing the image signals, detector for detecting the coordinates of the original image and controller for storing the coordinate signals from the detecting means and for controlling the process units according to thus stored signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally the performance of a copier has been limited to faithful reproduction of an original or magnification or reduction of the original image with a fixed ratio.
Such copier basically functions by illuminating the original with a light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a tungsten lamp, projecting the reflected light from said original through lenses and mirrors onto a photosensitive member charged in advance thereby forming an electrostatic latent image thereon, and applying developer onto said photosensitive member to obtain a visible image. Consequently the image forming process is conducted all under mechanical control, and the magnification or reduction of the original image is achieved through a relative change between the lens movement and the original scanning speed. The range of multiple functions in such conventional copier is inevitably limited, since such lens movement or speed change has a certain physical limit. It has also been difficult to arbitrarily move the image position on the copy sheet, and such movement has been considerably limited.
Also there is proposed a copier in which the original image is once stored in a memory and then read as image data for making a print, but such apparatus is quite unsatisfactory as a copier since an extremely long time is required from the start of image scanning to the completion of printing operation.
Besides the conventional copier is often unable to produce a satisfactory image quality from an original with a dark background, and is unable to faithfully reproduce certain originals such as photographs.
Furthermore, in copying with a modified size different from the original size, the selection of direction of original or of image magnification becomes quite cumbersome with the increase in the sizes of copy sheets and of originals.
Furthermore, in book copying, it is often difficult to place the book to be copied on an exact position on the platen, and is therefore difficult to obtain the copied image on a desired position of the copy sheet. Also in such book copying mode, the image quality is inevitably deteriorated since shadows are formed around the book and reproduced on the copy. Also in case of copying both pages at left and at right of an open book, the book has to be moved at each copying operation.


An acrylonitrile derivative expressed by the following general formula I, a composition comprising the derivative and having an improved viscosity and optical anisotropy, and a liquid crystal display device: ##STR1## wherein rings A.sup.1 to A.sup.3 represent phenylene, cyclohexylene, dioxane, or pyrimidine, R.sup.1 represents cyano group, halogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group, and R2 represents ##STR2##

Display devices which employ properties such as optical anisotropy and dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal materials are widely used for watches, desktop calculators, and others. As liquid crystal phase, nematic liquid crystal phase, smectic liquid crystal phase, and cholesteric liquid crystal phase are known, and nematic phase is most general for practical purposes. As the display mode in this case, there exist TN (twisted nematic) mode, DS (dynamic scattering) mode, guest host mode, and DAP (deformation of aligned phases) mode. Whereas many compounds used for these types have heretofore been developed, there is no case in which a single compound is filled as it is in a display device and actually used. As liquid crystal materials used for display devices, it is necessary that the materials exhibit a liquid crystal phase at a wide temperature range with room temperature being its center, are stable against moisture, light, heat, air, electric field, and electromagnetic radiation under the atmosphere in which the materials are used, and have physical properties sufficient to drive display devices. However, these requirements can not be satisfied with a single compound. Then, a method has been adopted in which several kind of liquid crystalline compounds and furthermore non liquid-crystalline compounds are mixed to prepare a composition which meets the requirements, and then supplied for actual uses. Physical properties such as optical anisotropy, dielectric anisotropy, and electrical conductivity required of liquid crystal compositions depends on display mode and shape of devices. In STN mode which is used particularly in recent years for displays of liquid crystal display devices of a high quality, the ratio of elastic constants (k.sub.33 /k.sub.11) of liquid crystal compositions must be enhanced to obtain a good display having a high steepness. Then, compounds which have a high elastic constant, wide range of liquid crystal temperature, and high miscibility with other liquid crystals, are stable, and have a low viscosity not to lose a high response speed have become an important question.
As examples of compounds having a high ratio of elastic constants, alkenyl compounds (Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 59-176,221) expressed by formula (1) are widely known. However, since the temperature range of nematic liquid crystal of the compounds is narrow, compounds having a high clearing point must be further added so that the narrow temperature range of nematic liquid crystal can be compensated when the compounds of formula (1) are mixed with a composition. However, since the compounds having a high clearing point generally exhibit a high viscosity, addition of the compounds increases viscosity of the whole of composition as the result. Derivatives of cynnamonitrile (Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 55-9,012) expressed by formula (2) are also known as liquid crystalline compound. However, since the compounds are chemically unstable, they can hardly be said to be ones of practical use. Whereas cyanocyclohexane derivatives in which cyano group substituted directly in cyclohexane ring (Journal of Molecular Crystal Liquid Crystal, No. 111, page 329, 1984) and which are expressed by formula (3) are also known, the compounds have a high viscosity and a narrow temperature range of liquid crystal. Further, new compounds such as difluorovinyl derivatives (Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 1-175,947) expressed by formula (4) and halogenized vinyl derivatives (WO 93/07,234) expressed by formula (5) have been developed. Whereas the former have a low viscosity, they are poor in reliability and have only a narrow liquid crystal range. The latter have a medium extent of the range of liquid crystal, but they are also poor in reliability and thus they have no practical uses. Then, discovery and development of new materials exhibiting a large elastic constants, and having a high clearing point, low viscosity, and high reliability have been expected. ##STR3##

Acrylonitrile derivative, liquid crystal composition, and liquid crystal display device


Structured information data sets structured according to a first predefined structure are converted into data sets structured according to a second predefined structure by way of an intermediate data structure. Conversion rules are defined to convert from each of the first and second predefined structures into the intermediate data structure and from the intermediate data structure into each of the first and second predefined structures. A pre-processor is provided to carry out initial processing tasks on a received data set to make it more susceptible to structural processing according to the conversion rules, and a post-processor is provided to carry out tasks such as vocabulary and data type conversion.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to information conversion and in particular to the conversion of information data sets comprising data elements structured according to a first predefined structure into information data sets comprising data elements structured according to a second predefined structure, by way of an intermediate structure.
2. Related Art
It is known to define information in a structured manner using a structured mark-up language such as the eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML) Version 1.0 as defined for example in a document published on the Internet by the Worldwide Web Consortium. XML Version 1.0 provides an open and flexible specification for annotating information with a predefined set of meta-information using an unlimited number of possible meta-information structures. In this way, information may be personalised and customised for individuals or for groups of individuals.
Attempts are being made to standardise on the use of meta-information for annotating information in particular domains by means of agreed schemata. For XML version 1.0 documents, in particular, a document description language has been agreed, called the XML Schema language, for use in creating XML schemata that define the structure and vocabulary to be used to create XML documents in a given domain. The XML schema language has been defined in two parts in documents published on the Internet in May 2001 by the Worldwide Web Consortium. This approach is intended to standardise the meta-information associated with different pieces of information content to enable data exchange and other forms of content analysis to be more generic and hence to enable more effective access to information content annotated by meta-information that is common across a given domain. Unfortunately, while XML encourages standardisation, it has led to several hundred different competing XML schemata, sometimes in similar industries. Many of these schemata are in the adoption phase, e.g. for the financial, manufacturing, education and other industries (a list of XML schemata can be found at www.xml.org), but it is considered unlikely that XML documents generated in a given domain will ever be uniformly compliant with published "standard" schemata.
It is therefore desirable for information content providers to be able to supply information content described using a number of different schemata and to convert easily between them. Different information content providers may use variations on a given schema, or similar organisations may use the same schema but may have defined their own vocabularies for certain elements, to produce schema variants specific to their own organisations. Conversion between XML documents compliant with such schemata may take various forms, as illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, three different types of XML document conversion are shown where XML documents compliant with a Schema A 100 need to be converted into XML documents compliant with a Schema B 105. Where vocabularies and data types used in the two schemata A 100 and B 105 are identical, then conversion between respectively compliant XML documents involves a direct mapping 110 with no transformation being required. Where vocabularies and data types used in the two schemata A 100 and B 105 are different, but structurally the schemata are identical, then conversion between respectively compliant XML documents involves only vocabulary and data type transformation 115. Where the two schemata A 100 and B 105 are different, then conversion between respectively compliant XML documents involves both structural transformation 120 and vocabulary/data type transformation 115.
Data in an XML document is the information contained in text nodes of its elements and also in attributes of those elements. The most commonly used technology for XML document conversion is XSLT, adopted as a standard by the Worldwide Web Consortium and defined in a document published on the Internet. This language can be used to manipulate XML documents by reordering or reformatting information and can perform simple restructuring of meta-information contained in an XML document. There are a number of commercially available tools that can be used to produce and test XSLT stylesheets, including Marrowsoft Xselerator™ and TIBCO™ XML Transform. It is also known from n-tier hub-based technology (ACM, SIGMOD, March 2002) to build a schema translation engine using a database table to list common elements in XML documents and hence to translate between them.
While XSLT can provide means for performing conversion of at least the less complex structures in XML documents, a different XSLT stylesheet is usually required to convert from one schema-compliant format to another, so that if there are n different schemata in use, n(n−1) different XSLT stylesheets are required to achieve all the conversions likely to be required between XML documents compliant with those n schemata. Besides the need for a number of different XSLT stylesheets, there are also complications in using XSLT to convert certain types of structure, in particular recursive structures.


Certain example embodiments relate to substrates or assemblies having two-colored laser-fused frits, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a first pattern is formed or written on a glass sheet by laser fusing a first frit material to the glass sheet. A second pattern is formed by laser fusing a second frit material disposed on the first frit material. An optional thin film coating is supported by the glass sheet. The glass sheet with the first and second patterns and optional coating is cut prior to heat treatment. A YAG or other type of laser may be used to directly or indirectly heat the frit materials, at the same or different times, and the frit materials may be wet-applied to the substrate. In certain instances, the laser firing raises the temperature of the glass substrate to no more than 100 degrees C. or preferably even lower.

Ceramic frit patterns currently are applied to interior and exterior glass surfaces using known silkscreen or inkjet processes. These processes typically require the entire glass system to be heated to temperatures above 500 degrees C. to fire the frit into the glass, creating a strong bond. The patterned glass optionally may be coated with a thin film coating over the ceramic frit pattern. The thus patterned and optionally coated glass may be used monolithically or built into an insulated glass (IG) unit. Typically, the surface that is patterned and optionally coated is disposed on the second surface from the sun.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a current process for silkscreen printing a pattern on a substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, bulk glass is produced or provided in step S102. This mother substrate is then cut into appropriate sizes in step S104. The silkscreen pattern is then applied to the sized pieces in step S106, and the patterned cut pieces of glass are heat treated (e.g., heat strengthened or thermally tempered) in step S108. The high temperature process used to fire the frit is commonly conducted during the heat treating, although this is not always the case. A separate drying and/or firing process may sometimes be used; however, having separate high temperature processes for firing the frit and for heat treating the patterned substrate may be undesirable from cost perspectives (e.g., in terms of equipment costs), as well as time perspectives (e.g., as delays may be caused by multiple high-temperature heating and subsequent cooling processes). Referring once again to FIG. 1, an optional thin film coating is disposed on the heat treated pieces (e.g., via sputtering or the like) in step S110. The cut, patterned, tempered, and optionally coated pieces may be used monolithically or built into an IG unit in step S112.
The inkjet process involves a similar flow to that described above in connection with FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a substrate 200 having an example frit pattern 202 formed or written thereon. As is common, the cut, patterned, tempered, and optionally coated pieces may be used in a wide variety of applications including, for example, windows in commercial settings where some light blockage is desirable, vehicle windshields (e.g., at or around the periphery of the windshield), in residential settings, etc.
The heat treatment (e.g., tempering) typically involves quenching. As will be appreciated, the heat treated products cannot be further cut or sized. Thus, in conventional process flows, as indicated above, the cutting must take place before the heat treatment. And to save on high temperature process steps, the frit typically is fired together with the heat treatment as indicated above.
Unfortunately, the current process flow suffers from several inefficiencies and further improvements are desirable. For example, silkscreen and inkjet printing processes are performed on the cut substrates, prior to heat treatment. By contrast, thin film deposition is performed after the heat treatment, e.g., to help ensure the survivability of the coating. The patterning and thin film coating of cut sheets, however, introduces inefficiencies as compared to patterning and coating the large, stock sheets of glass. Yield may be reduced, and patterning and/or coating processes may be complicated by the need to deal with multiple different sizes of cut glass substrates.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for improved techniques for applying frit patterns to substrates.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article. A frit material is applied to a glass substrate (e.g., via a suitable wet technique). The frit material is selectively fired via a laser source (e.g., a solid state laser such as a YAG laser) so as to form or write a predetermined pattern, wherein a laser from the laser source directly or indirectly (e.g., through a or the substrate) contacts the frit material. N on-fired frit material is removed from the glass substrate (e.g., via washing). The glass substrate is cut following said removing in making the coated article. The cut coated article may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, a thin film coating may be deposited, directly or indirectly, on the substrate prior to said cutting.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making an insulated glass (IG) unit is provided. A second substrate is positioned in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation to the above-described or other coated article made. A spacer is provided between the coated article and the second substrate. In certain example embodiments, where a thin film coating is provided, the coating may be located on surface 2 of the IG unit.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a heat treatable coated article, comprising: a first glass substrate; a laser-fired frit material formed or written on the substrate in a predetermined pattern; and a heat treatable sputter-, PVD- or CVD-deposited coating formed over the substrate and the laser-fired frit material. The visible light transmission in regions of the coated article with the patterned frit material thereon is less than 25% post heat treatment in certain example embodiments. An IG unit incorporating the same or a similar coated article may be provided in certain example embodiments.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a laser heating system. A conveyor system is provided. Laser firing means are provided for laser heating frit material applied to a glass substrate, with the laser firing means including a YAG laser source and being controllable to directly or indirectly (e.g., through a or the substrate) heat the frit material without raising the substrate temperature above 50 degrees C. At least one processor is configured to control the laser firing means so as to form or write a predetermined pattern in the frit material.
Recently, there has been a desire for silk-screen patterns and colors to enhance the appearance and solar control properties of glass fenestration systems. It oftentimes is desirable to make a pattern of a first color visible from a first side of the substrate or unit and a second color visible from a second side of the substrate or unit, with the patterns typically being the same for both sides. Some current products involve using silk screens to deposit different colors that are visible from the interior and or exterior of the substrate, e.g., with one color on top of, or aligned with, the other. In some cases, each color is applied to a different surface of a substrate or multi-pane window unit.
Unfortunately, however, the colors may become misaligned as a result of the silk-screening, printing, and/or assembly process(es), both colors may be visible from one or both sides of the assembly even when alignment is proper, etc. Indeed, dot registration is very often challenging in an analog printing process, such as silk-screening. Such analog processes typically involve application of high temperatures (typically above 500 degrees C., as described above) to fire each colored frit onto the glass. In conventional processes, each color is fired by a separate high-temperature process and, as described above, at least one high temperature process is conducted during a heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) process. Thus, as described above, another drawback associated with conventional two-color systems relates to the fact that the thus heat treated screen-printed sheets cannot be subsequently cut.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need for improved silk screen coverage with different observable colors when viewed from the different sides (e.g., interior and exterior) of the substrate or assembly.
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article. A first frit material is applied to a glass substrate having first and second major surfaces. The first frit material is selectively fired via a laser source so as to form or write a first predetermined pattern covering a substantial portion (e.g., at least 30%) of the first major surface of the glass substrate. A second frit material is applied over at least a portion of the first frit material and over the first major surface of the glass substrate. The second frit material is selectively fired via a or the laser source so as to form or write a second predetermined pattern covering a substantial portion of the glass substrate. Non-fired first frit material is removed from the glass substrate. Non-fired second frit material is removed from the glass substrate. After firing, the first and second frit materials cause visible characteristics (e.g., coloration) of the coated article to differ based on the major surface from which the coated article is viewed.
According to certain example embodiments, the first and second frit materials may be dried and/or allowed to dry (together or in sequence) prior to the firing of one or both of the frit materials.
According to certain example embodiments, non-fired first and second frit materials may be removed together in a single washing step, or they may be removed separately (e.g., in sequence).
In certain example embodiments, an IG or VIG unit may be made by positioning a second substrate in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation to a coated article made according to this or a similar method, and providing a spacer between the coated article and the second substrate.
Certain example embodiments relate to a heat treatable coated article. A first glass substrate is provided. A first laser-fired frit pattern is formed or written on a majority of a first major surface of the substrate. A second laser-fired frit pattern formed or written on the first laser-fired frit pattern. A heat treatable sputter-, PVD-, or CVD-deposited coating is formed over the substrate and the first and second laser-fired frit patterns. The visible transmission of the coated article with the first and second patterned frit patterns thereon is less than 25% post heat treatment. The first and second laser-fired frit patterns cause visible characteristics of the coated article to differ based on the major surface from which the coated article is viewed.
Certain example embodiments relate to a laser heating system. A conveyor is provided. Laser firing means are provided for laser heating first and second frit materials applied to a glass substrate, the laser firing means including a YAG laser source and being controllable to heat the first and second frit materials without raising the substrate temperature above 50 degrees C. At least one processor is configured to control the laser firing means so as to form or write a predetermined pattern in the first and second frit materials.
According to certain example embodiments, the laser firing means comprises first and second laser sources for selectively firing the first and second frit materials, respectively. The first and second laser sources may be in line and on a common side of the glass substrate. Alternatively, the first and second laser sources may be on opposite sides of the glass substrate, and/or the first laser source may indirectly fire the first frit material through the glass substrate and the second laser source may directly fire the second frit material.
According to certain example embodiments, the first and second frit materials are selectively fired using only one laser source. The first and second frit materials may be selectively fired at substantially the same time
The features, aspects, advantages, and example embodiments described herein may be combined to realize yet further embodiments.

Substrates or assemblies having two-color laser-fused frits, and/or method of making the same


A method is described for the manufacture of polyesters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids with aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic dials, in which an aromatic dicarboxylic acid in the presence of a monocarboxylic acid or a mixture of a monocarboxylic acid present in a saturated solution with water or another suitable solvent is converted with an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic dial to a dicarboxylic acid alkanediolestercarboxylate and/or its oligomers, which are polycondensed in further process steps to the polyester.

In International Patent Application WO 2004/035515 a method is described for the manufacture of a mixture of a dicarboxylic acid and a diol that is suitable for the manufacture of polyesters. For this purpose the dicarboxylic acid is suspended in water, decolorized by hydrogenation and the aqueous suspension obtained thereby reacts with the diol forming a hydroxyalkyl ester; the hydroxyalkyl ester is subsequently converted to the polyester. It is however disadvantageous that the esterification of the dicarboxylic acid ester, for example the terephthalate proves to be difficult and as a result necessitates special reaction conditions.
Special reaction conditions are even more necessary if for example terephthalic acid or another dicarboxylic acid is present in an acetic acid or monocarboxylic acid-water mixture, since under these reaction conditions the esterification with a diol occurs according to another mechanism and splitting of the ester formed is strongly favored.
Methods are know already from the International Patent Applications WO 2004/052820, WO 2004/052821 and WO 2004/052822 for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalates in which the hydrogenation is carried out in an acetic acid medium. From International Patent Application WO 2004/063139 a method is known for manufacture of high purity polyethylene terephthalates in acetic acid medium without hydrogenation. Admittedly there the use of crude acetic acid polyethylene terephthalates and intermediate products for the further manufacture of polyesters is not described.

Method for the manufacture of polyesters


A Method and apparatus for identifying events for making changes to a meter register configuration. In the one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of storing event data, including event dates, in a meter register memory, the event data being stored in a floating date format or in a fixed date format, and processing the event data to determine whether a current date corresponds to an event date.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to meters, and more specifically, relates to providing a programmable calendar events feature in a meter register.
B. Related Art
In known electronic time-of-use (TOU) meter registers, the register is programmed with calendar events. Calendar events specify, for example, holidays, season changes, and daylight saving changes. The number of calendar events the register can observe is limited by register memory space. Each unique event which must be observed for TOU metering requires an allocated memory space. For example, if the register is to be in the field for a ten year period, and if New Years Day is to be observed as a holiday every year, then ten calendar events for each New Years Day are stored in the register memory.
In order for the TOU register to continue proper operation beyond the period for which calendar events have been stored in the register memory, the register must be programmed with updated calendar events. As the number of programmable dates per year increases, the number of years the register can remain in the field without requiring a calendar update is shortened.

Time-of-use calendar events method and apparatus for a meter register


A compact record of plural pages of human-readable data from a manual concerning a piece of equipment comprises two opaque sheets in back-to-back relation to each other, each reproducing pages of such data in a reduced size that is readable by a human under normal room light if magnified about ten times, as by a pocket magnifier. The opaque sheets and a marker bearing indicia identifying the piece of equipment are laminated between two substantially transparent layers. The compact record is bound into a booklet, as by a ring, with at least one record of similar construction.

Frequently, users of computer equipment and other equipment involving complex technology need to keep bulky records including service manuals, circuit diagrams, and service histories for ready access by service technicians who would face undue difficulties if such records could not be readily retrieved. Also, users managing their inventories of such equipment need to mark such equipment with bar codes representing inventory numbers, with warranty information, and with other data. These needs are pronounced with governmental agencies, large businesses, and other users having substantial inventories of such equipment.
Microfilm and microfiche have been used to reduce service manuals and other data to compact forms. However, microfilm and microfiche share a serious disadvantage, which is that neither can be easily read by a human under normal room light without special projectors or other apparatus. Where microfiche has rigid cell sizes, it may be necessary to cut up drawings and other pages of nonstandard sizes before recording them on microfiche. Heretofore, there has been no effective way to reproduce plural pages of human-readable data in a compact form that can be easily read by a human under normal room light with a simple magnifier, such as a pocket magnifier.


A portable terminal and a computer readable storage medium are described. According to one implementation, a portable terminal includes, a storage section, an imaging section, a notifying section and a control section. The storage section stores item identification information to identify an item with a RFID tag attached corresponded with tag position information which shows a position of the RFID tag. The control section retrieves item identification information of an item corresponding to image data imaged by the imaging section from the stored item identification information, and allows the notifying section to notify the tag position information corresponding to the retrieved item identification information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a computer readable storage medium.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, there is known a technique of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) where a RFID scanner (RFID reader/writer) reads information from a RFID tag by wireless communication through radio waves or an electromagnetic field within a short distance.
The RFID tag stores individual identification information to be able to identify the RFID tag. When the RFID tag is attached to the outside of items such as merchandise, various equipment, etc., it is possible to identify the items by the user using the RFID scanner to read the individual identification information of the RFID tag. For example, an RFID tag is attached to equipment used for business purposes and the RFID tag attached to the equipment is read before and after use in the task to check whether all of the equipment is present.
The RFID scanner can simultaneously read individual identification information of a plurality of RFID tags. Therefore, there is known a wireless tag position estimate system in which a wireless tag communication device as a RFID scanner is moved toward a plurality of items with wireless tags as RFID tags to read information, a position of a desired wireless tag is estimated from a track of reading and response time and the estimated wireless tag position is displayed with the image of the plurality of items (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-160456).
There is also known an item position detection device where a plurality of wireless tags stored with a position ID are scattered in a target region, the position ID of the plurality of wireless tags are read, and the position where the position ID cannot be read is detected as the position where the item is placed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-228292).
However, when confirming the equipment used in the task, if the RFID tag is attached to the outside of the equipment, it is possible to judge the position of the tag from the outside. However, if the RFID tag is attached to the inside of the equipment or is internally mounted in the equipment, the user cannot confirm the position of the RFID tag by sight. Moreover, even if the RFID tag is attached to the outside of the equipment, the position where the RFID tag is attached may be a position where it is difficult to confirm or the attached RFID tag may be a color or shape which is difficult to confirm by sight.
The RFID scanner includes an antenna to read information of the RFID tag, and the information of the RFID tag is read by placing the antenna close to the RFID tag. However, when the user does not know the position of the RFID tag, it is not possible to position the antenna close to the RFID tag. Therefore, it is not possible to read the information of the RFID tag.
Moreover, with the above described conventional wireless tag position estimate system and item position detection device which estimates the position of the wireless tag, the position of the item itself is estimated, and it is not possible to notify the user of the position of the RFID tag in the item in which the RFID tag is mounted internally.

Portable terminal and computer readable storage medium


A pre-filled disposable pipette (10) consisting of a hollow bulb (12) dimensioned to enclose a medicinal product. From a lower end (16) of the bulb (12) is attached sequentially a medicinal transfer tube (24) and a medication fill tube (32), from where the medicinal product is applied. Between a lower end (28) of the tube (24) and an upper end (34) of the tube (32) is formed a break-away notch (40). When the tube (24) or the tube (32) is rotated, the notch (40) is twisted and breaks-off, thus allowing the medicinal product to flow from the bulb (12) and be released from the tube (24). The pipette (10) includes a primary grasping tab (46) attached to an upper end (14) of the bulb (12); a secondary grasping tab (54) attached to each side of the tube (24); and a support tab (70) attached to each side of the tube (32). The invention also discloses several methods for sealing the lower tip (36) of the medication fill tube (32).

A typical pipette consists of a slender pipe or tube that is used to transfer or measure small quantities of a liquid or a gas from one location to another. The most common type of pipette consists of a small plastic tube that widens into a bulb at the middle or the end.
Liquid may be sucked into the bulb and, retained therein by closing the top end of the pipette with a stopper, a person's thumb or the like. Most conventional prior art pipettes, if used as medication storage device, inherently have, the following problems:
1. Filling a pipette with liquid medication is difficult due to the pipette's narrow opening and the tendency of the bulb to deform if improperly handled,
2. After the pipette is filled any subsequent processing of the pipette is difficult, primarily because the bulb can be inadvertently deformed, thus causing the liquid therein to flow out. In general, conventional pipette designs do not include any grasping sections that allow pipettes to be conveniently handled. The bulb cannot be used as a grasping point because of its tendency to deform, and the remaining parts of a pipette are also not suitable for grasping because the mass center of a pre-filled pipette is centered on the bulb.
3. A conventional pre-filled pipette cannot be adequately sealed due to the handling problem described above.
4. Conventional sealing methods are not efficient as they require more materials and additional processes to accomplish the required seal.
5. Conventional sealing methods are also not reliable because the seal can be easily ruptured, causing product leakage.
6. Conventional means of opening the medicinal product contained within a pipette are not convenient and provide little protection for the patient.
The problem described in items 1, 2 and 3 have been addressed by the applicant's issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,612. The instant application provides a solution to the problems described in items 4, 5 and 6.                A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:
PATENT NO.INVENTORISSUED6,457,612Zhang, et al1 Oct. 20025,073,347Garren, et al17 Dec. 19914,875,602Chickering, et al24 Oct. 19894,563,104Saint-Amand7 Jan. 19864,483,825Fatches20 Nov. 1984
U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,612 discloses a pre-filled disposable pipette consisting of a hollow bulb dimensioned to enclose a medicinal product and having attached a medication transfer tube from where the pipette is filled and medicinal product released. The pipette has a primary grasping tab attached to an upper end of the bulb, a secondary grasping tab attached to each side of the tube, and a support tab also attached to each side of the tube near the lower end of the tube. The pipette can be automatically filled and sealed by a cap or heat applied foil.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,347 discloses a volumetric pipette for dispensing liquids. The pipette is formed as a unitary structure made of components which are bonded together to create a precision fluid dispensing device. The pipette includes a stem portion, which is separately formed and is bonded to a bulb portion to complete the pipette.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,602 discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus which includes a self-contained source of fluid that is normally isolated within a reservoir bulb. The bulb is deformed to initially rupture a membrane, thereby allowing the fluid to be forced through a shaft bore to saturate a tip-mounted swab. Alternatively, the membrane may be positioned intermediate two aligned sections of the shaft and is ruptured upon partial axial collapse of the sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,104 discloses a disposable liquid dispensing pipette which delivers an accurate and uniform drop of liquid of a given size and which incorporates an integral paddle stirrer. The device includes a dispensing tube that is connected to a flexible and resilient bulb and paddle stirrer. The open end of the tube can be made in various sizes to accommodate different drop sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,825 discloses a pipette having a liquid receiving hollow generally encompassed by deformable sidewalls. The pipette further has a tapered liquid outlet extending from one end of the hollow, and a liquid inlet on the other end of the hollow, within which is located a semi-permeable filter.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the remaining cited patents.
PATENT NO.INVENTORISSUED6,117,394SmithSeptember 20005,927,884KaoJuly 19995,702,035TsaoDecember 19974,779,768St. AmandOctober 19883,951,313ConiglioneApril 19763,792,699TobinFebruary 19743,495,917TruhanFebruary 1970

Easily sealed and opened pre-filled, disposable pipette


An x-ray generating apparatus comprises: a vacuum container having a main body, and a moving member coupled movably and airtightly to the main body via a vacuum bellows; and a guide mechanism, provided on an outer side of the vacuum container, for regulating the movement and inclination of the moving member in an approaching/separation direction with respect to an electron gun. The guide mechanism includes a guide portion where a guide flat surface along a plane orthogonal to a central axis of the electron beam is formed, the guide portion being provided on the main body side, a guided portion where a guided flat surface facing the guide flat surface is formed, the guided portion being provided on the moving member side, and at least three rolling elements placed between the guide flat surface and the guided flat surface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an x-ray generating apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
X-ray generating apparatuses of a type that causes electrons to collide with a target in a vacuum container and generates x-rays include one using a reflection target that removes the x-rays in a different direction from the travel direction of the electrons, and one using a transmission target that removes the x-rays in substantially the same direction as the travel direction of the electrons.
Of them, the reflection target generally uses a bulk material. The reflection target is placed, some distance away from an x-ray irradiation window for removing x-rays from the vacuum container to the outside, in the rear of the container. In contrast, the transmission target generally adopts a structure of being laminated and formed integrally with the x-ray irradiation window. Accordingly, an x-ray focal spot is at the nearest position to the x-ray irradiation window. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the transmission target can increase a fluoroscopic magnification by being used in an apparatus that constructs a fluoroscopic image and a tomogram. However, conversely, the transmission target is laminated and formed into a thin film on one side of the x-ray irradiation window. Accordingly, there is a problem that the life of the transmission target is reduced by thermal damage due to electron irradiation.
For the purpose of increasing the life of such a transmission target, for example, JP-A-2000-90862 proposed to move a target freely to change a position to be irradiated with electrons on a target surface. JP-A-2000-90862 discloses a technology for, in an x-ray generating apparatus that uses an open vacuum container and includes a transmission target, moving the target via an O-ring and a vacuum bellows.
In the above proposal, FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration in a case of using a rubber O-ring. In an open-transmissive x-ray generating apparatus configured to accommodate, in a vacuum container 501, an electron gun 502 including an electron source and a group of electrodes for accelerating and focusing electrons from the electron source to freely evacuate the vacuum container 501 by a vacuum pump 503, an x-ray irradiation window 505 where a target 504 is integrally laminated and formed is mounted on the vacuum container 501 via an O-ring 506, and is rotationally moved at a position that is eccentric with respect to, for example, the track of an electron beam B from the electron gun 502. Accordingly, the position of irradiation of the electron beam B on the surface of the target 504 is changed.
However, if a rubber O-ring is used as described above, the degree of vacuum decreases gradually due to the gas transmission of the O-ring, and the evaporation of vacuum grease and the like. Hence, as in FIG. 8, it is effective against an open apparatus that always exhausts air by a vacuum pump such as a turbo-molecular pump. However, it is not possible to be applied to an x-ray generating apparatus using a seal-off vacuum container such as illustrated in FIG. 9, that is, a sealed x-ray generating apparatus. In other words, in the sealed apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9, an x-ray irradiation window 605 where a target 604 is integrally laminated and formed cannot maintain the degree of vacuum unless airtightly fixed by welding or brazing to a vacuum container 601 where an electron gun 602 is accommodated.
A structure where part of the vacuum container, together with the target and the x-ray irradiation window, is moved via the vacuum bellows can be applied to such a sealed apparatus. A configuration example of the case where the vacuum bellows is used is described based on FIG. 10 that is a schematic cross-sectional view of enlarged main parts in the vicinity of a target. In this example, a through hole 701a is formed in the top of a main body 701 of the vacuum container that accommodates an electron gun (not illustrated) and is fixed to an apparatus frame or the like. One end (lower end) of a vacuum bellows 702 is airtightly fixed to the periphery of the through hole 701a by welding or brazing. In addition, the other end (upper end) of the vacuum bellows 702 is airtightly fixed likewise to the periphery of a recess 703a that is formed in a moving member 703 and opens downward.
An x-ray irradiation window 705 where a target 704 is laminated and formed is fixed to the moving member 703 in such a manner as to form a ceiling portion of the recess 703a. Therefore, a wall body of the main body 701 of the vacuum container, and the vacuum bellows 702 of which lower end communicates with the main body 701 and of which upper end is blocked by the x-ray irradiation window 705 serve as a wall body partitioning the inside and the outside of the vacuum container. An inner region V of them enters a vacuum state.
The electron beam B from the electron gun is applied from the main body 701 to the target 704 through the through hole 701a and the inside of the vacuum bellows 702. Consequently, the vacuum bellows 702 is bent to move the moving member 703. Accordingly, the position of irradiation of the electron beam B of the target 704 can be changed.
When, for example, an x-ray generating apparatus of this type is used for an x-ray test apparatus or the like, if space coordinates of an x-ray focal spot are changed, even if a sample is placed at the same location, a fluoroscopic region is changed. In addition, various readjustments such as reconfiguration of various parameters of an apparatus system and an adjustment to the position of an apparatus component are required, which is not preferable.
Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 10, it is required to restrict the movement of the moving member 703 only to a direction orthogonal to the direction of irradiation of the electron beam B, that is, to prevent the target 704 from moving and inclining in an approaching/separation direction with respect to the electron gun. Therefore, in FIG. 10, a contact member 707 for guiding and the like are provided to the main body 701 to cause the moving member 703 to be displaced while coming into sliding contact with the contact member 707.
In the configuration of FIG. 10, a strong force acts on the vacuum bellows 702 in a direction of its contraction due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside, that is, a direction toward the main body 701. Therefore, a strong frictional force works on a sliding surface between the contact member 707 on the main body 701 side and the moving member 703. Accordingly, it becomes impossible to move the moving member 703 easily. It becomes a practical problem. In order to solve the problem, it is also conceivable to apply a lubricant to the sliding surface. However, it is difficult to cause the movement with the same force for a long period of time.
Moreover, as described above, the x-ray generating apparatus using a transmission target is advantageous on the respect of being able to increase the fluoroscopic magnification, as compared to one using a reflection target. However, in order to achieve this, it is required to place an object at a position close to the x-ray irradiation window. Hence, providing a large structure near the x-ray irradiation window should be avoided as much as possible. In addition, it is not possible either to provide a space for reducing a sliding frictional force in a guide mechanism for regulating the displacement of the moving member with respect to the main body of the vacuum container.
The present invention has been made considering such circumstances. An objective of the present invention is to provide an x-ray generating apparatus that can easily displace a moving member that holds a target and an x-ray irradiation window with respect to a main body of a vacuum container with a light force with a compact mechanism, and can extend the life of the target without impairing an advantage being a high fluoroscopic magnification that can be obtained by using a transmission target.


Disclosed herein are writable, dry erasable two-part paint compositions that have an epoxy resin part and an aminosilane part, as well as a fluoro surfactant and a Gemini surfactant. The paint compositions have an amino to epoxy equivalent weight ratio from about 0.30 to about 0.65. Dry films formed from these paint compositions have relatively short dry time and markings on the dry films can be dry erased up to 33 days and beyond.

Writable, dry erasable paint compositions seek to replace conventional erasable writing surfaces, such as white boards, where dry erasable markers can be written on the erasable writing surfaces and thereafter the markings can be wiped off the erasable writing surfaces with a cloth or a dry eraser. These writable, dry erasable paint compositions can be clear coatings that cover a substrate or wall that had been previously painted, or they can include opacifying pigments to cover a substrate or wall as a white or colored coating and hide the underlying surface. Clear compositions maintain the color of a wall, which may be desirable by the consumers.
Existing writable, dry erasable coatings may take a long time to dry or their dry coating may turn yellow after exposure to the environment. Additionally, some compositions when applied with a roller applicator leave small bubbles on the substrate, thereby making the dry surface less smooth and less amenable to being written on. Some compositions also contain isocyanates, which are undesirable in a consumer product.
U.S. patent application publication nos. 2015/0018455 and 2015/0184021 disclose writeable, dry erasable paint compositions. These compositions are two-part paint compositions and comprise a resin part, which includes an epoxy, a polysiloxane and an organooxysilane, and a cure part, which comprises one or more amino-silanes. When the two parts are mixed, the amino to epoxy equivalent weight ratio is in the range of 1.0 to 5.0.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,860 to Mowrer was discussed in the '455 and '201 publications for the teaching of epoxide equivalent weight and amino to epoxy equivalent weight ratios. The Mowrer reference discloses a paint composition that uses an epoxide resin part having more than one 1,2-epoxy group per molecule with an epoxide equivalent weight in the range from 100 to 2,000, and an aminosilane cure part. This two-part paint composition has an amine to epoxy equivalent weight ratio from 0.7 to 1.2.
These references are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Other two-part epoxy-amine paint compositions have an amine to epoxy equivalent weight ratio as low as 0.20.
These conventional two-part compositions can exhibit long drying time and/or produce textured dried surfaces caused by bubbles. Removing dried inks from these paint films can be difficult after two or three days. Some compositions may also experience yellowing with time. Hence, there remains a need for writable, dry erasable paint compositions that avoid these drawbacks.

Writable, dry erasable paints with selected surfactants


A thermal image transfer recording medium comprising a support, and a thermal image transfer layer formed thereon, comprising as its main components an acrylic resin having a molecular weight of 1,000,000 or more and a glass transition temperature of 5.degree. to 60.degree. C., and a coloring agent. In the recording medium, a releasing layer comprising as its main component a wax having a melting point or softening point of 70.degree. to 120.degree. C. can be interposed between the support and the thermal image transfer layer; and an additional thermal image transfer layer comprising as its main component a thermoplastic resin whose glass transition temperature is equal to or higher than that of the acrylic resin contained in the thermal image transfer layer can also be interposed between the releasing layer and the thermal image transfer layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermal image transfer recording medium which has high thermal sensitivity and can yield images with high heat and abrasion resistances, and more particularly to a thermal image tranfer recording medium which can be used for printing images, for instance, on price tags for textile goods.
2. Discussion of Background
Conventionally known thermal image transfer layers (ink layers) of thermal image transfer recording media are as follows: (1) a thermal image transfer layer comprising an emulsified resin having a lowest film-forming temperature of 40.degree. C. or more as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 63-57679; (2) a thermal image transfer layer comprising as its main component a copolymer of styrene, methylmethacrylate and butylacrylate as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 62-23779; (3) a thermal image transfer layer, formed on a transparent protective layer composed of a styrene-methacrylate copolymer and a polyvinyl chloride resin, comprising a styrene-methacrylate copolymer, polymethacrylate, a polyvinyl chloride resin and a coloring agent as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 62-179992; and (4) a thermal image transfer recording layer, formed on a transparent protective layer made of a chlorinated polyolefin resin, comprising a (meth)acrylate polymer and a coloring agent as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 63-42891.
The conventional thermal image transfer recording media comprising the above thermal image transfer layers cannot yield images having sufficiently high resistance to heat. Therefore, when they are used for printing images, for instance, on a price tag for clothing, which is commonly attached to clothing before the clothing is hot-pressed, the images printed on the price tag are blurred. Moreover, the ink of the images stains the clothing and also the price tag itself.
Namely, resins having a lowest film-forming temperature of 40.degree. C. or more, which are used in the above-described thermal image transfer layer (1), are not necessarily high-heat-resistant. Therefore, images printed on a price tag attached to clothing by using the recording medium comprising such a resin are blurred when the clothing is hot-pressed at a temperature of approximately 100.degree. C., and the price tag sticks to the clothing.
On the other hand, a resin having a lowest film-forming temperature of less than 40.degree. C. is used, the thermal image transfer layer of the recording medium, when in the form of a rolled ribbon, sticks to the reverse side of the support which is in contact with the thermal image transfer layer in the roll even when preserved at room temperature. In other words, the so-called "blocking" occurs.
An emulsion of a resin having a high glass transition temperature, such as a polymethylmethacrylate resin, has a high lowest film-forming temperature. Therefore, a recording medium comprising such an emulsion in its image transfer layer cannot exhibit high thermal sensitivity. Moreover, images printed on a price tag attached to clothing by using such a recording medium are blurred, and the ink of the images stains both the clothing and the price tag when the clothing is hot-pressed at a temperature of 140.degree. C. or more.
Furthermore, in the case where a thermal image transfer recording medium comprises in its thermal image transfer layer a wax having a low melting point as a binder, images printed by the recording medium on a price tag attached to clothing are blurred, and both the clothing and the price tag are stained by the ink of the images when the clothing is subjected to hot pressing. Therefore, such a recording medium is not suitable for image-printing on price tags for clothing.
When the thermal image transfer layer of (2), (3) or (4) comprises a resin having a high glass transition temperature, it exhibits low thermal sensitivity and images transferred from the layer on a price tag attached to clothing is suffered from low resistance to hot pressing conducted at a temperature of 140.degree. C. or more. The thermal sensitivity can be improved by incorporating a resin having a low glass transition temperature, but doing so the resistance to hot pressing becomes worse.
In addition, the thermal image transfer layer (4) is formed on a protective layer made of a chlorinated polyolefin, so that images obtained from this layer cannot be expected to have high resistance to hot pressing.


Circuit for generating a supply voltage having a voltage input connected to a voltage regulator that generates a first supply voltage and to a low-noise voltage regulator that generates a low-noise supply voltage. A control unit determines which of the two supply voltages is switched to a supply voltage output of the circuit.

In some chips it is necessary that the external supply voltage generated by an external voltage source must first be regulated in order then subsequently to be able to be used for the chip core. The requisite voltage regulators require a reference voltage, which is generally generated in the chip itself. Two noise paths can occur in this case. The first noise path relates to the path from the external voltage source to the reference voltage source and from the reference voltage source to the voltage supply for the chip core. The second noise path relates to the path from the external voltage source to the voltage supply for the chip core. Taking account of the noise paths is of importance in particular because the reference voltage regulator that generates the reference voltage generally has poorer noise suppression than the supply voltage regulator in the chip core. If the noise in the reference voltage source is too high, the latter may, under certain circumstances, even be destroyed.
The prior art discloses a circuit for generating a supply voltage such as is shown in FIG. 1. A voltage regulator 1, having no particular precautions for noise suppression, is connected, on the input side, to a voltage input IN, at which an external supply voltage EXTVDD is present. The voltage regulator 1 generates a reference supply voltage REFVDD at its output, which voltage is passed to a reference voltage source 2. The reference voltage source 2 generates therefrom a reference voltage VREF, which is subsequently fed to a low-noise voltage regulator 3 via the first input 3.1 thereof. The external supply voltage EXTVDD applied to the voltage input IN is present at the second input 3.2 of the low-noise voltage regulator 3. The low-noise voltage regulator 3 then generates a supply voltage VDD, which can be tapped off at the output 3.4 of the low-noise voltage regulator 3. If the low-noise voltage regulator 3 additionally requires a regulated voltage supply, the latter can be made available to it as reference supply voltage REFVDD via the input 3.3, which is indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1.
An embodiment of a circuit for a voltage supply as shown in FIG. 1 has the disadvantage, however, that the noise of the reference voltage supply is suppressed only to a limited extent, which has the effect that the supply voltage VDD at the output of the circuit may be noisy. The circuit for supplying voltage for the chip core as shown in FIG. 1 therefore has only limited noise suppression.
A further embodiment of a circuit for generating a supply voltage is shown from the prior art, said embodiment being shown in FIG. 2. In the same way as in FIG. 1, the external supply voltage EXTVDD is applied to the input IN of the circuit. The circuit in FIG. 2 differs from the circuit shown in FIG. 1 by the fact that the noisy voltage regulator 1 used in FIG. 1 is replaced by a low-noise voltage regulator 6 and also a simple reference voltage regulator 4, having no particular noise suppression. In this case, the second low-noise voltage regulator 6 is connected to the voltage input IN via its input 6.2. A first reference voltage VREF1 is formed from the external supply voltage EXTVDD with the aid of the voltage regulator 4, and is present at the input 6.1 of the low-noise voltage regulator 6.
In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reference voltage REFVDD is generated by means of the low-noise second voltage regulator 6. This embodiment has the following disadvantages, however. The additional second low-noise voltage regulator 6 requires more space on the chip. Further disadvantages are that the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 consumes more current and the switch-on duration is greater than in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. If the low-noise voltage regulator itself needs a regulated supply voltage, a further voltage regulator is required, which additionally takes up chip area.


The invention relates to a multifunctional health protection device for udders of cows. The device comprises a brassiere, which is provided at its lower portion with circular openings (5) corresponding to four teats of a cow. The four circular opening (5) are equipped with teat cups (8). There is a hole at the fore end of each teat cup (8). The brassiere is formed by the inner and outer hoods (1, 2). An electrical heater (4) is mounted between the inner and outer hoods (1,2). Permanent magnets, which are winded with coils, are arranged around the outer wall of the inner hood and the circular openings. An electrical vibrator (6) may be provided at the centers of the four circular openings between the inner and outer hoods. A plurality of conductive rubber electrode (7) is mounted on the inner wall of the inner hood. A removable cup (9) for containing sterilizing agent is installed in the brassiere (8). A ring seal (11) with a central hole is provided at the upper part of the removable cup. The device of the invention can implement milking, keeping constant temperature, heating therapy and vibrating massage to cows and has the functions of dredging meridian, harmonizing the flow of Qi and blood, activating blood and resolving stasis, preventing and curing mastitis of cows, enhancing the ability of lactating to increase the milk production of cows and the like.

Milk is a food with all kind of nutrition. However, many cows have mastitis, the rate is high. Normally, milkers use antibiotics for treating mastitis. Therefore, the amount of rudimental antibiotics in milk is considerable. Human drinking milk having the rudimental antibiotics long term will cause accumulation of antibiotics in body, it results human-body physiological disorder and drug resistance to the antibiotics. Consequently, the milk with rudimental antibiotics is a kind of food pollution, which damages human health. To cue the damage from milk with rudimental antibiotics is more difficult than to rule the environment pollution. The best way to deracinate the damage is treating the mastitis by using less or no antibiotics. Thereby, people expect a kind of health protection device for udders of cows to replace the antibiotics for cow's mastitis. Chinese patent No. 85204929 disclosed a "Brassiere Diminishing Inflammation for Cows with Rare-Earth Permanent Magnet", which is a safe, simple and effective tool for treating mastitis, but it has single function only, needs manual operation, operates inconveniently and is not easy to be popularized.

Multifunctional health protection device for udders of cows