Black toner for electrophotography used for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-holding body is provided which includes a resin binder and carbon black dispersed in the resin binder. The carbon black has a volatile component content of 4% or more, a structure index of 100 or more, and a mean grain size in the range of 20 to 35 nm.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to black toner for electrophotography used for an image forming apparatus employing so-called electrophotographic technology, especially, an electrostatic printing method, such as an electrostatic copying machine and a laser beam printer. More particularly, it relates to black toner used with color toners such as magenta, cyan, and yellow toners for full color image formation by the electrophotographic technology.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
In the field of electrophotographic technology, especially, in an electrostatic printing method, toner is used for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-holding body. This toner is prepared by dispersing a colorant in a resin medium. As the resin medium, resin having a desired detecting property and a binding property, for example, various resins such as styrene resin and polyester resin are used. As the colorant, carbon black and other organic or inorganic color pigments are used.
There has been conducted full color development in recent years. The full color development is conducted in the following manner. First, a multicolor original is subjected to color separation treatment, after which each image is exposed to light. This process is repeated by the use of color toners of magenta, cyan, and yellow and black toner, respectively. The resulting images formed with each color toner are successively superimposed one over the other to form a multicolor image.
Various organic pigments are used as the colorant for each color toner mentioned above, and carbon black is used as the colorant for black toner.
The important factors which determine the characteristics of the carbon black are as follows:
(1) mean grain size; PA0 (2) structure; and PA0 (3) chemical properties of the grain surface.
The mean grain size is a factor which determines the colorability of carbon black, and measured by statistically evaluating an image observed through an electron microscope.
The structure is a term characteristic of carbon black and representing the degree to which carbon black particles are linked with one another. The structure can be relatively easily measured by evaluating the image observed through an electron microscope, and generally determined quantitatively by measuring the specific surface area of carbon black, and the oil absorption of carbon black when dibutyl phthalate is used as an oil.
For example, according to the data issued by Colombian Carbon Co., the conditions of carbon black particles are denoted in the following manner. The condition in which carbon black particles are linked with one another to a high degree is referred to as "high structure", the intermediate degree as "normal structure", and the low degree as "low structure". The degree of linkage is also represented by a structure index. The structure index of carbon black is determined in the following manner. First, the carbon black of normal structure is arbitrarily defined as "100". Then, the structure index of carbon black is determined based on a curve representing the relationship between the specific surface area and the oil absorption when dibutyl phthalate is used as an oil of the carbon black of normal structure (abscissa: specific surface, ordinate: oil absorption when dibutyl phthalate is used as an oil).
The chemical properties of the particle surface are generally determined by the kind and the content of an oxygen-containing component present on the particle surface, and ordinarily determined by the content of a volatile component.
Since conventional carbon black to be added in black toner has a high electrical conductivity unlike other colorants, and is used as a conductivity-imparting agent at is known, the electrical properties of black toner are largely different from those of other color toners.
Since colorants other than carbon black have only the same conductivity as a resin binder, the conductivity of color toner is substantially of the same order as a resin binder alone, while the conductivity of black toner containing carbon black is very much higher than that of the resin binder.
Accordingly, when both black toner and color toner having largely different electrical properties such as conductivity are used together to form images under the same conditions, there arises a difference in the amount of toner to be transferred and the like between the black toner and the color toner, making it impossible to reproduce vivid color images.
In order to overcome the above problem, the conditions for the formation of images may be changed in accordance with black toner and color toner. However, it is necessary to change the conditions whenever an image is formed. This causes the apparatus to operate unstably, thereby adversely affecting formed images, and involving a complicated structure for the apparatus.


A quasi-complementary BICMOS circuit (46) having a clamp circuit that automatically discharges the base-collector of a pull down bipolar transistor (16) when the transistor's (16) collector voltage equalizes its base voltage. The action is immediate and does not depend on the performance of a feedback circuit to provide the timing of the arrival of the clamp signal. The clamp circuit reduces the amount of shallow saturation and quickly discharges shallow saturation after the pull down transition. The degree of shallow saturation is controllable by size selection of the clamp transistor (48). The clamp circuit also discharges the transistor's (16) base voltage to ground potential.

QC-BiCMOS (Quasi Complementary BiCMOS) circuits provide good performance for sub-micron VLSI logic gates operating in the 3.3 volt power supply region. A recognized problem with QC-BiCMOS, however, is the manner in which pull down bipolar transistors are turned off. Any practical scheme used to turn off the pull down transistor(s) must ensure that the pull down transistor(s) receive maximum base drive until the pull down transition is completed. The turn off scheme must also provide a means for discharging the shallow saturation a pull down transistor attains during the pull down transition. The problem is one of ensuring the shallow saturation is removed as soon as possible without diverting the base drive needed for a fast pull down transition.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art QC-BiCMOS circuit, shown generally at 10. When node 12 is at a logic low voltage, P-channel transistor 14 provides base drive to pull down bipolar transistor 16. Transistor 14 provides base drive to transistor 16 until the collector voltage drops below the threshold of transistor 14. Enough carriers are delivered to the base node 18 to drive transistor 16 into shallow saturation forcing the collector voltage to become less than the base voltage. Some shallow saturation is desired to obtain a fast pull down transition below a Vbe. With transistor 14 turned off, base node 18 becomes a high impedance node with the base of transistor 16 being the sole discharge path. It is necessary to remove the shallow saturation once the output pull down transition is achieved. If the shallow saturation is not removed the next pull up transition could cause a transistor 20 & 16 short circuit condition when transistor 20 forces transistor 16 out of shallow saturation. The base node voltage, however must not be discharged until the output pull down transition is complete.
The inverter of transistors 22 & 24 attempts to remove the shallow saturation. The inverter of transistor 22 & 24 drives base node clamping transistor 26. When transistor 26 turns on, node 18 is discharged to ground potential, pulling transistor 16 out of shallow saturation. But, this attempt at clamping the base creates a problem. The inverter (transistors 22 & 24) must be carefully scaled to ensure the clamping signal does not arrive too early. If the clamping signal arrives early, transistor 26 will divert current desired for transistor 16 base drive. Contrariwise, if the clamping signal is delayed too much and does not arrive before the next output pull up transition, a short circuit current condition through transistors 20 and 16 may occur. Transistor 16 will still be in shallow saturation resulting in transistor 16 being in an ON state while transistor 20 is providing pull up drive. As a result, providing a properly timed clamp signal that satisfies all possible output loading conditions with this method is difficult.
The problem associated with this method of clamping the base node is shown in the SPICE simulation waveforms of FIG. 2. As can be seen, the base voltage 30 of transistor 16 remains larger than the collector voltage 28 from about 1.0 ns until the base clamp signal arrives. The base clamp signal arrival is seen when the waveform of transistor 16 goes negative (around 1.5 ns) and starts to reduce the voltage at the base of transistor 16. The shaded area denotes the time that the base voltage 30 remains larger than the collector voltage 28 indicating shallow saturation. The output 32 of FIG. 1 is restored to a zero volt potential when the output is a logic low level through ON transistors 34 and 36. When output 32 is a logic high, the output voltage is restored to Vcc potential through ON transistors 38 and 40. Inverters made of transistors 38 & 42 and 36 & 44 are scaled such that smallest turn on times for transistors 20 and 16 are provided while also satisfying the requirement that both transistors 20 and 16 do not both remain transiently on at the same time allowing a rail to rail short circuit condition to exist.

Quasi-complementary BiCMOS circuit with enhanced pull down transistor clamp


A decorative fencing system is provided for use as a small fence or decorative accent for a yard. The fencing system comprises several different structural components that may be joined in various combinations so as to create a limitless number of different configurations or arrangements. The components include base units, decorative end units and gate units, each of which may be attached to the other components in any combination thereof. Each of these components are attached to post sections which are inserted through post rings or post hinges on the individual components to thereby allow for each component to be rotated to the desired position relative to the post section. The post sections are secured to the ground by means of stakes that are first driven into the ground and the post section is then inserted into a sleeve in the stake to thereby provide support and stability for the fencing system. A separate and smaller pin is provided on the end units to anchor these components to the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a decorative fencing system, and, more particularly, to such a decorative fencing system that includes multiple components and may be arranged in a potentially infinite number of combinations and permutations so as to be used as a small or low fence, or a decorative accent for a yard or walk, or even a combination thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art fails to specifically address either the problem or the solution arrived upon by applicant. Decorative fencing systems have long been known in the industry, as has the use of sectional fence structures to create various configurations for fencing systems. Some examples of such fencing systems are shown in patents that date back to the mid to late 1800s, such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 807 to Jenkins for "Iron Fence" in 1859; U.S. Pat. No. 6,411 to Healey for "Fences" in 1873; U.S. Pat. No. 9,274 to Ricker for "Fence" in 1876; U.S. Pat. No. 207,518 to Hayden for "Fence" in 1878; U.S. Pat. No. 284,687 to Tunica for "Girder Picket Fence" in 1883; U.S. Pat. No. 336,405 to Ginther for "Fence" in 1886; U.S. Pat. No. 415,382 to Darnell for "Fence" in 1889; and U.S. Pat. No. 563,042 to Le Flamboy for "Fence" in 1896.
Similar devices are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,331,117; 1,426,215; 2,074,688; 2,484,413; 2,651,502; 2,709,073. Another such device is disclosed in a recently filed U.S. application Pub No. U.S. 2003/0155565 A1 for "Plastic Fencing Simulative of Wrought Iron."
As will be appreciated, none of these prior patents even address the problem faced by applicant let alone offer the solution proposed herein.


A method and apparatus for providing a sub-ground plane for a micromachined device. The sub-ground plane is formed in or on the substrate. Above the sub-ground plane is a dielectric and then a discontinuous conductive layer used for interconnects for parts of the micromachined device. A movable microstructure is suspended above the interconnect layer. A conductive layer can be suspended above the movable microstructure. In one embodiment, the sub-ground plane is diffused into the substrate or a well in the substrate, and is of an opposite type from the type of silicon into which it is diffused. Alternatively, the sub-ground plane is formed from a conductive layer, deposited over the substrate before the layer used for interconnects.

Micromachined silicon structures are used frequently as sensors and actuators, and for signal processing. For example, the fingers of a movable mass may be positioned between stationary plates to form a differential capacitor. The use of such a device as an accelerometer and a method for fabricating such an accelerometer are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,824, entitled "Monolithic Accelerometer", and U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,726, entitled "Method for Fabricating Monolithic Chip Containing Integrated Circuitry and Suspended Microstructure", which are incorporated herein by reference.
As these micromachined devices become more complex, it becomes desirable to use more conductive layers. Instead of just a single polysilicon layer used for a movable micromachined structure, it is desirable to use an additional polysilicon layer. This additional layer might be above the movable structure, to contain the movable layer or to serve as an electrode for a differential capacitor. This additional layer might be below the movable structure, to provide an extra layer of interconnects with closer spacing than would be possible with diffused regions.
It is also desirable to employ a conductive plane (often referred to as a "ground plane") underneath the movable structure. For example, placing a conductive plane under the structure (the conductive plane being separated from the substrate by a dielectric) and keeping the plane at approximately the same electric potential as the structure minimizes the electrostatic attractive force that would tend to pull the structure down to the substrate.
However, if the bottom polysilicon layer is used to provide an extra layer of interconnects, the gaps in the layer detract from the effectiveness of that layer as a ground plane. The potential of the substrate beneath the gaps is unspecified and the dielectric layer between the substrate and the conductive plane may have charges on it that can cause spurious forces on the microstructure and measurement errors.
The present invention overcomes this and other problems as will be shown in the remainder of the specification referring to the attached drawings.

Method of making a sub-ground plane for a micromachined device


A self-adaptive resource management method and a corresponding system. An authority publishes multiple rules into a corresponding repository. Each rule defines a desired target configuration for a category of subjects. Some rules are also associated with a corresponding stage in a predefined flow of application of the rules. A supervisor publishes the value of a current stage into a workflow repository. Each subject retrieves and applies the rules for its category and corresponding to the current stage. Information about the compliance of the subjects with the corresponding rules is published in a membership data repository. The supervisor detects the completion of the current stage when the subjects are compliant with the corresponding rules, and updates the value of the current stage to start a further stage.

Management of different types of resources (such as software components, applications or devices) is a critical issue in a data processing system with a distributed architecture. This problem is particularly acute when the system includes a high number of logical and/or physical entities (referred to as subjects), each one directly controlling different resources; the problem is further exacerbated if the subjects have a high level of complexity or are dispersed across a large number of installations.
The management environments known in the art are based on an enforcement model (also known as manager/workers model). In this model, the process is entirely controlled by an authority residing at a central site of the system. The authority defines a desired configuration of every subject. For this purpose, the authority accesses a central repository storing the alleged current configuration of each subject, and determines the management actions required to bring the subject to the desired configuration starting from its current configuration. The management actions are then enforced remotely by the authority on the subject, which is totally passive.
A drawback of the management environments known in the art is the lack of any kind of cooperation between the authority and the subjects. This lack of cooperation may lead to inconsistencies when the subjects are upgraded out of the control of the authority. Moreover, in the solutions currently employed, the management of subjects that are temporarily unavailable or off-line is quite difficult to implement. The known management environments also require the authority to maintain information about the location of all the subjects; at the same time, the authority must handle the communication with every subject directly.
An additional problem arises when the completion of some management actions on specific subjects is a prerequisite to the execution of further management actions on other subjects. A typical example is the deployment of a distributed software application with a client-server architecture; in this case, the installation of a client-side component of the application requires that its server-side component be already available. More complex dependencies are experienced in large and highly dynamic systems with several correlated tiers.
As a consequence, the authority must explicitly define a workflow that drives the enforcement of the management actions on the different subjects in the correct sequence. The authority must also handle any conditioning among the different stages of the workflow directly.
Moreover, the above-mentioned drawbacks increase the difficulty of correctly defining any solution to be deployed in the system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adaptive management method with workflow control

International Business Machines Corporation


In an undulator for the generation of synchrotron radiation from a particle beam introduced into the undulator, two partial undulators are provided each comprising a conductor of superconductive material which, when a current is conducted therethrough, generates an undulator field that extends perpendicularly to the current flow, and the superconductive conductors are arranged in the individual partial undulators such that the undulator fields generated are not parallel, whereby, by controlling the energization of the two partial undulators, the polarization direction of the synchrotron radiation can be adjusted without mechanical movements.

The invention relates to undulators which serve as a source of electromagnetic radiation called below also light, which is generated from a particle stream (for example of electrons) passing through the undulator and to a method of operating such an undulator. Undulators are used particularly for the generation of x-rays in synchrotron radiation sources.
World with numerous attempts have been made to construct undulators from permanent magnets in such a way that the polarization direction of the light emitted by the undulators can be changed by mechanical movements. An overview of the techniques can be found in H. Onuki and P. Elleaume, Undulators, Wigglers, and their Applications, chapter 6, Polarizing undulators and wigglers, Tayler and Francis, 2003. According to the state of the art described therein two ways are known by which the polarization direction can be changed:                by mechanical displacement of the permanent magnets or,        by division of the undulator and manipulation of the beam between the undulator parts.
The first solution requires expensive mechanical structures to permit movement of the magnets under the high forces effective on the magnets. The electron synchrotron BESSY in Berlin for example uses permanent magnet undulators with mechanically variable polarization structures. A variant of this equipment is disclosed in JP 103 03 999 A. The second solution has only limited applicability for normal operation, that is, it can be used only in connection with low radiation energies and is therefore without importance in practice.
Immediately after the disclosure of the superconductive planar undulators in R. Rossmanith and H. O. Moser, Study of a Superconductive in-vacuo Undulator for Storage Rings with an Electrical Tunability between K=0 and K=2, Proc. European Accelerator Conference, 2000, Vienna, there were speculations whether it would not be possible to wind superconductive undulators with helical polarization. The first technical comment was provided by R. P. Walker, who was at that time director of Elettra, Triest, New concept for a Planar Superconducting Helical Undulator, 18th Oct. 2000. A further conceptual sketch for a helical undulator was provided by R. Pitthahn and J. Sheppard, SLAC, Use of a Microundulator to Study Positron Production, 5th Feb. 2002.
A further summary is found in a presentation of Shigemi Sasaki, Argonne, Design for a superconducting planar helical undulator, ESRF, June 2003, wherein the author approves the idea to extend the concept of the superconductive planar undulators to helical undulators but states that it is not clear how one could change the polarization direction.
Based on this prior art and knowledge, it is the object of the present invention to provide an undulator and a method for the operation of an undulator which does not have the disadvantages and limitations mentioned above. Particularly a superconductive undulator is to be provided which permits a change and adjustment of the polarization direction of the synchrotron radiation without mechanical movement. The arrangement is to permit for example a switch-over of the polarization direction of the synchrotron radiation from linear to circular or to change the helicity direction, the helicity defining the direction of rotation of the electric field.

Undulator and method of operation thereof


To more properly size resources in a destination to which IT resources will be migrated, a system for appraising a resource configuration estimates a source's load model representing a load of first resources in a first computer system which is the source of migration and estimates a destination's load model representing a load of second resources to be built by migrating the first resources to a second computer system based on the source's load model. The system compares performance requirements of the first resources against the destination's load model and finds the destination's load model that is conformable to the performance requirements. When determining design values of the second resources' configuration, the system corrects those design values based on the destination's load model estimated conformable to the performance requirements to decrease design margins of the resource configuration using a design correction value defined to meet a service level requested.

The present invention relates to a system and method for appraising a resource configuration.
In the field of information systems, a manner of usage called cloud computing has become popular and has enabled business operators such as companies and municipalities to offer information services without possessing their own systems. So-called public clouds offer a variety of services according to functional and non-functional requirements. By optionally choosing and combining from such services, users can build a desired service at less cost than when it is built in their own systems.
On the other hand, in some circumstances, business operators may prefer to keep their own information systems as is (on-premises), as prevailed heretofore, from the perspectives of, inter alia, maintainability, security protection, and service quality mainly other than cost. Therefore, it becomes important to selectively use different environments, namely, on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud according to individual services, instead of using any one environment to take all roles.
User environments allowing for selective use of different environments are called multi-cloud or hybrid cloud. Because there is a demand change in the user side, attributed to a system lifecycle and business circumstances, and because functionality and specifications provided by each cloud differ in a variety of respects, users have to monitor and periodically revise resource configurations to be fit for a system.
For instance, when IT resources such as servers and storages existing in an on-premises environment are migrated to a public cloud, their configuration in the migration destination must be designed to adequately process the load that took place in the migration source. Because, especially, storage resources once built are relatively hard to change their configuration, various sizing methods and their automation techniques are proposed.
As one of these related-art techniques, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 98,647,492 discloses a highly accurate sizing technique in which the characteristics of the loads in the migration source and destination are extracted by machine learning and managed as patterns of resource configurations.

System and method for appraising resource configuration


Techniques are disclosed for using a WI-FI Direct Services (WFDS) Application Services Platform (ASP) for Layer 2 services, by extending a definition of a session in WFDS to include non-IP sessions as well. Techniques are further disclosed for operating an application services platform coordination protocol (ASP-CP) directly over a media access control (MAC) layer.

With the increased popularity of Wi-Fi networks for wireless connectivity, there are new services being developed that use the underlying Wi-Fi links for peripheral connectivity, for example Wi-Fi Serial Bus (WSB) which enables support of USB traffic over Wi-Fi links and allows a WSB host to connect to Wi-Fi enabled USB devices/functions (WSB peripherals) wirelessly and to legacy USB devices/functions via a Wi-Fi enabled USB hub (WSB Hub).
Wi-Fi Direct provides peer-to-peer connectivity to allow users to connect their devices in an easy and convenient manner to share, show, print, and synchronize content. However, Wi-Fi Direct only provides link-layer connectivity. Wi-Fi Direct is not enough to enable interoperability between services/applications from multiple vendors. Users have inconsistent experiences due to lack of services interoperability and complexity of P2P topology.
Thus, there are general needs for improved techniques using Wi-Fi links for peripheral connectivity and general needs for improved techniques to improve service interoperability and decrease P2P topology complexity for Wi-Fi Direct.

Techniques enabling use of a Wi-Fi direct services (WFDS) application services platform (ASP) for layer 2 services


A facsimile machine stores log information pertaining to facsimile transmission and reception in a facsimile RAM. To output a facsimile management report, log information items are read one by one from the RAM. It is then determined whether the read out log information meets a specific condition. Only log information which does not meet the specific condition is stored in a printer RAM and then printed by a printer. Thus, by taking a condition of log information not needed by the operator and inputting it as the specific condition, for example, log information not desired to be printed can be left out of the printing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine provided with a function for printing log information pertaining to facsimile transmission and reception, that is, log information indicating when, to whom, and how many pages were sent, or when, from whom, and how many pages were received.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, this kind of facsimile machine stores for printing all log information pertaining to facsimile transmission and reception, that is, information indicating when, to whom, and how many pages were sent, or when, from whom, and how many pages were received. This is done, for example, by means of a facsimile management report as shown in FIG. 1. "No." in the facsimile management report left-end column indicates a number assigned in the order a document is transmitted or received. "Document Number" is a number automatically assigned upon execution of a facsimile instruction, facsimile reception, or preparation of a report or the like. "Remote Fax ID" includes a name of the recipient recorded in a speed dial directory, a telephone number of the sender/receiver, or the self-recorded ID of the remote facsimile machine. "Starting Time" indicates the time that transmission started. "Duration" indicates the amount of time taken from the start until the end of transmission. "Pages" indicates the number of pages transmitted. "Mode" indicates the mode at the time of transmission. "Transmission Type" indicates the form of the facsimile at the time of transmission. For example, an outgoing facsimile is indicated by "Send", and an incoming facsimile is indicated by "Receive." The result of the transmission is indicated in "Result". For example, if the transmission is successfully completed, then this is indicated by "OK".
In this way, the facsimile management report is able to fully inform an operator of log information indicating when, to whom, and how many pages were sent, or when, from whom, and how many pages were received.

Facsimile machine for storing and printing communication log information depending on whether the log information meets a specific condition


In implementations of the present disclosure, a solution for optimization of a learning network in an equivalent class space is provided. In this solution, base paths running through layers of a learning network are determined. Each node utilizes an activation function with a scaling invariant property to process an input from a node of a previous layer, each base path comprises a single node in each layer, and processing in the base paths is linearly independent from each other. A combined value of parameters associated with nodes in each base path is updated. A parameter associated with a node is used to adjust an input obtained from a node of a previous layer. Values of parameters associated with nodes in the base paths are updated based on updated combined values of parameters. Through this solution, optimization efficiency can be improved and more accurate optimized values of parameters are achieved.

Deep learning has a wide range of applications in many fields such as image classification, machine translation, speech recognition and so on. For example, on the basis of big data and powerful computing resources, it is possible to train deep neural networks (DNN) with multiple layers and multiple parameters, which are also referred to as deep learning networks. During the training or optimization phase, parameters of a learning network are needed to be trained and optimized based on a given training dataset and an optimization target. For instance, for the training of a neural network, it is possible to use a stochastic gradient descent (SGD) method. However, training of the learning network is generally a very tough task and requires a large number of iteration processes to update various parameters of the learning network. The determination of the parameters depends on convergence of the iteration process. This will consume a great amount of computing and time resources.

Optimization of neural network in equivalent class space


An electrical power unit or electronic data unit includes an outer housing, a circuit board positioned inside the outer housing, a frame inserted inside the outer housing, and a face plate fitted over the outer housing. The circuit board supports, for example, a high voltage AC electrical receptacle, a low voltage DC electrical receptacle, and a switch, each of which is electrically connected to the circuit board. The frame defines a plurality of outlet openings for receiving respective one of the AC electrical receptacle, the DC electrical receptacle, and the switch. The face plate defines outer receptacle openings that align with respective outlet openings of the frame to provide access to the respective AC electrical receptacle, DC electrical receptacle, and switch.

Electrical devices for home or business use typically derive power supplied from an electrical socket or outlet. Generally, the electrical outlet includes a pair of openings to receive a corresponding pair of prongs of an electrical plug, and often an additional opening to receive a grounding prong of the electrical plug. A typical electrical socket is primarily designed for use with electrical devices that use alternating current (AC) to operate. However, many portable personal electrical devices today utilize low voltage direct current (DC) power to charge and/or operate. These portable electrical devices often use a universal serial bus (USB) based connection to receive power for charging via a USB interface in the device, and may also transfer data through the USB interface. Thus, for these portable electrical devices to charge and operate in conjunction with a typical electrical outlet, some form of a power adapter is needed to provide DC power from the AC electrical outlet. A portable power adapter required to provide low voltage DC power from the AC electrical outlet, however, is somewhat bulky and inconvenient for a user of a portable electrical device to carry in case the portable electrical device requires additional charge.


Solid, homogenous or porous, shaped bodies are formed from different powders such as metals and ceramics by preparation of an aqueous slurry of the powder, which slurry comprises a protein substance which is soluble in water at ambient temperatures and capable of forming an irreversible gel on heating to a temperature not exceeding 90.degree. C. The protein substance, for example albumin, is used in an amount sufficient for the formation of a gel. The slurry is formed into a body of the desired shape by methods such as molding, tapecasting or dropforming and heating to a temperature at least corresponding to the gelling temperature of the protein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming solid shaped bodies from different inorganic powder materials such as metal powder, ceramic powder, etc. More particularly the invention relates to such a method wherein either homogenous, dense, solid bodies or porous, solid bodies are formed from an aqueous slurry containing the powder and a protein substance which is capable of forming a gel on heating.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several methods are known for forming shaped bodies, both for forming homogenous, dense bodies and porous bodies, from different inorganic powder materials. The simplest wet-forming method for dense bodies is the slipcasting method. As a rule, no binding substance is required for slipcasting and the method is used for fairly simple designs without too great demands on precision, such as sanitary products.
Other forming methods used, for example for the production of technical products and constructional products such as cutting tools, wear parts, threadguides, piezo activators, etc., may require binders to make the green bodies hold together sufficiently to be removed from molds and/or transferred to the next step, which for products of powders of the type considered usually is a sintering at temperatures of from 800.degree. C. to 2200.degree. C., depending inter alia on the melting point of the powder. In addition to a binding agent, the slurry from which the green bodies are formed usually also contains a dispersing agent for the powder. Shaped, porous and foamed, solid bodies have traditionally been prepared by use of an organic preform with foam structure which has been dipped into a powder slurry. The obtained structure has then been dried, the preform burnt off and the product finally sintered. According to more recent technique, use is made of a polymer which reacts with the water in the slurry forming carbon dioxide which leads to foam formation and possible crosslinking. The porous bodies are particularly useful in applications such as heat insulating materials, filters and catalyst supports.
Several different types of binders, such as waxes, synthetic and natural polymers, for example polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and cellulose derivatives such as methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, have been suggested and used to strengthen green bodies. It is also known to form green bodies using gel forming substances, for example agarose, which forms a gel on cooling, or a synthetic monomer or monomer mixture, e.g. of mono- and difunctional acrylamides and of di- and multifunctional acrylates, which polymerizes and crosslinks on heating, to form a polymer gel matrix in which the powder is distributed. Further, the use of some proteinaceous substances for the formation of green bodies is known. Some protein substances, such as gelatin and casein, have been used or suggested for use as a conventional binder material in aqueous solution.
In the European patent application 0 087 160 the use of a "gelling agent" and of a "stabilizing agent" in the preparation of porous, metallic bodies is disclosed. According to this application, a "gelling agent" which is carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, albumin or agar is used, and its presence is said to be necessary so that the foam structure is not destroyed when the metal powder is introduced. However, in order to solidify the foam structure a "stabilizing agent", preferably a polyurethane, formed from monomers incorporated in the foam is necessary. In this process the so called gelling agents are consequently only used for foam formation while the actual formation of a rigid gel is obtained by the polyurethane.
Gelatin has also been suggested for use as a gel former. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,994 discloses a process for tapecasting using gelatin for gel formation. The use of gelatin for this purpose necessitates heating the entire slurry to dissolve the gelatin and cooling for setting it into a gel.
The Japanese patent application 94-226718 likewise discloses use of gelatin for its gel forming properties. According to this document a body is formed by casting a powder slurry containing the gelatin, dissolved by heating, into a mold and cooling for gelation. It is mentioned in the document that other proteins could be used, e.g. albumin, but the disclosed process in itself is strictly one using heating for dissolution of the protein and cooling for the gelation, i.e., conditions which are required for gelating but would not necessarily be gel-forming conditions for other protein materials.
Gel formation using synthetic polymers is often disadvantageous in that fairly high temperatures are required for formation of a polymer matrix and also in that fairly high temperatures are required for removal of the organic substance. Use of gelatin as a gel former has drawbacks in that the gel formation is reversible and in that heating of the entire slurry is required which involves a high energy consumption. Further, gelatin leads to a thickening of the slurry which causes difficulties in handling.

Method for the production of solid shaped bodies


A composite magnetic lens and deflector for particle beam optical systems has a concentric gap and concentric conical lower pole pieces arranged to allow more accurate magnetic deflection. The flux generated by a solenoidal lens coil is shared by magnetically soft inner and higher saturation flux outer pole pieces to minimize saturation effects, while the flux generated by internal deflection coils is confined to magnetically soft inner pole pieces that minimize flux leakage and associated eddy current settling effects. Shielding rings further contain leakage flux. The inner magnetic circuit is mounted and adhesively bonded to radial flexures to minimize thermal expansion drifts.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to charged particle beams, and more specifically to a magnetic lens and deflector for deflecting such beams.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electron beam lithography, electron beam inspection systems and scanning electron microscopes usually use a magnetic objective "lens" to focus a (charged) particle beam, and magnetic deflection coils mounted within the lens to accurately position the focused beam upon a substrate.
The magnetic properties of the deflection optics are critical for achieving fast and accurate beam placement. In particular, the relationship between focusing magnetic field of the lens and the deflection field must be optimized for minimum deflection aberrations and normal landing angle. The return magnetic flux from the deflection coils must be confined within a magnetically soft, high resistivity low hysteresis enclosure that discourages eddy current effects that can cause the beam to settle slowly after a change in deflection current. The charged particles are e.g. electrons and ions. "Soft" in the context of magnetism means low remanence (low coercive force). "Hard" means the opposite. Thus a permanent magnet is of a magnetically hard material.
Prior art magnetic objective lens systems enclose the deflection coils in cylindrical shaped outer return yokes or a series of rings to confine the deflection flux. These yokes or rings often serve as concurrently as pole pieces for the static magnetic lens field generated by a solenoidal lens excitation coil located outside the pole piece structure. In this overlaid structure the focussing magnetic flux flows in axially symmetric paths while the magnetic flux from the deflection coils follows an azimuthal path from one side of the pole pieces to the other. Thus gaps that provide a focusing field on the lens axis can still provide a continuous return path for the deflection flux.
The pole pieces surrounding the deflection system must be of a magnetically very soft material with minimum hysteresis, since otherwise the relationship between deflection coil current and deflected beam position depends upon past deflection history. In addition, the deflection system enclosure must confine all deflection flux, for otherwise flux leakage causes eddy currents in surrounding material. These eddy currents can generate opposing magnetic fields that would temporarily influence the flux distribution, causing the deflection to settle more slowly than desired. (Rapid changes in deflection are advantageous.)
To avoid saturation effects due to axial lens fields, a composite concentric-gap magnetic lens was earlier disclosed by the present inventors; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,948 issued Sept. 4, 1984 showing use of one or more sets of cylindrical inner pole pieces, made of a magnetically soft material such as ferrite, arranged concentrically within a magnetic lens circuit excited by a solenoidal excitation coil and whose outer pole pieces are made of a material that supports a higher saturation flux. Magnetic flux is shared between the inner and outer pole pieces in such a way that saturation of the inner pole piece is avoided because excess flux is shunted through the outer pole piece. This assures a linear relationship between the axial lens field and the excitation current at all points along the beam path, which is essential for optimum deflection optics. As is now understood by us to be equally important, but not emphasized in that disclosure, the concentric geometry assures that the magnetic permeability of the defection return path formed by the inner pole pieces remains high. This minimizes settling effects that would otherwise occur if flux escaped the inner enclosure. The net result is a more linear relationship between deflection current and beam position in a high bandwidth deflection system.
Present FIG. 1 is the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,948. A deflection coil 1 is enclosed within cylindrical inner pole pieces 2, 3 of a magnetically soft material such as ferrite. Pole pieces 2, 3 define a lens gap 4 that creates a focusing field along the lens axis. Surrounding this inner enclosure is an outer lens circuit excited by a solenoid excitation coil 5 and made of a higher saturation material to form a second set of outer concentric pole piece elements 6, 7. To avoid sharing of deflection flux, the inner pole piece structure is separated by a gap 8 at either end from the outer pole pieces 7. Composite lenses of this type have been used successfully for many years.
More advanced particle beam optics applications will require stronger lens fields and even faster and more accurate deflection. Higher beam energies require stronger lens fields that could exaggerate saturation effects. Improved deflection optics favors multi-stage deflection coils placed in strategic locations along the beam path. In particular, it has been found to be desirable to place at least one deflection coil near the exit of the lens, downstream of the maximum lens field. These new optimization requirements suggest modifications to the original lens geometry.
The lateral position of the inner pole pieces of a magnetic lens determines its electron optical center. It is critical this center not move laterally, because this leads to uncontrolled drift of the beam position. Lens and deflection coils generate heat which leads to temperature changes within the lens, so lateral movement of the lens center due to thermal expansion can be a problem. Features of the lens circuit design can alleviate this problem.
Hence there is a need to improve a composite concentric-gap magnetic lens and deflection system, providing a more effective deflection geometry while still avoiding saturation and flux leakage effects, and to minimize thermal expansion drift.

Magnetic lens and deflector with inner and outer pole pieces with conical inner pole piece


A transmission system (10). The transmission system communicates data to a number of subscribers (14a, 14b). The transmission system includes a transceiver (12) that has a number of highly directional antennas (28). A number of digital repeaters (16a, 16b, 16c) are disposed in a geographic region serviced by the transceiver. The repeaters include a sectorized antenna that communicates with subscribers in a number of sectors of the geographic region of the repeater. The repeater also includes an upstream demodulator/modulator circuit (19). The upstream demodulator/modulator circuit demodulates data from signals from subscribers that were modulated with a first modulation technique, and generates a re-modulated signal with the data using a second modulation technique. The second modulation technique is different from the first modulation technique such that the signals from the subscribers from the number of sectors are combined in the re-modulated signal so as to increase the capacity of the transmission system. The digital repeaters also include a highly directional antenna, that is coupled to the demodulator/modulator circuit and that communicates the remodulated signal to the transceiver.

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for information and entertainment, colloquially referred to as "content." This can be seen in the popularity of television, the internet and other content based media that are delivered to subscribers or users over various "pipelines." A pipeline is a system that transmits data from a content provider, e.g., television station, website on the internet, etc., to a subscriber. For example, internet service providers such as AmericaOn Line use the telephony system as a pipeline to transmit information to its subscribers. The subscribers use a computer modem to dial-in to an internet service provider. Once on-line, the subscribers have access to various content providers (websites) and can download or upload information. Unfortunately, this is often a slow and cumbersome technique for conveying large quantities of data because the telephony system has transmission speed and bandwidth limitations. Certain subscribers have installed specialized high-speed telephonic connections, but the practice is not widespread because of the prohibitive costs.
Similarly, various conventional pipelines deliver video information from content providers with varying degrees of success. Conventionally, television stations use a wireless pipeline for delivering content to users. The television stations simply broadcast signals in a dedicated portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Users access the signals with roof-top antennas. Cable systems are also used in many areas. These systems use coaxial cable to deliver video with increased quality and quantity directly to a user's home or premises. However, conventional cable systems do not allow for interactive feedback to the content providers over the cable system. Retrofitting the existing cable systems with this feature will be expensive and time consuming.
In recent years, the industry has developed another broadcast based pipeline for delivering video data to end users. This system is commonly referred to as "wireless cable." Wireless cable transmits microwave signals to subscribers from a central transmitter. The subscribers receive the signals with a microwave antenna that is placed on the roof-top of the subscriber's premises and aimed at the central transmitter.
A main drawback to the wireless cable systems is that there is a limited frequency spectrum that is available. Further, consumers desire to have access to interactive services over this pipeline. Some wireless cable systems have dabbled with providing two-way communication over their wireless cable systems. However, developers are left with the task of increasing the capacity of this pipeline by more efficiently using the limited spectrum that is available.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a transmission system that efficiently uses the assigned spectrum and allows for bidirectional communication.


An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device forming an image; an input device; a beacon receiver; a storage storing definition information for defining a common standby screen, an individual standby screen and a transition destination screen; a display configured to display screens defined by the definition information; and a controller. The controller executes: display control processing of displaying the standby screen and the standby screen on the display when the input device is not operated for a time period; storage control processing of, when receiving the beacon signal, storing beacon information; reception processing of receiving a user's operation of selecting the screen transition object; screen transition processing of, when the operation is received, displaying the transition destination screen; and switching processing of displaying the individual standby screen associated with target identification information only when the standby screen is displayed.

The disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus in which a screen to be displayed on a display is changed by a user's operation.
In the related art, an image forming apparatus configured to receive an instruction from a user through a user interface such as a display and an input device has been known. For example, such a technology is known, which switches a using environment of an electronic device to an environment for a user when the user carrying an identification information transmitting apparatus comes close to the electronic device.

Image forming apparatus, image forming system and computer readable recording medium configured to receive a beacon signal associated with a screen definition information


A control apparatus for a shift-position changing mechanism that changes the shift positions of an automatic transmission mounted in a vehicle using a rotational force of an actuator based on a signal corresponding to the state of an operation member, including: a mechanism that generates a rotational force for moving the actuator toward a rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on a rotation stop position of the actuator; a detection unit that detects a rotation amount of the actuator; a control unit that controls the actuator based on the signal and the detected rotation amount; and a learning unit that learns the rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on an amount by which the actuator has been rotated since a control over the actuator executed by the control unit is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a control over a shift-position changing mechanism, and, more specifically, to a technology for learning a rotation stop positional-range of an actuator, which corresponds to a shift position, based on a change in a rotation stop position of the actuator when electric power is not supplied to the actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a shift-position changing mechanism, which changes shift positions (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "shift ranges") of an automatic transmission in response to an operation of a shift lever performed by a driver, and which is provided with an electric motor (for example, a direct-current motor) as a power source for changing the shift positions.
With such shift-position changing mechanism, the shift lever and the shift-position changing mechanism need not be mechanically connected to each other, unlike a common changing mechanism that directly changes shift positions of an automatic transmission using an operating force applied to a shift lever by a driver. This eliminates the limitation on the layout of components in a vehicle, thereby providing greater flexibility to the vehicle design. In addition, the shift-position changing mechanism thus structured is more easily fitted to the vehicle.
An example of such mechanism is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-323127 (JP-A-2002-323127). A shift range changing device for an automatic transmission described in JP-A-2002-323127 determines the absolute position of an actuator and changes shift positions. The shift range changing device includes: a shift range changing mechanism that changes the shift range of the automatic transmission from among multiple shift ranges including Park; an actuator that serves as a power source for the shift range changing mechanism; control means for changing the shift range of the automatic transmission to the shift range instructed by a changing command, by driving the actuator according to the changing command issued in response to an operation externally performed; power supply means for supplying electric power to the control means; and nonvolatile rewritable storage means for storing the rotational position of the actuator and the shift range position of the automatic transmission. When electric power supply from the power supply means is once shut off and then started again, the control means reads the rotational position of the actuator and the shift range position of the automatic transmission, which are stored in the storage means when electric power supply is shut off, and sets these positions as initial values.
The shift range changing device described in JP-A-2002-323127 is able to determine the absolute position of the actuator, and change the shift ranges of the automatic transmission by driving a detent mechanism to allow the vehicle to start moving.
However, a shift-position changing mechanism usually includes a mechanism that generates an elastic force between mechanically connected components, using the deflection of the component, to maintain the rotational position of an actuator at the position corresponding to the shift position when electric power supply is shut off. Accordingly, the actuator sometimes receives a rotational force from the mechanism after electric power supply is shut off. As a result, the rotational position of the actuator is sometimes changed. In the shift range changing device described in JP-A-2002-323127, if the rotational position of the actuator changes after electric power supply is shut off, the actual rotational position of the actuator may deviates from the initial value corresponding to the shift range position stored in the storage means. This may deteriorate the accuracy of the control over the rotational position of the actuator.

Control apparatus and method for shift-position changing mechanism


A server apparatus connected to a plurality of client apparatuses capable of sending out a message containing environment information to the server apparatus. The server apparatus has a storage for storing environment information in association with each of the client apparatuses and a processor for receiving a message including updated environment information indicative of addition of an interface device connected to the client apparatus from the client apparatus and for updating the environment information in the storage with the updated environment information.

The present technique relates to communication in redundancy management LAN (local area network) environments in network systems for business entities and so on. The present technique relates to a communication management program for causing a computer to execute processing for managing communication with client apparatuses through a network and for responding to a predetermined request received from each client apparatus and also to a communication management method and a communication management apparatus which implement the communication management program.
In order to improve the management efficiency through computerization of correspondence and so on in business activities, network systems, such as LANs (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-273885) is build. When a LAN is installed in a business entity as a network system, it is common to provide the LAN with redundancy for, for example, a network-system downtime due to a failure.
A known technology for a redundancy management LAN will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a client apparatus is quipped with redundancy LAN cards, which include a LAN card A 102 (e.g., LAN A) that is usually used for communication through a LAN and a LAN card B 104 (e.g., LAN B) that is used, through switching, for communication with a management server when the LAN card A fails.
The management server shown in FIG. 7 pre-registers, in a management table, a MAC (media access control) address (e.g., MAC A 202) associated with the LAN card A that is usually used by the client apparatus.
For example, upon receiving a PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) startup request or the like from the client apparatus, the management server determines whether or not a MAC address indicating the transmission source of the request is already registered in the management table. When the MAC address indicating the transmission source and the MAC address registered in the management table match each other, the management server responds to the request, and when the MAC addresses do not match each other, the management server rejects the request.
There is a Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-273885.
However, in the known technology, the management server cannot respond to a case in which switching between LAN cards is performed at the client apparatus, and thus has a problem of rejecting a request from the client apparatus.
That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the LAN card A fails, the client apparatus performs switching from the LAN card A to the LAN card B and transmits, to the management server, a request for permitting the LAN card B as a transmission source. Upon receiving the request from the client apparatus, however, the management server rejects the request from the client, when a MAC address (e.g., MAC B 204) indicating the transmission source of the request does not match a MAC address (e.g., MAC A) registered in the management table. The known technology, therefore, has a problem in that communication may not be established between the management server and the client apparatus.

Information processing apparatus for obtaining address information by a server apparatus of devices in a client apparatus


An ignition switch device is provided with a switching device 2 having a key hole 2a, and capable of being rotationally operated in a predetermined direction with an ignition key K inserted to start and stop the engine of an industrial machine, a case 3 covering the switching device 2 and formed with an insertion hole 3b allowing the key hole 2a to face the outside, a shutter 4 rotatable between a closed position where the insertion hole 3b of the case 3 is closed, and an open position where the insertion hole 3b is opened to allow the key hole 2a to face outside, and a protruding portion 7 formed within the range of rotation of the shutter 4 while protruding from the surface 3a of the case 3 and whose protruding end contacts the rear surface 4b of the shutter 4 while the shutter 4 rotates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ignition switch device which is disposed in a driver's seat of an industrial machine to start and stop an engine of the industrial machine.
2. Background Art
An industrial machine, for example, a construction machine is used in a worksite of engineering works and construction, and includes bulldozers, power shovels, and crane vehicles. An ignition switch device for starting and stopping an engine of the industrial machine is disposed in the driver's seat of such an industrial machine. By rotationally operating an ignition key while inserting the key into a key hole of such an ignition switch device, the engine is started and stopped.
The industrial machine is typically used in the open air in a construction site. Thus, conventionally, in order to prevent muddy water, dust, etc. from entering the key hole, it is desirable that the key hole is provided with a shutter. The shutter is brought into a closed state where it covers the key hole, for example, in the surface of the case. In this state, the shutter can prevent muddy water, dust, etc. from entering the keyhole. In the starting operation or stopping operation of the engine, the shutter is rotated about a rotary shaft on the surface of the case to allow the key hole to face the outside so that the ignition key can be inserted into the key hole. In addition, since such prior art is not related to inventions well-known in literatures, there is no information on prior art documents to be described.
However, in a case where the shutter is simply provided in the above conventional ignition switch device, there is a problem in that, when the shutter is rotated on the surface of the case, scratches are apt to be given to the surface, and the design quality of appearance is impaired. That is, since it is necessary to rotate the shutter while the rear surface of the shutter is made to contact the surface of the case, streaky scratches or the like are apt to be given along a locus of rotation.
In addition, if the shutter is rotated while the rear surface of the shutter is spaced apart from the surface of the case, the scratches as described above will not be given. In this case, however, it is necessary to support the shutter rotatably in a state where the shutter is floated from the surface of the case, and there is a possibility that smooth rotation of the shutter may not be performed due to generation of a gutter or the like. Accordingly, it is necessary to make the rear surface of the shutter contact the surface of the case, and a problem that scratches are given to the surface of the case occurs.


A stator for a rotating electrical machine is disclosed, the stator comprising a plurality of stator slots (22) each of which accommodates a plurality of coils (40) of stator windings (18). Radial air gaps (46) are present between the coils of adjacent stator slots as the coils extend out of the stator slots. Insulating means (42, 54, 84) are provided between the coils of a stator slot as the coils extend out of the stator slot. The radial air gaps (46) are defined between the insulating means of the coils of adjacent stator slots. This can allow radial air passages to be formed through the windings, while ensuring sufficient electrical insulation between the coils of a stator slot.

Rotating electrical machines, such as motors and generators, generally comprise a rotor mounted on a shaft and arranged to rotate inside a stator. The rotor comprises a rotor core which holds rotor windings or permanent magnets. The rotor windings or permanent magnets produce a rotating magnetic field which crosses an air gap between the rotor and the stator. The stator comprises a stator core which holds stator windings which combine with the rotating magnetic field.
The stator of an electrical machine usually comprises slots which accommodate the stator windings. The windings may be wound in the slots in situ, or else pre-formed coils may be inserted into the slots. In either case, it is necessary for the windings to exit one slot and pass around the outside of the stator before entering another slot. The parts of the windings which extend outside of the stator are usually referred to as end windings or overhang windings.
In a multi-phase electrical machine, the stator windings include separate windings for each phase. This may result in the end windings of different phases lying adjacent to each other. In operation, each of the phases is at a different electrical potential.
In a rotating electrical machine the stator normally acts as the armature and carries the main electrical power. Since the end windings of different phases may lie adjacent to each other, considerable electrical potential may be present between the phases. It is therefore necessary to ensure sufficient electrical insulation between the end windings of different phases.
The individual wires in the stator windings are usually electrically insulated by means of an outer insulation layer, which is typically enamel. However faults may develop in the outer insulation layer either due to the manufacturing process, or due to stresses imposed on the wires during construction or use of an insertion tool. In the case of windings at different electrical potentials, this could lead to arcing between the windings. This would make the machine inefficient and could lead to the machine being damaged and ultimately machine failure.
Previous attempts at electrically insulating end windings of different phases have involved inserting insulating barriers, such as composite sheets of meta-aramid material and/or polyester, between the end windings.
The power rating of an electrical machine is often limited by the temperature rise of the stator and rotor when the machine is in use. Furthermore, machines generally operate more efficiently at lower temperatures. In addition, the machine lifespan may be reduced if the machine is operated at high temperatures. Thus many machines are arranged to have air flow through the machine, in order to cool the machine.
However, standard manufacturing processes typically result in end windings with few if any air gaps between the windings. If insulating paper is placed between the windings, this may also restrict the air flow through the windings and thus reduce the cooling efficiency. The non-uniform presence of resin in the end windings may further reduce the consistency and efficacy of any air flow gaps. Lacing string or cording which is used to hold the windings in place may further restrict airflow.
WO 2015/011492 in the name of the present applicant, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a separator for electrically separating groups of end windings in the stator of a rotating electrical machine. The separator is arranged to provide circumferential air channels through the end windings. This can allow airflow to be delivered between different groups of windings, thereby cooling the windings more effectively.
The separator disclosed in WO 2015/011492 can help to improve airflow through the end windings. However it has been found that airflow may still be restricted, in particular near the stator core. Furthermore, it may not always be practical to include such a separator in certain types of machines, particularly smaller machines where space is at a premium. It would therefore be desirable to provide further improvements in air flow and thermal management within electrical machines.

Stator with extended insulator for electric machine


An image pickup apparatus comprises one holding component which holds two or more prisms and an image pickup element. As for the holding component, a prism holding portion and an image pickup element holding portion are formed in one component. At the prism holding portion, an opening is formed. At the image pickup element, the image pickup element holding portion is fixed. Each prism is fixed to the holding component from the both sides of the holding component by fitting a projected portion into a penetration hole, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, particularly, an image pickup apparatus, such as a video camera, a digital still camera, a film scanner, an endoscope, etc., which has a decentering optical system having power at a reflecting surface in the optical apparatus using a small image pickup element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in an image forming optical system for a video camera, a digital still camera, a film scanner, an endoscope, etc., an achieving small-sizing, weight-lightening and low cost as for the optical system itself have been demanded with development of miniaturization of an image pickup element.
Furthermore, recently, a product which contains an electronic imaging optical system in a cellular phone, PDA, a notebook PC, etc. has also come out, and more thinning of the optical system has been desired strongly.
An attachment device in which two or more prism optical systems using a free curved surface etc. are attached in an image pickup element has been conventionally proposed in order to make the optical system thin.
In a conventional example, it has been disclosed that while holding a piece of attachment arranged on the sides of two prisms via a screw to a rod shape component, this rod shape component is fixed to a fixing bracket, and a structure for fixing the fixing bracket which fixes the rod shape component to another fixing bracket, wherein CCD is fixed to the another fixing bracket.


The disclosure is towards an inlet cowl for a turbine engine including a surface defining an inlet with a flow path and a method towards controlling the airflow in the flow path. The inlet cowl further includes an inlet lip and inner and outer barrels. The inlet lip confronts the inner barrel at a junction defining a gap.

Contemporary aircraft turbine engines used in commercial aircraft are conventionally of a fan jet construction, e.g., the engines have a high volume fan at an axially forward end for forcing air into a first flow passage through an axial compressor, combustor and turbine and into a second bypass flow passage for providing thrust. The fan is positioned within a nacelle surrounding and spaced from a core engine housing containing the compressor, combustor and turbine, the space between the nacelle structure and core engine housing defining the bypass flow passage. During static operation of the engine, a crosswind can generate a distorted inlet airflow resulting in undesirable conditions near the fan blades. If not corrected this distorted inlet airflow can affect the efficiency of the compressor and fan blade aeromechanics.


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a fixing step in which semiconductor chips are mounted on and fixed to predetermined positions on an upper surface of a single starting substrate to form individual substrates; a connection step in which electrodes of the semiconductor chips and of the starting substrate are connected by wires; a sealing step in which on the upper surface of the starting substrate, the resin is potted among the semiconductor chips to seal an entire lateral circumference of each of the semiconductor chip; a bonding step in which a single starting protective cover to form individual protective covers is bonded to a surface of the resin so as to extend the semiconductor chips; and a cutting step in which an assembly of the semiconductor devices formed by bonding the starting protective cover to the starting substrate via the resin is cut to the semiconductor devices.

Conventional methods for manufacturing an electronic package component by sealing a semiconductor element in a material, for instance, ceramic to form a hollow construction include a method that involves preparing a substrate having a plurality of concave portions, placing a semiconductor element in each of the concave portions, sealing the respective concave portions with a plate-like sealing member over the entire substrate, and cutting the resultant structure at portions in between any two adjacent concave portions to manufacture individual semiconductor devices (see, for instance, PTL 1).
Also, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by mounting semiconductor elements on a flat plate-like substrate and sealing them with a lid member having formed concave portions to produce semiconductor devices with respective hollow constructions (see, for instance, PTL 2).

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device


The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for managing cloud application in a transparent multiple availability zone cloud platform. A request to access a cloud application running on the multiple availability zone cloud platform is received. The request can include an application location for accessing the cloud application. A network address corresponding to the application location is determined. In response to determining the network address, a first availability zone of the multiple availability zone cloud platform that is currently active to process the request is determined. A plurality of network locations corresponding to a host component of the application location is determined by a first load balancer. A network location of the plurality of network locations for processing the request is identified based on load balancing criteria. The received request is provided to the identified network location for processing by a first instance of the cloud application.

Software complexity is increasing and causes changes to lifecycle management and maintenance of software applications and platform systems. Customer's needs are transforming, with increased requests for flexibility in terms of processes and landscapes, and also for high availability to access software resources provided by the underlying platform infrastructure. A failure in the network connectivity or in the underlying infrastructure may cause disruptions when providing services by the software applications and reduction in their availability and performance.

Transparent multiple availability zones in a cloud platform


Porous membrane contactors and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use are provided. In at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to flat panel hollow fiber or flat sheet membrane contactors and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use. In at least certain particular embodiments, the present invention is directed to hollow fiber array flat panel contactors, contactor systems, and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use. In at least particular possibly preferred embodiments, the contactor is adapted for placement in an air duct (such as an HVAC ductwork) and has a rectangular frame or housing enclosing at least one wound hollow fiber array or membrane bundle.

A membrane contactor may be used for many purposes, including but not limited to, removing entrained gases from liquids, debubbling liquids, filtering liquids, and adding a gas to a liquid. Membrane contactors are known to be used in many different applications, for example, a membrane contactor may be used in removing entrained gases from inks used in printing.
Membrane contactors may also provide a means of accomplishing gas/gas, gas/liquid, and liquid/liquid (which can encompass liquid/dissolved solid) separations, transfers or additions. Membrane contactors typically are used to bring two immiscible fluid phases—for example, a first liquid and a second liquid, or a gas and a liquid—into contact with one another to effect separation and/or transfer of one or more components from one fluid to the other.
A hollow fiber membrane contactor typically includes a cylindrical bundle or mat of microporous hollow fibers, and a rigid cylindrical shell or housing enclosing the fiber bundle. The shell may be provided with multiple ports, for example, four fluid ports: an inlet for introducing the first fluid, an outlet for discharging the first fluid, an inlet for introducing the second fluid, and an outlet for discharging the second fluid. The hollow fibers may be potted on both ends, within the housing, to form polymeric tube sheets with the fiber bores opening on each end into common first and second end cap portions of the shell. In a "tube-side" or "lumen-side" contactor, the first end cap may contain the inlet for the first fluid, which is designated the "tube-side" or "lumen-side" fluid because it is the fluid that passes through the internal lumens of the fibers. The second end cap contains the outlet for discharging the lumen-side fluid. The second fluid, designated the "shell-side" fluid, typically enters and exits the housing through inlet and outlet ports arranged between the tube sheets, whereby the shell-side fluid contacts the external surfaces of the fibers. The shell-side fluid flows through the interstices between fibers of the fiber bundle, and may be directed to flow parallel or perpendicular to the fiber length.
In a "shell-side" contactor, the contactor may include a central core which passes through the end caps and has a first end serving as the inlet for the first fluid, which is designated the "shell-side" fluid because it is the fluid that passes over the exterior or shell of the hollow fibers. The first end cap may contain the inlet for the second fluid, which is designated the "tube-side" or "lumen-side" fluid because it is the fluid that passes through the internal lumens of the fibers. The second end cap contains the outlet for discharging the lumen-side fluid. The first fluid, designated the "shell-side" fluid, typically enters and exits the housing through inlet and outlet ports (open ends) of the perforated core, and typically exits and re-enters the perforations in the core between the tube sheets whereby the shell-side fluid contacts the external surfaces of the fibers. The shell-side fluid flows through the interstices between fibers of the fiber bundle, and may be directed to flow parallel or perpendicular to the fiber length.
Because the tube sheets separate the lumen-side fluid from the shell-side fluid, the lumen-side fluid does not mix with the shell-side fluid, and the only transfer between the lumen-side fluid and the shell-side fluid occurs through the walls of the hollow fibers. The fine pores in the fiber wall are normally filled with a stationary layer of one of the two fluids, the other fluid being excluded from the pores due to surface tension and/or pressure differential effects. Mass transfer and separation are usually caused by diffusion, which is driven by the difference in concentration of the transferring species between the two phases. Typically, no convective or bulk flow occurs across the membrane.
In the case of gas/liquid separations, membrane contactors are typically fabricated with hydrophobic hollow fiber microporous membranes. Since the membranes are hydrophobic and have very small pores, liquid will not easily pass through the pores. The membranes act as an inert support that brings the liquid and gas phases into direct contact, without dispersion. The mass transfer between the two phases is typically governed by the difference in partial pressure of the gas species being transferred.
For liquid systems, the liquid/liquid interface at each pore is typically immobilized by the appropriate selection of membrane and liquid phase pressures. In this case, the membrane also acts as an inert support to facilitate direct contacting of two immiscible phases without mixing.
Such known mainly cylindrically shaped membrane contactors can be utilized for a variety of applications, including the separation of a component from a fluid or transferring a component of one fluid to another. For example, a membrane contactor can be used in removal of contaminants from an effluent stream. In many industrial processes, a contaminated effluent stream is generated as a by-product. In view of environmental concerns, the desire to separate components, the need to protect equipment, and/or efforts to improve process efficiency, it is often necessary or desirable to, for example, remove one or more components or contaminants from the effluent stream so that the component or contaminant does not pollute the environment, negatively effect equipment, or so that it may be recycled. Existing industrial processes frequently must be upgraded to reduce environmental emissions and/or increase efficiency. Therefore, a need often arises for a process and system that can be economically retrofit to an existing plant to reduce emissions, protect equipment, recycle, or improve efficiency.
At least certain existing membrane contactors have been found less than fully satisfactory in particular applications, for certain conditions, or the like. For example, most shell-type contactors typically must operate at elevated pressures. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved hollow fiber membrane contactor having improved design or characteristics over known membrane contactors, for use in particular applications, for use in certain conditions, and/or the like. It is to the provision of a porous hollow fiber membrane device and/or method meeting these and/or other needs that at least selected embodiments of the present invention may be directed.
The use of porous materials for the selective passage of gases and blockage of liquids is known. For example, LIQUI-CEL® hollow fiber membrane contactors, sold by Membrana-Charlotte a division of Celgard, LLC of Charlotte, N.C., are used for degassing or debubbling liquids. More particularly, LIQUI-CEL® membrane contactors are used extensively for deaeration of liquids in the microelectronics, pharmaceutical, power, food, beverage, industrial, photographic, ink, and analytical markets around the world.
The use of porous materials for the selective passage of humidity (moisture vapor) and blockage of liquid water, liquid desiccant, or other aqueous solutions may be known. In such liquid-desiccant systems, temperature and humidity may be controlled by a salt solution (or desiccant) which absorbs or emits water vapor.
The use of porous materials for the selective passage of water vapor (heat and moisture) and the blockage of gasses (exhaust and intake gases) may be known in connection with energy recovery ventilation (ERV) wherein heat and humidity are exchanged between make-up and exhaust air in a ventilation system.
The use of a membrane with a gas permeable separation layer such as PMP or silicone is known for selective gas/gas and gas/liquid exchange. Such applications can be used to separate selective gasses such as water vapor from an air stream.
While possibly certain such porous materials for the selective passage of gases or humidity (moisture vapor) and blockage of liquid water or salt water may have met with commercial success, such as RO membranes sold by Dow Chemical, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes sold by W. L. Gore, BHA, and others, there is a need for improved porous materials so that they may be used in a wider spectrum of applications, may perform better for particular purposes, under certain conditions, or the like. Also, a need exists for an improved membrane contactor having improved design or characteristics over known membrane contactors, for use in particular applications, for use in certain conditions, and/or the like. It is to the provision of a porous membrane device and/or method meeting these and/or other needs that at least certain selected embodiments of the present invention may be directed.


The present invention provides a media flow control system, by which it is possible to describe flow of applications operated in a plurality of media and to facilitate unification of flows of each of media and preparation and change of the flows. A flow common to all media is described in a common flow definition 111, and in case it is to define different flows for each of media as not definable by the common flow, the flows are described in an individual definition for each of media using a media identifier. In case there is an individual flow definition in a flow definition 11, a flow conversion program 12 for each of media converts the common flow definition 111 and the individual flow definition 112 to flow definitions for each of media and stores them in flow definition storage units 131 to 133. The flow definitions in the flow definition storage units 131 to 133 are converted to programs for exclusive use for the media, which a generator 14 controls in each of media, and these are stored in program storage units 151 to 153 respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow control system of applications operated on a plurality of media, and in particular to a media flow control system, by which it is possible to achieve description of flow of applications on a plurality of media without being conscious of types of media.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, in case various types of communication media such as telephone, facsimile, CAPTAIN terminal, personal computer, information portable terminal, etc. connected to electronic computer are utilized as data input/output terminal, a flow control system of applications corresponding to these communication media has been used, and the flow control system is managed and operated for each application corresponding to the communication media.
However, in the conventional type flow control system of applications, there have been the following problems:
(1) An application to correspond to each of the communication media is to be prepared, and flow is different for each of the media.
(2) In case the flow of application once prepared is to be changed, it is necessary to change program for each of the media, and much labor and time are required for the change.
(3) Because picture (screen) design information is included in program in the flow control system of personal computer, it is not very easy to perform picture design editing.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery, which is low in capacity loss after overdischarge, having excellent capacity restorability after overdischarge and shows an effect of preventing a battery from swelling at a high temperature.

Recently, as mobile communication industries and information electronic industries progress in various technologies, a light-weight, high-capacity lithium secondary battery is increasingly in demand. However, a lithium secondary battery may ignite and explode due to extreme heat emission when it is over-charged or is in a short circuit state. Moreover, when a lithium secondary battery is overdischarged below a normal voltage range, its capacity is significantly reduced, preventing forthcoming use.
For these reasons, a safety device like a protection circuit, a PTC element, etc., has been attached to a lithium secondary battery since lithium secondary batteries were first developed. However, such protection circuits, PTCs, etc., are not preferable because they are expensive and take up a large volume, thereby increasing the price, volume and weight of a battery. Therefore, batteries with a reduced manufacturing cost and an increased battery capacity without using such a protection circuit, PTC, etc., are very much in demand.
Conventionally, an organic or an inorganic additive is used in a non-aqueous electrolyte, or the outer structure of a battery is changed for the purpose of ensuring battery safety when a battery is over-charged or has short-circuited. However, when a battery is overdischarged below an adequate voltage, even if one tries to charge the battery again, the battery capacity is so significantly reduced that the battery are no longer capable of charge/discharge.
Conventional lithium secondary batteries developed hitherto have a structure in which discharge is limited and terminated by an anode during overdischarge. Particularly, when a non-aqueous lithium secondary battery is first charged, a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film is formed on the surface of an anode. In this case, a great amount of lithium ions released from a cathode are used and thus the amount of Li participating in charge/discharge is reduced. When over-discharging occurs in the state in which the amount of Li is reduced, activated Li sites in the cathode are not fully occupied and the cathode voltage is not decreased below a certain voltage. Therefore, discharge is terminated by the anode (see FIG. 1).
Meanwhile, a battery capacity is significantly reduced by the following reasons. A battery voltage is defined by a difference between a cathode voltage and an anode voltage. Additionally, a battery is continuously discharged at a low electric current, even after the battery voltage is decreased below a general-use voltage. At this case, due to the consumption of Li ion in the anode, the cathode voltage is no longer reduced and thus it is slowly decreased. On the other hand, the anode voltage rapidly increases and eventually rises to 3.6 V, at which point a copper foil used as an anode collector is oxidized. Thus, the copper foil is dissolved in a copper ion state to contaminate an electrolyte. After that, when the battery is re-charged the copper ion is attached again to the surface of the anode and thus the anode active material becomes unusable. Therefore, if oxidization of the copper foil occurs, the battery capacity is rapidly reduced after overdischarge, so that the battery becomes unusable.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a battery, discharge of which is limited by a cathode, so that the battery capacity may not be significantly reduced after overdischarge. Further, a new method for making such a cathode-limited battery is very much in demand.

Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery