A device (10) for producing die-cast components with a die-casting mold (12) and a discharge device which is provided for controlled evacuation of a mold cavity and which includes at least one vacuum unit (18) and at least one suction line (20) which connects the die-casting mold. The suction line (20) terminates at a mold vacuum valve (21) in the mold cavity. The device is connected to a central control system (1). A filter module (2) is inserted in the at least one suction line (20) which contains at least one filter, a moisture sensor, and a pressure sensor.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
A generic device for producing die-cast components is known from DE 30 02 886 C2. In this as in other known die-casting machines with discharge devices for ventilating the casting molds, the last mold filling is carried out with liquid metal in conjunction with the evacuation of the mold within a few milliseconds. The objective in this instance is to achieve the highest possible vacuum in the mold cavity of the casting mold in order to achieve the highest possible quality of the cast component.
EP 0 600 324 A1 describes a method for producing a vacuum in a vacuum die-casting machine. in which the vacuum which is intended to be applied to the die-casting mold can be subjected to a control operation during the casting process. In this instance, the vacuum applied via a vacuum valve is controlled by means of a switching valve in terms of the pressure path thereof in such a manner that the pressure in the mold cavity, in the casting chamber and in the suction pipe is controlled per time unit in accordance with a specific adjustable function. The reduced pressure is detected by means of a vacuum measuring probe which measures the pressure in a vacuum connection line.
In a die-casting method, however, it is also necessary to use separation and lubrication media. These additives are primarily intended to produce a separation layer between the liquid metal and the contour of the casting mold so that an adhesion of the metal to the casting mold is prevented. This occurs in particular with aluminum casting as a result of the high affinity of the aluminum for chilling the casting mold. Generally, for the production of the blocking layer mentioned, water-miscible separation media are used. As a result of these separation media, a cooling or temperature control of the die-casting mold is further achieved.
The disadvantage with these devices or methods is, however, that after removing the cast component a new application of separation medium is required and, when the casting mold is blown dry, residual moisture remains in the mold cavity. As a result of the subsequent evacuation operation of the casting mold, although this residual moisture can be removed by a given percentage from the mold cavity together with other gases which occur during the casting operation, a degree of residual moisture always remains in the casting mold. However, this residual moisture remaining in the die-casting mold reacts in a subsequent casting operation with the liquid metal again with gas being formed. The gas then becomes evident in the form of porosity or cavities in the completed cast component. There is thereby produced a considerable quality reduction of the completed cast component.
EP0819487B1 discloses a device for producing die-cast components which has two valves which are arranged in a suction line. The two valves which are connected in parallel produce or interrupt the connection between a vacuum tank and a die-casting mold. As a result of the closure of the two valves, a so-called reference space is produced in the suction line. This reference space reflects the state which existed when the last evacuation process of the die-casting mold was ended. It is thereby possible in a simple manner to determine extremely different parameters which are decisive for the quality of the die-casting, in particular the residual moisture content in the system, and to control the device accordingly. DE10022560 A1 discloses a die-casting arrangement which has a pressure monitoring system on the ventilation channel which has a valve and a filter.
All the components of the system, above all valves and sensors, are subjected to significant wear and are maintenance-intensive.
DE4313800 A1 discloses a method for controlling a die-casting device with controlled evacuation. This control system is central, but has no modules which are provided for different tasks.
DE 20 2004 017 551 U1 discloses a control system for hydraulic and pneumatic components.

Device, control system and filter module for producing die-cast parts, and method therefor


A network system comprises a first communication device and a second communication device. When device failure caused in the first communication device, the first communication device generates the device failure information and transmits the device failure information to the second communication device. The second communication device receives the device failure information, and memorizes the device failure information, and makes a display unit display the device failure information.

The present invention relates to a network system and a communication device. Particularly, the present invention relates to a network system with ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) communication devices such as ATM-HUB/ATM handler/ATM router/ATM switching unit accomodating line interfaces (NNI/UNI) of the ATM layer such as SDH/SONET/E3/DS3 (HEC/PLCP) for B-ISDN (Broadband-Integrated Service Digital Network).
In late years, as multi-media advances, B-ISDN receives attention as a leading part for next-generation communication network. Thus, it is expected that B-ISDN is used for a big and complicated network such as WAN (Wide Area Network) and OCN.
Accordingly, as for ATM communication device connected to B-ISDN, when it is expected that a communication failure occurs during the maintenance is operation, it is desirable to previously communicate contents of the communication failure to a transmission device (such as another ATM communication device and terminal) connected to another B-ISDN.
Here, in the conventional network system, concerning communication failures occurring between segments or end-to-end, the ATM communication device constituting a network notifies and detects line failures according to the following protocol so as to manage communication quality of NNI (Network Node Interface)/UNI (User Network Interface).
That is, in the conventional network system, when an ATM communication device to be a receiving device detects a communication failure such as LOS (Loss Of Signal)/LOF (Loss Of Frame)/OOP (Out Of Frame)/LOP (Loss Of Pointer)/LOP (Loss Of Cell) prescribed by SDH/SONET/E3/DS3 (HEC/PLCP), the ATM communication device transfers a failure alarm such as MS-RDI, P-RDI or P-YELLOW to an ATM communication device to be an opposing device. Then, the ATM communication device which receives a failure alarm performs the process corresponding to the failure alarm.
However, in the conventional network system, there are following problems. That is, in the conventional network system, for example, as to any ATM communication device constituting this network system, when there is a phenomenon independent of line quality such as stop by outage and a operator, an ATM communication device to be an opposite device to that ATM communication device detects a communication failure such as LOS/LOF/OOF/LOP/LOC.
However, LOS/LOF/OOF/LOP/LOC are information showing only a condition of the communication failure in the network but a cause of the communication failure. Thus, it is impossible for the ATM communication device which has detected the communication failure to know whether this communication failure is caused by quality deterioration of the network system (such as failure of ATM communication device and degradation of cable) or is caused by another cause (above-mentioned outage and stop of hand oprated power supply). As the result, in the conventional network system, there is a case that it is impossible for an ATM communication device which has detected a communication failure and an administrator of the communication device (an administrator of the network system) to deal with the communication failure according to the cause thereof.
The present invention is achieved in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object the provision of a network system and a communication device capable of dealing with communication failures more suitably than the conventional network system and communication device.
The present invention introduces the following aspects to solve the above-described problems. That is, the first aspects of the present invention is network system in which a first communication device and a second communication device are connected through a communication line. The first communication device comprises a detection unit detecting an device failure caused in the first communication device, a notification unit gererating device failure information about the device failure detected by the detection unit and transmitting the device failure information to the second communication device, and the second communication device comprises the receiving unit receiving the device failure information from the first communication device, the memory unit memorizing the device failure information received by the receiving unit, and a display control unit displaying the failure alarm and the device failure information memorized in the memory means.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when device failure causes in the first communication device, the first communication device transmits the device failure information to the second communication device. The second communication device makes a display unit display the device failure information. Thus, the administrator of the second communication device or the administrator of the network system, when the communication failure causes between the first communication device and the second communication device, can clearly know that the communication failure is caused by the device failure of the first communication device. Thus, the administrators can deal with the communication failure appropriately.
Here, the device failure is, for example, that power supply of the first communication device is stopped by human power, that electric power to be supplied to the first communication device by a power source lowers than a predetermined value, that a registration of the communication line connecting the first communication device and the second communication device is canceled by a operator and that the communication line is physically cut by external power as the device failure.
As to first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the detection unit detects communication failure caused between the first communication device and the second communication device, and the notification unit generates failure alarm information about the communication failure detected by the detection unit and transmits the failure alarm information to the second communication device, and the receiving unit receives the failure alarm information from the first communication device, and the memory unit memorizes the failure alarm information by the recceiving means, and the display control unit makes a display unit display the failure alarm information memorized in the memory means.
As to first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that further comprises a another communication device connecting to the second communication device through the communication line, and the second communication device, when the device failure information is memorized in the memory unit, transmits information equal to the device failure information to the another communication device. In this case, it is possible to transmit the device failure information to another communication device downstream from the second communication device. As another communication device, a transmission unit or a terminal equipment is also used. In addition, when a plurality of other communication devices are connected to the second communication device, it is preferable that in-device failure information is multi-cast to these communication devices.
Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the first communication device and the second communication device are ATM communication devices. As ATM communication devices, it is possible to mention an ATM-HUB, an ATM router, an ATM handler, an ATM switching unit and so on. In this case, it is preferable that the notification unit generates a operation and maintenance cell storing the device failure information and transmits the cell to the second communication device and that the memory unit memorizes the device failure information extracted from the operation and maintenance cell.
The second aspect of the present invention is a communication device connected to another communication device through a communication line. The communication device comprises a receiving unit receiving device failure information about device failure caused in the another communication device from the another communication device, a memory unit memorizing the device failure information received by the receiving means, and a display control unit making a display unit display the device failure information memorized in the memory unit.
The third aspect of the present invention is a communication device connected to another communication device through a communication line and making a display unit display device failure information. The communication device comprises a detection unit detecting device failure caused in the communication device, and a notification unit gererating device failure information about the device failure detected by the detection means and transmitting the device failure information to the second communication device.
According to the network system and the communication device of the present invention, it is possible to know that a communication failure occurring between communication devices is caused by the device failure of one communication device from the other communication device, therefore, it is possible to deal with the communication failure appropriately.


Disclosed is a process for the manufacture, by coating, of a plastic web. A plastisol is deposited as a layer onto a flat support, to obtain a coating layer in the pasty state. Before the plastisol is gelled, powdering is performed by accelerating particles of plastic powder toward, the external surface of the coating layer. The powder includes particles of a thermoplastic material capable of at least partially being integrated into or dissolving in the plastisol. The particles are homogeneously incorporated in order to form a single matrix with the thermoplastic base material of the plastisol.

The present invention relates to the manufacture, by coating, of a relatively thin plastic web generally including at least one coating layer, itself comprising a substrate made up of at least one thermoplastic base material, especially a chlorine-containing polymer or copolymer, for example polyvinyl chloride. The coating layer optionally forms the only layer of the plastic web; it may be associated with or bound to any appropriate support, for example a nonwoven of inorganic, for example glass, fibers. Such plastic webs can be employed as floor or wall coverings, as tarpaulins or else as furniture- or motor vehicle coverings.
The present invention will now be introduced, defined, described and discussed with reference to floor or wall coverings obtained in the form of rolls or tiles from a plastic web as described above.
As is known, such coverings include one or more layers obtained by calendering or coating and themselves comprising multiple or varied decorations onto which can be optionally applied a protective layer called a wear layer, the latter contributing mechanical strength and physicochemical resistance to the coverings. These same coverings may also exhibit a relief effect, optionally corresponding to the decoration and obtained mechanically or chemically, for example by inhibition of a foaming of the substrate with one or more coating layers.
In the description which follows and the claims the following expressions carry the meanings given below:
"coating layer" is a layer obtained by applying onto a support a thin layer of material in fluid form, called a plastisol, the plastisol being a dispersion of fine particles of polymer in a liquid mixture of one or more plasticizers; a simple raising of temperature changes the coating layer from the fluid state into the solid state; this is gelling; PA1 "calendered layer" is a layer obtained on an already gelled solid mixture of plastic heated by forced passes between two or more hot rolls. PA1 a) a plastisol is placed or obtained in the pasty state, that is to say in a relatively liquid or semiliquid state, including the plastic substrate in divided form and a plasticizing agent; PA1 b) the plastisol is deposited as a layer onto a flat support to obtain the coating layer in the pasty state; PA1 c) the plastisol is gelled to obtain the coating layer in the solid state, but relatively plastic; PA1 d) optionally, after the gelling state c), the coating layer is grained or goffered. PA1 (a) a plastisol is arranged in the pasty state, including the substrate in divided form and a plasticizing agent; PA1 (b) the plastisol is deposited as a layer onto a flat support to obtain the coating layer in the pasty state; PA1 (c) the plastisol is gelled to obtain said coating layer in the solid state but plastic; and PA1 between the stage (b) of formation of the coating layer and the stage (c) of gelling of the plastisol, at least one stage of powdering is performed, according to which particles of plastic powder are accelerated merely by gravity toward the external surface of the coating layer in the pasty state, and the particles thus accelerated are distributed according to the external surface of said coating layer. PA1 the acceleration is voluntary and the voluntary acceleration and the distribution are performed in such a way that the particles are incorporated homogeneously in at least one, top and/or back, surface layer of the coating layer. PA1 (A) a source of a plastisol in the pasty state including the substrate in divided form and a plasticizing agent; PA1 (B) a station for depositing the plastisol as a layer onto a flat support, to obtain the coating layer in the pasty state; PA1 (C) a station for gelling the plastisol, to obtain said coating layer in the solid state but plastic; PA1 and between the station (B) for depositing the coating layer and the station (C) for gelling the plastisol, a station for powdering is placed. PA1 a source of a plastic powder including particles of at least one thermoplastic material for incorporation; PA1 means for accelerating the particles of the powder toward the external surface of the coating layer in the pasty state and for distributing the particles thus accelerated according to the external surface of said coating layer, which are arranged and controlled in order to homogeneously incorporate the distributed and accelerated particles in at least one surface layer of the coating layer.
In general, to obtain by coating a covering which can be considered similar to at least one plastic web, at least the following stages are linked into a sequence:
It is known in various documents, for example Patent Applications EP-A-0 252 430, GB-A-1 033 923, GB-A-1 569 943, U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,741 and WO-A-87/01972, to incorporate plastic-based particles used to create a decorative effect in the coating layer, for example by encapsulation (EP-A-0 252 430) or else by sedimentation (U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,741).
The process generally used in these documents is a process for the manufacture of a plastic web including at least one coating layer comprising a substrate made up of at least one thermoplastic base material, especially a chlorine-containing polymer or copolymer, for example polyvinyl chloride, said process including at least the following stages:
The process described above consequently requires the use of a plastisol in the pasty state, made up traditionally of the thermoplastic base material, for example polyvinyl chloride, in divided or discrete form, dispersed in a plasticizing agent in liquid form.
However, the use of plastisols of this type does not remain problem-free, because it requires the use of a large quantity of plasticizers, for example a proportion of plasticizer of between 55 to 65 per cent by weight of the quantity of base plastic, to obtain a viscosity which is acceptable for the coating tools, such as doctor blades and to allow good deaeration of the coating layer(s) formed. The plasticizers most commonly employed are organic derivatives of acids such as phthalic acid, phosphoric acid, benzoic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, glutaric acid, lauric acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, capric acid and trimellitic acid. On the other hand, this large quantity of plasticizers does not make it possible to obtain a coating exhibiting acceptable surface properties once the layers are gelled, and the coating exhibits in particular a stain resistance and soiling by pedestrian traffic which rule it out, a greasy and adhesive feel, an unpleasant odor, excessive flexibility and an exaggerated and permanent tendency to exudation.
In order to overcome these disadvantages the manufacturers of coverings often add plastifiers to replace a proportion of the plasticizers, and this also makes it possible to obtain viscosities which are lower than with plasticizers alone, the low viscosities being desired to allow coating at high speed and therefore economically advantageous. These are generally low-viscosity organic liquids, for example petroleum cuts with a boiling range of between 130.degree. C. and 320.degree. C., or products such as dodecylbenzene and texanol isobutyrate. The coating layer formulations, for example PVC-based, may contain plastifiers in a proportion of 5 to 20 per cent by weight of the quantity of base plastic, and this allows the proportion of plasticizer in the formulation to be lowered to approximately 40 to 50 per cent by weight of the quantity of base plastic. The feel and the stain resistance thus become acceptable.
Despite this advantage, the use of plastifiers creates another problem, namely in that they give rise to large volumes of volatile organic components (VOC). In particular, the use of plastifiers does not make it possible to meet the new requirements relating to air quality. Volatilization of these components on industrial sites, for example during the gelling of the plastic layers, is unavoidable and requires costly plant for the condensation and trapping of the effluents. Furthermore, even after gelling, the coating comprising plastifiers continues to give off VOCs by evaporation throughout its use, and this is reflected in odor problems and headaches in places where these products are installed. New European legislations will set a maximum quantity for the release of these VOCs and the plastifiers currently employed are aimed at in particular.
It is also important to stress that the use of plastifiers does not make it possible to reduce the quantity of plasticizers below a certain proportion.
To avoid employing plastifiers, and in coating technology, it might be assumed that it would be sufficient quite simply to increase the quantity of plasticizer in the base plastisol, as overplasticizer, in order to keep a viscosity which is compatible with processability on production equipment. This solution unfortunately gives a final product in the form of a web which is adhesive and unsuitable in particular for use as floor covering.

Process for the manufacture of a plastic web by coating


A device is provided for monitoring waters, particularly swimming pools, including at least one control unit assigned to one person which includes at least one sensor device, one analysis device and one transmitter; at least one receiving device disposed within the waters; at least one transmission device which is signal-connected to the receiving device; and at least one display unit which is signal-connected to the transmitter. The transmitter is designed such that it emits signals of a predetermined pattern in the event of an alarm, and the receiving device is designed such that it recognizes a case of alarm based on the predetermined pattern of the signal and emits an alarm signal to at least one display unit.

A means and method for monitoring waters, particularly swimming pools, comprising control units assigned to persons to be monitored which emit signals at least in emergency situations and at least one receiving device connected to a display unit to display an alarm signal, as well as a method for actively and passively monitoring waters.
An estimated approximately 40,000 people drown each year in Europe in swimming accidents.
Swimmers who get into trouble are frequently able to get the attention of other bathers, for example by the movement of their arms in their attempts to stay above water. Yet it is likewise also possible for a swimmer to lose consciousness without being noticed by those around him. Normally, the unconscious swimmer will sink to the bottom out of the sight of the other bathers.
Starting from the loss of consciousness, the first step in drowning, an experienced helper has roughly two to three minutes to save someone who is drowning. Within this period of time, a drowning person will generally not suffer any long-term consequences from the accident. Should rescue occur between three and five minutes after consciousness has been lost, there is still a high chance of saving the drowning person. Beyond five minutes, the risk of death is very high.
Systems to monitor swimmers have previously not been widely adopted at beach areas nor in man-made swimming pools. One system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,714, for example, in which a swimmer wears a radio transmitter comprising a contact on his wrist which closes when his arm is submerged under water. If the arm remains underwater for a longer, predetermined period of time, an acoustic signal is emitted which is received by a hydrophone. It is difficult with this system to specify a length of time after which the swimmer needs to raise his arm above the water in order to prevent or stop the emitting of the acoustic signal, given for example swimmers of differing abilities or desires. Particularly with a plurality of swimmers, confusion can arise as to which transmitter sent the alarm signal. Hence, a certain interval of time can elapse before a continuous signal, and thus an emergency situation, is recognized. As a result, the time available for rescue operations is shortened.
In high-traffic areas such as swimming pools, it becomes more difficult for receivers to positively identify distress signals due to interference signals from various different sources. This is particularly true when a system uses transmitters which transmit their signals underwater to trigger alarms, audio signals being particularly well-suited for this purpose.
A monitoring system is known from DE 101 16 000 A1 in which a transmitter likewise disposed on the wrist of the swimmer continually emits sound waves outside of the range audible to human hearing. These sound waves are detected by receivers arranged above the surface of the water. Because of the density of water, the emitted sound waves become absorbed as the depth of the transmitter in the water increases. An alarm is triggered when the acoustic signal from a specific transmitter stops being received. Apart from the high amount of energy such systems use, they also require exacting placement of the receiver since as the horizontal distance of the transmitter from the receiver increases, even the signals from a transmitter at only a slight depth of water will be absorbed.
The known systems offer no possibility of preventing accidents by monitoring waters which people use illicitly, for example outside of actively-monitored periods, or into which people fall accidentally.
The present invention addresses the task of providing a means as well as a method for monitoring waters which overcomes the disadvantages of the known systems.

Device and method for monitoring a person in water


An occupant protection device having an inflatable airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle. The airbag being designed is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers both the side wall and/or the side window of the vehicle and also the rear window and/or the rear wall of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to an occupant protection device having an inflatable airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle.
An exemplary occupant protection device is described in German utility model G 92 02 725.3 (incorporated by reference herein). In the disclosed occupant protection device, an airbag is integrated in a backrest or in a head restraint of a vehicle seat. In the event of an accident, the airbag is inflated and unfolds. The airbag has three airbag sections: as it inflates, a first airbag section pushes between the head of the vehicle occupant and the side door of the vehicle; this first airbag section is referred to in the utility model as an "outer side cushion". Approximately at right angles to this outer side cushion, a "skull cushion" is provided as a second airbag section and is positioned above the vehicle occupant's head. A wedge-shaped extension is integrally formed on the skull cushion as a third airbag section and, as the airbag swells, pushes behind the driver's neck. In summary, the previously known occupant protection device therefore has an airbag which is integrated in the seat or in the head restraint of the seat and, after inflation, is intended to provide "all-round" protection.
Another exemplary occupant protection device is described in German utility model 297 16 574 U1 (incorporated by reference herein). The disclosed occupant protection device has side airbags which are integrated in the rooflining covering. The side airbags are connected to a gas generator which is accommodated in the rear region of the vehicle.
German Offenlegungsschrift 199 37 678 (incorporated by reference herein) describes an occupant restraint device in a lorry. In this device, a holding container for an airbag is situated between the driver's seat and the rear wall or the backlight of the lorry. In the event of an accident, the airbag unfolds between the driver's seat and the rear wall, as a result of which the vehicle occupant's head is prevented from striking against the rear wall or against the backlight of the lorry.
Rear region airbags which unfold between the rear window of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant's head are also described in U.S. patent specification 2,834,606 (incorporated by reference herein).


A method for producing an aromatic polysulfone by a polycondensation reaction between an aromatic dihalogenosulfone compound and an aromatic dihydroxy compound is described. The polycondensation reaction is performed in the presence of at least one aromatic end-capping agent; and an amount, p mol, of the aromatic dihalogenosulfone compound, an amount, q mol, of the aromatic dihydroxy compound, and an amount, r mol, of the aromatic end-capping agent have a relationship satisfying formula (S1) below and formula (S2) below:r/(p−q)<2   (S1), andp>q   (S2).

An aromatic polysulfone is excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance and, therefore, is used as a material for producing molded articles. An aromatic polysulfone is usually produced by subjecting an aromatic dihalogenosulfone compound and an aromatic dihydroxy compound to a polycondensation reaction in the presence of a base and a reaction solvent (for example, Patent Document 1). As a consequence, the aromatic polysulfone obtained by a polycondensation reaction of an aromatic dihalogenosulfone compound with an aromatic dihydroxy compound has a halogen atom or a phenolic hydroxyl group at its end(s).
In recent years, movement toward regulation of halogen materials generating harmful substances at the time of burning has been becoming active due to environmental considerations. Particularly, in applications to electrical/electronic parts, the regulation is becoming stringent, and there is a demand to suppress the halogen atom content of the molded articles to about 1000 ppm or less.
In conventional aromatic polysulfones having halogen atoms at ends thereof, the halogen atom content is usually about several thousands ppm; therefore, such conventional aromatic polysulfones are not suitable for the aforementioned applications. On the other hand, aromatic polysulfones having phenolic hydroxyl groups at ends thereof contain less amount of halogen atoms, but have insufficient thermal stability; for example discoloration is likely to occur when heated.
As a method for reducing the halogen atom content of the aromatic polysulfone having halogen atoms at ends thereof, a method in which the halogen atoms at ends of the aromatic polysulfone are substituted with a compound free of a halogen atom known. In the production methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, in view of the difference in amount between the aromatic dihalogenosulfone compound and the aromatic dihydroxy compound, two or more equivalents of a compound substituting the halogen atoms at the ends of the aromatic polysulfone are used to thereby reduce the halogen atom content of the aromatic polysulfone.

Method for producing aromatic polysulfone


A nozzle is able to reliably coat and solder a paste-like solder onto a joined member to be soldered, e.g., a plurality of surfaces of two surfaces or more including a joined corner of a metal plate and a base. In a nozzle (1A) according to the present invention, an inner wall length of a tip end portion (4) of a pipe forming a nozzle body (2) is selected such that one side portion (4A) side is reduced in length and an opposite portion (4B) side opposing the one side portion (4A) side is increased in length and an outlet (5) with a sunken opening (5A) is formed at the tip end portion (4) by progressively approaching an inner wall surface (4b) of the other side portion (4B) side to an inner wall surface (4a) of the one side portion (4A) side. Thus, a paste-like solder (S) to be escaped flows in an oblique direction different from the direction in which a fluid guided by the nozzle body (2) portion flows.

The present invention relates to a nozzle through which a fluid such as a paste-like solder can escape and flow in a desired condition, and particularly to a structure of an outlet of such nozzle for a soldering apparatus.
When electronic devices, for example, are manufactured, as shown in FIG. 1, a metal electronic assembly (hereinafter simply referred to as "metal plate") P such as an electrostatic shield plate or a magnetic shield case is soldered vertically to the end face of a printed-circuit board or a chassis (hereinafter simply referred to as "base") B on which electronic circuits are fabricated at several joint portions in such a manner that the base B and the metal plate P make two or three surfaces which are perpendicular to each other. In FIG. 1, reference letters S denote solder mass obtained after the whole of the assembly with the solders coated thereon. The solder S has been heated in a furnace at a high temperature and soldered in next process.
In general, this paste-like solder is adhered or coated by using a nozzle 10 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the nozzle 10 comprises a nozzle body 12 of a straight pipe shape, a supply opening 11 formed with the nozzle body 12, a tip end portion 13, and an outlet 14 formed by cutting the tip end portion 13 of the nozzle body 12 at an angle of 45.degree., for example.
When the paste-like solder S is coated on an assembled joined member so as to form two vertical surfaces, i.e., over two surfaces including a corner portion C of the base B and the metal plate P by using the nozzle 10, one side surface 12B of the nozzle body 12 is brought in contact with the surface of the metal plate P and the tip end portion 13 of the nozzle 10 is brought in contact with the surface of the base B in such a manner that the outlet 14 is opposed to the corner portion C (see FIG. 3A).
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3A, although the cut surface of the tip end portion 13 is opposed at an inclination angle of 45.degree. to the corner portion C of the base B and the metal plate P united so as to form the two surfaces perpendicular to each other, the direction in which the paste-like solder pressured out by a squeegee (not shown) from the outlet 14 is the direction same as the direction in which the paste-like solder S guided by an inner wall 12A of the nozzle body 12 flows, as shown by an arrow Y in FIG. 3A. Initially, the paste-like solder S directly flows toward the surface of the base B. Then, the paste-like solder S that was brought in contact with the surface of the base B is pushed toward the corner portion C, whereafter it is accumulated over the two surfaces including the corner portion C by a necessary amount (see FIG. 3B).
However, because the base B is warped, the nozzle 10 is floated or a jig has a defect, a fluctuation of dimension occurs between the tip end portion 13 of the nozzle 10 and the surface of the base B or between the one side surface 12B of the nozzle 10 and the surface of the metal plate P. As a result, it is frequently observed that the paste-like solder S cannot be satisfactorily coated on the corner portion C.
Specifically, FIG. 4A shows the state in which a relatively large gap G exists between the tip end portion 13 of the nozzle 10 and the base B due to a fluctuation of dimension between the tip end portion 13 of the nozzle 10 and the base B. When the paste-like solder is coated in the state shown in FIG. 4A, the paste-like solder that flowed from the outlet 14 is dropped onto the base B and cannot flow toward the direction of the corner portion C. As a result, the paste-like solder mass S thus escaped is accumulated in the place away from the corner portion C and remains accumulated on the surface of the base B as shown in FIG. 4B.
When the paste-like solder is pushed out from the nozzle 10 by the squeegee, if a flat-type squeegee is used, a speed at which the paste-like solder flows from the outlet 14 of the nozzle 10 decreases as compared with the case that a roller-type squeegee is used. As a consequence, the paste-like solder thus escaped becomes difficult to flow toward the corner portion C. Therefore, the metal plate P cannot be soldered to the base B. There is then the possibility that a poor soldering will occur.
If the paste-like solder is coated when a relatively large gap G is produced between the one side surface 12B of the nozzle 10 and the surface of the metal plate P between a fluctuation of a dimension caused between the one side surface 12B of the nozzle 10 and the surface of the metal plate P as shown in FIG. 5A, similarly, then the paste-like solder flowed from the outlet 14 is dropped onto the base B and cannot flow toward the direction of the corner portion C. As a result, the paste-like solder mass S thus escaped is accumulated in the place away from the corner portion C and remains accumulated on the surface of the base B as shown in FIG. 5B. As a consequence, the paste-like solder thus escaped becomes difficult to flow toward the corner portion C. Therefore, the metal plate P cannot be soldered to the base B. There is then the possibility that a poor soldering will occur.
When the paste-like solder is coated and accumulated by using the nozzle 10, it is frequently observed that the above-mentioned disadvantage of such accumulated solder occurs. As a consequence, after the paste-like solder was coated and accumulated, the user should always inspect the soldered part and correct a poor soldered part if any.


An electronic element wafer module is provided, in which a transparent support substrate is disposed facing a plurality of electronic elements formed on a wafer and a plurality of wafer-shaped optical elements are disposed on the transparent support substrate, where a groove is formed along a dicing line between the adjacent electronic elements, penetrating from the optical elements through the transparent support substrate, with a depth reaching a surface of the wafer or with a depth short of the surface of the wafer; and a light shielding material is applied on side surfaces and a bottom surface of the groove or is filled in the groove, and the light shielding material is applied or formed on a peripheral portion of a surface of the optical element, except for on a light opening in a center of the surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic element wafer module and a method for manufacturing the electronic element wafer module. In the electronic element wafer module, a plurality of lenses for focusing incident light or a plurality of optical function elements for directing output light straight and refracting and guiding incident light in a predetermined direction; and an image capturing element including a plurality of light receiving sections corresponding to respective lenses for performing a photoelectric conversion on and capturing an image of image light from a subject, or a light emitting element for emitting output light and a light receiving element for receiving incident light corresponding to respective optical function elements, are modularized (integrated) in a plural number. Further, the present invention relates to an electronic element module manufactured by simultaneously cutting the electronic element wafer module into each of the electronic element modules, and a method for manufacturing the electronic element module. Still further, the present invention relates to an electronic information device, such as a digital camera (e.g., a digital video camera or a digital still camera), an image input camera (e.g., a car-mounted camera), a scanner, a facsimile machine, a television telephone device, a camera-equipped cell phone device or a personal digital assistant (PDA), including a sensor module as an image input device (e.g., a car-mounted camera) used in an image capturing section of the electronic information device. The sensor module functioning as the electronic element module is manufactured by simultaneously cutting a sensor wafer module into individual pieces, the sensor wafer module functioning as the electronic element wafer module including: an image capturing element including therein a plurality of light receiving sections for performing a photoelectric conversion on and capturing an image of image light from a subject; and a lens for forming an image of incident light on the image capturing element, which are modularized (integrated) in a plural number. Further, the present invention relates to an electronic information device, such as a pick up apparatus, including the electronic element module used in an information recording and reproducing section thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional sensor module as an electronic element module of this type, a lens section for focusing incident light and an image capturing element corresponding to the lens section, which includes therein a plurality of light receiving sections for performing a photoelectric conversion on and capturing an image of incident light from a subject, are modularized. In the conventional sensor module, a current light shielding treatment for the image capturing element is mostly performed on the individualized sensor modules. The current light shielding treatment is performed, for example, by covering the individualized complete sensor module with a light shielding holder, by applying a light shielding material on the periphery and top portions of the sensor module, and by piling up light shielding blocks functioning as a sensor module. As one of the conventional light shielding treatments, Reference 1 proposes the application of a light shielding material on the periphery and top portions of the sensor module. In addition, Reference 2 proposes a process method for piling up light shielding blocks. Each of the proposals will be described hereinafter.
FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) are each an essential part longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating each manufacturing step of the conventional semiconductor image capturing element of Reference 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 7(a), an image capturing area 102 in the middle portion and a peripheral circuit area 103 in an outer circumference area adjoining the image capturing area 102 are formed in an upper surface 101a of a semiconductor substrate 101. A plurality of electrode sections 104 are disposed on a further outer circumference side of the peripheral circuit area 103 on the upper surface 101a. Further, a plurality of microlenses 105 are provided on image capturing area 102 for focusing incident light on each light receiving section. Each of the plurality of microlenses 105 is provided to correspond to each pixel.
Here, as illustrated in FIG. 7(b), a bump 106 is provided on each of the electrode sections 104 on the further outer circumference side of the peripheral circuit area 103. The bump 106 may be formed, for example, by a wire bonder with a conductive wire. Connection surfaces of the bumps 106 are pressed by a plate-shaped metal plate after the bumps 106 are formed. The plate-shaped metal plate includes an opening larger than an optical member 108, which is composed of a lens section. Thus, the connection surfaces of the bumps 106 may be pressed by the plate-shaped metal plate, so that the height becomes even and the connection surfaces of the bumps 106 are planarized to be easily electrically connected with the conductive wire.
As illustrated in FIG. 7(c), a light shielding film 109 is provided in advance in a side surface area of an optical member 108 constituted of the lens section. The light shielding film 109 is formed with a metal or resin material which has a light shielding effect. Further, the optical member 108 has a shape that covers at least the image capturing area 102.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 7(d), a transparent adhesive member 110, which is cured by ultraviolet rays, is applied in such a manner to cover the microlenses 105 and the peripheral circuit area 103 therearound in each semiconductor element 107. The transparent adhesive member 110 can be applied, for example, by painting, printing and stamping.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7(e), the optical member 108, which is constituted of the lens section, is disposed with respect to the image capturing area 102, which is applied with the transparent adhesive member 110. Subsequently, while the upper surface of the optical member 108 and the upper surface of the image capturing area 102 are maintained to be parallel, the optical member 108 is pressurized from the upper surface. Next, ultraviolet rays of wavelengths curing the transparent adhesive member 110 are irradiated on the upper surface side of the optical member 108 as illustrated by arrows 111. Because of the irradiation, the image capturing area 102 and the optical member 108 are adhered by the transparent adhesive member 110. As a result, the optical member 108 is adhered on the semiconductor element 107, and a semiconductor image capturing element 100A is obtained.
A plurality of semiconductor image capturing elements 100A, which are manufactured as described above, are in a semiconductor wafer shape, and adjacent semiconductor elements 107 are diced. By the dicing, individualized semiconductor image capturing element 100A can be obtained as illustrated in FIG. 7(e). As a result, the optical member 108 is adhered by the transparent adhesive member 110 directly on the microlenses 105 of the semiconductor element 107, thereby achieving the thinning. In this state, even if the transparent adhesive member 110 flows into the peripheral circuit area 103, it will not be a problem since the bump 106 is connected onto the electrode section 104 and the bump 106 is formed higher than the height of the surface 101a of the transparent adhesive member 110, thereby providing no possibility of failing to adhere the conductive wire and achieving a high reliability. Further, it is only required to form the bump 106 on the electrode section 104 prior to the step of adhering the optical member 108. As a result, the productivity is increased without spoiling the mass productivity.
Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a light shielding member 112 is further provided. The light shielding member 112 includes an exposed area 110a of the transparent adhesive member 110 and a side surface area 108a of the optical member 108. The light shielding member 112 is formed above the peripheral circuit area 103 in such a manner not to cover the electrode section 104 and the bump 106. In this case, the light shielding member 112 is applied such that the surface 112a of the light shielding member 112 is lower than the height of a connection surface 106a of a tip portion of the bump 106.
Next, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the process method for piling up light shielding blocks as a light shielding treatment for the conventional sensor module.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional compound eye image capturing apparatus of Reference 2 in an assembling state. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a holder member and a light shielding block portion, holding an optical lens array of the compound eye image capturing apparatus 200 in FIG. 9.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, a conventional compound eye image capturing apparatus 200 includes: an optical lens array 203; a holder member 204; a light receiving array 205; a light shielding block 206; and a frame member 207. The optical lens array 203 is formed with nine optical lenses 201 of three rows by three columns with respective optical axes L parallel to one another, integratedly formed as one side convex lenses on a lower surface of a single transparent substrate 202. The holder member 204 holds the optical lens array 203 in such a manner to hold it from top and bottom. The light receiving element array 205 is disposed below the optical lens array 203 to capture nine images formed by the optical lenses 201. The light shielding block 206 is disposed between the optical lens array 203 and the light receiving array 205 to divide a space between the optical lens array 203 and the light receiving array 205 on a surface orthogonal to the optical axis L so that light output from the optical lenses 201 will not interfere with one another. The frame member 207 is disposed between the light shielding block 206 and the light receiving array 205, and functions as a spacer for surrounding the light receiving array 205 like a picture frame to prevent the light shielding block 206 from touching the light receiving array 205.
The holder member 204 is constituted of an upper plate member 204a and a lower frame member 204b. The lower frame member 204b includes a groove formed therein for mating with an edge portion of the optical lens array 203. The upper plate member 204a is configured as an aperture member for shielding unnecessary incident light to the optical lenses 201 by forming apertures 204c of a predetermined size at nine positions corresponding to the optical lenses 201.
The light shielding block 206 is configured by laminating six sheet metal unit plates Pa which are 120 μm thick and further laminating thereon two sheet metal unit plates Pb which are 80 μm thick. That is, eight unit plates Pa and Pb of two different thicknesses are laminated. As a result, the light shielding block 206 of 880 μm total thickness is formed. The length consisting of the thickness of the light shielding block 206 and the thickness of the frame member 207 surrounding the light receiving array 205 and the holder member 204 of the optical lens array 203, is configured to be equal to the optical length of the optical lens 201.
Next, as a reference, a method for forming a light shielding film will be described as in Reference 3, where the light shielding film is formed on a surface except for above a light receiving lens.
FIG. 11 is an essential part longitudinal cross sectional view of a remote control light receiving module of Reference 3, which is one of conventional optical function modules.
As illustrated in FIG. 11, a remote control light receiving module 300, which is one of conventional optical function modules, is configured of: a lead frame 301; an infrared ray light receiving element 302 thereon; a processing circuit 303 for processing signals output from the infrared ray light receiving element 302; chip parts necessary for the processing circuit 303 installed and connected thereto; and a resin 304 for molding the above sections. A light shielding film 306 is formed on a flat part of the resin 304 except for on a light receiving lens portion 305. The light receiving lens portion 305 is molded by a material with the same quality as that of the resin 304.
The lead frame 301 is formed with a metal plate material, and its main component is any of Fe, Ni, Cu, or an alloy thereof. A surface of the lead frame 301 is coated with a film of Ag. As the form of the lead frame 301, the molded inside of the lead frame 301 is configured of several of separate parts in order to support the entire mold by a group of externally protruding terminals 307 as well as to electrically connect with the infrared ray light receiving element 302 and the processing circuit 303. The thickness of the lead frame 301 is 300 μm or more.
The infrared ray light receiving element 302 is disposed such that the center of the infrared ray light receiving element 302 and the center of the light receiving lens portion 305 are aligned. The size of the infrared ray light receiving element 302 can be 2 mm square or less depending on the light focusing performance of the light receiving lens portion 305. If the size becomes significantly larger than 3 mm square, the capacitive component of the infrared ray light receiving element 302 may become too large, causing the processing circuit 303 to operate improperly. Infrared rays entering the infrared ray light receiving element 302 through the light receiving lens portion 305 generate current signals at the infrared ray light receiving element 302. The current signals generated are signal-processed at the electrically connected processing circuit 303. The processing circuit 303 includes functions such as converting the input current signals into voltages, amplifying, filtering noise signal components except for remote control signals, detecting and rectifying.
The resin 304 is molded in such a manner to cover the processing circuit 303 and infrared ray light receiving element 302 installed on the lead frame 301. At the same time the resin 304 forms the light receiving lens section 305. The resin 304 has a function of cutting visible light, which rapidly decreases light of approximately 800 nm or less. However, the resin 304 does not completely prohibit the light with a wavelength of approximately 800 nm or less from passing, but some extent of optical noise occurs from strong light. Therefore, in this case, the distance is 500 μm or more from the infrared ray light receiving element 302 to the flat portion of the light receiving lens section 305 except for the convex portion. For example, an epoxy material is used for the resin 304. When a visible light cutting material with transmissivity for infrared rays from approximately 820 nm of an infrared ray wavelength is used for the resin 304, the transmissivity of 95% or more can be achieved at the wavelength band of 950 nm.
The light receiving lens section 305 is a lens for focusing infrared ray light transmitted from a remote control transmitter. The light receiving lens section 305 is a half sphere or a shape close to it, for example. The light receiving lens section 305 focuses infrared ray light which enters the light receiving lens section 305 onto the infrared ray light receiving element 302. Because of the effect of the lens, the effective light focusing effect of the infrared ray light, which enters the light receiving lens section 305, can be determined based on the refractive index for each wavelength, transmissivity, and light receiving area of the infrared ray light receiving element 302, which can be determined by the area accounting for the infrared ray light entering the light receiving lens section 305 in the vertical direction and the material. Herein, the effective light focusing effect of approximately 3 to 4 magnifications can be achieved by appropriately setting the refractive index, transmissivity, the area of the infrared ray light receiving element 302, and the area of the light receiving lens section 305, with respect to air in the vicinity of 950 nm.
The light shielding film 306 is formed on the surface except for on the portion of the light receiving lens section 305, which is a surface for receiving the infrared ray light. For example, a black-colored epoxy resin can be used as a material for the light shielding film 306. Besides, ABS, PP and PC can also be used as the material for the light shielding film 306. In addition, lacquer and enamel paints can be used as the material for the light shielding film 306. However, if a water-soluble paint, such as acrylic paint, is used as the material for the light shielding film 306, and if a hydrophilic treatment is not performed on the surface of the molded resin, there is a high possibility that spots will appear. For paint, the order of several μm may not be enough as the film thickness of the light shielding film 306, and spots will appear. In such a case, there may be a light scattering effect, but the light may not be decreased.
Thus, when the light shielding film 306 is formed on the surface except for on the light receiving lens section 305, the light receiving lens section 305 is covered with a mask. Next, using the mask, the light shielding film 306 is formed on the surface except for on the light receiving lens section 305. Subsequently, the mask is removed.
Reference 1: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-92417
Reference 2: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-180653
Reference 3: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-246613

Electronic element wafer module and method for manufacturing electronic element wafer module, electronic element module and method for manufacturing electronic element module, and electronic information device


Method and apparatus for control of cross-track registration of a web member in an image forming apparatus, such as a photocopier or printer. A control patch is laid down on the web member and toned. After toning, the amount of toner for a particular section of the control patch is sensed and compared with known amounts of toner to determine the cross-track position of the web. Once the cross-track position is determined, a printhead is programmed to alter the web lay-down location, of an image to be reproduced, to adjust for the actual cross-track location of the web.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to photocopying and, more specifically, to control of cross-track registration in image forming apparatus and like devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In high speed electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, it is common practice to employ an elongated photoconductive belt or web adapted to record transferable images while the web is moving in a path in operative relation with various process stations. Typically, the web is supported by, and driven about, a series of rollers. With such a roller support system, there is a tendency for the moving web to shift laterally, or cross-track, with respect to such rollers. Various apparatus for correcting such lateral shifting of roller supported webs are known, such as crowned rollers, flanged rollers, servo-actuated steering rollers, or self-actuated steering rollers. Crowned rollers generally are not preferred for use with a web in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus because they have a tendance to force the web toward the apex of such rollers, cause distortion of the web, and produce local stresses in the web, at the crown, which can damage the web. Flanged rollers generally are not preferred because they produce a concentrated loading at the edges of the web resulting in edge buckling, seam splitting, or excessive edge wear.
Electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, therefore, typically utilize servo-actuated or self-activated steering rollers. While such steering rollers generally correct the cross-track shifting of the web, the realignment tends to be at an uneven rate and inconsistent from one correction to the next correction resulting in the production of image frames which do not match or register.
A further problem of known servo-actuated or self-activated steering roller tracking systems is that they usually react to the absolute lateral position of the edge of the web, rather than to the actual lateral position of the web. Because the web edge is typically irregular, any misregistration due to other mechanisms, such as described hereinabove, is thereby compounded by the edge irregularity which increases, due to wear, during the web's operational life.
Efforts to correct the above problems have been made, as disclosed in the steering mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,089; however, belt travel corrections still have not been perfected.


Provided are a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for identifying candidate clusters for matching to cells in a technology library. An automated design system comprises a computer configured to extract a portion of a circuit, levelize it, select a first node, identify the realizable clusters at the inputs of the first node, and combine the first node with realizable clusters at the inputs to produce candidate clusters. A dummy cluster is used at each input to represent using the input as a fanin. The system takes the cross product of the sets, and the first node is merged with each element of the cross product to produce a set of candidate clusters. The candidate clusters are then checked for realizability by comparing them to cells in the technology library, which includes dummy cells to facilitate mapping to large cells in the technology library. A set of realizable clusters is produced for the first node. The system applies the same process to successive nodes in the levelized circuit, including in the intermediate set the sets of realizable clusters for preceding nodes.

In the design of integrated circuits, there is a tradeoff between competing design goals: area of the circuit, critical path delay (speed) of the circuit, testability of the circuit, and power consumption of the circuit. The rapidly growing complexity in very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits and the sheer mass of detail in VLSI designs necessitates the use of automated synthesis tools in order to design an optimized circuit which balances all of these design constraints. Logic synthesis is described in Logic Synthesis and Verification Algorithms, by Gary D. Hachtel and Fabio Somenzi, and in Synthesis and Optimization of Digital Circuits, by Giovanni De Micheli, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Automated design systems are used in converting logic designs to specific circuits in the production of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). This typically involves mapping the logic design, called a "technology-independent circuit" (or network), into one or more logic gates in a pre-designed set of gates called a technology library. The resulting circuit may be variously called "technology-dependent", "technology-mapped", or simply "mapped".
The technology library depends on the manufacturer and the target technology selected. For example, target technologies might include CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor), NMOS (n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor), PMOS (p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor), TTL (bipolar transistor-to-transistor logic), and ECL (emitter-coupled logic). Further differentiation among target technologies may be based on minimum feature size, resulting in, for example, a 0.25 micron CMOS technology, a 1.0 micron CMOS technology, and a 2.0 micron CMOS technology.
Initially, the logic design may be specified in the form of Boolean equations or an HDL (hardware description language) description in a language such as Verilog or VHDL (Very High Speed Integrated Circuits Hardware Description Language). The automated design system generates a technology-independent, unmapped network that is a directed graph where the vertices (nodes) represent logic gates and the edges represent the nets connecting the gate outputs to gate inputs. This technology-independent network is optimized and mapped, producing a technology-mapped network. Typically, some restructuring is performed in order to meet specified design criteria (delay times, area, etc.). This is generally a repetitive optimizing process that involves countless changes to the logic network, with many recalculations of various network parameters after each change. One such parameter is speed, which is related to the time required for a change in one of the inputs to travel through the network to produce a change in one of the outputs. Another parameter is area, which is generally related to the number of transistors required to implement a given design.
The task of technology mapping may typically be divided into two steps. In the first step, it is necessary to determine, at each node of the technology independent circuit, a set of groupings of nodes and edges having the node as the root. These groupings are called "candidate clusters". A check is then performed to determine whether each cluster is "realizable"; i.e., the cluster can be implemented by a cell from the technology library. A cluster is considered realizable if the cluster's function can be implemented by a cell in the library, either directly, or by inverting the inputs, permuting the inputs, or inverting the outputs (i.e. if the cluster's function is "NPN equivalent" to a cell in the library). Technology mapping using Boolean matching is described in Frederic Mailhot and Giovanni De Micheli, "Technology Mapping Using Boolean Matching and Don't Care Sets", Proceedings of the European Conference on Design Automation, p. 212-216 (1990), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In the second step, the realizable clusters are used to completely cover the technology-independent network. As stated above, this is done while attempting to meet design constraints while minimizing area to the extent possible.
Current automated design systems generally use some type of level constraint during the generation of candidate clusters. In other words, they extract from the technology-independent network all clusters which have a maximum length L with the node as the root. The length is defined as the longest path in the extracted network, and may be determined by counting the number of nodes from the root node to the end of the longest path. The maximum number of clusters that may thus be generated can be calculated exactly, and the recurrence relation is EQU n(L)=(n(L-1)+1)*(n(L-1)+1), and N(1)=1
For L=1, the number of clusters examined is 1. For L=2, the number of clusters examined is 4. For L=3, 4, and 5, the number of clusters examined is, respectively: 25, 676, 458329. Clearly, this computation rapidly becomes intractable for larger values of L.
Because of the explosion in the number of clusters to be examined, practical systems limit choice of L to small values. However, this reduces the number of realizable clusters found by the system at a given node. Furthermore, larger library cells are never used, because the candidate clusters generated by the system are of limited length. These limitations result in poor quality of technology mapping and inability to map to large cells, with suboptimal results.
The need exists, therefore, for more efficient candidate cluster generation for use in technology mapping.

Cluster determination for circuit implementation


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying a social network user identifier based on a user message. In use, a message is received from a user. Additionally, content is extracted from the message. Further, a search is performed using at least a portion of the content. Moreover, an identifier of the user provided by a social network is identified, based on the search.

To date, a third party typically does not know the identity of social network users unless each user explicitly provides to the third party information from which the user's identity can be derived. Thus, some third parties have provided users incentives or other motivations in exchange for disclosure by the users of their social network user identities. Unfortunately, such methods utilized by third parties to gain knowledge of users' social network user identities have exhibited various limitations, such as requiring the users to provide their social network user identities as described above.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program for identifying a social network user identifier based on a user message


An optical fiber connector includes a casing body formed with upper and lower key slots, a polarity adjusting key detachably mounted in a selected one of the key slots and engaging an adaptor, head and tail sleeves disposed respectively on front and rear ends of the casing body, and two core heads disposed between the head sleeve and the casing body. To adjust the polarity of the optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector is detached from the adaptor and the optical fiber connector is inverted. Then, the polarity adjusting key is operated to disengage from the selected one of the key slots and engage the other one of the key slots to adjust the polarity without removal of head and tail sleeves.

With continuous advancement of data transmission technology, new specifications, such as a four-channel quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) interface, for optical fiber connectors of high speed optical fibers are developed. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional optical fiber connector 1 includes a casing body 11, a head sleeve 12 disposed in the casing body 11, two core heads 13 mounted between the casing body 11 and the head sleeve 12 and arranged vertically spaced apart from each other, a tail sleeve 14 connected removably to a rear end of the casing body 11, and a handling lever 15 disposed on the casing body 11 and extending rearwardly. When the optical fiber connector 1 is to be connected to an adaptor or a socket (not shown), the casing body 11 is inserted into the adapter or the socket, and a front end of the handling lever 15 engages a corresponding slot of the adapter member or the socket, such that the core heads 13 are connected with another two core heads (not shown), respectively.
By virtue of various connecting sequences of the core heads 13, different matching manners may be obtained so as to achieve the effect of adjusting the polarity of the optical fiber connector and, thus realizing multiple connections. When adjusting the polarity of the conventional optical fiber connector 1, removal of the tail sleeve 14 from the casing body is required. Afterwards, the head sleeve 12 is detached from the casing body 11 and the core heads 13 are removed from the casing body 11 to exchange positions of the core heads 13. Then, the core heads 13 are mounted to the casing body 11 again. Thus, it is cumbersome to assemble and disassemble the conventional optical fiber connector. Further, during the assembly and disassembly procedures, the optical fibers in the tail sleeve 14 may be pulled and damaged.


A combination angled cap and vent for connecting a baby bottle with a nipple has an angled cap and a vent tube. The angled cap has an elbow shaped body, a proximal opening, and a distal opening. The proximal opening of the angled cap communicates with the distal opening so that liquid from the baby bottle is transmitted to the nipple. The elbow shaped body is shaped to maintain the proximal opening in non-coaxial alignment with the distal opening. The proximal opening includes an externally threaded portion adapted to threadedly receive a retaining cap that functions to lock the nipple over the proximal opening. The distal opening includes an internally threaded portion adapted to threadedly engage the baby bottle. The angled cap further includes a vent aperture through the angled cap adjacent the proximal opening. The vent tube has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being in fluid communication with the vent aperture, and the outlet end being positioned to extend upwardly through the distal opening. The vent tube includes a check valve for allowing fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end, but preventing fluid flow from the outlet end to the inlet end.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to baby bottles, and more particularly to an angled cap and vent that is attached between a baby bottle and a nipple.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Brankley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,548, teaches an adjustable baby bottleneck for connecting a conventional baby bottle to a conventional rubber nipple through an angular or adjustable bottleneck portion. The angularly adjustable bottleneck portion may be set and fixed from an angle of 0 to 60 degrees and includes a mounting securing ring at one end for mating with the top of a standard nursing bottle and at the other end includes means for mating with a standard nipple.
Gomez-Acevedo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,425 teaches a nursing bottle which allows the intercommunication of at least two closed compartments to mix the contents thereof without any contact with the outside environment.
Chong, U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,042 teaches a handle which is in the shape of a hollow tube whereof one end engages onto a nipple and the other end is engageable to a mounting flange on the bottle top wherein it provides a junction of flexibility between the nipple and bottle.
Hunter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,027 teaches a child""s drinking cup or bottle, with the cup or bottle having a generally rigid cap upon which there is mounted a relatively soft drinking lip or teat. The cap can mount the teat at an angle.
B. Doner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,272 teaches a baby feeding bottle with an air bleeding means that does not flood with the fluid being used and thus eliminates the need to allow air to feed back to the nipple of the bottle during use.
W. G. Canham et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,467,463 teaches a novel and improved baby""s nursing unit of simple construction which is provided with automatic pressure equalizing means for providing a substantial continuous flow of fluid to the baby while nursing and wherein the baby may be fed with its head in a comfortable position.
G. C. Apple, U.S. Pat. No. 1,280,942 teaches a flanged cap constituting a cover for a drinking vessel such as a cup, glass or the like.
C. Borgenschild, U.S. Pat. No. 593,830 teaches the combination with a bottle, of a cap adapted to fit thereon and having an opening therethrough surrounded by an upwardly-projecting interiorly-screw-threaded thimble, and air-admitting openings exterior to the thimble.
J. A. Morris, U.S. Pat. No. 280,656 teaches a nipple made to hold a glass tube which extends downward to near the bottom of the bottle, and has a free gravitating movement adapted to any inclination of he bottle, the nipple at the same time being firmly secured to the bottle by an exterior flange or cap or by another portion of the nipple.
Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,071, teaches an air venting system assembly that can be positioned within a bottle to enable air to vent into the bottle.
Giles et al., U.S. Des. Pat. No. 382,969 teaches a combined baby nurser and cap.
The prior art teaches baby bottles with angled or adjustable necks or caps. The prior art also teaches venting systems that vent air into the bottle. However, the prior art does not teach a combination angled cap and vent connecting a baby bottle with a nipple. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a combination angled cap and vent for connecting a baby bottle with a nipple. The combination includes an angled cap having an elbow shaped body, a proximal opening, and a distal opening. The proximal opening of the angled cap communicates with the distal opening so that liquid from the baby bottle is transmitted to the nipple. The elbow shaped body is shaped to maintain the proximal opening in non-coaxial alignment with the distal opening. The angled cap includes a means for removably connecting the proximal opening with the nipple and a means for removably connecting the distal opening with the baby bottle. The angled cap further includes a vent aperture through the angled cap adjacent the proximal opening. The combination further includes a vent tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being in fluid communication with the vent aperture, and the outlet end being positioned to extend upwardly through the distal opening. The vent tube includes a check valve means for allowing fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end, but preventing fluid flow from the outlet end to the inlet end.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide combination angled cap and vent for connecting a baby bottle with a nipple, the combination having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide an angled cap that enables a baby to be held upright while feeding from the baby bottle, thereby maintaining the baby""s ear canal above his or her mouth and helping to prevent the baby from getting an ear infection.
A further objective is to provide a venting system that enables air to vent directly into the baby bottle through the vent and without bubbling through the fluid that the baby is drinking.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Angled cap and vent for use with a baby bottle


A method and system for selecting fold lines on a sheet to be inserted into a windowed envelope includes scanning the windowed envelope with a scanner to determine the location of the window on the envelope. The location of a data block on an insert to be inserted into the windowed envelope is also determined. The position of one or more of the fold lines on the sheet to be inserted is determined such that a data block printed in the determined location on the sheet will appear behind the envelope window when the sheet is folded in accordance with the determined fold line pattern and inserted into the windowed envelope. The efficiency and flexibility of the system can be enhanced by providing an operator with possible standard and nonstandard fold patterns that will enable proper insertion of the folded sheet into the envelope. In such case, when the sheet is folded with the selected fold pattern and inserted into the envelope, the required data block information will appear behind the appropriate envelope window. The paper handling equipment adjustments for the selected fold type and proper loading of the insert materials into the insert feeders can be communicated to the operator or used to automatically adjust the folding mechanism for the selected fold pattern. Additionally template information can be generated by the system to provide the operator with information on the proper location for the address block information on the sheet in order to position the address information behind the window in the envelope for a selected standard fold type.

Paper handling systems frequently include both folder subsystems and inserter subsystems, although each of these subsystems can be a separate stand-alone system. These systems usually require a high degree of knowledge and skill on the part of the operator to obtain an appropriate folding pattern for insert material. When the folded material is to be inserted into a windowed envelope, the fold pattern is more critical and may be difficult to implement.
When creating an insert for a windowed envelope, the operator must determine exactly where to locate the frame or frames containing the data blocks of information to be located behind window or windows on the envelope. This requires considerable skill while creating the mailpiece, in order to get the various data blocks in exactly the correct position to appear behind the envelope windows when the document is folded and inserted into the envelope. Moreover, the situation can be further complicated when the material to be inserted is pre-printed without careful regard to the locations of the envelope windows.
In typical situations where windowed envelopes are employed, the operator must select the correct type of fold. Typical folds include C-folds, Z-folds, half-folds or double folds. The operator must set the folding adjustments on the equipment, such as the end-stop positions for fold plates and positions for deflector plates. This process may require multiple iterations in order to ensure that the data block frames, such as the address frames, on the envelope contents are properly positioned behind the windows when inserted into the envelope. This process requires the operator to have appropriate knowledge of the system, and often takes several attempts by trial and error method until the operator gets the fold type and equipment adjustments correct. This set-up procedure degrades equipment overall efficiency because of the time required for the operator to setup and the increased time to complete a particular paper-handling job. In some instances, an operator may not be able to make the required adjustments, requiring a more skilled operator or service technician to set up the adjustments for a particular mail processing job. This may further delay and increase the cost of running the mail processing job.
The problem is further complicated since there is no standard location for envelope windows. Envelope windows can be located in almost any position on the face or back of the envelope. Additionally, the envelope may include multiple windows. For example, an envelope may have a window for a recipient address data block, a return or sender address data block and, in some instances, a window for other needed information on both the front and the back of the envelope.

Method for folding documents for use in windowed envelopes


Apparatus for heating longitudinally extending portions of a blow molding preform in order to provide a non-symmetrical temperature distribution about a longitudinal axis of the preform. The non-symmetrical temperature distribution permits the preform to be blown to form a non-symmetrical article that has an essentially uniform wall thickness distribution. An auxiliary heating and transfer station is provided between a reheating station and a blowing station, the auxiliary heating and transfer station including two side-by-side pairs of heating elements that are adapted to heat sequentially, corresponding sides of each of a pair of side-by-side blow molding preforms carried by a pallet. The two zone auxiliary heating arrangement permits the desired temperature rise to be achieved consistently while retaining some process flexibility. One or more of the heating elements in the second zone of the auxiliary heating and transfer station is mounted in a manner which allows it to be temporarily repositioned out of the preform movement path. In the preferred embodiment a pivotable turntable is used to shift the associated heating element by 90.degree., thereby permitting transverse movement of the pallet and associated preforms in a direction toward the blow molding station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for blow molding articles from molded preforms that have been reheated and are subsequently expanded within a blow mold to provide a desired hollow article. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for heating portions of container preforms in a reheat blow molding machine, the apparatus including an auxiliary heating station at which auxiliary heating apparatus is provided for locally heating a longitudinally extending section of a preform to a higher temperature than the remainder of the preform.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blow molding machines are known for expanding a tubular plastic member that is positioned within a mold and subsequently expanded by pressurized air to provide a hollow article that has an outer shape that conforms with the interior surfaces of the mold. Such machines are sometimes single stage or extrusion-type, in which an extruder is provided for directly extruding a hot tubular plastic member, called a "parison," around which a pair of mold halves are closed, with the bottoms of the mold halves defining a "pinch-off." Pressurized air is then introduced through the top of the mold for expanding the parison to form the desired hollow article.
Another type of blow molding is accomplished by a two stage process, generally referred to as reheat-blow (RHB), in which plastic preforms are injection molded in a tubular form that is open at one end and closed at the other. After some time interval (during which cooling occurs), the preforms are received in a loading station, are conveyed to an oven for reheating to a softening temperature, and are then transferred to a blowing station at which the heated preform is positioned within a mold cavity and is subsequently blown by introducing pressurized air into the heated preform to provide the desired blown article.
Most often the tubular parison or preform is heated to a uniform temperature suitable for blowing. However, in instances when the molds define an article having one transverse axis longer than the other, such as a container having an oval cross section, uniform heating of the preform usually results in unequal distribution of the plastic material, with the areas of the preform that have been expanded radially outwardly the largest distance having thinner walls than those areas of the preform that have been expanded smaller distances.
One way to equalize more closely the plastic wall thickness distribution in a blown article is to compensate for the difference in radial expansion distance by making the tubular preform itself of non-uniform wall thickness. This approach has typically been used in single stage blow molding machines utilizing a thoroughly molten parison. In such cases it is fairly simple to compensate for an unsymmetrical configuration for the final product by means of extruding a parison initially which has a variation in thickness around the circumference. However, this approach is not well suited for two stage blow molding machines in which the preform is cooled before the final forming.
An alternate approach for achieving uniform wall thickness in unsymmetrical containers that has been used in two stage machines involves heating selected areas of the surface of the preform to different temperatures, thus permitting differential expansion of the respective portions of the preform. The areas of higher temperature will allow some material to be drawn away to help maintain wall thickness in the areas formed by the lower temperature segments that expand a greater distance. Although such localized heating of preforms is known, the previous approaches to providing that result were of limited effectiveness. In one method, the radiant heaters in an oven are specially configured to have the effect of producing a non-uniform temperature distribution in the preform. However, since these arrangements heat all areas of the preform at the same time (in the same oven), the arrangement of the heaters to produce defined areas of higher temperature consistently is very difficult to establish and is unique for each material selection and container configuration.
Another approach used in two stage blow molding machines involves first heating the entire preform in a conventional manner to a desired elevated temperature. Selective heating is then separately provided by masking or screening a portion of an auxiliary heating element to prevent an increase in temperature for a specific area(s) of the preform. However, this method is inefficient since the power supplied to the heater in the masked portion is wasted. The masking procedure is also labor intensive and is difficult to control since the radiation of heat to the masked areas cannot be completely avoided. Furthermore, this method will sometimes still require a preform having variable wall thickness to achieve satisfactory results in the final blown article.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art arrangements, and to provide an improved auxiliary heating system for localized additional heating of blow molding preforms to enable differential expansion.

Apparatus for heating portions of container preforms