The present invention is directed to a process for forming a layer of palladium on a substrate, comprising:. preparing a solution of a palladium precursor, wherein the palladium precursor consists of EQU Pd(OOCR.sup.1).sub.m (OOCR.sup.2).sub.n PA1 R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --R.sup.3 COOH, alkyl from 1 to 5 carbons substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups, PA1 R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --R.sup.3 COOH, alkyl from 1 to 5 carbon atoms substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups, --CHO, PA1 R.sup.3 is alkyl, and alkyl groups from 1 to 5 carbon atoms substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups PA1 m and n are real numbers or fractions, and m+n=2; PA1 applying the palladium precursor to the surface of the substrate; PA1 decomposing the palladium precursor by subjecting the precursor to heat.. wherein

Palladium films act as excellent barrier layers for preventing migration of other metals in a substrate, such as an electrical contact, to the surface of the contact where oxidation of the other metal could take place. Palladium films are often made on a substrate by electroplating, vacuum sputtering, and laser direct-write metallization. Palladium is difficult to electroplate due to embrittlement on account of hydrogen induced cracking as the palladium is deposited. Palladium can also be deposited using electroless methods. Despite problems associated with electroplating and electroless methods, these processes are still used. Palladium films are best made by vacuum techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), or sputtering.
In Gozum, et al. (Gozum, John E.; Pollina, Deborah M.; Jensen, James A.; Girolami, Gregory S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 2688), the chemical vapor deposition of a palladium layer is reported using bis(allyl)palladium, bis(2-methylallyl)palladium, and (cyclopentadienyl)(allyl)palladium as the starting precursor. The chemical vapor deposition of these precursors was accomplished at 250.degree. C. at 10.sup.-4 Torr. Palladium films were grown on substrates such as glass, steel, copper, and aluminum.
Gold can be deposited onto a substrate by decomposing a gold precursor. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,204, a method is shown for depositing gold features on a substrate. Gold(III) hydroxide is dissolved in acetic acid to form gold(III) acetate. Gold features were then formed by casting the gold(III) acetate film on a suitable substrate such as silicon, and then traversing the film with a laser in the locations where it is desired to produce the conducting lines. The laser was operated at a power and speed sufficient to heat the traversed locations to a temperature above about 175.degree. C. The gold(III) acetate was decomposed under the heat from the laser to release a layer of gold on the surface of the substrate and release the acetate.
What is needed is a milder method for depositing a layer of palladium on a substrate. What is further needed is a method which does not require the use of a vacuum for deposition, electroplating or electroless methods.


A vehicle transfer system provides a transaction interface that is displayed as part of a web page for a vehicle on a vehicle dealer's website. The transaction interface allows a customer to perform a vehicle transfer transaction on the dealer's website. The system can facilitate multiple financing methods for the transaction. If the transaction is financed with a loan, the system can request loan offers for a plurality of different loan terms and down payment amounts, and then provide a loan selection interface, which allows the customer to select a loan term and down payment amount and then displays the loan offers matching the customer's selections. If the transaction is financed with a lease, the system can perform a leasing calculation that solves for a balancing point between the total upfront capital that is available to the customer and the total expenses due at lease signing.

Conventional transactions between vehicle dealers and customers have several disadvantages. For instance, the estimates for loan and lease payments provided by many vehicle dealers are often inaccurate because they are based on incomplete information about the prospective customer. Moreover, such estimates fail to take into account a variety of factors that may impact the amount of the payments. This makes the process of performing a transaction more frustrating and inefficient for both the vehicle dealer and the customer.
Furthermore, vehicle transactions are often subject to a short transaction window. In other words, a dealer is more likely to retain a customer if the dealer is able to initiate a transaction, negotiate the terms of a transaction, and close the transaction in a shorter time window. Thus, in addition to the added frustration and inefficiency, the inability to rapidly and accurately provide data to a prospective customer may result in the dealer losing a vehicle sale or lease to a competitor.

Loan selection interface for a vehicle transfer transaction


A protective relay for an electrical power distribution system and a method. The protective relay includes first and second current transformers arranged to sense a respective current flowing into a power line, and a voltage sensing device arranged to sense the voltage of the power line. The protective relay further includes a first and a second device for determining the direction of a fault within the system based on a current signal from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from the voltage sensing means. The protective relay further includes a third device for determining the fault direction based on a sum of the current signals from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from said voltage sensing means. A controller determines whether a fault is internal or external based on the fault directions determined by the first, second and third devices.

An electrical power distribution system comprises distance protection systems arranged to protect, monitor and control the functioning of devices forming part of the power distribution system. The protection systems prevent, among other things, short-circuits, over-currents and over-voltages in power lines of the power distribution system.
Protective relays are used throughout the electrical power distribution system for providing such protection and control. The protective relays detect and isolate faults on transmission and distribution lines by opening and closing circuit breakers, and they are operated through current transformers (CT) arranged to sense a fault current and act accordingly. Briefly, a fault direction can be determined based on observations of the voltage and current conditions in the power distribution system. The current and voltage waveforms are analyzed in order to determine the impedance. If the impedance is above or below a certain value, it can be established whether a fault is present or not. Further, the direction of the fault may also be determined, for example by determining the angle between the phase of the voltage and the phase of the current.
In a breaker-and-a-half system the current signals from two sets of current transformers are summed to obtain the current that is going out on a power line. If there is an external fault present with high currents through the two current transformers, then one of them might saturate. Depending on which one of the current transformers gets saturated, a wrong directional decision can be made by the protective relay.
Further, when a current transformer saturates its inductance drops and there is then a risk to harm other load devices, besides the above-mentioned risk of making incorrect directional decisions. Care has to be taken to avoid such core saturation and the current transformer specifications should be adequately chosen in dependence on their intended use.
Presently such saturation problems are ignored. There are thus no fault direction detection algorithms and devices for combating saturation of current transformers.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide an improved protective relay for handling saturation of the current transformers. Further, it would also be desirable to provide a corresponding method.


A jig for manufacturing a capacitor element is provided in which the productive efficiency is excellent due to a larger number of anode bodies that can be processed, and an immersion position (height) of the anode body with respect to the processing liquid can be controlled with high accuracy. A jig 10 according to the invention includes a substrate 11, a plurality of beam members 8 arranged on at least one surface of the substrate in parallel to each other, and a plurality of conductive sockets 1 mounted on the beam member 8. The plurality of sockets 1 are capable of electrically connecting to a power source supplying an electric current to a capacitor anode body. The socket 1 is provided with an insertion port 37 for electrically connecting a lead wire of a capacitor anode body, and the insertion port 37 is opened in a downward direction of the substrate 11.

A capacitor used as a peripheral component of a CPU (central processing unit) for, e.g., a personal computer is desired to be high in capacity and low in ESR (equivalent series resistance) to suppress voltage fluctuations and lower heat generation at the time of passing of high ripples (ripples). As such a capacitor, an aluminum solid electrolytic capacitor, a tantalum solid electrolytic capacitor, etc., are used. It is known that such a solid electrolytic capacitor is constituted by an electrode (anode body) made of an aluminum foil having minute pores on the surface layer thereof or a sintered body formed by sintering tantalum powder having minute pores therein, a dielectric layer formed on the surface of the electrode, and another electrode (typically, a semiconductor layer) formed on the dielectric layer.
As a method for manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor, a method is known in which an end of a lead wire extending from an anode body is connected to the lower end portion of the supporting substrate of the anode body and a plurality of the supporting substrates are arranged vertically at equal intervals to arrange and fix the plurality of anode body in parallel in the direction of the side of the substrate, a dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the anode body, the anode body is immersed in a chemical conversion treatment solution, the anode body side is dealt as an anode and a voltage is applied between the anode and a cathode disposed in the chemical conversion treatment solution to form a dielectric layer on the surface of the anode body, and then the anode body in which the dielectric layer is formed on the surface is immersed in a semiconductor layer forming solution to thereby form a semiconductor layer on the surface of the dielectric layer of the anode body surface (See Patent Document 1).
The supporting substrate unlikely deforms due to the force of gravity in a vertically arranged state but likely deforms and bends in a horizontally arranged state.
Conventionally, in order to control the immersion position (height) at the time of immersing an anode body in a processing liquid such as a chemical conversion treatment solution, etc., with high accuracy, the supporting substrate was used in a vertically arranged position which unlikely causes deformation.
In cases where the immersion position (height) when an anode body is immersed in a processing liquid is not controlled with high accuracy, for example, the forming position of the semiconductor layer to be formed on the anode body becomes irregular for each product (especially height). A capacitor in which the semiconductor layer is formed exceeding the determined position on the anode body has a high probability of being defective and the yield is significantly decreased. Especially in a small anode body, it is desired that the immersion position (height) is controlled with a higher degree of accuracy.

Jig for manufacturing capacitor element and method for manufacturing capacitor element


A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for providing wireless services to an uncertified device. The system comprises a front-end component for receiving a hardware identifier attributes for a plurality of devices. The system further comprises a database for associating and storing the hardware identifier and the attributes for each of the devices. Additionally, the system includes a network operator for receiving a request from a requesting device to access a wireless network, accessing the database to determine if the requesting device is authorized to access the wireless network, formatting data according to the attributes of the requesting device, and providing the formatted data to the requesting device.

Today, wireless service providers such as Sprint have certified provisions that detail some level of ownership over the wireless devices that connect to its network. These wireless service providers certify mostly every device on their network before it goes out for sale to a customer. Therefore, a wireless service provider will know many attributes and abilities of a connecting device. With such knowledge, a wireless service provider can determine which devices will be capable of handling certain services and applications, and can apply proper formatting of content based on a device's attributes and abilities.
As the wireless industry moves to Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), the device market may become broad and uncontrolled such that most electronic devices will be able to log onto any WiMAX network. A problem can arise in that wireless service providers may not be able to certify all attributes and capabilities of these devices as it may not have prior knowledge these devices. Without this knowledge, the wireless service provider may not be able to properly format service and applications according to each device's specific capabilities.


A system diagnostic mode is provided for a security central station receiver that monitors the operations of a large number of individual security systems over a large number of telephone lines. The system diagnostic mode provides the receiver with the capability to test itself for proper operation after it has been initially installed, or on a repeated basis thereafter, to ensure that the receiver at the security central station is fully operational. A plurality of line cards are designed to serve and interface with the large number of telephone lines. The auto test diagnostic mode tests the operation of the central station receiver, and is programmed to automatically dial into each of the plurality of line cards and to send to each line card a number of preformatted test signals using standard reporting formats that are generated by the auto test diagnostic mode. The auto test diagnostic mode is preferably provided on a test line card that generates the preformatted test signals. After the test is completed, the auto test diagnostic mode routes a report on the results of the preformatted tests to an output of the security central station receiver such as an automation system.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system diagnostic mode for a security central station receiver, and more particularly pertains to a system diagnostic mode and method for a security central station receiver that provides the receiver with the capability to test itself for proper operation after it has been initially installed, and on a repeated basis thereafter, to ensure that the receiver at the security central station is fully operational.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In the present state of the art of security systems, a security central station receiver typically monitors the operations of a large number of individual security systems over a large number of telephone lines. The security central station receiver interfaces to many different types of security systems/control panels by outputting different types of handshake signals to the different types of security systems/control panels. When a security system/control panel receives the proper handshake signal, it downloads its data to the security central station receiver, after which the central security station transmits a kiss-off signal to the security system/control panel, and issues a report on the download of data to an automation system that acts upon the download of data.
In the present state of the art, security central station operators do not have the capability to test a security central station receiver for proper operation after it has been initially installed, or on a repeated basis thereafter, to ensure that the receiver at the security central station is fully operational.

System diagnostic mode for a security central station receiver


An image processing apparatus comprises a number of times of integration determiner for determining a number of times of integration based on stop information representing a stop value of an image pickup unit for picking up a still object, and an integrator for integrating the still image data produced by the image pickup unit by the number of times determined by the determiner. The apparatus modifies the still image data integrated by the integrator for each integration in accordance with the current number of times of integration and the stop information. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a calculator for sequentially and circulatively adding K times (0<K<1) of an input video signal and (1-K) times of a past image signal correlated to the input video signal to reduce a noise component of a still image or a still image area in a motion picture. The apparatus modifies the coefficient K in accordance with an elapsed time from the start of the noise reduction operation at an interval of unit period in which the video signals are correlated to each other or an interval which is an integer multiple of the unit period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which processes a still image produced by an image pickup device or a still image area in a motion picture.
2. Related Background Art
An image processing apparatus which applies various processing to image data produced by an image pickup unit and outputting it has been known. In this type of apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in order to increase an object field depth of the image pickup unit 101, a diaphragm 102 is stopped down from a proper stop value shown in FIG. 3A to a position shown in FIG. 3B. Usually, since a level of an image signal of the image pickup unit 101 is lowered by the stop-down, an illumination of a light source 103 for illuminating the object as shown in FIG. 3B is increased by an amount corresponding to the reduction of the level of the image signal.
However, as the brightness of the illumination light source is increased, it may adversely affect to the object. Further, where a natural light is used as the illumination light source, it is not possible to increase the illumination.
In another type of image processing apparatus, image signals at different time points correlated to each other are circulatively summed to reduce a noise. This is referred to as a circulation type noise reduction apparatus.
A prior art apparatus of this type is configured as shown in FIG. 10, in which a video signal applied to an input terminal 1 is multiplied by a multiplier 2 by a factor of K, where K is 0.ltoreq.K.ltoreq.1. An output of the multiplier 2 is outputted through an adder 3 and it is also supplied to a unit delay element 4. An output of the unit delay element 4 is delayed by one frame by a frame memory, multiplied by a multiplier 5 by a factor of (1-K), and supplied to the adder 3 where it is summed with the signal from the input terminal 1. In general, since noises of the same pixel are not correlated between frames, the noise component of the video signal is reduced by repeating the above operation.
In the prior art described above, since the factor K is fixedly set in accordance with the amount of noise component included in the video signal, the following problem arises.
Assuming that K=1/2, the number of times of circulative addition and the degree of reduction of noise are considered. In an initial state (which is defined as a first circulative addition), the video signal applied to the input terminal 1 is produced from the output terminal 6 as it is. In a second addition by the adder 3, 1/2 time of the input video signal and 1/2 time of the video signal of the same pixel of one frame older are summed. An amplitude component of the noise in the output of the adder 3 is given by ##EQU1## where N is an amplitude component of the noise in the video signal. The first term in represents a noise power of the output of the multiplier 2, and the second term represents a noise power of the output of the multiplier 5. Since K=1/2, ##EQU2## Namely, the noise is reduced by the factor of 1/.sqroot.2. Hereinafter, the value corresponding to 1/.sqroot.2 is defined as a noise reduction factor.
The noise reduction factors when K=1/2 are sequentially calculated as follows: ##EQU3##
The result of calculation for K=1/2 is graphed as shown in FIG. 6. Similar calculations were made for K=2/3 and K=1/10 and the results are shown in FIG. 6.
As seen from FIG. 6, when K is large, the convergence of the noise reduction factor is fast but a convergence value is large and the noise reduction effect is small. On the other hand, when K is small, the convergence value of the noise reduction factor is small, but the convergence is slow. Thus, in the prior art noise reduction apparatus, it is not possible to quickly and sufficiently reduce the noise of the still image.


A method for controlling an image processing apparatus includes a determining step of determining, on the basis of a given first area in an original document image, a second area in the original document image that does not overlap with the first area, and a compositing step of combining a first copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the first area and combining a second copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the second area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that can combine a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and an original document image and output the composite image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Special paper called anti-forgery paper exists. A character string, for example, "COPY", is embedded in anti-forgery paper so that a human cannot see the character string at a glance. The embedded character string appears clearly on a copy obtained by copying the anti-forgery paper. Thus, a document prepared using such anti-forgery paper can be distinguished from a copy of the document with ease. Furthermore, a person would hesitate to use a copy of the document.
Anti-forgery paper has such effects and thus is used when, for example, a resident card or a form is made. However, a problem exists in that the cost of anti-forgery paper is higher than that of ordinary paper. Furthermore, another problem exists in that only character strings embedded when anti-forgery paper is manufactured appear clearly on a copy of the anti-forgery paper.
In this situation, recently, a new technique has become of interest, in which the same effects as with anti-forgery paper can be achieved. In this technique, original document data and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data created with a computer are combined in a printer, and the composite image data containing copy-forgery-inhibited patterns is output on ordinary paper. Character strings and the like are embedded in this copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Thus, the embedded character strings appear clearly on a copy obtained by copying the image containing copy-forgery-inhibited patterns, as in a case where anti-forgery paper is used. In this technique, ordinary paper is used. Thus, an advantage exists in that the cost of making an original using this technique is cheaper than the cost of making an original using anti-forgery paper. Furthermore, in this technique, a new copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be created every time an original is made. Thus, this technique has another advantage in that the colors, embedded character strings, and the like of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be freely set up.
A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes an area that is to remain and the other area that is to disappear (or that is pale compared with the area that is to remain) on a copy of the image. The reflection densities of these two areas on the original are substantially the same. Thus, embedded character strings, for example, "COPY", are illegible to the human eye. Here, the term "remain" means that an image on an original is correctly reproduced on a copy of the original, and the term "disappear" means that an image on an original is not reproduced on a copy of the original.
Hereinafter, an area that is to remain on a copy is called a latent-image part, and the other area that is to disappear (or that is pale compared with the area that is to remain) from a copy is called a background-image part.
FIG. 24 is an illustration showing the state of dots in a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. In FIG. 24, an area where dots are concentrated is a latent-image part, and the other area where dots are dispersed is a background-image part. The dots in these two areas are generated by different types of dot processing, different types of dither processing, or the like. For example, the dots in the latent-image part are generated by dot processing with a small number of lines, and the dots in the background-image part are generated by dot processing with a large number of lines. Alternatively, the dots in the latent-image part may be generated using a clustered-dot dither matrix, and the dots in the background-image part may be generated using a dispersed-dot dither matrix.
The reproduction capability of a copying machine depends on the input resolution and output resolution of the copying machine. Thus, there is a limit to the reproduction capability of a copying machine. Accordingly, in general, when the size of each of the dots in the latent-image part of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is larger than the size of a dot that can be reproduced by a copying machine and when the size of each of dots in the background-image part of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is smaller than the size of the dot that can be reproduced by the copying machine, the dots in the latent-image part are reproduced on a copy, and the dots in the background-image part are hardly reproduced. Consequently, the color of the latent-image part reproduced on the copy is deeper than the color of the background-image part. Hereinafter, a term "visualization" represents a process in which an embedded latent image (for example, latent character strings) appears clearly on a copy by reproducing the latent-image part on the copy so that the color of the latent-image part is deeper than the color of the background-image part.
Parts (a) and (b) of FIG. 25 show visualization. Part (a) shows a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having not been visualized, and part (b) shows the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having been visualized on a copy. FIG. 25 schematically shows that concentrated dots (large dots) are reproduced on a copy, and dispersed dots (small dots) are not correctly reproduced on the copy.
A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not limited to that described above and can take other forms so long as a character string, for example, "COPY", a symbol, a pattern, or the like appears clearly (is visualized) on a copy so that they can be recognized by a human. Even when a character string, for example, "COPY", is inverse-printed on a copy, the purpose can be achieved by this type of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. In this case, needless to say, an area that includes the character string "COPY" is called a background-image part.
A technique for generating such a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-346032.
However, instructions may be individually submitted from a plurality of users to add to an output image a character string, a symbol, or a pattern that appears clearly on a copy of an original document to which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added. In this case, when two or more copy-forgery-inhibited patterns are added to the image at the same time, patterns of the individual copy-forgery-inhibited patterns may interfere with each other, and thus the quality of the image may be disadvantageously deteriorated. When the type of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern that is automatically added is limited to one type to avoid this problem, a problem exists in that the output image does not reflect the intention of a user who sends an instruction to add a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that is invalidated to the output image. Thus, solutions to these problems are required.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A multiport zero insertion force (ZIF) connector can include a multiport connector housing defining an opening and an interior space for receiving a multi-path circuit device having multiple types of electrical connection paths therethrough and multiple LIGA springs positioned within the interior space to apply pressure to the multi-path circuit device while in a first position. A locking component can be configured to cause the LIGA springs to move to a second position responsive to a user pressing the locking component, wherein the LIGA springs do not apply pressure to the multi-path circuit device while in the second position.

Next generation high-bandwidth probes and future generations of active probes for test systems will require the ability to handle multiple signals at the tip while meeting bandwidth and noise specifications. Current probes require two coaxial signals with frequency performance of up to 33 GHz and up to six direct current (DC) signal lines. Lower performance active probes will require up to eight signal lines and lower bandwidth. Current custom interconnect systems use off-the shelf radio frequency (RF) and DC contacts along with a custom housing. However, such multiport connectors (i.e., hybrid RF and DC) need to be custom designed and built for each probe application and, consequently, are very expensive—often prohibitively so.
Accordingly, a need remains for a high-performance, multiport connector system.

High performance multiport connector system using LIGA springs


The present invention is to provide a network system, which comprises a coordinator server located in a public network; first and second NATs (Network Address Translators) located in first and second private networks and configured as a full-cone NAT, respectively; first and second network devices located in the first and second private networks and connected to the public network through the first and second NATs, respectively, wherein each of the first and second network devices has registered two mapped addresses with the coordinator server, respectively; a third NAT located in a third private network; and a third network device located in the third private network and connected to the public network through the third NAT, wherein the third network device can obtain the mapped addresses from the coordinator server and, based on the mapped addresses, conduct NAT behavior tests on the third NAT through the first and second network devices.

With the development and advancement of communication technologies, network service applications have become a part of our daily lives. Peer-to-peer (hereinafter abbreviated as P2P) networking, for example, is a widely used technique nowadays whereby a user's network device (e.g., a desktop computer) can make direct connection with another user's network device through a P2P network to enable voice chat, video transmission, data sharing and exchange (e.g., pictures, music, and video recordings), distributed computation, or work in cooperation, to name only a few P2P applications.
In use, however, P2P networking is faced with problems associated with Network Address Translators (NATs). NATs are typically deployed at the border between a private network and a public network to carry out network address translation, which is an Internet standard defined in RFC 1631 and which mainly involves performing Internet Protocol (IP) address conversion on packets sent by network devices in a private network, so as for multiple network devices in a private network to make Internet connections using a common public IP address. More specifically, when an outgoing data packet of a private network reaches a NAT, the NAT converts the private IP address of the packet into a public IP address before sending the packet out. Likewise, when receiving an external packet, the NAT checks the public IP address of the packet against the information in a mapping table stored in the NAT, converts the public IP address into a private IP address according to the mapping table, and then forwards the packet to the corresponding network device in the private network.
As described above, NATs are configured to shield private networks by rendering the network devices behind a private NAT invisible to public networks. Hence, network devices which are respectively behind different private NATs cannot traverse the NATs to make direct connection with one another by P2P networking. To solve the NAT traversal problem, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) hole punching technique was proposed, which works in the following manner. A network device behind a NAT begins by connecting with a server in a public network; consequently, the NAT establishes a mapping between the private IP address/port of the network device and a public IP address/port of the NAT and opens a port on the public interface of the NAT. Once the port is opened, network devices in the public network can transmit data through the port to the aforesaid network device behind the NAT. The effectiveness of UDP hole punching, however, is limited to a large extent by the mapping behavior and filtering behavior of the NAT. Besides, the port opened on the public interface of the NAT must be made known by the server in the public network. In order for UDP hole punching to work effectively, Session Traversal Utilities for Network Address Translation (or STUN for short) are called for.
STUN is a network protocol that enables a network device behind a NAT to find network information related to making connections, thus allowing two network devices respectively behind different NATs to connect to each other. The principle of STUN is briefly stated as follows. To start with, a network device behind a NAT sends a plurality of binding requests to a STUN server. Upon receiving each binding request, the STUN server sends out a binding response in reply, wherein the binding response includes the IP address and port number of the NAT as discovered by the STUN server. After receiving the binding responses, the network device behind the NAT can assess the mapping behavior and filtering behavior of the NAT and is notified of the port opened on the public interface of the NAT.
The STUN technique is described in more detail below. Generally, a STUN server with two public IP addresses is required for STUN detection, and a network device behind a NAT must transmit and receive plural UDP packets to and from the STUN server, wherein the UDP packets contain information that the network device needs to know, such as the IP address used by, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT. Using the information in the UDP packets, the network device can determine the type of the NAT behind which the network device is located. The foregoing process is now elaborated by means of an example based on the following assumptions: a network device Host A is located behind a NAT X, has the IP address IPa, and opens the port Pa1; and a STUN server is located in a public network and has two public IP addresses IPs1 and IPs2, wherein IPs1 opens two ports Ps11 and Ps12, and IPs2 opens one port Ps21. The network device Host A can obtain the mapped-address, and assess the mapping behavior and filtering behavior, of the NAT X by the following steps, in which the steps performed by the network device Host A to assess the mapping behavior of the NAT X are as follows:
(101) The network device Host A sends a first binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs1 of the port Ps11 of the STUN server. After receiving the first binding request, the STUN server sends a first binding response through the port Ps11 with the public IP address IPs1 to the network device Host A in reply. The first binding response indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X.
(102) Then, the network device Host A sends a second binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs1 of the port Ps12 of the STUN server. After receiving the second binding request, the STUN server sends a second binding response through the port Ps12 with the public IP address IPs1 to the network device Host A in reply. The second binding response also indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X.
(103) Next, the network device Host A sends a third binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs2 of the port Ps21 of the STUN server. After receiving the third binding request, the STUN server sends a third binding response through the port Ps21 with the public IP address IPs2 to the network device Host A in reply. The third binding response, too, indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X.
(104) Based on the binding responses received, the network device Host A determines whether the mapping behavior of the NAT X is independent, address-dependent, or address and port-dependent. More specifically, the mapping behavior of the NAT X is independent if the ports indicated in all the binding responses are the same, address-dependent if only the ports indicated in the first and the second binding responses are the same, or address and port-dependent if the ports indicated in the binding responses are all different.
The steps performed by the network device Host A to assess the filtering behavior of the NAT X are as follows:
(111) The network device Host A sends a first binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs1 of the port Ps11 of the STUN server. After receiving the first binding request, the STUN server sends a first binding response through the port Ps11 with the public IP address IPs1 to the network device Host A in reply. The first binding response indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X.
(112) Then, the network device Host A sends a second binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs1 of the port Ps11 of the STUN server, wherein the second binding request has its CHANGE-REQUEST attribute set as "port". After receiving the second binding request, the STUN server sends a second binding response through the port Ps12 with the public IP address IPs1 to the network device Host A in reply. The second binding response also indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X.
(113) Next, the network device Host A sends a third binding request through the port Pa1 with the IP address IPa to the public IP address IPs1 of the port Ps11 of the STUN server, wherein the third binding request has its CHANGE-REQUEST attribute set as "IP address". After receiving the third binding request, the STUN server sends a third binding response through the port Ps21 with the public IP address IPs2 to the network device Host A in reply. The third binding response indicates the IP address of, and the port opened on, the public interface of the NAT X, too.
(114) Based on the binding responses received, the network device Host A determines whether the filtering behavior of the NAT X is independent, address-dependent, or address and port-dependent. More specifically, the filtering behavior of the NAT X is independent if the network device Host A receives all the binding responses, address-dependent if the network device Host A receives only the first and the second binding responses, or address and port-dependent if the network device Host A receives only the first binding response.
It can be known from the above that a STUN server must interact with a network device behind a NAT many times in order for the network device to know the mapped address, mapping behavior, and filtering behavior of the NAT. Now that the prevalence of NATs must increase with the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, more and more network devices will be located behind NATs and require the assistance of STUN servers in obtaining the mapped addresses, and assessing the mapping behaviors and filtering behaviors, of their respective NATs. Such a rising demand of assistance, however, will add greatly to the workload of STUN servers. Today, network service providers are endeavoring to find an effective solution to this problem, with a view to relieving the burden on STUN servers while allowing network devices to rapidly obtain information of their respective private NATs.

Network system capable of implementing stun with the assistance of two network devices and method thereof


An information processing apparatus, in a case where determination whether resource data can be added and registered in a printing control apparatus is made, and if it is determined that the resource data cannot be added and registered, without transmitting a resource registration job, performs control so that the print job is transmitted to the printing control apparatus, and when the print job arrives at the top of a print queue, performs control so that the resource registration job is transmitted, and after registration of the resource data, performs control so that output of the print job being stopped in the printing control apparatus is started.

1. Field
The present subject matter relates to an information apparatus that transmits print jobs to a printing control apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known systems for performing printing of job data with a printing control apparatus, a system that registers a resource object (for example, parameters of output paper and image data) necessary for the printing of the job data in the printing apparatus in advance, and performs the printing has been implemented. In such a system, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2012-083921 discusses a technique in which when no resource object exists in a printing control apparatus, job data is stored as a waiting job, and when the resource object is registered in the printing control apparatus, the printing of the waiting job is started.
In the above-described system, however, the timing for registering the resource object in the printing control apparatus is not considered. For example, even though the resource object has been registered in the printing control apparatus in advance, in starting the job data, the data may be deleted or overwritten. In such a case, a proper output result may not be obtained, or the user may have to wait for a long time until the execution of the printing. In other words, the resource data is not registered at appropriate timing to the printing control apparatus expected to output the print job using the resource data.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method, for transmitting print jobs to a printing control apparatus


A surveying system is provided that comprises a position relation calculating processor and a correspondence obtaining processor. The position relation calculating processor calculates a position relation between a coordinate system to which three-dimensional coordinates of a measurement point refer and a schematic image of a surveying field. Here, the schematic image includes the measurement point. The correspondence obtaining processor obtains a correspondence between the three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement point and the two-dimensional coordinates on the schematic image, corresponding to the measurement point.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surveying system. In particular, it relates to a surveying instrument or system, including a theodolite, total station, and the like, that is able to measure an angle between measurement points (or surveying points).
2. Description of the Related Art
In usual surveying or measurement practice, a picture or image of a surveying area including stations (points which are to be measured) may be taken and recorded with the measurement data. An image of a surveying area may be photographed with a normal separate camera not associated with the surveying instruments or with an imaging device integrally installed inside a surveying instrument, as described in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 11-337336. In this publication, images are captured for each of the measurement points.


A method is provided for correlating imprecise source data in a local coordinate system to a precise global eyepoint position for a global coordinate system within which the local coordinate system is located. The method includes the step of identifying key correlation points for the local coordinate system which has modeling inaccuracies. Global coordinates are also identified for each of the key correlation points. Another step is computing delta values for each of the key correlation points that represent the difference between key correlation points' local system coordinates and the global coordinate system's coordinate values for the key correlation points. An additional step is modifying the global eyepoint position based on delta values for selected key correlation points as the global eyepoint position moves in relation to the local coordinate system within the global coordinate system.

Computer systems have been used for many years to simulate 3D environments. The complexity of computerized simulators ranges from the simulation of a 3D environment for a game or driving instruction simulator to a high fidelity simulator such as realistic military training simulators. Most of these systems have a number of common elements that are used to make them work. From a high level viewpoint, a simulated environment is created using mathematically modeled structures, and textures or colors are applied over this mathematical framework as a type of skin. Then lighting and shading can be added to the environment. All of this information is viewed by a user using an eyepoint in the environment that samples the appropriate information from the environment.
A simulation system that utilizes a personal computer system may only have a CRT screen for viewing the environment from the eyepoint and a mouse or joystick for input. In contrast, high performance vehicle simulators typically include a cab that is a mock-up of a vehicle, which contains an operator compartment and vehicle instruments and controls. The cab is mounted on a motion base, which provides motion and acceleration cues by moving the cab around. The motion base is coupled to a visual system, which provides the out-the-window imagery and important environmental data for the operator(s) and/or host.
In a high performance simulator, a software system called the host oversees the operation of the simulator. The host monitors the control inputs provided by the operator, and causes the cockpit dials, instruments and displays to reflect the ongoing status of the simulated mission. In addition, the host controls the motion base and related audio systems, and tells the visual system what it needs to know to draw the corresponding out-the-window scene. A real-time system is a software program that is used within the visual system to control the image generator in response to host inputs.
The host tells the real-time system the position of things in the simulated environment (e.g., own aircraft, traffic aircraft, ground traffic, storms, etc.), the status of switchable or selectable things (e.g., runway and environmental lights, runway contamination, etc.), and the setting of global environmental effects like illumination (e.g., day, dusk, night) and visibility (e.g., fog, rain, snow, etc.). The real-time system returns data such as the nature of the surface beneath the tires of the aircraft, and whether collisions have occurred between the aircraft and other traffic or storm cells. This communication is largely asynchronous which means it occurs randomly as needed and is not locked to the ongoing computation of regular image frames.
The real-time system gets the required scene data from disk storage and loads it into the appropriate parts of the image generator in an on-going background process called paging. It also sends commands to the image generator to implement lighting, environmental, and other special effects called for by the host. It determines the proper level-of-detail (LOD) for scene elements and prepares them for rendering after eliminating those elements that will not appear in any window. This process includes the translations and rotations needed to get scene elements into their proper position within the scene. The real-time system also manages the rendering portion of the image generator in a synchronous, lock-step fashion that guarantees a steady stream of video to the displays.
A high fidelity simulation system, such as the one described, contains many different types of scene elements such as terrain, areal features such as tree canopies, linear features (roads, hedgerows, fences), and point features (trees, power poles, houses, light points).
Other models are also included in the system such as moving models of airplanes, cars, and helicopters, or environmental models such as clouds, sky, storms, or lightning flashes, etc.

System and method for weighted correction of an eyepoint position


Provided are a pneumatic tire where a band-shaped surface fastener extending in a tire circumferential direction is mounted on a tire inner surface, a cut portion composed of a group of a plurality of notches extending in a width direction of this surface fastener without traversing this surface fastener is formed in this surface fastener repetitively along the tire circumferential direction, the surface fastener is divided into a plurality of components by these notches, and the surface fastener is disposed on the tire inner surface in a state where the cut portion is stretched so the components are continuous in the tire circumferential direction.

Conventionally, pneumatic tires provided with surface fasteners on the tire inside surface in order to facilitate the attaching of affixtures such as noise absorbing members and the like have been proposed (e.g. see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-44503A). In pneumatic tires, noise absorbing members are provided in a cavity portion in order to reduce resonance generated in the cavity portion; the abovementioned pneumatic tire with surface fastener allows for easy mounting and removal of accessories such as noise absorbing members as necessary.
In adopting such a surface fastener, the surface fastener can be attached to an inner surface of a vulcanized pneumatic tire, but in this situation, there is a disadvantage where a production efficiency of the tire is extremely unfavorable. Therefore, it is proposed to mount the surface fastener on the tire inner surface during a tire molding process (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-154320A). More specifically, it is proposed to wrap a plurality of surface fasteners in a state of being separated from each other or a state of being separable from each other around a molding drum together with a rubber sheet, dispose these surface fasteners on an inner surface of a cylindrical carcass molded body, mold a green tire by inflating this carcass molded body into a toroidal shape and bonding this carcass molded body on an inner peripheral surface of a tread ring, and then vulcanize the green tire. While the surface fastener per se cannot stretch when the carcass molded body deforms into the toroidal shape, by having the plurality of surface fasteners dotting a tire circumferential direction, the surface fastener can be mounted on the tire inner surface during the tire molding process.
However, with a method such as described above, while it is possible to mount the surface fastener on the tire inner surface during the tire molding process, a dimension of each surface fastener dotting the tire circumferential direction necessarily decreases; therefore, in a situation where the surface fastener is lifted from the tire inner surface in the course of inflating the carcass molding body to vulcanizing the green tire, there is a problem where the surface fastener falls off without meeting resistance.

Pneumatic tire and method for manufacturing same


A power distribution system includes a busway and a bus plug. A mechanical assembly rotatably mounts the bus plug relative to the busway. The system includes a remote racking device including a mechanism having a first mechanical component coupled to the bus plug and a second mechanical component coupled to the busway. The remote racking device rotates the bus plug relative to the busway about a rotation axis defined by the mechanical assembly based on mechanical interaction of the first mechanical component and the second mechanical component. Methods of connecting and disconnecting a bus plug relative to a busway with a remote racking device are also provided.

Electric power can be supplied from an active device (e.g., power source) to a passive device (e.g., load source). For example, power stations can generate electric power; electric power companies can supply the electric power through an electric circuit (e.g., electric power grid) to consumers; and consumers can employ one or more devices to convert the electric power into energy to accomplish a variety of objectives. Consumers of electricity include household and residential consumers as well as commercial and industrial consumers.
An electrical distribution system, employing bus plugs connected to a busway, provides localized power distribution to one or more electronic devices (e.g., panels with devices having decision making capability defining a closed loop system), electrical devices (e.g., panels without decision making capability), and electromechanical devices (e.g., motor load).
When connecting or disconnecting a bus plug relative to a busway, an electric arc or electric spark may occur. The electric arc or electric spark places an operator or person in close proximity to the bus plug at risk of electrocution or electric shock. Alternatively, prior to connecting or disconnecting a bus plug relative to a busway, the electric power supplied to the busway may be terminated. While terminating the electric power to the busway eliminates the risk of electrocution or electric shock, it also electrically deactivates or de-energizes electronic devices, electrical devices, and electromechanical devices receiving electric power from additional bus plugs connected to the busway. It is desirable, therefore, to connect and disconnect a bus plug with an active or energized busway while simultaneously reducing or preventing the risk of electrocution or electric shock of an operator or person in close proximity to the bus plug.
Remote devices permit an operator to remotely connect or disconnect an electronic component from an active electrical source, thereby safely placing the operator outside an arc flash boundary of the electronic component. While remote devices have been employed in some electrical applications, no such devices are compatible with bus plugs and busways. Accordingly, for safe and effective distribution of electric power, a remote device for connecting and disconnecting a bus plug relative to a busway is needed.


A mobile water heating apparatus for rapidly heating large volumes of water, such as swimming pools, hot tubs, etc., at multiple sites includes a water heater, a water pump, and a water circuit comprising flexible conduit for direct coupling between the pool of water to be heated and the mobile water heating apparatus. The mobile water heating apparatus is independent of on-site dedicated facilities, provides rapid remote site service for cold weather or emergency situations, and is fully self contained, including energy source for heat generation and power generation for operating the water heating system equipment.

In general the invention relates to water heating devices and in particular to devices for heating pools of water. Typically, pools of water, such as pools, spas, etc., are heated, if at all, by permanent, site-dedicated heaters. Approximately less than half of all swimming pools have on-site heating capability. Of the existing on-site heaters, many are not functional. Often such heating equipment is inactive for long periods of time and is used sporadically, this can have an adverse effect on equipment working life. When a permanent type heater fails, pool water temperature may fall below an acceptable level and use may be greatly reduced or eliminated.
In many climates, especially warm climates, the expense and maintenance of a permanent type heater may be difficult to justify. However, even in such areas there will be occasions when pool water heating is desired. The need exists for temporary and occasional pool water heating, such as for special events during cold weather or power outages. The pool heaters of the prior art fail to satisfy this need. This need typically arises when permanent type pool heaters fail or where pools do not have water heating capabilities and are rendered unusable due to weather conditions. On-demand pool water would extend the season for pool use.
Further, because the environment associated with swimming pools is generally destructive to ferrous metals and electrical equipment in general, on-site equipment, including water heating equipment, is prone to failure and requires extensive maintenance. A shortcoming of prior art pool heating apparatus is the failure to provide a versatile site-independent, self-contained water heating apparatus having means for mobilization permitting self-transportation from site to site as needed.


A glue dispensing apparatus includes a container, a glue dispensing head and a heating unit. The container receives glue, and the glue dispensing head is connected to the container. The heating unit is mounted on the container. The heating unit includes a temperature sensor, a heating component, and a controller electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating component. The controller compares the temperature of the glue with a predetermined temperature range, controls the heating component to heat the glue when the temperature of the glue is equal to or less than a lower limit of the predetermined temperature range, and controls the heating component to stop heating when the temperature of the glue is equal to or greater than an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a glue dispensing apparatus and a glue dispensing method using the glue dispensing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A glue dispensing apparatus includes a glue dispensing head. Glue in the glue dispensing apparatus flows out of the glue dispensing apparatus from the glue dispensing head. Yet, the glue often blocks the glue dispensing head because of a cold temperature increasing the viscosity of the glue.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a glue dispensing apparatus and a glue dispensing method which can overcome the above mentioned problems.

Glue dispensing apparatus with heating unit and glue dispensing method


An optical beam processing device with two serially disposed birefringent elements, each element having its own direction of orientation. At least one element is pixelated with electrodes activated by control signals. The directions of orientation of the elements are aligned such that the phase shift imparted to the beam by an unactivated pixel of one element, cancels the phase shift imparted to the beam by the other element, such that the beam traversing that pixel undergoes zero phase shift. An appropriate control signal adds a phase shift to the beam passing through that pixel, so as to generate an overall phase shift through the device for any desired wavelength, which could not be readily achieved by either of the elements alone. The resulting device is thus able to provide switchable phase shifts of exactly zero and pi, for different wavelengths, generally unattainable by a single element device.

Many devices for use in optical communication networks utilize electrically controllable, birefringent elements, generally liquid crystal (LC) elements for performing signal modulation functions, generally by means of changing the phase between the ordinary and the extraordinary components of the optical beam transmitted through the element, and hence the polarization direction of the beam. These applications are generally achieved using a single liquid crystal element for each optical function to be accomplished. In the prior art there are described numerous examples of such applications, including for instance, those described in PCT Application. No. PCT/IL/02/00511 for Wavelength Selective Optical Switch, and in PCT Application No. PCT/IL/02/00188 for Fiber Optical Attenuator, published as WIPO document WO 02071133, and in PCT Application No. PCT/IL/02/00187 for Dynamic Gain Equalizer, published as WIPO document WO 02071660, and in PCT Application No. PCT/IL/02/00167 for Fiber Optical Gain Equalizer, published as WIPO document WO 03009054, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, each in its entirety.
Systems which use multiple liquid crystal elements have also been described in the prior art, such as that described for the purpose of pulse shaping in the article entitled "Programmable phase and amplitude femtosecond pulse shaping" by M. W. Wefers and K. A. Nelson, published in Optics Letters, Vol. 18, No. 23, pp. 2032-2034, 1993. In this application, although two LC elements are used serially as spatial light modulators in a pulse shaping application, each would appear to fulfil a different system function. Thus, one is used as a phase mask, modulating the relative phases of the different dispersed frequency components of the beam, while the other acts as an amplitude mask, which attenuates the different frequency components of the beam.
In prior art applications and systems using liquid crystal (LC) elements, each optical signal modulation or processing function is generally fulfilled by a single LC element, and each system module may include a number of such functions. However, this generally results in limitations on the desired functionality because of intrinsic limitations of each liquid crystal element. Such limitations can arise from a number of possible sources. Thus, for instance, there may be limitations in the overall phase shift which can be generated in the LC element, because of the nature of the behavior of birefringence as a function of applied voltage. Additionally, there may be limitations to the temperature stability of the device because of the temperature coefficient of the birefringence in the liquid crystal material. When temperature stability is important, prior art applications often utilize temperature stabilization of the entire circuit module using internal heaters, which complicates and increases the cost of the circuit module. Furthermore, most liquid crystal materials have wavelength-dependent operation, since such materials are generally dispersive. The efficiency of the circuit function in which they are used is thus wavelength dependent, and in, for instance, a prior art liquid crystal based channel blocking module, the attenuation at the center of the waveband may be higher than that at the band edges since the phase change or polarization rotation generated in the LC material cannot generally be optimized for all wavelengths. Adjustment of the switching voltage in such devices for each separate wavelength-dispersed pixel is not generally a simple or cost-effective solution.
Furthermore, since each different type of LC material—whether nematic, twisted nematic, smectic, chiral nematic, or any other type—has its own functional limitations, and the way in which the material is operable in the LC element may also be functionally limited, the available range of suitable LC materials may not enable attainment of the exact optical functionality desired. Furthermore, the alignment of the optical axis of the LC element, as defined by the rubbing direction, also generally limits the available use configuration of the element. Additionally, there may be spatial limitations to the pixel patterns useable on prior art single LC devices, and this may limit their applicability for some system requirements.
There therefore exists a need for liquid crystal devices which can operate without the limitations of the kinds mentioned hereinabove, or at least with reduced limitations, in order to enable the construction of more specifically suited devices for use in dedicated optical processing systems.
The disclosures of each of the publications mentioned in this section and in other sections of the specification, are hereby incorporated by reference, each in its entirety.

Optical devices with cascaded liquid crystal elements


There is provided a co-injection molded multilayer structure comprising a barrier layer and outer layers laminated to contact with the barrier layer on its both sides, wherein the barrier layer is made of a resin composition (X) comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) and an alkali metal salt (B) of a higher fatty acid, having a melting point of 250° C. or lower; the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) has an ethylene unit content of 20 to 60 mol % and a saponification degree of 90% or more, and a content of the alkali metal salt (B) in the barrier layer is 50 to 1500 ppm in terms of metal atoms; and the outer layers are made of a resin composition (Y) comprising an unmodified high-density polyethylene (F) and a maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene (G), and a maleic anhydride modification rate relative to the whole resin composition (Y) is 0.005 to 0.1 wt %. This co-injection molded multilayer structure has excellent adhesiveness, so that its oxygen barrier performance can be maintained even after being subjected to an impact due to falling or the like.

An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "EVOH") is a polymer material having excellent barrier performance against a gas such as oxygen and an organic agent, which is extensively used as a variety of packaging material such as a film, a sheet and a container.
EVOH is a hygroscopic resin, and its barrier performance is deteriorated by moisture absorption. Therefore, for preventing moisture absorption by EVOH, a multilayer structure in which hydrophobic resin layers such as polyolefin layers are disposed on both sides of an EVOH layer is often used as a container or the like. However, an EVOH layer is less adhesive to a hydrophobic resin layer. It is, therefore, common that an adhesive resin layer such as a maleic-anhydride-modified polyolefin is disposed between these layers. However, a complex layer structure inevitably leads to a higher production cost. Thus, it has been needed to develop an approach for adhering an EVOH layer to a hydrophobic resin layer without employing an adhesive resin layer.
When a multilayer structure is produced by co-injection molding, molten multiple types of resins are concurrently injected from multiple cylinders into a mold. Then, the resin as a laminate flows and fills a mold to give a multilayer structure. Since it is technically difficult to form a uniform adhesive resin layer between an EVOH layer and a hydrophobic resin layer, hydrophobic resin layers are formed on both sides of an EVOH layer, not via an adhesive resin layer.
Patent Reference No. 1 has described a molded part used for a fuel container, which is a laminate of a barrier resin (A) layer and a thermoplastic resin (B) layer having a solubility parameter of 11 or less, and has described that the molded part has excellent mechanical strength. In Examples therein, there is described a multilayer fuel container which is produced by co-injecting EVOH and a blend of polyethylene and maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene such that an EVOH layer is sandwiched by layers of the blend.
Patent Reference No. 2 has described an oxygen-absorbing resin composition comprising a thermoplastic resin containing a carbon-carbon double bond substantially only in a main chain and a transition metal salt, wherein oxygen absorption per one mole of a carbon-carbon double bond in the thermoplastic resin is 1.6 moles or more. The reference has also described a resin composition wherein the thermoplastic resin particles are dispersed in a matrix resin such as EVOH, so that it develops higher oxygen barrier performance by oxygen absorption by the thermoplastic resin.

Co-injection molded multilayer structure and method for producing same


A contact element capable of arranging beam portions at a narrower pitch and also facilitating insertion of a mating contact, and a connector have second and fourth contact portions which are displaced from each other in an orthogonal direction DR which is orthogonal to an arranging direction DP of first and second beam portions and a thickness direction DB of a linking portion. When a metal plate is blanked, the first and fourth contact portions are displaced from each other in a longitudinal direction L of the first and second beam portions, and the second and third contact portions are displaced from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the first and second beam portions.

Conventionally, there has been known a connector comprising contact elements and a base contact (see Patent Literature 1).
The above-mentioned connector comprises one base contact 62 and two contact elements 63, as shown in FIG. 23.
The base contact 62 is formed of a conductive material. The base contact 62 is formed with a groove 62a. A base contact 61 formed of a conductive material is inserted into the groove 62a. Inner wall surfaces of the base contact 62, opposed to each other, are each formed with a groove 62c. The groove 62c is a dovetail groove.
As shown in FIG. 24, each contact element 63 includes side portions 3a formed in two rows, which extend parallel to each other, and a plurality of webs 3c each extend in a manner bridging between the side portions 3a. Each contact element 63 is formed by pressworking one metal plate having elasticity.
Each web 3c is formed with one protruding portion 3i at one side of a central portion 3f thereof, and is formed with one recess 3m in the other side of the central portion 3f thereof. Two web edges 3k are formed on both sides of the recess 3m. Each web 3c is twisted, whereby the protruding portion 3i protrudes in a thickness direction of the side portion 3a, and each web edge 3k protrudes in a direction opposite to a protruding direction of the protruding portion 3i. The protruding portion 3i is capable of contacting the base contact 61, and the web edges 3k are capable of contacting the base contact 62.
Before the web 3c is twisted, the protruding portion 3i is fitted in the recess 3m of an adjacent web 3c, and is sandwiched between the two web edges 3k.
The contact elements 63 are fitted in the grooves 62c of the base contact 62, respectively. At this time, the web edges 3k of each contact element 63 is in contact with the base contact 62.
As shown in FIG. 23, when the base contact 61 is inserted into the groove 62a of the base contact 62, the protruding portions 3i of the contact elements 63 are in contact with the base contact 61. As a result, the base contact 61 and the base contact 62 are electrically connected via the contact elements 63.
As described above, since this contact element 63 employs the arrangement in which the protruding portion 3i is fitted in the recess 3m before each web 3c is twisted, it is possible to arrange the webs 3c at a reduced pitch, and as a result, it is possible to increase the numbers of protruding portions 3i and web edges 3k per unit length, which makes it possible to cause a large amount of electric current to flow.

JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED


A metal film made of titanium is formed on a surface of a wafer. Then, the metal film is subjected to a patterning process to selectively remove undesired portions to form a metal film on an outer area of the wafer and a lattice-patterned metal film on a pattern area of the wafer. The lattice-patterned metal film is formed on an area corresponding to scribe lines of devices to be arranged in a matrix on the wafer. Then, the metal films are connected to a ground. Subsequently, a vanadium oxide film is formed on the wafer using a sputtering process. Therefore, the vanadium oxide film is prevented from becoming charged at the time of deposition thereof on the wafer to suppress increasing of self bias potential and attain uniformity in resistance value of the vanadium oxide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a metal oxide film using a sputtering process. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for forming a metal oxide film made of a bolometer material to be used for a two-dimensional infrared imaging apparatus of the non-cooling type which performs the detection of infrared radiation through the use of variations in resistance with temperature variations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, metal oxides having comparatively large variations in resistance with temperature (i.e., temperature coefficient resistances: TCRS) have been provided as bolometer materials to be used in the non-cooling type two-dimensional infrared imaging apparatus. Among them, vanadium oxide (VOx) is known as such a material which is able to easily obtain a high TCR, and is thus formed as a thin film to be used as a sensor of the temperature-measuring apparatus or the non-cooling type two-dimensional infrared imaging apparatus.
The method for forming such a metal oxide thin film typically includes a physical deposition process, such as vacuum evaporation, or a sputtering process. Among them, the sputtering process is used extensively because of its excellent productivity. For instance, the method for forming a VOx thin film using a sputtering process is disclosed in Jerominek et al., Optical Engineering, a second paragraph of page 2093, vol. 32-9, 1993.
In order to form the above metal oxide film using the sputtering process, a reactive sputtering process may be employed. In the reactive sputtering process, a cathode target made of a pure metal or a metal oxide is arranged in a sputtering chamber and an anode stage is then arranged to face the cathode target, followed by placing a wafer on the anode stage. Subsequently, argon (Ar) is introduced as a sputtering gas and oxygen (O2) is introduced as a reaction gas in the sputtering chamber, followed by subjecting to an electric discharge process. Consequently, a metal oxide film can be deposited on the surface of the wafer. By the way, for the use of a metal oxide film in the two-dimensional infrared imaging apparatus or the like, it is very important to make the thin film on the wafer so that the characteristics of the thin film are extremely consistent across the surface of the wafer.
Regardless of such an importance, there is a problem that the characteristics of the metal oxide film on the surface of the wafer become uneven when the metal oxide film is deposited on the wafer using the conventional reactive sputtering process. In addition, there is another problem that the characteristics of the metal oxide film formed on the wafer may be varied depending on the type of the sputtering apparatus, i.e., a sheet-fed type sputtering apparatus in which wafers are processed one by one or a batch type sputtering apparatus in which plural wafers are simultaneously processed.
The reason of causing such a problem is the generation of positive self bias potential on the surface of the wafer. As the surface of the wafer is covered with an interlayer film with sufficient electrical insulation (e.g., a silicon oxide film (SiO2) or a silicon nitride film (SiNx)), the surface of the wafer may become positively charged as a result of dielectric polarization caused in the insulation film when the discharge is initiated after placing the wafer on the anode stage. Similarly, the surface of the wafer may become positively charged to have a self bias potential in spite of a smaller insulation value compared with that of the above insulation film in a case where a metal oxide film to be formed by the sputtering process has an insufficient electrical conductivity compared with that of a pure metal. Such a metal oxide film may be, for example, a semiconductor metal oxide film with a resistibility of 1xc3x9710xe2x88x925 to 100 xcexa9xc2x7m.
We will explain the self bias potential as follows. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective diagram that shows the inside of the conventional sputtering apparatus where a wafer 1 is placed on an anode stage 4. In this figure, also, there is a graph that schematically shows the distribution of self bias potentials on the wafer, in which the locations on the anode stage are plotted on the horizontal axis and the self bias potentials corresponding to the respective locations are plotted on the vertical axis. By the way, the horizontal axis of the graph also corresponds to the positions of the anode stage 4 and the wafer 1. In this case, the anode stage 4 has a diameter of 13 inches (33 cm). As shown in FIG. 1, uneven self bias potentials are generated on the anode stage 4 because of the presence of an insulating deposition film 3 such as a metal oxide film being deposited on the wafer 1 mounted on a wafer-mounting area of the anode stage 4 and a redundant electrode area external to that wafer 1, and so on.
The self bias potential generated on the anode stage 4 functions as an opposite force to be exerted on argon ions which are ionized positive ions in plasma. Thus, the self bias potential decreases the speed of argon ions flying to the anode stage 4 and prevents them from their arrivals on the anode stage 4. Therefore, the influence (self-purification) of bombardment with argon ions to a metal oxide film which is depositing on the wafer 1 mounted on the anode stage 4 becomes out of balance when the self bias potentials are unevenly distributed on the wafer 1. Consequently, the characteristics of such a metal oxide film to be obtained (i.e., the composition and molecular structure of the film) becomes inconsistent over the entire surface of the wafer 1, so that uniformity in characteristics of the wafer surface (e.g., a resistance value thereof) becomes deteriorated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a metal oxide film using a sputtering process, where uniformity in characteristics of the metal oxide film to be formed on a wafer can be improved.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a metal oxide film on a wafer on a stage facing to a target by a sputtering process, comprises the steps of: forming a metal film on a part of area on a surface of the stage, a part of area on a surface of the wafer, or both the part of area of the surface of the stage and the part of area of the surface of the wafer; connecting the metal film to a ground; and forming a metal oxide film on the wafer using the sputtering process while the metal film is being grounded.
In this aspect of the present invention, a metal film is formed on a part of area on the surface of the wafer, and the metal film is then connected to a ground, so that the surface of the wafer can be prevented from becoming charged at the time of performing the sputtering process. Or, a metal film is formed on a part of area on the surface of the stage, and the metal film is then connected to a ground. Thus, the potential can be consistent across the entire surface of the wafer and the ions can be uniformly flied on the metal oxide film at the time of performing the sputtering process. As a result, the metal oxide film can be formed to ensure uniform film characteristics.
The surface of the wafer may comprise a pattern area on which devices are arranged in a matrix and an outer area that surrounds the pattern area, and the metal film may be formed on at least the outer area in the step of forming the metal film. Alternatively, the metal film may be formed in a lattice pattern formed between devices on the pattern area in the step of forming the metal film. The metal film in the lattice pattern may be formed on cutting lines of the devices being arranged in the matrix.
The surface of the stage may comprise a wafer-mounting area to be covered with the wafer and a redundant electrode area external to the wafer-mounting area. In this case, the metal film may be formed on the redundant electrode area in the step of forming the metal film.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a metal oxide film on a wafer on a stage facing to a target by a sputtering process, comprises the steps of: exposing a metal material constituting the stage by removing at least a part of a deposition film formed on the surface of the stage; connecting the metal material to a ground; and forming a metal oxide film on the wafer using the sputtering process while the metal material is being grounded.
Therefore, the influence of self bias potential on the redundant electrode area of the stage for the ions can be prevented. Thus, the ions can be uniformly flied on the metal oxide film at the time of performing the sputtering process. And, the metal oxide film can be formed to ensure uniform film characteristics.
The surface of the stage may comprise a wafer-mounting area to be covered with the wafer and a redundant electrode area external to the wafer-mounting area, and the deposition film formed on the redundant electrode area may be removed in the step of exposing the metal material being formed as the stage by removing at least the part of the deposition film formed on the surface of the stage. The removal of the deposition film may be performed using an etching process.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a metal oxide film on a wafer on a stage facing to a target by a sputtering process, comprises the steps of: electrically suspending the stage by forming an area on which at least a part of an insulating film on the surface of the stage is exposed; and forming a metal oxide film on the wafer using the sputtering process under the conditions in which a potential of the surface of the wafer and a potential of the surface of the stage are substantially equal to each other. Therefore, the ions can be uniformly flied on the metal oxide film at the time of performing the sputtering process. And, the metal oxide film can be formed to ensure uniform film characteristics.
Also, the surface of the stage on which the wafer is placed may be substantially shaped like the surface of the wafer on which the metal oxide film is formed. Thus, the entire surface of the stage can be substantially covered with the wafer. In other words, on the surface of the stage, it is possible to substantially eliminate any area which is not covered with the wafer. As a result, the influence of self bias potential on the redundant electrode area can be prevented, ensuring the uniform potential distribution on the surface of the wafer. Therefore, the ions can be uniformly flied on the metal oxide film at the time of performing the sputtering process. In addition, the metal oxide film may be made of a bolometer material. The metal oxide forming the metal oxide film may have a resistivity of 1xc3x9710xe2x88x925 to 1xc3x97100 xcexa9xc2x7m. Furthermore, the metal oxide forming the metal oxide film may contain vanadium oxide.


The present disclosure provides an actuation system for a flight control surface of an aircraft, having: a support frame for supporting a flight control surface, the support frame being configured to be mounted to an airframe structure of the aircraft for movement between a first position and a second position to operate and move the control surface; an actuation mechanism configured to effect movement of the support frame between the second position and the first position; and a detection device for detecting a fault in the actuation mechanism, the detection device comprising a deflector configured to deflect or skew the support frame away from or out of the first position in the event of a fault in the actuation mechanism.

Reliable operation of flight control surfaces, such as wing flaps or slats, in civil and military aviation, is naturally important for ensuring safe and dependable air travel. It is therefore desirable to be able to detect any impairment of function in such movable flight control surfaces before the aircraft is in flight. For safety reasons, these types of flight control surfaces (e.g. high-lift flaps) are typically required to have multiple load path supports, thus providing redundancy. Furthermore, a problem or fault in any one of the load paths should be detectable generally within one flight.
Because of the redundancy provided in the load path supports, each control surface will usually have more than one actuator or drive unit, with each drive unit being powerful enough or having sufficient strength to operate and/or to structurally support the control surface alone. Where one of these load paths is compromised due to a problem or fault, however, it is highly desirable to be able to detect this promptly.

Actuation system for flight control surface


A universal multifunction sensor having multiple optical designs and providing a plurality of parameter sensors in one sensor module which can interface with and control operation of one or more processor control systems in an occupied space networked environment. The universal multifunction sensor comprises a passive infrared occupancy sensor and an ambient light sensor. A common network communications and control processor coupled to a common communication transceiver are shared in common by the occupancy sensor and the ambient light sensor, such that the multifunction sensor can interface with and control operation of one or more processor control systems in an occupied space networked environment. A segmented lens array comprises a plurality of lens segments forming a lens array for directing infrared radiation onto the passive infrared occupancy sensor, a cubicle wall mount lens array providing a wide field of view and a very short range detection optical pattern; whereby the universal multifunction sensor can be provided with a segmented lens array designed to optimize the field of view and motion detection for a particular mounting application.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to multiple optical designs for a multifunction sensor, and more particularly pertains to multiple optical designs for a multifunction sensor as might be utilized in an occupied space networked environment such as an automated commercial or industrial building in which sensors are installed to sense and control various parameters therein. The sensors can include an occupancy sensor, such as a passive infrared (PIR) sensor or an active infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, a temperature sensor, an ambient light sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a CO.sub.2 sensor, a time of day sensor, and other parameter sensors.
It would be desirable to provide a plurality of such parameter sensors in one sensor module which can interface with one or more processor control systems to control operation of security systems, energy management control systems, etc. in the occupied space networked environment. Such processor control systems are available commercially which incorporate networking such as an Echelon LONWORKS system, CEBus, BacNet, etc.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Traditionally, separate sensors have been used for occupancy sensing, ambient light sensing, temperature sensing, etc. in separate lighting control systems, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control systems, Demand Side Management (DSM) electrical load control systems, and security systems, although modules combining occupancy sensing and ambient light sensing have been used in nonnetworked systems.

Multiple optical designs for a multifunction sensor


A portable, modular fluid-containment system is described which can be assembled anywhere to form a wall or dike for preventing fluids (e.g., water) from escaping from their intended location and for preventing flooding. The system uses individual collapsible modules which can be stacked in rows and columns, as desired. The modules overlap each other and are also interconnected so that a liquid such as water can be used to fill all of the modules to make them more stable and immobile.

There are many situations where it is necessary or highly desirable to be able to prevent fluids (such as water or chemicals) from flowing into areas where the fluids can cause damage. For example, in areas where there are swollen rivers resulting from heavy rains or spring run-off, it is often necessary to build earthen levees or to stack sandbags along the river banks in order to prevent the high water from damaging residential areas or valuable property. Then after the river level has gone down, the levees or sandbags can be removed.
Also, it is usually necessary or desirable to build berms or to stack sandbags around oil or chemical tanks to contain any chemicals which would be released in the event that the tanks would leak.
Building earthen levees, or filling and stacking sandbags, is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Also, after the crisis has passed (i.e., after flood waters have receded or spilled chemicals have been removed) it is another time-consuming and labor-intensive task to remove the levees or sandbags.
There has not heretofore been provided a portable, easy-to-use, and effective fluid containment system having the advantages and features provided by the present invention.

Interlocking modular fluid-containment system and method for constructing the module


A computing device configured for actively provisioning a managed node is described. The computing device includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device identifies a managed node on a network. The computing device also determines whether the managed node comprises management hardware. The computing device further enables the management hardware. To enable the management hardware, the computing device opens hardware-based secure communication between the computing device and the node, allows access to a remote management engine and provisions the management engine. The computer device additionally adds the managed node to a database.

Computer and communication technologies continue to advance at a rapid pace. Indeed, computer and communication technologies are involved in many aspects of a person's day. Computers commonly used include everything from hand-held computing devices to large multi-processor computer systems.
Computers are used in almost all aspects of business, industry and academic endeavors. More and more homes are using computers as well. The pervasiveness of computers has been accelerated by the increased use of computer networks, including the Internet. Many computers may be connected to such networks. A computer network may include hundreds or even thousands of computers.
As the use of computers has increased, so has the need to manage and update computers, especially in a controlled environment. Continual management of computers is one current challenge. For example, as computers are added to enterprise networks, maintenance, monitoring and general life-cycle management become increasingly difficult.