A method for operating an object-based configuration system CS for field devices of automation technology, with a frame application FA, which serves for managing and instantiating a plurality of objects, wherein, to individual groups of device objects, field device types are assigned, which enable, as device managers, a configuration of the corresponding field device type. A first main object MO-1 is provided, which makes available a first object set OS-1 with device objects for a plurality of device types and instantiates, with the help of a first control engine, via an identifier ID, device objects of the first object set, in order to produce device managers for these field device types. Besides the first main object MO-1, a second main object MO-2 is provided, which has a second object set OS-2, wherein individual device objects of the second object set OS-2 are updated device objects of the first object set OS 1. Between the frame application FA and the main object(s) MO-1, MO-2, respectively, an intermediate layer I is provided, which selects, via a second control engine, that main object, which makes available the updated device objects for the selected device type, and which, following selection of the device type, transfers to the corresponding main object the identifier ID, in order to instantiate the updated device object.

Field devices are commonly employed in automation technology (process automation/manufacturing automation) and serve for registering and/or influencing process variables. Examples of such field devices are fill level measuring devices, mass flow measuring devices, pressure- and temperature-measuring devices, pH- and redox-potential-measuring devices, conductivity measuring devices, etc. for process automation technology, which, as sensors, register the corresponding process variables, fill level, flow, e.g. flow rate, pressure, temperature, pH-value and conductivity value, respectively.
Serving for influencing process variables are actuators, e.g. valves, which control flow of a liquid in a section of pipeline, or pumps, which change fill level in a container.
A large number of such field devices are manufactured and sold by the firm ENDRESS+HAUSER®.
Frequently, field devices are connected with superordinated units via communication systems (PROFIBUS®, FOUNDATION-FIELDBUS®, HART®, etc.). Such superordinated units serve for process control, process visualization, device-management (configuration and servicing) and for plant management (asset management), using corresponding application programs.
The integration of field devices into such applications occurs via device descriptions. Device descriptions are provided by device manufacturers, in order that superordinated units can recognize and interpret the meaning of data supplied by the field devices.
Various device descriptions are known for the different fieldbus systems (HART-device-descriptions, Fieldbus Foundation device descriptions, Profibus device descriptions).
On the basis of cooperation of Fieldbus Foundation (FF), HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and Profibus Nutzerorganisation (PNO), an electronic device description (Electronic Device Description EDD) was created, which is defined in the standard IEC 61804-2.
With a large number of EDD-based fieldbus systems installed worldwide, EDD is a very widely used description language for device descriptions in automation technology.
For servicing field devices, corresponding servicing programs (operating tools) are necessary, which, in superordinated units, run either on their own (Endress+Hauser FieldCare, Pactware, AMS Fisher-Rosemount, PDM Siemens) or else are integrated into control system applications (Siemens PCS7, ABB Symphony, Emerson Delta V).
For a comprehensive servicing of field devices, newly, special device descriptions, so-called DTMs (Device Type Manager), are available, which correspond to the FDT (Field Device Tool) specifications. The FDT-specifications, serving as an industry standard, were developed by the PNO (Profibus Nutzer Organisation (Profibus User Organization)) in cooperation with ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik-und Elektroindustrie (The German Electrical and Electronics Industry, a registered association)). The current FDT-Specification 1.2.1, including the Addendum for "Foundation Fieldbus" Communication, is available from ZVEI, PNO or the FDT-Group.
Many field device manufacturers already deliver corresponding DTMs for their field devices. The DTMs encapsulate all variables and functions of the pertinent field device and offer, most often, a graphical user interface for servicing the devices.
As run-time environment, the DTMs require a frame application (FDT-frame). The frame application and the corresponding DTMs permit, thus, a very comfortable access to field devices (e.g. to device parameters, measured values, diagnostic information, status information, etc.), as well as for invoking special functions, which individual DTMs make available.
The DTMs can be referred to as device objects, which, together with the frame application, represent an object-oriented configuration system for field devices of automation technology.
In order to keep the administration of device objects as simple as possible in superordinated units, the field-device manufacturers do not provide a separate DTM for each field device, but, instead, a main, or principal, object, which includes a plurality of device objects for individual field device types of the particular manufacturer.
If a malfunction occurs during the servicing of a field device, then the corresponding device object must be updated. An updating is also necessary, when the device receives new functionalities, which could not be accessed via the device object present until now.
Problematic is the integration of updated device objects into object-oriented configuration systems when main objects are being used. One possibility is to produce an updated device object and also a correspondingly updated main object. This means, however, a considerable test effort, since not only the updated device object must be tested, but, also, all other device objects of the relevant main object.
Another possibility is to generate, for the updated device object, an updated main object and to remove the not-updated device object from the original main object. There arises, along with the original device object, a completely independent device object. This, however, changes the modular structure of the configuration system and the user must institute considerable adaptations in its system.
Both alternatives mean for the operation of an object-based configuration system, in the case of updating of device objects, a considerable effort, either on the part of the device manufacturer or on the part of the user.

Method for operating an object-based configuration system for field devices of automation technology


The present invention relates to a field effect transistor (FET element) in which a .pi.-conjugated polymer film serving as a semiconductor layer is manufactured by first forming a .pi.-conjugated polymer precursor film using a .pi.-conjugated precursor which is soluble in a solvent and then changing the precursor polymer film to the .pi.-conjugated polymer film. A liquid crystal display apparatus uses the FET element as an active drive element. A large number of the FET elements can be manufactured on a large area substrate at the same time at lost cost and operate stably. A large current flow between the source and drain can be significantly modulated by a voltage applied to the gate of the FET element.

Monocrystalline silicon and GaAs are used in practical FETs. However, these materials are expensive, and the process for manufacturing the FETs is very complicated. In addition, the area of an FET is limited by the size of a silicon or gallium arsenide wafer. For example, when an active drive element used in a wide screen liquid crystal display element is manufactured, there are substantial restrictions on costs and area when a silicon or gallium arsenide wafer is used. Because of such restrictions, when an FET is used as a drive element in a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor using amorphous silicon is presently used. However, in a thin film transistor using amorphous silicon, it becomes increasingly difficult to manufacture many elements uniformly on a plane surface at low cost as the display element area is increased. Thus, recently, it has been proposed that FETs be manufactured using an organic semiconductor material. Among organic semiconductor materials, those using a .pi.-conjugated polymer are especially useful because they are easily processed, which is a characteristic of a polymer material, and area can be easily increased (see Japanese Patent Publication 62-85224).
It is thought that a .pi.-conjugated polymer, whose chemical structure includes a conjugate double bond or triple bond, has a band structure comprising a valence band, a conduction band, and a forbidden band separating the valence and conduction bands which is formed by overlapping of .pi.-electron orbits. The forbidden band of the .pi.-conjugated polymer is mostly within a range of 1 to 4 Ev which varies with the material. Therefore, the .pi.-conjugated polymer itself has the electrical conductivity of an insulator or close to it. However, charge carriers are generated by removing electrons from the valence band (oxidation) chemically, electrochemically, physically, or the like or by implanting (referred to as doping hereinafter) electrons into the conduction band (reduction). As a result, it is possible to vary electrical conductivity over a large range, from insulating to metallic conduction, by controlling the amount of doping. The .pi.-conjugated polymer obtained by an oxidation reaction is p-type and by a reduction reaction is n-type. This result is similar to addition of dopant impurities to an inorganic semiconductor. Thus, it is possible to manufacture various semiconductor elements using the .pi.-conjugated polymer as a semiconductor material.
It is known that polyacetylene can be used as a .pi.-conjugated polymer in an FET (Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 54, page 3255, 1983). FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a conventional FET using polyacetylene. In this figure, reference numeral 1 designates a glass substrate, reference numeral 2 designates an aluminum gate electrode, reference numeral 3 designates a polysiloxane insulating film, reference numeral 4 designates a polyacetylene semiconductor layer, and reference numerals 5 and 6 designate gold source and drain electrodes, respectively.
In operation of the polyacetylene FET, when a voltage is applied between the source electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6, a current flows through the polyacetylene film 4. When a voltage is applied to the gate electrode 2 disposed on the glass substrate 1 and separated from the polyacetylene film 4 by the insulating film 3, the electrical conductivity of the polyacetylene film 4 can be varied by the resulting electric field so that the current flow between the source and drain can be controlled. It is thought that the width of a depletion layer in the polyacetylene film 4 adjacent to the insulating film 3 varies with the voltage applied to the gate electrode 2 and thereby the area of a current channel varies. However, the amount of the current flow between the source and drain that can be varied by the gate voltage is small in this FET.
In other FETs, the .pi.-conjugated polymer is poly (N-methylpyrrole) (Chemistry Letters, page 863, 1986) and polythiophene (Applied Physics Letters, Volume 49, page 1210, 1986). FIG. 16 is a sectional view of an FET in which poly (N-methylpyrrole) or polythiophene is used as a semiconductor layer. In this figure, reference numeral 3 is a silicon oxide insulating film, reference numeral 4 is a poly (N-methylpyrrole) or polythiophene semiconductor layer, reference numerals 5 and 6 are gold source and drain electrodes, respectively, reference numeral 1 is a silicon substrate and gate electrode, and reference numeral 2 is a metal making ohmic contact to the silicon substrate 1. When poly (N-methylpyrrole) is used as the semiconductor layer, a current flowing between the source electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6 through the semiconductor layer 4 is only slightly controlled by the gate voltage, so there is no practical value in this FET.
On the other hand, when polythiophene is used as the semiconductor layer, the current flowing between the source electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6 through the semiconductor layer 4 can be modulated 100 to 1000-fold by the gate voltage. However, since polythiophene is formed by electrochemical polymerization in the prior art, it is very difficult to manufacture many uniform FETs at the same time.
Thus, the current between the source and drain which can be modulated by the gate voltage is too small in an FET in which polyacetylene or poly (N-methylpyrrole) is used as the semiconductor layer. In addition, although the current between the source and drain can be highly modulated by the gate voltage in an FET using polythiophene as the semiconductor layer and the FET is highly stable, since the FET is manufactured by forming a polythiophene film directly on the substrate by electrochemical polymerization, it is difficult to manufacture many uniform FETs on a large substrate at the same time, which is a problem.

Field effect transistor including .pi.conjugate polymer and liquid crystal display including the field effect transistor


A method and a probing implement for facilitating searches of hidden areas, such as inside pants pockets, under collars, or under belts is disclosed herein. The probing implement includes an elongated body with a handle portion at one end, a tacky portion at the other end, and a cover enveloping at least the tacky portion. The method includes removing the cover from the tacky portion of probing implement, grasping the probing implement by the handle portion, inserting at least the tacky portion of the probing implement into a recessed area of clothing, moving the probing implement within recessed area so that tacky portion has an opportunity to contact and adhere to any hidden objects, withdrawing the probing implement from the recessed area, and either disposing of the probing implement or placing the probing implement along with any attached objects into an evidence bag. In an alternative method, the covered tacky portion of the implement may be inserted into the recess and the cover subsequently withdrawn while the implement is within the recess.

The invention relates to searching devices, particularly to a probing implement for facilitating searches of recessed or creviced areas, notably the insides of pockets and under collars of people taken into custody, and other searchable crevices, such as car seats or bags. The probing implement is preferably disposable and can be used without specialized skill or dexterity, and it affords the user protection from potentially dangerous objects which could be contained in these hidden areas, such as razor blades, drugs or infected hypodermic needles.
When a person is taken into custody, it is customary for a police officer to "pat down" the subject with his bare hands to search for and remove objects from pockets or clothing. Occasionally, subjects taken into custody carry potentially dangerous, sharp objects, such as razor blades, needles and knives in their pockets or attempt to hide objects from the police. Also, powdery substances, such as drugs, may not be palpable by the hands. Police officers are then faced with the unnecessary risk of encountering such dangerous objects or substances with their bare hands. If the police officer chooses to wear gloves to protect himself while conducting the search, the officer may involuntarily overlook a hidden object because the sense of feel is dampened when the hand is encased in a glove. Moreover, even heavy gloves cannot totally abrogate the possibility of puncture wounds sustained upon an unexpected encounter with a sharp object such as a hypodermic needle. The possibility that a hypodermic needle, knife or razor may be a harbor for HIV or other serious disease greatly compounds the potential health threat to the searcher associated with these routine and necessary searches.
Tools for facilitating drug searches have been described in the prior art. One such device, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,842, has an angled handle attached to a searching end which has an internal recess to collect small, loose objects encountered as a police officer searches through crevices between furniture or vehicle seat cushions. However, because that device relies on a directional orientation of the internal recess and the ability of the loose objects to fit inside the recess, it may fail to uncover all of the small, potentially dangerous objects found in clothing recesses. For example, it may be possible for the bottom of the drug tool to contact a needle within the close confines of a pocket, but because of the geometry of the location of the drug tool's recess, the needle may not be sufficiently displaced to enter the drug tool's recess. Additionally, the size and shape of the drug tool may hamper an officer's attempt to use the tool in searching relatively confined areas, such as in pants pockets, under collars, and under belts.
Other devices designed for picking up small objects utilize a tacky adhesive to adhere the object to the device. These devices require manual manipulation of an adhesive substance to a portion of the tool before the tool is ready for operation. The need for excessive physical manipulation to use such devices and the requirement of an additional source of adhesive may make these devices unsuitable for use by police officers who often conduct searches under pressures and confines that would prohibit undue manipulation of search devices. Additionally, other gripping devices may have a relatively small adhesive surface area that rapidly may become clogged with dust, lint, or dirt commonly found in pockets. Furthermore, devices displaying relatively small adhesive surface areas may be less effective in adhering to and retrieving potentially dangerous objects from hidden recesses.
One object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective, disposable tool to quickly, easily, and safely conduct searches of clothing recesses and other crevices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a probing implement that will maximize the probability that small, elusive objects, such as hypodermic needles, razor blades, or powdery substances can be safely removed from hidden recesses of clothing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a probing implement that will allow recovery of small quantities of powdery substances, such as drugs from hidden recesses. The substances will adhere to the tacky portion the probing implement for later use as evidence. Without the use of the probing implement, powdery substances that an officer's hand would encounter may be lost, displaced, or destroyed.

Apparatus and method for searching pockets and crevices


A first aspect of the present invention relates to a glass substrate having a content of alkali metal oxides, as represented by molar percentage based on oxides, of 0 to 0.1%, a devitrification-temperature viscosity of 103.2 dPa·s or higher, and an average coefficient of thermal expansion α at 30 to 220° C. of 7.80 to 9.00 (ppm/° C.). A second aspect of the present invention relates to a glass substrate which is to be used for a support substrate for semiconductor packages, the glass substrate having a content of alkali metal oxides, as represented by molar percentage based on oxides, of 0 to 0.1% and a photoelastic constant of 10 to 26 nm/cm/MPa.

In the field of semiconductor devices, while the degree of integration in devices increases, size reduction in the devices is proceeding. This has resulted in a growing desire for a technique for packaging a device having a high degree of integration.
In the field of semiconductor packages, a technique such as wafer-level packaging (WLP) or panel-level packaging (PLP) is attracting attention in recent years (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this technique, for example, silicon chips are placed on a glass substrate and encapsulated by molding an encapsulation resin. Terminals can be disposed over an area larger than each silicon chip, rendering efficient wiring possible. As a result, the degree of integration per unit area can be heightened. In addition, a cost reduction can be attained by increasing the area.
In general, encapsulation resins have a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than glass substrates, and there is hence a large difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the glass substrates and the encapsulation resins. Because of this, packaging by the WLP technique has a problem in that the package warps due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion. In order to overcome this problem, a measure has hitherto been taken in which various fillers are incorporated into an encapsulation resin to make the coefficient of thermal expansion of the encapsulation resin close to the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass substrates, thereby diminishing the warpage resulting from the packaging step.


A MicroAdapter device enables payment transactions to be effected through a purchaser's personal trusted device (PTD) without relying upon tokens or prepayment cards. In one embodiment, the MicroAdapter includes a transceiver configured to receive a purchase signal from the PTD including order and payment information. In response, the MicroAdapter communicates via wireless telephony with a transaction authorizer to receive authorization for effectuating the purchase transaction. The MicroAdapter may be particularly suited to effectuate micropayment transactions authorized by a Billing On Behalf of Others (BOBO) program administered through a wireless carrier/ISP or third party.

There are over 21 million Point of Sale (POS) physical and mobile seller (also referred to herein as "merchant") systems that support cashless transactions valued above approximately $10. For the purposes of this application, the term POS refers to the physical site at which a good or service is provided to a buyer. Most of these physical merchant site systems are designed to accept magnetic cards as the interface media for the banking entity (MASTERCARD, Loyalty cards such as MACY'S, etc.) and the consumer. The costs of a typical transaction includes the approximate cost of 10 cents for a wired dial-up connection and approximately 50 cents or 2% of transaction costs for the credit card clearing house that routes requests and provides transaction records.
There are also millions of automated manned or unmanned vending machine type devices that accept cash, credit/debit cards, or tokens. These automated financial transaction machines include public transportation ticketing machines, liquid and food dispensing machines, car wash, and gasoline pumping system machines, among others. These automated machines accept typical transaction values of between about $0.01 and $30.00, and typically do not directly support existing credit card and/or credit transaction devices. There are also many merchants that require highly mobile POS systems for small value transactions and include ice cream vendors, entertainment venues, and entertainment ticket re-sellers.
A problem exists as the present industry schema of existing credit cards may preclude financial transactions for amounts of less than $30, and more typically less than $10. These small financial transactions are typically referred to as "micropayments." Some reasons associated with reluctance to support micropayments utilizing the existing credit card schema include, but are not limited to, high processing charges, communications charges, credit transaction insurance, equipment infrastructure, clearing house fees, transaction processing time, etc.
A problem also exists when the merchant point of sale is highly mobile and unable to connect with a telephone network for micropayment processes, even if such micropayment processes are available. Problems associated with a highly mobile POS are exacerbated by the length of transaction processing time, and issues relating to transaction privacy, security, and validation.
One possible solution to the problem posed by micropayments is the loyalty credit card process. This process requires credit worthiness of the customer and allows small purchases to be charged to the store issued loyalty card with processing of the transaction is performed by the store or a contracted third party. MACYS and NORDSTROMS are examples of such retail companies supporting micropayments with their loyalty cards. However, the loyalty cards are typically store-specific and not transferable to other merchants.
Another possible solution is the pre-pay micropayment card process. This process requires the customer to prepay a specific amount upon issuance of the card. The card will then be used in a transaction associated with the issuer that does not require user validation and authorization, nor does it offer billing, transaction tracking services, or credit services. Telephone cards and transportation cards are examples of such entities supporting micropayments in a pre-pay process.
Another possible solution is the micropayment debit card process. This process requires the customer to qualify for credit upon issuance of the card. The micropayment debit card will then be used in a transaction associated with the issuer that may require user validation and authorization. Telephone calling cards linked to the user's existing telephone account are one example of an entity supporting micropayments in a credit process.
Yet another possible solution to the micropayment issue is the token processing process. This process requires the customer to purchase tokens for use in specific automated equipment or at manned point of sales. Circus entertainment tickets and car wash facilities are examples of such entities supporting token-based micropayments.
There is also a trend towards greater numbers of automated vending systems and unmanned point-of-sale equipment and systems typically requiring prepayment in exchange for tokens. The unique requirements of each specific equipment and systems has created many standards that require cash payment and do not offer conversion for remaining tokens, nor provide transaction receipts.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for methods and apparatuses which allow for a micropayment to be made utilizing electronic media in a convenient and economically viable and secure fashion.

Micropayment financial transaction process utilizing wireless network processing


A locking cover apparatus for an opening in the ground is disclosed. The apparatus can be retro-fitted to an existing ground opening, or can be newly constructed ground opening fitted with the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus features a keyed lock that has a projecting portion that fits under an existing or newly constructed shroud that is installed at ground level and around the ground opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manhole covers, particularly lockable covers for catch basins, wells, test wells, piping systems, sewerage systems, remote gasoline fill ports, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved locking cover for a manhole, catch basin, well, test well or the like wherein a specially configured locking cover has interlocking portions that are spaced circumferentially apart, wherein one of the interlocking portions is a keyed lock that extends from the upper surface of the lid to the lower surface of the lid and that rotates a locking arm to a position under a shoulder of a shroud that receives the lid.
2. General Background of the Invention
The present invention provides a well shroud and security system. The shroud is disposed over the end of a well, e.g. an environmental monitoring well pipe, or water well pipe, or any well system or like ground opening. The shroud and well pipe can be set in concrete. The space between the housing and the well pipe is preferably filled with concrete below the end of the well pipe.
The shroud provides an interior ledge for receiving and supporting a locking cover that can be a hinged locking cover. The locking cover can also be a one piece cover that has a plurality of interlocking portions spaced circumferentially (for example, 180°) around the periphery of the lid. The shroud has an interior ledge or shoulder for receiving and supporting the locking cover.
A flexible gasket can be placed on the ledge or shoulder. The cover can be placed on the flexible gasket. The cover and flexible gasket are secured by means of a locking mechanism.
The cover thickness is preferably substantially the same as the distance from the top of the housing downwardly to the shoulder or ledge, so that when locked, the top is flush with the ground surface.
The locking device of the present invention can be recessed, preferably covered with a flexible gasket. The gasket helps seal out weather, unwanted elements, dirt, and debris from the keyed opening of the lock.
The hinge on the cover can be internal for a more secure shroud. The underside of the cover can provide a metal plate fastened to the underside of the lid with four bolts. The bolts can be positioned, for example, at corners of the plate for marking and engraving well numbers or other site specific information.
The present invention thus provides a lockable ground opening with an improved cover and locking arrangement that is preferably a hinged, flush mounted cover.
The hinge is preferably mounted inside the cover for security.
A top cover portion of the apparatus accepts a lock for security. The lock can be a redundant device for security purposes. The underside of the cover accepts a plate for site specific information. In one embodiment, the cover is a one piece unit that can be retroactively fitted to an existing shroud.
The following patent documents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,213; 5,324,135; 5,697,729; 5,950,368; 6,007,270; foreign patent document nos. JA 56-25524; JA61-58673; EP 420,777; JA6-248,660.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,270 discloses a manhole frame with a hinged lid that has a lock on the side.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,135 discloses a hinged locking lid for a ground opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,729 discloses a locking lid for a ground opening.
U.S. Patent No. JA 56-25524 and EP 420,777 discloses locking lids for manhole covers that are pivoted or hinged.

Locking cover for wells and underground tanks


The present invention is directed to the use of a combination of a polymeric chelant and coagulant to treat metal containing wastewater. More particularly, the invention is directed at removing copper from CMP wastewater. The composition includes a combination of (a) a polymeric chelant derived from a polyamine selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetraamine (TETA), tertraethylenepentaamine (TEPA), poly[vinylamine], and branched or linear poly[ethylenimine] (PEI); and (b) a water soluble or dispersible copolymer of a tannin and a cationic monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl chloride or dimethyl sulfate quaternary salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide, and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

Despite minor setbacks in use of copper integrated circuits, the semiconductor industry, together with associated research institutions, are progressively solving current problems and are adopting copper as a next generation semiconductor material. With this trend as a driving force, there is a need to develop advanced solutions to address current and future health, economic, and environmental issues that are associated with copper and other metal-bearing waste.
In the semiconductor manufacturing industry, treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal ions and abrasive solids to meet discharge levels (as mandated by EPA and local authorities) has been continuously challenging, sometimes unreliable and often expensive. This is mainly due to time wasted and operating costs associated with the chemical conditioning of wastewater during processing, such as use of mineral acids for wastewater pH adjustment and use of expensive polishing agents. Other costs arise from membrane treatment to reduce fouling, metals recovery from ion exchange and general costs resulting from high capital equipment maintenance, such as filter bed replacement.
In attempts to solve economic and environmental problems associated with treating chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) wastewater, several methods and chemical compositions for removing metals ions from waste streams are currently in use.
For instance, Grinstead, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,831 teaches a cyclic process for treating an aqueous metal-bearing waste stream which comprises: 1) contacting the aqueous waste stream with a polymeric chelant to form a soluble metal complex, 2) using membrane separation to remove the aqueous portion, 3) contacting the concentrate with a mineral acid to release the metal, 4) using a second membrane filtration to separate the metal filtrate from the regenerated polymeric chelant, and 5) recycling the aqueous polymeric chelant concentrate to the contact zone of the first step.
Allen et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,871,648; 5,965,027; 6,312,601 and 6,428,705 teach processes for removing metal and non-metal contaminants from wastewater comprising: 1) adjusting pH of the wastewater stream and treating it with an organic or inorganic coagulant to form a particulate (or agglomerate) in excess of 5 microns in size, 2) passing the treated wastewater through a microfiltration membrane to remove the contaminants, and 3) periodically back-flushing the microfiltration membrane to remove the solid contaminants from the membrane surface. This technology operates in a single pass, with no reconcentration mode. The preferred organic polymeric coagulants, by way of example, are poly[epichlorohyrin-co-dimethylamine] (pEPI/DMA) and poly[diallyldimethylamonium chloride] (pDADMAC) polymers. It is further taught that, for metal containing waste, it may be desirable to add a metal removal agent to yield an insoluble metal precipitate that is absorbed by the coagulant. In the examples with CMP slurries, the chemical treatments are added directly to the slurry and then processed directly via microfiltration.
Salmen et al., in U.S. Pat. No 6,258,277 teach a process for removing heavy metals from a semiconductor wastewater containing abrasive solids comprising: 1) adding an effective amount of a water-soluble polymer containing dithiocarbamate functionality (DTC-polymer), 2) precipitating heavy metal ions, and 3) passing wastewater through a microfilter to remove the abrasive solids and precipitated heavy metal ions. It is further taught that the use of a coagulant in conjunction a DTC-polymer will adversely affect permeate flux and quality.
Carey et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,096 teaches a composition effective for removing metals from wastewater comprising the dithiocarbamate analogs of poly[ethylenimine]. It is further noted in the teachings that filtering the treated wastewater can enhance the efficiency of the metals removal.
Smith et al., in PCT WO 96/38493 discloses a number of water-soluble polymers, including poly[ethylenimine] derivatized with chelating functionality for use in separating metals from aqueous streams. It is further disclosed that the permeate flux of a treated waste stream through an ultrafiltration membrane can be enhanced by "prepurifying" the polymer before derivatization to remove low molecular weight species. Example 2 (polymer B) of WO '493 is compositionally equivalent to the polyethyleiminodiacetic acid.XNa (PEIDA) composition of the present invention.
Quamme et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,080; Kelly et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,734,216 and 4,781,839; and Chen et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,991 teach derivatized tannin containing polymer compositions that are effective coagulants for clarification of wastewater.
The use of cationic polymers and anionic polymers as coprecipitants in removing heavy metals from wastewater is known in the art. For instance, Swanson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,354) use a cationic polyelectrolyte and anionic xanthate to precipitate and remove metal ions from wastewater. However, Swanson et al.'s selection of anionic polymers is limited to water soluble polyhydroxyl derivatives, such as starch, cellulose, dextrins, hemicellulose, polyvinyl alcohols and preferably anionic starch xanthate.
A drawback to current technologies for treating CMP wastewater is that the copper is coprecipitated with abrasive solids, thus increasing the amount of copper-containing waste generated. Furthermore, current technologies require utilization, with periodic maintenance, of the ion exchange bed to successfully remove copper to compliance level. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for treating CMP wastewater that minimizes the amount of copper-containing waste generated. A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel treatment for CMP wastewater.

Polymeric chelant and coagulant to treat metal-containing wastewater


An automatic drug dispenser includes: a drug cassette which ejectably accommodates drugs; a base unit which detachably supports the drug cassette and drives a motor to eject drugs; a drug feeder storage which is designed to store a large number of base units; a reading device which is provided in each of the base units and reads identification information assigned to the drug cassette; and a checking means which compares a result of reading with pre-stored check data, wherein a microprocessor is mounted in each of the base units, and the checking means, the check data and history information related to the cassette are built in each microprocessor in a distributed manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic drug dispenser for automatically ejecting various drugs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an automatic drug dispenser such as a tablet packing machine and an injection dispensing machine, drugs are accommodated in drug cassettes such as tablet feeders according to their categories. A desired amount of drug is taken out in accordance with a prescription or an instruction for dispensing based on the prescription. In a majority of types of dispensers, drug cassettes are detachable to facilitate refilling of drug cassettes with drugs. Means are provided to ensure that drug containers are attached only to their counterparts so as to prevent a container from being attached to an improper destination.
Such means may be a mechanical one that takes advantage of alignment between a key (projection) and a slot (hole). The following approach of reading identification information has been in the mainstream from the perspectives of cost, flexibility, expandability and miniaturization. In this approach, different drug cassettes are assigned different identification numbers. The number is read electronically or magnetically so that the result of reading is checked against preset check data. An alarm is issued in the event of a matching failure. Some drug dispensing systems are so arranged as to further ensure that the drug cassettes are properly positioned, while employing the aforementioned approach of reading identification information. This is achieved by conducting multiple checks that differ in the range of checking (see, for example, patent document No. 1).
[Patent document No. 1]
JP2002-272812 A
[Patent document No. 2]
JP2002-153541 A
[Patent document No. 3]
JP2002-154637
[Patent document No. 4]
Japanese Utility Model Publication 5-7601
[Patent document No. 5]
Japanese Utility Model Publication 5-7602
[Patent document No. 6]
JP06-080103
[Patent document No. 7]
JP11-206855 (first page)
[Patent document No. 8]
JP2003-31871
As the number of drug types is increased, the number of drug feeders stored is also increased. When there are as many as several hundred or more feeders, initial setting and preparation of check data are not easy.
The configuration of an ejecting member of the drug feeder should be adapted to the configuration of the drug (dosage form). Since the variety of dosage form is quite extensive, it is not easy to make available a full line-up of drug feeders adapted to the various dosage forms.
Accordingly, a technical problem to be solved is to improve an automatic drug dispenser so that preparation of check data and adaptation to dosage forms are easy, even if there are a large number of drug feeders of diverse configurations.

Automatic drug dispenser and drug feeder


A receiver includes a data unit decomposer for receiving data units transmitted via a transmission channel and extracting user data including invalid data and valid data by removing management data from the received data units, and a plurality of rate estimators for receiving data forwarded by the data unit decomposer and outputting the data to different output interfaces. Each rate estimator selects valid data from the user data forwarded by the data unit decomposer, inputs the selected valid data to a FIFO unit, controls read frequency of the FIFO unit based on an amount of remaining data in the FIFO unit, and estimates a transmission data rate of an associated input interface in the transmitter based on at least one of a write cycle in writing the valid data to the FIFO unit and the amount of remaining data in the FIFO unit.

This invention relates to transport of different protocol signals.
Increase in communication traffic has generated demand for higher speed and larger throughput in networks. Current core communication networks connecting line concentrators, bases, or providers' networks employ large-throughput transport achieved by data multiplexing. Examples of such large throughput transport include SDH/SONET (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy/Synchronous Optical NETwork) which multiplexes a low-speed signal with a predetermined speed signal and OTN (Optical Transport Network) which has achieved large-throughput transport by employing a concept of optical path suitable for WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) communication.
The foregoing large-throughput transport technologies have a problem that extensive device configuration is required to handle a plurality of signals. In such a circumstance, a technique to achieve synchronous detection of multiple frame rates in the SDH or SONET with a single circuit is disclosed in JP 2003-143097 A. In the meanwhile, JP 2008-227995 A discloses a multi-rate interface board that generates OTN frames from low-speed signals that are not standardized as OTN frames, independently from the type of signal.
In recent years, signals (protocols) used in a network are diversified to meet their usage; for example, the link layer supports various protocols, such as Ethernet™, FibreChannel, and InfiniBand, together.
In such a circumstance, for a network that multiplexes links having different transmission data rates for transport, a multi-rate signal multiplexing technique is increasingly demanded that does not depend on the protocol or transmission data rate.

Data transport system, receiver and transmitter


Explosive cutter assemblies and methods include a liner having a single unitary body, and an explosive charge disposed within the liner. The explosive charge includes a continuous unitary body of explosive material having a first area disposed in association with an inner surface of the liner and a second area extending from the center of the assembly to the first area. A detonator can be used to ignite the second area of explosive material, causing propagation of a detonation to the first area, which in turn causes deformation of the liner and projection of the liner toward a target to form a cut. An adaptor sub having a detonator within can be inserted into the cutter assembly to secure the assembly together, position the detonator in association with the explosive material, and engage a conduit usable to raise and lower the cutter assembly and transmit a detonation signal.

The ability to quickly and cleanly sever tubular members, such as well casings that are deep underground, is an essential step during well maintenance and salvage operations. Typically, the industry relies on mechanical or explosive devices to perform such cutting. One type of explosive device, that is often used, is a shaped charge explosive cutter, which provides a simple, fast, and inexpensive method by which to sever pipes within a wellbore. During typical operations, shaped charge explosive cutters are lowered to a selected depth within a well, using a wireline, at which time they are detonated, producing pressure and/or molten materials that cut through the casing.
A typical shaped charge tubular cutting device contains two circular layers of explosive material, each having a truncated cone shape. Outlining the sloped side faces of the explosive circular layers are thin metal rings, called half-liners. These two components are joined together, apex-to-apex, forming a shaped charge assembly having a liner with a V-shaped cross section. The shape charge assembly is sandwiched between two end plates, typically made from steel. Lastly, the six elements (two layers of explosive, two half-liners, and two end plates) are aligned coaxially and enclosed within a cylindrical housing, in the recited order.
The end plates contain an opening along the central axis to provide a pathway for an explosive detonator to be placed adjacent to the top circular layer of explosive material. The two circular layers of explosive material may also contain an opening along their central axes, providing a space for an explosive detonator to be placed between the circular layers of explosive material.
After the shaped charge tool is assembled, it is lowered into the tubular member. For optimal effectiveness, the circular shaped charges within the tool must be aligned at a substantially perpendicular angle, relative to the tubular wall. Following the placement of the shaped charge tool at the proper location within the tubular member, the shaped charge is detonated.
Once the charge is detonated, a shock wave propagates radially along the transverse plane between the circular half charges and collides with the V-shaped liner, forcing the two liner surfaces together at high speeds. The resulting impact between the two liner surfaces results in extreme pressure being generated. At these high pressures, the metal liner exhibits plastic and/or fluid-like characteristics. While the expanding shock wave folds the metal liner together into a disc shape, the shock wave continues to advance radially along the transverse plane, pushing and accelerating the liner material to flow radially along the transverse plane at extreme velocities, forming a jet of liner material able to cut through the tubular member.
Traditional fabrication procedures for circular shaped charge tools include independent fabrication of the half-liner pieces, each having a truncated cone shape, with an open base and apex surface. The circular explosive discs can be formed using half-liners as the outside wall portions of the mold. The apex surface of the explosive disc is formed against the bottom of a flat mold, the explosive material is packed into the area between the mold and the half-liner, then a top mold plate is pressed against the explosive material, solidifying and bonding the material with the half-liner. This method forms a circular disc of explosive material, with the half-liner outlining the radial walls of the disc. A unified disc of explosive material bonded with a half-liner is called a half-charge. To form the shaped charge tool, two half charges are placed apex-to-apex, in a cylindrical housing between two steel plates, as described above.
Another traditional fabrication procedure for making circular shaped charge tools includes forming the circular explosive disc without half-liners outlining the radial walls of the explosive disc. The explosive charge material is formed into a truncated cone shape by using a mold to shape every surface of the charge, including the outside wall surface. This fabrication technique results in the half-liner and the explosive material disc being separate components, which must later be arranged within a cylindrical housing.
A shaped charge assembly comprising two or more explosive charge members, such as half-charges, results in small areas of separation between such members, which allow for overrunning of the detonating shock front. As the shock wave propagates radially from the central detonation point, the areas of separation between explosive charge portions allow a shock front to travel through the empty area at faster velocities than through areas containing explosive material. This shock front collides with the center of the liner, along the transverse plane between the half-charges, before the main shock wave impacts the rest of the liner. Such non-uniform collision can cause the liner jet to scatter or to be deformed excessively at the center, as opposed to a desired compact liner jet moving in the radial direction.
In another traditional manufacturing process, the circular explosive discs are fabricated in several pieces, such as in quarters. These quarters are then arranged to form circular explosive discs when assembling the components in a cylindrical housing. A half charge may comprise four or more segments (e.g., wedge-shaped segments that together form a circle). Such an arrangement creates multiple areas of separation between the segments of explosive material, subject to the same difficulties present when using half-charges: as the shock wave propagates, the areas of separation provide empty pathways through which the shock front travels at faster velocities than through areas containing explosive material. This overrunning shock front collides with the liner in certain areas before the main shock wave impacts the rest of the liner, resulting in a non-uniform collision, causing the liner to be deformed and/or scattered excessively at points along the areas between adjacent segments of explosive material.
In addition to configurations that include multiple segments of explosive material, the space between two half liners, or between other configurations involving multiple liner pieces, also contributes to improper liner jet formation. As the shock wave impacts and collapses the V-shaped liner, the small space between the two half liners, or between other portions, allows the passage of expanding gasses into the standoff space, disrupting the formation of a uniform jet or slug. A deformed or non-symmetrical jet or slug reduces the penetrating efficiency of the shaped charge cutting tool.
Conventional tubular cutter tools typically incorporate explosive material sections that are relatively thick throughout (i.e. from the detonator to the liner). Other designs incorporate top and bottom housing plate surfaces that are sloped or that contain sharp edges or angles. Uneven plate surfaces can cause shock wave deflections in various directions within a thick layer of explosive material. Shock wave deflections may cause shock front overrunning along the path of deflection through the explosive material. This results in certain parts of the shock wave striking an area of the liner along the vertical plane before the main shock wave strikes the rest of the liner. A non-symmetrical collision causes the liner to be deformed unevenly, resulting in a non-symmetrical liner jet formation, thus reducing the effective penetration capabilities of the cutter and causing uneven severing of a tubular member. Shock wave deflections may also cause shock wave cross propagation, which occurs when shock waves having opposite directional component vectors collide and interfere with one another. Such shock wave collisions result in explosive energy loss, which also reduces the effective penetration capabilities of the cutter.
An energy loss due to separation between the upper and lower end plates prior to jet formation is also a common problem with many conventional shaped charge cutting tools. As the explosive material is detonated, explosive energy is released in all directions. If the area between the end plates expands prior to jet formation, energy is lost when deforming and accelerating these end plates, resulting in less energy available to be utilized toward liner jet formation.
Over years of experimentation, shaped charge cutter technology has developed extensively. Certain physical characteristics of shaped charge elements and certain relationships between those elements have been revealed as significant, even though prior understanding of the technology labeled them as unimportant. Departures from conventional methods, that may have previously been thought of as minute or insignificant, have led to unpredictable results, significant performance improvements, and reductions in material and fabrication costs.
A need exists for a shaped charge tubular cutter tool that overcomes the deficiencies of conventional cutters by preventing detonation front overrunning along the transverse plane between adjoining partial charges and between adjoining explosive material segments.
A further need exists for a shaped charge cutter tool that eliminates internal shock wave deflections, which can result in shock front overrunning and shock wave cross propagation.
A need also exists for a casing cutter tool that is highly efficient, utilizing more explosive energy into the cutting action than standard explosive tubular cutters.

Explosive tubular cutter and devices usable therewith


An extraction process comprising contracting a material to be extracted with an extracting fluid at elevated pressure within a defined space, and separating the extracted fluid and extract as a mass, from the extracted material while reducing the volume of the defined space and while maintaining the elevated pressure within the defined space. Apparatus for carrying out the process is adapted to separate the extracting fluid and the extract, as a mass, from the extracted material, while maintaining elevated pressure and reducing the volume as the point of separation.

The use of liquified gases and supercritical fluids to carry out extractions at high elevated pressure has been described in the prior art. Such prior art processes involve the use of liquified gases or supercritical fluids at pressures in excess of 3,000 to 5,000 psi, although in some cases the recommended pressures exceed 10,000 psi.
Processes for extractions run at extremely high pressures are described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,156,688; 4,328,255; 4,466,923; 4,493,854; 4,495,207; and 4,683,063.
Generally speaking, these prior art processes separate the extracted material from the residual solids by an elution or dilution process, wherein the supercritical fluids are pumped through the material to be extracted over a period of time, and as the extracting fluid is pumped through the solids, the level of extractable liquid in the solids is gradually reduced.


A hole forming method with a laser beam and a hole forming laser apparatus improves the efficiency of hole formation without deterioration in the quality of the formed hole. In a hole forming method for forming holes in a plurality of articles by irradiation with a condensed laser beam, the laser beam is switched in succession to plural working optical axes, thereby forming holes in succession in the articles positioned respectively on the working optical axes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a hole such as a through hole on a printed circuit board with a laser, and a hole forming laser apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Formation of holes for mounting electronic parts, such as through holes, on a printed wiring board has generally been conducted with a mechanical method utilizing a drill. In recent years, however, methods for hole formation with a laser beam have been developed in order to respond to the requirements for forming smaller holes resulting from the increasing density of the printed circuit pattern, and non-through holes. Such technology is already known, for example, in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Applications Nos. 61-95792 and 62-216297. In order to further reduce the working time in such known technology, there is also proposed a method of splitting a laser beam to plural working optical axes with plural partially transmitting mirrors of different reflectances. Improvements in efficiency and cost are necessary to realize commercial application of the hole forming technology with a laser beam also and the above-mentioned method of laser beam splitting to plural optical axes is effective for this purpose.
However, in the latter method mentioned above, the splitting of a laser beam into plural optical axes results in a lowering of the output (intensity) of the laser beam. For example, if a laser beam is split equally into four beams, the intensity of each beam becomes a quarter of the original intensity. Since the working speed is faster and the quality of formed hole becomes higher as the energy per unit time is higher in the laser beam, the above-mentioned conventional method is unable to provide the expected improvement in the working efficiency because of the slower working speed for each hole. Besides, the quality of the formed hole deteriorates due to the lowered beam intensity.

Method of forming a hole with a laser and an apparatus for forming a hole with a laser


Manufacturing method is for manufacturing an optical display panel including an optical cell and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-carrying optical film provided thereon with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween, which includes the steps of unwinding a multilayer optical film from a roll, feeding the multilayer optical film, feeding an optical cell, peeling off the optical film from a carrier film, and bonding the optical film to one side of the optical cell with a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, wherein the longitudinal length (L) of the carrier film between a position at which the multilayer optical film begins to be unwound in the film feeding step and a position at which peeling is started in the peeling step is 15 times or more the width (W) of the carrier film.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing an optical display panel including an optical cell, such as a liquid crystal cell or an electroluminescent (EL) display cell, and an optical film provided on the surface of the optical cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of liquid crystal display (LCD) device manufacturing steps includes a bonding step in which multilayer optical films each having a polarizing film are bonded to both sides of a liquid crystal cell, which includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In general, such multilayer optical films include a polarizing film and an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the polarizing film, and thus can be bonded to the surface of a liquid crystal cell with the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween.
A method used for bonding such optical films to a liquid crystal cell includes feeding an optical film and a liquid crystal cell in the same direction and press-bonding the optical film to the liquid crystal cell, while superposing them. Specifically, a known method includes feeding a liquid crystal cell and an optical film between a pair of rollers opposed to each other and placed perpendicular to the direction of feed of the liquid crystal cell and the optical film, such as a pair of a guide roller for feeding the liquid crystal cell and a bonding roller for press-bonding the optical film to the liquid crystal cell, while superposing them; and press-bonding the optical film to the liquid crystal cell. In this case, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the optical film may be covered with a peelable release film, and the optical film may be bonded to the liquid crystal cell by the above step, while or after the release film is peeled off. Examples of such a liquid crystal display device manufacturing method include a piece-by-piece manufacturing method in which optical film pieces formed by previously cutting an optical film into pieces of a predetermined size are each bonded to a liquid crystal cell by the above method; and a continuous manufacturing method in which optical film pieces formed by half-cutting are continuously supplied on a carrier film and each bonded (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4361103).
The latter continuous manufacturing method enables a continuous process of bonding between a liquid crystal cell and an optical film and therefore is significantly advantageous in terms of mass productivity or yield as compared with the conventional piece-by-piece method. A method for continuously manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes providing a roll of a long multilayer optical film including a long carrier film and a long pressure-sensitive adhesive-carrying optical film placed on the carrier film with the pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, cutting the long optical film to form predetermined sized pieces of the optical film on the long carrier film, while unwinding the multilayer optical film from the roll, and feeding the carrier film so that the pieces are continuously supplied to the bonding position.
Usually, such a roll of a multilayer optical film has a width corresponding to the length of one side of a rectangular liquid crystal cell. On the other hand, the long optical film, which is part of the multilayer optical film unwound from the roll, is cut into a piece with a length corresponding to the length of another side of the liquid crystal cell, so that the resulting piece of the optical film has the size of the liquid crystal cell. The piece of the optical film obtained by cutting into a size corresponding to that of the liquid crystal cell is fed to the step of bonding to the liquid crystal cell, as it is formed on the carrier film, and bonded to the liquid crystal cell. In the bonding step, the piece of the optical film fed on the carrier film is supplied to a bonding unit while it is peeled off from the carrier film, and the piece of the optical film and the optical cell, which is sequentially fed, are placed between a pair of pressing units and pressed by the pressing units, so that the piece of the optical film is bonded to at least one side of the liquid crystal cell with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the optical film interposed therebetween. Such a pair of pressing units usually includes a pair of rolls, which is configured to feed the liquid crystal cell and the piece of the optical film while pressing them and to continuously press and bond the piece of the optical film from one end of the piece to the other.
On the other hand, an EL display panel produced with an organic or inorganic EL device often has a metal back electrode usually in order to increase the quantum efficiency of the luminescence or to increase the quantity of light output from the front side by reflection. EL display devices are characterized by achieving a very high display contrast ratio, but such characteristics are achieved only in a darkroom. In a usual environment for display view, external light such as light from indoor lighting is reflected by the back electrode of an EL display device to significantly reduce the contrast ratio and the display quality. To prevent a back electrode from reflecting external light, therefore, an anti-reflection film for circular polarization is bonded to the viewer-side surface of an EL display panel. Such an anti-reflection film includes a polarizing film and a retardation film, in which their absorption and slow axes should be ideally arranged at an angle of 45°, and the retardation film should be a quarter wavelength plate to produce a retardation. To improve productivity, it is also preferable to use a continuous manufacturing method in bonding an anti-reflection film to an EL display device. However, there has not been known any application of the above continuous liquid crystal display device-manufacturing method in manufacturing an EL display device.
It is also disclosed that pieces of optical film are formed in advance on a carrier film by cutting a long optical film (having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer) as part of a long multilayer optical film and a roll of the product including the carrier film and the pieces formed thereon is put to use (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4503693).
The manufacturing apparatus for use in the above continuous manufacturing method has been required to be as compact in size as possible in view of production efficiency per area. There is also an increasing demand for high-throughput, high-yield bonding between an optical film and an optical cell in such a method for continuous manufacturing of an optical display panel.

Method and system for manufacturing optical display panel


A coaxial cable includes a central conductor, a fluororesin insulation, and outer conductor and a jacket covering the outer conductor. The central conductor has three single element twisted wires. The central conductor has an outer diameter and the three single element twisted wires having a predetermined twist pitch. The fluororesin insulation covers the central conductor such that all of the twisted single element wires of the central conductor contact the fluororesin insulation. The fluororesin insulation is a non-foam insulation material. A series of voids are defined between portions of the central conductor and an inner surface of the fluororesin insulation. The outer conductor is disposed on the external periphery of the insulation. The adhesive force between the central conductor and the insulation, and a breaking strength of the central conductor have the following relationship: adhesive force≦⅓ breaking strength.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a coaxial cable comprising a central conductor, insulation, an outer conductor, and a jacket, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Related Background Art
Coaxial cables used in small communication devices, electronic equipment, medical equipment, and the like are typically formed as thin cables having an outside diameter of 0.5 mm or less, and there is a demand for further diameter reduction. The diameter of the central conductor, the thickness of the insulation layer, and the like are being made smaller in response to the demand for diameter reduction, but there is also a demand for better mechanical strength and bending resistance from the standpoint of ensuring reliability. With the increasing signal transmission speeds of recent years, there is also a demand for a coaxial cable having minimal signal attenuation. Reducing signal attenuation necessitates a reduction in the dielectric constant of the insulation that surrounds the central conductor.
JP2007-172928A (Patent Document 1) describes a coaxial cable in which the central conductor is obtained by twisting thin conductors (wires) together, and the silver content and the heat treatment of the central conductor are optimized in order to minimize the resulting reduction in the dielectric constant and tensile strength. The central conductor of this coaxial cable is a copper alloy containing 1 to 3 wt % silver, with the balance being substantially copper. The central conductor is obtained by twisting together seven wires having a diameter of 0.010 mm to 0.025 mm, and has a tensile strength of 850 MPa or greater, electrical resistivity of 85% or greater relative to a standard annealed copper conductor, and an insulation thickness of 0.07 mm or less.
JP2007-169687A (Patent Document 2) describes a coaxial cable which has the aforementioned central conductor and foam insulation such that the insulation has a reduced thickness and a reduced diameter and the cable maintains an electrostatic capacitance at a predetermined level or below.
JP2007-242264A (Patent Document 3) describes a coaxial cable in which the insulation surrounding the central conductor is formed as a non-foam solid layer, and in which electrical and mechanical characteristics are improved by creating voids between the surface of the central conductor and the insulation. Creating a spiral ridge on the central conductor is described as the method of creating the voids. Specifically, it is disclosed that the cable is formed from a double-twisted wire obtained by twisting together two or three twisted wires in which two or three conductor wires are themselves twisted together.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A sodding element for sodding sod bodies consisting of natural soil and/or substrate surfaces is described. The sodding element comprises a seed mat, which has seeds that are distributed uniformly at separate locations and are secured and held in place by the seed mat. In addition to the seeds, the seed mat laid on the sod body also contains a dry adhesive so that the seed mat is bonded to the sod body under the influence of water.

In producing sodding for sod bodies with grass or other plants, the seeds for the respective plants must be sown and applied to the sod body. Then the desired sodding can be produced, and optionally some horticultural care may be required.
Sod bodies in landscaping are preferably embankments or noise protection walls containing natural soil. Sodding provides stability and erosion protection due to the rooting of the plants in the soil.
Furthermore, sodding also presents an attractive appearance from a visual standpoint.
In addition, the sod body may also be made of substrate surfaces or components of vegetation mats for sodding artificial surfaces, in particular for sodding roofs. Seeds must also be applied here to produce the desired sodding.
In practice, the seeds are usually applied by a person sowing the seeds by hand. It has been found that the seeds are often unevenly distributed on the sod body, and there are areas with too many seeds and other areas with very few seeds or even empty spaces without any seeds. This uneven distribution of seeds results in uneven sodding, which is a disadvantage. This has a negative effect on the desired erosion protection on embankments, for example, because the empty spaces are very susceptible and there is the danger of soil erosion due to external influences, especially the effects of wind.
In addition, uneven sodding is also unattractive from a visual standpoint.
When the person sowing the seeds by hand observes that the application has not been uniform, that person will automatically attempt to fill up the empty spaces or the sparsely seeded areas subsequently by sowing more seeds. However, the result is that far more seeds are needed on the whole than would have been necessary for a given area of the sod body. This has the disadvantage of increasing the cost of producing sod.
Moreover, it is observed in practice that the seeds sown do not always remain completely on the sod body because they are exposed to external influences. Especially in high winds, there is the danger of individual seeds being blown away. This also results in uneven sodding with the disadvantages described above.
Against this background, the object of this invention is to eliminate the existing disadvantages by creating a sodding element that can be used to produce sodding on a sod body made of natural soil and/or substrate surfaces, especially at a low cost for producing the sodding.

Sodding element and method of producing sodding


A mount for attaching a flat screen display panel is disclosed in which a wall bracket is attached to a support surface, a panel bracket is secured to a display panel, and the two brackets then cooperate to securely affix the display panel to the support surface while allowing subsequent lateral and pivotal adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mounting device for a flat screen display panel. More specifically, a mounting device for a flat screen display panel that allows the display screen to be adjusted both laterally and pivotally subsequent to mounting is disclosed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat screen displays, such as plasma televisions, thin film transistor ("TFT") displays and the like, are progressively gaining popularity throughout the marketplace. As a result, they are regularly showing up in a wide variety of viewing areas ranging from boardrooms to family rooms.
This recent proliferation has resulted in many different mounts and mounting techniques. There are several different ways to mount a flat panel display including hanging ceiling supports, floor stands, and wall mounts. Current flat panel displays can be quite heavy, with the weight increasing as the display size increases.
Many traditional mounts require an installer to first affix the mount to a supporting surface and then subsequently position the heavy display and align the mounting hardware. This can be a difficult task appreciating the weight involved in many of today's flat panel displays.
An alternative method requires an installer to first secure the mounting hardware to a support surface and then heft and align the display with the previously installed hardware. This method requires at least two installers to hold the display and simultaneously align the mounting hardware and secure the display to the mount.
In addition to weight, an additional drawback results from the fact that today's flat panel display devices are not consistent in their location of mounting holes or mounting hardware, and thus, a plurality of different mounting devices are required to conform to the individual panel to be mounted.

Mounting device for a flat screen display panel


Methods and systems for determining a Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) corresponding to each bit of a symbol are provided. The symbol comprises a predefined number of bits based on a predetermined constellation. The methods and systems include expanding the predetermined constellation. The predetermined constellation comprises a plurality of constellation-points wherein each constellation-point has a unique X co-ordinate and Y co-ordinate. Also, the expanded predetermined constellation further comprises points corresponding to each combination of the X co-ordinate and the Y co-ordinate of the constellation-points. The methods and systems further include calculating the LLR corresponding to each bit of the symbol based on the expanded predetermined constellation.

The invention generally relates to communication systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for determining a Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) corresponding to each bit of a symbol in a predetermined constellation.
LLR is generally determined to decode the raw bits. For example, LLR can be determined to decode the raw bits in a forward error correction technique so as to improve the system performance.
In known communication systems that employ a regular Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) constellation, the complexity of computing the LLRs can be reduced to a few arithmetic operations, such as addition and multiplication. These communication systems also employ rotated QAM constellation and pre-coded QAM to achieve full-diversity and/or to maximize coding gain. The method of determining LLR for a rotated QAM constellation and pre-coded QAM constellation is however, computationally intensive.
There is therefore a need for a method and system that reduces the computations involved in determining a LLR for predetermined constellations such as rotated QAM constellation and pre-coded QAM constellation.

Method and system for determining a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) corresponding to each bit of a symbol


An optically pumped tunable VCSEL swept source module has a VCSEL and a pump, which produces light to pump the VSCEL, wherein the pump is geometrically isolated from the VCSEL. In different embodiments, the pump is geometrically isolated by defocusing light from the pump in front of the VCSEL, behind the VCSEL, and/or by coupling the light from the pump at an angle with respect to the VCSEL. In the last case, angle is usually less than 88 degrees. There are further strategies for attacking pump noise problems. Pump feedback can be reduced through (1) Faraday isolation and (2) geometric isolation. Single frequency pump lasers (Distributed feedback lasers (DFB), distributed Bragg reflector lasers (DBR), Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers, discrete mode lasers, volume Bragg grating (VBG) stabilized lasers can eliminate wavelength jitter and amplitude noise that accompanies mode hopping.

MEMS (Micro electro-mechanical systems) tunable VCSELs (Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) are useful in optical coherence tomography (OCT) because of their tuning speed, large coherence length [1,2,3], and lack of coherence revival artifacts [4]. While VCSELs at many wavelength bands are possible, most work to date has occurred in the 1550 nanometer (nm) [5,6,7], 850 nm [8], 1310 nm [9,10,11,12], and 1060 nm [9,10,13,14] wavelength bands. The 1550 band is useful in optical telecommunications, as well as the 850 and 1310 nm lasers. The 1310 and 1060 bands are popular for use in OCT. The 1060 band, in particular, is of interest because of applications in ophthalmology, including imaging of the retina [14] and in biometry (distance measurement of structures in the whole eye) [14]. The 850 nm band is also interesting for ophthalmology because of the transparency of water in that range and compatibility with silicon photodetectors.
Optically pumped MEMS tunable VCSELs generally have a wider tuning range than electrically pumped ones [2,9,13]. In optical pumping, pump laser light is used to power the VCSEL. Pump light absorbed in the VCSEL is then reemitted at a longer wavelength as tunable VCSEL light.
Optical pumping, however, presents the challenge of exciting the VCSEL with a low noise pump laser light. Generally, the RIN (relative intensity noise) of the pump is transferred to the VCSEL light. Pump lasers can be noisy because of (1) fundamental RIN [15], (2) mode hopping in Fabry-Perot lasers, or (3) because of feedback of pump light reflected back from the VCSEL destabilizing the pump.

Optically pumped tunable VCSEL employing geometric isolation


Provided is a sensor device-equipped golf shoes comprising: golf shoes including a left and right pair of a first shoe and a second shoe to be worn by a golfer; and a sensor device attached to the golf shoes. The sensor device includes one or more sensor modules configured to measure sensor data pertaining to at least one of an orientation of the first shoe when the golfer takes a shot, an orientation of the second shoe when the golfer takes a shot, and a positional relationship between the first shoe and the second shoe when the golfer takes a shot.

Systems that record a golfer's shots during a round on a golf course have been known for some time. For example, according to JP 2013-532568A, various types of data pertaining to shots is collected during a round via a mobile terminal carried by the golfer, and based on that data, information such as the number of shots taken per hole, the distance of each shot, the type of golf club used for each shot, the score in the round, and so on is managed and analyzed.


A method for controlling the application of aircraft wheel brakes including: controlling the application of a first wheel brake of an aircraft and a second wheel brake of the aircraft in dependence upon a determined relationship to control the time taken for the first wheel brake and the second wheel brake to reach respective specified temperatures. The relationship is determined between a first cooling characteristic of the first wheel brake, according to which the first wheel brake cools when in a first retracted position within the aircraft, and a second cooling characteristic of the second wheel brake, according to which the second wheel brake cools when in a second retracted position within the aircraft.

Aircraft wheel brakes are applied to provide braking to reduce the speed of the aircraft. When the brakes are being applied, their temperature may increase. For safe operation of the aircraft, the aircraft may not be permitted to depart for a subsequent flight until all brakes of the aircraft are at or below a temperature judged to be safe for departure. This may be, for example, to avoid the brakes heating up to temperatures beyond the safe operating range of the brakes. The amount of time required for the aircraft to be cleared for the subsequent flight may be referred to as the turn-around time. It may be advantageous to operate the aircraft in a manner so as to minimize the turn-around time for efficient operation of the aircraft.


A sensor apparatus for providing two sensing operations within a thermal printer includes a densitometer with at least one light source that discriminates color and that is positioned in a first position for sensing donor patches within the thermal printer; the densitometer while in a second position provides signals from printed receiver media for internal color calibration of the thermal printer. At least one reflector directs light from the light source to the densitometer through a donor web when the densitometer is in the first position; and a switchable device repositions the densitometer from either the first position or the second position.

In thermal printing, it is generally well known to render images by heating and pressing one or more donor materials such as dye, colorant or other coating against a receiver medium. The donor materials are provided in sized donor patches on a moveable web known as a donor ribbon. The donor patches are organized on the ribbon into donor patch sets, each donor patch set contains all of the donor patches that are to be used to record an image on the receiver medium. For full color images, multiple colored dye sets can be used, such as yellow, magenta and cyan donor dye patches. Arrangements of other color patches can be used in like fashion within a donor patch set. Additionally, each donor set can include an overcoat or sealant layer.
It will be appreciated from this that it is necessary to neutrally calibrate the printer by methods known to those skilled in the art. This calibration is performed to ensure that the output performance of the thermal printer remains within tolerance from unit-to-unit and media set to media set. Such calibration can be done at the factory by means of multiple look-up-tables (LUTs), one for each color. Additionally, the thermal printhead voltage may be adjusted for the total range of printer operation. As this calibration is performed at the factory, there is no means to compensate for onsite variability involving printer usage, media changes and environmental conditions at the customer site. In some of these situations, better color adjustment is required to adjust the printer settings to compensate for these variables.

Dual-use sensor assembly for a thermal printer


The invention relates to a filter for brewed beverages, especially a coffee filter, and a process for producing such a filter, in which a fibrous material has pores with an average pore width (d) of at least about 0.1 mm measured at a fiber density of about 50% of the original fiber density of the material. The average pore width (d) is preferably in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm approximately and more preferably in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm approximately. The material is preferably paper. The pores are also preferably made by piercing with needles or by subjecting the fibrous material to water jets, providing an irregular pore edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filter for brewed beverages, especially a coffee filter, having pores and a process for producing such a filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coffee filters made of paper are known, such as the filter bags "Filtertuten.RTM." of the applicant. These coffee filters are made of crepe paper in order to increase their surface and have pores which are not or hardly detectable with the naked eye. The German Utility Model 69 39 904 describes coffee filters with a pore size of between 5 .mu.m and 20 .mu.m which allow aromatic colloidal particles to pass through the filter.
Documents DE 28 02 240 (laid open), DE 34 34 687 (laid open), DE 36 42 898 (laid open) and DE 41 35 660 (laid open) relate to coffee filters of a sheet-type material made from plastics or metal having sharp-edged holes or pores.
It is the object underlying the present invention to provide a filter for brewed beverages, especially a coffee filter, which is easy to produce and which improves the filtrate, such as coffee, as well as a process for the production of such a filter.

Filter for brewed beverages, especially coffee filter, and process for producing it


A structure is disclosed for fixing an electronic device having a heat-releasing plate to a substrate. The structure includes a substrate, a land portion which is formed on a front face of the substrate and on which said heat-releasing plate of the electronic device is to be soldered, a through-hole formed in and penetrating said substrate and said land portion. The through-hole is adapted to release heat generated in the electronic device. The structure further includes a partitioning portion provided to be positioned between the heat-releasing plate and the land portion. The partitioning portion is adapted for preventing a solder, which should partially run out from a specific edge portion of the heat-releasing plate on soldering the heat-releasing plate to the land portion, from partially flowing into the through-hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for fixing an electronic device having a heat-releasing plate to a substrate.
2. Related Art Statement
A fitting structure adapted to fixing an electronic device having a heat-releasing plate, e.g., a power transistor, to a substrate is heretofore known (For example, see JP-A 2003-318579 (pages 2 to 3 and FIG. 1).
A front face of the substrate is provided with a land portion to which a heat-releasing plate of the electronic device is to be soldered. A plurality of through-holes is provided to penetrate the substrate and the land portion for promoting release of heat from the electronic device. By this construction, heat generated in the electronic device can be released to the back face side of the substrate through the heat-releasing plate and the through-holes.
When the electronic device is to be fixed to the substrate, the device is arranged on a paste solder preliminarily applied to the land portion such that the heat-releasing plate may contact the solder, and the heat-releasing plate is soldered to the land portion by heating the substrate and temporarily melting the solder.
When the solder is melted in soldering the heat-releasing plate to the land portion, the electronic device descends toward the front face of the substrate due to its self weight. Consequently, the melted solder partially flows into the through-hole(s), the melted solder also partially runs out of an edge portion of the heat-releasing plate. Whether the heat-releasing plate has been well soldered to the land portion or not is judged by checking whether a run-out amount of the solder running out from the specific edge portion of the heat-releasing plate is not less than a prescribed amount or not.
However, the solder, which should have run out from the specific edge portion of the heat-releasing plate on soldering the heat-releasing plate to the land portion, sometimes partially flows into the through-hole(s). Consequently, a run-out amount of the solder from the specific edge portion of the heat-releasing plate is smaller than the prescribed one. Thus, even if the heat-releasing plate is appropriately soldered to the land portion, it may be judged on inspection that the heat-releasing plate is poorly soldered to the land portion.

Structure for fixing an electronic device to a substrate


A ball cage for a constant velocity plunging joint which having an outer joint part with a internally cylindrical guiding face and an inner joint part with an outer spherical guiding face and torque transmitting balls held in the ball cage. The ball cage includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed windows (3) for receiving the torque transmitting balls, and defining a central window plane (M); an outer free face (10) and an outer spherical control face (9) for guiding the ball cage relative to the outer joint part; and an inner spherical control face (16) for guiding the ball cage relative to the inner joint part. The center of the outer spherical control face (9) and the center of the inner spherical control face (16) are positioned at an axial distance from the central window plane (M). The outer spherical (9) is hard-machined and the outer free face (10) is soft-machined.

Constant velocity plunging joints are well known from the state of the art and comprise an outer joint part with a plurality of circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending outer tracks, an inner joint part with a plurality of circumferentially distributed, longitudinally extending inner tracks, torque transmitting balls which are each guided in a pair of tracks consisting of an outer track and an inner track, as well as a ball cage with circumferentially distributed windows for receiving the balls. When the joint is articulated, the balls, in cooperation with the tracks and the ball cage, are set to the angle-bisecting plane.
From U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,544, there is known a constant velocity plunging joint in the form of a double offset joint type with centering means for the ball cage. The ball cage comprises an outer spherical control face whose greatest diameter is positioned at an axial distance from the joint center plane; the ball cage also comprises an inner concave control face whose greatest diameter is positioned in the opposite direction at an axial distance from the joint center plane. The outer spherical control face is tangentially adjoined by a conical face.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,543 shows a further constant velocity plunging joint in the form of a double offset joint which is designed similarly. On its outside, in the region of the windows, the ball cage comprises projections which radially project from the conical guiding face, for guiding the associated ball when the joint is in an articulated position.
DE 2 114 536 proposes a constant velocity plunging joint wherein an externally spherical control member is slid on to the inner joint part and is axially displaceable relative thereto. The ball cage is pivotably supported on the control member. The ball cage is designed asymmetrically relative to the central window plane.
Despite these prior joint designs, there still exists a need for further improvements in such joints in terms of weight, manufacturability and cost. The present invention is directed towards such improvements.

Ball cage for a constant velocity universal joint and process of producing same


A multi-frequency antenna for receiving a first frequency and second frequency signals comprises a grounding element, a first conductive member, a first radiation member, and a second radiation member. The first conductive member connects to the grounding element. The first radiation member and the second radiation member connect to the first conductive member separately. The multi-frequency antenna further comprises a parasitic structure. The parasitic structure structurally encircles the second radiation member and the encirclement is a partial encirclement. Moreover, the parasitic structure connects to the grounding element.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an antenna structure and, in particular, to a multi-frequency antenna structure.
2. Related Art
The connections and communications among various wireless networks, such as wireless personal area networks (WPAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), and wireless wide area networks (WWAN), or system devices can be implemented with the antennas therein.
Generally speaking the antennas of wireless devices can be external or internal. For example, the external antennas of some laptop computers are disposed at the top of the monitors or on the PCMCIA cards. Such external antennas have higher costs because they are exposed to the environment and more susceptible to damages. The other design is to embed antennas inside the laptop computers.
The internal antenna designs can avoid drawbacks of external antennas. For example, the computer device can have a better appearance. The antenna is also prevented from accidental damages. However, building the antenna inside a spatially limited computer device may have bad effects on its efficiency. Therefore, the internal antennas have to be appropriately designed in order to fit the space inside the portable computer device and to provide a sufficient efficiency.


An optical sensor device for the detection of ambient light is adapted to be coupled to a pane (10), in particular to a windshield of a vehicle. The optical sensor device has a sensor unit which includes at least one light receiver (22) for ambient light and a lens plate (12) for directionally coupling an ambient light beam (26) out of the pane (10) onto the light receiver (22). The lens plate (12) has a surface (18) facing the light receiver (22) and oriented substantially parallel to the pane (10) in the coupled condition of the optical sensor device. The surface (18) includes a prism structure (20) having a plurality of single prisms (24) which are designed to direct the rays of a specific ambient light beam (26) defined by a principal direction (A) and an aperture angle onto the light receiver (22).

The present invention relates to an optical sensor device for the detection of ambient light, which is adapted to be coupled to a pane, in particular to a windshield of a vehicle, according to the generic portion of claim 1.
Sensor devices of this type are made use of mainly as light sensors for controlling the vehicle lighting. The use of traditional lenses for influencing the optical path, such as, e.g., the lenses inclined against the windshield of the rain sensor shown in EP 1 068 112 B1, requires a comparatively large amount of installation space.
Smaller design shapes are possible when holographic structures are used, as known, e.g., from WO 03/026937 A1. These sensors are based on the principle of light diffraction with the aid of diffractive elements and therefore, resulting from this principle, have the disadvantage of a substantially lower useful light efficiency and a higher sensitivity to interfering light.
DE 196 08 648 C1 proposes that in an optical sensor device the light entry and light exit surfaces of the light guide unit be made in the form of Fresnel lenses. Since, however, the surfaces of the light guide in which the lenses are formed are perpendicular to the surface of the pane, the installation space required for this device is very large.
Further fundamental disadvantages of known optical ambient light sensor devices are found in the great manufacturing expenditure and in too narrow a reception range. The attempt to produce an extension in sensor devices having Fresnel lenses in that the light receiver is placed further away from or closer to the focal point of the Fresnel lens fails because the reception characteristic at the same time is split up into one or more further beams of rays far outside the intended reception range. The same holds true for the attempt to increase the receiver surface.
DE 20 2006 005 665 U1 discloses an optical rain sensor device including a cuboid lens plate arranged parallel to the windshield of a motor vehicle. The front of the lens plate facing the transmitter and the receiver of the device includes Fresnel steps which form two aspherical Fresnel lenses the optical axes of which are each inclined by about 45 degrees in relation to the windshield. The first Fresnel lens provides for a substantially parallel orientation of the rays of the light beam radiated by the transmitter, so that the rays are coupled into the windshield in the form of a light beam having a parallel orientation. The second Fresnel lens makes sure that the light beam coupled out of the windshield and still oriented parallel is focused onto the receiver.
DE 20 2007 036 492 A1 shows a directional daylight sensor configured as a generic optical sensor device. On its surface facing the light receiver, the lens plate of the device has Fresnel lens structures, and on the opposite surface facing the pane, it has Fresnel reflector structures. A light beam that impinges parallel on the pane passes through it at an angle and is then coupled into the lens plate through the Fresnel reflector structure and directed perpendicularly through the lens plate onto the Fresnel lens structure and is focused by the latter onto the light receiver. Basically, however, daylight sensors which are based on this Fresnel lens plate technology have a certain sensitivity in further, undesirable receiving directions in addition to the desired principal reception characteristic.

Optical sensing device for detecting ambient light in motor vehicles comprising a prism structure having a plurality of prisms designed to direct rays of a specific ambient light beam

TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH