A sulfonate resin having a repeating unit of the following general formula (3):

For lithographic fine patterning in semiconductor manufacturing processes, there has been a demand for resist compositions that can be exposed at shorter wavelengths and show a wide depth of focus tolerance (abbreviated as "DOF"), a small line edge roughness (abbreviated as "LED"), high resolution, high sensitivity, good substrate adhesion and good etching resistance.
It is reported that the introduction of a fluorine atom or an aliphatic moiety into a resist resin would produce a certain effect on the reduction of the exposure wavelength. The use of a fluorine-containing sulfonic acid of high acidity as an anion moiety of an acid generator is being attempted in order for a resist composition to attain a wide depth of focus tolerance and a small pattern line edge roughness. The formation a resist resin with an acid generator function is also being attempted for improvements in resist characteristics. These types of resist resins have been proposed, each containing a sulfonic acid onium salt as an acid generator in a side chain of the resin with an anion moiety of the acid generator fixed to the resin (see Patent Documents 1 to 7). For example, Patent Documents 6 and 7 disclose resist compositions using resins each obtained by polymerization or copolymerization of a methacrylic acid ester containing in a side chain thereof a triphenylsulfonium salt of sulfonic acid having a fluorine atom at its α-position.
However, the sulfonic acid onium salt-containing resins have significantly low solubility in ordinary resist solvents (such as propylene glycol monomethylether acetate). There thus remain various problems, e.g. that it is difficult to incorporate a large amount of sulfonic acid onium salt structure in the resist resin and that the kind of a monomer copolymerizable into the resist resin is considerably limited.

Polymerizable fluorine-containing sulfonate, fluorine-containing sulfonate resin, resist composition and pattern-forming method using same

Abstract: where X each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; n represents an integer of 1 to 10; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C3 alkyl group or a C1-C3 fluorine-containing alkyl group; R2 represents either RAO or RBRCN; and M+ represents a monovalent cation. The sulfonate resin has an onium sulfonate incorporated in a side chain thereof with an anion moiety of the sulfonate salt fixed to the resin and can suitably be used as a resist resin having a high solubility in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate.


The invention relates to a brake system including a brake booster. A pneumatic pressure operated brake booster VBB or a liquid pressure operated brake booster includes a valve mechanism which is urged by a force of depression applied to a brake pedal BP to switch a flow path to cause the brake booster to develop an output which depends on the magnitude of the force of depression. A solenoid SOL urges the valve mechanism in the same direction as or in the opposite direction from the force of depression. A controller ECU is responsive to a braking effort increase/decrease demand signal to increase or decrease the urging force which is applied by the solenoid to the valve mechanism, thus increasing or decreasing the output from the brake booster. An output from the brake booster can be freely controlled independently from the force of depression applied to the brake pedal in response to a braking effort increase/decrease demand. The arrangement is applicable to a wide variety of brake systems onboard a vehicle such as a regenerative brake unit, an engine brake or an exhaust gas brake unit or a brake assisting apparatus.

The present invention relates to a brake system including a brake booster as may be used as a brake for automobiles.
A brake system is known in the art which includes a pneumatic or liquid pressure operated brake booster.
By way of example, a pneumatic pressure operated brake booster comprises a valve body slidably disposed within a shell, a power piston mounted on the valve body, a constant and a variable pressure chamber defined across the power piston, a valve mechanism disposed in the valve body for a switching control of flow paths therein, and an input shaft mechanically coupled to a brake pedal and adapted to drive a valve plunger, which forms part of the valve mechanism, to switch the flow path. The valve mechanism is urged by a depression force applied to the brake pedal to switch the flow path, thereby developing an output in accordance with the magnitude of the depression force.
A brake system obtains the output from the brake booster having a magnitude which depends on the magnitude of the depression force applied to the brake pedal, but a demand is sometimes placed such that the output from the brake booster can be freely controlled during the braking operation independently from an input applied to the brake booster.
For example, a brake system on a vehicle which is provided with a regenerative brake unit may be required to reduce the output from the brake booster during the braking operation independently from the input to the brake booster. Because the regenerative brake unit produces a braking effort when it is operated, it follows that if the depression force to the brake pedal is maintained constant, a variation in the braking effort produced by the regenerative brake unit results in a variation in the total braking effort, causing a driver to feel an unnaturalness.
In this instance, if the braking effect which results from the brake booster could be diminished by an amount corresponding to the braking effort produced by the regenerative brake unit as it is operated, the total braking effort could be maintained constant, avoiding the feeling of unnaturalness which the driver would experience otherwise. The same is true when an engine brake or an exhaust gas brake is operated.
On the other hand, there is also an instance where it is demanded to increase the output from the brake booster independently from the input applied to the brake pedal. This occurs, for example, with a brake system which is provided with a brake assisting apparatus that is designed to provide an increased output during a quick braking operation than during a normal braking pedal depression, thus enabling a powerless person or aged driver to perform a quick braking operation.
Another instance of demanding an increased output from the brake booster occurs when running on a down grade or with an increased payload onboard.
In this manner, there is a demand for a free control over the output of the brake booster in many instances, but the practice in the prior art has been to accommodate for such demand by employing a devoted arrangement individually from system to system, which lacks a universality. To meet the demand, an increased number of parts are required including a solenoid operated valve, a pump or the like, and are used in a complicated arrangement, which results in an increased cost.
On the other hand, there is also an instance where it is demanded to increase the output from the brake booster independently from the input applied to the brake pedal. This occurs, for example, with a brake system which is provided with a brake assisting apparatus that is designed to provide an increased output during a quick brake operation than during a normal brake pedal depression, thus enabling a powerless woman or aged driver to perform a quick brake operation.
Another instance of demanding an increased output from the brake booster occurs when running on a down grade or with an increased payload onboard.
In this manner, there is a demand for a free control over the output of the brake booster in many instances, but the practice in the prior art has been to accommodate for such demand by employing a devoted arrangement individually from system to system, which lacks a universality. To meet the demand, an increased number of parts are required including a solenoid operated valve, a pump or the like, and are used in a complicated arrangement, which results in an increased cost.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention intends to provide a brake system which permits an output from a brake booster to be freely controlled independently from a depression force applied to a brake pedal in response to a braking effort increase/decrease demand.
Specifically, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a brake system comprising a valve mechanism of a brake booster, the valve mechanism being urged in response to a depression force applied to a brake pedal to switch a flow path therein to thereby cause the brake booster to develop an output in accordance with the magnitude of the depression force, and a solenoid for urging the valve mechanism in either the same direction as or in the opposite direction from the depression force, the solenoid being responsive to a braking effort increase/decrease demand to increase/decrease the urging force applied to the valve mechanism and hence the output from the brake booster.
During a normal braking operation, the valve mechanism is urged to switch a flow path in response to the depression force applied to the brake pedal, causing an output to be developed in accordance with the magnitude of the depression force. In response to a braking effort increase demand signal, for example, the solenoid increases the urging force applied to the valve mechanism in accordance with the signal, thereby increasing the output from the brake booster.
In this manner, the urging force which is applied to the valve mechanism from the solenoid can be increased or decreased, and accordingly, if the depression force applied to the brake pedal remains constant, the output from the brake booster can be freely controlled.
Above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings.


A touch screen comprises a glass substrate, a first conductive layer, an insulating adhesive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is directly formed on the glass substrate and comprises first conductive pattern areas; the insulating adhesive layer is attached to the glass substrate, and one side of the insulating adhesive layer close to the glass substrate forms a first groove; the first conductive pattern area is received in the first groove and insulated from each other; one side of the insulating adhesive layer away from the glass substrate, is provided with a second groove; and the second conductive layer is received in the second groove, thus forming a plurality of second conductive pattern areas insulated with each other. The first conductive layer is directly formed on the glass substrate and made of a metal material, thus omitting an adhesive layer and saving the cost.

A touch screen is an inductive type device which may receive input signals such as touch and so on. The touch screen gives a new appearance of information interaction and is a new compelling device for information interaction. The development of the touch screen technology has attracted extensive attention of information media circles at home and abroad and has become an emerging sunrise hi-tech in the optoelectronic industry.
A conductive layer is a vital component of a touch screen. Currently, the conductive layer of the touch screen is formed on an insulating base material mainly with ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) through processes of vacuum plating, patterning and etching. The conductive layer is attached to a transparent glass panel through an adhesive layer, thus forming the touch screen.
Indium is very expensive and belongs to scarce resources, thus causing ITO to be costly. In additions, the process, where the entire surface of the insulating base material is plated with ITO and then a graphic etching process is carried out to the ITO, will waste a large quantity of ITO. This undoubtedly greatly increases the production cost. Furthermore, as the conductive layer formed on the insulating base material is attached to the glass panel through the adhesive layer, which not only adds a bonding process causing the production process to be complex and lengthy, but also increase the probability of poor product.

Touch screen and method of producing the same


A method and device for sending capability information of a communications device are disclosed. The method includes: determining, by a communications device, information about maximum data transmission bandwidth supported by the communications device; and sending, by the communications device, the information about the maximum data transmission bandwidth supported by the communications device. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communications device determines the information about the maximum data transmission bandwidth supported by the communications device and sends the information about the maximum data transmission bandwidth supported by the communications device, so that communications devices supporting different maximum data transmission bandwidth can coexist in a communications system, to implement communication between communications devices supporting different maximum data transmission bandwidth.

In a new radio (NR) technology, different subbands in a same carrier can support different physical layer parameters. Spectrum localization waveform technologies may be used for different subbands to isolate interference between the subbands. A physical layer parameter set of subbands may be referred to as numerology. A physical layer parameter of a subband may include at least one of parameters such as a subcarrier spacing, a cyclic prefix (CP) length, a transmission time interval (TTI) length, a symbol length, and a quantity of symbols. The spectrum localization waveform technologies may include a filtered-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (f-ofdm) technology and a windowed-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (w-ofdm) technology.
A communications device needs to have different capabilities to support different physical layer parameters or different waveform technologies. The communications device may include a terminal device and a network device. If a peer end communicates with the communications device by using a capability that does not match that of the communications device, poor communication quality or a communication failure is caused.

Method and device for sending capability information of communications device


A low-energy-consuming apparatus and method for controlling vacuum levels in machine milking and other vacuum systems subject to air leakage utilizes in combination a high vacuum reserve, a low-vacuum end (pipelines), a dual vacuum controller positioned between the high-vacuum reserve and the low-vacuum end and an adjustable speed drive (ASD) motor on a vacuum pump to regulate the delivered air to match the air usage in the low-vacuum end. The dual vacuum controller senses vacuum disturbances in the low-vacuum end and adjusts the flow rate of air from the low-vacuum end to the high-vacuum reserve rather than using external air makeup, thus providing a controlled vacuum with minimum pressure variance and energy input. Energy savings and demand reduction of about 50 percent (50%) during milking are realized under the new system.

A milking system is one of the most important components on a dairy farm. It is used more hours per year than any other type of equipment on the farm. A key component of a milking system is the vacuum pump which is used to remove air from the milking system pipelines to create a partial vacuum.
The vacuum levels normally used for milking range from 13 to 15 in-Hg. Conventional systems use an oversized vacuum pump for vacuum stability when a milking unit falls off. In such a case, air flow changes by 20 to 35 cfm.
In a conventional system, the milking vacuum level is maintained by a vacuum controller which regulates the desired vacuum level by admitting external air as necessary when the vacuum reaches the predetermined setting. In the conventional system, the vacuum controller is sized to admit full vacuum pump capacity at the system's operating vacuum level. Vacuum fluctuations caused by changes in air usage, teat cup attachment, liner slip and unit fall-off, are compensated by the vacuum controller. The sensitivity of the controller should be such that there will be not more than about .+-.0.5 in-Hg vacuum fluctuation in a properly sized and maintained milking system, as measured in the main vacuum supply line.
Considerable energy is wasted by the vacuum pump/motor on dairy farms. The output capacity (cfm) of the vacuum pump always exceeds the capacity needed to milk cows and wash pipelines. Vacuum pumps run at full speed and load regardless of actual need for air.
In the conventional system, the vacuum level is maintained at +/-0.5 in-Hg by admitting or restricting air flow through a controller/regulator system. This traditional method of maintaining a constant vacuum at varying air flows is energy inefficient.
There is a need to provide an improved vacuum milking system which operates more efficiently than the conventional fixed pump speed system.

Controlling vacuum level with a two-level vacuum system controller and adjustable speed drive


A backlight unit includes at least an optical sheet and a diffusion plate fixed to a backside of a display panel, the optical sheet and the diffusion plate forming an upper module with the display panel. The backlight unit further includes a bottom frame positioned below the upper module and a plurality of lamps positioned within the bottom frame. The backlight unit is capable of changing the lamps within the bottom frame after removal of the upper module above the bottom frame. Therefore, it is not necessary to separate the elements such as the optical film and the diffusion plate from the bottom frame individually and the device pollution or destruction can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight unit of a plane display, and more particularly, to a backlight unit for changing lamps therein conveniently.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Backlight units are known in the art. The backlight unit, which is a key element in the fabrication of liquid crystal displays, is widely used in digital cameras, PDAs, vehicle satellite navigation systems, computer monitors, flat panel TVs and so on. Typically, a backlight unit, which is generally installed underneath a display panel, comprises a light source (or multiple light sources) and a light diffusion means for providing a uniformly distributed light source. According to the position of the light source, backlight units are typically divided into two major categories: edge light type and direct-type, wherein the direct-type backlight unit can provide higher intensity of light and is thus more suited for large size display panels, such as display panels or TV panels, than the edge light type.
Referring to FIG. 1 of a cross-sectional diagram of a direct-type backlight unit according to the prior art, a display 10 includes a display panel 12, an optical sheet composed of a diffuser sheet 14 and a prism sheet 16, and a diffusion plate 18 positioned on a backside of the display panel 12. A plurality of lamps 20 are positioned within a bottom frame 26, and a reflecting sheet 22 is positioned on an inner surface of the bottom frame 26. The bottom frame 26 is combined with a top frame 24, so as to fix the display panel 12 with the underneath elements of the backlight unit.
The reflecting sheet 22 reflects light from the lamps 20 to improve light utility. The diffusion plate 18 diffuses the reflected light into uniformly distributed light. Normally, the diffusion plate 18 is made of acrylic or polycarbonate (PC) materials with a transmittance of approximately between 50% and 80%. In order to provide more uniform light, a surface of the diffusion plate 18 can be further printed with inks to form distributed dots thereon. The diffuser sheet 14 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate materials with a thickness of approximately between 0.11 and 0.15 mm. The prism sheet 16 is made of polyester or polycarbonate materials to collect light and thus enhance front brightness of the display.
Since the backlight unit has heat radiation problems and the users always demand longer and longer product lifespan to the displays, it is not easy to ensure that each lamp within the backlight unit has the same lifespan. When one of the lamps is broken, it is necessary to prepare tools such as a screwdriver to separate the display panel, the diffuser sheet, the prism sheet and the diffusion plate from the backlight unit individually and carefully to change a new lamp. The procedure of changing the new lamp is not only very troublesome but also possible to result in device pollution or destruction to affect the quality of the display. Sometimes the users may directly change the entire backlight unit because of not knowing how to change the lamps within the backlight unit, resulting in unnecessary waste.

Backlight unit for changing lamps therein conveniently


A mobile terminal and its display method are discussed. According to an embodiment, the mobile terminal includes a display unit of a touch screen type divided into at least one of first and second display regions; and a controller that performs a particular function or re-adjusts a divisional boundary between the first and second display regions according to a user's instruction sensed from the display unit, wherein the display unit displays a movable menu bar that partitions the first and second display regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and method of a mobile terminal equipped with a touch screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
A touch screen is a device that directly inputs data or a command through a screen without using a key board. When a user's hand or an object (e.g., a stylus) comes in contact with a particular character appearing on the screen or a particular position, the corresponding position is sensed and a predetermined program is executed.
The touch screen is fabricated by attaching a touch panel on a screen of a general monitor, and in the touch panel, infrared rays flow horizontally and vertically on the screen to generate numerous infrared square lattices. When the user touches the screen with the stylus or a finger, the touch is sensed through the infrared lattices and the corresponding position is recognized.
Thus, when the user touches a character or a figure outputted (displayed) on the touch screen, position information of the touched portion is transferred to a controller, and the controller recognizes the user's selection according to the position information and performs a relevant operation or function. By mounting the touch screen on the terminal, required information can be more easily and quickly provided to the user.
In view of such user convenience, touch screens are implemented in terminal devices (that provide guidance or announcements) in crowded public areas such as subways, department stores, banks, etc., or implemented in terminal devices for sale to be used by consumers. In addition, the touch screen is utilized as a display of a mobile terminal, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a cellular phone.
However, because the mobile terminal is small and a considerable portion of its body is occupied by a keypad, a space for mounting a display device is limited.
Thus, in order to satisfy the user's demand for a larger screen, terminal manufacturers have manufactured mobile terminals such that the keypad is operated by software, omitting hardware, on the touch screen. In this case, however, the use of the large display device is not much effective, and execution of a terminal function or menus is complicated, causing user inconvenience.

Display device and method of mobile terminal


An integrated circuit has a wiring layer below an insulator layer. A pad comprises a conductive material that is on the insulator layer. The pad has a wirebond connection region and a probe pad region. An inspection mark is between the wirebond connection region and the probe pad region. The inspection mark comprises an opening in the insulator layer that is filled with the conductive material. In addition, a contact that is through the insulator layer is adapted to electrically connect the conductor wire in the wiring layer to the pad. The contact is formed of the same conductive material used for the pad and the inspection mark.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to inspection marks for probe contacts adjacent wirebond connections, where the inspection marks comprise marks in the same conductor that is used as the probe pad and the wirebond connection.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wirebond connections are commonly used on the exterior layer of integrated circuits and chips to connect the circuitry within the chips to external devices and wiring boards. A wirebond connection comprises a conductive wire from an external device that is bonded to a conductive connection on the wafer or chip. It is common to form conductive probe contacts to which test probes and other similar devices make temporary contact when testing the chip. These probe contacts are formed next to the wirebond connection and are electrically connected to the wirebond connection.
Wirebond connections are being made with finer and finer pitch (e.g., are being made smaller and closer together). However, even as wirebond connections are being placed closer together, the probe contact (where the wafer tester touches down on the wafer) needs to be offset from the wirebond location in order to allow a good wirebond connection that has high yield and reliability. Failure to provide sufficient pristine pad surface area for the probe contact has shown to lead to yield and reliability failures. A visual inspection is typically performed by operators and a subjective decision is made as to whether the wirebond location has been damaged by the probe contact. Without a clearly marked inspection region, it is difficult to clearly determine whether the probe produced damage is outside the area in which the wirebond will be formed.

Contour structures to highlight inspection regions

International Business Machines Corporation


In a system and method for cloud testing and remote monitoring of IC devices on a computerized test platform, the computerized test platform sends to a cloud server unit, which stores test programs corresponding respectively to different test items, a test request, which includes respective device codes of the IC devices and one (s) of the test items, via a communication network. The cloud server unit sends to the computerized test platform a test response, which includes one (s) of the test programs corresponding to the one (s) of the test items. The computerized test platform products test data corresponding to the device codes of the IC devices in response to execution of the one (s) of the test programs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to testing an integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a system and method for cloud testing and remote monitoring of integrated circuit devices on the same testing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuit (IC) devices are typically subject to rigorous testing before they are sold or put to their intended use. In particular, each IC device is tested to determine whether or not certain specifications for that type of device, as determined and set by the manufacturer, are met.
For example, a memory device (or a memory module) is one of the key components for stability and reliability in operation of an operating system of a personal computer. Therefore, before the memory device is sold, it is required for the manufacturer thereof to have professional testers carry out compatibility and reliability tests of the memory device in a computer system. Currently, different test software programs have been developed for common memory tests, wherein each test software program is executed via manual operation of a dedicated test interface thereof to create a test result that is to be recorded in writing. Through such manual testing operation, unintentional human errors may occur. In this case, greater test costs and longer test time are needed.
In order to overcome the above disadvantages, an automated test equipment, e.g., a test system provided by KingTiger Technology Inc., has been proposed to automatically carry out compatibility and reliability tests of memory devices and modules. However, such automated test equipment may be relatively complicated, and have a limited throughput and a relatively costly sale price of about one million U.S. dollars.

System and method for cloud testing and remote monitoring of integrated circuit devices


A product bag suspension assembly includes a rod having a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. A platform is operatively coupled to the second end of the rod and defines an aperture arrangement configured to receive a mounting device of a product bag. The rod is configured to suspend the product bag in an upright position when the product bag is coupled to the platform.

A number of different medical conditions may require a patient to temporarily or permanently wear an ostomy bag or a catheter collection bag to collect waste. For example, an ostomy bag is a medical product bag that is fluidly connected to an ostomy, which is a port made in a patient's abdomen to permit stool or urine to leave the patient's body. When the patient is active, for example, during the day, the patient wears an ostomy bag underneath their clothing and empties the ostomy bag as needed. When the patient is inactive, for example, at night, the patient can connect their ostomy bag to a night-time drainage bag to collect overflow of the ostomy bag while the patient is asleep.


A photosensitive thick film composition comprising an admixture of: (a) finely divided electrically conductive or dielectric particles, dispersed in; (b) an organic medium, comprising: (1) at least one acrylic monomer, (2) a photoinitiation system, (3) a thermal assist catalyst; and (4) an acidic acrylic polymer. The invention is further directed to a single print process for the use thereof.

Photopatterning of thick film conductor compositions has long been used to achieve very fine lines (three mils or less line/space pitch) found in high density circuits. Unfortunately, the thickness or the height of lines that are achievable with photopatterning methods has been rather low. Since the metal powders found in compositions that are used in the photosensitive methods are opaque, the surface must be over-exposed to achieve crosslinking beneath the surface. The overexposure leads to the phenomena of undercut and edge curl. Upon exposure the top surface width of the patterned print is greater than the underlying regions resulting in undercut of the patterned edges during development, and subsequent edge curl when the patterned print is sintered at high temperatures.
In further explanation, edge curl and undercut problems are caused by intense surface polymerization that occurs in photopatterned films that have particulate phases that strongly absorb UV light. Since acrylic monomers shrink during polymerization by several percent or more (as much as 18%), a film that polymerizes only on the top surface will do two things. First, it will cause monomer at the surface to strongly crosslink. Secondly, monomer directly beneath the polymerized layer, migrates to the boundary of the polymerized region, where it reacts with the partially polymerized material at the boundary. Thus, the region directly beneath the polymerized region becomes depleted in monomer, causing the region in the film just beneath the polymerization front to be more rapidly washed out during development. However, both the crosslinked top region and the region of the film below the boundary that has not been depleted in monomer are more slowly washed out. This causes a washed out gap in the edges of patterned features at the point between the polymerization boundary and the deeper, unpolymerized portions of the film. Since the top and bottom regions of the film edge are, in effect, disconnected by this crease or gap, during firing the two regions sinter separately, permitting the top region to pull upward. It is believed that the edge curl turns upward because the surface regions of the film are the most heavily polymerized, and have the heaviest concentration of monomer. Since the organic content of the top layer of the film is higher, it has a lower metal content, and will shrink more during firing than regions with higher metal content below the surface. This creates a situation similar to that in a bimetallic strip or thermostat. One layer shrinks more than the other, and the film curls in that direction, i.e., upward.
If excessive crosslinking can be sufficiently reduced near the surface of the exposed film, in principle, there will be no weak region beneath the exposed film, hence no undercut or edge curl. For example, it has been demonstrated that edge curl is reduced in gold films that have less exposure to UV light, compared to more heavily exposed films. The problem with using less exposure is that finer features are lost, so resolution and edge definition both suffer as exposure is reduced. This invention offers a solution to this problem. Therefore, the present invention reduces or eliminates edge curl while simultaneously increasing the achievable height of the fine lines to over twelve microns after firing and substantially reducing the intensity of exposure to UV light necessary to generate a high quality pattern. This is accomplished with a new composition and process in which it is not necessary to have light penetrate completely through a printed layer because of the use of a thermal assist catalyst in the composition.

Thermal assisted photosensitive composition and method thereof


A method of processing objects using a bilateral architecture. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a plurality of instruments around a bi-directional conveyance device, the instruments spaced at fixed pitch intervals along the conveyor device; assigning dedicated movers to each of the instruments, the dedicated movers for loading and unloading of the objects to and from the instruments and the conveyance device; and controlling the operation of the conveyance device to have an interrupted motion, the interrupted motion for co-ordinating the loading and unloading of the objects; wherein the dedicated movers are positioned such that adjacent movers operate independently of one another. The method can be operated on an automated robotic system having a modular architecture. The system comprises; a backbone having a plurality of backbone connectors; a module having a module connector for releasably coupling with a respective one of the backbone connectors; a bi-directional motion device connected to the backbone, the motion device for presenting an object adjacent to the module when the module is coupled to the backbone; a connection interface formable by coupling the backbone and module connectors, the connection interface for providing an operation coupling between the backbone and the module when adjacent thereto; wherein the connection interface provides a repeatable connection and disconnection capability between the backbone and the module for ready reconfiguration of the modular architecture.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to automated robotic systems, and in particular to adaptable processing of samples.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, researchers are beginning to use robotics and automation more frequently to address issues such as sample processing, throughput, and reliability of results. Automated sample handling is quickly becoming a necessity due to sterility requirements and desired cost reductions. Further motivation for automated handling is the introduction of new technologies, such as miniaturization, higher sample density storage, smaller sample volumes, and increased precision to name a few. It is common in industry to use robotic systems with a single robotic device to feed multiple workstations in an automated system. However, one disadvantage of these systems is that the sample throughput is rate-limited by the limited ability of the robot when required to feed multiple workstations.
Recently, a number of dedicated automation systems are addressing the throughput needs. However, these dedicated systems can be limited in their adaptability, for example, to new assay requirements. It is common in the research environment that assay requirements change constantly, thereby making dedicated automation systems become either obsolete after the end of a campaign, or require extensive retooling to adjust to the new assay needs.
A more recent approach of automated systems is to use sequential sample processing devices. These systems can often address the throughput requirement of an assay and have some flexibility to be adjusted to changing needs. Nevertheless, in a chemical assay some steps may be repeated several times, meaning that in a sequential approach such devices have to be present in multiples, resulting in inefficient use of the process devices and unnecessarily high capital investment costs.
For example, automated robotic systems may contain third party equipment, such pipettors, incubators, readers and other third party equipment, which may not be built for a 24 hour operation and therefore be prone to failure. In such a situation, it is critical that an instrument can be replaced quickly without major intervention of the run.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a robotic modular system and method to obviate or mitigate at least some of the above-presented disadvantages.

Modular robotic system and method for sample processing


Raster Output Scanner (ROS) shutter system capable of blocking and unblocking harmful radiation selectably, semi-automatically or automatically. The system and uses thereof can be applied to various fields including scanners and printers.

Disclosed is a Raster Output Scanner (ROS) shutter system for protection against radiation generated in xerographic imaging equipment.
In image recording devices utilizing an electrostatographic system, a surface of a photoconductive drum or a photoreceptor is exposed to light (or some form of radiation) to form a latent image on the drum surface. Toner is then applied to the latent image to develop the image, and the developed image is transferred onto a recording sheet and is fixed by a fixing unit. Such an image recording device is employed in a copying machine as well as in a printer for printing output from a computer. It is well known in such machines that the user periodically will have to replace the cartridge containing the photoconductive drum and the toner after its useful life (in terms of the number of sheets) because the toner is used up and/or the photoconductor on the surface of the drum has worn thin or because a change in electrostatic characteristics results in defective charging or transfer as the photoconductive drum is repeatedly used. In some machines, a laser oscillator providing the required radiation may be accidentally actuated while replacing the cartridge, thereby directing a laser beam to the unprotected eyes of the operator, and possibly causing a serious problem.
Even though a switch may be provided to stop the operation of the oscillator in such situations, the suspension of the operation is not ensured if the switch is out of order. It is desirable, therefore, to provide an additional safety feature to assure that such a condition will not exist in such machines including the larger, more modern and more powerful printers such as the xerographic printing machines.


An automatic transmission fluid change apparatus includes a drain pan and associated holding tank for collecting and retaining used fluid recovered from an automatic transmission. A new fluid reservoir is provided within the apparatus to contain the quantity of new fluid required for a complete change of fluid in the transmission. To accomplish a complete change of fluid in the automatic transmission, the transmission pan and filter are removed and new fluid is pumped from the new fluid reservoir to the transmission orifice to which the outlet tube of the filter is typically coupled. The vehicle engine is simultaneously run at idle speed to circulate the new fluid throughout the transmission, thereby forcing all used fluid out of the transmission for collection and storage in the holding tank.

This invention relates generally to automatic transmissions of motor vehicles and more particularly to the required periodic maintenance of such automatic transmissions that typically involves cleaning or changing the filter and changing the automatic transmission fluid. The fluid in automatic transmissions not only serves to lubricate the transmission, but to also transfer power from the engine through the torque converter. The ability of the automatic transmission fluid to transfer power, as well as its ability to lubricate, diminishes as the fluid becomes worn due to extended use. Regular maintenance servicing of automatic transmissions is therefore very important.
In older motor vehicles, a drain plug was provided on the torque converter that permitted draining of most of the automatic transmission fluid during maintenance service. In newer motor vehicles, the drain plug previously provided on the torque converter has been eliminated. Thus, recommended maintenance service of the automatic transmissions of these late model vehicles involves removing the pan from the underside of the transmission, discarding the used fluid that is gravitationally contained within the pan (approximately 3 quarts), cleaning or changing the transmission filter or screen, replacing the pan, and adding three quarts of automatic transmission fluid through the dipstick filler tube to replenish the used fluid drained when the pan was removed. This well known method for servicing automatic transmissions results in replacing only three quarts of the total automatic transmission fluid capacity of approximately twelve quarts. Thus, nine quarts of used transmission fluid remain in the automatic transmission. The only previously known way to completely replace the fluid in automatic transmissions has been to remove the transmission from the vehicle and dismantle it, a procedure that is far to costly to be considered as a routine maintenance alternative.
It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a cost effective method and apparatus for completely replacing the fluid in automatic transmissions of motor vehicles at maintenance service intervals. This and other incidental objects are accomplished in accordance with the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention by providing an automatic transmission fluid change apparatus having a drain pan and associated holding tank for collecting and retaining used fluid recovered from an automatic transmission. A new fluid reservoir is provided within the apparatus to contain the quantity of new fluid required for a complete change of fluid in the transmission. To accomplish a change of fluid, the transmission pan and filter are removed and new fluid is pumped from the new fluid reservoir to the transmission orifice to which the outlet tube of the filter is typically coupled. The vehicle engine is then run at idle speed to circulate the new fluid throughout the transmission, thereby forcing all used fluid out of the transmission for collection and storage within the apparatus.

Apparatus and method for changing automatic transmission fluid in motor vehicles


The ultrasonic-transducer mounting structure includes: a housing including: a body part which is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided at its front surface with a transmission surface allowing an ultrasonic wave to pass therethrough and is designed to accommodate an ultrasonic transducer therein; and plural connection pieces provided to a side surface of the body part; and a holder fixed to a rear surface of a bumper and designed to hold the housing such that the transmission surface of the housing is exposed via an opening of the bumper. The holder includes plural reception pieces to which the plural connection pieces are detachably coupled respectively. The plural reception pieces are fixed to the rear surface of the bumper to surround the opening.

In the past, there has been provided an ultrasonic transducer such as an ultrasonic speaker (ultrasonic transmitter) producing an ultrasonic wave and an ultrasonic microphone (ultrasonic receiver) receiving an ultrasonic wave.
Further, in the past, there has been provided an ultrasonic sensor which detects an object by use of such an ultrasonic transducer. In other words, there has been proposed an ultrasonic sensor which transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected by an obstacle. For example, such an ultrasonic sensor includes a Doppler sensor configured to judge, based on a Doppler shift derived from a received ultrasonic wave, whether an obstacle is present.
As shown in FIG. 6, such an ultrasonic sensor is in use mounted on a bumper 1 of a vehicle (see document 1 [JP2010-194441 A]).
Such an ultrasonic sensor is described in detail below. The ultrasonic sensor shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the bumper 1 by inserted into an exposing hole 11 formed in the bumper 1, and includes an outer block 41 inserted into the exposing hole 11 from an outside of the bumper 1 and an inner block 42 coupled to the outer block 41 in an inside of the bumper 1. In brief, the outer block 41 and the inner block 42 are coupled to each other such that the bumper 1 is interposed between the outer block 41 and the inner block 42. Hence, the aforementioned ultrasonic sensor is fixed to the bumper 1.
However, in such a structure in which the bumper 1 is interposed between the outer block 41 and the inner block 42 as shown in FIG. 6, part of the outer block 41 is protruded outside the bumper 1 (left side in FIG. 6). Thus, an appearance of the vehicle in which the ultrasonic sensor mounted on the bumper 1 is deteriorated.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Images of various views of objects can be captured. An object mesh structure can be created based at least in part on the object images. The object mesh structure represents the three-dimensional shape of the object and includes a mesh with mesh elements. The mesh elements are assigned views first from a subset of views to texture large contiguous portions of the object from relatively few views. Portions that are not textured from the subset views are textured using the full set of views, such that all mesh elements are assigned views. The views first assigned from the subset of views and the views then assigned from the full plurality of views can be packaged into a texture atlas. These texture atlas views can be packaged with mapping data to map the texture atlas views to their corresponding mesh elements. The texture atlas and the object mesh structure can be sent to a client device to render a representation of the object. The representation can be manipulated on the client device in an augmented reality setting.

Users are increasingly purchasing items over the Internet. Accordingly, when a customer receives an item, it may be the first time he or she has viewed the item in person. The item may not look the same way the customer envisioned based on photographs viewed online. For example, a customer may order a lamp to place on an end table, but when the ordered lamp is physically placed on the table, the customer might not be pleased with its size or style, particularly relative to other items in the room. Providing a photorealistic rendering of the object may help with the ordering process. This may require providing a three-dimensional model to a mobile device in a small file size package.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photorealistic three dimensional texturing using canonical views and a two-stage approach


A connecting structure for an articulated vehicle includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle connected via a coupler along a travelling direction of the articulated vehicle. The structure includes: a pair of anchors disposed at an end of the first vehicle so as to be on both sides of the coupler in a direction perpendicular to the travelling direction in plan view, the end facing the second vehicle; a pair of supports disposed at an end of the second vehicle so as to be on both sides of the coupler in the direction perpendicular to the travelling direction in plan view, the end facing the first vehicle; and a connecting cord having both ends connected to the anchors with an intermediate portion of the connecting cord being supported by the supports. The supports support the connecting cord in a manner allowing for movement of the connecting cord.

JP 2005-253659 A (hereinafter, referred to as Document 1) discloses a conventional connecting structure for a vehicle. The vehicle described in Document 1 is a connection type sightseeing automobile including front and rear vehicles connected to each other via a connecting rod. The connection type sightseeing automobile includes belts for approach prevention provided on both left and right ends of the connection rod (both sides in a direction perpendicular to a travelling direction) to prevent a person from approaching a space between the front vehicle and the rear vehicle. Each belt for approach prevention has one end attached to a belt winding device so as to be freely drawn and the other end to which a connecting plate is attached.
The belt winding device is configured to continuously urge the belt for approach prevention in a wind-up direction. The belt winding device is attached to, for example, a rear wall of the front vehicle. Moreover, a buckle body is attached to a front wall of the rear vehicle. The belt for approach prevention is drawn from the belt winding device, and the connecting plate is freely detachably attached to the buckle body, thereby disposing the belt for approach prevention along the connection rod.
When the connection type sightseeing automobile turns, for example, left, a left-side gap between the front vehicle and the rear vehicle narrows, and a right-side gap between the front vehicle and the rear vehicle widens when viewed in a travelling direction of the front vehicle and the rear vehicle. However, the drawn length of the belt for approach prevention changes depending on the size of the gap, and therefore, warping and drooping down of the belt for approach prevention are prevented also when the connection type sightseeing automobile travels straightly or turns to left or right.
In the conventional vehicle, however, a stopper acts when the belt for approach prevention is abruptly drawn, but the stopper does not act when the belt for approach prevention is slowly drawn. Thus, in the conventional vehicle, a deterrent to entry virtually acts, but entry of a person may not be prevented by mechanical action.

Connecting structure for articulated vehicle


An aspect of the present disclosure relates to implementing a temporary reassignment of data based on a vibration condition. An exemplary method includes implementing a data operation for a portion of data and detecting a data error during the data operation. The method further includes obtaining an indication of a vibration condition associated with a device with which the data operation is performed and implementing a temporary reassignment of the portion of data based on the vibration condition.

The present disclosure relates generally to data storage systems, and more particularly, but not by limitation, to data reassignment in data storage systems.
Data storage systems are used in a variety of different applications. Many different types of data storage systems exist, such as solid-state and non-solid state systems. Flash memory, random access memory (RAM), and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are examples of solid-state data storage systems. Further, a disc drive is an example of a type of non-solid state storage system. A disc drive includes at least one rotating disc or storage medium for storage of digital information in a plurality of circular, concentric data tracks. Further, the data tracks (or similarly groups of locations in a solid state device) can be divided into a plurality of data sectors. The storage medium passes under a respective bearing slider surface. Each slider carries one or more transducers, which writes information to and reads information from the data surfaces of the disc(s). The slider and transducers are often together referred to as a "head."
In some instances, one or more sectors of the storage medium can become defective. For example, it sometimes happens that sectors of a storage medium become defective during the manufacturing process of the storage medium. Further, in some instances sectors can become defective during normal operation. Defects can arise in any of the data sectors at various times during the lifetime of the storage system (grown defects). For a disc drive, grown defects include, for example, invading foreign particles which become embedded onto a surface of the storage medium, or external shocks to the storage system which can cause the transducer to nick or crash onto a surface of the storage medium. Defective data sectors pose either temporary or permanent data retrieval problems. To accommodate media defects such as grown defects, a number of spare sectors can be provided on the storage medium. The spare sectors are used to replace defective sectors on the storage medium.
In many embodiments, a data storage system is subjected to momentary shock and/or vibration which can cause data errors, for example during a data write and/or read operation. For example, data storage systems, such as disc drives, are recently being used to a greater extent in hand-held consumer electronics, such as digital music players, cell phones and personal data assistants. A disc drive in a hand-held device can undergo frequent shock events, such as accidental drops. In addition, some hand-held devices themselves are active shock generators. For example, a hand-held phone set on a vibration mode causes momentary shock events during vibration. Even a ring tone on a hand-held phone can provide a source of momentary shock if the volume is set high enough.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

The following United States patent applications, which were concurrently filed with this one on Oct. 28, 1999, are fully incorporated herein by reference: Method and System for Navigating a Catheter Probe in the Presence of Field-influencing Objects, by Michael Martinelli, Paul Kessman and Brad Jascob; Patient-shielding and Coil System, by Michael Martinelli, Paul Kessman and Brad Jascob; Navigation Information Overlay onto Ultrasound Imagery, by Paul Kessman, Troy Holsing and Jason Trobaugh; Coil Structures and Methods for Generating Magnetic Fields, by Brad Jascob, Paul Kessman and Michael Martinelli; Registration of Human Anatomy Integrated for Electromagnetic Localization, by Mark W. Hunter and Paul Kessman; System for Translation of Electromagnetic and Optical Localization Systems, by Mark W. Hunter and Paul Kessman; and Surgical Communication and Power System, by Mark W. Hunter, Paul Kessman and Brad Jascob.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical sensor which may be integrated with an anatomical anchor. The sensor has particular applicability in surgical procedures where it is desirable to track the relative movement of one or more structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many surgical procedures are planned and guided using images obtained from imaging systems such as magnetic resonance imagers (MRIs), computer tomographic imagers (CTs), x-ray imagers, position emission tomographic (PET) scanners, and photo-emission computer technology (SPECT). These systems permit physicians to obtain detailed preoperative (or intraoperative) views of anatomical structures using noninvasive procedures. Once these images are obtained, the physician typically uses the images to plan a corrective surgical procedure. With the patient lying on an operating table, the images may be xe2x80x9cregisteredxe2x80x9d with the corresponding physical space of the patient, and displayed on a screen in the operating room (OR). As the physician navigates probes or other medical instruments within the patient, sensors on the instruments relay positional information to a computer. The computer, in turn, overlays a display of the position of the instrument on the image of the anatomical structure. In this way, the physician may navigate through a surgical procedure by viewing a display screen in the OR. An example of a related art system is found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/809,404, entitled: xe2x80x9cSurgical Navigation System Including Reference and Localization Frame,xe2x80x9d and which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
Until now, the tracking of anatomical structures has been largely limited to external tracking, either by taping a sensor to a patient""s skin, or by affixing an external clamp to the patient, such as a Mayfield clamp, attached externally to a patient""s head.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/931,654 entitled Bone Navigation System which is incorporated fully herein by reference discloses a system which employs screws extending from a bone fragment through a patient""s skin and connected to a platform external to the patient. Tracking elements such as, for example, emitters are located on the platform so that when a bone fragment moves, so too does the platform with the connected tracking elements. An array in the OR tracks movement of the tracking elements, and this movement is correlated to the movement of the bone fragment, in order to precisely track the movement of the bone fragment. Alternatively, clamps may be used, in place of screws, to secure an array of tracking elements to a bone structure. While such related art systems may generally be reliable, their structure is somewhat cumbersome, especially when the movement of multiple anatomical structures needs to be tracked. In addition, the use of the tracking elements and receiving array requires an unobstructed line of sight therebetween which not only limits implantation within a patient, but also can lead to interference.
For these reasons, in procedures such as those involving the spine or the reconstruction or repair of vertebral bodies, fractured skulls, fragmented bones, or other damaged boney structures, it has been somewhat difficult to track the relative movement of multiple anatomical structures.
It is an object of certain aspects of this invention to enable the detection of anatomical structure movement during medical procedures without the use of cumbersome external equipment fixed to the patient.
It is another object of certain aspects of the invention to provide a localization system for internal and/or external anatomical structures that do not require an unobstructed line of sight between a positional sensor and a detector.
It is a further object of certain aspects of this invention to provide a localization system for internal anatomical structures which may be employed with minimal invasive procedures.
It is another object of certain aspects of this invention to provide an integrated anchor and localization sensor that may be deployed with relative ease.
It is yet another object of certain aspects of this invention to provide an anatomical anchor which may serve as both a preprocedural and intraprocedural fiducial marker.
It is an additional object of certain aspects of this invention to provide a reliable localization marker which may be placed in a patient in advance of a procedure and which may remain in the patient for a period of time following the procedure.
It is a further object of certain aspects of the present invention to enable movement detection, with five or six degrees of freedom, of an anatomical structure or surgical instrument (whether the instrument be an anchor, a catheter, or any other medical instrument).
These and other objects of the invention may be inherent or derived from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
The invention, in its broadest sense, may comprise one or more of the following aspects, either alone or in combination with one or more additional elements:
an anatomical anchor/sensor,
a receiver on an anchor for sensing signals generated external to the anchor,
a transmitter on an anchor for conveying signals indicative of the anchor""s location,
a signal generator on an anchor,
a connection for securing a receiver to an anatomical anchor,
a receiver and/or transmitter on a surgical screw, staple, pin rod, needle or soft tissue anchor,
an electromagnetic sensing coil on an anchor,
a magnet on an anchor,
an electromagnetic sensor having multiple collinear coils wound at differing angles, whether disposed on an anchor, a catheter, or other medical instrument,
hard-wiring a transmitter on an anchor to a processor,
affixing a wireless transmitter to an anchor,
affixing a conductive electrode to an anatomical anchor,
a surgical screw having a hollow containing a sensor,
affixing a sensor to anchor using potting material,
a sensor housing for the head of a screw,
an attachable/detachable sensor mount for an anchor,
a grasping region for permitting medical personnel to screw a portion of a screw/sensor into an anatomical structure,
an integrated anatomical anchor/sensor where the sensor is detachable,
methods and apparatuses for deploying an integrated anchor/sensor,
methods for making and using the above items,
procedures where the relative movement of instruments and/or anatomical structures are tracked and displayed, and
any other novel and unobvious aspects of the following disclosure and/or claims.


A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) system includes a DAC and a clock interconnect module. The DAC includes a plurality of segments and a plurality of drivers. Each of the plurality of segments receives driver signals from a respective one of the plurality of drivers and generates a positive output and a negative output based on the driver signals. Each of the plurality of drivers receives a respective one of a plurality of clock signals and outputs the driver signals based on the respective one of the plurality of clock signals. The clock interconnect module includes an interconnect loop. A clock input is connected to a first portion of the interconnect loop and the plurality of clock signals are output from a second portion of the interconnect loop connected to the plurality of drivers. An output interconnect module receives the positive outputs and the negative outputs generates a differential output signal.

The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Various systems, including, but not limited to, communications systems, implement high speed current steering digital-to-analog converters (DACs). In some communications systems, it is desirable for DAC output signals to have a high spurious free dynamic range (SFDR).
Referring now to FIG. 1, an example DAC 100 includes a plurality of segments 104-1 . . . 104-n, referred to collectively as segments 104. Each of the segments 104 includes a respective set of differential segment switches 108-1, 108-2 . . . 108-p, 108-q, referred to collectively as segment switches 108. In other words, each of the segments 104 includes a pair of differential segment switches (e.g., a pair of transistors). The segment switches 108 steer output currents of the DAC 100 to respective positive outputs 112 and negative outputs 116 of the DAC 100. For example, the DAC 100 may include 2N−1 of the segment switches 108, where N corresponds to a resolution, in bits, of the DAC 100. In some implementations, a number of the segments 104 may be limited to, for example, 32 or 64 and a resolution of the DAC 100 may be increased by adding additional segmented or binary-weighted sub-DACs.
Each of the segment switches 108 is driven by respective driver signals 120-1, 120-2 . . . 120-p, 120-q, referred to collectively as driver signals 120, received from segment switch drivers 124-1 . . . 124-n, referred to collectively as segment switch drivers 124. The segment switch drivers 124 generate the driver signals 120 based on a clock signal 128 and decoder output data 132-1 . . . 132-n, referred to collectively as decoder output data 132. For example only, the decoder output data 132 is output by a binary to thermometer code decoder (not shown). Current source segments 136-1 . . . 136-n, referred to collectively as current source segments 136, provide currents to the respective segments 104.
Accordingly, the decoder output data 132, which corresponds to a digital input code to be converted to an analog output, is retimed by the clock signal 128 prior to being applied to the segment switches 108 via the driver signals 120. As the input code increases, less current is directed to the negative outputs 116 while more current is directed to the positive outputs 112. For differential mode operation, a resulting output current of the DAC 100 corresponds to a difference between respective currents of the positive outputs 112 and the negative outputs 116. The differential output operation suppresses even order harmonics and increases output signal power of the DAC 100.

Interconnect structures for minimizing clock and output timing skews in a high speed current steering DAC


An accumulator/pump housing associated with a motor vehicle hydraulic system that is designed to incorporate a gerotor pump and an accumulator. The accumulator/pump housing comprises a portion of a torque coupling assembly in which a friction clutch selectively engages and disengages a torque coupling case and at least one output shaft. The accumulator/pump housing is located external to a torque coupling housing and at least partially encloses a gerotor pump and a fluid accumulator. The gerotor pump pressurizes the hydraulic fluid and the fluid accumulator selectively stores the pressurized fluid. The hydraulic pump and accumulator supply pressurized fluid to actuate the friction clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a hydraulic pressure system associated with a motor vehicle torque coupling. Specifically, the invention relates to an integral housing for a gerotor pump and associated accumulator.
2. Background of the Invention
The prior art includes various systems for developing hydraulic pressure to provide power to equipment associated with the hydraulic system of a motor vehicle, such as hydraulically actuated torque coupling assemblies. Vehicle torque coupling assemblies typically include a hydraulic pump and an accumulator. When the hydraulic pump is energized, pressurized fluid is selectively supplied into the vehicle hydraulic system, including the accumulator reservoir. As the hydraulic system is further pressurized, the volume of the accumulator reservoir expands, thereby compressing a gas charge or a resilient member (usually a spring) associated with the accumulator reservoir. When the pump is turned off, the hydraulic pressure within the accumulator reservoir is maintained through pressure applied by the gas charge or resilient member. The fluid within the accumulator reservoir communicates the hydraulic pressure to the other parts of the hydraulic system, thereby ensuring that the hydraulic system is pressurized when the vehicle hydraulic pump is not operating.
Vehicle hydraulic pumps have a variety of designs including reciprocating piston-type pumps, centrifugal pumps, and gerotor pumps. Hydraulic gerotor pumps are generally preferred in applications associated with torque couplings, including limited slip differentials. Gerotor pumps are typically built into the torque coupling assemblies and housed within the torque coupling housing. The associated accumulator is conventionally mounted to a body or frame member of the motor vehicle. Since the hydraulic pump is the source of hydraulic pressure when the pump is activated, and the accumulator is the source of hydraulic pressure when the pump is inactive, an extensive and redundant system of hydraulic pressure lines is needed to support both sources of hydraulic pressure.
While known hydraulic couplings, including but not limited to those discussed above, have proven to be acceptable for various vehicular driveline applications, such devices are nevertheless susceptible to improvements that may enhance their performance, cost and simplify both the hydraulic system and the torque coupling design. With this in mind, a need exists to develop improved hydraulic torque-coupling assemblies that advance the art.


The present invention provides a golf ball material which is made of an ionomer composition that includes a phenolic resin component. The invention provides also a golf ball composed of a core and a cover layer, or a core, a cover layer and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, wherein the golf ball material is used in at least one layer of the core or cover. The invention additionally provides a method for preparing the golf ball material by using (i) or (ii) below:                (i) melt blending an ionomer and a phenolic resin;        (ii) melt blending an ionomer base resin, a metal cation source and a phenolic resin.

The present invention relates to a golf ball material for use in at least one of the layers making up a golf ball, such as the core or cover. More specifically, the invention relates to a golf ball material composed of an ionomer composition, the hardness of which has been increased with a phenolic resin component. The present invention relates further to a golf ball having, as an essential part thereof, a molding made of such a golf ball material, and relates still further to a method for preparing such a golf ball material.
Various ionomers (typical products include those commercially sold under the trade names "Surlyn," produced by E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company; "Iotek," produced by Exxon Chemical; and "Primacor," produced by Dow Chemical) are used as constituents in many golf balls. Tradition balata rubber is flexible and has an excellent resilience, but lacks durability. Compared with balata rubber, ionomers have a poor resilience but an excellent durability, which is why they are still in use today.
Approaches commonly taken to increase the resilience of ionomers employed in golf balls include using an ionomer base polymer having a high acid content and subjecting it to a high degree of neutralization with metal cations, including a higher fatty acid in the ionomer base polymer and subjecting the base polymer to a high degree of neutralization, combining different metal cationic species within the ionomer, and blending into the ionomer a thermoplastic material having a high resilience. Numerous patent applications have been filed relating to each of these approaches.
Examples include Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,340, Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,026, Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,921, Patent Document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,094, Patent Document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,792 and Patent Document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,043, all of which describe golf balls that use ionomers having a high acid content and a high degree of neutralization; Patent Document 7: U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,321, Patent Document 8: U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,382, Patent Document 9: U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,458, Patent Document 10: U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,951 and Patent Document 11: U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,114, all of which describe golf balls that use ionomer compositions obtained by including a higher fatty acid in an ionomer base polymer and subjecting the base polymer to a high degree of neutralization; Patent Document 12: U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,804, Patent Document 13: U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,740, Patent Document 14: U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,972, Patent Document 15: U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,775 and Patent Document 16: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,792, all of which describe golf balls that use ionomer compositions obtained by combining different metal cationic species within the ionomer; and Patent Document 17: U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,003, Patent Document 18: U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,324, Patent Document 19: U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,746, Patent Document 20: U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,065 and Patent Document 21: U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,425, all of which describe golf balls that use an ionomer composition in which has been blended a thermoplastic material having a high resilience.
Of the above, golf balls which use an ionomer having a high degree of neutralization generally are endowed with a high resilience and a high hardness, but have a poor durability. Moreover, ionomer compositions which use a base polymer having a high acid content are expensive. Golf balls made using ionomers which contain a higher fatty acid and have a high degree of neutralization also tend to exhibit a poor durability.
Lately, there continues to exist a desire, with regard to golf balls made using ionomer components, to reduce the spin of the ball at high swing velocities (head speeds) and thus increase by a corresponding amount the distance traveled by the ball. There is also a desire, concerning golf balls made using relatively inexpensive, moderate acid-content ionomers instead of the above costly, high acid-content ionomer components, to increase the hardness of the ball and reduce the spin, thereby extending the distance traveled by the ball.
Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,340
Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,026
Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,792
Patent Document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,043
Patent Document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,792
Patent Document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,043
Patent Document 7: U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,321
Patent Document 8: U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,382
Patent Document 9: U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,458
Patent Document 10: U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,951
Patent Document 11: U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,114
Patent Document 12: U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,804
Patent Document 13: U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,740
Patent Document 14: U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,972
Patent Document 15: U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,775
Patent Document 16: U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,792
Patent Document 17: U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,003
Patent Document 18: U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,324
Patent Document 19: U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,746
Patent Document 20: U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,065
Patent Document 21: U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,425

Golf ball material, golf ball and method for preparing golf ball material

Abstract: The golf ball material of the invention has improved properties, including rebound resilience, durability, and a higher hardness. By using this golf ball material as the material for an essential part of a golf ball, the golf ball properties can be improved.


Proposed is a storage apparatus capable of alleviating the burden of maintenance work when a failure occurs in a part configuring the storage apparatus. This storage apparatus includes multiple disk drives and spare disk drives, and multiple controllers. When a failure occurs, this storage apparatus determines the operability status of the storage apparatus based on failure information. When operation can be continued, the storage apparatus continues to operate without performing any maintenance such as part replacement, and if operation cannot be continued, data is migrated to another storage apparatus.

The present invention relates to a storage apparatus mounted with a plurality of disk drives storing data from a host computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a "host").
A storage apparatus, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-348876, is mounted with a disk drive, a controller, and a power supply unit. With a conventional storage apparatus having this kind of configuration, individual parts can be replaced easily when a failure occurs.


An apparatus for storing and organizing tools comprising, a generally J-shaped channel (12) having first and second sides (22, 26) and an opening (20), a first magnet (14) disposed within the opening (20), a second magnet (15) disposed along the first side (22) opposite the opening (20) and a magnetically conductive plate (16) positioned on the first magnet (14) disposed within the opening (20), is disclosed.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, the background is described in connection with the storage and organization of small hand tools using the combination of a magnet and device to hold the magnet relative to hand tools in storage.
Heretofore, in this field, small hand tools and implements have been organized using, for example, pressure fitted holders. One example of such a pressure-fitted holder has a variety of small spring clips that are connected to a central rail in which sockets are positioned in the outward protrusion from the spring clips. The spring clips can be configured to insert the drive opening of a socket. Spring clips can also be designed to hold other small tools, such as a ratchet for driving the sockets or for a screwdriver.
The spring clips are designed to insert the drive ends of, e.g., 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, or 1/2 inch square drive ratchet sockets. One disadvantage of this system, however, is the limitation imposed by the size of the different socket drivesizes as the spring clips must match the specific socket size.
Another problem associated with the use of spring clip socket holders is they can easily become deformed during use so that the socket fits too tightly or too loosely. If the spring clip becomes loose, a socket can easily become dislodged from the spring clip. Conversely, if the spring clip is deformed so that it fits too tightly within the socket drive opening, it becomes difficult to attach and remove the socket from the clip. Attempts to either adjust the tightness of the spring clip or to withdraw a socket that is held too tightly to the clip, can cause adjacent sockets to be dislodged.
Furthermore, spring clips have been forbidden for use in the aircraft industry because of their potential as a foreign object or debris (FOD). FOD is a major problem in the aircraft industry due to reliance in the industry on highly efficient jet engines. Highly efficient jet engines are obtained at the cost of decreased ruggedness. Because the worldwide airline industry is turning toward more efficient engines, the interior of these engines must be protected from FOD.
In the past, there have been various constructions combining molded, nonmetallic materials with magnets to provide a holder for metal sockets. See, for example, my U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,230. U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,377 issued to Pierce discloses a construction that includes a series of parallel boards of nonmetallic material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,817 issued to Miller discloses a socket holder that includes plate armatures that are laminated with magnetic material to define an assembly for holding sockets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,580 issued to Anderson discloses a construction where parallel plates sandwich the magnetic material. To facilitate the alignment of items being retained, a third parallel plate is provided. U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,631 issued to Negus discloses a magnetic holder that includes a molded plastic tray with a sinter bar having laminated keeper plates and magnetic bars positioned to define pole pieces that permit the forming of magnetic circuits.
All of these prior designs, however, have like flaws. The first flaw is that these magnetic socket holders are unable to maintain the weight of numerous sockets for a prolonged period of time. During use in industry, it has been found that the magnetic strength of these holders decreases as more sockets are added causing the socket holder to fail unless maintained in the horizontal position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,342 issued to Geibel discloses a magnetic socket track that includes a base with concave grips the length of the outer sides. Two sections of ferrous metal with 90 degree bends lie inside the channel with the protrusions of the 90-degree bends facing each other. While the disclosed invention provides adequate magnetic support, as disclosed, the socket tracks have the same problems associated with spring clip assemblies, namely, that the numerous components can be dislodged, lost and may become FOD.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,580 issued to Andersen discloses a pair of elongated, parallel and laterally spaced armature plates in which a plurality of magnets are mounted in positions spaced along the plates. The plates are constructed of ferrous material. The armature plates are assembled using a plurality of threaded fasteners that extend through the multiple plates and secure the armature plates. Due to the complexity of assembling the unit and the use of multiple small parts that comprise the magnetic socket holders described therein, the invention fails to address the requirements for reduced components; components that may become entrapped in a jet engine, i.e., FOD. Furthermore, the unit requires multiple steps for assembly, making automation of manufacturing the unit difficult and expensive.
The present invention addresses the need for a universal magnetic tool organizer that is small, reliable and reduces foreign objects and debris (FOD). While the requirement for reduced FOD in the airline industry is apparent, similar needs are found in mechanic shops because of the need for safety, reduced cost due to lost time finding tools and savings from a reduced need in the replacement of tools. The present invention also addresses the need for vertical stackability of tool organization and for rapid automated assembly of the tool holder and placement of the tools in the holder.

Magnetic tool holding and storage apparatus


Processes for the living polymerization of olefin monomers with terminal carbon-carbon double bonds are disclosed. The processes employ initiators that include a metal atom and a ligand having two group 15 atoms and a group 16 atom or three group 15 atoms. The ligand is bonded to the metal atom through two anionic or covalent bonds and a dative bond. The initiators are particularly stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer. The processes provide polymers having low polydispersities, especially block copolymers having low polydispersities. It is an additional advantage of these processes that, during block copolymer synthesis, a relatively small amount of homopolymer is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to living olefin polymerization processes, and more specifically to initiators for such processes that are stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer such that polymers of low polydispersity can be synthesized.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Polymers are used in a large number of applications, and a great deal of attention has been paid to developing synthetic routes that result in polymers having optimal physical and chemical properties for a given application.
Block copolymers are one class of polymers that have broad utility. For example, block copolymers have been employed as melt processable rubbers, impact resistant thermoplastics and emulsifiers. As a result, these materials have been the focus of a particularly large amount of research and development both in industry and academia, and a variety of approaches to block copolymer synthesis have been developed.
When preparing a block copolymer, it is generally desirable to use a synthetic technique that allows for control over the chain length of each polymer block and the polydispersity of the resulting block copolymer. For some time, attempts to provide such a method have focused on block copolymer formation by living polymer synthesis. In living polymer synthesis, a metal-containing initiator having either a metal-carbon bond or a metal-hydrogen bond is reacted with an olefin monomer to form a polymer chain via the successive insertion of the first olefin monomer into a metal-carbon bond between the metal of the initiator and the growing polymer chain. If the initiator is a metal-hydride complex, the first metal-carbon bond is formed when the olefin inserts into the metal-hydride bond. When the olefin monomer is depleted, a second olefin monomer is added, and a second polymer block is formed by successively inserting, into the metal-carbon end group, the second monomer, ultimately resulting in a block copolymer including a first polymer block connected to a second polymer block. Since each polymer block is formed sequentially, the initiator and propagating species should be stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer.
To provide a block copolymer having sizable polymer blocks of low polydispersity, the rate of chain propagation (i.e., olefin monomer insertion into the metal-carbon bond) should be substantially greater than the rate of chain termination or transfer. To prepare a block copolymer having the lowest possible polydispersity, the rate of initiation should be at least as great as the rate of propagation.
Polymerization termination is typically dominated by β-hydride elimination with the products being a polymer chain having a terminal carbon-carbon double bond and the initiator having a metal-hydrogen bond. Termination of polymerization also can occur if the initiator decomposes in some other manner, such as transfer of the polymer chain from the initiator to some other element that is relatively inactive in or for olefin polymerization. Hence, the achievable chain length of copolymer blocks and the polydispersity of the block copolymer arc principally determined by the relative rates of olefin insertion and β-hydride elimination, as well as initiator stability toward other modes of decomposition, especially in the absence of olefin monomer.
Attempts at synthesizing polymers using living polymer synthesis have employed a variety of initiators. For example, as reported in JACS 118, 10008 (1996), McConville and co-workers have used a diamido-titanium initiator to form polymers by polymerizing α-olefins. In addition, Turner and co-workers have developed a hafnium-containing cyclopentadienyl initiator for preparing block copolymers from α-olefin monomers (published PCT patent application WO 91/12285). Furthermore, Horton and co-workers report diamido-group IVB metal initiator effective in providing homopolymer synthesis (Organometallics 15, 2672 (1996)).
Despite the commercial motivation for developing a living polymer synthetic method for block copolymer preparation, known methods of block copolymer synthesis can suffer from a variety of problems. For example, the initiators used can be unstable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer, resulting in an inability to form additional homopolymer blocks to form a block copolymer. Moreover, the efficiency of block copolymer formation can be reduced due to the formation of significant amounts of homopolymer. In addition, due to the low temperatures used, the products formed using many known initiators have relatively low molecular weights and are more appropriately classified as oligomers.
As seen from the foregoing discussion, it remains a challenge in the art to provide a method of synthesizing block copolymers that includes the use of a initiator that is stable in the absence of olefin monomer such that the resulting block copolymers have low polydispersities. Such an initiator would also offer the advantage of resulting in relatively small amounts of homopolymer synthesis.


Provided is a positive photoresist composition excellent in terms of heat resistance. A radically curable compound is represented by a general formula (1) below (where R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; m and n each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4; p represents an integer of 0 to 4; X, Y, and Z each independently represent an acryloyloxy group, a methacryloyloxy group, or a hydroxy group, and at least one of X, Y, and Z represents an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group; and t represents 1 or 2).

In recent years, electronic devices have undergone remarkable technical advances and integrated circuits having a higher density and higher performance have been rapidly developed. In response to such developments, printed wiring boards have come to have a higher density, more highly integrated wiring, and surface-mounted components. Such printed wiring boards also need to have a higher accuracy and higher performance than before. In response to such developments of integrated circuits having a higher density and higher performance, there have been studies on improvements in the performance of solder resist serving as a main material of integrated circuits. Build-up boards and the like having fine wiring therein still have a problem in that cracking occurs at the interface between solder resist and sealing resin, which is referred to as popcorning. Thus, there has been a demand for a solder resist having higher heat resistance.
With an increase in the degree of integration of integrated circuits, nanoimprint lithography has been attracting attention as a process for ultrafine patterning allowing a linewidth of 20 nm or less. This nanoimprint lithography is broadly divided into thermal nanoimprint lithography and photo nanoimprint lithography. The thermal nanoimprint lithography is performed in the following manner: a polymer resin is heated to a glass transition temperature or higher to be softened; a mold is pressed into this resin; and the mold is released from the resin having cooled, so that a fine structure is transferred to the resin on a substrate. Thus, nano-patterns can be formed at relatively low costs. The thermal nanoimprint lithography is expected to be applied in various fields. However, the thermal nanoimprint lithography requires softening of such a polymer resin by heating and polymer resins having a high glass transition temperature are difficult to use. Thus, the thermal nanoimprint lithography is difficult to apply to the electric and electronic field in which higher heat resistance has been required in recent years.
On the other hand, the photo nanoimprint lithography employs photo-curing of a composition upon irradiation with light. The photo nanoimprint lithography does not require heating of a molding material to which a pattern is transferred during pressing. Thus, imprinting can be achieved at room temperature. Photo-curable resins used for the photo nanoimprinting are of a radical polymerization type, an ionic polymerization type, and a hybrid of these types. Curable compositions of any of these types can be used for nanoimprinting. However, photo-curable compositions of the radical polymerization type, of which there is a wide choice of viable materials, have been commonly studied.
In the cases where materials for nanoimprinting are used for protective films and spacers for thin-film transistors and liquid crystal color filters in liquid crystal displays and for permanent films used for fine processing of other members for liquid crystal display apparatuses, cured products of the materials for nanoimprinting need to be excellent in terms of mechanical property, transparency, light resistance, heat resistance, or the like and, in particular, need to have very high heat resistance. Known examples of such a material that can provide cured products having high heat resistance are epoxy (meth)acrylate resins having a biphenyl skeleton (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). However, these resins do not have the high heat resistance that has been required in recent years.

Radically curable compound, method for producing radically curable compound, radically curable composition, cured product of the same, and resist-material composition


A system for write forwarding in a storage environment employing distributed virtualization includes a first and a second storage server providing access to a first and a second physical storage device, respectively, a virtual device server and a virtual device client. The virtual device server may be configured to aggregate storage in the first and second physical storage device into a virtual storage device and make the virtual storage device accessible to the virtual device client for I/O operations. An update requested by the virtual device client may require a first physical write operation at the first physical storage device and a second physical write operation at the second physical device. The virtual device client may be configured to send an update request to the first storage server, rather than to both the first and the second storage servers. The first storage server may respond to the update request by starting the first physical write operation, and forwarding a request for the second physical write operation to the second storage server.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to the management of updates within storage environments employing distributed virtualization techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many business organizations and governmental entities rely upon applications that access large amounts of data, often exceeding a terabyte or more of data, for mission-critical applications. Often such data is stored on many different storage devices, which may be heterogeneous in nature, including many different types of devices from many different manufacturers.
Configuring individual applications that consume data, or application server systems that host such applications, to recognize and directly interact with each different storage device that may possibly be encountered in a heterogeneous storage environment would be increasingly difficult as the environment scaled in size and complexity. Therefore, in some storage environments, specialized storage management software and hardware may be used to provide a more uniform storage model to storage consumers. Such software and hardware may also be configured to add storage features not present in individual storage devices to the storage model. For example, features to increase fault tolerance, such as data mirroring, snapshot/fixed image creation, or data parity, as well as features to increase data access performance, such as disk striping, may be implemented in the storage model via hardware or software.
Some of the added storage features, such as data mirroring, may require more than one physical write operation to be performed for a given logical update. For example, if a data file is stored on a mirrored storage device including two mirrored physical disks, an update to the data file by an application at a client computer system may require a physical write operation at each of the mirrored physical disks. In a distributed storage environment, each of the two mirrored disks may be hosted at a different storage server, to which the client computer system may be connected via a network. For each logical update by the application, one request for a physical write may be sent from the client computer system over the network to each storage server, and one acknowledgment may be received at the client computer system from each storage server. In an update-intensive storage environment with a large number of client applications, outbound network paths between clients and storage servers may become heavily utilized, leading to overall reduced performance for update operations. In such environments, it may be desirable to reduce the number of write requests required to be sent from client computer systems for a given logical update.

System and method for write forwarding in a storage environment employing distributed virtualization