An apparatus for mounting flexible printing plates on a printing cylinder includes a base rotatably supporting a printing cylinder in a predetermined position and support having a turntable for supporting a flexible printing plate having a reference point thereon and a front plate support mounted adjacent the front of the turntable. Means for selectively moving front plate support and an associated pressure roll toward and away from the turntable to facilitate the application of the flexible printing plate onto the printing cylinder in a predetermined position.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for mounting printing plates and, in particular to an apparatus for mounting flexible printing plates on printing press cylinders.
In one form of the printing process, printing is effected by photopolymer or rubber printing plates mounted on printing press cylinders, the paper to be printed being impressed on the inked printing plate. Plate-mounting, color registration and proofing are effected off the press by means of commercially available specially designed mounting-proofing machines.
The mounting of photopolymer or other printing plates onto printing press plate cylinders for printing therefrom requires a high degree of accuracy in the alignment thereof. The image must be square and in register on the plate cylinder in order to print square and in register on the work. In the printing of colors or in the superimpression of images, the various colors or images are added sequentially. Accordingly, it is important that the printing plate which is adding the successive color or image be synchronized with the preceding plate or plates so that the colors or images are accurately superimposed. To arrange these plates in the exact predetermined relation to one another requires that their angular as well as their transverse position on the printing plate support means be accurately determined. In the prior art this synchronizing has been performed by mechanical methods and apparatus which are complicated in implementation and easily subject to inaccuracies. In addition, in the past the synchronizing of the printing plates has been done while they were in position in the printing press. This is not only inconvenient and presents difficult working conditions, but also the printing press is out of operation during this time.
One common method to effect the alignment of the plates with respect to the print cylinder involves the drawing of a line around the printing press cylinder. This line is then aligned by eye with a longitudinal line along the length of the photopolymer or other print plate. This method is relatively accurate but can be extremely time consuming for the operation. This leads to delay between print runs and is costly with respect to the time lost between such runs.
Alternatively, there is commercially available a device to aid in the alignment of photopolymer or printing plates onto the print cylinder. The printing press cylinder is placed in a fixed relationship to the device and the plate is laid upside down on a clear glass top stop. By means of a series of mirrors having lines drawn thereon, the plate is aligned relative to the print cylinder. However, this device is also relatively time consuming and the required accuracy is not achieved. There is only a one-to-one relationship between the eye of the operator and the device assisting in the alignment which can lead to errors of up to one millimeter. These errors are unacceptable where accurate printing is required. This device is generally only acceptable for the alignment of printing plates with respect to one another rather than with respect to the printing press cylinder.
These machines, which usually make use of an optical mounting system, make it possible to mount the printing plates on plate cylinders to effect exact color registration, a procedure essential to the maintenance of both quality and economy in all flexible plate printing operations. Pre-proofing is, in many respects, the most important of all pre-press preparations, for it not only indicates the appearance of the final reproduction, but it also affords means to check the mounting of the plates for color sequence, spacing requirements, layout and gear size, as well as copy and color separation.
Mounting-proofing machines have been provided with a proofing cylinder (sometimes called the impression cylinder) which cooperates with the printing cylinder, the proofing cylinder making contact with the printing plates on the printing cylinder and rotating concurrently therewith to print a proof on a sheet secured to the proofing cylinder. In commercial machines of the type heretofore known which make use of optical mounting techniques, the proofing or impression cylinder is supported for rotation in a fixed position, whereas the printing cylinder is moveable, usually in a vertical direction, from a mounting state in which it is retracted relative to the proofing cylinder to a proofing state in which it is in engagement therewith.
The proofing and printing cylinders are mechanically intercoupled, whereby rotation of the proofing cylinder causes the printing cylinder to rotate. When the diameter of the proofing cylinder is the same as the printing diameter of the printing cylinder (i.e., the diameter of the printing cylinder plus the thickness of the printing plates thereon), then a one-to-one relationship exists therebetween. However, printing cylinders are manufactured in a range of diameters for printing different print lengths. Therefore, it has been necessary to adjust the phase relationship between the printing and proofing cylinders to accommodate the differences between the cylinder diameters. For adjusting this phase relationship for different printing cylinder diameters, a relatively complex mechanism is required in existing types of mounting-proofing machines.
Another drawback of existing types of mounting-proofing machines is their limited capacity to handle printing cylinders of different diameters. With machines of the type heretofore known, the capacity of the machine is restricted to a range of printing cylinder diameters extending from about ninety-five percent of the diameter of the proofing cylinder down to about twenty-five or thirty percent thereof, or approximately four to one. Moreover, since in existing structures, the proof forces imposed at contact are eccentrically opposed, the structures required to accommodate these magnified forces are too large to permit smaller sizes of printing cylinders to fit the machine.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,065,677 and 5,132,911 disclose apparatus for mounting and proofing flexible printing plates to an accuracy of plus or minus 0.002 inches along the width and circumference of a printing cylinder. The apparatus mounts the plates on a printing cylinder which is rotatably supported in a predetermined position. An adjacent support table has a surface for supporting a flexible printing plate having a reference point thereon. Actuators move the support table along three orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the printing cylinder. The position of the reference point is sensed by a video camera and feedback signals representing the positions of the camera and the table with respect to the three axes are inputs to a computer.
The computer determines the positional relationship between the reference point on the printing plate and the predetermined position of the printing cylinder and moves the support table to position the printing plate at a desired position for mounting on the printing cylinder. Each of the actuators includes a drive motor and a motor driver connected between the associated drive motor and the computer. A feedback generator is connected between the drive motor and its associated motor driver for generating the feedback signals to the computer.
The support table has a turntable formed therein for supporting the printing plates and an actuator rotates the turntable about a central axis to position the plate with respect to the printing cylinder. The turntable has a plurality of grooves formed in an upper surface thereof, and a vacuum pump connected to the grooves through a plurality of associated valves and manifold blocks for selectively controlling the application of a vacuum to each of the grooves. The vacuum is applied to the grooves corresponding to the size of the printing plate to retain the plate on the upper surface of the turntable. Each manifold block has an inlet connected to one end of a vacuum supply line and in fluid communication with an elongate outlet passage formed in the block and positioned below the associated groove. The turntable has a plurality of apertures formed between a bottom wall of each groove and a lower surface of the turntable for fluid communication between the outlet passage and the associated groove.


A method and apparatus for space-dyeing yarns, particularly fine denier yarns, including the steps of wrapping a plurality of feed yarns with a sacrificial wrapper yarn to form a composite yarn bundle, space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle, removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns, and separating the feed yarns into individual yarns for further processing. An intermediate yarn product for passing through the space-dyeing machine is disclosed, as well as the end product fine denier yarns after being separated from the bundle in which dyeing took place.

This invention relates to a process for space-dyeing fine denier yarns. In general, the process involves wrapping fine denier yarns with a wrapper yarn before space dyeing the composite bundle of yarns, and subsequently unwrapping the fine denier yarns for further processing as individual yarns. The invention also relates to an apparatus for wrapping of fine denier yarns for space dyeing and subsequently unwrapping the fine denier yarns for further processing, an intermediate yarn product formed of bundled fine denier yarns suitable for space-dyeing in a continuous process, and an end product, fine denier yarn which results from the process carried out on the intermediate yarn product.
Continuous dye lines are typically used for space-dyed carpet yarns. Carpets are typically tufted from yarns in the 1000-3000 denier range. However, there is a large potential market for space dyed fine denier yarns to be used in end uses such as automotive upholstery. Typically the denier range for this type of space-dyed yarns is 150 to 500 denier. Some automotive upholstery fabric is spaced-dyed using a proprietary needle injection dye process. Quality problems with this process are significant and typically result in dye spot length differences between the outside of the package and the inside, or core, of the package. This can cause significant pattern repeat defects in the finished fabric. Some fabric manufactures typically back-wind 1 package, and then parallel wind the back-wound yarn with another space dye yarn just to hide the pattern repeat defects. This can require that a significant percentage of the yarn be scrapped, since a good portion of the core yarn on each package is not dyed the same shade as the rest of the package.
Five hundred denier continuous filament polyester can be space-dyed in a continuous process. However, this fine denier yarn is very fragile and can cause problems in subsequent processing, for example, trying to separate the yarn ends from the coil and get them onto a yarn package at the winder. Of course, the problem would be even greater with yarns as fine as 150 denier.
Productivity issues are also present. Applicant""s applicator, dye line and winder are set up to run at a maximum speed of 500 YPM with 48 running yarn ends. With these speeds, running 150 denier yarn would not be economically practical because of lack of productivity.
Consideration has been given to many ways to get a sufficient number of ends through the dye line so that productivity would rise to the level of commercial practicability. For example, consideration has been given to the concept of dyeing the yarn, but not coiling so that it could be wound without having to separate the yarn from the coiled form. However, if the yarn isn""t coiled or compacted in some manner there is no way to obtain adequate time for steam fixation washing, drying, and so forth.
Yarn wrapping per se is a conventional process. However, known prior art uses of this process involve wrapping a yarn to achieve a wrapped end product. To applicant""s knowledge, the prior art does not disclose the formation of an intermediate yarn product which is processed, whereupon the intermediate yarn product is disassembled into its constituent, end use parts with the wrapper yarn being sacrificed.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a process for space-dyeing fine denier yarns in a series of steps.
It is another object of the invention to provide a process for space-dyeing fine denier yarns in a continuous process.
It is another object of the invention to provide a process for space-dyeing fine denier yarns while bundled together to form a yarn of sufficient size and strength to withstand the space-dyeing processing conditions.
It is another object of the invention to provide a process for space-dyeing fine denier yarns wherein a sacrificial wrapper yarn is used to form a yarn bundle of sufficient size to be dyed in a efficient and productive manner.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a method for space-dyeing yarns, comprising the steps of wrapping a plurality of feed yarns with a sacrificial wrapper yarn to form a composite yarn bundle, space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle, removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns, separating the feed yarns into individual yarns for further processing.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of winding the composite yarn bundle onto a yarn package after the space-dyeing step.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns comprises the step of unwrapping the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns comprises the step of cutting the wrapper yarn away from the feed yarns.
A further embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the steps of spreading the composite yarn bundle to expose the wrapper yarn in advance of the feed yarns to a blade and cutting the wrapper yarn away from the feed yarns at a point in advance of the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of aspirating the cut wrapper yarn to remove it from the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of winding the separated feed yarns onto individual yarn packages.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the process steps are carried out in a continuous process on a single apparatus having a series of process stations.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the process steps are carried out in a series of discrete steps on separate machines.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the steps of coiling, steaming and dyeing the composite yarn bundle take place after space-dyeing and before separating the wrapper yarn from the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the plurality of feed yarns comprises a synthetic yarn having a denier of 500 or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the plurality of feed yarns comprises a synthetic yarn having a denier of 150 or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of wrapping a plurality of feed yarns with a sacrificial wrapper yarn comprises the step of wrapping the feed yarns with between 2 and 10 wraps of the wrapper yarn per inch.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrapper yarn comprises a yarn having a denier of between 20 and 150 denier.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle comprises the step of passing the composite yarn bundle through a plurality of yarn-dyeing stations, each of said yarn dyeing stations including a rotatable pattern member permitting a dye to be applied to the yarn in seriatim only when disposed in a selected angular disposition relative to said yarn bundle, each pattern member being associated with a different color dye, the speed of each member controlling the angle through which each of the members rotates during repetitive time periods so that the disposition required to permit dyeing of yarn by each color may be obtained at selected times.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of coordinating the location along the yarn bundle at which each member permits dye to be applied, whereby each different color dye may be applied along different amounts of the yarn bundle and at selected locations.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle comprises the steps of feeding said yarn bundle in one direction through said stations, locating a dye applying means at each station for applying dye of a selected color onto said yarn bundle, locating a rotatable pattern member at each station for selectively permitting and preventing dye to be applied to said yarn bundle by the respective dye applying means, and controllably rotating each pattern member independently of the other pattern members in accordance with a pattern to selected positions to permit dye to be applied to said yarn at selected times and to prevent dye to be applied to the yarn at other times. An apparatus for space-dyeing yarns in accordance with the invention comprises a yarn-wrapping apparatus for wrapping a plurality of feed yarns with a sacrificial wrapper yarn to form a composite yarn bundle, a space-dyeing apparatus for space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle, a wrapper yarn removal apparatus for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns, and a feed yarn separating apparatus for separating the feed yarns into individual yarns for further processing.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention includes a winder for winding the composite yarn bundle onto a yarn package after the space-dyeing step.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns comprises an apparatus for unwrapping the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns comprises a cutter blade for cutting the wrapper yarn away from the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns includes a yarn bundle spreader for spreading the composite yarn bundle to expose the wrapper yarn in advance of the feed yarns to a blade and wherein the cutter blade cuts the wrapper yarn away from the feed yarns at a point in advance of the feed yarns.
Another embodiment of the apparatus for space-dyeing yarns comprises yarn wrapping means for wrapping a plurality of feed yarns with a sacrificial wrapper yarn to form a composite yarn bundle, space-dyeing means for space-dyeing the composite yarn bundle, wrapper yarn removal means for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns; and separator means for separating the feed yarns into individual yarns for further processing.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, winding means are provided for winding the composite yarn bundle onto a yarn package after the space-dyeing step. m According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, wrapper removal means are provided for removing the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns comprises the step of unwrapping the wrapper yarn from around the feed yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrapper yarn removal means comprises a cutter blade for cutting the wrapper yarn away from the feed yarns.
A composite yarn bundle for permitting space-dyeing of fine denier yarns according to the invention comprises a plurality of fine denier feed yarns integrated together in parallel configuration to form an integrated core, and a sacrificial wrapper yarn wrapped around the core to form a composite yarn bundle wherein the feed yarns are maintained in integrated condition during space-dyeing, said sacrificial wrapper adapted to be removed from around the feed yarns after space-dyeing to permit separation of the core into individual feed yarns for subsequent processing.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of said feed yarns is 500 denier or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of said feed yarns is 150 denier or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of said feed yarns is 50 denier or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrapper yarn is 50 denier or less.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrapper yarn is wrapped onto the core with between 2 and 10 wraps per inch.
A space-dyed, fine denier yarn according to the invention comprises a feed yarn of no more than 500 denier, a plurality of colors of dye applied to the feed yarn by moving the feed yarn past a dye-applying apparatus while integrated together with a plurality of like feed yarns by means of at least one sacrificial wrapper yarn wrapped around said feed yarns to maintain the feed yarns in their integrated condition, said wrapper yarn being removed from the feed yarn after space-dyeing.

Apparatus and method for wrapping of fine denier yarns space dyeing and subsequently unwrapping the fine denier yarns for further processing, intermediate yarn product and space-dyed fine denier yarn


An exercise device and method that is suitable to provide lateral stabilization of the exerciser performing a squatting exercise is provided. The device includes an exercise bar, and wheels that are located, in some implementation, at least the width of a doorframe. Some embodiments of the exercise bar further include a means to adjust its length and to cause vertical resistance. The lateral stabilization method includes the steps of aligning the wheels of the wheeled exercise bar to properly engage the vertical guiding surface; and engaging the vertical guiding surface with the wheels of the wheeled exercise bar such that the wheels roll with sufficient frictional or normal force thereon to provide lateral stabilization to the user.

Numerous stationary exercise devices are known in the art, including free weights, pulley, and resistance based devices to name a few. Some are designed to workout certain groups of muscles by constraining the motion of the user such that common exercise techniques, like squats and leg presses, may be performed in a controlled, safe manner. These stationary devices are often large, bulky gym equipment systems, which for the squat exercise, for example, typically have a bar that travels along two parallel tracks to assist the user to balance while performing the squat exercise. However, stationary exercise devices are not always available or convenient for an individual to use outside of a gym, and are relatively expensive to own or gain access to. Portable exercise devices are often preferable for individuals seeking relatively inexpensive exercise equipment to use privately or in remote locations. Unfortunately, conventional portable exercise devices lack the safety and controlled workout benefits provided by stationary exercise devices, especially for exercises such as squats.
It is well known that individual tend to have trouble balancing themselves while performing the squat exercise. A version of the squat exercise is done by placing a weight-bearing exercise bar on the shoulders or chest (front squat), where while in a standing position, the body is lowered by bending the knees until the thighs are roughly parallel to the floor. The squat exercise is completed by returning up to the starting position. This exercise is usually repeated many times to increase metabolism and help strengthen the thighs, buttocks, calf, back, hamstrings and other various muscle groups. The problem with performing squats is in keeping your balance while moving your body in the up and down motion while supporting a weight-bearing exercise bar. In the context of a regular, stationary gym environment, an individual seeking to keep their balance, and safely perform the squat exercise, often requires either what is known as a "spotter" or specialized stationary gym equipment.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for portable exercise equipment, which enables users to safely perform load-balancing exercises, such as squats. It would also be desirable if such a portable solution were lightweight, inexpensive, and did not require the assistance of others to use.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.


An optical write line head includes multiple rows of light emitter devices lined up corresponding to respective positive lenses located in array form, wherein even with a fluctuation of its write plane in an optical axis direction, there is none of variations resulting from displacements of light emitting dots. A plurality of light emitter blocks, each including at least one row of light emitter devices lined up in a main scan direction, are located at a spacing in the main scan direction to define a light emitter array. On the exit side of the light emitter array, a lens array including one positive lens system in alignment with each light emitter block is located parallel with the light emitter array, and a write plane is located parallel on the imaging side of the lens array. A stop plate forming an aperture stop is located near a light-gathering position at which parallel light incident from the write plane side on each positive lens system comes together.

The present invention relates generally to a line head and an imaging apparatus incorporating the same, and more particularly to a line head wherein a micro lens array is used to project a row of light emitter devices onto an application plane to form a row of imaging spots and an imaging apparatus using the same.
So far, Patent Publication 1 has come up with an optical write line head wherein multiple LED array chips are located in an LED array direction, and the LED array of each LED array chip is projected and magnified through a correspondingly located positive lens onto a photosensitive member, so that images of light emitting dots at the ends of the LED array chips adjacent to one another on the photosensitive member are formed adjacently at the same pitch as the inter-image pitch of the light emitting dots of the same LED array chip, and an optical read line head with the optical path reversed.
Further, Patent Publication 2 has proposed an optical write line head wherein two rows of LED array chips are arranged at a spacing, and two rows of positive lens arrays, each having a positive lens corresponding to each LED array chip, are arranged at a repetitive phase that is a half period off, so that images of light emitting dot arrays are lined up on a photosensitive member.
Patent Publication 1
JP(A)2-4546
Patent Publication 2
JP(A)6-278314
In such prior arts, if the image plane budges forth and back in the optical axis direction of the lens due to vibrations, etc. of the photosensitive member, there is then a displacement of the light emitting dots on the photosensitive member, which otherwise gives rise to a variation in the pitch between scan lines drawn by the relative movement of the light emitting dot array in the subordinate scan direction (a pitch variation in the main scan direction. The same can be said of even when images of the light emitting dot array are in alignment with one another on an ideal image plane.
In view of such problems with the prior art as described above, one object of the present invention is to provide an optical write line head comprising a row of light emitter devices lined up corresponding to each of multiple positive lenses arranged in array form, wherein even with the write plane fluctuating in the optical axis direction, there is none of variations resulting from displacements of light emitting dots.
Another object of the invention is to provide an imaging apparatus incorporating such an optical write line head, and an optical read line head with the optical path reversed.

Line head and imaging apparatus incorporating the same


An axial length of the fuel pump is reduced, and the fuel pump is miniaturized, without reducing pumping performance.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional fuel pump. In this fuel pump, a cylindrical housing 104 encloses a pump section 101 and a motor section 102. The motor section 102 is provided with an armature 106 and a magnet 105. FIG. 9 schematically shows a cross-section of the armature 106. The armature 106 is provided with a shaft 107, a core 111 fixed to the shaft 107, coils 119 wound around the core 111, and a commutator 108 for supplying current to the coils 119. In FIG. 9, the commutator 108 is shown as separated from the core 111 and the coils 119. However, the core 111, the coils 119, and the commutator 108 are in fact formed in an integral manner. A pair of bearings 110 and 113 is provided in the vicinity of both ends of the shaft 107, these supporting the shaft 107 in a manner allowing the rotation thereof. The magnet 105 is located so as to surround the armature 106.
As shown in FIG. 8, a lower end of the shaft 107 engages with the pump section 101, thereby rotating the pump section 101.
FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of FIG. 9. A plurality of slots 114 (eight slots in this case) are provided in the core 111, each coil 119 being wound around four slots 114. In this specification, when one coil 119 that has passed a first slot returns to a (1+Y)-th slot, this will be referred to as the coil 119 having been wound around the Y slots. When the coils 19 are wound around four slots 114 in the core 111 that has eight slots, the coils 119 pass the vicinity of the shaft 107. As shown in FIG. 9, the coils 119 project in an axial direction from both axial end faces 11a and 111b of the core 111, and the coils 119 that project from the end faces 111a and 111b make contact with the shaft 107.

Fuel pump and method of manufacturing an armature for the fuel pump

Abstract: A space G is formed between coils 19 and the shaft 7 at the upper side of the core 11, and the lower portion of the commutator 8 is inserted into the space G. As a result, a length B of the commutator 8 and an upwardly projecting length C of the coils 19 can be caused to overlap. Alternatively, a space H is formed between coils 19 and the shaft 7 at the lower side of the core 11, and upper portion of the bearing 10 is inserted into the space H. As a result, a length F of the lower bearing and a downwardly projecting length E of the coils 19 can be caused to overlap. This overlapping allows the distance between the bearings of the shaft to be reduced.


An electrode structure with an alloy interface is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a contact structure includes: patterning a via in a first dielectric layer; depositing a barrier layer onto the first dielectric layer, lining the via; depositing and polishing a first metal layer (Element A) into the via to form a contact in the via; depositing a second metal layer (Element B) onto the contact in the via; annealing the first and second metal layers under conditions sufficient to form an alloy AB; depositing a third metal layer onto the second metal layer; patterning the second and third metal layers into a pedestal stack over the contact to form an electrode over the contact, wherein the alloy AB is present at an interface of the electrode and the contact; and depositing a second dielectric that surrounds the pedestal stack. A contact structure is also provided.

The formation of interconnects for semiconductor devices typically involves patterning features such as vias in a dielectric, and then filling the vias with a conductor. Conventional techniques often employ processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) to fill the vias with the conductor.
However, filling a feature using PVD or CVD is a challenge especially with the small feature size of a via. Oftentimes, the result is the formation of a void (i.e., unfilled space) inside the feature. Voids can lead to undesirable characteristics such as increased resistance, or even disconnects in extreme cases.
Therefore, improved interconnect designs and techniques for formation thereof would be desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


An elevator system comprises a hoistway (4), an elevator car (2) arranged to move vertically within the hoistway and a drive machine (10) arranged in the hoistway outside the travel path of the car (2) or vertical projection thereof. The car (2) is coupled to the machine (10) by a rope (18) which is guided by a pair of idler sheaves (26, 28) so as to pass under the car (2). The idler sheaves (26, 28) have a diameter of less than 120 mm. The disclosed arrangement allows both overhead space and pit depth to be minimised.

This invention relates to arrangements for reducing the necessary minimum dimensions required to install an elevator system, particularly by reducing the vertical space needed above the elevator car at the upper end of its travel and below the car at the lower end of its travel.
There is increasing demand for elevator installations to require as little vertical space as possible. In particular there is a desire in the art to provide installations which do away with the need for a machine room above the hoistway housing the machine and associated equipment for operating the elevator. There is also a desire to reduce the depth of the elevator pit.
WO 99/43589 discloses an arrangement in which the elevator machine is provided in the hoistway, between the guide rails to the side of the car, which removes the need to house the machine in a machine-room and thus goes some way to reducing the vertical dimensions of the hoistway.

Elevator installation with reduced hoistway dimensions


A charge pump circuit has an input stage, an output stage and multiple boosting stages coupled between the input stage and the output stage. The boosting stages are driven by four phase clock signals. Each boosting stage has two branch charge pumps, wherein each branch charge pump at least has a main pass transistor, a pre-charge transistor, two substrate transistors and capacitors. The substrate transistors and the main pass transistor are operated in association with the four phase clock signals to keep a potential of the body of the main pass transistors at a low level thus mitigating the body effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge pump circuit, and more particularly to a charge pump circuit that effectively prevents an occurrence of a body effect of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).
2. Description of Related Art
In order to lower power consumption, an operating voltage for integrated circuits (ICs) is modified to a lower level. For example, the normal operating voltage for the ICs has been changed from the early 5 volts to the present 3.3 volts, and sometimes even lower than 2 volts. Although a lower operating voltage is beneficial for power consumption reduction, some particular applications requiring a high operating voltage still should be concerned. In particular, while erasing data stored in a flash memory, a large negative voltage, usually −9 or −10 volts, is necessary and supplied by a charge pump circuit.
A conventional negative voltage charge pump circuit is disclosed in FIG. 7. The negative voltage charge pump comprises eight boosting stages (only four stages are shown) and an output stage. Each boosting stage has a P-channel type main pass transistor (301)-(301) connected to an adjacent transistor in series, a P-channel type pre-charge transistor (331)-(334) and two capacitors (311)-(314) and (321)-(324). All the boosting stages are driven by four clock signals (CLK1–CLK4).
The clock signals CLK1 and CLK4 firstly remain at a low level to respectively activate the main pass transistor (301) in the first boosting stage and the pre-charge transistor (332) in the second boosting stage. Then, the clock signal CLK1 turns to a high level to deactivate the main pass transistor (301) in the first boosting stage. Simultaneously, the clock signal CLK2 becomes a low level signal thus conducting the pre-charge transistor (331) and resulting in a discharge of the capacitor (311). The capacitor (321) subsequently has a −VCC potential and the main pass transistor (301) is deactivated. The clock signal CLK2 still continuously charges the capacitor (312) until the CLK4 signal becomes a high level signal to deactivate the pre-charge transistor (332).
Since the main pass transistor (302) of the second boosting stage has been charged to a negative potential prior to the activating of the pre-charge transistor (332), a voltage level at the gate of the main pass transistor (302) is lower than that of its source. Therefore, when the main pass transistor (302) is activated, the capacitor (322) can be quickly charged to −2×VCC. Using the foregoing technique, the input voltage can be gradually boosted by the boosting stages and a negative voltage is finally derived Vout=−((N×VCC)−Vt.
The foregoing circuit operation is also suitable for a positive voltage charge circuit as shown in FIG. 4 of Taiwan Patent no. 477977, wherein the N-channel type transistors are employed to replace the P-channel transistors of FIG. 3 and the clock signals are also accordingly modified.
As discussed above, the charge pump circuits have been widely used. However, some deficiencies of the conventional charge pump circuits still exist.
As well known in the art, a parasitic bipolar transistor exists between an N-type well region and a P-type well region of an N-channel type MOSFET. When the parasitical bipolar transistor is turned on, a voltage across the body and the source of the parasitical bipolar transistor itself is not zero, which will affect the threshold voltage of the N-channel type MOSFET the so-called body effect. Therefore, when a charge pump circuit utilizes the N-channel type MOSFETs as the main pass transistors, the N-channel type MOSFETs can not be quickly activated thus causing an undesired delay result in the flowing of the charge current through the boosting stages. The efficiency of the charge pump circuit will accordingly be negatively influenced.
Therefore, the invention provides a novel charge pump circuit to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problem.

Four-phase charge pump circuit with reduced body effect


Preparation, handling, and spray drying, in an economic and environmentally-friendly way, of slurries for the production of tungsten carbide based hard metal tools or components by the powder injection molding or extrusion route is disclosed. The slurry used is based on ethanol-water and contains metal carbide and metallic raw materials as well as stearic acid and a low concentration of polyethylenimine (PEI). The concentration of PEI is 0.01–1 wt % of the raw material weight. This combination results in low-viscous slurries, which require less use of ethanol, energy, manpower, and equipment time in their preparation, handling, and spray drying. The invention also relates to the powder obtained by using the method.

In the description of the background of the present invention that follows reference is made to certain structures and methods, however, such references should not necessarily be construed as an admission that these structures and methods qualify as prior art under the applicable statutory provisions. Applicants reserve the right to demonstrate that any of the referenced subject matter does not constitute prior art with regard to the present invention.
Hard metals based on tungsten carbide include composites consisting of small (μm-scale) grains of at least one hard phase in a binder phase. In these materials, the hard phase tungsten carbide (WC) is always present. In addition, other metal carbides with a general composition (Ti,Nb,Ta,W)C may also be included, as well as metal carbonitrides, e.g., Ti(C,N). The binder phase usually consists of cobalt (Co). Other binder phase compositions may also be used, e.g., combinations of Co, Ni, and Fe, or Ni and Fe.
Industrial production of tungsten carbide based hard metals often include blending of given proportions of raw materials and additives with a milling liquid. This liquid is often an alcohol, e.g., ethanol, water, or a mixture thereof. The blend is then milled into a homogeneous slurry. The wet milling operation is made with the purpose of deagglomerating and intimately mixing the raw materials. Individual raw material grains are also disintegrated to some extent. The slurry is then dried and granulated, e.g., by means of a spray drier. The granulate may then be used in uniaxial pressing of green bodies, generally with PEG (polyethylene glycol) added as pressing agent. Alternatively, stearic acid may be used as an additive when the material is to be used for extrusion or injection molding.
Injection molding is common in the plastics industry, where material containing thermoplastics or thermosetting polymers are heated and forced into a mold with the desired shape. The method is often referred to as Powder Injection Molding (PIM) when used in powder technology. The method is expensive compared to uniaxial pressing and is hence preferably used for parts with complex geometry.
In powder injection molding of tungsten carbide based hard metal parts, four consecutive steps are applied:
1. Mixing of the hard metal raw materials with a polymer system. The polymer system acts as a binder and constitutes 25–55 volume % of the resulting compound. The exact concentration is dependent on the desired process properties during molding. The mixing is made with all organic constituents in molten state in an extruder. The resulting compound is obtained as pellets of approximate size 2×4 mm.
2. Injection molding using the compounded feedstock. The material is heated to 100–240° C. and then forced into a cavity with the desired shape. The part is cooled and then removed from the cavity.
3. Removing the binder from the obtained part. The removal can be obtained by wet extraction of the parts or by heating in a furnace with suitable gases present, or a combination thereof.
4. Sintering of the parts. Common sintering procedures for hard metals are applied.
The above-mentioned processes require the use of alcohol, energy, equipment time, and manpower. It would be desirable to reduce these needs for economical and ecological reasons.
The article "Dispersing WC-Co powders in aqueous media with polyethylenimine" (E. Laarz and L. Bergstrom, International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials, 18, 2000, pp. 281–286) gives an account of PEI (polyethylenimine, a cationic polyelectrolyte) in slurries of tungsten carbide and cobalt in water. PEI acts as a dispersant at concentrations above 0.3% with respect to dry powder weight (wt %).
EP-A-1153652 relates to the preparation of dispersed suspensions of WC and Co in water or water-ethanol mixtures using PEI. In water based slurries with 3.5 wt % PEG present, a dispersing effect of PEI was reported at concentrations above 0.3 wt %. For mixtures of water and ethanol, the lowest concentration of PEI stated to have dispersing effect is 0.3 wt %. The slurry is made from a mixture of 90 wt % ethanol and 10 wt % water with WC, TiC, TaC, TiN, and Co powders. A concentration range of a polyethylenimine-based polyelectrolyte of 0.1–10 wt % is claimed.
Swedish patent application 0104309-0 relates to the addition of low concentrations (0.01–<0.1 wt %) of PEI to slurries containing ethanol, water, PEG, and powdered raw materials for the production of tungsten carbide based hard metals. A radical decrease in slurry viscosity is thus obtained, which can be used to decrease the volume of milling liquid, the milling time, the rinsing liquid volume, and energy use on slurry drying. A concentration range of 0.01–<0.1 wt % of a polyethylenimine-based polyelectrolyte is claimed.

Method of making tungsten carbide based hard metal tools or components


A logistics bar holder assembly safely secures logistics bars of logistics trailers horizontally along a wall of the trailer. The logistics bar holder assembly is designed to mimic existing logistics posts. The logistics bars snap into the logistics bar holder assembly exactly as they would in the logistics posts. The bars' placement is quick, easy and secure, in compliance with FMCSA regulations. More importantly, the bars are stored horizontally, high up off the floor, minimizing potential damage by forklifts and/or cargo.

The present invention relates to logistics trailer accessories and, more particularly, to a horizontal logistics bar holder for logistics trailers to safely secure logistics bars in transit and when not in use on cargo.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires cargo securement devices to be properly stored and secured (FMCSA 392.9(a)(2)). Logistics bars, when not in use, are difficult to store. If left on the floor of the trailer, they could be damaged, in the way of loading and unloading, and potentially damage cargo, and become dangerous in case of an accident. If stored vertically, there is a significant danger of damage from forklifts and/or cargo. If left unsecured, FMCSA allows a violation weight of 7.
Existing logistics bar holders only store the logistics bars vertically and have securing straps or bars to hold the logistics bars in place, thereby increasing the risk of damage to logistics bars, and to or from forklifts and/or cargo. The straps or bars used to hold the logistics bars in place are slow to place and inefficient. Moreover, the existing bar holders do not hold the logistics bars in place on rough terrain.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved apparatus for safely securing logistics bars in transit and when not in use on cargo.

Horizontal logistics bar holder for logistics trailers


The power transmission apparatus may include a battery, a motor generator that is switchable between a driving state and a power generation state, at least a load, an inverter to switch the motor generator to any of the driving state and the power generation state, a charging state detecting means to detect a charged amount C of the battery, an absorbing horsepower detecting means to detect the absorbing horsepower Lp of the load, and a control device to switch the motor generator to any of the power generation state and the driving state by means of the inverter, based on the absorbing horsepower Lp detected by the absorbing horsepower detecting means and the charged amount C of the battery that is detected by the charging state detecting means.

Conventionally, there has been known a technology regarding a power transmission apparatus included in a construction equipment vehicle such as a hydraulic excavator, wherein a load is driven based on motive power from a power source. For example, see the description disclosed by patent document 1.
The power transmission apparatus disclosed by patent document 1 includes an engine which serves as the power source and a hydraulic pump that is driven based on the motive power of the engine and discharges hydraulic oil.
When the hydraulic pump is driven based on the motive power of the engine, the hydraulic pump discharges the hydraulic oil. The hydraulic oil is supplied from the hydraulic pump to a working hydraulic actuator and a hydraulic motor, whereby the working hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic motor are driven. A working machine can be operated by the working hydraulic actuator to be driven. Also, a working vehicle can be travelled by the hydraulic motor to be driven.
With respect to the power transmission apparatus disclosed by patent document 1, the rated output of the engine is set corresponding to the absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump at the time of heavy load works, in order to prevent the occurrence of the engine stalling at the time of the heavy load works. That is, the rated output of the engine is set to a value larger than the maximum value of the absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump. Herein, by the heavy load works is meant a work during which the absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump is relatively high. As one example of the heavy load works, there are works such as "excavation loading work" in which the hydraulic excavator including the power transmission apparatus excavates the ground and loads a truck with earth and "travel earth removal work" in which a dozer thrusts the earth aside while the hydraulic excavator travels.
However, works performed by the working vehicle such as the hydraulic excavator including the power transmission apparatus include light load works, in addition to the heavy load works described above. Herein, by the light load works is meant a work during which the absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump is relatively low. As one example of the light load works, there are works such as "shoveling work" in which earth laid on the ground is shoveled up by the hydraulic excavator including the power transmission apparatus and "crane work" in which goods are suspended and transferred.
As is described above, when the maximum output of the engine is set corresponding to the absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump at the time of heavy load works, the settings of the maximum output of the engine are excessively increased at the time of light load works, and there is a disadvantage in that the deterioration of the fuel consumption of the engine, the increase of noise, and the reduction of heat balance performance are involved, and the reduction of energy efficiency is involved.


A method of making an integrated circuit (IC) package including electrically and physically attaching a die to an interposer, attaching the interposer to a bottom leadframe, attaching a discrete circuit component to the interposer and attaching a top leadframe to the bottom leadframe.

Integrated circuit (IC) packages are used in many modern electronic applications. A continuing challenge for designers is to provide IC packages having complex circuits with high power requirements, good heat dissipation and flexible signal routing in a compact package. Such IC packages are particularly desirable in small devices, such as cell phones and tablet computers, where components must fit into a very limited space. The methods of manufacturing such IC packages should be as fast and cost effective as possible, consistent with the production of high quality IC packages.


An angular velocity sensor having a pillar-shaped vibrator and support members. The support members clamp the vibrator from above and below, at those parts where vibration nodes are formed when the vibrator vibrates. The support members mechanically support the vibrator and are electrically connected to the vibrator. The support members have an uppermost layer covered with a silver or gold coating at the electrically connected parts. Each support member has arms and connecting parts provided at the distal ends of the arms. The connecting parts have a notch each. The support members are electrically and mechanically connected with conductive adhesive provided in the notches, applied to both surfaces of the connecting part and containing silver particles as conductive filler.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular velocity sensor that is designed to detect the shaking of a video camera, the motion of an object in a virtual-reality apparatus, or directions in a car-navigation system.
This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-024372, filed on Jan. 30, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Angular velocity sensors widely used in public sector are so-called gyro-type angular velocity sensors. The vibration gyro-type angular velocity sensor has a rod-shaped vibrator and a piezoelectric element. The vibrator is vibrated at a predetermined resonant frequency. The piezoelectric element detects the Coriolis force generated due to the angular velocity. The sensor determines the angular velocity from the Coriolis force.
The vibrator may be shaped like either a rectangular prism or a tuning fork. The vibrator shaped like a turning fork is supported at two vibration nodes by electrically conductive members.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate a method of supporting a conventional angular velocity sensor. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the vibrator 96 of this sensor, which is a piezoelectric member, has a groove 95. The groove 95 is cut in one face of the vibrator 96 and extends in the lengthwise direction of the vibrator 96, along almost the centerline of that face. Thus, the groove 95 divides the face into two parts 91a and 91b. Connectors 40a and 41a mechanically and electrically connect conductive support members 40 and 41 to the vibrator 96. More precisely, solder or electrically conductive adhesive is applied to connect the support members 40 and 41 to the vibrator 96.
In the conventional angular velocity sensor, a drive signal is applied to the junction between the support members 40 and 41, vibrating the vibrator 96. When the vibrator 96 rotates around its longitudinal axis, a Coriolis force develops. Two signals are generated at the faces 91a and 91b of the vibrator 96. These signals are proportional to the Coriolis force and have opposite polarities. The signals are extracted from the support member 40. The angular velocity signal can be detected from the signals.
The support members 40 and 41 must have two contradicting functions. One function is to constrain the vibration nodes. The other function is to allow the vibration nodes to move to some extent. The more the vibration nodes are constrained, the smaller the vibration. Consequently, the angular velocity sensor exhibits but a low sensitivity to angular velocity. Conversely, the less the vibration nodes are constrained, the more the vibration nodes move. In this case, the angular velocity sensor has unstable operating characteristics.
In recent years, devices have grown smaller and smaller. The support members 40 and 41 therefore become shorter as long as the members 40 and 41 extend straight as shown in FIG. 1A to 1C. As a result, they support the vibrator 96 more rigidly. To support the vibrator 96 loosely, thereby to allow the vibrator 96 to vibrate freely, the support members 40 and 41 may be bent as the support members 50 and 51 shown in FIG. 2. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-332379.)
Insert moldings are used to fix the support members in place, in order to enhance the productivity of angular velocity sensors and to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof. To form the insert moldings with ease, however, the upper support member 50 and the lower support member 51 must be moved to take positions that are symmetrical with respect to a vibration node.
The method that is generally employed to electrically connect the electrodes of an angular velocity sensor is soldering. The solder used is one selected as desirable in view of the use and material of the objects to be connected together. To cope with the environmental problem, any solder made of mainly metal lead is no longer used. Instead, tin-silver-copper alloys and tin-zinc alloys are now mainly used as lead-free solders. These lead-free solders are disadvantageous. They have higher melting points than the existing tin-lead solder, and their melting points cannot be lowered even if their composition is changed or additives are used in them.
The manufacturing cost of sensors should be lowered to win the recent competition in terms of price. To this end, the functional components of sensors are assembled by means of surface mounting such as reflow. Some measures should be taken not to degrade the performance and quality of any component after the component is subjected to the surface mounting. That is, the components of any sensor must withstand not only the temperature changes in normal use condition, but also the high-temperature profile while they are being mounted. This makes it difficult to design sensors.
The lead-free solders that are now used in the surface mounting to help accomplish the environmental protection have melting points higher than the tin-lead solder. Inevitably, the reflow temperature increases. As a consequence, the sensor components are exposed to a high-temperature profile. Since the lead-free solder has a high melting point, it must be used to achieve electrical connection within each component. The heat applied during the reflow may melt or loosen the junctions between the parts of the component. In some cases, an under-fill agent or the like is used, preventing the parts from moving even if the heat melts the solder. However, a component that cannot be rigidly supported, such as the vibrator, cannot be connected by the use of a lead-free solder. Such a component must be connected to the support member with an electrically conductive adhesive that would not melt after it is cured.
The electrically conductive adhesive comprises a thermosetting resin (e.g., epoxy resin) and metal filler (i.e., electrically conductive material) dispersed in the resin at high ratio. Unless the adhesive shrinks after cured, it cannot acquire electrical conductivity. In theory, the resin would not change in properties once cured, and those parts which have become electrically conductive to one another due to dielectric breakdown in the metal filler would not undergo any changes such as resistance change. In practice, however, those parts of the resin, which have undergone dielectric breakdown, are restored to the initial state because of the heat and moisture applied to them. The resistance of the junction between the components greatly changes, or the components become electrically insulated from one another. Further, the components connected with the electrically conductive adhesive have their initial resistance much changed, depending upon their materials. The product, in which the components are thus connected, may be impaired in terms of reliability.
The base of the vibrator may be made of amorphous carbon, which has good temperature characteristic. In this case, it is difficult to connect the vibrator to support members by soldering since amorphous carbon is dense and chemically stable. It is more difficult to form film on the vibrator by means of, for example, plating. Even if metal film is successfully formed on the vibrator, to provide electrodes, it will not adhere firmly enough to impart mechanical connection strength to the vibrator. No method is available, which can reliably connect the vibrator to the support members, both electrically and mechanically. This renders it hard to provide reliable angular velocity sensors.


A pressing device for pressing lithium batteries with different thickness is installed on an electronic device to pressing a first lithium battery and a second lithium battery with different thickness using a first pressing part and a second pressing part with different curvatures. The first lithium battery and the second lithium battery are thus fixed in their positions without using additional tools.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a pressing device for pressing lithium batteries in an electronic device and, in particular, to a pressing device for pressing lithium batteries with different thickness.
2. Related Art
In general, providing power for an electronic device to operate is a very common technique. Such power can be provided in a wired way or a wireless way. The most commonly seen wireless way of providing power is using batteries. There are many types of batteries, and the lithium battery is the most popular one. When an electronic device uses lithium batteries, a pressing device is often used to press the lithium batteries in the electronic device. However, when one replaces the lithium batteries with thinner ones, the original pressing device may not be able to function properly. Therefore, additional devices have to be used in order to press the new thinner lithium batteries. This will increase the cost.

Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation


A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) includes an isolation layer disposed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. A source region and a drain region are disposed on both sides of the active region such that a first direction is defined from the source region to the drain region. A channel recess is disposed in the active region between the source and drain regions. The channel recess has a convex surface when viewed from a cross-sectional view taken along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A gate electrode fills the channel recess and crosses the active region in the second direction. A gate insulating layer is interposed between the gate electrode and the active region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same and, more particularly, to metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as MOS transistors) and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, semiconductor devices use discrete devices, such as MOS transistors as switching devices. With an increase in the degree of integration of semiconductor devices, the MOS transistor is being gradually scaled down. As a result, a MOS transistor with a typical horizontal channel may not operate normally due to a short channel effect (SCE) and a drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) effect, which may be caused by a short channel length between a source and a drain. Also, owing to increases in off current and swing, it may be difficult to effectively control the on/off operation of the MOS transistor.
To overcome the foregoing drawbacks of a MOS transistor with a horizontal channel, other MOS transistors having various structures have been proposed. One of the new MOS transistors is a double gate transistor, an example of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,532. In the double gate transistor, a gate electrode surrounds two or three sides of a channel such that all of the regions of the channel are affected by the gate electrode. This may lead to reductions in swing and off current, which are subthreshold characteristics. As a result, when the MOS transistor is turned off, it may be possible to regulate the flow of electric charges between a source and a drain so that power dissipation can be reduced and the on/off operation of the MOS transistor can be effectively controlled.
In another approach to address the problems of a MOS transistor with a horizontal channel, there have been intensive studies on a MOS transistor having a recessed gate electrode called a "trench-gate transistor" (hereinafter a recess gate transistor) as another new MOS transistor. The recess gate transistor, an example of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,071, includes a recess formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode formed in the recess, and source and drain regions that are formed in the active region on both sides of the gate electrode and spaced apart from each other by to the recess. In spite of the relatively high degree of integration, such a recess gate transistor may suppress the influence of a short channel effect (SCE) and a drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) effect due to its increased channel length.
However, a recess of a conventional recess gate transistor, which is formed in an active region by etching a silicon substrate exposed by a mask pattern, typically has a flat or concave bottom profile in the direction of channel width. As a result, although the influence of the SCE and DIBL effect may be suppressed, there is a limit in improving a swing or off current characteristic with an increase in the capacitance of a depletion layer due to a gate voltage.

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors having a recessed gate electrode


Embodiments include systems and methods of accessing multimedia content. One embodiment includes a system for accessing multimedia data. The system includes a tangible object comprising at least one proximity device embedded within the tangible object. The tangible object is configured to provide identification information of the tangible object. The system further includes a reader configured to wirelessly detect the tangible object based upon the proximity device and receive the identification information. The system further includes a device configured to receive a signal from the reader in response to detecting the tangible object and configured to access multimedia data based upon the provided identification information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods of providing access to multimedia content.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A variety of methods have been developed for electronic distribution of multimedia content, such as motion pictures, musical recordings, animation, or educational information. For example, videos and music may be downloaded over the Internet and/or accessed via "video-on-demand" services from a cable head-end. Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods of accessing such media.

System and method of virtually packaging multimedia


A method for mounting a semiconductor wafer on a polishing block to hold the semiconductor wafer during polishing. The method comprises the steps of providing a polishing block having a surface for mounting the semiconductor wafer, coating the polishing block surface with a bonding agent, applying radiant heat to the polishing block and bonding agent to soften the bonding agent, and applying the semiconductor wafer to the softened bonding agent. The step of applying radiant heat to the polishing block and bonding agent is performed by a radiant heater in a dry environment.

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for mounting a semiconductor wafer on a polishing block to hold the wafer during polishing. More particularly, the invention relates to an infrared heater for heating the polishing block to soften a bonding agent applied to the block so that the wafer may be temporarily bonded to the block.
The faces of semiconductor wafers are polished during manufacture to provide very smooth finish and surface flatness. Semiconductor wafers must be polished so they are extremely flat and smooth before printing electronic circuits on them by electron beam lithography or photolithography. Flatness is critical to maintain resolution of the printed lines which can be as narrow as one micron or less. However, because the wafers are thin, they may flex during the polishing operation if they are not rigidly supported over their entire areas, or the necessary surface flatness and finish may not be achieved. Thus, it is important that the wafers are supported over their entire areas during polishing.
To prepare the wafers for polishing, they are mounted on flat polishing blocks using a bonding agent or wax which firmly grips and rigidly supports the wafers. The bonding agent is applied in a thin coat to one face of the polishing block, and the block and agent are heated so that the agent dries and softens. The wafer is pressed against the softened agent, and, as the agent cools, it firmly grips the wafer so that the wafer cannot easily be pulled or sheared off the block during the polishing operation. Further, the agent stiffens as it cools so that it rigidly supports the wafer during the polishing operation and the needed surface flatnesses and finishes may be obtained.
In the past, an apparatus known as a steam pot was used to heat polishing blocks coated with bonding agents. As its name implies, a steam pot is a vessel containing boiling water. To heat the block, it is seated in an opening at the top of the steam pot so that the side of the block opposite the bonding agent is exposed to the steam inside the vessel. The steam heats the block by convection and conduction heat transfer. The block conducts the heat from its side exposed to the steam to the side to which the bonding agent is applied, thereby drying and softening the bonding agent. However, because the block is cooler than the steam, water condenses on the side exposed to the steam. Although the side of the block having the bonding agent does not face the interior of the steam pot, water will occasionally come in contact with the bonding agent. When water contacts the bonding agent, it becomes pitted which causes small, localized portions of the wafer to be inadequately gripped and supported. As a result, when the polishing block is heated with a steam pot and water condenses or splatters on the block, it must be dried before further processing to avoid water contact with the bonding agent.
Most previously used bonding agents contained trichlorethylene as a solvent. However, because trichlorethylene has been identified as possibly adversely impacting the environment, other bonding agents which do not contain trichlorethylene have been introduced. For instance, water-based bonding agents have been developed. However, these "green" water-based bonding agents do not perform well when heated in steam pots because they are highly water dispersible. Thus, when water droplets come in contact with the agents, large voids occur and the wafers are not adequately supported or gripped.
In an attempt to reduce water splatter, the amount of power delivered to the steam pots has been reduced, but this reduced the steam production which increased the time it took to sufficiently heat the blocks. Longer heating times are undesirable because they increase production time and costs. To speed up production, softer bonding agents have been used so that the blocks did not need to be heated to as high a temperature Thus, lower power settings and shorter heating times could be used. However, the softer agents are stickier, thereby preventing the wafers from being easily released after polishing and substantially offsetting savings in production achieved using the softer bonding agent.


A system for providing secondary data storage and recovery services for one or more networked host nodes includes a server application for facilitating data backup and recovery services; a first data storage medium accessible to the server application; a second data storage medium accessible to the server application; at least one client application for mapping write locations allocated by the first data storage medium to write locations represented in a logical view of the first data storage medium; and at least one machine instruction enabling direct read capability of the first data storage medium by the server application for purposes of subsequent time-based storage of the read data into the secondary data storage medium.

In the field of data storage and recovery, storage area networks (SANs) are being used more and more frequently to store data because of their high speed, reliability, and relative fault tolerance characteristics.
A SAN is a high-speed network that separates storage traffic from other types of network traffic. Prominent standards used in data storage in conventional art are Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), Fibre Channel (FC), SAS and ATA/SATA. The redundant array of independent disks (RAID) standard is used for creating fault tolerant data storage.
State-of-the-art storage systems comprise a SAN network of storage devices and host nodes, in many instances connected together by a Fibre Channel (FC) switch. There are other variations of SAN architecture that use a different transport protocol such as high speed Ethernet in place of the FC protocol for the storage network.
In addition to the above, late-developing enhancements such as iSCSI and Fibre Channel over Internet protocol (FCIP) have enabled data storage networks to be managed as two or more networked SAN storage islands connected into a larger network by an IP tunnel. In these cases, which are not yet widely practiced, TCP/IP is leveraged as well as encapsulation (frame packaging) methods to enable data storage devices to communicate with each other efficiently over the Internet in a dedicated manner.
In typical application data generated by nodes on a host network is written to a primary storage on a SAN. Data from the primary storage system is then typically archived or backed up to a tape media in a batch-mode fashion at the end of a work period. Typically, a larger number of data-generating machines in a host network, like PCs and servers, back up the data to a smaller number of mass storage devices like a tape library. For many applications leveraging an off-site storage solution, data written to a primary storage system is transferred to one or more tape drive systems as described above for archiving to magnetic tape media, which can be securely stored off-location on behalf of an enterprise.
A typical problem with the backup operation (writing the data to tape) is that data generated from some machines during any work period can be of a very large volume and can take considerably longer to back-up than data from other machines. The backup window for a specific host can range anywhere from 30 minutes to 48 hours and above depending on the volume of data changes generated.
Another problem is that the backup data is sent from the host nodes to the tape drive over the LAN. Rendering the data from RAID to tape is typically done in a manually orchestrated batch mode operation performed by an administrator with the help of backup software. Under these conditions the operating host data network (LAN) must share bandwidth with the components involved in securing the backup data to tape media.
Yet another limitation with prior art systems is that if a data recovery operation is required, wherein the data desired is already archived to tape media, the recovery process is comparatively much slower than, for example, recovery of near-term data from a hard-drive disk.
There are still more limitations apparent with practices of prior art storage and backup systems. For example, with prior art data backup software data movement is from each of the hosts. Moreover, most prior art backup systems perform backup operations at the file level in a non continuous fashion, which can cause additional disk seeks to find out which files have actually changed by the scheduled backup time.
The inventors are aware of a system for providing secondary data storage and recovery services for one or more networked host nodes. The system has a server application for facilitating data backup and recovery services; at least one client application for facilitating host node configuration to receive services; a secondary data storage medium; and at least one mechanism for passive acquisition of data from the one or more host nodes for storage into the secondary data storage medium by the server application. In a preferred embodiment secondary storage is streamlined through continuous data backup and enhanced by elimination of redundant write data.
In this system data is passively split off of the data storage paths for each host writing data to storage using an off-the-shelf data splitting hardware. The data is sent to a secondary storage server for the purpose of data writing to a secondary storage disk for near-term data storage and recovery purposes. Among other enhancements over prior-art storage methods, the write data is checked for redundancy over a single or over multiple hosts using a metadata table that defines previous writes made by the same hosts and compares new writes to the old ones. In this way only change data, or data that is new is retained and stored on the secondary storage medium.
It has occurred to the inventors that a direct access to primary storage data from a secondary storage server will in the majority of cases leverage the caching provided by the primary storage if the read happens soon after the original data write. Taking advantage of this behavior would reduce the overhead from data reads.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for accessing data from a primary data storage system for secondary storage


An imaging system and use thereof for large-area monitoring with very high temporal resolution are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a camera equipped with curved optics having a field of view of from about 0.01 miles to about 1.5 miles; and interchangeable light filters positioned in front of the camera configured to change one or more of an intensity and an amplitude of light captured by the imaging system. The curved optics may include a hemispherical mirror configured to reflect an image of objects in front of the mirror, and the camera may be positioned facing a reflective surface of the hemispherical mirror so as to capture the image reflected in the hemispherical mirror. Alternatively, the curved optics may include a fisheye lens mounted to the camera. An imaging network of the present imaging systems and a method for use thereof for thermal monitoring are also provided.

Infrared imaging is used to locate cold or hot spots in commercial buildings, residential houses or to monitor heat variation of the information technology (IT) chip temperatures. Infrared imaging may be the easiest way to monitor the health and performance of large installations like solar farms where parts of the installation are not operating at the optimum levels. High temperatures (overheating) across a certain location(s) of a solar panel can indicate mechanical, electrical wiring, or photovoltaic performance shortcomings. Large scale temperature measurements are also becoming very valuable in agriculture where crop temperatures are direct indicators of the evapotranspiration processes and also of the vigor of the crops. Satellite or airborne imaging techniques may be used for these applications but they tend to be expensive and lack the spatial resolution (spatial pixel size tend to be 10 meters or higher). Furthermore, with satellite or airborne imaging the data will be acquired at large time intervals reducing the usefulness of techniques to identify and troubleshoot problems in real-time.
Another area where local temperature is important is with large scale solar installations where solar panels are mounted is a series-parallel configuration—such that a number of panels are mounted as a string in series to increase the voltage (e.g., greater than 600 VDC in the United States) and then the string of solar panels are mounted in parallel to increase the current.
In a solar system, solar panels strings coupled with inverters are used to collect and convert solar energy into electricity. Specifically, a central DC-AC inverter is used to convert the DC output from the solar panels into electricity. Many of the central inverters operate more efficiently at larger voltage and current inputs and this drives the solar panel connections to operate the inverters at their maximum performance.
In many situations, the performance of individual solar panels can be diminished due to mounting errors which will affect the performance of the whole panel string and thus reduce the overall system performance. Factors that affect individual solar panel performance can be solar sub-cell defects or wiring/interconnect issues that result in solar panel overheating. Once the temperature of a defective solar panel increases, the overall performance of the solar installation is reduced (i.e., the power produced decreases with increased panel temperature) as current flow through the strings of panels can be constrained or cut-off by a defective cell in the solar panel. Mounting/installation errors can also affect performance. For example, shadowing due to nearby structures leads to reduced voltage/current performance of solar panels.
Shadowing has more of an effect in the case of series mounted solar panel strings when the resistance of the solar panels is increased (the current drops) reducing the performance of the string of panels. Furthermore shadowing can result in voltage output fluctuations leading to unstable operation of inverters. Either solar panel overheating (increased temperature) or shadowing can result in reduced performance.
Thus, techniques for monitoring large scale solar installations in order to locate underperforming solar panels would be desirable.

Large-area monitoring using infrared imaging system


A container includes a body defining an interior and an opening that leads to the interior. A cap removably affixes over the opening to move the container between an opened position and a closed position. A child resistant closure moves between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and prevents moving the container from the closed position to the opened position when in the engaged position.

Moisture sensitive items such as pharmaceuticals, food items, confections, tobacco products and test strips are often provided in resealable, moisture-tight containers. Such containers typically include a container body having an interior portion and an opening, and a cap that sealably engages the container body to cover the opening. Such containers are provided with a seal and a closure mechanism, and in some cases may include a child resistant closure mechanism, such as that disclosed in WO 02/16218, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
The child resistant closure mechanism disclosed in WO 02/16218 includes a pliable "spacer" (as the component is named in that publication), which is synonymous with a "guard" (as the component is named herein), positioned on the outer surface of the container. When the cap is in the closed position, the spacer is under the thumb tab. In one embodiment, when the cap is in the closed position, the spacer prevents a user from contacting the underside of the thumb tab with his or her finger, effectively prohibiting the opening of the container. However, the spacer is movable inwardly in the direction of the container when a sufficient inward force is applied to it. Inward movement of the spacer permits the holder of the container to access the underside of the thumb tab so an upward force can be applied to it, thereby opening the container.
In one embodiment, the outer-most surface of the spacer disclosed in WO 02/16218 is about 6 mm to 8 mm from an outer surface of the side wall of the container body. While the child resistant functionality of such an embodiment is good, for some applications, a spacer or guard with a smaller profile is preferred. In the art, the difference of even one or two millimeters between guard profiles can make the difference between a desirable design and an undesirable design, for some applications. For example, in certain applications, a spacer or guard having an outer-most surface that is about 2 mm to 4 mm, or less, from an outer surface of the side wall of the container body, is desired. The smaller profile allows for more convenient and less conspicuous storage, e.g., in one's pocket. However, the inventors have found that as the profile of the guard is reduced, the functionality of the child resistant closure may be adversely affected. Accordingly, there is a need for a child resistant closure having a small profile guard without a substantial corresponding loss of child resistant closure functionality.
Seals known in the art often include abutting surfaces on the cap and container body, which may be in the form of, for example, a protrusion on one of the cap or container body that is received by a groove on the other of the cap or container body. Similarly, closure mechanisms often include a protrusion on one of the cap and container body that is received by a groove on the other of the cap and container body, in order to form an interlocking relationship that retains the cap in place on the container body. Due to the similarity in structure of these common configurations, the seal and closure mechanism are often combined in a single structure including the above-mentioned protrusion and groove. This is potentially limiting to the integrity of both the seal and the closure mechanism, as different dimensions and constructions may be desirable for each of these components. For example, to create an effective seal, it may be desirable to form the outer dimensions of the cap as slightly larger than the inner dimensions of the container opening that receives a portion of the cap, in order to create an interference fit and in turn a tight seal. This can be problematic with respect to a closure mechanism, as it may cause deformation of the container body such that the closure mechanism portion thereof does not sufficiently engage the closure mechanism portion of the cap. Accordingly, a need exists for a container having a closure mechanism and seal that function independently of each other, such that varying the construction of one in order to maximize effectiveness does not negatively impact the effectiveness of the other.

Container having a child resistant closure with a small profile


A plunger rod for a syringe in is of integrally injection molded plastic construction having an elongated body with a coaxial end portion. An external thread extends around the end portion for threaded receipt into a plunger tip that is slidably received in a syringe barrel. A flat extends chordally across the end portion of the rod body interrupting the external thread. The plastic, of which the plunger rod is molded, is gated into the mold for the plunger rod at the flat that extends across the rod end portion, leaving a gate mark or vestige on the flat. Gating of the plastic material into the portion of the mold that forms the threaded end portion of the plunger rod achieves improved flow and improved filling of the external thread, while employing a simple and economical mold construction. The gate vestige does not interfere with threading of the plunger rod end portion into the plunger tip. The end portion of the plunger rod is cored during molding to provide a C-shaped cross section at the rod end portion, which improves dimensional stability during material shrinkage after molding.

The present invention is directed to syringes for injection of liquid medicament, and more particularly to manufacture of a plunger rod for such a syringe.
Syringes of the subject type typically include a barrel for containment of a liquid medicament or solution, a plunger tip slidably disposed within the syringe barrel, and a plunger rod secured to the plunger tip. During automated assembly, a cap is secured to an end of the barrel, the barrel is filled with liquid solution, and the plunger tip is placed in the barrel over the solution. The plunger rod is then secured to the plunger tip. To use the syringe, the cap is removed from the end of the barrel and a needle is threaded onto the barrel. The plunger rod and plunger tip are then manually pushed into the barrel to eject liquid solution from the end of the needle. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for injection molding the plunger rod that employ a simple mold structure and simple opening/closing actions at the mold structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for injection molding a syringe plunger rod that achieve improved plastic material flow and improved filling of the threaded end portion of the plunger rod that is secured to the plunger tip. Another object of the present invention is to provide a plunger rod for a syringe manufactured employing such method and/or apparatus.
A plunger rod for a syringe in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is of integrally injection molded plastic construction having an elongated body with a coaxial end portion. An interrupted or segmented external thread extends around the end portion for threaded receipt into a plunger tip that is slidably received in a syringe barrel. A flat extends chordally across the end portion of the rod interrupting the external thread. The plastic, of which the plunger rod is molded, is gated into the mold for the plunger rod at the flat that extends across the rod end portion, leaving a gate mark or vestige on the flat. Gating of the plastic material into the portion of the mold that forms the threaded end portion of the plunger rod achieves improved flow and improved filling of the external thread, while employing a simple and economical mold construction. The gate vestige does not interfere with threading of the plunger rod end portion into the plunger tip. In the preferred embodiment, the end portion of the plunger rod is cored during molding to provide a C-shaped cross section at the rod end portion, which improves dimensional stability during material shrinkage after molding.
A method of making a plunger rod for a syringe, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, contemplates providing a mold having at least one mold cavity for molding a plunger rod having a body, an end portion with an external thread and a flat extending chordally across the end portion interrupting the external thread. Plastic material, such as polypropylene, is gated into the mold cavity at this flat such that the plastic material flows to fill the cavity, and the plunger rod is then removed from the mold cavity. A mold for injection molding a plastic syringe plunger rod in accordance with a third aspect of the invention includes a first mold section having a body and a gate insert, and a second mold section having a body and a core insert. The first and second mold sections together form at least one mold cavity. The gate and core inserts form the portion of the mold cavity within which the end portion of the plunger rod is molded. This portion of the mold cavity has a C-shaped axial cross section, with the gate insert forming a flat in a central portion of the C-shaped cross section. Plastic material is gated through the gate insert radially into the end portion of the mold cavity, and then flows axially into the cavity to mold the plunger rod.

Syringe plunger rod and method of manufacture


An outer energy absorbing member and an inner energy absorbing member are mounted on a lower surface side of a vehicle bottom part. The outer energy absorbing member and the inner energy absorbing member are arranged adjacent and in parallel to each other in a vehicle width direction. A recessed engagement part is formed in a side end part of the outer energy absorbing member on an inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a projecting engagement part is formed in a side end part of the inner energy absorbing member on an outer side in the vehicle width direction. The recessed engagement part and the projecting engagement part are engaged with each other at a time of side impact.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle lower part structure.
2. Description of Related Art
As a vehicle lower part structure, there is a structure in which an energy absorbing member is arranged on a lower side of a rocker in order to absorb impact energy at a time of side impact. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-16822 (JP 10-16822 A) discloses a structure in which an energy absorbing member is arranged between a frame and a side step. Also, an example of a structure is disclosed as a modified example, in which a high-rigidity member is arranged between a frame and a side step so that the side step is able to absorb energy.
In a case where, for example, a side step and an energy absorbing member are integrated in order to improve load transmission performance at a time of side impact, it is necessary to fix the integrated object to a vehicle bottom part at a plurality of locations in a vehicle width direction. This makes it difficult to align positions of fixing regions. Meanwhile, in a case where, for example, an energy absorbing member is arranged between a frame and a side step, and the side step is structured to be able to absorb energy in order to ensure mountability on a vehicle bottom part and improve energy absorbing performance further, an impact load is not transmitted sufficiently to the energy absorbing member if the side step is inclined at a time of side impact. Therefore, there is a room for improvement in terms of enhancement of energy absorbing performance at a time of side impact.


An object of the invention is to provide a molding with suppressed coloring which has good weather resistance and in which the advantageous effect does not decrease with time. The present invention provides a molding material comprising a polymer (A) obtained by polymerizing 0.01 to 35 mol % of monomer (a1) represented by a specified formula (1) and 65 to 99.99 mol % of monomer (a2) whose main component is methylmethacrylate.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of reduction of equipment maintenance costs and reduction of environmental load, weather resistance improvement of polymer material used under severe condition such as outdoors is strongly required.
For the purpose of weather resistance improvement of the polymer material used as coating, patent document 1 proposes adding a hindered amine light stabilizer having a piperidine skeleton (hereinafter, referred to as "HALS"), particularly whose nitrogen atom is substituted by various kinds of OR groups (hereinafter, referred to as "NOR-HALS") (O represents oxygen atom, R represents alkyl group) to coating material components.
Although the NOR-HALS has an advantageous effect in weather resistance improvement of the polymer material, it has a problem of gradually vanishing from the polymer material by migration or volatilization and the advantageous effect decreases with time.
For the purpose of solving this problem, patent document 2 proposes copolymerizing a polymerizable NOR-HALS (hereinafter, referred to as "polymerizable NOR-HALS") having a vinyl group in its molecule, to add to coating material components.