Apparatus provides an air/fuel mixture to a fully premixed burner (4) and comprises a fuel line for providing fuel to the burner (4) a fan for supplying air at a variable flow rate to the fuel to form the mixture, a sensor (30) for sensing aeration of the fuel combustion products and a controller (26) for controlling the air flow rate in dependence upon the aeration sensed in such a way that the air flow rate is sufficient to maintain the aeration at or close to a predetermined value, the controller, in use, maintaining the air flow rate at one of a number of differing predetermined values which are in the form of a geometric series characterized by a constant value of the ratio between successive values.

The present invention relates to apparatus for providing an air/fuel mixture particularly an air/fuel gas mixture to a fully premixed burner.
In such a burner fuel gas is mixed, before combustion in the burner, with air in a plenum chamber.
The fuel gas is usually supplied from a main while the air is supplied by a fan.
To prevent incomplete combustion of the fuel gas and the production of poisonous carbon monoxide gas, the volume flow rate of air is usually intended to be maintained in excess of the rate theoretically necessary for full combustion of the gas. Typically this excess amounts to 30%, and the burner is then said to be operating with 130% of the stoichiometric air requirement or, for brevity, "at 130% aeration".

Apparatus for providing an air/fuel mixture to a fully premixed burner


A disc drive storage system having a plurality of data tracks and data sectors within each track, wherein each track further comprises a redundancy sector for reconstructing a data sector unrecoverable at the sector level. The latency of the storage system is minimized by generating track level redundancy data over the write range of data sectors and storing the "write" redundancy to the redundancy sector. Then during idle time of the storage system, the track level redundancy is regenerated for the entire track. If an unrecoverable data sector is encountered during the idle time redundancy regeneration, and the unrecoverable data sector is within the write range of the previous write operation, then it is reconstructed using the track level redundancy data stored in the redundancy sector.

Disc drive storage devices typically store binary data onto the surface of a rotating disc in divisible units referred to as tracks, where each track is divided into a number of data units referred to as sectors. In magnetic storage devices, for example, the digital data serves to modulate a write current in a inductive recording head in order to write a series of magnetic flux transitions onto the surface of a magnetizable disc in a series of concentric, radially spaced tracks. And in optical recording systems, the digital data may modulate the intensity of a laser beam in order to record a series of "pits" onto the surface of an optical disk in spiral tracks.
The host system connected to the storage device accesses the disc drive by writing and reading data to and from a particular sector. The disc drive positions a recording head (or transducer) over the track containing the requested sector, waits for the disc to rotate until the recording head is over the requested sector within the track, and then performs a write or read operation on the sector. The latency associated with spinning the disc to the requested sector is a significant factor in the overall operation speed (access time) of the disc drive. Once the transducer reaches the target track, the storage system must wait for the disc to complete one-half a revolution on average to reach the target sector for every read and write operation requested.
The sectors on a track typically include user data and appended sector level redundancy symbols for detecting and correcting errors in the user data when reading the sector from the disc. During a read operation, a sector level error correction system (ECS) uses the sector level redundancy symbols to detect and correct errors in the user data that occur due, for example, to noise or defects in the recording/reproduction process. If the number of errors detected exceeds the error correction capability of the sector level ECS, then depending on the nature of the errors, the entire sector may be unrecoverable. Random errors caused by noise in the reproduction process (e.g., electronic noise induced in the read signal) are referred to as "soft errors" because they may not necessarily render the sector permanently unrecoverable. That is, the storage system can "retry" the read operation until the number of soft errors is within the error correction capability of the sector level ECS.
Permanent errors, or "hard errors", are typically associated with defects (drop-outs, aberrations, etc.) on the surface of the disc which render the medium permanently unrecoverable if the number of hard errors exceeds the error correction capability of the sector level ECS. Further, every sector typically includes a preamble field and a sync mark for use by timing recovery in synchronizing to the data in the sector. If a hard error corrupts this timing information, then the entire sector may become completely unreadable due to the inability to synchronize to the data.
In the context of this application, an unrecoverable sector refers either to a readable but uncorrectable sector at the sector level, or an unreadable sector due, for example, to an inability to synchronize to the sector data.
There are prior art disc storage systems which attempt to protect against losing an entire sector that has become unrecoverable at the sector level. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,290 entitled "System and Method for Preventing Direct Access Data Storage System Data Loss from Mechanical Shock During Write Operation," suggests using a parity sector within each track, wherein the parity sector comprises the XOR (parity) of all of the data sectors for that track. In this manner, if any one of the data sectors becomes unrecoverable, it can be completely reconstructed using the parity sector.
The parity sector in the above scheme is updated during each write operation by first reading the sector that is to be over written and "backing out" its contribution to the parity sector (by XORing it with the parity sector). Then, the new sector is written to the disc and added (XORed) into the parity sector. The updated parity sector is then written back to the disc. If a particular sector is determined unrecoverable during a read operation, then to recover that sector the storage system reads and XORs the other sectors in the track (including the parity sector), and the result of the XOR operation is the unrecoverable sector.
This track level parity sector scheme for recovering an unrecoverable sector has not been widely employed in disc storage systems due to the intolerable increase in latency associated with updating the parity sector during each write operation. That is, the storage system must seek to the sector to be over written, read that sector (or sectors), and "back out" its contribution to the parity sector. Then, it must wait for a complete revolution in order to write the new sector (or sectors). Finally, the storage system must wait for the disc to spin to the parity sector so that it can over write it with the updated parity sector. Further, the revolution of latency associated with backing out the contribution of the target data sectors from the redundancy sector applies even if the write range spans one less sector than the entire track.
Another problem inherent in the prior art track level parity sector scheme is that it can correct only one unrecoverable sector per track. Thus, if two or more sectors on a track become unrecoverable, the prior art parity sector scheme is rendered useless.
Yet another problem not addressed by the prior art parity sector scheme is that a sector can become unrecoverable due to errors associated with a write operation on that sector. For example, a defect on the medium may result in a hard error depending on how the sector data is written to the disc. That is, a corrupted write operation may result in excessive hard errors which render the sector uncorrectable, whereas another write operation may not. For example, a phenomena that can result in an unrecoverable sector, known as "high write", occurs when an anomaly on the medium causes the fly height of the recording head to increase, thereby decreasing the magnetization strength of the inductive write signal. Thus, if a first sector on a track becomes unrecoverable due to a corrupted write operation, and no attempt is made to read that first sector before a second sector becomes unrecoverable due to a subsequent corrupted write operation, then the prior art parity sector scheme will be unable to recover either sector.
Consequently, most disc storage systems do not employ a track level parity sector; instead, they take other precautions to protect against influences which may render a sector unrecoverable. Namely, to protect against hard errors which may render a sector unreadable due to defects in the medium at the preamble or sync mark fields, the entire disc is tested during manufacturing. If it is determined that the preamble or sync mark field cannot be read due to defects in the medium, then that sector is mapped to a spare sector. A similar "defect scan" and "defect mapping" can be performed for the entire sector to determine if the number of resulting hard errors will exceed the error correction capability of the sector level ECS. Alternatively, a system designer may increase the error correction capability of the sector level ECS to decrease the probability that a sector will become uncorrectable.
The problem with scanning the medium for defects during the manufacturing process and mapping bad sectors to spare sectors is that it does not account for "grown defects", defects that arise during the lifetime of the storage system. Grown defects include, for example, invading foreign particles which become embedded onto the surface of the disc, or external shocks to the storage system which can cause the transducer to nick the surface of the disc. Furthermore, there are problems associated with increasing the error correction capability of the sector level ECS to overcome grown defects. Namely, it becomes prohibitively complex and expensive to implement, and it reduces the capacity of the storage system due to the increase in the sector level redundancy bytes.
There is, therefore, a need for a disc storage system that can protect against read errors rendering a sector unrecoverable, without increasing the cost and complexity of the sector level ECS, and without the above mentioned problems associated with the prior art track level ECC scheme.

Write verify method for correcting unrecoverable sectors in a disc storage system using track level redundancy


An ergonomically-designed racquet stringing machine. In certain embodiments, the stringing machine includes a stringing platform supporting at least one racquet mount for securing the racquet in a stringing plane at an angle of about 1 to about 15 degrees from a horizontal surface. A control unit may be coupled to the stringing platform and operably coupled to a platform tilt assembly for adjusting the position of the stringing platform and the angle of the stringing plane. Additionally, the stringing machine may include a tool storage tray coupled to the stringing platform, with the tool storage tray having a bottom surface that is in a plane non-parallel with the stringing plane.

The act of stringing a racquet requires a considerable amount of manual labor. Stringing machines assist in the process by maintaining the racquet in place and providing desired tension in the strings, but a majority of the work involved is performed by a person. More particularly, a person must align the racquet within the stringing machine, and then string each of the cross or main strings individually, followed by weaving each of the cross and main strings to form the resulting string grid.
Those in the racquet stringing business often spend many hours a day standing in front of a stringing machine. Conventional stringing machines include a stringing platform with a turntable positioned on top of a fixed stand. The turntable spins within a plane parallel to the floor. Because of the fixed orientation of the stand and the planar position of the turntable, the person stringing the racquet must adjust his or her posture to conform to the position of the stringing machine. Furthermore, the various steps involved in stringing a racquet require the racquet stringer to assume a variety of stances. In particular, one of the racquet stringer's shoulders is often positioned much higher than the other. Also, the fixed orientation of the stringing machine often induces the racquet stringer to hunch over the turntable. The awkward posture induced by conventional stringing machines often causes injuries and fatigue, which ultimately lead to reduced efficiency in the performance of the racquet stringer.
It would thus be desirable to provide a stringing machine that is ergonomically designed to allow users to work with the stringing machine without having to assume awkward or uncomfortable positions. In doing so, it would also be desirable to provide an ergonomically-designed stringing machine that can automatically adjust its orientation to accommodate individuals of various sizes. It would be further desirable for such an ergonomically-designed stringing machine to be adjustable to accommodate personal preferences.


An automatic identity recognition method used for a robot and a plurality of beacon devices is disclosed. The robot has a tag device. After the robot is started, the tag device enters into a discovery mode and broadcasts a blinking message externally. Each of the plurality of beacon devices respectively replies an initial message including its own anchor ID to the tag device if receiving the blinking message. After receiving the initial message, the tag device records the anchor ID of the initial message into a configuration list, and replies a control command to the beacon device who replies the initial message, so as to control the beacon device not to reply the initial message continually.

Beacon technology is a popular wireless technology recently. Generally, multiple beacon devices may detect relative locations or relative distance via wireless communication technology. The wireless communication technology may refer to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra Wide Band (UWB) or any other applicable technology. If a user brings a beacon device like a smart phone supporting beacon technology, when the user triggers an application on the smart phone, multiple beacon devices may respectively detect the location of the user and provide corresponding push messages to the smart phone. Moreover, with the feature of location detection via multiple beacon devices, there is a technical solution in the market for disposing multiple beacon devices in an indoor space to provide indoor navigation with the multiple beacon devices.
When the indoor navigation is applied on a robot like a cleaning robot or a monitoring robot and the robot is moving in the indoor space, the multiple beacon devices are used to navigate the robot. The robot has a first beacon device inside and there are multiple second beacon devices disposed in the indoor space. The first beacon device is recorded with multiple anchor identifications (IDs) of the multiple second beacon devices. In convention art, the first beacon device may only perform distance detection procedure with the multiple second beacon devices corresponding to the anchor IDs recorded in the first beacon device in a ranging phase and may obtain locations of the multiple second beacon devices. In other words, the robot may only use the multiple beacon devices previously recorded to perform the indoor navigation. If anchor IDs of one or more than one second beacon devices are not recorded in the first beacon device, it is not capable of providing navigation for the robot.
When such robots are sold in the market, because the manufacturers do not know neither how many and which beacon devices will be disposed in an indoor space nor anchor IDs of disposed beacon devices, necessary anchor IDs cannot be recorded in such robot in advance. Therefore, it is beneficial to design a method for configuring robots and multiple beacon devices easily without complicated procedure.

Beacon device automatic identity recognition method

CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED


An electrosurgical apparatus for sealing and cutting tissue includes forceps and a power supply. The forceps include jaws that are pivotal about a pin and at least one blade disposed between the jaws. A shaft connects a handle to the jaws for moving the jaws while also conducting electric current from the power supply through the jaws. A wire, routed through the shaft and through a hole in the pin, connects a knob to the blade for moving the blade. In a bipolar configuration, the wire also conducts the electric current through the blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject application relates generally to a surgical apparatus for cutting and coagulating tissue using electric current and a blade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Endoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery, is a method of surgery designed to minimize discomfort to the patient. This is done by reducing the required size of the opening needed to access the body's internal organs to a small hole. The results are, typically: fewer traumas, less pain, faster recovery time and a shorter, if at all, length of hospitalization. The advantages are in reduced complications, reduced mortality rate and considerable savings to the patient and insurers.
Endoscopic accessing of the internal cavities of the body is usually done by using a cannula and trocar. The skin, fat, and muscle tissues are punctured by a surgical blade or a sharp trocar. Penetrating the body cavity with a trocar that is accompanied by a cannula, establishes a temporary inlet or a working channel. Removing the trocar and leaving the cannula inside the body allows the insertion of a scope, camera, forceps and other accessories into the bodily cavity to perform the surgical procedure.
Endoscopic procedures involve a majority of grasping, cauterizing and dissecting or shearing steps, to detach tendons, muscles and blood vessels. Sealing the cut or dissected portion is essential to avoid bleeding. This is currently achieved, in many cases, by using electro-cautery or thermal coagulation of tissues and vessels. Graspers and/or dissectors that apply electric current to the cut zone are being used, following by dissection with curved or straight scissors that are electro-cauterizing while performing the cut.
It is very desirable to minimize the number of openings in an endoscopic procedure, for the purpose of reduced pain and scarring to the patient and reduced costs by saving usage of extra cannulas and trocars. This could be achieved by combining grasping, cauterizing and dissecting in one instrument. This reduces the number of openings as there is no longer the need for a stand alone opening for a grasper or a scissor. The advantages are obvious: less openings, less scarring, less pain, less complications and less costs in trocar-cannulas and single-function instruments and surgery time.
Numerous electro-surgical instruments are available in the prior art for sealing and cutting tissue. One such instrument is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,598 (the '598 patent) to Feinberg et al. The instrument of the '598 patent includes forceps having a pair of jaws. The jaws are opened and closed by extending and retracting them into a tube which forces their closure. A power supply for producing electric current includes a pair of feeds with one feed connected to each of the jaws. In operation, the electric current flows from one jaw, through tissue, to the other jaw. A single blade is disposed between the jaws and movable longitudinally to cut the tissue.
Although the instrument of the '598 patent is functional, there remains an opportunity for a surgical apparatus providing a more effective application of electric current and greater tactile response to a surgeon operating the apparatus.


To make compact a motor actuator and a tandem valve type throttle body preferably for two-wheeled vehicles, a gear portion (G) and a motor (M) are arranged in an actuator case constituted by a gear case (2) and a motor case (1), the gear portion (G) is formed by a motor gear (G1), an intermediate gear (G2) consisting of a small-diameter gear (G22) and a large-diameter gear (G21) in parallel, and an output gear (G3), the motor (M) protrudes into the gear case (2) and is near the large-diameter gear (G21), an actuator support boss (6a) of a throttle body (6) is inserted into a throttle body insertion hole (id) a protruding end portion (9a) of an auxiliary throttle valve shaft (9) is inserted into a connection hole (G3a), and a mounting boss (5) is screwed to the throttle body (6) via a mounting hole (4).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor actuator structured such that an actuator case is formed by a motor case and a gear case, a motor and a gear portion are arranged in an inner side of the actuator case, a rotation of the motor is decelerated by the gear portion, and the decelerated motor rotation is output to an external portion via an output gear, and the motor actuator mentioned above is independently formed and is attached to various equipment. Accordingly, a rotating member provided in the various equipment is rotationally controlled by the motor of the motor actuator. Further, the present invention relates to a throttle body controlling an amount of air flowing for an engine, and more particularly to a tandem type throttle body in which a main throttle valve mechanically operated by an accelerator so as to be opened and closed is arranged within an intake passage provided so as to pass through the throttle body, and an auxiliary throttle valve electrically operated by a motor so as to be opened and closed is arranged within the intake passage in an upstream side from the main throttle valve.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
A first example of a conventional motor actuator is shown in FIG. 4. Reference numeral 30 denotes a motor case in which a motor M is arranged so as to be accommodated in an inner portion. A motor accommodating concave portion 30b is provided in a concave manner toward a right open end 30a in the drawing. Further, the motor M constituted by a step motor or the like provided with an output shaft Ma is arranged so as to be inserted in to the motor accommodating concave portion 30b. Reference numeral 31 denotes a gear case in which a gear portion G is arranged so as to be accommodated in an inner portion. A gear accommodating concave portion 31b is provided in a concave manner toward a left open end 31a in the drawing. Further, the open end 30a of the motor case 30 is brought into contact with the open end 31a of the gear case 31, whereby the actuator case K is formed. Accordingly, the motor and the gear portion G are arranged so as to be accommodated in an inner portion of the actuator K. Further, the gear portion is constituted by a motor gear G1, an intermediate gear G2 rotatably borne to the support shaft 32, and an output gear G3 in which a rotation transmission hole G3a is provided. The motor gear G1 is connected to an output shaft Ma of the motor M and is arranged so as to be engaged with one side of the intermediate gear G2. Further, the other side of the intermediate gear G2 is arranged so as to be engaged with the output gear G3. Further, a mounting boss 33 in which a mounting hole 33a is provided is integrally formed in the open end 30a of the motor case 30, and a mounting boss 34 in which a mounting hole 34a is provided is integrally formed in the open end 31a of the gear case 31. Since the motor case 30 and the gear case 31 are arranged so as to be brought into contact with each other by the mutual open ends 30a and 31a, a mounting boss 36 (formed by the mounting bosses 33 and 34) having a mounting hole 35 (formed by the mounting holes 33a and 34a) is formed in a part of the actuator case K. In accordance with the structure mentioned above, a motor actuator provided with the gear portion G and the motor M is formed in an inner portion of the actuator case K. The motor actuator mentioned above is structured such that an end surface of the boss 36 is arranged so as to be brought into contact with an equipment E, a bolt T is inserted into the mounting hole 35 under the state mentioned above, and the mounting boss 36 is screwed and fixed to the equipment E by the bolt T. On the other hand, one end of a rotating shaft Wa provided in the equipment E is arranged so as to be inserted to the rotation transmission hole G3a of the output gear G3, the insertion is executed by forming a cross sectional shape of the rotation transmission hole G3a in a segmental shape hole and forming a cross sectional shape of the rotating shaft Wa in a segmental shape, and the rotation of the output gear G3 is transmitted to the rotating shaft Wa. In accordance with the structure mentioned above, the rotation of the motor M is decelerated by the gear portion G, the decelerated rotation is transmitted to the rotating shaft Wa via the output gear G3, and it is possible to rotationally control the rotating shaft Wa of the equipment E in correspondence to the rotation of the motor M.
A second example of the conventional motor actuator is shown in FIG. 5. Reference numeral 40 denotes a case in which the motor M and the gear portion G are arranged so as to be accommodated in an inner portion. An accommodating concave portion 40b is provided in a concave manner toward a right open end 40a. Further, the motor M constituted by the step motor or the like provided with the output shaft Ma is arranged and the gear portion G is arranged within the accommodating concave portion 40b. The gear portion G is constituted by the motor gear G1, the intermediate gear G2 rotatably borne to the support shaft 41, and the output gear G3 in which the rotation transmission hole G3a is provided. In the intermediate gear G2 among them, a large-diameter gear G2a and a small-diameter gear G2b are formed in two stages in a longitudinal axial direction of the support shaft 41. Accordingly, the motor gear G1 is engaged with the large-diameter gear G2a of the intermediate gear G2, and the small-diameter gear G2b of the intermediate gear G2 is engaged with the output gear G3. Further, a cover 42 is arranged so as to be brought into contact with the open end 40a of the case 40 and the open end 40a of the case 40 is closed, whereby the actuator case K is formed. Accordingly, the motor and the gear portion G are arranged so as to be accommodated within the closed accommodating space of the actuator K. Further, a mounting boss 43 in which a mounting hole 43a is provided is integrally formed in the open end 40a of the case 40, and a mounting boss 44 in which a mounting hole 44a is provided is integrally formed in the open end 42a of the cover 42. Since the case 40 and the cover 42 are arranged so as to be brought into contact with each other by the mutual open ends 40a and 42a, a mounting boss 46 (formed by the mounting bosses 43 and 44) having a mounting hole 45 (formed by the mounting holes 43a and 44a) is formed in a part of the actuator case K. In accordance with the structure mentioned above, a motor actuator provided with the gear portion G and the motor M is formed in an inner portion of the actuator case K. The motor actuator mentioned above is structured such that an end surface of the mounting boss 46 is arranged so as to be brought into contact with the equipment E, the bolt T is inserted into the mounting hole 45 under the state mentioned above, and the mounting boss 46 is screwed and fixed to the equipment E by the bolt T. On the other hand, one end of the rotating shaft Wa is arranged so as to be inserted into the rotation transmission hole G3a of the output gear G3 in the same manner as mentioned above. In accordance with the structure mentioned above, the rotation of the motor M is decelerated by the gear portion G, the decelerated rotation is transmitted to the rotating shaft Wa via the output gear G3, and it is possible to rotationally control the rotating shaft Wa in correspondence to the rotation of the motor M.
The conventional tandem valve type throttle body is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-83171 filed by the applicant of the present invention. In the tandem valve type throttle body mentioned above, an intake passage is provided so as to pass through the throttle body, and a main throttle valve is attached to a main throttle valve shaft which is rotationally operated mechanically by a vehicle driven, whereby the intake passage is opened and closed. Further, in the intake passage in an upstream side from the main throttle valve, an auxiliary throttle valve is attached to an auxiliary throttle valve shaft which is rotationally operated electrically by a motor, and the intake passage in the upstream side from the main throttle valve is electrically opened and closed by the auxiliary throttle valve. On the other hand, the motor actuator is structured such that the actuator case is formed by the gear case and the motor case, the motor and gear are arranged within the actuator case, the rotation of the motor is decelerated by the gear and the auxiliary throttle valve shaft is rotationally operated by the output gear, whereby the auxiliary throttle valve electrically controls the intake passage in the upstream side from the main throttle valve so as to open and close.

Motor actuator and tandem valve type throttle body using the same


A cover film having at least (A) a substrate layer, (B) an intermediate layer, (C) an adhesive layer, and (D) a heat seal layer having a heat sealable resin, a thermoplastic resin of the (D) heat sealing layer having a mixture of two types of (meth)acrylic acid ester copolymers having different glass transition temperatures and a hydrazide compound, wherein one of the (meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer in the (meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer mixture has a glass transition temperature of −20 to 10° C. and the other (meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 40 to 80° C.

Alongside the miniaturization of electronic components, the miniaturization and performance of the electronic components used have also continued to improve and components are automatically mounted on printed circuit boards in assembly processes for electronic devices. Surface-mounted electronic components are stored in carrier tape in which pockets that are thermoformed in accordance with the shapes of the electronic components so as to be able to store the same are continuously formed. After the electronic components are stored, a cover film is laid as a lid material on an upper surface of the carrier tape and both edges of the cover film are continuously heat-sealed in the longitudinal direction with a heated seal bar to form a package. Materials such as those in which a biaxially stretched polyester film is laminated onto a substrate and a thermoplastic resin heat seal layer is laminated thereon are used as cover film materials. Materials made from thermoplastic resins such as polystyrene or polycarbonates are mainly used as the carrier tape.
In recent years, various electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, ICs, LEDs, connectors, and switching elements have become remarkably small, lightweight, and thin and the required performance when peeling a cover film in order to extract a stored electronic component from a package has become stricter than was conventional.
Electronic components transported, etc. by means of the carrier tape package have attained higher performance and have miniaturized alongside wide-ranging improvements in surface-mounting techniques in recent years. Static electricity is generated by such electronic components rubbing against the inner surfaces of an embossed carrier tape or inner surfaces of the cover film due to vibration during transport of carrier tape packages and the electronic components may be damaged thereby. Further, there are cases of similar situations occurring due to static electricity generated when peeling a cover film from a carrier tape, etc. Accordingly, measures against static electricity for carrier tapes and cover tapes have been the most critical problems.
In a state in which electronic components are stored in a package, the presence or absence of the components, the storage orientation of the components, damage or bending of leads, etc. may be inspected. Alongside the miniaturization of electronic components in recent years, extremely high transparency in cover films is necessary for the inspection of components stored in packages. Furthermore, friction generated between an electronic component and the heat seal layer of the cover film immediately following heat sealing or in a transportation environment also can inhibit inspection due to the heat seal surface whitening and, in addition to the abovementioned transparency, suppression of scraping of the heat seal surface is also demanded.
As measures against scraping of heat seal surfaces, in addition to methods for causing microparticles to protrude from the surface of a heat seal layer by adding 0.1 to 50% by mass of silica particles to an EVA-based heat seal layer so the thermoplastic resin and the component do not touch and adding electrically conductive microparticles such as tin oxide or zinc oxide to a heat seal layer, there is also the example of setting the surface roughness Rz of a heat seal surface to at least 1.0 μm (see Patent Documents 1 to 6). However, even if such methods can suppress scraping of a heat seal surface of a cover film due to friction with electronic components, there are cases in which transparency falls remarkably and the demanded performance cannot be satisfied and scraping of a heat seal surface of a cover film due to friction with conventional electronic components was not considered as a problem.


A safety valve landing nipple selectively provides a pin for closing communication in the bore between the first control line and the safety valve control line so that communication between the first control line and an insert safety valve in the landing nipple housing is achieved by use of a rotary member. A rotary shifting tool is used to rotate the rotary member so that a cam sleeve pushes a poppet pin to form a metal to metal seal with a fitting adaptor connecting the first control line and the safety valve control line so as to provide communication between the surface control line and the internal bore of the landing nipple. A method of closing communication within a safety valve landing nipple between a first control line and a safety valve control line and opening communication between said first control line and an insert safety valve by use of a rotary shifter assembly to rotate a rotary member an amount sufficient to push a poppet pin to form a metal to metal seal to close communication between a first control line and a safety valve control line and open communication between the first control line and the insert safety valve.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a safety valve landing nipple. More particularly, this invention relates to a safety valve landing nipple which redirects control line fluid flow by rotation of a rotary sleeve and the formation of a metal to metal seal with a valve poppet so as to close communication between a first control line and a safety valve control line so as to achieve communication between the first control line and a second safety valve which may be an insert safety valve.
B. The Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,315 discloses a landing nipple adaptable to be made up in a tubing string having a sliding sleeve disposed in its bore for selectively providing communication of balance and control pressure fluid to the nipple bore. Upon seal failure, the fluid invades the balance pressure fluid communication means instead of the control pressure fluid communication means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,186 discloses a well safety system comprising a tubing retrievable safety valve and landing nipple which are connected by a common conduit for conducting a suitable pressure fluid for control and balance of the safety valve and a secondary valve landed in the landing nipple. Either the safety valve or the landing nipple may be selected for the control or balance fluids to flow into.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,540 discloses a hydraulic actuated communication nipple for switching control fluid from one location to a second location in a well tool. A ball is dropped down the control line and seats on the piston, closing the fluid passage, moving the sleeve, and opening the fluid passageway to the bore. The piston also acts as a vertical moving plug to seal off the outlet with a metal to metal seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,177 discloses a downhole tool which may be a safety valve or stand alone nipple. A cutting tool is mounted for radially movement in a recess provided in the internal bore of the tubular housing. The control pipe is severed by the cutting tool and the severed portion of the pipe is crimped closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,162 discloses a well safety valve for use in a fluid well conduit through which fluid is produced by pumping. A valve opens and closes in response to the fluid level in the conduit. When pumping is discontinued, the fluid level in the conduit increases to a predetermined high level to close the valve. When pumping begins, the fluid level falls and when it reaches a predetermined low level the valve is opened.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,674 discloses a subsurface safety valve with a flapper plate and operator tube where the operator tube telescopically retracts within the piston while the flapper plate rotates through the critical throttling region into sealing engagement against the flapper valve seat. The operator tube is retracted rapidly through the spring housing in response to rotation of the flapper plate, thus substantially reducing the magnitude of reaction forces which arise during dragging engagement between the flapper plate and the curved edge of the operator tube.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,629,058, 3,442,536 and 1,896,104 show known rotary locking systems but do not relate to a rotary landing nipple and rotary shifter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,061 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,023, both assigned to Otis Engineering Corporation for Rotary Locking System with Metal Seals and Flow Actuated Safety Valve with Retrievable Choke and Metal Seals, respectively, are relevant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,061 discloses a landing nipple connectible in a well conduit. The landing nipple has an internal metal seat and helically profiled segments with upper orienting surfaces. A well flow control device is connected to a rotary lock mandrel, which is connected to a rotary running tool and lowered into the well conduit and landing nipple. Repeated downward impact on the running tool rotates the rotary lock mandrel and segments into locking engagement with the landing nipple segments, sealingly engaging the lock mandrel metal seal surface with the landing nipple metal seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,023 discloses a direct acting safety valve having a flapper valve, all metal to metal seals, and a retrievable flow choke carried on a lock mandrel, which locks and seals in the safety valve operating tube. Production flow impingement force on the flow choke overcomes the force of a roller type snap closure device and a spring holding the operating tube in valve open position, releasing the operating tube to move upward quickly to a position permitting the flapper valve to close.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,046 discloses a control fluid communication nipple with a vertically moving sleeve which breaks a screw in tension and exposes the cavity in the screw to the interior of the well tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,540 discloses a hydraulically actuated control fluid communication nipple with a vertically moving sleeve which opens the fluid passageway to the bore when a ball is dropped down the control line, seats on the piston and closes the fluid passage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,867 discloses a Well flow control system in a well conduit including a landing nipple.
The use of a longitudinal or vertically moving shifting means is not sufficient to prevent premature lockout because unintended shifting can easily take place. However, it is unlikely that standard wireline tools can provide enough torque to unintentionally rotate a rotary member. Thus, a landing nipple with a rotary member used to selectively close communication between a first control line and a safety valve control line and open communication between the first control line and an insert safety valve is needed so that premature lockout is prevented.


A process for preparing an ethylene-unsaturated polycarboxylic graft copolymer is disclosed. In this process an ethylene polymer having terminal double bond functionality is contacted with an unsaturated polycarboxylic compound in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an organic peroxide.

1. Field of the Invention
Ethylene-unsaturated polycarboxylic compound copolymers, especially ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, are employed in coating compositions having a multiplicity of uses. These copolymers, usually graft copolymers, are economically important in that they used as coatings on a whole host of substrates. This is not surprising in that ethylene polymers provide excellent coatability on a great number of substrates. The adhesivity imparted by the unsaturated polycarboxylic compound grafted onto the ethylene polymer provides an excellent bond in holding the uniform coating onto the substrate on which is applied.
A major problem in this art, however, has been the inability in the past to graft a high enough concentration of unsaturated polycarboxylic compound onto the ethylene polymer to provide the desirable level of adhesion and emulsifiability, two properties essential to a good coating. In the prior art, this problem was addressed by grafting an adhesive monomer, i.e., a dicarboxylic unsaturated acid, onto an ethylene polymer in the presence of an organic peroxide which initiates a free radical reaction wherein the unsaturated compound is grafted onto the ethylene polymer. Although this method effectively grafts the unsaturated polycarboxylic compound onto the ethylene polymer, it also catalyzes a secondary, undesirable reaction. That is, the polymeric radicals generated by the decomposition of the peroxide combine to form polymeric crosslinks. As those skilled in the art are aware, the degree of crosslinkage manifests itself in undesirably high gel content. Thus, a dilemma in this art has been the development of ethylene-unsaturated polycarboxylic compound graft copolymers which although possessing the requisite degrees of adhesivity and emulsifiability are also characterized by insufficient degrees of thermoplasticity. That is, undesirable crosslinkage, as manifested by high gel content, in the prior art has been the price paid to obtain the essential level of unsaturated polycarboxylic compound grafted onto an ethylene polymer to provide a desirable coating product.
2. Background of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,917 to Natta et al. describes the graft copolymerization of an ethylene-propylene copolymer with maleic anhydride in the presence of an organic peroxide which initiates a graft copolymerization reaction. This reaction deliberately results in a crosslinked polymer. Indeed, crosslinkage is promoted by the presence of a basic compound, such as zinc oxide, which acts a crosslinking catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,403 to Brunson et al. teaches a hot melt coating and adhesive blend of a polyamide and a polyolefin which therebefore could not be blended. The advance in the art of the '403 patent lies in initially modifying the polyolefin by reacting it with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride. This initial reaction, resulting in the formation of a graft copolymer, involves contact between a polyolefin with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or anhydride. This reaction is conducted at elevated temperature in the range of between about 200.degree. C. and 400.degree. C. and in absence of oxygen and a catalyst, such as an organic peroxide.
That the graft copolymer of the '403 patent requires blending with a polyamide to produce a desirable coating or adhesive establishes that the degree of grafting in the absence of an organic peroxide is alone insufficient to provide an acceptable coating or adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,248 to Luijk discloses the addition of maleic anhydride to polyisoprene in the presence of mastication or an organic peroxide. As in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,917, this reaction is deliberately crosslinked. Indeed, the above reaction is followed by crosslinkage of the elastomer by contact with a divalent Group II or IV metal oxide catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,882 to Caywood, Jr., in an attempt to control crosslinkage, sets forth a process for the formation of a thermoplastic elastomer by the thermal addition of maleic anhydride to elastomeric copolymers of ethylene, at least one C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 alpha-olefin and at least one nonconjugated diene, typically, the copolymer of ethylene, propylene and at least one non-conjugated diene, commonly referred to as EPDM. The gel content of the thus formed thermoplastic elastomer is less than 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer. This product is characterized by the absence of a free radical generator such as an organic peroxide. However, this product is thereafter cured. Obviously, this product is not used as a coating or adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,722 to Knowles et al. provides a continuous process for producing modified polyolefins, preferably polyethylene, in which a low molecular weight crystallizable polyolefin, formed by thermally degrading a high molecular weight polyolefin, is reacted with an ethylenically unsaturated polycarboxylic compound, preferably maleic anhydride, under plug-type flow conditions in an agitated, multi-staged reactor. In an illustrated embodiment the polyolefin and the polycarboxylic compound are introduced at the bottom of the reaction zone and the desirable graft polymer product is recovered from the top of that zone. Preferably, the reaction rate of this process is accelerated by the use of an organic peroxide, preferably ditertiary butyl peroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,436 to Bogan et al. teaches a process for modifying polyethylene waxes to make them emulsifiable. In this process low viscosity polyethylene, prepared by thermal degradation of conventional high molecular weight ethylene homopolymer, is reacted with an organic unsaturated polycarboxylic acid in the presence of a free radical source in the substantial absence of oxygen. The unsaturated polycarboxylic acid may be replaced with an acid anhydride or an acid ester derived therefrom. The absence of oxygen eliminates an important problem associated with such modified polyethylene waxes, their characteristic yellow or orange color.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,855 to Ames sets forth a process directed to the modification or grafting of low viscosity polyethylene or ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer waxes to provide improved physical properties. In the process of the '855 patent a low viscosity ethylene polymer wax is reacted with an unsaturated polycarboxylic compound in the presence of an excessive amount of an organic peroxide, added incrementally during the reaction wherein the weight ratio of unsaturated polycarboxylic component, which is preferably maleic anhydride, to organic peroxide is in the range of between about 1:1 to less than about 5:1. This process is said to substantially eliminate crosslinkage, albeit without the necessity of excluding oxygen from the reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,564 to Ames provides a similar process to that disclosed in the Ames '855 patent. In this process a low viscosity ethylene polymer, characterized by less than 0.1% unsaturation, is reacted with an unsaturated polycarboxylic component in the presence of a free radical source, usually an organic peroxide, in a concentration of about 1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the unmodified low viscosity ethylene polymer, and at least one viscosity stabilizer. A particularly preferred class of viscosity stabilizers is recited to be alkyl thiols.
The above discussion of the prior art establishes that although the prior art has proposed a multiplicity of processes to produce graft copolymers of an ethylene polymer and an unsaturated polycarboxylic component, none of them produce the desirable combination of low crosslinkage combined with high carboxylic functionality necessary to provide excellent coating and adhesive properties. Therefore, there is a continuing need in the art for new and better processes to provide this desired modified ethylene polymer.

Process for preparing an ethylene-unsaturated polycarboxylic compound graft copolymer


An imaging apparatus is equipped with an analog block, an imaging condition determination section, and an analog gain control section. Current consumption of the analog block changes in accordance with an analog gain, which is an amplification ratio of outputs of an imaging device. The imaging condition determination section determines imaging conditions, including the analog gain, in accordance with the brightness of an imaging object. Depending on a state of the imaging apparatus, the analog gain control section alters the analog gain determined by the imaging condition determination section so as to reduce the current consumption of the analog block. Thus, in this imaging apparatus, the current consumption of the analog block may be reduced by the performance of control that alters the analog gain in accordance with the state of the imaging apparatus. Thus, the state of the imaging apparatus may be regulated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method and a storage medium.
2. Related Art
Recently, the image processing capabilities of CPUs in imaging apparatuses are increasing. Correspondingly, computation processes and the like are becoming more numerous, and overall current consumption of imaging apparatuses is increasing. As a result, heat generation amounts of imaging apparatuses are increasing and battery lives are falling. As a response to these increases in heat generation amounts, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-131251 discloses a technology that cools an imaging apparatus by employing a cooling member, a cooling structure or the like.

Imaging apparatus equipped with image gain adjustment function


One or more media contents are received. A viewer's light adaptive states are predicted as a function of time as if the viewer is watching display mapped images derived from the one or more media contents. The viewer's light adaptive states are used to detect an excessive change in luminance in a specific media content portion of the one or more media contents. The excessive change in luminance in the specific media content portion of the one or more media contents is caused to be reduced while the viewer is watching one or more corresponding display mapped images derived from the specific media content portion of the one or more media contents.

In vision science, luminance adaptation is the human visual system's ability to adjust to various levels of luminance that can be perceived simultaneously. This adaptation can take a significant amount of time, up to 30 minutes for luminance changes from bright sunlight to deep darkness.
An example of luminance adaptation is a viewer (e.g., virtually, actually, etc.) entering a dark room from a brightly lit street, in which case the viewer's eyes have been adapted to the sunlight outside and the viewer is left somewhat blinded for a stretch of time from the entry of the dark room until the viewer's eyes adjust or adapt to various levels of luminance in the dark room. The reverse situation also triggers adaptation. Walking from a dark room onto a brightly lit street can be uncomfortable or even painful when the difference in luminance is significant.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.
Example embodiments, which relate to luminance adaption to minimize discomfort and improve visibility, are described herein. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are not described in exhaustive detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily occluding, obscuring, or obfuscating the present invention.
Example embodiments are described herein according to the following outline:                1. GENERAL OVERVIEW        2. SYSTEM OVERVIEW        3. LUMINANCE CHANGES IN VIDEO ASSETS        4. LIGHT LEVEL ADAPTATION        5. EXAMPLE PROCESS FLOWS        6. IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS—HARDWARE OVERVIEW        7. EQUIVALENTS, EXTENSIONS, ALTERNATIVES AND MISCELLANEOUS

Luminance adaption to minimize discomfort and improve visibility

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


The present invention provides an aerosol product, which sprays a large number of independent bubbles in the form of soap bubbles. More specifically, the aerosol product, which sprays a large number of independent bubbles in the form of soap bubbles, is provided by charging an aerosol container with an aerosol composition obtained by emulsifying an aqueous concentrate and a liquefied gas.

Many conventional foaming aerosol products have a spraying mode, in which foam is discharged in a foamed state, mist is sprayed and foamed on the applied surface, or gel is discharged and foamed by applying shearing. However, in each case, small bubbles are successive and foam having a size of a ping-pong ball as a whole is used.
An aerosol product obtained by emulsifying an aqueous concentrate and a liquefied gas, in which bubbles break while crackling when discharged (JP-A-2-255889) is known. However, in the above product, small bubbles are successive when foaming.
In this way, in conventional foaming aerosol products, small bubbles are successive and an aerosol product, which sprays independent bubbles such as soap bubbles, did not exist.
The present invention aims to provide an aerosol product, which sprays a large number of independent bubbles in the form of soap bubbles. Particularly, the present invention aims to provide an aerosol product having favorable adhesion to the object (such as hair or skin), in comparison to the usual spray product, and can spray a large number of bubbles in the form of soap bubbles, which are easily broken in comparison to the conventional.


The present invention provides a process of designing compounds which bind to a specific target molecule. The process includes the steps of a) identifying a first ligand to the target molecule using two-dimensional .sup.15 N/.sup.1 H NMR correlation spectroscopy; b) identifying a second ligand to the target molecule using two-dimensional .sup.15 N/.sup.1 H NMR correlation spectroscopy; c) forming a ternary complex by binding the first and second ligands to the target molecule; d) determining the three dimensional structure of the ternary complex and thus the spatial orientation of the first and second ligands on the target molecule; and e) linking the first and second ligands to form the drug, wherein the spatial orientation of step (d) is maintained.

One of the most powerful tools for discovering new drug leads is random screening of synthetic chemical and natural product databases to discover compounds that bind to a particular target molecule (i.e., the identification of ligands of that target). Using this method, ligands may be identified by their ability to form a physical association with a target molecule or by their ability to alter a function of a target molecule.
When physical binding is sought, a target molecule is typically exposed to one or more compounds suspected of being ligands and assays are performed to determine if complexes between the target molecule and one or more of those compounds are formed. Such assays, as is well known in the art, test for gross changes in the target molecule (e.g., changes in size, charge, mobility) that indicate complex formation.
Where functional changes are measured, assay conditions are established that allow for measurement of a biological or chemical event related to the target molecule (e.g., enzyme catalyzed reaction, receptor-mediated enzyme activation). To identify an alteration, the function of the target molecule is determined before and after exposure to the test compounds.
Existing physical and functional assays have been used successfully to identify new drug leads for use in designing therapeutic compounds. There are, however, limitations inherent to those assays that compromise their accuracy, reliability and efficiency.
A major shortcoming of existing assays relates to the problem of "false positives". In a typical functional assay, a "false positive" is a compound that triggers the assay but which compound is not effective in eliciting the desired physiological response. In a typical physical assay, a "false positive" is a compound that, for example, attaches itself to the target but in a non-specific manner (e.g., non-specific binding). False positives are particularly prevalent and problematic when screening higher concentrations of putative ligands because many compounds have non-specific affects at those concentrations.
In a similar fashion, existing assays are plagued by the problem of "false negatives", which result when a compound gives a negative response in the assay but which compound is actually a ligand for the target. False negatives typically occur in assays that use concentrations of test compounds that are either too high (resulting in toxicity) or too low relative to the binding or dissociation constant of the compound to the target.
Another major shortcoming of existing assays is the limited amount of information provided by the assay itself. While the assay may correctly identify compounds that attach to or elicit a response from the target molecule, those assays typically do not provide any information about either specific binding sites on the target molecule or structure activity relationships between the compound being tested and the target molecule. The inability to provide any such information is particularly problematic where the screening assay is being used to identify leads for further study.
It has recently been suggested that X-ray crystallography can be used to identify the binding sites of organic solvents on macromolecules. However, this method cannot determine the relative binding affinities at different sites on the target. It is only applicable to very stable target proteins that do not denature in the presence of high concentrations of organic solvents. Moreover, this approach is not a screening method for rapidly testing many compounds that are chemically diverse, but is limited to mapping the binding sites of only a few organic solvents due to the long time needed to determine the individual crystal structures.
Compounds are screened to identify leads that can be used in the design of new drugs that alter the function of the target biomolecule. Those new drugs can be structural analogs of identified leads or can be conjugates of one or more such lead compounds. Because of the problems inherent to existing screening methods, those methods are often of little help in designing new drugs.
There continues to be a need to provide new, rapid, efficient, accurate and reliable means of screening compounds to identify and design ligands that specifically bind to a particular target.

Use of nuclear magnetic resonance to design ligands to target biomolecules


A wind turbine generator includes: a tower; a rotor supported by the tower to rotate around a rotational axis which is not parallel with an axis direction of the tower by wind power; a generator driven by a rotational force of the rotor; a sensor that detects vibration component in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor; and a control device that controls the rotor so that fluctuation of the rotor is caused to suppress the vibration component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration control of a wind turbine generator.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, in order to stably generate electric power from natural wind, a wind turbine generator utilizing a horizontal axis wind turbine has been proposed and implemented. Such a wind turbine generator includes a rotor, a nacelle, and a tower. The rotor includes a hub and blades. The nacelle is connected with the hub and supports the rotor through a main shaft extending in an approximately horizontal direction. The tower is disposed in an approximately perpendicular direction and supports the nacelle. In the nacelle a generator connected with the main shaft is provided to compose a wind turbine generator, which generates electric power by converting the rotation energy of the rotor rotated by the wind into electric energy.
In such a wind turbine generator, in order to maintain an appropriate rotation speed of the rotor, electric energy to be taken out from the generator is regularly controlled according to the wind strength.
In this control process, the torque of the rotor may fluctuate and become a vibration source. As the rotor is located on the tower which is elongated and low in rigidity, when the vibration caused by a fluctuation in torque synchronizes with the resonance frequency of the tower, the vibration may develop into a vibration of the entire windmill.
Besides the fluctuation in torque due to rotation control of the rotor, vibration of a windmill is caused by various types of vibrations such as vibration due to Karman vortex generated by the tower, resonance of the speed-increasing gear, the rotor, the generator and the drive axis, and vibration due to bending or torsion of construction.
JP-tokukai-2000-205108 discloses a wind turbine generator with a vibration control device disposed on the top of the tower. The vibration control device has a mass body, a damper device and the like, and the wind turbine generator has a vibration control function to reduce tower vibration.
However, even in the above-mentioned conventional technology, there are problems such as the followings.
The wind turbine generator as recited in the patent document additionally requires a vibration control device, which leads to additional cost. Further, because the vibration control device is to be installed in the tower, it may not be possible to install the vibration control device in a windmill utilizing inside of the tower as a passage leading into an upper part of the windmill. On the other hand, it may not be possible to have a passage inside the tower if the vibration control device is installed.


A camera module (200) includes a lens module and a base (210) with a sensor installed thereon. The base is provided with at least two supporting protrusions (222) extending therefrom. Each protrusion is oriented the lens module, and the lens module is fixedly to and contacts with the at least two supporting protrusions. A colloid layer surrounding the sensor is sandwiched between the second end of the holder and the base. Electronic components are disposed on the circuit board and covered by the colloid layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to camera modules and, particularly, to a compact camera module and a method for assembling the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, camera modules are in widespread use. Camera modules are being combined with various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and computers to be increasingly multi-functional. Furthermore, such camera modules also need to satisfy requirements of compactness, low cost, and excellent optical performance. However, due to narrow space in the camera modules, the requirements are hard to achieve.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a typical camera module 100 is shown. The camera module 100 includes a lens barrel 102, a holder 104, an image sensor 106, a glass plate 108 and a circuit board 110. The lens barrel 102 has threads 112 defined on an outer wall thereof. The holder 104 has a cavity 114 therein and threads 116 defined on an inner wall thereof. The lens barrel 102 is engaged with the inner wall of the holder 104 by threads. The image sensor 106 is attached to and electrically connected to the circuit board 110. The image sensor 106 is exposed to light. The glass plate 108 covers the image sensor 106. The holder 104 is coupled to the circuit board 110 so as to house the image sensor 106. In this way, the image sensor 106 is protected from dust.
Generally, during assembly of the camera module 100, the holder 104 is attached to the circuit board 110. Therefore, additional surface area of the circuit board 110 has been needed to facilitate sufficient bonding area with the holder 104. This use of valuable circuit board surface has effectively required a larger circuit board 110 to be used, ultimately increasing both the size and cost of the camera module.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a camera module with requirements of compactness and low cost.

Camera module having colloid layer surrounding sensor


To perform a stable wire bonding connecting against a multi-level wiring board using an organic material for the interlayer insulating film, a silicon oxide film and organic interlayer insulating films, for example, polyimide layers, and the first to the fourth level wirings, including a nickel layer by plating are formed on the surface of the silicon substrate as a base in order. By adjusting the thickness of the nickel layer in the wiring, the total Vickers hardness from the substrate to each wiring is adjusted to more than 100, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-level wiring structure and, more particularly, to a multi-level wiring structure using an organic insulating film as an interlayer insulating film.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known that a multi-level wiring structure is formed by using an inorganic insulating film as the interlayer insulating film. As an example of the structure, a three level wiring structure may be considered. In the structure, a first wiring layer is formed on a surface of an inorganic insulating base, a first inorganic insulating film, for example a silicon oxide film, is formed to cover the surface of the first wiring layer and the inorganic insulating base, consecutively. At the surface of the inorganic insulating film, a second wiring layer is formed. A second inorganic insulating film, for example a silicon oxide film, is formed to cover the surface of the second wiring layer and the first inorganic insulating film, consecutively. At the surface of the second insulating film, a third wiring layer is formed. A via hole is formed at a predetermined part of the first inorganic insulating film, and the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer are connected electrically by filling metal in the hole. In the case of the multi-level wiring structure using the inorganic insulating film as the interlayer insulating film, the hardness of the silicon oxide film is more than 1000. Therefore, one can carry out wire bonding to any bonding pad even if the pad is made of each part of the first, the second or the third wiring layer.
Now a three level wiring structure made by using an organic insulating material such as polyimide resin or epoxy resin instead of the first and the second inorganic insulating film for interlayer insulating film will be considered. In this prototype, as the first wiring layer is formed on the surface of the inorganic insulating layer, wire bonding is carried out well even if the bonding pad is made of one part of the first wiring layer. However, the wire bonding to a bonding pad made of one part of the second and the third wiring layers is not carried out stably. The reason is that as the hardness of the organic insulating film is much smaller than that of inorganic insulating film, the force of pressure welding is absorbed even if the bonding wire is pushed to the pad.

Multi-level wiring structure having an organic interlayer insulating film


According to one configuration, a user is able to activate an application on a mobile phone device without the user having to directly pressing an appropriate sequence of keys on the mobile phone device. For example, a user logs onto a web site to provide a phone number of the mobile phone device. Additionally, via input to the web site, the user also requests activation of a particular application on the mobile phone device. An application server receives notification of the request and generates a text-message to the application on the mobile phone device to initiate activation of the application. In response to receiving the text-message, the application on the mobile phone device initiates retrieval of appropriate configuration information associated with the user from the application server.

Conventional mobile phone devices now support downloading of applications. In certain cases, a user can download a respective application to the mobile phone device. Prior to execution of the application on the mobile phone device, the respective application may require that the user of the mobile phone device input appropriate information such as a password, user identifier, configuration information, etc. For security reasons, without the appropriate information, the user cannot use the downloaded application. Subsequent to receiving the appropriate information needed to execute and use features of the application, a user can use the application.

Remote activation of mobile applications


According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield positioned at a media facing surface of the head, a lower sensor positioned above the lower magnetic shield, the lower sensor including a lower free layer, a middle magnetic shield positioned above the lower sensor at the media facing surface of the head, and a back side antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer positioned behind the lower free layer in an element height direction, the back side AFM layer being configured to provide magnetic stabilization for the middle magnetic shield. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a lower sensor including a lower free layer, forming a back side AFM layer behind the lower free layer in an element height direction, and forming a middle magnetic shield above the lower sensor, wherein the back side AFM layer is configured to provide magnetic stabilization for the middle magnetic shield.

The heart of a computer is a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) which typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read and/or write heads over selected data tracks on the rotating disk. The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The volume of information processing in the information age is increasing rapidly. In particular, HDDs have been desired to store more information in limited area and volume. A technical approach to meeting this desire is to increase the capacity by increasing the recording density of the HDD. To achieve higher recording density, further miniaturization of recording bits is effective, which in turn typically requires the design of smaller and smaller components.
Magnetoresistive effect type magnetic heads are employed as sensors for reading magnetic information (data) recorded on a magnetic recording medium (such as a hard disk) in high-density magnetic recording devices (such as HDDs). The use of magnetic read heads that utilize a magnetoresistive effect has become commonplace. One such magnetoresistive effect type read head uses a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) effect in a multi-layered film formed by laminating a ferromagnetic metal layer on a non-magnetic intermediate layer. The first kind of GMR heads employed were Current-In-Plane (CPP)-type heads in which electrical signals flow in parallel with the film plane to the sensor membrane. Next, Tunneling Magnetoresistive (TMR)-effect heads and Current-Perpendicular-To-Plane (CPP)-GMR heads, which are considered advantageous from the standpoint of track narrowing, gap narrowing, and increased output, were developed with improved recording density in mind.
While the demand in recent years for even higher density recording has been met by techniques based on narrowing the effective track width of a magnetoresistive sensor, this track width narrowing has resulted in other problems of increased element resistance, increased electrical and magnetic noise, and as a result, lowered sensitivity and difficulties in increasing the sensitivity.
Multi-sensor reader structures designed to accommodate higher density recording have been proposed to alleviate these problems. Multi-sensor readers are advantageous in that they allow for a magnetic head with a large number of sensors of a size greater than a bit size of the medium, and this allows for bit data to be read from the difference in the plurality of signals produced thereby. Because the sensor size may be increased beyond a single bit size, noise may be suppressed and sensitivity may be increased. However, multi-sensor readers that have staggered or offset sensors that are positioned above or below other sensors encounter a unique problem when reading data on the inside or outside tracks of a HDD.
When reading data from a target track using a three sensor reader structure, with a lower sensor positioned below and between two upper sensors, the lower sensor will be positioned on the target track, with the two upper sensors positioned across the target track and neighboring tracks. This is sometimes referred to as a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) configuration. Each sensor reads multiple signals from the target track and neighboring tracks at the same time, then only target track signal information is extracted using a signal-processing algorithm. This allows for sensors that are wider than a track width to be used, while still keeping a high read sensitivity.
When reading data from outer tracks (OD) or inner tracks (ID) of a magnetic disk, the magnetic head having the multi-sensor reader structure is rotated by a skew angle, which causes at least one of the upper sensors to be shifted to an adjacent track, thereby introducing error into the data signal read from the magnetic disk. In the case of a conventional MIMO head, when the lower sensor is aligned to the target track, a distance between the lower sensor and the upper sensors causes one of the upper sensors to depart from the target track because of the skew angle.

Multi-sensor (MIMO) head having a back side antiferromagnetic middle shield


The present invention relates to a quick release apparatus configurable to drive a driven member. The driven member comprises a primary driver which provides or carries a driven member, and that is able to drive the driven member in a first direction to an operative position. The driven member further comprises an actuable secondary driver. The primary and secondary drivers are configurable between a first mode, wherein the secondary driver is able to drive the primary driver in the first direction, and in a second mode which allows the primary driver to be moved away from the operative position independent of the position of the secondary driver under the influence of a bias.

To facilitate tissue sampling of livestock other animals and plants (such as for subsequent DNA testing), it may be necessary to obtain tissue samples from live animals/plants. Typically a hand-held device is used for obtaining tissue samples from live animals/plants in the field. Such a hand-held device can be used to pierce the skin of the animal or plant to withdraw or collect a sample from the animal or plant.
Piercing of the tissue can cause a degree of pain and fright to the animal. If the animal reacts, for an example by pulling away, before the sampling or tagging operation is complete, then this can cause hurt and/or damage to the animal, the device, or the operator of the device, and may compromise the success of the operation.
In some applications, having obtained a sample, it is desirable to store this sample in a container. Sometimes the container may be carried by the hand-held sampling device used to obtain samples from animals/plants in the field. An example is shown in WO/2014/196877. Movement of an animal or plant during the sampling operation can lead to dislodgement of the sample from a container and/or dislodgement of the container from the handheld device. Therefore it is desirable to containerise the sample and seal the container as soon as possible after the sample has been obtained in order to reduce the risk of losing the sample. This also decreases the risk of foreign matter getting into the sample container to contaminate the sample.
Manual capping of the sample containers can be time-consuming, and may lead to errors, for example if a sample container cap designated to seal a particular container is deliberately or inadvertently swapped to seal a different container. However if containerising and capping of samples is not done manually, but rather is performed automatically by the sampling device, then there can be issues with the cross contamination of sample materials as a result of processing multiple samples with the same device.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a quick release driving tool which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the above mentioned disadvantages, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.
Where used in this specification tissue means any part of a living thing, particularly any part made up of similar cells, or any part or parts that perform a similar function. Tissue preferably refers to any form of biological sample, from plants and animals particularly, including pigs, goats, cattle, sheep, poultry, and fish. Biological samples may include for example, animal tissue such as flesh, blood, hair, fur, saliva, sweat, urine, etc, or plant tissue such as leaves, bark, roots or wood, or any other part of a plant or animal but particularly those that are made up of similar cells, or which perform a similar function.
The present invention may be used at least for either or both of production animals and companion animals. It is anticipated that production animals may include but not be limited to bovine, pigs, deer and sheep. Further it is anticipated that companion animals may include but not be limited to horses, cats and dogs.
In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.


An active stool includes a base and a cover. The base defines an interior cavity accessible through an open end of the base. The cover removably mounts to the base to cover the open end. The cover defines a seat for a user. The base is configured to tilt along at least one rocking path. Certain types of bases are configured to tilt along multiple rocking paths.

Active seating allows a user freedom of movement while remaining seated. For example, a user may be able to pivot, rotate, or otherwise move the seat while sitting in the seat. Other seating includes pedals or other structures that can be moved by the user while the user remains seated. Improvements are desired.


An illuminated sprinkler device and system is provided that can be easily retro-fitted and installed with existing or new sprinkler systems. In one aspect, the illuminated sprinkler device includes a power converter for converting AC to DC power from a main controller, an illuminated cover having LED's for coupling with a sprinkler head, and one or more securement members for securing the illuminated cover to the sprinkler head. Here, the LED's of the sprinkler head are configured to operate in conjunction with the operation of the sprinkler system.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure described herein, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure described herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Lawn and garden care and outdoor ornamentation are multi-billion dollar industries in the United States. Homeowners, residential, and commercial builders watch each spring or summer for the latest technology trend to beautify their yards and to keep a step ahead of the neighbor's creations. Improvements in watering, water conservation, power conservation and lighting are obvious areas for yard improvement. In addition, there is a desire for many homeowners to engage in "do-it-yourself" activities for improving their lawn and yard. One idea that has been brought forward before, but has failed to gain acceptance, is to combine a water sprinkler with ornamental lighting. In particular, the prior conventional systems are complex in design, have a number of moving parts, are battery operated which require constant replacing, maintenance, and corrosion, cannot be retro-fitted with existing sprinkler heads, require several tools and components to assemble, and are generally cost, time, and labor intensive.
Hence, what is needed is a simple illuminated sprinkler device and system that can be easily retro-fitted and installed with existing or new sprinkler systems while requiring minimal labor, minimal maintenance, minimal moving parts, provides an aesthetically pleasing lighting effect, does not require additional power sources, and can be cost-effective to a homeowner, residential, or commercial user.


Method for curing UV-curable silicone compositions, characterized by the formation of cured silicone, having a low-tack surface that is harder than the interior, by exposing an ultraviolet-curable silicone composition to ultraviolet radiation at a ratio of the exposure dose for wavelengths of 200 to 280 nm (excluding 280 nm) to the exposure dose for wavelengths of 280 to 400 nm of 0.5 to 10.0.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for curing ultraviolet-curable silicone compositions. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for curing ultraviolet curable silicone rubber compositions that yield, upon exposure to a particular type of UV radiation, cured silicone having a low-tack surface which is harder than the interior.
2. Description of the Related Art
UV-curable silicone compositions that cure rapidly into cured silicone under UV illumination are widely used in industrial applications. These UV-curable silicone compositions are exemplified by UV-curable silicone compositions in which the base ingredient is acrylamide-functional organopolysiloxane (Japanese Patent Publication Number Sho 57-52371 (1982) and European Patent Number EP 0400785) and by UV-curable silicone compositions in which the base ingredient is itself a composition comprising organopolysiloxane having at least 2 mercaptoalkyl groups in each molecule and organopolysiloxane having at least 2 alkenyl groups in each molecule (U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,503). The irradiation of these UV-curable silicone compositions with ultraviolet light is carried out using the well-known light sources, such as high-pressure mercury lamps, medium-pressure mercury lamps, low-pressure mercury lamps, hydrogen-discharge tubes, xenon-discharge tubes, metal halide lamps, and so forth.
However, the direct exposure of UV-curable silicone compositions to UV light from the aforesaid light sources yields cured silicone with a very tacky surface. This can cause handling to be quite difficult. In addition, such surfaces readily pick up dirt and dust, which causes a substantial deterioration in appearance. These problems are particularly acute with lower-hardness cured silicones. For example, when a silicone gel is formed on the surface of an optical semiconductor element using a UV-curable silicone composition, the dust and dirt picked up by the surface can cause a major decline in the performance of the element.
The inventors carried out extensive investigations in order to solve the above-described problem. As a result, it was discovered that UV light in the short wavelength region is a major contributor to curing at the surface of UV-curable silicone compositions. The inventors also found that low surface tack cured silicone whose surface is harder than its interior can be produced by exposure to UV light at a short-wavelength exposure dose/long-wavelength exposure dose ratio within a particular range. The invention was achieved based on these discoveries.
In specific terms, then, the present invention takes as its object the introduction of a method for curing an ultraviolet-curable silicone compositions that characteristically produces a cured silicone having a low-tack surface which is harder than the interior. This cured silicone is produced by exposing a UV-curable silicone composition to a particular type of UV radiation.

Method for curing ultraviolet-curable silicone compositions


A method of ranking and suggesting objects, such as tags, is described in which a group of objects are suggested to a user in relation to a particular information object, such as a web page or file. A user either selects one of the suggestions or enters an alternative object and on receipt of data identifying the particular object selected by the user, the group of suggestions is updated based on whether the object selected by the user was one of the suggestions or not. The updating of the group may also be based on other factors, such as ranking parameters associated with each of the objects.

Users of information systems, such as the web, often require the ability to find information that they have previously found. One solution to this which has been implemented in web browsing applications is the ability to store a list of favourites (also referred to as bookmarks), which have a title and link to a particular web page. This enables a user to revisit a previously visited and bookmarked web page. However, users may collate large numbers of favourites, and although these may be arranged in a folder structure, it may still be difficult to navigate through. Another solution to aid retrieval of web pages (or other objects) that a user has previously visited is to enable the user to apply one or more tags (or keywords) to the web page along with a location reference to that object. These tags may subsequently be searched in any combination and this provides a more flexible way for a user to find previously visited material.
In order to improve the ability to retrieve web pages that a user has not previously tagged, but may be related to one that a user has tagged, some web sites have incorporated collaborative tagging. This technique enables a user to search for a web page (or other object) based on the tags applied to that object by other users of the same system. In order for such collaborative systems to be effective, the tags applied to an object should be prioritized (or ranked) according to their relative relevance/applicability to the particular object. However, it may require a large number of tagging events before the system reaches a state where the top n ranked tags are stable (i.e. they do not keep churning).
In order to improve the ranking of the tags and the time taken for the identified tags to converge on a prioritized list which is a true representation of each tags true popularity rank with respect to an object, some systems which use collaborative tagging also offer suggestions to a user when attempting to apply a tag to a web page. These suggestions may be based on the tags already applied to the same object by other users of the system. A known method of selecting tags to be suggested to a user is referred to as 'Top Popular' which selects a fixed number of the current most popular tags (i.e. those tags most often used by users) for a particular web page (e.g. the six most commonly used tags for a web page may be presented to a user as the suggested tags for the web page). However, problems arise where a user idly selects one or more of the suggested tags without application of their own judgment (this is referred to herein as 'user imitation'). This can distort the ranking of tags and lead to the ranking converging very slowly on a true representation of each tags true popularity rank, or in some circumstances the ranking may not converge at all.

Ranking and suggesting candidate objects


A one handed operable tool configured for the positioning and fixed installation of fastening elements in space restricted areas and particularly anchoring clips for kitchen sinks. The tool comprises manipulable elements for securely holding a fixture or fastener, and aligning the fixture or fastener with previously installed elements and driving elements in proper orientation for effecting a secure properly positioned connection between a fixture or fastener with the previously installed elements.

Typically, installation tools such as screwdrivers, hammers and other drivers, generally require a two hand operation when they are used with non-fixed position items such as loose screws, bolts, nails and the like. A first hand is used for stabilizing the item to be installed and the other hand is needed to operate the appropriate tool.
Specialty tools such as screwdriver type devices have often embodied holding elements such as integral magnetic elements or screw head grippers, designed to hold screws in place during installation. These tools are however very limited in useful applicability and ability to hold fastening and anchoring elements in fixed position and proper orientation of odd shaped fastening and anchoring elements, under restricted conditions of installation and use, other than a basic placement. In addition, these tools provide a limited manner of release of held elements, once they are fixed into position, and sometime require use of a second hand.
Plumbing installation procedures, which require the use of clips, anchors, connectors and the like, usually of odd shape (not operably amenable to being held by standard drivers and holders and existing driver tools), cannot be efficiently effected with existing tools. This inefficiency is additionally exacerbated by the usual requirements of plumbing procedures with the need for exact alignment in blind or non-visible environments, which provide additional challenges.
Plumbing procedures are thus usually awkward and possibly impeded in the first instance, and more so when procedures such as installations take place in typical areas wherein access is severely restricted, such as in narrow areas under a cabinet-enclosed sink. Operation visibility is, at best, minimal and many installations of plumbing fixtures invariably require touching determinations of orientation for exact connections. The touching also often requires follow through guiding of fixtures and installation equipment as well as close alignment of parts and this often results in the untenable need of an extra pair of hands. It is also often the case that installations of fixtures and sinks is only partially effected, with installations in difficult to install areas not being properly made.