A method for transmitting data between a sender queue of a sender intermediate layer of a protocol stack and a receiver queue of a receiver intermediate layer of the protocol stack implemented with a sliding window protocol. The method includes receiving a data message or a collection of data messages from a sender messaging layer; tagging the data message or the collection of data messages with a unique identifier; writing the data message or the collection of data messages tagged with the unique identifier as a data window in the sender queue; transmitting a front data window of the sender queue to the receiver queue; receiving a single receipt-acknowledgement message after the receiver transport layer has received all of the front data window; and receiving a commit-acknowledgement message after the receiver messaging layer has read from the receiver intermediate layer all of the front data window.

A transaction is a sequence of state changes, which are either all performed or not performed at all. In this regard, a transaction is said to complete if all the state changes in the sequence are performed. If one of the state changes cannot be performed, all the previous state changes that have been performed are undone, i.e. □ restored back to their original state, and the transaction is said to be rolled-back. Systems which are based on the performance of transactions are said to be transactional. An example of a transactional system is where an item is purchased over the Internet. In this case, the transaction, i.e. □ the purchase of the item, involves at least a sequence comprising two state changes: placing an order for the item and debiting the credit card of the purchaser for payment of the item.
A distributed transaction is one in which a state change pertaining to the transaction may be made on a distributed system such as, for example, different computers that are interconnected across a network. A central feature to implementing distributed transactions is that parts of the distributed system, which would be the different computers in the example given earlier of a distributed system, communicate with each other in a reliable manner. By this, it is meant that, for a transaction conducted between entities A and B of a distributed system, if entity A tells entity B running on a different computer that it should make a state change, then entity A should be informed by entity B that the state change has been made or not, for example. In certain applications and/or systems, it is imperative that transactional semantics are completed even if parts of the system that are engaged in the performance of the transaction fail. For example, it would be undesirable if a credit card is debited even though an order is ultimately not placed due to the failure of one of the machines involved in the purchase transaction.
To manage transactions between applications, software known as messaging middleware has been developed. Essentially, such messaging middleware takes over the role of ensuring that data sent from a sending application is received by the destination/receiving application for that data. In the absence of the messaging middleware, the sending and destination applications would each have to be customized to be able to communicate with the other and ensure that the data is reliably delivered. Previously-proposed messaging middleware includes MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT). MQTT supports the so-called publish-subscribe messaging system whereby, when publication on a specific topic is done by a publishing application, those applications that have subscribed to that topic receive data pertaining thereto.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in order to gain a better understanding of how MQTT may be applied in a messaging system using the publish-subscribe model. As can be seen from FIG. 1, an application that publishes on a subscribed topic, such an application being hereinafter referred to as the publisher 1, sends data pertaining to the topic to a broker 6. The broker 6 sends on this data to each application that has registered with the broker 6 to receive data on the topic, such an application being hereinafter referred to as a subscriber. Data delivery from the publisher 1 to the broker 6 is done via a hierarchy of layers underlying thereto. Underlying the publisher 1 is a messaging layer 2 and a transport layer 3, such an arrangement hereinafter being referred to as the publisher stack. Corresponding layers, messaging layer 5 and transport layer 4, are also arranged to underlie the broker 6, such an arrangement hereinafter being referred to as the broker stack. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a subscriber would be implemented in a stack having a composition corresponding to the publisher/broker stack and, like the publisher stack, is coupled to the broker stack via the network layer 7, which is, for example, the Internet.
In the example given in FIG. 1, the messaging layers 2, 5, are implemented with MQTT and the transport layers 3, 4 are implemented with the transmission control protocol (TCP). MQTT removes the need for the different applications such as, for example, the publisher-broker or broker-subscriber, to liaise with each other to ensure data delivery and is chosen on account of offering a simpler mechanism for the reliable delivery of data once to a destination application than previously-proposed messaging middleware. In conjunction with MQTT, TCP is implemented on account of the fact that it offers reliable and in-order delivery of data to a destination application. Specific details pertaining to TCP and/or the different layers underlying the transport layers 3, 4, by way of which data delivery from the publisher 1 to the broker 6 would be known to a skilled person and so shall not be given herein. Such layers are generally depicted as the network layer 7 in FIG. 1.
The MQTT protocol supports different modes of operation that may be chosen in accordance with the different levels of reliability to be implemented in an application. In particular, MQTT offers the possibility of the delivery of data exactly once to a destination application through the use of a so-called four-way handshake, which will be explained with reference being made to the publisher-broker scenario depicted in FIG. 1. For the avoidance of doubt, it is, of course, equally applicable to a broker-subscriber scenario and generally any system in where data is to be transferred from a sending application to a destination application.
Referring to FIG. 1, the four-way handshake would be implemented as follows:                The publisher 1 sends data on a topic to the broker 6;        On receiving the data, the broker 6 sends an indication of reception to the publisher 1;        On receiving the indication of reception, the publisher 1 indicates to the broker 6 that it has received the indication of reception, and        The broker 6 completes the handshake by sending an acknowledgment to the publisher 1.
The four-way handshake has to be performed because, after the transmission of data from the publisher 1, there are some unknowns to be resolved before the state is restored to a consistent one, i.e. the transaction is said to have occurred. These are:                The publisher 1 does not know if the broker 6 has received the data;        The broker 6 does not know if the publisher 1 knows that it has received the data,        The publisher 1 does not know if the broker 6 knows that it has received the indication of reception.
After the broker 6 has sent the acknowledgment to the publisher 1, the publisher 1 may resend the indication to the broker 6 that it has received the indication of reception message from the broker 6 without actually resending the data. In an alternative approach, after the broker 6 has sent the acknowledgment message that it has received the data to the publisher 1, the publisher 1 may resend the data and it is up to the broker 6 to deal with the multiple versions of the data.
The approach outlined above has the following inherent problems:    1. The messaging layers act independently of the transport layers. Thus, loss at the network layer may cause retransmission of data both at the transport layer and the messaging layer and the system may fail through, for example, pointless attempts at retransmissions.    2. Control flow is not supported at the messaging layers but only at the transport layers. Thus, if the rate at which data is read by the broker from its corresponding messaging layer is much less than that at which it is sent by messaging layer of the publisher, then the system may become saturated by the multiple retransmission of data that the publisher will perform on account of not having received an acknowledgment from the broker for such data within the predetermined time by which it would expect to have received such acknowledgment.    3. In-order data delivery may be more difficult to achieve. This is because the four-way handshake is completed on receipt of data by the broker before the next data is sent by the publisher. For this, at least four network exchanges may have to be performed, which upper-bounds the throughput of the system. Alternatively, the constraint of performing the handshake may be weakened, in which case delivery out of order may pose problems.    4. Unsuitability of high-volume data-transfer and limitation of the data-transfer rate on account of an acknowledgment message having to be sent for each data packet received by the broker.
The use of a buffer layer between MQTT and TCP is disclosed. However, there is no disclosure of how transactional semantics may be supported by the disclosed system in a manner such that data sent by the sending application to a destination application is not lost in the event of, for example, a system crash.


An articulated air suspended hydraulic-dampened fifth wheel hitch coupling device for isolating the front of a fifth wheel or goose neck trailer hitch from the shock of bumps in the road and the inertia of movement of the trailer. Two inflatable air springs operatively connected to the pressurized air system of the tow vehicle eliminates vertical fifth wheel load from being transferred from the trailer to the tow vehicle. Additionally, an oscillating rocker connected transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle allows the fifth wheel hitch to pivot in a transverse motion to eliminate load from being transferred from the trailer to the tow vehicle.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the hitches used to attach 5th wheel trailers/recreational vehicles to various types of tow vehicles.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many types of hitches and hitch systems are commonly supplied by various manufacturers to securely attach 5th wheel or goose neck trailer to tow vehicles. These hitches are manufactured and supplied in several load ranges to accommodate the weight and load to be towed. Several safety features are incorporated to assure a secure and safe locking device.
Originally all hitches were mounted rigidly to the frame of the tow vehicle following the practice of hitching commercial semi-trailers to commercial tractors. The major difference between commercial hitches and recreational vehicle hitches was in size. One problem arose from the failure to consider the differing operating conditions. Commercial trailers and tractors operate almost entirely on surfaces with the trailer and tractor on the same plane. Recreational vehicles frequently need to be leveled when parked by raising one side of the trailer leaving the tow vehicle on an unlevel surface. The result is a binding force in the hitch making it very difficult to unhook and hook up the two vehicles.
A further problem resulted from the failure to consider how the weight and spring load of the tow vehicle would effect the trailer and its contents. This has resulted in numerous cases of broken contents of the trailer and broken front frames on 5th wheel trailers. The trend to heavier 5th wheel trailers which need to be towed by larger trucks has increased the severity of the problem because until now there was no hitch or hitch system designed to address the problems.


Audio communications between divers or between a diver and a surface craft are made without unduly burdening the divers. Diver carried throat microphones pass vocal signals to a preamplifier-amplifier package. The package drives a transducer which projects amplified vocal signals that are capable of being heard by the other diver or feeds signals to a surface power supply pack and a speaker while a surface microphone enables communications from the surface to the divers. The divers don't carry any additional electronics instrumentations and, since there is no signal heterodyning, distortion is reduced.

Most underwater communication systems between divers rely on ultrasonic carriers which necessitate a demodulator carried by each diver. Since most underwater tasks require a diver's full attention to operate bulky, awkward implements under unfavorable conditions, a demodulator package could get in the way and, in some instances, create a hazard or otherwise compromise a diver's effectiveness.
A "Sonic Communication System" disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,345 by J. E. Freeman, selectively transmits and receives audio information in a body of water. His system provides for underwater and above surface use and has a capability for selectively connecting an audio frequency input source to a loudspeaker, transducer or combination of the two. While the system represents a meritorious advance in the state-of-the art, it appears to be limited in that it is not adaptable for use by several divers and a surface station and may add unneeded equipment when arduous undersea tasks are performed.
An electroacoustic transducer developed by Ralph Weinger and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,244 attempts to give a diver a communication capability without duly burdening him. The Weinger pressure compensating technique employs a bladder interconnected transducer to reduce the problems associated with distortion or loading of the transducer diaphragm. The purpose of the pressure compensation system of Weinger is to improve the operation of the "System And Method For Underwater Communication" disclosed by D. R. Kursman et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,902. In the Kursman et al., communication system, electrical energy patterns are modified into different electrical signal patterns in accordance with a selected function to render it most effective for underwater transmission. Kursman et al., recognized that distortion problems may be prevalent with signal modification techniques, for example, heterodyning, and they sought to improve the transducer's operational characteristics. However, signal modification techniques necessarily calls for electronics to be carried by a diver which might interfere with the job at hand.
Thus, there is a continuing need in the state-of-the art for an underwater communication system which reliably permits acoustic communications between divers and their surface support vessel while not overly burdening the divers with unnecessary instrumentation packages.

Underwater audio intercommunication system


A rongeur has a frame and a reciprocating member slidably associated with the frame. A blade is disposed on the distal end of the reciprocating member. The frame has a handle that is coupled with the reciprocating member for slideable movement of the reciprocating member. In this fashion, the blade is moved into a cutting position against a footplate formed in the distal end of the frame. A flexure is associated with the handle which allows the handle to be flexed. To reduce the potential for breakage of the footplate, a stop mechanism is provided for preventing further movement of the reciprocating member when the flexure is flexed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical instrument, and more particularly to an improved rongeur surgical instrument having a mechanism to reduce the likelihood for breakage of the footplate and/or cutting mechanism thereof.
In surgical procedures, it is important to optimize treatment of the patient yet minimize the potential for breakage of the surgical instrument. One instrument used in certain surgical procedures is an instrument called a rongeur. A rongeur is a type of heavy-duty forceps for removing small pieces of bone, cartilage, or other tissue from the human body. Rongeurs are used, for example, in medical procedures performed on vertebrae of the back (i.e., laminectomy rongeurs). Laminectomy rongeurs are specifically designed to remove the lamina of the spine. The lamina is a bony plate that protects and covers the spinal cord.
A rongeur typically includes a frame comprising a barrel supported at a proximal end by a pistal-shaped grip. A footplate or cutting anvil is mounted at the distal end of a shaft disposed within the barrel. In at least one embodiment, the barrel, having a cutting blade at its distal end, is positioned for reciprocating axial movement from a first position to a second position (wherein the cutting blade is in contact with the footplate). The reciprocating movement of the cutting blade is provided by squeezing a trigger mechanism, such as a pull handle that is pivotally mounted to the frame of the rongeur. Small segments of bone or tissue may be removed by placing the same in an aperture formed in the barrel between the cutting blade and the footplate and then squeezing the trigger.
The underside of the lamina is in very close proximity to the spinal cord and nerve roots. It will therefore be understood by those skilled in the art that the footplate of the rongeur must be very thin so that can it fit between the patient's lamina and nerve structure. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that, because the footplate is thin, it is susceptible to breakage when excess pressure is transferred from the trigger mechanism to the cutting blade. This may occur, for example, when the subject portion of a bone that is encountered is of a hardness or thickness that may not be cut by the rongeur without breakage of the footplate. Breakage of the footplate is therefore a matter of serious concern for the surgeon.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the potential for breakage of the footplate.
It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the transfer of excess force to the footplate.


The present invention provides microelectronic electrochemical structures and related fabrication methods. A composite microelectronic structure is provided that includes first and second conductors dielectrically isolated from one another at a crossing thereof, the crossing surrounded by a dielectric material. A portion of the dielectric material around the crossing of the first and second conductors is removed to form a well that exposes respective outer surfaces of the first and second conductors and a molecule is deposited in the well such that the deposited molecule contacts the exposed outer surfaces of the first and second conductors.

Recently, there has been a great interest in the field of molecular electronics. The potential for molecular memory devices has been studied where charge storage can be used to read and/or write data. Detailed information with respect to this topic can be found in the following publications: Harell, S. et al., Microelectron Eng., 30, 11 (1996); Reed, M. A. et al., Since, Volume 278, 252-254 (1997); Reed, M. A., Proc. IEEE, Volume 87, 652-658 (1999); Roth, K. M. et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B., 18(5), 2359 (2000); and Tour, K. M. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 177, 9259 (1999).
A common architecture proposed to incorporate charge molecules is a crossbar array structure. A typical crossbar array includes two sets of lines that run perpendicular to each other. These lines may be separated by a gap that is typically filled with molecules. This arrangement may provide a circuit having a data storage capability.
A typical fabrication process for a crossbar array structure involves depositing and patterning a first set of metal lines. After the first set of lines is deposited and patterned, the molecules may be self-assembled. After the molecules are self-assembled, a second set of metal lines may be deposited and patterned to complete the crossbar array structure. This fabrication process may cause the molecules located in the gap between the first and second set of metal lines to be damaged or destroyed during the deposition and patterning of the second set of metal lines. For example, the molecules in the gap between the first and second metal lines may be destroyed by metal ions diffusing down through the molecules during the deposition of the second set of metal lines.
Alternative methods of fabricating crossbar array structures have been proposed that address the problems with existing fabrication methods. One alternative method, for example, is discussed in co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/046,499 entitled Molehole Embedded 3-D Crossbar Architecture Used in Electrochemical Molecular Memory Device filed on Oct. 26, 2001.

Methods of fabricating crossbar array microelectronic electrochemical cells


A high cleaning efficiency room air cleaner with a slim profile providing a clean air delivery rate sufficient to clean any ordinary size room includes a flat-panel housing having an internal chamber sized to receive conventional large area flat-panel furnace filters of standard size and a fan array preferably of high efficiency, low power axial computer fans mounted to the flat-panel housing. The room air cleaner may include a scent cartridge and a UV lamp assembly.

Room air is laden with dirt, dust, allergens, odors, microorganisms and other airborne pollutants. Although room air cleaners have been devised to treat room air so as to remove such airborne pollutants, the heretofore known room air cleaners have been deficient among other things in that they have been inefficient, providing comparatively low cleaning efficiency (clean air delivery rate per watt of power utilized); have produced undesirable amounts of ozone; have needed to be remotely located to walls in otherwise unoccupied open room floor space thereby adding to room clutter; have utilized custom, non-standard-size filters that are costly and inconvenient to obtain; and/or their utility has been limited to removal of a particular type of air pollutant but generally have been unable to selectably remove a variety of different pollutant types. There is thus a need to provide a high cleaning efficiency room air cleaner with a slim profile not subject to the deficiencies of the heretofore known room air cleaners.

High cleaning efficiency room air cleaner with slim profile


A backwater valve is described which includes a liquid retaining body having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, opposed sides and an inner chamber. A first flow conduit extends through one of the top of the body and the first end adjacent the top of the body and protrudes into the inner chamber. A second flow conduit extends from the inner chamber through the second end adjacent the bottom of the body and protrudes past the second end. An annular seal is positioned on an annular peripheral edge of the first flow conduit which protrudes into the inner chamber. A plate is pivotally mounted to the body. The plate having a wear resistant lubricious first face, a second face, a first end and a second end. The first end underlies the first flow conduit. The first face extends past the first flow conduit thereby serving as a spillway for liquids flowing through the first flow conduit. The plate is pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the first face engages the annular seal. In the open position the first face is spaced from the annular seal. The plate is maintained in a normally open position by force of gravity. A float is secured to the second face of the plate such that the plate floats into the closed position when the inner chamber is filled with liquid.

Backwater valves are installed in liquid flow lines to prevent a reversing of the flow. One example of a flow line in which a backwater valve would be used is in a building sewer line going from a private residence to a main sewer line. The backwater valve prevents raw sewage from flowing back into the private residence should the main sewer line overflow.
An example of a backwater valve is U.S. Pat. No. 1,606,396 which issued to Blom in 1926. The Blom reference discloses an upper horizontal section of pipe with a downwardly turned elbow and a lower horizontal section of pipe with an upwardly turned elbow. The downwardly turned elbow and the upwardly turned elbow are connected with a horizontal annular valve seat positioned therebetween. A normally pendant float valve is suspended from the valve seat. When water rises in the lower horizontal section of pipe the float valve floats into engagement with the annular valve seat to restrict the flow.
There are number of disadvantages with backwater valves constructed in accordance with the teachings of Blom. The float valve is subject to a build up of hair, toilet paper and other debris. This debris prevents the float valve from fully closing. If the float valve does not fully close the valve merely serves to restrict rather than eliminate the backflow and raw sewage will seep into the residence. Blow recognized this potential problem in the design and provided for both a cover secured by bolts above the valve seat and a plug provided near the hinge of the float valve to allow access for cleaning purposes. The backwater valves are underground installations which are difficult to access for the purpose of maintenance, so as a practical matter it would not be discovered that the valve was in need of cleaning until it failed to work.
In order to address these problems axial flow backwater valve mechanisms have been developed that have indirect valve closure mechanisms. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,881 which has a gate pivoted from above. The gate is attached to a float mechanism in an antechamber. Liquid entering the antechamber causes the float mechanism to rise. As the float mechanism rises the gate is closed. Backwater valves with indirect closure mechanisms are more complex and as a consequence are more expensive.


A device for coupling multiple connectors, comprising two connector supporting plates, one fixed and one movable, and two threaded members which are supported by the two plates; one of the members has a combined rotary and translatory motion for the coupling and uncoupling of the plates; the member provided with combined rotary and translatory motion is associated with a fluid-actuated actuator for the approach and spacing of the threaded members.

The present invention relates to a device for coupling multiple connectors, of the type that comprises two connector supporting plates, particularly for pressure die-casting dies.
Devices for coupling the supporting plates of multiple connectors are already commercially available.
The plates, one fixed and one movable, are connected to threaded members, and the threaded member that is connected to the movable plate is formed by a rod which is provided with a threaded section and is supported for rotation by a movable ring integrated in the corresponding plate.
The movable ring is supported by a fixed frame by means of sliding guides that ensure the assembly thereof with a framework which forms the support for a motor which is designed to turn the rod.
The rotation rod is connected to the output shaft of the motor by means is of an intermediate shaft provided with a threaded section which cooperates with an internal thread of the frame in order to provide the longitudinal movement of the rod before the threaded section thereof cooperates with the other threaded member.
The rotation rod is connected in an angular manner to the intermediate shaft by means of a sliding joint which allows the rod to interrupt its advancement while it continues to be rotationally actuated.
Elastic elements cooperate with the guides, allowing to block the advancement of the movable ring, but not the rotation of the rod if the two threaded members do not couple as soon as they make contact.
In any case, this kind of device is not free from drawbacks.
The coupling between the threaded members in fact occurs in a rough manner, except in unusual cases, since the shoulders of the threads make contact first and collide with each other; at this point the geometry of the device allows to stop the translatory motion of the plates until the two threads mate.
Accordingly, the movements of the plates are not gradual and the geometry is particularly complicated.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling multiple connectors which solves the problems of conventional devices.
Within the scope of this aim, a consequent object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows the coupling of connectors gradually and not discontinuously.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which does not have a complicated geometry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows to perform the approach and centering movement with limited force.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for coupling multiple connectors, comprising two connector supporting plates, one fixed and one movable, two threaded members which are supported by the two plates, one of said members having a combined rotary and translatory motion for the coupling and uncoupling of said plates, characterized in that the member provided with combined rotary and translatory motion is associated with a fluidactuated actuator for the approach and spacing of said threaded members.


The present invention discloses a method and a device for detecting a signal power, and belongs to the field of communications. The method includes: when a receiver converts a received receive signal and outputs an output signal, separating a direct current signal and an alternating current signal from the output signal; converting the direct current signal into a first analog voltage signal; converting the alternating current signal into a second analog voltage signal through a transimpedance amplifier TIA; and obtaining a power of the receive signal according to the first analog voltage signal and the second analog voltage signal. The device includes: a first separating module, a first converting module, and an obtaining module. The present invention can improve accuracy of detecting a signal power.

In an optical network communications system, photoelectric conversion components have certain requirements for the strength range of input light. If the strength of input light exceeds a specific range, the network will be abnormal. Network maintenance personnel may detect powers of optical signals, determine strength of input light according to the power of optical signals, and take corresponding measures for intervention.
At present, two methods for detecting a power of an optical signal are available, including:
Method 1: When a receiver converts a received optical signal and outputs an output signal, separate a direct current signal from the output signal, convert the direct current signal into an analog voltage signal, convert the analog voltage signal into a digital signal, and calculate a power of the optical signal according to the digital signal.
Method 2: When a receiver converts a received optical signal and outputs an output signal, separate an alternating current signal from the output signal, convert the direct current signal into a radio frequency direct current voltage signal through a TIA (Transimpedance Amplifier, transimpedance amplifier), convert the radio frequency direct current voltage signal into an analog voltage signal, convert the analog voltage signal into a digital signal, and calculate a power of the optical signal according to the digital signal.
It should be noted that: after the receiver receives the optical signal, it converts the optical signal into a photogenerated current signal. The photogenerated current signal includes a direct current photogenerated current signal and an alternating current photogenerated current signal. In addition, the receiver itself will produce a penetrating current signal with weak signal strength, and the penetrating current signal is a direct current signal. Therefore, the separated direct current signal includes the direct current photogenerated current signal and penetrating current signal, and the separated alternating current signal includes the alternating current photogenerated current signal.
During the implementation of the present invention, the inventor discovers that the prior art has at least the following problems:
In the method 1, when the optical signal is weak, the percent of the penetrating current signal included in the separated direct current signal is large, so that the error of the calculated power of the optical signal is large.
In the method 2, the TIA has a saturation point. When the optical signal is strong, the strength of the separated alternating current signal exceeds the saturation point of the TIA. The strength of the radio frequency direct current voltage signal output by the TIA remains unchanged when the saturation point of the TIA is reached. As such, when the optical signal is strong, the error of the calculated power of the optical signal is large.

Method and device for detecting signal power


In general, multiple embodiments of a catheter/fistula needle to bloodline connection assurance device, which secures and strengthens a connection between an extension tube end of a catheter or fistula needle and a bloodline, are provided. In one embodiment, the assurance device includes a clamshell having two halves that open rotatably about at least one hinge. The assurance device includes a male luer portion that pressure seals to the male luer portion of the bloodline connector. The bloodline male luer portion of the device extends to a female luer portion, which is lined with a compressible material that conforms around any industrial catheter/fistula needle connector when the assurance device is closed about the mated connectors. Once the assurance device is closed, this prevents axial movement of the bloodline connector relative to the assurance device.

The present disclosure relates to securing and strengthening a connection between an extension tube end of a catheter or fistula needle (device gaining access to a patient's vein) and a bloodline (running to a blood treatment machine).
Catheters and fistula needles used with a blood treatment machine typically have two connectors, one for attachment to a venous bloodline and the other for attachment to an arterial bloodline; the venous and arterial bloodlines attached then being to the blood treatment machine. While the catheter and fistula needle connecters can be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes, the connectors are typically female luer connector. The distal end (with respect to the blood treatment machine) of each of the venous and arterial bloodlines includes a bloodline connector having a male luer, which connects to respective catheter or fistula needle connectors, or female luer connectors.
A disconnection or failure of the connection of such bloodline connectors and catheter or fistula needle connectors while a patient is connected to a blood treatment machine for treatment can cause serious blood loss. A need therefore exists for a device that prevents the bloodlines from coming free from the catheter or fistula needle during treatment, for example, if tension is applied inadvertently to the bloodline.
The most commonly used method to date for securing a catheter or fistula needle to a bloodline for treatment is tape. Tape is wrapped around the connection and then secured to a patient's skin. However, many patients are irritated by the tape and will remove it from their skin, or will not even apply tape to the connection or their skin to begin with, placing them at risk of accidental disconnection. Accordingly, another need exists for the device is that it eliminates the need for tape.
As mentioned above, catheter and fistula needle connecters, while typically being female luer connectors, are provided in a variety of shapes and sizes by a variety of manufacturers. Thus, a further need also exists for the device to be compatible with the variety of industry catheter and fistula needle connectors.

Catheter/fistula needle to bloodline connection assurance device


A stapling apparatus includes a body portion, a staple cartridge disposed within the body portion, and a buttress removably attached to the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of staple receiving slots defined in a tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge, with each staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots including a staple disposed therein. The buttress includes a plurality of tabs at an outer edge of the buttress. The buttress is releasably retained on the staple cartridge by at least one tab of the plurality of tabs extending into a staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots defined in the staple cartridge.

Attaching surgical buttresses or staple line reinforcement materials to surgical staplers is known. Trumbull et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,629, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, discloses an absorbent and bioabsorbable pledget material attached to a surgical stapler. Buttresses used in conjunction with a tubular sleeve have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,638 to Cooper et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, proposes a tubular sleeve dimensioned to fit over and closely surround the jaws of a stapler. The sleeve can be made from non-woven polyethylene attached to a strip of material made from animal tissue.
McKean et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,594, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a stapling apparatus having biocompatible fabric releasably attached thereto. The fabric can be tubular in configuration for attachment to the stapling apparatus, or can be attached using pins.
Tarinelli et al., International Publication No. WO 08/109125, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses an anchor, or a suture material, for attaching a buttress, which is released when the anchor, or suture, is cut by a knife.
Mooradian et al., WO 03/082126, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a circular stapling apparatus having a buttress material positioned on the staple cartridge and/or anvil. The buttress material may be preformed so as to have a raised central region so that it can be positioned on the staple cartridge and/or anvil.
There is a need for reliable methods of removably attaching a staple line reinforcement material or buttress material onto a circular stapling apparatus, or other stapling apparatus, so that the material does not interfere with the operation of the apparatus, remains on the apparatus until after the staples are fired, and is convenient and easy to install and use.

Buttress fixation for a circular stapler


A cable assembly (1) includes an insulative housing (2) having a number of terminals (3) received therein, a metallic shielding (4) at least partially enclosing the housing and defining a wall (424) with an opening (4242) therein, a conductive adapter (5) soldered to the shielding and having a tubular connecting portion (52) extending outward away from the wall and a round cable (6) including a bundle of wires (60) enclosed in an EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) shielding (62). The wires extend through the opening to electrically connect with the terminals under a condition that the tubular connecting portion engageably and electrically enclosing the EMI shielding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable assembly, and particularly to a high-speed cable assembly with a cable electrically connecting to a shielding of an electrical connector to thereby ensuring good electrical performance.
2. Description of Related Art
A cable assembly is commonly used in many electronic devices, such as desktop computers and notebook computers. The cable assembly typically includes a cable and two cable end connectors respectively terminated at opposite ends of the cable. The cable can be a coaxial cable, a flat cable or a multi-wire round cable. The cable is electrically connected with terminals of the cable end connectors by several commonly used connecting technologies, such as soldering, crimping and IDC (Insulation Displacement Contact).
As miniaturization of the electronic devices becomes more prevalent, the cable assembly used to transmit signals in such devices is accordingly required to have a small dimension, such that the cable assembly do not occupy too much space in the device. Further, with the development of high-speed signal transmission technology, a metallic shielding is commonly employed to attach to the cable assembly in order to prevent EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) from outer environments, thereby ensuring the cable assembly reliably transmitting high-speed signals.
Attaching a metallic shielding onto an insulative housing of a cable end connector has been widely practiced in the art, and pertinent examples of such shieldings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,380,223, 6,162,086 and 6,179,662.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,223 discloses a cable assembly having a metallic shielding. The cable assembly comprises a housing insert with plural contacts retained therein and a cable electrically connecting with the contacts. The metallic shielding comprises an upper and a lower shield members secured with each other to define an interior space for receiving the housing insert therein. The upper and the lower shield members each are formed with an ear extending rearwardly from a rear end of a shield body thereof to commonly crimp a braided shield of the cable to effect grounding. Due to weak mechanical strength of a connecting portion between the ear and the shield body, the ear is apt to breakdown from the shield body. Therefore, the grounding effect of the cable assembly is adversely affected.
Hence, an improved cable assembly is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.


Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display module, including: pre-baking a first substrate and a second substrate; disposing sealing glue at edges of the first substrate and edges of the second substrate; dropping liquid crystals on the second substrate, and coating frame glue on the first substrate and the second substrate; assembling the first substrate and the second substrate so as to form at least one liquid crystal display module, and irradiating the liquid crystal display module with a first light source.

In the manufacturing process of a conventional liquid display module, it is very difficult to harden frame glue. Therefore, pre-baking, frame glue UV (ultraviolet) hardening and frame glue baking hardening and other baking hardening treatments are required so as to harden the frame glue. The operation process is complex and the UV irradiation time must be significantly prolonged, causing an overlong processing time. In addition, multiple devices are required, resulting in an over high manufacturing cost.

Liquid crystal display module and method for manufacturing the same

CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.


A lighting device includes a light source that emits an illumination light. The light source includes a first group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit a first light, a second group of LEDs to emit a second light, and a third group of LEDs to emit a third light. The second light is warmer light than the first light, and the third light is cooler light than the first light. The lighting device further includes a first difference amplifier that controls a first current flow through the second group of LEDs at least based on a magnitude of a current flowing through the light source. The lighting device also includes a second difference amplifier that controls a second current flow through the third group of LEDs at least based on the magnitude of the current flowing through the light source.

Some lighting fixtures are controllable to adjust both Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) and intensity level of a light emitted by the light emitting diode (LED) light source of the lighting fixtures. For example, CCT and intensity level adjustments can produce a desired light that is appropriate for particular times of a day and situation. Adjusting both CCT and intensity level of the light emitted by an LED light source often requires two separate controls. However, installing separate controls can be relatively expensive and may be inconvenient to users. In retrofit installations, structural limitations may make installing additional controls challenging. For example, installing a new CCT control in addition to an existing dimming control may be challenging because of structural constraints. Thus, the ability to control both the CCT and the intensity of a light using a dimmer control can be advantageous. Further, providing an illumination light more closely matches natural lighting when the illumination light has a cool CCT may be desirable.

Single control LED dimming and white tuning


A solid-state AC energy consumption meter includes an array of AC signal transducers which provide voltage and current signals to a watt transducer chip. The watt transducer chip operates on the multi-phase voltage and current signals to produce AC energy consumption data which is fed to a register for visual display. In one aspect of the invention, a calibrating resistive component is placed in series with the input to the primary coil of the potential transformer for each phase. The value of the resistive component is calibrated to produce an appropriate change in the phase angle difference between the potential transformer secondary voltage and current transformer secondary current. More particularly, the addition of the resistance of the primary of the potential transformer provides the necessary amount of phase lead to the potential transformer to account for this phase error difference.

The present invention concerns solid-state meters for measuring AC electrical energy, or power, consumed by a load. In particular, the invention concerns watthour and varhour meters, or the like, utilizing potential and current transformers. More specifically, the invention concerns an improvement in power factor matching of the potential transformer to the current transformer.
Electronic or solid-state watthour (or varhour) meters have been known since the early 1970's. In meters of this type, the load current and line voltage are sensed and corresponding current and voltage signals are input into a measurement circuit. These current and voltage signals are processed by the measurement circuit to produce an output signal indicative of the AC electrical energy consumption by the load, which signal is then supplied to a register for further processing and display.
An example of one type of solid-state watthour meter is shown in FIG. 1. More particularly, the meter 10 includes an array of AC quantity transducers 12 which produce voltage and current signals for each phase of a polyphase system. These voltage and current signals are fed to measurement circuit means 14, which in the illustrated embodiment is a watt transducer chip. In one specific embodiment, the measurement circuit 14 comprises a custom integrated circuit which performs Time Division Multiplication of the voltage and current signals by way of a mark space oscillator and an amplitude modulator applied to the respective voltage and current signals. An appropriate measurement circuit means or watt transducer chip can be found in the Landis & Gyr SSM20 meter. Some details of this chip can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,106, at columns 3-5, which description is incorporated herein by reference.
The measurement circuit means 14 generates AC energy consumption data 16 which is fed to a register 18. The register can include a microprocessor which manipulates the energy or power consumption data to produce, for example, time of use information. The register 18 includes a display, a memory, and an option board in one specific embodiment. A power supply transformer 20 provides DC power to both the measurement circuit means 14 and the register 18.
In the illustrated solid-state watthour meter, the array of AC quantity transducers 12 include a number of potential transformers 22.sub.1-3 and a number of current transformers 23.sub.1-3. One each of the potential and current transformers is provided for each phase of a three phase AC power supply system in the illustrated embodiment. The solid state watthour meter 10 shown in FIG. 1 as thus far described is of a known construction.
In any AC energy consumption or power metering, it is essential to have a correct registration between the voltage and current signals provided to the measurement circuit. When the registration between these voltage and current signals deviates from an expected value, the calculations of the AC energy usage, whether it be watthours or varhours, is compromised. In any AC metering arrangement, the AC power drawn by the load can vary at different load power factors. This variation in the load power factor can cause a deviation between the measured and displayed energy consumption value and the actual AC energy consumption by the load. It is known that the power factor is the ratio of the active power to the apparent power (which is the square root sum of the squares of the active and reactive power). Consequently, the power factor is a function of the phase angle difference between the AC current and voltage provided by the AC source.
In the late 1800's, it was determined that in order for a meter to have a correct registration with varying load power factor, the potential transformer flux must lag the current transformer flux by exactly 90.degree. when the load on the meter is at the unity power factor. This 90.degree. relationship at unity power factor was determined to be necessary to maintain a driving force on the meter disc proportional to the power at any load power factor value. In inductive meters of the prior art, a phasing band or coil was provided around the core of the center leg of the potential coil to cause the potential transformer flux to lag the current transformer flux by 90.degree. . Shifting the current transformer flux towards the potential transformer flux until the power factor angle was exactly 90.degree. has been accomplished by inserting a closed "figure 8" circuit loop on the current magnets to produce a voltage in that loop, which causes current to flow in the loop thereby creating a counter-acting flux field.
Alternatively, a lag plate has been moveably positioned on the pole piece of the potential transformer to provide adjustable phase compensation of the voltage signal wit respect to the current signal. Many modern meters use a fixed lag plate operating on the potential flux with the phase compensation being permanently made by the manufacturer at the factory.
As solid-state meters replace the standard inductive meter, the concern over maintaining a proper meter disc driving force diminishes. However, the importance of power factor matching to meter registration has not diminished. The meter power factor defines the relationship between energy usage measurement values such as watts, vars and volt-amperes. It is therefore necessary to control and match the meter power factor to minimize any error in the metered AC energy consumption versus the true energy consumed by the load.

Power factor matching in an AC power meter


In order to implement a microfluidics sensor having higher efficiency, Applicants have developed a method of formation of nano-structures having various shapes and sizes onto materials such as polymers, glass and silicon, which are compatible with the microfabrication processes. The adhesion of the nano-structures and feasibility to tune their properties (optical, electrical and mechanical) are two prime concerns when they are adopted for microfluidics devices.

Optical absorption spectrum in the ultra-violet and visible (UV-Vis) range of metallic nano-structures has been used as a label-free (i.e. without tagging with particles that emit light at different wavelength than the wavelength they are excited with, such as, for example fluorophores) technique for the detection of binding events in real time. A sensing mechanism is based on for example, a change in the position and/or the intensity of the spectrum or upon a change of refractive index of the medium surrounding the sensing mechanism. The refractive index of the surrounding medium has a strong influence on the absorption bands of nano-structures in the visible and near visible regions, thereby monitoring the absorption bands is highly useful for plasmonic detection of biomolecules.
A main fabrication process step of nano-biosensors is the immobilization of nano-structures on a substrate. Several techniques such as nanosphere lithography (NSL), vapor deposition, thermal evaporation and electrochemical deposition are reported for the immobilization of nanoparticles on various substrates. Using NSL, ordered nano-structures can be deposited with the help of self assembled polystyrene spheres and vacuum deposition. A widely reported method of fabrication of nano-island structures is the deposition of a thin film of gold on a substrate by vacuum deposition and annealing to yield nano-island morphology.
Presently, there is a huge demand for microfluidic devices as they are capable of performing bio-detection and drug delivery applications using small amounts (nano-liters) of bio-liquids and reagents.
Most chip-based bio-assays are based on two-dimensional (2D) chips, that is, a gold monolayer on glass having a low density of nanoparticles that are deposited on a sensing substrate and the immunoassays are carried out. Various deposition methods explained above have been reported for the fabrication of 2D chips, but these are not generally compatible with the fabrication of micro-devices. Hence new fabrication methods are essential for the development of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. Integration of nano-structures in microfluidics chips is an emerging trend for the developments of high throughputs LOC devices.

Methods for fabricating morphologically transformed nano-structures (MTNS) and tunable nanocomposite polymer materials, and devices using such materials


An ion chromatography method for analysis of a plurality of analyte ions in a sequence of samples in which ion chromatography is performed on a sample, which is passed to a non-precipitating suppressor ion exchange resin and analyzed, the suppressor being regenerated in one step prior to processing of a subsequent sample.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus using ion chromatography ("IC") followed by chemical conversion and detection of the sample ions.
Ion chromatography is a known technique for the analysis of sample in an eluent solution containing an electrolyte. The sample solution is injected into a chromatographic separation zone, in the form of an ion exchange column, and directed through an eluent suppression stage, and a detector, typically a conductivity detector. Ions of the injected sample are separated on and eluted from a separation column. In the suppression stage, electrical conductivity of the eluent electrolyte, but not that of the separated ions, is suppressed. This can be accomplished so long as the separated ions are not derived from very weak acids or bases and so can be determined by conductivity detection. This general technique is described in U.S. Draft Pat. Nos. 3,897,213, 3,920,397, 3,925,019 and 3,956,559. The above patents, incorporated herein by reference, describe suppression or stripping of electrolyte using an ion exchange resin bed device (called "a packed bed suppressor" or "PBS"). This general type of suppressor requires periodic shut-down for regeneration and performs in a batch rather than a continuous mode.
Disadvantages of the packed bed suppressor approach as it has been practiced are well documented. Such suppressors normally were run until the end of a shift or until exhaustion of the ion exchange resin, if earlier, followed by regeneration of the PBS. The PBS included a large volume of high capacity ion exchange resin. A typical ratio of the volume of the ion exchange resin in the suppressor to that of the separator column ranged from about 2.0 to 0.5 to one, thereby suppressing the developing reagents from a large number of separation runs (e.g. 15 to 50) prior to regeneration. Similarly, under such conditions, the ratio of capacity of the suppressor to that of the separation column was on the order of 100 to 700 to one.
Some disadvantages of the PBS approach are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,604. For example, it limits the number of samples which can be consecutively analyzed. (Col. 1, lines 38-41). Also, certain difficulties are caused by the variable length of non-depleted resin in the column as it is being used up. This factor can vary elution times of certain ions, with less or no effect on other ions. (Col. 1, lines 50-55).
Other disadvantages of using a packed bed suppressor in the manner of the prior art include (1) restriction of the number of sample injections by the capacity of the suppressor, and (2) extra band spreading in the suppressor column resulting in lower resolution. (J. of Chromatog., 1981, 218, 57, at 58). This is because the separated ionic species are re-mixed in the volume of the suppressor, resulting in a loss of resolution (peak broadening). The suppressor volume is thus a compromise between regeneration frequency and chromatographic resolution. Because of interaction with the suppressor column, the peak height of nitrite ion dramatically changes as a function of suppressor exhaustion. (J. of Chromatog., 1982, 237, at 297).
An improved form of suppressor, called "a membrane suppressor", was developed to overcome these disadvantages. Significantly, the membrane suppressor is continuously regenerated during use, leading to its substantially replacing the packed bed suppressor. In a membrane suppressor, a charged membrane, normally in the form of a fiber or sheet, is used in place of the resin bed. In sheet form, the sample and eluent are passed on one side of the sheet with a flowing regenerant on the other side of the sheet. The sheet comprises an ion exchange membrane partitioning the regenerant from the effluent of chromatographic separation. The membrane passed ions of the same charge as the exchangeable ions of the membrane to convert the electrolyte of the eluent to a weakly ionized form, followed by detection of the ions. One highly effective form of suppressor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,098.
The membrane suppressor minimizes many of the foregoing disadvantages. However, membrane suppressors also have certain disadvantages compared to packed bed suppressors such as cost, leakage of regenerant causing higher detector background, the requirement for an external supply of regenerant solution and the fact that membrane suppressors are complex and not user serviceable. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop an inexpensive, high performance packed bed suppressor approach.
Gradient elution is performed by changing from a weak to a strong eluent during a chromatography run. Gradient elution has been attempted for the PBS approach. However, such attempts were "less than successful". (Ion Chromatography, Small, Hamish (Plenum Press, 1989, p.187) An attempt to solve one of the problems of such systems is set forth in Suden, T., et al. Anal. Chem. 1984, 56, 1085. Gradient elution also has been used in a membrane suppressor IC system. (See, e.g. Rocklin, R. D., et al. J. Chromatogr. 411 (1987) 107.
Gradient elution is particularly useful for analytes of interest having widely different affinities for the chromatographic stationary phase. An example in ion chromatography might be the separation of fluoride and citrate using anion exchange. In this case, fluoride has low affinity for the anion exchange column while citrate on the other hand has high affinity. In order to resolve these components in a single chromatographic analysis, gradient elution is used. In gradient elution, the elution process begins with an eluent of low displacing power than increases over time to an eluent of greater displacing power. This can be accomplished by changing the concentration and/or composition of the eluent. While gradient elution solves a variety of separation problems, detection can be a problem since the detector typically is sensing some property of the eluent. Suppression converts the eluent to a low conductivity form so that the conductivity detector in IC senses only very small changes in the background conductivity during the gradient elution process.

Ion chromatography using frequent regeneration of batch-type suppressor


A camera with a mirror device comprises a first mirror, i.e., a main mirror, device for reflecting object light, and a second mirror, i.e., a sub-mirror, device for reflecting light transmitted through the first mirror device to another device, i.e., a focus detector. The second mirror device has a reflective layer formed as a sub-mirror surface formed directly on a base member. With the sub-mirror surface formed by, e.g., evaporation directly on a partial protruded area of the base member, the manufacture process is facilitated, a sub-mirror area can be increased, and reliability and durability are improved because the sub-mirror will not experience variations in its mounting angle or be subject to peeling-off from a separate base member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sub-mirror unit for use in a camera. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a single-lens reflex camera featuring an integrally-formed sub-mirror and a method for making the sub-mirror.
2. Description of the Related Art
Initially, a prior art sub-mirror unit 3 for use in a single-lens reflex camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
In these figures, reference character 3c denotes a sub-mirror and reference character 3a denotes a sub-mirror supporting plate for fixedly supporting the sub-mirror 3c.
The sub-mirror 3c is formed of a glass plate on the surface of which a material is evaporated to form a reflective layer. The sub-mirror 3c is mounted such that its surface including the reflective layer faces an object lens of the camera, and is fixedly bonded at its rear surface to the sub-mirror supporting plate 3a by means of a double-coated adhesive tape 3b.
The above-described, prior art sub-mirror unit 3 has the following disadvantages:
(1) Since the sub-mirror unit 3 requires a number of parts and hence a number of assembly steps, the parts and assembly costs are high.
(2) The sub-mirror 3a is prone to mounting angle variations or detachment due to a failure in adhesion or peeling-off of the sub-mirror 3a from the supporting plate 3b.
(3) Since cracks and/or chips are created in the glass edges when a glass plate is cut into a predetermined size, it is necessary to allow a larger margin between an effective mirror area and the glass edges, or to grind the glass edges. However, if the distance between the effective mirror area and the glass edges is increased, the sub-mirror 3c must be made larger in size contrary to the goal of reducing the size of optical equipment, such as cameras. Also, if the glass edges are ground, the manufacturing cost of the sub-mirror 3a would be significantly increased.
(4) Because the glass sub-mirror is bonded to a non-glass material sub-mirror supporting plate 3a, variations in the ambient temperature tend to produce distortions in both structures and/or cause variations in the mounting angle and/or result in peeling-off of the sub-mirror 3a from the supporting plate 3b due to a difference in their respective coefficients of thermal expansion.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a layout of the primary components of a prior art single-lens reflex camera having an automatic focus adjusting device. An object lens (not shown) is attached to a mount 101, and light passing through the object lens is reflected by a main mirror unit 102 upwardly to a focusing plate 106. More specifically, a portion of the light from the object lens passes through the main mirror unit 102 and, after being reflected by a sub-mirror unit 103, is guided to a focus detector 104 positioned under the sub-mirror unit 103. A photographer observes an image of the object formed on the focusing plate 106 through a pentaprism 107 and an eyepiece lens 108.
The sub-mirror unit 103 is constructed in the same manner as the sub-mirror unit 3 as described above with reference to FIG. 6.
As previously discussed, since small cracks and/or chips are created in the glass edges when a glass plate is cut into a predetermined size, it is necessary to allow a larger margin between an effective mirror area and the glass edges, or to grind the glass edges. If the margin .delta. between the effective mirror area and the glass edges is set to be large as shown in FIG. 14, the light guided to the focus detector 104 would be narrowed particularly in the vertical, i.e., up and down, direction of the object field, making it difficult to enlarge a focus detecting area in the vertical direction of the object field. If the size of the sub-mirror unit 103 is increased, the focus detecting area can be enlarged in the vertical direction of the object field. In practice, however, because the sub-mirror unit 103 is positioned between the main mirror unit 102 and a shutter device 105, it is problematical to increase the size of the sub-mirror unit 103. Also, if the glass edges are ground or cut, the manufacturing costs are significantly increased.
Further, as previously discussed in connection with sub-mirror unit 3, because the glass sub-mirror 3c is bonded to the non-glass metal sub-mirror supporting plate 3a, variations in the ambient temperature tend to produce distortions in both structures, or cause a change in the mounting angle and peeling-off of the sub-mirror 3c from the sub-mirror supporting plate 3a due to a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion therebetween. These problems increase as the sub-mirror becomes larger. This means that an increase in the size of the sub-mirror 3c due to, e.g., an enlargement of the focus detecting area is not desirable.


A system receives a request from a request processor of a database connection pool to access a database. The system determines whether a database connection from the database connection pool is available for the request. A new security assertion mark-up language (SAML) assertion is generated when the database connection pool does not have an available database connection for the request. A new database connection to the database is built using the new SAML assertion.

Some enterprise policies require that passwords be changed every few weeks. When a username/password mode is used to build a pooled database connection, the usernames and passwords stored in a configuration file or a database also have to be modified to reflect passwords changes as prescribed by the enterprise policies. Maintaining and storing such changes to the passwords used to establish pooled database connections can be expensive, error prone, and tedious.

Build pooled data source based on hana SAML login


An engine block for an internal combustion engine including a cylinder coolant channel provided with a coolant inlet conduit. The coolant inlet includes a baffle for dividing the coolant inlet conduit into two passageways both in communication with the cylinder coolant channel.

An internal combustion engine includes an engine block defining at least one cylinder having a piston coupled to rotate a crankshaft. A cylinder head cooperates with the piston to define a combustion chamber. A fuel and air mixture is disposed in the combustion chamber and ignited, resulting in hot expanding exhaust gasses causing reciprocal movement of the piston. The fuel is provided by at least one fuel injector and the air through at least one intake port, located on an intake side of the cylinder head. The exhaust gasses, on the contrary, are expelled, through at least an exhaust port, located on an exhaust side of the cylinder head opposite to the intake side.
The heat generated by the fuel combustion is partly dissipated by a cooling system, which includes a coolant pump that circulates a coolant, typically a mixture of water and antifreeze, through a cylinder cooling channel, realized in the engine block. The cylinder cooling channel surrounds the engine cylinder and it is in fluid communication with a corresponding cylinder head coolant channel realized in the cylinder head. The coolant exiting from these coolant channels is directed towards a radiator, where the coolant exchanges the heat, received from the engine, with the air of the ambient environment, before returning in the coolant pump.
The cylinder coolant channel includes a single inlet so that the coolant, which flows through the inlet, freely splits in a first part which flows through a first tract of the coolant channel, located on an intake side of the cylinder head, and in a second tract which flows through a second portion of the coolant channel, located on an exhaust side of the cylinder head. The fact that the coolant freely splits in two parts is a drawback of this configuration because it determines a not balanced coolant circulation in the cylinder coolant channel.
Indeed, it has been observed that most of the coolant circulates near the bottom of the cylinder coolant channel and that the speed of the coolant is not uniform in the channel being very high in proximity of the bottom of the channel. The high speed of the coolant causes a cavitation phenomenon at the coolant inlet, while a non-uniform speed of the coolant determines a different coolant effect on the cylinder, which can lead to damage of the engine due to the distortion of a cylinder wall and consequent seizing of the associated piston.
In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Engine block for an internal combustion engine


An organic light emitting device includes a first pixel displaying a first color, a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel and displaying a second color, and a third pixel adjacent to the first pixel or the second pixel and displaying a third color, wherein the first pixel includes a first and second subpixel units that output respective lights having different color characteristics.

(a) Field of Invention
The present disclosure of invention relates to an organic light emitting device (OLED).
(b) Description of Related Technology
An organic light emitting device (OLED) typically includes a plurality of pixel units, and each pixel unit includes an organic light emitting element and a plurality of thin film transistors (TFT's) for driving the same.
The typical organic light emitting element includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic light emitting member disposed therebetween. The composition of each organic light emitting member is such that when activated it emits light corresponding to one of three colors such as the three primary colors red, green, and blue, or it emits white light. The material used for each organic light emitting member depends on the color or white light that the given organic light emitting member is intended to emits. A white light can be generated for example by stacking side-by-side or otherwise light emitting materials that emit red, green, and blue so that the synthesized light appears white. Moreover, in the case where the organic light emitting member emits white light, a color filter may be added over it to obtain light of a desired color.
However, light emitted from the respective pixel units may not have desired optical characteristics such as desired wavelength(s) or bandwidth or color purity due to variations in the material characteristics of the organic light emitting element and/or due to light interference by a thin film through which the unit generated light passes. Moreover, the range that can be displayed by the light may be limited.

Organic light emitting display device having one or more color presenting pixels each with spaced apart color characteristics


A process for the production of a aerated frozen products by preparing a mixture of ingredients suitable for a frozen aerated product, adding an emulsifier mixture, aerating the mix to obtain an aerated mix having an overrun of about 20% to about 250%, and about 5% to about 100% for the frozen aerated ice cream and water ice, respectively, and freezing the aerated mix to produce the aerated ice cream or water ice.

The present invention is directed to an aerated frozen products, including, but not limited to, ice cream, water ice, frozen yogurt, etc., and the methods for preparing the aerated frozen products.
Traditionally, molded aerated frozen bars, ice cream, or water ice are manufactured by partially freezing an ice cream mix, ice milk mix, frozen yogurt mix, water ice mix, or fruit juice mix in conventional batch or continuous freezers followed by pumping and filling the mix into molds of different shapes and sizes. During the last decade, a new generation of freezers has been developed which are equipped with pre-whippers that enable the mix to be pre-aerated before being partially frozen in the freezer. The molded products are usually quiescently frozen using a cold brine system at xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C. If desired, after demolding, the molded products may be coated with chocolate or compound coating. Finally, the products are usually packaged and stored at about xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. until transport and distribution.
This traditional process for manufacturing molded aerated frozen bars, ice milk, yogurt, ice cream, or water ice has limitations. For example, the partial freezing of the mix in the freezer, followed by quiescent freezing in the molds, leads to the formation of an icy texture, loss of air, and formation of large air cells in the product having a size range of about 110-185 microns (Arbuckle, W. S. Ice Cream, Fourth Edition, 1986, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, p 234). Shrinkage of the products is often a problem and when eating the product, a very cold feeling in the mouth is experienced. Furthermore, it is difficult to achieve more than 20% overrun in water ice, a typical overrun is from 0% to 20% and usually is about 5%. It is very difficult to achieve more than 80% overrun and almost impossible to achieve an overrun of 120% or higher in finished ice cream products using conventional manufacturing.
Non molded products have similar problems. Air cells and ice crystals start growing immediately after production of non molded products. Significant air cell and ice crystal growth occurs during transportation, storage at the grocery store or during transportation and storage of the products by the consumer. None of the available non molded ice cream or water ice products inhibit or delay air cell or ice crystal growth after production or during hardening, transportation, or distribution.
Currently, there is no process that can produce very stable finely aerated frozen ice cream, ice milk, yogurt, or water ice having an average air cell size of less than 50 microns and an average ice crystal size of 25 microns or that are heat shock resistant for a period of time after production. Thus, there is a need for finely aerated ice cream, ice milk, yogurt or water ice that maintain a smooth texture, do not suffer from shrinkage, do not give a very cold feeling in the mouth, have an uniform appearance without large air pockets on the surface and have a significantly higher heat shock resistance. Moreover, no process can produce a stable overrun of more than 20% to about 100% for water ice products or an overrun between about 20% to about 250% for ice cream products. The present invention provides products and processes which overcome these disadvantages.
The present invention relates to a process for the production of aerated frozen products comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of ingredients suitable for preparing a aerated frozen product, adding an emulsifier or mixture thereof in a suitable amount to obtain a mix, aerating the mix to obtain an aerated mix having an overrun of about 20% to about 250% for ice cream products and an overrun of about 5% to about 100% for water ice products, and freezing the aerated mix to form the aerated frozen product. In this process, the mix can be an ice cream mix, a water ice mix, a fruit juice mix, a frozen yogurt mix, a sherbet mix, or a mixture thereof.
The emulsifier mixture comprises at least one emulsifier capable of facilitating the formation and stabilization of fat xcex1-crystals and present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the mix. The emulsifier can be at least one of propylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan tristearate, lactylated monoglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, or unsaturated monoglycerides, preferably the emulsifier mixture comprises propylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan tristearate, and unsaturated monoglycerides.
The mix of ingredients is typically prepared using conventional methods such as by combining the ingredients with shear mixing to disperse and solubilize them into a homogeneous mass, followed by homogenizing the mass and pasteurizing the homogenized mass. The homogenizing step can be conducted in a two stage homogenizer at a pressure of about 70 bar to about 250 bar in the first stage and of about 0 bar to about 50 bar in the second stage. Also, the mix can be aged after pasteurization by storing at a temperature of about 0xc2x0 C. to about 6xc2x0 C. for about 1 hour to about 24 hours. If desired, the mix can be colored and flavored before being aerated at a temperature of about 0xc2x0 C. to about 12xc2x0 C. to obtain the desired overrun. Preferably, the aerated mix is directly fed to a container or mold and frozen to produce the aerated frozen product, with the freezing being allowed to take place quiescently at a temperature of about xe2x88x9225xc2x0 C. to about xe2x88x9245xc2x0 C.
The aerating step can be conducted by allowing the mix pass through a conventional freezer at a temperature of about xe2x88x924xc2x0 C. to about xe2x88x927xc2x0 C. In contrast, for molded products, the aerating step can be a whipping step conducted by using a conventional mixer at a speed of about 150 rpm to about 1000 rpm and at a flow rate of about 10 L/h to about 1000 L/h.
The invention also relates to an aerated frozen ice cream or water ice which comprises a mixture of ingredients suitable for frozen aerated ice cream or water ice and at least one emulsifier for facilitating formation and stabilization of fat xcex1-crystals.
The aerated frozen ice cream or water ice have an overrun of about 20% to about 250% and of about 5% to about 100%, respectively, and contain air cells having an average size of less than about 50 microns which cells are uniformly distributed throughout the ice cream or water ice and which are substantially invisible to the naked eye. Preferably, the aerated frozen products have air cells with an average size of about 15 microns to about 40 microns and an ice crystal size of less than about 30 microns. The process produces an aerated frozen product having a smooth texture similar to an extruded ice cream and heat shock resistant such that the apparent change in product volume after heat shock treatment is less than about 5% by volume.
If desired, the aerated frozen products can contain inclusions or have a coating that optionally contains inclusions, which are added before or during freezing. Further, the aerated frozen products may be in shell and core products with ice cream as a core and water ice, fruit juice, fruit ice, real fruit, or a mixture thereof as a shell or coating. The latter having an overrun of about 0% to about 20%.

Process for producing aerated frozen products


A liquid crystal device including a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal of a dispersed type in which molecules of the liquid crystal are randomly distributed. The liquid crystal layer (14) includes a first liquid crystal (16) existing between the orientation layers of the first and second transparent plates and liquid crystal capsules (20) dispersed in the first liquid crystal and including therein a second liquid crystal (18), for preventing light leaking. Also, the liquid crystal panel has a scattering value greater than 1 percent, where the scattering value is defined by a percentage of a ratio of an intensity of light transmitted by the liquid crystal panel to that of the source of the laser beam without a liquid crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device including a dispersed type liquid crystal in which molecules of the liquid crystal are randomly distributed so that an incident light impinges on the molecules of the liquid crystal to scatter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, liquid crystal display devices are applied to a variety of technical fields and the requirements for improving display quality, such as a large display surface, a high definition, and color display. Several types of liquid crystals are utilized in liquid crystal display devices. Twisted nemeatic liquid crystals have often been used, and in this case, molecules of the liquid crystal oriented in a constant direction relative to the transparent plates between which the liquid crystal is inserted. Alternatively, a liquid crystal of a dispersed type, such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal has been developed and in this case, molecules of the liquid crystal are randomly distributed so that an incident light impinges on the molecules of the liquid crystal to scatter.
For example, FIG. 6 of the attached drawings shows a liquid crystal display device utilizing a twisted nematic liquid crystal. This liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel comprising a pair of opposed transparent plates 1 and 2, and a liquid crystal layer 3 sealignly inserted between the transparent plates 1 and 2. Electrodes and orientation layers (not shown) are provided on the inside surfaces of the transparent plates 1 and 2, respectively. The orientation layer of the upper transparent plate 1 is treated by rubbing in the direction, as shown by the arrow 1a, and the orientation layer of the lower transparent plate 2 is treated by rubbing in the direction, as shown by the arrow 2a. Accordingly, a portion of molecules of the liquid crystal near the upper transparent plate 1 oriented in the direction of the arrow 1a, and a portion of molecules of the liquid crystal near the lower transparent plate 1 oriented in the direction of the arrow 2a, with molecules of the liquid crystal between the upper and lower transparent plates 1 and 2 twisting by 90 degrees. An intermediate portion of molecules of the liquid crystal between the upper and lower transparent plates 1 and 2 is shown by the broken line 3a. Also, polarizers 4 and 5 are arranged, respectively, on the outside of the upper and lower transparent plates 1 and 2. The polarizers 4 and 5 have transmitting axes 4a and 5a of polarized light perpendicular to each other, in correspondence with the rubbing directions 1a and 1b of the upper and lower transparent plates 1 and 2.
In FIG. 6 , the line Z--Z is a perpendicular line standing at the center of the display surface. When this liquid crystal display device is arranged in an upright position in a vertical plane, the line Z--Z is a horizontal center line across the display surface and the line X--X is a vertical center line. In such a twisted nematic liquid crystal display device, a visual angular characteristic appears depending on a relationship between an angle by which a user sees the display and an orientation of the intermediate molecules 3a of the liquid crystal between the upper and lower transparent plates 1 and 2. In FIG. 6, the character .theta. shows a visual angle of depression and the character .phi. is a visual rotating angle. A user sees the liquid crystal display device from the front thereof when .theta. is zero, and sees the liquid crystal display device obliquely when .theta. is not zero. In the latter case, a user sees the upright liquid crystal display device from an upper position when .phi. is 90 degrees and sees the upright liquid crystal display device from a lower position when .phi. is 270 degrees.
FIGS. 7A to 7C show the twisted nematic liquid crystal display device to which lights are incident in the different directions A, B, and C. The arrow C shows a light incident perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel and the arrows A and B show lights incident obliquely to the liquid crystal panel. Also, FIG. 7A shows the liquid crystal display device when the applied voltage V is zero, FIG. 7B shows the liquid crystal display device when the applied voltage V is V.sub.S which is a relatively small value, and FIG. 7C shows the liquid crystal display device when the applied voltage V is V.sub.L which is a relatively large value. In the twisted nematic liquid crystal display device, an incident polarized light rotates 90 degrees in accordance with the twist of the liquid crystal, and the plane of vibration of the transmitting polarized light rotates 90 degrees relative to the plane of vibration of the incident polarized light. Accordingly, the polarized light transmitting the polarizer 5 (FIG. 6) can transmit the analyzer 4 by rotating 90 degrees. Also, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, molecules 3 a of the liquid crystal rise as the applied voltage increases, so that an angle between the direction of the long axis of the molecules of the liquid crystal and the direction of the propagation of the light changes, causing a change in an optical effect of birefringence so that an intensity of transmitting light decreases. The optical effect of birefringence varies for the lights A, B, and C. For example, regarding the light C perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel, the optical effect by birefringence is "large" in FIG. 7A, "medium" in FIG. 7B, and "small" in FIG. 7C, with the intensity of the transmitting light decreasing in this order. Regarding the light A obliquely extending in the same sense as the tilt of the intermediate molecules 3a of the liquid crystal, the optical effect by birefringence is "medium" in FIG. 7A, "small" in FIG. 7B, and again "medium" in FIG. 7C. Also Regarding the light B obliquely extending in the opposite sense to the tilt of the intermediate molecules 3a of the liquid crystal, the optical effect by birefringence is "medium" in FIG. 7A, "large" in FIG. 7B, and again "medium" in FIG. 7C.
A visual angular characteristic of such a twisted nematic liquid crystal display device is typically summarized in FIG. 5. This visual angular characteristic is represented by a T-V relationship of a transmittance of a light through the liquid crystal 3 versus a voltage V applied to the liquid crystal 3. The curve F shows a visual angular characteristic when a user sees the liquid crystal panel from the front thereof, which corresponds to the case of the perpendicular incident light C of FIGS. 7A to 7C. The curve G shows a visual angular characteristic when a user sees the liquid crystal panel from a lower position, which corresponds to the case of the oblique incident light A of FIGS. 7A to 7C. The curve H shows a visual angular characteristic when a user sees the liquid crystal panel from an upper position, which corresponds to the case of the oblique incident light B of FIGS. 7A to 7C. In the visual angular characteristic G in the case of viewing the liquid crystal panel from a lower position, the transmitting light decreases with a slight increase of the voltage V and it is difficult to obtain a bright white display spot. Also, there is a portion M where brightness is reversed. Therefore, if a gradation display is attempted by controlling the voltage in correspondence with the brightness, a reversal of the resultant display brightness may result for example, a gray display spot may be produced at a position that is intended to produce a black display point, and reversely, a black display spot may be produced at a position that is intended to produce a gray display point. In reverse, in the visual angular characteristic H in the case of viewing the liquid crystal panel from an upper position, the reduction of the transmitting light is small even if the voltage V is increased to a greater value so that it is difficult to obtain a black display spot.
As described, there is the problem of a visual angular characteristic in the liquid crystal display device including an orderly oriented liquid crystal.
The liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal of a dispersed type, such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, does not suffer from this problem in the twisted nematic liquid crystal display device because in the liquid crystal display device of a dispersed type, molecules of the liquid crystal are randomly distributed and the scattering of the incident light occurs in all directions, and accordingly a specific visual angular direction does not exist.
However, the dispersed type liquid crystal display device uses a medium in which the liquid crystal is dispersed. For example, in the polymer dispersed liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal has the form of capsules that are dispersed in a polymer material. There is a problem of a leaking light in the dispersed liquid crystal display device, since the course of light is bent when the light propagates from the liquid crystal capsule to the polymer material, or vice versa, and the light may leak into adjacent display spots. If these adjacent display spots are black display spot, the leaking light graduates the quality of a black spot.
In addition, in the dispersed type liquid crystal display device it is desirable to produce a white display spot by scattering the impinging incident light when the voltage is not applied and produce a black display spot by causing molecules of the liquid crystal to rise relative to the transparent plates between which the liquid crystal is inserted when the voltage is not applied. However, there is a problem that, upon producing a white display spot by the scattering light, only a portion of the scattering light that has the same transmitting axis of polarized light as that of the polarizer on the light outlet side (analyzer) can transmit the latter and is utilized for producing a white display spot. But the remaining portion of the scattering light has a different transmitting axis of polarized light from that of the analyzer and thus cannot transmit the latter, and accordingly is not utilized. Therefore, the dispersed type liquid crystal display device suffers from a low utilization of light.

Liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal capsules dispersed in the first liquid crystal and including therein a second liquid crystal


An electrophotographic toner containing a specific compound as the charge control agent is described. The electrophotographic toner according to the present invention have a sharper distribution of charge and better moisture resistance and charge durability than those of a toner wherein a conventional charge control agent is used. Therefore it can provide an image having a very high gradation and has a very high capability of repeatedly forming an image. Since the charge control agent, as such, is essentially colorless, a colorant can freely be selected according to a hue required of a color toner and the toner is not detrimental to the hue inherent in a dye and a pigment. The charge control agent is highly safe to environment.

The present invention relates to a toner used for developing an electrostatic latent image in an electrophotography, an electrostatic recording, etc.
An imaging process wherein use is made of static electricity, such as electrostatic recording or electrostatic photography, comprises the step of forming an electrostatic latent image and the step of visualizing the electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is formed by light signal on a photosensitive material prepared by coating a base material such as aluminum and paper with a photoconductive material such as phthalocyanine pigment, selenium, cadmium sulfide and amorphous silicon. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized by subjecting colored fine particles called toner having a particle diameter regulated to 5 to 50 .mu.m to contact chargeability with a charge carrier such as iron powder and ferrite powder (two-component development) or to direct chargeability (one-component development) and then allowing the charged toner to act on the electrostatic latent image. It is necessary to impart a charge corresponding to the polarity of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive material, that is, either a positive charge or a negative charge, to the toner.
The colored fine particle called toner generally comprises a binder resin as the main component as well as a colorant and charge control agent. Among them, the charge control agent is particularly important component which controls the retainment of the electric charge generated by contact chargeability with a carrier and charging properties of the toner. Although an electric charge can be imparted to the toner through the utilization of a chargeability property of colorant and the binder resin per se without using any charge control agent, only extremely poor image quality can be obtained due to occurrence of fogging phenomena derived from poor chargeability. Quality characteristics required of the toner other than chargeability include excellent stability, fluidity and fixing property. These quality characteristics are greatly affected by the charge control agent used for the toner.
Examples of the conventional charge control agent added to the toner include (1) colored negative charge control agents such as 2:1 metallic complex salt dyes (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Nos. 26478/1970 and 20153/1966) and phthalocyanine pigments (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 45931/1977), and colorless negative charge control agents such as metal complexes of aromatic dicarboxylic acids (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 7384/1984), metal complexes of salicylic acid (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 104940/1982), or those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 3149/1986; and (2) positive charge control agents such as nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, various quaternary ammonium salts (Bulletin of the Institute of Electrostatics Japan, vol. 4, No. 3, P. 114 (1980)) and organotin compounds such as dibutyltin oxide (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 29704/1982). The toners containing these compounds as the charge control agent, however, do not sufficiently satisfy the quality characteristics required for the toner, such as chargeability and charge durability (an ability to maintain a charge for a long time).
For example, although the amount of chargeability of the toner containing a 2:1 metallic complex salt dye known as the negative charge control agent is on a fair level, this dye is disadvantageously poor in the dispersibility in a binder resin on the whole. For this reason, the dye is not homogeneously dispersed in the binder resin, and the distribution of charge extremely lacks in sharpness. The resultant image has a low gradation and is poor in the image forming capability.
Further, the 2:1 metallic complex salt dye is disadvantageous because it cannot be used but for a toner having a shade of color limited to black or blackish hue. The use of this dye for a color toner is detrimental to the brightness of the colorant.
Examples of the nearly colorless negative charge control agent include a metal complex of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 7384/1984). This charge control agent, however, is disadvantageous in that it cannot become completely colorless and the dispersibility is poor. A metal complex of salicylic acid is a colorless charge control agent having relatively good chargeability (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 104940/1982), but causes safety problems owing to its inclusion of a heavy metal. Examples of the colorless negative charge control agent containing no heavy metal include compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 3149/1986 and 38958/1988. These compounds, however, are disadvantageous in that it is difficult to produce toners having a good stability because the melting points of the compounds are lower than the processing temperature (180.degree.-260.degree. C.) and various troubles may occur during the toner processing, and that the rise of the charge is slow.
The nigrosine dyes and triphenylmethane dyes known as positive charge control agents as well are colored and therefore can be used only for a toner having a color limited to black or blackish color. They are also poor in the charge durability in continuous copying. The quaternary ammonium salt, when incorporated in a toner, has a poor charge durability attributable to its insufficient moisture resistance and therefore cannot provide an image having a good quality in repeated use.
Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 16109/1992 describes that bisphenol compounds act as good charge control agents in toner. However, these compounds do not exhibit sufficient effect as charge control agents owing to their relatively large particle size, i.e., 10-15 .mu.m.
Thus, the conventional charge control agents do not sufficiently satisfy the quality characteristics requirements for the toner.