A three-dimensional hanging ornament transformed from a flexible sheet printed with various patterns, which includes a body portion and at least one ornamental portion. At least one multiple connecting strip is connected with the body portion at a lower end thereof and connected with the ornamental portion at an upper end thereof. A perforated line is defined around outer edges of the body portion, the ornamental portion and the connecting strip, whereby the ornamental portion and the connecting strip, or the ornamental portion, the connecting strip and the body portion can be separated either partly or wholly from the sheet. When the hanging ornament is hung in various statuses, the ornamental portion is suspended and streamed in the air, in such a way the sheet with patterns is transformed into a three-dimensional hanging ornament.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hanging ornament with dynamic three-dimensional contouring transformed from a flexible sheet printed with various patterns.
2. Description of Related Art
Homes are commonly decorated with various ornaments, such as plants, paintings, novelties, and hanging ornaments, etc. However, conventional ornaments including normal hanging ornaments are mostly in static states, and this static aspect means that people quickly lose interest in them.
Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a hanging ornament with dynamic interest to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The object of the present invention is to provide a hanging ornament, which is transformed from a flexible sheet printed with various patterns including a body portion and multiple ornamental portions. Multiple connecting strips are respectively connected with the body portion at lower ends thereof and connected with the relative ornamental portions at upper ends thereof. A perforated line is defined around outer edges of each of the body portion, the ornamental portions and the connecting strips, whereby the ornamental portions and the connecting strips, or the ornamental portions, the connecting strips and the body portion can be partly separated from the sheet. When the hanging ornament is hung in various statuses, the ornamental portions are respectively suspended and streamed in the air, in such a way that the sheet with the patterns is transformed into a three-dimensional hanging ornament, which is really dynamic, interesting and has plenty of variety.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

11 Fl., No. 63, Lane 122, Sec. 4, Jen-Ai Rd.


Bayer process liquors derived from the digestion of bauxites with a caustic solution are purified by removing the organic impurities present in the liquors. Removal of these impurities is accomplished by treating the liquor containing dispersed solids with a high viscosity polymer which includes diallyl dimethyl ammonium monomers.

Alumina trihydrate, the precursor of many alumina-based products, including calcined alumina used for making metallic aluminum by reduction, is obtained from alumina-containing ores, such as bauxite. Recovery of the alumina content of bauxite is accomplished by the Bayer process. The Bayer process involves the digestion of bauxite ore with a caustic, such as sodium hydroxide, at elevated temperatures and pressures. Digestion of the bauxite results in a saturated sodium aluminate liquor, referred to as "pregnant liquor". Alumina trihydrate is recovered by precipitation, through the addition of seed alumina.
Bauxite is found in many parts of the world and the composition of the ores may vary from place to place. Bauxite ore contains organic impurities. These organic impurities will be co-extracted with the alumina trihydrate during digestion and will contaminate the pregnant liquor.
Most of the organic impurities found in the ores consist of high molecular weight compounds, such as humic acids. These organic impurities decompose to lower molecular weight compounds during the caustic digestion process and produce a whole spectrum of organic salts dissolved in the pregnant liquor. The organic impurities dissolved in the liquor include color-causing compounds, such as humates, and, consequently, the pregnant liquor will usually possess a dark red color. Since the Bayer process involves extensive recycling of the used caustic liquor, the organic impurity content of the liquor will continuously increase. The accumulation of organic impurities can reach high levels and seriously interfere with the production of alumina trihydrate.
Since the control of organic impurity levels in Bayer process liquors is an important facet in the production of alumina trihydrate, several methods have already been developed for such organic impurity level control. It has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,855 (Schepers et al) that organic impurities can be removed from Bayer process liquors by contacting the liquor with a magnesium compound which will form a precipitated mixture of magnesium and aluminum hydroxides.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,629 (Mercier et al), a barium-containing compound is added to Bayer process liquors. The barium compound precipitates as barium aluminate and the precipitated material may also include barium salts of organic impurities present in the liquor.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,094 (Inao et al), a copper-catalyzed wet oxidation process is recommended for the oxidation or organic impurities, followed by addition of a sulfur-containing compound to remove the copper catalyst as a precipitate. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,042 (Lever), sodium oxalate, one of the organic impurities in Bayer liquor, is removed from spent Bayer liquor. In the '042 patent, dissolved sodium oxalate is removed from spent Bayer liquor by addition of a cationic sequestrant to the spent liquor. The cationic sequestrant, preferably a simple quaternary nitrogen compound possessing medium and longchain alkyl groups and a single cationic charge, produces an insoluble product with humic compounds present in the liquor, thus destabilizing the spent liquor with respect to sodium oxalate. Destablizing allows precipitation of a portion of the oxalate impurity content. Although the method shown in the Lever patent allows removal of a portion of the organic impurity content of the liquor, the insoluble sequestrant-humic acid product will form an oily scum on the surface of the spent liquor and cannot be readily removed from the spent liquor. Elimination of the oily layer form the surface of the liquor cannot be done by conventional filtration. It has to be accomplished either by equipment adapted for this particular purpose or by using a filtration method capable of dealing with semicolloid surface layers. Consequently, the difficulties associated with the process render it impractical.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,043 (Gnyra), a purification method is described which allows reduction of the oxalate impurity level of spent Bayer process liquor. Removal of oxalate and a limited quantity of humic matter is accomplished by treating the impure spent liquor with an adsorbent, such as activated carbon, activated alumina, or clay.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,082 (Matyasi et al) suggest the removal of organic impurities from impure Bayer liquor by caustifying the liquor with lime, followed by evaporation of the cauticized liquor. A similar purification process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,987 (Yamada et al). In this process, Bayer liquor is first evaporated, then calcined at high temperature after its alumina and caustic content is adjusted to a predetermined level. This process, known in the Bayer industry as "liquor burning", is an effective means of organic impurity removal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,255 (Roe et al) discloses a process for removing humate-type organic impurities from Bayer process liquors using diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride polymers having an Intrinsic Viscosity of less than about 1.0 and copolymers having Intrinsic Viscosity of less then about 1.5. Although these low Intrinsic Viscosity polymers are somewhat effective at removing humate-type impurities, the present invention, as detailed below, provides polymers which are much more effective in reducing humate-type impurities. The polymers of the present invention can be dosed at a lower concentration than the polymers of the Roe patent while providing a greater benefit to the Bayer process operator. Accordingly the Bayer process operator obtains a better product at a lower cost than was possible using the methods of the prior art.

Purification of Bayer process liquors using cationic polymeric quaternary ammonium salts


A jet pumping system for use in a wellbore drilled for the production or petroleum products includes a packer disposed within the wellbore, an intake pipe extending through the packer, an injection system configured to inject pressurized gas into the wellbore and a jet pump connected to the intake pipe. The jet pump further includes a removable vortex generator. A method for selectively generating foam in-situ in a subterranean well includes the steps of installing a vortex generator in the jet pump with a wire line procedure and pumping a foam generating solution into the jet pump. Pressurized gas is injected into the annulus of the well, which creates a vortex in the jet pump as the pressurized gas is directed into the jet pump through injection ports. The resultant vortex aerates and mixes the foam generating solution and petroleum fluids to generate a foam in the jet pump.

Wells are drilled to extract oil and gas from subterranean reservoirs. Oil and gas typically enter the well from the producing reservoir through perforations in the well casing. Initially, the reservoir pressure may be sufficient to overcome the force of gravity and force oil and gas out of the well. As the reservoir pressure decreases, however, fluids may accumulate at the bottom of the wellbore and it may become necessary to employ artificial lift systems to harvest the oil and gas. Examples of artificial lift systems include surface-mounted sucker rod pumps, electrical submersible pumps, plunger-lifts and gas-lift systems.
Gas lift systems involve injecting gas through the tubing-casing annulus of the well to aerate the accumulated fluid at the bottom of the well. The injected gas aerates the fluid to reduce its density and the reservoir pressure is then able to lift the oil column and forces the fluid out of the wellbore. Gas may be injected continuously or intermittently, depending on the producing characteristics of the well and the arrangement of the gas-lift equipment.
Generally, the use of density-reducing foam in conjunction with gas lift systems has proven to be an efficient and cost effective method for improving the recovery of petroleum products from the wellbore. However, many current foam generators require that the foam be generated at the surface and then pumped down into the wellbore. Alternatively, foam generation equipment must be installed in the equipment string in the well, which requires shutting-in the well while the new equipment is installed and removed. There is therefore a need for an improved foam generator that can generate foam in-situ in the well-bore and that can be selectively activated without interrupting the production of oil and gas.


A sleeve is configured to fit slidably around a water hose. One end of the sleeve is oriented towards an end coupling, and is configured as a wrench to register with the external surface of the coupling.

1. Field
This invention relates to water hoses, particularly those commonly used by households for supplying water to gardens and other related household uses. It is particularly directed to reinforcement sleeves used in connection with such hoses and provides an improved such sleeve which facilitates the coupling and decoupling of a hose to a water supply fixture.
2. State of the Art
Water supply hoses of the type commonly referred to as garden hoses are widely used by households for a variety of purposes. The use of such hoses is burdened by various recurring inconveniences associated with the propensity of such hoses to develop kinks as they are moved about or repositioned. Water hoses are conventionally stored in coiled condition, and kinks tend to develop as the hose is moved about in a fashion which tends to twist the resulting coils. Frequently, an effective closure of a hose occurs near its supply end when the hose is stretched or otherwise manipulated. Accordingly, some hoses are provided with a reinforcement sleeve which is either permanently fixed or positionable in the proximity of a kink-prone region of the hose. Such reinforcing sleeves are of sufficient length, conventionally between about 8 and about 20 inches to maintain the hose in an unkinked condition. Slidably-mounted reinforcement sleeves, while they may be configured either the same as or unlike the cross-sectional configuration of the hose, are ordinarily sized to move easily along the longitudinal axis of the hose when the hose is in either a straightened or nearly straightened condition.
The most common location of the reinforcing sleeve is adjacent or near the connection point of the hose to the supply fixture. A water flow restricting kink is readily developed when the hose is pulled in a fashion which bends its sidewalls in the proximity of this attachment point. The reinforcing sleeve distributes forces along a sufficient length of the hose to avoid the development of such a kink.
Although most water hoses are circular in cross-sectional configuration, a reinforcement sleeve used with such hoses may have a polygonal cross-sectional configuration. Non-circular configurations facilitate manual movement of the sleeve and provide additional resistance against kinking.
Another common difficulty experienced with water hoses occurs in the attachment or detachment of an end of a length of hose to a water supply fixture or another length of hose. The water supply fixture is typically in the form of a faucet with a male-threaded outlet portion adapted to receive corresponding female threads carried by a coupling fixture at one (supply) end of the hose. A male-threaded coupling fixture is ordinarily carried at the opposite (discharge) end of the hose so that a pair of hoses may be connected by coupling the supply end of one length of hose with the discharge end of a second length of hose. After a period of use, the male threads of an outdoor water faucet tend to become damaged, corroded or otherwise difficult to couple with the corresponding female hose threads. The threads of even a new water tap may be unsuitable to effect a good, water-tight connection with a hose coupling because such fixtures are often of indifferent quality. In any event, the threaded fixtures carried at either end of a hose are exposed to damage through use. Moreover, it is often difficult to decouple a hose connection, whether between a hose and water supply or between two lengths of hose, after they have been connected for a period of time. Such connections often corrode in place due to the evaporation of water between adjacent threads. In other instances, the coupling is accidentally damaged or mechanically distorted.
Ideally, hoses should be capable of attachment and detachment with respect to a water supply tap through the use of ordinary finger pressure by individuals of ordinary or even limited physical capability. Because of the difficulties in effecting and maintaining finger-tightenable connections, however, the fixtures carried at the ends of typical water hoses are provided with knurled, ribbed or otherwise configured surfaces adapted for gripping by pliers, a wrench or other leverage device. Some hose couplings are provided with polygonal (typically hexagonal), wrench-receiving surfaces to accommodate a crescent wrench or similar adjustable leverage tool. The provision of such adaptations to hose coupling fixtures provides a means for effecting water-tight connections and disconnection but only if an appropriate tool is available. Without such tools, it is difficult for an ordinary person reliably to effect a connection or disconnection of conventional hose couplings. This difficulty is especially noticeable as individuals lose finger dexterity and strength due to advancing age or debilitating conditions such as arthritis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,997 (Ingram) discloses a hose coupling with a metal sleeve cinched onto a hose near the male-threaded end of the coupling. By exerting torque on the metal sleeve, the male-threaded end is either connected to or disconnected from the coupling. The metal sleeve provides a hand hold to maintain the male-threaded end of a hose stationary while turning the female-threaded portion of the coupling onto the male-threaded portion. In practice however, torque and rotational movement are ordinarily applied to the female end of the hose coupling which is provided with a rotating connection to avoid twisting of the hose. A serious drawback of the Ingram device is that rotation of the metal sleeve of necessity effects a rotation of the entire hose to which it is crimped.
There remains a need for an improved system whereby the coupling and decoupling of hose connections can be effected by persons of ordinary capabilities, including those with limited finger dexterity, without the need for special wrenches or other auxiliary means.

Wrench sleeve attachment for garden hose


A outer surface-inspecting method for judging whether a defect of a defective portion (27) extracted from an inspection area in an image (21A) of an object to be inspected through comparison with a template is acceptable or not, including: dividing the inspection area into a plurality of sections (22, 23, 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b, 28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels (CONDITION 1-6); judging, when at least one extracted defective portion (27) spreads out over some of the sections (28a, 28b, 28c) respectively having different acceptable levels, whether the defect of the defective portion (27) is acceptable or not based on a strictest acceptable level (CONDITION 3) of all the acceptable levels (CONDITION 3-5) respectively set on the plurality of sections (28a, 28b, 28c) on which the defective portion (27) is located.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for inspecting an outer surface of an object to be inspected and an apparatus therefor. Particularly, the present invention relates to an outer surface-inspecting method and an outer surface-inspecting apparatus suitable for judging whether a defect of a circuit pattern formed on a semiconductor chip is acceptable or not, the defect being caused by a gap of the circuit pattern, a foreign body attached to the circuit pattern, or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
There is used a method using a template as an outer surface-inspecting method for judging whether a circuit pattern is good or not. There is proposed a method including: photographing an outer surface image of one good pattern selected as a template; detecting a pattern shape by carrying out an edge detection process on the photographed image; and automatically dividing an area to be inspected based on the pattern shape into a plurality of sections (e.g., Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-85543 (paragraphs 0029-0057 and FIG. 3)). Also, in order to set each section on an area to be inspected according to a detected pattern, there is used a method including: setting layers respectively for inspection conditions based on acceptable levels as to defects; and setting sections respectively having acceptable levels different from each other, which are classified and divided by superposing the layers (e.g., Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-132950 (paragraphs 0032-0065 and FIG. 3)).
In such prior art described above, the template and an image obtained from an object to be inspected are compared over each inspection area. When a defect of the object to be inspected is extracted by the comparison, it is judged whether or not the level of the extracted defect exceeds a predetermined acceptable level of a corresponding section. For example, when a spread of the extracted defect is compared to a predetermined acceptable value of a corresponding section where the defect exists and the spread exceeds the acceptable value, the object to be inspected is judged as a defective product.
According to the prior art, set sections can be set automatically by image-processing a photographed image obtained from the object to be inspected. Further, by superposing a plurality of the layers respectively having acceptable levels different from each other, the area to be inspected can be divided into set sections respectively having different acceptable levels, corresponding to a desirable condition. Thus, an operator can easily operate an inspecting apparatus, and a workload of the operator may be reduced.
However, according to the prior art, a centroid method is used for judging whether a defective portion extracted through comparison with the template exceeds a corresponding acceptable level or not. According to the centroid method, as an acceptable level for judging one defective portion consisting of a collective entity of defects, an acceptable level only corresponding to one set section where the centroid of the defective portion is located is chosen.
Thus, when a defective portion spreading out over a plurality of sections respectively having different acceptable levels is found, acceptable levels of sections out of which the centroid is located are not taken into consideration, although one/some parts of the defective portion are located on such sections. That is, when a defective portion spreading out over a plurality of set sections respectively having different acceptable levels exists and the centroid of the defective portion is located on one of the set sections having the lowest acceptable level of all the acceptable levels of the set sections, the lowest acceptable level, i.e., the most strict acceptable level is compared to the defect of the entire defective portion. Similarly, when the centroid of the defective portion is located on another set section having the highest acceptable level, i.e., the lightest acceptable level of all the acceptable levels of the set sections, the lightest acceptable level is compared to the defect of the entire defective portion. Thus, even if there are defective portions respectively having the same area thereof, acceptable levels applied for judgments of the defects of those defective portions may be widely changed according to a slight difference of centroid positions due to a slight difference in shapes/positions between the defective positions and therefore their judgments may result in the opposite.
Even if a defect of a defective portion does not exceed an acceptable level of a set section on which the centroid of the defective portion is located and in the case a part of the defective portion spreads out over a section(s) having an acceptable level more strict than that of the set section where the centroid is positioned, a defect of the part of the defective portion located on the section may exceed the acceptable level of the section on which the centroid is not located. In such case, the acceptable level of the section on which the centroid is not located is not taken into consideration according to the conventional centroid method, thus, it may be overlooked that the defect of the part of the defective portion spreading out over the section on which the centroid of the defective portion is not located exceeds the strict acceptable level of the section out of the centroid. As a result, it may be erroneously judged as a good product.

Outer surface-inspecting method and outer surface-inspecting apparatus


A magnetic disk drive has a problem in that when a shock in excess of a force used to fasten a spindle shaft to a cover is applied, the spindle shaft becomes inclined. Embodiments of the invention overcome this problem. In one embodiment, a cover is formed with a recessed portion at a location opposite to a spindle shaft. The recessed portion is formed with a projection having an end to be in contact with an inclined portion of a tapped hole of the spindle shaft. Thus, a “plug-like” structure is formed. Preferably, a gap between the cover and the spindle shaft is not present. With this structure, even if the shock is applied from outside, the projection of the cover acts as a stopper to suppress a displacement between the spindle shaft and the cover, thus preventing inclination of the spindle shaft.

The present invention relates to a magnetic disk drive, and more particularly to fixing construction of a spindle shaft for supporting a magnetic disk.
The magnetic disk drive includes a spindle motor for drivingly rotating a magnetic disk and a carriage for supporting a magnetic head that are mounted within a case composed of a base and a cover. The magnetic head is placed in a radial position over the magnetic disk by the carriage to write and read data thereto and therefrom.
A demand for the magnetic disk drives has increased and those applications expand from personal computers (PC) used in offices to laptop computers, portable equipment, vehicle-mounted car navigation systems and other outdoor devices. As a result, the use environment has become severe for the magnetic disk drives.
On the other hand, high-density recording and high-speed data transfer have been promoted, which require magnetic heads to have a higher degree of positional accuracy. It is essential to improve not only the reliability of mechanical systems under the usage environment conditions of drives but also the accuracy of components thereof. Further, even upon high-impact on a device, it is desired that a smaller effect be exerted on the various parts of the drive, and that the amount of displacement with several microns or so be not caused. In particular, it is desired for the shock not to produce a displacement of the magnetic disk, and a relative displacement between the magnetic disk and the magnetic head.
FIG. 6 shows the conventional fixing construction of a spindle shaft described in, e.g., Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-125053). In this construction, the upper and lower portions of a spindle shaft 4 are screwed to a cover 2 and a base (not shown), respectively. Specifically, the base side end of the spindle shaft is fixed to the base with a plurality of screws, and the cover side end is fixed to the cover 2 with a single screw 16. Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-202682) discloses another conventional fixing construction in which first and second metal washers 27, 28 are fastened to a spindle shaft 4 with a screw 16 so that vibrations may be reduced which are caused by the rotation of a spindle motor and transmitted to a cover 2. Specifically, the cover 2 is formed with a hole at a position corresponding to the spindle shaft 4, the first metal washer 27 is placed on the cover in the periphery of the hole, and the second metal washer 28 is used to sandwich the cover 2 in the periphery of the hole in combination with the first metal washer 27.

Mounting spindle shaft in magnetic disk drive

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


Optical cable, in particular for submarine connections. A water blocking resin filling composition of reduced hardness is disposed into interstices. Preferably, the resin composition is a polyurethane resin having less than about 35% by weight of a polyol/polyisocyanate mixture and about 60% to about 90% by weight of a mineral oil. The polyurethane resin preferably has less than about 12% by weight of a coupling agent. The cable has an optical core surrounded by a plurality of metallic wires and an outer polymeric sheath. The optical core is of the “tight” type with a plurality of optical fibers embedded into a polymeric matrix disposed around a strength member.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to a submarine optical cable comprising a polymeric composition suitable for filling the interstices within said cable, in order to control a longitudinal flow of water accidentally penetrated inside said cable.
2. Background Art
Submarine optical cables are subjected, in case of accidental rupture thereof, to a sudden ingress of a sea-water flow at high pressure (e.g. 100 bar, when the cable is at 1000 m below the sea level). Such high pressure water flow may propagate for a relevant length inside the cable if suitable water blocking means are not provided in the cable, thus damaging a remarkable portion of said cable which has then to be replaced.
A number of cables designed for submarine installation are known in the art.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,213 relates to a submarine cable comprising a pressure resistant steel tube containing optical fibers, surrounded by two layers of steel wires and by an outer metal tube made of copper or aluminum. Dams of a sticky compound and/or of a jelly of plastic material are disposed at regular intervals inside the central tube and in the gaps between the lay of wires disposed between the central tube and the outer tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,062 discloses an undersea cable comprising a central metallic tube, filled with a sealing compound, e.g. silica gel, and containing optical fibers embedded therein, said tube being surrounded by a helical lay of metallic (preferably steel) wires. Interstices between wires and between the helical lay and the central tube are filled with a sealing material, such as a polyurethane resin, which opposes longitudinal propagation of water along the cable. Alternatively, the central tube can be made of plastic and in this case the helical lay also presents the characteristics of an arch for withstanding pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,649 relates to a submarine cable wherein the voids inside the cable are filled with a material having adequate elongation property and creep characteristics, in order to withstand the high pressure water flow following an accidental rupture of the cable. As filling material, a polyurethane resin is disclosed, said resin being comprised of not less than 10% by weight, preferably not less than 30% by weight of a hydrocarbon polyol/polyisocyanate mixture and from about 5 to 90%, preferably from 10% to 70% of a hydrocarbon oil. In the working examples a paraffinic oil is employed as a mineral oil, in a maximum amount of 56% by weight.
The applicant has now observed that while prior art resin filling compositions, in particular polyurethane based resins, has been developed with selected mechanical characteristics allowing the resin to effectively block the longitudinal water flow inside a submarine cable, (e.g. following an accidental rupture of the same), no attention has been paid in the prior art cables to the mechanical interaction between the filling compositions and the optical fibers disposed inside the optical core.
The Applicant has in fact observed that commercial polyurethane-based filling composition, when cross-linked, reach a relative high hardness. The Applicant has further observed that mechanical stresses can be generated in the cable structure, in particular during the manufacturing process of the cable, such as during the stranding of metal armoring wires around the optical core (e.g. as a consequence of a slight variations in the circular cross-section of the stranded metallic wires). Due to the relatively high hardness of the resin filling material disposed around the optical core, said mechanical stresses can be transmitted onto the optical core, thus causing a permanent deformation on the structure of the same, with consequent possible attenuation of the signal transmitted by the optical fiber contained therein.
Applicant has noticed that this problem becomes much more relevant when Large Effective Area (LEA) fibers are used in the optical cable, which fibers are much more sensitive to bending-induced losses (also known as the microbending and macrobending phenomena) than standard dispersion-shifted fibers (SDS fibers). The term LEA fibers is intended to encompass those optical fibers having a large effective area, in particular optical fibers having an effective area of at least 7 μm2 or greater. In particular, said LEA fibers may be used in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) and high bandwidth systems.
The Applicant has now observed that the resin filling material, while being capable of guaranteeing the desired water-blocking performances, shall have at the same time a relatively reduced hardness, in order not to negatively affect the signal transmission within the optical fiber in case of mechanical stresses produced onto the cable, and particularly onto the optical core.
The Applicant has further observed that certain components of conventional polyurethane resins may negatively interact with some material forming the structural elements of the cable. In particular, ester compounds which may be used as plasticizers in conventional polyurethane resin composition may negatively interact with the polymeric material of the optical core of submarine cables. The Applicant has thus found that by suitably formulating a polyurethane resin composition, in particular by using a relatively high amount of mineral oil and a rather limited amount of ester compounds, it is possible to obtain a good compatibility between the polyurethane resin and other polymeric materials of the cable.

Submarine optical cable with water-blocking filling composition


An electrical receptacle assembly is reconfigurable to provide any number of different styles or configurations of high or low voltage electrical receptacles and/or data outlets. The receptacle assembly includes a main body with an outlet receptacle portion, a flange portion extending outwardly from the main body, an upper frame member positioned generally above the flange portion, and a lower frame member positioned generally below the flange portion. A plurality of electrical contacts are positioned in the main body, and are configured to make electrical contact when the outlet receptacle portion receives an electrical or data plug associated with an electrical device. The upper and lower frame members are configured to interchangeably receive different main bodies with different outlet portions, and enable the different outlet portions to be mounted at a power center along a work surface or the like.

Electrical power outlets and corresponding electrical plugs vary widely throughout the world, with many different shapes and electrical contact configurations in use. Even individual countries are known to have different configurations of outlets. While it is often helpful or desirable to provide one or more electrical power outlets (and/or low voltage power outlets or data outlets, or combinations thereof) along or within reach of a work surface, such as a desk, a table, or the like, providing assemblies of outlets with different configurations, within a single assembly, can be costly due to the large number of variations that may need to be accommodated for a given application, in order to meet widely variable customer or consumer demands.

Electrical receptacle with frames for mounting in a support


A photographing object image adjusting apparatus including a plurality of adjusting operation devices corresponding to a plurality of object image adjusting modes, respectively, and an object image adjusting device. Each of the plurality of adjusting operation devices is configured such that an adjusting operation giving an instruction of object image adjusting is performed by being manipulated. The object image adjusting device is configured to adjust an image of an object imaged on an imaging surface of a photographing element in an object image adjusting mode of the plurality of object image adjusting modes corresponding to an adjusting operation device of the plurality of adjusting operation devices in which the adjusting operation giving the instruction of object image adjusting has been performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present relates to a photographing object image adjusting apparatus and a photographing apparatus, and in particular to a photographing object image adjusting apparatus that performs focus and brightness adjusting for each photographing mode and a photographing apparatus having focus and brightness adjusting functions for each photographing mode.
2. Discussion of the Background
In photographing apparatuses, such as digital cameras, auto-focusing automatically adjusting the focus is performed so that an optimal image of a photographing object is imaged on an imaging surface. An auto-focusing method called a CCDAF (CCD auto-focusing) method is generally used in digital cameras. In the CCDAF method, while moving a focusing lens from the infinite distance side to the closest distance side to change the state of the focus, an image of a photographing object is imaged on an imaging surface of a CCD as a photographing element, high frequency components of image signals obtained from the CCD are sampled and evaluated, and the point where a maximum evaluation value has been obtained is determined as the focused position. A range in which a focusing lens or a CCD as a photographing element is moved for focus adjustment or auto-focusing is sometimes referred to as a scanning range for focus adjustment or auto-focusing, and the width of the range is referred to as the scanning width for focus adjustment or auto-focusing.
Driving a focus adjusting mechanism for moving a lens system or a CCD as photographing element must be controlled such that the lens system or the CCD is stopped with a resolution finer than a depth of focus, which is determined by an F-number and a focal distance of the lens system and a picture element pitch of the CCD. Otherwise, it occurs that, for example, when the lens system is out of focus at the long distance side, by generation of one pulse of a focusing motor driving the focus driving mechanism intended for putting the lens system in focus, the lens system is out of focus again, this time at the short distance side.
Generally, a focus adjusting mechanism is designed such that a lens system or a CCD as a photographing element is moved about one half of a depth of focus by one pulse of a focusing motor driving the focus adjusting mechanism. Of course, the lens system or CCD may be moved at a finer resolution from the viewpoint of performance, which, however, is disadvantageous from the viewpoint of driving time. Therefore, in this disclosure, it is assumed that a lens system or a CCD as a photographing element is moved one half of a depth of focus by one pulse of a focusing motor driving a focus adjusting mechanism for moving the lens system or the CCD.
The number of driving pulses of the focusing motor for moving the lens system or CCD for focus adjustment are calculated as illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The F-number and the focal distance of the lens system and the picture element pitch of the CCD are predetermined, respectively. For adjusting the focus in the range of photographing distance between infinity distance and the distance of 30 cm, for example, in a telephotographing condition, the focusing motor is driven for about 100 pulses. That is, by driving the focusing motor for this number of pulses, i.e., about 100 pulses, the lens system or CCD is moved through the whole scanning width for adjusting the focus. High frequency components of image signals obtained from the CCD in the whole scanning width are sampled and evaluated at appropriate intervals, and based upon a result of the evaluation, the focused position is determined. It is not necessary to obtain an evaluation value for each pulse of the focusing motor, and for example, an evaluation value may be obtained for every 3-4 pulses and thereafter an interpolating calculation may be performed. The length of an auto-focusing time is greatly affected by width of the whole scanning width for focus adjustment.
The whole scanning width for focus adjustment is greater as the CCD picture element pitch is finer, the F-number is brighter, the focal length is longer, or the closest photographing distance is smaller. Accordingly, in recent digital cameras, the auto-focusing time tends to be increased.
To cope with such a problem that the auto-focusing time is increased, a short distance photographing mode (hereinafter, a macro photographing mode) is often provided.
For example, in a camera having a lens system designed for photographing an object in the range of distance between infinity distance and the closest distance of 30 cm, when a normal photographing mode is selected, the photographing range is set to be between infinity distance and the distance of 60 cm, and when a macro photographing mode is selected, the photographing range is set to be between the distances of 60 cm and 30 cm. Thereby, in either of the normal photographing mode and the macro photographing mode, the whole scanning width of a range of distance in which the lens system or a CCD as a photographing element is moved for focus adjustment is reduced such that by driving a focusing motor for about 50 pulses, the lens system or CCD is moved through the whole scanning width for focus adjustment, so that the auto-focusing time is remarkably reduced.
In background cameras, selection of a normal photographing mode and a macro photographing mode is performed by manipulating a dial-type mode selection switch, which is separate from a release button with which an instruction of auto-focusing is given by a halfway depressing operation thereof. The photographer first manipulates the mode selection switch to select, for example, the normal photographing mode, and then depresses the release button halfway, and thereby auto-focusing in the normal photographing mode is performed. When the release button is halfway depressed after selecting the macro photographing mode, auto-focusing in the macro photographing mode is performed.
As described above, in the background cameras having a macro photographing mode, when photographing an object at a closest distance, before manipulating a release button, a mode selection switch must be manipulated to select the macro photographing mode, which is troublesome. In particular, when photographing moving objects, such as children, at a shorter distance, and another objects at a normal distance, at random, switching between the normal and macro photographing modes is extremely troublesome.
Further, some recent digital cameras are provided with two macro photographing modes, such as a normal macro photographing mode for photographing an object in the range of distance from 30 cm to 60 cm and a super macro photographing mode for photographing an object in the range of distance from 1 cm to 30 cm. In such digital cameras, the operation of selecting one of the photographing modes is more time consuming, leading to a problem that a photographing chance is missed.
Furthermore, in some recent cameras, in addition to the normal photographing mode and the macro photographing mode, various other photographing modes are provided, for example, a single auto-focusing mode in which an auto-focusing operation is performed only once in response to a halfway depressing operation of a release button, and a continuous auto-focusing mode in which an auto-focusing operation is performed while the release button is continued to be halfway depressed.

Photographing apparatus and method of adjusting an image of a photographing object


A thermal processing apparatus is provided in accordance with some embodiments. The thermal processing apparatus includes a heating source for transmitting incident radiation to a work piece having a circuit pattern formed on a front surface; a radiation sensor configured to receive light radiated from the front surface of the work piece; and a controller coupled to the radiation sensor, the controller being designed to control the heating source to reduce temperature variation of the work piece.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. These advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. In one example, when a thermal annealing process is applied to a semiconductor wafer, non-uniform thermal effect presents, resulting in device performance varies over different locations. However, there are no effective way to monitor the above non-uniformity and efficient way to reduce the non-uniformity.

Method and apparatus for thermal mapping and thermal process control

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


An eyepiece includes a biconvex lens, a bonded negative meniscus lens including a negative lens with a concave surface which faces the object, and a positive lens having a convex surface which faces an eyepoint. A biconvex lens and a positive lens having a convex surface which faces the object are also provided. Certain prescribed conditional equations are met by the eyepiece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an eyepiece with a wide angle lens and, more specifically, to an eyepiece with a wide field of view which is used in microscopes and similar devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Many suggestions have been made for improving an eyepiece used in microscopes and similar devices. One recent suggestion relates to broadening the field of view of an eyepiece. A suggestion has also been made to increase an on-axis distance between a surface of the pupil of the ocular system and the eyepoint. This on-axis distance is referred to as "eye relief". When securing a wide field of view and an eye relief of substantial length, aberrations such as distortion aberration, astigmatism, and spherical aberration of the pupil tend to increase. Conventional eyepieces with wide fields of view for correcting these aberrations are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Kokai Patent Application Nos. Hei 61994!-148543, Hei 61994!-175045, Hei 61994!-194583, and Hei 71995!-84195.


At an artificial intelligence system, a respective feature set is generated from individual text collections pertaining to an item, using a first machine learning model which is trained to perform character-level analysis. Using at least a portion of a second machine learning model, a score associated with a semantic criterion is generated for an item; the training input to the second model is based on the feature sets. A recommendation associated with the item is generated based on the score.

In recent years, more and more of the items purchased by the general public are being bought online. Some e-retail organizations which sell a variety of items such as electronic devices, books, clothing, household items, and the like may have large inventories comprising millions of items. In many cases, the number of items available, even within a given category such as a particular type of clothing, may be quite large. An almost limitless amount of research and comparison may be possible online when searching for items to purchase, sometimes making it difficult for a potential consumer to select which specific item should be bought for a particular purpose. In some cases, a variety of text and/or graphical information may be available regarding various items, which may collectively contain, at least in principle, semantic information which may indicate the suitability of the items for various purposes such as gifting. However, extracting the semantic information and providing it to potential item consumers to help them identify items for a given purpose or occasion may not be straightforward.
This item selection problem is even more of an issue when a gift is to be purchased, as the response of the gift receiver to the gift may often have a higher level of emotional significance to a potential gift purchaser than is associated with the purchase of non-gift items. This may be especially true for the many special occasions during a year in which people are expected to purchase gifts—e.g., seasonal holidays, birthdays, days set aside to honor one's parents, and so on. Of course, it may not be straightforward to predict the extent to which a gift receiver is likely to have a positive response to a gift; what constitutes a "good" gift is highly subjective and often varies from person to person. Even for a particular person, the characteristics that may make a given item suitable as a gift may vary over time, or even with the current mood of the person. Furthermore, for a gift purchase to be considered successful, needs of both the gift giver (e.g., budget limits, timing constraints with respect to the delivery of the gift, etc.) and the gift receiver may have to be satisfied.
Many e-retail organizations may attempt to generate recommendations for various types of purchases in order to help with the item selection problem. In many cases, however, generic recommendations by themselves may not be straightforward for potential item consumers to interpret, and may therefore not be very convincing.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined
by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. When used in the claims, the term "or" is used as an inclusive or and not as an exclusive or. For example, the phrase "at least one of x, y, or z" means any one of x, y, and z, as well as any combination thereof.

Artificial intelligence system using deep neural networks for pairwise character-level text analysis and recommendations


A dry-cleaning solvent composition for dry-cleaning is disclosed, comprising a compound or solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol methyl ether formate, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether propionate, propylene glycol methyl ether butyrate, propylene glycol ethyl ether formate, propylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol ethyl ether propionate, propylene glycol ethyl ether butyrate, ethylene glycol methyl ether formate, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol methyl ether propionate. ethylene glycol methyl ether butyrate, and the mixture thereof. The dry-cleaning solvent composition may further comprise a compound or solvent selected from the group consisting of perchloroethylene, stoddard solvent type I, stoddard solvent type II, and the mixture thereof, in an amount of below 70 wt %. The dry-cleaning solvent composition has properties of low pollution and low toxicity and is a good dry-cleaning solvent for the textile such as clothes and fabrics. Further, the dry-cleaning solvent composition has small influence on physical properties and color fastness of the fabric so that the dry-cleaning solvent composition is adapted as a dry-cleaning solvent for replacing conventional dry-cleaning solvents, such as perchloroethylene, stoddard solvent type I and stoddard solvent type II.

This invention relates to a dry-cleaning solvent and in particular to a dry-cleaning solvent composition having properties of low pollution and low toxicity and used as a dry-cleaning solvent for the textile such as fabrics and clothes.
Organic solvents, such as perchloroethylene, trifluoro-trichloroethane, trichloroethane etc., are conventionally used as a dry-cleaning solvent for dry-cleaning the textile, because hydrophilic fibers of the textile are not expanded and deformed when they are dry-cleaned with the organic solvents and the capability of the organic solvent in removing greasy dirts is significant.
Further, perchloroethylene has an excellent chemical stability which is also inflammable and inexpensive. Nevertheless, it is harmful if an excess quantity of perchloroethylene is inhaled, which may cause damage to liver, kidney, skin, sense organs, nerve systems etc. It is known that dry cleaners inhale an excess quantity of perchloroethylene may easily get liver cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer etc. For trifluorotrichloroethane and trichloroethane, they damage the ozone of the earth and cause greenhouse effect, so they are not going to be used after year 2000.
Even in Taiwan, stoddard solvents type I and type II which are petroleum solvents produced by the Chinese Petroleum Corporation can also be used as a dry-cleaning solvent for dry-cleaning the textile. Stoddard solvents type I and type II likely damage our living environment and hurt the health of dry cleaning workers, and they can corrode fibers of the textile during dry cleaning and have a characteristic of exploding with flame so that these petroleum solvents are dangerous in use and storage.
Thus, a dry cleaning solvent is required to overcome the above problems and completely replace the above-mentioned conventional organic solvents.
The object of the present invention is to provide a dry-cleaning solvent composition which has properties of low pollution and low toxicity and may slightly affect the color fastness of the fabric when the fabric are dry-cleaned with the dry-cleaning solvent composition. The composition is an environmentally friendly solvent thereof.
The present invention provides a dry-cleaning solvent composition comprising a compound or solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol methyl ether formate (also known as propylene glycol mono methyl ether formate, PMP), propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (also known as propylene glycol mono methyl ether acetate), propylene glycol methyl ether propionate (also known as propylene glycol mono methyl ether propionate), propylene glycol methyl ether butyrate (also known as propylene glycol mono methyl ether butyrate), propylene glycol ethyl ether formate (also known as propylene glycol mono ethyl ether formate), propylene glycol ethyl ether acetate (also known as propylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate), propylene glycol ethyl ether propionate (also known as propylene glycol mono ethyl ether propionate), propylene glycol ethyl ether butyrate (also known as propylene glycol mono ethyl ether butyrate), ethylene glycol methyl ether formate (ethylene glycol mono methyl ether formate), ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate (ethylene glycol mono methyl ether acetate), ethylene glycol methyl ether priopionate (ethylene glycol mono methyl ether propionate), ethylene glycol methyl ether butyrate (ethylene glycol mono methyl ether butyrate), and the mixture thereof. The dry-cleaning solvent may further comprise below 70 wt % of a compound or solvent selected from the group consisting of perchloroethylene, stoddard solvent type I, stoddard solvent type II, and the mixture thereof.

4Fl., No. 18, Alley 12, Lane 118, Sec. 3 Jen Ai Rd.


A sensor arrangement for measuring an electric voltage (Uterm), wherein the potential point, at which the electric voltage relative to a defined electric potential, in particular relative to earth, is intended to be measured, is connected to a capacitor, to which a comparator unit is connected which ascertains whether a first defined threshold voltage (Uref) is present at the capacitor, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured such that it provides an output signal which is dependent on at least one charging process of the capacitor and includes at least the information of the charging time for charging the capacitor to the first defined threshold voltage.

In battery-driven vehicles, it is important to know the state of the battery. This includes measuring the supply or terminal voltage.
The voltage measurement takes place via an ohmic voltage divider having a downstream A/D converter. The challenge lies in the requirement that the battery is loaded with a current that is >10 μA in the power-off state. One way to solve this is to connect an opto-MOSFET in series in order to disconnect the voltage divider from the battery. In addition, the voltage divider ratio increases with increasing battery voltage. This means that at high voltages, the voltage divider ratio must be extremely high, for example, 1000 to 1. For this purpose, many high-resistance resistors are connected in series, which is expensive.

Device for measuring a supply voltage in electric vehicles


A scroll compressor includes a rotation shaft, a fixed scroll, a movable scroll, a compression chamber, and a shaft support. A movable member is movable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft toward and away from the movable scroll. A rotation restriction mechanism includes a pin and a hole that is loosely fitted into the hole. An orbital radius switching mechanism moves the movable member in a first direction when a rotation speed of the rotation shaft is increased, which decreases an orbital radius of the pin relative to the hole so that an orbital radius of the movable scroll is decreased, and moves the movable member in a second direction when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft is decreased, which increases the orbital radius of the pin relative to the hole so that the orbital radius of the movable scroll is increased.

The present invention relates to a scroll compressor.
Generally, a scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, which is fixed to a housing, and a movable scroll, which orbits with respect to the fixed scroll. The fixed scroll includes a fixed base plate and a fixed spiral wall projecting from the fixed base plate. The movable scroll includes a movable base plate and a movable spiral wall projecting from the movable base plate. The fixed spiral wall and the movable spiral wall are engaged with each other to define a compression chamber. The orbital movement of the movable scroll decreases the volume of the compression chamber and compresses refrigerant. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-14108 describes an example of such a scroll compressor.
In the scroll compressor, a large centrifugal force acts on the movable scroll especially when the rotation shaft rotates at a high speed. This increases the noise generated when the movable spiral comes into contact with the fixed spiral wall. When the movable spiral wall is spaced apart from the fixed spiral wall to avoid contact between the spiral walls, leakage of the refrigerant from the compression chamber increases when the rotation shaft rotates at a low speed. This lowers the compression performance.


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body that bears a developer image, a transfer member for transferring the developer image to a recording medium, a storing section in which a stored temperature value and a stored electric resistance value of the transfer member are stored, a temperature detecting section that detects a temperature of the transfer member, a calculating section that calculates a temperature variation value, a comparing-and-determining section that determines whether the temperature variation value is less than a temperature variation threshold, an output control section that determines a transfer output based on the stored electric resistance value stored in the storing section in the case where the temperature variation value is less than the temperature variation threshold, and an output applying section that applies the transfer output to the transfer member.

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image using electrophotographic technique.
An image forming apparatus that forms a color image using electrophotographic technique includes a plurality of photosensitive drums and corresponding transfer units. The photosensitive drums and transfer units face each other and are disposed along a feeding belt for feeding a recording medium. Toner cartridges are provided for supplying toners of respective colors to the respective photosensitive drums. A latent image is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum by means of a charging roller and an exposure unit disposed on the circumference of the photosensitive drum. The latent image is developed by the toner, and a toner image is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum.
When the feeding belt moves, a recording medium is fed through between the respective photosensitive drums and the transfer units. Each transfer unit is applied with a transfer output (i.e., a transfer bias), and the recording medium is applied with an electric charge opposite in polarity to the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the surface of the photosensitive drum to the recording medium. Thereafter, the recording medium is fed to a fixing unit. The fixing unit applies heat and pressure to the toner image, so that the toner image is fixed to the recording medium.
Conventionally, a "differential constant current controlling method" is known as a method for controlling the transfer output applied to the transfer unit. In the differential constant current controlling method, a target current flowing through a transfer unit is predetermined, and the transfer output applied to the transfer unit is determined while detecting the feedback current so that the feedback current becomes equal to the target current. Further, the transfer output is controlled in accordance with the preliminarily detected electric resistance of the transfer unit.
Therefore, Japanese Laid-Open Patent publication No. 2000-235316 discloses a technique in which an amount of variation (i.e., variation with time) of the electric resistance of the feeding belt is detected, and the transfer output is controlled according to the detected amount of variation.
However, in the above described technique, the detection of the variation of the electric resistance of the feeding belt is performed irrespective of whether there is a variation of the temperature or not. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a long time to start printing operation.
Accordingly, it is demanded to develop an image forming apparatus capable of controlling the transfer output quickly and correctly in accordance with the variation of the environmental condition such as temperature, humidity or the like.

Image forming apparatus controlling transfer output in accordance with variation of environment conditions


The present invention relates to a front suction/discharge type outdoor unit for an air conditioner to provide an economical installation structure for efficiently installing a large capacity outdoor unit and provide services for easily transferring the outdoor unit, and examining, exchanging and repairing its components, by separating a suction casing and a discharge casing. The front suction/discharge type outdoor unit includes an outdoor unit suction casing having its one surface externally opened, and sucking external air for heat exchange, and an outdoor unit discharge casing being separated from or coupled to the outdoor unit suction casing, sucking external air through the outdoor unit suction casing, having its one surface externally opened, and discharging heat exchanged external air. Here, opened surfaces are respectively formed in the outdoor unit suction casing and the outdoor unit discharge casing to connect them to discharge the sucked external air.

An air conditioner implying a cooler, a heater or both of them is classified into a window type and a split type. In the case of the cooler, a split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed indoors for cooling a room, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit through refrigerant pipe lines and installed outdoors to contact air, for performing condensation heat exchange on a refrigerant gas in a condenser by using external air as a cooling medium, and supplying the condensed refrigerants to an evaporator of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe lines. The indoor unit is composed of the evaporator for performing cooling heat exchange for evaporating the refrigerants and absorbing evaporation heat from internal air, and a ventilating fan for circulating internal air, and the outdoor unit is composed of a compressor for compressing the refrigerant gas and supplying the compressed gas to the condenser, the air-cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas from the compressor, and a cooling fan for forcibly ventilating external air to the air-cooled condenser to cool and condense the refrigerant gas. The compressor, the air-cooled condenser and the cooling fan of the outdoor unit are installed in an outdoor unit casing composing the outer appearance. The conventional hexahedral outdoor unit casing has an air suction unit for sucking air to the air-cooled condenser at its three sides, and an air discharge unit for externally discharging air absorbing condensation heat from the refrigerant gas by the heat exchange in the air-cooled condenser on its top surface.
However, the conventional outdoor unit for the air conditioner is restricted in installation spaces due to high density and strict environment regulations of cities, and increases civil applications due to noise and heat. Especially, a common residential area such as large-scaled apartment buildings regulates the outdoor units to be installed in indoor verandas to improve the appearance and prevent noise.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-101873 suggests an air conditioner mounted building where an indoor unit of an air conditioner is installed indoors or adjacent to a room intended to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed outdoors, wherein an opening is formed on the outer wall or roof, a louver is installed in the opening, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is positioned in the louver, and suction/discharge of the indoor unit is performed through a gap between the louver plates.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-213928 discloses a wall built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner including an outdoor unit main body for the air conditioner which is built in the wall and which includes a frame having the same size and thickness as the wall, a suction hole for heat exchange air installed on the same surface as the outdoor unit main body, and a discharge hole for heat exchanged air.
However, air conditioning capacity has recently gradually increased. Differently from the general outdoor unit, a front suction/discharge type outdoor unit restricts an air suction/discharge direction. Therefore, additional components and installation structures are required to restrict the suction/discharge direction, which increases a volume and weight of the front suction/discharge type outdoor unit. As a result, it is difficult to carry and install the front suction/discharge type outdoor unit. However, there has never been suggested a structure of an outdoor unit which can overcome such disadvantages.
Moreover, when the outdoor unit having great volume and weight is incorporated as in the related art, the whole outdoor unit casing must be separated or disassembled in order to manage, examine and repair its components.
In addition, when the front suction/discharge type outdoor unit is built in the wall, a lot of expenses and manpower are needed to separate or disassemble the external casing.

Front suction/discharge type compressor/condenser unit for airconditioner


Memristors and their fabrication are provided. A first dielectric layer is formed over one or more conductive pathways. Vias are formed in the dielectric layer and filled with conductive material. A second dielectric layer is formed there over, and vias are formed aligned with and extending to the filled vias. A reactant fluid is introduced into the vias such that a reacted portion of the conductive material is defined within the filled vias. The vias in the second dielectric layer are then filled with conductive material such that memristors are defined. Conductive pathways are then formed over and in contact with the memristors such that each is individually addressable.

A memristor is a device characterized by a non-volatile electrical resistance that is adjustable over a range. The present electrical resistance value of a memristor can be sensed with little or no change once it has been established. Various devices can be constructed using memristors and arrays thereof.
However, known memristor construction techniques sometimes yield undesirable stoichiometric ratios, exhibit unintended oxidation, reduction or other chemical species contamination, suffer damage caused by etching or other fabrication processes, and so on. Additionally, portions of a memristor device are sometimes misaligned as a result of known fabrication processes. The present teachings address the foregoing and other concerns.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In one embodiment there is provided a novel container neck finish having a substantially cylindrical exterior wall surface surrounding an orifice defined in the container and a thread structure positioned about the exterior wall surface. The thread structure has at least a first portion and a second portion. Each portion has a corresponding effective maximum diameter, wherein the effective maximum diameter of the first portion is less than the effective maximum diameter of the second portion.

Thread structures used on containers can take a wide variety of designs. The details of any one particular thread structure on a container is influenced by many factors, including the contained contents, operational aspects of the complimentary closure, materials, methods of package manufacture and consumer use.
A particularly useful and widely accepted closure/seal system for packages is to position external threads on the container which mate with internal threads positioned on the interior wall of a closure. As is well known, the closure is removed and reapplied by rotary threading action.
One factor requiring attention with threaded closure systems is the circumferential extent of mating thread engagement between closure and container. One may desire to minimize circumferential thread engagement to only that required for adequate closure retention for a number of reasons. These include avoiding requirements for excessive turning during closure manipulation by the consumer. Moreover, equipment associated with rotary capping operations is normally restricted in the number of "turns" of the closure allowed during initial application. On the other hand, there must be enough thread engagement for proper threading and sealing on application. A common "rule-of-thumb" in classic packaging technology is that at least a single turn of thread engagement should be incorporated into the designed thread engagement between the fully applied closure and container. This "rule-of-thumb" is most often adequate for packaging using classic materials and fabrication, such as combinations of rigid glass containers and rigid polystyrene or polypropylene closures. In these cases the complimentary threads have been designed to be relatively massive (such as the familiar modified buttress design) with substantial thread depth. In this way the required surface contact between the topside of the closure thread and the underside of the container thread is normally achieved with one turn (360 degrees) of complimentary thread engagement.
It is common to deviate from the "classical" packaging designs, materials, and fabrication for a myriad of reasons, such as, to provide lightweight packaging by thinning the wall sections and structural improvements. However, when providing lightweight packaging other concerns such as part flexibility and distortion are increased. Another example is the choice of alternate materials such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) for the closure, taking advantage of the unique properties of LDPE. In these cases, if one wishes to employ a threaded closure, the classic one turn "rule-of-thumb" may not be adequate to ensure proper retention of the applied closure. This is a result of the added flexibility of thin walling or the inherent relative flexibility of the LDPE materials. In some cases a minimal amount of internal container pressure, such as that experienced when the container may be dropped, is sufficient to cause the closure skirt to expand to the point where the closure simply pops off. This flexibility can also allow localized distortion of the closure to the point where the closure threads "strip" relative to the mating container threads. This stripping action normally initiates at the bottom end of the closure thread where the hoop strength of the closure is at a minimum. At that position, radial distortion of the closure skirt allows disengagement of the mating threads. Continued torquing causes the disengagement to proceed helically upward in a "tiring" manner until finally the mating threads "jump" over each other. This stripping mechanism is not only of concern on initial application, where such stripping can result in an unseated closure, but also in the hands of the consumer expecting reseal integrity.
In order to adjust for the inherent flexibility of LDPE materials, designers have often chosen to dramatically increase the circumferential extent of mating thread engagement. However, when maintaining a single lead thread, the amount of turning required to apply and remove the closure can become excessive for rotary capping and/or convenient consumer manipulation. These concerns can be addressed by using multiple lead threads. In this case, the total thread engagement approximates the sum of the circumferential extent of each of the multiple leads. In addition, the multiple leads are circumferentially distributed around the lower portion of the closure skirt to thereby balance the distortional forces involved in closure torquing. On the other hand, multiple lead threads normally require an increased helical angle (vs. horizontal) for the thread and/or an uniformly finer thread. An increased helical angle can lead to closure back-off or unintentional unthreading or even loosening of the thread. In addition, an uniformly finer thread will decrease the amount of radial thread overlap thereby reducing the ability of the system to withstand closure distortions. Such threads will also promote cross threading during application due to the decrease target presented to the closure thread lead by the reduced container thread pitch.
It is clear to those skilled in the art that substitution of LDPE materials for more rigid materials, while accomplishing benefits unique to LDPE, also involves performance tradeoffs which cannot always be recovered by the alternate designs advanced to date.
Additional problems have arisen recently when attempts have been made to employ certain closure designs using certain capping practice. These problems can be broadly categorized as associated with the capping process as opposed to the material choices for the package components.
A first method of capping, known in the industry, involves a "pick and place" operation. This method includes positive positioning of a closure within a gripping chuck which is then moved directly over a container. The chuck is simultaneously turned and moved axially toward the container to screw the closure onto the container finish. This application method is similar to actual manual application. Further details of this application method appear in the "Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiments" which follows in the Specification.
An alternate, less expensive, approach to closure application can be characterized as a "pickoff" operation. During "pickoff" a closure is held in a chute and positioned at an angle relative to the axis of a container finish that passes beneath the closure. The container finish comes into contact with the closure and picks it off the chute. Unfortunately, the "pickoff" approach can lead to certain difficulties associated with structural design and material selection as will be more fully explained herein in association with prior art FIG. 4. These difficulties and the novel solutions are more fully described in the "Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments" to follow.


An apparatus for boiling a liquid includes an audible alarm for notifying an individual when the liquid is boiling. The audible alarm makes use of steam generated by the boiling liquid to drive a turbine which is connected to a means for ringing a bell to notify an individual that the liquid is boiling.

The present invention relates generally to household vessels for boiling liquids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use with household vessels for boiling liquids, providing an audible notification to a user of when a is liquid boiling.
There are many examples of household vessels that are used for boiling liquids. Further, it is generally known that steam generated by a boiling liquid, when subjected to pressurization and vented through a narrow aperture, will generate a whistling sound. It is known to use this characteristic in a household setting, such as a kitchen, to provide an audible means for notifying an individual when a liquid is boiling, as with a whistling tea kettle.
It is considered desirable to provide other means for providing an audible notification to an individual, of when a liquid in a household setting is boiling. Preferably the notification will take advantage of the pressure generated by steam from a boiling liquid and will provide an audible notification that is considered pleasant and or unique.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for providing an audible notification to an individual in a household setting, of when a liquid is boiling.
It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing an audible notification to an individual of when a liquid is boiling.
It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus for boiling a liquid, which makes use of the novel method and apparatus for providing an audible notification of when a liquid is boiling.
The above and other features and advantages are achieved through the use of a novel steam driven alarm as herein disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a steam driven alarm for a container for boiling a liquid to notify a user when the liquid boils is provided.
The alarm has a bell preferably having at least one detent thereon and defining a cavity on its"" underside. The bell may further have at least one vent in its"" surface for allowing steam to escape from the cavity defined by the bell. A steam driven turbine assembly is disposed proximate to the bell. The turbine assembly has at least one striking means for striking the bell. The turbine assembly is preferably comprised of a turbine sleeve, a turbine and the striking means. The turbine sleeve is substantially a cylinder and is supported coaxially on a pin and is freely rotatable around an axis of rotation defined by the pin. The turbine is affixed to the turbine sleeve such that steam admitted to the enclosed space causes the turbine and sleeve to rotate coaxially. The striking means is affixed to the turbine sleeve such that it rotates coaxially with the turbine and turbine sleeve.
The turbine itself is of a type well known in the art. A plurality of blades is provided, where the blades extend radially from an axis of rotation in a common plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The surface of each blade is angled such that a plane defined by the blade surface is at an angle to the axis of rotation that is less than 90xc2x0.
The striking means may preferably comprise a washer assembly having a plurality of arms which extend radially from the axis of rotation. The end of each arm, distal from the axis of rotation, has a post thereon which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and a washer disposed on the post. The washer on each post is slidable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, such that when the turbine assembly rotates the washer is forced outward by centrifugal force and is restrained by the post. When the turbine assembly rotates, the washers are forced a sufficient distance outward such that as the washer assembly rotates, the washers strike the detent repeatedly, causing the bell to ring.
The steam driven alarm is in communication with an apparatus for boiling a liquid such that when a liquid in the apparatus boils, steam is communicated to the alarm, causing the turbine assembly to rotate and the striking means to strike the bell repeatedly. Thus an audible notification that the liquid is boiling is provided. Preferably, the striking means strikes a detent on the bell.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a vessel is provided which makes use of the novel steam driven alarm. In this embodiment, an enclosed space for housing the steam driven alarm is incorporated into the structure of an apparatus for boiling a liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for boiling a liquid comprises a vessel for holding a liquid to be boiled and a lid. In a more preferred embodiment, the lid comprises an enclosed space for housing the steam driven alarm. In a most preferred embodiment, the apparatus for boiling a liquid is a kettle for boiling water.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract included below, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.


Process for the preparation of compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.c represents a residue comprising one or more additional groups of the formula: ##STR2## by heating a compound of the formula (A) ##STR3## at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 220.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen halide addition salt of tertiary amine;. process for the preparation of epoxy compounds starting from the reaction of a polyphenol compound and glycidol; and PA1 epoxy resins obtained by this process showing a significantly lower content of intermingled clorine and being substantially free of usual build-up products.

Epoxy compounds, which are manufactured in a great variety on large industrial scales throughout the world, are used for an extensive scale of end applications, such as the manufacturing of shaped articles, including embedded small electronic components such as semi-conductors or chips and the prepregs for the subsequent manufacture of printed circuits for the electronic industry, coatings including the organic solvent based coatings as well as the more modern aqueous epoxy resin dispersion coatings, and in particular can and drum coatings, composites and laminates showing great flexibility, and the like.
Said starting epoxy compounds were manufactured up to now by means of the starting reagent epihalohydrin and in particular epichlorohydrin, which in its turn was manufactured via allylchloride, prepared from propene and gaseous chlorine.
It will be appreciated that on the one hand, there has been developed in the last decade and in particular in the last five years, an increasing pressure from national or regional governmental regulations and requirements to chemical process industry, in order to drastically reduce possible chlorine emissions or even to avoid the use of chlorine completely, and on the other hand, in the current manufacturing processes for chlorination of propene in the gaseous phase there is still a need to improve the relatively low yield and to diminish the high fouling tendency.
Moreover, during the reaction of epihalohydrin with phenolic compounds to form epoxy resin it is not possible to avoid completely that halogen, originating from the epihalohydrin, is intermingled in a resin as a product in the form that the halogen atom is chemically bound to the epoxy resin itself. As one of the important applications of the epoxy resin is encapsulation of micro electronic material, it will be appreciated that this intermingled halogen liberates as an acid by moisture, during use of the final article for a long period of time and this acid leads to corrosion of a metal material.
Therefore one object of the present invention is formed by a process, meeting the requirements of the present environmental legislation and that one presumably enforced in the near future, and starting from cheap and generally available basic chemicals.
One of the alternative manufacturing routes for epoxy resins, proposed in the past was that according the following simplified reaction scheme: ##STR4## transesterification with e.g. alkylene carbonate (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl), cycloalkylene carbonate, arylalkylene carbonate or dialkylene carbonate (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl) and preferably propylene carbonate+alkyleneglycol, cycloalkylene glycol or arylalkylene glycol, and preferably propylene glycol, wherein R.sub.1 represents a residue comprising one or more additional phenol groups, wherein R.sub.2 represents a residue comprising one or more additional groups of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.3 represents a residue comprising one or more additional groups of the formula: ##STR6## and wherein R.sub.4 represents a residue comprising one or more additional groups ##STR7##
Although it was already known from e.g. Japanese patent application Sho 61-33180 A, to produce epoxy compounds by decarboxylating a carbonate compound, using as catalyst a combination of an alkali metal halide and of a dihydrogenphosphate of an alkali metal while earlier proposed similar processes were known from e.g. JP-Sho-57-77682 A and U.S. Pat. No. 2,856,413, said route could not be used for economical manufacture of epoxy compounds up to now.
In particular from JP-Sho-61-33180 it will be appreciated that the finally obtained mono-epoxy compounds had such a simple molecular structure, that they could be recovered from the initially crude reaction mixture by distillation.
However such a distillation has appeared to be not possible for the commercial standard difunctional and multifunctional epoxy compounds aimed at.
Therefore there was still a strong need for improvement of this proposed route to enable industrial scale manufacture at all.

Epoxy compounds from chlorohydrin ethers of polyphenols


A mass spectrometer including chromatogram creation means for creating a chromatogram showing changes over time in an ion intensity within a predetermined mass range based on the MS analysis results, and timing determination means for determining a timing to perform MS/MS analysis based on the chromatogram. The timing determination means determines, as a timing to perform MS/MS analysis, a point in time at which a signal intensity in the chromatogram reaches a predetermined upper limit after exceeding a predetermined lower limit or a point in time at which a signal intensity in the chromatogram reaches a top of a peak without reaching the upper limit after exceeding the lower limit. It is thus possible to collect precursor ions at a timing at which the signal intensity of a peak originating from sample components is highest between the upper limit and lower limit, thereby obtaining a high quality MS/MS spectrum.

In the case of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS) or a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC/MS), sample components which have been temporally separated by a column of a GC or an LC are introduced in sequence into the mass spectrometer (MS), and each component is ionized, respectively, and thereafter subjected to mass separation and detection. In this case, a mass spectrum can be created by focusing on a specific time, and assigning the mass to the horizontal axis and the intensity to the vertical axis. Further, a chromatogram (mass chromatogram) can be created by focusing on a specific mass, and assigning the time to the horizontal axis and the intensity to the vertical axis. Still further, a three-dimensional chromatogram can also be created by combining these and adopting the time, the intensity (ion intensity) and the mass as the three axes.
As the mass spectrometer (MS) for such GC/MS and LC/MS, MSn (where n is an integer equal to or larger than two) mass spectrometers that fragment ions having a specific mass as precursor ions and mass analyze product ions generated by the fragmentation are sometimes used. The MSn mass spectrometers include a mass spectrometer equipped with an automatic MSn analysis function that automatically selects precursor ions based on the results of MSn−1 analysis and performs MSn analysis (for example, refer to JP 2010-19655 A).
In a GC/MS or LC/MS in which such a mass spectrometer having an automatic MSn analysis function is used, for example, a chromatogram or chromatograms on one or a plurality of masses is progressively created while continually introducing the eluate from the column of the GC or LC and repeatedly performing MS (=MS1) analysis. Then, at a point in time at which a signal intensity in the chromatogram satisfies a predetermined condition, for example, a point in time at which the signal intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold as indicated by t1 and t2 in FIG. 6, ions having a mass corresponding to the chromatogram or chromatograms are collected as precursor ions and MS/MS analysis is performed. In order to obtain MS/MS spectra with a high S/N ratio, it is preferable to collect as large amount of precursor ions as possible. For that purpose, a method is available, as shown in FIG. 7, in which precursor ions are collected after a peak top of a chromatogram appears since exceeding the threshold.

Mass spectrometer with timing determination based on a signal intensity in a chromatogram


A reticle carrier has a cover. A gasket is attached to the cover. A door mates with the cover.

Semiconductor processing is a photographic chemical etching process that requires that the semiconductor wafer be selectively exposed to light. In a photograph, light is shined through a negative to selectively expose photographic paper. In semiconductor manufacturing, light is shined through a reticle onto the semiconductor wafer as part of the photographic chemical etching process. Any particles on the reticle or imperfections in the reticle result in defects in the semiconductor circuitry. As a result, reticle carriers are used to protect reticles from particles and damage. Present reticle carriers are not user friendly and do not perform there function well.
Thus there exists a need for an improved reticle carrier that overcomes these and other problems.


An aqueous resin dispersion useful as a primer capable of providing plastics products, in particular polyolefin plastics products, with good coatability characteristics. A thermocrosslinkable resin dispersion having a continuous phase having an aqueous medium and a dispersed phase distributed therein, the dispersed phase having particles (I) of a resin component and particles (II) of a crosslinking agent as separately dispersed from the particles (I), the resin component having, as an essential constituent thereof, a modified polyolefin resin (a) or a mixture thereof with a vinyl resin (b), the resin (a) having a number average molecular weight of at least 1,500 and having at least one functional group species selected from the group of carboxyl, hydroxyl, mercapto, amino, isocyanate and carbodiimide groups, the resin (b) having a number average molecular weight of 700 to 40,000 and a glass transition temperature of −65 to 40° C., and the crosslinking agent having at least two groups reactive with the resin (a).

As primers for improving the coatability characteristics (film-forming properties, adhesion, etc.) to polyolefin plastics products such as automobile interior and exterior members, there are known in the art fully aqueous primers combining a carboxy-modified polyolefin resin, a hydroxy-modified polyolefin resin and a polystyrene-poly-conjugated diene-polystyrene triblock copolymer (cf. e.g. Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-11-29673), and primers capable of being rendered completely aqueous combining an aqueous dispersion of a polyolefin resin, an aqueous dispersion of an acrylic resin and an aqueous dispersion of a urethane resin (cf. e.g. Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-06-336568).


In the present invention, a moving-picture editing program (12) controls the recording of the data transmitted from a personal computer (1-1), into a user video-data management database (4). The program (12) determines whether the data should be supplied to another personal computer (1-2) in response to a demand made by the personal computer (1-1). The moving-picture editing program(12) supplies the data to the other personal computer (1-2) in response to the demand from the other personal computer (1-2) when it is determined that the data should be supplied to the personal computer (1-1). Hence, the data can be utilized by many other users.

Recently, personal computers have acquired various functions. They can edit not only text data, but also image data.
However, it takes them much time to find other users who want to utilize the image data. It also takes them much to search for the image data provided for the use of the other users.

Data-providing apparatus, data-providing method and program storing medium to provide requested content data to a user


A weight sensitive squirrel proof bird feeder with multiple perch rods. In general, a feed reservoir includes perch rods positioned generally perpendicular to an outer surface of the feed reservoir. When a predetermined weight is placed upon the perches, the perches rotate about their longitudinal axis by a motor thereby expelling the source of the weight, typically squirrels or other undesirable animals from the perches.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field bird feeders and more particularly to a weight sensitive squirrel proof bird feeder with multiple perch rods.
II. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that bird feeders tend to attract unwanted animals such as squirrels to the bird feeders, thereby discouraging the desirable birds from feeding on the seed within the bird feeder. In addition, the unwanted animals can deplete the seed supply and potentially destroy the bird feeder. Although there are several devices that attempt to deter unwanted animals such as break-away perches, closing feed doors, shocking perches and the like, there still lacks a bird feeder having an efficient system for deterring unwanted animals.

Multiple perch squirrel proof bird feeder