The present invention creates a model that maps object classes in an object-oriented environment to a data source. The model maps the relationship between properties of each object class and data of the data source. The present invention can be used with a data source such as a relational database, user interface, file system, or object-oriented database. An application's object classes and data source schema are designed independent of the other since the model can be used to map one to the other. The model is comprised of entities and attributes. An entity maps to an object class and to at least one table of the DBMS. An entity contains attributes either simple or derived. A simple attribute maps to a DBMS column. A derived attribute is a combination of other attributes and does not directly map to a DBMS column. A relationship creates a link between entities of the model. A relationship can be used to flatten an attribute or flatten a relationship. A flattened attribute is an attribute of one entity that is added to another entity. A flattened relationship is created by the elimination of intermediate relationships between two entities. Relationships can be either unidirectional or bi-directional. A unidirectional relationship has a single traversal path that has a source entity and a destination. A bi-directional relationship has two traversal paths. A reflexive relationship can be created using a single entity. The model is used to synchronize object properties and the data of the data source.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mapping of data to objects in an object-oriented environment.
2. Background Art
In a database management system (DBMS), data is stored in rows of tables. Each row contains one or more fields or columns. Each column contains an item of data. For example, an employee table contains rows of employee records. Each row, or record, contains information regarding an employee. An employee record can contain, for example, a last name column that contains a last name of the employee.
Data stored in a column of a table can form the basis of a relationship between another table in the database having a related column. A relationship can also be formed using more than one column per table. Using a relationship between columns of two tables, it is possible to join these two tables to provide a single table containing instances of rows from one table combined with related rows from the other table.
Data from two or more tables can also be joined using another capability provided in a DBMS known as a view. A view provides the ability to create a virtual table. That is, the table created using a view is not considered an actual table. Therefore, some DBMS operations, such as update, cannot be performed on a view.
Like a joined table, a view contains rows from one or more tables in the database. For example, a view can contain the rows from two tables in the database, an employee and department table. Such a view may include all or some subset of the total number of columns contained in each of these tables. For example, the employee table contains "employee identification", "department identification", "last name", "first name", "street address", "city", and "zip code" columns. The department table contains "department identification", "description", "number of employees", and "budget" columns. All of the information contained in these two tables may not be pertinent or required to allow a user to be able to review employee information. For example, a department's budget figures are not pertinent to such a system. A view can be used to define a virtual table comprised of the columns in the employee table and the employee's department description from the department table. The "department identification" columns from the two tables can be used to join rows from the two tables to form the view.
Views are useful to simplify the database schema by creating subsets of the database for use with particular applications. Further, views can be used to provide security. In the above example, the exclusion of the "budget" column from the view limits accessibility or knowledge that such a column exists. Thus, a user is only made aware of the data that the user is authorized to access. One disadvantage of views is that they are read-only. Therefore, a view cannot be used to update the base tables that actually contain the data used to create a view.
Another disadvantage of views is that a DBMS restricts the operations that are required to create a view. That is, only someone with database administrator (DBA) privileges can create the virtual tables needed to map objects to the tables of the DBMS. Therefore, to develop an application including views, it is necessary to have someone with DBA privileges available throughout the development phase to make changes to existing views and create new views. Once an application that includes views is distributed to a user site, it is necessary to install the application at the user site. To install the application at the user site, someone with DBA privileges must create the views that are required by the application.
Applications are developed to provide a user with the ability to facilitate access and manipulation of the data contained in a DBMS. A DBMS includes a Data Manipulation Language (DML) such as Structured Query Language (SQL). A DML provides set-oriented relational operations for manipulating data in the DBMS. However, a DML requires a precise syntax that must be used to access and manipulate DBMS data. To use a DML, a user must understand and use the DML's syntax. Instead of requiring each user that wishes to modify a DBMS' data to learn the DML's syntax, applications are written that provide an interface between the user and a DBMS' DML.
Therefore, applications are developed that provide a user interface that allows a user to specify operations to be performed on DBMS data in a more user-friendly manner. These applications are written in a programming language such as C, objective C, and SmallTalk, for example. SQL, or another database programming language, is embedded in these general-purpose programming languages. Once a user identifies a data operation, the application uses embedded SQL statements to perform the operations on the DBMS data as directed by the user.
Some general-purpose programming languages, such as objective C and SmallTalk, are referred to as object-oriented programming languages. Object-oriented programming languages define data and the operations that can be performed on the data. Such a definition is referred to as an object. To use data stored in a DBMS in an application written in an object-oriented language, it is necessary to read data stored in the DBMS as columns within rows of a record into objects. Conversely, object data must be read from the object and stored in tables in the DBMS.
A mapping must be performed to determine what DBMS data is stored in what object, or conversely, what object data is stored in what DBMS tables. There are several disadvantages with the current object-oriented systems' techniques for mapping DBMS data to objects. First, data-to-object mapping must be represented in the program code of an application. That is, an application developer must be aware of the DBMS structure or schema and how the schema is to be mapped onto the application's objects to develop an application. Further, an application must include code to define the mapping. Therefore, the DBMS-to-object mapping is not transparent to the user (e.g., the application developer). Further, the program code needed to implement this mapping increases the size and complexity of the application. The increased coding results in an increase in the amount of the effort needed to debug and maintain the program code. Further, the DBMS-to-object mapping is not dynamic. When a change is made to the DBMS schema, the application must be re-coded to reflect the schema change.
Another disadvantage relates to the restrictions that are placed on the DBMS schema and/or DBMS-to-object mapping that can be supported by the current object-oriented systems. Using current systems, there must be a one-to-one correspondence between an object and a table in the DBMS. Therefore, the schema chosen for the DBMS data is restricted by the object definitions, or vice versa.
Further, because there must be a one-to-one correspondence between a table and object, it is not possible to map multiple tables to a single object. Thus, in the example described above, it is not possible to map the columns included in the virtual table (i.e., columns from the employee table plus the employee's department description from the department table) to the properties of a single object.

Method and apparatus for mapping objects to multiple tables of a database


An interlayer insulating film having a concave portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A tight adhesion film is formed on the inner surface of the concave portion and the upper surface of the insulating film. The surface of the adhesion layer is covered with an auxiliary film made of Cu alloy containing a first metal element. A conductive member containing a second metal element other than the first metal element is embedded in the concave portion, and deposited on the auxiliary film. Heat treatment is performed to make atoms of the first metal element in the auxiliary film segregate on the inner surface of the concave portion. The adhesion layer contains an element for enhancing tight adhesion of the auxiliary film more than if the auxiliary film is deposited directly on a surface of the interlayer insulating film. During the period until the barrier layer having also the function of enhancing tight adhesion, it becomes possible to retain sufficient tight adhesion of a wiring member and prevent peel-off of the wiring member.

A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacture method and a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device manufacture method suitable for forming wirings by filling concave portions formed in an interlayer insulating film with conductor and a semiconductor device.
B) Description of the Related Art
Miniaturization of wirings and increasing of wiring layers are progressing as semiconductor elements are highly integrated and chip sizes are reduced. In a logical element having a multi-layer wiring structure, a delay of a signal transmitting along a wiring is becoming a dominant factor of lowering an operation speed of the logical element. The delay of a signal transmitting along a wiring is proportional to a product of a wiring resistance and a parasitic capacitance between wirings.
Technologies of using copper (Cu) having a low resistivity as wiring material are adopted practically in order to reduce wiring resistance. Since it is difficult to pattern a copper film by using photolithography process, a damascene method is generally adopted to form copper wirings.
When a copper wiring is formed by the damascene method, the inner surface of a wiring trench and a via hole is covered with a barrier layer before the copper film is deposited, the main object of the barrier layer being to prevent diffusion of copper into an insulating film. Refractory metal such as tantalum (Ta) and tungsten (W) is used as the material of a barrier film. Refractory metal has a resistivity higher than that of copper.
As the size of a wiring becomes fine, a ratio of the barrier layer occupying the cross section of the wiring becomes large. Therefore, the barrier layer has a large factor of raising a wiring resistance. Especially, in a fine multi-layer wiring structure having a diameter and wiring width of a via hole of 0.1 μm or smaller, it is desired to make the barrier layer as thin as possible.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD) and the like are considered hopeful as techniques of forming a thin barrier layer. If these film forming methods are adopted by using low dielectric constant material as the material of an interlayer insulating film, a sufficient tight adhesion cannot be obtained.
The document "Low-temperature passivation of copper by doping with Al or Mg" by W. A. Lanford et al., Thin Solid Films, 262(1995), pp. 234 to 241 discloses the technique of forming an Al oxide or Mg oxide layer on the surface of Cu by doping Al or Mg into Cu and performing heat treatment. This oxide layer functions as a protective film and diffusion preventing film for Cu.
Next, description will be made on a method of forming a thin barrier layer having a uniform thickness, disclosed in the document "Low Resistive and Highly Reliable Cu Dual-Damascene Interconnect Technology Using Self-Formed MnSixOy Barrier layer" by T. Usui et al., IITC 2005, Session 9.2. A seed layer of CuMn alloy is formed by sputtering on the surface of an interlayer insulating film formed with wiring trenches and via holes. Thereafter, copper is electroplated to fill the wiring trench and via hole with the copper. Heat treatment is performed to react Si and O as the constituent elements in the interlayer insulating film with Mn as the constituent element in the seed layer. A barrier layer is therefore formed at the interface between a Cu wiring and the interlayer insulating film, the barrier layer being made of MnSixOy compound which is very thin about 2 to 3 nm in thickness and has a uniform thickness. This barrier layer prevents diffusion of Cu.
The seed layer covering the bottom of the via hole does not contact the interlayer insulating film and contacts a lower level wiring. Therefore, the barrier layer is not formed at the interface between the copper wiring in the via hole and the lower level wiring, so that the upper and lower level wirings can be connected without the barrier layer between the upper and lower level wirings. Further, since the barrier layer made of MnSiO compound can be made thinner than a barrier layer made of refractory metal, it is possible to suppress an increase of wiring resistance.

Manufacture method for semiconductor device suitable for forming wirings by damascene method and semiconductor device


A method for treating demyelinating central nervous system diseases in a subject that comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a therapeutically active amount of colony stimulating factor or CSF-like ligand. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the CSF is a GM-CSF. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, CSF is sargramostim.

Inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in most cases is a chronic, incurable illness. Manifestations include, but are not limited to, inflammation, axonal degeneration, fatigue, cognitive impairment, neurological impairment and, of course, demyelination. The manifestations may include the following clinical patterns: acute, chronic, single episode, recurrent episodes, progressive, progressive-relapsing, relapsing-progressive, or unremitting.
In most cases such illnesses meet the definition of multiple sclerosis (MS), a pathologically diverse syndrome. No single etiological factor can be demonstrated for MS, but it is widely felt to be an immune-mediated or autoimmune condition resulting from an initial infection with a pathogen, and resulting in a unique and pathological host response directed against antigens within the CNS. By "multiple sclerosis" the present inventor means the commonly observed symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a crippling disease that affects over 250,000 Americans. MS is characterized by axonal deterioration in the central nervous system with the associated loss of the insulating myelin sheath from around the axons of the nerve cells. This loss of myelin results in loss of electrical insulation and the "short-circuiting" of the electrical pathways mediated by the affected nerves and progressive neurological impairment. MS usually affects young adults in what should be the healthiest, most productive years of their lives and affects women more often than men.
The symptoms of MS include pain and tingling in the arms and legs; localized and generalized numbness, muscle spasm and weakness; bowel and bladder dysfunction; difficulty with balance when walking or standing; and fatigue. In most cases, people afflicted with MS lose the ability to stand and/or walk entirely. Optic neuritis may occur episodically throughout the course of the disease. The symptoms are exacerbated by viral infection, physical fatigue or emotional stress.
Heretofore, such diseases have been treated by powerful anti-inflammatory agents such as megadose corticosteroids (methylprednisolone) and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and mitoxantrone). Clinically useful immunomodulatory agents have been identified which are effective in ameliorating multiple sclerosis but not remitting disability. The previously identified immunomodulators include type 1 interferons (largely interferon beta congeners) and glatiramer acetate (a random polymer of amino acids). All these agents decrease inflammatory activity in the central nervous system, which is believed to be the basis for therapeutic effect in altering the disease course. Each of these treatments produces an effectiveness in clinical endpoints of 30-50% decreases in disease relapses, progressive disability, but more effective outcomes occur with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based parameters. Currently available treatments are not believed to be effective at reducing pre-existing disability.
Colony stimulating factors are polypeptide agents of various families classified by their action on hematopoetic cell lineages. They are often species specific in their action. They have principally been used to stimulate proliferation of certain lineages. Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, for example, stimulates proliferation of the stem cells which generate neutrophils and macrophages. Analogous colony stimulating factors may stimulate specific other lineages.
Clinical use of colony stimulating factors (CSFS) has been mostly limited to diseases outside the central nervous system. These molecules have widely been used as mitogens to harvest bone marrow cells, stimulate bone marrow recovery, and treat leukopenia acutely and chronically. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has these actions, as well as the ability to increase antigen presentation via upregulation of class II major histocompatibility complex, increase activation of phagocytes, release of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor), and increase presentation of costimulatory ligands on leukocytes. These actions could be termed pro-inflammatory actions.
Because of the pro-inflammatory actions of GM-CSF, attempts have been made with stimulating anti-tumor immunity with various congeners, including sargramostim, a Saccharomyces-derived recombinant GM-CSF receptor ligand. These efforts have demonstrated long-term safety of administration and limited clinical efficacy in neoplastic disease.
It would seem counterintuitive that an agent which stimulates both innate and specific humoral and cellular immunity should produce an acceptable outcome for an immune-mediated disease such as multiple sclerosis and related CNS demyelinating diseases. A previous and widely cited phase I clinical trial found that interferon-gamma, a proinflammatory cytokine, increased symptoms of multiple sclerosis and was felt to be unsuitable for further investigation. In support of a possible benefit of pro-inflammatory cytokines, studies in rodent models of MS demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 can cure or ameliorate disease.
The present inventor is the first to establish the benefits of GM-CSF and related colony stimulating factors with respect to treating idiopathic or viral demyelinating or inflammatory diseases of the CNS from either human studies or animal models.

Method for treatment of demyelinating central nervous system disease


Systems, methods, and software can be used to manage tasks on an electronic device. In some aspects, a computer-implemented method comprises: determining, by an electronic device, that a last calendar event associated with a task has been completed; in response to determining that the last calendar event has been completed, outputting, on the electronic device, a task user interface, wherein the task user interface comprises a task status field; receiving, through the task user interface, a user input indicating a task status value; and updating, by the electronic device, a task status based on the task status value.

A personal information manager (PIM) allow users to create, view and maintain a set of records concerning personal information, such as contact records, records of scheduled calendar events (e.g., appointments), records of scheduled tasks, etc. While tools to automate the creation and maintenance of such records have been proposed, the creation and maintenance of the PIMs remains largely a time-consuming and manual endeavor performed by users. Thus, there remains a need for tools to automate personal information management.

Method of automatic scheduling, related devices and communication system


A method and apparatus for using demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) based channel state information (CSI) feedback in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing-multiple-input multiple-output (OFDM-MIMO) systems is disclosed. The wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives one or more resource blocks from a base station, wherein the resource blocks (RBs) include demodulating reference signals (DM-RS) and precoder information. The precoder information is sent unicast or broadcasted over a common control channel. The WTRU estimates an effective channel estimate based on the DM-RS, derives an unprecoded channel based on the effective channel and the precoder information, generates CSI feedback based on the unprecoded channel, and transmits the CSI feedback to the base station. Alternatively, the WTRU estimates an effective channel estimate based on the DM-RS, quantizes the effective channel estimate and transmits the CSI feedback to the base station.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) is a multicarrier modulation scheme, where a data stream is transmitted using a number of multiplexed subcarriers. In OFDM multiple-input multiple-output (OFDM-MIMO) technology, multiple antennas are used to communicate OFDM data. According to some approaches to OFDM-MIMO, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that is in communication with a base station may provide channel state information (CSI) to the base station to indicate properties of the air-link between the WTRU and the base station. In other approaches to OFDM-MIMO, a WTRU may provide CSI to a base station based on unprecoded channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS). While improvements have been made in recent years over previous approaches to the communication of CSI, further improvements to the generation, processing, and/or communication of CSI (such as but not limited to improvements that enhance the accuracy of CSI), may be needed.

Demodulation reference signal based channel state information feedback in OFDM-MIMO systems


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an x-ray image from an x-ray imaging apparatus using a digital radiography receiver installed as a retrofit connection apparatus to adapt the x-ray imaging apparatus for use with the digital radiography receiver by using a receiver interface channel to communicating signals to and from the digital radiography receiver, using an operator actuated switch cover for at least an expose operator action of a manual operator control that is configured to generate at least an input expose signal, where the operator actuated switch cover is configured to resist the generation of the expose signal by the expose operator action of the manual operator control until a reset of the DR receiver is initiated and acknowledged.

While DR imaging systems have advantages over earlier film and CR systems, replacing such a earlier x-ray system can be very costly, thereby limiting the availability of DR systems as hospitals attempt to maximize their investment in older equipment and to extend its usable lifetime.
To meet the need for the improved capabilities offered by DR imaging, a number of companies that provide x-ray equipment offer retrofit configurations that allow a DR receiver panel to be used with existing x-ray components, in place of a film or CR cassette. Existing retrofit solutions, however, have one or more limitations.
Thus, there remains a need for a DR retrofit that has little or no impact on existing hardware, is less or minimally invasive with respect to the components of an existing x-ray system, and/or does not constrain an ability to use earlier film and CR imaging media in existing radiographic imaging arrays and/or methods for using the same.

Interposer mechanism for a retrofit digital X-ray detector and methods of using the same


Radiocommunication equipment and method comprising at least the following elements: at least one frequency scan antenna connected to a modem adapted to generate a spectrum OFDM modulation-based waveform by increasing the duration of an OFDM symbol by reproducing the FFT pattern.

The depletion of the spectrum available for communications is pushing toward the use of ever higher frequencies.
Furthermore, faced with the expansion of the cable network (ADSL, optical fibers), a radiocommunication service will be justified in the future essentially by a need for mobility.
Mobility assumes omnidirectionality of the antenna system. Unfortunately, the size and therefore the energy sensitivity of an omnidirectional antenna decreases with the frequency. Very high frequencies are therefore by nature difficult to make it compatible with mobility, without abandoning omnidirectional antennas in order to use directive antennas, the difficulty then being to be able to aim the latter dynamically and virtually instantaneously. Three solutions can currently be envisaged according to the prior art.
The motorized parabolic antenna is the conventional and well-known solution. One of its disadvantages is its very poor aiming agility. The aiming of the beam, relying on mechanical motorization, is not instantaneous. It is reserved for point-to-point and not very mobile configurations.
The phase-shift electronic scan antenna allows instantaneous aiming, but it is a solution that is technologically difficult and prohibitively costly. In addition, in point-to-multipoint configuration, it requires using a time division multiple (TDMA) access protocol which is not optimal in the matter of latency in the transmission delay or in the matter of power allocation.
The frequency scan antenna FSA allows instantaneous aiming. It is a proven and low-cost technique similar to the prism in optics. The aiming direction depends on the frequency and the frequency therefore makes it possible to control the aiming direction.

Ultra-wideband communication system provided with a frequency controlled dispersive antenna


An electromagnetic machine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor is adapted to rotate about an axis. The stator includes a support structure, a plurality of bobbins engaged to the support structure, and a plurality of electric coils with each one wound about a respective bobbin of the plurality of bobbins.

The present disclosure relates to electromagnetic machines, and more particularly to an electromagnetic machine including universal components.
Designing electromagnetic machines, such as electric motors and generators, often requires standardizing some dimensions while allowing, for example, the motor to vary in other respects to cover an entire range of operating requirements. In one example and for a family of motors each providing different operating characteristics, an outer diameter of the motor may be consistent, while the motor axial length (i.e., packaging length) is changed to accommodate different windings. Improvements in motor design techniques that may lead to improvements in motor efficiency, motor cooling, reduction in costs, and standardization of parts and packaging is desirable.


A method for arbitrating between a host device and a cellular base band mode for use of a shared SD storage, including requesting, by a cellular base band modem from a host device, access to an SD storage, including writing an access request message, notifying the host device of the access request message, reading, by the host device, the access request message, granting, by the host device, the access request, including writing an access grant message, notifying the cellular base band modem of the access grant message, reading, by the cellular base band mode, the access grant message, holding an SD host bus in a busy state, thereby forcing the host device to hold and not access the bus, accessing, by the cellular base band modem, the SD storage, and upon completion of the accessing, removing the busy state from the SD host bus.

Today's conventional cellular handset includes a cellular base band modem. The base band modem does not have built-in non-volatile memory, and has limited internal volatile memory (SRAM). For use of non-volatile memory, a cellular modem may be connected to a NOR flash memory, and also to additional external SDRAM.
When booting up, a cellular modem generally accesses the NOR flash memory to execute a code image that is stored therein. The cellular modem may access such code image directly, or by first copying it to its internal SRAM.
Many cellular modems also support a peripheral boot mode, through which they load a secondary code image from an external port, such as a UART port or a USB port, which is connected to an external device, such as a PC computer, which loads the secondary code image via a peripheral interface. The secondary code image is then used to re-program the NOR flash memory with new image code. Peripheral boot mode is typically used for program development and debugging via a PC.
High end cellular handsets also have NAND flash memory coupled thereto. In such case, the NAND flash memory is used for code and data storage. The NAND flash memory is connected via a dedicated NAND controller embedded in the cellular base band modem, or via an SD bus to an external SD controller that is connected to the NAND flash. For cellular handsets that have NAND flash memory, access to the NAND flash is performed via the cellular base band modem.
Cellular handsets may support connection to an external device host, such as a PC computer. In such case, the handset provides the host access to its internal NAND flash memory. Host access to NAND flash memory is generally performed over a USB connection, where the internal NAND memory is mapped as a mass storage drive on the host. The handset thus operates as a USB device, which is a slave, and the host operates as a USB host, which is a master.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified block diagram of a prior art cellular handset 100. Handset 100 includes a cellular base band modem 110 with an external memory interface (EMIF) 120 for accessing a NAND flash storage 130 and an SDRAM storage 140. Correspondingly, EMIF 120 includes a NAND controller 150 and an SDRAM controller 160, respectively.
Many consumer electronic (CE) devices, such as MP3 song players and MP4 movie players, support connection to non-volatile storage elements, the most common storage element being SD memory and its variants including inter alia Mini SD and Micro SD. The CE device operates as a host, which is a master, and the SD memory operates as a slave.
It would thus be desirable to be able to connect CE devices that support SD connections with cellular modems, in order to enhance the CE devices with modem functionality. However, many challenges have to be overcome in doing so. Some of these challenges are:                How is the cellular modem booted up?        How does the CE device communicate with the cellular modem?        How is the cellular modem transition in and out of sleep mode carried out?        How are conflicts resolved when both the CE device and the cellular modem want to access SD memory at the same time?


The invention relates to the monitoring of products by means of active radio tags. According to the invention, packagings of products are provided with an active radio tag that detects at least one environmental condition and/or at least one packaging state, and which emits a signal at time intervals, which provides information about a unique identifier and at least one state in which the respective product is found. The signal is picked up by a receiver that extracts the unique identifier and the state information and transmits same together with location information to an external server.

It may be useful or even necessary for a manufacturer and/or distributor of products to monitor the products. Pharmaceutical products and pesticides are subject to a series of official regulations, for example; these include, in some states, the requirement to ensure that the products are traceable (track & trace). For this purpose, individual packagings are provided with a unique identifier (e.g. a serial number) (serialization) in order to be able to clearly identify them at a later time. The unique identifier can be used to clearly place a product that is in one's hands; however, it is not possible to determine the location of a product that has been put into circulation or the state of said product solely on the basis of the unique identifier.


A solid epoxy resin powder coating composition which includes a divinylarene dioxide resin as one component; and wherein the solid epoxy resin powder coating composition can be formed by blending or reacting various other components with the divinylarene dioxide resin. For example, other components can include other epoxy resins; phenolic resins; or monomeric and/or polymeric isocyanates. The powder coating composition or formulation may advantageously provide, for example, a Fusion Bonded Epoxy coating on a substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to solid curable epoxy resin powder coating compositions derived from divinylarene dioxides, particularly those derived from divinylbenzene dioxide.
2. Description of Background and Related Art
Solid powder coating formulations are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,456,408 describes solid epoxy resins (SERs) prepared from epoxy resins and diphenols; and Reinking, J. Poly. Sci. 1963, 7, 2135-2153 describes poly(hydroxyl-ethers) (PHEs) prepared from epoxy resins and diphenols. It is known that to be a "solid" powder composition, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composition has to be greater than about 30° C.
It would be beneficial to the coating industry to develop powder coating formulations, powder coating processes, and powder coated articles based on SERs and phenolic epoxy resins (PERs) that (i) provide an increase in the Tg of the coating while maintaining formulation processability; and/or (ii) that maintain the Tg of the coating while improving formulation processability without affecting other key properties of the coating such as adhesion and flexibility.


An auto focus lens for digital cameras comprises a coil base, a lens barrel, and an elastic component. The coil base which has a coil wounded around in a specific direction and which has an accommodation hole whose bottom is provided with a stopper. The surface of the lens barrel is distributed with a permanent magnet and the lens barrel is rotatably installed inside the accommodation hole. One of the lens barrel's ends has a guide surface, slant and close to the stopper. The elastic component presses against the other end of the lens barrel so that the guide surface touches the stopper permanently. When the coil is provided with an electric current, a magnetic force is generated to repel the permanent magnet on the lens barrel. The lens barrel thus rotates up and down according to the design of the guide surface, and thereby the focal length of the camera is changed.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a lens for digital cameras and, in particular, to an auto focus lens system.
2. Related Art
There are many ways to help people memorize happy times. Taking pictures is one of the most frequent ways. Therefore, one often needs to use a camera for recording the memorable moments. As we can see, the designs of cameras have evolved toward compact styles, so have the currently popular digital cameras.
The focus structure of digital cameras can be roughly divided into a manual focus structure and an auto focus structure. The manual focus structure allows one to focus the lens to a desired position, whereas the auto focus structure focuses on an object by comparing with the image on an image sensor. The image sensor is either a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) installed inside the digital camera. In the beginning, the lens moves back and forth around its original position (static position). As the lens moves, the CPU compares the image from the lens with the image in the image sensor. Finally, as the lens moves to the position where the image is the clearest, then the lens stops at the position. In this case, the lens has to be continuously driven back and forth by an annular cam. The annular cam is provided with a lens driving structure and driven to rotate by a stepping motor. At the moment when the CPU detects a clearest image as the lens moves back and forth, a stop signal is simultaneously sent to the lens. Therefore, the lens stops at the best focal position (static position). When the lens is to be moved back to the original position, the annular cam starts to rotate again. Once the lens moves back to its original position, the photo interrupter installed by the lens cylinder uses the shutter at the border of the lens cylinder, to detect the original position of the lens. The shutter will interrupt the light of the penetration-type photo interrupter. The lens stops at the moment when the photo interrupter detects the original position.
Consequently, the lens in a digital camera auto focus system has to be driven continuously, so is the image detection. Every time an image is captured, the lens has to return to its original position. Thus, the lens focusing procedure is very time-consuming, which, in most of cases, results in losing the best image-capturing time. Moreover, the structure including a stepping motor, an annular cam, and a photo interrupter is very expensive.
With reference to the cross-sectional view of a traditional digital camera auto focus structure in FIG. 1 and the corresponding three-dimensional view in FIG. 2, when the stepping motor 1 receives a start signal from the digital camera CPU, it starts to rotate. A stepping motor gear 2 that matches with an annular cam gear 3 provided at the border of the annular cam 4 also rotates. The annular cam 4 thus starts to rotate because of the stepping motor gear 2 and the annular cam gear 3. A position-detecting rod 5 moves back and forth (up and down) along the slope surface of the annular cam 4. The whole lens module 6 moves back and forth along a track 7. One side of the lens cylinder is provided with a sheath, where the position-detecting rod 5 is installed as one part and protrudes from the sheath. The outermost part of the sheath of the lens module 6 is provided with a bearing 8 moving back and forth along the track 7. The other side of the lens is provided with a position-fixing fork 9 as one part of the lens cylinder. A position-fixing pin 10 is provided between the two terminals of the position-fixing fork 9.
The bearing 8, the track 7, the position-fixing fork 9 and the position-fixing pin 10 support the lens module 6. The lens module 6 is always pressed toward an image sensor 11 by a coil spring 12, so that the tip of the position-detecting rod 5 always appropriately touches the slant surface of the annular cam 4.
When the power of the digital camera is turned on, the image is formed on the image sensor 11 by the lens module 6. Once the switch of the auto focus structure is turned on, the image focusing is transmitted to the CPU in a continuous way for checking the image formed on the image sensor 11. When the image becomes clearest, the CPU sends out a stop-checking signal, and the stop-checking signal stops the stepping motor 1, releases the shutter, and captures the image. After these steps, the lens module 6 has to return to its original position (static position). A shutter-detecting blade 13 is provided at the edge of the annular cam 4. After capturing the image, the annular cam 4 starts to rotate again to bring the lens module 6 back to its original position. When the shutter-detecting blade 13 enters the slit of the photo interrupter 14, the beam in the photo interrupter 14 is interrupted by the shutter-detecting blade 13. The annular cam 4 immediately stops here so that the lens module 6 can return and stop at its original position. As shown in FIG. 2, the lens module is right at its original position.
The lens module 6 has to move back and forth for the CPU to check the image. This method of searching for an optimal focal point makes use of mechanical and continuous lens motion to repeatedly check the image. Thus, it is time-consuming so that the user may miss the best timing. Moreover, this complicated structure has to be finely assembled and adjusted. Its components are often very expensive. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a simple structure that uses fewer cheap components while saving focusing time, electric power, and the required space.


The present application is generally directed to microfluidic devices and methods for the achievement and assessment of chemical and radiochemical purity of (microfluidic) radio-synthesis products. More particularly, the current application relates to systems for purification and analysis of radiochemical products yielded by microfluidic synthesis devices.

Microfluidic devices can offer a variety of advantages over macroscopic reactors, such as reduced reagent consumption, high surface-to-volume ratios, and improved control over mass and heat transfer. (See, K. Jahnisch, V. Hessel, H. Lowe, M. Baems, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 410-451; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2004, 43, 406-446; P. Watts, S. J. Haswell, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2005, 34, 235-246; and G. Jas, A. Kirschning, Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9, 5708-5723.) A microfluidic device can be integrated with a computer control system in order to perform complicated chemical and biological processes in an automated fashion.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a molecular imaging technology that is increasingly used for detection of disease. PET imaging systems create images based on the distribution of positron-emitting isotopes in the tissue of a patient. The isotopes are typically administered to a patient by injection of probe molecules, which comprise a positron-emitting isotope, e.g. carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, or fluorine-18, attached to a molecule that is readily metabolized or localized in the body or that chemically binds to receptor sites within the body. The short half-lives of the positron emitters require that synthesis, analysis and purification of the probes are completed rapidly.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is another nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays emitted from positron probes. SPECT is able to provide true 3D information. In particular, gated SPECT (timed acquisition) of the heart can be used to obtain quantitative information about myocardial perfusion, thickness, and contractility of the myocardium during various parts of the cardiac cycle. Additionally, SPECT can be used for tumor imaging, infection (leukocyte) imaging, thyroid imaging or bone imaging. Isotopes commonly used in SPECT include technetium-99, iodine-123 and indium-111, which can be attached to a molecule that is readily metabolized or localized in the body or that chemically binds to receptor sites within the body.
Microfluidic devices have been designed and tested for radio-synthesis of radiometric probes. A microfluidic device for the multistep synthesis of a radiolabeled imaging probe has been disclosed in, for example Lee, C-C, et al., Science 2005 310:1793-1796; Gillies, J M et al., Appl Radiat Isot 2006 64(3):325-32 and 333-336; and Audrain Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2007 46(11):1772-5. Those devices, as well as those disclosed in US 2007-0051412 and US 2004-0258615, are non-exclusive examples of the type synthetic devices that can be used with the systems disclosed herein.
In order for microfluidic devices to be used in clinical applications, the desired products need to be isolated in pure form and their quality has to be precisely analyzed and recorded. Radio-synthesis of probes in microfluidics devices generally yields very small amounts of product in a very small volume of typically aqueous solvent (1-50 μL, even 1-10 μL). It is difficult to analyze and purify these products by conventional methods, without losing the targeted product due to the small sample volumes compared to the volumes and surface area of the vessels and tubing the product encounters en route. When working with smaller sample volumes, product loss from routine handling and required transfers is more significant. Generally users either have accepted the purity and yield achieved by conventional HPLC or run multiple sequential purifications. However, conventional methods do not allow enough precision in the isolation of the desired peaks from HPLC; conventional methods also require manual handling which leads to product losses and introduces errors. Furthermore, the short half-life of many of the radiometric probes requires the development of any new analytical processes to be relatively fast and efficient, that is with relatively short overall processing cycles and high yields. The isolation/detection/collection systems of the present application are complementary to microfluidic radio-synthesis devices, which operate with small volumes.
The systems described in the present application provide small scale, integratable and self-contained units. These systems are substantially isolated from the outside environment, excepting reagent, buffer or sample ports, and are able to perform fluidic operations while maintaining precise control of the amounts of fluids to be delivered. The sealed nature and readily automatable systems also protect fluid operation performed in these devices from contaminating influences from the outside environment, such as chemical or biological contamination, including human error that is generally associated with manual operations, e.g. measurement errors, incorrect reagent additions, detection errors and the like.

System for purification and analysis of radiochemical products yielded by microfluidic synthesis devices


In a cylinder sleeve assembly comprising a plurality of cylinder sleeves whose adjacent cylindrical peripheral walls are coupled to each other, a plurality of sink mark inhibiting projections biting into the cylinder sleeve assembly during casting a cylinder block are provided in each of valley-like areas of an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder sleeve assembly which are located on opposite sides of a coupled portion of the adjacent peripheral walls. Thus, the adhesion between the cylinder barrel assembly and the cylinder sleeve assembly is enhanced. In addition, the adhesion is further enhanced by providing a predetermined inclination to each of the sink mark inhibiting projections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a cylinder sleeve assembly used in a cylinder block for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, and more particularly, a cylinder sleeve assembly cast in a cylinder barrel assembly in a cylinder block for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, and a mold for use in production of sand mold for casting the cylinder sleeve assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is such a conventionally known cylinder sleeve assembly including a plurality of circumferentially extending convexities arranged at predetermined distances along a generating line (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 104740/80).
One of reasons why the convexities are provided is that the contact area of the cylinder sleeve assembly is increased to enhance the adhesion of the cylinder sleeve assembly with respect to the cylinder barrel assembly. However, the convexities do not contribute to the enhancement of the adhesion of the cylinder sleeve assembly to the cylinder barrel assembly in a particular area which will be described below.
That is, if adjacent cylindrical peripheral walls of a plurality of cylinder sleeves are coupled to each other as described above, an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder sleeve assembly has valley-like areas on opposite sides of a coupled portion between the adjacent cylindrical peripheral walls.
In a mold for casting a cylinder block having a cylinder sleeve assembly of such a construction placed therein, if a molten metal is poured into a cylinder barrel assembly molding cavity defined between the cylinder sleeve assembly and a water jacket shaping core, the molten metal located a region faced by the valley-like areas tends to be solidified more slowly than the molten metal located at the other region. For this reason, a circumferential solidification/shrinkage force is applied to a valley-like area-opposed portion of the cylinder barrel assembly. However, the above-described convexities cannot oppose such solidification/shrinkage force and hence, sink marks are generated on the valley-like area-opposed portion, resulting in a deteriorated adhesion between the opposed portion and the valley-like area.

Cylinder sleeve assembly used in cylinder block for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, and forming mold for use in production of sand mold for casting the same


A thermally actuated device, such as an electrical circuit breaker (10) is provided with an ambient temperature compensation thermostat metal member (38) selected so that it bends when subjected to changes in temperature and compensates for ambient temperature effects on a thermostat metal trip arm for a selected current rating. Movement of such thermostat metal member is directly proportional to the flexivity of the material and to the square of the length of the member and indirectly proportional to the thickness of the member. Since packaging constraints make changes in length impractical, compensation members used to provide temperature compensation for different current ratings of the device typically have been made by using members of different thickness. In accordance with the invention, ambient temperature compensation members for a family of devices having a plurality of different current ratings is provided by changing the effective length of respective blank thermal compensation members by stamping selected deformations (48c, 50c) appropriate for each current rating in respective blank compensation members.

Presently, thermally compensated thermostat metal actuated electrical devices use a thermostat metal, such as bimetal, compensator to provide relatively constant levels of hold and trip currents as a function of ambient temperature. However, in providing suitable thermostat metal compensation for a series of devices having different current ratings the level of compensation must be changed appropriately. To provide for a range of compensation that may be needed as one goes from one ampere rating to the next, different thickness thermostat metals and different types metals for the thermostat metals are used to obtain varying levels of bimetal activity (movement per degree Fahrenheit). The formula for thermostat metal movement is shown below:B(thermostat metal movement)=0.53F(ΔT)L2/t                Where F is flexivity (10−7/degree Fahrenheit), T is degrees Fahrenheit, thermostat metal movement B, length L and thickness t are in inches.
As noted above, it is known to use different thickness thermostat metals to obtain different levels of compensation, i.e., different amounts of movement per degree of temperature, for example 0.023, 0.026, 0.028, 0.030 inch thickness. However, this approach for changing compensation levels has several disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that this approach is relatively expensive to provide because manufacturing different thicknesses requires the use of heavy rolling mills and the like that produce large quantities of material while only small quantities are needed for each rating of compensation members thereby resulting in excessively large amounts of inventory. Further, the mass of the compensators and associated latches for higher ratings increase along with thickness making the circuit breakers more sensitive to shock and vibration.
Changing the length of the thermostat metal compensator is impractical because of packaging constrains. That is, designers of equipment with which the devices are to be used, such as aircraft, typically are not able to accommodate device packages of different sizes.

Method for ambient temperature compensating thermostat metal actuated electrical devices having a plurality of current ratings


In the present invention, for example with regards to a Mach-Zehnder type LN modulator which uses a Z-cut LN substrate, by providing a step by forming an etching part on the surface of the LN substrate, and forming an optical waveguide so as to position a pair of branching waveguides of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the step portion, a height difference is produced between the branching waveguides, in the perpendicular direction to the substrate surface. As a result, lines of electric force directed from a signal electrode provided above one branching waveguide towards a ground electrode provided above an other branching waveguide are hardly dispersed, and a desired electro-optic effect can be obtained at a lower drive voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waveguide-type optical device using an electro-optic effect, and in particular, relates to a waveguide-type optical device in which an electric field acts on a pair of optical waveguides formed near a surface of a dielectric substrate, in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crystals having the electro-optic effect, particularly ferroelectric crystals such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3:LN), have been applied to many optical devices such as optical modulators, optical switches, and optical attenuators, due to their high electro-optic constant. For example, an LN modulator used in large-capacity, high-speed communication is advantageous from the standpoint of small wavelength chirp, as compared with a modulator having a configuration in which a light source is directly modulated, or an electroabsorption modulator integrated laser diode (EML).
Specifically, as a conventional LN modulator, for example as shown in FIG. 16 to FIG. 18, a variable chirp configuration in which a Z-cut LN substrate is used to form a dual-drive type electrode (FIG. 16), a fixed chirp configuration in which a Z-cut LN substrate is used to form a single-drive type electrode (FIG. 17), and a zero chirp configuration in which an X-cut LN substrate is used to form a single-drive type electrode (FIG. 18) are known (see for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-219521, paragraph numbers 0002 to 0003). Reference numeral 101 in each figure denotes an LN substrate, 110 denotes a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide, 121 denotes a signal electrode, 122 denotes a ground electrode, and 130 denotes a buffer layer.
It has been reported that, among the above described various configurations, the single-drive type LN modulator is user-friendly, and particularly, the chirp type LN modulator (FIG. 17) with chirps of a required amount, is advantageous in long-distance optical transmission, and this is widely used in long-distance, large-capacity optical transmission systems.
However, the above LN modulators have a larger voltage at the time of operation than that of the aforementioned direct modulation method and the EML, and hence, it is a problem to achieve low voltage (improvement of modulation efficiency) from the standpoint of power consumption and drive amplitude of a driver circuit. This problem is not only in the LN modulator, but is common to various types of waveguide-type optical devices using a substrate having the electro-optic effect.
The waveguide-type optical device having the single-drive type electrode structure using the Z-cut substrate as shown in FIG. 17 is specifically explained. As shown in the X-X′ cross-section in FIG. 19, relative to two optical waveguides formed approximately parallel with each other with a necessary distance therebetween near the surface of the Z-cut substrate, a signal electrode is arranged above one of the optical waveguides and a ground electrode is arranged above the other optical waveguide. In such an electrode structure, an electric field acting on the respective optical waveguides becomes substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface. Curved arrows in FIG. 19 indicate lines of electric force between the signal electrode and the ground electrode. As seen from the state of these lines of electric force, in the single-drive type electrode structure using the Z-cut substrate, the lines of electric force are likely to be dispersed, and in order to obtain a desired electro-optic effect, a relatively high drive voltage needs to be applied to the signal electrode.


A semiconductor assembly, and method for forming same, comprises a support such as a printed circuit board (PCB), at least one semiconductor die, and a surface plate manufactured from a material such as ceramic, plastic, silicon, or the like. The semiconductor die is removably attached to the PCB, and an electrical interconnect such as a wire bond electrically couples the PCB and the die. The surface plate is attached to the die and leaves exposed the terminals on the die. The die is burned in and tested. Responsive to the die passing the test, the surface plate is underfilled, for example with a glob top material, to seal the electrical interconnect and its attachment to the PCB and to the die. Responsive to the die failing the test, the die is removed and replaced with another die. Various other embodiments of the invention are described.

Electronic packaging technology has undergone repeated transformations and improvements during the past decade, driven by reliability, size, and price considerations. Most packaging methods involve the use of encapsulants to protect a semiconductor die and electrical interconnections such as bond wires from physical damage and ionic contamination prior to the final step of packaging the die.
One type of encapsulated electronic package is made by bonding one (or more) semiconductor die to a substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or other wiring board with an adhesive, and covering the die with an encapsulant. The final packaging step includes encasing the die in a plastic molding to protect the die and fragile wire bonds from possible environmental damage. The encapsulants used to accomplish this are dispensed to form a glob over the die and the electrical interconnections, and are generally known to those skilled in the art as "glob top" encapsulants. The demand for miniaturized circuitry has led to the use of glob top as a preferred assembly method for many types of products, including microprocessor circuitry.
Glob-topping protects the semiconductor die and bonding wires that electrically couple the die to the circuit board or wiring board during manufacture. The encapsulant material and the process of applying the encapsulant are both referred to as glob top. The glob top encapsulant covers the die, portions of the metal circuit pattern on the surface of the die, the bond wires, and portion of the PCB surface. Conventional glob-topping processes rely upon the low viscosity of the encapsulant material at the forming temperature which is dispensed from a plastic syringe having a needle tip. In the glob top process, a dam is formed around the periphery of the die and bond wires to constrain the lateral flow of the encapsulant. The encapsulant material is then dispensed within the perimeter of the dam and gravity is relied upon to form the protective cover for the assembly. The syringe is used both to form the dam structure and dispense the additional glob top inside the dam. The material is dispensed from the syringe in the form of a viscous stream or column in a back and forth pattern until the areas that require protection have been completely covered with the glob top.
Because products are becoming more miniaturized to meet market demands even as integrated circuit die are growing larger with more outputs, the use of glob top material is becoming an attractive method of packaging because of its compact nature. For example, the surface area covered by the glob top material compared to standard encapsulated devices is much smaller. Furthermore, glob top material can induce significant stresses on the die that can lead to cracking.
Semiconductor die are not typically functionally and parametrically tested and burned in prior to assembly to a PCB. If a die that is assembled and glob-topped to a PCB later fails during testing it is difficult or impossible to remove and replace without damaging the PCB or bonding pads on the PCB. To overcome the problem of rework, a replacement (redundant) die is often assembled to the PCB while the nonfunctional die is left in place on the PCB but electrically disabled. Leaving the nonfunctional die in place, however, can defeat the size advantage offered by the glob top assembly as it requires additional space on the PCB and adding redundancy through additional die is rarely cost effective.
An assembly and process that reduces the problems associated with conventional glob top technology would be desirable.

Method and apparatus for semiconductor assembly which includes testing of chips and replacement of bad chips prior to final assembly


According to one embodiment, a solid electrolyte material is an oxide represented by ABO3, wherein an A-site includes Li and vacancies. A cubic root V1/3 of a unit cell volume is within a range of 386 pm≦V1/3≦397 pm. A peak top νtop of an absorption peak in an infrared absorption spectrum satisfies Expression (1)νtop (cm−1)=4.7×V1/3 (pm)−b   (1),                provided that 1220≦b≦1240.

A lithium ion secondary battery having high energy density has recently attracted much attention as a stationary power source for small electronic devices, hybrid cars, electric vehicles, and power storages. Of such batteries, much anticipation surrounds the lithium ion secondary battery with an inorganic solid electrolyte as a safe battery since it is free from risks such as leakage of an organic electrolytic solution and gas generation. Further, a lithium battery using a solid electrolyte is expected to attain a longer life since it is less subject to side reactions other than a battery reaction as compared to batteries using electrolytic solution. Furthermore, since it is easy to form an all-solid battery using an inorganic solid electrolyte by layering an electrode and an electrolyte layer, the all-solid battery enables to reduce the production cost and also to form a bipolar type battery. Accordingly, a higher energy density is expected as compared to batteries using a liquid-based electrolyte. However, since a material having a high oxidizing power is used for a positive electrode and a material having a high reducing property is used for a negative electrode in a lithium ion battery having high electromotive force, it is necessary for the materials and the solid electrolyte to be stable when they are brought into contact with each other.
Perovskite compounds which have a high lithium ionic conductivity and are easily obtainable by a solid phase reaction in an air atmosphere are attracting attention. A representative example of such a material is La0.67−XLi3XTiO3. One of the compounds having a composition of X=0.11 shows a high lithium ionic conductivity at room temperature Of 1.5×10−3 S/cm, which is excellent for an oxide-based solid electrolyte. On the other hand, since titanium, which is one of the constituent elements, is easily reduced, there has been a problem that the electrolyte reacts with the negative electrode material having a strong reducing property to exhibit electronic conductivity due to the reduction of tetravalent titanium into trivalent titanium. Since the conductivity of the electrolyte other than the ionic conductivity can entail internal short-circuiting of the battery, the problem is a big issue in terms of its practical application. Therefore, a method of replacing a part of the constituent elements with another element, which has higher reduction-resistant than titanium, has been tried. However, the replacement of the constituent element causes a considerable degradation in the lithium ionic conductivity to about 1/10 to 1/100.

Solid electrolyte material, solid electrolyte, and battery


A photosensitive material processing device having a processing tank in which is stored a processing solution for processing silver halide photosensitive materials, wherein the processing tank is formed from a crystalline resin and is formed such that, given that a tank volume of the processing tank is V ml and a path length which is a conveying distance from a position at which a silver halide photosensitive material begins to contact the processing solution within the processing tank to a position at which the silver halide photosensitive material is discharged from the processing solution is L cm, a value of V/L is less than or equal to 25. As a result, slidability of the silver halide photosensitive material in the processing tank is increased so that conveyability of the silver halide photosensitive material within the processing tank can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing device which holds a small amount of processing solution and is well-suited for the developing process of negative films used for photography.
2. Description of the Related Art
A negative film used for photography, which is a silver halide photosensitive material, must be subjected to a developing process after being photographed. To this end, the photographed negative film is sent into a processing device for developing negative films in which processing solutions such as color developing solution, bleach fixing solution, washing water and the like are stored in respective processing tanks. The negative film is successively immersed in color developing solution, bleach fixing solution, and washing water so as to be subjected to the developing process. In order to carry out a reliable developing process, a large amount of processing solution must be stored in each of the conventional processing tanks housed within the processing device.
Further, because deterioration of the processing solution is promoted by oxidization, even when only a small amount of the processing solution is needed for processing negative films per day, in order to maintain high quality development of negative films, a large amount of replenishing solution must be replenished into the processing solution in conformity with the large amount of the processing solution so that the characteristics of the processing solution can always be maintained constant.
As described above, because it is necessary for the above processing device to use a large amount of the processing solution, in order to stabilize the processing solution, it is also necessary to use a large amount of the replenishing solution, accordingly. Therefore, the cost of operating the processing device increases and processing tanks are made large to store a large amount of processing solutions so that the processing device for housing the processing tanks which have been made large, needs to be large.
In order to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, a method of improving a processing device by making processing tanks compact and by storing a small amount of processing solutions in the processing tanks can be found. However, drawbacks arise in that when the processing tanks are made compact, a negative film easily contacts the inner wall surfaces of the processing tanks so that conveyability of the negative film deteriorates.
In recent years, there exists a photosensitive material processing device in which a magnetic writing layer is disposed on a negative film and information for processing the negative film or the like can be written into the negative film. However, there has been a drawback in that because the magnetic writing layer on the negative film contacts the inner wall surfaces of the processing tanks, the magnetic writing layer is damaged by abrasion or the like so that reading accuracy of the magnetic information decreases.

Photosensitive material processing device


The present invention relates generally to fishing equipment, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a fishing lure apparatus that includes a first portion and a second portion wherein the fishing lure apparatus is configured to provide a first position and a second position for a fishing line secured thereto in order to facilitate release of the fishing lure apparatus on which it is snagged.

As is known in the art, there are numerous types of fishing techniques that are employed commercially and recreationally. For the recreational fishermen or fisherwomen targeting game fish the most common equipment utilized is a rod and reel. Rod and reels are available in numerous configurations and are typically designed for a specific application such as but not limited to bass fishing or inshore fishing. Regardless of the type of fishing being engaged in, most fishermen and fisherwomen utilize two categories of bait, artificial or natural bait. These baits are available in a vast array of styles and types. These baits can be attached to a hook to create a fishing lure.
It is well-known that game fish live in and near natural and man-made structures such as but not limited to vegetation, rocks, docks, vessels, and seawalls. The fish use these structures for protection from natural elements and as areas in which to ambush prey. To target these fish, it is desirable for a fisherman or fisherwoman to cast their fishing lure into and near these structures. As is known in the art, utilization of fishing lures in areas that have these structures present challenges. As a fishing lure is retrieved subsequent casting thereof it is very common for the fishing lure to get snagged on the aforementioned structure types. Once a fishing lure is snagged, retrieving the fishing lure can be difficult and many times will result in the damaging or breaking of the fishing line and loss or damage of the fishing lure. No existing fishing lure provide a technique to change the fishing line position in order to alter the leverage and potentially free the fishing lure from the structure on which it is snagged.
Accordingly, there is a need for a fishing lure apparatus that is configured to provide a first line position and a second line position so as to provide a leverage change in order to potentially free the fishing lure apparatus from a structure on which it is snagged.


Provided is an item made of a polypropylene resin composition that is suppressed from the emission of volatile organic compound components, examples of which item include a container, a cap of a container, an item for packaging, stationery, a toy, a miscellaneous daily item, an item for furniture, fiber, an agricultural film, an item for automobiles, an item for household electric appliances, an item for medical applications, or an item for building applications. The polypropylene resin composition includes a specific propylene polymer, a specific sugar compound, and a specific compound having a hydroxyphenyl group.

Polypropylene resin is a representative resin that is inexpensive, light in weight, and superior in such characteristics as molding processability, mechanical characteristics, heat resistance, and long-term thermal degradation resistance particularly among thermoplastic resins. Therefore, polypropylene resin has been used for a wide range of applications, such as containers, items for food packaging, caps of containers such as bottles, stationery, miscellaneous daily items, fiber of carpets or sofas, interior and exterior materials of automobiles, items for household electric appliances, building materials such as interior materials of buildings or houses.
As an example of a resin composition that can be used for the above-mentioned applications, a polypropylene-based resin composition comprising polypropylene and hydrophobic zeolite having a specific SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio is disclosed in patent document 1. Patent document 2 discloses a polypropylene-based resin composition comprising polypropylene and alumina. Patent documents 3 and 4 each disclose a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a specific organophosphorus compound, and a specific sugar compound.

Molded article comprising polypropylene resin composition


The present invention provides, among other things, a tubing apparatus that allows for better organization of tubes within a system by permanently coupling medical tubes. Generally, this invention comprises a primary tube and a secondary tube, wherein the secondary tube is permanently coupled to the primary tube at least partially along the secondary tube's length. The primary tube comprises at least one coupling port to which one end of the secondary tube fluidly couples.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to tubing products, and more specifically, to tubing for medical purposes, such as intravenous tubing, but it is not limited to that field.
2. Description of Related Art
In medical settings, patients often require the intravenous administration of medication and nutrients through the use of intravenous tubes ("IV tubes"). It is not uncommon for hospital patients to have more than one standard IV tube that administers an electrolyte solution, and each standard IV tube has injection ports to which secondary tubes can be connected in order to administer specific medications. All of these tubes are long and often get in the way of one another, causing entanglement and confusion as to which tube is which. The mess of tubing can become difficult to navigate and poses a risk to the patient if the tubes cannot be organized and identified in a time-sensitive situation.
Also, in some circumstances, the administration of additional medication is needed immediately. However because most IV tubes, including secondary tubes, have long lengths, the medication may not reach the patient as quickly as desired because of all of the tubing through which the medication has to travel before reaching the patient.
There are existing products whose aim is to organize and/or protect IV tubes. Some products simply bundle tubes together, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,759, and some simply clip tubes together at one point, but leave the rest of the long tubing straying around a patient (U.S. Publication No. 2004/0135039).
So as to reduce the complexity and length of the Detailed Specification, and to fully establish the state of the art in certain areas of technology, Applicant herein expressly incorporates by reference all of the following materials identified in each numbered paragraph below.
U.S. Publication No. 2004/0135039, Reichert, "Controlling and identifying system of holders for intravenous lines and other elongated members." This reference describes a clip that couples multiple IV tubes together at one point.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,674, Simons, "Method and apparatus for organizing and identifying intravenous administration lines." This reference describes a device which couples multiple IV tubes together and provides a place on the device to label each tube.
U.S. Publication No. 6,315,759, Peterson, "Protective cover for intravenous lines and other elongated members." This reference describes a device that bundles multiple IV tubes together and also protects them from external forces because it is comprised of resilient material.
Applicant believes that the material incorporated above is "non-essential" in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57, because it is referred to for purposes of indicating the background of the invention or illustrating the state of the art. However, if the Examiner believes that any of the above-incorporated material constitutes "essential material" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.57(c)(1)-(3), Applicant will amend the specification to expressly recite the essential material that is incorporated by reference as allowed by the applicable rules.

Methods and apparatus for intravenous tubing


According to one embodiment, a battery electrode includes an active material layer and a current collector is provided. The active material layer contains particles of a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide and particles of a lithium titanate having a spinel structure. When a particle size frequency distribution of particles contained in the active material layer is measured by the laser diffraction and scattering method, a first peak P1 appears in a range of 0.3 μm to 3 μm and a second peak P2 appears in a range of 5 μm to 20 μm in the frequency distribution diagram. The ratio FP1/FP2 of the frequency FP1 of the first peak P1 to the frequency FP2 of the second peak P2 is 0.4 to 2.3.

A titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure has recently attracted remarkable attention as a high-capacity negative electrode material. The number of lithium ions which can be inserted into lithium titanate having a spinel structure (Li4Ti5O12), which has been made practicable, is three per unit chemical formula. In other words, the number of lithium ions which can be inserted is 3/5 per titanium ion. Therefore, the maximum number is theoretically 0.6. Such a lithium titanate having a spinel structure has a theoretical capacity of about 170 mAh/g.
On the contrary, the number of lithium ions which can be inserted into titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure is a maximum of 1.0 per titanium ion. This titanium oxide therefore provides a theoretical capacity as high as about 330 mAh/g and a reversible capacity as high as about 240 mAh/g. Then, it is considered that the capacity of a battery can be improved by using titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure.
However, the electrode density is difficult to be raised when titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure is used as a negative electrode material. Thus, it is necessary to excessively press the electrode in the production of the electrode. As a result, there is the case where the adhesiveness of the electrode is damaged. Further, the titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure is largely expanded and shrunk when a battery is charged/discharged. For this, the electrode is significantly deteriorated by repeat charging/discharging a number of times. These facts show that there is a problem in that a nonaqueous electrolyte battery using titanium oxide having a monoclinic β-type structure as the negative electrode material has low input/output performance.

Battery electrode, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack


In one example, a video decoder is configured to store an adaptation parameter set (APS) data structure in a buffer of a coding device, wherein the APS data structure includes signaling data applicable to one or more slices of video data, decode at least one of the slices based on the signaling data of the APS data structure, after decoding the slice, determine that the APS data structure can be removed from the buffer, remove the APS data structure from the buffer based on the determination, and decode one or more additional slices of the video data after removing the APS data structure from the buffer.

Digital video capabilities can be incorporated into a wide range of devices, including digital televisions, digital direct broadcast systems, wireless broadcast systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop or desktop computers, digital cameras, digital recording devices, digital media players, video gaming devices, video game consoles, cellular or satellite radio telephones, video teleconferencing devices, and the like. Digital video devices implement video compression techniques, such as those described in the standards defined by MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ITU-T H.263 or ITU-T H.264/MPEG-4, Part 10, Advanced Video Coding (AVC), and extensions of such standards, to transmit and receive digital video information more efficiently.
An upcoming video coding standard is the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, "HEVC Working Draft 7," or "WD7," is described in document HCTVC-11003, Bross et al., "High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Text Specification Draft 7," Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11, 9th Meeting: Geneva, Switzerland, Apr. 27, 2012 to May 7, 2012, which, as of Jun. 25, 2102, is downloadable from http://phenix.it-sudparis.eu/jct/doc_end_user/documents/9_Geneva/wg11/JCTVC-11003-v3.zip. Another HEVC working draft, referred to as "HEVC Working Draft 6" or "WD6," is described in document JCTVC-H1003, Bross et al., "High efficiency video coding (HEVC) text specification draft 6," Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11, 8th Meeting: San Jose, Calif., USA, February, 2012, which, as of Jun. 25, 2012, is downloadable from http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/documents/8_San_Jose/wg11/JCTVC-H1003-v22.zip.
Video compression techniques perform spatial prediction and/or temporal prediction to reduce or remove redundancy inherent in video sequences. For block-based video coding, a video frame or slice may be partitioned into blocks. Each block can be further partitioned. Blocks in an intra-coded (I) frame or slice are encoded using spatial prediction with respect to neighboring blocks. Blocks in an inter-coded (P or B) frame or slice may use spatial prediction with respect to neighboring blocks in the same frame or slice or temporal prediction with respect to data of previously coded reference frames.

Adaptation parameter sets for video coding


A method of reading a memory cell containing an access transistor, a word line and a memory storage for holding information. The access transistor having a control terminal is connected to the word line. The memory storage is connected to the access transistor and thereby to a sense amplifier through a bit line. The access transistor, operating in a conductive state, is responsive to the word line. The bit line is precharged to an intermediate voltage level greater than a low threshold level and less than an upper limit level. The bit line is discharged from the intermediate voltage level to produce a low voltage level in a prescribed time if the memory storage holds memory information of a first state. The bit line is charged to approximately the upper limit level in the prescribed time if the memory storage holds memory information of a second state. The voltage of the bit line is determined by the sense amplifier after the prescribed time so that the memory information is read.

In a SIMD digital signal processing apparatus, multiple processing elements are connected in parallel on a single chip, enabling all the processing elements to perform the same operation in response to a single program. It is used in image signal processing, data processing, etc.
For example, FIG. 16 shows the main portion of a SVP (scan-line video processor) for real-time processing of NTSC signals. This SVP has a three-layer structure made of data input register (DIR) 200, SIMD digital signal processing unit 202, and data output register (DOR) 204.
For DIR 200, the image data d1-dn corresponding to one horizontal scan line (e.g., 40 bits.times.960 words) are input repeatedly. In SIMD digital signal processing unit 202, processing elements pe1-pen with a number n equal to the number of pixels on a horizontal scan line (say, 960) are arranged in parallel (connection). Corresponding to the successive common instructions I from an instruction generating portion (not shown), these processing elements pe1, pe2, . . . pen execute the prescribed image processing operation for the corresponding pixel data d1, d2, . . . dn during one horizontal scanning period. In this way, image data d1-dn of one scan line are processed once. DOR 204 collects the operation processing results from processing elements pe1-pen to form image data d1-dn' (such as 24 bits.times.960 words) for one horizontal scan line. The data transfer from DIR 200 to processing unit 202 and data transfer from processing unit 202 from DOR 204 are carried out during the horizontal blanking period.
In this case, data input, parallel processing, and data output for each horizontal scan line are executed by processing DIR 200, unit 202, and DOR 204 in a pipeline scheme.
Each processing element PEk of processing unit 202 comprises a pair of register files, a 1-bit ALU (arithmetic logic unit), several working registers, and L/R communication unit for exchanging data with multiple left- and right-side neighboring processing elements (for example, 2 on each side). The register file on one side is connected to DIR 200, and it holds the data before and during operation. The register file on the other side is connected to DOR 204, and it holds the data during the operation and the data of the final operation result.
FIG. 17 shows the timing of the processing operation within each processing element PEk in the conventional SVP.
(1) First, 1-bit data is read from one and/or the other memory address of a pair of register files with address assigned by the corresponding instruction Ii (DATA READ). PA1 (2) Then, the L/R communication unit performs conditional exchange of data with the left-side and right-side neighboring processing elements (e.g., two on each side) PEk-2, PEk-1, PEk+1, PEk+2, assigned by the corresponding instruction Ii (LRCOM). PA1 (3) Then, ALU executes the operation as assigned by the corresponding instruction Ii for the data read in the steps (1), (2) and/or the received data (ALU). PA1 (4) Finally, one set of the data obtained in the steps (1), (2), (3) is written into one and/or the other memory address of the pair of register files assigned by the corresponding instruction Ii (WRITE BACK).
In this way, during each clock cycle, four steps (1)-(4) are executed for performing 1-bit operation processing. For example, in the operation of 8-bit addition to obtain 9-bit output, 9 clock cycles are needed. For each of these clock cycles, the four steps (1)-(4) are executed.
As shown in FIG. 18, the register files in DIR 200, DOR 204, and processing element PEk are made of current-read-type DRAM (dynamic random access memory).
In the current-read-type DRAM of FIG. 18, memory node N of capacitor 206 that forms the memory cell is connected via write transistor 208 to write bit line WBL, and it is connected through memory cell transistor 210 and access transistor 212 to read bit line RBL. The gate terminal of write transistor 208 is connected to write word line WWL, and the gate terminal of access transistor 212 is connected to read word line RWL. Read bit line RBL is connected via precharge transistor 214 to the terminal of power source voltage VDD, and it is connected to input terminal 216a of single-ended sense amplifier 216 comprised of inverters.
In the write operation, write word line WWL is enabled, and write transistor 208 conducts, and 1-bit information of "1" (H-level) or "0" (L-level) is written from write bit line WBL to capacitor 206. When "1" (H-level) is stored in capacitor 206, NMOS type memory cell transistor 210 is on; when "0" (L-level) is stored, it is off.
FIG. 19 shows the waveforms of the various portions in the read operation and timing. First, as precharge control signal XPCHG becomes active (L-level), PMOS precharge transistor 214 conducts, and read bit line RBL is precharged to a voltage of the H-level near power source voltage VDD (e.g., 3 V). After end of the precharge, read word line RWL becomes active (H-level), and NMOS type active transistor 212 conducts.
When the information "1" is stored in capacitor 206, memory cell transistor 210 turns on. Then access transistor 212 conducts, and current flows from read bit line RBL through two transistors 212, 210. The voltage of RBL drops exponentially with time.
As the voltage of read bit line RBL falls below a prescribed threshold (such as 1.5 V), PMOS output transistor 218 of sense amplifier 216 turns on, and NMOS output transistor 222 turns off. In this case, read control signal READ is enabled (H-level), and NMOS read transistor 220 conducts. The "1" (H-level) read information (DATA) is read from output terminal 216b of sense amplifier 216.
When information "0" is stored in capacitor 206, memory cell transistor 210 turns off. Even when access transistor 212 conducts, the voltage of read bit line RBL is still maintained at the H-level. In sense amplifier 216, NMOS output transistor 222 is on, while PMOS output transistor 218 is maintained in the off state. In the prescribed timing, read control signal READ becomes active (H-level), and the NMOS type read transistor 220 conducts, so that "0" (L-level) read information (DATA) is obtained from output terminal 216b of sense amplifier 216.
As explained above, with the conventional SVP, in order to perform image signal processing with respect to 1-bit data, for each processing element PEk, it is necessary to perform four steps in each clock cycle, namely, (1) step in which data is read from the register file (DATA READ); (2) step in which data is conditionally exchanged with multiple left-side and right-side neighboring processing elements (LRCOM); (3) step in which ALU performs operation for the data obtained in the steps (1) and (2); and (4) step in which one set of the data obtained in the steps (1), (2), (3) is written in the register file (WRITE BACK). These steps are executed in order.
However, as shown in FIG. 17, the actual processing time is short in steps (1)-(4) in each cycle, while most of the time is not used for processing.
For step (1) (DATA READ), immediately after the beginning of a cycle, the read operation of the register file is started; reading of the data is completed in the first part of the cycle, while the remaining time a (the intermediate part and latter part) becomes the time merely for holding the data.
In step (2) (LRCOM), nearly the time b1 of the first part of each cycle is the time for waiting for the data sent from the other processing elements on the left- and right-side neighbors, and the remaining time after the data is received in the intermediate portion of the cycle (latter part time of the cycle) b2 becomes the time merely for holding the received data.
In step (3) (ALU), time c1 corresponding to the first part and the intermediate part of the cycle is the time for waiting for the data in steps (1) and (2), while the remaining time c2 after execution of the operation in the latter part of the cycle is the time merely for holding the data of the operation results.
In step (4) (WRITE BACK), time d from the start of the cycle to end of step (3) is the time merely for waiting for the data of the operation results.
In this way, in each cycle, data waiting time, data holding time, and other nonprocessing times are attached to the actual processing time of various steps (1)-(4). So it is difficult to increase the throughput, which is a disadvantage.
Also, in the case of reading of current-read-type DRAM cell, in the conventional scheme, as shown in FIG. 19, the voltage level of read word line RWL varies with precharge control signal XPCHG. That is, during the period of precharge, XPCHG is in the active state (L-level), and RWL is in the nonactive state (L-level). At the end of precharge, XPCHG becomes the nonactive state (H-level), and, at the same time, RWL becomes the active state (H-level). In this way, the voltage of read bit line RBL falls conditionally (when the memory information is "1").
However, a certain time td is needed to have read word line RWL rise to the H-level. The discharge start time of RBL is delayed for this rise time td, and timing of detection of the sense amplifier is delayed.
Also, when the memory information is "1," the voltage of read bit line RBL oscillates between the upper threshold and lower threshold of the voltage logic as L-level (VSS: ground voltage) .fwdarw.H-level (VDD: 3 V) .fwdarw.L-level (VSS: ground potential). Thus the discharge time is prolonged in any case.
In this way, in the reading method of the conventional current-read-type DRAM cell, it is difficult to shorten the time period from the start of the read operation to the time point when the voltage of the logic level corresponding to the memory information of the cell on the read bit line RBL, and a the read access rate is limited.
The first purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of the conventional methods by providing an SIMD digital signal processing method and apparatus that can increase the number of cycles of operation that can be executed in unit time and to increase the throughput.
The second purpose of this invention is to provide a read method for the current read type memory cell for shortening the discharge time needed for the bit line and to increase the read rate.

Method for reading data in a memory cell


A switch assembly adapted and a method for switching power to a circuit having a power source. The switch assembly includes current carrying contacts and a coupling member. The coupling member has conductive pads for engaging the current carrying contacts and a contact bridge extending between the conductive pads. An actuator assembly moves the coupling member between a closed position in which the conductive pads of the coupling member engage the current carrying contacts and an open position in which the conductive pads of the coupling member are disengaged from the current carrying contacts. Opposing electromagnetic forces are generated between the contact bridge and the conductive pads to resist electromagnetic repulsion forces generated between the current carrying contacts and the conductive pads as the actuator assembly approaches or is in the closed position.

Relays and contactors are known devices used for switching of intended circuits/loads and the like. A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many known relays use an electromagnet to operate a switching mechanism mechanically, but other operating principles are also used. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low power signal or where several circuits must be controlled by one signal. A contactor is an electrically controlled switch used for switching a power circuit, similar to a relay except with higher current ratings.
In general, a simple electromagnetic relay consists of a coil assembly, a movable armature and one or more sets of contacts, i.e. single throw system, double throw system, etc. The sets of contact include movable contacts, fixed normally open contacts and fixed normally closed contacts. The armature is mechanically linked to one or more sets of moving contacts and is held in place by a spring.
When an electric current is passed through the coil assembly it generates a magnetic field that attracts the armature. The consequent movement of the movable contact(s) either makes or breaks (depending upon construction) a connection with a fixed contact(s). If the set of contacts was closed when the relay was de-energized, then the movement opens the contacts and breaks the connection, and vice versa if the contacts were open. When the current to the coil is switched off, the armature is returned by the spring force of the return spring toward its relaxed position. Usually this force is provided by a spring, but gravity is also used commonly in industrial motor starters. Most relays and contactors are manufactured to operate quickly. In a low-voltage application, this reduces noise; in a high voltage or current application, it reduces arcing. In order to allow the proper movement of the contacts, the spring force is designed to be less than the force generated by the coil.
However, in many contactors, electromagnetic repulsion generated by the constriction of the flow of current through the contacts can prevent or inhibit the contacts from closing properly or can cause the contact to improperly open due to a large transient pulse applied during operation. Generally in such applications, a large spring force of a contact spring is provided to overcome or counteract the electromagnetic repulsion. The large spring force provides contact pressure between the movable contactor and the fixed contactor, thereby maintaining the contacts in a closed position.
In order to increase the contact pressure generated by the contact spring, the size of the spring must be increased. Consequently, the force generated by an electromagnet, which drives the movable contactor, must also be increased, requiring a larger electromagnet. This results in the size of the entire structure being increased.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide a contactor assembly in which the contacts are maintained in a closed position without the need to increase the size of the assembly. In particular, it would be beneficial to provide a contact assembly which uses electromagnetic forces to resist or counteract the electromagnetic repulsion of the contacts.

Contractor assembly which counteracts electromagnetic repulsion of contacts