A flow through filter assembly includes a trivalent and tetravalent metal ion capturing agent and a flow controller providing a predetermined flow rate which allows capture of the trivalent and tetravalent metal ions by the capturing agent.

Aluminum (Al) is a common contaminant in many medical solutions. This is in part the result of the widespread distribution of aluminum in the environment. In addition, some medical solutions contain compounds that react strongly with aluminum and extract this metal from the surroundings, e.g. from the walls of glass containers. This strong binding increases the Al contamination and makes it much more difficult to remove the aluminum from these solutions.
Healthy adults are generally protected against oral aluminum toxicity by the fact that less than 1% of an oral dose of aluminum is absorbed from the intestine. In addition, the urinary excretion of aluminum is relatively effective for persons with normal kidney function.
There is a special concern regarding aluminum exposure to premature neonates. These infants routinely require several or more days of parenteral nutrition (PN) until they can tolerate oral feeding. The PN bypasses the normal protection associated with low intestinal absorption of Al. In addition, these infants often have underdeveloped kidney function (the primary route of Al elimination), which impedes the excretion of the aluminum contained in the PN solution.
It is well known that some of the small volume parenteral (SVP) solutions used to prepare the final PN solutions are heavily contaminated with aluminum. Poole, co-workers and others have extensively documented the Al content of SVP solutions, as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1Aluminum content of the most contaminated SVP solutionsSolution Aluminum concentration (micrograms/L)Calcium gluconate3234 and 1920 to 34951, 4900 (new) andand 19,40036145 (old glass ampoules)2, 9205Potassium phosphate8280 and 3650 to 16,8201Sodium Phosphate622 and 17 to 32811Multi-trace elements414 and 101 to 7391, 1049 and 20653Potassium Lactate15004Potassium Acetate42 and 11 to 11201Sodium acetate83 and 54 to 13811From Poole et al., Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2010, 50: 208; Poole et al., J. Pediatr. Pharmacol. Ther. 2011, 16: 92.2From Beaney and Smeaton, Congress of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, 2010.3From de Oliveira et al., JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2010, 34: 322-328.4From Advenier et al., J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2003, 36: 448.
Because of the relative volumes of each of these solutions included in a typical PN preparation, most of the final Al content originates from the calcium gluconate SVP solution. It is noteworthy that the Al content of calcium gluconate can vary widely, depending on the commercial provider. Reported Al concentrations range from 1920 to 19,400 micrograms/L. At a typical concentration of 4,000 micrograms/L, it is estimated that calcium gluconate contributes about 80% of the aluminum in the final PN solution (Mouser et al., Am. J. Health-Syst. Pharm., 1998, 55: 1071).
The FDA has formally recognized the problem of potential Al toxicity to premature infants. It has established a safe level of Al exposure as 4 to 5 micrograms/kg/d. However, it is widely recognized that currently the U.S. pharmaceutical industry cannot supply SVP component solutions that allow pediatric pharmacists to prepare PN solutions that meet this exposure limit.
Other patient populations at risk include, but are not limited to, children with malabsorption syndrome, dialysis patients, elderly patients (due to a weakened GI protective barrier and/or normal renal function deterioration) and burn patients (due to Al-contaminated albumin to maintain oncotic pressure). In addition, critically ill infants and children require parenteral calcium replacement because of hypocalcemia, especially after cardiac surgery. More specifically, the amount of calcium required, provided as calcium gluconate, would lead to exposure to much greater than 5 micrograms of aluminum per kg per day. Removal of aluminum from these parenteral infusions would minimize potential aluminum-induced toxicities.
Disclosed herein is a single-use filter to remove aluminum from a solution as it passes through the filter. The body of the filter is filled with a specialized chelator, such as trihydroxamate chelating resin, described in our previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,932,326 and 8,066,883 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/278,498 the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The other components of the filter are designed to produce a controlled fluid flow rate, using a partially evacuated vial and a flow restriction/flow controller tube that has an internal diameter and length, that when paired with the extent of vacuum in the partially evacuated vial, achieves a desired flow rate. The filter is designed to connect to the evacuated vial and the vial of the source SVP solution.
Chelating resins are not new. Chelex 100® is a polystyrene resin which has iminodiacetic acid functional groups covalently linked to the resin. It is relatively non-selective, and thus is widely used to bind a large number of metal ions. However, we have determined that this type of generic chelating resin is not effective for removing aluminum from solutions such as calcium gluconate.
The concept of a flow-through filter for removing contaminants from aqueous solutions is also widely used. There are many examples of point-of-use filters for home faucets to remove both metal ions and organic contaminants. These typically remove metal ions by simple cation exchange. Thus they are not designed to compete against strong Al-binding ligands in the solution. More specialized chelating resins have been used in filters in research labs, but they have not been applied to the removal of aluminum from SVP solutions.
Flow-through filters have been used in medical settings. The chelating agent desferrioxamine has been physically imbedded into a hollow-fiber filter for the extracorporeal removal of iron and aluminum from blood during hemodialysis. Desferrioxamine has also been covalently bound to silica for the extracorporeal removal of metal ions from blood. Neither of these filters has been suggested for use in a pharmaceutical setting for removing aluminum from SVP solutions.

Flow-through filter to remove aluminum from medical solutions

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation

The Curators of the University of Missouri


A social media website which allocates points to participants for a variety of activities by either the participant or by others, who may be other participants. Allocation of points results in rankings of participants, wherein higher ranked participants are allocated more opportunities for accumulating advertising revenue. Ads placed throughout the system's various pages may have their potential conversion value ascribed to designated groups or persons, as the ranked participant desires. Retained revenues may be used by a participant to purchase goods from participating vendors.

Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to systems that direct ad revenue, leverage website traffic, and allow for crowd funding, within a web-based social networking system.
Description of Related Art
As the Internet becomes more and more expansive, online communities may emerge which may desire to allow for the funding of ventures, which may include non-profit organizations dedicated to social or environmental causes. Such organizations are constantly faced with fundraising challenges.
Individuals using social media websites, which may include social media management dashboards, may be induced to use such a site, or to use it more frequently, if there is an opportunity to accumulate value, such as the opportunity to acquire goods and/or services, as the site is used. If the site also allowed for directing funding towards other organizations, such as the non-profit organizations referred to above, then a user would have the opportunity to fulfill the desire to promote certain groups while also allowing for some personal enrichment.
A way in which revenues may be generated when using websites may involve advertising embedded in such sites. The conversion of a placed ad may generate a monetary value for the person or group coupled to the placed ad. For example, if a visitor to a site page clicks onto an ad and visits the page associated with that ad, the ad placement service may pay a few cents to that ad space's designee. If the visitor then goes on to purchase on that site, the ad placement service may increase the payment.
Whereas crowd funding has typically involved direct financial contributions by users/participants to the activity, business venture, or social group, cloud funding allows for indirect or redirected funding wherein activities and actions taken by users can result in contributions, including financial contributions, to the activity, business venture, or social group, without a direct financial (dollar) contribution from the user/participant.
What is called for is a social website management system which allows for participants to accumulate opportunities to receive advertising revenues, but to also designate such opportunities to other groups should they desire. Such a website management system could facilitate cloud funding as well as user enrichment, and incentivize the pool of possible users to become participants in the system.

Method and system for cloud funding using a web based social network


A speaker device includes an acoustic capacity unit; an acoustic pipe connected to the acoustic capacity unit; and a driving speaker attached to the acoustic capacity unit. The acoustic capacity unit and the acoustic pipe constitute the Helmholtz resonator, and resonate at a predetermined Helmholtz resonant frequency. On the other hand, the acoustic pipe itself has a resonant frequency. By setting the resonant frequency of the acoustic pipe to be 0.5 to 2.5 octaves higher than the Helmholtz resonant frequency, the speaker device can be obtained which outputs signals of continuous frequency band from the Helmholtz resonant frequency to the resonant frequency of the acoustic pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a speaker device, and more particularly to a speaker device which is small in size and has an excellent in low-frequency sound reproduction ability.
2. Description of Related Art
Examples of a low-frequency sound speaker (also called "bass speaker") device for reproducing sound of low-frequency band with relatively flat frequency characteristic are disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open under Nos. 5-41896, 6-38290 and 2001-16673. However, in a speaker device having a port ("Bass Reflex type" and "Kelton type"), since the port is short and its pipe resonant frequency is high, the pipe resonant frequency of the port is remote from the Helmholtz resonant frequency caused by the mass of air in the port and the compliance in a cabinet. Therefore, when the pipe resonance is positively used, it is difficult to practically obtain low-frequency sound reproduction by combining those two resonances.


A support device for moving an item on a surface. A main body includes a panel and a sidewall. A handle assembly engages the main body and includes a first transportation mechanism. The support device includes a resistance portion on the main body for engaging a surface and resisting movement of the support device when in a resistive mode. The handle mechanism lowers the first transportation mechanism to engage the surface and disengage the resistance portion from the surface in a transportive mode to encourage movement of the support device and the item supported thereon.

Space in modern kitchens has become a precious commodity as more and more small appliances and gadgets are available to the consumer. Many such appliances have become a part of the everyday routine for their owners. For example, coffee makers may be a vital part of a user's morning routine. Thus, the placement of the appliance on a work surface, such a countertop, to provide ease of access is important. Due to the finite amount of countertop space, it is generally desirable to minimize the amount of space used by the appliance.
In addition, the placement of an appliance on a countertop can cause problems with the use of the appliance. For example, due to the depth and/or height of the countertop, the appliance may be located a distance from a user that renders operation inconvenient or difficult. Further, in most kitchens much of the countertop is positioned below wall-mounted storage cabinets. Certain appliances may be of such a construction that they cannot be operated when positioned underneath the storage cabinets. For example, a cartridge-based single serving coffee machine may require access to the top of the machine with sufficient clearance to insert and remove the single serve cartridge. Similarly, the water reservoirs of traditional drip-style coffee makers are typically filled through an opening in the top of the maker, which typically requires sufficient clearance for the user to pour the contents of a carafe into the reservoir.
While a user may drag the appliance out from under the wall-mounted cabinets to create sufficient clear to prepare the machine for operation, that is often undesirable or unsafe because the appliance may not be readily or easily movable or may contain hot water or surfaces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A fixing liquid is provided which fixes a toner comprising a resin on a recording medium, in which a fluid particle comprising a component which dissolves or swells at least a portion of the resin comprised in the toner is dispersed in a dispersive medium, as a micro-emulsion.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a fixing liquid, a toner fixing method, a toner fixing device, an image forming method, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine and a copying machine is an apparatus for forming an image containing a character or a symbol on a recording medium such as a paper medium, a cloth medium, and an OHP sheet, based on image information. In particular, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been widely used in an office since a high-resolution image can be formed on a normal paper sheet at a high speed. In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a heat-fixing method has been widely used in which toner on a recording medium is heated and melted and the melted toner is pressurized so as to fix the toner on the recording medium. The heat-fixing method has been preferably used since a high fixation speed and a high fixed image quality, etc., can be provided.
However, an approximately half or more of an electric power consumed in such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is consumed for heating toner in the heat-fixing method. On the other hand, a fixing device with a low electric power consumption (energy saving-type one) has been desired from the viewpoint of measures of environmental problems in recent years. That is, to extremely lower a temperature at which toner is heated to fix the toner, relative to conventional one, or a fixing method in which no heating of toner is required has been desired. Particularly, a non-heating fixing method of fixing a toner on a recording medium without heating the toner is ideal in terms of low electric power consumption.
As such a non-heating fixing method, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3290513 discloses a wet-type process for fixing toner wherein toner is dissolved or swelled by spraying or dipping an oil-in-water-type fixing agent capable of dissolving or swelling the toner onto the surface of a fixation medium on which unfixed toner is arranged at a predetermined position, in which agent an organic compound being insoluble or difficult to dissolve in water is dispersed and mixed in water, and subsequently, the fixation medium is dried.
However, when a large quantity of the fixing agent is applied onto an unfixed toner in the wet-type fixation process disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3290513, a recording medium (a fixation medium) such as a transcription paper sheet absorbs a water content of the fixing agent so that cockle or curl is generated in the recording medium, since the oil-in-water-type fixing agent is used in which an organic compound being insoluble or difficult to dissolve in water is dispersed and mixed in water. Accordingly, stable and high-speed conveyance of the recording medium which is required for an image forming apparatus is significantly hindered. Then, when a large quantity of water contained in the fixing agent is evaporated by using a drying device so as to remove the water content from the fixing agent applied on the recording medium, an electric power is required which is comparable to an electric power consumed in an image forming apparatus for which a heat-fixing method is used.
Also, the surfaces of tone particles are commonly subjected to water-repellency treatment using a hydrophobic silica in order to prevent the toner particles from absorbing moisture in the atmosphere to aggregate to one another and maintain the fluidity of the toner. Therefore, when an aqueous fixing liquid containing water as a dispersive medium, such as a fixing agent as described above, is sprayed or dipped onto an unfixed toner on a recording medium, toner fluid particles subjected to a water repellency treatment are repelled by the aqueous fixing liquid. As a result, a blank portion is formed in a toner image and a defect is generated in the image.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are diagrams illustrating a fixing method of applying a water-based fixing liquid onto a toner subjected to water repellency treatment on a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 1A, a liquid drop of water-based fixing liquid 13 is dropped onto a layer of unfixed toner 12 subjected to water repellency treatment which has been transcribed on a recording paper sheet 11 as a recording medium by an appropriate fixing liquid applying device. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the liquid drop of water-based fixing liquid 13 contacts the layer of unfixed toner 12 subjected to water repellency treatment, a particle of unfixed toner 12 subjected to water repellency treatment is repelled by the liquid drop of water-based fixing liquid 13. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1C, the particle of unfixed toner 12 subjected to water repellency treatment which has been repelled by the liquid drop of water-based fixing liquid 13 moves to the periphery of the water-based liquid drop 13, with the spreading of the water-based fixing liquid 13 on the recording paper sheet 11. Then, an undesirable blank portion in the toner subjected to water repellency treatment is formed on the layer of unfixed toner 12 subjected to water repellency treatment which has been transcribed on the recording paper sheet 11, whereby a defect is generated in a toner image. Thus, when the water-based fixing liquid 13 is used, there is a problem such that the layer of unfixed toner 12 which has been transcribed on the recording paper sheet 11 is readily disturbed.
Then, as a fixing liquid which repels no unfixed toner subjected to water repellency treatment, there is disclosed a non-aqueous fixing liquid in which a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-109749 discloses a fixing liquid in which an aliphatic dibasic acid ester, etc., as a component of a material for dissolving or swelling a resin component constituting a toner is diluted (or dissolved) with a non-volatile dimethylsilicone as a diluent (solvent). Also, for a solution for fixation which can be used for a fixing method capable of sharply and readily fixing an unfixed image formed by an electrostatic method on a image receiving sheet without disturbing the image, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-119364 discloses a mixed solution for fixing an image of unfixed toner which can dissolve the toner and be provided by admixing 8-120 parts by volume of a silicone oil into 100 parts by volume of a solvent having a miscibility to the silicone oil. Such a non-aqueous fixing liquid contains a non-aqueous solvent having a high affinity with an unfixed toner subjected to water repellency treatment and, therefore, can dissolve or swell a toner without repelling the unfixed toner subjected to water repellency treatment, so that the toner can be fixed on a recording medium.
Herein, the use of a VOC (volatile organic compound) as a non-aqueous solvent used for a non-aqueous fixing liquid is not preferable since it brings an adverse affect to a human body and generates unpleasant odor. Therefore, as a non-aqueous solvent used for a non-aqueous fixing liquid, in fact, a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent is used.
However, a non-aqueous fixing liquid in which a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent has a high permeability into a recording medium. Therefore, when a non-aqueous fixing liquid as described above is sprayed or dropped onto an unfixed toner on a recording medium, the non-aqueous fixing liquid diffuses on and penetrates through the recording medium with a high speed, and only a portion of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner which is contained in the non-aqueous fixing liquid dissolves or swells the unfixed toner on the recording medium. Then, the remaining portion of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner is not utilized for dissolving or swelling the toner but diffuses on or penetrates through the recording medium with the non-aqueous solvent. Thus, since only a portion of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner which is contained in the non-aqueous fixing liquid dissolves or swells an unfixed toner on a recording medium, it is necessary to increase the concentration of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner which is contained in the non-aqueous solvent. For example, the inventors have found that the concentration of a solvent dissolved in a silicone oil as a non-aqueous solvent is necessarily equal to or more than 20% by weight with respect to a solution for fixation disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-119364. Therefore, in regard to a non-aqueous fixing liquid in which a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent, the toner dissolving or swelling efficiency of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner is low.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are diagrams illustrating a fixing method of applying a non-aqueous fixing liquid onto a toner subjected to water repellency treatment on a recording medium in which liquid a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent. As shown in FIG. 2A, a liquid drop of a non-aqueous fixing liquid 23 in which a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent is dropped onto a layer of unfixed toner 22 subjected to water repellency treatment which has been transcribed on a recording paper sheet 21 as a recording medium by an appropriate fixing liquid applying device. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the non-aqueous fixing liquid 23 described above which has contacted the recording paper sheet 21 has a high permeability into the recording paper sheet 21 and rapidly permeates into the recording paper sheet 21. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2C, a portion of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner which is contained in the non-aqueous fixing liquid 23 can dissolve or swell the unfixed toner 22 on the recording paper sheet 21, and, however, the remaining portion of the material for dissolving or swelling a toner does not dissolve or swell the unfixed toner 22 on the recording paper sheet 21 but penetrates through or diffuses on the recording paper sheet 21 with the non-volatile non-aqueous solvent. Thus, when a non-aqueous fixing liquid is used in which a material for dissolving or swelling a toner is dissolved in a non-volatile non-aqueous solvent, there is a problem such that the efficiency of utilizing the material for dissolving or swelling a toner is low.
Therefore, a fixing liquid may be desirable which is capable of fixing a toner on a recording medium more efficiently.
More specifically, it may be desirable to provide a fixing liquid, a toner fixing method, a toner fixing device, an image forming method, and an image forming apparatus, which are capable of fixing a toner on a recording medium more efficiently.

Fixing liquid, toner fixing method, toner fixing device, image forming method, and image forming apparatus


A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame moving portion, a sewing portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of acquiring image data created by a device and obtained by capturing an image of a range that includes at least one reference mark and at least one indicator mark, computing positioning data based on the image data, specifying an embroidery pattern to be formed in a sewing workpiece clamped in an embroidery frame, setting at least one of a position and an angle of the embroidery pattern on the sewing workpiece, based on the positioning data, acquiring embroidery data, causing the embroidery frame moving portion and the sewing portion to form the stitches that make up the embroidery pattern in the sewing workpiece, based on the embroidery data.

The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and a sewing machine system.
A sewing machine is known that in configured to easily set, on a sewing workpiece that is clamped in an embroidery frame, positions and angles where stitches that make up an embroidery pattern will be formed. For example, a sewing machine is known that is provided with an image capture device. The sewing machine may cause the image capture device to capture an image of a mark that a user has affixed to the sewing workpiece in a designated position. Based on the captured image of the mark, the sewing machine may automatically set, on the sewing workpiece, the positions and the angles for the stitches that make up the embroidery pattern.

Sewing machine, non-transitory computer-readable medium and sewing machine system


Method for wet etching where proper arrangements of the substrates during the growth of the insulation layer is adopted. An insulation layer is prepared on the surface of a substrate at the area where thin film circuits are positioned. On the surfaces of the substrate where the thin film circuits are not positioned are prepared protective layers. During the wet etching the attack by the etchant may be avoided. The material of the insulation layer and the protection layer may be the same. The material of the protection layer may be the photo-resistant used in the wet etching process. The invention also disclosed circuit components prepared with the wet etching of this invention.

The semiconductor technology is not only applied to the preparation of integrated circuits on substrates containing silicon, but also applicable to applications for commercial products containing non-silicon substrates. Examples of these applications include sensors for thin film strain gauges. Prior to the deposition of the pattern, in order to ensure the electrical insulation between the metal substrate and the circuit, at least an insulation layer is formed on the surface of the metal substrate at the area where the circuits are grown.
In the conventional art, during the deposition of the insulation layer, the substrates are positioned as closed as possible with each other so to increase the productivity and uniformity. During the growth of the pattern every substrate is placed side by side against other substrates. In addition, according to the physical characteristics as required, the figure of the substrate varies in a wide range. This includes high substrates (>10 mm) and deep openings. These factors make it difficult for the insulation layer to be coated on the substrate with uniformity along the whole surface. Especially, the side planes of the substrate or the openings are least likely to be coated with the insulation layer.
After the insulation layer is prepared, wet etching is subsequently processed. During the etching, not only the resistance layer but also the surface of the metal substrate is exposed to the etching solution. Owing to the coupling effect, the etching efficiency of the noble components will be retarded, compared with the speed while it is not coupled, but the etching efficiency of the active components will be accelerated in comparison with the speed while it is not coupled. In this case, the resistor of the coupled assembly is a noble component and the substrate is an active component. The etching efficiency to the resistor layer will therefore be retarded or even ceased at much higher temperature. The adhesion of the photoresist to the underlying circuit film will then be severely influenced which can subsequently lead to poor pattern definition and process reproducibility. When photoresist peels, the etching will even be stopped. Furthermore, owing to the accelerated corrosion of the substrate, the geometric size of the substrate can not be maintained.
It is thus a need in the industry to have an improvement in the wet etching so that the etching ability of the etchant can be maintained while the corrosion to the substrate can be avoided.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A wave power converter for converting energy from waves including a wave power converter housing with a bottom and a top between which there is a distance limiting structure, and through which there is a central axis, and wherein entirely or partially outside the wave power converter housing there is at least one preferably elongated paddle having a longitudinal direction of a first generatrix and a lower end and an upper end, and which via a first connection to a first power converter with a rotary axis at an angle, preferably at right angles, to the central axis and fastened to the wave power converter housing at the top is provided.

Conversion of energy stored in a medium into usable energy for industrial use is of great significance.
Converting energy waves, preferably at sea, is very attractive as the energy density in water is higher compared to the energy density in air.
The high energy density in the waves of the water is, however, also challenging to the durability of constructions. During a storm or other weather extremes, there are very strong physical impacts to be mitigated.
The patent application WO 0052331 indicates a system which produces energy from sea waves in that the energy in a wave is transmitted via a paddle connected to a crank arrangement to a reciprocating piston in a chamber casing.

PATENTSELSKABET AF 30. NOVEMBER 2014 APS


A semiconductor memory device includes a bank, a data transfer line, a precharge control circuit, and a precharge line. The bank includes a multiplicity of cell mats arranged in a matrix form. Each of the cell mats has a plurality of unit cells. The data transfer line arranged between the cell mats transfers a data signal outputted from a selected cell mat among the cell mats. The precharge control circuit disposed on the edge of the bank controls the precharge of the data transfer line. The precharge line arranged between first and second cell mats transfers a precharge voltage to the precharge control circuit. The first and the second cell mats are disposed in the center of the bank.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device; and, more particularly, to a data transfer path for use in the semiconductor memory device.
As well-known in the art, a semiconductor memory device is a semiconductor device for storing a lot of data and providing desired data out of the stored data. In the main operation of the semiconductor memory device, there are a write operation for storing data and a read operation for outputting selected data from the stored data. Further, there is a precharge operation for getting read and write operations ready when those operations are not done. In addition, the semiconductor memory device which employs a capacitor in the unit of data storage like DRAM also performs a refresh operation for compensating for a natural leakage of a signal stored in the capacitor.
The semiconductor memory device is made in a manner that unit cells as a basic component for data storage are arranged in a matrix form to efficiently store numerous data. Each of the unit cells arranged in the matrix form is disposed at a point where a plurality of word lines crossing in a horizontal direction intersects a plurality of bit lines crossing in a longitudinal direction. Each of the word lines corresponds to a row address, while each of the bit lines corresponds to a column address. In general, in case of performing the read or write operation, a row address is first inputted and a corresponding one is selected from the plurality of word lines. Then, a column address is inputted and a corresponding one is selected from the plurality of bit lines. The data of unit cell designated by the selected word line and bit line indicates data to be accessed.
For efficient structure, the semiconductor device receives both a row address and a column address through one address input pad, and shares a pad where data is inputted/outputted. During the read operation, data is outputted through an input/output pad, and during the write operation, data is inputted through the input/output pad. And one data transfer path is established between the unit cell and the input/output pad. In the data transfer path, a transfer circuit for the write operation and a transfer circuit for the read operation are provided for transferring data in predetermined directions during those two operations. Each transfer circuit includes a sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying a data transfer line and a data signal transferred to the data transfer line.
In the semiconductor memory device, the unit cell is manufactured to store and maintain a minimum data signal for more data storage. Therefore, when there is a need to output a data signal stored in the unit cell, it is first required to sense and amplify the data signal in the unit cell.
There exists a large difference between a magnitude of a data signal outputted through the data input/output pad and that of a data signal stored in the unit cell. Further, a parasitic resistance of the data transfer line connected between the unit cell and the input/output pad is very large compared with the data signal stored in the unit cell. Accordingly, the semiconductor memory device amplifies a data signal stored in the unit cell in stages and then outputs it to the data pad to effectively access the data during the read operation.
In order to amplify the data signal in stages, the conventional semiconductor memory device is provided with two sense amplifiers, wherein a data transfer line is coupled between these two sense amplifiers. The first sense amplifier senses and amplifies a data signal when it is applied from a unit cell to a bit line, and then provides it to a local line which is a first data transfer line. The second sense amplifier senses and amplifies a data signal applied to a local line, and then delivers it to a global line which is a second data transfer line. The data output circuit accepts the data signal transferred to the global line and delivers the same to the data input/output pad. During the write operation, the data signal received through the input/output pad is stored in the unit cell via the global line and the local line and two sense amplifiers.
While no data is transferred to the global line and the local line, each is set to a precharge voltage. In general, one pair of local lines conveys one data signal differentially, and therefore, a total of three lines, one pair of local lines and a precharge line for carrying the precharge voltage, are disposed in an area where the local lines are provided.
The semiconductor memory device is provided with a plurality of banks, each of which has a multiplicity of unit cells, and a decoder capable of decoding the unit cells. As the degree of integration of the semiconductor memory device is improved, the number of unit cells prepared in one bank is gradually increased. Thus, the data lines for access of data stored in one bank become increasingly complicated.
The plurality of unit cells prepared in one bank is grouped by a plurality of cell mats, respectively. A data line for carrying data stored in the unit cell of each cell mat is arranged in each hall region formed between the cell mats. The data line arranged in the hall region includes one pair of local lines and the precharge line for precharge of the local lines.
Since all of these three lines are arranged between the cell mats provided in the bank, a circuit area occupied by these three data lines is quite large out of the whole circuit area of the bank.
For integration of the semiconductor memory device, it is necessary to reduce the circuit area of the bank, but there is a difficulty in doing so due to the data lines disposed between the cell mats.


A device for compressing still image data has a discrete cosine transformer for discrete-cosine-transforming video data output in block units from a frame buffer in a digital camcorder, a quantizer for quantizing the video data transformed in the discrete cosine transformer, a variable-length coder for variable-length-coding the video data quantized in the quantizer, and a quantization interval determiner for producing a quantizer number for controlling a quantization interval, and outputting the quantizer number to the quantizer. The device further has a comparator for comparing the bit number of video data variable-length-coded at quantization intervals for the first frame with a reference bit number for the best image quality, and outputting a flag signal on the basis of the comparison, and a flag buffer for temporally storing the flag signal output from the comparator, so that the quantization interval is determined according to the result of the comparison output from the flag buffer to make the bit number of the video data of the frames following the first frame approximately equal to the predetermined reference bit number for the best image quality. Since the bit number of variable-length-coded data of the first frame is compared with its reference bit number, and a quantizer number for the following frame is determined on the basis of the comparison, the bit number of the second frame data is approximately equal to its reference bit number resulting in high quality still image.

The present invention relates to a device for compressing video data, and more particularly, to a device for compressing still image data to obtain a still image of high image quality.
Generally, a digital camcorder functionally provides a still image photographing mode as well as a moving picture photographing mode. In the moving picture photographing mode, video data is compressed frame by frame and continuously recorded in a recording medium, while in the still image photographing mode, a frame of video data is stored in a frame buffer, compressed, and recorded on a tape for several to tens of seconds.
The human eye is more sensitive to the quality of a reproduced still image than that of a reproduced moving picture, since the reproduced image is displayed in a still state.
Also, in many cases, a photographed still image is output according to its uses by equipment (e.g., a color printer) capable of displaying an image of high resolution, thus increasing the need for high image quality.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional device for compressing still image data.
The still-image data compression device of FIG. 1 is comprised of a discrete cosine transformer 10 for discrete-cosine transforming and zigzag-scanning video data received in 8.times.8 block units from a frame buffer (not shown) in a digital camcorder, a quantizer 12 for quantizing the video data output from discrete cosine transformer 10 at predetermined quantization intervals, a quantization interval determiner 16 for determining a quantizer number according to the complexity of the video data output in block units from discrete cosine transformer 10, so that quantizer 12 selects an adequate quantization interval or step size for each of macroblocks per second, and a variable-length coder 14 for variable-length-coding the video data quantized at the predetermined quantization intervals in quantizer 12, and outputting the variable-length-coded data to an error correction coder (not shown).
The quantizer number output from quantization interval determiner 16 has a direct impact on the determination of the image quality. In the prior art of FIG. 1, however, an identical quantizer number is selected to determine a quantization interval in both the still image photographing mode and the moving picture photographing mode.
As a rule, errors are typically present in video data processed in variable-length coder 14. Nevertheless, despite the presence of an error in the value of a quantizer number selected for the data of the first frame, a high-quality image can be reproduced only if a more accurate quantizer number is selected for the next frame data on the basis of the comparison of a reference bit number with the bit number of the first frame data, since several frames per second possess identical video data in a still image.
In the prior art, however, high image quality cannot be obtained since an identical quantizer number selected in a moving picture photographing mode is also used in a still image photographing mode.


A transmission line junction for a coaxial conductor line has mating ends of interfitting cores, sleeves, and dielectrics for communicating broadband signals through the junction that blocks DC currents and voltages, the junction maintaining a quarter wavelength junction length for high frequency coupling while providing improved low frequency coupling across the junction.

A drawing of a prior art DC block junction is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art coaxial line junction, which will here be referred to as a single sleeve broadband DC block, may be employed in a microwave circuit when transmission of alternating currents (AC) is to be allowed but transmission of direct currents (DC) is to be prevented and blocked. The junction is used in coaxial cables having an outer conductor that is typically grounded and having an outer dielectric. The inner conductor is severed in two at the DC block forming a first inner conductor and a second inner conductor. For purposes of distinction, the prior art junction is characterized as having a first inner conductor with a protruding core and having a second inner conductor with a protruding sleeve. The core and sleeve interfit together. Between the core and the sleeve is an inner dielectric that separates the first and second inner conductor forming a capacitive DC block at the junction. The core is inserted inside the sleeve. Hence, the two inner conductors capacitively couple together with the core being inserted into the sleeve a distance L that is typically chosen to be one-quarter wavelength (L=λ/4) in order to obtain broadband performance.
At low frequencies, the requirement for a one-quarter wavelength coupling section and small junction length cannot be satisfied without using a high dielectric constant material in the coupling region, and therefore requires a trade-off between large size and relatively high insertion loss. This trade-off is highly undesirable for satellite and other space applications in which minimization of mass and insertion loss are critical. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the invention.

Compact broadband non-contacting transmission line junction having inter-fitted elements


A xenon lamp in which fluctuation of the arc can be suppressed and the time until formation of the flicker phenomenon delayed by having an anode with a flattened or rounded anode tip, a rounded or flattened back end; a portion with a diameter that gradually increases from the anode tip toward the back end of the anode; a portion with a decreasing diameter located behind the portion with the increasing diameter of an axial length which is greater than the length in the axial direction of the portion with an increasing diameter; and a portion with a maximum outside diameter formed in a transition area between the portion with the increasing diameter and the portion with a decreasing diameter, and that the transition area between the portion with the increasing diameter and the portion with the decreasing diameter is formed to be continuous.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a discharge lamp of the short arc type which is used for a projection light source and for a projector. The invention relates particularly to a xenon discharge lamp of the short arc type of the direct current operation type.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called discharge lamp of the short arc type having an anode and a cathode opposite one another is used as a light source lamp in a projection device for a demonstration and in a projector device. In this discharge lamp the so-called flicker phenomenon arises in which the deflection of the arc increases in the course of operation of the lamp. When the flicker phenomenon occurs, the images projected onto the screen flicker; which is perceived as unpleasant in visual observation. When the flickering occurs, the short arc lamp is replaced and this time that flickering is confirmed is referred to as the flicker service life.
It is known that the above described flicker phenomenon is caused by electrode wear and turbulence of the gas flow in the arc tube. Conventionally, for lamps used for the above described purposes, various techniques have been proposed for suppressing the flicker phenomenon.
The following techniques are known:    a technique in which the tip area of the cathode is carbonized, thus the motion of the emitter substance to the tip area of the cathode is accelerated and thus the wear of the tip area of the cathode is reduced, as described in Japanese Patent No. 2782611.    a technique in which the cathode material, with tungsten as the main component, is changed so that the amount of change of shape is reduced and thus the stability of the arc is maintained, as described in Japanese Patent No. 2851727.
Another technique in which electrodes for a flicker-free lamp are produced is the technique described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-93363.
Additionally, a technique is also known in which in order to stabilize the gas flow in the arc tube in the upper area of the arc tube an outside cooling device is employed for providing cooling air which cools, convection is suppressed and the arc is stably maintained. The use of the outside cooling device, however, often causes enlargement of the light source device which is considered undesirable. Furthermore, the gas pressure within the arc tube is reduced by excessive cooling.
Another technique is known in which by improving the electrode shape the influence of convection is reduced. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,186 a short arc lamp is described in which for the anode in the connecting area between the forward region of the tip surface and the body there is a peripheral projection with a V-shaped cross section.
In a projector device with a high light intensity, such as a DMD (digital mirror device), having pixels of the reflection type of liquid crystals and the like, a xenon lamp of the short arc type with a kW range, high radiance and high light intensity filled with xenon gas as the discharge medium is advantageously used. This xenon lamp also suffers from the lack of durability of the lamp due to the formation of flicker.
Recently there has been a demand for especially high radiance in a small DMD with high precision. The xenon lamps are becoming common in such uses and those lamps have the distance between the electrodes which is becoming smaller and smaller and, further, the gas filling pressure has been increased, e.g., to ≧4×106 Pa (computed at 25° C.). When the distance between the electrodes becomes smaller, a temperature increase of the cathode results which leads to premature wear. In particular, in a xenon lamp turbulence of the gas flow arises principally in the arc tube. When a change in convection occurs, the arc is induced to fluctuate. In these xenon lamps, as a result of the increased of the gas pressure, the effect of convection becomes greater which results, due to the mutual action and synergistic effect of both the cathode wear and the convection turbulence, in the flicker phenomenon occurring prematurely.
In a short arc lamp used in the above lamps, it has been discovered by the inventors that an improvement of convection within the arc tube occurs, and, further, that a relationship between the convection and flicker phenomenon exists which is described below. It is noted that in this description, the lamp is limited only to a short arc lamp of the type used in the above described field, i.e., to a short arc lamp which is operated with a horizontal position of the tube axis of the lamp. Therefore, this description is not pertinent for a lamp operated with a vertical position.
FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) show, in an enlarged view, the state of convection of a xenon lamp in the prior art. Specifically, in FIG. 12(a) the lines between the anode 81 and the cathode 82 constitute the arc shape, and the arrows represent the state of gas convection within the arc tube 83. Since the speed of the added gas is accelerated by the pressure difference between the front side of the cathode spot and the vicinity of the anode remote from the cathode 82 in a direction toward the anode 81, the gas advances between the electrodes essentially parallel to the arc tube axis. The gas which has been accelerated by the arc flows along the essentially cylindrical anode 81 to behind this anode 81. At the same time, the gas tries to move to above the arc tube since the gas is heated by the arc.
In the initial stage, the gas flow—in the direction of the arc tube axis along the portion of the body having a uniform diameter which constitutes the maximum outside diameter of the anode 81—moves away from the anode 81 (hereinafter also called simply "deportion"), returns again to the middle area of the arc tube 83 which makes the gas flow turbulent. Influenced by the turbulence of this flow, a fluctuation occurs in the arc, although the amount of it need not be problematical. This fluctuation of the arc accelerates the wear and drying-out of the emitter of the cathode 82.
FIG. 12(b) illustrates that over the course of operation of the lamp the tip of the cathode 82 is heavily worn and the emitter substance is also dried out. The result of which is that the fluctuation of the arc gradually increases towards the end of the lamp service life. As a result, at the start of operation, the gas flow which had deportioned from the body of the anode 81 now becomes turbulent due to the greater fluctuation of the arc, and the gas flow begins to deportion in the corner area 81 a on the border between the tapering region of the tip area of the anode 81 and the region of the anode with the maximum outside diameter. The turbulence of gas flow convection in the vicinity of the arc is therefore greatly influenced by the fluctuation of the arc. Consequently, the arc together with the cathode enters an extremely unstable state towards the end of the service life.
As was described above, due to the influence of the wear of the cathode, the drying-out of the emitter substance and the turbulence of gas flow convection, the flicker phenomenon arises prematurely which in turn leads to a shortening of the service life of the lamp. In the prior art, a plurality of measures had been taken to eliminate electrode damage. Currently, however, the situation is such that even using the electrode above it is difficult to prolong the flicker service life.
Still further when a cooling device is used for improving convection in the above described manner, the operating property of the lamp can still changes, and solution is also difficult to implement in practice.
In the above described U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,186, upon placing a projection in the electrode tip area of the arc tube an eddy is formed such that in the vicinity of the arc the speed of the gas flow is reduced, and thus the effect of convection is thereby reduced. However, the flow energy is weakened by the generation of the eddy due to the projection. Since the flow departs from the projection area and since turbulence begins to form in the flow after departure, arc fluctuations arise, towards the end of the service life of the lamp, due to the turbulence of convection when cathode wear occurs. Ultimately, the flicker service life is not prolonged.


A ball glove including a front glove portion, a back glove portion and a webbing. The back glove portion is coupled to the front glove portion to define a hand cavity and to form first, second, third and fourth finger stalls and a thumb stall. Each finger stall includes a distal region and a proximal region. At least one through-stall opening is formed into the distal region of at least one of the finger stalls. The through-stall opening having a size of at least 0.25 square inches. The webbing is coupled to, and positioned between, the first finger stall and the thumb stall.

Ball gloves for use in baseball, softball and other sports are well known. Ball gloves typically include a front panel connected to a corresponding back panel to form a hand cavity. The front and back panels typically generally resemble the shape of a human hand and when assembled form five stalls for receiving the thumb and fingers of a user's hand. The front and back panels form a hand opening at the lower edge of the glove. A webbing is typically connected between the thumb stall and the index finger stall of the ball glove. Ball gloves also typically include a hand opening for enabling a user to insert his or her hand into the hand cavity of the ball glove, and, often, an index finger hole for enabling the user's index finger to rest on the back portion of the index finger stall during use. Many existing ball gloves are formed of high quality, relatively expensive materials, such as natural leather, synthetic leather, and combinations thereof.
Ball gloves are generally constructed of highly durable materials to withstand the repeated impact of fielded balls during play and the scrapes and other contact with the playing field and other objects during play. Also, ball gloves are generally sized to be much larger than the hand of the ball player. The increased size is desirable in that it provides a larger pocket, or catching area for receiving a ball during play, enabling a player to reach more balls in play than would otherwise be possible with a glove matching the size of a player's hand. The size of a ball glove also typically varies by position. An outfielder's ball glove is typically larger than infielder's ball glove, and a first baseman's ball glove is typically larger than an outfielder's glove.
Existing ball gloves however have some drawbacks. The size and construction of existing ball gloves result in ball gloves having a weight, which typically falls within the range of 8 to 30 ounces. Further, a large percentage of the weight of such gloves exists in the elongate finger and thumb stalls, which tends to distribute the ball glove's weight away from the ball player's hand toward the outer regions of the ball glove. This weight distribution with increased weight at the outer regions of the ball glove increases the moment of inertia of the ball glove making the ball glove more difficult to quickly maneuver and manipulate during play. The weight, and weight distribution, of a ball glove can also induce fatigue, particular for younger players, or in player's involved in extended games or double-headers. The increased weight of a ball glove can also contribute to neck or back strain.
Moreover, such ball gloves with enlarged and extended finger and thumb stalls can inhibit or obstruct a ball player's view when attempting to field a ball, particularly fly-balls and pop-ups. When fielding fly-balls and pop-ups, it is customary for a ball player to position the ball glove between his or her upper body (including his or her head) and the ball. While in this position, the ball player must carefully position the large ball glove to avoid obstructing the player's view of the ball. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the player's ball glove to obstruct his or her view of the ball contributing to a missed ball, or, at a minimum, increasing the difficulty of the catch.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a ball glove that is properly sized for the player's position without having excessive weight and without producing a weight imbalance. What is needed is a properly sized ball glove that does not unnecessarily induce player fatigue or reduce the maneuverability of the ball glove. It would be advantageous to provide a ball glove that is properly sized without unnecessarily obstructing a player's view of a ball during play. It would also be advantageous to provide such a ball glove without substantially increasing the cost or complexity of the glove.

Ball glove having openings and improved weight balance


A method of producing an image on a printing medium comprises producing a pulse train of modelocked laser pulses, providing a source of image input data in the form of a series of gate pulse of varible length and modulating the pulse train with reference to the gate pulses to produce a gated pulse train for producing the image on the printing medium. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

The printing industry has experienced an evolution resulting from efforts to speed up the printing process and at the same time to lower costs. The conventional film transfer to plate scheme simply exposes light sensitive photographic film with light from a low power source and then uses the processed film to transfer the image to a plate. More efficient plate imaging methods have led to the direct imaging of the plates themselves. Although still using relatively low power light sources, these methods require complex plate composition and processing chemistry, and hence, are expensive. In a drive to reduce plate costs, the industry has moved to high power laser light sources as a means of thermally producing the image on the plate. In such applications, use is made of inexpensive coatings that require little or no processing to condition the plate surfaces for printing.
The photo-sensitive emulsions appropriate for coating conventional printing plates are based on photo-polymerization reactions, which require high levels of ultra-violet exposure. The source power required to expose a conventional plate efficiently, with a raster film recorder, is prohibitive using present day technology. A transfer medium is therefore used composed of silver-halide based emulsions which are much more sensitive to longer wavelength light and require significantly reduced levels of exposure to sensitize. After the image has been generated on the transfer medium, it is used as a photographic mask and copied by contacting it to the printing plate and providing exposure from a high intensity ultra-violet flood lamp.
Lasers are the favored light source for many raster recording devices because of their inherent high brightness, but they are limited to known lasing materials which impose a number of design restrictions, such as the choice of available wavelengths. In particular, ultra-violet laser sources are much more difficult to manufacture, and are considerably more costly than longer wavelength lasers. Presently, semi-conductor lasers are the most commercially viable laser, in terms of cost per unit emitting power. However, they are only capable of emitting wavelengths in the near infra-red to red portion of the optical spectrum. For this reason, printing plate manufacturers have recently developed printing plates based on thermally induced material changes that are sensitive to high power, near-infra-red (NIR) exposure instead of ultra-violet.
There are different optical system architectures used to record raster images on to flexible media. One such system is the internal drum scanning system in which a flexible medium is seated against an interior cylindrical mounting surface. A rotating optical element, usually a mirror or prism, which is disposed along the axis of the cylinder, redirects the modulated light beam radially with respect to the cylinder axis, scanning the beam along the cylinder circumference as it spins. The rotating scanner is translated by means of a mechanical carriage transport, which provides the slow scan axis of motion. Many machines in commercial production today employ this basic architecture in one form or another.
Another architecture is the external drum architecture in which a rotating drum carries a light sensitive plate or film clamped or otherwise held against its exterior surface. A writing head moves back and forth along the length of the drum and exposes pixels on the light sensitive recording medium. A major problem with such a system resides in the requirement of having to prevent or compensate for vibration of the large rotating drum. Moreover, because the drum is rotating it is necessary to stop the rotation after complete exposure of the plate or film, remove the latter, mount another and then start up the system again. The throughput of an external drum system is, therefore, relatively slow compared to an internal drum system in which the drum does not rotate.
A major advantage of the internal drum configuration resides in the fact that it does not require the large mass associated with the light sensitive medium to rotate. Consequently, large speeds in such systems may be obtained while still maintaining mechanical accuracy. In addition, the configuration does not suffer from inherent distortion as does the planar recording projection system. The beam is directed through the central axis of the lens elements, and the distance to the recording plane is maintained constant throughout the scan motion. This results in a very simple, robust and inexpensive optical system. However, a single faceted axial optical scanning element, used in an internal drum scanning system, causes the projected image at the recording plane to rotate about the optical axis as the beam scans along the cylinder circumference. If only circular symmetric, single spots are to be projected on to the recording plane this rotation effect is unimportant. Therefore, circular beam lasers are the natural choice for use with an internal drum scanning system.

Method and apparatus for producing an image on a printing medium


In a method for monitoring and positioning a beam or jet for operating on a workpiece, a first sensor (eg. in the case of a beam, a seam detecting system) ahead of the beam or jet, and/or a preset value, determines the path to be followed by the beam or jet. A second sensor behind the beam or jet monitors the action of the beam or jet. The preset value, or the readings obtained by the first sensor regarding a required position of the beam or jet, is or are compared with readings obtained by the second sensor regarding an actual position of the beam or jet, taking account of the velocity-dependent relative displacement between the beam or jet and the workpiece. The beam or jet is corrected to a basic position if the actual position deviates from the required position.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring and positioning a beam or jet for operating on a workpiece, in which a first sensor (for example, of a seam detecting system in the case of a beam) ahead of the beam or jet, and/or a preset value, determine(s) the path to be followed by the beam or jet, and a second sensor behind the beam or jet monitors the action of the beam or jet. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
In a large number of primarily industrial, machining processes a beam or jet has to be monitored and/or positioned. This is true in laser beam cutting or water jet cutting, for example. In both cases, the path of the beam or jet is predetermined, usually by an electronic system. The beam or jet then has to follow this path. Cutting quality depends upon (among other factors) the precise adherence of the beam or jet to the predetermined route.
To an even greater extent the same is true in welding with a beam, and especially in laser beam welding. Again, the very advantages of sheet-metal parts mass-produced by butt welding by the laser beam process (eg. those known in the motor vehicle industry as "tailored blanks") cannot be fully exploited unless the exacting requirements of this process, in terms of geometrical tolerances of components, quality of cut edges, and characteristics of the laser radiation, are met.
With a normal focus diameter of 0.2 to 0.4 mm, exact positioning of the laser beam on a joint line between the two workpieces to be joined together is essential in order for a high-quality welded joint to be obtained. For a technical "nil" gap, the maximum position tolerance should not exceed 0.1 mm. Moreover, where gaps have to be bridged by the molten pool, this tolerance must be further reduced.
Lack of fusion due to poor beam positioning is particularly critical in welds with only partial penetration, being concealed by the wider upper run of weld. Even in welds with full penetration, a slightly widened seam root may result in invisible internal lack of fusion.
Sufficiently high positioning accuracies are obtained nowadays by means of optoelectronic sensors or image processing systems which transmit the actual track of the joint line, ie. the track of the abutting edges of the workpieces, ahead of the beam, directly to the machine control system as a series of correction coordinates. By these means, a laser head can be orientated with respect to the seam with accuracies of approximately 0.05 mm. A seam detecting system of this kind is disclosed for example in DE-OS 4312241.
A fundamental drawback of these methods lies in the fact that the joint line detection systems have to start out from a fixed preset laser beam position. Measured position coordinates cannot be referenced to the actual position of the beam. This is partly remedied by carrying out a calibration procedure at periodic intervals, and as a minimum after each adjustment of the optical path, but this involves a break in production. Changes in position of the laser beam due to thermal effects in the beam generation and guidance system remain wholly uncompensated. The result is a reduction in the precision of the welding operation.
Theoretically these problems could be solved by incorporating a beam position sensing system into the beam guidance system already present as part of the beam detecting system. However, such sensing systems are usually unsuitable for on-line operation and, at the very least, their use is likely to incur considerable additional cost.
Furthermore it is known that a welded seam can be monitored behind the beam. However, this is done not in order to take account of the position of the joint line, but merely to determine the quality of the welded seam.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and positioning a beam or jet for operating on a workpiece


Examples of the present disclosure relate to a device, method, and medium storing instructions for execution by a processor for refreshing memory blocks of solid state memory through a temperature compensated refresh rate. Techniques discussed herein include a solid state memory to store data and a temperature sensor to identify a temperature of the solid state memory. The memory device with solid state memory also includes a memory controller that periodically refreshes memory blocks of the solid state memory at an adjustable refresh rate, wherein memory controller is to adjust the adjustable refresh rate based on the temperature of the solid state memory.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it can be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In solid state memory drives, particularly NAND memory can experience memory degradation every time memory content is changed and also as a function of time. This can be seen generally as manufacturers of many solid state drives or NAND memory devices guarantee the memory they manufacture for a limited period of time such as a single year. Memory content can be changed due to program and erase (P/E) cycling. Exceeding the P/E cycling limits set by the manufacturer can degrade the ability of the memory to retain the stored information.

Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America


A semiconductor structure having an efficient thermal path and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a protection ring over a semiconductor substrate and substantially encloses a laser fuse structure. The laser fuse structure includes a laser fuse and a connection structure connecting the fuse to integrated circuits. The protection ring is thermally coupled to the semiconductor substrate by contacts. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal plate conducting heat generated by a laser beam to the protection ring.

A typical integrated circuit may include millions of devices or sub circuits. Some of the integrated circuits contain a lot of identical sub circuits. For example, a memory chip contains a lot of identical memory cells. Even if only one memory cell has defects, the entire chip may be rendered defective.
To increase yield, redundant memory cells are manufactured on the same chip. If some of the primary memory cells have defects, redundant memory cells can be used to replace the defective primary memory cells. This redundant configuration permits the semiconductor memory device to continue to operate in a normal state. The primary memory cells and redundant memory cells are all connected via fuses controlled by control circuits on the chip. As stated above, if a defective memory cell is discovered, a fuse coupled to the defective memory cells is blown and the redundant memory cell is connected instead. Accordingly, the semiconductor chip with defective primary memory cells can operate normally.
Highly integrated semiconductor memory devices have a fairly high manufacturing cost, which causes a big loss if any defective cells are discovered. This is why the memory devices include redundant memory cells for replacing defective primary memory cells. Types of fuses deployed in such semiconductor memory devices include electrical fuses selectively cut by the flow of excessive current, and laser fuses selectively cut by an applied laser beam. In contemporary systems, laser fuses are widely used due to their simplicity in use and layout. Electrical fuses are commonly used in semiconductor memory devices such as Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) while the laser fuses are very often used in Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional laser fuse structure. A laser fuse 100 is formed close to the top surface of the chip. Through layers of metal islands 112 and vias 104, the laser fuse 100 is connected to two conductive lines 106, which are in turn connected to integrated circuits. By etching and opening a fuse window 118, the laser fuse 100 is exposed and can be broken by a laser, and an open circuit is formed between the conductive lines 106. A redundant circuit will then replace a malfunctioned circuit.
Due to the high stress introduced during the laser process, a protection ring 116, which substantially surrounds the laser fuse 100, is typically formed to protect integrated circuits on the same chip from mechanical stress and/or to terminate any micro crack generated. The protection ring 116 is formed of interconnected metal lines and vias, and extends from the top metallization layer down to metallization layer one. A top view (not shown) will illustrate that the protection ring 116 forms a closed loop surrounding the laser fuse 100.
Mechanical stress and heat generated by laser processes damage the underlying structures and materials, such as low-k dielectric layers that are widely used as inter-metal dielectrics. A copper plate 114 is then used to buffer the mechanical stress. Typically, copper plate 114 connects to one of the metal islands 112. The top dielectric layer 120 is often formed of undoped silicate glass (USG) in order to improve the mechanical property and prevent moisture penetration. Since the dielectric material in which the fuse lines are formed has low thermal conductivity, no good heat path exists. A portion of heat dissipates to underlying metallization layers, which are formed of stacked layers of metal and low-k dielectrics. As a result, high thermal gradient and different thermal expansions occur, causing delaminating between layers.
Therefore, there is the need for a method preventing heat generated by laser processes from peeling the underlying layers.

Laser fuse with efficient heat dissipation

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to a method and apparatus for subterranean wellbores and in particular, to a method and apparatus for rotating a subsurface tubular string, such as a casing section, without rotation at the surface. More specifically, a casing section of a wellbore may be rotated to provide a cement seal with increased strength and reliability. In one embodiment, a downhole tool and rotation assembly is disclosed which imparts a torsional force to a predetermined casing section when a fluid is flowed through the downhole tool and rotation assembly.

It is well known in the oil and gas industry that moving casing during cementing operations provides improved cement jobs to isolate different producing formations, aquifers, etc. Generally, there are two ways to move the casing during cementing, reciprocation and rotation. Both reciprocation and rotation of casing rely upon use of the rig at the surface to rotate or reciprocate the entire casing string, which may be undesirable for operational or safety considerations. The bottom section of casing is the most critical portion, requiring a quality cement job and resultant seal in the annulus between the casing and the borehole. Achieving an improved cement seal in the annulus at the surface casing bottom helps assure a seal and prevents any fluid migration resulting in potential contamination of surface aquifers. Also, improving the seal around the bottom of intermediate casing strings enhances the ability of the cement to prevent annular flow during well control events and prevents communication from multiple producing zones. Finally, improving the seal across the bottom section of the production casing improves the isolation of the productive interval and prevents undesirable water production which can impede and limit hydrocarbon production.
Furthermore, there is a significant need in the oil and gas industry to provide an extended length rotating tool or tubing section at a predetermined location during a workover operation or to drill out a bridge plug. This would allow rotation at the distal end of coiled tubing or a work string by utilizing hydraulic energy and eliminate the need for rotation at the surface. Although it is currently known to use downhole hydraulic motors, these motors have a very limited length and application since only a small portion on the distal end actually rotates.
This disclosure solves these needs, by providing a method and apparatus for rotating a subsurface drill string such as a casing section without rotation at the surface.

Method and apparatus to rotate subsurface wellbore casing


A charging system for a legged mobile robot that facilitates positioning of a robot to be charged and does not put a load on the robot is provided. The charging system includes a battery 2, a power receiving connector 4 and a movable shutter member 5 capable of being opened and closed on a rear cover 3, which are provided on a robot 1, and a holder 21, a power supplying connector 22, a slide mechanism 23, a base plate 25, a charging power supply 26 and the like, which are provided on a charging station 20. The robot 1 performs a predetermined positioning on the base plate 25 and then moves the center of gravity rearward to connect the power receiving connector 4 to the power supplying connector 22. In this step, when the rear cover 3 of the robot 1 is guided by a first guide section 21a of the holder 21, the slide mechanism 23 allows the holder 21 to move horizontally. Thus, even if the robot 1 and the charging station 20 are slightly misaligned with each other, the robot 1 can be easily positioned correctly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for charging a battery of a legged mobile robot.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179663 discloses a system for charging a battery of a legged mobile robot configured as described below. A power receiving connector used for charging an internal battery is provided near the hip part of the robot, and a power receiving terminal is exposed on the surface of the power receiving connector. On the other hand, a charging station for charging the robot has a power supplying connector, and a power supplying terminals is exposed on the surface of the power supplying connector. The robot moves closer to the charging station and connects the power receiving connector to the power supplying connector. As a result, the power receiving terminal and the power supplying terminal are connected to each other, and the robot is charged.
In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179663, in order to facilitate alignment between the robot and the charging station, the power receiving connector has a trapezoidal profile narrower at the end close to the power supplying connector, and the power supplying connector has a recess shaped to confirm to the profile of the power receiving connector. Therefore, even if the robot to be charged is slightly misaligned, the trapezoidal power receiving connector is guided by the recess in the power supplying connector and connected to the power supplying connector, and thus, the positioning of the robot to be charged is facilitated (see the paragraphs 0139 and 0145 and FIGS. 7 to 9).
When alignment of the system configured as described above is performed, since the charging station is fixed to the floor or the like, the connector on the robot has to be moved to achieve alignment between the connectors. In the case of the legged mobile robot disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179663, since the power receiving connector is attached to the hip part, the joints of knees, ankles or the like have to be moved, or the legs have to be displaced, in order to move the power receiving connector.
However, in the case of the legged mobile robot, if the hip part is moved horizontally by moving the joints of knees, ankles or the like without displacing the legs, the center of gravity of the robot is displaced, and therefore, the robot has to be charged with the joints being subjected to a moment. If the robot is charged with the joints being subjected to a moment as described above, additional power is required to maintain the posture of the robot, and there is a possibility that the power consumption during charging increases. If the power receiving connector is displaced by displacing the legs, the legs of the robot are displaced with the power receiving connector and the power supplying connector being partially in contact with each other, so that the connectors are overloaded, and the connectors can be damaged.
Furthermore, the power receiving terminal disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179663 is always exposed to the outside, and therefore, if the surface of the terminal is soiled with something, the electrical contact between the power receiving terminal and the power supplying terminal can be poor. Furthermore, in the case of the arrangement disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179663, if spark discharge (ark discharge) occurs when the power receiving terminal and the power supplying terminal are connected to each other for charging of the robot or disconnected from each other after charging of the robot, the spark discharge can cause deterioration of the terminals, the deterioration of the terminals can cause an increase of the resistance between the terminals, and the increase of the resistance can cause heat generation.


Moving bed media serving as a growth surface for bacteria that remove soluble carbonaceous BOD, soluble inorganic ammonia nitrogen, phosphorous, nitrate nitrogen or nitrite nitrogen from wastewater are contained in a variable liquid depth, variable volume, hydraulic flow equalization basin. The equalization basin can be divided into different treatment sections by installing separator screens. Fat accumulation on the moving media, which could cause the media to float or in some other way cause the media to be ineffective, can be prevented by a fat, oil, and grease removal process in a dissolved air flotation cell upstream of the flow equalization basin containing the moving bed media. The moving bed media are retained in the basin by a suitable media screen as the liquid level and volume increases or decreases in the basin depending upon the effluent pumping rate vs. the influent flow rate.

Typically, the flowrate of wastewater or sewage flowing into a wastewater treatment facility varies widely depending on, for example, weather conditions, seasonal variations or the time of day. However, to improve the wastewater treatment process it is desirable to minimize the variations of the wastewater inflow rate into the treatment facility. For example, equalization basins can be employed to receive a wastewater inflow at a variable rate and to provide an outflow at a substantially constant rate, i.e., at an equalized outflow rate. US2013/0001159 teaches an equalized wastewater treatment process in which an equalization basin is not only used to equalize a wastewater inflow, but also to perform a first wastewater treatment process, such as an aerobic treatment or an anoxic treatment, in an equalization reactor at the head of a wastewater treatment plant.
Moving bed media for use in Moving Bed Bio-Reactors (MBBR) are typically hollow carriers made from polyethylene, polypropylene or similar materials that are placed into the MBBR. The carriers have usually a size of about one to several inches in diameter and offer a large inner surface area which allows a biofilm to attach and heterotroph or autotroph bacteria to grow. A large number of the hollow carriers is placed as the moving bed media into a fixed-volume MBBR and mixed under aeration to treat wastewater.

Moving bed media flow equalization reactor


There is provided an electroacoustic transducer 1 including a base 24 made of magnetic material, a magnetic core 22 made of magnetic material and provided erectly on the base 24, a diaphragm 20 made of magnetic material and supported with a gap between the diaphragm and a forward end of the magnetic core, a magnet 25 constituting a magnetic circuit together with the base 24, the magnetic core 22 and the diaphragm 20 so as to provide a magnetostatic field, a coil 23 disposed around the magnetic core for applying an oscillating magnetic field to the magnetic circuit, a coil bobbin 30 for holding the coil 23, and a housing 10 for receiving these above-mentioned members. The coil bobbin 30 is integrally molded with the magnetic core 22 and the base member 24.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electroacoustic transducer which generates a sound by means of electromagnetic acoustic conversion.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electroacoustic transducer has a magnetic circuit in which a magnetic field from a magnet passes through a base member, a magnetic core and a diaphragm, and returns to the magnet again. When an electric oscillating signal is supplied to a coil disposed around the magnetic core, an oscillating magnetic field generated by the coil is superimposed on the magnetostatic field of the magnetic circuit so that oscillation generated in the diaphragm is transmitted to air. Thus, sound is generated.
The electroacoustic transducer is provided with terminals for supplying a current to a coil, and the terminals are often connected to a wiring pattern of a circuit board by soldering or the like in the same manner as other electronic parts.
Methods for winding the coil so as to mount the coil on the surrounding of the magnetic core are roughly classified into a) a direct winding method in which a coil wire is wound around a coil bobbin after the coil bobbin is fitted to the magnetic core, and b) a separate winding method in which a coil wire is wound around a reusable coil bobbin, the shape of the coil is fixed by bonding or the like, and thereafter the coil is taken out from the coil bobbin and mounted on a transducer.
The separate winding method is superior in mass productivity of coil. However, when a coil is mounted on a transducer, a lead wire of the coil is extremely thin so that caution is required in coil terminal treatment for connecting the lead wire to terminals. This caution becomes the bottleneck for the improvement of the productivity.
On the other hand, the direct winding method indeed has an advantage that coil winding and coil terminal treatment can be carried out simultaneously. However, a coil bobbin is required so that the number of parts or the number of man-hour for assembling increases.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroacoustic transducer in which the number of parts and the manufacturing cost can be prevented from increasing, and the assembling strength and the reliability of the electroacoustic transducer can be improved.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electroacoustic transducer comprising: a base member made of magnetic material; a magnetic core made of magnetic material and provided erectly on the base member; a diaphragm made of magnetic material and supported with a gap between the diaphragm and a forward end of the magnetic core; a magnet constituting a magnetic circuit together with the base member, the magnetic core and the diaphragm so as to provide a magnetostatic field; a coil disposed around the magnetic core for applying an oscillating magnetic field to the magnetic circuit; a coil bobbin interposed between the magnetic core and the coil for holding the coil; and a housing member for receiving the base member, the magnetic core, the diaphragm, the magnet, the coil and the coil bobbin; wherein the coil bobbin is molded integrally with the magnetic core and the base member.
According to the present invention, the coil bobbin is molded integrally with the magnetic core and the base member by insert molding or the like. Thus, it is not necessary to bond the coil bobbin. It is therefore possible to improve the fixation strength of the coil bobbin to the magnetic core and the base member and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an electroacoustic transducer comprising: a base member made of magnetic material; a magnetic core made of magnetic material and provided erectly on the base member; a diaphragm made of magnetic material and supported with a gap between the diaphragm and a forward end of the magnetic core; a magnet constituting a magnetic circuit together with the base member, the magnetic core and the diaphragm so as to provide a magnetostatic field; a coil disposed around the magnetic core for applying an oscillating magnetic field to the magnetic circuit; a housing member for receiving the base member, the magnetic core, the diaphragm, the magnet and the coil; terminals for supplying an electric current from the outside to the coil; and an electrically insulating member for electrically insulating the base member from the terminals; wherein the electrically insulating member is molded integrally with the base member.
According to the present invention, the electrically insulating member for electrically insulating the base member from the terminals is molded integrally with the base member by insert molding or the like. Thus, it is not necessary to bond the electrically insulating member. It is therefore possible to improve the fixation strength of the electrically insulating member to the base member and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.
Further, according to the present invention, preferably, the electrically insulating member is molded integrally with the terminals.
According to the present invention, the electrically insulating member is molded integrally not only with the base member but also with the terminals by insert molding or the like. Thus, it is not necessary to bond the terminals. It is therefore possible to improve the fixation strength of the terminals and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.
Further, according to the present invention, preferably, an external surface of the base member is covered with the electrically insulating member.
According to the present invention, when the base member and the electrically insulating member are molded integrally by insert molding or the like, the external surface of the base member is covered with the electrically insulating member. Thus, the quantity of a sealer to be used for sealing the bottom surface of the transducer can be reduced largely. In addition, the base member is not exposed to the outside. Thus, the base member can be prevented from short-circuit, dew condensation, or oxidation.
Further, according to the present invention, preferably, each of the terminals has a stopper portion for engaging with the electrically insulating member.
According to the present invention, a stopper portion for engaging with the electrically insulating member is formed in each of the terminals. Thus, it is possible to improve the fixation strength of the terminals to the electrically insulating member.
Further, according to the present invention, preferably, the electroacoustic transducer further has a coil bobbin for holding the coil, and the coil bobbin is molded integrally with the electrically insulating member.
According to the present invention, the coil bobbin and the electrically insulating member are molded integrally by injection molding or the like. Thus, it is not necessary to bond the coil bobbin. It is therefore possible to improve the fixation strength of the coil bobbin to the electrically insulating member and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the manufacturing cost.


A first guiding mechanism is formed by the interior shape of an engagement portion of a plug housing and the exterior shape of an engagement portion of a receptacle housing, to be guided and inserted into the engagement portion. A second guiding mechanism is formed by guide posts and guide holes. A third guiding mechanism is formed by the interior shape of the engagement portion of the receptacle housing and the exterior shapes of first multi core ferrules of the plug side optical connector, to be inserted into the engagement portion of the receptacle housing. A fourth guiding mechanism is formed by guide pins of second multi core ferrules and guide pin apertures, for receiving the guide pins of the first multi core ferrules. The first, second, third, and fourth guiding mechanisms operate in this order during engagement of a receptacle side optical connector and a plug side optical connector.

There is a known multi core optical connector assembly as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-148486 (FIG. 1, FIG. 4). This multi core optical connector comprises a plug side optical connector including a first housing and a guide housing to the exterior of the first housing; and a receptacle side optical connector having a second housing. The first housing has guide pins and houses a plurality of multi core ferrules, each having ferrule guide pins. The second housing has guide apertures for receiving the guide pins of the first housing and also houses a plurality of multi core ferrules each having ferrule guide apertures. Alignment of the housings is realized by a two step process. First, the guide housing and the second housing of the receptacle side optical connector are engaged. Then, the guide pins of the first housing are inserted into the guide apertures of the second housing. The alignment of the multi core ferrules is realized by inserting the ferrule guide pins of the first housing into the ferrule guide apertures of the second housing.
In the known multi core optical connector assembly described above, the positioning accuracy of the multi core ferrules depends on the exterior dimensions of the multi core ferrules and the dimensions of the openings of the first and second housings that house the multi core ferrules. Accordingly, even if the guide pins of the first housing are inserted into the guide apertures of the second housing to align them with respect to each other, alignment of the multi core ferrules with respect to each other is not guaranteed. In other words, there is a possibility that the ferrule guide pins, which serve as final guides, cannot be inserted into the ferrule guide apertures, depending on the exterior dimensions of the multi core ferrules and the openings of the housings.


The present invention relates to peptides which impair PBX-dependent regulation of gene transcription. In particular, the invention provides the use of a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence X1 X2 X3 W M X4 X5 X6 X7, wherein the sequence X1 to X7 is an amino acid sequence comprising at least 9 amino acids, which may optionally be interrupted by one or two amino acid residues between one or more of the 9 amino acid positions defined herein;                X1 is selected from W, T, PE, KQI, VV, PQT, H, RI and absent;        X2 is an amino acid with an aromatic side chain;        X3 is P or D;        X4 is an amino acid with a basic side chain;        X5 is an amino acid with a charged side chain;        X6 is an amino acid with a charged side chain; and        X7 is an amino acid with a basic side chain or Serine;        in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a disorder in which aberrant cell division occurs.

A variety of transcription factors are involved in the regulation of expression of proteins during embryogenesis and adult stem cell maturation. Homeobox (HOX) genes contain a highly conserved nucleotide sequence of about 180 bp which encodes a homeodomain of about 60 amino acids. A homeodomain is a DNA-binding protein domain which can bind to target sequences in other genes and regulate their expression during development. The clustered Hox genes are key developmental regulators and are highly conserved throughout evolution. The homeotic HOX proteins which they encode share the 60 amino acid homeodomain and function as transcription factors to control axial patterning by regulating the transcription of subordinate downstream genes, e.g. developmental genes. In Drosophila and other insects there are eight different Hox genes that are encoded in two gene—complexes, while in vertebrates there are 39 genes organized in four complexes. The four gene complexes are assigned the letters A to D. Based on sequence similarities the genes can be sorted into 13 "paralog" groups. The order of the paralogs along the chromosomes are conserved in the four complexes. The gene name is obtained by concatenating the gene complex letter designation with the group number, e.g. HOXA1, HOXB4 etc.
Pre-B-cell transformation related gene (PBX) is also an important regulatory protein that controls gene expression during development by interacting cooperatively with HOX to bind to the target DNA (Mann et al., 1996, Trends Genet., 12(7), p 258-262). "Engrailed" proteins are also able to bind to PBX. PBX and HOX are known to interact via the hepta- or hexa-peptide region on the HOX molecule, which is highly conserved (Phelan et al., 1995, Mol. Cell. Biol., 15(8), p 3989-3997 and Neuteboom et al., 1995, PNAS, 92, p 9166-9170). The hexapeptide is separated by a linker region from the N-terminus of the homeodomain. Once PBX and HOX have bound to one another, they enter the nucleus of a cell and there bind to target DNA and repress or activate that target gene's transcription.
Whilst these proteins are known to be involved in embryogenesis their precise roles have not been elucidated. Over or under expression of HOX proteins gives rise to a variety of consequences in vitro which implicate the involvement of these proteins in the control of differentiation processes. However the consequences of perturbing the interaction between PBX and the co-factors to which it binds have not been examined. Furthermore, PBX:HOX binding antagonists have been found to be rather specific to specific forms of the protein binding partners involved (see Peltenburg & Murre, 1996, EMBO Journal, 15(13), p. 3385-3393). Furthermore, it is believed that the linker region between the homeobox and the hexapeptide is required for cooperative binding between PBX and HOX (Peltenburg & Murre, supra and Neuteboom et al., 1995, PNAS, 92, p 9166-9170).

Peptides impairing PBX dependent gene regulation