An article of equipment or apparel, such as footwear, is disclosed that includes an exterior surface having misleading depth cues that form a reverse perspective structure. The reverse perspective structure may have a three-dimensional configuration that includes a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is located closer to an interior of the article than the second edge, and the first edge has a greater length than the second edge. The reverse perspective structure may alternately or also include a pair of non-parallel perspective line edges with first ends and second ends. The first ends are located closer to the interior of the article than the second ends, and the first ends have a greater spacing than the second ends.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to various articles, such as apparel and equipment. The invention concerns, more particularly, an article that includes an illusionary structure having the configuration of a reverse perspective. The invention has application to various types of athletic equipment and apparel, including footwear, for example.
2. Description of Background Art
Conventional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements, an upper and a sole structure. The upper provides a covering for the foot that securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structure is secured to a lower surface of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces (i.e., imparting cushioning), the sole structure may provide traction and control potentially harmful foot motion, such as over pronation. Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a wide variety of ambulatory activities, such as walking and running. The general features and configuration of the upper and the sole structure are discussed in greater detail below.
The upper forms a void on the interior of the footwear for receiving the foot. The void has the general shape of the foot, and access to the void is provided by an ankle opening. Accordingly, the upper extends over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. A lacing system is often incorporated into the upper to selectively increase the size of the ankle opening and permit the wearer to modify certain dimensions of the upper, particularly girth, to accommodate feet with varying proportions. In addition, the upper may include a tongue that extends under the lacing system to enhance the comfort of the footwear, and the upper may include a heel counter to limit movement of the heel.
The sole structure generally incorporates multiple layers that are conventionally referred to as an insole, a midsole, and an outsole. The insole is a thin, compressible member located within the upper and adjacent the plantar (lower) surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort. The midsole, which is traditionally attached to the upper along the entire length of the upper and formed from a polymer foam material, forms the middle layer of the sole structure and serves a variety of purposes that include controlling foot motions and providing cushioning. The outsole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear-resistant material that includes texturing to improve traction.
Based upon the above discussion, the upper and sole structure operate cooperatively to receive the foot and enhance the comfort of walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. Although the configuration of the upper and sole structure each provide functional benefits to the wearer through their respective structures, the exterior surface of each of the upper and sole structure are generally designed to promote the aesthetic appeal of the footwear. That is, the exterior surface of many articles of footwear serve the purpose of enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the footwear. This may be accomplished through color schemes, textures, and designs that are incorporated into the exterior surface.

Article incorporating an illusionary structure


A method of forming cavities in a non-conducting layer on a semiconductor device is provided which can be carried out by first providing a pre-processed semi-conducting substrate which has a non-conducting layer and a patterned photoresist layer sequentially deposited and formed on top, and then conformally depositing a polymeric material layer on top of the non-conducting and the photoresist layer, and then etching the polymeric material layer to form polymeric sidewall spacers on the patterned photoresist layer, and then etching cavities in the non-conducting layer to expose the semi-conducting substrate. The polymeric sidewall spacers formed on the sidewalls of the photoresist openings allow the fabrication of cavities such as contact holes or line spacings of reduced dimensions while utilizing a conventional low cost photolithographic method for patterning.

Modern semiconductor devices are built on semi-conducting substrates such as silicon substrates that have P.sup.+ and N.sup.+ type doped regions in the substrates as basic elements of the device. These doped regions must be connected in a specific configuration to form a desired circuit. The circuit needs to be accessible to the outside world through conducting pads for testing and through bonding into a packaged chip. To form a semiconductor circuit, at least one layer of a conducting material such as metal must be deposited and patterned to form contacts and interconnects between the different regions of the chip. For instance, in a typical semiconductor fabrication process, a silicon wafer is first covered with an insulating layer and then, patterned and etched for contact openings in the insulating layer. A conductive material is then deposited and defined to form contact plugs and interconnecting leads.
Contact windows (or holes) to a silicon or silicide layer are usually defined and etched in an insulating layer, i.e., a dielectric material layer, by using lithographic and dry etching techniques. A dry etching technique works anisotropicallly to enable the opening of contact holes that have high aspect ratios. Once formed, contact holes can be filled with a conducting material such as a metal to form vertical connections to a first level metal. Contact holes can also be made by a wet etch process. A wet etch process is carried out by immersing a wafer in an appropriate etchant solution or by spraying the wafer with a solution. When a wet etch process is used, the etching action is isotropic in nature such that the material is etched in both the lateral and the vertical directions. Lateral etching in a wet etch process produces undercutting under a mask which is undesirable in most fabrication processes. On the other hand, a dry etch process etches anisotropically and creates vertical sidewalls in a contact hole such that the top and the bottom of the hole have almost the same dimensions. The dry etch process is frequently used in modern sub-micron devices since it does not create undercutting problem and does not require or waste additional lateral area for a contact hole. The dry etching process further provides the benefits of reduced chemical hazard and waste treatment problems, easily achievable process automation and tool clustering. Two of the most widely used dry etching techniques are the plasma etching technique and the reactive ion etching technique.
While dry etching technique provides significant improvement in dimensional control and therefore is popular in VLSI and ULSI fabrication methods, it also has some limitations. One of such limitations is its inability of scaling down patterning dimensions. In a modern ULSI device, both the horizontal and the vertical device dimensions must shrink continuously to accommodate the ever increasing density of the device. The ability of a fabrication technique to scale down devices to smaller geometries therefore becomes increasingly important. The minimum feature size, i.e., the size of a contact hole, the smallest line-width or line-to-line separation which can be printed on the surface of a chip controls the number of circuits that can be placed on the chip and therefore has a direct impact on the chip density. The evolution of high density chip design is therefore limited by the evolution of lithographic techniques which are normally used to lay down device geometries on a chip.
Among the major lithographic techniques, optical, electron-beam, X-ray and ion-beam, optical lithographic technique using an ultraviolet (UV) light source has been the most important technology. The most commonly used ultraviolet light source for optical lithography are high-pressure arc lamps and laser sources. Major regions of the emitted light spectrum that are produced include the deep ultraviolet (DUV) region which is in the 100.about.300 nm range, the mid-UV region which is in the 300.about.360 nm range, and the near-UV region which is in the 360.about.450 nm range. For instance, when a mercury-xenon arc lamp is used, the dominant wavelengths produced are 254 nm (DUV), 365 nm (I-line), 405 nm (H-line) and 436 nm (G-line). Since most of the photoresist materials require a photo energy higher than 2.5 eV for proper exposure, only wavelengths of 436 nm or shorter can be considered for lithography. When the minimal feature size desired is larger than about 2 .mu.m, the full emitted spectrum of a mercury-xenon arc lamp can be used to expose the resist. For smaller feature sizes, the lens is corrected for one or two of the wavelengths and filters are used to remove the remainder of the spectrum. For instance, the G-line wavelength can be used for feature sizes down to approximately 0.8 .mu.m while the I-line wavelength can be used for feature sizes in the range between 0.4.about.0.8 .mu.m. For even smaller feature sizes, i.e., below 0.4 .mu.m, shorter wavelengths such as the DUV wavelength at 248 nm must be used with very sensitive DUV photoresist.
In modern VLSI manufacturing, state-of-the-art fabrication process for 16 Mbit or larger DRAMs is designed by the less than 0.4 .mu.m process, i.e., a 0.25 .mu.m process. The diameters of contact holes, for example, have to be less than 0.3 .mu.m. Since the I-line capability is only 0.4 .mu.m (with adequate process margin), the shorter wavelength DUV technique and very sensitive DUV photoresist material must be used. The DUV technique and the DUV photoresist material are both high cost and therefore significantly increase the fabrication costs of the IC device.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional process wherein a photolithographic method and a dry etching technique are used to form contact holes that have vertical sidewalls in a dielectric material layer. The figures illustrate the limitation on the minimum diameter of the contact holes that can be formed due to the resolution limit of the I-line wavelength. In FIG. 1, a semiconductor device 10 is shown which has a semi-conducting substrate 12 and a dielectric film layer 14 deposited on top. The semi-conducting substrate 12 can be a silicon substrate and the dielectric film layer 14 can be a silicon oxide layer or a silicon nitride layer. On top of the dielectric film layer 14, a photoresist layer 16 is first deposited and then patterned to create openings 20. The photoresist layer 16 is patterned by an optical method using ultraviolet I-line wavelength and thus, the resolution is limited to 0.4 .mu.m as shown by A in FIG. 1. After the photoresist layer 16 is exposed and developed, contact holes 22 having a diameter of A are dry etched in the dielectric film layer 14. Since a dry etching technique, i.e., a reactive ion etching technique, is capable of producing openings of vertical sidewalls, the contact holes 22 formed has substantially vertical sidewalls such that the top of the hole and the bottom of the hole have the same diameter of A (or 0.4 .mu.m). When a contact hole smaller than 0.4 .mu.m is desired, the more expensive and difficult photolithographic technique that utilizes deep UV wavelength and very sensitive photoresist material must be used.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming contact holes of reduced dimensions that is beyond the resolution limit of normal I-line photolithographic technique.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming cavities in an electronic device of reduced dimensions that does not require the use of expensive deep-UV photolithographic technique and deep-UV photoresist material.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming cavities in a semiconductor device of reduced dimensions utilizing the I-line photolithographic technique by making minor modifications in the fabrication process.
It is another further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming cavities in a semiconductor device such as contact holes and line spacings of reduced dimensions by using in-situ formed polymeric sidewall spacers on a photoresist layer.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming contact holes or line spacings of reduced dimensions by utilizing polymeric sidewall spacers formed on a photoresist layer as masks for etching cavities in a non-conducting layer deposited on a semiconductor substrate.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming contact holes of reduced dimensions by using polymeric sidewall spacers that are formed by reactant gases substantially similar to those used in the dry etching process for the holes.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming contact holes of reduced dimensions by forming polymeric sidewall spacers on a photoresist layer and etching contact holes in a dielectric layer in the same process chamber.
It is yet another farther object of the present invention to provide a method of forming contact holes of reduced dimensions by forming polymeric sidewall spacers on a photoresist layer by a reactant gas mixture by including C.sub.4 F.sub.8 and CHF.sub.3.

Method of forming contact holes of reduced dimensions by using in-situ formed polymeric sidewall spacers

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.


The disclosure relates to systems and methods for pressing a door assembly involving a scanning system operable to survey an outer surface of a door skin and identify a location of one or more recessed panel portions on the door skin, and a press operable to selectably actuate a group of actuators based on the identified location of the recessed panel portions, where the actuators drive press members onto the one or more recessed panel portions of the door skin during a pressing operation to facilitate crushing of portions of a core of the door assembly that underlie the recessed panel portion of the door skin.

In a conventional manufacturing process, a door is typically made from a pair of door skins attached to opposite sides of a core and secured together. For example, one method of assembling doors involves applying adhesive to an inside surface of each of the two door skins, and then stacking an internal frame and lightweight core material between the door skins. The core and door skins are then pressed together to bring the adhesive into contact with the frame. Thereafter, the assembly is fed into a heated press for curing the adhesive to complete the process and prepare the door for final processing, which may include edge trimming, paint, or application of other surface treatments as desired.
In some embodiments, the door skins include a combination of flat panel portions and inwardly-contoured channels that simulate the sticking regions of a traditional solid wood door. In many conventional press configurations, pressure is applied to the door components (e.g., the door skins and core) to promote bonding. However, in many conventional pressing processes, the pressure is applied primarily to the flat panel portions of the door skins, but no direct pressure is applied to the inwardly-contoured channels. As a result, some doors may fail to bond properly during the pressing and curing processes, especially along the inwardly-contoured channels where no pressure is applied, which may lead to separation of the door skins and core and create overall performance issues. Accordingly, the present inventors have identified a need for an improved system and method for manufacturing doors. Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drop roller press and method of making recessed panel doors


Controlling establishment of a connection between an originating subscriber connected via an originating radio network to a communication network and a terminating subscriber connected via a terminating radio network to the communication network. The connection is established between originating payload node and terminating payload node employing a common coding scheme. Coding scheme negotiation comprises establishing, in originating control node (OCN), a list of supported coding schemes of originating subscriber, originating radio network and originating payload node. Determining, by the OCN, a radio channel property of the originating subscriber, oRCP, relaying the list and the radio channel property between the control nodes controlling the connection towards a terminating control node (TCN). Removing, by the control nodes, non-supported coding schemes from the list. Determining, by the TCN, common coding scheme(s) for the connection by selecting a remaining coding scheme considering the oRCP and a radio channel property of the terminating subscriber, tRCP.

In telecommunications networks such as GSM (Group System for Mobile Communication) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) and UTRAN (Universal Telecommunication Radio Access Network), in which WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is one radio transmission method, the transferred data, e. g. speech data, is compressed before it is transported over the radio interface. This reduces the bandwidth demands on the scarce resource radio interface. To achieve this compression, codecs (coder and decoder algorithms as well as a means provided for performing that algorithm) are used. The term codec can be replaced by the term "coding scheme" which has the same meaning. In many networks different codecs can be used and different nodes can have different capabilities for handling codecs. When conversion from one coding scheme to another takes place, the process is called transcoding. Transcoding anywhere in the speech path negatively affects data quality. The number of transcoding stages in the speech path has to be minimized in order to maximize data quality. In the following data quality in the meaning of this application is the quality of audio or video data.
Determination of an optimal codec may be done by means of Codec Negotiation. 3GPP standard TS 23.153 specifies an Out of Band Transcoder Control (OoBTC) procedure which is the capability of a network to negotiate the types of codec and codec modes on a call per call basis with out-of-band signalling procedures. These procedures are specified to take place in the call setup phase or possibly later if there is a need to re-negotiate the codec. OoBTC is performed between serving core network nodes or control nodes taking into account transcoding capabilities of all involved parties, including the user equipment (UE), the radio network nodes and the Media Gateway (MGW) nodes under the control of their serving or control nodes. Ideally the same codec is used in the whole connection between the access networks. This well known codec negotiation mechanism is only based on the capability of involved parties.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified dataflow diagram which depicts the message flow in a negotiation procedure of coding schemes or codecs between control nodes of a telecommunication network. An initiating node 11 initiating codec negotiation creates a codec list containing a list of all codecs supported by a payload node which is under control of the initiating node. The so called supported codec list (SCL) is forwarded in a Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC) Initial Address Message (IAM) 14 to the terminating control node 13. Any intermediate control node 12 evaluates the SCL and removes non-supported codecs from the SCL. An intermediate node 12 can not add new codecs which e.g. are supported in addition by the intermediate node 12. The SCL is further forwarded 15 to the terminating control node 13. The terminating control node 13, which terminates the codec negotiation, evaluates the SCL, removes non-supported codecs from the SCL and selects the most appropriate codec for the call from the remaining codecs in the SCL. The selected codec (SC) and the available codec list (ACL) which is a copy of the final SCL after the terminating control node 13 has removed non-supported codecs from the SCL are sent backwards via a BICC application transport mechanism (APM) message 16 and 17 to the initiating control node 11. The initiating node 11, the intermediate node 12 and the terminating node 13 setup their payload nodes to use the selected codec which was indicated in the APM BICC message 16, 17.
FIG. 2 shows a circuit switched communication network comprising MSC Server 23, 24 as control nodes. Every MSC Server 23, 24 is in control of a payload node or media gateway node MGW 27, 28. Further an originating mobile equipment or subscriber MS 21 is connected via a base station controller BSC 22 to the MGW 27 and is further connected to the MSC Server 23. A terminating MS 26 is connected via the terminating BSC 25 to the terminating MGW 28 and to the terminating MSC Server 24. Between the originating side and the terminating side of the network a transit network is located which may comprise further control nodes and/or payload nodes. The payload is routed over the MGWs 27, 28 between the mobile terminals or equipments 21, 26 in the User Plane. The control data is routed over the MSC Server 23, 24 in the Control Plane. The codec negotiation takes place between the MSs 21, 26 and the MSC Server 23, 24. The MSC Server 23, 24 are in control of their MGW 27, 28 via MGW Control messages and of the BSC 22, 25 via BSSAP messages. After codec negotiation has been established the MSC Server 23, 24 will instruct the MGWs 27, 28 and the BSCs 22, 25 to use at least one specific codec.
A more complex dataflow diagram of a state-of-the-art codec negotiation is shown in FIG. 3. At a call setup in an AoIP-scenario (interface user plane over IP), the originating call control node 33, which is depicted as an originating mobile switching center (oMSC) but which can be any kind of control node controlling a connection in a telecommunication network, receives 301 a list of codecs which are supported by an originating radio network control node 32. In case of an interface over TDM scenario the oMSC 33 configures the codec for the oBSC 32. This radio network control node 32 is pictured as a base station controller node of a GSM network but can be any kind of radio network control node. This supported codec list of the originating base station subsystem (oBSS-SCL) is sent to the oMSC 33 via a Complete Layer 3 (CL3) message 301. The CM Service Request message is contained within the Complete Layer 3 (CL3) message. The originating call control node 33 further receives via a setup message 302 a list of supported codecs of the originating mobile subscriber 31 (oMS-SCL). An example for GSM codecs are:                GSM_HR;        GSM_FR;        GSM_EFR;        HR-AMR(set 1);        FR-AMR(set 1);        FR-AMR-WB(set 0).
FR-AMR-WB(set 0), FR-AMR(set 1), GSM_EFR and GSM_FR are full rate codecs. The codecs HR-AMR(set 1) and GSM_HR are half rate codecs. Half rate codec requires half the bandwidth of the full rate codec. Usage of half rate codecs allows the operator to handle more calls since they use less bandwidth. At the same time, usage of half rate codecs results in lower speech quality. Normally the codecs will be prioritized, to be included in an originating supported codec list (oSCL), in the order FR-AMR-WB(set 0), FR-AMR(set 1), GSM_EFR, HR_AMR(set 1), GSM_FR and GSM_HR. This order is determined on operator preference for codecs to be used for speech calls and based on the speech quality to be achieved using the codecs in transcoder free situations.
The setup message 302 further comprises a radio channel property (oRCP) as preferred by the originating subscriber 31. The oRCP indicates the type of radio channels selected and is used by the oMSC 33 to select the codec for the originating radio call leg between the oMS 31 and the oMSC 33. At first assignment the selection of the traffic channel to be used by the oBSC 32 is based on the preference of the mobile subscriber 31, the preference for each basic service or operator and the capacity of the oBSC 32. The oRCP is received from the oMS 31 and possibly modified by the Telecommunication Service Analysis in order to take operator's preference for channel rate and type into consideration. For speech calls, RCP can include following values as example:                Half Rate (HR) channel required;        Full Rate (FR) channel required;        HR or FR channel required, HR channel preferred;        HR or FR channel required, FR channel preferred;        HR or FR channel required, no preference.
After the oMSC 33 sends a Call Proceeding message 303 to the oMS 31, an IAM message 304 is sent to the terminating control node tMSC 34. This message comprises an originating supported codec list (oSCL), which was built in the oMSC 33 by using the oMS-SCL, the oBSS-SCL and the capacity of the controlled, but not shown originating media gateway node (oMGW) which is under control of the oMSC 33. FIG. 3 does not disclose any intermediate node due to illustration reason. If there are intermediate nodes between the oMSC 33 and the tMSC 34, these nodes will remove any non-supported codecs, which are not supported by the intermediate payload nodes under control of the intermediate control nodes from the oSCL and forward the oSCL to the next intermediate control node or to the terminating control node tMSC 34.
After the tMSC 34 receives the oSCL in the IAM 304 it removes all codecs which are not supported in the terminating MGW. After a paging procedure 305 took place, executed by the tMSC 34 to find the allocated terminating mobile subscriber (tMS) 36, a CL3 message 306 containing paging response is sent from the terminating base station controller tBSC 35, which is in control of the tMS 36, to the tMSC 34. This message 306 comprises a supported codec list of the terminating Base Station Subsystem (tBSS). After the tMSC 34 sends a Setup message 307 to the tMS 36, the tMS 36 sends a Call Confirmed message 308 including a supported codec list (tMS-SCL) and the radio channel property of the terminating mobile station (tRCP) to the tMSC 34. The tRCP is used by the tMSC 34 to select the codec for the terminating radio call leg.
The tMSC 34 creates a terminating SCL taking into consideration the tMS-SCL, tBSS-SCL and the tMSC-SCL. The terminating MSC 34 then selects a selected codec (SC) which is best suited for this call. The SC is selected based on the oSCL that has been received and from which all non-supported codecs are removed. Possibly the tMSC-SCL is also considered when establishing the SC. From the perspective of the tMSC 34 the SC is the best codec suited for the call as a compromise between speech quality and bandwidth usage. The SC is supported by all MGWs which are involved in this call (for transporting the payload information of the call in the core network) such that the best call quality and/or bandwidth usage is reached. Further the tMSC 34 creates an available codec list (ACL) which comprises all codecs of the oSCL after the tMSC 34 removed the non-supported codecs from this list.
The ACL is the list of all codecs which are supported in the payload nodes (MGWs) of the core network. This list contains all codecs which are supported in all nodes involved in the codec negotiation for the call. The ACL and the SC are sent in an APM (Application transport message) 309 to the oMSC 33. All possible intermediate control nodes and the originating control node 33, which receive the APM 309 comprising the ACL and the SC, will setup their controlled media gateways to establish the SC for this specific call to use the codec specified by the SC.
After the oMSC 33 received the APM 309, an Assignment Request message 310 is sent to the oBSC 32 containing a list of codecs in preferred order by taking into consideration SC as well as oRCP. The oBSC 32 answers with an Assignment Complete message 311 containing the codec that is used for the call on the originating radio access. After the oMSC 33 receives the Assignment Complete message 311, it sends an APM message to the terminating MSC 34 which also sends an Assignment Request message 313 to the tBSC 35. The Assignment Request message 313 contains a list of codecs in preferred order by taking into consideration the SC as well as the tRCP. The tBSC 35 sends back an Assignment Complete message 314 to the tMSC 314 containing the codec list that is used for the call on the terminating radio access. After the tMSC 314 receives the Assignment Complete message the negotiation process is completed.
If the originating or the terminating radio call leg has to use a codec, based on the oRCP and the tRCP, which might be different to the selected codec SC of the core network, a codec transcoding has to be performed in the originating and/or the terminating control node. This can result in a lower speech quality as well as increasing resource usage because every transcoding procedure reduces the data quality and requires higher processing need.
As an example for a codec negotiation according to the state of art it is assumed that the oMS 31 supports the codecs {GSM_HR, GSM_FR, GSM_EFR}. It is further assumed that the oRCP of the mobile subscriber which is allocated to the oMS 31 indicates that it supports both halfrate radio channel (HR) and fullrate radio channel (FR), but prefers HR. Further the oBSC 32 supports {GSM_EFR, GSM_FR, GSM_HR} and the core network supports {GSM_EFR, GSM_FR, GSM_HR, PCM}. The originating MSC 33 will generates an oSCL as {GSM_EFR, GSM_FR, GSM_HR, PCM} and will send it in a BICC IAM message 304 to the terminating control node tMSC 34. It is assumed that the tMS 36 supports codecs {GSM_HR, GSM_FR, GSM_EFR} and the tRCP indicates that it supports both HR and FR channels, but prefers HR. Further the tBSS-SCL should looks like {GSM_HR, GSM_FR, GSM_EFR} and the core network on the terminating side supports {GSM_EFR, GSM_FR, GSM_HR, PCM}. The tMSC 34 chooses the codec GSM_EFR as the selected codec (SC) which will be used by the media gateways in the core network. This codec will be sent as the selected codec (SC) to the oMSC 33. If an intermediate node is arranged between the oMSC 33 and the tMSC 34, it will setup the intermediate MGW to use the selected codec GSM_EFR.
Due to the fact that the RCP on both sides prefers HR, the communication leg between the originating MGW and the originating MS 31 will be defined as GSM_HR. The same occurs on the terminating side. As a result, a transcoding between the codec GSM_EFR and the codec GSM_HR will take place in both the originating MGW and the terminating MGW. This results in unnecessary usage of valuable transcoder resources and a reduction of data quality.

Method to take mobile station preference for channel type into consideration when performing codec negotiation


Techniques for determining the angles of arrival of multiple simultaneous cochannel sources using only a single RF receiver sampling and downconversion channel is disclosed. This is accomplished by sequentially forming several known mixtures of multiple antenna signals in the RF domain prior to downconversion and digitization. Angle of arrival information is then recovered through the application of higher order statistics and subspace fitting techniques. The same principles can be applied to other P-element receiver arrays (e.g., acoustical receiver array).

Radio direction-finding (DF) or determining the angles of arrival (AOA) of multiple simultaneous radio frequency (RF) cochannel signals in an inexpensive manner is a capability that is currently not found in existing implementations. In an RF environment, cochannel signals are two or more signals transmitted on the same carrier frequency at the same time. Generally, conventional direction-finding approaches fall into two broad categories.
The first category includes expensive, highly capable systems, which can locate multiple sources, but which require multiple phase coherent downconversion and sampling channels. Examples of these approaches include subspace based methods such as the MUSIC (multiple signal classification) algorithm, which capitalizes on the linear independence among multiple signals from different directions, thereby providing totally robust performance in complex signal environments. Another such example is a computed-interferometry radar system with coherent integration, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,796, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The second category includes relatively inexpensive, single channel systems. With these approaches, multiple antennas are sampled at a high rate in a commutated fashion, and the induced phase changes gives an indication of the AOA. However, systems of this type can only locate a single source and cannot operate in the presence of cochannel interference or jamming.
What is needed, therefore, are techniques for cost effective radio direction-finding for environments with cochannel signals.

Direction-finding for multiple cochannel sources

Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc


A method and system for unifying component metadata includes components, such as computers, laptops or flat panel display devices and software entities, connected together by one or more networks. A method includes a first component, such as a laptop device, obtaining intrinsic metadata associated with one or more other components, such as a computer and a flat panel display device. The first component combines intrinsic metadata received from each component with extrinsic metadata of the first component, and provides the combined metadata to the other components, although the first component may also utilize the combined metadata. The components are able to obtain a consistent, unified view of the combined metadata without needing any prior programming and without requiring the use of centralized servers.

In a ubiquitous or distributed network environment, components, such as devices, services, software entities and/or applications, may reveal to each other contextual information about themselves ("metadata"). For example, IRDA™ and BlueTooth™ devices may reveal what type of device they are, such as a printer, PDA, laptop, etc. JINI™ services may reveal their location on a network. This metadata provides descriptive information that is usually intended for human consumption. Metadata is frequently "intrinsic" with respect to the component, meaning that the data is resident within or is managed by the component itself. Moreover, components typically provide the same intrinsic metadata to their clients. Thus, intrinsic metadata normally can only be modified by a system administrator ("SA") or through reprogramming the component.
Often, however, people would like to impose or overlay additional or "extrinsic" metadata on top of the intrinsic metadata directly provided by the component. This extrinsic metadata could represent how a person describes a component, rather than how the component describes itself. For example, one may desire describing a particular printer service on a network as their "preferred printer." This metadata is extrinsic, since it describes the person's relationship to the printer. Of course, this type of relationship most likely will vary from person to person. There are several ways to provide extrinsic metadata, such as using a centralized server that stores metadata keyed by client or person. The server in this example provides the extrinsic metadata to the clients or users. Another approach uses interconnected servers to provide clients with "views" of document properties. Here, the views for a particular document may yield different results depending upon which server a client is accessing to view the document metadata.
But in either case, clients must have access to one or more centralized servers to access the extrinsic metadata. These centralized servers may not be accessible in a distributed or peer-to-peer network setting, for instance, and thus the components will not be able to access extrinsic metadata. When servers are available, however, one may be concerned with privacy, and thus may not trust having their metadata stored at an external source. Furthermore, clients in a network setting may desire access to the same metadata that is available to others, which is not possible in existing systems that use multiple servers to maintain different metadata views for a single component.

Method and system for unifying component metadata


A luminous key mechanism. A keycap moves with respect to a base plate and includes a transparent window. A light-emitting element is disposed under the keycap. A condenser is connected to the transparent window and opposes the light-emitting element. Light output from the light-emitting element is condensed by the condenser and output via the transparent window.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a luminous key mechanism, and in particular to a luminous key mechanism providing light-condensing effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a light-emitting element (such as an LED) is disposed under specific keys (such as Caps Lock and Num Lock keys) in a conventional keyboard or luminous keyboard, providing light-pervious and recognition functions. Namely, light output from the light-emitting element passes through transparent windows formed on keycaps of the specific keys, enabling the specific keys to be easily recognized.
As light output from a common light-emitting element often scatters, the intensity of the light passing through the transparent windows of the keycaps is reduced. To increase the intensity of the light passing through the transparent windows of the keycaps, a high-powered light-emitting element (such as a high-brightness LED) can replace the common light-emitting element. Better light-pervious effect is thus provided to the keycaps.
Utilization of the high-powered light-emitting element, however, has many drawbacks. The high-powered light-emitting element is expensive and requires high power consumption. Additionally, light scatter provided by the high-powered light-emitting element is relatively high. Namely, the light output from the high-powered light-emitting element easily scatters to other keys disposed near the specific keys. An extra shielding mechanism is thus required in the specific keys, preventing the light output from the high-powered light-emitting element from scattering to the other keys. Accordingly, complexity of assembly and manufacturing costs of the keyboard or luminous keyboard are increased.
Hence, there is a need for a luminous key mechanism with enhanced light-pervious effect for a transparent window of a keycap, reduced manufacturing costs, and simplified assembly.


A shield for an electronic device having a pair of cooperating printed circuit boards includes an integrated connector for connecting the printed circuit boards. The shield is provided with a frame attachable between the circuit boards and structure attached to the frame for supporting a connector that electrically connects the circuit boards. In one embodiment, the contacts of the connector are embedded in a sub-frame attached to the frame. In another embodiment, a connector holder is formed with the frame for supporting a connector that connects the printed circuit boards. By virtue of the unitary structure, problems associated with tolerance stack-up can be eliminated, and usable printed circuit board area can be maximized.

The present invention relates to shielding and electrical connection between boards in a dual printed circuit board assembly and, in particular, to a board to board RF shield with an integrated board to board connector/connector holder.
In an electronic device utilizing dual printed circuit boards, it is essential to shield various sections of the board from one another. For example, in a cellular phone, the logic section of the boards must be shielded from the RF section of the boards. The dual printed circuit boards must also be electrically coupled.
Many different shielding methods and connection methods exist, however, these methods have typically been made via two or more separate and distinct components. One method of shielding is a simple soldered can. In this method, a metal stamping is drawn and then soldered around the perimeter of the can to the board. A second method of shielding involves the use of a dual material board to board shield that separates the boards at a given distance as well as providing necessary shielding. In this method, a solid plastic core is overmolded with an electrically conductive elastomeric. When placed between the two boards, the elastomeric is compressed until the boards bottom out against the plastic core. Because the parts are molded, they can be of very complex shapes, typically of the board outline with dividers for the various sections on the boards. A third type of shielding between boards that has been used is a metallized injection molded plastic piece. Like the second method, this type of rigid construction also serves as a spacer between the boards. In some cases, small springs are clipped onto the molded piece between the mating surfaces to ensure proper contact and shielding.
Typically, the connection between the printed circuit boards is made with a separate connector assembly. Standard connector assemblies include male and female mating connectors, elastomeric connectors with separate holders and spring contact connectors. A standard surface mount connector is a two part component that depends on the manufacturing process to mate it properly. Misalignment can occur in both the X and Y plane and in the .theta. direction (.theta. is defined to be a rotation of the connector using its center as point of reference). A connector, whether surface mount or elastomeric, requires both boards to be aligned as accurately as possible. The elastomeric connectors and spring contact connectors have two alignment difficulties: first, shorting can result from the soldering mask rotating to cross two leads simultaneously, and second, noncontacts can occur when the leads do not touch the pad. Both of these problems are significant dangers and difficult to design around.
The prior art separate connector and shield arrangement disadvantageously takes up a significant amount of usable printed circuit board area. Moreover, with the conventional arrangements, the tolerance stack-up can be substantial, leading to problems with the final assembly. That is, if a pair of mating connectors is used in conjunction with a metallized plastic frame, which aligns the assembly, and the mated pair is soldered slightly out of line (but within tolerance), a large amount of stress could be placed on the connectors leading to field failures. Conversely, if the connectors are used to align the assembly, then the board edges may not align, and more space would be needed to house the dual board assembly, leading to a larger product. Still further, with larger tolerances required in the conventional assembly, the number of contacts in a given size connector is limited as the contacts must be sized sufficiently large enough to accommodate the tolerances.

Board to board RF shield with integrated connector/connector holder and method


The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide improved in ability to remove HC and NOx and a three-way catalyst able to reduce an amount of NOx emission. Further, to solve this problem, an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide containing Gd2O3 in 0.1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol % and having an ion conductivity of 2×10−5 S/cm or more at 400° C. is provided. Further, in addition to the above, an oxygen storage and release material having a molar ratio of cerium and zirconium of 0.2 or more and 0.6 or less by cerium/(cerium+zirconium) and an speed of oxygen storage and release “Δt50” of 20.0 seconds or more or amount of oxygen storage and release of 300 μmol-O2/g or more etc. was obtained. Further, by applying the oxygen storage and release material to the catalyst, it is possible to assist the purification of exhaust gas as it changes every instant in accordance with the driving conditions and possible to obtain a catalyst with a higher ability to remove harmful components of catalytic precious metals than before. In particular, it is possible to obtain an automotive exhaust gas purification system excellent in ability to remove CO, NOx, and HC.

In the past, a three-way catalyst has been used as a means for removing harmful substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from automotive exhaust gas. A three-way catalyst simultaneously oxidizes CO and HC and reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) to purify the exhaust gas. In those three-way catalysts, a three-way catalyst comprising an porous alumina material having a high surface area or other refractory porous oxide materials loaded with a precious metal (for example, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ir, Ru, etc.), which is coated on such as a refractory ceramic or metal honeycomb carrier, alternatively refractory beads carrier, has generally been used.
In a three-way catalyst used for purifying exhaust gas of a gasoline engine, to enhance the catalytic activity of the precious metal, it is preferable to maintain a constant ratio of air and fuel (A/F ratio), that is, a stoichiometric A/F ratio. However, the air-fuel ratio greatly changes in accordance with the operating situation such as acceleration, deceleration, low speed driving, and high speed driving. For this reason, feedback control using an oxygen sensor has been used to try to maintain a constant of the A/F ratio, although the A/F ratio fluctuates depending on the operating conditions of the engine. Even for the feedback control using an oxygen sensor, changes in the A/F ratio occur according to the feedback time. Thus, it is difficult to hold the exhaust gas atmosphere at the stoichiometric A/F ratio and/or neighborhood thereof it by just control of the engine.
For this reason, it is necessary for the catalyst itself to finely adjust the atmosphere more. Ceria (cerium oxide CeO2) has an oxygen storage/release capacity (below, sometimes simply referred to as "OSC" being short for oxygen storage capacity that is the same meaning as oxygen storage/release capacity), and therefore, the ceria is generally used as a catalytic promoter for adjusting the oxygen partial pressure around catalyst for purification of the automotive exhaust gas. This utilizes a redox reaction of Ce3+/Ce4+. The ceria is generally used in solid solution with zirconia (zirconium oxide ZrO2) as a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide for improving this property.
The ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide loaded with catalytic precious metals is generally mixed with alumina in a ratio of several percent to several tens of percent, and then is wash-coated on the surface of a honeycomb carrier in a wash-coat layer of a thickness of several tens of μm to several hundreds of μm. Thus, the ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide gives functions as a catalytic promoter.
The catalyst wash-coated at the inside of the honeycomb carrier purifies the exhaust gas running therethrough by way contact therewith. However, the overall length of the honeycomb carrier is a short 10 cm to at most 30 cm or so. The time for purifying the exhaust gas is extremely short. To complete the purification in this short time, the adjustment of the oxygen partial pressure by way of the ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide also has to be completed in a very short time of the millisecond units. In that past, ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide has been developed focusing on maintaining the specific surface area after the heating endurance (aging) test in order to increase the contact area with the exhaust gas (see PTL 1).
As prior arts as to development focusing on the oxygen storage and release speed of the ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide, for example, there are PTL 2 to PTL 4. PTL 2 focuses on the speed of oxygen-storage and -release until 60 seconds after start of reduction. PTL 3 proposes a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide with a large amount of OSC and improving a speed of oxygen-release obtained by way of combining a composite of a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide having a pyrochlore structure and a ceria-zirconia complex oxide having a fluorescent structure.
Further, PTL 4 proposes a metal acetyl acetonate-treated ceria-zirconia-based hydrated oxide consisting of a ceria-zirconia-based hydrated oxide treated on the surface thereof with an acetyl acetonate of at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, and Y for the purpose of increasing the specific surface area of the ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide etc.
Further, PTL 5 discloses suppressing the formation of coke in a cracking reaction of naphtha by virtue of including Gd at the surface of a solid acid catalyst (silica-alumina catalyst, that is, zeolite catalyst) other than ceria-zirconia.
On the other hand, as an example of measuring the ion conductivity of a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide, for example, there is NPL 1.

Oxygen storage and release material, catalyst, exhaust gas purification system, and exhaust gas treatment method


A glove includes a body that is positional about a user's hand. Speakers are embedded within the body and are coupled to the amp. Mechanisms are included for sensing external forces on each finger and for generating control signals when the external forces are detected. Each control signal includes an embedded digital data stream identifying an intensity and a time interval of the external forces. A mechanism is included for calculating a signal pattern corresponding to the control signal data streams. The signal pattern has the identical intensity and time interval characteristics of the external forces. LEDs are coupled to the signal pattern calculating mechanism. A mechanism is included for emitting musical sounds based upon the calculated signal pattern such that the audible musical sounds match the intensity and time interval of the signal pattern. The audible musical sound emitting mechanism includes an amp and a switch coupled thereto.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to sound generating devices and, more particularly, to a sound generating hand wear device for generating and emitting musical sounds.
2. Prior Art
The generation of sounds in conventional musical instruments, such as a piano, an electronic organ, a guitar, a flute, or the like, is controlled by operating a keyboard, plucking strings, or blowing a pipe. These conventional musical instruments, however, may restrict the location of performance and/or the posture of the performer. For example, pianos and electronic organs are too large to be carried, so it is impossible for a performer to move his body with the instrument freely during a performance. Guitars and wind instruments can be carried and so do not restrict the location of performance, but they can limit the posture of a performer because these instruments must be hand-held. Thus, unencumbered movement by a performer during performance cannot be expected using conventional instruments.
A tone generating glove that includes switches and a tone generating circuit has been proposed in the prior art. In such a glove the switches are connected to the tone generating circuit, and both the switches and the tone generating circuit are mounted in the glove. The tone generating circuit produces a tone or tones in response to the actuation of one or more of the switches. Preferably, a switch is positioned at each finger joint of the glove, and the tone generating circuit produces a different tone in response to the actuation of each different switch. In other words, each of the switches uniquely corresponds to each of the tones. Thus, the musical tones are controlled by the bending of fingers.
This device, worn on the hand, makes it possible for a performer to enjoy the generation of musical tones in response to hand movement because the musical tones are controlled merely by bending the fingers, which does not hinder other motions of the body. However, the device does have various disadvantages as shown herein below. Unfortunately, the device cannot accurately respond to the bending of fingers. This is because each switch and other components are not interconnected and are individually attached to the glove, so that the bending of one finger causes sagging on a part of the glove, which hinders the maintenance of contact of the other switches corresponding to the other digits. Furthermore, a performer cannot achieve the expressive musical performance which the performer wishes for. This is because the device can only generate musical tones in response to ON/OFF signals of the switches, and cannot control tone volumes, tone colors, sound effects, etc. in response to the signals of the switches.
Accordingly, a need remains for a sound generating hand wear device in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing sound generating hand wear that is easy to use, light weight and durable in design, is reasonably priced and has great entertainment value for persons of all ages. Such a sound generating hand wear device allows an individual to create musical and rhythmic patterns by simply tapping their fingers on any suitable surface. This not only provides a fun, inventive, and entertaining novelty item, but also helps individuals who have little or no musical training to create melodies and musical/rhythmic phrases. The sound generating hand wear is also a convenient training and practice aid, and provides for a novel way to train inexperienced and novice musicians about the importance of rhythm.


An electrical track lighting system. The track lighting system includes a bendable track that includes a foamed adhesive strip on the upper surface separating two conductor rails. The track is cut to length and secured to the desired surface by the adhesive strip. Light fixtures having spring clip members with electrical contact surfaces engage onto the upper surface conductor rails of the track. Low voltage power is supplied to the track from an adhesive mounted transformer/dimmer switch through an adhesive backed power strip with adjustable angle snap connector.

Track lighting systems are well-known for use in interior decorating, display cases, and many other uses. Typical track lighting systems use a track having an interior channel with electrical conductors within the interior channel. Light fixtures usually include two tangs that are inserted into the track interior channel and twisted until contact is made with the electrical conductors. The tracks are normally mounted to a wall or ceiling by mounting screws or hung by a pendant.
These systems are relatively difficult to install. It is necessary to cut the tracks to length with a saw or other tools and install with mounting hardware in the appropriate location. Often, it is difficult to mount the appropriate track in the desired location. Mounting of these tracks to drywall often requires complicated mounting procedures and the use of drywall screws or other hardware components. The fixtures require two hands to install and pivot in the track channel. This can often be difficult to secure due to the height of the ceiling on which the track channel is mounted. Also, the connection may not be correctly made, thus causing arcing of the electrical contacts or even dislodgement of the fixture from the track. Wiring these systems into a junction box can be complicated and dangerous. The track light systems are relatively expensive once all of the components are purchased and installed. Typically, the systems require professional installation, or at the very least, tools such as saws, shears, drills, screwdrivers, as well as other tools and mechanical aptitude.
Another problem with existing track lighting systems is the rigidity of the tracks used in most systems. Many of the tracks used do not allow the tracks to "bend" around corners without using special brackets and fixtures. Even the systems that do allow the tracks to bend only allow the tracks to bend in a lateral direction, not orthogonal to the length of the track (up and down directions). The tracks are unable to be bent to conform to surface irregularities, corners, beams, and curves.
Existing track lighting systems tend to extend downward from ceilings or outward from walls with bulky fixtures. These systems are not suitable for low ceilings, small rooms or other environments where they are obtrusive. The prior systems are relatively high profile in that they do not mount flat to the mounting surface.
There have been a number of attempts previously to solve these problems. However, these attempts have been largely unsuccessful. Thus, a need exists for an electrical track lighting system that is easily installed with little or no tools, relatively inexpensive, bendable around surfaces, low-profile, that requires no hardwiring of electrical connections, that can be simply plugged into an outlet and having instantly installable light fixtures.


The invention provides a method for imparting resistance in animals to viruses, and in plants to viruses and viroids, that express double-stranded RNA-like structures (dsRNAs). This method enables the binding of pathogenic dsRNAs during the infection process by expression of dsRNA-binding protein in transgenic animal and plant hosts, thus interrupting the infection cycle and inhibiting disease. The presence of a dsRNA-binding protein in a transgenic host renders the transgenic host resistant to the phenotypic symptoms of viral infection and/or decreased pathogen replication. Accordingly, the present invention provides a genetically engineered animal and plant, stably transformed to express a dsRNA-binding protein, such that the transgenic host displays resistance to virus and/or viroid challenge.

Many agriculturally important crops are subject to infection by plant viruses and viroids. These viruses can seriously damage a crop and drastically reduce its economic value to the grower. This eventually leads to a higher cost of the goods to the ultimate consumer. Attempts to control or prevent infection of a crop by a plant virus have been made, but until recently none have been completely satisfactory. Accurate global figures for crop losses due to viruses alone are not available. However, some idea of the scale can be obtained by considering that plant disease losses worldwide were estimated to be in excess of $60 billion per year in 1986.
Human and animal diseases associated with viral infections present a continuing challenge for development of new products, treatments and therapies. A fresh approach in the treatment of infectious diseases arose from demonstration of the ability to successfully introduce foreign genes into eukaryotic cells. Gene therapy, which is the introduction of genetic material into mammalian somatic cells in order to treat malignant, infectious or inborn genetic diseases, is considered to be a realistic and desired method of treatment for viral-induced infections, including malignancies.
One of the most important goals today is the development of virus resistant plants and animals. Current methods for viral protection involve the use of a virus component to stimulate an antiviral state in the host. Such protection appears not to be broad, but specific to related species. Plants or animals exhibiting broad spectrum viral resistance are not available.
The theory of virus-derived resistance proposes that pathogen resistance genes can be derived from a pathogen's own genetic material. Numerous examples of virus-resistance have been reported for many different plant RNA viruses in a wide range of plant species. Most examples of virus-resistance involve transgenic plants engineered to express a viral coat protein (CP) or a segment of a replicase gene (for reviews, see Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 28:451-474; Wilson, 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:3134-3141). As a general rule, transgenic plants accumulating one of these viral proteins are often resistant to that particular virus and closely related viruses. For example, the coat protein (CP) of the protectant virus was thought to be primarily responsible, either by preventing particle disassembly or by re-encapsidating the incoming genome of the more severe challenge virus. However, viroids [240- to 380-nucleotides-long, naked circular single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) pathogens] and mutant viruses making assembly-defective or no detectable CP could also cross-protect against their more severe relatives. Although many examples of virus resistance have been documented, in general, the mechanism(s) underlying resistance remains to be clearly defined.
Although plant transformations with viral coat protein sequences, partial replicase gene sequences, antisense RNA sequences to key viral genes, and satellite viruses have resulted in moderate levels of disease resistance highly specific to only certain host-virus interactions, problems related to recombination of viral genes inserted into hosts have increased the biohazard potential of these approaches. To our knowledge, there is no viable strategy to develop viroid resistant plants.
There exists, therefore, a continuing need for an improved method and effective means for controlling virus- and viroid-infection in plants and animals, and for providing transgenic species that are broadly resistant to multiple viruses and viroids.
The interferon system is the primary host defense against viral infection in vertebrates [Lengyel (1982) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 51:251-282]. It is thought that dsRNA, which is produced during most viral infections, can act as an inducer for interferon synthesis [Field et al. (1967) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 58:1004-1010]. Once synthesized, interferons are secreted, bind to specific receptors on cells, and induce an antiviral state. Cells in the antiviral state are more resistant to infection by most viruses. Several interferon-induced enzymes are involved in the establishment of the antiviral state. One of the interferon-induced enzymes is the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. protein kinase that can autophosphorylate and phosphorylate exogenous substrates including the eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor elF-2, and histone proteins [Samuel et al. (1986) Meth. Enzymol. 119:499-516; Jacobs and Imani (1988) J. Interferon Res. 8:821-830]. Autophosphorylation and activation of the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase requires binding to dsRNA [Galabru and Hovanessian (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262:15538-15544]. Once activated, the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase can phosphorylate elF-2 on its a subunit and alter the interaction of elF-2 with the GDP/GTP exchange factor elF-2B, leading to an inhibition of protein synthesis [Safer (1983) Cell 33:7-8].
A number of viruses, including adenovirus, influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, reovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and vaccinia virus have been reported to produce or induce inhibitors of the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase [Kitajewski et al. (1986) Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:4493-4498; Lee et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:6208-6212; Gunnery et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:8687-8691; Imani and Jacobs (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 85:7887-7891; Clarke et al. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 193:635-641; Whitaker-Dowling and Younger (1983) Virology 131:128-136; Paez and Esteban (1984) Virology 134:12-28; and Rice and Kerr (1984) J. Virol. 50:229-236] and consequently evade one of the antiviral modes of interferons. For example, large quantities of VAI RNA are produced in adenovirus-infected cells. The VAI RNA can bind to the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase and prevent its activation [Galabru et al (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 178:581-589]. For reovirus, a dsRNA binding protein, .sigma.3, functions as the P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase inhibitor by binding to and competing for activator dsRNA (Imani and Jacobs 1988, supra). In the case of influenza virus, the kinase inhibitor is a cellular protein activated during viral infection (Lee et al. 1990, supra). Adenovirus and certain strains of reovirus have been demonstrated to be resistant to the antiviral effects of interferon [Kitajewski et al. (1986) supra; Jacobs and Ferguson (1991) J. Virol 65:5102-5104]. For adenovirus, deletion of the gene for VAI RNA leaves the virus interferon sensitive (Kitajewski et al. 1986, supra).
Replication of vaccinia virus in mouse L cells is resistant to interferon treatment [Younger et al. (1972) J. Virol. 10:171-180]. Vaccinia virus infection can also rescue other viruses, such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomycarditis virus (EMCV) (Whitaker-Dowling and Younger, 1983, supra; 1986, Virology 152:50-57] from the anti-viral effects of interferon. The primary effect of interferon-treatment on VSV replication is an inhibition of the translation of viral mRNA [Samuel (1988) Prog. Nucl. Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 35:27-72]. However, when coinfected with vaccinia, translation of VSV mRNA was rescued (Whitaker-Dowling and Younger, 1983, supra; 1986, supra). It has been suggested that the vaccinia virus inhibitor of the interferon-induced P.sub.1 /elF-2.alpha. kinase may partly contribute to the interferon resistance of vaccinia virus and to the rescue of VSV and EMCV from the antiviral effects of interferon.
To date, several dsRNA binding proteins have been identified, including the human and mouse interferon-induced, dsRNA-dependent protein kinases (PKR) [Meurs et al. (1990) Cell 62:379-390; Icely et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266:16073-16077, respectively]; a human transactivator response element/Rev response element binding protein (TAR/RRE) [Gatignol et al. (1991) Science 251:1597-1600]; the vaccinia virus p25 protein [Ahn et al. (1990) Mol. Cell Biol. 10:5433-5441]; Escherichia coli RNase III protein [March et al. (1985) Nucl. Acids Res. 13:4677-4685]; the Drosophila staufen gene product [St. Johnston et al. (1991) Cell 66:51-63]; the Saccharomyces pombe PacI protein [Ilino et al. (1991) EMBO J. 10:221-226]; Xenopus RNA-binding protein A [St. Johnston et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 89:10979-10983]; the human son-a protein [St. Johnston et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 89:10979-10983]; reovirus .sigma.3 protein [Imani et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:7887-7891]; and the porcine group C rotavirus NSP3 and p8 proteins [Langland et al. (1994) J. Virol 68:3821-3829]. Genes for these dsRNA binding proteins share homology in a region at the C terminus [Chang et al. (1993) Virology 194:537-547; St. Johnston et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 89:10979-10983] having the dsRNA-binding domain consensus sequence:
R/K-E-F-X-X-G/A-X-G-R/K-S-T-K-R-K/R-E/D-A-K-N/Q-A-A-A-K-L-V/V-A-L/V-D/E (SEQ ID NO: 1). PA1 R/K-E-F-X-X-G/A-X-G-R/K-S-T-K/R-K/R-E/D-A-K-N/Q-A-A-A-K-L/V-A-L/V-D/E (SEQ ID NO: 1).
Retroviruses are the causative agents for an increasing number of diseases of higher organisms including: AIDS, HIV, various leukemias, feline leukemia, murine leukemia, several avian leukemias, various sarcomas of mice, rats, monkeys, birds, and cats, and other lymphotrophic diseases of man, including Adult T-Cell leukemia. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the recently most noteworthy of these diseases, is caused by a retrovirus which has been called HTLV-III, LAV, RAV or most recently HIV [Coffin et al. (1986) Science, 232:697]. HIV is one of a group of retroviral diseases which attacks the T4 lymphocytes thereby destroying the body's immune system [Anderson, (1984) Science 226:401-409; Weiss (1985) In RNA Tumor Viruses-II, Vol. 2, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, pp. 405-485]. The disease is uniformly fatal and no cure has been developed which either kills the virus in situ or replaces the lost elements of the body's immune system. Some experimental drugs show limited effects in stopping the virus, but to date there is no proven therapy or cure for the AIDS patient. The high mutation rate resulting in a wide variation in antigenicity of various strains of the virus makes it unlikely that a traditional vaccine for the virus will be developed soon.
Retroviral diseases differ from many other viral diseases in that the infective agent, a retrovirus, eventually becomes integrated in the host cell's genome. The retrovirus inserts its genome into a host chromosome, such that its genetic material becomes part of the genetic makeup of the infected cell and is then replicated with the cell as the cell divides and multiplies. It is this characteristic which makes retroviruses especially persistent and immune to traditional anti-viral treatment. There is as yet no way to kill the retrovirus without killing the host cell. Thus, there is no proven cure, nor is there any proven effective vaccine or pharmacological agent against any retroviral disease.
Details of the life cycle and replication of retroviruses are discussed in Weiss et al., RNA Tumor Viruses, vols. 1 and 2 (Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory 1984), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIG. 1 summarizes a model of a retrovirus life cycle. The life cycle of retroviruses is unique among viruses. The cycle begins when an infectious particle enters a host cell and releases two identical RNA molecules. These molecules are "reverse transcribed" by special viral enzymes to produce double-stranded DNA which circularizes and inserts into the host chromosome. The inserted DNA virus or "pro-virus" is structurally very similar to a normal host gene. It is transcribed to produce RNA, like any host gene. This RNA can then be processed in three ways: (a) it can be directly translated into certain viral proteins; (b) it can be processed and spliced, and then translated to produce other viral proteins; or (c) it can be packaged, along with various viral proteins to make a newly infectious particle. In the case of HIV, the infectious particles continuously "bud off" the infected cells and bind to uninfected cells, beginning the cycle over again.
The retroviral particle which is the infectious agent contains in its interior two single-stranded positive-sense viral RNA molecules each between 7,000 to 11,000 nucleotide bases in length. These viral RNAs combine with certain viral proteins to form a viral core, the core being surrounded by a membrane. Imbedded in the membrane are viral glycoproteins which can specifically bind the viral particles to the appropriate host cell system. The viral core is assembled within the host cell and exits from the host cell, taking some of the host's membrane with it. Hence the membrane of the viral particle is derived directly from the host cell. The particle travels to an uninfected host cell, and due to the glycoprotein on its exterior binds to the new host cell and the life cycle repeats. Once the virus enters the cell, it is disassembled, releasing the two identical viral RNA molecules. These molecules are each composed of a sequence having specific functional regions making up the virus' "genomic structure."
The genome of any retrovirus is divided into three regions: the 5' terminus, the 3' terminus and a central region containing genes coding for proteins (see FIG. 2). The 5' terminus is further divided into four functional regions: the terminal redundancy (R), a unique sequence (U5), the primer binding site (PB- or PBS) and an untranslated sequence (L). The L region may contain a splice donor site for subgenomic mRNA. The 3' terminus is further divided into three functional regions: the primer-binding site for positive strand DNA synthesis (PB+ or PBS), a unique sequence (U3) and another copy of the terminal redundancy (R). The U5, U3 and R regions are sometimes collectively referred to as the long Terminal Repeat (LTR) region. Components of the LTR region are involved in integration of the retroviral genome into the genome of its host. All retroviruses contain these highly conserved regions.
The production of DNA from the infectious RNA occurs by a complex process called reverse transcription. The viral reverse transcriptase enzyme first complexes with a specific tRNA molecule supplied by the host cell. For example, in the case of the AIDS-related virus, it is lysine tRNA which complexes with the reverse transcriptase. The 3' end of the tRNA molecule remains free to hybridize with the primer binding site (PBS) of the retroviral genome. This is a sequence within the virus, which is complementary to the 5' end of the tRNA. Once the virus enzyme tRNA complex has been formed, the enzyme can make a new DNA molecule, using the RNA virus as a template, and using the tRNA as a "primer." As the process proceeds, the RNA of the resulting RNA/DNA complex is degraded, leaving single-stranded DNA. While reverse transcription continues, second-strand DNA synthesis beings from the poly-purine site upstream of the U3 region and continues in the opposite direction from the first-strand DNA synthesis. The RNA primer molecule is consequently degraded. The DNA genomic structure differs from the RNA genomic structure in having a redundant U3 region added to the 5' end, and a redundant U5 region added to the 3' end. This genomic structure resembles a normal gene, with U3 being the promoter, with structural genes in the center, and a U5 tail.
The exact process of how the DNA virus inserts into host chromosomes is not known. It is known that the DNA virus first becomes a circle, and that this involves the short inverted repeat sequences at the ends of the virus. These inverted repeats may be involved in some form of DNA hybridization which brings the ends of the virus together, allowing circularization. Subsequently, insertion into the chromosome is generally assumed to be mediated by an enzyme which recognizes the splice site in the circle and directs insertion of a single copy of the virus into a random site within the host chromosome.
The transcription of viral DNA from the DNA pro-virus within a chromosome occurs in a manner similar to the transcription of any host gene. The U3 region functions as a polymerase II promoter and transcription begins at the beginning of the R region. The U3 promoter, like eukaryotic promoters, generally requires a transcriptional activator protein, which turns the promoter "on." Transcription proceeds through most of the pro-virus and is terminated at the end of the 3' R region. As a result, the transcript is a recreation of the smaller and infectious single-strand RNA genome. A poly-A tail is attached to the 3' end of this RNA and the 5' end is capped, making this molecule similar to normal host messenger RNA.
The RNA which is transcribed from DNA can be directly translated into protein, like any mRNA within the host. Some viral RNA is not translated into protein but rather is packaged into infectious viral particles. Such packaging involves the binding of certain viral proteins to specific sequences of the viral genome. For example, in the RSV viral system, it is part of the GAG sequence which is one of the parts of the genome which binds to and is recognized by such proteins and have been shown to be necessary for packaging of the RNA. The RNA which is packaged into viral particles does not appear to be reverse-transcription-competent until "maturation" of the particle, i.e., after it has existed away from the host cell.
All retroviruses, including HIV, once inserted into the host chromosome, must have their genes translated into viral proteins. If viral proteins are not abundant, the retrovirus cannot efficiently propagate to other cells and is not cytopathic to the infected host cell [Dayton et al. (1986) Cell 44:941-947; Fisher et al. (1986) Nature 320:367-371]. Such proteins are not produced without the proper functioning of certain viral regulatory proteins. One of the key DNA/RNA-binding regulatory proteins for the retrovirus HIV is the TAT protein [Keegan et al. (1986) Science 231:699-704]. The TAT protein is essential to protein translation of HIV, and possibly also involved in RNA transcription. It is apparent that the TAT protein recognizes and binds to the nucleic acid sequence corresponding to the 5' end of the R region. A second activator gene ART has also been shown to be important in HIV translation [Sodroski et al. (1986) Nature 321:412-417]. DNA/RNA binding of the previously described activator proteins is essential to HIV replication. Therefore, introducing genes into host cells, i.e., gene therapy for humans or germline transformation for animals, which will code for modified proteins of the retrovirus which compete or interfere with TAT or ART, will effectively block retrovirus replication.
Past research efforts have been predominantly confined to two traditional anti-retroviral approaches: immunological prevention and pharmacological therapy, neither of which appear to be very promising for control of retrovirus diseases. Also, chemical repression of virus diseases has not generally been effective in eradicating any persistent virus, and certainly would not be expected to eradicate a retrovirus. Anti-viral chemicals tend to slow the progress of a virus and to bolster native defense mechanisms, but chemical treatments must be continuously applied and typically have undesirable side effects.
For these reasons, it is doubtful that any retroviral disease can be cured by the traditional anti-viral approaches. An alternative approach to inhibiting retrovirus replication is genetic inhibition by introducing antisense constructs into host cells (gene therapy).
In the field of human medicine, altering the genotype of the host has not been a desirable method of fighting infectious disease. However, it is now believed that gene therapy is the direction now and for the relative future [Anderson (1984) Science 226:401-409]. There are many pathogens for which conventional defenses appear inadequate, and where the use of RNA replication inhibitors might be feasible. Many of the cells that are infected by retroviruses are derived from hematopoietic stem cells. If these stem cells can be altered by the incorporation of genes or other nucleic acid sequences which will synthesize RNA inhibitors that are antagonistic to virus propagation, an efficient method to both effectively prevent and to treat these retroviral diseases will be apparent. Further, if the expression of the RNA replication inhibitors can be regulated in the desired cells, it has application to other genetic diseases.
It would therefore be desirable to provide methods and compositions for expression inhibitors of RNA replication which are particularly effective at the dsRNA-like structure of the TAT site.

Resistance to viruses and viroids in transgenic plants and animals expressing dsRNA-binding protein


A method of operating an isolation valve in a wellbore includes: deploying a work string into the wellbore through a tubular string disposed in the wellbore. The work string comprises a deployment string, a shifting tool, and a bottomhole assembly (BHA). The tubular string comprises the isolation valve and an actuator. The method further includes rotating the actuator using the shifting tool, thereby opening or closing the isolation valve. The isolation valve isolates a formation from an upper portion of the wellbore in the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a remotely operated isolation valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hydrocarbon bearing formation (i.e., crude oil and/or natural gas) is accessed by drilling a wellbore from a surface of the earth to the formation. After the wellbore is drilled to a certain depth, steel casing or liner is typically inserted into the wellbore and an annulus between the casing/liner and the earth is filled with cement. The casing/liner strengthens the borehole, and the cement helps to isolate areas of the wellbore during further drilling and hydrocarbon production.
Once the wellbore has reached the formation, the formation is then usually drilled in an overbalanced condition meaning that the annulus pressure exerted by the returns (drilling fluid and cuttings) is greater than a pore pressure of the formation. Disadvantages of operating in the overbalanced condition include expense of the drilling mud and damage to formations by entry of the mud into the formation. Therefore, underbalanced or managed pressure drilling may be employed to avoid or at least mitigate problems of overbalanced drilling. In underbalanced and managed pressure drilling, a light drilling fluid, such as liquid or liquid-gas mixture, is used instead of heavy drilling mud so as to prevent or at least reduce the drilling fluid from entering and damaging the formation. Since underbalanced and managed pressure drilling are more susceptible to kicks (formation fluid entering the annulus), underbalanced and managed pressure wellbores are drilled using a rotating control device (RCD) (also known as rotating diverter, rotating BOP, rotating drilling head, or PCWD). The RCD permits the drill string to be rotated and lowered therethrough while retaining a pressure seal around the drill string.
An isolation valve as part of the casing/liner may be used to temporarily isolate a formation pressure below the isolation valve such that a drill or work string may be quickly and safely inserted into a portion of the wellbore above the isolation valve that is temporarily relieved to atmospheric pressure. An example of an isolation valve having a flapper is discussed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,663, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. An example of an isolation valve having a ball is discussed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,315, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The isolation valve allows a drill/work string to be tripped into and out of the wellbore at a faster rate than snubbing the string in under pressure. Since the pressure above the isolation valve is relieved, the drill/work string can trip into the wellbore without wellbore pressure acting to push the string out. Further, the isolation valve permits insertion of the drill/work string into the wellbore that is incompatible with the snubber due to the shape, diameter and/or length of the string.
Actuation systems for the isolation valve are typically hydraulic requiring one or two control lines that extend from the isolation valve to the surface. The control lines require crush protection and would be difficult to route through a subsea wellhead.


An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device is provided for measuring the transmission and/or reflection of ultrasonic waves on a thin material sheet, or a coating applied thereto. The device may include a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, a plurality of ultrasonic receivers, wherein the number of the ultrasonic transmitters corresponds to the number of the ultrasonic receivers, and one receiver electronics respectively for each of the ultrasonic receivers or a group receiver electronics respectively for a predetermined number of ultrasonic receivers. A method is provided for ultrasonic absorption and/or transmission measurement, in which signals are emitted by multiple ultrasonic transmitters at the same time or nearly at the same time which are received by ultrasonic receivers and in which the received signals are evaluated in parallel.

From DE 42 36 436 A1, a measurement method for contact-less determination of the grammage of thin material sheets by means of ultrasonic sound is known. In the method, by means of an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, the transmission absorption of an ultrasonic beam upon passage through a material foil is determined in contact-less manner. Based on the absorption and a calibration factor, the grammage is calculated.
From DE 201 09 119 U1, a further device for measuring the thickness of material sheets is known. There, the material sheet is pulled over a roller, wherein a sensor is arranged on a rolling cart moving back and forth over the roller in traversing manner for thickness measurement.
Further ultrasonic sensor arrangements for grammage determination or for grammage comparison are known from DE 103 27 389 B3, DE 199 08 932 A1, DE 10 2005 037 086 A1, DE 203 12 388 U1 and DE 30 48 710 A1.
There is a need for providing an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device, an arrangement including the device as well as a method, in which the thickness measurement and/or grammage measurement on a material sheet are improved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device for thickness and/or grammage measurement


A domed-shaped oven relies on induction technology to provide heat. In particular, the oven has a dome or igloo shape, preferably modeled as an Italian dome oven, for use in a commercial pizza facility. The dome is made of a heat conducting and holding material such as concrete or stone. In the bottom of the oven, a magnetically susceptible plate is interposed between two layers of concrete. Beneath the lower layer of concrete, an induction coil provides the energy necessary to inductively heat the plate sandwiched between the concrete layers. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, additional plates are interposed between layers of concrete throughout the dome. Additional induction coils are provided proximate each of those plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to induction cooking ovens, and more specifically to dome-shaped induction ovens wherein an induction coil heats a metal plate embedded in the floor or dome of the oven.
2. Description of Related Art
Many restaurants currently use wood burning ovens to cook pizza and other food items. These ovens are typically dome-shaped, like an igloo, are made of concrete or stone, and burn wood as a heat source. The same ovens are also typically available using gas heat under the base or inside the oven. Although gas is used as a primary heat source in these ovens, wood is often burned to flavor the food.
Although the use of wood burning ovens produces positive results in food flavoring, there are many disadvantages to a wood burning oven and also to a wood burning oven in combination with gas heat. One concern is that all available oxygen in the oven could possibly be used to burn the wood and that the gas flame would extinguish due to the lack of oxygen. In this environment, the gas would continue to flow into the oven and, after a sufficient amount of gas has accumulated, a subsequent ignition of the gas could result in an explosion. In addition, in a wood burning oven or in a wood burning oven with a gas flame, the fire source takes up cooking space and certain areas close to the heating source are not usable for cooking. In addition, it is difficult to precisely control the temperature of a wood burning oven. Although it may be desired to have an oven with different locations being heated to different temperatures, this is difficult in the wood burning oven environment. Additionally, in some areas, building code requirements prohibit the use of wood burning ovens. In these areas, restaurant owners are limited to gas-fired ovens, but in some cases are allowed to burn a limited amount of wood to flavor the food.
The use of induction heating to cook food is widely known and has been used for many years. In current induction technology, a magnetic field is created and the cooking vessel becomes the receiver in the magnetic circuit. The magnetic field causes the bottom of the cooking vessel to heat rapidly. Control of the magnetic field allows very accurate adjustment of the speed and intensity of the heat. However, for successful operation, the cooking vessel, pot or pan must have sufficient magnetic susceptibility. This limits the use of cookware for use with induction technology to pots or pans constructed of stainless steel, cast iron pans or the like. The use of inductive technology in ovens has been described in various U.S. patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,735 issued Feb. 5, 1974 to Peters, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 400,978 issued Apr. 9, 1889 to H. F. Watts.
In the Watts patent, a basic induction oven is described. In this embodiment, plates with magnetic susceptibility are placed in close proximity to induction coils. These plates can form either the walls of an oven or a bottom of a cooking vessel. As alternating current is generated through the induction coils to create the magnetic field, and the temperature of the plates rises rapidly. Because the plates comprise the walls of the oven or the base of the cooking vessel, this heat is then transferred to the item to be cooked. The Watts patent discloses the basics of induction cooking; however, it is limited either to ovens constructed of a magnetically susceptible metal, or to magnetically susceptible pans or cooking vessels.
The Peters, Jr., patent discloses an improved induction heated oven wherein all the walls of the oven are heated using induction technology. By heating all of the walls or sides of the oven cavity, the oven cavity is heated uniformly in a minimum time period. However, the walls or sides of the oven cavity must still be manufactured from a metal having magnetic susceptibility. The Peters, Jr., patent does suggest the use of an insulated oven cavity, but in this embodiment, a metal-based cooking utensil in which the food is placed and which can be magnetically heated must be used.
What is needed is an oven capable of exploiting the conventional technology without being limited to the inner surfaces of the oven cavity or the cooking utensil being made of a metal-based material having magnetic susceptibility. It is also desirable to burn a small amount of wood to thereby impart additional flavoring on the food. It is further desirable to include several induction plates so as to maintain differing temperature zones throughout the oven.


A tape reel in which molding quality of a flange unit is improved so as to improve reliability at the time when a magnetic tape runs at high speed, and a tape cartridge having the same. A plurality of reference planes (152v) formed between a chucking gear (152b) and an outer peripheral rib (152r2) formed at an outer peripheral side of this chucking gear (152b) are provided separately from the outer peripheral rib (152r2). And the reference plane (152v) is formed with edge planes of each of a first rib (152v1) extending toward a circumference and a second rib (152v2) extending toward a direction crossing the first rib (152v1). According to this arrangement, a volume at a portion constituting the reference plane (152v) is made smaller, occurrence of a sink after a resin is hardened is suppressed, and molding quality of the flange unit (152) is improved so that straight runnability of the magnetic tape at high speed running and reliability in recording/reproducing operation are improved.

A tape drive has been known, which records and reproduces information by taking out a magnetic tape being a recoding medium from a tape cartridge having therein a single reel around which the magnetic tape is wound. This kind of tape drive is widely used for backing up data for a system such as a computer server dealing with a huge amount of data.
Although there are various kinds of tape cartridges that have a single reel therein as described above, for example, there has been known the one in which a leader block connected to one end of the magnetic tape is disposed in a housing of the tape cartridge.
When the tape cartridge having the leader block is loaded in the tape drive, the leader block is chucked by a chucking mechanism, taken out by a transport mechanism, and conveyed to a take-up reel of the tape drive. The magnetic tape taken out from the tape cartridge is taken up by a take-up reel of the tape drive, and, simultaneously, the information is recorded on or reproduced from the magnetic tape by the magnetic head of the tape drive.
The tape reel to which the magnetic tape is wound conventionally comprises an upper flange unit and a lower flange unit which are disc-like and for guiding both sides of the magnetic tape, and a cylinder-like drum unit and to which the magnetic tape is wound. The drum unit is formed, for example, integrally with the lower flange unit.
FIG. 20 is a bottom view of a conventional tape reel 50 viewed from the side of a lower flange unit 52 thereof. A circular projection 52f is formed at a center portion of an under surface of the tape reel 50. The projection 52f has an outer peripheral portion 52r which engages with a circular opening formed on a lower shell of the tape cartridge. The outer peripheral portion 52r has at an inner portion thereof a ring-shaped chucking gear 52b engaged with a gear formed on the top of a rotary shaft of the tape drive side.
Between the outer peripheral portion 52r and the chucking gear 52b, three reference planes 52t supported by a reel support on the rotary shaft are provided on the same circumference at even angle intervals. Portions other than the reference planes 52t are to be voids 52p.
In the figure, a reference numeral 52a depicts a rotation regulation gear formed on a periphery of the lower flange unit 52.
As in the conventional example described above, there is, as a related art document, for example, the following patent document 1, which discloses a structure of a tape reel in which the reference plane 52t and the outer peripheral portion 52r are continuously formed.
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Application Publication Hei 10-241324 (FIG. 1)
By the way, such a tape cartridge as described above is mainly used when bulky and important data is stored and it is required to have high reliability in various viewpoints.
For example, in order to accelerate a series of operation in the tape drive, there are demands for operations at higher speed in taking out the leader block, forwarding the magnetic tape and rewinding the magnetic tape. On the other hand, at the same time, the tape cartridge is required to be tough so that breaking of the magnetic tape and damage on the tape edge are hardly occurs and to have a high reliability in recording/reproducing operation.
With regard to the tape reel which the magnetic tape is wound around, the tape reel is usually formed with an injection-molded body of a synthetic resin material. The mold quality largely affects on runnability of the magnetic tape and the reliability in recording/reproducing operation.
In particular, since the projection portion 52f of the lower flange unit 52, on which the chucking gear 52b, the reference plane 52t or the like are formed, has an extremely complicated shape, irregularity of a sink amount of the resin after molding on the lower flange unit 52 largely affect on the edge of the magnetic tape which is wound around the drum unit, which becomes a cause of deterioration in straight runnability of the tape at high speed and reliability in recording/reproducing operation.
Here, FIG. 21A is a view showing the projection portion 52f of the lower flange unit 52 in the conventional tape reel 50, and FIG. 21B is a schematic view showing a flow of the resin at a portion shown by a cross-sectional line SS1 in the reference plane 52t (FIG. 21A) at the time of molding.
As shown in FIG. 21A, three gate positions G1 are all provided in the voids 52p. Since the portions constituting the reference plane 52t are thicker and bulky than the other portions and, further, they are away from the gate positions, injection pressure is hardly applied thereto. Furthermore, the portion where the reference plane 52t is formed is a portion where a resin flown out from the other gate merges.
Accordingly, the resin is easily short at the portions constituting the reference plane 52t and a sink F1 easily occurs on the opposite side (a plane on which the tape is wound) of the reference plane 52t after hardening the resin, as shown in FIG. 21B.
Irregularity of the sink F1 largely relates to surface wobbling of the lower flange unit 52. The surface wobbling disturbs the straight runnability of the magnetic tape. The contact between the edge of the magnetic tape and the flange unit damages the edge of the magnetic tape. Thus, there occurs a problem that reliability in recording/reproducing operation of the data is deteriorated.
The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape reel in which a flange unit thereof is improved in its molding quality and whose reliability at the time when a magnetic tape is running at high speed is improved, and a tape cartridge having the tape reel.

Tape reel and tape cartridge having the same