A capacitor (C12) is connected between a node (L) in a double boost part and the ground, and the amplitude of a repetitive pulse from the node (L) is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage through utilization of charge and discharge of the capacitor (C12).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit that constitutes a charge pump circuit which uses a predetermined power-supply voltage and responds to a clock signal to provide an internal voltage different from the power-supply voltage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 11 depicts in block form the configuration of a conventional substrate bias circuit (a VBB circuit). Reference numeral 1 denotes a detector that detects a negative internal voltage VBB for supply to a peripheral circuit, a device substrate, a well (not shown) and so forth; 2 denotes a ring oscillator for actuation use that generates a clock signal for actuation use; 3 denotes a ring oscillator for standby use that generates a clock signal for standby use; 4 denotes a charge pump circuit for actuation use that responds to the clock signal for actuation use to provide the internal voltage VBB during actuation; and 5 denotes a charge pump circuit for standby use that responds to the clock signal for standby use to provide the internal voltage during standby.
The circuit configuration of the charge pump circuit falls into two: a single boost type and a double boost type. The single boost type has the advantages over the double boost type that it does not occupy much space and hence is space-saving and that its simple circuit configuration provides increased reliability and yield. However, the single boost type has a drawback that a drop in the power-supply voltage leads to insufficient supply of the internal voltage VBB.
On the other hand, the double boost type has the advantage that the internal voltage VBB can be supplied sufficiently even if the power-supply voltage is low to some extent, but has the defects that it occupy much space and hence is space-consuming and that its complicated circuit configuration is likely to affect reliability and yield; furthermore, since the power-supply, voltage cannot be much raised because too high a supply voltage would break down transistors of the double boost part, it may sometimes be necessary that the potential after lowering the power-supply voltage by an internal step-down circuit be used as the power supply for the charge pump circuit.
For the reasons given above, it is common practice in the art, in the case of mounting the substrate bias circuit on a chip, to design the semiconductor integrated circuit using either one of the single and double boost type charge pump circuits to meet specifications required.
FIG. 12 is a diagram depicting an example of a conventional semiconductor integrated circuit configuration, which uses the single boost type charge pump circuit. The double boost type charge pump circuit differs from the single boost type in the part surrounded by the broken lines.
The operation of the charge pump circuit shown in FIG. 12 will be described below. Assume that initial values of the potentials of nodes A to F are zero.
(1) Upon the input being switched from 0 to the power-supply voltage Vcc, the potentials of the nodes A and B change from 0 to Vcc, but the node C remains at zero potential. The potentials of the nodes D and E naturally ought to change by +Vcc since they are connected to the nodes A and B via capacitors C1 and C2, respectively, but since transistors Q4 and Q5 are in the ON state, the potentials of the nodes D and E stay low or zero until the transistors Q4 and Q5 turns OFF.
(2) Next, upon the input being switched from Vcc to 0, the potential of the node C changes from 0 to Vcc accordingly. The potential of the node F ought to change by +Vcc correspondingly, but since a transistor Q1 turns ON, the node F remains at zero potential until the transistor Q1 turns OFF. The potential of the node F at this time reaches a threshold value Vth of the transistor Q1, and consequently the transistors Q4 and Q5 turn OFF.
(3) Then, the potential of the node A changes Vcc to 0, and the potential of the node D drops by xe2x88x92Vcc accordingly.
(4) Then, the potential of the node B changes from Vcc to 0, and the potential of the node E changes to xe2x88x92Vcc, with the result that a transistor Q6 turns ON, permitting the passage therthrough of a negative potential from the node D as the internal voltage VBB.
(5) Then, upon the input being switched from 0 to Vcc, the potential of the node B changes from 0 to Vcc. Since the potential of the node E changes to +Vcc correspondingly, the transistor Q6 turns OFF, inhibiting the supply of the internal voltage VBB.
(6) Then, the potential of the node C changes from Vcc to 0, and the potential of the node F changes to xe2x88x92Vcc correspondingly. As a result, the transistors Q4 and Q5 turn ON, reducing the potentials of the nodes D and E down to zero.
(7) Then, the potential of the node A changes from 0 to Vcc, but since the transistor Q4 is in the ON state, node D remains at zero potential.
(8) By repeating steps (2) to (7), the potential of the internal voltage VBB is made to gradually go negative. FIG. 13 shows the general outlines of the timing when the steady state is reached after the repetition of the above steps.
FIG. 14 depicts an example of only a double boost part of the double boost type charge pump circuit in the configuration of the conventional semiconductor integrated circuit. The substitution of this circuit for the broken line part in FIG. 12 provides the double boost type charge pump circuit. That is, the output of the circuit depicted in FIG. 14 is connected to the node E in FIG. 12, through which it is connected to the gate of the transistor Q6 that supplies the internal voltage VBB.
Next, the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit of FIG. 14 will be described below.
Assuming that the input is the power-supply voltage Vcc in the initial state, nodes G and I are both at zero potential and a node H is at potential Vcc. At this time, although the node G is at zero potential, the potential of a node J does not go zero correspondingly but becomes Vccxe2x88x92Vth since a transistor Q7 turns ON, where Vth is the threshold value of the transistor Q7. Since the potential of the node H is Vcc, the potential of a node K becomes Vcc. Since the node I is at zero potential, a transistor Q9 turns ON and a transistor Q10 OFF, and consequently the potential of a node L becomes Vcc.
(2) Then, when the input goes zero, the potential of the node I changes to Vcc, turning OFF the transistor Q9 and ON the transistor Q10. Hence, the potential of the node L goes zero.
(3) Next, the potential of the node G changes to Vcc and the potential of the node J changes to Vcc+2Vth accordingly.
(4) Furthermore, the potential of the node H goes zero, but the potential of the node K does not go zero and remains at Vcc since the transistor Q8 is ON.
(5) Next, when the input becomes Vcc, the potential of the node I goes zero, turning ON the transistor Q9 and OFF the transistor Q10. In consequence, the node L is connected to the node K, and hence the potential of the former changes to Vcc.
(6) Then, the potential of the node G goes to zero, and the potential of the node J changes to Vccxe2x88x92Vth accordingly.
(7) Further, the potential of the node H changes to Vcc, and the potentials of the nodes K and L both change to 2Vcc.
FIG. 15 shows the general outlines of timing when the double boost part is in the steady state. The node L and the output in FIG. 14 correspond to the nodes B and E in FIG. 12, respectively. The potentials of the nodes B and E in FIG. 12 are Vcc, whereas the potentials of the node L and the output in FIG. 14 are twice (2Vcc) higher than the power-supply voltage Vcc; therefore, the substrate bias circuit using the FIG. 12 circuit is called the single boost type and the substrate bias circuit using the FIG. 14 circuit is called the double boost type. In the double boost type circuit the potential difference between the gate and source of the transistor Q6 is larger than in the single boost type circuit, providing increased capability of supplying the internal voltage VBB.
As the working voltage lowers with the recent progress toward microminiaturization. The use of the single boost type substrate bias circuit encounters difficulties in supplying the internal voltage VBB. On the other hand, the use of the double boost type substrate bias circuit raises the potentials of the nodes K and L in the double boost part up to 2Vcc, incurring the possibility of breaking down gate oxide films of the transistors of the double boost part in the charge pump circuit.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit that is designed for higher reliability by holding the nodes K and L of the double boost part at potentials below 2Vcc to prevent breakdown of the gate oxide films of the transistors and for the use of the power-supply voltage Vcc over a wide voltage range.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit that constitutes a charge pump circuit which uses a predetermined power-supply voltage and responds to a clock signal to provide an internal voltage different from the power-supply voltage, wherein the amplitude of a repetitive pulse, which is output from a double boost part, is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a first capacitor is connected to the double boost part, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage through utilization of charge and discharge of the first capacitor by the clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the first capacitor is connected between the source of a p-channel transistor, which forms an inverter at the preceding stage of a second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor, and the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the first capacitor is connected between the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor and the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of first capacitors are connected to the double boost part via a plurality of fuses for laser trimming, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage through utilization of charge and discharge of the plurality of first capacitors by the clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of first capacitors are connected to the double boost part via a plurality of transfer gates that are turned ON and OFF by predetermined control signals, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage through utilization of charge and discharge of the plurality of first capacitors by the clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, clamping circuits by a plurality of second transistors are connected to the double boost part, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of second transistors are connected between a p-channel transistor, which forms an inverter at the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor, and the power supply.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of second transistors are connected between the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor and the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a second transistor is connected to the double boost part, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage by controlling the second transistor with a predetermined control signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the second transistor is connected between the source of the p-channel transistor, which forms an inverter at the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor, and the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the second transistor is connected between the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor and the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a voltage drop is caused by a through current at the time of the ON/OFF operation of an inverter in the double boost part by the clock signal, by which the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a third transistor connected between the power supply and the inverter is provided in the double boost part, and a voltage drop is caused in the third transistor by a through current at the time of ON/OFF operation of the inverter by the clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the second transistor is connected to the double boost part, and the amplitude of the repetitive pulse from the double boost part is made less than twice that of the power-supply voltage by a voltage drop of the second transistor.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the third transistor provided in the double boost part is connected to the power supply, and the second transistor is connected between the p-channel transistor, which forms an inverter at the preceding stage of the second capacitor connected to the gate of the first transistor, and the third transistor.


A system for supporting and stabilizing a Christmas tree and the like that includes an anchor secured to an overhead structure, such as the ceiling of a room. A clamp is connected to a portion of the tree, such as the tip of the trunk, and an elongate flexible leash is connected between the anchor and the clamp. The clamp is secured to the tree by encircling its tongue around the tree trunk and then threading the tongue through a retainer formed on the end of the tongue that slidably retains the tongue. The leash is slidably attached to the clamp by means of one or more retainers attached to the clamp. The tongue and the leash have ribs spaced along their lengths. The retainers have deformable members that engage the ribs so as to permit the tongue or leash to slide through the retainer in a first direction during insertion but that prevent the tongue or leash from withdrawing from the retainer by sliding back out in an opposite direction. The system can be used to support and stabilize a Christmas tree that has been placed in an upright position by means of a stand so as to prevent the tree from tipping over, or it can be used to place the tree in the upright position independently of the stand.

In the past, Christmas trees and the like have been displayed by supporting the base of the tree trunk in a stand or other base. The stand typically comprised a dish, supported by three or four legs, on which the base of the tree trunk rested and a collar attached to the legs and encircling the trunk. A number of screws extended through the collar and engaged the side of the tree trunk.
Unfortunately, orienting the tree into an upright position using such a stand is a difficult and often frustrating process. Further, a tree supported in this manner is susceptible to being tipped over.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a system that allowed a tree or the like to be easily oriented in an upright position and securely supported in that position.

Support system for Christmas trees and the like


In a method and a system for determining the feeding speed when bandsaw cutting a workpiece, the tooth pitch TP of the bandsaw blade is determined in a first unit depending on the shape and dimensions of the workpiece. In a second unit feeding depth per tooth is determined depending on properties of the workpiece material and the width of the bandsaw blade. The bandsaw blade velocity BS is determined in a third unit from the width W of the workpiece and the hardness of the workpiece material, whereafter the cutting time T is determined in a first calculating unit from the height H of the workpiece, the feeding depth per tooth, the tooth pitch TP and the blade velocity BS. In a second calculating unit the feeding speed MH for the bandsaw blade is then determined by the equation MH=H/T. A computer program, when executed on a computer, performs this determination of the feeding speed when cutting a workpiece with a bandsaw from supplied input data.

The present invention concerns a method and a system for determination of the feeding speed when cutting a workpiece by a bandsaw. The invention also concerns a computer program which can be used when employing the method and realizing the system.
Bandsaws are today used to a large extent in industry for cutting of metal bars. It is then of great importance that the cutting data are determined in an optimal way. In this case, cutting data means choice of tool type, such as tooth material and tool geometry, band velocity, tooth pitch, feeding or penetration speed, and cutting time. If non-optimal cutting data are chosen it will result in shorter band durability, non-flat cutting, rough cut surface, tooth fractures, uneconomic cutting, etc.
The most commonly occurring method to determine cutting data in industry today is based on the cross section area of the workpiece. For each material, a suitable cutting speed has been determined from experience. A typical determination of cutting data can today be performed in the following way.
A stainless steel (SS 2343) bar with a diameter of 100 mm is to be cut. Looking in a simple table one can find that SS 2343 should be cut with a cutting speed of 25 to 35 cm2/min. With some effort the minimum cross section of the bar is calculated as A=πr2=78 cm2 and the minimum cutting time is then calculated as 78/35 to 78/25=2.23 to 3.24 min. There are certain developed versions of this method—e.g. different cutting speeds can be given depending on the diameter of the bar.
These calculations include weaknesses since a number of factors are omitted, such as the width of the bandsaw blade, the hardness of the workpiece material and the condition of the sawing machine, etc. The most important omission, however, is that there is no reference to the shape of the cross section.
Suppose that a first customer cuts through a 100 mm thick bar, a second customer cuts a tube with 200 mm external diameter and 174 mm internal diameter, and a third customer cuts a slab with 300 mm×38 mm rectangular section. The workpieces of all three customers have the same cross-sectional area of 78 cm2 and would according to the present method of determination be cut with a cutting time of 2.23 to 3.2 min. Obviously, the customers would need a much more improved method of determining the cutting data to be used.
The aim of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned disadvantages in determining the cutting data for band sawing.


An index table assembly includes a rotary table, a frame separated from the rotary table in the direction of a rotational axis of the rotary table, a clamping device for bringing the rotary table into contact with the frame by moving the rotary table along the rotational axis, a first bearing disposed between the rotary table and the frame, and an urging device disposed between the first bearing and one of the rotary table and the frame and pressing the first bearing against the other one of the rotary table and the frame at least when the rotary table rotates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to index table assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Index table assemblies including a clamping device for bringing a rotary table into contact with a frame by moving the rotary table along a rotational axis thereof are known in the art (refer to, for example, Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 7-50133, FIG. 1 on page 4). In such an index table assembly, the rotary table is pressed against the frame over the entire circumference thereof when it is clamped, so that the rotary table is prevented from being tilted by an external force applied during workpiece processing. Accordingly, the workpiece-processing accuracy is maintained.
In an index table assembly shown in FIG. 9, a clamping device includes a plurality of hydraulic actuators arranged in a frame 1 along a circle centered on a rotational axis 15 at a constant interval. Each of the hydraulic actuators includes a piston 35 projecting from the frame 1, the piston 35 being fitted in a groove with a T-shaped cross section formed in a rotary table 2 such that a flange of the piston 35 engages with step in the groove. When the rotary table 2 is clamped, each of the pistons 35 receives hydraulic pressure and moves in a retracting direction. Accordingly, the rotary table 2 is pressed against the frame 1 by the flanges of the pistons 35 and comes into contact with the frame 1 over the entire circumference thereof. When the rotary table 2 is unclamped, the hydraulic pressure is removed and the rotary table 2 is released from the frame 1 so that the rotary table 2 can rotate.
As described above, when the rotary table 2 is unclamped, the hydraulic pressure is removed and the rotary table 2 is released from the frame 1 so that the rotary table 2 can rotate. However, since the rotary table 2 receives the load of onboard components such as a workpiece, a process table, and a jig, the rotary table 2 comes into contact with the frame 1 due to the load of the onboard components and its own load and large rotational resistance is caused. Therefore, a large amount of power is required to rotate the rotary table 2. In addition, a driving device of the rotary table 2, that is, a divider is quickly worn and the workpiece-processing accuracy is degraded. In particular, when, for example, the workpiece is unevenly placed and the center of gravity of the onboard components is distant from the rotational axis 15, the rotary table 2 is strongly pressed against the frame 1 in a local region of the frame 1 and the rotational resistance greatly increases. In addition, since the rotary table 2 does not always rotate by one turn, a clamping surface 2b of the rotary table 2 and a clamping surface 1b of the frame 1 are greatly worn in a certain region. In such a case, the perpendicularity of the clamping surfaces 2b and 1b of the rotary table 2 and the frame 1, respectively, relative to the rotational axis 15 is degraded. If the perpendicularity of the clamping surfaces 2b and 1b relative to the rotational axis 15 is degraded, the clamping surfaces 2b and 1b cannot be in even contact with each other over the entire circumference when the rotary table 2 is clamped and there is a risk that a gap will be generated in a certain region. In addition, even when the clamping surfaces 2b and 1b can be in contact with each other over the entire circumference, the perpendicularity of a workpiece-receiving surface of the rotary table 2 relative to the rotational axis 15 is degraded and the workpiece-processing accuracy is reduced accordingly. When a gap is generated between the clamping surfaces 2b and 1b, the clamping force is reduced and the rotary table 2 is tilted due to the external force applied during processing. Accordingly, also in this case, the workpiece-processing accuracy is reduced.
Therefore, an index table assembly disclosed in the above-mentioned publication includes elastically deformable rolling elements disposed between a rotating ring fixed to a rotary table and a frame. In this index table assembly, when the rotary table is clamped, the rotating ring is urged toward the frame, moves along the rotational axis while deforming the rolling elements, and is pressed against the frame. When the rotary table is unclamped, the urging force applied to the rotating ring is removed so that the rotary table can rotate, and the rolling elements return to their original shapes to support the rotating ring above the frame. Accordingly, the rotational resistance of the rotary table is equal to the rolling resistance of the rolling elements, and therefore the rotary table can easily rotate.
However, when the rotary table rotates, the rolling elements receive not only the load of the rotary table but also the load of onboard components such a workpiece, a process table, and a jig, and are therefore elastically deformed into a shape with an elliptical cross section. Accordingly, the rolling elements are constantly deformed into a shape with an elliptical cross section while they roll between the rotating ring and the frame. Since a large force is required for deforming the elastic elements, a large force is required for rolling the rolling elements. Therefore, the rotational resistance of the rotary table is also large in this index table assembly. In addition, since a large force is required for rolling the rolling elements while deforming them, sliding of the rolling elements relative to the rotating ring and the frame occurs. Accordingly, the rolling elements are unevenly worn with time and become harder to roll, which increases the degree of sliding of the rolling elements relative to the rotating ring and the frame. As a result, the rolling elements are quickly worn and the rotating ring comes into contact with the frame. Accordingly, the rotational resistance of the rotary table increases and the rotating ring and the frame are worn, which leads to a reduction in the workpiece-processing accuracy.


A viewable thermostat device for providing visual confirmation of the proper operation of a thermostat in operating engines having a fluid coolant is provided by the utilization of a transparent thermoplastic housing having means for capturing the annular flange of the thermostat and maintaining the thermostat perpendicular to the direction of flow of the coolant while allowing a visual confirmation of the proper operation of the thermostat. The transparent thermoplastic housing is preferably formed from a transparent polyurethane or polycarbonate plastic and may include curved surfaces for optically enhancing the visual inspection of the operation of the thermostat as well as covers or sleeves for protecting the clear plastic from exterior abrasion or dirt. The viewable thermostat device is applicable to in-line installation as well as installations directly connected to the engine block to provide visual confirmation of the proper operation of the thermostat during engine operation.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention pertains to a transparent thermoplastic thermostat housing for providing a visual indication of the precise operation of the engine thermostat in all phases of engine operation. More particularly the invention pertains to a transparent thermoplastic housing which may include optically enhanced surfaces for magnifying the visual display of the thermostat within the transparent housing to provide direct visual confirmation of the operation of the thermostat by providing direct visual access to the thermostat through the engine coolant or by imparting a churning action to the coolant where the coolant is highly colored or opaque.
The transparent thermoplastic housing may be disposed between sections of radiator hose or may include provision for direct mounting to the engine block. In all such applications the transparent thermoplastic housing includes means for engaging the annular flange of the thermostat and maintaining the thermostat in a proper orientation to the direction of flow of engine coolant. The transparent housing for the engine thermostat may be constructed in a variety of configurations for capturing the engine thermostat and may be of one or more piece construction. The housing assists in maintaining the thermostat in place and providing visual access to the thermostat and providing disrupted flow of the coolant to confirm the proper operation of the thermostat.
The transparent thermostat housing may be placed in line that is between sections of radiator hosing or be placed against the engine block to provide the advantages of visual confirmation as to the status and operation of the thermostat as well as the condition of the engine coolant under all engine operating conditions. The transparent thermoplastic housing may be constructed of thermoplastic materials such as transparent polyurethanes and polycarbonates and other transparent plastics which are thermally stable and translucent. The transparent thermoplastic housing may be covered by an optional protective sleeve made of canvas, fabric, fiberglass, rubber, plastic or the like to protect the outside surface of the viewable thermostat from oil, grease, dust and debris so the flowing motion of the engine coolant as well as the operation of the thermostat can be visually detected without requiring cleaning particularly where such operation is in dusty or greasy environments.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
The prior art includes a wide variety of thermostat housings for use in controlling the temperature of internal combustion engines. The thermostat housing is generally contained between the engine block and a metal pipe having a flange which is bolted to the engine block. The metal pipe is then connected to the radiator inflow hose to transport hot engine coolant to the radiator. An example of such a prior art setup is shown in Schroeder U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,673.
More recently applications have been introduced for in-line thermostats which include a thermostat housing which is connected between sections of the radiator in-flow hose such as illustrated in Hovey U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,499. In other prior art such as Reynolds U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,628 and 5,123,591 special radiator out-flow hoses have been constructed to engage the thermostat in a position in the radiator hose. This prior art has the advantage of providing improved access to the thermostat for maintenance but does not provide visual access for determining whether the thermostat is operating properly.
In all prior art applications the thermostat has been engaged in either a housing or section of the radiator inflow hose or in the engine block under a metallic pipe making visual access to the thermostat and the engine coolant impossible without disassembly. In all prior art applications the position and operation of the thermostat and the condition of the engine coolant has been hidden behind or in metal housings or rubber hoses or other opaque structures. As a result it has heretofore been impossible to visually determine the condition of the engine coolant and whether the thermostat was operating properly or if it remained in its proper position.
In the past the proper operation of the thermostat could only be confirmed by a mechanic who would operate the engine and feel the radiator hose when the engine reached operating temperature. The problems of determining the proper operation of the thermostat were further aggravated by the temperature and pressures under which internal combustion engines operate together with the chemical composition of the coolant or antifreeze as well as the contaminants that make their way into the cooling system and the radiators over the operating life span of the engine coolant. The possibility of leaks in the cooling system coupled with the introduction of hydrocarbons, acids and other contaminants into the cooling system through bad engine gaskets have heretofore required the use of metal or rubber or housing materials that were opaque making the thermostat not visible.
For most engines the coolant not only contains various types of antifreeze but also is pressurized at a pressure from 6 to 20 psi and operates in ambient temperature ranges from arctic conditions to equatorial conditions which require the thermostat to open once the engine reaches a predetermined temperature which is generally 160, 180 or 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Added to these environmental conditions of course is the chemical composition of the coolant together with the condition of the internal combustion engine and the thermal and mechanical considerations of the system which has resulted in the prior art not utilizing a transparent housing for the engine thermostat.
The temperature, pressure and operating conditions together with the mechanical configurations of engine thermostats has generally required the thermostat to be mounted between the engine block and a curved metal fitting in order to maintain the thermostat in place during operating conditions. The adverse pressures and temperatures encountered in operating conditions has resulted in many in-line applications not being accepted due to the temperature and pressure parameters and the expansion and contraction encountered in typical rubber hoses as a result of the pressure and temperature variations and the possibility of the thermostat becoming dislodged. In other such applications a change in diameter of the in-line thermostat housing has been used to maintain the thermostat housing in a housing made of steel or other appropriate material which housing is then covered with the rubber radiator hose such as in Hovey U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,499 for in-line thermostat applications.
The extremes in temperature and pressure conditions encountered together with the mechanical forces necessary to maintain the thermostat in position has generally required the placement of the thermostat in the engine block and has resulted in transparent plastic being an unacceptable material due to the corrosive nature of the engine coolant coupled with the temperatures, pressures and mechanical considerations. These mechanical considerations not only include thermal expansion and contraction but also mechanical forces necessary to hold the housing in place. These mechanical considerations together with the chemical considerations of the coolant has resulted in plastic and particularly transparent plastic not being considered as being suitable materials for use in combination with engine thermostats.
The invention is the result of an extensive research investigation into transparent thermoplastic materials and in contrast to the prior art employs a thermoplastic transparent plastic for use as a viewable housing to provide visual confirmation as to the proper operation of the engine thermostat. The invention not only provides for visual access to the thermostat where the coolant is clear or lightly colored but also provides visual indication of the proper operation of the thermostat by providing visual access to the disturbed flow of engine coolant where the coolant is heavily colored or opaqued by engine contamination. In addition it has been found that certain transparent visible thermostat housings may be utilized and operate in the mechanical, chemical extreme conditions encountered in internal combustion engines. The transparent thermoplastic materials not only withstand the operative environments but also do not become discolored, distorted or opaqued by the engine coolant to provide visual confirmation of the thermostat in all phases of the engine operation and provides visual confirmation of the status of the engine coolant.


The present invention provides a plant-activating agent which effects no chemical injury on plant and which makes an activity of plant improve efficiently. That is to say, the present invention provides a method of activating a plant, which comprises treating the plant with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms as a plant-activating agent; use of the mono-alcohol as a plant-activating agent; and a plant-activating agent or composition comprising the mono-alcohol; optionally with a surfactant, a fertilizer component and/or a chelating agent.

The present invention relates to a plant-activating agent and/or a plant-activating composition. Also, as use thereof, the present invention provides a method of activating a plant by applying thereof in the state of r solution or solid to a root, stem, phylloplane or fruit of plant, such as spraying onto phylloplanes and irrigating into soil. Now, hereinafter, the term of xe2x80x9cplantxe2x80x9d includes plants, vegetables, fruits, crops, seeds, flowers, herbs, floras, and so on.
Various nutrient elements are necessary for growth of plants. It is known that lack of some of the elements causes the hindrance of the growth of the plants. For example, the big three fertilizer components function as follows. Nitrogen is a component element of proteins, and phosphorus is a formation element of nucleic acid or phosphorus lipid and further plays an important part in energy metabolism and synthetic or decomposing reaction of a substance. Potassium has a physiological action of substance metabolism or substance migration. If these main components lacks, the growth of plants generally becomes poor. Calcium is an important component constituting the plant-realities and cells, and further plays an important part in maintenance of the balance of the metabolic system. The lacking state of calcium causes physiological troubles. Besides, various nutrients as follows are necessary for plants: Mg, Fe, S, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si, Na and the like.
Nutritious components such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are applied as basal fertilizer or additional fertilizer. Alternatively, they are applied by diluting liquid fertilizer and irrigating the diluted fertilizer into soil or by spraying the diluted fertilizer onto phylloplanes. These fertilizers are necessary and/or essential for the growth of plants. However, even if they are applied at larger concentrations than some values, the growth of plants and the yield of the plants cannot be further improved.
However, it is an important theme in agricultural production to promote the growth of agricultural plants and increase the yield per unit area to strive for an increase in income. Various plant growth regulators being necessary for this have been developed and used. The plant growth regulators, the typical examples of which include gibberellin and auxin, are used to regulate growth reaction or form-producing reaction such as germination, rooting, expansion, flowering and bearing. The actions of these substances are many-sided or complicated. The uses thereof are restrictive.
In order to solve such problems, there are known a phylloplane spraying agent using an oligosaccharide (JP-A 9-322647), and techniques in which a liquid fertilizer comprising a sugar, a mineral, an amino acid, an extract from seaweeds, or a fermentation extract of microorganisms is sprayed onto phylloplanes or is applied in the form of the liquid. In the present situation, however, their effects are insufficient for practical use.
For an increased yield, when a large amount of fertilizer is applied into the soil, various components may become excessive in the soil so that the balance of absorption thereof may become bad or the growth of plants may be delayed. As a result, there arise, for example, problems that the increased yield, as an aim, cannot be attained or the quality such as sugar concentration (Brix. value) or freshness (green degree) does not rise. And then, since there are a limit of absorption from roots which aim absorption of nutrients, direct absorption of necessary fertilizer elements from phylloplanes or fruits is attempted by spraying an aqueous solution or aqueous suspension of the elements. However, even if the aqueous solution of the necessary elements is merely sprayed onto phylloplanes, a problem arises from the viewpoint of absorption efficency. Spraying excessive amounts of fertilizer elements impose stress on plants, resulting chemical injury.
Handbook of Agricultural Chemicals (edited in 1994) on page 475, discloses decyl alcohol as a restrainer of an axillary bud of a tobacco-plant. JP-A 55-40674 discloses an alcohol having 30 carbon atoms as a plant growth promoter.
It is known to dilute a foam concentrated product with water, generate foams at a static pressure of 15 psi or more in a foam generator connected to a tap water pipe, and treat plants or soil with the resultant foams (U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,977). However, this patent never discloses nor suggests use as a plant-activating agent or a method for activating plants.
The present invention relates to a plant-activating agent comprising a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms and relates to a plant-activating composition comprising the mono-alcohol, and a surfactant, a fertilizer component or a chelating agent.
Namely, the present invention provides a plant-activating agent comprising a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms, and provides a plant-activating composition comprising the mono-alcohol and at least one compound selected from a surfactant and a chelating agent.
The invention provides a method of activating a plant, which comprises treating the plant with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms as a plant-activating agent; and use of the mono-alcohol as a plant-activating agent.
It is preferred that the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, in use or method of the above-mentioned.
The surfactant may be selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant, in use or method of the above-mentioned.
The invention provides a plant-activating composition comprising a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and one group selected from (i) a chelating agent, (ii) a surfactant and a chelating agent, (iii) a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, and (iv) a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent.
Another composition may preferably comprise a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, a ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.
A plant-activating composition of the invention comprises a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant, optionally further comprising a fertilizer component.
A plant-activating composition of the invention comprises a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and one group selected from (iii) a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, (iv) a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent and (v) a surfactant and a fertilizer component.
In the present invention, a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms, preferably 14-22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 16-20 carbon atoms, is used since the alcohol can effectively give plant vital power activation without causing chemical injury. The hydrocarbon group of the mono-alcohol may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be in the form of a straight chain, a branched chain or a cyclic chain. The hydrocarbon group is preferably an alkyl group being a straight or branched chain, particularly preferably an alkyl group being a straight chain. Specific examples of the mono-alcohol include lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, eicosanol, behenyl alcohol, phytol, oleyl alcohol, and alcohols originated from natural fats and/or oils.
The form of the plant-activating agent comprising the mono-alcohol according to the present invention may be any form, such as a liquid, a flowable, a paste, a wettable powder, a granule, a dust formulation or a tablet. At the time of use, the plant-activating agent is generally sprayed in the form of an aqueous solution, an aqueous dispersion, or an aqueous emulsion which has a mono-alcohol concentration of from 1 to 500 ppm onto phylloplanes or roots of a plant.
In order to supply the plant-activating agent of the present invention to a plant, various methods may be used. Examples of the methods include a method of applying a dust formation or a granule as fertilizer directly, a method of spraying a diluted aqueous solution. directly onto phylloplanes, stems or fruits of a plant, a method of injecting a diluted aqueous solution into soil, and a method of supplying to dilute and to mix into a liquid for a hydroponics and a supplying water which are contacted with roots and which are such as a hydroponics and a rock wool.
Plants, which can be treated with the plant-activating agent of the present invention, may be a fruit vegetable such as a cucumber, a pumpkin, a watermelon-plant, a melon, a tomato, an eggplant, a green pepper, a strawberry, an okra, kidney beans in a pod, a broad bean, a pea, green soybeans in a pod and a corn; a leaf vegetables such as a Chinese cabbage, greens for pickling, a Brassica campestris (a Chinese spinach-like green vegetable), a cabbage, a cauliflower, a broccoli, a Brussels sprout, an onion, a Welsh onion, a garlic, a scallion, a leek, an asparagus, a lettuce, a green for salad (which is called Saladana in Japan), a celery, a spinach, a crown daisy, a parsley, a trefoil (which is called Mitsuba in Japan and is useful as herb), a dropwort, an udo (which is an Aralia cordata), a Japanese ginger, a Japanese butterbur and a labiate; and a root vegetable such as a radish, a turnip, a burdock, a carrot, a potato, a taro, a sweet potato, a yam, a ginger-plant (which is called Shoga in Japan) and a lotus root. Besides, the plant-activating agent may be used for a rice-plant; a barley, a wheat or a group thereof; petalous-plants and the like.
In the present invention, the following surfactant is preferably used together with the above-mentioned mono-alcohol to promote emulsification, dispersion, solubilization and permeation of the mono-alcohol.
Examples of nonionic surfactants include sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, glycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene glycerol fatty acid esters, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene polyglycerol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, alkyl(poly)glycosides and polyoxyalkylenealkyl(poly)glycosides. Preferably, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom and ester group-containing nonionic surfactant may be cited.
Examples of anionic surfactants include carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric ester group-containing and phosphoric ester group-containing surfactants, and a carboxylic and phosphoric ester group-containing surfactants are preferred.
Examples of the carboxylic surfactants include fatty acids having 6-30 carbon atoms or salts thereof, polyhydric carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylamide ether carboxylic acid salts, rhodinic acid salts, dimmer acid salts, polymer acid salts and tall oil fatty acid salts.
Examples of the sulfonic surfactants include alkylbenezenesulfonic acid salts, alkylsulfonic acid salts, alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid salts, diphenyl ether sulfonic acid salts, condensates of alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, and condensate of naphthalenesulfonic acid.
Examples of the sulfuric ester group-containing surfactants include alkylsulfuric ester salts (alkylsulfuric acid salts), polyoxyalkylene alkylsulfuric ester salts (polyoxyalkylene alkylsulfuric acid salts), polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfuric acid salts, tristyrenatedphenol sulfuric acidester salts, polyoxyalkylene distyrenated phenol sulfuric acid ester salts and alkylpolyglycoside sulfuric acid salts.
Examples of phosphoric acid ester group-containing surfactants include alkyl phosphoric acid ester salts, alkylphenylphosphoric acid ester salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylphosphoric acid ester salts and polyoxyalkylene alkylpheneylphosphoric acid ester salts.
Examples of the salts include metallic salts (such as salts of Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn), ammonium salts, alkanol amine salts and aliphatic amine salts.
Examples of amphoteric surfactants include amino acid group-containing, betaine group-containing, imidazoline group-containing and amine oxide group-containing surfactants.
Examples of the amino acid group-containing surfactants include acylamino acid salts, acylsarcosine acid salts, acyloylmethylaminopropionic acid salts, alkylaminopropionic acid salts and acylamide ethylhydroxyethylmethylcarboxylic acid salts.
Examples of the betaine group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylbetaine, alkylhydroxyethylbetaine, acylamide propylhydroxypropylammonia sulfobetaine, acylamide propylhydroxypropylammonia sulfobetaine and ricinoleic acid amide propyl dimethylcarboxy methylammonia betaine.
Examples of the imidazoline group-containing surfactants include alkylcarboxy methylhydroxy ethylimidazolinium betaine and alkylethoxy carboxy methylimidazolinium betaine.
Examples of the amine oxide group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylamine oxide, alkyldiethanolamine oxide and alkylamidepropylamine oxide.
One kind of the above-mentioned surfactants may be used, and a mixture of two or more kinds of the above-mentioned surfactants may be used. In the case that one of these surfactants comprises a polyoxyalkylene group, the polyoxyalkylene group is preferably a polyoxyethylene group and the average mole number of added polyoxyethylene groups is preferably from 1 to 50.
As the surfactant, at least one compound selected from ester group-containing nonionic surfactants, ether group-containing nonionic surfactants having no nitrogen atom, amphoteric surfactants, carboxylic anionic surfactants and phosphoric anionic surfactant is preferable.
In particular, it is preferable to be at least one compound selected from ester group-containing nonionic surfactants and ether group-containing nonionic surfactants having no nitrogen atom.
The following fertilizer components may be used together with the above-mentioned mono-alcohol. Specific examples thereof may be inorganic or organic compounds which can supply elements such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si and Na, in particular N, P, X, Ca and Mg. Examples of such inorganic compounds include ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, sodium nitrate, urea, ammonium carbonate. potassium phosphate, calcium superphosphate, fused phosphate fertilizer (3MgO.CaO.P2O5.3CaSiO2), potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, nitrate of lime, slaked lime, carbonate of lime, magnesium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Examples of the organic compounds include fowl droppings, cow dung, Bark compost, amino acid, peptone, amino acid solution (which is called Mieki in Japan), fermentation extracts, calcium salts of organic acids (such as citric acid, gluconic acid and succinic acid), and calcium salts of fatty acids (such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and caproic acid). These fertilizer components may be used together with the surfactant. In the case that fertilizer components are sufficiently applied as basal fertilizer to soil as seen in outdoor cultivation of a rice-plant or vegetables, it is unnecessary to mix the fertilizer components. Further, when a cultivation form is such as a fertigation (a hydroponic soil culture) or a hydroponics, when it avoids applying excessively basal fertilizer and when it is a type of providing a fertilizer component as well as irrigation-water, the fertilizer component is preferably mixed.
When the plant-activating composition of the present invention is mixed with the following organic acid having chelating ability or a salt thereof, the growth and absorption efficiency of fertilizer improved further. Specific examples thereof include oxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, heptonic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, adipic acid and glutaric acid; polyhydric carboxylic acids; and salts thereof such as potassium salt, sodium salt, alkanolamine salt and aliphatic amine salt.
Mixing a chelating agent besides the organic acids also causes the growth and absorption efficiency of fertilizer to be improved. Examples of the mixed chelating agents include aminocarboxylic group-containing chelating agents such as EDTA, NTA and CDTA.
The form, spraying method and the like of plant-activating composition of the present invention are the same as described above. If necessary, water and/or a solvent may be added to the composition.
In the plant-activating composition or the fertilizer composition of the present invention, it is preferable to use respectively; per 100 parts by weight of the mono-alcohol; 10-20000 parts, in particular 100-2000 parts, by weight of the surfactant; 0-50000 parts, in particular 10-5000 parts, by weight of the fertilizer component; 0-1000 parts, in particular 10-500 parts, by weight of the chelating agent; and 0-5000 parts, in particular 10-500 parts, by weight of other nutritious sources (such as sugars, amino acids and vitamins).
In the case that the plant-activating composition is applied in the form of a dust formulation or granule as fertilizer to soil, it is preferable that the used dust formulation or granule comprise the above-mentioned components except water at the same ratios as above, in general. This dust formulation or granule may comprise a vehicle to prevent caking.
The plant-activating agent of the present invention makes it possible to improve the activity of plant effectively without causing any chemical injury on plants if the plants are treated with an appropriate concentration of the plant-activating agent. For this reason, it can be used for various plants. According to the present invention, promotion of taking root of a plant, increase of chlorophyll value (SPAD value), increase of absorption efficiency of fertilizer and so on are seen as improvement at growth of plant.


A drum cart (1) is provided for mounting and moving a drum (2). The cart included, a stand (3) mounted on two wheels (5). The stand is connected to the drummer by a hip strap. The drum (2) is held around its shell (7) by at least one bracket (6) and is preferably connected to the bracket (6) by two joints (8. The bracket (6) is preferably fastened to the stand (3). The drum is arranged in the stand so that the drummer beats the drum head (14) vertically with both beaters (10).

The invention relates to a drum cart for allowing the drummer to hold and move a bass drum.
The well known bass drum has a diameter of approximately 65 cm and a shell height of approximately 55 cm. The drum is covered with cattle skin, leather or a synthetic material, which is tensioned by a rope, as with tenor drums, or with hoops and clamping screws. The bass drum is of Ottoman origin and has been used since the 17th century in military training and ceremonies, but particularly for marching into battle, for intimidating the enemy and raising the morale of the native troops, and us a privilege of the Janissary (an elite unit similar to the French Foreign Legion, recruited from Christian children taken from the enemy). Soon after their introduction, the exciting oriental music with the threatening tone of the bass drum, the wailing wind instruments and ringing cymbals conquered the courts of Europe and revitalized marching music. Further, it has been elevated into the Pantheon of classical music by the works of Mozart (Entführung aus dem Serail) and Haydn (Military Symphony).
In the Southern States of the United States of America, where the rhythmical folk music of the descendents of the once deported Africans flourished, the African drum music, intertwined with the marching and dance music of the European immigrants, developed into independent Jazz in the streets of 19th century New Orleans. The itinerant street music later became ballroom and dance music and emerged as a stage attraction. With this, the bass drum of the jazz orchestra became the percussion and the central point of the orchestra. In the center of percussion, there is the resonant skin and a covered circular disc of the bass drum. The bass drum is set upright on the stage facing the public, and is surrounded by a fixedly assembled group of percussion instruments, e.g. a snare drum, several tom-toms and diverse single cymbals and a double cymbal. In this, the bass drum with the resonant skin covering, not only serves for the direct and effective exposure of the audience to sonic waves, but also for grabbing their attention and displaying the name of the orchestra. By way of a pedal known as a foot machine, the drummer kicks the drum head on one side of the bass drum and so leaves his hands free to sound the remaining percussion instruments.
A distant relative of the bass drum which is beaten on one side, is the kettle drum. The kettle drum is an instrument which arrived via central Europe from Asia in the 18th century and has since become a classical musical instrument of military, operatic and symphony orchestras.
According to the above description, the bass drum is used to make music when stationary and on the move in processions, folk festivals and parades of all types. For marching, the bass drum, which weighs approximately 10 kg and is suspended by two straps around the shoulders of the drummer, is held against the stomach of the drummer. This forces the drummer to lean backwards when walking and standing due to the projection of the centre of gravity. In addition to the considerable strain on the spinal column, the back muscles and stomach muscles caused by the pressure and bending, the drum also restricts the forward vision of the drummer and blocks the necessary view of the ground or floor required for safe walking.
To reduce these disadvantages and make the instrument accessible to persons of a constitutionally less athletic make-up, the company Musikhaus Gasser of 6280 Hochdorf in Switzerland, proposed a chassis for holding and moving a bass drum. The chassis has two wheels and two rollers, and also a stomach plate and a hip strap for attaching the chassis to the drummer.
The disadvantage of this solution of the prior art is that, although it reduces the strain on the drummer, it has no effect on improving visibility.


When a heat capacity of a recording medium having a base material coated with a foamable resin layer is larger than a normal heat capacity, to form a raised amount equal to that with the normal case with a normal heating quantity, a turned mirror image of the image is generated. The image is transferred onto the front face of the recording medium and fixed. The recording medium is reversed, and conveyed again to the transfer part. The turned mirror image is transferred onto the rear face of the recording medium and fixed. The recording medium is heated with the heat quantity equal to that in the normal case, and combination of heat absorbed by the turned minor image and heat absorbed by the image is transmitted to the foamable resin layer to expand the foamable resin layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printer configured to form a raised image on a thermally expandable sheet, a three-dimensional image forming method, and a three-dimensional image.
2. Related Art
In related art, JP 64-028660 A proposes a method for forming a three-dimensional image by forming a front-back reversed image of a desired image on a rear face, on which no thermally expandable coating layer is formed, of a thermally expandable sheet with an image forming material excellent in light absorption characteristics, irradiating the image forming side of the thermally expandable sheet with light to selectively heat an image part by using the light absorption characteristics of the image forming material to expand the thermally expandable coating layer.
The coating layer formed on the front face (the face on which an image is to be printed) of the thermally expandable sheet disclosed in JP 64-028660 A has microspheres dispersed thereon, the microspheres being obtained by microencapsulating a low-boiling, vaporizable substance with a thermoplastic resin. The microcapsules expand by heat applied to the thermally expandable sheet and forms raised portions on the sheet front face.
With the technology disclosed in JP 64-028660 A, the image part is selectively heated to obtain a three-dimensional image by using the light absorption characteristics of the image forming material. If, however, the thickness of the sheet (sheet base material) before the coating layer is formed is increased, that is, if the basis weight increases, there is a problem that the heat capacity of the sheet increases and thus the quantity of heat applied to the microcapsules decreases, resulting in that the raised amount of the raised portions decreases.
The heat capacity is increased not only by the problem of the increased basis weight of the sheet base material but also when a sheet made of another material is adhered to the sheet base material. In other words, the raised amount of the raised portions resulting from thermal expansion of the coating layer varies widely depending on the magnitude of the heat capacity of the thermally expandable sheet itself.
With a thermally expandable sheet with a large heat capacity, the raised amount of the raised portions can be prevented from decreasing by increasing the quantity of heat applied thereto. A large quantity of heat applied to the thermally expandable sheet, however, causes a failure such as thermal expansion of a non-printed region.

Three-dimensional printer, three-dimensional image forming method, and three-dimensional image


A device for irrigating cerumen from one's ear canal, which includes a universal adaptor affixed to the spout of a lavatory faucet (one which allows the cold and hot to be mixed); a flow line extending from the adaptor; a valve on the adaptor, which when opened allows for adjusting the temperature and force of flow by feeling the flow at a nozzle on the second end of the flow line; a cup for placement over the ear to contain the water flow; a double loop within the cup to mount a first loop to a tragus portion of the outer ears for directing fluid flow from the nozzle into the ear canals, a second loop engaged around a probe to limit the depth the nozzle is able to enter the ear canal; and a return line for returning water and debris collected from the ear canal into the lavatory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for irrigating and cleaning the ear canal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device which includes a flow line which connects to a water source, such as a faucet, on a first end, and terminates in a nozzle on the second end, the nozzle contained within a cup engaged over the outer ear, allowing water to flow from the faucet through the flow line and exit the nozzle, the water directed into the ear canal under pressure, and returned to a basin through a return flow line.
2. General Background
In the process for cleaning the ear canal of a person, many different methods for home treatment have been tried, both various kinds of drops as well as methods of irrigation or flushing. Ultimately many need medical help, and most often by an ear specialist. In the most common method of simply forcing water from a syringe or bulb into the ear canal provides a limited amount of water, and when the water fills the canal, the water simply drains out of the ear onto the person or the surrounding area. Therefore, there is a need for a system which allows a person to inject a controlled flow of water into ones ear, at a desired temperature, and when the water flows from the ear, it is collect at the ear and returned to a basin or the like through a collection line.
The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference:
TABLEPATENT NO.TITLEISSUE DATEU.S. Pat. No. 4,206,756Jet Ear Irrigation SystemJun. 10, 1980U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,867Cleaning Fluid InjectionAug. 11, 1981DeviceU.S. Pat. No. 5,241,714Shower Person HygieneSep. 7, 1993SystemU.S. Pat. No. 5,685,851Irrigation SyringeNov. 11, 1997U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,675Irrigator DeviceNov. 10, 1998U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,094Disposable Tip for BodyOct. 1, 2002Cavity Irrigation SystemU.S. Pat. No. 6,485,451Body Cavity Irrigation SystemNov. 26, 2002U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,196Vestibular Irrigation TestApr. 5, 2005SystemU.S. Pat. No. 7,273,467Device For Washing TheSep. 25, 2007External Auditory MeatusU.S. Pat. No. 7,361,170Device, System, Kit orApr. 22, 2008Method For CollectingEffluent From An Individual20060253087Medication Delivery DeviceNov. 9, 2006


A range-change transmission device includes a main shaft, an output shaft, and a range-change unit. The range-change unit has at least one planetary gearbox, which includes at least one first gearbox element, at least one second gearbox element, and at least one third gearbox element. The range-change unit also has at least one shifting device, which is provided at least for the selective connection of the main shaft to the first gearbox element and/or to the second gearbox element.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a range-change transmission device and a method for operating a range-change transmission device.
A range-change transmission device is already known from DE 10 2005 044 068 A1, which device has a main group comprising a main shaft and a range group, the range group comprising a planetary transmission, the sun wheel of which is permanently connected to the main shaft for conjoint rotation.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed a range-change transmission device having improved properties with regard to efficiency, in particular shifting efficiency and energy efficiency.
According to an embodiment, a range-change transmission device comprises a main shaft, an output shaft and a range group having at least one planetary transmission that comprises at least one first transmission element, at least one second transmission element and at least one third transmission element.
The range group has at least one shifting device provided at least for optionally connecting the main shaft to at least the first transmission element and/or at least to the second transmission element.
"Range-change transmission device" is understood in particular to mean at least one part of a range-change transmission. Alternatively, the range-change transmission device can completely form the range-change transmission. In particular, the range-change transmission device has a main group comprising the main shaft. The main group can in particular comprise a plurality of gears. A "range group" is understood in particular to mean a downstream transmission connected downstream of the main group preferably on the output side and which is provided in particular for at least doubling a total number of gears of a group transmission. "Provided" is understood in particular to mean specially designed and/or equipped. An object being provided for a particular function is understood in particular to mean that the object fulfils and/or carries out this particular function in at least one use and/or operating state. "Planetary transmission" is understood in particular to mean a unit comprising at least one planetary gear set, preferably comprising precisely one planetary gear set. Alternatively, or additionally, the planetary transmission can be multi-stage and preferably comprises a plurality of planetary gear sets. A "planetary gear set" is understood in this context in particular to mean a unit comprising a transmission element designed as a sun wheel, comprising a transmission element designed as a ring gear, comprising a transmission element designed as a planet carrier and comprising a plurality of transmission elements designed as planet gears, the transmission elements designed as planet gears of the transmission element designed as a planet carrier being arranged on a circular path around the transmission element designed as a sun wheel.
A "shifting device" is understood in this context in particular to mean a device comprising at least one shifting unit, in particular at least two shifting units, preferably at least three shifting units, and particularly preferably precisely three shifting units. A "shifting unit" is understood in this context in particular to mean a unit comprising at least two coupling elements and at least one shifting element that is provided for establishing a shiftable connection between the at least two coupling elements. A "shifting element" of a shifting unit is understood in particular to mean an element that is permanently connected to one of the coupling elements for conjoint rotation but so as to be axially and/or radially movable and is provided for a frictional, force-fit and/or form-fit connection to at least one further element of the coupling elements, such as a sliding sleeve of a form-fitting unit or an axially movable friction disk of a frictional shifting unit. A "coupling element" is understood in particular to mean an element of the shifting unit that is permanently connected to a transmission element, for example a transmission shaft, an idler gear and/or a fixed gear, for conjoint rotation, which is preferably axially and radially fixed and which is provided in particular for a frictional, force-fit and/or form-fit connection to the shifting element, such as an idler gear that has toothing for connecting to the shifting element, or a disk carrier of a frictional shifting unit. A "shifting unit comprising three coupling elements" is understood in particular to mean a shifting unit in which the shifting element is provided for shiftably connecting a denoted shifting element, which in the following is also connected as a synchronization body, to at least one of the two other coupling elements in each case or for decoupling said element therefrom. A "fixed gear" is understood in this case in particular to mean a gearwheel that is permanently connected to the main shaft, an intermediate shaft or the output shaft for conjoint rotation. An "idler gear" is understood in particular to mean a single gearwheel that is rotatably arranged with respect to a shaft and is permanently connected to at least one coupling element of at least one shifting unit for conjoint rotation. "Optional connection" is understood in particular to mean a temporarily non-rotatable connection of at least two components. "Connecting" is understood in particular to mean establishing a non-rotatable connection, which is preferably dependent on a shifting state of at least one shifting device and/or shifting unit.
The shifting device is also provided for optionally connecting the output shaft to the second transmission element and/or to the third transmission element. This can increase shifting variety.
The shifting device also comprises at least one shifting unit which, in a first shifting state, connects the main shaft to the second transmission element and/or, in a second shifting state, connects the output shaft to the second transmission element. This can increase shifting variety.
The shifting device also comprises at least one further shifting unit which, in a first shifting state, connects the output shaft to the third transmission element and/or, in a second shifting state, fixes the third transmission element. This can further increase shifting variety.
It is conceivable for the shifting states of the shifting unit and the further shifting unit to be independent from one another. In order to simplify a shifting process and achieve in particular synchronization of shifting processes, in one preferred embodiment of the invention at least one shifting state of the shifting unit is coupled to at least one shifting state of the further shifting unit. In particular, the first shifting state of the shifting unit is coupled to the first shifting state of the further shifting unit. Moreover, in particular the second shifting state of the shifting unit is coupled to the second shifting state of the further shifting unit. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable for the first shifting state of the shifting unit to be coupled to the second shifting state of the further shifting unit and/or for the second shifting state of the shifting unit to be coupled to the first shifting state of the further shifting unit. "Coupled shifting states" are understood in particular to mean shifting states occurring at least temporarily and are preferably mutually interdependent.
In order to advantageously couple shifting states, the shifting unit is connected to the further shifting unit so as to be axially fixed. The shifting unit is in particular also mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the further shifting unit.
Moreover, the at least one shifting unit, in particular the aforementioned shifting unit and the aforementioned further shifting unit, of the shifting device is provided at least for a form-fit connection. Alternatively, or additionally, a frictional connection is also conceivable. This can advantageously improve a connection, to the effect that powershift selection is given. Wear can also therefore be reduced.
Moreover, in particular for optional connection, at least one of the transmission elements, in particular the second transmission element and/or the third transmission element, can be moved axially by means of at least one shifting unit, in particular the shifting unit and/or the further shifting unit.
The shifting device also comprises at least one additional shifting unit which, in a first shifting state, connects the main shaft to the first transmission element and/or, in a second shifting state, fixes the first transmission element. This can advantageously increase shifting variety.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first transmission element is designed as a sun wheel. More advantageously, the second transmission element is designed as a planet carrier. The third transmission element is particularly preferably designed as a ring gear. This can advantageously produce a particularly compact arrangement of the planetary transmission and, in particular, installation space can be saved.
The range group also has at least one first gearwheel plane arranged on the drive side relative to a planetary gear set of the planetary transmission and which is provided for connecting the third transmission element so as to be fixed to the housing. As a result, the third transmission element can be simply fixed, without shifting flexibility of the range-change transmission device being restricted.
The range group also has at least one second gearwheel plane arranged on the output side relative to the planetary gear set of the planetary transmission and which is provided for connecting the second transmission element to the main shaft for conjoint rotation. In particular, the planetary gear set is arranged between the first gearwheel plane and the second gearwheel plane. This can produce a compact arrangement of the range group.
The range group also has at least one third gearwheel plane arranged on the output side relative to the planetary gear set of the planetary transmission and which is provided for connecting the second transmission element to the output shaft for conjoint rotation. In particular, the third gearwheel plane is arranged on the output side relative to the second gearwheel plane. The second gearwheel plane is preferably arranged between the planetary gear set and the third gearwheel plane. As a result, the range-change transmission device can be particularly compact.
The range group also has at least one fourth gearwheel plane arranged on the output side relative to the planetary gear set of the planetary transmission and which is provided for connecting the third transmission element to the output shaft for conjoint rotation. In particular, the fourth gearwheel plane is arranged on the output side relative to the third gearwheel plane. The third gearwheel plane is preferably arranged between the second gearwheel plane and the fourth gearwheel plane.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating the range-change transmission device comprising the range group is proposed, in which method optionally a main shaft is connected to at least one first transmission element of a planetary transmission and/or the main shaft is connected to a second transmission element of the planetary transmission. This can produce a particularly efficient shifting process.
Moreover, at least one of the transmission elements is synchronized with the main shaft before connection. Component wear can advantageously be reduced as a result.
Further advantages can be found in the following description of the drawings. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description of the drawings and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form meaningful further combinations.


An organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate; an organic light-emitting unit that is formed on the substrate and comprises a first electrode, an intermediate layer, and a second electrode; an organic film formed on the organic light-emitting unit; a first elastic layer that is formed on the organic film and comprises an elastomer; and a first inorganic film that is formed on the first elastic layer and comprises a low temperature viscosity transition (LVT) inorganic material.

1. Field
The following description relates to an organic light-emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting display devices are emissive display devices and have characteristics of a large viewing angle, high contrast, rapid response time, high brightness, suitable driving voltage, and fast response speed, and may display a multi-color image.
An organic light-emitting display device includes an organic light-emitting unit that includes a lower electrode, an organic layer, and an upper electrode. The organic light-emitting unit is very weak to external agents, for example, oxygen or moisture, and thus, a structure that seals the organic light-emitting unit from the external agents is needed.
Also, there is a desire to develop a thin organic light-emitting display device and/or a flexible organic light-emitting display device.

Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same


An apparatus for cup loading and unloading and a thromboelastography machine are provided. The apparatus for cup loading and unloading includes a base, a shaft, a movable cover, and a cup holder. The shaft is rotatably connected to the base about an axis of the shaft and has an end configured to engage with an inner cup. The movable cover is disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft. The movable cover is provided with an elastic member therein. The cup holder is slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft and disposed below the base and the shaft. The cup holder has a cavity configured to engage with an outer cup, and the cavity has an open directed upward.

Before a reaction test of a thromboelastography machine, a reaction cup needs to be loaded. The reaction cup includes an inner cup and an outer cup. During the reaction test, the inner cup is secured at an upper side, and the outer cup is secured at a lower side. Meanwhile, a certain gap between the inner cup and the outer cup needs to be maintained. The process of loading the reaction cup generally includes the following steps. Put the inner cup and outer cups of the reaction cup on a cup holder. Move the cup holder to a test position. Push up a loading device disposed in the cup holder to load the inner cup of the reaction cup. Move the cup holder down to a very bottom. Press down the outer cup of the reaction cup to load the outer cup. With those steps, the loading of the reaction cup is completed. It can be seen that the above-described process of loading the reaction cup are cumbersome, and the loading device needs to be provided for loading the inner cup, resulting in that the structure of the thromboelastography machine is complex. In addition, generally, the outer cup of the reaction cup is directly pressed down by hand, such that the reaction cup is prone to be contaminated, which may cause deviation of test results.

Apparatus for cup loading and unloading and thromboelastography machine


In a diode, the backward length L of an anode electrode in a region, where a semiconductor layer of a p.sup.+ conductivity type and an anode electrode do not contact each other, is made longer than the diffusion length of holes in a semiconductor layer of an n.sup.- conductivity type for obtaining a large critical di/dt.

When a reverse voltage is abruptly applied to a diode in normal operation, a reverse current flows for a while. This is because the reverse voltage causes the carriers stored in the diode to be discharged outside due to the conductivity modulation of the carriers. This reverse current is known as the recovery current of a diode. The peak value (I.sub.rp) of the recovery current increases as the time variation (di/dt) of the current becomes abrupt in a change from the forward to the reverse direction.
The diode breaks down when di/dt increases excessively at the time of recovery. Generally, the value of di/dt at which the breakdown occurs (hereinafter called the "critical di/dt") is required to be large. In the case of a diode with a low critical di/dt, it has heretofore been the practice to limit the di/dt in the diode by inserting an inductance in the main circuit or by holding down the switching speed of the switching elements used together with the diode in order to protect the diode from breakdown at the time of recovery.
When such an inductance is inserted in the main circuit, however, the voltage generated at the time of recovery of the diode, or the switching of the switching elements, becomes excessively high, and thus the diode and the switching element breakdown; therefore, a protective circuit such as a snubber circuit is needed. Nevertheless, there arise the problems of making a power converting apparatus large-sized, of lowering the conversion efficiency and so forth, because the provision of a protective circuit results in not only increasing the number of parts, but also the incurring of a power loss.
The turn-on time of the switching element needs to be extended to decrease the di/dt in the diode by slowing down the switching speed of the switching element, which would make it necessary to limit the switching frequency and incur an additional cost for cooling the elements because the turn-on loss of the elements increases.


A method for aligning existing layers formed prior to a new layer and the new layer in forming the new layer on a wafer 4, wherein a microscope 6 as a first measurement condition and a microscope 7 as a second measurement condition are used, and marks 4a and 4b formed in each of said existing layers are measured by switching the first and second conditions, and said existing layers and said new-layer are aligned based on measurement of mark position of each of said existing layers, and the microscope 7 has a plurality of measurement conditions as optical characteristics, and the measurement conditions are switched.

Currently, in semiconductor manufacturing, a semiconductor device is fabricated by depositing multiple layers successively. In actual semiconductor manufacturing, a method is known wherein instead of measuring positions of alignment marks formed in a layer prior to exposure, marks are formed in the multiple layers and alignment is performed by measuring positions of the marks in multiple layers.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-321012, it is suggested that when forming a layer on a substrate, the layer is formed after measuring positions of marks formed in each of at least two layers formed prior to the layer, based on measurement of the mark positions in each of said layers.
In the past, there has been a problem that, in measuring alignment marks formed in each layer, the measurement accuracy is degraded due to manufacturing processes such as the physical feature and resist application condition of each alignment mark.

Alignment method and exposure apparatus using the method


A field emission device is described that comprises, in addition to the main, conventional array of field emission devices and its associated driving circuits, an additional, separate, pixel-sized group of field emission devices close to, but separated from, said main array. Electrons emitted by the additional pixel are collected on a separate, non fluorescent, anode and additional circuitry is provided, including a feedback loop from a detector of the additional pixel's cathode current to the gate voltage supply of the main array. Consequently the voltage of the gate lines varies in inverse proportion to the cathode current of the additional pixel. This results in a display whose brightness is constant even when turned on for the first time or after a period of idleness. A method for manufacturing the device is also described.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the general area of field emission devices, more particularly to the question of how to stabilize the cathode currents.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Cold cathode electron emission devices are based on the phenomenon of high field emission wherein electrons can be emitted into a vacuum from a room temperature source if the local electric field at the surface in question is high enough. The creation of such high local electric fields does not necessarily require the application of very high voltage, provided the emitting surface has a sufficiently small radius of curvature.
The advent of semiconductor integrated circuit technology made possible the development and mass production of arrays of cold cathode emitters of this type. In most cases, cold cathode field emission displays comprise an array of very small emitters, usually of conical shape, each of which is connected to a source of negative voltage via a cathode line. Another set of conductive lines (called gate lines) is located a short distance above the cathode lines at 90.degree. to them. Where these two sets of lines intersect a large number of conical emitters, or microtips, are located on the cathode lines. The gate lines are connected to a source of voltage that is positive relative to the cathode lines.
The electrons that are emitted by the cold cathodes accelerate past openings in the gate lines and strike a layer of conductive phosphor that is located some distance above the gate lines. One or more microtips thus serves as a subpixel for the total display. The number of subpixels that will be combined to constitute a single pixel depends on the resolution of the display and on the operating current that is to be used.
FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram of a single field emission device of the above-described setup. Microtip emitter 1 is electrically connected to cathode line 2. Gate line 3, running orthogonal to cathode line 2, is separated from line 2 by insulating layer 4 and is at the height of the tip, or apex, of emitter 1. An opening in line 3 is positioned so that emitter 1 is centrally located beneath it. A plan view of the basic components that comprise the full display is given in FIG. 2. The display panel 21 occupies essentially all of the upper surface of substrate 20. Gate lines 22 are driven by scan driver 24 (which determines when each line is powered) while cathode lines 23 are driven by data driver 25 (which determines the power available to a given line at a given time).
In general, even though the local electric field in the immediate vicinity of a microtip is in excess of several million volts/cm., the externally applied voltage is under a 100 volts. However, even a relatively low voltage of this order can obviously lead to catastrophic consequences, if short circuited. Consequently, a resistor is usually placed between either the cathode lines or the control gate lines and the power supply, as ballast to limit the current in the event of a short circuit occurring somewhere within the display. This is illustrated in FIG. 1(b) where resistor 5 has been inserted between cathode line 2 and the power supply.
Ballast resistors can also sometimes be used to alleviate a different problem. When the cathode-gate voltage is applied for the first time, or after the display has been idle for a while, it has been found that, for a fixed applied voltage, the cathode current is initially relatively low but rises for some time until it levels off at its operational, or activated, value T.sub.a. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 where curve 31 shows gate emission (in arbitrary units) vs. time in seconds for a typical example of a group of field emitting microtips. T.sub.a typically depends on the vacuum level and on the emitter surface conditions (several minutes for a vacuum of the order of 10.sup.-7 torr). By using a relatively large ballast resistor (typically of the order of several hundred megohms) the cathode-gate circuit can be made to behave as a constant current circuit. Thus, as the tip-to-gate resistance drops, a larger proportion of the applied voltage is dropped across the ballast resistor and the cathode current remains substantially unchanged.
The above described phenomenon of field emitter activation has been described by J. D. Levine et al. in a paper entitled "Field emission from microtip arrays using resistor stabilization" in J. Vac. Sci. Tech. B vol. 13 no. 2 March 1995 pp. 474-477. They attribute the initial high resistance of the field emission device to the presence of adsorbed gas at the surface of the microtip. With time, said gas slowly desorbs and the emission current gradually rises. This hypothesis was confirmed by the fact that they found that for a 10.times. decrease in base pressure there was a 3.times. increase in the initial cathode current. Sometimes, the adsorption of electronegative species, after long idle time in poor vacuum, will be more serious and will lead to longer T.sub.a. In a manufacturing environment the cost and difficulty of achieving and subsequently maintaining a vacuum less than about 10.sup.-7 torr is high and an alternative solution needs to be found. A solution may be to use a large ballast resistor, as already discussed above. However, this solution to the problem suffers from the major disadvantage that it increases the loading of the data and scan drivers. It needs more power to operate the FED device and has a longer response time.
Several patents have been issued relative to the use of ballast resistors as a means for stabilizing the initial emission current. An example of this is that of Lee et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,172 October 1994). Casper et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,472 May 1993) use a pair of series connected Field Effect Transistors to provide regulating resistance in series with each row and column of the display, but the principle is the same.

Field emission device with auto-activation feature

Industrial Technology Research Institute