Provided is a melt composition for a heat shrinkable foam structure that includes at least one base polymer and a blowing agent made from at least one heat-activated chemical compound encapsulated by a plurality of polymeric shells. The melt composition may also include a crosslinking promoter or other additives. Also provided is a method for making a heat-shrinkable polymer foam tubing. A melt composition containing at least one base polymer material having a melt temperature and a blowing agent having an activation temperature is provided. The melt composition is mixed at an elevated temperature. The melt composition is then extruded through a die at a high temperature. The extruded foam tube is then processed, often heat-processed. Additionally provided is a heat shrinkable foamed polymer tube containing an inner layer and an outer layer of an extruded foamed polymer tube, where each layer is made from at least one base polymer and a blowing agent and the blowing agent includes a heat-activated chemical compound encapsulated in a plurality of polymer shells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a polymeric foam tubing which can be heat-recovered, e.g. heat-shrunk. More specifically, it relates to an extruded polymeric foam tubing including a dispersed, encapsulated blowing agent.
2. Introduction to the Invention
Insulation, padding or a protective covering is often required for a variety of substrates, such as metallic wires, rods, pipes, or other elongated irregular shapes, such as handles and grips, in a broad range of applications, from tools and appliances to clothing. A foamed polymer coating is an effective and inexpensive method of providing such insulation or padding. In particular, a tubular foam structure can be extruded, and made into a heat shrinkable tubing. When the substrate is inserted into the foam tube and then the tube is heated above the melting point of the polymer used in the polymer composition of the tube, the heat shrinkable polymer foam tubing will recover snugly over the substrate.
Extrusion is a continuous molding process often used with polymer materials. In extrusion, a polymer material is continuously heated and mechanically worked into a homogeneous charge of viscous fluid in the melt phase. Alternatively, the polymer may be introduced into the extrusion device already in a melt phase. The heated charge is then forced through an open-ended die. The polymer is extruded from the die in the general shape of the die; often, it is an annular shape. The extruded melt is then solidified by air cooling or water quenching the extruded material. To make a heat-recoverable article, the solidified material usually is crosslinked, and then mechanically expanded. Applying heat to the expanded article causes it to recover, usually by shrinking, to approximately its original, unexpanded shape.
When a foamed extrudate is desired, the polymer melt is often mixed with a blowing agent. Chemical blowing agents typically are in the form of heat-activated fine powders, such as sodium bicarbonate or azodicarbonamide. When the polymer material containing the blowing agent powder is heated and melted, the bulk of the powder decomposes and forms pockets or balloons of gas within the structure of the polymer melt. The gas immediately dissolves into the polymer melt, and mainly stays dissolved within the melt due to the prevailing high pressure in the extruder at extrusion process conditions. However, in the conventional tube extrusion process of forming a tube of foamed polymer material, some of the dissolved gas is released into the inner cavity of the extruded polymer foam tube as the molten polymeric material exits the die. This can lead to deformities in the shape and dimensions of the final product.
Alternatively, physical blowing agents have been introduced into the polymer melt late in the extrusion process, i.e. after heating the polymer, but before the final pumping of the polymer melt through the extrusion die. Such a process still suffers from the same disadvantages as the previously described conventional process, and variations in polymer foam tube shape and dimensions are still present at unacceptable levels. Further, the foam cell size in the finished product has poor uniformity, which may adversely impact the ability of the tubing to expand in diameter following a crosslinking step.
Accordingly, there is an existing need for a composition for a polymer melt for extrusion to be used in tubing that will create a foamed polymeric material capable of being made into a useful heat shrinkable foamed structure, preferably in a continuous process, such as tube extrusion or parison blow-molding process, but not allow the gases to escape and deform the tubular structure.


A predetermined-area management system is configured to communicate with a communication terminal. The predetermined-area management system includes: a storage unit that stores image identification information for identifying image data and predetermined-area information for identifying a predetermined area in the image data in association with each other; a receiving unit that receives image identification information that is transmitted from the communication terminal; an extraction unit that searches the storage unit by using the image identification information received by the receiving unit so as to extract associated predetermined-area information; and a transmitting unit that transmits, to the communication terminal, the predetermined-area information extracted by the extraction unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a predetermined-area management system that is configured to communicate with a predetermined communication terminal, a communication method performed by the predetermined-area management system, and a computer program for implementing the communication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, systems have been provided to share the same image with multiple users, where the image captured by a digital camera, or the like, is uploaded by a user into an image management server on the Internet and the image is downloaded from the image management server by another user (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-120201).
In addition, social networking services (SNSs), such as Facebook, have rapidly become popular. In the SNS, users can post their comments with respect to shared images, and multiple users can view the comments.
Here, an explanation is given of the above-described comments with reference to FIG. 33. As illustrated in FIG. 33, with regard to the image of the traffic intersection that is uploaded by a user A, if a user B desires to bring sharers' attention to part of the image of the traffic intersection (here, "the image of a first building"), the user B can post the part of the image as his/her comment. Furthermore, if the user B desires to bring sharers' attention to part of the image of the traffic intersection (here, "the image of a second building"), the user B can post the part of the image as his/her comment. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 33, sharers can view the posted comments.
As illustrated in FIG. 33, a hyperlink is attached to each of "the image of the traffic intersection", "the image of the first building", and "the image of the second building" so as to enable access to the image data that is managed by the image management server of the SNS.
However, in the image management server of most of the SNSs including Facebook, comments are only linked to image data. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 34, each of a comment 1001 for referring the image of the first building for attention and a comment 1002 for referring the image of the second building for attention is only unidirectionally associated with image data 1000 for presenting the image of the traffic intersection. Therefore, users are not allowed to access the comment 1001 or the comment 1002 from the image data 1000 nor access the comment 1002 from the comment 1001.
Under such a circumstance, a problem occurs in that, for example, if the user B simply downloads the image data and the comment from the image management server to his/her communication terminal, it is difficult for the communication terminal to display the image data and the image to which the comment is attached such that they are associated with (linked to) each other.

Predetermined-area management system, communication method, and computer program product


Explosives detection polymers are provided that include a polyamine polymer, such as polyethylenimine, functionalized with a small molecule fluorophore. Methods for detecting an explosive material using polyamine polymers functionalized with a small molecule fluorophore are also provided. Sensors for explosive detection are provided that include a polyamine polymer functionalized with a small molecule fluorophore and a complementary analytical device.

Low level explosives detection in aqueous environments is challenging, in part, because the solubility of most explosives is low and saturation concentrations are hardly ever reached in open waters due to dilution. Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs), including trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrotoluene (DNT), and trinitrophenyl-methylnitramine (Tetryl), are the most common explosives and those which are most often found in aqueous environments. Currently, these compounds are detected using US EPA protocol SW-846 Method 8330 which involves reverse-phase HPLC with UV detection, chemiluminescence, spectrophotometric assays, immunosensors, surface enhanced Raman scattering and electrochemical methods. The current methodology, however, does not provide the required selectivity or sensitivity needed to detect these explosives, and others, at ultra low levels.
Fluorescence quenching methods, owing to their relatively low cost, efficiency, portability, high sensitivity, and ease of operation, have emerged as a preferred means of detecting NAC explosives. It is believed that the electron-deficient NACs bind to electron-rich fluorescent materials and result in fluorescence quenching by a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. In the past decades, a wide range of small molecule fluorophores and conjugated polymers have been developed for effective NAC sensing, but most of them are applied to detect explosives either in vapor/solid phase or in organic solvents, not in aqueous environments. Moreover, the quenching of fluorophores may be interfered with by other electron-deficient compounds.
Thus, there remains a need for selective detection methods capable of detecting low levels of explosives in aqueous environments.

Explosive detection polymer comprising functionalized polyamine polymers and methods of using the same


The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds, in particular to the preparation of compounds which may be used as intermediates for the preparation of antibiotics, preferably carbapenem antibiotics, more preferably ertapenem, and salts thereof.

Ertapenem (CAS Registry Number 153832-46-3; IUPAC Name: (4R,5S,6S)-3-[(3S,5S)-5-[(3-carboxyphenyl)carbamoyl]pyrrolidin-3-yl]sulfanyl-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid) is a carbapenem antibiotic by the structure:

Ertapenem is used to treat infectious bacteria, including gram positive and gram negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
WO 9857973 A1 discloses a process wherein ertapenem is obtained after the preparation of a monoprotected intermediate and subsequent deprotection via hydrogenation. In WO 9802439 A1 the preparation of a multiple protected intermediate of a carbapenem compound in an aprotic, polar solvent in the presence of a base is described. WO 2008062279 A2 discloses a process for the preparation of a diprotected, amorphous intermediate of ertapenem followed by deprotection and isolation of amorphous ertapenem. In WO 03026572 A2 a crystalline form A of the monosodium salt of ertapenem and its preparation by means of crystallization starting from a aqueous ertapenem solution and addition of organic solvents, pH value adjustment and addition of anti-solvents. IN 018900H2007 discloses the preparation of amorphous ertapenem starting from an aqueous ertapenem solution by pH value adjustment, addition of a precipitating agent and anti-solvents.
However, said prior art provides only processes having major drawbacks. For example, the diprotected intermediate obtained in WO 2008062279 A2 is not stable and requires a complicated isolation procedure, which leads to lower yields and the formation of byproducts.
Therefore, there is a constant search for new key intermediates, in particular for new intermediate suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts, which are obtained, purified and optionally crystallized in a convenient way. Moreover, there is a constant search for new processes for the preparation of ertapenem or its salts.
Therefore, it was an object of the present invention to provide new key intermediates, in particular new intermediate suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts, which may be obtained, purified and optionally crystallized in a convenient way.
It was a further object of the present invention to provide new key intermediates in crystalline form, in particular new intermediate suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts, which may be obtained, purified and crystallized in a convenient way.
It was another object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of such key intermediates, in particular such intermediates suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts.
It was another object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of such key intermediates in crystalline form, in particular such intermediates in crystalline form suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts.
It was a further object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of such key intermediates, in particular such intermediates suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts from known starting materials, e.g. the starting materials used in WO 2008062279 A2.
It was a further object of the present invention to provide a process for the preparation of such key intermediates in crystalline form, in particular such intermediates in crystalline form suitable for the production of ertapenem or its salts from known starting materials, e.g. the starting materials used in WO 2008062279 A2.
It was a further object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the preparation of ertapenem or its salts starting from known starting materials, e.g. the starting materials used in WO 2008062279 A2.
It was another object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the preparation of ertapenem or its salts starting from the new key intermediates.
It was a further object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the preparation of ertapenem or its salts starting from the new key intermediates in crystalline form.


A water jet injector for a sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device includes a foothold having a connector to connect with an external duct; a pipe installed at the front edge of the foothold and having two chambers; and two jet pipes each installed in its corresponding chamber and having a nozzle provided at the top edge of the jet pipe with a water outlet. The jet pipes are movable to and fro to clean the contaminated parts of the user's body with the cleaning water jet. Besides, a shade is stretched out of the pipe to cover the top edges of said nozzles so as to prevent the nozzles from being dirted by the soil and the user's body from being wetted by the residual water in the pipes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water jet injector for sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device, and in particular, to a water jet injector device equipped with an optical sterilization unit for cleaning the injector nozzles after use so as to avoid the residual water in the pipes to contaminate the user's body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device is a toilet seat device equipped with a water jet injector to clean the user's body after defecation so as to eliminate the residual soil sticking around the anus, and also prevent the accidental contact of the fingers with the contaminated parts of the body when using the toilet paper to wipe up the soil. Besides, the user might be more comfortable if the cleaning water is warmed instead of cold, and the unhappy feeling will no more exist if the toilet paper is not used.
In the sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device, the nozzle located under the path of the injection water mixed with the soil after it has cleaned up the contaminated part of the user might also be seriously contaminated. The next user of the toilet seat device will be dirtied by the water jet sprayed from the contaminated nozzle. The nozzle of the sanitary toilet seat device must be cleaned every time after being used, but simply using water is insufficient.
Warm water, however, gives an easy feeling, but the residual water in the water pipe cools down below the body temperature, which makes the next user feel unhappy. For these defects noticeable on the prior art, an improvement is seriously required.
The inventor of the present invention has put in very much effort on this matter for years to studying and improving these defects and come up with a novel water jet injector for sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device as provided in this invention to eliminate the defects mentioned above.

Water jet injector for sanitary self-cleaning toilet seat device


An expansion memory is used in a configuration of a first, second or third expansion memory. The first expansion memory is an expanded memory according to the EMS (Expanded Memory Specification) system which is accessed by a CPU through a window. The second memory (extended memory) is allocated within a memory address space so that it is accessed directly by the CPU. The third expansion memory is a combination of the first and second expansion memories. An operator specifies the capacities of the first and second expansion memories from a keyboard. The CPU determines from the entered capacity of the expansion memory that the extension memory is to be arranged in one of the first to third configurations and with what capacity so as to output control information to an expansion memory arrangement setting device. The expansion memory arrangement setting device responds to the control information to arrange the expansion memory in the specified configuration and capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system provided with a memory expansion function and, more particularly, to a computer system suitable for an expansion memory to be used in various expanded and extended memory configurations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, personal computers have an increasing tendency to increase their memory capacity and various types of memory expansion systems have been used. As expanded and extended memory systems, the following three systems have been in practical use.
The first memory expanded system is called EMS (Expanded Memory Specification) system. The system uses part of a memory address space as a window and accesses an expanded memory through the window. The system was developed jointly by three companies of Lotus, Intel and Microsoft and thus also called LIM/EMS. Memory cards (boards) that meet the specifications of the LIM/EMS system are commercially available by Intel and other companies.
The EMS system includes hardware having a paging function and software for controlling it. The software is called EMM (Expanded Memory Manager) and is a resident driver program which can be installed by users.
An example of conventional memory maps using the EMS system is illustrated in FIG. 1 . A part of a standard memory that the CPU can access directly is used as the EMS window, which is referred to as a physical page. The size of the physical page is 16 kbytes and there are four contiguous physical pages. The 64-kbyte area is referred to as a page frame. The expanded memory is accessed in units of 16 kbytes by each physical page and each unit of 16 kbytes of the expanded memory is referred to as a logical page. The CPU can access a maximum of 512 pages through the page frame.
The expanded memory is divided into units of sets for being controlled. One expanded memory system consists of a maximum of four sets each of which is formed of four classes Each of sets has a page control register.
The switching between a physical page and a logical page is carried out by writing the page number of a logical page into the page control register in each of the classes assigned to an I/O port address.
In this case, a memory address space of one megabyte (MB) or more is accessed through the window (page frame). In other words, in practice CPU can access a memory address space of one megabyte or more by accessing the window. Hereinafter, the expanded memory of the EMS system is referred to as a first expanded memory, and a configuration in which all of expanded memories are formed of first expanded memories is referred to as a first expanded memory configuration.
With the second system, a standard memory and an extended memory are allocated within an address space so that they are directly accessed by CPU. Hereinafter, the extended memory according to this second system is referred to as the second extended memory, and a configuration in which all of extended memories are formed of second extended memories is referred to as a second extended memory configuration. In the following description, the first and second systems described above may also be referred to as the expand system and the extend system.
The third system is configured such that part of expanded memory is made up of the first expanded memory and the remaining part thereof is made up of the second extended memory.
Thus, to construct computer systems so that they can execute application programs prepared to accommodate various different types of expanded and extended memories is important for succession to software assets.
However, there would be the possibility of occurrence of malfunctions if the above three types of expanded and extended memories were made available using the same hardware arrangement. For example, MSDOS supports 640 Kbytes, but is made up to access an expanded memory exceeding one megabyte, for example, through a window as shown in FIG. 2. Depending on machines, however, CPU could directly access a memory address space of one megabyte or more. The direct access by CPU might destroy the contents of a data area allocated in the memory exceeding one megabyte through EMM. More specifically, in the prior art, the memory configuration data of the expanded memory and the extended memory is not given to a memory system. This permits the expanded memory to be accessed by both CPU direct access and access through the window. Therefore, the expanded memory cannot automatically be protected from being accessed by CPU direct access, and also the extended memory cannot automatically be protected from being accessed by access through the window.
Furthermore, the prior system cannot detect the boundary between the expanded memory and the extended memory to thereby automatically control access of both the expanded memory and the extended memory.

Computer system with memory expansion function and expansion memory setting method


The invention provides a method of replacing the wheels of a railroad car while the railroad car is at rest on rail tracks. Most advantageously, the rail car need not be uncoupled from adjacent cars. The method also has the advantage that rail cars are jacked at the coupler thereby making the method applicable to all types of cars including grain and oil cars which cannot be jacked in their midsections. The method comprises the steps of: releasing the wheel to be replaced from the rail car; transverse insertion of a jack between the rails and the underside of the coupler; actuating the jack to lift the rail car supported upon the underside of the coupler; removing the wheel to be replaced; replacing the wheel; actuating the jack to lower the rail car onto the replaced wheel; securing the replaced wheel to the rail car. The invention also provides a jack for raising and lowering an end of a railroad car having a coupler extending therefrom, the railroad car being at rest on longitudinal rail tracks, the jack being disposed between the rails and the underside of a coupler, the jack comprising: a base supported upon the rails; a cap disposed in parallel above the base; coupler support means for supporting the rail car coupler upon the cap; and lifting means, disposed between the base and cap, for selectively raising and lowering the cap relative to the base between a collapsed position wherein the jack is clear of the rail car to facilitate transverse insertion between the rails and the underside of the coupler, and a maximum lift extended position. Advantageously the coupler support means comprise a travelling table means for shifting the coupler transversely thereby aligning the rail car wheel flanges on the rail head.

Railway car wheel maintenance poses several challenges. What is commonly called a "wheel" is in fact more accurately defined as a wheel assembly, which includes an axle with two flanged wheels press fit thereon. When an axle cracks or bends, the flanged wheels are damaged or require refinishing, a standard maintenance procedure is performed to remove the damaged wheel assembly and install a replacement.
Rail cars with damaged wheels may of course require maintenance anywhere along a railroad track. In some cases moving the rail car could be dangerous or inconvenient. In all cases the speed of the wheel change operation is important since a stationary rail car generates little revenue, and the damaged car may be blocking rail traffic. The location of the damaged rail car may be remote from repair facilities. The terrain adjacent the railway tracks is often very rough and access restricted.
Conventional responses to this problem have been partially successful. If the damaged car can be easily moved to a repair shed, a common solution is to lift the rail car with an overhead crane and then to replace the wheel. Often the time, cost and inconvenience involved in uncoupling the damaged car from a train, moving the car to a repair shed, and rerouting the freight, make this type of operation very unsatisfactory.
A preferred repair operation involves quickly replacing the damaged wheels of rail car while it rests on the rails without moving the rail car substantially. In emergency situations, rough terrain mobile cranes have been used to lift rail cars and perform repairs. Mobile cranes are expensive to operate and require large areas on or adjacent the tracks. The mobile crane must be transported to the site, and may require substantial labour and equipment to properly set up. It is unsafe to work close to or under a heavy load suspended by a crane and therefore safety concerns require that the rail car be securely positioned on blocks before workers can commence repairs.
Several systems have been introduced which use hydraulic jacks to lift the rail cars while they rest upon the rail tracks. Hydraulic jacks are relatively easy to transport and insert under rail cars. As well hydraulic jacks provide a stable base on which the car can rest during repairs.
Hydraulic jacks may be placed under the trucks of the rail car to lift the trucks off the damaged wheel. The jacks must be supported on blocks and levelled however increasing the repair time taken. A preferred method is to use the relatively level rail tracks for supporting jacks to lift the rail car. An example of one such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,823 to Belanger.
Due to the limited space available under the rail car trucks, the lifting capacity and maximum lift of such jacks is severely limited. In short, the more space that is available, the larger the jack, and the higher and heavier the capacity of the jack. To replace a rail car wheel, the lifting height capacity of such systems is simply inadequate.
Boxcars and container rail cars have structural frames with longitudinal beams. These beams of the frame have sufficient strength that enable the rail car can be safely lifted by placing hydraulic jacks on the rail tracks for support and extending the jacks upward to lift under the beams.
Prior art devices include systems where hydraulic jacks are supported on the rails in the midportion of the rail car. The jack is extended upwards to engage the underside of the rail car beam or frame to lift the rail car. Examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,805,875 to Jackson et al and 5,133,531 to Grashoff et al. There is ample space in the midportion of the car to utilize high lift capacity jacks, or as in the case of Grashoff, to position hydraulics outboard of the car.
A significant advantage of lifting in the midportion is realized when the jacks are used on articulated well cars. Whereas conventional cars have two trucks, one at either end of a rail car, well car trains are assembled from car platforms which share a common articulated track between them. The jack may be positioned in the midportion of one car to lift the car, an adjacent portion of the next car and shared truck off a damaged wheel. As such the jack is distant from the wheel and there is sufficient access space to replace the wheel.
Although well cars are used extensively for transporting containers and other specialty large height loads, they still represent only a fraction of the modem rail car traffic.
The obvious disadvantage of using a midsection lifting system is that it cannot be used on rail cars that do not have accessible structural frames or beams. Tanker rail cars are constructed as cylindrical tanks supported at their ends on trucks which are coupled together. Grain cars or ore cars often have hoppers, conveyor pipes, trapdoors and other hardware extending below the midportion of the car. Jacking in this area is either impossible due to insufficient structural strength, or is likely to damage such hardware. The acceptance of such midportion hydraulic lifting systems is severely limited since trains are generally assembled with an unpredictable variety of rail cars and a system that cannot be used on all cars of a train is less than ideal.
It is desirable therefore to produce a hydraulic lifting system that can be utilized regardless of the type of rail car or the nature of its structural frame. Ideally such a desired system would be easily transported and handled during the setup procedure.
It is also desirable to produce a lifting system which is simple to set up and does not require separation of the rail cars from an assembled train.


A method has been found to improve the efficiency of a cyclone system for a fluidized bed. The typical plurality of cyclones arranged in series in communication with the fluidized bed is replaced by a plurality of similarly-sized cyclones arranged in parallel, so that the residence time in each of the cyclones is greater than it was in the original system, thereby greatly improving the recovery of particulate material while greatly reducing the energy consumption of the system.

The present invention relates to cyclones used for dust collection, and, in particular, to cyclones which are used to return particulate material to a fluidized bed.
In the prior art, many fluidized beds have a plurality of cyclones connected in series, so that particulate-laden gas passes through the first cyclone, where much of the particulate material is removed from the gas and is returned to the bed, then passes through the second cyclone, where some more of the particulate material is returned to the bed, and possibly through a third cyclone, where additional particulate material is returned to the bed. So, in this typical situation, the same gas passes through all the cyclones, and there is approximately the same gas flow rate through all of the cyclones.
The particulate material that is being returned to the fluid bed is often a catalyst, which is very expensive, so there is a great financial benefit to recovering the particulate material.
The cyclones consume a large amount of energy, which is expensive. They also encounter problems in that, instead of sending captured particulates down the dip leg of the cyclone into the fluidized bed, sometimes they draw particulates up the dip leg from the fluidized bed, which greatly reduces their efficiency.

Method for cyclone conversion for a fluidized bed


A spiral cam has a tubular shaped portion defined by an interior cavity and an exterior surface that includes a cam contour. A linear slide assembly having a length defined along a rotational axis is defined to slide lengthwise into the interior cavity of the spiral cam. The linear slide assembly allows for movement of the spiral cam along the rotational axis and prevents rotation of the spiral cam relative to the linear slide assembly. A cam roller is fixed at a position proximate to the exterior surface of the spiral cam. The cam roller is disposed separate from the linear slide assembly and within the cam contour of the spiral cam. The cam roller engages the cam contour to move of the spiral cam along the rotational axis when the linear slide assembly and spiral cam are rotated in unison about the rotational axis relative to the cam roller.

During semiconductor manufacturing, a semiconductor wafer undergoes a plurality of process steps, each of which are performed by a specialized process tool. Pods are used to convey semiconductor wafers from one tool to another. Each pod is capable of transporting a number of wafers of a specific diameter. The pods are designed to maintain a protected internal environment to keep the wafers free of contamination, e.g., by particulates in the air outside the pod. Pods are also known for conveying other types of substrates, such as reticles, liquid crystal panels, rigid magnetic media for hard disk drives, solar cells, etc.
A loadport transfer device is defined to provide a standard mechanical interface to wafer fabrication production tools (process and/or metrology tools) to enable loading/unloading of pods into/out of wafer fabrication production tools, while ensuring protection of wafers therein from contamination. FIG. 1 shows an articulation schematic of a conventional loadport 10 having a window 12 through which a pod 14 is moved, in accordance with the prior art. The conventional loadport 10 is defined to move the pod 14 through the window 12 in a Y direction, and is defined to move the pod 14 in a Z direction. However, the conventional loadport 10 is not capable of moving the pod 14 in the X direction, i.e., in a horizontal direction. It is within this context that the present invention arises.

Horizontal displacement mechanism for cleanroom material transfer systems


in a diaphragm device for an x-ray apparatus for scanning a subject with a radiation beam and a scanning method using such a diaphragm device, the diaphragm device has at least two diaphragms. For at least one segment of the scan, the radiation beam that has been adjusted with the first diaphragm can be at least partially dynamically masked by the second diaphragm. High adjustment precisions for precise exposure of a measurement field of detector and high adjustment speed for masking of a radiation beam that is not needed for reconstruction of an image, or for reduction of a radiation exposure of the subject can be implemented to equal degree with the two diaphragms that are separate from one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a diaphragm device for an x-ray apparatus that is provided for scanning a subject, and a method for scanning a subject with such a diaphragm device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A diaphragm device is known from DE 102 42 920 A1 with which the radiation beam can be adjusted in a very precise manner on the measurement field of the detector to avoid an unnecessary radiation exposure given a scanning of a subject with an x-ray apparatus, for example in the form of a computed tomography apparatus. To adjust the radiation beam emanating from the x-ray radiator, the diaphragm device has a diaphragm with two beam-proximate absorber elements. The diaphragm is fashioned such that both absorber elements can be positioned (set) with a high adjustment precision before the beginning of an examination.
Given a helical scan of a subject in which the acquisition system rotates around a system axis of the computed tomography apparatus and with the subject being simultaneously displaced relative to the acquisition system in the direction of the system axis, for reconstruction of an image within a usable volume it is necessary to irradiate a scan volume that is larger in the direction of the system axis than the usable volume. The larger (in comparison to the usable volume) scan volume significantly depends on the algorithm used for reconstruction of the image. the total irradiated volume results from usable volume itself (defined by the reconstruction algorithm that will be used) plus a number of additionally-required rotations, or the additionally required fraction of a rotation that must be implemented during a leading or advance movement and a trailing movement of the x-ray radiator. Only a fraction of the information acquired during the leading movement and trailing movement, however is used later for reconstruction, such that the subject is exposed to an unnecessary radiation exposure during these segments of the scan.
With increasing volume coverage of the detectors in the direction of the system axis, the number of the rotations of the acquisition system for scanning the usable volume can in fact be reduced, but the number of the rotations of a spiral scan during the leading and trailing movements that are necessary for complete reconstruction of the usable volume remain unaffected by the volume coverage of the detector. As a consequence, the proportion of the rotations due to the leading and the trailing movement thus increases in comparison to the rotations that are required for the total scanning. The dose efficiency, thus the actual proportion of the radiation used for reconstruction, is thus simultaneously reduced.
For example, in a computed tomography apparatus having a detector with Z=16 lines and a line width of B=0.75 mm and an x-ray radiator that radiates the 12 mm-wide measurement field in the direction of the system axis of the computed tomography apparatus with a radiation beam adjusted (gated) by a diaphragm device, the proportion of the scan due to the leading -and the trailing movement in comparison to the total scan of the sample volume amounts to 12%, given a usable volume to be scanned of L=200 mm, a set pitch of P=1 and given one full rotation of the acquisition system required for reconstruction during each of the leading movement and the trailing movement of the scan. Only approximately half of the radiation applied during the leading and trailing movement contributes to the reconstruction of an image, such that the radiation exposure of the patient is approximately 6% of the radiation dose applied in total.
Given the use of a detector with Z=128 lines and a line width of B=0.6 mm, the proportion of the leading movement and the trailing movement in the entire scan would increase to approximately 77%, such that the additional radiation exposure of the patient increases to approximately 39% of the radiation dose applied overall.

Radiation diaphragm in device having two diaphragms, and method for scanning a subject therewith


A technique for efficiently rendering content reduces each complex blend mode to a series of basic blend operations. The series of basic blend operations are executed within a recirculating pipeline until a final blended value is computed. The recirculating pipeline is positioned within a color raster operations unit of a graphics processing unit for efficient access to image buffer data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to multi-threaded computer architectures and, more specifically, to programmable blending in multi-threaded processing units.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of important graphics rendering standards known in the art as OpenVG, SVG, Cairo, Skia, JavaFX, Adobe Flash, Adobe PDF, Apple's Quartz 2D, and HTML5 require complex blend modes that are not directly supported by conventional graphics processing units (GPUs). As a consequence, graphics content formatted according to these graphics rendering standards is conventionally rendered by a central processing unit (CPU), which is able to implement the complex blend modes using general processing operations. However, the CPU does not provide efficient, high-throughput processing compared to that of a GPU, potentially resulting in comparatively low CPU-based rendering performance for the graphics content.
Conventional GPUs organize graphics rendering work as a series of graphics objects that are each decomposed into a series of fragments, which are then transmitted to a fragment shader. The fragment shader computes a color for each fragment and generates a corresponding shaded fragment, which typically includes color and opacity information. Each shaded fragment is then transmitted to a color raster operations (CROP) unit, which is configured to blend the shaded fragment with color data for a corresponding pixel stored in a frame buffer. The CROP unit conventionally performs this blend operation using a fixed-function sum of two products circuit that does not directly implement the complex blend modes.
One approach to performing complex blend modes needed by the graphics rendering standards within a GPU is to program a fragment shader to implement the complex blend modes. While a fragment shader is highly programmable and able to execute the complex blend modes, read and write latency from the fragment shader to frame buffer memory is sufficiently long in a conventional GPU that rendering performance is crippled and likely falls below that achievable on a contemporaneous CPU.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is a technique for efficiently rendering complex blend modes within a GPU.

Programmable blending in multi-threaded processing units


A calibration method for a printing apparatus is disclosed. The printing apparatus has at least one ink pen and a carriage for scanning the ink pen across a printing region. The calibration method includes: (a) printing a test pattern across a print medium at a constant carriage velocity; (b) optically scanning the printed test pattern to obtain a sensor signal thereof; (c) setting the carriage velocity so that there are acceleration, deceleration and constant velocity printing regions; (d) printing the same test pattern; (e) optically scanning the subsequent test pattern to obtain a sensor signal thereof; (f) comparing the sensor signals of the two test patterns to determine ink dot placement errors; and (g) calibrating time-delay compensation values based on the dot placement errors.

Commercial printing apparatuses such as computer printers, plotters, copiers, and facsimile machines employ inkjet technology for producing images and text on print media. A conventional inkjet printer implements one or more inkjet cartridges, called "pens" by those in the art, to eject droplets of ink onto a print medium, e.g. paper. Each pen has a printhead formed with a plurality of small nozzles through which the ink droplets are ejected. The pens are typically mounted on a movable carriage. To print an image or text, the carriage traverses back and forth across the print medium in a direction traverse to the moving direction of the print medium. Each passage or scan of the carriage across the print medium prints a "swath." For each swath, the nozzles are fired to print groups of dots. After each swath is printed, the print medium is advanced relative to the carriage so that a subsequent swath may be printed. By repetition of this process, a completed printed page may be produced.
When the carriage is scanned across the paper, the carriage velocity is not constant. There are acceleration and deceleration ramps at the ends of a scan. In recent trend to downsize the printing apparatus, the so-called "printing on the ramp" has been introduced. In printing on the ramp, printing is performed during the acceleration and deceleration ramps. One advantage of this printing method is that the time required to print a swath is reduced, thereby improving throughput. In addition, the required traversing distance of the carriage is reduced, thereby enabling size reduction for the printing apparatus. However, printing during acceleration and deceleration ramps introduces ink dot placement errors (DPE) in the scanning direction of the carriage. These errors have to be compensated in order to improve print quality. Because each inkjet printing apparatus is made up of many different parts and each part is subjected to its own manufacturing imperfection, the amount of compensation would vary among different apparatuses. Thus, there exists a need for a method of printing during acceleration and deceleration of the carriage with compensation for errors in ink dot placement.

Calibration method for printing apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Disclosed aspects manage a shared pool of configurable computing resources. A resource demand value is identified for a target host. Resource supply values of dynamically-assigned resources are computed for donor hosts. Using the resource demand value and the resource supply values, dynamically-assigned resources are reclaimed from the donor hosts and distributed to the target host.

This disclosure relates generally to computer systems and, more particularly, relates to dynamically-assigned resource management in a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The amount of data that needs to be managed by enterprises is increasing. Management of a shared pool of configurable computing resources may be desired to be performed as efficiently as possible. As data needing to be managed increases, the need for management efficiency may increase.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dynamically-assigned resource management in a shared pool of configurable computing resources

International Business Machines Corporation


A control method of a fuel supply pump includes moving an anchor in the closing valve direction by passing a maximum drive current through the solenoid, and thereafter holding the anchor at a closing valve position by passing a holding current for keeping a closing valve state through the solenoid. The holding current is smaller than the maximum drive current. A current value of a first drive current is smaller than a current value of the holding current. A current value of a second drive current overlaps a range of the current value of the holding current. A current value of a third driving current is equal to or more than the current value of the holding current.

In recent years, the need for quietness of high-pressure fuel supply pumps is increasing from the viewpoint of improving comfort. Various inventions have been made concerning the reduction of noises of high-pressure fuel supply pumps. The methods of reducing noises are broadly classified into those based on structural change and those based on control. According to the latter control, the following invention is disclosed as a technique concerning reduction of noises of a collision sound generated at the time of opening and closing of a valve by controlling a current to a solenoid valve.

Control method of high-pressure fuel supply pump and high-pressure fuel supply pump using the same


A cotton bud with a rod-like grip body and with a bud body that is arranged at least at one free end of the grip body. The rod-like grip body is a biologically degradable extrusion body, and includes natural fibers embedded into a material matrix.

Field of the Invention
The invention generally lies in the field of hygiene products and care products and more particularly relates to a cotton bud (cotton swab, wadding bud, Q-tip), with a rod-like grip body and with a bud body arranged at least at one free end of the grip body.
Description of Related Art
Cotton buds of the aforementioned type and with bud bodies fastened at both ends are used in a multitude of manners for daily beauty care. Such cotton buds are, in particular, used for cleaning the ears, but are also used with eye cosmetics, manicure, lipstick correction, etc.
With regard to the cotton buds, it is the case of so-called disposable articles, which are led to waste treatment after having been used once. It is therefore desirable for the cotton bud as a whole or at least in part, to be biologically degradable and moreover as a whole or at least in part, to be manufactured of renewable raw materials. Whereas the bud body as a rule consists of natural fibres, such as cotton, the grip body is open manufactured of a plastic which is not biologically degradable, such as polypropylene.
A further demand on such a cotton bud is its inexpensive manufacture. Since with regard to the cotton bud, it is the case of a disposable article, this should be as inexpensive as possible. The price of the cotton bud is composed of the raw material costs as well as manufacturing expense. It is notable that the manufacture of the grip body is a large part of the overall manufacturing costs of the cotton bud.
It is therefore not too surprising that grips bodies of plastic, which are biologically non-degradable and thus less environmentally friendly, but inexpensive to produce, are widespread. Even the manufacture of the grip bodies from plastic requires comparatively little effort and is therefore inexpensive. Thus, for example, DE-A-2 013 886 describes a cotton bud with a grip body of a plastic tube piece which is manufactured with an extrusion method.
Earlier variants of cotton buds of wood are no longer obtainable today. This is due to the fact that the grip body, on account of the application of such care products in eye cosmetics, should not be too rigid or stiff. The grip bodies used nowadays, although still being comparatively stiff, however have a certain pliability or flexibility, so they buckle when a certain bending force is exceeded, but without splintering. The risk of injury with an undesired incorrect manipulation during the application of make-up or during the cleaning of the ears, for example, is reduced on account of this.
DE-U-297 16 819 describes a compostable cotton bud which is manufactured of cardboard or paper. The grip body of cardboard is manufactured by way of this being cut out or punched from a two dimensional cardboard body, or is obtained by way of a cellulose pulp being filled into suitable casting moulds and being pressed. The grip body of paper is manufactured as a wound body, with which paper strips are wound into a rod-like body with suitable winding techniques or technology.
The grip bodies described above either have the disadvantage that they are not environmentally friendly or that their manufacture requires some effort and is accordingly expensive.


Programmable devices, hierarchical parallel machines and methods for providing state information are described. In one such programmable device, programmable elements are provided. The programmable elements are configured to implement one or more finite state machines. The programmable elements are configured to receive an N-digit input and provide a M-digit output as a function of the N-digit input. The M-digit output includes state information from less than all of the programmable elements. Other programmable devices, hierarchical parallel machines and methods are also disclosed.

One example of a programmable device is a parallel machine. Parallel machines include, for example, finite state machines (FSM) engines and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A FSM is a representation of state, transitions between states and actions. Finite state machines can be expressed in the form of directed flow graphs. They can be used to solve problems in, for example, engineering, pattern recognition, biology and artificial intelligence.

Programmable device, hierarchical parallel machines, and methods for providing state information


A power conversion system includes a filter unit, a DC/DC converter, a DC link, an inverter, a control unit, and a traction motor. The DC/DC converter is used for boosting DC voltage of a DC source and electrically coupled to the DC source through the filter unit. The DC/DC converter includes multiple SiC MOSFETs configured in a synchronous rectification mode by channel reverse conduction control. The inverter is used for converting the boosted DC voltage from the converter to multi-phase AC voltage through the DC link. The control unit is used for providing PWM commands to the converter and the inverter, to convert the DC voltage to AC voltage configured to drive an AC driven device.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to power conversion systems, and in particular, to power conversion systems applied in electric vehicles or the like.
In recent years, there has been much research focused on countermeasures for environmental pollution and fossil fuels exhaustion. In particular, the automotive industry has concentrated efforts in the research of electric vehicles (EV) using batteries as the main energy source. In general, EV systems need a power conversion system which is used to transfer energy from the battery to a traction motor for driving the electric vehicle.
For example, FIG. 1 shows a conventional power conversion system 10 of an electric vehicle. The power conversion system 10 may include a battery 11, a traction motor 12, a DC/DC converter 13, a three-phase inverter 14, a DC link 15 including a capacitor C1, a filter unit 16, and a control unit 17. The DC/DC converter 13 is used to boost DC voltage of the battery 11 and is electrically coupled to the battery 11 through the filter unit 16. The inverter 14 is used to convert the boosted DC voltage from the converter 13 to three-phase AC voltage through the DC link 15. The traction motor 12 receives the converted three-phase AC voltage from the inverter 14 to drive the electric vehicle. The control unit 17 is used to provide pulse-width modulation (PWM) commands to the converter 13 and the inverter 14, to convert the DC voltage to three-phase AC voltage accordingly.
For implementing voltage conversion, the converter 13 and the inverter 14 each may include multiple switch elements such as twelve switch elements S1-S12 controlled by the PWM commands of the control unit 17. In the conventional power conversion system 10, these switch elements S1-S12 may include transistors such as silicon insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). However, the traditional silicon IGBTs S1-S12 may consume lots of energy during the energy transfer process, which decreases the efficiency. On the other hand, due to the silicon IGBTs S1-S12 generating a lot of heat, heat sinks (not shown) need to be arranged on the silicon IGBTs Sl-S12. This requires additional space and increases the weight of the electric vehicle, which in turn reduces its power density and performance.
Furthermore, for achieving multiple phases of voltage, the filter unit 16 may include multiple inductors, such as three interleaved inductors L1, L2, and L3. However, these individual inductors L1, L2, and L3 may require additional space of the electric vehicle as well.
In addition, for controlling these switch elements S1-S12, the control unit 17 should provide proper PWM commands. For example, FIG. 2 shows a control schematic diagram of the control unit 17 for controlling the DC/DC converter 13. The control unit 17 may include a difference element 171 and a PWM command generation block 172. The difference element 171 is used to obtain a DC voltage error signal VDC_Err calculated from a difference between a feedback DC voltage signal VDC_Fbk on the capacitor C1 and a predetermined DC voltage command signal VDC_cmd. The PWM command generation block 172 is used to generate proper PWM commands (PWM_cmd) according to the DC voltage error signal VDC_Err. The feedback DC voltage signal VDC_Fbk stands for the real measured voltage on the capacitor C1 and the predetermined DC voltage command signal VDC_cmd stands for a predetermined DC voltage.
It is understood that the PWM command generation block 172 may include some calculating elements, such as proportional integral regulators, limiters, difference elements, comparators, etc., to calculate the PWM commands (PWM_cmd). In the conventional control unit 17, the predetermined DC voltage command signal VDC_cmd is a constant voltage value (see FIG. 2). However, because the predetermined DC voltage command signal VDC_cmd is a constant voltage value, and the DC/DC converter 13 outputs DC power while the inverter 14 outputs AC power, the capacitor C1 should have sufficient capacitance to handle the pulsation power.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for embodiments of the invention.


Packages are described that balance the need for efficient packing of a plurality of absorbent articles within the package and a consumer's ability to easily discern and remove individual articles.

Flexible polymeric bags and cardboard cartons are two common forms of absorbent article packages commercially available today. For a variety of reasons, including costs and disposal waste volume, the packages can be tightly/efficiently packed with the absorbent articles. This can make removing individual absorbent articles challenging, particularly when the package is on the fuller side and/or when the articles are very thin (e.g., overall caliper of 1 to 5 millimeters). The present invention provides one or more solutions that balance the need for efficiently packed packages and a consumer's ability to easily remove individual articles from the same.


Disclosed is a golf club shaft ensuring improved durability and stability in direction in which a golf ball travels, irrespective of the intensity of a golfer's force.. The diameter of a main pipe (3) is enlarged over the entire length thereof to such an extent as to allow a suppression of flexure at the time of a swing. From a head side end (4) to a grip side end (5), the main pipe (3) is configured to be tapered or straight within a range of 0/1000 to 5/1000. The main pipe (3) is fashioned into a reversely tapered golf club shaft (1), a straight golf club shaft (11) or a positively tapered golf club shaft (21).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a shaft and a head for a golf club, and more particularly to a golf club shaft having an improved directionality at the time of a shot and a golf club head adapted to be connected to the golf club shaft.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A typical golf club shaft is of an overall length of 43 to 45 inches and is tapered with the head side diameter of about 8.5 mm for wood and about 9.4 mm for iron, and with the rear end diameter of about 15.0 mm for both. Due to the reduced diameter at its extremity, such a shaft has a higher flex and therefore is twisted to a large extent when the head tip or the heal hits a golf ball upon a shot, resulting in a poor ball directionality as well as a reduced carry.
Conceivable as measures for restricting the twisting of the shaft is to increase the thickness of a portion subjected to the stress or alternatively to reinforce the portion by means of a member having a higher rigidity. However, Such measures would give birth to a heavier overall weight or a greater shock and therefore permit only some advanced or powerful golfers to use the golf club.
For this reason, with the aim of improving the ball directionality and carry without reinforcing in particular the shaft itself, Japanese Utility Model Pub. No. Sho60-31743 discloses a shaft which is configured to be substantially straight from the tip to the rear end, with a taper within a range of 0/1000 to 4/1000 so as to secure the same diameter as the conventional shaft, thereby making the shaft itself flexible and reducing the diameter of the shaft as well as the air resistance at the time of a swing, to consequently ensure a faster head speed and therefore an improved carry. Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Pub. No. Sho62-59058 proposes a golf club shaft and a grip which are both configured to be straight so as to prevent a greater twisting action from occurring at a portion of the shaft in the vicinity of the head upon a shot and to inhibit an unstable orientation of the club face, thereby ensuring an easy control of the ball directionality as well as allowing the shaft flexure to appear overall without being localized only on the shaft tip side, to consequently achieve a greater restitution and an increase in carry.
It is however a fundamental premise for both that the shaft is flexible in the same manner as the conventional golf club shaft. It would therefore be essentially impossible to enlarge the diameter, which results in a lowered flex and a less shaft flexure. On the contrary, too small a shaft diameter in view of the sufficient shaft flexure will result in a lowered strength at the portion of the shaft in the vicinity of the head, so that a great twisting action may occur at the time of a shot depending on the position of the head which hits the ball, which will bring about an unstable orientation of the club face or a risk to damage the shaft itself. Thus, it was extremely troublesome to obtain a well-balanced shaft ensuring a proper strength at the portion of the shaft in the vicinity of the head as well as a good shaft flexure, since coordination must be made in consideration for materials and thickness of the shaft, the intensity of the golfer's force, etc.


An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts assembled in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a mating face and a mounting face opposite to the mating face. A plurality of receiving passageways are extending through the mating face and the mounting face to form a first opening and a second opening. The contacts are assembled in the receiving passageways from the second opening. Each contact defines a base portion of a plate shaped retained in the second opening by a pair of barbs at two opposite first and second sides of the base portion and a pair of elastic arms extending from two opposite third and fourth sides of the base portion to the receiving passageway. The base portion protrudes a soldering portion of a half-ball shaped from an inside face facing the first opening to an outside face opposite to the inside face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector having contacts with soldering portions of a half-ball shaped through which the contacts are welded to a PCB.
2. Description of the Related Art
A traditional electrical connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing. Each contact includes a contacting portion mating with a mating connector, a retaining portion by which the electrical connector is retained in the insulative housing and a soldering portion welded to a PCB (Print Circuit Board). The traditional soldering portion extends levelly along the mounting face or vertically. The said soldering portion might be welded to the PCB badly and occupy a big space on the PCB.
In view of the above, a new electrical connector that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

Electrical connector with a soldering portion of a half-ball shaped


A scanning exposure apparatus exposes a plurality of shot regions on a substrate to light while scanning an original and the substrate. The apparatus includes: a stage which holds the substrate and moves; and a controller which controls movement of the stage based on a driving profile that defines the movement of the stage. A portion in the driving profile, which defines the movement of the stage during exposure of at least one shot region, is formed by a sine wave having a frequency lower than a resonance frequency in a stage controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus and a method of manufacturing a device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A scanning exposure apparatus which exposes a wafer while scanning a mask and the wafer with respect to an optical system is the current mainstream exposure apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device. To improve the resolution, the scanning exposure apparatus must maintain constant the exposure amount (dose) per unit area, at which the wafer is irradiated with light during scanning. To do this, it is of prime importance to appropriately set, for example, the amount of light emitted by a pulsed light source and the interval between light emissions according to the wafer moving velocity.
In the conventional exposure apparatus, a wafer stage has a driving profile formed by a combination of an acceleration interval, settlement interval, constant velocity interval, and deceleration interval. Note that the settlement interval means the interval from completion of stage acceleration until the start of the constant velocity interval, that is, the transition interval until the control error that must be settled to position the stage becomes sufficiently small. A general scanning exposure apparatus performs exposure in the constant velocity interval in which the exposure amount on the wafer can easily be controlled to be constant. This is because in the constant velocity interval, simply maintaining the amount of light from the light source constant makes it possible to maintain the dose constant, thus easily sustaining high dose control accuracy.
The exposure apparatus is required to attain not only a given exposure accuracy and overlay accuracy but also a high productivity. This requirement has conventionally been met by increasing the power of a stage driving unit so that the stage can be driven at a high acceleration and velocity. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-373839 proposes an exposure system which performs exposure even in the acceleration interval, settlement interval, and deceleration interval while changing the exposure amount of light from the light source in proportion to the stage velocity, to maintain the dose constant.
Exposure during acceleration/deceleration in the prior art technique poses the following problem. That is, in intervals other than the constant velocity interval, the control error associated with the stage position is relatively large, and the positioning accuracy between the optical system and the stage is relatively low, so the overlay accuracy is relatively low. Also, in the intervals other than the constant velocity interval, the control error associated with the stage velocity is large, so adjustment of the exposure amount with higher accuracy requires controlling the stage in consideration of a stage velocity error. This not only complicates an exposure amount controller but also increases the number of factors which degrade the exposure amount controllability. Furthermore, to perform dose control with high accuracy, it is necessary to change the exposure amount of light from the light source so that it follows a change in stage velocity. However, in the stage acceleration and deceleration intervals, the velocity change rate is relatively high, so the exposure amount controllability degrades.

Exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device


A system for repairing damaged glass including a vacuum powered anchor for securing the damage repair system to a surface of a damaged piece of glass proximate to a flaw in the glass surface. Included is an evacuating enclosure coupled to the anchor, the couplement providing a means by which the enclosure is fixable relative to the anchor. A common vacuum source is selectively communicatable with the anchor and the enclosure so that vacuum pressure may be selectively applied in any combination to the anchor and the enclosure. A resin applicator is also included for depositing resin into the flaw. Also included is a repair device for a cracked piece of glass. The repair device includes at least one anchor for securing the device to a surface of the flawed piece of glass opposite the crack opening. At least one depressor is coupled to the anchor for distending the piece of glass away from the repair device thereby expanding the crack opening at the glass surface opposite the depressor so that repair resin may be more readily deposited into the crack's interior.

Shatterproof or safety glass is typically made of three layers: an outer glass layer, an internal synthetic resin or polymer layer which imports the shatterproof characteristics, and an inner glass layer. Although the glass is referred to as shatterproof, it readily forms conical chips when hit by a rapidly moving small object such as a pebble. The chip or break results in an air cavity in and potentially under the surface of the outer glass laminate. This initial chip can expand into a crack that extends across the glass if not promptly repaired.
The repair of chips and cracks on a piece of shatterproof glass typically is accomplished by injecting a glass repair resin into the air cavity of the damaged area. To help conceal the patch, the resin is selected to have a finished or hardened index of refraction that is close to that of the glass into which it is injected. The resin is allowed to dry and harden. Afterwards, the surface of the glass is leveled so that the surface presented is uniform across the patch. By repairing the glass, the more expensive cost of replacement is averted.
There exists many different devices and methods for repairing breaks in a windshield. U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,325 discloses an apparatus for repairing cracks along a windshield that includes positioning a cylinder over the crack in order to create a vacuum and pull air from the crack. With the vacuum in place, a side stem in communication with the cylinder allows resin to be introduced through the cylinder and into the crack. It should be noted, however, no vacuum pressure is made available for securing the apparatus to the glass. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,042 discloses an apparatus for repairing cracks in a windshield that includes utilizing air pressure to inject resin into a crack. The air pressure enables the resin to flow into the extended areas of the crack. Once again, no suction or vacuum is applied to the securing feet of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,780 discloses an apparatus for repairing conical chips in a windshield that includes a diaphragm attached to the bottom of a housing. The diaphragm provides a first enclosure means in which the housing is able to attach to the windshield above the chip by means of a vacuum. Resin is introduced into the crack through a second enclosure by means of a plunger, with manipulation of the plunger alternatingly creating a vacuum and pressure in the enclosure to force the resin into the chip. The housing is removed from the glass once the resin is plunged in by rocking the housing to allow air into the first enclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,413 also discloses an apparatus for repairing chips on a windshield that includes a first vacuum cup for securing the apparatus to the windshield and a second smaller cup which is placed over the chip and through which resin is introduced. The smaller cup is in fluid connection with the larger cup such that by evacuating the larger cup, the smaller cup is simultaneously evacuated. There is no means by which the vacuum may be selectively applied to the two different components and the vacuum is produced by a mechanical pump, not manually.
Most of a windshield repair cost is attributable to labor, with supply costs being relatively low. By providing a windshield chip and crack repair kit affordably available to the average consumer, labor costs are eliminated allowing an individual to inexpensively fix a break in his or her windshield. Additionally, the system should be easy to use as well as portable, and preferably no external power source required since the locations for repair may often be remote.


A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a gate structure formed on the substrate; a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, the source region and the drain region both having a first type of conductivity; and a dielectric layer having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the dielectric layer is formed on a portion of the gate structure, and the second portion of the dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and extending to a portion of the drain region, wherein the dielectric layer includes at least one recess on the second portion. An associated fabricating method is also disclosed.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. For example, as semiconductor circuits composed of devices such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are adapted for high voltage applications, problems arise with respect to incorporating a high voltage device with a low voltage device (e.g., a logic device) for system-on-chip (SoC) technology. Further, as the scaling down of logic devices continues with advanced technologies (e.g., 45 nm and below), the process flow may be accompanied with a high implantation concentration to prevent punch-through between a source and a drain or to reduce resistance of a source and a drain, and thus may cause greater leakage problems and the degradation of device reliability.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor structure having at least one recess

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.


A tappet comprises a foot having a convex cam contact surface and an axially extending hub, a tappet body having a lower body portion with a lower axial bore formed therein to receive the axially extended hub of the foot, and a bearing assembly positioned between the foot and the lower portion of the tappet body. The cam contact surface operates in a frictional relationship with a cam lobe of a rotating cam. The frictional relationship between the cam lobe and the cam contact surface of the foot induces the foot to rotate about the center line of the tappet. The bearing assembly operates to reduce friction as the foot independently rotates axially about a center line of the tappet body.

The tappet in an internal combustion engine is a well-known device, and is also commonly referred to as a lifter, valve lifter, or tappet. For examples of common forms of tappets, see William H. Crouse and Donald L. Anglin's Automotive Mechanics (McGraw-Hill 10th Edition), ISBN 0-02-800943-6 at pp. 131, and 169-170 and Smokey Yunick's and Larry Schrieb's Power Secrets (S-A Design Books 1989) ISBN 0-931472-06-7 at pp. 76-80, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 1 depicts a typical tappet application for a push rod engine. In general, a lifter or tappet interacts directly with a rotating cam shaft in the engine's valve train. That interaction begins the chain of events that converts the rotary motion of the camshaft into the reciprocating motion of the engine's intake and exhaust valves. The amount of horsepower generated by an engine is related to how efficiently the valve train operates. Indeed, it is common knowledge that, of all the adjustments that can be made to an internal combustion engine, adjustments to the valve train have the greatest impact on increasing horsepower.
In general, the more efficiently air enters and combusted gas exits an engine, as controlled by the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, the more horsepower the engine will produce. "Lifting," or opening the valves as high and as fast as possible, and closing the valves as fast as possible, are necessary to obtain efficient air and gas flow, and to achieve optimum horsepower. "High lift" is generally obtained by designing a camshaft having aggressive cam lobes with steep flank angles. Consequently, in high-performance applications, a tappet must be able to reliably negotiate the contour of an aggressive cam lobe at extremely high rpm's. In addition, the tappet must be durable and capable of withstanding extreme frictional forces and high valve spring pressures.
Push rod-type internal combustion engines typically use one of four types of tappets or lifters: the flat mechanical tappet, the mushroom tappet, the roller tappet, or the hydraulic tappet. Each of these types of tappets or lifters is discussed briefly below.
The single piece, flat mechanical tappet is inexpensive, simple to produce, and reliable in stock environments, and has been the industry standard for years. In high performance applications, however, the flat mechanical tappet has several limitations. First, the flat mechanical tappet requires an extensive and detailed break-in procedure. The break-in procedure typically includes: (1) polishing the lifter foot without disturbing the contour of its convex foot; (2) coating the camshaft lobes with a high performance lubricant; (3) preheating the engine oil before starting the engine, (4) installing light weight valve springs; (5) starting and running the engine for approximately thirty minutes at about 2500 rpm's to ensure that adequate oil circulation is present in the valve train, and that the tappets are broken in slowly; (6) after shutting down the engine, installing the proper valve springs. This tedious process is necessary to obtain optimum performance from both the tappets and camshaft. Second, mechanical tappets do not work well in high performance applications using aggressive camshafts characterized by lobes having steep opening and closing flanks.
The "mushroom tappet" was developed in an effort to address some of the limitations of the standard mechanical tappet, particularly for use with aggressive cam shaft designs. The mushroom tappet uses a foot with a larger diameter than the body of the tappet, which allows it to more easily negotiate the steeper flank angles of aggressively designed cam lobes. However, several drawbacks are also associated with mushroom tappets. First, before a mushroom tappet can be used, the engine block must usually be machined to ensure adequate clearance with the enlarged tappet foot. Second, the enlarged mushroom tappet foot requires that the tappet be inserted and removed from the bottom of the engine block, thereby complicating repairs or maintenance on the valve train. Third, even the mushroom tappet is characterized by relatively high friction rates requiring significant lubrication.
Moreover, all mechanical tappets are designed to rotate in their bore. The rotation is induced when the convex surface of the lifter foot is in contact the tapered, rotating, cam lobe. The rotation of the lifter or tappet in its bore is necessary to avoid prematurely wearing the lifter foot and cam lobe. However, several additional disadvantages are associated with tappet rotation. First, as the lifter rotates, considerable friction is generated between the surface area of the inside diameter of the lifter bore and the surface area of the outside diameter of the lifter body. Thus, mechanical tappets have relatively high friction rates that often require extensive modifications to the engine to increase the oil flow to the cam lobes and upper valve train in high-performance applications. Secondly, because mechanical tappets rotate, the use of "Rev Kits" (discussed below) has not been successful. Third, because the entire mechanical lifter rotates, it is not possible to use an offset push rod cup, which is often needed to gain additional push rod/cylinder head clearance in some applications. More specifically, offset pushrod cups are typically used in applications where the intake ports in the cylinder head have been cast much larger, thereby making it possible for the reciprocating pushrod to interfere with the side of the enlarged port.
To reduce the adverse effects of friction between the tappet foot and cam lobe, it is highly desirable to make mechanical tappets that are both light and strong, thereby reducing friction. However, the tappet must still be strong enough to withstand the extreme pressures exerted from the valve springs and cam lobe, and durable enough to withstand the rotational forces between the cam lobe and lifter foot. As a result, many types of light-weight, exotic, and expensive materials have been used to fabricate tappets. The optimum solution is one that would be able to utilize two different metals in the lifter. This would make it possible to use one type of metal for the lifter body, and one type for the lifter foot. However, the typical one piece design of a mechanical tappet dictates using the same material for the entire lifter body.
The "roller tappet" was developed in large part to overcome the many disadvantages of the mechanical tappet. Roller tappets reduce friction between the cam lobe and lifter foot, thereby reducing lubrication requirements. Thus, roller tappets are desirable in high performance applications, as they can maintain valve train stability at high rpm's and aggressive cam shaft designs. However, they likewise have several drawbacks.
First, many racing circuits do not allow the use of roller tappets. For example, one of the world's largest racing circuits, the Winston Cup Series, prohibits the use of roller tappets. Second, to achieve optimum performance with roller tappets, it is necessary to install an anti rotational device and Rev Kit, thereby further increasing the number of valve-train components, as well as the likelihood of failure. If failure occurs in a roller tappet, typically the results are instantly fatal to the engine.
A fourth common form of lifter is a hydraulic lifter. Hydraulic lifters have several advantages over both mechanical lifters and roller lifters. Hydraulic lifters automatically compensate for any clearance changes caused by temperature variation or wear. Thus, they should never need adjustment. Also because there is no clearance between the lifter foot and the cam lobe, hydraulic lifters are extremely quiet while in operation when compared to both mechanical or solid lifters. Mechanical or roller lifters need to have some clearance or "lash" between the lifter foot and the cam lobe to act as a cushion to allow for any tolerance changes due to thermal expansion or contraction encountered during repeated engine cycles.
However, hydraulic lifters also have some undesirable qualities. Hydraulic lifters are only as reliable as the cleanliness of the engine oil. Thus, if any dirt is present in the oil, the lifter will not compress or decompress properly, and valve and camshaft damage would soon result. Hydraulic lifters also do not work well at high rpm's, because the lifters have a tendency to "pump up" as the rpm's increase. In other words, as engine rpm's increase, more oil is introduced into the oil chamber, preventing the lifter from compressing and decompressing, and adversely impacting the stability of the valve train. The result, is a loss of compression and horse power because the valves are held off their seats.
Thus, the need exists for a new form of lifter or tappet that combines the many advantages of the different types of lifters or tappets with little or none of their varied disadvantages. Thus, a need exists for a multiple piece, roller-type mechanical tappet for use in high performance applications and that is effective, reliable, and inexpensive to produce.


Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, methods, and products comprises an analytic server, which evaluates user data for premium financing status and dynamically renders graphical user interfaces. The server trains an artificial intelligence model based on historical user data. The artificial intelligence model comprises one or more data points with each data point representing one of a plurality of attributes and applies a logistic regression algorithm to identify a weight factor for each attribute. The server uses a dynamic algorithm to generate a score by combining the plurality of attributes based on the weight factors. The server receives responses regarding the scores that indicate the premium financing status of each case. The server retrains the artificial intelligence model to identify new weight factors based on negative responses data. The server automatically displays new scores calculated based on the new weight factors.

Conventional data intake software solutions (e.g., spreadsheets) may provide an interactive cellular interface for data intake, display, and processing. These software solutions receive data and execute predetermined algorithms to identify results (e.g., scores calculated based on the inputted data). For instance, an end user may initiate a spreadsheet to input data where the spreadsheet executes predetermined algorithms to calculate a score based on the inputted data. These software solutions can be locally run or executed via a network-based protocol. As the processing power of computers allow for greater computer functionality and the Internet technology era allows for interconnectivity between computing systems, many institutions rely on these software solutions to process data. For instance, agents may utilize computing devices (e.g., tablets) equipped with spreadsheets where agents can manually enter customer data/attributes and receive a score.
However, these software solutions have faced several technical shortcomings. First, conventional software solutions use a static algorithm to calculate results. Using static algorithms is not efficient and may produce outdated results. Second, conventional software solutions do not provide a user-friendly method of revising algorithms used to calculate the results. For instance, conventional software solutions may require end users to manually revise the underlying algorithm (including various weight factors), which is a time-consuming and tedious process that is error-prone. Moreover, conventional software solutions require end users to be familiar with complex coding to revise the underlying algorithm. This task has been proven difficult because most employees have little or no software programming knowledge.

Systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of computer models

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


A vehicle is guided to a lane that the vehicle should run, even if map data do not include lane information of a tollgate.

The present invention relates to a navigation device mounted on a vehicle or the like, and particularly to a technique for giving guidance to an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) lane at a tollgate.
As Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) develop, an ETC system (a system for collecting a toll without stopping a vehicle) is introduced to a toll road such as an expressway. Accordingly, lanes (hereinafter, referred to as ETC lanes) adapted for ETC are provided at a tollgate.
However, not all vehicles are mounted with an in-vehicle ETC unit. Further, in some vehicles, an ETC card may not be set in the in-vehicle ETC unit although they are mounted with the unit. Thus, a tollgate also has conventional lanes for collecting a toll by hand as in the past.
Thus, there is known a technique (Patent Document 1) that considers mixture of ETC lanes and conventional lanes to guide a vehicle to an ETC lane by using information on lane layouts, which has been previously stored or is acquired by communication with a tollgate.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Un-examined Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-146598
According to the above-described technique, a navigation device should previously have information on a lane layout of each tollgate or map data including route information (such as links) for leading to each lane.
Thus, a navigation device without such map data can not guide a vehicle to a lane to run. Further, in order to incorporate new information such as the above-described information to already-provided map data, it is necessary to change the map data. This takes time and entails cost.
Further, in the case of a technique where an ETC system transmits information on a lane layout, the ETC system itself should have antennas used for communication according to Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) or the like.
Thus, in the case where an ETC system does not have such antennas, a navigation device can not guide a vehicle to a lane to run. Further, it takes time and entails cost for an ETC system to have such antennas.
In the present period of spreading of an ETC system, it is difficult to prepare map data furnished with sufficient lane information previously, and it is costly and takes time to accommodate such map data to the ETC systems of the whole of a country. Further, it takes time and entails cost also to improve the ETC systems of the whole of a country such that the ETC systems can transmit information on lane layouts.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for guiding a vehicle to a lane to run even if the navigation device uses map data that does not include lane information.

Abstract: A navigation processing part 100 makes a vehicle running path calculation part 112 calculate a running path of the vehicle from a point of a prescribed distance from the tollgate until an ETC receipt signal receiving part 114 receives an ETC receipt signal. Then, the navigation processing part 100 calculates an approximate position of an ETC lane on the basis of the running path, and accumulates the calculated approximate position in a storage unit. Further, when the vehicle approaches to the tollgate within a prescribed distance from the tollgate, the navigation processing part 100 obtains the approximate position of the ETC lane of the tollgate from the storage unit, and displays the approximate position through a display processing part 106, to guide the user to the ETC lane.


A sheet-fed printing press has at least one coating assembly configured as a non-impact coating assembly. The sheet-fed printing press has at least one transport belt which extends, having at least one transport section of a circular path thereto, parallel to a transport direction along a partial region of a transport path provided for a sheet. At least one coating location of the at least one coating assembly is arranged along the transport section of the at least one transport belt. At least one printing head is arranged connected to at least one first frame of the at least one coating assembly. The at least one transport belt is arranged, connected to at least one second frame, via at least one deflection device and at least one radial bearing. The at least one first frame, apart from at least one installation surface which is different from the at least one first frame and the at least one second frame, is arranged in contact to the second frame at most via flexible connections.

A number of different printing methods are used in printing presses. Non-impact printing (NIP) methods are understood as printing methods that do not require a fixed, that is to say, a physically unalterable printing forme. Printing methods of this type are able to produce different printed images in each printing operation. Examples of non-impact printing methods include ionographic methods, magnetographic methods, thermographic methods, electrophotography, laser printing, and in particular inkjet printing methods. Such printing methods typically involve at least one image producing device, for example at least one print head. In the inkjet printing method, such a print head is configured, for example, as an inkjet print head and has at least one and preferably a plurality of nozzles, by means of which at least one printing fluid, for example in the form of ink droplets, can be transferred selectively onto a printing substrate. Alternative printing methods, such as intaglio printing, planographic printing, offset printing and letterpress printing methods, in particular flexographic printing, use fixed printing formes. Depending upon the size of the print run and/or other requirements such as print quality, a non-impact printing method or a printing method that uses a fixed printing forme may be preferable.
The precise matching of a printed image on the front and back sides of a printing substrate that is printed on both sides is referred to as register (DIN 16500-2). In multicolor printing, the merging of individual printed images of different colors in precise alignment to form a single image is referred to as color registration (DIN 16500-2). In inkjet printing, as with other processes, appropriate measures must be implemented to maintain color registration and/or register. In particular, it is important for the relative position between print head and printing substrate to be known and/or kept constant. Registration is also referred to as color register. In the following, the term register mark will therefore also be understood as referring to a registration mark, i.e. a mark for checking color registration or color register.
Sheet-fed printing presses are known. However, conventional transport systems cannot always be used with particularly thick sheets.
From DE 10 2015 111525 A1, a sheet-fed printing press is known, which operates according to the principle of offset printing and which is equipped with additional inkjet printing elements that have print heads and dryers, which are optionally arranged so as to be movable. Drives for transporting sheets are not described.
From DE 102 27241 A1, a drive system of a sheet-fed printing press is known, in which drive control units act as module control units.
From DE 10 2011 088776 B3, a printing press that has inkjet print heads and dryers is known. The transport of printing substrate and drives provided for said transport are described only in connection with a web-fed printing press.
EP 0669208 A1 discloses a sheet-fed printing press having drive motors for cylinders and the capability of positioning said drives axially.
EP 0615941 A1 discloses a sheet-fed printing press having individually driven acceleration means.
From DE 697 21715 T2, a method and a device are known, in which mailpieces, in particular postcards, are singulated and fed to an inkjet print head. The mailpieces are accelerated to a first speed by a primary acceleration means and are accelerated to a second speed by a secondary acceleration means. The two acceleration means are driven by a common drive. A motor controller controls this drive as well as a drive that transports the mailpieces past the print head module. The mailpieces are decelerated by the secondary acceleration means as needed in order to increase the gap between a mailpiece and the mailpiece that precedes it. Because of the common drive, decelerating this secondary acceleration means also necessarily decelerates the first acceleration means.
US 2001/0022422 A1 and US 2013/0216291 A1 each disclose a method and a copying machine by which paper sheets are removed from a pile from above, singulated, and fed to a print position.
US 2002/0180138 A1 discloses a method and a device in which checks are singulated and marked. A primary acceleration means is operated more slowly than a secondary acceleration means. The checks are decelerated or accelerated by the secondary acceleration means as needed in order to adjust the gap between a check and the check that precedes it. At the same time, the primary acceleration means is decelerated or accelerated in the same ratio.
DE 10 2016 202 124 A1 discloses a sheet-fed printing press of modular construction, having inkjet print heads and conveyor belts.
DE 199 01 698 B4 discloses a printing press with a conveyor belt and inkjet print head.
From WO 2014/047513 A2, a non-impact sheet-fed printing press having a conveyor belt and coating positions is known.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,306 A discloses a non-impact printing machine for textiles, which likewise has a conveyor belt. The respective conveyor belt is mounted in a frame. Print heads are connected to or removed from said frame by means of replaceable sub-frames. Mechanisms are disclosed, with which the sub-frames are connected to the frames.
From DE 10 2010 060 405 A1, a non-impact printing press is known, in which the position of print heads in sub-frames can be adjusted.