A filter for removing leucocytes comprising a filter medium, said filter medium being a fibrous material made of a polyester fiber which is treated on its surface with a copolymer containing 40 to 80% by weight of units derived from glucosyloxyethyl methacylate.. When the filter of the present invention is used, leucocytes are removed from concentrated platelets or platelet-rich plasma without loss of platelets.

The present invention relates to a filter for removing leucocytes from concentrated platelets or platelet-rich plasma.
Platelet transfusion is effective for bleeding patients who show severe sympton due to thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis. Recently large amount of chemotherapeutics have been used for a treatment of a malignant tumor or a blood dyscrasia and the patients have shown thrombocytopenia after chemotherapies. Therefore platelet transfusions increase in the clinical cases. The patients who produced alloantibodies against HLA antigen show a transfusion reaction by leukocytes intermixed. In such case, the patients can not be administered with the general platelet transfusion but can be administered with HLA compatible platelet transfusion. However, HLA compatible platelet transfusion is not generally conducted because HLA type does not easily match. So, removal of leucocytes is the most effective method to prevent the transfusion reaction.
As a method for removing leucocytes from concentrated platelets or platelet-rich plasma, there are known following methods.
(1) A method wherein a platelet layer is obtained from a buffy coat layer by centrifugal separation for separating blood components.
(2) A method wherein a bag containing collected blood is centrifuged to remove a leucocyte layer.
(3) A method wherein a filter for removing leucocytes is used.
In the methods (1) and (2), leucocytes are removed utilizing the difference in the specific gravity between leucocytes and platelets. However, it is difficult to efficiently remove only leucocytes because the difference in the specific gravity between leucocytes and platelets is small.
In the method (3), concentrated platelets or platelet-rich plasma is filtrated through a filter wherein a fleece or a nonwoven fabric made of an extra fine fiber is filled into a housing. This method is widely available because a high removal rate of leucocytes can be attained with an easy operation. In this case, a filter comprising a filter medium using a fleece of a cotton, a regenerated cellulose or a cellulose acetate is not preferable because of the following reason. The diameter of monofilament of such material is large and therefore a large volume is required for a housing in which a required amount of the fiber is filled. An amount of residual platelets in the housing after filtration becomes large when the large volume housing is used. Therefore, a nonwoven fabric made of an extra fine fiber such as a polyester, whose character as a fiber medium is improved, is used. That is, the nonwoven fabric made of an extra fine fiber can save a volume of a housing, and realizes a high removal rate of leucocytes with lower loss of platelets.
In the method (3), however, there are defects that platelets are lost when a quantity of blood to be filtrated is small and that the removal rate of leucocytes lowers when blood is stored for a long period.
An objects of the present invention is to provide a filter for removing leucocytes which removes leucocytes efficiently from concentrated platelets or platelet-rich plasma without loss of platelets, solving the above mentioned problems.
This and the other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.


Pointing devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve manipulation of a cursor or other user interface component based on inputs from a user. In one embodiment, an image sensor captures an image of the underside of a transparent contact surface and determines whether an object (e.g., a user's finger) is present in the image. Cursor movement information comprising direction and velocity components can be calculated from a single image by equating the size of a detected object with a desired velocity and by equating the position of the detected object relative to a fixed reference point with a desired direction. Thus, detection of user motion is not required, nor is comparison of successive image frames relative to a time reference. As a result, a device having few or no moving parts can be provided while at the same time permitting continuous cursor motion without repetitive swiping by a user.

Many computer systems include an input device that allows physical actions of a user to be translated into manipulations of a graphical user interface of the computer system. For example, most desktop computers are configured with pointing device such as a mouse. When the mouse is moved relative to a fixed surface, movement of an on-screen cursor occurs in a direction and at a speed that corresponds to the physical movement of the mouse.
While the basic mouse has enjoyed widespread adoption as an input device for desktop computers, it can be less practical for use with portable computer systems or systems that are situated in a cluttered work environment. A number of pointing devices have been developed for such systems, however each suffers from inherent drawbacks.
A first type of pointing device involves a small joystick. The joystick includes a finger pad coupled to a small shaft that pivots relative to a fulcrum point. The direction in which the joystick is angled relative to the fulcrum point is used to determine a direction to move the on-screen cursor, and a force applied to the joystick is used to determine a speed at which to move the on-screen cursor. One advantage to this type of pointing device is that it can be positioned in proximity to a keyboard (e.g., in the center of a keyboard as in the case of a laptop computer). This allows a user to switch between using the keyboard and using the pointing device without having to move their hands from a "home" position. The moving parts involved in this type of pointing device are susceptible to failure however, particularly when a user applies excessive input force. In addition, dust, dirt, or oils can easily contaminate or otherwise disrupt the delicate parts of the pointing device. Further still, repeated application of excessive force to the pointing device to obtain fast cursor movement can lead to user pain and repetitive stress injuries. This type of pointing device can also suffer from cursor drift, and a user can find it difficult to reliably apply the correct amount of force.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,219 to Rutledge et al. discloses exemplary signal processing that can be used with pointing devices of the first type. Input force applied to the joystick is related to a velocity of a cursor on a video screen according to a transfer function. The transfer function, shown in FIG. 2 of the Rutledge patent, has a dead band between force thresholds F0 and F1, a low plateau between force thresholds F2 and F3, a parabolic-sigmoid between force thresholds F3 and F4, and a high plateau between force thresholds F4 and F5.
A second type of pointing device involves an optical scanner that reads the swipe of a user's finger. While this type of pointing device generally does not have moving parts, it requires several swipe actions by the user when moving a cursor for a long distance, which is inefficient and can cause user discomfort, fatigue, or annoyance. This type of pointing device also usually requires movement of the user's hands from the home position, which is undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,713 to Van Brocklin et al. discloses an exemplary pointing device of the second type. The Van Brocklin device uses a transparent curved surface and an optical sensor to detect movement of a user's finger. The optical sensor captures successive images of the curved surface and calculates the change in position of a user's finger between the successive images. This change in position is related to a time scale and used to generate direction and velocity data for moving a cursor. The device of Van Brocklin is thus analogous to the second type of pointing device described above, in that it relies on motion of a user's finger relative to a fixed surface to determine cursor speed and direction.
Japanese Publication No. JP2003-216321 to Kato discloses a pointing device of the second type that is very similar to the device disclosed in Van Brocklin. A dome-shaped cover is provided over an image pickup element which captures a video signal of a user's finger moving across the dome-shaped cover. This movement detection is used to control movement of a cursor on a display.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,540 to Gordon et al. discloses yet another pointing device of the second type in which a transparent stud is provided over an image sensor. Movement of a user's finger across a top surface of the stud is detected and translated into motion of a cursor.
A third type of pointing device involves a jog ball mounted within a recess and configured to rotate first and second orthogonal rollers when the ball is manipulated by a user. Like the joystick type pointing devices described above, this type of device includes moving parts and is susceptible to contamination from dirt or dust. Pointing devices of the third type can also be broken easily when excessive operating force is applied.
In view of these and other shortcomings, a need exists for improved pointing devices.
Each of the patents and publications discussed above are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Pressure and position sensing pointing devices and methods


A TMOS device (10) is formed using a semiconductor layer (16) of a first type. First and second regions (62,64) of the second type are formed in the semiconductor layer and are spaced apart. A third region (68) is formed in the semiconductor layer by implanting. The third region is between and contacts the first and second doped regions, is of the second conductivity type, and is less heavily doped than the first and second doped regions. A gate stack (67) is formed over a portion of the first doped region, a portion of the second doped region, and the third doped region. By implanting after forming the gate stack, fourth and fifth regions (98,100) of the first type are formed in interior portions of the first and second doped regions, respectively. The third region being of the same conductivity type as the first and second regions reduces Miller capacitance.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to field effect transistor (FET) devices, and more specifically, to high voltage TMOS FET devices with a low gate charge structure and a method of making the same.
2. Related Art
Field effect transistors (FETS) are widely used today. A common variety are often referred to as metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices even though the "metal" may be made of other things than simple metals and the "oxide" may also be of other things than simple oxides. Accordingly, as used herein the terms "metal" and "oxide" are intended to include any convenient and stable conductive and insulating materials, respectively. A particular variety of MOS devices useful for power applications are TMOS devices, so called because the current pathway follows a "T" shape.
While conventional TMOS devices are very useful, they suffer from a number of limitations well known in the art. For example, the on-resistance RDS(ON) is often higher than desired, the gate-source and gate-drain capacitances CGS and CGD are often larger than desired, the gate charge QG can be larger than desired, and other device properties may also be less than optimum. While various improvements have been made in the past to attempt to ameliorate these problems, it has often been the case that what is done to improve one characteristic results in degradation of another important characteristic. For example, the device on resistance RDS(ON) can be improved by increasing a doping level within a JFET region or by increasing a length dimension of the gate; however, this tends to undesirably increase the Miller capacitance CGD and/or the gate charge QG, and/or undesirably reduce the break-down voltage BVDSS of the device. Conversely, CGD and QG can be reduced, and/or BVDSS can be increased by thickening the gate oxide above the JFET region or decreasing the gate length; however, this tends to increase the device on resistance RDS(ON) and/or undesirably perturb the threshold voltage of the device. These and other factors combine to limit the device's ability to switch large amounts of power at high frequencies.
A figure of merit (FOM)=RDSON*QG can be defined at a predetermined threshold voltage that is useful in predicting the capabilities of TMOS power devices for high frequency, high power applications. Present day TMOS power devices have FOM values in the range of about 90 to 120 (milli-Ohms)*(nano-Coulombs) at, for example, a gate to source voltage of VGS=4.5 volts. In order to be able to efficiently switch significant amounts of power (e.g., 20-200 amps) at frequencies in the range of about 10E5 to 10E6 cycles per second (cps) or higher, smaller values of FOM are important. Thus, there is an ongoing need for TMOS devices whose figure of merit is more suited to high-frequency, high-power applications. Accordingly, there is a need for TMOS devices having these and other desirable features. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an improved device structure and method that provide TMOS devices of the desired properties, especially devices with figures of merit equal or less than about 80 (milli-Ohms)*(nano-Coulombs). In addition, it is desirable that changes in device structure and method of fabrication used to improve the devices be compatible with existing device manufacturing techniques.
Additional desirable features and characteristics of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

High voltage TMOS semiconductor device with low gate charge structure and method of making


An unobscured five-mirror afocal telescope includes an aperture configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to first, second, third, fourth and fifth mirrors, each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and reflect electromagnetic radiation along a beam path. The five mirrors are arranged to sequentially reflect from one another electromagnetic radiation received via the aperture to produce a collimated output beam of the electromagnetic radiation at an exit pupil, with the five mirrors consisting of a three-element objective and a two-element eyepiece. A beam splitter may be disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror to direct short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation toward a device along a separate path.

This invention relates generally to optical systems and, more particularly, to an unobscured five-mirror afocal telescope with optional extensions to provide a companion telescope path with a common primary mirror.
Reflective optical systems are desirable for many optical applications because they reflect all wavelengths of incident light equally, unlike refractive systems in which refraction is wavelength dependent. Reflective optical systems may also be made quite compact.
Wide field of view (WFOV) optical systems, such as reflective afocal telescopes are used in a variety of applications, such as multispectral applications and certain space sensor systems, for example. Object space may be viewed via the telescope exit pupil by various types of sensors which include an imaging (focal) optical system and a detector, such as a focal plane array. Five-mirror focal and afocal telescopes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,282 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0090171 A1, both assigned the assignee of the present disclosure and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In prior embodiments, active and passive functions over disparate wavebands were implemented with separate sensors. Current electro-optical applications desire to combine these functions into a single sensor. There is a need for optical telescopes that can combine both active and passive modes, but these functions can require different layouts. For instance, high power laser systems may require telescopes with no internal focus to avoid high energy densities whereas telescopes for WFOV passive imaging applications need relayed pupils which requires an internal focus. In addition, some scanning functions require prescribed angular field mappings. Traditional telescope designs cannot provide the functionality needed.


Liquid medicaments incorporate about 1.0-3.0% active benzoyl peroxide (BP) by weight in substantially fully solubilized form, while being substantially free of acetone and other harsh, dermatologically undesirable solvents. The novel compositions are produced by (a) creating an emulsion or slurry of BP in an emollient, topically acceptable ester, and (b) dissolving the emulsion or slurry in absolute alcohol. The medicaments may be used in the treatment of BP-responsive skin conditions in mammals, e.g., acne vulgaris or rosacea. The novel medicaments may be dispensed directly to the affected skin area through the use of an applicator device comprising a fluid reservoir associated with a foam applicator tip, or via a spray dispenser, atomizer or pump spray.

Acne vulgaris, or simply, acne, is a skin disease affecting 80% of the human population from 11 to 30 years of age; and, as such, is the most common skin disease in the United States. If not properly treated acne may continue into middle age, resulting in permanent scarring, disfigurement, as well as emotional problems. Although treatment options exist, effective treatment is becoming more difficult due to the emergence of systemic antibiotic-resistant strains of Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne.
Resistance to traditional anti-acne antibiotics is reported to have risen from "extremely rare" in the mid-1980's to over 60% in 1996. It is now estimated that 1 in 4 acne patients are infected by acne strains resistant to at least one of the major systemic antibiotics traditionally used by dermatologists. Cooper, Med. J. Aust., 169:259-261 (1998).
Rosacea is a chronic dermatitis of the face, especially of the nose and cheeks, characterized by a red or rosy coloration caused by dilation of capillaries, and the appearance of acne-like pimples. This condition is also called "acne rosacea," and is caused by similar bacterial agents in the skin. Rosacea has similarly become more resistant to traditional antibiotic therapies in recent years.
Conventional topical therapies for acne, depending on the severity and extent of the disease, include treatment of the patient with one or more of the following therapeutic agents: (1) comedolytic agents, such as salicylic acid, tretinoin, adapalene, azelaic acid, and tazarotene; (2) bactericidal agents, such as benzoyl peroxide; (3) topical antibiotics, such as clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline; and (4) antimicrobial agents, such as sodium sulfacetamide and metronidazole, which can act as anti-inflammatories.
Topically applied benzoyl peroxide ("BP") is considered the drug agent of choice in the effort to eliminate resistant acne strains. BP is clinically superior to the antibiotics in its ability to kill acne bacteria while continuing to repress resistant strains. In addition, BP is highly lipophilic and concentrates itself inside the lipid-rich, sebaceous, skin follicles where its bacterial action specifically targets P. acnes; and, despite its continued use, it does not cause resistant strains to develop. In fact, BP was found to be more effective than either clindamycin or erythromycin in killing the bacteria responsible for causing acne. Leyden, Cutis, 67 (suppl. 2): 5-7 (2001); Leyden et al., Am. J. Clin. Derm., 2(1):33-39 (2001).
While topical medicaments containing BP have been used for at least several decades as a treatment for acne and rosacea, the formulations containing BP have generally been restricted to creams, gels and high viscosity liquids or lotions wherein BP can be suspended either in a colloidal matrix or a slurry. Liquid BP formulations proposed in the art, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,330, contain substantial concentrations of solvents highly irritating and/or drying to the skin, e.g., acetone. Dermatologically safe, truly solubilized BP formulations have not been available in the prior art. Such liquid formulations are desirable to allow BP to be applied to the affected skin sites by, e.g., a dab-on sponge or foam-tipped applicator associated with a reservoir, both for convenience and comfort of use and to allow greater penetration of BP into the skin layers than is achieved with conventional creams and gels. With greater penetration, lower concentrations of BP can be used.
The problem in creating liquid BP formulations is that BP is virtually insoluble in water and most solvents that may be safely used in dermatological preparations and do not cause undue irritation. BP is most soluble in solvents which are unsuitable for application to the skin in substantial concentrations, e.g., acetone, ethers, benzene or chloroform, or in solvents wherein the BP is unstable and degrades rapidly, e.g., propylene glycol formulations of which also have an undesirable greasy feel. In fact it has been found that BP stability in hydric solvents bears an inverse relationship to its solubility, with the least stable formulations being those using hydric vehicles wherein BP is most soluble. Chellquist et al., Pharm. Res., 9:1341-1346 (1992). Indeed, Chellquist et al. recommend using suspension formulations of BP in vehicles that exhibit low BP solubility in order to decrease BP degradation and achieve stability.
Since BP is not soluble in many dermatologically safe vehicles, it must be micropulverized in order to reduce particle size even when the BP is formulated as a suspension in a gel or cream vehicle; otherwise, the user can feel the gritty texture of the BP when the cream or gel is applied to the skin. Furthermore, formulating BP in creams, gels or lotions sometimes requires heating of various phases after the BP is added. Such pulverization or shearing of dry BP particles or heating of BP in suspension is quite dangerous because BP is very unstable and potentially explosive when heated or stressed (and milling processes generate substantial heat as well). Many accidental explosions have been reported worldwide in the production, storage and handling of BP bulk material. As a result, BP raw material is typically supplied and packaged phlegmatized (desensitized) with water to make it safe to transport and use.
It has been found that relatively stable submicron emulsions of BP can be formulated using surfactant/co-surfactant/oil/water mixtures, e.g., ternary mixtures of Cremophor EL, glycerin, caprylic-capric triglycerides and water. Nielloud et al., Drug Devel. Ind. Pharm., 28:863-870 (2002). Such microemulsions, however, are viscous, and despite the submicron size of the BP particles, they still tend to deposit in and clog the pores or cells of a sponge or foam-tip applicator, eventually preventing the exit of the BP-containing emulsion from the reservoir.
Topical liquid medicaments containing true, stable solutions of BP in pharmaceutically effective concentrations are required.

Liquid compositions containing solubilized benzoyl peroxide


A plasma etching method for plasma etching, in a processing chamber, an antireflection film laminated on an organic film formed on a substrate by using an etching mask made of a resist film formed on the antireflection film, the plasma etching method includes: depositing a Si-containing compound on the etching mask made of the resist film by using plasma of Si-containing gas in the processing chamber; and etching the antireflection film in a state where the Si-containing compound is deposited on the etching mask.

Recently, with a trend toward miniaturization and high-integration of semiconductor devices, EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) lithography technology using EUV light of 13.5 nm, which is shorter compared to an ArF excimer laser (with wavelength of 193 nm) mainly used in current photolithography technologies of semiconductor devices, is drawing attention as a next generation technology that makes it possible to fabricate a hyperfine pattern of 20 nm or less.
However, a thickness of an EUV resist film is about 50 nm, which is less than half the thickness of an ArF resist film that is now widely used. For this reason, when a film to be etched (a base film, referred to as an etching-target film) is plasma etched by using the EUV resist as a mask, the EUV resist mask is also etched, so that a thickness or line width of the etching-target film cannot be made to a desired value.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-505497 discloses a method of performing a plasma etching process by using, as a mask, a resist which has a small thickness and is formed of two layers.
In the method disclosed in the above-cited reference, a pattern is formed by an exposure process on an upper layer of the resist and then a lower layer of the resist is etched with a silicon-containing gas, SiCl4. The silicon-containing gas is deposited on the side wall of the lower layer when the lower layer is etched, and an etching mask of the two-layer resist is formed by realizing anisotropic etching.
In photolithography technologies, an antireflection film is commonly formed since it prevents the dimensional percision of a resist from deteriorating after being developed by reflecting light of a light source off the silicon substrate when the resist film is exposed. The above-described EUV resist film is useful in etching the antireflection film.
However, as disclosed in the above-cited reference, when the etching mask is formed by the anisotropic etching, it is very difficult to precisely adjust a size in the horizontal direction of the etching mask. Therefore, it is difficult to make the line width of the etching-target film be a desired value.

Plasma etching method and plasma processing apparatus


A high voltage MOS transistor with a gate extension that has a reduced electric field in the drain region near the gate is provided. The high voltage MOS transistor includes a first and second gate layers, and a dielectric layer between the gate layers. The first and second gate layers are electrically coupled togther and form the gate of the transistor. The second gate layer extends over the drain of the transistor above the dielectric and gate oxide layers to form the gate extension. The gate extension reduces the peak electric field in the drain by providing a wide area for the voltage to drop between the drain and the gate of the transistor. The dielectric layer also reduces the peak electric field in the drain near the gate by providing insulation between the gate and the drain. A lower electric field in the drain reduces the impact generation rate of carriers. The high voltage MOS transistor of the present invention may be fabricated without additional processing steps in BiCMOS and CMOS processes that use dual polysilicon layers and a dielectric layer that are used to form capacitors.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for high voltage transistors. More specifically, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for high voltage MOS transistors with a gate extension.
Many applications for semiconductor devices require MOS transistors that can operate with high voltages (e.g., greater than 40 volts) at their terminals. At a high drain-to-source voltage and a low gate voltage, the voltage drop between the drain and the gate of an MOS transistor across the gate oxide can produce a large electric field in the portion of the drain that is underneath the gate. If the gate overlaps the drain in a small area and the gate oxide layer is thin, the large electric field can cause a high impact generation rate of carriers that may result in hot carrier injection and breakdown. Hot carrier injection can cause carriers to become trapped in the gate oxide causing the threshold voltage of the transistor to change, which is undesirable. Breakdown may cause undesirable parasitic currents and device failure. A large electric field can also increase stress on the gate oxide layer increasing the chances of a device failure.
One previously known high voltage MOS transistor 10 is shown in FIG. 1A. In transistor 10, thick field oxide 11 is formed over N-type drain region 13, and a portion of gate 12 of transistor 10 is formed along the upper edge of thick field oxide 11 as shown in FIG. 1A. Thick field oxide 11 reduces the electric field in N-type drain region 13 below gate 12 to reduce the high impact generation rate of carriers. However, thick field oxide 11 causes transistor 10 to have undesirably large device dimensions. Thick field oxide 11 also increases the resistance between the drain-to-source (RDs-ON) which is also undesirable, because field oxide 11 encroaches down into N-type drain region 13. A further disadvantage of transistor 10 is that the N-type doping concentration in N-type drain region 13 is higher near bird's beak 11A of thick oxide 11 than the N-type doping concentration near the lower boundary 11B of thick oxide 11. This effect causes an increased electric field under the gate which is also undesirable.
Another previously known high voltage MOS transistor 20 is shown in FIG. 1B. Transistor 20 has N-type extension region 22 which is an extension of the drain region of the transistor. N-extension 22 has a lower N-type doping concentration than highly doped N+ drain region 24. N-extension 22 increases the drain-to-body breakdown voltage in transistor 20. However, the peak electric field on the drain side is high at a high drain-to-source voltage. The high electric field in N-extension 22 may cause hot carrier injection in gate oxide 26.
Another previously known high voltage MOS transistor 30 is shown in FIG. 1C. Transistor 30 has gate oxide 36 and gate 32. Gate oxide 36 has a thick portion 36A that extends over N-extension region 22 as shown in FIG. 1C. Gate 32 of transistor 30 has a stepped portion 32A that extends over a portion of thick portion 36A of gate oxide 36. Transistor 30 has a reduced electric field and a reduced impact generation rate of carriers in N-extension 22 at high drain voltages. Transistor 30 requires additional process steps relating to the formation of thick oxide portion 36A that are not typically used in standard CMOS and BiCMOS processes. These additional steps increase the complexity and time associated with the fabrication of MOS transistor 30.
It would, however, be desirable to provide a MOS transistor that can operate at high voltages with a reduced peak electric field in the drain so that the impact generation rate is not high enough to cause breakdown or substantial hot carrier injection. It would further be desirable to provide a high voltage MOS transistor that can be fabricated with process steps that are standard in CMOS and BiCMOS processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High voltage MOS transistor with gate extension


It is provided a solution for controlling interference in a cellular telecommunication system. An interference controller of the cellular telecommunication utilizes interference level information received from another cellular telecommunication system in controlling interference towards a target cell suffering from high interference which degrades the grade of service in the target cell. The interference level information comprises information on levels of interference between neighboring cells of the other cellular telecommunication system. The interference controller analyzes the received interference level information and controls communication links in cells of the cellular telecommunication system determined to cause the highest interference towards the target cell. The cells determined to cause the highest interference towards the target cell are determined from the received interference level information.

Due to an increase in the number of cellular telecommunication systems because of upcoming next generation cellular telecommunication systems, two cellular telecommunication systems may have to be allocated to share at least partly the same radio resources, e.g. frequency. For example, if an operator cannot acquire new frequency spectrum to operate a new evolution of the third generation cellular telecommunication system, the new cellular telecommunication system has to be allocated to share the same frequency band with a current second generation cellular telecommunication system, such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). For example, GSM typically uses a frequency reuse factor of three or higher and, therefore, frequency resources may be allocated to the GSM cells such that neighboring cells do not use the same frequency band. The new evolution of the third generation cellular telecommunication system may, however, be configured to use a frequency reuse factor of one, i.e. to use the same or overlapping frequency bands in all cells, which results in interference between the two cellular telecommunication systems. Accordingly, there is a need for controlling the interference to avoid losses in quality of service in the cellular telecommunication systems.


A pressure regulator apparatus and method for controlling the pressure in a pressure system is disclosed. The pressure regulator broadly includes a pressure transducer and a regulator control circuit. The pressure transducer measures the pressure of the pressure system, and the regulator control circuit controls the pressure in the pressure system in response to the pressure reading of the pressure transducer. The regulator control circuit compares the measured pressure to a predetermined set-point value for maintaining the pressure within a predetermined optimal pressure range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pressure regulators for controlling the pressure in pressure systems, and more particularly to a pressure regulator apparatus and method for controlling the pressure in a milking system by maintaining the pressure within a predetermined optimal range. As used herein, pressure is understood to mean absolute pressure which encompasses both vacuum and gauge pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pressure systems are used in many processes including milking systems, food production and processing systems, oil and gas distribution systems, and other manufacturing and distribution systems. Pressure systems typically include one or more pressure or vacuum pumps, one or more reserve tanks, pipelines, and a control valve for letting fluid flow into or out of the system to alter the pressure in the system.
For optimal pressure system operation, a steady pressure is desired. However, during use, the pressure of a pressure system varies due to fluid usage and loss by the components of the pressure system. Pressure regulators attempt to compensate for these variances by controlling the opening and closing of the control valve to maintain a desired pressure.
Prior art pressure regulators suffer from several limitations that limit their utility. For example, prior art pressure regulators are not rigorously designed to take into account the system dynamics of pressure systems and thus cannot be reconfigured for different pressure systems. Accordingly, prior art pressure regulators cannot be customized for optimal control of a specific installation.
A more particular limitation of prior art pressure regulators is that they do not control pressure in accordance with an optimal set-point. Thus, prior art pressure regulators often drift away from the desired pressure to a new pressure level when system fluid usage or other conditions change. As a result, when using prior art pressure regulators, it is necessary to frequently measure the pressure in the pressure system and recalibrate the pressure regulator.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved pressure regulator that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. More particularly, there is a need for a pressure regulator that is designed to take into account the system dynamics of pressure systems so that it can be customized for optimal control of a specific installation. Additionally, there is need for a pressure regulator that controls pressure in a pressure system in accordance with an optimal set-point.


In a print system, without requiring a standardized command indicating use of a thumbnail image, and without causing an abnormal operation, a print content transmission device directs a print device to use the thumbnail image, wherein print content is described using XML format, and a direction command is described using XML format in the print content. Specifically, in a step S201, a processing control unit (111) proceeds to a step S202 in the case where there is input from a user I/F unit. In the step S202, a unique information addition unit (104) judges whether or not the thumbnail image should be used for printing. In the case where it is judged that the thumbnail image should be used (S202: Yes), the unique information addition unit (104) directs a print content generation unit (108) to add, to the print content, a direction to use the thumbnail image (step S203).

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a print content transmission device which transmits, to a print device, print content including image data generated and compressed based on images photographed by an electronic image device and the like such as a digital still camera. The present invention also relates to a print device and the like which receive and properly rasterize the print content, and then output the print content including the images.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, digital still cameras (also called "electronic still cameras") have been widely used. Digital still cameras, as described above, (i) photoelectrically convert, into an electric signal, an object image-formed by an optical lens, (ii) generate image data compressed using Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) method and the like based on the electric signal, and (iii) record the generated image data into card media such as a PC card and a SD card, or recording media such as a built-in fixed memory. Also, there is a printer which prints images onto paper media and the like, using the image data generated by the above mentioned digital still camera and the like.
Header information based on an Exchangeable Image File Format (Exif) standard is usually assigned to the image data generated, using JPEG method and the like, by a conventional general digital still camera and the like. In the header information, a type of the digital still camera used for generating the image data, photographic conditions when photographing, and the like are described.
Also, in many cases, thumbnail images which have less resolution than main images are simultaneously generated and held.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. 2000-267829 suggests a system that enables selecting which resolution of the images should be used for printing in the case where the above mentioned images having a plurality of resolutions are held. In the above mentioned system, when printing image data of JPEG format made up of main images and small thumbnail images, it can be directed to form print image data using the thumbnail images. Therefore, the main images, which have high resolution (that is, large size), are not unnecessarily handled. Thus, memory efficiency is improved, and time required for printing can be shortened.
In addition, the above mentioned system has a structure in which (i) certain print image data is stored per different resolution, and (ii) print image data having a resolution that corresponds to a print quality specified in a Personal Computer (PC) is selected, adjusted to a predetermined format, and outputted to a print device, in a case where there is the above mentioned print image data in the document which is directed to be printed by the above mentioned application program.
However, in the system disclosed in the above mentioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. 2000-267829, it is the device driver in the PC that generates print image data, and it is the device driver in the same PC to which the user or application notifies "use of thumbnail image". Thus, as long as a command for notifying the "use of thumbnail image" is interpreted by the device driver, the class of commands can be specified uniquely by each manufacturer. Generally, according to this concept, it is not considered that there is a case where the above mentioned command is transmitted to a device driver of another manufacturer.
However, in a case of a print system made up of a Set Top Box (STB) and a printer, it is difficult to employ a method used on PC to install a device driver for each printer type on the STB side. That is because unlike the PC in which an Operating System (OS) of de facto standard is installed, each type of STB has a different type of OS. And, it is very complex to develop a device driver of a printer according to the above mentioned OS.
In such case as described above, it is necessary to exchange a command notifying the "use of thumbnail image" between the STB and an external device such as a printer. However, in the case where the command is uniquely defined, when an external device and the like of another manufacturer, which cannot understand the unique command, receive the unique command, an abnormal operation might be caused. In order to prevent such abnormal operation, it is necessary to standardize the command specification between manufacturers. It is time-consuming to standardize the command between the manufacturers, and the command that can be standardized tends to be limited within the range that can be allowed by each manufacturer.
An object of the present invention, in view of the above mentioned problems, is to provide a print system, a print device and the like in which a print content transmission device can direct a print device to use thumbnail images without requiring a standardized command indicating the use of thumbnail image and without causing an abnormal operation.

Print content transmission device, print device, and print system


A new threadless nut for use with a threaded bolt to form a secure fastener. The inventive device includes a body having opposite first and second faces, and inner and outer side surfaces. The inner side surface of the body defines a bore through the body between the first and second faces of the body. The inner side surface of the body has first and second portions. The diameter of the second portion of the inner side surface is greater than the diameter of the first portion of the inner side surface such that an annular shoulder is formed between the first and second portions of the inner side surface. An annular liner is provided on the second portion of the inner side surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nuts and more particularly pertains to a new threadless nut for use with a threaded bolt to form a secure fastener.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of nuts is known in the prior art. More specifically, nuts heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art nuts include U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,920; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 319,005; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,925; U.S. Pat. No. 748,882; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,004,776.
These prior art nuts generally have threads provided on the inner surface of the body of the nut forming the central bore of the nut. While prior art nuts can securely hold a threaded bolt threaded therein, these nuts are limited to accepting threaded bolts of having a thread pitch corresponding to the thread pitch of the nut. If the thread pitches are not equal, stripping of the threads on the nut and bolt may occur which leads to a poor and loose coupling of the nut to the bolt. This problem is exacerbated when working with several variously pitched bolts. With prior art nuts, the user must spend time searching for a nut that properly fits the pitch of each particular bolt in use. This can be extremely time consuming and very difficult when working in constrained spaces or in poor visibility locations.
In these respects, the threadless nut according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of use with a threaded bolt to form a secure fastener.


A nickel-hydrogen battery cell is provided with a pressure vessel made up of upper and lower vessel elements. The lower vessel element has a flange section on the outer wall thereof. A coil heater is attached to the flange section. The temperature of the pressure vessel is controlled by heating the flange section by means of the coil heater. The pressure vessel is assembled with reference to a fixing plate by coupling the flange section to the surface of the fixing plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nickel-hydrogen battery cell which is employed in a space traveling object, such as an artificial satellite, and used as a power source.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a nickel-hydrogen battery is made up of a number of nickel-hydrogen battery cells. In each nickel-hydrogen battery cell, a nickel (Ni) electrode, which utilizes the technology of a nickel-cadmium battery, is used as a positive electrode, and a hydrogen (H.sub.2) electrode (catalytic electrode), which utilizes the technology of a known oxygen-hydrogen fuel cell, is used as a negative electrode. These electrodes are arranged in combination, and the chemical action between the hydrogen and nickel electrodes is utilized to generate desired electric energy.
The nickel-hydrogen battery cell will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. As is shown, a nickel electrode 10 and a hydrogen electrode 11 are arranged such that a separator 12 impregnated with an electrolytic solution (an alkali solution) which permits movement of OH.sup.- ions is interposed therebetween. A number of electrode pairs, each electrode pair having this structure, are combined together to form a power generating element 13. This power generating element 13 is sealed inside a pressure vessel 14 formed of a metallic material, such as inconel 71. The nickel electrodes 10 of the power generating element 13 are connected to a positive terminal 15, and the hydrogen electrodes 11 are connected to an negative terminal 16 by way of harness 17. Owing to the chemical action between the nickel and hydrogen electrodes 10 and 11, the power generating element 13 generates electric energy. When the power generating element 13 is overcharged, an oxygen gas is generated from its nickel electrodes 10, due to the following chemical reaction: EQU 2OH.sup.- .fwdarw.1/2 O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O+2e.sup.-
This oxygen gas combines with the hydrogen gas irreversibly generated from the hydrogen electrodes in the presence of catalyst, thereby forming water, as follows: EQU H.sub.2 +1/2 O.sub.2 .fwdarw.H.sub.2 O
In this type of nickel-hydrogen battery cell, an electrochemical reaction which converts the hydrogen gas generated at the time of charging into electric energy at the time of discharging, is made to take place so as to generate desired electric energy. Since such an electrochemical reaction is utilized, the nickel-hydrogen battery cell will deteriorate in characteristics if the ambient temperature is low.
To solve this problem, the measures shown in FIG. 7 are taken. As shown, a sleeve member 19, formed of an aluminum alloy, is coupled to the outer periphery of the pressure vessel 14 by use of a silicone-based adhesive improved in thermal conductivity, in such a manner that the sleeve member 19 surrounds the pressure vessel 14. A sheet heaters 1 are adhered to the outer periphery of the sleeve member 19, for temperature control. When the sheet heaters are selectively driven, the heat generated thereby is transmitted to the pressure vessel through the respective sleeve members 19, thereby controlling the pressure vessel 14 at a temperature suitable for electrochemical reaction.
In the nickel-hydrogen battery cell mentioned above, however, the sleeve member 19 is heated by the sheet heaters 1, and the temperature of the pressure vessel 14 is controlled with the heat transmitted through the sleeve member 19. Due to this structure, the battery cell is poor in heat control characteristics, and the sheet heaters must be large in capacity.
In addition, the operation of adhering a sheet heater 1 to a sleeve member 19 and coupling this sleeve member 19 to a fixing plate 18 has to be performed for each of the nickel-hydrogen battery cells. Therefore, the assembling operation involved in the manufacture of the nickel-hydrogen battery is very complicated.
These are very serious problems in the field of space development since saving power is particularly important in the field.

Nickel-hydrogen battery cell, and nickel-hydrogen battery comprising a plurality of nickel-hydrogen battery cells


A support system including one or more resilient cradles which mount to the dashboard of a vehicle to support sundry paraphernalia, e.g. guns, fishing rods, sunglasses, coffee cups. A preferred foam cradle includes surfaces shaped to fit a vehicle profile defined between the dashboard and window. Projections and reliefs mate with complementary structure at the vehicle. The cradles can include notches, holes, flanges, hooks, and straps to facilitate item support and storage. A composite cradle constructed of a plastic core and foam covers is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to automotive accessory supports and, in particular, to a dashboard support for firearms, fishing rods and sundry other paraphernalia found in automobiles.
A variety of support systems have been developed for securing firearms and fishing rods within the interior spaces of trucks and automobiles. Most are constructed of metal and plastic framed assemblies which mount to the ceiling, cab wall, floor, seat front or back, or a rollbar or other stationary portion of the vehicle. The assemblies typically provide a rigid framework having a number of cradles which are adapted to support a firearm or fishing rod. Some are configured as a shelf support. Some assemblies horizontally support a firearm along the floor. Some assemblies provide a vertical support which extends from the floor and which may obtain additional support through attachments to the vehicle dashboard. Various of these assemblies are shown at U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,929,539; 3,473,673; 3,802,612; 4,120,436; 4,363,499; 4,560,134; 4,579,263; 4,682,720; 4,796,762; 4,852,780; 4,991,723; 5,078,279; 5,129,563; 5,350,094; 5,438,787; and 5,443,191.
Fabric support assemblies also exist which mount to a seat back or front. Some fabric supports alternatively mount to the vehicle, such as the rear wall of a pickup truck cab, or are suspended from the ceiling or clothes hanger hooks provided along the side walls of the vehicle. Pockets or loops are typically provided to receive and contain one or more firearms, fishing rods and miscellaneous accessories and paraphernalia.
The dashboard of a vehicle is also frequently used as a shelf to support sundry items. However, when traversing bumpy terrain or during stopping, the items are free to move about and can be thrown from the dash. The driver may be distracted or injured in such circumstances. Many states also have motor vehicle regulations regarding the use of a dashboard as a support and the obstruction of the viewing area. Preferably any items stored on the dashboard should be positively supported against jostling and should not obstruct normal vision.
In appreciation of the lack of any known support system for safely containing firearms or other elongated items to a dashboard, the present resilient support system was developed. The system provides a number of resilient cradles which are shaped to conform to the profile presented between a dashboard and windshield to positively restrain each cradle, once positioned. The cradles can be constructed of a rigid foam, which exhibits some resilience, or other elastomer materials or as composite assemblies. Each cradle includes appropriate notches or cavities to safely contain items mounted thereto. Multiple cradles can be positioned along the dashboard with appropriate notches to support elongated items. Hangers, holes and reliefs can be supported or formed into the cradles as desired.


An applicator for temporarily masking stains on clothing includes a canister having an chamber for containing fluid, a water based, stain masking solution disposed within the chamber of the canister, and a brush or a spray head applying the stain masking solution from the chamber of the canister on a stain requiring masking. The stain masking solution covers the stain so that the stain is substantially concealed. The canister has an elongate annular wall having an open end at one end thereof, and an end wall closing the other end of the annular wall. Preferably, the stain masking solution consists of: resin--approximately 10.0 percent by weight; isopropanol--approximately 15.0 percent by weight; water--approximately 55.0 percent by weight; titanium dioxide--approximately 15.0 percent by weight; and ammonia--approximately 5.0 percent by weight.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for eliminating the sight of stains on clothing, and more particularly to a method and applicator for temporarily masking stains on clothing immediately after they are created.
When wearing clothing, especially dress shirts, dresses and the like, a frequent problem is that of staining the clothing during normal activities, such as eating or using writing implements (e.g., pens). For example, food-based stains are often difficult to rinse out since the food becomes embedded within the fabric of the cloth. Conventional remedies, such as soda water, cold water, etc., prove difficult in completely removing the stain immediately after the stain is formed. And even when the stain is substantially removed by utilizing one of the conventional remedies, a water mark surrounding the area where the stain was formed remains. Oftentimes, the only effective solution is to change the article of clothing, which can be difficult if a suitable substitute article is not readily available.
Based on the foregoing, there is presently a need for a product which temporarily covers or masks the stain until the stain can be properly removed by conventional or professional cleaning methods.

Applicator for temporarily masking stains on clothing


Automatically alternating between input modes on a computing device based on a usage pattern is provided. A first input mode is initiated for interacting with content displayed on the computing device. An input corresponding to a second input mode on the computing is then detected. A transition is then made from the first input mode to the second input mode on the computing device. Upon the detecting a termination of the input on the displayed content the second input mode, a gradual transition is made from the second input mode to the first input mode based on a current sensor state of the computing device and a threshold.

In today's online environment, mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are increasingly being utilized to access content (such as advertisements) from various content providers. In order to enhance user input experiences with content, content providers are increasingly developing applications which take advantage of sensor (e.g., accelerometers and compasses) and touch functionality incorporated into mobile devices. For example, providers may enable content to be utilized in a first input mode in which users may touch a displayed image of an advertised product to obtain a more detailed description. Providers may further enable content to be utilized in a second input mode in which users may physically tilt the mobile device as a means of rotating a displayed image on the device screen. Currently however, the providing of the aforementioned input modes suffers from a number of drawbacks. For example, switching from the first input mode to the second input mode may cause undesired jitter on the device display screen, the use of two different input systems (e.g., sensors and touch) may result in unnatural or unexpected swapping and, in some applications, the user may be required to explicitly approve switching between the two different input modes. As a result of the aforementioned drawbacks, the resulting experience may be disorienting and/or cumbersome to the user. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the various embodiments of the present invention have been made.

Accommodating sensors and touch in a unified experience


An optical storage system comprises a disk assembly, an optical assembly and a carriage assembly arranged to provide a high-performance, multiple-disk storage device. The disk assembly includes a plurality of disks axially spaced on a rotatably mounted spindle and configured to record data on pairs of opposing facing recording surfaces. The optical assembly includes a static optics package for generating a collimated optical beam used to store and retrieve data from the disks, and a beam distribution system for directing the optical beam to a selected recording disk surface. The carriage assembly includes a plurality of carriage arms supporting head assemblies that are arranged for insertion between the pairs of opposing recording disk surfaces. The head assemblies are further arranged in facing relation to the recording disk surfaces to receive the optical beam from the beam distribution system and direct the beam onto the disk surface.

Conventional optical storage drives typically employ a single optical disk having a single recording surface for storing information. Use of a single disk allows the optical components, such as an optical beam source, mirrors, lenses and the head assembly, to be arranged relative to the recording surface in a manner that optimizes the size and cost of the drive. Although this results in a low-cost device having a relatively small form factor for, e.g., a 51/4-inch disk, the storage capacity of the drive is limited to that provided by a single surface.
To provide increased storage capacity, a storage device can include an array of disks having multiple recording surfaces for storing information. The optical components of the multi-disk device are arranged to direct an optical beam onto each recording disk surface. Specifically, the components must be precisely aligned within the space constraints provided by a conventional single-disk drive; compatibility with such a form factor requires that the disks of the array be closely-spaced. Further, the optical components must be manufacturable within the cost constraints of the conventional single-disk drive optical components.
Known multiple-disk, optical storage drives generally are not compatible with the small form factor standard One example of such a drive involves a single head assembly mounted on an elevator carriage. The head assembly is relatively large and heavy because it includes a complete optics system that physically moves within the drive to bring the optical beam to each recording disk surface. The massive head assembly causes ringing during positioning of the head between disk surfaces. This, in turn, causes an increase in the access time of the drive because time is spent waiting for the ringing to cease. In addition, the performance of the system is degraded, particularly when the requested data is dispersed among multiple disk surfaces.
Another example of a multiple-disk storage drive involves a multiple head assembly system. Here, each recording surface has its own complete optics system, including optical beam source and detectors, mirrors and lenses, mounted to an associated head assembly. This type of system is costly because of the duplication of optical components. Although the system provides simultaneous accesses to the recording surfaces, duplication of the optical components results in a large size and mass.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a high-performance, multiple-disk optical storage device that meets the size and cost constraints of conventional disk drives.
It is also desirable to provide a high-performance, multiple-disk storage device having an optical beam distribution system.
It is also desirable to provide an optical beam distribution system that enables use of a small objective lens for reducing the size and weight of an air bearing slider of an optical head assembly.


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a pad electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate, a post electrode formed on the pad electrode and made of a copper film, a solder ball electrode formed on the post electrode and made of ternary alloy containing tin, a terminal connected to the solder ball electrode and formed on a front surface of a wiring board, and a sealing material filling a gap between the semiconductor substrate and the wiring board. The post electrode includes a cylindrical stem portion and an overhanging portion positioned in an upper part of the stem portion and protruding to an outer side of the stem portion, the solder ball electrode is connected to an upper surface of the post electrode over the stem portion and the overhanging portion, and a sidewall of the stem portion contacts with the sealing material over the entire circumference thereof.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-115336 (Patent Document 1) discloses that bonding strength of a bump is improved by providing a protruding portion 1j, which protrudes in a horizontal direction, in a columnar electrode 1i to which the bump is bonded.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-59917 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique of providing a core bump 5 having locking means formed on an element electrode 3 and an external circuit connection bump 2 with which the core bump 5 is coated, thereby securing a bump height after the secondary mounting and achieving the stress relaxation.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-53200 (Patent Document 3) discloses a technique of providing a first sealing resin film 8 which coats and surrounds a solder bump 7 formed above an electrode pad 3 with a metal multilayer film 6 interposed therebetween and a second sealing resin film 9 which coats a rear surface side of a semiconductor substrate 2, thereby achieving the thickness reduction while maintaining the strength.
FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No. 3089943 (Patent Document 4) discloses a solder bump electrode 18 in which a Cu electrode 16 having a mushroom shape is formed on a metal wiring 12 with a barrier layer 14 or the like interposed therebetween and a solder layer 17 is further formed thereon.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same


An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.

Various methods of manufacturing fasteners, such as, for example, pierce nuts and the like have been used in the past and have provided satisfactory results enabling production of these types of fasteners in high volumes. End users of these pierce nuts have preferred using a continuous strip of pierce nuts connected side to side with a wire such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,860, for Fastener Strip.
The installation of the pierce nuts is greatly simplified when provided to an end user in a continuous strip wound in a coil, which eliminates the need for expensive bowl mixers and alignment devices used to align these fasteners prior to production installation into a panel. A common process for providing coils of nuts attached in a strip, such as described above, includes a combination of batch and inline process which is presently utilized.
For example, a coil of steel rod is provided to a nut manufacturing facility, and is preferably, formed to provide a cross-sectional geometric shape necessary to pierce, and/or clinch, sheet metal, and to provide a groove to receive the wire in a manner set forth above. This rod is processed through a die that both cuts individual pierce nuts and pierces an aperture through the rod forming an inner annular surface in each individual fastener. A tapping machine is positioned subsequent to the die press to provide a helical rib around the inner annular wall of the pierced aperture of each pierce fastener. These fasteners are subsequently placed into a bulk bowl feeder that aligns a plurality of the fasteners in an orientation necessary for continued processing. Various problems are associated with the above-mentioned process. For example, during the cutting stage of the die press, various grooves, and more specifically, the groove designated to receive the attachment wire is known to be deformed making it difficult to insert the wire into the wire groove in a uniform manner. Furthermore, defects associated with location and dimension of the nut apertures and vehicle groove have not yet been identified.
Once the nuts have been oriented in a uniform fashion, the nuts are transferred via a track to a wire insertion and knurling operation to attach the nuts in a continuous strip. A second press or an equivalent roller inserts the wire into the aligned wire groove of each nut and a knurling machine deforms the nut over the wire for retaining the wire in the aligned groove thereby forming the continuous strip of fasteners. Subsequently, the fasteners are rolled in a coil for shipment and for use at a production facility that installs pierce fasteners as is known to those of skill in the art.
A further problem associated with the prior art method is realized when an error occurs during the tapping or piercing process resulting in the defective formation of the aperture or helical rib disposed upon the inner surface of the aperture. Once the fasteners have been attached in a strip, it is impossible to replace a defective fastener without breaking the continuous strip resulting in a partial coil of fasteners that is undesirable to the end user. Therefore, a nearly full coil of fasteners is frequently viewed by the end user as being undesirable when a single defective fastener is discovered after the fasteners have been attached in a continuous strip. Furthermore, the smaller strip of fasteners that are separated from the nearly full coil of fasteners is generally scrapped.
A still further problem exists with the present state of the art relating back processing that reduces the throughput of fasteners through the manufacturing process. It is known to those of skill in the art that orienting nuts in a bowl feeder is a bottleneck in the manufacturing process that reduces the rate at which fasteners are manufactured resulting in a more expensive fastener. It would be desirable to eliminate the bowl feeder from the manufacturing process. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a continuous manufacturing process that solves the problems associated with the prior art method of manufacturing by eliminating defective nuts found in a continuous strip, eliminate the batch process of manufacturing, and providing a consistent, continuous groove formed by adjacent nuts in a strip.

Fastener manufacturing apparatus and method


A semiconductor acceleration sensor in which a reduction in size can be achieved when electrodes are formed in a chip main body and acceleration can be measured with good sensitivity. The semiconductor acceleration sensor comprises a weight section, flexible sections which support the weight section and have measurement elements P, and a chip main body which has a front surface having chip electrodes electrically connected with the measurement elements, and support the flexible sections, wherein an additional weight, which has an inclined face which surrounds a bonding section and decreases its size toward the bonding section, is bonded on the front surface of the weight section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor. acceleration sensor which is mounted on transportation equipment, such as an automobile and airplane, and is used for measuring acceleration and collision thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional semiconductor acceleration sensor, comprises a weight section that is an hemispheric-shaped solder attached to a function section supported by flexible sections created on a silicon substrate, and measures acceleration by detecting the change of piezo-resistors created in the flexible sections by aluminum wires (e.g. Japanese Patent Kokai No. H5-264575 (page 2, paragraphs 0006, 0007, and page 3, paragraphs 0017-0020, FIG. 1, FIG. 8)).
In order to fetch signals from the semiconductor acceleration sensor to the outside, normally it is necessary to create electrodes connected to the acceleration measurement elements, and wire them with a terminals connected to the outside using bonding wires. In the above mentioned prior art, it is necessary to create an electrode on a silicon substrate in order to detect the change of the piezo-resistor by aluminum wire, and fetch the signals to the outside, but the shape of the weight section is hemispheric, and the maximum area section thereof is bonded with the function section, so securing an area for creating the electrodes increases the size of the semiconductor acceleration sensor, which is a problem.

Semiconductor acceleration sensor and manufacturing method thereof


A blade and gas turbine include a stationary blade main body provided internally with cavities, and an inner shroud linked to an end portion, in the longitudinal direction, of the stationary blade main body, and which is internally provided with an inner shroud cooling passage with which a first cavity is in fluid communication. The inner shroud is provided, in front edge corner portions, with a first chamfered portion intersecting a front surface, a side surface, and an upper surface, and first cooling holes in fluid communication with the inner shroud cooling passage are provided in the first chamfered portion.

General gas turbines are constituted by a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses the air taken in from an air inlet to obtain high-temperature and high-pressure compressed air. The combustor obtains high-temperature and high-pressure combustion gas by supplying fuel to the compressed air to combust the supplied fuel. The turbine is driven by this combustion gas and drives a generator coaxially linked thereto.
In gas turbines, the turbine is configured such that a plurality of stationary blades and rotor blades are arranged in a compartment along a flow direction of the combustion gas, each stationary blade is supported by a shroud mounted inside the compartment, and the rotor blades are supported by a rotor. For that reason, when the combustion gas generated by the combustor flows through a gas flow path, the rotor is rotationally driven as the combustion gas passes through a plurality of stationary blades and rotor blades. This gas flow path is formed as a space surrounded by an outer shroud, an inner shroud, a platform of each rotor blade, and a ring segment.
In the above-described turbines, the stationary blade has a cooling passage provided therein. Cooling air is supplied into the outer shroud to cool an inner surface thereof, and then flows into the stationary blade to flow into the internal cooling passage to impingement-cool the stationary blade, and a portion of the cooling air is jetted from the cooling hole to the outside to convection-cool the stationary blade. Additionally, the cooling air, which has cooled the stationary blade, flows into the inner shroud to cool the inner surface and is then discharged to the outside.
In the related art, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4508482 discloses such a gas turbine.


A method for restraining a sleeve lining a tube passing through a nuclear reactor pressure vessel is provided. The method includes attaching in situ a radial protrusion on an external surface of the sleeve; and attaching a collar to an end of the tube and coupling the radial protrusion with the collar to retain the thermal sleeve in position.

Reactor vessel closure heads (RVCH), for example in Westinghouse reactors, have thermal sleeves, whose main function is to shield the CRDM nozzle form thermal shock when the hot control rod drive is withdrawn from the core. The thermal sleeves over time wear due to vibration and eventually fail. Conventionally, RVCH is removed from the vessel and placed on a head stand, then the CRDM is fully removed and the thermal sleeve is replaced.
FR 2689297 discloses a tool designed to allow the sleeve replacement without removing the CRD, which involves using a replacement sleeve that comprises an outer flange constituting a bearing portion for a fastening nut of the replacement sleeve.

Method and device for replacing sleeves lining nuclear reactor pressure vessel tubes


A method for manufacturing an aluminum wire is provided. The aluminum wire includes an inner-layer conductor having one or a plurality of inner-layer alloy wires including aluminum and an outer-layer conductor having a plurality of outer-layer alloy wires including aluminum and provided on the inner-layer conductor. The method includes an outer-layer twisting step of twisting, over the inner-layer conductor, the outer-layer alloy wires provided on the inner-layer conductor, and an outer-layer rotational compression step of compressing the outer-layer alloy wires twisted in the outer-layer twisting step while being rotated in the same direction as the direction of the twisting in the outer-layer twisting step.

Conventionally, wire harnesses having a bundle of wires have been used in wiring structures for transportation machines or apparatus, such as motor vehicles and airplanes, and industrial machines or apparatus, such as robots. Mainstream materials of the wire conductors in the wire harnesses are copper-based materials having excellent electrical conductivity, such as copper and copper alloys.
There recently is a desire for improvements in fuel efficiency of motor vehicles, airplanes, etc., and studies are being made on the use of aluminum, which has a specific gravity that is about ⅓ the specific gravity of copper, as a conductor (see, e.g., JP5021855B1).
However, the aluminum wire described above had a problem in that the conductor is easy to break during the production, resulting in a decrease in the operating efficiency of wire production. Namely, aluminum is easy to work since aluminum has rupture strength of 50% or lower than that of copper and a hardness of 60% or lower than that of copper, but aluminum readily breaks when even slightly excess force is applied thereto.


In accordance with the foregoing principles and objects of the invention, the mitigation of fires in machinery enclosures is achieved by strategic placement of thin narrow strips of intumescent material within the ventilated space between the machinery and a housing enclosing the machinery, whereby, in the event of a fire, the resulting flame contacts the intumescent material causing it to swell and to effectively block air flow through the ventilated space.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for suppressing machinery fires, and more particularly to an economical method and lightweight system for mitigating fires in machinery enclosures utilizing intumescent materials.
Aircraft engine nacelles and other housings for hot operating machinery may also enclose fluid lines on the exterior of the machinery that provide flammable fuel, oil or hydraulic/brake fluid to the operating machinery. The enclosures are typically ventilated with forced airflow (by fan or free air stream) to prevent accumulation of flammable vapors and to provide some cooling to the machinery. In a typical fire scenario, a ruptured fluid line leaks flammable fluid onto the hot machinery resulting in a fire. The ventilation airflow continues to support the fire and directs the flame downstream. An upstream extinguishing system may be activated to extinguish the fire, but because of rapid dilution by the ventilation airflow, short residence time of the extinguishant near the fire and robustness of the flame, many fires are not extinguishable with the limited quantity of extinguishant available in weight sensitive applications such as aboard an aircraft. After initial extinguishment, the fire may re-ignite because of continued fluid flow onto the hot machinery surface combined with replenished airflow across the hot surface after the extinguishant is exhausted. Replacement chemicals for Halons previously having widespread use in extinguishers are substantially less effective than Halons. Existing systems therefore have limited success or require extinguishant quantities and hardware that are impractical in many machinery applications.
The invention solves or substantially reduces in critical importance problems in the prior art by providing a system and method for suppressing fires in machinery spaces by strategic placement of intumescent materials within the machinery space. Intumescent materials are substances that react chemically when impinged by intense heating sources such as fire. The reactions change both chemical makeup, structure and volume of the material as a means of accommodating the thermal energy applied. The responses of the intumescent materials protect the structures on which they are applied, by dissipating heat or providing an insulative barrier to prevent thermal damage to the internal structure. The intumescent materials typically initiate endothermic chemical reactions when impinged by a heat source, which extract and process the heat applied to sustain the reaction, as opposed to raising the temperature of the material. The intumescents may also physically swell dramatically in size (2 to 50 times the original thickness), and form an insulative porous char on the outer surface. For example, a 1 mm layer of intumescent of about 1.5 g/cm3 density may expand to form a non-cumbustible layer 2 mm to 50 mm thick, with a density of 0.7 g/cm3 to 0.03 g/cm3. Intumescent formulations are generally composed of three active classes of ingredients, including an acid source, a carbonific source and a spumific agent. A series of chemical and physical events combine to control intumescence. As the virgin material is exposed to heat, the temperature rises, releasing an inorganic acid. In the presence of an inorganic catalyst, the acid is thought to react with carbon compounds forming a melt. An endothermic reaction subsequently releases gases that form bubbles, resulting in an intumescent foam that solidifies into a multicellular char. Cellular voids are filled with gases, causing the char to act as an insulating barrier. The gases are principally CO and H2O, although small amounts of CH4 and H2 are also found. The char will not burn but will reject heat by radiating it away. As flame heating continues, this process occurs in depth, layer after layer, until the material is depleted or the incident heat flux is reduced. The final form of the intumesced layer acts as an insulating barrier, which protects the underlying material from flame heat flux. Intumescent material formulations are highly proprietary and unique to various manufacturers, and include latex, epoxy and oil based varieties, as well as some mastics or caulks. Some formulations include ceramic fibers (Hamins, 1998, xe2x80x9cEvaluation of Intumescent Body Panel Coatings in Simulated Post-Accident Vehicle Fires,xe2x80x9d Report #NHTSA-1998-3588-24; NISTIR 6157). If a fire occurs, the intumescent material swells upon heating to several orders of magnitude of its original thickness and blocks the air flow in the vicinity of the fire, depriving the fire of oxygen and facilitating extinguishment. The intumescent material can be applied as a lightweight narrow thin strip or as one or more rings on the machinery exterior, and may preferably be located to swell against the enclosure at locations where clearance is minimal. In this manner, a series of fire walls can be formed using a minimal quantity of intumescent material. The effectiveness of any other extinguishing system used on the machinery is improved because the intumescent material weakens the fire and reduces air dilution of the extinguishant. The invention may, however, obviate the need altogether for conventional extinguishment systems in machinery applications. The unexpanded intumescent material does not significantly impede airflow around the machinery during normal operation.
The invention finds utility in applications where extinguishing systems may not be justified, such as in unmanned aerial vehicles. The invention may also be used in aircraft engine nacelles and other bays where flammable fluids are present, in armored vehicle engine compartments, battlefield equipment or electronic trailers, naval ship machinery enclosures, stationary turbines, and marine engines, buses and other automotive transportation equipment, fixed generator and compressor units, power equipment trailers, petrochemical facilities, and other applications where liquid-fueled, oiled or hydraulically controlled equipment is operated. The use of intumescent material according to the invention requires no power or periodic maintenance and is highly reliable.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide system and method for suppressing machinery fires.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fire suppression system and method for the engine compartment of a vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lightweight system for suppressing machinery fires.
It is another object of the invention to provide a machinery fire extinguisher system that does not impede airflow around the machinery during normal operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a reliable machinery fire extinguisher system having no operational power or periodic maintenance requirements.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide system and method for suppressing machinery fires utilizing intumescent materials.
It is a further object of the invention to provide method and system for suppressing fires in machinery spaces that do not use conventional, environmentally harmful extinguishants.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as a detailed description of representative embodiments proceeds.
In accordance with the foregoing principles and objects of the invention, the mitigation of fires in machinery enclosures is achieved by strategic placement of thin narrow strips of intumescent material within the ventilated space between the machinery and a housing enclosing the machinery, whereby, in the event of a fire, the resulting flame contacts the intumescent material causing it to swell and to effectively block air flow through the ventilated space.

Machinery fire mitigation system and method

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


In a cushion supply system for a logistic center, for example a warehouse or a dispatch hall, which comprises a cushion source for providing cushion products, such as cushion pads, in particular paper cushion pads; several packing stations at which containers can be loaded with goods and filled with cushion products; and a cushion transport system, such as a belt conveyor, for transporting the cushion products from the cushion source to the packing stations, the one cushion source is configured to supply said plurality of packing stations.

Since products for dispatch usually cannot simply be placed loose in dispatch containers, such as cardboard cartons, wooden crates, lattice baskets or the like, because they would then be damaged or even destroyed by the vibrations and movements occurring during transport, it is customary to fill the empty space in the inner volume of a dispatch container, which surrounds the products to be dispatched, with one or more cushion products.
A wide variety of cushion products are known in the state of the art, such as foamed plastic (polystyrene), air-filled plastic film pads or paper cushion pads. Cushion products, such as cushion pads, made of paper, especially recycled paper, have the advantage over plastic cushion products of being much more environmentally friendly and are therefore generally preferred.
Cushion sources for providing cushion products used in logistic centers to provide cushion products are for example known from EP 2 711 167 B1, EP 2 711 168 B1 and WO 2015 039 756 A1. EP 2 711 167 B1 concerns a device patented by the applicant for the mechanical production of a three-dimensional packaging product made of a section formed in a predetermined manner of a single- or multi-layer paper web. Waste paper in particular can be used for the paper web. The paper web can be drawn off from a paper web reel or a paper web laporell stack and from there reaches the packaging product production device. This comprises a preforming station which preforms the paper web to form a three-dimensional packaging product, a so-called cushion tube, with a crumple cavity extending in the web direction. The central area of the spiral-shaped paper tube is then plastically deformed by means of a pair of embossing wheels, so that a sequence of embossing valleys and embossing donors are inserted in longitudinal direction of the tubular paper web section. In this way, in the preforming station, the paper web is brought into a dimensionally stable three-dimensional cushion shape having at least one crumple cavity to provide a damping and cushioning function. The preforming station is followed in conveying direction by a cut-off station, which cuts off cushion products of desired length in form of cushion pads from the preformed paper tube. The cushion pads are then ejected from the cushion material production device according to EP 2 711 167 B1 to fill cavities in the dispatch containers with the cushions.
In a logistic center there are usually numerous packing stations at which dispatch containers, such as cartons, can be loaded with goods and filled with cushion products. For this purpose, each individual packing station is equipped with an cushion product production device and comprises a certain paper web supply, which can be realized as a leporello stack or paper web roll, for example. To ensure that the individual cushion pads are delivered directly from the cushion pad production device into a dispatch container, the production device is usually attached to the packing station directly above a supporting surface for dispatch containers, for example at a frame. The production device can be operated by packing personnel at each packing station to produce a desired quantity of cushion pads and eject it into a present dispatch container. The paper web supply may be arranged at the cushion pad production device or below or adjacent to the support surface for the dispatch container.
In particular, improper operation of a cushion pad production device may result in a paper jam that causes the cushion pad production device and therefor its associated packing station to fail until the problem is resolved. The cushion pad production device also fails when refilling the paper web supply. Since logistic service providers are under considerable cost pressure, a high utilization rate and high reliability of the logistic center are necessary in order to bear the operating costs of the logistic center. In engaged logistic centers, failure of a packing station can quickly lead to bottlenecks that cause the entire dispatch from the logistic center to stall because a planned quantity of dispatch containers cannot be made ready for dispatch.
Another plant or machine for the production of shock-absorbing elements which, for example, converts paper fabric or material into shock-absorbing material with which the probability of failure of packing stations in a logistic center is to be reduced is known from DE 695 09 535 T2. DE 695 09 535 T2 describes a network for the production of shock absorbing elements in which two cushion pad production devices are controlled by a single supervisory control unit to supply a single packing station used by an operator with cushion pads. Thereby, only a first production device should be active to create cushion for the operator's packing station while the other device stands still. In accordance with DE 695 09 535 T2, this active cushion pad production device produces a desired number of cushion pads of the desired length and places them on a conveyor system to carry the cushion pads from the active device to the packing station. If, for example, the first device is not working because of a paper jam or shortage becomes inoperative and thus inactive, the second device takes over its function. The cushion pads are then transported from the second production device to the operator's packing station.
It is common to the known cushion pad production devices that equipping a logistic center with numerous packing stations requires considerable investment expense for the operators of the logistic center. The considerable investment expense is due to the costs for sufficient space not only for the packing stations but also for the respective paper web stocks. On the other hand, there is investment expense in form of costs for the cushion pad production devices themselves.

Cushion supply system and method of operation for a cushion supply system

Sprick GmbH Bielefelder Papier- Und Wellpappenwerke & Co.