A luminous micro-switch mainly includes a case which holds a depressing member and at least a first pin and a second pin inside that are spaced from each other. There is a bridging member interposed between the two pins and the depressing member to form electric connection with the first pin in regular conditions and output a signal when the bridging member is connected to the second pin due to depressing of the depressing member. The depressing member has a depressing end which has a holding trough to hold a lighting element which has two conductive terminals to receive electric power to generate light. By holding the lighting element in the holding trough the size of the micro-switch can be made smaller to be used on smaller electronic devices to overcome the bulky problem of conventional micro-switches caused by disposing the lighting element beneath the depressing member.

Micro-switch now is widely used in almost all types of information appliances (IAs), such as mobile phones, PDAs, computer keyboards and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,368 discloses a button switch which has an insulation seat with a wiring space formed therein to hold a first pin and a second pin that are spaced from each other. Through a depressing action the first pin is electrically connected to the second pin through a conductive connecting member to output a signal.
In order to facilitate recognition of switches or information on pushbuttons of the IAs, some micro-switches have a light source embedded inside to allow light to pass through the switches or pushbuttons. Such a design not only makes operation easier for users at night or in a poorly lit environment, also can enhance the added-value of the products. For instance, R.O.C. patent No. M311997 discloses a switch which mainly has an insulation body to hold a first conductive terminal, a second conductive terminal and a third conductive terminal. There are also an elastic reed, a depressing member, an anchor member, an LED and an operation member located therein in this order. These elements are held in the insulation body through a case. The operation member has one end exposed outside the case and is depressible for operation. The operation member receives a depressing force to drive the anchor member and the depressing member downwards to press the elastic reed so that the first and third terminals are electrically connected to output a signal. The LED is electrically connected to the second terminal to receive electric power and generate light which emits outside the switch through the operation member.
Although the patent set forth above can generate light in the switch, the LED is located in the operation member. Hence the operation member has to provide an adequate space inside to prevent interference with the LED while it is moved downwards. Although it provides required contact during operation, the switch is quite bulky due to the need to accommodate the LED and operation member. This is against the prevailing trend of slim and light in the design of IAs to improve portability. All the conventional designs previously discussed do not provide a desirable solution to address such a requirement. There is still room for improvement.


An encapsulated sensors and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The method includes forming an amorphous or polycrystalline material in contact with a layer of seed material. The method further includes forming an expansion space for the amorphous or polycrystalline material. The method further includes forming an encapsulation structure about the amorphous or polycrystalline material. The method further includes crystallizing the amorphous or polycrystalline material by a thermal anneal process such that the amorphous or polycrystalline material expands within the expansion space.

Photosensors or photodetectors are sensors that detect light or other electromagnetic energy. There are several varieties of photosensors or photodetectors, many of which are manufactured using conventional CMOS technologies. For example, photosensors or photodetectors can be active pixel sensors (APS) commonly used in cellular telephone cameras, web cameras, and even some digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. These type of image sensors have emerged as an alternative to charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors.
Many types of photosensors or photodetectors implement CMOS integrated nanophotonics circuits. These nanophotonics circuits include crystalline materials like germanium or III-V compounds, which are desirable for use as the active element in photodetector components. This is due to their high quantum efficiency. In the manufacturing process, the crystalline materials are encapsulated in order to protect the crystalline structure from other manufacturing processes.
Using liquid phase epitaxy, amorphous or polycrystalline films (e.g., germanium or III-V compounds) can be deposited at low temperatures in an amorphous or polycrystalline state, and then crystallized thermally. This technique provides for a high degree of integration flexibility. During the crystallization anneal, though, the amorphous or polycrystalline material (e.g., Ge) expands and contracts, creating stress on the encapsulation films. This stress can create a breach in the encapsulation, resulting in defects that can subsequently degrade the operation of the photodetector. For example, Ge recrystallization anneal creates stress points which penetrate the encapsulation structure breaching the integrity of the encapsulation and leaking Ge out of the structure. The main defect type is the removal of Ge during silicide formation by the wet cleans that access the Ge through the breach in the encapsulation.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.


An annealing and manufacturing method of hot-dip galvanized steel strips includes suppression of oxide formation of elements in the steel strips. An annealing furnace includes a heating zone, a soaking zone, and a cooling zone in which a portion of gas is introduced to decrease the gas dew point. A gas suction rate Qo1 in a portion of the cooling zone, a gas suction rate Qo2 in an upper portion and a gas feed rate Qi2 in a lower portion of the soaking zone, a gas feed rate Qi1 in a connection part between the soaking and cooling zones, an atmosphere gas supply rate Qf1 into the cooling zone and its subsequent zone, an atmosphere gas supply rate Qf2 into the soaking zone, an internal volume Vs of the soaking zone, and an average furnace temperature Ts of the soaking zone satisfy relationships including 0.3×Qf1<Qo1.

In a continuous annealing furnace for annealing steel strips, for example, in the startup of the furnace after the furnace is opened in the air or in the case where the air enters the atmosphere in the furnace, to reduce the water content and oxygen concentration in the furnace, the following method is conventionally widely performed: the temperature in the furnace is increased to evaporate water in the furnace and a non-oxidizing gas such as an inert gas is subsequently supplied into the furnace as a gas that replaces the atmosphere in the furnace and the gas in the furnace is simultaneously removed to thereby replace the atmosphere in the furnace with the non-oxidizing gas.
However, this conventional method requires a long time to decrease the water content and oxygen concentration of the atmosphere in the furnace to certain levels suitable for the normal operation. Since the furnace cannot be operated until the certain levels are achieved, the productivity is considerably decreased, which is a problem.
In recent years, in the fields of automobiles, household electrical appliances, construction materials, and the like, demands for high-tensile steel that can contribute to, for example, reduction in the weight of structures have been increasing. According to high-tensile steel techniques, when Si is added to steel, high-tensile steel strips having a high hole expansion ratio can be produced; and when steel is made to contain Si or Al, retained γ tends to be formed and steel strips having a high ductility can be provided.
However, when high-strength cold-rolled steel strips contain elements susceptible to oxidation such as Si and Mn, these elements susceptible to oxidation are concentrated in the surfaces of the steel strips during annealing to form oxides of Si, Mn, and the like. As a result, the steel strips have a poor appearance or the steel strips are not sufficiently treated with a chemical conversion treatment such as a phosphate treatment, which is problematic.
In the case of hot dip galvanized steel strips, when the steel strips contain elements susceptible to oxidation such as Si and Mn, these elements susceptible to oxidation are concentrated in the surfaces of the steel strips during annealing to form oxides of Si, Mn, and the like. As a result, the coatability of the steel strips is degraded and uncoated defects are generated; or the alloying rate in the galvannealing after galvanizing is decreased, which is problematic. In particular, as for Si, oxide films composed of SiO2 formed on the surfaces of steel strips considerably degrade the wettability of the steel strips with the hot dip coating metal; and SiO2 oxide films inhibit diffusion between the base metal and the coated metal in the galvannealing. Thus, the problems that the coatability is degraded and the galvannealing is not properly performed tend to be particularly caused.
To avoid these problems, a method of controlling the oxygen potential of the atmosphere in annealing may be employed.
As a method of increasing the oxygen potential, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of controlling the dew point in a region extending from the latter portion of the heating zone to the soaking zone to be a high dew point of −30° C. or more. This method is advantageous in that it provides a certain level of effects and the dew point is easily controlled to be high on an industrial scale. However, the method has a disadvantage that steels (for example, Ti-based IF steel) for which it is desirable to avoid high dew points are not easily produced. This is because it takes a very long time to make an annealing atmosphere that has been made to have a high dew point have a low dew point. In addition, since this method makes the atmosphere in the furnace be an oxidizing atmosphere, a mistake in the controlling causes a problem that oxide adheres to rolls in the furnace and pickup defects are generated and a problem that the furnace walls are damaged.
Alternatively, a method of making the oxygen potential low may be employed. However, Si, Mn, and the like are very susceptible to oxidation. Accordingly, in large continuous annealing furnaces installed in CGL (continuous galvanizing line) and CAL (continuous annealing line), it has been considered to be very difficult to stably maintain an atmosphere having a low dew point of −40° C. or less in which oxidation of Si, Mn, and the like is suppressed.
Techniques of efficiently obtaining an annealing atmosphere having a low dew point are disclosed in, for example, Patent Literatures 2 and 3. However, these techniques are intended to be used for single-pass vertical furnaces, which are relatively small furnaces. These techniques are not intended to be used for multi-pass vertical furnaces for CGL and CAL and hence the probability that the dew point is not efficiently decreased by the techniques is very high.

Continuous annealing method and a manufacturing method of hot-dip galvanized steel strips


An aircraft canopy breaking device, having means for penetrating the canopy lazing material upon application of an applied force from the rising ejection seat to the penetrating means. The device further comprises prepositioning means for prepositioning the penetrating means at a fixed distance from the canopy glazing material, shielding the penetrating means from inadvertently contacting the canopy glazing material, other material or personnel, and compressing whereby upon application of a force the penetrating means contacts the canopy glazing material causing crack propagation in the canopy glazing material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for initiating crack propagation in frangible materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to aircraft canopy removing devices. Even more particularly the present invention relates to devices for initiating crack propagation in aircraft canopies.
2. Background Information
Through-the-canopy ejection is commonly employed both as a primary method and as a back-up method of emergency aircrew ejection. As a primary method, through-the-canopy ejection is often selected during design to reduce the total time required for aircrew ejection. This is accomplished by reducing the time required for all subsystems to function, from aircrew recognition of the need to initiate escape until the aircrew are clear of the aircraft. It is also employed as a primary mode to reduce the overall system complexity in order to enhance the overall system reliability by eliminating a serial-step type process which could preclude ejection if any of the serial steps failed. Often through-the-canopy ejection is selected as a back-up to jettisoned-canopy ejection, even at some increased risk of injury or of life support equipment damage, simply to preclude the failure of the canopy jettisoning system from causing the death of the affected aircrew.
Successful through-the-canopy ejection requires that the penetration of the canopy be smooth, i.e., not resulting in any rapid and/or large velocity changes which would induce separation of the ejectee and seat and an increase in the internal pressure of the boost catapult. This combination can result in a rapid seat acceleration upon breaking through the canopy with subsequent injurious levels of "overshoot G" when the seat catches up to the ejectee. Successful through-the-canopy ejection also requires that a seat and its occupant (ejectee) actually break through the cockpit canopy. The seat must not be stalled or delayed so long that the ballistic gas pressure dissipates through leakage around seals and through heat loss through the surface. Such an occurrence could yield fatal results for the ejecting aircrew.
In the past, several proposals for canopy removal have been put forth, however, these proposals all involve complex methods for removing the canopy. One such proposal, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,319 issued to Duncan et al., teaches the use of a catapulting canopy breaker which is attached to telescoping inner and outer tube members. In Duncan, a system using fluid pressure is disclosed to drive the canopy breaker upward so that it impacts and shatters the canopy before the ejecting aircrew member is jettisoned from the aircraft. This method requires using scarce cockpit space to locate the telescoping tubes for the canopy breaker. Moreover, the Duncan canopy breaker is not easily adapted for differing canopy and cockpit configurations.
Other somewhat different approaches involve the use of explosively actuated devices for explosively unlatching the canopy from the aircraft, for explosively operating a movable breaker member which could shatter the canopy, or for directly shattering the canopy. One such approach is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,858 issued to Bolton et al. In Bolton, fusible conductors are disclosed as being embedded in intimate contact with the canopy material and further connected to a source of electrical power such that a high-energy pulse of current is generated sufficient to fuse the connector and initiate crack propagation in the canopy. These types of proposals, however, necessarily involve the provision of separate explosive charge means and a mechanism for energizing the same. The overall ejection assembly is thereby increased in cost, weight and system complexity, the latter of which markedly affects the degree of maintainability of the system. Moreover, these types of approaches are not readily transferrable from one aircraft configuration to another. This lack of adaptability from one cockpit design to another demands that different systems be employed. Each system would likely have varying service requirements. Maintenance crews would, therefore, need to learn specific requirements for several different configurations. The provision of a more uniform, but less complex canopy breaker system would streamline operations and maintenance for differing canopy and cockpit configurations.
Given a large enough run, for example, 1" to 1-1/2", and small area incompressible contact points, most ejection seats can smoothly penetrate most canopies. One problem adversely affecting through-the-canopy ejection, however, occurs when, due to logistical or other considerations, an ejection seat's contact areas cannot be designed for a specific canopy curvature configuration to assure minimal area initial contact. That is, the instantaneous initial contact area is too great, thereby reducing the localized stress imposed upon the cockpit canopy to levels below its failure thresholds. Another problem degrading through-the-canopy capability is that of the increased plasticity of canopy glazing materials with elevated temperatures. Such conditions potentially occur under certain climatic conditions or under certain flight conditions which induce strong aerodynamic heating of the canopy glazing material. Under these latter conditions, the canopy glazing material in the area of seat headrest impact typically molds itself around the headbox and other protuberances of the rising seat while the sides of the canopy glazing stretch and deform geometrically. The seat's energy is absorbed and the seat is slowed significantly, even to the extent of stopping over a moderate distance of travel. As noted in the previous paragraph, such slowing of the ejection seat, should it last sufficiently long, can rob most catapults of their energy and result in the system not ejecting the aircrew from the disabled aircraft.
Due to the potential that during parachute deployment, the parachute canopy and/or the parachute suspension lines might contact areas of the headrest, one solution, that of using very sharp ("knife sharp") edge canopy breakers, often is denied the ejection seat system designer. The rational for this is a fear that more ejectees will be endangered by serious parachute damage than might otherwise possibly be placed at risk of non-ejection or of overshoot-G-induced spinal injury if a blunt area canopy breaker were chosen instead. Even were concerns regarding parachute subsystem integrity non-existent, the placement of very sharp ("knife edges") on the top of an ejection seat would entail severe risks to aircraft maintenance personnel which would make their adoption most unlikely. Performance of some cockpit maintenance tasks often requires that maintenance personnel reach over and behind ejection seats in ways requiring their torsos to heavily contact the tops of ejection seats. Sharp objects, especially sharp penetrators, on the headrests could result in many injuries and could degrade aircraft systems maintenance and, thereby, aircraft operational readiness and performance as maintenance personnel attempt to avoid injuries.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

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A snap-on battery includes a battery body and a fastening element, and the battery body has a guiding element disposed on a side of the battery body, and the fastening element is slidably coupled to and positioned at the guiding element, and the fastening element has a combining portion for combining an external connecting element. With the aforementioned components, the battery can be detachably snapped on a portable electronic device, and even if a user forgets to close a door with cover or secure the door with cover, the battery will be still hard to slip off the portable electronic device or damages due to falling out.

As to portable electronic devices (such as military and industrial notebook computers), battery is generally used for supplying electric power, so that the notebook computers can be used during a trip or when the utility power is not available.
In the portable electronic device, a compartment is generally formed on a side of a casing of the portable electronic device, and the compartment has an opening. A door with cover is mounted onto the opening to seal the opening. The conventional battery generally does not come with any fixing structure, so it is necessary to seal the opening by the door with cover when the battery is installed into the compartment, and thus fix the battery into the compartment.
However, if a user forgets to close the door with cover or secure the door with cover, the battery may fall out from the portable electronic device, thus resulting in damages to the battery.
To facilitate users to draw the battery out from the compartment, a conventional method is to add a pull tape to the body of the battery. However, the pull tape may be broken easily and cannot be replaced conveniently. After the pull tape is broken, the users have difficulties to remove the battery from the compartment.

Snap-on battery and portable electronic device having the same


In a method of controlling a buffer device, data are received from a communication transmission line, and the received data are written in a buffer device at a predetermined write rate. The data written from the buffer device are started to be read at a predetermined read rate. The quantity of data written and accumulated in the buffer device is compared with a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period from the read start point of time. When it is found as the result of comparison that the quantity of accumulated data is the same as or less than the threshold, the buffer device performs only write of data from the communication transmission line and, when the quantity of accumulated data is larger than the threshold, the buffer device performs both write of data from the communication transmission line and read of data out of the buffer device at the same time during a predetermined period.

The present invention relates to a communication system in which a plurality of nodes are connected onto a multiplex transmission line of communication data having a frame structure formed by a plurality of time slots and a plurality of packets, and more particularly to a communication system suitable for receiving communication data while converting these data into continuous data.
As to communication data flowing in a communication transmission line, data are arranged in reserved time slots. A communication terminal equipment is connected to every node. A buffer is provided in each node, and the buffer takes in data from the transmission line at a predetermined write rate every time the reserved time slot arrives so as to store the data in a memory once. Then, the data are read continuously from the memory at a read rate slower than the write rate and sent to the communication terminal equipment.
The data from the transmission line stay in the buffer once before they are sent to the communication terminal equipment. This residence time becomes the delay time of data transmission among communication terminal equipment. The shorter the residence time is, the shorter the data transmission time becomes, which is preferable.
It is referred to as underflow that there is no accumulated data in the memory of the buffer and a state of being unable to read data out of the memory is continuous. Conventionally, when underflow is generated, it has been waited to read out the data until data are accumulated sufficiently in a memory of a buffer. The queuing time has become the residence time of the data, thus making the time required for data transmission to the communication terminal longer.
A control method of a buffer in case underflow is generated is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-64-41541 filed by FUJITSU LTD. on Aug. 8, 1987. In this buffer control system, a counter for counting every time underflow is generated in a receiving buffer is provided, and data are read out of the receiving buffer after storing count values worth of data quantity are stored once in the receiving buffer.
In the techniques disclosed in this official gazette, there has been such a problem that the residence time of data in the buffer is required by the count value portion of the buffer number set in the counter, and the transmission delay time becomes longer in accordance therewith.
A method of circuit switching in a token ring Local Area Network (LAN) is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-62-266943 filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. on May 14, 1986. According to the invention set forth in this official gazette, data are transferred after accumulating the data in a buffer for a certain period of time, and a problem of transmission delay due to the residence time of data is posed.
A multichannel packet receiving system is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-62-266946 filed by FUJITSU LTD. on May 14, 1986. According to the invention set forth in this official gazette, dummy data are accumulated in a buffer in advance, and the quantity of those dummy data (offset) is varied in accordance with communication distance in order to absorb arrival fluctuation of the data.
A present communication system is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-2-14644 filed by NEC Corp. on Jun. 30, 1988. According to the invention set forth in this official gazette, flow control among nodes in units of packet is performed.
A buffer memory circuit for packet transmission is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-2-111137 filed by FUJITSU LTD. on Oct. 20, 1988. According to the invention set forth in this official gazette, read and write addresses are moved, respectively, when overflow and underflow are generated.
A load control system of a packet exchange is disclosed in Japanese patent un-examined publication No. JP-A-2-1671 filed by TOSHIBA CORP. on Jun. 30, 1988. According to the invention set forth in this official gazette, when the data quantity in a buffer exceeds a certain threshold, conflict is made to generate intentionally on a bus so as to delay data transmission to the buffer temporarily.


An atomizer includes a main body defining an airflow channel and a liquid storage cavity isolated from each other and an atomizing element. The atomizing element includes a porous body and a porous heating film. The porous body includes an atomizing surface and a liquid absorption surface. The atomizing surface is a plane and is substantially parallel to a direction of an air flow in the airflow channel, and the porous heating film is formed on the atomizing surface. The liquid absorption surface can absorb a liquid in the liquid storage cavity.

An electronic cigarette is also known as a virtual cigarette, or an electronic atomizer. An electronic cigarette has the similar appearance and taste of cigarette, but generally does not contain harmful ingredients, such as tar and particulate matter.
An atomizing component is a key device of the electronic cigarette to generated atomized gases, its atomizing effect determines the quality and taste of the smoke. A conventional atomizing component has a spiral heating wire as a heater, and the heating wire twines on a liquid absorption core. When the heating wire is electrified, the liquid stored in the liquid absorption core is atomized via the effect of heating wire, so as to generate the smoke.
However, according to the previously described electronic cigarette, since the heating wire is of a linear shape, only the liquid near the heating wire is heated and atomized, the liquid away from the heating wire and in the gaps of the spiral heating wire can hardly be atomized. Additionally, as the distance from the heating wire increases, the temperature decreases drastically, therefore, the atomizing temperature of the liquid is not uniform, resulting in different sizes of the atomized particles of the liquid, and a poor atomizing effect.

Electronic cigarette and atomizer thereof


The present invention relates to the field of perfumery. More particularly, it concerns compounds comprising at least one β-oxy or β-thio carbonyl moiety capable of liberating a perfuming molecule such as, for example, an α,β-unsaturated ketone, aldehyde or carboxylic ester. The present invention concerns also the use of the compounds in perfumery as well as the perfuming compositions or perfumed articles comprising the invention's compounds.

The perfume industry has a particular interest for compounds which are capable of prolonging the effect of active ingredients over a certain period of time, for example in order to overcome the problems encountered when using perfuming ingredients which are too volatile or have a poor substantivity. These compounds can be used in various applications, as for example in fine or functional perfumery. The washing of textiles is a particular field in which there is a constant quest to enable the effect of active substances, in particular perfumes, to be effective for a certain period of time after washing and drying. Indeed, many substances having fragrances which are particularly suitable for this type of application are, in fact, known to lack tenacity on laundry, or do not remain on the laundry when rinsed, with the result that their perfuming effect is experienced only briefly and not very intensely. Given the importance of this type of application in the perfume industry, research in this field has been sustained, in particular with the aim of finding new, and more effective solutions to the aforementioned problems.
Among the compounds of the present invention a few are known from the prior art. The compounds are 3-(phenylmethoxy)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-butanone (by Fehr C et al. in Helv. Chim. Acta (1992), 75, 1023), 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-2-butanone (by Torii S. et al. in Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. (1978), 51, 949), 4-(phenylthio)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-butanone (by Kuwajima I. et al. in Synthesis (1976), 602), 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1 or 2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-butanone (by Torii S. et al. in Chem. Lett. (1975), 479), 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-3-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-cyclohexanone (by Sayed A. et al. in Curr. Sci. (1999), 77, 818), 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-3-(phenylmethoxy)-cyclohexanone (by Hareau G. et al. in J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1999), 121, 3640), 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-3-(octylthio)-cyclohexanone (by Niyazymbetov M. et al. in Tetrahedron Lett. (1994), 35, 3037), 3,3′-thiobis[2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexanone (Hargreaves M et al. in Z. Naturforsch., B: Anorg. Chem., Org. Chem. (1978), 33B, 1535), 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-3-(phenylthio)-cyclohexanone and its optical isomers (e.g. by Bakuzis P et al. in J. Org. Chem. (1981), 46, 235), 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-4-(2,5,6,6-tetramethyl-1 or 2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-butanone and their optical isomers (by Torii S. et al. in J. Org. Chem. (1980), 45, 16), beta-[(4-methylphenyl)thio]-benzenepropanal (by Manickam G. et al. in Tetrahedron (1999), 55, 2721), beta-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-benzenepropanal (in ES 2103680), beta-(phenylsulfonyl)-benzenepropanal (by Vidal J. et al. in Tetrahedron Lett. (1986), 27, 3733), beta-(phenylmethoxy)-benzenepropanal (by Brickmann K. et al. in Chem. Ber. (1993), 126, 1227), beta-[[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methyl]thio]-benzenepropanal (in EP 140298), beta-[(4-bromo-3-methylphenyl)thio]-benzenepropanal (by Loiseau P. et al. in Pharm. Acta Helv. (1983), 58, 115), beta-[(4-chlorophenyl)thio]-benzenepropanal (in FR 2509725), beta-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-benzenepropanal (in WO 00/000198), and beta-(phenylthio)-benzenepropanal (e.g by Tilak B. et al. in Indian J. Chem. (1969), 7, 191).
All the compounds mentioned above have been used as synthetic intermediates, however, but not as perfuming ingredients. Moreover, in the documents mentioned hereinabove, there is no mention or suggestion of the potential use of the compounds as perfuming ingredients and more specifically of the use of such aid compounds to control the release of active, e.g. odoriferous, molecules.

Compounds for a controlled release of active molecules


According to one embodiment, a disk drive is disclosed which has an offset measuring function for measuring a dynamic offset value necessary to a dynamic offset control using a DTM (discrete track media) type disk. A CPU (microprocessor) included in the disk drive writes offset measuring position information to an optimum position of lands on the disk and calculates a dynamic offset value based on the offset measuring position information.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a disk drive, and more particularly to a technique for measuring an offset between a read head and a write head using a disk as a discrete track medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in a disk drive typically represented by a hard disk drive, attention is paid to a discrete track medium (DTM) type disk as a disk which is a magnetic recording medium. In the DTM type disk, a pattern is formed on a substrate, and the pattern has a magnetic region, which is a magnetic recording region of data, and a non-magnetic region (nonmagnetic guard band) which are separated from each other. The disk drive positions a magnetic head on a designated magnetic region and records data or reproduces recorded data. The magnetic region in which data is recorded may be called a data track.
The magnetic head has a structure in which a read head and a write head are separately mounted on one slider (head body). The read head is a head for reading out data from on a disk. The write head is a head for writing data onto the disk. In the magnetic head having the structure described above, an offset exists between the read head and the write head. Accordingly, a certain amount of offset (positional dislocation) occurs in a track locus of each of the read head and the write head depending on a radial position on a disk medium.
In a disk drive, when a magnetic head is positioned to a position designated on a disk, an offset control is executed to each of a read head and a write head to perform a positional adjustment based on a measured offset value. In the offset control, a dynamic offset control (DOC) is effective which executes a control using an offset value which changes when a disk rotates once in consideration of a disk runout and the like (refer to, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-216378).
To measure an offset value necessary to an offset control, there is conventionally proposed a method of calculating an offset value by recording data for measurement on a DTM type disk and reading out the data for measurement by a magnetic head (refer to, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-265546).
As described above, as a method of measuring the offset value with respect to the DTM type disk, there is a method of calculating the offset value by recording data for measurement on a disk and reading out the data for measurement by a magnetic head. In the DTM type disk, the data for measurement is written on a magnetic region formed in a pattern by a write head of the magnetic head.
However, when an offset is greatly varied when a disk rotates once due to a factor such as a disk runout and the like, there is a possibility that the data for measurement cannot be securely written on a magnetic region. In this case, a measurement accuracy of the offset value is lowered because the data for measurement cannot be read out with a pinpoint accuracy.

Method and apparatus for determining offset between read head and write head in a disk drive


The invention relates to the compounds of formula I or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, and methods for the treatment of respiratory disorders may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be used to treatment of viscid or excessive mucus, cough, inflammation, redness in sore throat, infection in the throat, sore throat, abnormal mucus secretion, impaired mucus transport, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, respiratory muscular disorders and pain in acute sore throat.

The act of breathing depends on coordinated activity of the respiratory muscles to generate sub-atmospheric pressure. This action is compromised by disease states affecting anatomical sites ranging from the cerebral cortex to the alveolar sac. Weakness of the respiratory muscles can dominate the clinical manifestations in the later stages of several primary neurologic and neuromuscular disorders in a manner unique to each disease state.
Structural abnormalities of the thoracic cage, such as scoliosis or flail chest, interfere with the action of the respiratory muscles again in a manner unique to each disease state. The hyperinflation that accompanies diseases of the airways interferes with the ability of the respiratory muscles to generate sub-atmospheric pressure and it increases the load on the respiratory muscles. Impaired respiratory muscle function is the most severe consequence of several newly described syndromes affecting critically ill patients. Research on the respiratory muscles embraces techniques of molecular biology, integrative physiology, and controlled clinical trials. A detailed understanding of disease states affecting the respiratory muscles is necessary for every physician who practices pulmonary medicine or critical care medicine.
Respiratory muscle function is monitored at a rudimentary level in routine critical care practice. Stagnation in diagnostic and monitoring techniques may have stemmed from the paucity of new therapies directed at the respiratory muscles. The mechanisms whereby cytokines cause respiratory muscle dysfunction are rapidly unfolding and new pharmacologic agents have been developed. Together, these advances should motivate the introduction of more advanced diagnostic and monitoring techniques into everyday clinical practice.
Disappointingly, the gap between basic understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms and the translation of this knowledge into improvements in patient outcome has widened over the last 25 years. It is hoped that this gap will be narrowed by the time of the next State-of-the-Art review on respiratory muscles.
Managing acute pathology of often relies on the addressing underlying pathology and symptoms of the disease. There is currently a need in the art for new compositions to treatment of respiratory disorders.

Compositions and methods for the treatment of respiratory disorders


An ink-jet print head and a method of making the same comprising the steps of sequentially laminating a heating layer and an electric conductive layer on a substrate, patterning the electric conductive layer to expose a predetermined area of the top surface of the heating layer, forming a protective layer on the top surfaces of the electric conductive layer and exposed heating layer, and laminating an ink chamber barrier and a nozzle plate on the top surface of the protective layer, thereby forming an ink chamber. The protective layer is provided by forming a cavitation layer by alternately laminating at least two types of thin film layers of different materials over the exposed heating layer and the electric conductive layer to resist fractures and oxidization resulting from use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink-jet print head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective layer formed for protecting a heating layer of a thermal transfer ink-jet print head and a method of making a print head provided with such a protective layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional print head applications, two ink ejection techniques have been widely employed in ink-jet print heads. A first technique is to eject ink using a piezoelectric element, and the second technique is to eject ink using ink bubbles produced when instantaneously heating the ink with a heating element. The latter technique is commonly called a thermal transfer technique. Recently, ink-jet print heads of the thermal transfer type have been more commonly used because they can be more easily fabricated in a compact size.
FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the construction of an example conventional ink-jet print head of the thermal transfer type.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional ink-jet print head 100 comprises a heating layer 140, an electric conductive layer 150, and a protective layer 160, which are all laminated on a main substrate 120 in the order shown. The heating layer 140 is formed to instantaneously heat ink charged within an ink chamber 110 as described above, and the electric conductive layer 150 is formed for applying electric power to the heating layer 140.
The protective layer 160 is formed for protecting the heating layer 140. In this regard, the conventional protective layer 160 can comprise an insulation layer 164 which is formed over the heating layer 140 and the electric conductive layer 150, and a cavitation layer 161 which is formed on the top surface of the insulation layer 164, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,389 of Yoshiaki Shirato et al., entitled "Liquid Droplet Ejecting Recording Head", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The cavitation layer 161 serves to prevent the heating layer 140 from being fractured by a cavitation force produced when ink bubbles (not shown) collapse within the ink chamber 110 after ink droplets are ejected through a nozzle 185. To achieve this function, the conventional cavitation layer 161 can be formed by depositing tantalum (Ta) on the top surface of the insulation layer 164.
In order to protect the heating layer 140 from a cavitation force as described above, a cavitation layer 161 should be wholly superior to remaining layers not only in mechanical properties, such as hardness and elasticity, but also in chemical properties, such as oxidation resistance, for preventing the layer from being readily oxidized by ink charged within an ink chamber 110. However, it is difficult to find such a material that is wholly superior in the aforementioned properties and in particular, it is even more difficult to find such a material that is wholly superior in these properties when incorporated in a thin film layer state in a product.
As an example, a conventional cavitation layer 161 comprised of tantalum (Ta) as mentioned above, is superior in elasticity. However, it is not so superior in hardness and oxidation resistance that it can protect a heating layer 140 for a long period. As a result, if a conventional ink-jet print head 100 is repeatedly used for a long period, the projective layer 160 will be fractured, either by cavitation forces as mentioned above, or by oxidization due to chemical reactions with ink charged within the ink chamber 110. Therefore, a problem arises in that it can become impossible to prevent the heating layer 140 from being damaged. In particular, as ink-jet printers for high-speed printing are being vigorously developed, there is problem in that the replacement period of an ink-jet print head 100 has become shorter and shorter due to the fracture of the heating layer 140 as described above.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method to provide an ink-jet print head which can be repeatedly used for a long period with minimal damage to the projective layer by forces such as cavitation and oxidization.

Protective layer of ink-jet print head and method of making ink-jet print head having the same


A method and system for presenting interactive and non-interactive media content to a client computer over a computer network. The system can combine discrete, continuous and interactive media into a single scene that is presented to the client computer. The system allows the presentation to be highly configurable and may therefore customize the presentation for a specific user. User profile information may be stored in an repository associated with the system. This information may be used to customize the presentation to suit the specific needs of a user or to notify the user when a presentation of interest to the user is available. Furthermore, information about a user's interaction with a particular presentation may be stored in the repository so that a presentation can adapt “on-the-fly” to suit the specific needs of a user. In addition, information regarding web services that are available on the Internet may be integrated with other interactive content in a presentation that is provided to a user. The system and method may also utilize an open-source computing platform so that presentations can be transmitted and displayed on a wide variety of client terminals.

The television viewing experience has changed relatively little over the past fifty years. Today, television is still enjoyed through a passive viewing experience that is essentially non-functional beyond the one-way communication of audio/video. TV stimulates demand, but is unable to recognize or fulfill it. Conversely, the Internet can provide functionality to recognize and fulfill demand but does effectively little to stimulate it. The challenge lies in empowering the TV with the functionality to recognize and fulfill the demand that it stimulates, while not disrupting the simplicity, clarity, and excitement that makes the TV experience so popular.
Video game developers have already demonstrated the merits of infusing video with interactivity. This successful infusion proves that when the viewer interacts with video, and the video responds accordingly; the resulting effect is one that engages and immerses the audience to a much higher degree, yielding a dramatic improvement to the overall quality of the experience. Video games are engaging, simple and interactive—but are not functional or versatile outside their intended gaming purpose.
In recent years, businesses and educational institutions have learned the Internet (as accessed by the World Wide Web) has considerable limitations. With more than 600 billion web pages and 7.5 petabytes of information accessible, Internet users are well aware of the intense effort required to translate information into understanding. It is widely acknowledged that with a seemingly endless array of valuable services available, the overall customer desire to get "what you want, when you want it" on the Internet has been less than fulfilled. Undesirable experiences have offset the versatility and functionality of the web in the minds of many users. As evidenced by failing dot-coms, the initial excitement of the web has faded, and many users are bypassing otherwise valuable Internet-based services due to complex, confusing, and boring experiences. Online service providers must provide better experiences or watch customers leave.
Many benefits arise from enabling viewers to go beyond a passive viewing experience. The viewing experience is enhanced when viewers can react and respond to the impulses and inspirations triggered by the viewing experience. The ultimate solution leverages the characteristic strengths of the TV experience (simple, understandable, engaging) to negate the characteristic weaknesses of the typical web experience (complex, confusing, boring) and simultaneously delivering versatile, interactive functionality enabling people to do the things they want to do.
Recognizing the video-centric nature of TV as the driving force behind its success in delivering entertaining and understandable experiences, technology vendors are developing solutions to harness this power and apply it to create functional, interactive and versatile Internet-based applications that are simple, understandable and engaging. These solutions can be primarily placed into one of two categories: Interactive TV or Streaming Media.
Responding to the fact the penetration of TV is approximately twice that of Internet connectivity, numerous vendors have sought to empower TV viewers to interact with web pages on the TV through a set-top box. This approach makes it easier for a viewer to act on impulse inspired by video, and does enable the TV to become functional. Interactive TV solutions work by attaching a set-top box to a TV. Essentially this technology brings the functionality, versatility, and interactivity of an Internet-enabled PC to the TV, in some ways making the TV more "PC-like". This approach is useful for providing simple web services such as electronic program guides, video-on-demand, targeted advertising, and simple e-commerce.
For applications that are more complex, however, this approach has several disadvantages. First, the content and applications are platform specific and may be run only on certain platforms. Porting functionality and content to run on a PC or cell phone takes considerable effort. Second, the infrastructure provided by these interactive TV product vendors has been tuned and tweaked to succeed in delivering a limited number of high-demand applications. The infrastructure lacks the flexibility to provide a deployment platform for a wider range of applications that can access valuable Web Services. Third, while this approach brings functionality, versatility, and interactivity to the TV, a closer look at this approach reveals additional disadvantages. This experience works by shifting the viewer's attention from the understandable, engaging messages conveyed via the video to a web page reformatted for TV. Although this approach provides easier access to some of the same basic Internet functions, it solves none of the inherent problems noted above.
Streaming media vendors have evolved from providing streaming media solution components to providing integrated application platforms. These integrated application platforms can conduct commerce transactions, syndicate content, and provide advertising support integrating content delivery with personalization (profiles, tracking & reporting). Most commonly, though, these solutions are used to stream audio and video to a PC. In this capacity, this technology essentially brings the simple, understandable, and engaging messages of TV to the PC, in some ways making the PC more "TV-like."
The advantage of Streaming Media platforms is that it provides the components for building interactive, functional applications that are simple to use, understandable, and engaging via personalized interactive video. By using advanced compression algorithms, such as MPEG-4, these platforms are portable to many different platforms, including TV set-tops, cell phones, PDAs as well as PCs. The disadvantage of Streaming Media platforms is that the personalization and commerce provided is proprietary and unable to leverage investments and or data contained in existing profiling or customer relationship management systems. Furthermore, utilizing these platforms to access other Web Services requires additional development. Thus, the desired versatility and flexibility comes with considerable cost.
It is therefore desirable to provide web services, interactive media, and other information in a rich client front-end that is engaging and interactive for the user. It is also desirable to provide an interactive experience that can anticipate the user's needs based upon a user's preferences and make suggestions that would assist him/her in their on-line experience. It is further desirable for a system to custom-tailor an interactive presentation to a specific user's needs and present certain options that a user has expressed interest in. It would be further desirable for a system to be constructed using an open-source platform so that it may be exported to a wide variety of client platforms.

Method and apparatus for providing interactive media presentation


Machine-readable media, methods, and apparatus are described for processing coherent requests of a computing device comprising multiple cache nodes. In some embodiments, a coherent switch may receive from a requesting cache node a coherent request for a line of memory. The coherent switch may further issue snoop requests to one or more non-requesting cache nodes based upon whether a snoop filter bypass mode is enabled. In particular, the coherent switch when not in snoop filter bypass mode may obtain coherency data from a snoop filter and may issue snoop requests to zero or more non-requesting cache nodes based upon the coherency data obtained from the snoop filter. Further, the coherent switch when in snoop filter bypass mode may bypass the snoop filter and may issue snoop requests to all non-requesting cache agents.

Some computing devices comprises multiple caching agents such as processors and/or I/O hubs. The caching agents may comprise internal caches and/or associated external caches that maintain local copies of data stored in system memory of the computing device. These local copies of data are often referred to as cache lines, memory lines, and/or lines and may comprise 64, 128, 256 or some other number of bytes of data. These computing devices further implement some sort of cache coherency protocol which ensures that cache lines remain coherent with one another and the memory.


A description language providing a hierarchical data structure that includes a public portion, hierarchically storing product information including identification of the product and standard and optional features desired for the product. The data structure further includes a private portion for secure storage of customer information. The discloser includes a system comprising a server with a product database, an intermediary subsystem, and a seller subsystem. A product is configured which stores the configured product and features in the data structure. A request for quote (RFQ) is transmitted, with the data structure, to sellers in the customer's geographic area, based on a comparison of product features with sellers stock. Quotes are returned from the sellers in response to which the customer sends an acceptance of a quote to the appropriate seller. While the invention is applicable to any product available in multiple configurations, specific embodiments are directed to vehicle implementations.

The Internet has developed as an important vehicle for information exchange, as well as a forum for conducting, or at least facilitating, commerce. Systems using the Internet as a commercial forum fall broadly into two categories: seller-driven or customer-driven. The difference between customer and seller driven systems lies in which party takes the initiative to find the other. In a seller-driven system, the seller finds the customer; in a customer-driven system the customer finds the seller.
Most Internet commerce systems in use today are seller-driven and are either passive sites or active sites. A typical seller's Internet site is a passive advertising site that provides information about the product and directs potential customers to places they can obtain the product. Automobile manufacturers are a typical example: their sites provide information about the manufacturer's line of cars, available options, and locations of authorized dealers.
A smaller number of sellers have active selling sites that not only provide product information but allow potential customers to conduct a transaction over the Internet and purchase the product. The seller prices and packages the product and then holds it out for sale to potential customers via the Internet. The seller specifies, through their web site, the terms of the sale, and potential customers must either accept the seller's terms or find another seller whose terms are acceptable. Products sold on these sites are typically lower-priced standardized goods such as books, compact disks, and videos.
In a customer-driven system, the customer specifies the product they want and the terms under which they will buy it, and then sends this specification to sellers. Some attempts have been made to implement customer-driven systems on the Internet. Examples are news groups and bulletin boards where any potential customer can post "wanted" ads at little or no cost. Customer driven systems has certain benefits that other systems do not. Where a large number of potential sellers exist, but those sellers do not have the resources to advertise globally, it makes sense for customers, if they can, to take the initiative in communicating their needs to a seller. The Internet is ideal in this situation because Internet postings are global, and the customer theoretically can communicate his offer to a large number of potential sellers. Moreover, customers can usually exercise more control over the terms and conditions of their purchases.
Despite their advantages, existing customer-driven systems have some drawbacks. Sellers are deterred from using customer-driven systems because sellers do not want to be inundated with numerous requests from potential customers, many of whom may be marginal or unqualified. Moreover, if each customer has a different set of purchasing specifications and communicates his or her needs to sellers using a non-standard format with different conditions, terms, and language styles, the specification may require too much time for the seller to interpret. Furthermore, sellers are deterred from using customer-driven systems because there is no guarantee of the authenticity of the request, and the financial ability of the customer to enter into the transaction is uncertain. In addition, such "customers" may actual be rival sellers looking for competitor pricing information.
Newsgroups scattered across the Internet make it difficult, if not impossible, for sellers to find customer requests. In practice, these customer-driven systems are ineffective because potential sellers do not frequent all the various newsgroups or bulletin boards or respond to posting in those places. Customers are deterred from using customer-driven systems for many of the same reasons sellers are deterred. For example, a potential seller does not want to be inundated with offers from many marginal or unqualified customers.
The problems inherent in existing customer-driven systems are compounded where the product being sold is available in multiple configurations, for example motor vehicles such as an automobile or a truck. These products cause problems because for any given product there are thousands of possible option configurations, and not all combinations of options are feasible. For example, automobile manufacturers usually do not make vehicles having every possible combination of options, but rather make the most popular ones. Thus, for example, if a potential customer wants a purple Ford truck with a yellow interior and a V-12 engine, that engine and combination of colors may not be available from the manufacturer (Ford). The customer, however, has no way of knowing this before sending the request to potential sellers.
Attempts have been made to implement customer-driven systems that address some of the above problems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207 to Walker et. al. ("Walker") is illustrative. Walker does not, however, solve all the foregoing problems. Among other things, Walker does not direct the customer's request to a target set of sellers who are likely, if not certain, to have the desired product. Instead, Walker merely places the customer's request where interested sellers can access it. Walker, although it provides for guaranteeing payment by the customer, does not guarantee that the sellers will be credible and able to deliver. Walker does not provide means for checking whether a complex product the customer wants is feasible, that is, whether it exists or can be manufactured. Finally, Walker provides a system where the customer must send a binding purchase offer that can be accepted by any seller, thereby binding the customer to a contract. This opens up the possibility that an unscrupulous seller could accept the offer. There is thus a need in the art for an apparatus and method that solves the above problems.

Hierarchical data structure for vehicle identification and configuration data including protected customer data


An engine system and method are disclosed for controlling pre-ignition of an alcohol fuel. In one embodiment, the fuel injection timing is adjusted to cause the fuel to avoid combustion chamber surfaces. In another embodiment, the fuel injection timing is adjusted to spray the fuel directly onto the piston surface to cool the piston. Also disclosed is a cylinder cleaning cycle in which engine knock is purposely caused for one to hundreds of engine cycles by adjusting the fuel content away from alcohol toward gasoline. Further measures to cause knock which are disclosed: adjusting spark timing, intake boost, exhaust gas fraction in the cylinder, cam timing, and transmission gear ratio.

Alcohol fuels are known to have a high octane number, which inhibits autoignition (also known as knock; knock is self ignition of end gases ahead of the flame front occurring after spark firing) in spark-ignited internal combustion engines. This allows an internal combustion engine to be operated at a higher compression ratio and/or a higher level of pressure charging in the intake system. However, alcohol fuels are prone to pre-ignition, which is a combustion phenomenon occurring prior to spark plug firing. It is believed to be a surface phenomenon where the fuel comes in contact with a hot spot in the combustion chamber, such as the spark plug tip, a bit of carbon deposit, the piston top, and exhaust valve, and initiates a flame front. This can lead to damage of the engine because it can become a runaway problem. That is, when pre-ignition first occurs, the early combustion leads to very high in-cylinder temperatures and high heat transfer to combustion chamber surfaces. Then, in succeeding cycles, pre-ignition is even more likely and happens earlier in the compression stroke making the temperatures even higher. If left unchecked, high temperatures can lead to engine parts melting and complete failure of the engine. It is known in the art to undertake measures to mitigate pre-ignition.

System and method to control pre-ignition in an internal combustion engine


A coupling for connecting a movable link member of a valve actuator assembly to a movable valve spool in a fluid control valve includes a swivel spud secured to the end of the valve spool. The swivel spud has a semi-spherical outer end surface and first and second transverse apertures formed therethrough. A first cylindrical pin is retained within the first aperture of the swivel spud. The actuator assembly further includes a movable inner piston having an end portion, which is generally hollow and cylindrical in shape, and a pair of opposed apertures formed therethrough. The semi-spherical outer end surface of the swivel spud is received within the hollow end portion of the inner actuator piston. A second pin is retained in the opposed apertures of the inner actuator piston, extending through the second aperture of the swivel spud. When the inner actuator piston is moved in one direction, the pins engage one another to effect movement of the valve spool in that direction. When the inner actuator piston is moved in an opposite direction, the semi-spherical surface of the swivel spud engages a flat reaction surface of the inner actuator piston to effect movement of the valve spool in that direction.

This invention relates in general to couplings between movable mechanical members and in particular to an improved coupling structure for connecting a movable link member of an actuator assembly to a movable valve spool in a fluid control valve.
In many hydraulic and pneumatic systems, control valves are provided for controlling the flow of fluid (either in liquid or gaseous form) from a pressurized source to one or more controlled devices. Most fluid control valves of this type include a case having a bore formed therethrough. Within the bore, a valve spool is mounted for limited axial movement. The valve spool has a plurality of circumferential grooves formed thereabout. A plurality of ports are formed in the case which communicate with the bore by means of respective passageways. The various ports of the control valve communicate with the pressurized source, the controlled devices, and a fluid reservoir. By moving the valve spool axially within the bore, certain ports are placed in fluid communication with other ports. As a result, the operation of the controlled devices is regulated in a desired manner.
A variety of structures are known for effecting movement of the valve spool relative to the case. In many fluid control valves, a manually operable handle is pivotably mounted on the case. The handle is typically connected through a link member to the valve spool such that manual pivoting movement of the handle causes axial movement of the valve spool. Manually operable fluid control valves such as this are suitable for use in hydraulic and pneumatic systems where it is possible to locate such fluid control valves conveniently for an operator to grasp and manipulate.
In other hydraulic and pneumatic systems, the fluid control valves are not or cannot be so conveniently located. In those systems, the fluid control valve is provided with a remotely controllable actuator in lieu of the manually operable handle. The actuator includes an internal member which is movable in response to an external signal generated by the operator. Movement of the internal member of the actuator may be accomplished in response to any known signal, such as electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic. As with the manually operable handle, the movable internal member of the actuator is typically connected by a link member to the valve spool for movement therewith.
Regardless of whether the fluid control valve is operated by means of a manually operable handle or a remotely controllable actuator, some mechanical connection is necessary between the link member and the valve spool. This mechanical connection is sometimes difficult to achieve because the case of the fluid control valve is usually formed separately from the housing for the actuating mechanism, whether it be a manually operable handle or a remotely controllable actuator. Because of manufacturing tolerances, the axis of movement of the link member is rarely co-axial with the axis of movement of the valve spool connected thereto. Improper alignment of these axes can cause undesirable side loading or binding of the link member and the valve spool, resulting in premature wear and failure.
To address this, it is known to provide a mechanical connection between the link member and the valve spool which can accommodate a limited amount of misalignment between the respective axes of movement. However, known mechanical connections of this type have been somewhat complicated in structure and bulky in size. Furthermore, known mechanical connections do not always accommodate for misalignment in more than one plane. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved coupling structure for connecting a movable link member of a valve actuator to a movable valve spool in a fluid control valve which is simple, compact, and inexpensive in construction.

Coupling for valve spool actuator assembly


Devices, systems, and methods for drilling an anatomical element are provided. A drill bit may comprise a coaxial hollow shaft in communication with a plurality of apertures disposed on a surface of the drill bit. A fluid inlet may be in fluid communication with the coaxial hollow shaft via a selectively openable valve. The fluid inlet may be configured to receive pressurized fluid. When the valve is opened, the pressurized fluid may be released into the coaxial hollow shaft, and when at least one of the plurality of apertures is not blocked, the pressurized fluid may be released through the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

Surgical robots may assist a surgeon or other medical provider in carrying out a surgical procedure, or may complete one or more surgical procedures autonomously. During such surgical procedures, surgical tools may be used on one or more anatomical elements. The tools may be oriented and operated by the surgical robot and/or the surgeon or other medical provider.


A method for fabricating a wafer level package is disclosed. A carrier is provided. A redistributed layer (RDL) layer is formed on the carrier. Semiconductor dies are mounted on the RDL layer. The semiconductor dies are molded with a molding compound, thereby forming a molded wafer. A grinding process is then performed to remove a central portion of the molding compound, thereby forming a recess and an outer peripheral ring portion surrounding the recess. The carrier is then removed to expose a lower surface of the RDL layer. Solder bumps or solder balls are formed on the lower surface of the RDL layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a wafer level package (WLP).
2. Description of the Prior Art
The semiconductor technologies are developing very fast, and especially semiconductor dies have a tendency toward miniaturization. However, the requirements for the functions of the semiconductor dies have an opposite tendency to variety. Namely, the semiconductor dies must have more I/O pads into a smaller area, so the density of the pins is raised quickly. It causes the packaging for the semiconductor dies to become more difficult.
As known in the art, wafer level package (WLP) packages the dies on a wafer before dividing the dies into respective dies. The WLP technology has some advantages, such as a shorter producing cycle time and lower cost. Fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) is a packaging process in which contacts of a semiconductor die are redistributed over a larger area through a redistribution layer (RDL) that is typically formed on a substrate such as a TSV interposer.
The RDL is typically defined by the addition of metal and dielectric layers onto the surface of the wafer to re-route the I/O layout into a looser pitch footprint. Such redistribution requires thin film polymers such as BCB, PI or other organic polymers and metallization such as Al or Cu to reroute the peripheral pads to an area array configuration.
In conventional wafer level package processes, two or three temporary carrier bonding processes for wafer handling are required. The carrier provides adequate mechanical support for the molded wafer when handling the wafer.

Method for fabricating wafer level package


A visual display stand is shown and described. The display stand comprises a thin aluminum member that slopes downward and away from a display to which it is attached to a horizontal base section that rests on a support surface. The horizontal base is spaced apart from the screen in a direction away from the rear of the display. A rear support member is also provided but is concealed from view when looking at the screen side of the display. As a result, when the stand is attached to display and viewed from the front, it gives a gravity defying appearance because it appears that the weight of the monitor should cause the stand to tip over. Alternatively, the second member may be removed, and the display may rest against a wall.

Visual displays such as televisions, video monitors, and computer monitors are well known and widely used. The tendency has been to provide displays with increasingly thinner profiles, especially in relation to their lengths and widths. As the profiles have gotten thinner, it has become more challenging to provide an attractive and functional way of supporting them on a support surface such as a desk, a table, or a dresser. Many known stands lack a sleek, thin appearance that is compatible and commensurate with a thin-profile television. In addition, certain televisions are used in conjunction with speaker systems, and it is desirable to provide an integrated, appearance by connecting the speaker system to the stand of the television. Thus, a need has arisen for an improved visual display stand.


A display system can accommodate a number of products. The system includes one or more modules. Each module may be mounted on a support wall and includes back and shelf portions. Advantageously, a number of modules are arranged in a number of rows, one row above another. A number of dividers are removably secured to at least one of the walls and may be moved in stepwise or continuous fashion to separate groups of the products within each row. Various of the modules may include hook bars secured to the back wall portions for hanging certain of the products and/or space thieves removably secured to the shelf portions for forwardly offsetting stacked or hung products.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to displays, and more particularly to displays mountable on vertical support surfaces such as pegboard walls and in store shelving gondolas.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of systems exist for displaying goods in the retail environment. Many such systems are used to display many small product packages. These various systems make use of many product holding means including hooks, trays, chutes, and the like. Some displays are freestanding while others are mounted to a support structure such as a shelving gondola. Common gondola configurations feature long rows of shelving facing aisles on either side of the gondola. At the gondola's ends, additional shelving or other display areas define end caps. One common auxiliary display system is known as the power wing, typically secured at the side of an end cap and protruding slightly into the adjacent aisle. Smaller displays may be secured to the sides of the power wing and may face the longitudinal direction of the aisle. Such smaller displays are often identified as mini wings. Mini wing-type displays may also be mounted to shelving fronts to protrude into an aisle. These may include portions facing the aisle or facing the longitudinal direction of the aisle.


The present disclosure provides methods and systems for introducing an activator to a polymerization reactor. The methods may include introducing liquid activator to a mixing vessel or an inline mixer and mixing aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent to form an activator solution which is introduced to a polymerization reactor. The systems may include a storage vessel, a mixing vessel or inline mixer configured to mix a liquid activator with a hydrocarbon solvent, and a polymerization reactor. The present disclosure also provides a process for producing a polyolefin. The process may include introducing liquid activator to an inline mixer and mixing an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent with the liquid activator to form an activator solution. The process may include introducing the activator solution, a catalyst, and an olefin feed to a polymerization reactor.

Polyolefins are widely used commercially because of their robust physical properties. Polyolefins are typically prepared with an activated catalyst that polymerizes olefin monomers. Catalysts for olefin polymerization are often based on metallocenes as catalyst precursors, which are activated either with an alumoxane or an activator containing a non-coordinating anion. A non-coordinating anion, is capable of stabilizing the resulting metal cation of the catalyst. Because such activators are fully ionized and the corresponding anion is highly non-coordinating, such activators can be effective as olefin polymerization catalyst activators. However, because they are ionic salts, such activators are typically insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and only sparingly soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons. The insolubility or partial solubility of previous activators leads to inaccuracies in measuring quantities and also develops a need to pre-mix activators and catalysts using complicated systems with various mixing and holding vessels in order to provide activated catalyst to olefin polymerization reactors.
Furthermore, it is desirable to conduct most polymerizations of α-olefins in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents due to the compatibility of such solvents with the olefin monomer and in order to reduce the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the resulting polymer product. Typically, ionic salt activators are added to such polymerizations in the form of a solution in an aromatic solvent such as toluene. The use of even a small quantity of such an aromatic solvent to introduce the activator into the polymerization reactor can be undesirable since the aromatic solvent is removed in a post-polymerization devolatilization step and separated from other volatile components, which is a process that adds significant cost and complexity to commercial production of polyolefins. Additionally, activators may exist in the form of a solid, or an oily, intractable material which is not readily handled and metered or precisely incorporated into the reaction mixture. There remains a need for methods of providing for introduction of liquid activators to olefin polymerization reactors.
Another problem with previously designed systems for dispensing and premixing activators is that these systems are unnecessarily complex and costly, both in installation and operation. Available systems are voluminous and cumbersome, and may involve several tanks for storing and diluting activator or the combination of activator and catalyst. In addition, the use of large vessels and large amounts of diluent for preparing catalyst and activator slurries increases initial costs and greatly increases the costs associated with devolatilization of polyolefin products.
There is a need for improved processes allowing for measurement in the use and introduction of liquid activators to olefin polymerization reactors.

Processes for introduction of liquid activators in olefin polymerization reactions


In a process of peeling off a transfer layer of an intermediate transfer film, an amount of energy, which is supplied to a thermal head 3 so as to heat the thermal head 3, is changed in accordance with a location of the thermal head 3 in a peeling area 71P and its neighboring area. The amount of energy is designated to be maximum energy E1 when the thermal head 3 is positioned in the neighborhood of a boundary area of the peeling area 71P while the thermal head 3 relatively moves from outside the peeling area 71P, that is, a non-peeling area 71NP to inside the peeling area 71P. In a case that the thermal head 3 is positioned in the non-peeling area 71NP or outside the peeling area 71P, a certain amount of energy is supplied to the thermal head 3 so as to maintain a temperature T of the thermal head 3 at a temperature of less than a predetermined temperature PA while heating the thermal head 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retransfer printing met-hod and a printing apparatus thereof, wherein an ink image is transferred from an ink ribbon to an intermediate transfer film, and then a transfer layer formed on the intermediate transfer film through the transfer process is re-transferred to a printing medium to be printed.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called retransfer printing apparatus has been commonly known until now. The retransfer printing apparatus prints such that an ink image is once transferred from an ink ribbon to an intermediate printing film, and then the ink image is re-transferred from the intermediate transfer film to a surface of a printing medium such as a card and a sheet. There exists a card printer,as one example of such a retransfer printing apparatus.
In the case of the retransfer printing method, by using an ink ribbon continuously formed with ink areas of each color such as yellow, magenta, cyan and black that are sequentially arranged on a belt-shaped sheet, heating a thermal head in response to a picture image transfers ink from each ink area to an intermediate transfer film and forms the picture image on the intermediate transfer film. Then the picture image formed on the intermediate transfer film is re-transferred to a printing medium by applying heat and pressure of a heat roller and finally printed on the printing medium.
In the case that a printing medium is in a shape of a bankbook or a card, there provided an area for an IC chip, a magnetic stripe or writing a signature on the surface of the printing medium.
If any membrane is adhered over the area provided as mentioned above while re-transferring, there exist problems. In the case that the area is for an IC chip, terminals for external connection of the IC chip are made poor contact. In the case that the area is a magnetic stripe area, poor contact with a magnetic head occurs. In the case that the area is for signature, ink of a ball point pen or like hardly fixes permanently in the area.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, by designating such an area to be a non-transfer area so as not to be transferred while re-transferring, various countermeasures have been studied such that a shape of a heat roller was designed and an area for not forming an ink image corresponding to a non-transfer area was provided on an intermediate transfer film. However, in any cases, these countermeasures resulted in increasing cost drastically because a special component varied by each picture image to be printed was essential to be exclusively prepared.
With respect to these problems, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 7-266589/1995 discloses the method that is capable of forming a desired non-transfer area without using a special component.
The method disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 7-266589/1995 is as follows: a peeling layer (adhesive layer) is continuously provided on each ink layer of an ink ribbon so as to peel off ink that is transferred on an intermediate transfer film, and at the end of a transfer process of one image, ink that is previously transferred on the intermediate transfer film is peeled off by heating an area corresponding to a non-transfer area of the peeling layer by means of a thermal head, and then the non-transfer area is formed on the intermediate transfer film.
Consequently, a non-transfer area is enabled to form on an intermediate transfer film by designating an arbitrary range.
In the meantime, whether or not a peeling layer enables to peel off ink transferred on an intermediate transfer film depends upon whether or not a desired range of the peeling layer enables to be heated up to a predetermined temperature or more.
However, when heating a thermal head, a gradient of rising temperature of the thermal head is gradual and there exists scatter in a rising temperature characteristic of each modular head of the thermal head, wherein modular heads are arranged in line and in parallel with each other. Consequently, a boundary to be a non-transfer area is hardly designated, and resulting in a problem of peeling off ink defectively.
Further, such defective peeling off was particularly remarkable at a border where a relative position of a thermal head on an ink ribbon moved from a transfer area to a non-transfer area when transferring.

Retransfer printing method and printing apparatus thereof


A system and method for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container. The system includes a light source housed in a light source housing and configured to emit a light beam for absorption in a substance to be measured, a detector housed in a detector housing and configured to detect the emitted light beam, a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured, the zone located between the detector and the light source, the light source configured to transmit the light beam through the zone, and a light source purging system comprising a light source channel surrounding the light source and positioned between the light source and the housing, the light source channel configured to expel purge gas from a purge gas source into the zone.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to the field of optical absorption laser spectroscopy. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for increased purge efficacy in optical absorption spectroscopic measurements of gases in sealed containers.
2. Background Information
There presently exist systems in which gases in volume product containers are detected, analyzed and/or measured during pharmaceutical, food and beverage, consumer electronic production and the like. Optical absorption laser spectroscopy can quantify the amount of matter in a sample by directing laser energy at a sample of matter and measuring how much laser intensity is absorbed. Such systems can measure trace quantities and can nondestructively analyze gas contents within sealed containers, in order to determine, e.g., the amount of contaminants/species present in a sealed container.
FIG. 1 shows a related art optical absorption laser spectroscopy system 10 found in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,323, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein in their entirety. Such a system 10 generally contains a light source 42, a container 14, a light collection element 44, and a light detector 48, and can be an enclosed design.
The region between the light source 42 and the light detector 48 is typically referred to as a sample region or detection zone 26. In other words, in the detection zone 26, the light emitted from the light source 42 passes through the detection zone along the optical axis of the light source and onto the detector. The light is of a special variety that is absorbed by a spectroscopic species of interest in a way that is detectable, which is considered the signal to be detected. The light collection is usually done with an optical lens 44. The optical path B includes the light rays that are emitted by the laser light source 42 and also sensed by the detector 48. Absorbers that are outside of the container 14 yet within the optical path B can adversely affect the signal picked up by the detector 48 as well as absorbers that are inside. To reduce or eliminate the effect of these external absorbers, some other inert gas (that does not contain absorbers, such as nitrogen) can be pumped into the optical path B from a gas source by a purging system 54 to displace or remove the ambient gas from the top of the detection zone 26, which is referred to as a purge. By purging the unwanted gas or air through passages 56, the system 10 can better determine solely the concentration of absorbers within a container, and to a high degree of accuracy.
For example, when detecting oxygen in a sealed pharmaceutical sample container, the oxygen in the atmosphere outside the container but along the laser path must be removed. Purging this gas away from the sample container is often the quickest and most efficient method for removing interfering gas species from the measurement region.
Optical absorption laser spectroscopy using sealed containers 14 that move quickly through the detection zone 26 can be a challenge due to the entrained flow of such as ambient air. A closed system where a purge gas can reliably displace all ambient gas and where the container to be measured is inserted into the apparatus can be forgiving with respect to the particular flow of the purge, so long as it is good enough to remove most of the ambient gas eventually, as the physical limitations of it are such that measurements take tens of seconds to minutes.
FIG. 2 shows a laser module of a related art optical absorption laser spectroscopy system. In this example, the laser source 42 is present in laser source housing 58a, and includes a pair of passages 56 in the form of purge holes on opposite sides of the laser source. The flow of purge gas must be high in order to discharge and fill up the detection zone 26 with purge gas in a timely manner. Other related art laser modules have a plurality of purge holes that encircle the laser source 42. The purge hole pattern determines the fluid flow dynamics when the purge gas flows out of the detector housing 58b and into the detection zone 26. Generally the purge hole pattern encircling the laser source 42 requires a large volume of purge gas, and does not rapidly fill the volume outside the detector (i.e., the detection zone 26) with the purge gas, thereby slowing down the detection process.
In view of the above, a need has arisen to economically and rapidly purge gas from a detection zone during optical absorption spectroscopic measurement of gases in sealed containers.

Method and apparatus for increased purge efficacy in optical absorption spectroscopic measurements of gases in sealed containers


A one-way valve is provided. The one-way valve may be, for example, a check valve, a relief valve, or the like, which may be in the form of a poppet valve. The valve provides a housing with a through hole. The through hole has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion has a reduced diameter compared to the downstream portion. The housing contains a valve seat, which typically has a taper. A poppet, or valve member, moves within the through hole from a valve closed position and a valve open position. The poppet has a high pressure facing side and a low pressure facing side opposite the high pressure facing side. The low pressure facing side of the poppet engages an elastic member of a compression member that biases the poppet in the valve closed position. The high pressure facing side of the poppet engages a resilient metal seal in the form of an annular disc. The annular disc has a generally wavy or undulating shape. The outer ends of the resilient metal seal have a curve or arc shape and provide a seat interface that releasably engages the valve seat.

The technology of the present application relates to valves and, more specifically, to a seal for a check valve, relief valve, or other one-way valve structure.
Conventional check valves have a seated or closed position and a lifted or an open position. Typically, the check valves are biased, such as by a compression spring, in a closed position against a seal (or seat). Fluid pressure against the valve provides a force that overcomes the biasing force to open the check valve and allow fluid to flow.
For the conventional check valve, the seal is frequently formed from relatively soft, resilient materials such as elastomer or polymer seals. In some instances, the seat that forms the seal is entirely formed of the elastomer or polymer. In other instances, the majority of the seat may be formed of a metal material where the interface between the piston and the seat.
FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional poppet check valve 100 (which also may be a relief valve) in the closed position. FIG. 2 shows the conventional poppet check valve 100 in the open (or lift) position). The check valve 100 has a housing 102 with a valve seat 104. The housing 102 has a through bore 106. The through bore has a first part 108, which is upstream, and a second part 110, which is downstream. The first part 108, in this exemplary embodiment, is a reduced diameter from the second part 110. The check valve 100 also has a valve element 112, or poppet 112, that engages the valve seat 104. The poppet 112 is biased towards the valve seat 104 by an elastic member 113, such as a coil spring or the like. The housing 102 and valve seat 104 have an annular channel 114 extending around the valve seat 104. An elastomer seal 116, such as an O-ring, or the like, resides in channel 114. When, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve element 112 engages the valve seat 104, the elastomer seal 116 forms a fluid media tight seal between the first part 108 of the through bore 106 and second part 110 of the through bore 108 (or between the upstream and downstream portions). Instead of an elastomer seal 116, the valve seat may be layered with an elastomer to form an interference between the valve seat and the valve element 112. In this case, the annular channel 114 may be removed as well.
The elastomer seal 116 (or layered elastomer, not specifically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) are limiting. In particular, the elastomer seal 116 may fail or be less effective at higher operating temperatures as the elastomer seal 116 softens and/or creeps resulting in a less effective seal.
Thus, against this background, it would be desirable to provide an improved one-way valve.


Systems, methods and related devices used to produce and collect polarized noble gas to inhibit, suppress, detect or filter alkali metal nanoclusters to preserve or increase a polarization level thereof. The systems can include a pre-sat chamber that has an Area Ratio between 20 and 500.

Conventionally, MRI has been used to produce images by exciting the nuclei of hydrogen atoms (present in water molecules) in the human body. MRI imaging with polarized noble gases can produce improved images of certain areas and regions of the body. Polarized Helium-3 ("3He") and Xenon-129 ("129Xe") have been found to be particularly suited for this purpose.
Hyperpolarizers are used to produce and accumulate polarized noble gases. Hyperpolarizes artificially enhance the polarization of certain noble gas nuclei (such as 129Xe or 3He) over the natural or equilibrium levels, i.e., the Boltzmann polarization. Such an increase is desirable because it enhances and increases the Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") signal intensity, allowing physicians to obtain better images of the substance in the body. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,625 to Cates et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,396 to Albert et al., the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if recited in full herein.
In order to produce the hyperpolarized gas, the noble gas is typically blended with optically pumped alkali metal vapors such as rubidium ("Rb"). These optically pumped metal vapors collide with the nuclei of the noble gas and hyperpolarize the noble gas through a phenomenon known as "spin-exchange." The "optical pumping" of the alkali metal vapor is produced by irradiating the alkali-metal vapor with circularly polarized light at the wavelength of the first principal resonance for the alkali metal (e.g., 795 nm for Rb). Generally stated, the ground state atoms become excited, then subsequently decay back to the ground state. Under a modest magnetic field (10 Gauss), the cycling of atoms between the ground and excited states can yield nearly 100% polarization of the atoms in a few microseconds. This polarization is generally carried by the lone valence electron characteristics of the alkali metal. In the presence of non-zero nuclear spin noble gases, the alkali-metal vapor atoms can collide with the noble gas atoms in a manner in which the polarization of the valence electrons is transferred to the noble-gas nuclei through a mutual spin flip "spin-exchange."
Conventionally, lasers have been used to optically pump the alkali metals. Various lasers emit light signals over various wavelength bands. In order to improve the optical pumping process for certain types of lasers (particularly those with broader bandwidth emissions), the absorption or resonance line width of the alkali metal can be made broader to more closely correspond with the particular laser emission bandwidth of the selected laser. This broadening can be achieved by pressure broadening, i.e., by using a buffer gas in the optical pumping chamber. Collisions of the alkali metal vapor with a buffer gas will lead to a broadening of the alkali's absorption bandwidth.
However, since large-scale continuous flow polarizers were first introduced, their performance levels, as measured by both polarization and production rate, have fallen far short of theoretical predictions (Driehuys '08, Mortuza '03, Norquay '13). The first continuous-flow 129Xe polarizer achieved just 2-5% polarization at production rates of 1 liter/hr, while using 140 W of laser light (Driehuys '96). This stood in stark contrast to predicted polarization levels of 60-80% and production rates of 2.5 L/hr.

Hyperpolarized noble gas production systems with nanocluster suppression, detection and/or filtering and related methods and devices