The present invention relates to thermally conductive, elastomeric pads. The pads can be made by injection-molding a thermally conductive composition comprising about 30 to 60% by volume of an elastomer polymer matrix and about 25 to 60% by volume of a thermally conductive filler material. The resultant pads have heat transfer properties and can be used as a thermal interface to protect heat-generating electronic devices.

The present invention relates to thermally conductive elastomeric pads and methods for manufacturing such pads. Particularly, the pads comprise an elastomer polymer matrix and a thermally conductive filler material. The pads produced by these methods can be used as thermal interfaces to dissipate heat from heat-generating electronic devices.
Electronic devices such as semiconductors, microprocessors, and circuit boards can generate a substantial amount of heat that must be removed in order for the device to function properly. The industry uses thermally conductive compositions to dissipate heat from such electronic components. Typically, such compositions comprise a base polymer matrix and thermally conductive filler material.
For example, Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,870 discloses thermally conductive organosiloxane compositions comprising a polyorganosiloxane and a mixture of thermally conductive fillers that includes aluminum nitride.
McCullough, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,978 discloses a thermally conductive composition comprising a polymer base matrix (liquid crystal polymer) and thermally conductive fillers (aluminum, alumina, copper, magnesium, brass, carbon, and boron nitride).
Conventional thermally conductive compositions can be used in a variety of ways. For example, a heat-generating device (e.g., electronic part) and an adjacent heat-dissipating article (e.g., heat sink) first are secured in place by mechanical means using clips or screws. Thermally conductive pastes or greases comprising polysiloxane oils loaded with fillers are then smeared onto these components. The thermally conductive greases tend to have initially good film-forming and gap-filling properties. For example, small gaps may exist between the heat sink and electronic part, where these components interface with each other. The uneven mating surfaces of these components can cause such gaps. The thermal greases tend to seep into these gaps bringing the heat sink and electronic part into initial contact with each other. However, it has been found that such thermal greases have poor adhesive properties and will ultimately seep out. This seepage causes air voids to form between the two surfaces resulting in hot spots. Moreover, the mechanical fasteners may exert excessive pressure on the heat sink and accelerate the seepage. It has been reported that seeping polysiloxane oils can evaporate and re-condense on sensitive parts of surrounding microcircuits. The re-condensed oils lead to the formation of silicates that can interfere with the microcircuits and cause the microprocessor to fail in operation.
In the case of polysiloxanes and thermoplastic polymers, these materials are typically cast in sheet form and die-cut into desired shapes corresponding to the shapes of the heat sink and heat-generating device. The resulting pre-formed sheet is attached to the surface of the heat-generating device, and the heat sink is secured by means of clips or screws. These pre-cut, thermally conductive sheets solve the problems associated with the above-described greases. However, an operator may find it difficult to precisely cut the sheets to specific configurations. Thus, the sheets may not have the proper geometry to provide an optimum pathway for heat-transfer between the heat-generating device and heat sink. Further, the added step of cutting and manually applying the pre-formed sheets adds cost to the assembly process. The sheets may have non-uniform thickness and vary in their effectiveness to transfer heat. Finally, while these sheet materials are suitable for filling undesirable air gaps, they are generally less thermally conductive than the heat sink member. Thus, these sheets can detract from the overall thermal conductivity of the assembly.
In view of the foregoing problems, it would be desirable to have a method for making a thermally conductive elastomeric pad, where no further processing or tooling is required to produce the final shape of the pad. In addition, the pad should be capable of providing a tightly conforming interface between heat-generating and heat-dissipating devices. The present invention provides such an elastomeric pad and the methods for making such a pad.


A lacrosse head having a wide catching area and channeled thongs. One embodiment includes a stop member, a left sidewall connected to the stop member, a right sidewall connected to the stop member, and a scoop connecting the left sidewall to the right sidewall opposite the stop member. The scoop is disposed about 25.5 cm from the stop member. The widest point of lacrosse head is in a catching section disposed from about 6 cm to about 17 cm from the stop member. The left sidewall is convex with respect to the interior area of the head at a portion of the left sidewall between the widest point and the scoop. The right sidewall is convex at a portion of the right sidewall between the widest point and the scoop. In another embodiment, the sidewalls rise from the plane of the scoop and include thong holes to provide channeled thongs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lacrosse sticks, and more particularly, to a lacrosse stick head having a wide catching area and channeled thongs.
2. Background of the Invention
In 1970, the introduction of double-wall, synthetic lacrosse heads revolutionized the game of lacrosse. In comparison to the traditional wooden single-wall heads, the synthetic heads imparted a balance, lightness, maneuverability, and flexibility never-before experienced by lacrosse players. These performance advantages greatly enhanced players' skills such as throwing, catching, cradling, and scooping, and brought the sport of lacrosse to new levels of speed and excitement.
FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional lacrosse stick 100 having a handle 102 shown in dotted lines and a double-wall synthetic head 104. Head 104 includes a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture 106, sidewalls 108 and 110, a transverse wall (or "scoop") 112 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture 106, and a stop member 114 joining sidewalls 108 and 110 at their ends nearest juncture 106. As shown, handle 102 fits into and through juncture 106, and abuts stop member 114. A screw or other fastener placed through opening 107 secures handle 102 to head 104.
For traditionally-strung pockets (which have thongs and string instead of mesh), thongs (not shown) made of leather or synthetic material extend from upper thong holes 116 in scoop 112 to lower thong holes 118 in stop member 114. In some designs, such as the design shown in FIG. 1A, upper thong holes 116 are located on tabs 117 of the scoop 112. In other designs, upper thong holes 116 are located directly on the scoop 112. FIG. 1A shows four pairs (116, 118) of thong holes that accept four thongs.
To complete the pocket web, the thongs have nylon strings threaded around the thongs and string laced through string holes 120 in sidewalls 108 and 110, forming any number of diamonds (crosslacing). Finally, one or more throwing or shooting strings extend transversely between the upper portions of sidewalls 108 and 110, attaching to throwing string hole 124 and a string laced through string hole 122. The typical features of a lacrosse stick are shown generally in Tucker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,495, Crawford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,984, and Tucker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,947, which are all incorporated by reference herein.
In addition to traditionally strung heads, some heads use mesh pockets or a combination of traditional and mesh stringing. In any case, the mesh or stringing is conventionally attached to the head through holes in the scoop, sidewalls, and stop members, or by tabs attached to the scoop, sidewalls, and stop members. These tabs can have openings through which mesh or stringing is threaded, or can be shaped (e.g., like a hook) to retain loops of the mesh or stringing.
As used herein, thread holes or thread openings refer to the openings that receive the various forms of pocket stringing, such as the holes in the scoop, sidewalls, and stop members, or the openings in tabs attached to the scoop, sidewalls, and stop members. The term "openings" should be construed broadly so as to encompass any hole or structure that retains the pocket stringing, including structures such as hooks. Also, as used herein, a pocket thread refers to any member, such as a thong, string, or mesh, that forms the pocket and/or attaches the pocket to the lacrosse head.
The traditional shape of a lacrosse head is commonly referred to as generally V-shaped. In other words, looking at the face of a lacrosse head, the width between the sidewalls increases as the sidewalls extend from the ball stop to the scoop, with the widest point being in the area of the transition between the sidewalls and the scoop. Typically, rules applicable to competitive lacrosse dictate the minimum width a lacrosse head must possess (e.g., 6½ inches). According to conventional thinking, providing the greatest width near the scoop enables a player to more easily scoop ground balls and catch thrown balls, and direct the balls down into the pocket of the lacrosse head.
With respect to scooping ground balls, improvements in the ball retention characteristics of lacrosse heads have changed the modem game of lacrosse such that it is now more difficult to check balls loose and create ground ball opportunities. Simply put, there are less ground balls in the modem game of lacrosse than were typical in years past. Consequently, the modem game emphasizes precise passing and catching over the scooping of ground balls.
In addition, with respect to catching thrown balls, it is now recognized that most players catch a ball in the center section of a lacrosse head, and not within the widest portion of the head near the scoop. Thus, players are more apt to miss a ball as it bounces off the closely positioned sidewalls in the center area of the head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,791 to Feeney discloses a lacrosse head having a shape somewhat contrary to this conventional thinking. Feeney discloses a composite lacrosse head in a generally circular, or closed loop, configuration. Viewed from the front face, the central section of the Feeney head is of the greatest width. Starting from the ball stop, the sidewalls of the head immediately diverge away from each other in slightly convex lines to the point at which the central section reaches its greatest width. From that point to the scoop, the sidewalls converge toward each other in concave lines. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the Feeney lacrosse head 196 showing the concave portions 197 and convex portions 198 of head 196, with dotted lines marking the approximate transitions between each section of the sidewalls.
As used herein, the terms concave and convex are discussed relative to the interior area defined by the ball stop, sidewalls, and scoop of a lacrosse head. In other words, looking at the front face of a lacrosse head, a convex sidewall bends toward the interior of the lacrosse head, while a concave sidewall bends away from the interior of the lacrosse head. The bending of a sidewall can be judged, for example, relative to a point drawn roughly in the center of the interior area of the lacrosse head.
Although the lacrosse head of Feeney may provide a larger catching area in the center area of the head, this increased area raises additional drawbacks. For example, the increased area enables a ball to rattle more within the head, making the control and retention of the ball difficult. In addition, the ordinary interwoven string pocket shown and described in Feeney compounds the difficulties in avoiding this ball rattle. In addition, because the sidewalls of Feeney diverge immediately starting from the ball stop, a ball can easily rattle and exit the head at locations very close to the ball stop.
Thus, in view of the drawbacks of conventionally shaped heads, there remains a need for a lacrosse head that provides a wide catching area, yet maximizes ball retention and control.

Lacrosse head having a wide catching area and channeled thongs


An image fixing apparatus stably maintains high efficiency in heat generation and reduces excessive heat and loss of electric power consumption for fixing image. In at least one embodiment, the image fixing apparatus includes a magnetic flux generating member to generate a magnetic flux, and a heat member to generate heat with the magnetic flux. The heat member includes a first heat layer and a second heat layer having a relatively higher volume resistivity than the first heat layer, and having different thickness and/or different volume resistivity depending on a position in the width direction of the second heat layer. Portions of the magnetic flux generating member face different sides of the heat member.

1. Field
Example embodiments generally relate to an image fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image fixing apparatus utilizing electromagnetic induction heating system, which is used for an image forming apparatus such as printers, copying machines, facsimiles, etc.
2. Discussion of the Background
A use of background image fixing apparatus utilizing electromagnetic induction heating system reduces a rising time of an image forming apparatus and saves energy.
In a background image fixing apparatus, an electromagnetic induction heating system includes a support roller serving as a heat roller, an auxiliary fixing roller serving as a fixing roller, a fixing belt which is tightly stretched by the support roller and the auxiliary fixing roller, an induction-heating device that counters the support roller with the fixing belt therebetween, a pressing roller which is in contact with the fixing belt on the auxiliary fixing roller, etc. The induction-heating device includes a coil member (an excitation coil) that extends in a width direction of the fixing device (the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a recording medium), a core member, etc.
The fixing belt is heated at a position in which the fixing belt faces the induction-heating device. A toner image on a recording medium is conveyed to a position between the auxiliary fixing roller and the pressing roller, and heated by the fixing belt, resulting in fixation of the toner image on the recording medium. In more detail, applying the coil member with a high frequency alternate current causes a magnetic field around the coil member, thereby generating an eddy current near the surface of the support roller. The eddy current causes a Joule heat due to the resistance of the support roller itself. The fixing belt, which is tightly stretched by the support roller, is heated with the Joule heat. It is known that the background image fixing apparatus using such an electromagnetic induction heating system may increase the temperature (a fixing temperature) of a surface of the fixing belt to a predetermined temperature with small energy and in a short rising time.
Another background image fixing apparatus using an electromagnetic induction heating system includes core members which face the fixing belt while being located at both sides of the fixing belt. Each of the core members faces the fixing belt at the corresponding side of the fixing belt. This technology is used for the purpose of improving heat efficiency in the fixing belt.
Another background image fixing apparatus using an electromagnetic induction heating system controls the Curie point of core members (magnetic core) of an induction-heating part in the width direction of the core members. In more detail, the Curie points at both end portions of the core members in the width direction thereof are lower than the Curie point at the center portion thereof. This technology is used for the purpose of preventing a problem in that the temperature of the fixing belt at both end portions in the width direction thereof excessively increases when a recording medium of small size is fed.
Another background image fixing apparatus using an electromagnetic induction heating system includes a fixing roller having a first heat layer made of a magnetic material and a second heat layer made of a non-magnetic material. The purpose of this construction is to reduce deterioration of the bearing of the fixing roller (heating roller) due to heat of the shaft of the fixing roller. In more detail, the resistivity of the first heat layer is higher than that of the second heat layer. The thickness of the first heat layer is greater than that of the second heat layer. The second heat layer mainly generates heat and the first heat layer made of a magnetic material reduces the magnetic flux, which is emitted from a magnetic flux generating device and reaches the shaft of the fixing roller.

Image fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus


Both a chalcogenide select device and a chalcogenide memory element are formed within vias within dielectrics. As a result, the chalcogenides is effectively trapped within the vias and no glue or adhesion layer is needed. Moreover, delamination problems are avoided. A lance material is formed within the same via with the memory element. In one embodiment, the lance material is made thinner by virtue of the presence of a sidewall spacer; in another embodiment no sidewall spacer is utilized. A relatively small area of contact between the chalcogenide used to form a memory element and the lance material is achieved by providing a pin hole opening in a dielectric, which separates the chalcogenide and the lance material.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to phase change memories.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phase change memory devices use phase change materials, i.e., materials that may be electrically switched between a generally amorphous and a generally crystalline state, for electronic memory application. One type of memory element utilizes a phase change material that is electrically switched between a structural state of generally amorphous and generally crystalline local order or between different detectable states of local order across the entire spectrum between completely amorphous and completely crystalline states. The state of the phase change materials is also non-volatile in that, when set in either a crystalline, semi-crystalline, amorphous, or semi-amorphous state representing a resistance value, that value is retained until changed by another programming event, as that value represents a phase or physical state of the material (e.g., crystalline or amorphous). The state is unaffected by removing electrical power.
FIG. 1 shows the scheme of a phase change memory 100. Memory 100 includes an array of n×n memory cells 111-119, each including a select device 120 and a memory element 130. Memory 100 may have any number of memory cells.
Memory elements 130 comprises a phase change material, thus memory 100 may be referred to as a phase change memory. A phase change material is a material having electrical properties (e.g. resistance, capacitance, etc.) that may be changed through the application of energy such as, for example, heat, light, voltage potential, or electrical current. Examples of a phase change material may include a chalcogenide material.
A chalcogenide alloy may be used in a memory element or in an electronic switch. A chalcogenide material is a material that includes at least one element from column VI of the periodic table or a material that includes one or more of the chalcogenic elements, e.g., any of the elements of tellurium, sulfur, or selenium.
Memory 100 includes column lines 141-143 and row lines 151-153 to select a particular memory cell of the array during a write or read operation. Column lines 141-143 and row lines 151-153 may also be referred to as address lines since these lines may be used to address memory cells 111-119 during programming or reading. Column lines 141-143 may also be referred to as bit lines and row lines 151-153 may also be referred to as word lines.
Memory elements 130 are connected to row lines 151-153 and are coupled to column lines 141-143 via select device 120. While one select device 120 is depicted, more select devices may also be used. Therefore, when a particular memory cell (e.g., memory cell 115) is selected, voltage potentials are applied to the column line (e.g., 142) and row line (e.g., 152) associated with the memory cell 115 to apply a voltage potential across it.
Series connected select device 120 is used to access memory element 130 during programming or reading of memory element 130. A select device is an ovonic threshold switch that is made of a chalcogenide alloy that does not exhibit an amorphous to crystalline phase change and which undergoes rapid, electric field initiated change in electrical conductivity that persists only so long as a holding voltage is present. Select device 120 operates as a switch that is either "off" or "on" depending on the amount of voltage potential applied across the memory cell, and more particularly whether the current through the select device exceeds its threshold current or voltage, which then triggers the device into the on state. The off state is a substantially electrically nonconductive state and the on state is a substantially conductive state, with less resistance than the off state. In the on state, the voltage across the select device is equal to its holding voltage VH plus I×Ron, where Ron is the dynamic resistance from VH.
For example, select devices 120 have threshold voltages and, if a voltage potential less than the threshold voltage of a select device 120 is applied across select device 120, then at least one select device 120 remains "off" or in a relatively high resistive state so that little or no electrical current passes through the memory cell and most of the voltage drop from selected row to selected column is across the select device. Alternatively, if a voltage potential greater than the threshold voltages of select device 120 is applied across select device 120, then the select device 120 "turns on," i.e., operate in a relatively low resistive state so that electrical current passes through the memory cell. In other words, select device 120 are in a substantially electrically nonconductive state if less than a predetermined voltage potential, e.g., the threshold voltage, is applied across select device 120. Select device 120 is in a substantially conductive state if a potential greater than the predetermined voltage potential is applied across select device 120. Select device 120 may also be referred to as an access device, an isolation device, or a switch.
Each select device 120 comprises a switching material such as, for example, a chalcogenide alloy, and may be referred to as an ovonic threshold switch, or simply an ovonic switch. The switching material of select device 120 is a material in a substantially amorphous state positioned between two electrodes that may be repeatedly and reversibly switched between a higher resistance "off" state (e.g., greater than about ten MΩ) and a relatively lower resistance "on" state (e.g., about one thousand Ohms in series with VH) by application of a predetermined electrical current or voltage potential. Each select device 120 is a two terminal device that has a current-voltage (I-V) characteristic similar to a phase change memory element that is in the amorphous state. However, unlike a phase change memory element, the switching material of select device 120 does not change phase. That is, the switching material of select device 120 is not a programmable material, and, as a result, select device 120 is not a memory device capable of storing information. For example, the switching material of select device 120 may remain permanently amorphous and the I-V characteristic may remain the same throughout the operating life. A representative example of I-V characteristics of select device 120 is shown in FIG. 2.
Turning to FIG. 2, in the low voltage or low electric field mode, i.e., where the voltage applied across select device 120 is less than a threshold voltage (labeled VTH), select device 120 is "off" or non-conducting, and exhibits a relatively high resistance, e.g., greater than about 10 megaOhms. Select device 120 remains in the off state until a sufficient voltage, e.g., VTH, is applied, or a sufficient current is applied, e.g., ITH, that switches select device 120 to a conductive, relatively low resistance on state. After a voltage potential of greater than about VTH is applied across select device 120, the voltage potential across select device 120 drops ("snapback") to a holding voltage potential, labeled VH. Snapback refers to the voltage difference between VTH and VH of a select device.
In the on state, the voltage potential across select device 120 remains close to the holding voltage of VH as current passing through select device 120 is increased. Select device 120 remains on until the current through select device 120 drops below a holding current, labeled IH. Below this value, select device 120 turns off and returns to a relatively high resistance, nonconductive off state until the VTH and ITH are exceeded again.
Processes for manufacturing memory cells of the above discussed type are known, but they are susceptible of improvement.

Phase change memory and manufacturing method thereof


A shipping carrier having a frame with at least one elongated rectangular tube having an outer periphery. An elongated retainer has dunnage attached to it for supporting the intended load. The retainer is attached to the tube so that the retainer is positioned wholly around the outside of the outer periphery of the tube.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shipping carriers for components.
II. Description of Related Art
Shipping carriers are oftentimes used to ship manufactured components from the place of manufacture and to their place of assembly. For example, in the automotive industry many of the individual components of the automotive vehicles, such as automotive windshields, are manufactured in one location and then shipped to a different location for their assembly on the automotive vehicle.
With reference to FIG. 2, such shipping containers of the type used in the automotive industry typically include a rigid frame constructed of rectangular metal tubing 20. Furthermore, the metal tubing includes a longitudinally extending slot 22 formed along one of the sides of the tubing.
Thereafter, an elongated retainer 24, typically constructed of plastic and having a T-portion 26 along one side, is slid into the interior of the square metal tubing so that the T-portion 26 of the retainer is entrapped within the interior of the tubing 20. The remainder of the retainer 24 protrudes outwardly through the slot 22 in the tubing 20 and protrudes exteriorly of the tubing 20. The retainer also includes dunnage 28, typically made of urethane or an elastomeric material, which is molded onto the outwardly protruding portion of the retainer 24. This dunnage 28 is specifically designed to accommodate the particular load of the shipping carrier.
These previously known shipping carriers, however, suffer from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the slotted square metal tubing used to form the frame and hold the retainers is expensive to manufacture and purchase. This, in turn, increases the overall cost of the shipping carrier.
A still further disadvantage of the previously known shipping carriers is that, in order to position the retainer with the attached dunnage into the slotted metal tubing, it is necessary to disassemble the slotted metal tubing from the frame, insert the T-portion of the retainer into the interior of the metal tubing, and thereafter reattach the metal tubing to the frame. This, of course, increases the assembly time and cost of the shipping container as well as the time necessary to convert the shipping container from one type of transported item to a different type of transported item.


A system producing force reactions in a transmission includes a case including front and rear surfaces, a reaction component, a gearset including a ring gear and a sun gear that transmits a forward force to the front surface, a first path for transmitting a rearward force from the ring gear to the rear surface, a second path for transmitting a forward force from the ring gear to the reaction component, and a third path for transmitting a rearward force from the sun gear to the reaction component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for producing thrust force reactions in an automatic transmission, particularly such forces due to transmitting torque between meshing helical gear teeth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an automatic transmission a planet pinion carrier supports a set of planet pinions, each member of the set being engaged with a sun gear and a ring gear. Typically, an axial force component, i.e., thrust load, produced due to the helix angle of the meshing gears and pinions and torque transmitted between them, is captured between the sun gear and the ring gear. Thrust load from the sun gear is directed at the ring gear hub, and the thrust load from the ring gear hub is directed at the sun gear. This allows the thrust loads to be cancelled, i.e., reacted by a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction.
Between the ring gear hub and the sun gear hub, a thrust needle bearing is typically used to react the thrust loads and handle the relative speed between the two components. Under coast load conditions, the planetary ring gear and sun gear may thrust apart from each other. Therefore, thrust from the ring and sun must be captured in both directions.
In some transmission applications, the speed differential between the ring gear and the sun gear is very high. That high speed differential across a thrust bearing causes significant frictional loss and adversely affects fuel economy.

Thrust force reactions in an automatic transmission


A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of a rear discharge mower of a lawn mower, and a mid-mount type lawn mower that uses the rear discharge mower.
2. Description of the Related Art
This type of mid-mount type lawn mower that uses a rear discharge mower has, e.g., the following conventionally known structure.
A lawn mower is known in which a power transmission pulley and a power transmission belt are used as means to transmit power to a plurality of adjacently positioned blade shafts, in which one of the blade shafts and the shaft of the power transmission pulley for providing input to the blade shaft are structured as separate shafts in order to drive the two shafts in mutually reverse directions, and in which a set of gears is provided to ensure reverse rotation between the two shafts (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2003-274728 (Patent Document 1), for example).
A lawn mower is also known in which a power transmission pulley and a power transmission belt are used as means to transmit power to a plurality of adjacently positioned blade shafts, and in which a supplementary pulley is used to convert the winding direction of the belt so that the internal peripheral surface side of the power transmission belt is wound around the power transmission pulley on one of the blade shafts, and the external peripheral surface side of the power transmission belt is wound around the power transmission pulley of another blade shaft, in order to drive the two shafts in mutually reverse directions (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2003-274729 (Patent Document 2), for example).
A lawn mower is further known in which motive power transmitted from an input shaft is branched at a pair of power transmission shafts to provide input to a gearbox disposed in the upper portion of left and right blade shafts and to transmit shaft power via a bevel gear mechanism or the like as a means to pivotally transmit power to a plurality of blade shafts in adjacent positions (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2003-158907 (Patent Document 3), for example).
In these kinds of rear discharge mowers, the blades are driven at a fairly high speed and high torque in order to discharge grass clippings in a rearward direction by generating airflow and producing a bouncing action that accompany the rotation of the blades.
If an attempt is made to convey the grass clippings toward the grass catcher in the rearward and upward directions while minimizing a reduction in the movement energy in the grass clippings discharge direction, it is desirable to gradually change the movement of the grass clippings upward from the conveyance start area in which a conveyance action is imparted by the rotation of the blades across to the location where discharge begins on the rearward side where the conveyance action is completed. In order to accomplish this, it would be advantageous to gradually change the movement direction by beginning an upward slope of the grass-clippings discharge path from a position as near the front end of the mower deck as possible.
In models having a structure in which motive power is transmitted to the blade shafts using a belt as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications (JP-A) 2003-274728 and 2003-274729 noted above, the belt is used in a state of high belt tension. Therefore, the strength of the blade shaft support structure and the mower deck must be kept very high because the provision of a large distance between the mower deck and the power transmission pulley results in a situation in which a strong tension operates on the power transmission pulley in a position set at a distance from the mower deck, and there is a possibility that a bending moment will forcefully operate on the blade shaft. However, this is not practical in actual application in a mower deck composed of a thin metal plate because sufficient support strength cannot be obtained and the thickness of the mower deck must be unavoidably increased to assure strength, and other impractical structural modifications become necessary when attempting to set the power transmission pulley at a distance from the mower deck.
For this reason, in the arts described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications (JP-A) 2003-274728 and 2003-274729 noted above, measures are taken in which the power transmission pulley is not placed at a distance from the mower deck, but rather a supplementary pulley is used to bring the power transmission belt between adjacent blade shafts to the front side of the mower deck to the extent possible, and the location at which the grass-clippings discharge path portion on the mower deck begins an upward movement is set further forward. However, since there is no change in the fact that the power transmission pulley remains in close proximity on the surface of the mower deck, the location at which upward motion starts must be provided further rearward to avoid [close] placement of the power transmission pulley and belt, and the location at which upward motion starts cannot be brought sufficiently forward.
Moreover, insofar as a belt is used as the transmission mechanism, some sort of blade reversal mechanism must be used between adjacent blade shafts, necessitating a dedicated set of gears or a redundant supplementary pulley for that purpose.
A structure is also conventionally known in which power transmission is branched by using a pair of power transmission shafts, a bevel gear mechanism, or the like in place of a structure using a belt and power transmission belt, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2003-158907.
In a structure that drives a bevel gear about the center of a horizontal shaft using a power transmission shaft in this manner, there are no drawbacks such as the generation of high tension between adjacent blade shafts, but the following problems arise because placement of a bevel gear with a rather large diameter is difficult on a mower deck that has little extra space.
The power transmission mechanism itself, which involves the meshing of bevel gears with each other, produces a relatively high level of noise in comparison with a power transmission mechanism composed of flat gears. In addition, there is a drawback when the bevel gear itself has a small diameter in that the noise in the gear meshing portion increases further due to the load that operates in a concentrated fashion on the meshing portion that has a small number of teeth. Also, a separate reverse rotation mechanism naturally becomes necessary.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A rotary joint connector has a plug having a plug contact module and a mating receptacle having a receptacle contact module designed for mating engagement with the plug contact module when the connector is fully mated. One of the units has front and rear shells which are rotatably coupled together and contain the contact module which is held in the rear shell so that the rear shell and contact module are free to rotate in the front shell. The mating contact arrangement is such that the plug and receptacle contact modules do not have to be rotationally aligned to maintain electrical contact, so that relative rotation of the electrical contacts of the two contact modules about the mating axis as a result of rotation of the rear shell does not degrade the quality of the connected circuits.

1. Related Application
The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional pat. App. Ser. No. 61/296,604, filed Jan. 20, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to connectors which can be mated and unmated in very harsh environments, such as underwater, and is particularly concerned with a harsh environment electrical connector.
3. Related Art
There are many known electrical rotary joint connectors which function in dry environments, but not many that are suitable for harsh or underwater environments. Harsh environment rotary joint connectors are currently in use only for limited applications, such as down-hole drill strings, but they are not intended for general use, or for mating while completely submerged in a hostile environment.
Most current underwater connectors designed for mating while completely submerged need to have the plug and receptacle contact parts keyed into rotational alignment for mating. The earliest underwater connector was a rubber-bodied pin-and-socket connector that embodied one or more ring-like contacts molded into a cylindrical rubber pin, and respective one-or-more ring-like contacts molded into a rubber bore, which required no particular rotational alignment. For that reason, such connectors are said to be keyless. Although inexpensive, such connectors are not reliable enough for most critical applications. They have the distinct disadvantage that they cannot be unmated underwater except at very modest depths; and, in models having more than one set of contacts arranged along the pin and bore, cross-connection briefly takes place as un-matched pin and socket contacts slide past each other during mating and de-mating. Cross-connecting circuits can sometimes be disastrous for the electronics to which they are attached.
The offshore oil and gas industry is one of the principal markets for underwater mateable connectors. Many of the connectors used for that industry's subsea operations are connected and disconnected remotely, either by being mounted to large, opposed plates (stab plates) that come together during the mating process to join arrays of connectors, hydraulic couplers, and the like, or by the manipulators of remotely operated vehicles (ROV's). Mating remotely is made more difficult and expensive by the requirement to control the rotational alignment of the individual components to be mated.
Two-contact fluid-filled electrical connectors that required no rotational alignment were made commercially available in the early 1980s. One example of such a connector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,603 of Cairns. These connectors did solve the rotational alignment problem, but one problem with such connectors was that two contacts were not enough to satisfy the needs of most operations. Another problem was that the receptacle's circular end-opening, which had to be pinched tightly closed before and after mating, had to be stretched several hundred percent to receive the plug's pin. If mated for a long time, particularly at low ocean temperatures, the opening did not close upon de-mating, and the connector subsequently failed.
In the late 1980's, multiple pin, fluid-filled connectors were once again introduced. They have all the required barriers, are robust, and exceptionally reliable. One such connector is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,377 of Cairns. These connectors are manufactured by Teledyne ODI of Daytona Beach, Fla. They replaced the two-contact, single pin fluid-filled connectors described above as the high-reliability standard for the offshore industry. These connectors still have the rotational alignment problem, however, which somewhat limits their use, and requires special keying provisions for rotational alignment.
In the early 1990's a keyless, coaxial, oil-filled, wet-mateable connector was introduced that required no rotational alignment. This connector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,158 of Cairns (hereinafter '158 patent). It consisted of multiple ring-like contacts spaced along a constant diameter portion of the plug pin. The receptacle had corresponding ring-like contacts spaced along a rubber bore to receive the plug contacts. The overall layout of the contacts was very similar to the first type of connector described above. The main differences were that the connector of the '158 patent housed the receptacle contacts in a pressure-balanced, fluid-filled chamber; and, when mated, the individual pin/socket pairs were separated from each other by a single rubber seal. Unlike the coaxial connector of U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,603 (hereinafter '603 patent), the anterior sealed opening through which the plug's probe passed when entering the receptacle's chamber was occupied by a spring loaded piston before and after mating. That removed the necessity of the sealed opening to be pinched closed to a zero diameter as in the '603 patent.
The connector shown in the '158 patent was reasonably successful technically and quickly gained a dedicated customer base, but it was discontinued after being on the market for just a couple of years. It proved to be too expensive and difficult to manufacture. It also still had the problem of cross-connection during mating and de-mating as the plug's contacts wiped across receptacle contacts which were not their intended counterparts.
Thus, underwater connectors today typically require rotational alignment or keying for connection underwater. Such connectors cannot be used to connect pieces of equipment that rotate relative to one another, such as slip rings, and cannot compensate for problems of cable twisting during and after mating.

Harsh environment rotary joint electrical connector


A combustor assembly having a transition piece and at least one orifice assembly in the transition piece, the orifice assembly comprising: a boss having an outside periphery and an inside periphery, the inside periphery including an annular seat and an upstanding flange formed with an annular, inwardly facing retaining ring groove, the boss fixed within an opening in the transition piece; an orifice plate having a bottom surface that is adapted to be received on the annular seat; and a retaining ring located in the retaining ring groove and at least partially engaged with the orifice plate.

Current dry low NOx combustion systems require tuning to achieve correct combustor temperatures. This is achieved in some instances by means of air dilution holes provided in the transition piece extending between the turbine and the first combustor stage. The air flowing through the holes serves as bypass and dilution air, but occasionally needs to be adjusted after turbine commissioning in the field. The current designs utilizing simple dilution holes require a lengthy and costly down time so that the transition pieces can be removed and resized. Specifically, the transition pieces must be stripped of their thermal barrier coating, patch welded, machined to add new holes, heat treated and recoated with the thermal barrier coating. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,993, owned by the assignee of this invention, there is provided a mechanical arrangement enabling external access to the combustion chamber which facilitates changeover of combustor dilution-hole areas to adjust the NOx levels without disassembly of the combustors. More specifically, the assembly is provided with a boss, an orifice plate, and a retaining ring. The retaining ring is tapered, and in cooperation with a matching taper in the ring grooves, provide a wedging method for holding the orifice plate tightly in place. The boss design does not, however, have a flexible-weld distortion tolerant feature, which can lead to distortion of the undesirable distortion in the boss hole and orifice plate dimensions.

Replaceable orifice for combustion tuning and related method


A system includes a magnetic head, a magnetic medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head, wherein the magnetic head has a write element, a read element, a substrate that is an alloy material having greater than about 50 at. % TiC, and a heater element positioned between the read element and the write element, the write element being positioned nearer to the substrate than the read element such that heat generated by the write element during write operations is dissipated by the substrate, and the heater element being adapted for inducing protrusion of portions of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head to adjust a clearance between the portions of the ABS and the magnetic medium.

The heart of a computer is a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) which typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read and/or write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The volume of information processing in the information age is increasing rapidly. In particular, it is desired that HDDs be able to store more information in their limited area and volume. A technical approach to this desire is to increase the capacity by increasing the recording density of the HDD. To achieve higher recording density, further miniaturization of recording bits is effective, which in turn typically requires the design of smaller and smaller components.
The further miniaturization of the various components, however, presents its own set of challenges and obstacles. FIG. 5 schematically shows a structure of a magnetic head 500 which performs conventional thermal flying-height control (TFC), according to the prior art. A read element 502 and a write element 504 are formed in succession on a substrate 506. A heater element 508 which is activated in order to perform TFC may be placed between the substrate 506 and the read element 502, between a write coil 516 and the read element 502, between the read element 502 and the write element 504, etc. In FIG. 5, this heater element 508 is shown positioned between the read element 502 and the write element 504, but is not so limited.
During TFC, the gap or clearance 512 between the recording medium 510 and the air bearing surface (ABS) 514 of the magnetic head 500 (typically one of the write element 504 and the read element 502) is controlled by applying more or less heat from the heater element 508, such as by controlling the current, power, or energy supplied to the heater element 508, and utilizing thermal expansion of materials near the heater element 508 caused by heat produced by the heater element 508 to cause enlargement of an area of the magnetic head 500 at the ABS 514.
FIGS. 6A-6B schematically show the TFC clearance 512 during operation of a magnetic disk drive that utilizes the magnetic disk 500. During a read operation, as shown in FIG. 6A, thermal expansion takes place due to heat generated by the read element 502. It has been confirmed by experimentation and heat deformation calculations that clearance fluctuations do not occur. The clearance 512 during a read operation is controlled by causing deformation of the ABS 514 due to thermal expansion caused by the heat generation near a center (denoted by cross 602) of the heater element 508. Setting the clearance 512 during a read operation at a predetermined amount ensures stability of the recording and reproduction characteristics of the magnetic disk drive and guards against deterioration in reliability of the magnetic head 500 due to contact ("touchdown") between the magnetic head 500 and the disk medium 510.
When the clearance 512 is set for a read operation, the clearance 512 during a write operation, as shown in FIG. 6B, may also be set to any amount according to the placement and shape of the heater element 508.
On the other hand, when the magnetic disk drive is performing a write operation, the heat generated by the write element 504 produces clearance fluctuations (referred to below as "write protrusion") because of thermal expansion caused by heat generated near a center (denoted by cross 604) of the write element 504 (this heat is also near the coil 516). Therefore, the shape produced as a result of thermal expansion during write operations, as shown in FIG. 6B, differs from a shape produced during read operations, as shown in FIG. 6A. It is therefore useful to implement TFC to account for write protrusion that is different from read protrusion when the magnetic disk is performing write operations.
However, there is a need to record to magnetic disk media having a high coercive force because of increased recording density in typical magnetic disk media. Consequently, the current used for a write operation has increased over time and taken a higher frequency due to an increase in the write signal output. This results in the heat generated by the write element during a write operation to similarly increase, with write protrusion becoming larger. Furthermore, write protrusion varies according to specific write signals. For example, the write signal frequency is different at an inner circumference of the disk medium as compared to an outer circumference of the disk medium, with write protrusion also varying. Therefore, it would be useful to account for this variation in TFC.

Magnetic head providing write protrusion suppression and methods of formation thereof


A holding apparatus (38) for holding an optical element (37) at a controlled position and attitude. The optical element (37) is held at an inner ring (43) by a piezo housing (54). A piezo element (65) is isolated from the optical element (37). When the piezo element (65) elongates and contracts, a displacement section (70) is displaced in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical element while being guided by a parallel link section (71). A transmission link section (72) converts the direction of the displacement of the optical element (37) to transmit the result to a part of the inner ring (43).

The present invention relates to an optical element holding device, and more particularly, to a holding device that enables highly accurate adjustment of the position of an optical element. The present invention provides a holding device, a barrel including the holding device, an exposure apparatus including the barrel, and a device manufacturing method including exposure performed with the exposure apparatus.
In the prior art, a plurality of optical elements that form a projection optical system of a projection exposure apparatus are held by holding devices, which enable accurate adjustment of the positions of the optical elements in the optical axis direction and the attitudes of the optical elements, such as tilt. The adjustment of the positions and the attitudes of the optical elements corrects aberrations and controls aberration fluctuations, which would be caused by changes in atmospheric pressure and absorption irradiated heat.
A holding device for adjusting the position of an optical element through automatic control has been disclosed (refer to patent publication 1). The holding device includes an inner ring for holding the peripheral edge of a lens, and an outer ring arranged outside the inner ring connected to the inner ring. The outer ring includes an actuator. Displacement of the actuator is transmitted to the inner ring by a displacement enlargement mechanism so as to displace the lens. A sensor is attached to the outer ring to monitor the position of the lens. A barrel including the holding device is relatively compact.
To enable the manufacturing of high-density and fine-pitch semiconductor devices, projection exposure apparatuses are required to perform exposure with higher resolutions. There is a tendency for projection exposure apparatuses to use exposure light with shorter wavelengths. For example, the projection exposure apparatuses may use ArF excimer lasers (λ=193 nm) or F2 lasers (λ=157 nm). The use of exposure light with shorter wavelengths contributes to enhancing resolution.
When exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or shorter is used, the existence of absorption substances, such as water, oxygen, and organic substances, in the optical path of the exposure light, would greatly attenuate the intensity of the exposure light. In view of this, the holding device described in the patent publication 1 supplies purge gas into the barrel to remove water, oxygen, and organic substances, which that may be present in the optical path of the exposure light, from the barrel. However, a gap is formed between the outer ring and the actuator. The purge gas may leak from the gap or ambient air (gas including oxygen, water, and organic substances) may flow through the gap into the inner space of the barrel. Therefore, a jacket is arranged around the barrel, and the space surrounded by the jacket is filled with purge gas.
Patent Publication 1: U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0038500
The space surrounded by the jacket accommodates a signal communication coated cable, which is connected to the sensor, and a power feeding coated cable, which is connected to the actuator. The coated cables may generate a subtle amount of chemical pollutants (outgas), such as organic substances. The space surrounded by the jacket is connected to the inner space of the barrel through the gap described above. The subtle amount of chemical pollutants generated by the coated cables may flow from the space surrounded by the jacket into the inner space of the barrel through the gap described above, and may absorb the exposure light or cause loss of transparency of the lenses accommodated in the barrel.

Apparatus for holding optical element, barrel, exposure apparatus, and device producing method


A processing system comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) device and a host system on which the DSP device is implemented. The DSP device comprises a shared program memory and a plurality of processor subsystems coupled to the shared program memory to concurrently execute program instructions stored in the shared program memory. The host system is capable of independently debugging each subsystem. During debugging, the host device inserts breakpoints into the shared program memory and tracks the debug breakpoints to determine which subsystems are associated with the breakpoints. When a subsystem executes a breakpoint associated with that subsystem, the subsystem halts until the host gathers necessary debug information from the subsystem. However, when a subsystem executes a breakpoint that is not associated with that subsystem, the host system causes the subsystem to execute the original program instructions and proceed as directed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital signal processors. More particularly, the invention relates to a program memory that is shared by multiple processor cores. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to the debugging of software loaded into the shared program memory using breakpoints that may be intended for one or more cores in the digital signal processor.
2. Background of the Invention
Microprocessors generally include a variety of logic circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor chip. Such logic circuits typically include a processor core, memory, and numerous other support components. Some microprocessors, such as digital signal processors (DSPs), may include multiple processor subsystems each having its own processor core, memory and other support components.
It is generally desirable for processors such as DSPs to be compact, consume very little power, and generate as little heat as possible. This is especially true for processors that reside in small, battery-powered devices such as cellular telephones, pagers, and the like. One method for reducing the size and power consumption of processors is to remove some of the redundancy of multi-core processors by allowing some support components to be shared by multiple cores.
One component that can be shared is program memory. A shared program memory provides a compact, low power alternative to conventional multi-core processors by eliminating some of the redundancy of on-board memory. With a shared program memory, some or all application program instructions are accessible and executable by some or all cores in the multi-core processor. Since each of the processor's cores may execute the same software program, memory requirements may be reduced by having the processor cores share only a single copy of the software.
It is typically necessary to debug software that is executed by a processor to ensure the software is error free and compatible with associated hardware. Software debugging, however, becomes more complicated in a multi-core processor that uses a shared program memory. One factor contributing to this difficulty is that it may be necessary to debug the processor cores independent of one another. Whereas the various processor cores in a multi-core processor may be generally identical to one another, the external devices and hardware to which the cores are coupled may be entirely different. For example, one core may be coupled to a modem while another core may be coupled to a voice encoder/decoder ("vocoder"). As such, it may be desirable or even necessary to debug the shared software application as it is executed by one core, but not necessarily as it is executed by the others. Accordingly, each core should be capable of being debugged independently of the other cores.
A conventional debug process requires a host controller coupled to the DSP to insert breakpoints into the program code. Breakpoints force the processor core to halt execution and allows the host to investigate the state of the processor and gather information such as the contents of registers and memory internal to the processor to diagnose a problem. In a multi-core processor in which all cores execute the same program in a common shared memory, it is possible, or perhaps even likely, that a core that is not being debugged will encounter a breakpoint and therefore undesirably stop program execution. It is preferable, therefore, that cores that are not being debugged execute the program code, which includes breakpoints intended for other cores, as if the breakpoints do not exist or with minimal intrusion or delay upon encountering such a breakpoint.
A related problem is when multiple processor cores are being debugged simultaneously. In this instance, the host will insert multiple sets of breakpoints for the various cores being debugged. As such, it is preferable that breakpoints set for one core do not interfere with other cores as noted above. Further, it is preferable for effective debugging, that the host keeps track of which breakpoints are associated with which cores.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved technique for managing breakpoints in a multi-core processor. Such a technique should be able to maintain instruction consistency among shared resources so as not to corrupt program execution. That is, it is desirable for all processor cores to execute the shared program in its original form even though the program includes breakpoints that are used to debug other cores. Despite the advantages such a system would provide, to date no such system is known to exist.

Debugger breakpoint management in a multicore DSP device having shared program memory


Techniques for searching a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query are described herein. In one embodiment, a single search query is received that has syntax identifying an unstructured search string within a structured search query to automatically cause a search of the inverted index and use of the result to automatically search the hierarchical database. The unstructured search string is extracted from the single search query and an inverted index is searched according to the unstructured search string, wherein the inverted index includes virtual documents created from data stored in the hierarchical database, wherein each virtual document includes a unique identifier from the hierarchical database used to designate the data in the hierarchical database from which that virtual document was created, wherein a result of the inverted index search includes the unique identifiers of the virtual documents that meet the search. For each of the unique identifiers in the result, a separate search query is generated from the single search query by replacing the unstructured search string in the structured search query with that unique identifier and the hierarchical database is searched according to the separate search query. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of database searching; and more specifically, to the searching of a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query.
2. Background
Data may be stored in numerous fashions both unstructured and structured. The term "structured data" is used to refer to data that has some structure associated with the data. For example, a relational database contains structured data as the data within the relational database is structured into tables, columns, and rows. Typically, searching structured data requires knowledge of the underlying structure. For example in the case of the relational database, searching the relational database requires knowledge of the table names. Additionally, searching a relational database requires knowledge of a rigid searching syntax, such as SQL.
Structured data may also be stored in a hierarchical database. The hierarchical database can be a tree, where each data element can be considered a node of the tree. Similarly as with relational databases, searching the structured data in the hierarchical database requires knowledge of the hierarchical structure (e.g., nodes of the tree) and also requires knowledge of a searching syntax.
The term "unstructured data" is used to refer to data that does not have structure associated with the data. A common example of unstructured data is data stored in virtual documents in an inverted index. The term "virtual document" is used to refer to representation of data as textual data that may be indexed. As the data in an inverted index is unstructured, searching the inverted index typically consists of entering in keywords. The term "keyword" is used to refer to a search string. Thus, unlike searching structured data, searching unstructured data does not require knowledge of a rigid searching syntax. However, a disadvantage of searching unstructured data is that the results may not be accurate as keywords may be shared across numerous data sets.
Relational databases have a limited text searching feature. Relational databases are commonly made up of multiple relations (often called tables), which may or may not be connected. Each relation typically represents a different data domain. For example, one relation may represent product suppliers and another relation may represent clients. In order to maintain the structure of the relations within a search result, text searching is performed on a per relation basis. In other words, as the relations represent different data domains, text searching across the multiple data sets would not result in meaningful results as there would not be an indication of which relation the result belongs to. Thus, prior art relational database text searching has the disadvantage that knowledge of a particular relation is required. Additionally, when there are multiple relations a separate text search must be performed on each relation.
Prior art techniques exist that convert structured data into unstructured data to allow for full text searching. For example, data within a relational database may be converted to a format suitable for unstructured searching (e.g., converted into an inverted index to allow for keyword searching). However, a disadvantage of converting data stored in a structured manner into data stored in an unstructured manner is that while searching may be easier for a user (e.g., the user does need to know the structure or special syntax) the results of the search will not include the associated structure.
Other prior art techniques exist that support keyword based searches in association with manual relational database searching. In these techniques, virtual documents are built from a relational database and are indexed into an inverted index. The virtual documents are associated with relation tuples of the relational database (e.g., by using identifiers). Keyword based searches can be performed on the inverted index where the returned results are the identifiers to the relations matching the search. The returned results may contain multiple identifiers in the case where the keyword search term matches multiple virtual documents, and thus multiple tuples. For each identifier that is returned in the result, a user is required to manually search the relational database relation corresponding to that identifier. Thus, in this prior art technique, the keyword search acts as a hint as to where in the relational database the information is located. However, this prior art technique has the disadvantage that if there are multiple identifiers, the user is required to manually search each tuple for each identifier (i.e., the user must manually form a structured query for each identifier). Additionally, if the identifiers correspond to different relations, the user is required to manually search each relation for each identifier (i.e, the user must manually form a structured query for each identifier).

Method and apparatus for searching a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query


Congestion control may be provided. A set of rules may allow a congestion control process to switch from delay-mode to loss-mode (e.g., in the presence of loss-based flows) and back to delay-mode (e.g., when loss-based flows stop). Fairness properties of this set of rules may include that the resulting flows may be fair to each other and the flows may also be fair when competing with loss-based flows. Many flows that may be deadlocked in loss-mode (e.g., in the absence of other genuine loss-based flows) may be helped to switch back to delay-mode.

In data networking and queueing theory, network congestion occurs when a link or node is carrying so much data that its quality of service deteriorates. Typical effects include queueing delay, packet loss, or the blocking of new connections. A consequence of the latter two is that an incremental increase in offered load leads either only to a small increase in network throughput, or to an actual reduction in network throughput.
Network protocols that use aggressive retransmissions to compensate for packet loss tend to keep systems in a state of network congestion, even after the initial load has been reduced to a level which would not normally have induced network congestion. Thus, networks using these protocols can exhibit two stable states under the same level of load. The stable state with low throughput is known as congestive collapse.

Switching between loss-based and delay-based mode for real-time media congestion controllers


Performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector based on whether or not they are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector based on the dominant type. Enabling/disabling inter-band carrier aggregation can include allowing or preventing usage of usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier aggregated with a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier. Carriers using FDD and TDD duplexing modes are included.

A wireless network may include one or more access nodes, such as base stations, for providing wireless voice and data service to wireless devices in various coverage areas of the one or more access nodes. As wireless networks evolve and grow, there are ongoing challenges in communicating data across different types of networks. For example, with increasing numbers and types of access nodes deployed within wireless networks, network operators are using carrier aggregation that enables wireless devices and access nodes to communicate using a combination of component carriers. Component carriers utilize air-interface resources (such as time-frequency resource blocks) spanning different sets of frequencies within one or more frequency bands available to use within a wireless sector. For example, intra-band carrier aggregation involves two or more component carriers using the same or contiguous frequency bands, and inter-band carrier aggregation involves component carriers using different frequency bands that may be separated by a gap. Wireless devices that are capable of inter-band carrier aggregation can receive and send data streams using component carriers in different frequency bands. Further, access nodes can be configured to deploy a frequency-division-duplexing (FDD) carrier and a time-division-duplexing (TDD) carrier, and schedule data transmissions via both carriers using either intra-band or inter-band carrier aggregation. Thus, wireless devices that are capable of carrier aggregation and TDD and FDD communication can send and receive data streams using any combination of different TDD and FDD carriers.
However, in some instances, the ability of wireless devices to use inter-band carrier aggregation can negatively affect network performance for other wireless devices incapable of using inter-band carrier aggregation. For example, an access node may be configured to deploy two carriers utilizing different frequency bands. Owing to the nature of radio signals, the carrier utilizing a higher frequency may serve wireless devices over a smaller coverage area than the carrier utilizing the lower frequency. While wireless devices closer to the access node can avail of the greater throughput provided by the high-frequency carrier, wireless devices further away from the access node and outside the coverage area of the high-frequency carrier have no choice but to use the low-frequency carrier. Further, the downlink coverage area of the high-frequency carrier may be larger than the uplink coverage area, which can result in dropped connections for wireless devices attached to and located near a cell edge of the high-frequency carrier. Some wireless devices can be configured to use inter-band carrier aggregation with the low-frequency carrier as the primary component carrier (enabling uplink and control transmissions) and aggregate the high-frequency carrier as the secondary component carrier. However, increasing numbers of wireless devices using the low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier can cause overloading on the low-frequency carrier, particularly in the uplink and/or control channels. This can negatively impact quality of service for other wireless devices attached to the low-frequency carrier and not capable of inter-band carrier aggregation.
Overview
Exemplary embodiments described herein include methods, systems, and processing nodes for activating or deactivating inter-band carrier aggregation in a wireless sector based on a dominant capability of wireless devices within the sector. An exemplary method for performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector, wherein the dominant type is based on whether or not the wireless devices are capable or incapable of inter-band carrier aggregation, when the dominant type comprises wireless devices capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, enabling usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier for a carrier aggregation mode of operation, and when the dominant type comprises wireless devices incapable of inter-band carrier aggregation, disabling usage of the low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier for the carrier aggregation mode of operation.
An exemplary system for performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability includes an access node configured to deploy at least a first carrier utilizing a first frequency band and a second carrier utilizing a second frequency band, the second frequency band comprising higher frequencies than the first frequency band, and a processor coupled to the access node. The processor can be configured to perform operations including identifying a dominant type of wireless device within a wireless sector, wherein the dominant type of wireless device is based on a capability of a wireless device to perform inter-band carrier aggregation, and enabling or disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the wireless sector based on the dominant type of wireless device.
An exemplary processing node for performing inter-band carrier aggregation based on device capability is configured to perform operations including monitoring a dominant type of wireless devices in a wireless sector, wherein the dominant type is based on whether or not the wireless devices are capable or incapable of inter-band carrier aggregation, when the dominant type comprises wireless devices capable of inter-band carrier aggregation, enabling usage of a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier for a carrier aggregation mode of operation, and when the dominant type comprises wireless devices incapable of inter-band carrier aggregation, disabling usage of the low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier for the carrier aggregation mode of operation.


A primary current circuit 42 that outputs a primary current IPTAT proportional to the primary coefficient of temperature, secondary current circuit 43 outputs a secondary current IPTAT2 proportional to the Nth (N: an integer of 2 or larger) coefficient of temperature based on the primary current, constant current source 41 that supplies current to the primary and secondary currents, and power control switch Q11 that shuts down the voltage supply based on a rise in the secondary current.

FIG. 8 shows a typical configuration of a thermal shut-down circuit.
Thermal shut-down circuit 100 is connected to a specific circuit 200 and can stop the operation of circuit 200 when the temperature rises. Said circuit 200 shown in the figure is driven by a bias current supplied from constant current source 201 when a power supply voltage VDD is supplied to constant current source 201.
Thermal shut-down circuit 100 comprises constant current source 101 and Zener diode ZD connected in series between power supply voltage VDD and reference potential VSS, resistors R100 and R101 connected in series between the cathode of Zener diode ZD and reference potential VSS, and NPN transistor Q100 used as a power control switch with its base connected to the node between resistors R100 and R101, its collector connected to the power end of circuit 200, and its emitter held at reference potential VSS.
When power supply voltage VDD is supplied, a reference current is supplied from constant current source 101 and flows toward resistors R100 and R101. At this time, since the cathode of Zener diode ZD is kept at a constant reference voltage VREF, the base bias voltage of NPN transistor Q100 is determined by the constant voltage at the node between resistors R100 and R101.
Since the base-emitter voltage Vbe of NPN transistor Q100 has a temperature characteristic of about −2 mV/° C., the base bias voltage of NPN transistor Q100 increases along with a rise in temperature. When a prescribed temperature is reached, NPN transistor Q100 is turned on. When NPN transistor Q100 is on, the potential at the power end of circuit 200 is pulled back to reference potential VSS, and thus the current supplied to circuit 200 is shut down. Circuit 200 is protected or its output is stopped by this thermal shut-down operation.
Said thermal shut-down circuit 100 has the following problems.
First of all, the detected temperature varies significantly depending on the temperature characteristic of Zener diode ZD at the reference voltage.
Second of all, the detected temperature varies significantly depending on changes in the characteristics of NPN transistor Q100 and the variation occurring during manufacturing.
Third of all, since NPN transistor Q100 gradually enters into the on state from the off state as the temperature rises, a sharp thermal shut-down characteristic cannot be obtained.
Since said thermal shut-down circuit 100 might operate at a temperature out of the range of reliable circuit operation when the aforementioned problems occur at the same time, it is difficult to guarantee a temperature range for reliable operation. Also, the wide range of detection temperatures of thermal shut-down circuit 100 is a serious problem.


A machine for producing tubes by winding into a spiral two or more overlapping and staggered strips of a ribbon-shaped material on a spindle, having a winding unit which winds into a spiral two or more overlapping and staggered strips of a ribbon-shaped material on the spindle and causes the tube formed from the material to advance continuously, and a cutting unit fitted with rotating tube cutters and provided with a reciprocating motion along the direction of advance of the tube to cut the tube into sections of predetermined length during the advance of the tube. The cutting unit is associated with members for driving the rotating cutters, which impart to the rotating cutters a rotary motion derived from the reciprocating motion of the cutting unit.

A machine of the type described initially is described, for example, in Italian Patent No. 1,204,029, only in respect of the unit for cutting the tube at the exit from the machine. In this known machine, the cutting members consist of circular cutters of low mass which, when the tube is to be cut, are brought up to the tube which advances and rotates about its own axis, and are put into axial and rotating movement by the contact with the tube itself. The circular cutters are in other words fitted so that they are free-running and idle on the corresponding supporting arms.
To obtain a more effective cut, particularly when the thickness of the tube is large, in certain cases electric motors associated with two circular cutters are used, these motors imparting the cutting motion to the cutters when they are required to cut the tube. This solution entails high costs and increases the masses present. Since the cutting unit on which the rotating cutting members are fitted has to move with a reciprocating motion along the direction of advance of the continuously produced tube, it is desirable to reduce to a minimum the masses present and consequently the inertial forces arising from the reciprocating traversing motion of the cutting unit.
The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type described initially, in which the cutting members are given a cutting motion for more effective cutting of the tube, with a simple, compact structure of limited mass to reduce the inertial forces present and also the costs of maintenance and production of the machine.

Machine for producing cardboard or similar tubes, with means for cutting the tube into sections of predetermined lengths


Biomedical devices such as silicone hydrogels formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a siloxane-containing homopolymer comprising one or more thio carbonyl thio fragments of a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent; and (b) one or more biomedical device-forming monomers are disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to biomedical devices such as ophthalmic lenses
2. Description of Related Art
Biomedical devices such as ophthalmic lenses made from siloxy-containing materials have been investigated for a number of years. Such materials can generally be sub-divided into two major classes, namely hydrogels and non-hydrogels. Hydrogels can absorb and retain water in an equilibrium state whereas non-hydrogels do not absorb appreciable amounts of water. Regardless of their water content, both hydrogels and non-hydrogels tend to have relatively hydrophobic, non-wettable surfaces.
Hydrogels represent a desirable class of materials for many biomedical applications, including contact lenses and intraocular lenses. Hydrogels are hydrated, crosslinked polymeric systems that contain water in an equilibrium state. Silicone hydrogels are a known class of hydrogels and are characterized by the inclusion of a silicone-containing monomer. Silicone hydrogels have typically been prepared by polymerizing mixtures containing at least one silicone-containing monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer. Either the silicone-containing monomer or the hydrophilic monomer function as a crosslinking agent (a crosslinker being defined as a monomer having multiple polymerizable functionalities) or a separate crosslinker may be employed.
In the field of biomedical devices such as contact lenses, various physical and chemical properties such as, for example, oxygen permeability, wettability, material strength and stability are but a few of the factors that must be carefully balanced in order to provide a useable contact lens. For example, since the cornea receives its oxygen supply from contact with the atmosphere, good oxygen permeability is an important characteristic for certain contact lens material. Wettability also is important in that, if the lens is not sufficiently wettable, it does not remain lubricated and therefore cannot be worn comfortably in the eye. Accordingly, the optimum contact lens would have at least both excellent oxygen permeability and excellent tear fluid wettability.
An advantage of silicone hydrogels over non-silicone hydrogels is that the silicone hydrogels typically have higher oxygen permeability due to the inclusion of the siloxy-containing monomer. Silicone-containing monomers for use in the formation of silicone hydrogels are well known and numerous examples are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,136,250; 4,153,641; 4,740,533; 5,034,461; 5,070,215; 5,260,000; 5,310,779 and 5,358,995. However, one problem associated with silicone lenses is the surfacing of silicone chains which create hydrophobic areas on the lens. This will adversely impact wettability, on eye-movement and comfort to the user.
Karunakaran et al., "Synthesis, Characterization, and Crosslinking of Methacrylate-Telechelic PDMAAm-b-PDMS-b-PDMAAm Copolymers", Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 45, pp. 4284-4290 (2007) ("Karunakaran et al.") discloses the preparation of a new amphiphilic methacrylate-telechelic pentablock copolymer by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer ("RAFT") polymerization. As shown in Scheme I in Karunakaran et al., a polysiloxane monomer comprising one or more thio carbonyl fragments of a RAFT agent (2) is used as an intermediate in the preparation of the amphiphilic methacrylate-telechelic pentablock copolymer. Karunakaran et al. further discloses that the new amphiphilic methacrylate-telechelic pentablock copolymers can be used in an ophthalmic application such as in the formation of a contact lens. However, the process for making the amphiphilic methacrylate-telechelic pentablock copolymers is time consuming and employs different reagents and process conditions. This, in turn, can cause reproducibility problems. In addition, the methacrylate-telechelic copolymers prepared by Karanakaran et al. are cross-linking agents, which can increase the "effective" cross-link density of the resulting product resulting in a higher modulus of the product.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide improved silicone hydrogels that are soft enough to make soft contact lenses, which possess high oxygen permeability, suitable water content, and sufficient elasticity, and are comfortable to the contact lens wearer. It would also be desirable to provide improved silicone hydrogels that are easy to manufacture in a simple, cost effective manner.


The present invention relates to a method for stimulating angiogenesis using by DKK2 and composition comprising the same. The DKK2 protein of the present invention showed stimulating activities of tube formation on HUVEC, promoting activity of the sprouting of arterial circle tissues and promoting activity of vascular development in the embryo of mouse. Therefore, it can be used as the therapeutics or functional health food for treating and preventing ischemic disease.

Angiogenesis is a process by which new capillary blood vessels are formed. This process rarely occurs under normal biological condition but it always accompanied by embryogenesis, corpus luteum formation and wound healing. Particularly, angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor metastasis (Folkman J and Klagsburn M, Science, 235(4787), pp. 442-447, 1987).
Angiogenesis procedure consists of four steps, i.e., the 1st step is the dissociation of capillary basal lamina by the action of protease enzyme caused by the stimulation of angiogenic factors, the 2nd step is the migration and proliferation of blood endothelial cells, the 3rd step is the formation of capillary tubes due to the differentiation of blood endothelial cell and the 4th step is the reconstruction of new capillary blood vessels.
There have been reported that angiogenesis process is regulated by various stimulating factors and inhibiting factors, for example, growth factor, cytokine, lipid metabolism substance, cryptogenetic fragments of haemostatic protein etc (Folkman J, Nat. Med., 1(1), pp. 27-31, 1995). Angiogenesis stimulating factors can be divided into several types, for example, mainly, cell growth inducing factor, cytokine having immune activity, hormone and lipid products etc (Bussolino F et al., Trends. Biochem. Sci., 22(7), pp. 251-256, 1997).
However, the stimulating factors have various problems to be applied on clinical use since they act on not only vascular endothelial cell but also the other neighboring cells (Malecki M et al., Gene Ther., Supple 1, pp. S159-169, 2005).
Accordingly, recent research has been focused on founding important gene acting only on blood endothelial cell, in particular, being involved in angiogenesis and new method for treating various disease requiring angiogenesis using by the gene. However, there have not been achieved satisfactory results till now.
Therapeutic angiogenesis is a method for treating ischemic disease by promoting the formation of collateral vessels through administering the angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), developmentally regulated endothelial locus-1 (Del-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-EGF), angiopoietin, transforming growth factor (TGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) etc or the gene encoding the same, and it has been highlighted as a new method for treating severe ischemic disease which could not been performed to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) method (Kim D. K. and Kwon H. C., The journal of endocrinology, 16(3), pp. 328-338, 2001).
DKK2, a repressor protein of Wnt protein, has been reported to act as an inhibiting factor or stimulating factor of signaling pathways of Wnt (Wu W et al., Curr. Biol., 10(24), pp. 1611-1614, 2000). It has two specific cysteine-rich domains and is divided into various lengths of connection regions. Particularly, the protein belonged to Dickkopf family highly conserves cystein-2 region between the family members as well as 10 cysteines (Krupnik V E et al., Gene, 238(2), pp. 301-313, 1999). It has been reported that DKK2 is closely correlated with the differentiation of osteoclast (Li X et al., Nat. Genet., 37(9), pp. 945-952, 2005).
However, there has been not reported or disclosed about the effect on stimulating activity of DKK2 on angiogenesis in any of above cited literatures, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Method for stimulating angiogenesis using DKK2 and composition comprising the same


An arrangement of an unlocking knob in an automotive seat, wherein a rod is provided, with its one base portion being connected with a lock means in the seat, while its another free end portion is so formed as to define therein a raised portion and a horizontally expanded hook-like latch portion, and wherein the unlocking includes a securing portion which has, formed therein, a recessed groove of a shape generally identical to that of the hook-like latch portion of the rod, such that the free end portion of rod is inserted into and latchingly secured in the recessed groove of unlocking knob securing protion. The recessed groove includes a sloped upper edge for facilitating the ease with which the free end portion of rod is engaged in the recessed groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an unlocking knob in an automotive seat, which is operatively connected with a connecting rod extended from a reclining device or seat back fold-down device provided in the seat, so that operation of the unlocking knob renders those devices released from a locked state, and in particular relates to an arrangement of such unlocking knob in the seat for connection with the connecting rod.
2. Description of Prior Art
There has been a seat fold-down structure wherein, in a seat back, a connecting rod or a wire is extended upwardly along the height-wise direction of the seat back from a reclining device, terminating in an end portion projected on the top of seat back, and an unlocking knob is coupled to that end portion of connecting rod. With this structure, pulling the knob causes unlocking of the reclining device via the connecting rod.
One of the recent conventional structures of this kind is such that an opening is formed in the reverse side of seat back such as to be disposed near the top of the seat back, a connecting rod is extended from a reclining device or the like, passing between the back board and seat back in the upward direction and projecting its threaded end portion through the opening, and an unlocking knob is threadedly engaged to that threaded end portion of connecting rod. Typically, the unlocking knob is formed in a cylindrical shape which is long in its axial direction, and further the area of seat back at the opening is recessed in a circular shape relatively larger in diameter than the circular cross-section of the unlocking knob. Hence, the lower portion of knob is inserted in such circular recessed portion of seat back and threadedly engaged with the treaded end portion of connecting rod therewithin.
However, this prior-art unlocking knob projects on the top of seat back, which is objectionable on the whole aesthetic appearance of seat. Additionally, the insertion of the knob in the recessed portion of seat back makes rather difficult to determine the position of the knob for precise engagement with the threaded end portion of connecting rod during the practical assemblage of the seat.

Arrangement of an unlocking knob in automative seat


Methods and devices are provided for effecting movement of one or more components of a multifire device, such as a clip applier, hernia tacker, or skin stapler. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical fastening instrument is provided having an elongate shaft with an end effector coupled thereto and adapted to apply one or more surgical fasteners to tissue. An electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to drive a fastener advancing or forming assembly through the elongate shaft, thereby driving a surgical fastener into tissue. In another embodiment, an electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to effect movement of an articulation joint formed between the elongate shaft and the end effector.

Surgical fastening instruments carry a number of surgical fasteners which are typically placed to ligate a vessel, hemostatically staple and cut tissue, or to attach a prosthetic to tissue. All of these instruments contain a plurality of fasteners, which can be placed in a single firing, or in multiple firings. Single firing instruments, such as endocutters or various stapling instruments, contain a plurality of fasteners that are placed within tissue in a single firing. Multifire instruments, such as clip appliers and hernia tackers, contain a plurality of fasteners that are held within the surgical instrument, and the fasteners can be applied one at a time. These types of instruments can be fired repeatedly until the instrument runs out of fasteners or the surgery is complete.
One well known multifire instrument is a clip applier such as the ER320 LIGACLIP™ Multiple Clip Applier manufactured and sold by Ethicon EndoEND-Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio. Clip appliers are used to close or ligate vessels during surgery, and are commonly used to ligate the cystic duct and cystic artery during the removal of a gall bladder. These surgical instruments can contain up to twenty clips and contain a feed shoe that pushes or feeds the clips distally within the instrument. In particular, a cam tube is advanced over jaws formed on the distal end of the device, thereby camming the jaws closed and crushing a clip disposed between. Some devices also simultaneously retract a feed bar while the cam tube is being advanced to reposition the feed bar in a position to advance the next clip. Once the clip is fully formed, the cam tube is retracted thereby releasing a return spring which is coupled to and advances the feed bar to advance the next clip into the jaws. Similar instruments can be used to deliver a hernia tack or skin staple.
One of the challenges with multifire devices is that a small stroke is repeatedly fired. The stroke must be controlled to allow for rapid repeat firing. Current mechanisms utilize mechanical linkages to accomplish this, however such linkages can be difficult to use in devices having a flexible shaft. In particular, the transfer of force from a handle to an end effector of a device having a flexible shaft can interfere with the tortuous orientation of the shaft, potentially causing it to straighten.
Accordingly, there remains a need for methods and devices for actuating surgical fastening instruments, such as clip appliers, hernia tackers, and skin staplers, and in particular for methods and devices that require a low force to effect actuation.

Electroactive polymer-based actuation mechanism for multi-fire surgical fastening instrument