An omni-positional hoist ring wherein a shackle member is pivotally attached to a rotationally mounted lift body, the lift body is rotationally mounted on a flanged bushing, and the flanged bushing is mounted on a screw. Torque is applied to the screw by applying force to one or more axially projecting lugs. The lugs may be positioned on a collar that surrounds and is keyed to a mounting stud, or to a bar nut that is located on the distal end of mounting stud. A boss may be provided surrounding the axial bore of the collar. The purpose of the boss is to space the lifting fixture away from the axially projecting lugs on the radially outer periphery of the collar. When the axially extending lugs are on the outer periphery of a collar, torque is conveniently applied by striking the upstanding lugs with, for example, a hammer. Lugs on a bar nut a conveniently positioned to receive torque from a bar that is projected laterally between the lugs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to omni-positional hoist rings and other lifting fixtures, and, in particular, to hubs and nuts for the wrenchless mounting of omni-positional lifting fixtures to a substrate, and that are particularly suited for use under circumstances where lifting fixtures are to be mounted to trench plates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Safety hoist rings of various that are capable of pivoting through an arc of 180 degrees and of swiveling through a full 360 degrees are well known and widely used. The shackles or U-bars in such devices are capable of moving so as to be aligned exactly with the direction of a tensile load applied from anywhere within a hemisphere that is disposed about the hoist ring assembly. Such safety hoist rings that comprise omni-positional lifting fixtures include, for example, Tsui et al. U.S. Pat No. 4,641,986 (a threaded central stud is surrounded by a flanged bushing that bears on the surface of a load, a collar that is slightly shorter than the bushing rotatably surrounds the cylindrical body of the bushing, the enlarged bulbous opposed ends of a U-bar or shackle are turned into opposed axial alignment with one another and are pivotally captured in cavities defined between the flange of the bushing and the collar); Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,422 (a threaded central stud is surrounded by a flanged bushing that bears on the surface of a load, a collar that is slightly shorter than the cylindrical body of the bushing rotatably surrounds the cylindrical distal portion of the bushing, the opposed ends of a U-bar or shackle are pivotally pinned to the collar, and the axially aligned pins are held in the collar by clips on the radially inner ends thereof); Tsui U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,210 (a threaded central stud is surrounded by a flanged bushing that bears on the surface of a load, a collar that is slightly shorter than the cylindrical body of the bushing rotatably surrounds the cylindrical distal end of the bushing, the radially flattened enlarged opposed ends of a U-bar are turned into opposed axial alignment with one another and are pivotally captured between the collar and the flange of the bushing); Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,815 (a threaded central stud is surrounded by a flanged bushing that bears on the surface of a load, a collar that is slightly shorter than the cylindrical body of the bushing rotatably surrounds the cylindrical body of the bushing, the opposed ends of a U-bar or shackle are pivotally pinned to the collar, and the axially aligned pins are held in the collar by retainer pins that are driven through the collar and into the radially inner ends of the pins); Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,954 (a shackle is pivotally pinned to the distal end of a lift stud by means of a clevis pin, an externally threaded headed bushing is adapted to being threadably inserted into a bore in a load to bear against the surface of the load, the cylindrical proximal end of the lift stud is rotatably received in the bushing and retained there without binding with the bushing by a threaded cylindrical nut mounted to the proximal end of the lift stud that protrudes through the bushing, and the external diameter of the cylindrical nut is larger than the internal diameter of the bushing and smaller than the external diameter of the bushing so as to pass through the threaded bore in which the bushing is mounted, yet retain the proximal end of the lift stud within the bushing); Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,164 (The enlarged distal end of a threaded stud defines a cavity that opens axially away from the stud, an enlarged proximal end of a hoist head is rotatably trapped in the cavity and the distal end of the hoist head is pivotally connected to a shackle through a clevis pin); and Alba U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,925 (a hoist ring in which very high tensile loads on the mounting shank are achieved by the use of a plurality of tensioning bolts).
Other hoist rings that comprise omni-positional lifting fixtures include, for example, Larson U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,633 (the trunions for mounting a U-bar are integral with a lift body that is rotatably mounted through a pair of hat shaped retainer plates to a threaded center stud); Andrews U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,352 (similar to Andrews U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,686 except that the bushing is frustoconical in shape); Andrews U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,686 (pivot axles for a U-bar are inserted into and pinned to a lift body that is rotatably mounted through a flanged bushing to a threaded center stud); Seidel U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,410 (a D-ring is pivotally trapped in a two-piece lifting body which is in turn rotatably trapped within a cavity in an external housing for rotation about a threaded center stud); Hansen II U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,869 (an omni-positional tie down structure, which is representative of lightly constructed tie down devices that are intended to be pre-assembled and mounted to the body of a carrier to provide an attachment point for cargo lashings); Mueller U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,130 (a lift body having a shackle pivotally pinned by a clevis pin to its distal end, and the cylindrical head of a screw rotatably trapped entirely within an axially facing cavity in the proximal end of the lift body, where a threaded port extends laterally through one side of the proximal end of the lift body into the cavity to enable the temporary locking of the lift body to the screw so that the screw can be tightened into a threaded bore in a load by rotating the lift body); Lecourt U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,110 (a lift body with axially opposed trunions is rotatably and permanently mounted about a threaded center stud, the opposed ends of a shackle are pivotally mounted on the trunions by means of an undisclosed procedure); Sawyer U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,801 (similar to Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,422, except the center stud is welded to the load); Schron, Jr. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,734 (a D-ring is pivotally trapped in a two-piece lifting body, which is in turn rotatably mounted on a threaded center stud, and the lifting body is laterally pierced to allow access to rotatably tighten the threaded center stud); Martin U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,664 (the enlarged end of a mushroom shaped lift body is rotatably trapped in a cavity in a plate, the plate is bolted to a load, and a lifting ring is mounted in a cross-bore in the exposed end of the lift body); Morghen U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,588 (the enlarged circular head at the proximal end of a mushroom shaped lift swivel is rotatably trapped within a cavity in a mounting plate, the opposed ends of a shackle are pivotally mounted on a bolt that extends transversely through the distal end of the lift swivel, and the mounting plate is secured directly or indirectly to the load); Chandler U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,780 (is similar to Andrews U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,686 except that the shackle is generally H-shaped to accommodate attachment to a flat web); Kwon U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,500 (a side pull hoist ring wherein a shackle is mounted through a clevis pin to a lift body, the lift body is mounted for quick detachment to a load, but the hoist ring will not safely support loads applied from any direction, that is, this is not an omni-positional lifting fixture. Detachment is accomplished by lateral movement of the lift body, and a light elongated tongue member is employed to retain the lift body in the mounted configuration. The application of a substantial load parallel to the axis of the mounting screw would bend the elongated tongue and pull the lifting body away from the load.); Fuller et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,310 (a D-ring is pivotally received in the throat of a clevis, and a center stud is rotatably received in the opposed ends of the clevis so that the pivot axis of the D-ring is offset from the rotational axis of the clevis); Pearl U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,883 (a hoist ring with a U-bar pivotally pinned to a lift body that is rotatably mounted to a flanged bushing, and with a large diameter skirt member coupled to a bi-threaded center stud that is threaded into a trench plate).
Typically, such previous omni-positional lifting fixtures comprised a shackle or U-bar that was pivotally connected to a rotationally mounted member such that the desired omni-positional pivoting and swiveling was achieved. The prior omni-positional lifting fixtures included a retainer that attached the fixture to a load so that some part of the fixture engaged with and bore firmly against the load. The retainer could be part of (see Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,954) or separate from (see Tsui U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,210) the rotationally mounted member. Usually, but not always, (see Morghen U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,588, particularly FIG. 8, and Martin U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,664) the rotationally mounted member was mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the retainer, that is, the rotationally mounted member generally rotated about the longitudinal axis of a screw or stud that was attached to the load. Usually, but not always, (see Fuller et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,310) the pivotal axis intersected with the rotational axis. Often, but not always, (see Sawyer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,801) the retainer was threaded, and screwed into a mating threaded hole in the load. The shackle or U-bar was generally configured to accept the lifting member with which it was expected to be used (see, for example, Chandler U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,780, Tsui et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,986, and Kwon US Des. 417,328).
Typically, omni-positional lifting fixtures are drawn very tightly against the substrate by the retainer so that the weight of the load that is lifted is distributed over the footprint of the lifting fixture on the substrate. Regardless of the mounting type, any misalignment between the lifting fixture and the substrate generally creates a substantial safety risk, because in such a circumstance the load is born primarily by the retainer rather than the portion of the fixture that bears against the substrate. It requires a certain amount of skill and equipment to drill and, if necessary, tap a hole so that it is square with the surface of the substrate. Such skill and equipment are not always available at the site where a safety hoist ring is to be attached to a load, particularly in the construction arts. Also, in many circumstances the reverse side of the load is not accessible, so a fastening element can not be applied to the retainer on the reverse side of the load.
Trench plates, vault covers, and the like, are widely used at construction sites to temporarily cover open excavations, and in completed underground construction projects. Trench plates, and the like, are typically large flat steel plates that weigh upwards of 5,000 to 10,000 pounds each. The handling of plates presents many difficulties. Safety is a serious consideration in handling these very heavy plates. Such plates are typically attached to a lifting device, such as a crane, through some suitable coupling. Various expedients have been proposed for such couplings. See, for example, Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,695 (a square insert for welding into an opening in an excavation cover plate, which insert includes two laterally extending pins for securing the opposed ends of a length of chain to the insert); Harter U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,992 (a excavation cover plate with a lift opening, and a pivotally mounted bail positioned in that lift opening); Silva, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,432 (a lifting device for use with excavation cover plates wherein the lifting device is releasably locked into a specially configured lifting hole in the plate); and Pearl U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,883 (a hoist ring with a large diameter skirt member coupled to a bi-threaded center stud that is threaded into the trench plate). Inserts for trench plates, which inserts have been precisely bored and tapped to mount lifting devices, have been used in the construction trades for years, particularly by the Department of Water and Power for the City of Los Angeles. Lifting plates with slots configured to allow a chain to pass in one position and not in another have been employed in the lifting arts. See, for example, Kilbert et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,698.
Trench plates are often employed at construction sites where wrenches are not readily available. Pry bars, short lengths of reinforcing bar, and hammers are generally available on such construction sites. Such construction sites pose special challenges to the use of hoist rings and other lifting devices, and particularly to the mounting of such devices on trench plates. The safe usage of hoist rings and other lifting devices requires that they be securely mounted to the load that is to be lifted. This generally means that they are attached to the load by a threaded mount, which is torqued to some large predetermined value. Such torquing generally requires the use of wrenches. Where wrenches are not available workers may attempt to use other expedients, which results in an unsafe installation if the threaded mount is not adequately torqued down. Some torquing means is needed to enable the hoist rings to be safely mounted to a load or other substrate when wrenches are not available. Typically, lifting fixtures are attached to trench plates at the construction site for handling purposes during installation. They are then removed. When the construction is completed, the lifting fixtures are reinstalled and used to remove the trench plates. The lifting fixtures are usually removed again when the trench plates are in storage.
Bar knobs have long been used in the tooling industry. A bar knob is a threaded nut that has spaced apart projections extending generally parallel to the axis of the threaded bore so that a bar can be inserted between them, in a direction generally normal to the axis of the bore, and torque applied. A bar knob generally resembles a castle nut where the axially projecting lugs are widely spaced from one another to receive a pry bar therebetween.
Pearl U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,883 discloses an enlarged star shaped plate mounted on a threaded hoist ring mounting stud. Hammering on the radially extending arms of the star tightens or loosens the threaded mounting stud. The arms rest on the surface of the load.
These and other difficulties of the prior art have been overcome according to the present invention.


A semiconductor wafer is disclosed that includes a plurality of fields, including a plurality of alignment fields. Each alignment field includes a plurality of intra-field small scribe lane primary mark (SSPM) overlay mark pairs there around. The SSPM mark pairs allow for in-situ, non-passive intra-field alignment correction. In one embodiment, there may be between two and four alignment fields, and between two and four SSPM mark pairs around each alignment field. The SSPM marks of each mark pair may be extra scribe-lane marks.

Deposition and patterning are two of the basic steps performed in semiconductor processing. Patterning is also referred to as photolithography, masking, oxide or metal removal, and microlithography. Patterning enables the selective removal of material deposited on a semiconductor substrate, or wafer, as a result of deposition. Alignment is critical in photo-lithography and deposition, as well as in other semiconductor processes. If layers are not deposited properly, or if they are not selectively removed properly, the resulting semiconductor devices may not function, relegating them to scrap, which can be costly. Therefore, alignment marks are placed on the semiconductor wafer for the proper positioning during the deposition and photolithography processes.
Alignment is especially critical where a number of layers have already been deposited on the wafer. Subsequent deposition of other layers in such instances usually requires that the alignment marks on the wafer be exposed for proper overlay of the silicon dioxide or other layers. Overlay accuracy within photolithography becomes more stringent as the critical dimensions (CD's) and other dimensions of the semiconductor designs become smaller and smaller.
Currently, the control of overlay alignment is accomplished by the alignment systems of scanners performing overlay corrections for inter-field overlay and reticle expansion, and feed-forward overlay corrections by the box-in-box overlay results of previous lots for any remaining inter- and intra-field errors. Examples of inter-field and intra-field errors are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.
In FIG. 1, the inter-field overlay errors within the semiconductor wafer 100 are represented by the arrows 102. The arrows 102 represent inter-field overlay translation errors in both the x and y directions, wafer expansion errors in both the x and y directions, wafer rotation, and non-orthogonal errors. That is, the arrows 102 represent overlay errors between fields. In FIG. 2, the intra-field overlay errors within the wafer 200 are represented by the arrows 202. The arrows 202 represent intra-field overlay translation errors in both the x and y directions, reticle field rotation and reticle asymmetric field rotation errors, and reticle magnification and reticle asymmetric magnification errors. That is, the arrows 202 represent overlay errors within a field.
The disadvantage with current overlay alignment—that is, corrections by the alignment system of the scanners and feed-forward overlay corrections—is that there is no ability to perform in-situ, or in-place, overlay corrections for the intra-field wafer errors. The intra-field errors are corrected in a feed-forward process, which is a passive process. This can result in out-of-specification overlays, resulting in sometimes costly and time-consuming semiconductor rework.
Therefore, there is a need for performing in-situ overlay corrections, especially for intra-field semiconductor wafer errors. There is a need for such correction to be performed without having to resort to a feed-forward process. Such a new, in-situ, approach to overlay correction should result in a reduction of out-of-specification overlays, reducing costly and time-consuming semiconductor rework. For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.


A removable roof panel for a vehicle body having a compartment includes an outer panel, a perimeter frame connected to the outer panel and having a first locator feature configured to engage a second locator feature of the compartment, and latching handles operatively connected to the perimeter frame, and operable for latching and unlatching the perimeter frame from the vehicle body. The roof panel includes a lamp connected to the perimeter frame proximate the first locator feature, a battery electrically connectable to and operable for energizing the lamp, and a lamp actuator. The lamp actuator is configured to selectively connect the lamp to the battery when the removable roof panel is removed from the vehicle body to thereby illuminate the first and second locator features during stowing of the removable roof panel in the compartment. A vehicle includes the vehicle body and the removable roof panel.

A vehicle body typically includes a roof that is supported by pillars. In a convertible vehicle, the roof may be automatically retracted and stowed behind the driver or behind a row of seats. In other convertible designs, the roof may include a removable roof panel that may be unlatched and removed from the vehicle body as a solid unit. Thereafter, the roof panel may be temporarily stowed in a protected area such as a garage or in a compartment of the vehicle.

Removable vehicle roof panel with stowing assistance lamps


It relates to certain compounds having a polycyclic structure and a hydroxamic acid moiety, wherein the polycyclic structure comprises at least three ring systems, wherein one ring system is a polycyclic ring system comprising from 2 to 4 rings; at least one ring is an aromatic ring; and wherein the structure comprises at least 3 nitrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. It also relates to a process for their preparation, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and to their use in medicine, in particular in the treatment and/or prevention of neurological disorders coursing with a cognition deficit or impairment, or neurodegenerative diseases. wherein B1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of formula (A″), formula (B″), formula (C″), and formula (D″):

Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by deficits in memory, language and/or other essential cognitive functions that do not interfere with an individual's daily life. The condition often evolves towards dementia, which is characterized by a global deterioration of cognitive abilities to an extent that does interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people and refers to dementia that does not have an antecedent cause, such as stroke, brain trauma, or alcohol; it is characterized by the presence in the brain of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles that provoke neuronal dysfunction and cell death. The increasing number of AD patients associated with the aging of the population makes the development of new disease management/treatment strategies critical.
The search for effective AD management has been largely based on the amyloid (Aβ) hypothesis, mainly focusing on reducing the number of senile plaques, although with little success to date. Focus is placed now on other hallmarks of the disease such as hyperphosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein tau, which is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles.
Gene transcription and protein synthesis plays an important role in the formation of new memories. An increase in histone (H3 and/or H4) acetylation using histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors induces chromatin re-structuring, which is associated with gene transcription activation. HDAC proteins are classified in four families: class I (HDAC 1-3, HDAC8), class IIa (HDAC 4, 5, 7 and 9), class IIb (HDAC 6 and 10), and class IV (HDAC 11). The expression pattern of each HDACs in the central nervous system (CNS) and its contribution in memory function varies among each subtype.
4-phenylbutyrate (PBA), a HDAC inhibitor, is an effective cognitive-enhancer in the Tg2576 transgenic mouse model of AD, which overexpresses a mutant form of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Additionally, PBA reversed the pathological hallmarks of the disease and restored dendritic spine loss in this animal model. Taking into account that PBA inhibits HDACs class I and IIb, all these data strongly suggest the potential for therapeutic benefits of HDAC inhibitors in AD, especially for class I HDACs and HDAC6. Class I HDAC inhibitors enhance memory function by increasing histone acetylation levels, which facilitates gene transcription in the brain. Moreover, HDAC6 inhibitors induce tubuline acetylation (AcTub) that may help cytoskeleton stability and protein traffic. This could play an important role in misfolding protein disorders, such as AD, in which HDAC6 inhibitors have been shown to reduce amyloid precursor protein processing (APP) by reducing its amyloid precursor (C99) production.
Moreover, aging is associated with an increase in phosphodiesterase (PDE) expression and activity. Thus, phosphosdiesterases (PDEs) are good candidates for non-amyloid targets in cognition deficits in general and in AD in particular. Rolipram, which is a specific PDE4 inhibitor, was the first that proved useful in restoring cognition deficits in animal models of AD.
Specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (e.g. PDE5 inhibitors: Sildenafil, or Tadalafil; and, PDE9 inhibitor: PF-4447943 (6-[(3S,4S)-4-methyl-1-(pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)pyrrolidin-3-yl]-1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one)) have been shown to improve memory performance or/and enhance synaptic plasticity and cognitive function in different animal models of AD. PDE inhibitors regulate signalling pathways by elevating levels of cAMP and/or cGMP, which may ultimately promote gene transcription by directly and/or indirectly activating the cAMP response element-binding (CREB). CREB-dependent gene expression underlies long-term memory formation and persistent long-term potentiation (LTP), which are indicators of synaptic plasticity and strength. In the hippocampus, this probably occurs through the formation of new synaptic connections, which are needed to restore cognitive deficits. Thus, by activating the CREB signalling pathway, PDE inhibitors may ameliorate AD symptoms. Moreover, other CREB-independent mechanisms seem to act in synergy to restore cognitive impairment in AD via increase of cAMP and/or cGMP levels. Cognitive performance may be also improved indirectly by means of PDE-inhibitor-mediated increase of cerebral blood flow and/or of brain glucose consumption.
Besides amyloid burden, Tau phosphorylation is another histopathological marker of AD progression. Importantly, it has been shown that the PDE5 inhibitors Sildenafil and Tadalafil, reduce Tau phosphorylation (pTau levels) in different animal models of AD.
Therefore, there is still a need of developing compounds which show improved activity in the treatment and/or prevention of neurological disorders coursing with a cognition deficit or impairment, or neurodegenerative diseases.
Document WO 2008/024494 discloses compounds having an imidazo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-one core, which are PDE5 inhibitors. In particular, it discloses compound 14 (page 70), which has an imidazo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-one core and a hydroxamic acid ester. This compound, hereby referred as comparative example 2-01, was synthethized by the present inventors and as shown in the examples below, it was inactive against HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC6; IC50>20 μM.
Document WO 2012/020022 discloses 6-cycloalkyl-1,5-dihydro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives and their use as PDE9A inhibitors. In particular, it discloses in example 8B (page 77) a compound with a 1,5-dihydro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-one core and a hydroxamic acid ester. This compound, hereby referred as comparative example 3-01, was synthethized by the present inventors and as shown in the examples below, it was inactive against HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC6; IC50>20 μM.

Compounds as dual inhibitors of phosphodiesterases and histone deacetylases

FUNDACIÓN PARA LA INVESTIGACIÓN MÉDICA APLICADA


A working mechanism (4) takes a traveling stance by a way that left and right boom cylinders (9, 10) are expanded to rotate a tip end of a first boom (5) to the rear side and a positioning cylinder (11) is compressed to rotate a tip end of a second boom (6) to the lower side. In the traveling stance of the working mechanism (4), a front surface plate (23A) of a right front housing cover (23) is inclined along a tilting angle (α) of the left and right boom cylinders (9, 10), and the front surface plate (23A) of the right front housing cover (23) is arranged in a position of lining with front ends (9A1, 10A1) of tubes (9A, 10A) in the left-right direction forming the respective boom cylinders (9, 10).

In general, a hydraulic excavator known as a representative example of a construction machine is configured of an automotive lower traveling structure, an upper revolving structure that is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling structure, and a working mechanism that is tiltably provided in an intermediate position in the left-right direction at a front side of the upper revolving structure. The upper revolving structure is configured of a revolving frame forming a support structure, a cab that is provided in a left front side of the revolving frame and is provided with an operator's seat on which an operator is seated, a right front housing cover that is positioned in a right front side at the opposite side in the left-right direction to the cab and is provided on the revolving frame to accommodate articles therein, an engine that is mounted in a rear side of the revolving frame, and a rear housing cover that covers the engine.
The working mechanism is configured of a boom a base end of which is tiltably connected to the revolving frame of the upper revolving structure, an arm that is rotatably connected to a tip end of the boom, a bucket that is rotatably connected to a tip end of the arm, and a boom cylinder, an arm cylinder and a bucket cylinder that respectively operate the boom, the arm and the bucket.
On the other hand, some of the working mechanisms adopt a two-piece boom in which the boom is divided into two pieces made of a first boom and a second boom for expanding a movable range thereof. The two-piece boom is configured of a first boom a base end of which is rotatably connected to the revolving frame, a second boom that is rotatably connected to a tip end of the first boom, a boom cylinder that is provided between the revolving frame and the tip end of the first boom to be positioned ahead of the base end of the first boom for lifting and tilting the first boom to the revolving frame, and a positioning cylinder that is provided between the first boom and the second boom to be positioned in front of the first boom for adjusting a folding angle of the second boom to the first boom, wherein the arm is rotatably connected to the tip end of the second boom.
The working mechanism with a two-piece boom specification rotates the second boom to the first boom by the positioning cylinder, thus making it possible to adjust the folding angle of the second boom to the first boom as needed. In a case where the excavating operation is performed by using the working mechanism, the movable range of the working mechanism can be widened by adjusting the folding angle between the first boom and the second boom corresponding to the excavating depth.
Further, some of the hydraulic excavators are provided with a wheel type lower traveling structure in such a manner as to be able to travel on a public road. At the traveling of the hydraulic excavator, the working mechanism takes a traveling stance where the boom cylinder is expanded to rotate the tip end of the first boom to the rear side and the positioning cylinder is compressed to rotate the tip end of the second boom to the lower side. At the time of putting the working mechanism to the traveling stance thus, the entire working mechanism can be folded in a compact manner to facilitate a driving operation of the working mechanism. On the other hand, a range of vision in the right side of an operator who drives the hydraulic excavator in the cab is widened by arranging the tip end of the first boom to be in the rear side (for example, Patent Document 1).

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.


A test socket includes a socket body in which a semiconductor package is located, a socket head combined with the socket body, a Peltier element in the socket head, and power terminals connected to the Peltier element. A test equipment includes the test socket and a method of testing the semiconductor package uses the test socket.

The present disclosure relates to test sockets having Peltier elements, test equipment including the same, and methods of testing semiconductor packages using the same.
In general, semiconductor chips may be sorted into either good chips or failed chips through a wafer level test process. The semiconductor chips may be employed in various electronic systems that process or store a number of accurate data. Accordingly, the wafer level test process may correspond to a very important process for evaluating the reliability and quality of the semiconductor chips. The wafer level test process may be applied to a small quantity of semiconductor chips in a development stage, whereas the wafer level test process may also be applied to a large quantity of semiconductor chips in a mass production stage.
The semiconductor chips may be packaged to produce semiconductor packages that are encapsulated by protection material such as epoxy resin, and the semiconductor packages may also be classified into either good semiconductor packages or failed semiconductor packages through a package level test process. Each of the semiconductor packages may be inserted into a socket on a test module substrate during the package level test process and then removed from the socket after the package level test process. When the package level test process is performed at room temperature, it may be difficult to regard the test results as reliable data even though the semiconductor packages under the test substantially have excellent characteristics. This is because characteristics of the semiconductor packages may be changed according to an environmental temperature. In other words, even though the semiconductor packages exhibit excellent characteristics at room temperature, the semiconductor packages may malfunction at a higher or lower temperature than the room temperature.
In fact, the semiconductor packages may be exposed to diverse environments during operation thereof. Thus, the test processes including the package level test process should be performed under various conditions to evaluate whether the semiconductor packages operate correctly in various environments. For example, a temperature test or a high-voltage stress (HVS) test may be performed in order to evaluate the reliability of the semiconductor packages. The temperature test may comprise a high-temperature test and a low-temperature test.
In general, the high-temperature test may be performed using a variable temperature generator after testing various characteristics of the semiconductor packages at room temperature. A conventional variable temperature generator has a large volume, however, and it is difficult to carry the conventional variable temperature generator. Further, it may take a long time to test a small quantity of semiconductor packages using the conventional variable temperature generator.
In order to perform the high-temperature test, the conventional variable temperature generator may provide heated air on the socket in which the semiconductor package is mounted. Thus, the socket and the semiconductor package are indirectly heated up and the high-temperature test may be then performed. For example, once the variable temperature generator is set for a desired temperature, the variable temperature generator heats the air and the heated air is provided onto the socket and the semiconductor package. Therefore, the socket and the semiconductor package may be heated up to maintain the desired temperature. After testing the semiconductor package at the desired temperature, the operation of the variable temperature generator is stopped and the tested semiconductor package is replaced with another semiconductor package. Accordingly, whenever a new semiconductor package is tested, extra time is required to produce the re-heated air. As a result, throughput of the test set-up using the variable temperature generator may be degraded.

Test sockets having peltier elements, test equipment including the same and methods of testing semiconductor packages using the same


LED light sources utilized in a street lamp include a base seat, a lamp shade mounted on the base seat, and a top housing coupled with the base seat. The base seat includes a plurality of first heat dissipation columns integrated with the base seat. The lamp shade includes a plurality of the LED light sources. The top housing includes a plurality of second heat dissipation columns integrated with the top housing. The base seat, the first heat dissipation columns, the top housing, and the second heat dissipation columns are made of a polyamide resin containing a graphite powder.

Recently, LEDs have been employed as a light source in outdoor lighting devices, (e.g., street lights). Heat dissipation is an issue to be addressed in the manufacturing of an LED street light. A heat dissipating structure can be positioned below the LED module in an LED street light to avoid a reduction in length of service life of the LED module by overheating.


A method of cutting a product of a predetermined shape from a sheet material (1) by firstly supporting a sheet material in a first position by a first support means (2) whereafter she sheet (1) may be cut through by moving a line type cutter (7) relative to the sheet material on a line or lines to define part of the predetermined shape. The sheet material may then be supported in a second position (whether by the first support means or another support means (2a, 2b)) and again cut by moving a line type cutter relative to the sheet material on a line or lines to define the remaining perimeter of the predetermined shape, to thereby cut the predetermined shape from the sheet material. In the second position the sheet material is provided with upward support to support the predetermined shape to be cut from the sheet material and wherein in the second position the or another support means includes a through cut commensurate to the line or lines to define the remaining perimeter of the predetermined shape.

The cutting of predetermined shapes from a sheet material may be achieved by using a laser or fluid jet or similar. When using a fluid jet to cut such material is it very difficult to control the depth of cut accurately. Indeed normally the material is cut all the way through its entire thickness with the jet passing through the material from one side another. The sheet material is normally secured by a fixture which supports the sheet material to allow for the jet to pass from one side to the other without the jet being unnecessarily disbursed or impinging on other parts of the fixture. By way of example, a fixture may hold a sheet material above a water filled tank and from the other side of which the jet impinges onto the sheet to cut through the sheet thereafter being directed into the water filter tank to disburse any remaining jet energy.
When it comes to methods to hold the sheet material, limitations arise especially if the jet used to cut the material may, once passed through the material still has sufficient energy to cause damage to the portions of the fixture on the other side of the sheet material. Whilst the sheet material may be held at its perimeter region allowing for a clear passage of cutting fluid to pass through the sheet material and into the tank beneath, the product cut from the sheet material will subsequently fall into the tank of water from which it will need to be removed. The product cut from the sheet material floating around in the tank may become damaged from subsequent jet action being directed into the tank of water. For cutting of small squares or rectangles for example the method of fixing the sheet is of real concern as the jet needs to be able to pass freely through the sheet and then passed the fixture, into the water tank without damaging the fixture. The fixture must simultaneously be designed to support the parts once separated by the cutting action. Where the fixture is able to maintain support to the sheet by extending below and inwardly from the perimeter of the sheet, the cutting of a product from the sheet material is not a problem. However as soon as a product to be cut is to be generated entirely inwardly from the perimeter of the sheet, support by the fixture to that product to be removed from the sheet can no longer occur where the sheet and the fixture remain in a fixed relationship to each other during the cutting process.
Accordingly without providing a hole in the fixture about the product to be cut from the sheet, but to remain supported by the fixture the cutting process can not be performed without the jet also impinging on part of the fixture itself. To avoid the jet impinging on the fixture itself in such a relationship, a hole in the fixture of a greater size to the product to be cut from the sheet must be provided which, once the product is entirely cut from the sheet will result in the product from falling through and away from the fixture.
For certain cutting procedures it is also imperative that a high degree of accuracy of the items cut from a sheet is achieved to within very close tolerances. This is particularly so in relation to the cutting items from a sheet to be used in circuit board or other electronic type applications. Therefore in mounting a sheet for cutting it is desirable for the sheet to remain in a relationship to the cutting device wherein the relationship remains constant such that during a computer controlled cutting of the sheet, no margin of error can be introduced between the relative positioning of the cutting device and sheet as a result of for example the movement of the sheet between different cutting stations.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and related apparatus for cutting a product from a sheet material which overcomes the abovementioned difficulties or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Method and related apparatus for cutting a product from a sheet material


A server may bridge between a wide area network, such as the Internet, and a local area network and may process authentication requests from clients on the wide area network. The server may filter the requests to enable specific types of requests to pass, and may forward the requests to a credential server within the local area network and pass any responses back to the client. The server may be configured with some or all of a set of domain services objects, but such objects may be stored in a read only format. The server may further contain a minimum of or no sensitive data such that, if compromised, an attacker may gain little advantage. The client may request evidence of authentication available to devices within the local area network and may use the evidence of authentication to access services made available to the wide area network.

Kerberos is an authentication and security mechanism that may allow devices and individuals communicating over a non-secure network to prove their identity to one another in a secure manner. Kerberos and other such authentication systems may protect against eavesdropping and replay attacks on the communication system. An eavesdropping attack may be where an intruder may monitor a communication to obtain data in the communication. A replay attack may be where an intruder monitors an authentication session, such as when a password or other credential is transmitted, and the intruder may replicate the credential posing as the original sender to gain access to the authentication service.
Kerberos is only one of many different types of authentication and security mechanisms. Kerberos is based on a Needham-Schroeder protocol and is an example of a system that may use a symmetric encryption algorithm. Other authentication and security systems may implement the Needham-Schroeder protocol or some other symmetric encryption algorithm. Other systems may also use a Needham-Schroeder Public-Key Protocol or some other protocol.

Secure key distribution to internet clients


The present invention provides a level shift circuit capable of operating at low input voltage. The level shift circuit comprises: a first switch element coupled to a first output terminal, a second switch element coupled to a second output terminal, a third switch element coupled to the second output terminal and the first output terminal, a fourth switch element coupled to the first output terminal and the second output terminal, a first current source module for letting a current passing through the third switch element smaller than a current passing through the first switch element when the first switch element and the third switch element are conducted, and a second current source module for let a current passing through the fourth switch element smaller than a current passing through the second switch element when the second switch element and the fourth switch element are conducted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level shift circuit, and more particularly, to a level shift circuit which is capable of operating at a low input voltage level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a level shift circuit is utilized for transiting an input voltage into a different output voltage. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a conventional level shift circuit 100 in accordance with a prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the level shift circuit 100 comprises: a first switch element 110, a second switch element 120, a third switch element 130, and a fourth switch element 140, wherein a voltage level of a first voltage source VN is lower than a voltage level of the second voltage source VP. In addition, the first switch element 110 and the second switch element 120 both are N-type FETs, and the third switch element 130 and the fourth switch element 140 both are P-type FETs, and the level shift circuit 100 is a level pull-up circuit. However, under a condition of the level shift circuit 100 operating at a low input voltage level, a current passing through the third switch element 130 is far greater than a current passing through the first switch element 110 when the first switch element 110 and the third switch element 130 are conducted, and a current passing through the fourth switch element 140 is far greater than a current passing through the second switch element 120 when the second switch element 120 and the fourth switch element 140 are conducted. This phenomenon results in the output voltages having no transitions, and thus level shift circuit 100 is not capable of operating at a low input voltage level.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a simplified block diagram of another conventional level shift circuit 200 in accordance with a prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the level shift circuit 200 comprises: a first switch element 210, a second switch element 220, a third switch element 230, a fourth switch element 240, a fifth switch element 250 and a sixth switch element 260, wherein a voltage level of a first voltage source VN is lower than a voltage level of the second voltage source VP. In addition, the first switch element 210 and the second switch element 220 both are N-type FETs, and the third switch element 230, the fourth switch element 240, the fifth switch element 250 and the sixth switch element 260 all are P-type FETs, and the level shift circuit 200 is a level pull-up circuit. However, under a condition of the level shift circuit 200 operating at a low input voltage level, a current passing through the third switch element 230 is far greater than a current passing through the first switch element 210 when the first switch element 210 and the third switch element 230 are conducted, and a current passing through the fourth switch element 240 is far greater than a current passing through the second switch element 220 when the second switch element 220 and the fourth switch element 240 are conducted. This phenomenon results in the output voltages having no transitions, and thus level shift circuit 200 is not capable of operating at a low input voltage level.


A fluid delivery device that may be used in any orientation is presented. The device includes a container, a first fluid in the container space, an inlet opening attached to a bladder, and an outlet opening. A second fluid enters the container through the inlet opening. The bladder, which receives the second fluid as it enters the container, expands with the amount of second fluid that is received. As more of the second fluid is received and the bladder expands, the first fluid is pushed out of the container through the outlet opening. The device may be used as a tire repair system, for example by coupling the inlet opening to an air compressor and coupling the outlet tube to a tire. The first fluid that's in the container space would be a sealant composition in this case. Different embodiments of the bladder are possible depending on the application.

Fixing a flat tire for most vehicle operators has traditionally involved the use of a spare tire and the complex and dangerous process of installing it. The procedure for installing a spare tire can take up to an hour and requires that the driver pull safely to the side of the road, locate the tools, raise the vehicle using the tools, remove the damaged tire and replace it with spare wheel assembly that was being carried in the vehicle. After the spare wheel assembly is securely on, the driver lowers the vehicle and stows the damaged wheel assembly somewhere in or on the vehicle. These steps, which are used to fix a flat tire regardless of ambient temperature, time of day, and weather conditions, are usually unpleasant, challenging and sometimes dangerous to the driver. To a driver who is not experienced with tire replacement, the process can take an undue amount of time and frustration. Furthermore, this tire replacement process exposes the motorist to inherent roadside dangers.
Recently, various products have emerged to address the task of emergency tire repair and do not require the installation of a spare tire. These products include run-flat tires, liquid tire sealants, and aerosol tire sealants, to name a few. However, all of these products have drawbacks and many introduce significant challenges and danger to the average motorist.
Liquid tire sealants with unique fluid dispensing methods have been proposed. These fluid dispensing methods fall into two categories; (1) Aerosol dispensers which are comprised on compressed gas as a propellant integrated with a liquid sealant in a container and (2) Two-part liquid sealant installation kits that are comprised of a stand-alone compressed air source which can be attached to a liquid sealant container to force the liquid sealant into a tire.
Aerosol dispensers combine a chemical fluid to be dispensed with a propellant. The propellants are usually contained in a can or other type of container. A tube is attached between the can and a tire via a tire valve stem. The fluid is propelled to the tire through the tube, and into the tire through the valve stem. When the fluid reaches the punctured area of the tire, it hardens due to exposure to air. The hardened fluid forms a temporary, and in some cases a permanent, repair "patch" on the tire.
This "tire-patching" method helps eliminate some of the problems associated with replacing the punctured tire with a spare tire, such as the need to carry around a large spare wheel assembly. However, this method does not lessen the roadside danger to which the driver is exposed. In some cases, such as in the case of some commercially available aerosol tire sealants, use of the method may even pose new dangers that are not posed by the traditional spare tire method. For example, the amount of propellant in the can may not be enough to properly and safely inflate the tire to the recommended air pressure level. When an insufficient amount of propellant is used, the driver ends up operating a vehicle with a partially inflated tire. A partially-inflated tire is known to not only compromise the handling and the general maneuverability of the vehicle during vehicle operation, but also to cause premature tire failure. Of further concern is that the propellant in most aerosol sealants is highly combustible and may explode when exposed to higher temperature, or ignite when exposed to a flame.
An alternative method to tire repair is the Two-part system. The two parts include a fluid sealant and a compressed air source. The compressed air source allows proper and safe inflation of the tire, and conveniently allows tire repair without raising the car. The two-part system also leads to safe handling and control of the vehicle by allowing the tires to be inflated to the proper pressure. The Two-part systems do not expose the motorist to the above risks that are posed by the aerosol sealants.
Potential advantages of this two part system have not been fully realized for various reasons. Most Two-part systems require the air from the compressor to be forced into the sealant container through an intake. This results in the sealant being forced out of the container and into the tire through the exhaust outlet. This design tends to be potentially unreliable. For example, this type of system frequently does not dispense the sealant unless the outlet is immersed in a fluid. These type of designs will only work in certain specific orientations, compromising the reliability of the device and creating inconvenience to the user.
Another disadvantage of the two-part system is that it mixes air with fluid. In many cases, it is not desirable to mix a chemical with air, which usually contains some water vapor. Mixing air containing water vapor causes the chemical composition of the fluid to change. This change can be dramatic depending on the amounts of air, water vapor, and fluid that are involved.
Yet another disadvantage of the two-part system is the hardening of the chemical sealant after use. While being dispensed, the sealant can contact outlet surfaces and harden, forming a layer of hardened sealant on the surfaces. Since the hardened sealant is not easily removable, these hard-coated parts of the dispensing device usually require replacement. Replacement of the dispenser parts is inconvenient for the user. Moreover, the overall cost is increased and the reliability of the product is lowered because the need to incorporate replaceable parts adds to the complexity of design.
International patent WO2004/041649 (Cowan) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,581 (Cowan 2004) describe a container of fluid tire sealant with an intake and an exhaust. An air source supplies compressed air to the sealant container through the intake. The resulting pressure in the container pushes the sealant through an exhaust and into the punctured tire. A downside of this method is the limitation on the fluid container orientation. To effectively transfer the sealant to the tire, the exhaust has to be covered by the sealant inside the container. If the container is oriented so that the exhaust is above the sealant, only air will be pumped. Further, the air will be mixed with the fluid in this orientation. This mixing can change the fluid chemical composition without any fluid being dispensed. Also, after use, the outlet of the device becomes contaminated with hardened sealant.
International patent WO 03/041949 (Eriksen 2002) describes another variation of this pressurized container method. In this method, the compressed air does not actually enter the sealant container. It fills and pressurizes a cavity around the sealant container. The sealant container has a movable piston at one end. The pressurized cavity causes this piston to push against the sealant in the container. The resulting pressure forces the sealant through an exhaust into a punctured tire.
In WO 03/041949, a cap covering both the sealant container and the pressurized cavity serves as a valve. This cap-valve allows the system to operate simply as a compressor passing air. This cap-valve alternately allows pressurized sealant to be injected into a punctured tire. Although this method seems to be advantageous because it allows orientation-independent operation, it has its drawbacks. The combination of sealant container, cavity, and cap-valve increases complexity. This complexity increases the cost of the device and compromises system reliability. The portion of the cap-valve that comes into contact with the sealant must be replaced after use. Sealant will harden when exposed to air or moisture. This portion of the cap-valve becomes useless due to hardened sealant.
International patent WO 99/14031 (Thurner, 1999) describes a container of sealant fluid that is inside of a pressure chamber. During use, the chamber is pressurized. This pressurizing compresses the sealant container, forcing the sealant through an outlet. A disadvantage with this design is that it does not allow orientation-independent operation. Plus, this design requires incorporation of replaceable parts because of hardened sealant on the outlet parts. Moreover, since the container is compressed during use, it has to be replaced after use. Depending on the chemical composition of the fluid, it may be hazardous for the user to come into contact with the fluid. If the container does not compress completely, the sealant that remains in the container may come in contact with the user during the container-removal process.
As described above, most Two-part tire repair methods that are currently available have their disadvantages. A tire repair method that is inexpensive for the user (e.g., minimal replaceable parts required) and convenient to use (e.g., orientation-independent) is desired.

Orientation-independent fluid delivery apparatus


An integrated web browser, instant messaging system is presented. The system operates on mobile devices and other types of embedded devices. The system is an integrated instant messaging and web browsing application controlled by an embedded application on a mobile device. Today most web browsers, instant messaging, and other programs are separate or discrete applications that are executed on an either/or type of situation. The present system provides an integrated application environment that is a single application that shares data between instant messaging and web broswer sub-modules, which allows users to simultaneously message and browse. The system may also be deployed as part of an overall method for enhancing safety and producing revenue for communications networks.

1. Field
The present invention relates to website browsing and instant messaging activities on cellular telephones, mobile devices, and other types of embedded devices.
2. General Background
In the last two decades, the deployment and use of mobile computing devices has grown such that a large percentage of people living in the United States, Europe, Asia, and other places have a least one device. Mobile phones, personal digital assistant's (PDAs), laptop computers and a host of similar devices are carried by people world wide as computer and connectivity devices.
At the same time, advancements in microprocessor technology and in communications protocol have provided many tools that are included in addition to the basic functions of the mobile devices. For example, mobile phones are equipped with games, address books, instant messaging systems, and web browsing system. Similarly, PDAs come equipped with similar suites of software in addition to the core systems and functions.
To minimize the size of these devices, extend the operating time (limited by batteries) and make them not only more attractive to carry, and other considerations, the computing capabilities are necessarily limited. The input mechanisms are often limited when compared to more traditional computing systems. These include numeric keypads on phones and keyboards operated by thumb in a "hunt and peck" method. More advanced PDA's have touch screens for input and output. These factors contribute to often cumbersome switching between application programs. Special applications are devised to provide functions and services such as instant messaging, email, and web browsing to compensate for the deficiencies. The mobile applications have been devised following the model used on the larger fixed based predecessor; the familiar computer. The application model in combination with limitations of the mobile platform has resulted in mobile software programs that allow users to execute one program at any given time with little or no visibility into the activities of other important programs executing concurrently. For instance, the user may be browsing the web or viewing a newly arrived instant message, but not simultaneously. These systems all suffer more or less equally from difficulty knowing when to switch between applications.
Web browsers comprise a class of software applications for transmitting data to-and-from server computers, as well as rendering documents returned by the those computers on the display of a local computer. A web browser enables a user to display and interact with instant, images, and other information typically located on a web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network.
Similarly, a microbrowser (sometimes minibrowser or mobile browser) is a web browser designed for use on a handheld device such as a PDA or mobile phone. Microbrowsers are optimized so as to display internet content most effectively for small screens on portable devices and have small file sizes to accommodate the low memory capacity and low-bandwidth of wireless handheld devices.
Instance messaging client applications comprise a class of software applications for transmitting instant messages from one person to another over a computer or telephone network.

Integrated instant messaging and web browsing client and related methods


According to one embodiment, a method of allocating a radio resource for a relay station includes: transmitting configuration information through a higher layer signal, the configuration information including information regarding an OFDM symbol at which a relay zone begins; allocating the relay zone to the relay station in a subframe based on the configuration information; and transmitting a relay control channel to the relay station in the relay zone. The subframe includes OFDM symbols in a time domain and subcarriers in a frequency domain. The relay zone includes a subset of the OFDM symbols in the time domain and a portion of the subcarriers in the frequency domain. The configuration information indicates an OFDM symbol from among a second OFDM symbol, a third OFDM symbol and a fourth OFDM symbol. The relay control channel is transmitted from the fourth OFDM symbol of the subframe.

Standardization works of international mobile telecommunication (IMT)-advanced which is a next generation (i.e., post 3rd generation) mobile communication system are carried out in the international telecommunication union radio communication sector (ITU-R). The IMT-advanced aims at support of an Internet protocol (IP)-based multimedia service with a data transfer rate of 1 Gbps in a stationary or slowly moving state or 100 Mbps in a fast moving state.
3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) is a system standard satisfying requirements of the IMT-advanced, and prepares LTE-advanced which is an improved version of long term evolution (LTE) based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)/single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) transmission. The LTE-advanced is one of promising candidates for the IMT-advanced.
The LTE-advanced (LTE-A) may include a new technology, e.g., relay, coordinated multiple point transmission/reception (CoMP), etc., and can support an improved technology, e.g., multiple input multiple output (MIMO) extension which uses a more number of transmit antennas than the number of transmit antennas used in the LTE. A relay station is a device for relaying a signal between a base station and a user equipment, and is used for cell coverage extension and throughput enhancement of a wireless communication system.
Backward compatibility with a user equipment, a network, or the like which is designed to operate in the legacy LTE is one of factors to be considered in the LTE-A. That is, the LTE-A preferably supports operations of the user equipment, the network, or the like which is designed to operate in the LTE. From this aspect, designing of a subframe structure, that is, allocation of radio resources in a subframe, is a matter to be considered.
In addition, the relay station decodes a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) allocated to the relay station by performing blind decoding in a radio resource region allocated in a subframe. Further, the relay station receives data by finding a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) allocated to the relay station through the PDCCH. However, it is ineffective to perform blind decoding by the relay station throughout a full frequency band in a frequency domain of a subframe.
Accordingly, there is a need for a subframe structure and a method capable of effectively allocating radio resources to a relay station while providing backward compatibility with a legacy user equipment in a wireless communication system employing the relay station.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for wireless resource allocation for relay in wireless communication system


A disclosed developing apparatus employs a flare roller that is a toner carrier in which electrodes of two different phases are provided at fine intervals. Density irregularities or scumming in a developed image due to a potential difference between the flare roller and a latent image carrier are prevented by maintaining a constant potential on the flare roller surface. A voltage is applied to the electrodes on the flare roller such that an electric field that varies with time is generated between the electrodes, whereby a toner cloud is produced by the movement or hopping of toner over the flare roller. Thereby the toner attaches to a latent image on the latent image carrier, thus developing the latent image. In one embodiment, a bias with an average potential equal to an average potential of the bias applied to the electrodes is applied to a toner layer thickness regulating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the development of an electrostatic latent image on a latent image carrier in electrophotographic systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a cloud development method whereby a toner cloud is electrically produced.
2. Description of the Related Art
A developing unit used in a conventional image forming apparatus, such as a copy machine, a printer, or a FAX machine, may employ a two-component developing method or a one-component developing method. The two-component developing method is suitable for high-speed development, and is employed in the majority of the current middle- to high-speed image forming apparatuses.
In the two-component developing method, in order to achieve a high image quality, it is necessary to make the developer, which typically consists of a toner formulation and magnetic material called a carrier, very fine and dense at the point where the developer comes into contact with an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier. For this purpose, the carrier particles dots of high-resolution. In this method, a wire to which a high-frequency bias is applied is disposed at the development portion, whereby a toner cloud is produced at the development portion with which to realize high-resolution dot development characteristics.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-21967 discloses a method of forming an electric field curtain over a rotating roller in order to form a toner cloud stably and efficiently.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-15419 discloses a developing apparatus in which the developer is transported by an electric field curtain based on a traveling-wave electric field.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-269661 discloses a developing apparatus having plural magnetic poles that cause a substantially single carrier layer to be substantially uniformly adsorbed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-84560 discloses a developing apparatus in which electrodes are disposed on the surface of a developer carrier at regular intervals interposed with insulating portions. Predetermined bias potentials are applied to the electrodes in order to produce an electric field gradient near the developer carrier surface, causing a nonmagnetic toner to become attached to the developer carrier for transportation.
In connection with the two-component developing method, there is an increasing demand for higher image quality. To meet such a demand, the pixel dot size needs to be equal to or smaller than the current carrier particle sizes. Thus, it is necessary to make the carrier particles smaller from the viewpoint of individual dot reproducibility.
However, as the carrier size is reduced, the permeability of the carrier particle decreases, which causes the carrier to be more readily separated from the developing roller. If a separated carrier particle attaches to the latent image carrier, not only the image is made deficient by the attaching of the carrier particle per se, but also various other side effects may be caused, including the potential of the attached particle to damage the latent image carrier.
In order to prevent such carrier separation, various attempts have been made. One is the attempt to increase the permeability of the carrier particle from a material aspect. Another attempt has been to increase the magnetic force of the magnets contained in the developing roller. However, development of a suitable material for the magnets with increased magnetic force has been very difficult due to the need to balance cost reduction and image quality.
Furthermore, the size of the developing roller is becoming increasingly smaller due to the continuing demand for ever smaller sizes of equipment, making it more difficult to design a developing roller with a strong magnetic field configuration such that carrier separation can be completely prevented.
Because the two-component developing method inherently involves a process of forming a toner image by rubbing bristles of a two-component developer, called a magnetic brush, against an electrostatic latent image, the development characteristics of individual dots tend to become uneven due to the unevenness in the bristles.
While improved image quality may be obtained by forming an alternating electric field between the developing roller and the latent image carrier, the fundamental image unevenness due to the irregularities inherent in the developer cannot be completely eliminated.
In the one-component developing method, during the process of reducing the thickness of the toner layer on the developing roller by the toner regulating member, the toner is pressed against the developing roller rather strongly. As a result, the toner responds to an electric field at the development portion very poorly. Thus, normally, in order to obtain a high image quality, a strong alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller and the latent image carrier. However, even with such an alternating electric field, it is still difficult to develop the electrostatic latent image stably with a constant supply of toner. Thus, it has been difficult to develop high-resolution fine dots uniformly.
Another disadvantage of the one-component developing method is that the toner is subject to much stress during the formation of the toner thin-layer on the developing roller. As a result, the toner, which is circulated in the developing unit, degrades fast. As the toner degrades, unevenness tends to occur also in the step of forming the toner thin-layer on the developing roller. Thus, the one-component developing method is not generally suitable for forming an image at high speed and with high durability.
Some of the aforementioned problems may be overcome by a hybrid method, although with an increase in the size of the developing unit or the number of its components. However, there still remains the same problem at the development portion as in the one-component developing method. Namely, it is still difficult to develop fine and uniform dots with high resolution.
While the aforementioned method of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-113474 may be capable of realizing a stable and high-quality image development, the structure of the developing unit used is complicated.
The aforementioned method of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-21967 may be capable of reducing the size of equipment and achieving high-quality development. However, a study conducted by the present inventors showed that with this method, various conditions relating to the electric field curtain and development need to be strictly limited in order to obtain an ideal image quality. If an image is formed under inappropriate conditions, no intended effects are obtained and indeed a poorer quality image may result.
In an image forming process in which a first toner image is formed on the latent image carrier and then a second, and a third toner images are formed sequentially thereon, the toner image that is previously formed must not be disturbed. The contactless one-component developing method or the aforementioned toner cloud development method according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-113474 are capable of forming a toner image of an individual color on the latent image carrier sequentially. However, in all of these methods, because an alternating electric field is formed between the latent image carrier and the developing roller, part of the toner may be peeled from the toner image previously formed on the latent image carrier and enter into the developing unit. As a result, not only the image on the latent image carrier is disturbed but also the toners of various colors may become mixed in the developing unit. This may be fatal for achieving a high-quality image. In order to overcome this problem, a development method is required that does not involve the formation of an alternating electric field between the latent image carrier and the developing roller.
While such a method may be realized with the aforementioned cloud development method of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-21967, this method requires strictly limited conditions to achieve intended effects, as mentioned above.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-341656 teaches a method whereby a toner is electrostatically transported by alternating electric fields of three or more phases while eliminating any mechanical driving of the toner carrier. In this method, however, the toner may accumulate on the transport substrate starting with the toner whose electrostatic transport has been terminated for one reason or another. While a structure to overcome this problem has been proposed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-286837, for example, which is based on a combination of a fixed transport substrate and a toner carrier that moves on the surface thereof, the mechanism involved is very complex.
In order to solve this problem, the present inventors have proposed a method whereby an electric field that changes periodically with time is produced between electrodes of two phases, causing the toner to move or hop away from the rotating toner carrier while the toner is carried to an area opposite the latent image carrier where the latent image is developed.
In this method, instead of the conventional one-component developing roller, electrodes of two phases are embedded in a roller (to be hereafter referred to as a flare roller) at fine pitches, and the toner is caused to move or hop over the roller surface. The electrodes are covered with an insulating surface protection layer.
A study conducted by the present inventors, however, showed that when the flare roller is rotated, the surface potential of the flare roller greatly varies for various reasons, such as the triboelectric charging between the toner layer thickness regulating member and the roller, the triboelectric charging between the hopping toner and the roller, and the injection of charge into the flare roller surface by the potential difference between an average bias applied to the supply roller and an average bias applied to the flare roller.
Consequently, at the portion opposite the latent image carrier, the potential difference between the flare roller surface and an image portion or a non-image portion of the latent image carrier may fluctuate, resulting in image density irregularities and/or scumming.

Developing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge


Method and apparatus to manage delay for multiple receivers for a wireless system are described.

In a wireless communication system, wireless communication devices may transmit and/or receive radio frequency (RF) signals through one or more antennas. Some wireless communication devices may include multiple antennas. The wireless communication devices with multiple antennas may include a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) modulation and/or coding system to control receiving and transmitting of RF signals through the multiple antennas. Techniques to improve control and management of a MIMO system may improve overall system performance.

Techniques to manage latency for multiple receivers


There are provided with a ball given quantity supply apparatus for supplying a given quantity of balls to an apparatus using a given quantity of balls such as a bearing, a ball screw and a linear guide, and a method and apparatus for assembling a ball screw apparatus for use in a feed mechanism employed in various machines.

The present invention relates to a ball given quantity supply apparatus for supplying a given quantity of balls to an apparatus using a given quantity of balls such as a bearing, a ball screw and a linear guide.
Further, the present invention relates to method and apparatus for assembling a ball screw apparatus for use in a feed mechanism employed in various machines.
A ball given quantity supply apparatus of this type is widely known because it is disclosed, for example, in the Examined Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei1-24025 and the Japanese Patent No. 2991412.
A ball given number take-out apparatus (ball given number supply apparatus) disclosed in the Examined Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei1-24025 comprises: a hopper 1 in which a plurality of balls W can be stored; a cylindrical-shaped fixed guide 2 fixed to the lower surface of the hopper 1 and extended downwardly therefrom; a collecting tube 4 supported in an internal hole formed in the fixed guide 2 in such a manner that it can be slided in a given range in the upward and downward directions, the collecting tube 4 including a ball passage 3 formed so as to penetrate therethrough in the upward and downward directions; a inducing tube 5 fixed to the upper end portion of the ball passage 3, penetrating through the bottom wall of the hopper 1 so as to be slidable in the upward and downward directions, and projected to the downwardly inclined inner bottom surface of the hopper 1; and, shutter members 6, 7 respectively disposed in the two upper and lower portions of the collecting tube 4, while each of them is able to project and retreat between a projecting position in which it projects into the ball passage 3 to thereby close the ball passage 3 and a retreating position in which it retreats from the ball passage 3 to thereby open the ball passage 3. The shutter members 6, 7 are respectively energized toward their associated retreating positions by their associated spring members 10; however, due to the action of a camportion 8 disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2, while the collecting tube 4 is being positioned at the lower end position of the above-mentioned given range in the internal hole of the fixed guide 2, the upper shutter member 6 is disposed at the retreating position and the lower shutter member 7 is disposed at the projecting position. Also, while the collecting tube 4 is being positioned at the upper end position of the above-mentioned given range in the internal hole of the fixed guide 2, the upper shutter member 6 is disposed at the projecting position and the lower shutter member 7 is disposed at the retreating position.
While the collecting tube 4 is being disposed at the above lower end position, the lower end portion of the collecting pipe 4 is projected downwardly from the lower end of the internal hole of the fixed guide 2 and the plurality of balls W moved from the inner bottom surface of the hopper 1 into the inducing pipe 5 reach the lower shutter member 7 disposed at the projecting position in the ball passage 3.
And, in case where the lower end portion of the collecting tube 4 at the above-mentioned upper lower end position is pushed upwardly to thereby move the collecting tube 4 up to the above-mentioned upper end position, due to the action of the cam portion 8 of the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2, the lower shutter member 7 is moved to the retreating position and the upper shutter member 6 is moved to the projecting position, so that a given number of balls W in the range of the ball passage 3 between the lower shutter member 7 and upper shutter member 6 are discharged from the end wall of the ball passage 3.
Further, in case where the push-up operation of the lower end portion of the collecting tube 4 at the above upper end position is stopped to thereby move the collecting tube 4 to the above lower end position, due to the action of the camportion 8 of the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2, the lower shutter member 7 is moved to the projecting position and also the upper shutter member 6 is moved to the retreating position, so that a plurality of balls W moved into the inducing tube 5 are allowed to reach again the lower shutter member 7 at the projecting position in the ball passage 3 of the collecting tube 4.
Now, a ball given quantity supply apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2991412 comprises: a ball storage case 21 in which a plurality of balls 23 are stored; an air blow-in portion 22 for blowing the air into the ball storage case 21; a ball supply tube 24 to which the balls 23 are supplied from within the ball storage case 21 by the air blown from the air blow-in portion 22 into the ball storage case 21; and, a rotation block 7 which is disposed on the leading end of the ball supply tube 24 and also which includes a ball storage portion 7a formed so as to penetrate through the rotation block 7 for storing a given number of balls 23 therein. The rotation block 7 is held by and between an upper plate 5 and a lower plate 6. In the upper plate 5, the leading end of the ball supply tube 24 is fixed to a given position on the rotation locus of the upper end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7. Also, in the lower plate 6, there is formed a ball discharge hole 6a at a given position on the rotation locus of the lower end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7. By the way, the leading end of the ball supply tube 24 at the above given position of the upper plate 5 and the ball discharge hole 6a at the above given position of the lower plate 6 are disposed with the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7 between them, but they are not on a straight line in the vertical direction.
And, while the upper end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7 and the leading end of the ball supply tube 24 of the upper plate 5 are disposed on a straight line in the vertical direction, a plurality of balls 23 are supplied from the ball supply tube 24 into the ball storage portion 7a. Next, while the rotation block 7 is rotated so that the upper end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7 is shut off from the leading end of the ball supply tube 24 of the upper plate 5 and further the lower end of the ball storage portion 7a and the ball discharge hole 6a of the lower plate 6 are disposed on a straight line in the vertical direction, a given number of balls 23 stored within the ball storage portion 7a are discharged from the ball discharge hole 6a.
[Patent Literature 1]
The Examined Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei1-24025 (FIGS. 1 to 3)
[Patent Literature 2]
The Japanese Patent No. 2991412 (FIGS. 2 and 3) In the ball given number take-out apparatus (ball given quantity supply apparatus) disclosed in the Examined Japanese Patent Utility Model No. Hei1-24025 and structured and operated in the above-mentioned manner, each time there arises the need to discharge a given quantity of balls W, the collecting tube 4 must be slided by a given distance in the vertical direction within the internal hole of the fixed guide 2; however, this sliding motion of the collecting tube 4 makes it difficult for the given quantity of balls W to be discharged quickly.
Also, in the above ball given quantity take-out apparatus (ball given quantity supply apparatus), each time the collecting tube 4 is slided by a given distance in the vertical direction within the internal hole of the fixed guide 2, the upper end portion of the inducing tube 5 is slided in the vertical direction with respect to the bottom wall of the hopper 1 to thereby allow a plurality of balls W stored in the hopper 1 to flow into the inducing tube 5. However, in this case, there is a possibility that the plurality of balls W in the hopper 1 can concentrate toward the opening of the upper end of the inducing tube 5 and thus can be clogged there. And, such clogging makes it difficult for a given quantity of balls W to be discharged positively. Further, a ball to be supplied to a bearing, a ball screw and a linear guide, in many cases, is covered with oil which has a relatively high coefficient of viscosity, for example, anticorrosive oil; and, in case where such ball is used in the above ball given number take-out apparatus (ball given quantity supply apparatus), the above-mentioned clogging phenomenon is easier to occur.
Further, since the above ball given number take-out apparatus (ball given quantity supply apparatus) does not include device for detecting that a given number of balls are held in the range between the upper and lower shutter members 6 and 7 in the ball passage 3 of the collecting tube 4 while the collecting tube 4 is disposed at the above lower end position, there is a possibility that, although the above-mentioned clogging phenomenon occurs and thus a given number of balls W are not held in the above range, the collecting tube 4 can be slided from the above lower end position to the above upper end position and thus a given number of balls W cannot be discharged from the lower end of the ball passage 3.
In the ball given quantity supply apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2991412, which is structured in the above-mentioned manner and can operate in the above-mentioned manner, supply of the balls 23 from the ball storage case 21 to the ball supply tube 24 by the air blown from the air blow-in portion 22 into the ball storage case 21 becomes unstable in case where the number of balls 23 stored in the ball storage case 21 is small. Also, in case where balls often covered with oil having a relatively high coefficient of viscosity so as to be supplied to a bearing, a ball screw and a linear guide are stored in the ball storage case 21, the above-mentioned supply of the balls from the ball storage case 21 into the ball supply tube 24 by the air blown into the ball storage case 21 from the air blow-in portion 22 can be unstable.
Therefore, in case where the number of balls 23 stored in the ball storage case 21 is small, or in case where balls covered with oil having a relatively high coefficient of viscosity, for example, anticorrosive oil, are stored in the ball storage case 21 in a large number, there is a possibility that the number of balls 23 stored in the ball supply tube 24 can be smaller than the given number of the balls 23 that can be stored into the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7. Due to this, there is a fear that the number of the balls 23 to be discharged through the ball discharge hole 6a of the lower plate 6 from the ball storage portion 7a of the rotation block 7 can be smaller than the above given number.
Further, a ball screw apparatus comprises: a screw shaft and a nut loosely fitted with the screw shaft; the screw shaft includes a spiral-shaped screw groove formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof and extends in the axial direction thereof, and the nut includes a spiral-shaped screw groove corresponding to the spiral-shaped screw groove of the screw shaft; and, the screw groove of the nut and the screw groove of the screw shaft are disposed opposed to each other to thereby form a load passage between the two grooves. A large number of balls serving as rolling bodies are rollably held in the load passage and, to the nut, there is assembled a circulating part such as a circulating tube which allows the balls rolling along the load passage to circulate endlessly. And, in case where the screw shaft (or the nut) is rotated, the nut (or the screw shaft) can be moved in the axial direction through the rolling movements of the balls.
By the way, as a method for assembling the ball screw apparatus of the above type, for example, there is known a method (for example, see patent literature 3 and patent literature 4), in which, with a nut loosely fitted with a screw shaft having a horizontally disposed axial line, a given number of balls inserted into the nut from a ball insertion hole formed in the nut to thereby introduce the balls into a load passage formed between the nut and screw shaft, and, next, the ball insertion hole is closed by a circulating part such as a circulating tube holding the given number of balls therein.
However, in the above method, since the circulating part holding the given number of balls is used to close the ball insertion hole, there is a fear that the balls can fly out from the circulating part and thus the given number of balls cannot be inserted into the nut, that is, there is found a problem in the respect of the operation efficiency.
Thus, as a method which can solve the above problem, for example, there is proposed the following method for assembling a ball screw apparatus (for example, see patent literature 5).
That is, according to the assembling method disclosed in the patent literature 5, a nut, to which a circulating part is previously assembled, is loosely fitted with a provisional shaft having a vertically disposed axial line; after the phase of the ball exit of a ball introduction passage opened up in the interior of the provisional shaft is matched to the highest position of the screw groove of the nut, a given number of balls are passed into the ball introduction passage at the same time to thereby introduce the balls into between the screw groove of the nut and provisional shaft; next, the balls which could not be introduced into between the screw groove and provisional shaft and are left within the ball introduction passage, are pushed into between the screw groove and provisional shaft using a ball push-in rod; and, after completion of the ball insertion operation, the provisional shaft and screw shaft are engaged with each other, and the nut and screw shaft are fitted with each other at the same time when the provisional shaft is removed from the screw shaft.
[Patent Literature 3]
The Examined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Sho62-22737
[Patent Literature 4]
The Examined Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei6-50108
[Patent Literature 5]
The Japanese Patent No. 2530401
However, in the ball screw apparatus assembling method disclosed in the patent literature 5, since the balls, which could not be introduced into between the screw groove of the nut and provisional shaft are left in the ball introduction passage, are pushed into between them using the ball push-in rod, there is a fear that the smaller the lead of the screw groove of the nut is, the more easily the balls can be clogged, which makes it difficult to introduce the balls into the nut smoothly.

Ball given quantity supply apparatus and method and apparatus for assembling ball screw apparatus


The present invention relates to an automatic welding filter that changes from a light transmission state to a dark transmission state in response to incident welding light and includes a color-tunable filter whose spectral transmittance can be varied to optimize the visual appearance of a welding task. The color-tunable filter comprises at least one low twist liquid crystal cell disposed between polarization filters having substantially parallel polarization directions. The user is able to adjust the color of the automatic welding filter in the dark transmission state, independently of the shade, in response to a user selected color signal which alters the birefringence properties of the low twist liquid crystal cell.

Automatic welding filters are well known, and generally consist of a switchable filter being located on, or as part of, personal protective equipment (e.g., headwear or eyewear). The switchable filter is able to automatically switch from a light transmission state to a dark transmission state in response to activation by welding light. This is generally achieved by using a sensor located on, or as part of, personal protective equipment that detects the start of a welding arc and generates a corresponding control voltage which, when applied to the switchable filter, causes it to change from a light transmission state to a dark transmission state. Activation of the switchable filter can also be controlled by transmitting activation signals along a communication channel between a welding torch and the automatic welding filter, which is controlled by a corresponding communication unit, see WO2007/047264 (Garbergs, et al.). This technique ensures that the welding tool is not activated before the switchable filter has reached its dark transmission state.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,709 (Hornell) describes that a switchable filter can be formed by sandwiching a single twisted nematic liquid crystal cell between a pair of mutually crossed polarisers; however, the majority of commercial products now utilise a switchable filter formed by sandwiching two twisted nematic liquid crystal cells between three crossed polarisers. The liquid crystal molecules are able to orientate when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal cells, under the control of an electronic module. The switchable filter is then automatically darkened by the electronic module, upon detection of incident welding light that falls on a photodetector. Prior art automatic welding filters also include an interference filter which attenuates the harmful IR and UV wavelength components of the welding light, and a third liquid crystal cell can sometimes be included (usually a guest-host type liquid crystal cell) which provides a "fail-safe" intermediate transmission state in the case of failure of the electronic module. WO95/29428 (Hornell, et al.) discloses such a prior art automatic welding filter.
The invention described in WO95/29428 also addresses the problem that, in the dark transmission state, the switchable filter is darkened unevenly due to the fact that the filter effect is heavily dependent upon the angle of incidence of the welding light. WO95/29428 proposes a switchable filter including low twisted nematic liquid crystal cells, where the twist angle differs from the conventional 90 degrees, and is less than 85 degrees. This approach gives significant improvements in terms of homogeneity in the dark transmission state of the switchable filter.
The use of such an automatic welding filter can greatly increase the accuracy of electrode placement, giving higher quality welds. Productivity is also increased as the need for grinding and rework is correspondingly reduced. However, with existing automatic welding filters, the emission spectrum of welding light varies depending on the welding method and materials used, and this can sometimes make viewing the welding task more difficult in the dark transmission state and which can otherwise lead to a reduction in efficiency and weld quality.

Automatic welding filter with tunable spectral transmission