A nitride-based semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor multilayer structure supported on a substrate structure 101 with electrical conductivity. The principal surface of the substrate structure 101 has at least one vertical growth region, which functions as a seed crystal for growing a nitride-based semiconductor vertically, and a plurality of lateral growth regions for allowing the nitride-based semiconductor that has grown on the vertical growth region to grow laterally. The sum ΣX of the respective sizes of the vertical growth regions as measured in the direction pointed by the arrow A and the sum ΣY of the respective sizes of the lateral growth regions as measured in the same direction satisfy the inequality ΣX/ΣY>1.0.

A violet semiconductor laser, made of Group III-V nitride semiconductors (AlxGayIn1-x-yN (where 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1) such as gallium nitride (GaN), is a key device for realizing ultrahigh density recording by optical disk drives, and is about to be actually used in consumer electronics products. The output of a violet semiconductor laser must be increased not just to enable high-speed writing on an optical disk but also to develop new fields of technology including application to laser displays. A conventional violet semiconductor laser is disclosed in Non-Patent Document No. 1, for example.
Recently, a GaN wafer has been regarded as a strong candidate for a wafer for fabricating a nitride-based semiconductor device thereon. This is because a GaN wafer is superior in the degree of crystal lattice matching and heat dissipation ability to a sapphire wafer that has been used in the pertinent art. Another advantage is that the GaN wafer has electrical conductivity, whereas the sapphire wafer is an insulator. That is to say, a structure in which current also flows across a GaN substrate can be adopted by arranging an additional electrode on the back surface of the GaN substrate, too. If an electrode is arranged on the back surface of a GaN substrate with electrical conductivity, then the size (i.e., the chip area) of each semiconductor device can be reduced, thus increasing the number of chips that can be made out of a single wafer. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
A GaN wafer may be made in the following manner, for example. First, a GaN single-layer film is grown on a sapphire wafer by an MOVPE process. Thereafter, a thick GaN film is grown on the GaN single-layer film by a hydride VPE (HVPE) process, for example. And then the sapphire wafer is removed.
A GaN wafer obtained in this manner has dislocations (including edge dislocations, spiral dislocations and mixed dislocations) at a density of about 5×107 cm−2. If the dislocation density is that high, it is difficult to make highly reliable semiconductor lasers. In addition, the uppermost surface of a GaN wafer made by an HVPE or any other process may have pits, hillocks and so on, and therefore, may sometimes have an unevenness of about 0.1 mm. Such unevenness on the principal surface of a GaN wafer will pose a big obstacle to a photolithographic process, for example, thus decreasing the production yield of devices.
To iron out such unevenness on the principal surface of a wafer, the principal surface of a wafer needs to be polished and planarized. Since GaN is highly resistant to chemicals, it is difficult to planarize the GaN wafer by chemical polishing, and therefore, mechanical polishing is usually adopted. In that case, however, the surface of the GaN wafer often gets scratched and damages are often left in the vicinity of the surfaces of crystals.
Besides, machining strains (residual strains) are often left on the surface of the wafer and have an in-plane distribution in many cases. When observed using an atomic force microscope (AFM), the scratched had a depth of several tens of μm and the root mean square (RMS), calculated on an area of 50 μm square, was 1.6 nm. If GaN crystals were grown as they are on the principal surface of such a GaN wafer, then the surfaces of crystals would be seriously affected by those scratches.
To make the density of dislocations in the nitride-based semiconductor layer that has been grown on a GaN wafer lower than that of the GaN wafer, an epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) has been adopted. Hereinafter, the epitaxial lateral overgrowth will be described with reference to FIGS. 12(a) through 12(d).
First, as shown in FIG. 12(a), a GaN wafer 1001 is provided and a mask layer 1003 of SiO2 is formed thereon. The mask layer 1003 has striped openings that selectively expose regions of the principal surface of the wafer that will function as a seed for crystal growth.
Next, as shown in FIG. 12(b), an epitaxial lateral overgrowth process is carried out as an MOVPE process, thereby growing an n-GaN layer 1002 from the respective openings of the mask layer 1003. In this process step, conditions for growing GaN crystals less easily on the mask layer 1003 are adopted. However, polycrystalline GaN sometimes precipitates on the mask layer 1003, too. The GaN wafer 1001 often has n-type conductivity. Thus, by supplying not only a source gas of gallium nitride but also monosilane (SiH4) and disilane (Si2H6) onto the GaN wafer, a GaN layer 1002 having n-type conductivity is formed.
If the n-GaN layer 1002 continues to be grown as shown in FIG. 12(c), then adjacent portions of the n-GaN layer 1002 will soon be combined with each other, thus forming a single continuous layer as shown in FIG. 12(d).
The n-GaN layer 1002 formed by such a process has regions where the density of dislocations is reduced to 7×105 cm−2 or less. If the device structure is fabricated over such regions with a reduced density of dislocations, then the reliability can be increased. However, if polycrystalline GaN precipitates on the mask layer 1003 as shown in FIG. 12(b), then crystallinity deteriorated regions 1004 will be produced as shown in FIG. 12(c).
To further reduce the density of dislocations, Patent Document No. 1 discloses a semiconductor device in which a mask layer is formed in striped recesses and an air gap is provided over the mask layer. FIG. 13 illustrates a structure including an n-GaN wafer 101 in which recesses are covered with a mask layer 103 and an n-GaN layer 103 that has grown from striped ridges. The n-GaN layer 103 includes low-dislocation regions 104 with a relatively low density of dislocations and high-dislocation regions 105 with a relatively high density of dislocations. A ridge stripe 106, defining a current injection region, for example, is arranged on a low-dislocation region 104 on the n-GaN layer 102.                Non-Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics (Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.), Vol. 39. p. L647, 2000        Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-9004

Nitride-based semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same


A method for fabricating a funnel, a tool for carrying out the method, and a funnel of flat material, more particularly of plastic-coated paper. A receptacle for a pulverulent and/or liquid medium includes a funnel disposed in a pouring or discharging region. A blank of flat material is shaped to a funnel-shaped sleeve having an outlet opening, an inlet opening, and an opening angle, and the funnel shaped sleeve is swaged in at least one subregion to effect enlargement of the opening angle.

A receptacle that is intended for a pulverulent or liquid medium and comprises a funnel disposed in a pouring or discharging region, also referred to as the outlet region, is disclosed in JP 2009-262957 A, for example. The receptacle disclosed is in the form of a substantially circularly cylindrical tube, into which the funnel is inserted. The inserted funnel serves to improve pouring or discharging the medium. According to JP 2009-262957 A, the funnel is molded from a plastics material. Molding of a funnel of this kind is carried out, for example, by an injection-molding procedure allowing for the production of complex shapes.
In the case of nonreturnable packaging, in particular, it is required to reduce the use of plastics materials in such packaging, in order to achieve more cost-effective and environmentally acceptable production.

MICHAEL HOERAUF MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH U. CO. KG


A step zoom lens camera includes a rotatable cam ring, a cam groove formed on the cam ring, including step areas, a linear movement member which is connected to the cam ring, and a cam-guided lens group which is guided by the linear movement member to move linearly in the optical axis direction in accordance with the cam groove so as to move to an in-focus position of an object within each step area of the cam groove. The cam ring is provided on the rear end surface thereof with step area indicating indexes representing the corresponding step areas. The linear movement member is provided with a reference index at a predetermined circumferential position thereof, so that the position of use of the cam groove can be visually confirmed by viewing the position of the step area indicating indexes relative to the reference index.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a step zoom lens camera in which a focusing operation is carried out by controlling the angular displacement of a cam ring having a cam groove.
2. Description of the Related Art
In classical zoom lenses, upon zooming, a plurality of variable power lens groups are moved along predetermined zooming path, so that the focal length can be varied without moving the focal position. In a shutter release operation, a focusing lens group is moved in accordance with the object distance. The focusing lens group is either provided separately from the variable power lens groups or is formed by one of the variable power lens groups. Classical zoom lenses of this kind have been used for a mechanical zoom lens in which a cam ring having cam grooves is manually or electrically rotated in a stepless fashion.
A step zoom lens has been used for a lens in which the angular displacement of the cam ring with cam grooves is pulse-controlled. In such a step zoom lens, the focal length from the telephoto extremity to the wide angle extremity is divided into a plurality of (finite number of) focal length steps. The angular displacement of the cam ring is controlled at each focal length step so as to focus on an object of any distance between the infinite object distance and the closest (minimum) object distance, during the focusing operation while the zooming operation is carried out. The angular distance of the cam ring is pulse-controlled so that the object is in-focus in accordance with the focal length belonging to a specific focal length step determined in accordance with object distance data.
In the step zoom lens, if an area of the cam ring outside of the effective area (step area) of the cam grooves is used upon focusing, due to a deviation of the attachment angle of the cam ring, an out-of-focus (defocus) state occurs. Such defocusing in a zoom lens is caused by other various reasons. In particular, in a step zoom lens, it is preferable that whether or not the cam groove area is correctly used at each focal length step (i.e., whether or not the angular position of the cam ring is appropriate) be easily checked. In some types of step zoom lenses, the step area of the cam grooves includes an adjustment area for focus adjustment in addition to a cam groove area for focusing over the object distance from the infinite object distance to the closest object distance. Accordingly, it is preferable to be able to easily identify the area of the step area, which includes the adjustment area, which is actually being used.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a step zoom lens camera in which the state of use of the cam groove at each focal length step or the angular displacement of the cam ring can be easily confirmed.
In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a step zoom lens camera is provided including a rotatable cam ring; a cam groove formed on the cam ring, the cam groove including a plurality of step areas, formed by splitting a focal length from the wide angle extremity to the telephoto extremity, and transit areas which connect the plurality of step areas to form a step zoom path; a linear movement member which is connected to the cam ring so as to rotate relative thereto and to move together in the optical axis direction; and a cam-guided lens group which is guided by the linear movement member to move linearly in the optical axis direction in accordance with the cam groove so as to move to an in-focus position of an object, from an infinite object distance to a closest object distance, within a step area of the cam groove. The cam ring is provided on the rear end surface thereof with a plurality of step area indicating indexes which are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction to represent the corresponding step areas. The linear movement member is provided with a reference index at a predetermined circumferential position thereof, so that the position of use of the cam groove can be visually confirmed by viewing the position of the step area indicating indexes relative to the reference index.
In an embodiment, the step zoom lens camera further includes a focusing lens group which serves as a variable power lens group, in addition to the cam-guided lens group which is guided by the cam groove, the focusing lens group being moved in the optical axis direction in a linear relationship to the angular displacement of the cam ring when the cam ring is rotated.
In an embodiment, the linear movement member includes an annular portion which covers the rear end surface of the cam ring, wherein the reference index includes a window which extends through the annular portion and which is elongated in the circumferential direction. The cam-guided lens group is guided in each step area of the cam groove when each step area indicating index is located in the window.
Preferably, each of the step area indicating indexes is a recess formed on the rear end surface of the cam ring.
Preferably, the cam groove is provided with an accommodation area which is adapted to hold the cam-guided lens group in an accommodation position at which no photographic exposure is carried out. The cam ring is provided on the rear end surface thereof with an accommodation area indicating index which represents the position of the accommodation area in the circumferential direction.
Preferably, each step area of the cam groove includes a focusing area in which the cam-guided lens group is moved to a focal position in which an object from an infinite distance to the closest distance can be focused on, in accordance with the rotation of the cam ring; and adjustment areas which are provided on opposite sides of the focusing area and which are adapted to move the cam-guided lens group in the optical axis direction while maintaining a focusing function, when the angular position of the cam ring is changed.
In an embodiment, the step areas of the cam groove have different lengths, and a length of the window in the circumferential direction corresponds to a longest step area of the step areas. Each the step area indicating indexes is positioned at one and the other ends of the window when the cam-guided lens group is guided at a corresponding one and the other ends of each corresponding the step area.
In an embodiment, the step area indicating indexes have different lengths in the circumferential direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a step zoom lens camera is provided, in which the focal length from the telephoto extremity to the wide angle extremity is split into a finite number of focal length steps, so that a zoom lens system can be moved to a focal position in which an object from a infinite distance to the closest distance can be focused on, by controlling the angular displacement of a cam ring with a cam groove at each focal length step to vary the focal length. The cam ring is provided on the rear end surface thereof with a plurality of step indicating indexes which are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction to represent the angular position of the cam ring corresponding to the focal length steps. A linear movement member is provided with a reference index at a predetermined circumferential position thereof, the linear movement member is connected to the cam ring so as to rotate relative thereto and to move together in the optical axis direction. The angular position of the cam groove at each focal length step can be visually confirmed by viewing the relative position of the step indicating indexes relative to the reference index.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-264110 (filed on Aug. 31, 2000) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


Disclosed is a process for developing a presensitized plate which is used in making a lithographic printing plate requiring no dampening water and which comprises, on a substrate, a photopolymerizable adhesive layer and a silicone rubber layer in the order, said process comprising water as a main component and at least one ethylene glycol derivative represented by the following general formula (I): EQU C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1 --(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH (I). (wherein m is an integer of 5 to 8 and n is 1 or 2). According to the present invention, the developer is excellent in safety, in developing ability and in half-tone dots reproduction.

The present invention relates to a developer used for developing a presensitized plate ("water-less PS plate") for use in making a lithographic printing plate which has a silicone rubber layer as an ink repellent layer and requires no dampening water during printing ("water-less lithographic printing plate"). More specifically, the present invention relates to a developer for a water-less PS plate which is excellent in safety, in developing ability and in half-tone dots reproduction.
There have already been proposed various kinds of water-less PS plates for lithographic printing plates having a silicone rubber layer as an ink repellent layer. In particular, those disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Publication for Opposition Purpose (hereunder referred to as "J.P. KOKOKU") Nos. Sho 54-26923 and Sho 56-23150 comprise, on a substrate, a photopolymerizable adhesive layer and a silicone rubber layer in this order. This water-less PS plate is imagewise exposed to actinic rays through a positive film which is in close contact with the PS plate under vacuum, only the silicone rubber layer on the unexposed portions of the exposed water-less PS plate is selectively peeled off by dipping the exposed plate in a developer consisting of or mainly comprising a parafinic hydrocarbon to expose the unexposed photopolymerizable adhesive layer below it and to thus form ink-receptive image portions. On the other hand, the silicone rubber layer on the exposed portions gets swollen with the developer, but is strongly adhered to the photopolymerizable adhesive layer and, therefore, remains on the surface of the plate. The latter portions serve as ink-repellent non-image portions. In this way, a water-less lithographic printing plate is formed.
The water-less lithographic printing plate obtained through such a plate-making process often exhibits low fine half-tone dots reproduction when it is incompletely developed, because a part of the silicone rubber layer remains even on the portions from which it should completely be peeled off or removed. Moreover, when the plate surface is rubbed excessively strongly, even the silicone rubber layer, which must be positioned on the surface of the printing plate and serves as the non-image portions, is damaged.
Under such circumstances, to improve the developability of a water-less PS plate, there is proposed a method in which a polar solvent capable of dissolving even the photopolymerizable adhesive layer is added to the developer to dissolve a part of the light-sensitive layer while the silicone rubber layer is removed by rubbing the plate surface. However, the light-sensitive layer of the non-image portions also gets swollen to some extent as the amount of the polar solvent increases and, as a result, the silicone rubber layer on the non-image portions is also rubbed off. On the other hand, if the amount of the polar solvent is insufficient, a satisfactory effect to be attained by the addition cannot be expected.
J.P. KOKOKU No. Sho 63-21890 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,423) proposes the use of a specific propylene oxide compound among polar solvents, which improves the developing ability of the developers. In addition, the resulting developers do not dissolve out the light-sensitive layer of the image portions and do not swell the light-sensitive layer of the non-image portions even if the amount of the propylene oxide compound is increased. Therefore, the developers can provide a lithographic printing plate wherein the shadowed portions comprising fine half-tone dots of the silicone rubber are sufficiently reproduced.
However, the developer consists of 100% organic solvents and, therefore, they suffer from a problem of safety because it may easily catch fire.
Under such circumstances, the present inventors have made intensive studies for providing a developer for water-less PS plates having a silicone rubber layer as an ink repellent layer, which developer does not ignite under the usual conditions by solubilizing it in water, and have tried to prepare a developer for water-less PS plates mainly comprising water to which the foregoing propylene oxide compound is added according to the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (hereunder referred to as "J.P. KOKAI") No. Hei 1-159644 (EP0320945A) and J.P. KOKAI No. Sho 61-275759. However, the inventors failed to develop such a developer because the propylene oxide compound is highly soluble in water.

Process for developing PS plate requiring no dampening water wherein the developer comprises, water, a solubilizer and an ethylene glycol mono(alkyl C.sub.6 -C.sub.8) ether derivative


Implementations include receiving an input image including a face, processing the input image through a global transformation network to provide a set of global transformation parameters, applying the set of global transformation parameters to the input image to provide a globally transformed image, processing the globally transformed image through a global representation learning network to provide a set of global features, processing the set of global features through a part localization network to provide a set of part localization parameters, applying the set of part localization parameters to the globally transformed image to provide a locally transformed image, processing the locally transformed image through a part representation learning network to provide a set of local features, and outputting a label representing at least one attribute depicted in the input image based on fusing global feature(s) from the set of global features, and local feature(s) from the set of local features.

Face attribute prediction is an important task in face analysis and has wide application in face identification, verification, retrieval, human-computer interaction, among other tasks. However, face attribute prediction is a difficult task due to various challenging factors. Example factors include, without limitation, cluttered background, diverse face poses, and large variance of the same attribute on different face images.
A Detection-Alignment-Recognition (DAR) pipeline is traditionally used to perform face attribute prediction. Within DAR, an off-the-shelf face detector is used to detect faces in images in the detection stage. In an alignment stage, a face landmark detector is applied to faces, followed by establishing correspondence between the detected landmarks and canonical locations, whose design requires domain expert input. Faces are aligned by transformations estimated from the correspondence. In a recognition stage, features are extracted from the aligned faces, and fed into a classifier to predict the face attributes.
Although widely used, the alignment stage in the DAR pipeline suffers from many issues. Alignment has heavy dependence on quality of the landmark detection results. Despite good performance on near frontal faces, traditional face landmark detectors cannot give satisfactory results on unconstrained faces with large pose angles, occlusion, and/or blurriness. The error in landmark localization diminishes the performance for attribute prediction. Even with accurate facial landmarks, one still needs to handcraft specific face alignment protocols (e.g., canonical locations, transformation methods), demanding dense domain expert knowledge. Some warping artifacts of mapping landmark locations to canonical positions are also inevitable in aligning the faces. Consequently, facial attribute prediction error grows as a combination of erroneous off-the-shelf landmark detection and handcrafted protocols. Further, the DAR alignment process is decoupled from the objective of predicting facial attributes. That is, the alignment process is not explicitly optimized for the objective of predicting facial attributes.


The endoscope device includes a light source control section that controls emission of a narrow band light from a first light source section and a wide band light from a second light source section and light emission amounts of the narrow and wide band light, an imaging section that captures an image of a subject using returned light from the subject, a light amount calculating section that calculates a capturing light amount, a light amount ratio calculating section that calculates a ratio between light emission amounts of the narrow and wide band light, and an image processing section that performs a predetermined image processing. The light source control section controls the light emission amounts in accordance with the capturing light amount and the image processing section changes an image processing condition for adjusting a color tint in accordance with the ratio.

The present invention relates to an endoscope device capable of performing a special light observation using specific narrow band light and wide band light such as white illumination light.
In recent years, an endoscope device capable of performing a so-called special light observation has been used, where the special light observation obtains information on a tissue at a desired depth of a living body by emitting specific narrow band light (narrow band light) to a mucous tissue of the living body. This type of endoscope device may simply visualize living body information, which cannot be obtained from an ordinary observation image, by emphasizing a lesion and a microstructure of a surface layer of a new blood vessel generated at, for example, a mucous layer or a lower mucous layer. For example, when an observation subject is a cancer lesion, if narrow band blue light (B) is emitted to the mucous layer, the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessel of the surface layer of the tissue may be observed in more detail, so that the lesion may be more accurately diagnosed.
On the other hand, an invasion depth of light in the thickness direction of the living body tissue is dependent on the wavelength of the light. In the case of the blue light (B) having a short wavelength, the light only reaches the vicinity of the surface layer due to the absorbing and scattering characteristics of the living body tissue, and is absorbed and scattered at the depth range, so that the light may be observed as returned light mainly including information on the surface layer tissue. In the case of green light G having a wavelength longer than that of the B light, the light reaches a position deeper than the range the B light reaches, and is absorbed and scattered at this range, so that the light may be observed as returned light mainly including information on the intermediate layer tissue and the surface layer tissue. In the case of red light (R) having a wavelength longer than that of the G light, the light reaches a deeper position of the tissue, and is absorbed and scattered at this range, so that the light may be observed as returned light mainly including information on the deep layer tissue and the intermediate layer tissue.
That is, image signals obtained by receiving light using an imaging sensor such as a CCD after emitting the B light, the G light, and the R light respectively mainly include information on the surface layer tissue, information on the intermediate layer tissue and the surface layer tissue, and information on the deep layer tissue and the intermediate layer tissue.
For this reason, in the special light observation, in order to easily observe the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessel of the tissue surface layer of the living body tissue, only two types of narrow band light, that is, the narrow band light of blue (B) suitable for observing the surface layer tissue and the narrow band green light G suitable for observing the intermediate layer tissue and the surface layer tissue are used as the narrow band light emitted to the living body tissue without using the narrow band red light R mainly suitable for observing the intermediate layer tissue and the deep layer tissue of the living body tissue. Then, image processing is performed only using a B-image signal (B narrow band data) mainly including information on the surface layer tissue and obtained by an imaging sensor after emitting the B narrow band light and a G-image signal (G narrow band data) mainly including information on the intermediate layer tissue and the surface layer tissue and obtained by an imaging sensor after emitting the G narrow band light, and an observation is performed by displaying a quasi-color image on a monitor or the like.
Therefore, in the image processing, the G-image signal (G narrow band data) obtained by the imaging sensor is allocated to R-image data of a color image through a predetermined coefficient, the B-image signal (B narrow band data) is allocated to G-image data and B-image data of a color image through a predetermined coefficient, a quasi-color image including 3-ch (channel) color image data is created, and the image is displayed on a monitor or the like.
For this reason, the image processing of the narrow band light mode converting two GB-image signals obtained by receiving the returned light of the narrow band light using the imaging sensor into RGB color image data for a quasi-color display on a display unit is different from the image processing of the ordinary light mode converting three RGB-image signals obtained by receiving the returned light of the ordinary light using the imaging sensor into RGB color image data for a color display on a display unit.
Further, even in the special light observation using the R narrow band light, the G narrow band light, and the B narrow band light, when the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessel of the surface layer tissue is observed, as described above, the image processing is performed only by using the G-image signal and the B-image signal without using the R-image signal (R narrow band data), and an observation is performed by displaying the quasi-color image on the monitor or the like.
Even in this case, in the image processing, in the same manner, the G-image signal is allocated to the R-image data, and the B-image signal is allocated to the G-image data and the B-image data, the quasi-color image including 3-ch color data is created, and the image is displayed on the monitor or the like.
As a result, in any case, since the quasi-color image displayed on the monitor or the like mainly includes the B-image signal (B narrow band data) including information on the surface layer tissue, the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessel of the surface layer tissue may be displayed in more detail, and the microstructure and the microscopic blood vessel of the surface layer tissue may be easily observed (refer to JP 3559755 B and JP 3607857 B).
In the special light observation described above, when the distance between the lesion tissue and the special light irradiation position is small, the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessels of the surface layer tissue, which may be easily brightly seen, may be displayed as an image, but there is a problem in that it is more difficult to see the microstructure or the microscopic blood vessels of the surface layer tissue as the distance increases.
Further, when the distance increases as described above, the irradiation light amount is generally increased in order to handle such a problem. However, there is a limitation on the increase in irradiation light amount, particularly, an increase in special light amount. Accordingly, a problem arises in that the color tint of the captured image changes when compensating for insufficient special light amount using ordinary light.


A retractable leash includes an integral light. The apparatus has a first housing section and a retractable leash section. The first housing section has a handle, a light connected to top front portion of the first housing section and a receiving area. A rechargeable battery is removably connected to the first housing in the handle. The retractable leash section has a second housing section pivotably mounted to the first housing section, in the receiving area, and a reel rotatably mounted to the second housing section. A leash is connected to the reel for extension and retraction relative to the first housing section. In an alternate embodiment, a light is located on the leash and electrically connected to a conductor extending along the leash.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pet leash and, more particularly, to a pet leash apparatus having an integral light device.
2. Related Art
Numerous types of retractable pet leashes are known in the art. Examples of some of these leashes can be found in the following U.S. patents.
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. 2,217,323 U.S. Pat. 2,222,409 U.S. Pat. 2,250,171 U.S. Pat. 2,314,504 U.S. Pat. 2,647,703 U.S. Pat. 2,776,644 U.S. Pat. 2,919,676 U.S. Pat. 3,198,175 U.S. Pat. 3,233,591 U.S. Pat. 3,315,642 U.S. Pat. 3,318,288 U.S. Pat. 3,693,596 U.S. Pat. 3,776,198 U.S. Pat. 3,853,283 U.S. Pat. 3,937,418 U.S. Pat. 4,108,189 U.S. Pat. 4,165,713 U.S. Pat. 4,197,817 U.S. Pat. 4,202,510 U.S. Pat. 4,269,150 U.S. Pat. 4,501,230 U.S. Pat. 4,748,937 U.S. Pat. 4,796,566 U.S. Pat. 4,887,551 U.S. Pat. 5,377,626 U.S. Pat. 5,423,494 ______________________________________
People who work during the day often walk their pets at night and need to light their way. This usually requires the use of a hand held flashlight. Pets, such as dogs, are usually walked with the aid of a leash and, some laws require that a leash be used when walking a dog in a public area. Thus, walking a pet at night can usually require use of both hands of the user; one hand to hold the leash and one hand to hold the flashlight.

Combined retractable leash and flashlight


According to one or more arrangements, a lamp may include a device body having heat conductive properties. The device body may include a light source support and a heat radiating surface forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the lamp device. In some examples, the light source support may be integrally formed with the heat radiating surface. The light source support may further be thermally connected or fixed to a board in various manners (e.g., screw). The board may include a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted thereon. The lamp may further include a cover. In one example, the cover may be constructed of a translucent material.

1. Field
Aspects described herein relate to a lamp using a semiconductor element like a light-emitting diode as a light source, and more particularly a structure for efficiently radiating the heat generated by a light source during lighting of a lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light-emitting diode is well known as a light source for a lamp compatible with an incandescent lamp. The output of the light-emitting diode is lowered and the life is reduced, as the temperature is increased. Therefore, it is necessary to control the increase of the temperature of the light-emitting diode in the lamp using the light-emitting diode as the light source.
For example, Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-243809 discloses an LED lamp, which prevents overheat of a light-emitting diode by increasing the heat radiation of the light-emitting diode. The conventional LED lamp is provided with a spherical body, a metal substrate, and light-emitting diodes. The spherical body is composed of a metallic radiator having a base at one end and an opening at the other end, and a translucent cover. The metallic radiator has a shape spreading from one end to the other end like a bugle.
The metal substrate is fixed to the opening of the metallic radiator through a high heat conductivity member having electrical insulation. The light-emitting diode is supported by the metal substrate and covered by the translucent cover.
The heat generated by the light-emitting diode during lighting of the LED lamp is transmitted from the metal substrate to the metallic radiator through the high heat conductivity member. The heat transmitted to the metallic radiator is radiated to the atmosphere from the peripheral surface of the metallic radiator. This prevents overheat of the light-emitting diode, and increases the luminous efficiency of the LED lamp.
According to the LED lamp disclosed by the published Japanese patent applications, the metallic radiator to radiate the heat of the light-emitting diode and the metal substrate to mount the light-emitting diode are different components. In this structure, though the metal substrate and the metallic radiator are connected through the high heat conductivity member, it is unavoidable to generate a thermal resistance in a joint of the metal substrate and the metallic radiator. Thus, the conduction of heat between the metal substrate and the metallic radiator disturbed, and the heat of the light-emitting diode cannot be efficiently transmitted from the metal substrate to the metallic radiator. There is a point to be improved to control the temperature increase of the light-emitting diode.
Moreover, in the above-described LED lamp, a lighting circuit to light the light-emitting diode is an indispensable component. When the lighting circuit is incorporated in the LED lamp, it is requested that the size of the LED lamp is not increased by the lighting circuit. It is also known that when the temperature of the lighting circuit is increased, the reliability of the circuit operation is decreased and the life is reduced. Therefore, it is essential to prevent overheat of the lighting circuit when the lighting circuit is incorporated in the LED lamp.
The above-mentioned published Japanese patent applications do not describe about the lighting circuit. The LED lamps disclosed in these applications do not satisfy the demand for preventing the large size of the LED lamp and overheat of the lighting circuit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lamp having outer shell to radiate heat of light source

Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation


A fastener feeding device may include a housing that is securable to a power tool, a glider assembly that is slidably coupled to the housing, a depth control nose slidably coupled to the glider assembly and the housing, and a locking member pivotally coupled to the glider. The locking member may include a mounting sleeve coupleable to a power tool for providing a quick release connection of the feeding device to the power tool. A depth stop may be coupled to the mounting sleeve and may be engageable with a depth stop adjusting ring to adjust a depth to which a fastener driven by the system is driven relative to a surface of a workpiece. A depth control locking member may be pivotally coupled to the glider assembly for adjusting the depth nose control nose with respect to the glider assembly. An extension may be connectable between the power tool and the feeding device.

Fastener feeding devices have been developed that do not require the operator to hold the fastener in place before driving the fastener into the workpiece. These "automatic" fastener driving devices are typically configured for use with a strip that carries a set of collated fasteners. The collated fastener strips are automatically advanced through the fastener feeding device as individual fasteners are removed from the strip and driven into the workpiece. As the strip is advanced through the fastener driving device, individual fasteners are sequentially positioned for engagement with the drill bit and aligned for driving into the workpiece. Once a fastener is driven into the workpiece, the fastener feeding device advances the strip such that the next fastener is positioned for driving into the workpiece.


A method including 1) generating an asset record in a management system database when an order for components of an asset corresponding to said asset record are ordered; and 2) tagging said asset when deployable with an asset identification (ID), said asset ID uniquely referring to said asset record.

Companies and other large entities increasingly rely on distributed computing where many user terminals connect to one or more servers that are centrally located. These locations called "data centers" may be facilities owned by the company or may be supplied by a third-party. These data centers house not only computers, but may also have persistent connections to the Internet and thus, conveniently house networking equipment such as switches and routers. Web servers and other servers that need to be network accessible are often housed in data centers. Where a third-party owns the data center, the entity in question rents a "cage" or enclosure that has racks upon which component equipment, such as computers and routers, can be installed. It is also possible for the entity to simply lease the equipment from the third-party owning the data center, or from another third-party which has leased space from the data center operator. In any case, the data center is usually divided into a number of predefined areas, including a shipping/docking area, assembly area, and area where enclosures and their constituent racks are kept.
Typically, the business process of installing and operating new computer or networking systems in the data center involves a series of independent stages. First, based on determined requirements, components of the systems are ordered through a vendor or supplier. Once the components for these systems are received, they are entered into inventory logs and "asset" tags which identify components for future reconciliation/audits are created. While the order for the components themselves may identify a number of attributes that each component should have (i.e. amount of memory, number of ports, model number etc.), the inventory systems often do not, and may only be concerned with the fact that the item was in fact received, and what the serial number or other distinguishing identifier is. Conventional asset IDs track accounting information such as depreciation, but not other attribute information.
Once a component or set of components is received it is ready to be installed in the data center. Installation is not typically performed by those employed in the receiving/warehousing department or by those who track inventory. The current environment relies on highly skilled employees for all aspects of component installation. Because such skilled workers are in short supply, the installation of new components in a data center can take weeks. Further, such installation takes a longer time because the installer must first discover the configuration and other attributes of the components. Furthermore, the operation of such components in the data center is controlled by management systems, which dictate what software is to be installed, how the components are to be connected etc. The management system is run by the administrative or Information Technology (IT) departments within a large entity such as a corporation. The management system must in turn, identify, once products are installed, what they consist of, and how to configure or operate them. This information must be discovered by the management system through agents that can communicate with the products, or entered manually into the management system by skilled operators who can inspect the component or test it to find out its attributes and configuration because the original order data and the received physical component cannot be easily correlated.
There is thus needed a more efficient operating procedure for the management system that requires less use of skilled workers and decreases the deployment time of components in a data center.

Method for coupling an ordering system to a management system in a data center environment

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


An electronic redeemable coupon generating system includes: an encoder for encoding coupon-related data in a television signal transmission, the transmission including picture information for display on a television monitor screen; a decoder for receiving the television signal transmission and extracting the coupon-related data therefrom; and a recording device for recording the extracted coupon-related data on a recording medium for subsequent readout and redemption. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the decoder includes a display driver for displaying indicia on a television monitor screen responsive to coupon-related data being encoded in the television signal transmission. Upon observing the indicia on the television monitor screen, the user can manually and selectively extract the coupon-related data from the television signal transmission. After an optional editing function, the extracted coupon-related data is stored on a recording medium such as a magnetically striped card. The decoder may be part of the standard circuitry of a closed-caption adapted or modified television set. Provisions are made for electronically entering paper coupon information into the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to redeemable coupons, and more particularly to a system for generating electronic redeemable coupons. Coupon-related data is encoded in a television signal transmission and decoded in a home unit for later redemption by the user.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The use of redeemable coupons is very old. For decades advertisers have issued or published printed coupons which can be taken to a redemption center, such as a retail store, and redeemed for some value or as a discount toward the purchase of some item. While this method has proven to be effective, there are many disadvantages to the process for the user, for the redemption center or retail store, as well as for the advertisers themselves.
The problems associated with clipping coupons by a user are manifold. First, a user must purchase or otherwise obtain a publication and search through such publication for coupons which would be meaningful or useful to the user. The user then must cut out such coupons, being of various physical sizes, leaving a pile of scrap paper and holes in the pages of the publication. Some advertisers use handouts or flyers which make the searching job easier, but there is still the problem of cutting out the coupons which is annoying and a waste of valuable time. Being of different sizes and pertaining to different types of products, the user must separate the coupons into product categories and band the coupons together as best as he or she can. The user then stuffs these sorted coupons into a pocket or purse and is off to the market. Upon arrival at a particular retail outlet at which at least some of the coupons are redeemable, the user usually fumbles through the groups of coupons and attempts to find the products in the store, and if they are not familiar with the layout of the store, this could again constitute a gross misuse of valuable time. Furthermore, since each store lays out their products differently, in order to redeem some coupons, the user may find it necessary to search out the desirable item in a number of stores. Finally, upon gathering the product into the pushcart, the user has yet another manipulation to make, i.e. he or she must select the coupons for which the products have been purchased from a number of coupons the user brought to the store initially.
This then leads to the next problem associated with coupon redemption, in that the store clerk must sort through the coupons, ensuring that they relate to the products being purchased and that the expiration dates are appropriate, and then enter the discount information in the computer (modernly, by a bar code scanner). This part of the redemption process takes valuable time away from the checkout clerk and irritates other people waiting in the checkout line. After the customer leaves, the retail store is still not relieved from further expenditure of valuable employee time, since the accumulated coupons in the retail store must now be sorted by manufacturer, tallied on a score sheet or in a computer or submitted to a brokerage house, and sent off to the manufacturer for retail store reimbursement.
Insofar as the manufacturer of the product is concerned, while there is direct evidence that people are reading their ads and using coupons, and although the number of coupons coming back to the manufacturer indicates some level of success in advertising, there is very little additional marketing information that can be derived from this type of coupon redemption scheme. Furthermore, any information the manufacturer does obtain is old information, the total processing of a coupon from publication to reimbursement to the retail stores taking perhaps several weeks. Additionally, the manufacturer has no information whatsoever about the nature of the customer, their age, sex, occupation, family environment, place of residence, or other information which would be of great value to the manufacturer in planning future advertising programs. Since each coupon is submitted anonymously, the manufacturer has no idea of how to reach that person again for arousing interest in related products. While some demographic information can be obtained by noting the geographical regions in which the coupons were redeemed, the lack of any specific information as to the nature of the purchaser leads many manufacturers to conduct separate marketing surveys which are extremely costly and time consuming. Some manufacturers are known to have spent millions of dollars to gather such information.
The television industry, contrasted to the printed media industry, is unable to offer its viewers (potential customers) any coupons which can be taken to the retail store for redemption. The best that an advertiser can do in television is to simply make the public aware of a sale on a particular item or line of items produced by a certain manufacturer. In some instances, telephone numbers and/or addresses are given to the viewing public, and if the viewer wishes to use up a lot of valuable time, he or she can make the telephone call and/or write the letter to gain access to additional information and perhaps coupons which can be redeemed for products or discounts on products. Again, however, the general public is generally not willing to make the extra effort to jot down a telephone number and make a call which likely would end up in a "sales job" from the person at the other end of the line, and would, to an even greater extent, resist the suggestion to write a letter to the manufacturer for product and discount pricing information, assuming that a pencil and paper is always at hand and that the name and address to which the viewer is to write is presented on the screen long enough to copy it down.
It can therefore be appreciated that there are many problems associated with existing coupon redemption programs, and the drawbacks of these systems are numerous and disliked by all three entities involved, the consumer, the redemption center (retail outlet store), and the manufacturer. There is therefore a great need for a redeemable coupon system which would: (1) significantly decrease the amount of time and effort a consumer expends in locating, clipping, and assembling the coupons; (2) give the consumer guidance at the redemption center as to the availability of the product to which the coupon pertains and the location in the store of that product; (3) enable the redemption center to more quickly and automatically credit the coupon amounts against the products being purchased and reduce the time and effort in organizing and reporting the coupons which have been redeemed; (4) enable the manufacturer to get quick results in the amount of usage of the coupons, the demographics of usage, and detailed information about the consumer including name, address, interests, and other data which would permit the manufacturer to access the value of the coupon distributing effort and to make and/or modify future plans for additional advertising or sale; and (5) establish firm controls over excessive or non-intended use of coupons. The present invention fulfills these various needs.

Electronic redeemable coupon system and television


A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, includes a core, a foamed elastic layer disposed by winding a strip-shaped foamed elastic member on an outer peripheral surface of the core in a helical form so as to extend from one end of the core to the other end, and a bonding layer for bonding the core and the foamed elastic layer together, wherein the area of a region within a surface at one or both ends at least in a longitudinal direction of the foamed elastic layer on a side facing the outer peripheral surface of the core, contacting the outer peripheral surface of the core via the bonding layer is substantially 35% or more by area ratio per unit area.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, a charging device, a unit for an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
According to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a surface of an image carrying member formed of a photoconductor or the like is charged by a charging device to form charges, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by, for example, a laser beam obtained by modulating an image signal. After that, the electrostatic latent image is developed with charged toner to form a visible toner image. The toner image is electrostatically transferred onto a member to be transferred such as a recording sheet either directly or via an intermediate transfer member and fixed onto the member to be transferred to obtain an image.

Cleaning member for image forming apparatus, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, image forming apparatus


The object of this invention is a method by which arsenic is removed from sulfuric acid solution, in which the sulfuric add concentration is at least 300 g/l, at a temperature of 50-105xc2x0 C. by reducing the arsenic in the solution with the aid of sulfur dioxide. The arsenic trioxide produced is crystallized from the sulfuric acid solution by cooling. The method is particularly suitable for use in connection with the electrolytic refining of metals, as in copper refining.

The object of this invention is a method by which arsenic is removed from sulfuric acid solution, of which the sulfuric acid content is at least 300 g/l at a temperature of 50-105xc2x0 C., by reducing the arsenic of the solution with the aid of sulfur dioxide. The method is particularly suitable to be used together with electrolytic refining of metals, such as in copper refining.
In principle, the impurities present in electrolytically leaching of anode copper behave in two different ways: impurities more basic than copper dissolve and the more noble remain undissolved, whereupon they form so-called anode slime. In both cases there is a possibility as a result that the impurities precipitate onto the cathodes and thus cause contamination in cathode quality.
Arsenic occurs in the anode together with other elements as various compounds, of which the electrochemical potentials differ from each other, whereupon part dissolves in the electrolyte and part falls into the anode slime. The composition of the anodes and electrolysis conditions affect the distribution of these impurities between the electrolyte and anode slime.
Arsenic dissolves into the electrolyte as trivalent ion. As a result of different oxidation reactions, arsenic occurs, however, as pentavalent in the electrolyte. If soluble arsenic is not removed from the electrolyte, it gradually accumulates in the electrolyte. It is not, however, absolutely necessary to completely remove arsenic from the solution: it is sufficient to keep its content below a certain level.
The modern processes for the removal of arsenic in use in copper electrolysis are based, for the most part, on the electrolytic reduction of arsenic in so-called decopperizing electrolysis or on the utilization of extraction technology.
Decopperizing electrolysis technology is generally incorporated with nickel removal from the electrolyte. When nickel is removed from the electrolyte, copper is first removed with the aid of decopperizing electrolysis using insoluble lead anodes. In connection with decopperizing electrolysis it is at the same time possible to remove arsenic as copper arsenide at the final stage of the process, as the copper content of the solution is reduced sufficiently low. From the copper-free solution, nickel is obtained by concentrating the solution. The process has the advantage of being old, well-known technology. The disadvantages of the process are especially when it is used for the removal of arsenic, the possibility of forming of toxic arsine gas in the final stage of the process and the disposal of the copper arsenide deposits formed as the end product of the process. When arsenic is removed by this process, copper must also always be removed.
In the art it is known a method where the decopperizing process is based on the use of periodic reversal current technology (PRC) connected with a large solution flow rate and an elevated temperature in the last stage of decopperizing electrolysis. It is thus possible to remove arsenic efficiently without the formation of arsine gas. The process is, however, furnished with an expansive air conditioning and analyzing system in order to ensure the detection and removal of any possible arsine produced. It is possible to remove approximately 80% of the arsenic fed into the last stage of the decopperizing process and the precipitate obtained is copper arsenide.
In Japanese patent application 59-074245 it is described a method where the arsenic of the electrolyte is also removed in decopperizing electrolysis, whereby copper arsenide precipitate is obtained. The copper arsenide precipitate obtained is leached by the aid of oxygen and sulfuric acid and the copper sulfate produced is crystallized and removed from the solution. By cooling the solution, lead sulfate is removed, after which bismuth is removed. Finally the arsenic of the solution is reduced by sulfur dioxide and the arsenic can be precipitated as arsenic trioxide.
The arsenic extraction processes of the electrolyte operating on the commercial scale are based on the use of tributyl phosphate as the extraction agent. In the extraction process arsenic can be obtained as a diluted arsenic acid-sulfuric acid solution, out of which arsenic is to be precipitated. The problem with the process is that the antimony and bismuth contained in the electrolyte precipitate at the extraction stage, and the precipitation produced thereby disturbes the process. The extraction agent may also cause problems in the growth of the cathode in the actual copper electrolysis process.
The best-known electrolyte extraction process is the MHO extraction process, where undiluted tributyl phosphate is used as the extraction agent. Before extraction, copper is removed from the electrolyte while the acid content and at the same time the arsenic content are increased in decopperizing electrolysis and in evaporation. The extraction of arsenic takes place in a separate extraction unit, which simultaneously acts as the concentrator for the removal of antimony-bismuth-arsenic deposition from the process. The subsequent solution after extraction is taken to nickel crystallization. Arsenic is precipitated from the stripping solution as arsenic trioxide, which requires the reduction of arsenic from pentavalent to trivalent.
It is also known in the art another extraction process, which is also based on the use of tributyl phosphate as the extraction reagent. In that case tributyl phosphate is used 50% diluted in Shellsol 2046. The solution for the process is taken from the decopperizing electrolyte, whereby the copper content of the solution has been reduced to a value of about 30 g/l. Then it has also been possible to raise the acid content of the solution. The extraction is based on conventional mixer-settler technology. The arsenic-containing stripping solution obtained is neutralized and the arsenic present is precipitated as copper arsenate. The copper arsenate is sold for the manufacture of wood impregnation material.
According to the method of this invention, the problems laid out in the previous method are overcome. Arsenic can be removed simply and selectively from the electrolyte of a copper electrolysis, from which most of the copper has first been removed. Arsenic is reduced in a concentrated sulfuric acid solution and the only reagent used in the method is sulfur dioxide gas, which reacts to sulfuric acid in the process, which for its part has no harmful effects on the electrolysis plant. Arsenic trioxide obtained is crystallized from the solution by cooling and the resulting product is so pure that it can be used directly, for example in the manufacture of wood impregnation material. The essential features of the present invention are set out in the claims attached.

Method for the removal of arsenic from sulfuric acid solution


A system and method of an intelligent shopping infrastructure is provided. A data storage of current inventory from a plurality of merchants is maintained. User preferences that indicate an item affinity of a user are retrieved. Furthermore, a location of the user is detected. Using the detected location, available inventory, and item affinity, an available item from the current inventory of a merchant located within a predetermined distance to the location of the user that match the item affinity of the user is identified. The available item is presented on a user interface of a client device of the user.

Typically, when a user wants items from more than one merchant, the user has to shop each of the merchants individually, maintain separate shopping carts that are processed separately, and arrange to pick up from each location of the merchants or have the items delivered in a plurality of packages. Additionally, the user may be hesitant to complete a transaction if the user cannot see, feel, or try on certain items. This leads to the user abandoning a shopping session or a shopping cart that has items in it.


a An apparatus for preventing damage to components of a hard disk drive having a microprocessor when the microprocessor fails. The hard disk drive further includes at least one read/write head and a data storage disk having a designated parking zone. The apparatus includes a microprocessor monitoring circuit configured to be coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor monitoring circuit is configured for detecting a microprocessor failure condition in the microprocessor. The apparatus further includes a head park circuit coupled to the microprocessor monitoring circuit. The head park circuit is configured to receive a park command from the microprocessor monitoring circuit when the microprocessor failure condition is detected by the microprocessor monitoring circuit. The head park circuit, upon a receipt of the park command, parks the at least one read/write head of the hard disk drive over the designated parking zone, whereby the microprocessor monitoring circuit issues the park command to cause the parking of the at least one read/write head without intervention from the microprocessor when the microprocessor failure condition is detected by the microprocessor monitoring circuit.

The present invention relates to hard disk drives. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for preventing damage to the components of the hard disk drive such as the read/write head, the disk surface, and/or the spindle motor in the event of a microprocessor failure.
Hard disk drives have long been employed for storing data in computer systems. To facilitate discussion, FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a hard disk drive 100, representing a hard disk drive known in the art. Hard disk drive 100 includes one or more data storage disks 102, which spins around a spindle by spindle motor 104. A read/write (R/W) head 106 couples to an actuator arm 108, which is urged by a voice coil 110 to move R/W head 106 between the inner diameter (ID) 112 and the outer diameter 114 of disk 102 to access data stored on the surface of disk 102. Although only one disk 102 and one actuator arm 108 are shown for simplicity, it should be understood that a typical hard disk drive may include multiple disks stacked in a spaced apart relationship. Each disk may be accessed both at its upper and lower surfaces by actuator arms, which are coupled to an actuator arm assembly comprising multiple actuator arms.
Voice coil 110 is controlled by a microcontroller or microprocessor 114 via a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter 116 and voice control motor (VCM) driver 117, which is shown disposed in a VCM circuit 118, all of which are conventional in construction. It should be noted that the term "microprocessor" is employed herein to also include microcontrollers, or any set of logic circuits capable of performing functions typically expected of a microprocessor. VCM circuit 118 and optionally DAC 116 may be implemented as a single chip, e.g., using a class of devices known as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). During operation, microprocessor 114 communicates with a spindle motor driver circuit 120, which controls, among others, the rotation speed of spindle motor 104.
As is well known to those skilled, R/W head 106 does not physically contact the surface of disk 102 when reading data from or writing data to disk 102. More typically, R/W head 106 glides over the surface of disk 102 on a thin layer of air as disk 102 spins. When disk 102 stops spinning, voice coil 110 typically brings R/W head 106 over a designated landing zone on disk 102 to enable R/W head to safely "park." In the example of FIG. 1, the landing zone is shown as concentric landing zone 122, which is adjacent to ID 112 in FIG. 1.
If the power supplied to hard disk drive 100 is uninterrupted and microprocessor 114 has not failed, microprocessor 114 itself can always park R/W head 106 in the landing zone when data access is no longer desired. If power is interrupted, microprocessor 114 would of course be no longer able to perform this parking function. In recognition of this problem, there are provided in the prior art techniques for detecting the power loss condition via an appropriate power monitor circuit, e.g., power monitor circuit 124. Upon detecting a power loss condition, the back EMF (electromotive force) of spindle motor 104 is employed to generate power to a parking circuit 126, which then parks R/W head 106 in the designated landing zone. The use of the back EMF in this manner is well known and is not discussed in detail herein order not to unnecessarily obscure the invention.
While the prior art technique is effective at preventing R/W head 106 from crashing into the media-containing portion on the surface of disk 102 when a power loss condition occurs, there are some disadvantages. For example, it is recognized by the inventor herein that head crashes occur not only upon the occurrence of a power loss condition but may also occur when the microprocessor, e.g., microprocessor 114 fails. In this case, a head crash into the data zone may occur even when there is no power interruption to hard disk drive 100.
More often than not, a microprocessor failure negates the use of the microprocessor as the controlling device for voice coil 110. When this happens microprocessor 114 cannot be counted on to reliably bring, via voice coil 110, actuator arm 108 (and R/W head 106) to the position where safe landing occurs. Since power loss is not detected, power monitor circuit 124 does not issue the command for head park circuit 126 to park R/W 106 in the landing zone. Accordingly, R/W head 106 simply crash lands on the data-containing zone of the surface of disk 102.
For most drives, this crash landing causes damage to the data zone where R/W head 106 impacts. It may be possible, in some instances, for the head to be airborne again when the disk is subsequently started up, and the damage, however unpleasant, is fairly localized.
For some newer drive designs, however, the crash landing of the R/W head on a data zone is nearly always fatal. By way of example, when a type of R/W head known as magneto-resistive head is employed in a drive, the disk surface is typically very smooth to accommodate the low-flying head, e.g., flying at 2 micro-inches above the data-containing disk surface or even lower. It has been found that the smooth mating between the head and the polished disk surface, if such is ever allowed to occur, may give rise to a very high stiction force, i.e., the force existing between the disk surface and the head that resists a subsequent separation.
The stiction force in some disk drive design may be so high that it would be impossible to separate the head from the smooth disk surface after they make contact. In some cases, it is simply impossible to spin up the disk again. In other cases, the drive cannot be started up again without ripping out the head and/or causing severe damage to the disk surface. For these types of drives, therefore, it is necessary to always park the head at a section of the disk surface where safe landing may occur, e.g., where surface texture is introduced to reduce the stiction force.
Additionally, microprocessor failure may cause spurious data to be sent to spindle motor driver circuit 120, which may, in some instances, cause spindle motor 104 to draw an excessive amount of current. Again, since the microprocessor has failed, it cannot be counted on to correct the situation. If too much current is drawn by spindle motor 104, irreversible damage to the motor components may occur.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired improved methods and apparatus for preventing damage to the components of the hard disk drive such as the read/write head, the disk surface, and/or the spindle motor in the event of microprocessor failure and without requiring the intervention of the microprocessor. To minimize costs, the improved methods and apparatus preferably require minimal re-engineering of existing drive designs in their implementation.

Methods and apparatus for preventing disk drive damage by parking a transducer during microprocessor failures


In a drilling and cementing operation utilizing a lead cementitious slurry made from blast furnace slag and drilling fluid, a lower density transition fluid is utilized between said lead cementitious slurry and a tail Portland cement slurry. In one embodiment, the lead cementitious slurry and the transition fluid slurry are made by introducing blast furnace slag into a flowing stream of drilling fluid.

This invention relates to drilling and cementing boreholes.
The drilling of boreholes is generally carried out using a rotary drilling process. The rotary drilling of a borehole is accomplished by rotating a drill string having a drill pipe and a drill bit at its lower end. Weight is applied to the drill bit while rotating to create a borehole into the earth. The drill string is hollow and sections are added to the drill string to increase its length as the borehole is deepened. This rotary drilling process creates significant amounts of friction which produces heat along with fragments of the strata being penetrated. The fragments of the strata must be removed from the borehole and the drill bit must be cooled to extend its useful life. Both of these necessities are accomplished by the circulation of a fluid down through the drill string and up to the surface between the drill string and the wall of the borehole.
Once the borehole has been drilled to the desired depth, it may be desirable to isolate the separate areas, zones or formations transversed by the borehole. For extraction of fluids from formations, and for protection against borehole collapse, one or more conduits (casings) must be inserted into the borehole extending from the surface downward. Thereafter, liners may be hung inside the casings. A liner is any string of casing having its top below the surface of the ground. Liners are used in deep wells to case off an open hole section and thus eliminate a full string of casing.
At this point it becomes necessary to fill the annulus between the casing and the borehole wall or between the liner and casing with a material which will seal the annulus to inhibit communication between various formations penetrated by the wellbore and which will provide structural support for the casing or liner. This is commonly referred to as primary cementing.
Generally, the borehole, into which the casing or liner to be cemented is installed, is filled with drilling mud. Therein lie several problems. Conventional Portland cement and conventional drilling muds are incompatible. Thus, as the cement is forced down the casing or liner and up into the annulus it is commingled with the drilling mud at any interface between the mud and the cement. The resulting mixture generally thickens or becomes a gel and does not set up into a strong cement. In addition the gel strength and viscosity become uncontrollable and the mixture may become too viscous to pump. Alternatively, the mixture may get thinner and cause solids to settle down in the annulus where they may bridge and restrict passage of the cement slurry. In either event, the situation is unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the used drilling fluid must be disposed of which adds an additional procedure to the drilling operation. Also, in the case of oil base muds there are increased environmental concerns with drilling fluid disposal.
Hale et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,679 (Oct. 22, 1991) broadly disclose mixing blast furnace slag with drilling mud to produce a cement, thus avoiding the necessity for disposing of the drilling fluid. As the patent discloses, the drilling fluid is compatible with the blast furnace slag and good cement results. However, drilling fluid ingredients in the resulting cementitious slurry can still interfere with Portland cement if a Portland cement tail is desired following a blast furnace slag lead. Cowan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,711 (May 21, 1991) broadly discloses improved cement adhesion through the use of a surfactant. Parceveaux et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,902 (Apr. 7, 1992) broadly describes spacers between mud and cement.


For transmitting data between a base station and a transponder, information packets modulated onto an electromagnetic carrier wave each include a header section, a middle section, and an end section. The data are encoded in the middle section using information symbols, e.g. representing digital “1s” and “0s”. The header section of at least the first packet defines the number and unique identifications of all of the symbols that will be used for encoding the data in the middle section of this and/or subsequent packets. This transmission protocol defined in the header section can be varied in subsequent packets to adaptively adjust the transmission rate depending on the existing communication conditions and requirements such as high frequency regulations prescribed by national law. The transmission rate can be considerably increased, in comparison to a transmission rate that would otherwise be necessary for achieving a reliable transmission even under unfavorable conditions.

A method of the above described general type is disclosed in European Patent 0 473 569 B1. In the known method, digital data are exchanged between a base station and a passive transponder by means of an amplitude modulated carrier wave. The individual bits of a data word consist of pulses and gaps in the electromagnetic field, i.e. a time interval in which the electromagnetic field is switched on and a time interval in which the electromagnetic field is switched off (field gap). The field gap serves as a separator between two successive bits. The respective significant value of the bits is determined by the length or duration of the time interval during which the electromagnetic field is switched on for defining the respective particular bit. Furthermore, in the passive system of the known arrangement, the energy needed for operating the transponder is generated or extracted from the carrier field by means of absorption modulation.
A further method pertinent to the present general field is known from the German Patent Laying-Open document DE 100 50 878 A1. The disclosed method uses various different modulation indices for the amplitude modulation of the carrier wave, whereby the data transmission rate is increased, in that several information symbols are transmitted using a single carrier wave. For this purpose, the carrier wave is modulated by means of a prescribed allocation or correlation between the information symbols and the modulation indices. It is a disadvantage that the separation of the information symbols requires a sensitive demodulator circuit, which limits the reach or range of the communication under unfavorable reception conditions.
In general, methods for transmitting data between a base station and a transponder are used in order to carry out an identification or verification in a so-called authentication process. In order that the user of the system does not notice any delay, this process must be carried out and completed within a time span of approximately 100 ms. In view of the ever increasing security requirements, a great number of information packets must be modulated on a carrier wave in ever shorter time spans. The modulation of the information packets may be carried out using amplitude modulation (for example in the manner of amplitude shift keying: ASK) or especially phase modulation (e.g. phase shift keying: PSK) and frequency modulation (e.g. frequency shift keying: FSK) in connection with a pulse width modulation (PWM).
In order to achieve a higher data transmission rate and a greater transmission range, carrier frequencies in the range of ultra high frequencies (UHF) and microwaves are being utilized more often in connection with transponders, whereby the various different national high frequency (HF) transmission regulations influence the data transmission rate through the prescribed frequency bands and/or the width of the side bands.
In any event, a data protocol forms the basis of bi-directional data transmission between a transponder and a base station, whereby this data protocol comprises a header section, a middle section, and an end section. In the header section, among other things, the number of the information symbols and the number of the available significant values of the data bits are specified or defined by a characteristic identifier or identification for the individual symbols. In the middle section of the data protocol, the data are then encoded using the specified identification of the symbols. Such a scheme is, for example, proposed in the International Standards organization (ISO) Working Draft Proposal ISO 18000-6 of February 2001. In order to achieve a reliable data transmission, both any unfavorable communication conditions as well as varying switch-on and switch-off transient characteristics of the transmitting and receiving units of the transponder and of the base station respectively are taken into account. This is achieved by allocating to the symbols, as the characteristic identification thereof, respective modulation intervals having an especially long time duration. Furthermore, in connection with frequencies in the UHF or microwave range, the time duration or length of the modulation intervals is increased, in order to thereby account for the inaccuracy in the determination of the modulation intervals by means of the free-running oscillators or RC charging curves, in other words, for example, in order to avoid read errors in the data transmission.
A disadvantage of the previously known methods is that the relatively long time duration of the modulation intervals necessarily reduces the data transmission rate. The data transmission rate is further reduced in that the modulation stroke or range is adapted to the narrowest permissible side band, in order to thereby satisfy the various national HF regulations or requirements using a single protocol or protocol adjustment. This leads to constantly low data transmission rates. Such low data transmission rates become especially noticeable and problematic as an interfering influence in various time-critical applications.

Method of transmitting data with optimized transmission rate using packet header that defines data encoding parameters


A transportation system for use with a roadway including conductive sections on the roadway so that electric vehicles having contact members thereon may contact the conductive sections. The sections extend in the direction of travel along the roadway and have spaces therebetween and the vehicle has at least three contact members spaced on the vehicle so that at least two of the contact members are always in contact with oppositely poled sections with unidirectional current flow means between each conductor and the motor.

Electrically-powered vehicles have a long history Electrically-powered pantograph trains are used for commuter passenger trains along heavily traveled routes on the east coast of the United States and in the Chicago metropolitan area. Subways and other light rail systems routinely use electrified third-rail systems. Electrically-powered automobiles and delivery vans are in use around major cities. Electrically powered golf carts, fork lift trucks and other such specialized vehicles also exist.
Electrical power offers numerous benefits as an energy source in transportation. In railroad locomotives, electric motors offer excellent low end torque, reliability and ease of maintenance. Diesel-electric locomotives use diesel engines to turn generators, which in turn supply electrical power to drive electric traction motors in order to gain these advantages. Still other advantages can be gained by the use of purely electric-powered vehicles. Examples of such advantages include reduced pollution output, reduced mechanical complexity and, where the electrical power source is external, reduced weight
Unfortunately, providing adequate electrical power to vehicles has proven difficult, expensive, or inconvenient, or all three of the above depending upon the application. Pure electrically-powered vehicles have conventionally used one of two sources of electrical power, on-board batteries or external sources such as trolleys Batteries are inefficient stores of energy, particularly when compared to gasoline, which limit the relative range of vehicles using batteries The batteries required by a vehicle for even limited ranges of 50 to 100 miles add considerably to the weight of the vehicle using them, adding inherent inefficiency to the vehicle. Providing external sources of power, such as trolley systems, has typically required a prohibitive capital investment and has limited the routing of vehicles.
Nonetheless, electrically powered transportation systems employing external power sources have been very successful where employed. Electrified rail systems have typically relied on external power. External electric power supplies such as overhead trolleys and third rail systems work well for railroads under certain conditions. However, overhead lines are extremely expensive and considered by many to be unsightly. In many environments overhead lines are exposed to possible damage from weather, accident and sabotage. Third rail systems work well but are inherently dangerous to pedestrians. None of these systems have proven economically viable for lightly traveled routes despite wide appreciation of the reduced pollution and reduced maintenance costs afforded by such systems.
Electrification of automobiles and other over the road motor vehicles has progressed even more slowly than in the railroad industry. In fact, electrification of automobiles has regressed since the beginning of the century when electric vehicles vied with internal combustion powered and external combustion powered vehicles for dominance on the highways. Practical electric automobiles have typically been supplied with energy from batteries. At best, batteries provide energy to travel about one hundred miles The use of accessories such as heat, air conditioning, or headlights, greatly reduces even this limited range. The weight of the batteries themselves reduces the range, and space efficiency of automobiles so equipped. Frequent recharging of the batteries in such vehicles is unavoidable. In addition, many of the best batteries in terms of overall energy storage capability accept charging at a slow rate. This makes recharging a slow and tedious affair. Electrically-powered battery equipped automobiles have proven inconvenient compared to internal combustion powered motor vehicles.
Battery equipped vehicles compare very poorly in efficiency terms with electric vehicles energized by external electrical sources. For this reason numerous inventors have attempted to develop systems for delivering electrical power to over the road vehicles. Such systems have typically had the disadvantages of high initial capital cost, plus the additional handicap of overly limiting the maneuverability of the vehicles so powered. With the exception of trolley buses, practical electrically-powered motor vehicles have carried a heavy load of storage batteries as a power source. Guidance control of the trolley has also complicated use of external electrical power in cars.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,859,343, teaches an electric vehicle having electrically conductive tires. The conductive tires contact a series of conductors embedded in a roadway to complete an electric circuit between the embedded conductors and an overhead line which is engaged by a trolley. While this system allows limited maneuverability, it has the same basic limitations of any overhead trolley system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,071 provides an electrified traffic lane having at least two spaced parallel contact assemblies mounted with their top surfaces flush with the road on each side of the vehicle. The contact assemblies each require a predetermined weight thereon to maintain electrical contact with the vehicle wheels. The vehicle employs electrically-conductive tires which are the pickup contact with the conductors for energization of electrical motors within the vehicle. This system presents a safety hazard to potential foot traffic along the roadway in that the system can be energized by any adequate weight and remains energized when a stationary weight is on a roadway electrical contact assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,947 attempted to answer these difficulties. More particularly, the patent proposed a system directed to electrification of roadways and which provided vehicles adapted to receive power from such roadways for motive power and for recharging a minimal battery pack for powering the vehicle for off electrified roadway operation.
The patent proposes an electrified roadway which includes sets of paired, parallel, sectioned power rails. Each pair of power rails is aligned with a traffic lane of the roadway. Sections of each pair correspond to one another. Corresponding sections are energized with opposite polarity D.C. power according to the presence of a vehicle and demand by the vehicle for power. Vehicles are provided with a pair of trolleys, aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle. A powered guidance mechanism is provided for maintaining trolley tracking of the power rails.


The present invention is directed to an inflatable device for use in restoring the anatomy of diseased or fractured bone. The inflatable device may be a balloon of varied size or shape to conform to the bone to be treated and may be deployed in any type of bone where collapsed fractures of cortical bone may be treated by restoring the bone from its inner surface. Once the bone has been sufficiently restored the balloons may be deflated and removed, or may remain inside the bone. The balloon may have multiple layers to provide desired surface characteristics, resistance to puncture and tearing, or other beneficial properties, as appropriate for the particular application of the device.

Medical balloons are commonly known for dilating and unblocking arteries that feed the heart (percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty) and for arteries other than the coronary arteries (noncoronary percutaneous translumenal angioplasty). In angioplasty, the balloon is tightly wrapped around a catheter shaft to minimize its profile, and is inserted through the skin and into the narrowed section of the artery. The balloon is inflated, typically, by saline or a radiopaque solution, which is forced into the balloon through a syringe. Conversely, for retraction, a vacuum is pulled through the balloon to collapse it.
Medical balloons also have been used for the treatment of bone fractures. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,850 to Berger, which teaches a method and an assembly for setting a fractured tubular bone using a balloon catheter. The balloon is inserted far away from the fracture site through an incision in the bone, and guide wires are used to transport the uninflated balloon through the medullary canal and past the fracture site for deployment. The inflated balloon is held securely in place by the positive pressure applied to the intramedullary walls of the bone. Once the balloon is deployed, the attached catheter tube is tensioned with a calibrated force measuring device. The tightening of the catheter with the fixed balloon in place aligns the fracture and compresses the proximal and distal portions of the fractured bone together. The tensioned catheter is then secured to the bone at the insertion site with a screw or similar fixating device.
As one skilled in the related art would readily appreciate, there is a continuing need for new and innovative medical balloons and balloon catheters, and in particular a need for balloon catheter equipment directed toward the treatment of diseased and damaged bones. More specifically, there exists a need for a low profile, high-pressure, puncture and tear resistant medical balloon, that can be used to restore the natural anatomy of damaged cortical bone.

Inflatable device and method for reducing fractures in bone and in treating the spine


A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for information indicative of venues that are located within a geographic region of interest, accessing user data for one or more users of a social networking platform, identifying, in the accessed user data, data indicative of one or more affirmative actions that are performed for the particular venue by at least one of the one or more users, and generating a popularity score for the particular venue, determining one or more popular venues, with a popular venue being associated with an increased popularity score relative to popularity scores of other of the multiple venues located with the geographic region of interest, and for a determined popular venue, generating data indicative of a type of user of the social networking platform who performs one or more affirmative actions for the determined popular venue.

Social networking platforms may store data about or otherwise related to users of the social networking platforms. These social networking platforms often allow users of the platforms to share information with one another and perform various actions. The volume of data generated that corresponds to the actions of others and the sharing of information with other users of such social networking platforms may be relatively large. Consequently, an individual user of a social networking platform may have difficulty managing this large amount of available data. As a result, the user may miss, gloss over, or otherwise fail to appreciate information of some level of significance that was shared with or otherwise available to the user within the social networking platform.


Disclosed are various embodiments for handling large collections of items in a user interface. A collection of items in a data store associated with a request for a content page is identified. A content page is generated that includes a number of items in the content page, where the number of items in the content page can be less than a total number of items in the collection. The content page also includes a select-all element. The content page is also configured to initiate a subsequent request to with an argument corresponding to activation of the select-all element as well as potentially an exclusion list corresponding to deselected items.

Users interacting with a content server can initiate content requests that can result in a large number of paginated results. For example, a search conducted against a database for data to be rendered in a content page can return numerous results that are presented in a paginated user interface. Additionally, a user may perform one or more operations against one or more items in such a set of results.

Manipulating collections of items in a user interface


A method for producing a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body includes a pattern forming step of cutting a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in a pressure-sensitive adhesive film including a first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on one surface of the first release film so as to form a first slit in a pattern shape and an outer frame forming step of cutting the first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer so as to form a second slit in an outer frame shape surrounding the pattern shape. The second slit has a discontinuous portion in a cutting direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body and a producing method thereof, to be specific, to a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body preferably used for an emblem or the like to be attached to the exterior of an automobile and a producing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to attach an emblem used for the exterior of an automobile or the like to an automobile body, a double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or the like has been conventionally used. That is, one surface of the double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is attached to the emblem and the other surface thereof is attached to the automobile body and in this way, the emblem is fixed to the automobile body.
The double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is usually formed into the same pattern as that of the emblem. The double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is distributed as a product in a state of being sandwiched between two pieces of release films and the release films are peeled off at the time of its use.
In order to produce the patterned double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, for example, patterns are continuously formed in a long-length double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape that is continuously conveyed by a roll-to-roll process and finally, the double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are individually stamped out per one pattern (per one product) to be taken out.
To be specific, first, a long-length laminated tape in which a double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and a cover film having release properties are sequentially laminated on the surface of a substrate film having release properties is prepared. Next, the obtained laminated tape is continuously conveyed and the cover film and the double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape only are cut (subjected to half cut) so as to form a desired pattern (for example, a pattern of an emblem) and next, the laminated tape is completely stamped out (subjected to full cut) with a mold of an outer frame that surrounds one pattern so as to be divided per one pattern (one product). Finally, of the laminated tapes that are stamped out, a residue (an unnecessary portion excluding the patterns in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the cover film) is removed, so that the patterned double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape for an emblem to be served as a product is obtained.
The residue is, however, removed manually, so that the production efficiency is low.
Thus, as a method for removing the residue easily and accurately, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-238434 has been known.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-238434, a method in which a dividing line for a residue for cutting a film residue into a plurality of pieces is cut in the film residue with a cutting plotter has been proposed.
According to this method, the film residue is capable of being efficiently removed.

Patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body and producing method thereof