In an organic electroluminescent display device having light emitting layers which are independently controlled and emit light formed in respective pixel regions on a principal surface of a substrate and emitting light from each of the light emitting layer through the substrate, the present invention arranges a light shielding member on an end wall face of the substrate and prevents the light from leaking from the end wall face thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic EL (electroluminescent) display device, and more particularly to an organic EL display device to which improvements are made with respect to a cell thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the organic EL display device, a display part formed on one surface of a substrate thereof is constituted of respective pixels which are arranged in a matrix array and a pixel region of each pixel is provided with an organic EL layer (a light emitting layer) which emits light when an electric current flows therein.
Further, on a surface of the substrate on which the light emitting layers are formed, another substrate which is arranged to face the substrate in an opposed manner is fixed to the substrate by way of a sealing material which is formed in a state that the sealing material surrounds the display part thus constituting a cell.
Since the characteristics of the organic EL layers are changed due to oxygen, moisture and the like, the cell is provided for shielding the organic EL layers from the outside air.
Light from the light emitting layer passes through at least one of substrates out of the above-mentioned respective substrates and is irradiated to a viewer's side and hence, one substrate is formed of a transparent substrate made of glass or the like (see patent document 1).
[patent document 1]
Japanese Patent Application (Laid-Open) Hei11(1999)-219782

Organic electroluminescent display device with a light shielding member arranged on an end wall face of a periphery of the substrate


A wheel suspension of a vehicle intended to extend in a transversal direction of the vehicle in association with first and second wheels arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle, comprising: a subframe unit provided with a set of attachment points for attachment of the subframe unit to a vehicle body structure, wherein the subframe unit comprises a cross member extending along the subframe unit in a transversal direction of the vehicle when the subframe unit is attached to the vehicle; at least a first link member arranged on each side of the subframe unit, wherein each first link member is arranged to connect a corresponding wheel or wheel supporting element with the subframe unit via a pivoted connection; and a spring arrangement arranged to act onto each of the first link members so as to provide for a spring suspension of the first and second wheels.

A rear wheel suspension system for a passenger car typically includes a subframe attached to a vehicle body support structure, various link members for connecting a wheel (or rather a wheel supporting element) to the subframe via a pivoted attachment, and a spring system that acts between a link member and the subframe or the vehicle body structure. The springs may be of different types, such as coil springs, leaf springs and air springs. Examples of rear wheel suspension subframes for vehicles are disclosed in e.g. US2004/0222030 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,429.
Production of cars usually involves the use of platforms where several car models share some general features, such as vehicle body structure and wheel base, while more noticeable components may differ. Subframes typically form part of the platform and fit to all models.
Different spring systems may be advantageous or desired for vehicles that are based on the same platform. If the spring system is a separate component independent of the subframe or other parts of the platform this is no particular issue. If the spring system on the other hand is arranged onto or forms part of the subframe, or if the spring system at least has an effect on the design of the subframe, a choice of springs can be provided by using a set of different subframes, each of which being provided with or adapted to a particular spring system. However, handling, storing and transportation of a variety of subframes is complex and requires large storage areas, i.e. it complicates production and impairs the production cost efficiency.
This invention addresses the problem related to vehicle production efficiency in cases where the choice of spring system for the wheel suspension has an effect on the design of the suspension subframe.

System for wheel suspension of a vehicle


A method and apparatus is taught for a safety device for a lighted device in a container. The safety device comprises a closing device, an attachment device, and a holding device. The safety device further comprises a coupler configured to operatively couple the closing device, the attachment device, and the holding device so that the closing device moves between a first and second position. There is also an extension coupled to and extending from a surface of the closing device, a securing system coupled to the attachment device, and a timing device coupled to and protruding from a surface of the holding device. Finally, the timing device is operatively configured to interact with the extension when the closing device is in the second position to actuate movement of the closing device into the first position so that the lighted device in the container is extinguished in a predetermined amount of time.

This invention is directed towards safety devices for candles. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically actuating candle snuffers and extinguishers.
One of the hottest selling products in today""s market are candles. These candles come in all shapes, sizes, colors, scents, and containers. Increasingly, candles are being used to set atmosphere, light rooms, change the smell of a room with fragrances, or the like. Unfortunately, one common feature of all candles is that when left unattended for too long a period of time or disturbed they can cause fires. Recently, there has been a real increase in the frequency, severity, and reporting of fires. The worst cases are when these fires are in apartment houses or social houses since there is an even larger potential for damage to property, and even worse, and increased potential for death.
Manufacturers have recognized this problem and are trying to combat the increasing occurrence of fires caused by candles by producing candles in containers, such as jars or the like. Although this solution has been moderately successful in some ways, there are still fires starting because of unattended or forgotten candles being in these containers or when these candles are disturbed in some fashion. One reason for this is users falsely assumed the candles in containers are safer because of their configuration.
Therefore, a need exists for a safety device for candles in containers that automatically extinguishes a candle in a container after a user selected predetermined duration of time has passed. Further, there is a need for a safety device for candles in containers that can automatically extinguish the candle if the container is disturbed.
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus is taught for a safety device for a lighted device in a container. The safety device comprises a closing device, an attachment device, and a holding device. The safety device further comprises a coupler configured to operatively couple the closing device, the attachment device, and the holding device so that the closing device moves between a first and second position. There is also an extension coupled to and extending from a surface of the closing device, a securing system coupled to the attachment device, and a timing device coupled to and protruding from a surface of the holding device. Finally, the timing device is operatively configured to interact with the extension when the closing device is in the second position to actuate movement of the closing device into the first position so that the lighted device in the container is extinguished in a predetermined amount of time.
A main advantage of this configuration is that a container containing a candle can automatically be closed, extinguishing the candle, after a user selected predetermined amount of time has elapsed based on the timing device interacting with the extension.


A modified end user network access point includes a switching module and a controller to track usage of the end user network access point by wirelessly connected end user devices. The tracked usage information is transmitted from the end user network access point to a remotely coupled data center. The data center collects usage information from a plurality of different end user network access points. The collected usage information is in turn transmitted from the data center to a network carrier. The network carrier uses the received usage information to bill users for accessing the end user network access points and using any services provided by the end user network access points. An owner of each end user network access point is compensated by the network carrier each instance that an end user device utilizes the end user network access point to access the network carrier's communications network.

A small portion of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum is assigned to each communications carrier. The assigned spectrum, therefore, must be used efficiently in order to allow the maximum number of frequency users to have access to this spectrum. Multiple access modulation techniques have been developed to provide optimum utilization of the RF spectrum. Examples of such modulation techniques include time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), and code division multiple access (CDMA).
There is a wide variance in the performance of wireless networks. A conventional wireless cellular network covers a relatively large geographical area, but provides a relatively low bandwidth. Such wireless networks use regulated portions of the radio spectrum and are shared by many users. The infrastructure costs of wireless networks are relatively high due to the size and complexity of the cellular network equipment.
Other wireless networks, such as CDMA2000-EV-DO/DV networks, offer higher bandwidth and enhanced data services, such as web browsing. However, these networks also pack many users into a relatively small portion of the regulated spectrum. Other types of radio networks are adapted to improve spectral efficiency with increased speed and smaller coverage areas. For example, an IEEE 802.11x (or Wi-Fi) network may transmit at speeds up to 11 Mbps using a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) mode or at speeds up to 54 Mbps using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) mode.
An access point conforming to an IEEE 802.11x (e.g., IEEE 802.11b) network may cover an area of a few hundred feet in diameter. Each such access point is connected to a larger network (e.g., Internet). One such example is Wi-Fi VoIP (Wireless Fidelity Voice over Internet Protocol), through which a mobile device user can place a wireless telephone call over the Internet, using the technology specified in IEEE 802.11b at the network access point. VoIP is a method for taking analog audio signals and converting them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. Conventional VoIP telephone communications are enabled by VoIP network carriers, which utilize VoIP networks, e.g. the Internet, to place VoIP based telephone calls. VoIP enabled and compatible networks include VoIP switching for proper routing and billing of VoIP based telephone calls.
In order to cover larger geographical areas, a relatively large number of IEEE 802.11x network access points and relatively large wire-line back haul networks are required. In part, due to the relatively small geographical coverage area of each network access point, the resulting IEEE 802.11x based network may thus be prohibitively expensive to set up. Further, the small coverage areas may lead to many "dead zones" in which mobile device users are unable to place telephone calls using the VoIP network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Access point with controller for billing and generating income for access point owner


A method for improving productivity of a printer with in-line finisher, which includes the steps of: a) storing a sequence of jobs; b) printing the first print job; c) transmitting the printed portions of the first print job to the productivity module; d) unloading the printed portions in sequence from the productivity module and performing a finishing operation on the printed first portion of the first print job; e) during the step d), printing a portion of the second print job; f) transmitting the printed portions of the second print job to the productivity module; g) initiating printing of a second portion of the first print job, concurrent with step d), h) unloading the next printed portions of the first job in sequence from the productivity module and performing a finishing operation on the printed portions of the second print job; and continuing these sequences for the next print job.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for efficiently controlling a printing machine which is capable of producing collated sets for in-line finishing of books, proposals, manuals etc with very high productivity.
On-demand page printers, wherein images are created in response to digital image data submitted to the printing apparatus, are familiar in many offices. Such printers create images on sheets typically using electrostatographic or ink-jet printing techniques. In work-set situations, wherein different users at various personal computers and other terminals submit jobs to a single central printing apparatus, various sets of digital image data, corresponding to jobs desired to be printed by different users, are typically kept in an electronic queue, and a control system typically located at the printer sorts through the image data and causes the printer to output the desired prints in an orderly manner.
The terminology "copiers", and "copies", as well as "printers" and "prints", is used alternatively herein. The terminology "imaging" and "marking" is used alternatively herein and refers to the entire process of putting an image (digital or analog source) onto paper. The image can then be permanently fixed to the paper by fusing, drying, or other means. It will be appreciated that the invention may apply to almost any system in which the images are made electronically, including electronic copiers.
Imaging systems (e.g., printers or copiers) typically include copy sheet paper paths through which copy sheets (e.S., plain paper) which are to receive an image are conveyed and imaged. The process of inserting copy sheets into the copy sheet paper path and controlling the movement of the copy sheets through the paper path to receive an image on one or both sides, is referred to as "scheduling". Copy sheets are printed by being passed through a copy sheet paper path (which includes a marking station) one or multiple times. Copy sheets which are printed on only one side (simplex copy sheets) in a single color usually pass through the copy sheet paper path a single time. Multipass printing is used to print images on both sides of a copy sheet (duplex printing), or to print a simplex sheet in multiple colors (one pass for each color). Particularly with sophisticated printing apparatus, it may often be desired to print "duplex" prints, that is prints having images on both sides of the sheet.
However, most currently available printing devices are capable of producing an image only on one side of a sheet at a time. In order to obtain duplex prints, it is almost always necessary to provide an "inverter" within the printing device or apparatus. The purpose of an inverter is to handle a sheet after one side thereof has received an image, and in effect turn the sheet over to make the remaining blank side available to the same printing apparatus which created the first image. In effect, each duplex print is re-fed past the image-making portion of the printing apparatus so that the individual sheet becomes available to the image-making apparatus twice, once for each side.
In an electro-photographic printing apparatus, wherein images are first created on a photoreceptor in the form of a rotating drum or belt and then transferred to sheets, a key concern is the presence of blank pitches (image-sized spaces) along the drum or belt where, for various reasons relating to the long time required to finish (bind) a set, when no image is created to allow for finisher to complete its operation. The problem with blank pitches is that each blank pitch represents lost productivity. In some cases when the number of sheet in a set are small, the number of blank pitches along the belt may be comparable to the number of pitches actually having images on them. In such a situation, not only is the apparatus effectively running at half-speed, but various mechanical parts associated with the drum or belt will be experiencing wear to no productive purpose. Thus, as a general rule, the overall productivity and reliability of such a printing apparatus is inversely related to the number of blank pitches which result in the printing process.
It is generally known that electronically inputted printers can desirably provide more flexibility in page sequencing (page, copying presentation order) than copiers with physical document sheet input. The printer input is electronically manipulatable electronic page media, rather than physical sheets of paper which are much more difficult to reorder or manipulate into a desired sequence. As also shown in the art noted hereinbelow, it is generally known that certain such reordered or hybrid document page copying orders or sequences may be copied onto a corresponding sequential train of copy sheets in an appropriate copier or-printer to provide higher copying machine productivity yet correct page order copy output, especially for duplex copies made with a copier with trayless duplexing, i.e., providing a limited length endless buffer loop duplexing path for the copy sheets being duplexed.
2. Description of Related Art
It is becoming increasingly common to integrate on-line finishing devices with imaging systems. These on-line finishing devices directly receive copy sheets as they are output from the imaging system and perform various types of finishing operations on each copy sheet, or on each set of copy sheets. The finishing operations can be, for example: binding, stitching, folding, trimming, aligning, rotating, punching, drilling, slitting, perforating, and combinations thereof.
A problem which arises when integrating an existing finishing device with high speed imaging systems is that the finishing device may not be able to receive copy sheets at as high a frequency as the copy sheets can be output by the imaging system. For example, the imaging system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,342 can output copy sheets at a rate of 135-180 per minute when operating in "burst mode". This rate is too fast for some finishing devices.
One example involves the use of the imaging system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,342 in connection with an on-line Signature Booklet Maker (SBM) to form signature booklets. A "signature" is a duplex printed copy sheet having two page images on each side. The signature sheet can be folded in half to form a booklet, or a plurality of signatures can be aligned, stitched together, and folded in half to form a multi-sheet booklet. Descriptions of signature printing are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,042 to Smith and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,065 to Rourke et al., the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference. The imaging system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,342 is capable of outputting signatures in bursts at a rate of 135 per minute, but the SBM may not be able to receive sheets at such a high rate.
A sheet scheduling approach that compensates for the disparity in sheet handling capabilities of the imaging system and a finishing device, such as the Signature Booklet Maker (SBM), is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,395 to Farrell et al., the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,395 discloses a printing system that operates in one of two modes, depending on whether sheets are being delivered to the SBM. In the first mode, printed copy sheets are output from a copy sheet path of the printing system without any skipped pitches. The first mode of scheduling provides the maximum output (and thus productivity) of the printing system. If, however, the output frequency of the first mode is too great for the finishing device, a second, slower mode of operation results. In the second mode of operation, sheets are output from the printing system with skipped pitches located between at least some of the consecutively output sheets.
Another approach which compensates for the disparity in sheet handling capabilities of the imaging system and a finishing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,363 to Britt et al. The system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,363 comprises a collating and finishing apparatus and method including a buffered design to allow more time to finish a copy set without halting copying. In a pre-collation copying mode, two bins at a time are utilized as the buffer for compiling while one or two other bins are awaiting being emptied for finishing, and then they function as the buffer for the next two copy sets, etc. A key feature of the system, which enhances productivity, is the sequential use of different pairs of three compiler bins in coordination with finishing so that while the second of one pair of copy sheets is being removed from a bin and finished, the first two sheets of the next sequence or set are entering two other now empty and available bins, in a continuous enter one side/exit the other side sequential operation.
Some examples of other prior art copiers, and especially with control systems therefor, including operator console switch selection inputs, document sheet detecting switches, etc., are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,054,380; 4,062,061; 4,076,408; 4,078,787; 4,099,860; 4,125,325; 4,132,401; 4,144,550; 4,158,500; 4,176,945; 4,179,215; 4,229,101; 4,278,344; 4,284,270; and 4,475,156.
While the approaches of U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,363 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,395 enhance printing system productivity, each approach experiences loss of imaging system productivity under certain circumstances. Regarding U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,363, if a pair of bins cannot be emptied out by the time another set is to be delivered, then the imaging system must skip pitches. Regarding U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,395, the printing system operates in a degraded mode, in which pitches must be skipped, when sheets are being delivered to the finishing device. Regarding U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,068, an alternate output tray or an alternate finishing device is needed to improve productivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,068 describes a technique for finishing print jobs by scheduling for delivery to a portion of the first job to an in-line finisher and a second job, scheduled for delivery to a second destination (an output tray), in a manner that reduces productivity losses in a marking engine. A difficulty with prior art systems is an inability to prioritize jobs ready to print and to be able to run and complete one or several small jobs during the processing of a very high volume job and being able to blend jobs into the same finishing device.
It would be desirable, therefore, to be able to look ahead at a job queue, find one or more suitable jobs in the queue(for example, jobs that can be delivered to the same output device), and be able to concurrently run multiple jobs to improve productivity.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to be able to scan a job queue during the processing of a first job and while processing the first job, being able to intermix the concurrent processing of multiple jobs delivered to the same output (finishing) station.
However, it would be desirable to provide a system in which imaging system productivity is increased, relative to the above-discussed references.
It is well known in this art, and in general, how to program and execute document handler and copier control functions and logic with conventional or simple software instructions for conventional microprocessors in a copier controller. This is taught by the above and other patents and various commercial copiers. Such software may vary depending on the particular function and particular microprocessor or microcomputer system utilized, of course, but will be available to or readily programmable by those skilled in the applicable arts without experimentation, from either descriptions or prior knowledge of the desired functions together with general knowledge in the general software and computer arts. It is also known that conventional or specified document and copy sheet handling functions and controls may be alternatively conventionally provided utilizing various other known or suitable logic or switching systems.

Apparatus and method to improve printer productivity


An ink-jet recording sheet comprising a substrate having thereon a porous layer formed by a process comprising the steps of:                (a) coating on the substrate an aqueous coating composition containing a hydrophilic binder and inorganic particles to form the porous layer;        (b) drying the porous layer over a period, wherein the period comprises at least a constant drying rate period and a falling drying rate period; and        (c) incorporating a solution containing an additive into the porous layer after the completion of the constant drying rate period.

In recent years, in ink-jet recording systems, image quality has increasingly been improved so as to approach the conventional silver salt photographic images. As a means to achieve conventional photographic image quality utilizing ink-jet recording, employed recording sheets are those which have been under rapid technical improvements. For example, recording sheets have been developed which comprise a highly smoothed substrate having thereon a porous layer comprising minute ink absorptive voids. Since said sheet exhibits high ink absorbability as well as excellent drying properties, its use has become one of the methods to generate images which are most similar to said photographic quality.
Said porous ink layer is comprised mainly of hydrophilic binders as well as fine particles. Known as such fine particles are fine inorganic or organic particles, however, fine inorganic particles with higher gloss, capable of decreasing the particle size, are generally employed.
On the other hand, regarding said substrates, known as ink-jet recording sheets are water absorptive substrates such as papers, as well as non-water absorptive substrates such as polyester films and resin coated papers. The former exhibits an advantage in relatively high ink absorbability due to its capability of absorbing ink. However, contrary to said advantage, it exhibits disadvantages as described below. Problems occur in which creases (also called cockling) after printing tend to form due to the water absorbability of said substrate. As a result, it is difficult to produce high quality prints, and the print surface tends to rub the head due to said creasing during printing.
On the contrary, the use of said non-water absorptive substrates exhibits advantages such that none of the problems described above occur and high quality prints are produced. However, the ink absorption amount is limited.
Generally, various characteristics are required for said ink absorptive layer. As a result, in order to improve said various characteristics, the use of each additive, described below, is proposed:    1: fine stable particles to result in voids of no more than approximately 0.1 μm to achieve high color forming capability as well as high gloss    2: low swellable hydrophilic binders to increase fine particle holding force as well as to minimize a decrease in the ink absorption rate    3: cross-linking agents of hydrophilic binders to enhance the ink absorption rate as well as the waterfastness of coated layers    4: surface active agents and hydrophilic polymers distributed over the surface to achieve an optimal dot diameter    5: cationic fixing agents to minimize bleeding of dyes as well as to improve the waterfastness of said dyes    6: anti-discoloring agents to minimize the discoloration of dye images due to light as well as oxidizing gases    7: optical brightening agents as well as color control agents (such as reddening agents and bluing agents) to improve white backgrounds    8: matting agents as well as slipping agents to control the slipping properties of the surface    9: various types of oil components, latex particles and water-soluble plasticizers to provide desired flexibility to coated layers    10: various inorganic salts (multivalent metal salts) to minimize the bleeding of dyes as well as to enhance the waterfastness and weather fastness of dyes    11: acids and alkalis to adjust the pH of porous layers.
However, when additives, which are employed to achieve the various purposes as described above, are added to an ink receptive layer forming coating composition, many additives are frequently subjected to various limitations from the viewpoint of stabilizing the production processes.
Production beyond said limitations may cause problems which include: for example,    A: When coagulation occurs among fine particles or among additives, or when phase separation occurs in a coating composition, problems occur which make it difficult to achieve stable uniform coating; gloss decreases to result in a matt surface; and production efficiency markedly decreases due to a decrease in the pot life of the coating composition.    B: When a prepared coating composition is kept standing over an extended period of time, said composition may markedly increase its viscosity to result in gelling or on the contrary, it may decrease its viscosity so that it tends to flow too easily on the substrate. As a result, it becomes difficult to achieve stable coating, making it difficult to obtain a uniform coating.    C: When a porous layer is coated and subsequently dried, surface cracking tends to occur.    D: The void ratio in the porous layer decreases.
Problems, which relate to items A and B, frequently occur mainly due to electrical and mutual interaction of additives. For example, cationic fixing agents may play a major role while reacting with raw materials having an anionic group so as to result in various problems.
On the other hand, problems, which relate to items C and D, occur mainly when a non-water absorptive substrate is employed as a substrate. Namely, in the case of an ink-jet recording sheet which comprises a non-water absorptive substrate having thereon a porous layer comprised of voids, it is required that during ink-jet recording, all the ink is temporarily held in the void layer as the ink absorptive layer. In order to achieve this, it is required that said ink-jet recording sheet have a large void volume. As a result, it is required that a thick-coated layer having a high void ratio be formed.
When said porous layer is applied onto said non-ink absorptive layer, it is required that the dried layer thickness is generally at least 25 μm, and is more preferably from 30 to 50 μm. When such a relatively thick porous layer is applied onto a substrate, problems occur during the production period, in which cracking tends to occur during drying due to the fact that said porous layer is stiff, or the void ratio decreases. Particularly, when various additives, to achieve various functions, are added to the porous layer forming coating composition, said adverse problems are more exhibited.
It is assumed that cracking of said porous layer is due to the contraction of the coating during drying and depends on various factors. As one of these factors, it is assumed that the presence of additives, which decrease the holding ability of fine particles in the hydrophilic binder, tends to result in said cracking.
Further, the void ratio tends to increase through the interaction between fine particles or between hydrophilic binders. However, said interaction may decrease upon employing a certain type of additive, whereby said void ratio occasionally decreases. Namely, each of fine particles tends to be subjected to closest packing.
Generally, at present, the usable ratio of hydrophilic binders to fine particles is limited to no more than 1/2 in terms of weight ratio, and specifically no more than 1/3, so that the ink absorbability does not decrease, while voids, which generate porosity, are filled. As a result, the ability of said hydrophilic binders to protect fine colloidal particle tends to be affected by a small amount of additives.
During the drying process of a porous layer, said porous layer is formed in such a manner that while a small amount of binder is covering the surface of fine particles, said binder, which is entwined with each other, protect colloidal fine particles. However, during said process, if additives are present, said binders are not sufficiently entwined with each other. Therefore, it is assumed that the resulting layer strength decreases and cracking tends to occur during the period in which the layer is subjected to contraction during the drying process, especially during the period in which drying is almost completed.
Usually, ink-jet recording sheets are produced by applying a porous layer forming coating composition onto a continuously conveyed substrate, and subsequently winding the resulting coating into a roll after drying. Thereafter, a coating composition comprised of specified additives is applied onto the surface of said coating. This is known as a so-called overcoat applying method (hereinafter referred to as an overcoating method). However, since in most of said overcoating methods, coating is carried out while divided into at least two time frames, problems occur resulting in markedly increased production cost. Further, other problems tend to occur in which quality consistency is degraded due to the temperature history as well as time fluctuation during temporary storage after the formation of said porous layer and in addition, non-uniform coating tends to occur during said overcoating.
Generally, the layer state just after coating and drying is often different from its state after storage, depending on the existing state of the hydrophilic binders, the ongoing crystallization, and the re-orientation of the distribution of additives in the layer.
It is assumed that immediately after coating and drying, said hydrophilic binders are distributed nearly equal to their solution state. However, when they are stored and subjected to an equilibrium state, the swellability of the resulting layer tends to decrease due to the interaction (being the cross-linking reaction) between the fine particles and the additives. Specifically, polyvinyl alcohol, which is most useful as a hydrophilic binder, often results in variation of water absorbability of the overcoated composition as well as swellability with respect to the hydrophilic binders.
Further, surface active agents, hydrophilic binders, and other diffusible additives on the surface of said porous layer tend to be gradually modified after being coated, so as to adversely affect the wettability of said overcoating composition. As a result, during coating of said overcoating composition, non-uniform coating tends to occur.
Still further, variation of said porous layer during its storage period results in difference in the distribution of overcoated additives in said layer, as well as differences in their effects. As a result, said variation may become a fluctuation factor to result in the resulting product quality.
A method, in which an additive containing coating composition is applied onto said porous layer so as to supply additives to said porous layer, is known as a so-called impregnation method when ink-jet recording sheets are produced. However, no method at all is known in which, just after forming said porous layer, the production is carried out utilizing an on-line means.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 11-115308 describes a method in which a coating composition, comprising fine inorganic particles as well as a water-soluble resin, is applied onto a substrate and at the same time of coating or before the coated layer reaches falling drying rate, said coated layer is hardened by providing a solution comprising a cross-linking agent of said water-soluble resin. "Before the coated layer reaches falling drying rate", as described herein, refers to a constant drying rate period, as described in said patent, and the drying period in which the content of solvents in the coating decreases in proportion to time when fixed drying conditions are maintained.
However, investigations conducted by the inventors of the present invention revealed that problems generally occurred at high speed coating as described below. When said additives are overcoated during the constant drying rate period, the solvents of the preceding coating composition are not sufficiently evaporated. As a result, cracking occurs in the final period of drying, or at the time when the overcoating is carried out, the surface of the applied overcoating composition is subjected to a drying airflow as well as mechanical vibration. As a result, airflow unevenness, that is, coating unevenness due to variation of airflow which hits said surface, as well as transporting unevenness, tends to occur.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 8-34160 describes a method in which a solution, comprising a silane coupling agent having a quaternary ammonium salt group, is overcoated onto the surface of a layer comprised of fine inorganic particles and a water-soluble resin. However, in the method claimed in said patent, a solution comprising an additive is overcoated onto the surface of a porous layer which has been obtained by drying, and further said patent describes neither the formation of a porous layer targeted by the present invention nor the coating of a solution utilizing an on-line means. Said patent depends on a conventional and common method, whereby problems with said coating unevenness and insufficient quality stability are not overcome.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet recording sheet which comprises a substrate having thereon a porous layer having a high void ratio, which minimizes the formation of cracking during production, even though various additives are incorporated in said porous layer comprised of hydrophilic binders as well as fine particles. A second object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet recording sheet which exhibits high quality without a marked increase in production cost when a solution comprising additives is overcoated after applying a coating composition forming a porous layer onto a substrate. A third object of the present invention is to provide a high quality ink-jet recording sheet in which the fluctuation of manufacturing quality is minimized and coating uniformity is improved.

Method for preparing an ink-jet recording sheet with a constant and a falling drying rate


A composition and for removing mineral deposits and method of making the composition is provided which includes water, a fine abrasive, a plurality of petroleum distillate products, at least one polyalcohol, at least one fatty acid, at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one semipolar solvent. Water is present at about 20-50 wt %, abrasive particles at about 10-35 wt %, petroleum distillates at about 10-35 wt %, polyalcohol at about 0.5-5 wt %, fatty acid at about 0.5-5 wt %, non-ionic surfactant at about 1-3 wt %, and semipolar solvent at about 0.1-1 wt %. A method of removing mineral deposits from a hard surface such as glass is provided which includes applying the aforesaid composition to a hard surface and removing the composition from the surface to remove mineral deposits from the surface.

1. Technical Field
Cleaning and/or polishing compounds for use on hard surfaces to remove mineral deposits and etching.
2. Description of Related Art
Various products and techniques exist for cleaning and/or polishing hard surfaces such as glass and ceramics. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,051,056, 4,218,250, 4,561,993, and 5,443,604. Such hard surfaces typically are exposed to conditions which result in the deposit of mineral deposits and other detrimental materials that mar their surfaces.
There are situations where chemical changes to the surfaces have occurred and it is considered difficult, if not impossible, to restore the surface to its original condition. For example, streaky or milky-colored stains on shower doors are often permanent because the glass has been etched by the reaction of water-borne chemicals. These can be prevented through the installation of water softening equipment or by simply wiping the doors dry after use. However, daily compliance with preventative procedures is often difficult. Hard water facilitates scum, film, and lime deposits on a number of household surfaces. These unattractive deposits can appear on china, porcelain, enamel, tile, stainless steel, fiberglass, chrome, and glass surfaces. Hard water increases films and stains from soaps, minerals, and other substances. Bathroom fixtures, sinks, dishes, and other surfaces need more frequent cleaning. Exterior glass plates, e.g., windows, building panels, etc., are frequently exposed to environmental conditions which also create unsightly mineral deposits and etching. Likewise, automobile windshields are frequently marred by acid rain and other road grime.
Calcium and magnesium in water can leave hard deposits referred to as lime scales on hard surfaces. These minerals make cleaning products less effective. To clean away lime scale, cleaning products with sequestrants are used to clean lime scale by capturing and deactivating minerals in water. The deactivated minerals then cannot react with other materials to form scum, film, or lime scale.
As mentioned above, hard surfaces such as glass which have been soiled by mineral deposits and/or etching are difficult to clean and restore to their original luster. Abrasive pastes and powders such as rouge may be used to clean and polish glass. Effective use of these materials typically involves labor intensive techniques which include polishing machines. Powders are messy and cleaning up after their use is time consuming and difficult. Most popular commercially available glass cleaners are completely ineffective in removing mineral deposits and other strongly bound constituents to glass.
There exists a need for effective, easy to use cleaners and polishes for use on hard surfaces.

Composition for removing mineral deposits and etching from hard surfaces


In one embodiment, a method for soft-start in a power converter includes the following: providing a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage of the power system at a first input terminal of an error amplifier in a negative feedback loop of the power converter; providing a reference voltage at a second input terminal of the error amplifier; comparing the feedback signal against the reference voltage to generate a control signal for regulating an output voltage of the power converter; charging a soft-start capacitor coupled to the second input terminal of the error amplifier with a current for establishing the reference voltage; and adjusting the current in response to the control signal so that the error amplifier is prevented from saturation.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to power conversion, and more particularly, to a soft start system and method for a power converter.
2. Description of Related Art
Power converters are essential for many modern electronic devices. Among other capabilities, a power converter can adjust voltage level downward (buck converter and its derivatives) or adjust voltage level upward (boost converter and its derivatives). A power converter may also convert from alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power, or vice versa. A power converter may also function to provide an output at a regulated level (e.g., 5.0V). Power converters are typically implemented using one or more switching devices, such as transistors, which are turned on and off to deliver power to the output of the converter. Control circuitry is provided to regulate the turning on and off of the switching devices, and thus, these converters are known as "switching regulators" or "switching converters." Such a power converter may be incorporated into or used to implement a power supply—i.e., a switching mode power supply (SMPS). The power converters may also include one or more capacitors or inductors for alternately storing and outputting energy
Some power converters may employ a soft-start circuit in order to begin operation after power on. One kind of soft-start circuit can be a closed-loop soft-start which maintains an error amplifier of the power converter in its linear operating mode to actively control the output voltage of the power converter to follow a reference voltage VREF at the non-inverting input of the error amplifier. The power converter is able to follow the reference voltage VREF until the error amplifier output is saturated—i.e. its output is not limited by the supply rails of the error amplifier.
Typically, during start up, the reference voltage VREF at the non-inverting input of the error amplifier rises with a predetermined speed, dVREF/dt. That speed is calculated during initial circuit design and based on the following factors: (1) the value of the soft start capacitor (CSS) coupled to the non-inverting input of the error amplifier; and (2) the value of a soft start resistor (RSS) or the amplitude of an ISS dc current source coupled to the soft start capacitor for charging the same.
The rise time of the reference voltage dVREF/dt at the non-inverting input of the error amplifier determines how quickly the output capacitor COUT is charged from an initial condition of 0V to its final value, where the output voltage VOUT can be regulated by the power converter. The rise time of the output voltage dVOUT/dt is proportional to the rise time of the reference voltage dVREF/dt.
To support this rate of rise dVOUT/dt at the output during soft start, the power converter must deliver the sum of two current components. The first current component charges the output capacitor and is a function of the value of the output capacitor and rate of rise at the output (COUT*dVOUT/dt). The second current component provides power to the load (ILOAD). The total output current (IOUT) delivered by the power converter then is:
      I    OUT    =                    C        OUT            ·                        ⅆ                      V            OUT                                    ⅆ          t                      +          I      LOAD
The equation above shows that during soft start, the output current IOUT depends not only on the dVREF/dt value calculated by the designer but also the converter's output capacitance COUT and the actual load during soft start. Furthermore, the output capacitance COUT might have a significant tolerance and its value can be easily multiplied by additional capacitance added by the end user of the power supply. In addition, a power supply is typically required to reliably start up with any load. All these effects will greatly influence the required output current IOUT during start up.
A problem arises if the above-calculated output current IOUT exceeds the maximum output current of the power converter. When this happens, the power converter can no longer operate in a closed-loop operating mode. In particular, the maximum output current is usually established by a current limit circuit and is slightly higher than the specified maximum load current ILOAD. When the current of the power converter exceeds the maximum output current limit, the error amplifier goes into saturation and looses control over the output voltage VOUT, such that the output voltage VOUT does not follow the reference voltage VREF as it should. Ultimately, when the output voltage VOUT reaches its final value, the error amplifier will need to recover from its saturated state. During this recovery, the output voltage VOUT overshoots, which is an undesired phenomenon in power supplies.

Soft-start system and method for power converter


A deburring tool including an elongated arbor having a replaceable unitary cutting tool and an assembly holder adapted to removably receive and mount the arbor. The arbor includes a head portion disposed at one end of the arbor and a slot defining a pair of opposed surfaces disposed in spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another and extending from the head portion to the distal end of the arbor opposite the head portion. The tool includes a replaceable unitary cutting tool which is removably mounted between the opposed surfaces defined by the slot in the arbor.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to deburring tools and is particularly concerned with deburring tools used to deburr apertures having diameters of less than 0.093 inches.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Deburring tools are generally employed to deburr passages bored through workpieces, such as valve bodies and the like, and to put a chamfer on the edges of the holes in the workpieces at the openings of the passages.
One type of deburring tool known in the prior art includes an arbor having an elongated cylindrical body with a cutting tool recess formed using a grinding tool. The recess in the arbors of the prior art extend a fixed distance in the arbor and form a slot having two closed ends. A unitary cutting tool is mounted in the recess of the arbor via mounting means which may include a pin and an adjustable screw. Examples of deburring tools of this type may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,018 issued to Robinson et al. on Apr. 25, 1978 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,463 issued to Robinson on Apr. 3, 1979.
Another type of prior art deburring tool eliminates the use of an arbor and instead employs a two piece cutting tool which forms a bifurcated body to provide a pair of spaced spring arms having cutting blades formed on one or both of the same arms. An example of such a deburring tool can be found at U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,998 issued to Kubicek on Mar. 23, 1982.
While deburring tools known in the prior art function perfectly well to deburr passages having diameters greater than 0.077 inches, to date, such deburring tools have not been used to deburr passages having diameters less than 0.078 inches. This is because, in the past, it has not been possible to manufacture such a tool which would effectively do the job in a cost efficient manner and which would withstand the rigors of use without premature breakage or failure.
As such, it was necessary to deburr such small passages by hand--a time consuming, monotonous and expensive procedure, especially in this day of high-tech automation. Further, the advance of technology has allowed pilot valves" control valves and many other pneumatic and hydraulic devices to be drastically down-sized creating a great need for a tool which could properly deburr very small passages in a cost efficient, effective manner. Prior to the advent of the subject invention, this need had not been met.


A system for interconnecting network devices based on queuing and servicing responses includes one or more processors configured to receive, from a first computer system, an order request for a product or service associated with a second computer system of a plurality of second computer systems. Instantiate an order messaging queue associated with the order request and add an identifier of the first computer system to the order messaging queue. Add an identifier of the second computer system and one of the third computer systems to the order messaging queue. Determine the contents of the communication and based on determining contents of the communication, consult a response rule table to determine a response to the communication. Access the order messaging queue to identify server devices corresponding with servicing the determined response and publish, to the identified server devices.

Users (e.g., online customers, online merchants, delivery personnel) often use online website portals or mobile applications to order items (e.g. order food, grocery). By way of example, users maintain profiles that includes user information (e.g. location information, menu, name) at the online websites. An online ordering process requires multiple stages of online order processing, from when an order is placed to when the order is delivered.
In a situation where a user places an online order requesting food to be delivered, a first stage (of multiple stages) may be for a merchant (e.g. a restaurant) to confirm the order or reject the order based on their availability to process the order. Upon receiving a confirmation of the order from the merchant, a request is sent to a delivery personnel to confirm or reject a pickup of order from the merchant based on their availability, as part of a second stage. Similarly, through the various stages of processing of the online order there are various requests pushed and received across a network that results in utilization of numerous network resources. As these requests are pushed and received there are network delays between the responses that effect the network performance and thus negatively impacting user experience, which leads to inconvenience to the users.
Current solutions for managing online orders are generally ineffective in reducing and managing delays from the time an order is placed to the time the order is received by the user. In the current marketplace, processing of online orders is performed by various network devices across multiple networks, however there is no systematic method available that would reduce time delays between processing of orders across multiple network devices. Accordingly, current solutions for managing online order processing do not have the ability to consolidate, track, or analyze time delays and thus are ineffective, inflexible, and/or inefficient, resulting in reduced network processing efficiency. Moreover, there is a need for a system that monitors and reduces time delays incurred by merchants and delivery personnel.

Systems and methods for interconnecting network devices based on queuing and servicing responses


There is provided a seat assembly for use in a downhole oil pump ball valve. The assembly includes a seat, a seat rest, and a ball. The seat is used for seating the ball of the ball valve. The seat has an outer wall and a top surface and a curved shoulder surface between the outer wall and the top surface. The seat rest receives the seat, and the seat rest has a curved corner surface so that when the seat is assembled with the seat rest the seat and seat rest are in substantial contact at all points of the curved shoulder surface and the curved corner surface.

As the natural pressure in a completed oil well gradually depletes, the well may require a means known as artificial lift to continue the flow of petroleum reserves from their subterranean location to the earth's surface. Various forms of artificial lift are known including, for example, gas injection, water injection, and mechanical pumping. Petroleum engineers select a form of artificial lift depending on a number of criteria including, for example, formation geology and economics. The sucker rod pump is a well-known kind of mechanical pump that is widely used in the petroleum industry.
The sucker rod pumping system typically includes a means of providing a reciprocating (up and down) mechanical motion located at the surface near the well head. A string of sucker rods—up to more than a mile in length—is connected to the mechanical means. The sucker rod string is fed through the well tubing down hole where it is connected to the pump.
As is generally known in the art, a sucker rod pump includes at least two separate valves as well as other pump components such as a barrel, plunger, and anchor. Beginning at the south end, oil pumps generally include a standing valve, which has a ball therein, the purpose of which is to regulate the passage of oil (or other substance being pumped) from downhole into the pump, allowing the pumped matter to be moved northward out of the system and into the flow line, while preventing the pumped matter from dropping back southward into the hole. Oil is permitted to pass through the standing valve and into the pump by the movement of the ball off its seat, and oil is prevented from dropping back into the hole by the seating of the ball. North of the standing valve, coupled to the sucker rod, is a traveling valve. The purpose of the traveling valve is to regulate the passage of oil from within the pump northward in the direction of the flow line, while preventing the pumped oil from dropping back in the direction of the standing valve and hole.
Actual movement of the pumped substance through the system will now be discussed. Oil is pumped from a hole through a series of "downstrokes" and "upstrokes" of the oil pump, which motion is imparted by the above-ground pumping unit. During the upstroke, formation pressure causes the ball in the standing valve to move upward, allowing the oil to pass through the standing valve and into the barrel of the oil pump. This oil will be held in place between the standing valve and the traveling valve. In the traveling valve, the ball is located in the seated position, held there by the pressure from the oil that has been previously pumped.
On the downstroke, the ball in the traveling valve unseats, permitting the oil that has passed through the standing valve to pass therethrough. Also during the downstroke, the ball in the standing valve seats, preventing pumped oil from moving back down into the hole. The process repeats itself again and again, with oil essentially being moved in stages from the hole, to above the standing valve and in the oil pump, to above the traveling valve and out of the oil pump. As the oil pump fills, the oil passes through the pump and into the tubing. As the tubing is filled, the oil passes into the flow line, from which oil is taken to a storage tank or other such structure.
Presently known designs of sucker rod pumps suffer from several shortcomings in various areas of the design. The ball and seat components used in both the traveling valve and the standing valve are exposed to wear. The seat components are also subject to high pressures, particularly in deep wells, which can lead to cracking. Hence, it would be desired to develop sucker rod pumps having valves that display improved wear and cracking resistance.

Sucker rod pump with improved ball and seat


The invention provides a semiconductor package with a through silicon via (TSV) interconnect and a method for fabricating the same. An exemplary embodiment of the semiconductor package with a TSV interconnect includes a semiconductor substrate. A through hole is formed through the semiconductor substrate. A TSV interconnect is disposed in a through hole. A conductive layer lines a sidewall of the through hole, surrounding the TSV interconnect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package with a through silicon via (TSV) interconnect and a method for fabricating the same, and in particular, to a noise coupling suppression structure for a semiconductor package with a through silicon via (TSV) interconnect and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
For electronics engineering, a through silicon via (TSV) is a vertical electrical connection which passes completely through a silicon wafer or die. A TSV is formed by high performance techniques, when compared to alternatives such as package-on-package. A TSV is used to create three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor packages and 3D integrated circuits. The density of the via of a TSV is substantially higher than alternatives as the length of connections thereby are shorter.
An insulating liner of the conventional TSV serves as a capacitor between the silicon wafer and the TSV via plug. In high speed applications (e.g. RF applications), the electrical impedance of the conventional TSVs are reduced due to the insulating liner. When high speed circuits (e.g. digital circuits) transmit signals, the signals are coupled from the high speed circuits to other nodes such as the TSVs of analog circuits. Thus, noise coupling effect occurs and interferes with the other sensitive circuits (e.g. analog circuits), affecting the overall performance of the semiconductor package, which requires a high clock rate and analog precision.
Thus, a novel noise coupling suppression structure for a semiconductor package with a TSV interconnect is desirable.

Semiconductor package with through silicon via interconnect and method for fabricating the same


An apparatus is provided which includes a reaction cartridge having a plurality of reaction wells having different reagents disposed thereon, at least one well adapted to receive a sample, a well containing particles adapted to bind to the sample and which have the capability of being separated from cells which are not bound to the separation particles and at least one fluorophore adapted to bind to a specific type of cell in the sample, and a wash area adapted for washing a probe. An image forming device is provided to detect images which indicate whether specific reactions have occurred in each of the reaction wells. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for dispensing and aspirating liquids including a mechanism for detecting liquid levels. The device further includes logic for analyzing the information received from the image detection apparatus and processing the information to generate a visual indication of the results of the assays being performed. A microprocessor is provided to assist in the operation of the device as well as in the image processing.

The present invention relates generally to an automated apparatus and method for performing assay testing on specimens, such as biological specimens. More specifically, the invention is directed to an automated apparatus and method for assay procedures to detect the compatibility of tissue or blood from a donor to a recipient.
Modern test procedures for determining or measuring the optical or electrochemical development of unknown specimens are used extensively in a number of medical testing procedures. In such tests, sample specimens are reacted with reagents and other substances. Such known procedures involve a variety of different assay steps but typically rely on detection and measurement of optical changes in a sample or label during the assay procedure. For example, a number of well known procedures use single or multi-wavelength fluorescence. These and other immunoassay techniques are known as Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA), solid phase agglutination, stained cellular morphology, Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), chemolumination, spectrophotometric assays.
Other currently used assay techniques are effected by exposing the resulting sample to either transillumination or reflectant illumination. These assay procedures involve detecting the intensity of colorization, detecting ratio of multiple wavelengths of colorization, detecting the polarization in the sample, determining the size and quantity of specific cells at certain wavelengths, the general cell morphology or other optical characteristics of the results. The data from these procedures is then processed in a known manner to obtain the concentration or ratio of the component (or components) of interest. These techniques, however, have not been completely accepted and usually manual analysis is also performed as a check or verification.
One assay procedure of particular interest is a procedure known as Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing. This procedure is employed in matching tissue, body organs or blood from a donor to a recipient. In this HLA procedure, lymphocytes in samples containing human cells are first reacted with different antisera. The cell-serum mixture is then incubated with a complement. One or more stains are added to the mixture, with one of the stains staining dead cells. The reactions are then evaluated by calculating the ratio of dead cells (lyced cells) to live cells. The calculations are performed by using a microscope and estimating the ratio. This ratio is converted into a "score" ranging from 1-8 by using a well-known value scale.
In this HLA procedure, as well as other assay procedures, paramagnetic particles are coated with an antibody. The paramagnetic particles are then mixed with a sample to be analyzed. The antibody on the paramagnetic particles binds to specific cells in the sample. These specific cellular components may then be separated from the other cells in the population which is being tested using magnetic separation techniques. Alternatively the cells may be separated by using a nylon wool column. After the cells have been reacted with the antibody, the sample mixture is subjected to a series of operations such as particle exposure, reagent exposure, incubation, and washing. The cells in the sample may also be stained with one or more chemical markers as discussed above with respect to HLA assays. The sample is then analyzed. Typically, the sample will be analyzed manually by the technician. This manual analysis usually involves a visual analysis to determine the approximate percentage of the cells which have reacted with the antibody.
A significant shortcoming of these and other available assay techniques is that most of the steps in the procedure must be performed manually. For example, most of these procedures require manual preparation of the sample. Further, steps such as dispensing, mixing, washing, incubation, data collection, scoring and recording are also performed manually. Thus, most available assay techniques require a significant amount of human operator time.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, manual performance of these steps is also undesirable since it results in numerous opportunities for errors to occur. This is especially true for highly repetitive functions. The probability of errors is further amplified by the fact that many of these procedures require pipetting of very small volumes, i.e. usually of sub-microliter volumes. Further, scoring of thousands of reactions using a microscope and pencil also increase the probability of errors in the analysis.
A further drawback is the subjectivity which is permitted to the individual performing the test. This subjectivity may lead to inconsistent results, not only from assay to assay, but inconsistent analysis during the numerous repetitions in the same assay.
Although some available HLA assay devices automate individual steps, most of the steps in these devices are still performed manually. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,886 (Kawahara et al.) discloses an apparatus for HLA typing which uses a phase-contrast microscope and an optical image to generate a signal which is detected by an electrical signal pickup unit. The image is then binarized and compared with predetermined template patterns corresponding to reacted or non-reacted lymphocyte. Although the scoring of the results is automated, the preparation, incubation and washing of the sample must still be performed manually by the operator.
Further, this apparatus uses dedicated electronic hardware to score the HLA typing test. As discussed in more detail below, anomalies such as dirt or dust in the sample, scratches in the sample container, or unusually large cells would result in unreliable or erroneous results. In fact, without redesign for such possible variations, many human readable samples are unreadable by this apparatus. Variations in the procedures used by the operator preparing the samples may also lead to unreliable results without major redesign of the system. In summary, any expansion of the apparatus to score assays other than those it was specifically designed for is difficult and costly, requiring major redesign of the hardware for each assay.
Another major disadvantage of available automated systems, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,886, in that they are designed for a specific assay procedure (such as HLA typing). It is not possible to perform assays for which the instrument was not originally designed without major redesign of the hardware and or software. Such major redesign is impracticable and thus the use of available instruments is limited to a single type of assay.
Precise dispensing of the sample in reaction wells is also critical for accurate assay results. In HLA typing the dispensing is usually performed manually. A typical manual dispensing operation may include dispensing sample volume of from 0.5 .mu.l to 1.0 .mu.l into a volume of from 0.5 .mu.l to 2.0 .mu.l of a reagent which is covered by from 2.5 .mu.l to .mu.l of mineral oil. (The oil is used to prevent evaporation of the reagents.) It will be appreciated that performing this dispensing step involves a significant amount of operator time, which increases as the number of different reagents increases. Further, the operator will usually insert the tip of the pipette below the bottom surface of the oil and into the reagent itself. In order to prevent carryover from one reaction site to the next, the operator will typically manually wipe the tip of the probe thus consuming more operator time and increasing the chances for erroneous results.
If automated assay apparatus and methods are to be used in HLA assay procedures, they must be capable of very precise monitoring of liquid levels and precise control of liquid dispensing mechanisms (such as a pipette). Precise dispensing mechanisms are particularly important in HLA typing since, as discussed above, very small volumes of liquids (sub-microliters) have to be dispensed usually into a container which contains another liquid. Although some automated liquid dispensing systems are presently available, they are not completely suited for dispensing liquids in assays such as HLA typing. Available automated liquid dispensing systems usually work by detecting the liquid level in a container and then determining the position of the dispensing probe relative to the liquid surface. This information is then used to determine when the probe tip is within the liquid in the sample container. After the liquid surface has been detected and it has been determined that the probe is in the fluid, fluid may be dispensed into or aspirated from the container. The precision of the liquid dispensing system will thus depend in part on the precision of the liquid level detection.
The limited potential for available liquid level detection and fluid dispensing systems in HLA assay typing is due to the fact that they typically use a capacitance method to detect the liquid surface as a pipetting probe moves towards the liquid in a sample container. Dispensing liquids in volumes smaller than one microliter is complicated in such capacitive or conductance systems since the oil which covers the reagent has a low dielectric constant. The dielectric constant of oil is only two times greater than the dielectric constant of air rendering most capacitive detection methods unreliable for detection of the oil surface. Further, because of the high resistivity of the oil, available conductance methods cannot be used accurately.
Available capacitive type dispensing systems also do not have any means for determining when a droplet of the sample is formed on the dispensing probe or when a droplet of the sample has been separated or released from the probe tip. The ability to detect the occurrence of one or both of these events is important information which could be used to improve the accuracy and reliability of the dispensing system.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a liquid level detection and liquid dispensing arrangement capable of detecting very small amounts of liquid (down to fractions of a microliter) and with the capability of detecting the level of a liquid having a low dielectric constant.
Another area of assay testing where significant improvements are necessary is in the area of image processing used for counting reactions. Although photomultiplier tubes have been previously used in some HLA readers, they are not without disadvantages and have not been readily accepted in the market. These readers use the photomultiplier tube as a fluorescent densitometer to measure the overall light output from the reaction site for each wavelength. This is acceptable for ideal samples but produces critical errors if any contaminants, such as dirt, dust, or other interfering substances or other anomalies, such as scratches, are in the reaction site. The errors arise because this approach cannot determine the features in an object, such as shape or size of particulates in the reaction site. Therefore, there is a need for an instrument with improved discriminations of features within the field of view of the imaging device. Although higher magnification and selective mask techniques may be developed for the photomultiplier tube to yield the desired selectivity, the cost, reliability and throughput of such a device would make it impractical. In addition, such devices do not produce an image to which a human technician is accustomed and therefore it would be difficult for a technician to score the results on that image to confirm the instrument generated results.
Therefore, in view of the above it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for automatic processing of a qualitative, quantitative or morphological analysis of test specimens including serum, plasma or cellular components as well as other non-biological specimens.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an automated instrument for performing HLA typing, including automated cell preparation, automated sample processing, and automated reading of the results.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for performing an assay on a disposable or reusable cartridge on which the specimen to be analyzed may be placed and which will be analyzed by an automated instrument.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an analytical instrument with a liquid dispensing and liquid level detection system which can control liquid dispensing of very small volumes, accurately determine liquid levels even in liquids with a relatively low dielectric constant, and determine droplet formation and separation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a detection system which can detect the interface between liquids with different dielectric constants.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an analyzing instrument with powerful, cost-effective and efficient image processing for automated sizing and counting of data.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is field upgradeable to perform different types of assays.


The present invention is embodied in a technique for precise and accurate height control in fabricating solder bumps or joints formed from a solder bump or bumps. A solder bump is formed by reflow of a conical solder body having base diameter D, height H and cone angle .theta., and has truncated sphere shape, with height h and truncation diameter d. We have found that D, H, and d can be selected such that .differential.h/.differential.H is small (typically .ltoreq.0.5), indicative of relative insensitivity of the bump height to variation in the height of the conical solder body. The inventive process is also applicable to a component (e.g., a laser) solder-bonded to a substrate, and can provide previously unattainable control of the spacing between component and substrate.

In, e.g., the communication and computer related fields, there exists the need for the fusion of electrical and optical technologies. To facilitate the fusion, packaging of optical fibers and associated optoelectronic components must be advanced. The cost of producing optical and optoelectronic modules is typically dominated by the cost of packaging of the devices rather than the cost of the devices. One aspect of device packaging is the bonding of, e.g., devices, components, assemblies or semiconductor chips (collectively "components") to a substrate. A bonding approach which has been used extensively by the electronics industry is the the flip-chip solder bump technique.
Although solder bump bonding is well established in the electronics industry, only recently has this approach been used in conjunction with optical and optoelectronic components. These new uses of solder bump bonding have revealed limitations of the technique which typically are not of concern in the established applications of the technique. For example, optical and optoelectronic bonding involves more demanding alignment tolerances than are customary in electronic bonding. In the latter, alignment in the substrate plane is typically the only concern. Usually, as long as the wettable pads are correctly positioned on the substrate, the components will be correctly positioned. Alignment in the direction normal to the substrate (z-direction) typically has not been a significant concern in electronic packaging. However, when bonding optical and/or optoelectronic components to a substrate, the components frequently not only need to be accurately aligned in the plane of the substrate (x and y directions) but also in the direction normal to the substrate (z-direction). Exemplarily, if the alignment of an optical waveguide with respect to the associated laser radiation source is off by even 1 .mu.m in any direction, the optical coupling efficiency of the combination can be too low to be acceptable.
Solder bonding a component to a substrate such that the positional variation in the direction normal to the substrate is within, e.g., .+-.1 .mu.m is difficult. Thus, a process which can satisfy the stringent alignment requirements, especially in the z-direction, that are encountered in optical and optoelectronic packaging is much needed and could significantly reduce the packaging costs associated with optical and optoelectronic packaging. This application discloses such a process.

Method of making an article comprising solder bump bonding


A method of mixing introduced relatively cold air with warmer air in a room which comprises directing a stream of high-velocity very cool air from jet orifices in the room wall at adult eye level upwardly along the wall to the ceiling, thus thoroughly mixing the introduced and room air and reducing their differential in temperature and velocity virtually to zero by the time the air stream reaches the ceiling.

As cold air is introduced into room air in an air conditioning system it is important to mix them thoroughly to achieve uniform floor to ceiling temperatures. In commercial applications and many residential applications as well introduced air is mixed with the ambient room air by utilizing difusers or air distributors from which the introduced air passes to the room through grilles or slots. Air conditioning systems in which the introduced air volume is made variable by valving means commonly employ a fan-powered box in which air is pulled from the room to maintain needed air velocity and performance in the difuser when only partial cooling is required. Alternatively, induction without a fan in the box has also been used.
Coolness storage by means of ice banks made it possible to lower substantially the temperature of duct air to as much as 43.degree. to 45.degree. F. and this permitted primary fan motors to be substantially reduced in size and energy consumption. It was discovered, however, that fan-powered boxes were necessary to avoid drafts and unacceptable variations in room temperature and after some experience it was concluded that multiple fans in the boxes were more than cancelling the energy savings of the fewer large primary fan motors.
In contrast to the use of multiple difusers and fan-powered boxes in commercial office spaces, it was the practice several decades ago in residential air conditioning systems that cooler introduced air could be mixed with warmer room air by means of high-velocity jets blowing downwardly from jet orifices in the ceiling of a residential room. With these high-velocity air jets the temperature of the emitted air stream would drop close to ambient very quickly and thus eliminate the need for conventional distribution systems. The high-velocity jets were commonly located in the ceiling at the corners of the residential room so that the emitted air stream would be directed into essentially unoccupied spaces.
Variable air volume was achieved in those residential high-velocity jet installations by varying the jet orifice size, and this was done by expansion and contraction of a wax capsule exposed to ambient room air, as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,235,178. The air streams from the jet orifices had a velocity of approximately 2,000 feet per minute and lost that velocity rapidly as the streams and mixed with ambient air. The temperature and velocity differential was reduced almost by half in the first four orifice diameters away from the orifice and reached zero at twenty orifice diameters away from the orifice. In an eight foot high residential room with two inch diameter orifice the temperature and velocity delta were virtually zero by the time the introduced air flow reached floor level.
Down-flow high-velocity mixing of this type was not acceptable in large commercial rooms because unoccupied corners or other spaces were not normally available and jets blowing air streams downwardly on occupants caused unacceptable drafts. In addition conventional commercial ceilings of removable suspended panels did not lend themselves to ceiling outlets.

Method of mixing cold introduced air with warmer room air


A method and apparatus tracks and blocks content requested by a first remote device for forwarding over a network to a second remote device. For a given content item, one or more usage identities are tracked. Usage identities may include any combination of one or more of a source identity, a content identity, and/or a destination identity. One or more thresholds associated with the tracked usage identities are applied to determine whether a request to forward content should be blocked; a threshold is a limit on the number of times a content item having a particular usage identity may be forwarded within a time period. Misuse of content-forwarding messaging services by spammers and the like may thereby be discouraged. In one embodiment, the invention may be employed as part of a content clipping service for forwarding content to mobile devices by way of SMS or another mobile messaging technology.

The problem of spam in established communication technologies, such as electronic mail, is well-recognized. Spam may include unsolicited messages sent by a computer user over a network to a large number of recipients, sometimes including attached files or hyperlinks. Spam includes unsolicited commercial messages, but spam has come to be understood more broadly to additionally include unsolicited messages sent to a large number of recipients, and/or to a targeted user or targeted domain, for malicious, disruptive, or abusive purposes, regardless of commercial content. For example, a spammer might send messages in bulk to a particular domain to exhaust its resources.
Spam has more recently emerged as a problem afflicting other means of communicating over networks, such as messaging technologies for mobile devices and instant messaging (IM) systems. Spam may be especially harmful to providers and users of these messaging technologies, which are often characterized by immediacy and/or reduced bandwidth. Moreover, with respect to mobile messaging, spam may impose a direct cost on users, who are often charged for each message, such as a Short Message Service (SMS) text message, received by a mobile telephone or other mobile device.
Clipping services provide a mechanism by which a messaging technology, such as SMS, IM, or the like, may be employed to enable a user at one remote device to provide a selected clip of content to another remote device. If the clipping service is made generally available to network users, however, it is at risk of being exploited by spammers. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations, and others, that the present invention has been made.

Tracking and blocking of spam directed to clipping services


A wheelchair lifting apparatus attachable beneath an undercarriage of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame positionable directly beneath and attachable to the undercarriage, a carriage slidably carried for horizontal movement on the frame lateral to the vehicle, and a lifting platform slidably carried on the frame in end-to-end proximity to the carriage for horizontal movement dependent upon movement of the carriage. An actuator is connected between the frame and the carriage and being operably arranged to effect movement of the carriage and the platform between the retracted and extended position of the platform. The frame and the actuator are cooperatively configured with the platform to lower and raise the platform while in the extended position with the wheelchair and user thereatop.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to mobility access devices, and more particularly to a wheelchair lifting apparatus attachable beneath the floor or frame structure of a vehicle for assisting a wheelchair user in entering and exiting the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Ramp access for wheelchair confined drivers and passengers are well known which facilitate a physically challenged wheelchair user in accessing into and exiting from a vehicle such as a van without the need for manual assist. Ramp access is typically facilitated from either the side or the rear of the vehicle and various mechanisms have been provided to extend and retract the ramp on demand.
One such device invented by Navarro and assigned to The Braun Corporation teaches an access system for passenger boarding into the side opening of a van as facilitated by a unique drive mechanism for pivotally deploying and retracting the ramp. The Braun Corporation owns another pending application invented by Kiser which teaches a linear drive system for reversibly operating a wheelchair ramp as facilitated by another unique drive apparatus.
The present invention teaches a vertically movable platform rather than a pivotally deployable ramp, the platform being supported by and within a frame connectable beneath the floor or undercarriage of a vehicle such as a van. The platform is movable horizontally within the frame and is laterally extendable from the vehicle beneath a side opening of the vehicle and then, with a single actuator, vertically moves the platform downwardly to the ground for wheelchair loading. Thereafter, the single drive mechanism which may be either a cable winch or a hydraulic actuator, may be actuated to lift the platform for loading the wheelchair into the vehicle and then is retracted beneath the vehicle into the frame. Very little, if any, modification to the vehicle itself is required where convenient attachment to the frame is accessible beneath a vehicle door.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


An apparatus including a network processor and a host system for monitoring packet communications on a packet network. The network processor captures all packets on a link of the network in real-time, to thereby capture communications transmitted via packet on the link. Each communication has at least one corresponding packet media stream. The host system communicates with the network processor to detect the packet media streams from the captured packets and to analyze the detected packet media streams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network processor and a host system which operate together to capture all Internet Protocol (IP) communications on a link of a high-speed packet network and provide, for example, a quality of service analysis or flow analysis of the captured communications. The communications might be, for example, voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone calls.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communications are often transmitted over a high-speed, packet network. For example, a communication might be a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone call comprised of signaling packets and corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) packet media streams. The signaling packets include information indicating, for example, when the VOIP telephone call is initiated, when the VOIP telephone call ends, what parties are participating in the VOIP telephone call, etc. The signaling packets would typically be based on a signaling protocol such as, for example, SIP. SIP is a well-known protocol used for signaling packets of a VOIP telephone call. However, many other signaling protocols are available.
The packet media streams (often referred to as "flows") are formed of media packets which carry data. If the communication is a VOIP telephone call, the media packets would typically be real-time protocol (RTP) packets. RTP is a well-known protocol used for media packets of a VOIP telephone call.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the use of a call signaling analyzer to monitor a VOIP telephone call. Referring now to FIG. 1, a call signaling analyzer 4 is directly connected to a network link 6 of a network under test. Call signal analyzer 4 can detect the signaling packets (i.e., the SIP packets) for a respective VOIP telephone call transmitted over network link 6.
However, call signaling analyzer 4 cannot detect the packet media streams (i.e., the RTP packets). Therefore, with call signaling analyzer 4 in FIG. 1, only information conveyed by the signaling packets can be monitored. For example, from the signaling packets, it can be determined when the VOIP telephone call is initiated, when the VOIP telephone call ends, what parties are participating in the VOIP telephone call, etc.
Unfortunately, since call signaling analyzer 4 cannot detect the packet media streams, call signaling analyzer 4 cannot analyze or monitor information conveyed by the packet media streams.
Further, since the processing power of call signaling analyzer 4 is relatively limited, call signaling analyzer 4 can be overwhelmed by all the packets traveling on network link 6. For this reason, call signaling analyzer is typically used to detect and monitor the signaling packets for only a single, respective VOIP telephone call at one time, and cannot simultaneously detect and monitor the signaling packets for all the VOIP telephone calls being transmitted through network link 6.

Real-time protocol (RTP) flow analysis using network processor


A device for positioning a lawnmower such that the undercarriage may be accessed for maintenance and/or repair includes a stabilizer for insertion into the ground and a retainer connected to the stabilizer for holding the lawnmower handle adjacent the ground, thereby tilting the lawnmower relative to the ground such that the undercarriage is accessible. The device may further include a handle connected to the stabilizer for inserting the stabilizer into and removing the stabilizer from the ground. The handle may be connected to an extender to reduce the amount of bending required of the user when inserting the device into and removing the device from the ground.

The present invention generally relates to lawnmower maintenance and repair, and more specifically to a device for tilting a walk-behind lawnmower relative to the ground such that the undercarriage may be accessed for maintenance and/or repair.
It is well known that a properly maintained lawnmower lasts longer and performs more efficiently. One difficulty with maintaining walk-behind lawnmowers is accessing the lawnmower undercarriage to remove grass clippings, lubricate the blade drive mechanisms, and sharpen or replace the blades. Typically, this is a two-person task. One person must hold the handle of the lawnmower near the ground, thereby tilting the lawnmower backward on its rear wheels. The other person then performs the necessary maintenance and/or repair. This approach is undesirable because two people are required, and further because the person holding the lawnmower handle may accidentally release the handle and drop the lawnmower.
Alternatively, some lawnmower owners tilt their lawnmowers sideways on the ground to access the undercarriage. This approach is also undesirable because lawnmowers are generally not designed to lay on their sides. Engine fluids may spill or enter areas of the engine where the fluids may damage or affect the operation of the lawnmower.
The present invention provides a device for permitting one person to safely position a lawnmower such that the undercarriage may be accessed for maintenance and/or repair. In one embodiment, the device includes a stabilizer for insertion into the ground and a retainer connected to the stabilizer for receiving the lawnmower handle and holding it adjacent the ground, thereby tilting the lawnmower onto its rear wheels such that the undercarriage is accessible. The device may further include a handle connected to the stabilizer for inserting and removing the stabilizer. The handle may be located at the end of an elongated extender connected to the stabilizer so that less bending is required when inserting the device into, or removing the device from the ground.


A stapler for binding a stack of sheets includes a base, a staple driving mechanism coupled to the base, and a sheet locating device coupled to the base. The sheet locating device includes a guide having first and second guide members and is movable with respect to the staple driving mechanism from a first rotational orientation relative to the staple driving mechanism to a second rotational orientation. The stapler can be used to perform a method of stapling wherein a first stack of sheets receives a staple in a first rotational orientation with respect to the guide, and a second stack of sheets receives a staple in a second rotational orientation with respect to the guide by moving the guide between first and second rotational orientations.

Staplers, both manual and electric, are used to impart a staple to bind together a stack of sheets, such as sheets of paper. It is often desirable to maneuver the orientation of the stack of paper within the stapler to vary the orientation of the staple with respect to the stack of papers. Currently-used staplers, electric staplers in particular, make it difficult for the user to control the orientation of the staple with respect to the stack of papers as it is difficult for the user to determine when and where the placement of the stack of papers within the electric stapler will trigger the staple driving mechanism.


The overlay of two flow control techniques independently controls the data rate and transmission window size to control congestion in a split radio access architecture comprising a packet processing node (100) that provides user data to one or more baseband processing nodes (200). In particular, the packet processing node (100) determines a data rate for providing the user data to a baseband processing node (200) responsive to air interface feedback received from the baseband processing node (200), and determines a transmission window size for providing user data to the baseband processing node (200) responsive to transport network congestion feedback received from the baseband processing node (200). In so doing, the solution presented herein achieves a high data throughput while also being Internet/TCP compatible.

The 5G split architecture divides the LTE Digital Unit into 2 nodes: a packet processing unit (PPU) and one or more baseband processing units (BPUs), as shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that the PPU and BPU may also be referred to as the Central Unit (CU) and Distributed Unit (DU), respectively, e.g., as for 3GPP. Each (radio) bearer will have one bearer buffer in the PPU. User data is then scheduled from the bearer buffer in the PPU via one or more BPUs and down to the UE. The difference compared to the traditional LTE eNB is that the 5G split architecture RAN will include a front-haul transport.
The transfer of data over the front-haul is controlled for best performance. This means that the bottleneck buffer is controlled at least when in congestion. Conventional congestion control solutions may achieve a high data throughput, e.g., using multi-leg transfers as with Dual Connectivity, or may be Internet/TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) compatible. Both goals, however, are currently not achievable. Thus, there remains a need for improved congestion control solutions, particularly in split architecture systems.