The present invention provides porous biomimetic scaffolds and methods for making the same. The scaffolds have graded pore sizes for enhanced cell penetration. The scaffolds are useful for wound regeneration by facilitating cell penetration into the scaffold interior and due to their inherent immunomodulatory effects. The scaffolds have tissue modeling specification by mimicking the inherent stratified structure of certain tissues.

Chronic wound care imposes enormous financial burden to both the US healthcare system and personal payers. Currently, the annual cost associated with non-healing/hard to heal skin wounds amounts to about 25 billion dollars (Witherel C E et al., Wound Repair and Regeneration 24.3 (2016): 514-524). However, in spite of all the costs, the patients' need for living a normal life without any pain or scarring are barely met. While autografting is one of the more common method practiced in skin replacement, morbidity, mortality, and size limitations in terms of the area of donor skin available for transplantation are still issues.
Alternative treatment modalities include the application of bioactive wound dressings, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), or bioengineered skin replacements. Application of wound dressings while effectively balancing the moisture of the wound bed can still lead to scarring and necrosis of the tissues. NPWT offers benefits such as faster granulation tissue formation and reduction in wound size, which ultimately leads to a decrease in the necessity to amputate the wounded tissue (Huang C et al., Current problems in surgery 51.7 (2014): 301-331; Bruhin A et al., International Journal of Surgery 12.10 (2014): 1105-1114; Li T et al., Experimental and therapeutic medicine 11.3 (2016): 769-776). However, NPWT is associated with several clinical caveats (Huang C et al., Current problems in surgery 51.7 (2014): 301-331; Bruhin A et al., International Journal of Surgery 12.10 (2014): 1105-1114; Orgill D P et al., International wound journal 10.s1 (2013): 15-19). According to recent FDA alerts, NPWT can occasionally lead to severe complications including bleeding and infections.
Application of bioengineered scaffolds in animal models seems to play a role in the restoration of skin appendages, which is not reported in the skin wounds treated with the other two techniques (Har-el Y et al., Wound Medicine 5 (2014): 9-15; Sundaramurthi D et al., Polymer Reviews 54.2 (2014): 348-376). Reestablishment of the skin appendages represents initiation of tissue regeneration, the final and desired stage of the healing process. Prolonged inflammation is a major obstacle to remodeling and regeneration of healing tissues (Wang Z et al., Biomaterials 35.22 (2014): 5700-5710; Mantovani A et al., The Journal of pathology 229.2 (2013): 176-185; Badylak S F et al., Tissue Engineering Part A 14.11 (2008): 1835-1842).
There is a need in the art for scaffolds with improved porous structures. The present invention meets this need.

Graded porous scaffolds as immunomodulatory wound patches

Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education


Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for improving fatigue strength and damage tolerance of metal materials. For example, a system is provided for laser shock peening a metal material, the system comprising: a momentum trap material; a laser; an actuator, capable of pressing the momentum trap material into intimate contact with a first side of the metal material; and an advancer, capable of advancing the momentum trap material relative to the first side of the metal material.

Laser shock peening (also known as the LaserPeen® process, laser shock processing, or laser peening) is an innovative surface treatment for improving the fatigue strength and damage tolerance of metal parts. Laser shock peening drives high amplitude shock waves into a material surface using high intensity laser pulses. The shock waves are used to develop deep compressive residual stresses in the surfaces of fatigue-prone parts. Typically, these stresses penetrate five to ten times deeper than conventional metal shot peening. These compressive surface stresses inhibit the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks.
Before processing, an overlay coating, which may be substantially opaque to the laser beam, may be applied to the material surface being treated. An additional layer, which may be substantially transparent to the laser beam, may be placed over the opaque overlay. The opaque overlay may be, for example, black paint or tape. The transparent overlay may be, for example, flowing water.
The laser pulses pass through the transparent overlay and strike the opaque overlay, causing the opaque overlay to vaporize. The vapor absorbs the remaining laser energy and produces a rapidly expanding plasma plume. Since the expanding plasma is confined momentarily between the surface of the part and the transparent overlay, a rapidly rising high-pressure shock wave is created, which propagates into the part. When the peak stress created by the shock wave is above the dynamic yield strength of the metal, the metal yields, and the metal is "cold worked" or plastically deformed on, and just under, the surface. This plastic deformation results in compressive residual stresses in the surface of the part. The depth and magnitude of the residual stresses depend upon the magnitude and rate of attenuation of the shock wave as it passes through the surface layer, and upon the material properties and the processing conditions specific to the application. Compressive residual stresses typically extend as deep as about 0.040 to about 0.060 inches (about 1.0 to about 1.5 mm) into the surface and can approach the yield strength of the material.
Laser shock peening has been particularly effective at preventing fatigue failures in aircraft engine metal alloy fan and compressor blades. However, the potential application of this process is much broader. The application can encompass aerospace structures, helicopter gears and propulsion components, automotive parts, orthopedic implants, tooling and dies, and numerous other military and industrial components prone to metal fatigue failures.
In some circumstances, particularly those involving metal materials having very thin sections and alloys having low ductility, the high intensity stress waves created during laser shock peening have the potential to cause microstructural damage to the parts being processed. In thin section materials, the compressive stress wave reflects back from the opposite free surface of the part as a relatively high tensile stress wave. In cases where the magnitude of the reflected tensile stress wave exceeds the tensile strength of the material, micro-scale defects can occur. Such damage may include small "microcracks" (typically less than about 0.020 inches in length) or small grain boundary separations between microstructural phases, which tend to be the weakest regions in the material.
The present embodiments disclose methods, systems, and apparatuses for laser shock peening metal materials, including thin metal materials, while preventing or reducing the occurrence of laser shock peening-induced micro-scale defects.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for laser shock peening metal materials


Chemical reactions of superconducting raw materials with active oxygen atoms and their charged particles are accelerated by using at least oxygen plasma in the fabrication process of a superconductive body. Thereby an ionic crystal is grown in a short time, which provides stable superconducting materials of high quality such as high critical temperature and low resistivity. In another aspect, a substrate is irradiated simultaneously with streams of vapor of metal elements, of which a superconductive body is to be composed, and a stream of gas of ions generated in a plasma chamber and film growth is effected while keeping the substrate at a temperature higher than 400.degree. C. to produce a ceramic type superconductive thin film.

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating superconductive bodies, and in particular to a method for fabricating high temperature oxide superconducting materials.
A superconducting material (La, Ba).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 having a K.sub.2 NiF.sub.4 type structure, which Bednorz and Muller have discovered in 1986, has shown a critical temperature as high as 30K. In 1987, it has been found that YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x having a perovskite type structure has a still higher critical temperature T.sub.c =90K and it has shown the superconductive state even at the liquid nitrogen temperature.
By a prior art fabrication method, as disclosed in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 26, No. 5 (1987) pp. L676-L677, e.g. in the case of the Y-Ba-Cu-O oxide superconductive body, powders of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, BaCO.sub.3 and CuO were mixed at a suitable ratio and calcited in the atmosphere or in a oxygen gas medium at a temperature of 950.degree. C. for one hour. Thereafter, it was shaped in a suitable form such as pellets, etc. and sintered in the atmosphere or in an oxygen at a temperature of 900.degree. C. for about 18-19 hours by means of an electric furnace 9, as indicated in FIG. 2, in which a reference numeral 1 represents a high temperature superconductive body obtained by sintering a pellet made of the superconducting material 10 having the composition described above and 2 indicates a substrate.
The prior art technique stated above had problems that fabrication took a long time, that no attention was paid to mixing of impurities, etc., that productivity and stability were unsatisfactory, etc.
The present invention relates to superconducting materials used for high output magnets, Josephson devices, SQUID, etc. and in particular also to a method for fabricating oxide superconductive thin films working at temperatures higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen.
A representative method for fabricating superconductive thin film is published in Japanese J. of Appl. Phys., Vol. 26, No. 5 (1987) pp. L709-L710.
Since the crystal structure of the thin films fabricated by the prior art techniques is complicated and on the other hand fabrication thereof is inevitable for electronic devices, there was a problem that it was difficult to obtain thin films of high quality.

Method for fabricating superconducting materials and superconductive thin films


A heat exchanger unit of the air conditioning apparatus includes a first heat exchanger including a first body, a first introduction opening provided at an upper end portion of the first body, and a first discharge opening formed at a corner portion on one side of a lower end portion of the first body and having an elliptic shape; and a second heat exchanger including a second body, a second introduction opening connected to the first discharge opening, provided at a corner portion on one side of a lower portion of the second body, and having an elliptic shape corresponding to that of the first discharge opening, and a second discharge opening provided at a corner portion on the other side of an upper end portion of the second body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly to a heat changer unit of an air conditioning apparatus including a dehumidifying function.
2. Description of the Related Art
An air conditioning apparatus including a dehumidifying function can be categorized into two types based on the dehumidifying method, that is, a cooling type and a non-cooling type.
The cooling dehumidification type air conditioning apparatus performs dehumidification by cooling an exterior air making contact with an evaporator to a temperature below a dew point and liquefying moisture contained in the exterior air. In the cooling dehumidification type, the exterior air is discharged into an interior of a room in the cooled state so that temperature of the interior of the room cannot be constantly maintained. Further, since the moisture cannot be liquefied in a case in which the temperature difference between the evaporator and the interior of the room is not large, dehumidification cannot be performed. Furthermore, since the evaporator should maintain a cooled state at the temperature below the dew point of the exterior air, excessive energy should be used, thereby increasing the maintenance cost. For those reasons, the non-cooling dehumidifying method is used which does not cool the exterior air.
A general air conditioning apparatus of the non-cooling dehumidification type includes a desiccant unit for removing moisture from the introduced exterior air, a heater unit for removing the moisture from the desiccant unit and drying and reproducing the desiccant unit, a fan motor unit for blowing the reproduction air heated by the heater unit to the desiccant unit, and a heat exchanger unit for allowing the reproduction air of a high temperature and a high humidity, which has passed through the desiccant unit, to exchange heat with the exterior air.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger unit includes a first heat exchanger 10 and a second heat exchanger 20.
A first introduction opening 12 through which the reproduction air of a high temperature and a high humidity, which has passed through the desiccant unit, is provided at an upper end portion of the first heat exchanger 10 and a first discharge opening 14 through which the reproduction air introduced through the introduction opening 12 is discharged is provided at a corner portion of one side of a lower end portion thereof.
A second introduction opening 22 connected to the first discharge opening 14 is provided at a corner portion on one side of a lower end portion of the second heat exchanger 20 and a second discharge opening 24 through which the reproduction air introduced through the second introduction opening 22 is provided at a corner portion of the other side of an upper end portion thereof.
On the other hand, a plurality of interior passages are formed in the interiors of the first and second heat exchangers 10 and 20, respectively, and slits S through which the exterior air passes are formed between the interior passages.
The efficiency of the heat exchanger unit having the above-mentioned structure depends on flow uniformity of the reproduction air in the first and second heat exchangers 10 and 20 and the paths along which the reproduction air passes through the first and second heat exchangers 10 and 20. In other words, as the flow uniformity of the reproduction air becomes higher and the path of the reproduction air becomes longer, the heat exchange efficiency is improved further. For the reason, the first discharge opening 14 and the second introduction opening 22 are located at corner portions on sides of lower end portions of the first and second heat exchangers 10 and 20, and the second discharge opening 24 is located at a corner portion on the other side of an upper end portion of the second heat exchanger.
According to the structure of the introduction openings 12 and 22 and the discharge openings 14 and 24, the flow path of the reproduction air can be lengthened but the flow amount of the reproduction air decreases excessively at a corner portion on the other side of a lower end portion of the first heat exchanger 10 and at a corner portion on the other side of a lower end portion and a corner portion on one side of an upper end portion of the second heat exchanger 20. The heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger unit lowers due to the decreased flow uniformity. If the heat exchange efficiency drops, the devaporizing efficiency by which the reproduction air removes the moisture from the desiccant unit also lowers, thereby decreasing the dehumidifying efficiency of the air conditioning apparatus.

Heat exchanger unit for improving heat exchange efficiency and air conditioning apparatus having the same


A synchronous mechanism of a slide rail includes a first hooked bracket, a second hooked bracket, an inner hook set and an outer hook set. The first hooked bracket and the second hooked bracket are installed on a middle rail, and the inner hook set is installed on an inner rail, and the outer hook set is installed on an outer rail. When the slide rail is pulled out or pushed in, the inner, middle, and outer rails are interacted, so that the inner rail, the middle rail and the outer rail can be moved synchronously when they are pushed in or pulled out, so as to improve the smoothness and stability of the operation and the practicality and service life of the product.

In general, furniture, office desks, cabinets, or industrial rackmount chasses include two parts, respectively: a movable part and a fixed part, and the movable part can be moved with respect to the fixed part for storage or use. Therefore, a conventional three-stage slide rail comprised of an outer rail, a middle rail and an inner rail is adopted to improve the smoothness of the movable components during use, wherein the outer rail is generally fixed to the fixed part, and the inner rail is fixed to the movable part, and the middle rail is coupled between the outer rail and the inner rail by a ball bearing type slide assisting element, so that the inner rail and the middle rail can be pushed or pulled reciprocally in the axial direction with respect to the outer rail in order to pull out or push in the movable part with respect to the fixed part, and such three-stage slide rail can be pulled or pushed to a relatively large extent to achieve the effects of reducing the occupying space significantly for storage, catching the attention of most related manufacturers, and providing a popular useful product.
However, the three-stage slide rail requires an additional linking mechanism in order to fully pull out the middle rail, maintain its fixed status, and pull out the inner rail synchronously in order to obtain the best smoothness and stability of the operation, and such linking mechanism is called "a synchronous mechanism of a slide rail". Since the middle rail is usually situated at an outermost position where the middle rail is pulled out when the slide rail is fully pulled out, and the fixed status of the middle rail is released while the inner rail is retracted and stored in order to receive the middle rail synchronously. Compared with the using status of a conventional movable part (such as a drawer), the slide rail can just provide a way of pulling out the inner rail and the middle rail synchronously to reduce the load stress produced when pulling out the middle rail to improve the service life of the slide rail only, but it still has the drawback of unable to wait for the inner rail to slide to the top of the middle rail into before restoring its original position synchronously. With such arrangement, a very large torque may be exerted onto the middle rail during the process of pushing in the middle rail, and may even damage the middle rail. Facts show that when the slide rail is damaged, the damage usually occurs at the joint between the middle rail and the inner rail. Therefore, it is a difficult problem for related manufacturers to resume the middle rail and the inner rail to their original positions synchronously.
In view of the aforementioned problem, the disclosure of this disclosure based on years of experience to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a synchronous mechanism of a slide rail to obtain a very effective interactive relation by a simple mechanical method to improve the smoothness and stability of the slide rail, so that the slide rail produces become more practical and extensively used in various different products.


Methods, servers, and clients for pushing and/or displaying a splash screen are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a server can receive identification information sent from a client. The identification information can include user identification, a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the client, or a combination thereof. The server can obtain feature information correlated with the identification information from a preset database. The server can configure a splash screen according to the feature information and send the splash screen to the client. The splash screen can be displayed next time when the client is opened up.

A splash screen may be an image appeared on a screen of a client when a user opens up an application program of the client. A splash screen usually displays information including name and/or version of the application program, advertisement, and/or greetings.
Conventionally, the content of a splash screen is targeted to all users. That is, the content of the splash screen seen by all users is the same, and cannot be customized or personalized for each user based on their own characteristics and situations.
It is therefore desirable to provide methods, servers, and clients for pushing and displaying a splash screen as desired.

Method, server, and client for pushing and displaying splash screen

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


The invention concerns an exercise apparatus, especially for exercising the back musculature of a user (10) with a support surface (110) to accommodate the user (10) along the longitudinal axis (30). The reclining area (112) of the support surface (110) is largely formed by a number of transverse elements (120, 120a) arranged in succession on the longitudinal axis (30), which accommodates the user (10) preferably in the prone position, the transverse elements (120, 120a) being mounted to pivot around the longitudinal axis (30) to execute a see-saw movement.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an exercise apparatus. More particularly, the invention concerns an exercise apparatus for exercising the back musculature of the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of massage and exercise apparatuses are known in order to loosen and exercise the spinal area of a user. Thus, a device is described in Utility Model DE 91 09 569 U1 in which a user can execute strengthening exercises in a kneeling position. The user can place his hips and optionally also the thoracic spine on a cushioned, curved support surface. A device is known from DE 103 15 723 A1 in which the spinal column of the user can be twisted during use of the device in a countermovement.
The task of the invention is to devise a versatile and simple to operate exercise apparatus with which a user can loosen and exercise his back musculature.
The task is solved by the features of Claim 1. The additional claims concern advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Exercise apparatus, especially for exercising of the back musculature


An electromagnetic shield assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a frame. The present embodiment is further comprised of an electromagnetic gasket surrounding the frame. The present embodiment is also comprised of an actuating element coupled with the electromagnetic gasket. The actuating element is adapted to retract and deploy a portion of the electromagnetic gasket with respect to the frame to provide an adjustable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield.

In most electronic systems, the desire for smaller devices and the reduced space requirements for installing the smaller devices have resulted in an increased need for efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) containment. Specifically, due to the proximity of the electronics operating within a system and between two or more systems, electromagnetic interference must be contained to ensure that the operation of one device within one system does not deleteriously effect the operation of another device within the same system or an adjacent system.
For example, in a conventional computer chassis/card cage assembly, multiple slots are available to receive corresponding printed circuit assemblies (PCAs). In most cases, each region/slot in the chassis has either a printed circuit assembly (PCA) disposed therein or a filler panel to enclose or seal off regions/slots of the computer chassis which do not have a PCA. Typically, each region/slot utilizes an electromagnetic gasket (e.g., shield) around the bulkhead of the PCA or the filler panel to ensure EMI containment within the system.
In most cases, the utilization of the PCA, filler panel, chassis, and/or any other devices associated therewith are often defined by an industry standard. Typical standards include, for example, the compact peripheral component interconnect (CPCI) standard, and the VersaModular Eurocard (VME) standard. For example, the CPCI standard dictates that the gap between adjacent units (e.g. adjacent filler panels, adjacent PCAs, or a PCA and an adjacent filler panel) be nominally set at 0.30 millimeters. Thus, when multiple adjacent units are used, the stack-up of tolerances may cause some units to be more than 0.30 millimeters apart, while others may be less than 0.30 millimeters apart. Unfortunately, the size and shape of the electromagnetic gasket utilized therewith are based on the same manufacturing tolerances. That is, each electromagnetic gasket has an amount of manufactured spring and compression corresponding to a gap of 0.30 millimeters. However, because just as described it is not uncommon for adjacent units to have a smaller gap, a significant amount of force may be needed to compress the electromagnetic gasket between the two units. In the alternative case, adjacent units may be far enough apart that the electromagnetic gasket may not have enough spring to maintain adequate EMI containment.
In some cases, this mispositioning with respect to the electromagnetic gasket not only results in a loss or degradation of EMI containment, it may also deleteriously prevent or hinder insertion of a PCA or a filler panel. As explained above, adjacent units may actually end up further than 0.30 millimeters apart from each other. As a result, a unit adjacent to these units may have to be placed in a slot that ends up being less than 0.30 millimeters wide. This may make it difficult to insert the latter unit, in particular with the gasket in its correct position.
At present, one approach to fix the problem described above, is to first have all of the necessary panels (or PCAs) loosely connected to the computer chassis. Once all of the panels are in place, the panels are then carefully tightened to the computer chassis in order to insure that EMI seals are maintained. However, such a method is time-consuming, cumbersome, and lacks a desired "Design for Manufacturability (DFM)."
This problem is particularly egregious in light of the increased prevalence of "hot swapping." Hot swapping refers to a process in which a PCA is added to or removed from the computer chassis without powering down the system. With hot swapping, it is imperative that any interference is reduced in order to facilitate rapid and perhaps frequent removal and insertion of PCAs and filler panels.
A further problem has arisen with regard to the removal of filler panel assemblies. Specifically, as stated above, a filler panel mounted to a chassis is a tight fit. In fact, the EMI gasket causes a friction force which helps hold a filler panel in-place. Further, the face of the filler panel may be smooth with nothing to grasp. Thus, with a multiplicity of filler panels or complete assemblies mounted on a chassis, removal of a single filler panel may be both difficult and time consuming.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A magnetic tape cassette includes a case that is formed by joining an upper half and a lower half, one or more tape reels, a window and a reel urging member having a tape reel contacting portion which contacts an upper part of the tape reel(s), bent arms connected to opposite sides of the tape reel contacting portion and sliding end portions provided at distal ends of the bent arm. A slide groove is provided in an inner surface of a perimeter of a window opening in the upper half and a window member has hold-and-retain portions which hold the sliding end portions in cooperation with a bottom surface of the slide groove into which the sliding end portions have been fitted. A tape reel suitable for use with the magnetic tape cassette, a resinous leaf spring and its production process are also provided. Tape reels housed in a cassette case can be urged toward the lower half by a member whose structure is simple and permits easy fitting and removal. Assorted collection of constituent materials, particularly for assorted collection of resin materials and selective collection of resin materials as separate from metal materials are possible.

This invention relates to magnetic tape cassettes such as digital video cassette (DVC), tape reels for use with them that can be broken down into parts, resinous (plastic) leaf springs, and a process for producing them.
More specifically, the invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette that has magnetic tape housed in a case made by joining an upper and a lower half in a face-to-face relationship and which can be disposed of by assorting the constituent materials simply enough to reduce the impact on the environment, thereby facilitating the recycling of the used cassette.
In order to ensure that the magnetic tape cassette discarded after use is broken down into various parts which are then assorted by material and recycled as feedstock for a second production, the invention also provides tape reels in a magnetic tape cassette which are of such a structure that the lower flange can be easily separated from the upper flange, the two flanges capable of being securely joined together at high enough precision in assembly to minimize wobbling of the upper flange.
The invention also relates to resinous (plastic) leaf springs that can be molded while achieving proper adjustment of spring load, as well as a process for producing such leaf springs.
Recording media cartridges and cassettes conventionally used as the recording media in external storages in computers and the like are divided into two major classes, magnetic or magneto-optical disk cartridges, etc. that use disks such as magnetic disks or magneto-optical disks as the recording media, and magnetic tape cartridges or cassettes, etc. that use magnetic tape as the recording media (and which are hereunder collectively referred to as "magnetic tape cassettes").
The magnetic or magneto-optical disk cartridges and the magnetic tape cassettes are also used to record and store data from computers and the like. In order to protect the stored valuable or important information, design consideration is made such that magnetic or magneto-optical disks will not be damaged or that magnetic tape will not jam or receive damage or will not be pulled accidentally out of the record/reproduce apparatus.
The magnetic tape cassettes of the second class are used as record/reproduce media in consumer or professional sound or image recording/reproducing apparatus (including various types of recorders such as video tape recorder and video cameras) or as large-capacity recording media to back up data in external storages in computers and the like.
Such magnetic tape cassettes are available in two types, the first type comprising magnetic tape stretched between a pair of tape reels that are housed rotatably within a case (body case) composed of an upper and a lower half (this is a so-called two-reel type) and the second type comprising magnetic tape wound around a single tape reel which is also housed rotatably in the case (this is a so-called one-reel type). Known examples of such magnetic tape cassettes include those whose structural and dimensional specifications are described in JIS X6127, X6129, X6130, X6171 and X6172, as well as in ECMA-288, etc.
On the pages that follow, a magnetic tape cassette of a two-reel type is described specifically as an example of the magnetic tape cassette. Intended typically for use as a digital video cassette (DVC), it consists of a case that contains a pair of tape reels around which magnetic tape is wound and which allow the magnetic tape to run for information recording and reproduction.
FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the prior art two-reel type magnetic tape cassette. As shown, the case of the magnetic tape cassette which is generally indicated by 450 consists of an upper half 452 and a lower half 454 that each have a rectangular bottom plate and peripheral walls and which are joined in a face-to-face relationship and secured by a plurality of fasteners such as screws 455 (which are five in the illustrated case).
In the interior of the case 450 which is composed of the upper half 452 and the lower half 454, magnetic tape 458 which is stretched between a pair of tape reels 456, one on the supply side and the other on the take-up side, is rotatably housed. Various other parts are also housed in the interior of the case 450. The pair of tape reels 456 are positioned along a sidewall 454c of the lower half 454 and their movement in a plane is regulated by, for example, a plurality of ribs 454e erected on the bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454. Each of the tape reels 456 consists of a reel hub (take-up hub) 456b to which an upper flange 456c and a lower flange 456d are both welded.
The bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454 has two extensions 460 that extend from the right and left sides in a forward direction (to the left in FIG. 53). The extensions 460 have semi-cylindrical tape guides 464 that stand vertically on the bottom plate 454a and by which the magnetic tape 458 stretched between the tape reels 456 is allowed to thread through a predetermined path to become exposed in an opening 462 at the front face of the cassette case. The space between the extensions 460 is not occupied by the lower half 454 but forms the opening 462 in the cassette case.
The bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454 also has two reel shaft insertion holes 454b. By means of the insertion holes 454b, a pair of tape reels 456 between which the magnetic tape 458 is stretched are supported rotatably and, in addition, when the magnetic tape cassette is loaded on the record/reproduce apparatus, reel shafts (not shown) on the record/reproduce apparatus pass through insertion holes (not shown) in the lower side of the tape reels 456 to engage them and thereby drive them to rotate.
The bottom plate 452a of the upper half 452 has openings so that the amount in which the magnetic tape 458 has been wound around the tape reels 456 can be seen (checked visually) from the outside of the case 450. In the openings, transparent window members (inspection windows) 452b made of transparent plastic (resin) are mounted by a suitable method such as ultrasonic or thermal welding.
A pair of reel retaining springs 466 in the form of a metallic leaf-like reel urging spring are provided on the inner surface of the upper half 452 (the lower surface in FIG. 53) in positions that correspond to the respective tape reels 456. Each of the reel retaining springs 466 is a leaf spring; its distal end portion 466a is bent downwardly and its basal end portion 466b is fastened to the lower surface of the bottom plate 452a of the upper half 452 (its inner surface) by a suitable means such as screwing, ultrasonic welding or thermal welding (neither is shown) so that the distal end portion 466a is cantilevered and depresses the center of the corresponding tape reel 456 to be urged toward the lower half 454.
In order to ensure that dust will not get into the upper half 452 when the magnetic tape cassette is not in service, the front face of the upper half 452 (the left lateral face in FIG. 53) is fitted with a front cover (lid) 467 which covers and protects the magnetic tape 458 (its front and back sides) as it is stretched between a pair of tape guides 464 on the lower half 454. The front cover (lid) 467 consists of three members, an outer lid 468, an upper lid 470 and an inner lid 472. The outer lid 468 has lock pins (guide pins) 474 that project inwardly from both lateral plates 468a. Since the lock pins 474 fit into engage-and-stop grooves 452d in two sidewalls 452c of the upper half 452, the whole of the front cover 467 can rotate to open in a direction approaching the upper surface of the upper half 452. On the other hand, torsion coil springs 475 fitted on the lock pins 474 urge the lid 467 in such a direction that it closes the opening 462 between the two extensions 460 of the bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454 of the magnetic tape cassette.
Sidewall portions 454c of the lower half 454 are fitted with rotatable lid locking members 476 that engage the lock pins 474 on the outer lid 468 to keep it closed. The lid locking members 476 are urged to engage the lock pins 474 by means of lid locking springs (not shown) which are similarly mounted on the lower half 454.
When the magnetic tape cassette is taken out of the record/reproduce apparatus, the lid locking members 476 keep the outer lid 468 closed so that the operator will not inadvertently touch the magnetic tape 458. When the magnetic tape cassette is reloaded into the record/reproduce apparatus, the engagement is removed by release pins (not shown) that project from the record/reproduce apparatus, whereupon the outer lid 468 can be rotated to open.
The lower half 454 also has a tape reel locking member 478 mounted in the rear end portion (the right farther end in FIG. 53). The tape reel locking member 478 has tape reel engage-and-stop arms 478a and a slidable body 478b. The slidable body 478b is slidably held by a pair of guide ribs 454d erected on the bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454 and it is urged forward by a compressive coil spring 480; as a result, each of the tape reel engage-and-stop arms 478a that spread in a V-shape come into engagement at the distal end with engaging teeth 456a formed on the circumference of the lower flange of the corresponding tape reel 456, thereby preventing it from rotating to ensure that the magnetic tape 458 will not unwind accidentally to get slack.
The lower half 454 is also fitted with an anti-erasure plug 482 that prevents inadvertent erasure of the data recorded on the magnetic tape 458. The anti-erasure plug 482 has a finger that projects from a lateral surface (the farthest side in FIG. 53) to become exposed to the outside through an opening in a peripheral wall of the upper half 452. By external manipulation of the finger, the anti-erasure plug 482 can be moved back and forth along a guide rib erected on the bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454, thereby closing or opening a detection hole in the bottom plate 454a of the lower half 454. A machine such as the record/reproduce apparatus reads the state of the detection hole and, depending on whether it is open or closed, determines whether new data can be written to the magnetic tape 458.
The upper half 452, the lower half 454, the front cover 467 (i.e., the outer lid 468, the upper lid 470 and the inner lid 472) and other principal components of the magnetic tape cassette are formed of the same resin (plastic) material by injection molding. The tape reels 456 (each consisting of the reel hub 456b, the upper flange 456c and the lower flange 456d), the tape reel locking member 478 and other members are formed of a different plastic material by injection molding. The magnetic tape cassette may of course use other injection molded members as appropriate.
As already mentioned, the conventional magnetic tape cassette uses the reel retaining springs 466 that keep the tape reels 456 from rotating in order to ensure that the magnetic tape 458 will not get slack or otherwise deteriorate. The reel retaining springs 466 are metallic reel urging springs.
As shown in FIG. 53, such metallic reel urging springs are commonly a pair of reel retaining springs 466 that correspond to the pair of reels 456. Of course, various other designs of reel retaining spring have been used or proposed.
FIG. 54 shows another conventional method that is commonly used to hold the pair of reels 456; as shown, the reels are retained by means of a single reel retaining spring 486.
FIG. 54 is a perspective view showing the inside of the upper half fitted with a reel retaining spring of a different design than is shown in FIG. 53. The reel retaining spring 486 of the design shown in FIG. 54 has two end portions 486a bent downward, with the center portion 486b being fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 452a of the upper half 452 by a suitable method such as screwing, ultrasonic welding or thermal welding, both end portions 486a of the reel retaining spring 486 depress the tape reels 456 at the center so that they are urged toward the lower half 454 (see FIG. 53). The two end portions 486a of the reel retaining spring 486 are each cantilevered by means of the center portion 486b and this parallels with the reel retaining springs 466 shown in FIG. 53.
JP 60-166879 U discloses a reel retaining spring which is a mesa-shaped leaf spring and indicated by 488 in FIGS. 55A and 55B. The leaf spring 488 is provided for each of tape reels 490 and it has a center portion 488a and two end portions 488b and 488c; the center portion 488a will contact a pivot (convex) 490b on the top of the center reel hub 490a of each tape reel 490 and depresses and urges it toward the lower half 492, and the two end portions 488b and 488c are bent down toward opposite sides of the center portion 488a to fit into grooves 496 made in the inner surface of the upper half 494. The end portion 488b has a larger width at the distal end that fits into a corresponding wider portion 496a of the groove 496. In order to load the magnetic tape cassette into the record/reproduce apparatus and drive the tape reels 490 to rotate, the reel shafts (not shown) on the record/reproduce apparatus are passed through the reel shaft insertion holes 492a in the lower half 492 and inserted into the holes 490c formed in the lower sides of the tape reels 490; due to the resulting engagement, the pivot 490b on each tape reel 490 depresses the center portion 488a of the leaf spring 488, whereupon the two end portions 488b and 488c of the leaf spring 488 that fit into the grooves 496 in the upper half 494 contact the end portions of the respective grooves 496 in their longitudinal direction, deforming to urge the tape reels 490 toward the lower half 492.
JP 52-53205 Y discloses a reel retaining spring unit which, being indicated by 500 in FIGS. 56A and 56B, is an integral assembly of a spring body 500a and a plurality of legs 500b that extend radially from the spring body 500a (and which are three in the illustrated case). The spring units 500 each have a slider 500c at the distal end of the leg 500b and these sliders 500c are placed within slots 504 in the upper half 502 such that projections 504a in the slots 504 are brought into engagement with lugs 500d of the sliders 500c of the spring units 500; each of the sliders 500c is allowed to slide along the slot 504 until the spring body 500a of the spring unit 500 contacts a metal ball 506b fitted at the center of the reel hub 506a of each tape reel 506 and urges it toward the lower half 508.
JP 3-242889 A discloses a reel retaining spring which, being indicated by 512 in FIG. 57, consists of a plurality of radially extending legs 512a (that are four in the illustrated case) and which is mounted as an integral unit with the center of the upper surface of each tape reel 510, namely, on the upper surface of the reel hub 510a. According to the patent, the reel retaining spring 512 is made of metal or highly resilient plastic. While there is no specific disclosure of how to render the reel retaining spring 512 integral with the tape reel 510, the patent shows by illustration that the legs 512a of the reel retaining spring 512 can be secured to the upper surface of the reel hub 510a of the tape reel 510 by screwing or welding as in the prior art (see FIG. 57).
As mentioned above, the magnetic tape cassettes are made of metal or various kinds of resin. With the recent growing concern over environmental problems, increasing attention is drawn to the possibility that the increase in various kinds of wastes including those of metals, resins (plastics) and composite materials may cause adverse effects on the environment. A design consideration that is becoming important is reducing the impact on the environment by producing less wastes or developing products which, if discarded, will not cause air, water or soil pollution and hence do not become any problem in environmental conservation. To this end, it is necessary to design industrial products, in particular, magnetic tape cassettes that can be recycled at an existing plant system.
To meet this need, JP 11-273295 A discloses a design that can be applied to magnetic tape cassettes in order to facilitate assorted collection of metals and plastics. This is achieved by a mesa-shaped metallic reel retaining spring which, being indicated by 522 in FIGS. 58A, 58B and 58C, comprises a central depressing portion 522a that depresses the central area of a tape reel 520, support portions 522c at opposite ends that are detachably supported on the upper half 524, and a slope 522b that bridges the central depressing portion 522a and the support portion 522c at either end. To mount the mesa-shaped reel retaining spring 522 on the upper half 524, the support portions 522c at opposite ends of the spring 522 are passed into insertion areas 528 formed in lugs 526a at four sites on the perimeter of a transparent window member 526 in the upper half 524. The insertion areas 528 may be through-holes or may be closed at an end. The window member 526 has a weld rib 526b formed inward of the lugs 526a and on the perimeter of the side which faces the upper half 524; by melting the weld rib 526, the window member 526 can be welded to the upper half 524.
Because of this design, the tape cassette disclosed in JP 11-273295 A has the advantage that no special jig or cutting tools need be used to dislodge the metallic reel retaining spring (reel urging spring) from the upper half and collect it as metal material.
The prior art products described above have their own problems. First, the metallic or resinous reel retaining springs illustrated in FIGS. 53, 54 and 57 which are used in prior art magnetic tape cassettes are mounted on the inner surface of the upper half by securing means such as crimping, welding and screwing. Hence, when disassembling a conventional magnetic tape cassette after use and separating the components according to whether they are made of resin or metal or resinous parts are separated by resin type with a view to collecting the components by material, the reel retaining spring cannot be dislodged easily; needless to say, it cannot be removed unless the cassette case is disassembled and dislodging the reel retaining spring from the inner surface of the upper half is a complex operation that involves considerable labor and cost. This has been a factor that precludes the effort to break down the magnetic tape cassette according to material and collect and recycle the respective components in assortment.
The reel urging, metallic leaf spring 488 illustrated in FIGS. 55A and 55B is simply retained by the force of friction with the groove 496 into which it has been fitted, so it can be easily disengaged from the groove 496. On the other hand, the leaf spring 488 may potentially come out of engagement with the groove 496 during assembly. As another problem, the lateral surfaces of the leaf spring 488 contact two walls of the groove 496 in the direction of shorter side whereas the two end portions 488b and 488c contact the other two walls of the groove 496 in the direction of longer side (see FIG. 55B) and this may potentially result in chipping the wall portions of the groove 496.
The metallic spring unit 500 illustrated in FIGS. 56A and 56B is such that the slider 500c of the leg portion 500b is constricted at the lug 500d to receive the projection 504a extending from the slot 504 to come into engagement with the lug 500d. It is not very difficult to bring the two lugs out of engagement but, on the other hand, assembling the metallic spring unit 500 is a complicated work, causing various problems such as the potential breaking of the resinous projection 504a and resin chipping of the bottom of the slot 504 due to the sliding of the slider 500c.
The metallic reel retaining spring 522 illustrated in FIGS. 58A, 58B and 58C can be easily dislodged from the upper half 524; however, if each of the insertion areas 528 has a closed end, the distal end of each support portion 522c of the reel retaining spring 522 may potentially cause resin chipping of the insertion areas 528 whereas if they are through-holes, difficulty is involved in molding operations or there is the need to form each insertion area 528 by securing two parts together and an extra step must be performed to make the lugs 526a on the inner surface of the upper half 524. What is more, the reel retaining spring 522 may be easy to separate from the upper half 524 but, on the other hand, the window member 526 which is welded to the upper half 524 cannot be easily dislodged.
These problems are by no means limited to the metallic reel retaining spring 522, they also occur in resinous reel retaining springs.
Speaking of various prior art magnetic tape cassettes including the above-described two-reel type which has a web of magnetic tape stretched between a pair of tape reels that are housed rotatably within a cassette case, if they are discarded after use, they are simply disposed of as unburnable waste in the current practice. However, as already mentioned, in order to save resources or protect the environment, it is most desirable to break down the discarded magnetic tape cassette into various parts, assort them by material and recycle the respective materials as feedstock for a second production.
In the conventional magnetic tape cassette, however, a pair of tape reels between which a web of magnetic tape is stretched are usually each composed of a lower flange integral with a reel hub around which the magnetic tape is wound and an upper flange fixed to the upper end of the reel hub, and the two flanges which are made of different materials are fastened together by ultrasonic or thermal welding. Once the upper and lower flanges are fastened together by ultrasonic or thermal welding to make a tape reel, considerable difficulty is involved in disassembling it safely and assorting the individual components by material.
The precision in assembly of the upper flange relative to the reference plane of the lower flange (which is usually its lower surface) is desirably as small as possible in order to prevent wobbling of the upper flange and keeping the magnetic tape wound in neat form and, most desirably, the precision is about 0.01 mm and less. However, the surface of the upper flange which is to be welded to the lower flange and the reference plane of the lower flange are not usually molded by a single die but molded by two dies, one fixed and the other movable, and on account of various factors including the precision in mating of dies, its thermal deformation and the pressure of molten plastic being injected, the mating position of dies is inevitably subject to change and it has been difficult to secure adequate precision in assembly of the upper flange. As a further problem, the upper flange is welded to the lower flange in a position much inward of its circumference and the wobbling of the upper flange will increase progressively from the center outward; as an inevitable result, the practically feasible precision in assembly of the upper flange has been about 0.1 mm-0.5 mm.
As already mentioned, the magnetic tape cassette is disassembled into respective components which are assorted so that they can be recycled as feedstock for a second production. In view of this, the components to be assorted are desirably made of the fewest kinds of materials and total elimination of metal from the magnetic tape cassette has been proposed. Hence, it is desired that the reel retaining spring which is conventionally made of metal and used to prevent unwanted rotation of magnetic tape should also be replaced by a plastic leaf spring. In addition, in order to ensure that the leaf spring is not an impurity that gets into the discarded upper half when it is recycled as feedstock for a second production, the retaining spring is desirably made of the same material as the upper half on which it is to be mounted.
However, the upper half which combines with the lower half to make the cassette case must have sufficiently high rigidity and strength that it can not only be loaded into or unloaded from the record/reproduce apparatus but also withstand transport. If highly rigid plastic is chosen to make the reel hub retaining spring of the same material as the upper half, the spring load will change considerably with the slightest change in thickness. Hence, in order to determine the thickness of the spring that assures an appropriate spring load for preventing unwanted rotation of magnetic tape, a lot of samples must be prepared at different thicknesses and it is necessary to check for the appropriate thickness of spring; on top of this, variations in thickness must be controlled but this adds to the complexity in manufacturing procedures.


A spring band clamp block formed of a plurality of spring band clamps (1), each of which has a spring band (2) and two projecting tensioning ends (3, 4), and which are detachably joined to one another by means of a fastener. The spring band clamp block can be built especially easily for all types of spring band clamps (1) by the spring band clamps (1) being joined to one another, preferably, by means of at least two adhesive strips (5, 6). The adhesive strips (5, 6) are arranged on the spring bands (2), parallel to the lengthwise axis (7) of the spring band clamps (1), and preferably in the vicinity of the projecting tensioning ends (3, 4).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a spring band clamp block consisting of a plurality of spring band clamps, the spring band clamps having a spring band and two projecting tensioning ends.
2. Description of Related Art
Spring band clamps have been known for years in various embodiments (see, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,129 and 4,930,192). With these spring band clamps, for example, a pressure-tight seat of hose ends on the pipe unions of the cooling system of a motor vehicle engine is ensured. These spring band clamps in the untensioned statexe2x80x94clamping statexe2x80x94have a certain inside diameter and can be spread to a much greater diameter using a tensioning tool which engages the tensioning ends against the spring force of the spring bandxe2x80x94the spread state in which the spring band clamp then has an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the hose end, and thus, can be easily moved over the hose end which can be turned onto one pipe union as far as the respective installation site. The pressure-tight seat of one hose end on the pipe union is, on the one hand, ensured by the inherent elasticity of the hose end itself, and on the other hand, by the spring force of the spring band clamp, i.e., of the spring band of the spring band clamp.
The spring band clamps are produced in different sizes and versions in large numbers and are used especially in the motor vehicle industry in especially large numbers, being supplied by manufacturers to the motor vehicle industry in cartons of, for example, 50, 100 or 500. The installer then takes each individual spring band clamp from the carton as needed, spreads the spring band clamp with a corresponding installation tool and carries the spring band clamp in this way to the respective installation site. Since this process is repeated hundreds of times a day, it is desirable to make the individual spring band clamps available such that the installer can grasp them as directly as possible with the corresponding installation tool. To do this, holding devices are produced onto which a certain number of spring band clamps can be slippedxe2x80x94the spring band clamps can therefore be more or less magazined so that the spring band clamps can then be grasped by the installer directly with the installation tool from a pre-defined position. The disadvantage here is that, on the one hand, time necessary for magazining, and on the other hand, for different spring band clamps, especially for spring band clamps with different diameters, different holding devices are needed.
An object of the invention is to join several spring band clamps to one another in a severable manner, i.e., to magazine them or make them available in the form of a spring band clamp block, such that it is possible to provide the individual spring band clamps in a position which is as favorable as possible for installation.
The aforementioned object is achieved, first of all, essentially in that the spring band clamps are detachably joined to one another by a fastener.
The use of a fastener which detachably joins the individual spring band clamps to one another in accordance with the invention especially easily, economically, and thus, effectively accomplishes magazining of spring band clamps, i.e., forms a spring band clamp block so that a host of spring band clamps can be made available to the installer all at once in a position as optimum as possible for installation.
In particular, there are various possibilities for building the fastener for the spring band clamp block according to the invention.
In the first preferred embodiment of the spring band clamp block in accordance with the invention, at least one adhesive strip is used as the fastener. Preferably however, there are two adhesive strips and the adhesive strips are located lengthwise to the axis of the spring band clamps on the spring band. Because the adhesive strips are located at a distance from each other, preferably in the vicinity of the projecting tensioning ends, when using adhesive strips of an inherently very flexible material, a very stable and torsionally-stiff spring band clamp block is achieved. The spring band clamp block according to the invention can, moreover, be built independently of the embodiment and the diameter of the individual spring band clamps with minimum cost. The stability of the spring band clamp block is then especially great when, if two adhesive strips are used, they are located offset by roughly 180xc2x0 relative to one another on the spring band. This arrangement of the adhesive strips prevents unintentional tilting of the spring band clamp block apart transversely to its lengthwise axis; this would occur if only one single adhesive strip were used or two adhesive strips directly next to one another were used.
To separate the individual spring band clamps from the spring band clamp block, i.e., to detach the individual spring band clamps from the adhesive strips, it is advantageous if the adhesive strip or strips projects or project on one side beyond the end of the spring band clamp block. Then, the adhesive strip or strips can be easily withdrawn from the spring band clamp block by an installer after the spring band clamp block has been inserted into a corresponding holding device. Alternatively or additionally to the aforementioned measure, the adhesive strip or strips can be perforated in the transition area between two spring band clamps transversely to the lengthwise direction of the adhesive strip. In this way, it is then possible to detach an individual spring band clamp from a spring band clamp block without the need to withdraw the adhesive strips or strips completely from the block of spring band clamps. This is advantageous when the spring band clamp block is not set in a corresponding holding device or receiver which is designed to prevent the individual spring band clamps from falling apart after the adhesive strip is removed from the spring band clamp block. When using a perforated adhesive strip or strips, individual spring band clamps can be detached from the spring band clamp block without the remaining spring band clamps falling apart.
Embodiments of the spring band clamp block in accordance with the invention have been described which share, in particular, the fact that there is at least one adhesive strip as the fastener. However, there are also various other possibilities for embodying the fastener of the spring band clamp block according to the invention.
One embodiment of the spring band clamp block in accordance with the invention which is fundamentally different from the above described embodiments has as the fastener, a connecting clip which joins the individual spring band clamps to one another and which can preferably be made like a comb.
In still other embodiments of a spring band clamp block according to the invention, as the fastener, there is an adhesive between the individual spring band clamps which joins the latter to one another.
In particular, there are now a host of possibilities for embodying the spring band clamp block in accordance with the invention, especially the exact arrangement and dimensions of the adhesive strips.
The invention is explained below using three preferred embodiments shown by the drawings.


The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object without height limitation by means of layer-by-layer material application, wherein geometric data for the shaped object, a substrate part having a base surface for holding the shaped object, flowable first and second material, and a transfer body are provided. Material portions of the flowable first material are applied to the base surface and/or to a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on the base surface in accordance with the geometric data in order to produce a material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The material layer consisting of the first material is solidified. A surface region of the transfer body is coated with a layer of the second material, and said layer is brought into contact with the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object facing away from the base surface in such a way that the flowable second material is transferred from the transfer body to the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object and forms the further material layer on the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object, the structure of which further layer corresponds to the structure of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The further material layer is likewise solidified.

The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by means of layer-by-layer material application, wherein geometric data for the shaped object, a substrate part having a base surface for holding the three-dimensional shaped object, as well as at least one flowable first material and at least one flowable second material, different from the first, are provided, wherein material portions of the at least one flowable first material are applied to the base surface and/or to a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on it, in accordance with the geometric data, so as to produce at least one material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object, and wherein the at least one material layer composed of the at least one flowable first material and at least one further material layer composed of the at least one flowable second material are solidified. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by means of layer-by-layer material application, having a substrate part having a base surface for holding the shaped object, having at least one first reservoir for holding at least one flowable first material and a second reservoir for holding at least one flowable second material that differs from the first flowable material, having at least one dispensing mechanism connected with the at least one first reservoir, for dispensing material portions of the at least one first material onto the base surface and/or onto a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on it, having a first positioning mechanism, by means of which the substrate part and the dispensing mechanism for applying the material portions onto the base surface and/or the solidified material layer can be movably positioned relative to one another, wherein the dispensing mechanism and the first positioning mechanism are connected with a control mechanism, which has a data memory for storing geometric data of the shaped object to be produced, wherein dispensing of the material portions and the positioning mechanism can be controlled by the control mechanism as a function of the geometric data, in such a manner that at least one material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object, composed of the at least one first material, can be applied to the base surface and/or to the solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on it, and having at least one fixation mechanism for solidifying the at least one material layer composed of the at least one flowable first material and for solidifying at least one further material layer composed of the flowable second material. In particular, a material portion is understood to be a material droplet.
Such a device is commercially available under the designation Stratasys® Objet30 Pro. The device has a holder, on which a substrate part having an approximately rectangular base surface is located, which extends in a horizontal plane. On the base surface, the three-dimensional shaped object to be produced can be applied by means of applying a plurality of material layers layered one on top of the other, layer by layer.
Above the base surface, multiple print heads are disposed on the holder, which have nozzles disposed in a row, next to one another, in each instance, from which material portions of a flowable material can be dispensed onto the base surface or onto a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on it. The rows with the nozzles are arranged parallel to the two short edges of the rectangular base surface, and can be displaced by means of a positioning mechanism, parallel to the two long edges of the rectangular base surface. Using the positioning mechanism, the substrate part having the base surface can furthermore be moved toward and away from the print heads.
The nozzles of a first print head are connected with a first reservoir, which is filled with a low-viscosity first polymer. The nozzles of a second print head are connected with a second reservoir, which is filled with a low-viscosity second polymer that differs from the first polymer. The polymers can have different colors or different mechanical or chemical properties, for example. In the matter of strength after hardening, however, they always remain in the lower range that is restricted by the low-viscosity materials. Using the print head, it is possible to apply material layers that consist of the different polymers and/or a mixture of these polymers. Thus, it is possible, for example, that each print head dispenses 50% of the material amount to be applied, in each instance, so that the polymers of the first and second reservoir mix with one another in a ratio of 50:50 when they are applied.
Adjacent to the print heads, a fixation mechanism is disposed, which has an ultraviolet radiation source for crosslinking or solidification of the material layers applied using the print heads. The fixation mechanism can be moved relative to the base surface, together with the print heads.
The positioning mechanisms and the print head are connected with a control mechanism, which controls the positioning mechanisms and the material dispensing of the print head in such a manner that the shaped object can be produced by means of layer-by-layer material application.
To produce a shaped object, the print heads are positioned adjacent to a first edge of the substrate, at a predetermined distance above it. Data for the geometry of a first material layer are loaded into a fast print buffer from a data memory in which geometric data for the shaped object to be produced are stored. Afterward, the print heads are continuously moved, using the first positioning mechanism, toward the opposite second edge of the substrate. At the same time, at least one material portion is dispensed onto the substrate, by means of appropriate control of the individual nozzles of the print heads at the locations where a first material layer of the shaped object is to be formed, in each instance. Control of the individual nozzles takes place as a function of the current position of the respective print head and as a function of the data contained in the print buffer. The flowable polymer material applied to the substrate in this manner is solidified by means of irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, which is produced using the fixation mechanism. When the print head has arrived at the second edge of the substrate, the horizontal advancing movement of the print head is stopped, and geometric data for a further material layer to be applied to the material layer previously produced are loaded from the data memory into the print buffer. Furthermore, the substrate part, together with the base surface, is lowered by a dimension that corresponds to the thickness of the previously produced material layer, so as to apply a further material layer onto this material layer. Now the print heads are continuously moved toward the first edge of the substrate, using the positioning mechanism. At the same time, at least one material portion is dispensed onto the material that has already been completed and solidified, in each instance, by means of corresponding control of the nozzles at the locations where the further material layer is to be formed. Once again, the flowable polymer material applied to the substrate in this manner is solidified by means of irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, which is produced using the fixation mechanism.
The method steps mentioned above are repeated in a corresponding manner, until the shaped object has been finished.
Since, in the case of the previously known device, the nozzles by means of which the flowable material is applied have small nozzle cross-sections, so as to allow a correspondingly high resolution, the flowable materials must have a correspondingly low viscosity, so that they can be ejected from the nozzles. Usually, this viscosity amounts to about 5 to 25 MPa·s. The polymer chains contained in the flowable materials must therefore be correspondingly short. However, this has the disadvantage that the shaped objects, which are produced layer by layer, have only a comparatively low mechanical strength. Also, it is only possible with limitations to influence other properties of the shaped objects produced layer by layer, by means of the selection of the materials used for printing. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the layer-by-layer production of the shaped objects is time-consuming.
The task therefore exists of creating a method and a device of the type stated initially, which allow fast production of a shaped object. Furthermore, the method and a device are supposed to make it possible to adjust the physical and/or chemical properties within a broad range, by means of corresponding selection of the flowable materials used for producing the material layers. In particular, it should also be possible to produce shaped objects, using the method and the device, which objects contain high-viscosity polymers or polymers that cannot be digitally imprinted or applied.

Method and device for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by means of layer-by-layer material application


An inflatable packer assembly for use in a subterranean well bore to isolate an interval of the well bore and/or adjacent subterranean formation for treatment. The assembly comprises a hanger assembly, a fluid piston assembly and at least one inflatable packer. As constructed and positioned in the well bore, the hanger assembly and fluid piston assembly are sufficiently distant from the interval to be treated to inhibit being stuck in the well bore. By lowering and raising the tubing or drill string from which the inflatable packer assembly is suspended, the fluid piston assembly pumps well bore fluid into and from the packer to respectively inflate and deflate the packer. In this manner, the packer can be repeatedly inflated, deflated and repositioned within a well bore to treat successive intervals of the well bore.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inflatable packer assembly for use in a subterranean well bore, and more particularly, to a packer assembly including an inflatable packer and a fluid piston for inflating the packer and to methods of utilizing such assembly.
2. Background Information
Isolation of a cased or uncased interval of a well bore is often desirable to permit the isolated well bore interval and/or a corresponding interval of the subterranean formation penetrated by the well bore to be selectively treated. The cased interval of a subterranean well bore which is isolated is normally perforated, although occasionally it may be desirable to isolate an unperforated interval of casing, e.g., to test the unperforated interval for fluid leaks.
Conventionally, a packer is positioned at the lower end of a tubing string and is usually secured against axial movement within a well bore by means of slips which are mechanically expanded, such as by means of a wedge, into contact with casing. Once positioned in the well bore, subsequent rotation and downward movement of the tubing string mechanically expands the packer into contact with the casing. These conventional, mechanically set packers are normally sized slightly less than, e.g. 1/8 to 1/4 inch, the internal diameter of the casing within which they are positioned. Further, the sealing element of a conventional mechanical packer is relatively short, e.g., one foot or less. Upon expansion, the expanded packer element engages and seals the annulus between the tubing string and casing against fluid flow. Use of such conventional mechanically inflatable packer assemblies to isolate within a perforated casing interval for selective treatment has proved troublesome. The relatively short length of the conventional packer sealing element permits unconsolidated matrix, i.e., sand, from the subterranean formation which is penetrated by the well bore to flow through that portion of a perforated interval which is located above the inflated packer and be deposited on top of the packer. Upon completion of a given operation, the mechanical packer is retracted. However, the extremely close tolerance between the external diameter of the retracted packer and the internal diameter of the casing often permits sand and/or other objects within the well bore to become lodged between the retracted packer and/or the retracted slips and the casing thereby causing the mechanical packer to become stuck within the well bore. Retrieval of a stuck mechanical packer is difficult, time consuming and expensive. Accordingly, mechanical packers are normally not employed in a perforated interval of casing or an uncased section of a well bore.
Conventional inflatable packers have been proposed for use in lieu of mechanical packers to isolate a given cased or uncased well bore interval. Inflatable packers employ valve assemblies which in conjunction with fluid pressure within the well bore inflate and deflate the packer element. Multiple inflation of such packers is difficult to obtain due to structural constraints of the valve assembly and difficulties in ascertaining and obtaining requisite tubing fluid pressures. Further, such inflatable packers conventionally are inflated with fluid housed within a tubing string and isolated from well bore fluids. Thus, changes in temperature of and/or hydrostatic pressure exerted upon such isolated tubing fluid expand the fluid creating problems due to overinflation of the packer. Thus, a need exists for an inflatable packer assembly which is capable of being repeatedly inflated and deflated and repositioned within a cased or uncased section of a subterranean well bore.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable packer assembly which can be easily inflated and deflated using well bore fluid and repositioned within a well bore.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable packer assembly having a fluid piston which can be manipulated to inflate a packer element and which is located together with a hanger assembly at a sufficient distance from the packer element to ensure against the slips of the hanger assembly and the fluid piston becoming stuck within the casing due to debris flowing into the well bore.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable packer assembly which can be repeatedly inflated and repositioned within a well bore without being damaged due to overinflation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inflatable packer assembly which can be utilized to inflate more than one packer in a well bore.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a process for treating a relatively long interval of a well bore.


A compact semiconductor device having a contact hole that improves stability of electric connection between a wire and an electrode. The semiconductor device includes an insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, first electrodes formed on the insulation layer and spaced from one another by an interval, an insulation film covering the first electrodes, and spaced second electrodes formed on the insulation film. Each second electrode includes an intermediate portion filling the space between two adjacent first electrodes, two edge portions respectively laid above the two adjacent first electrodes in an overlapping manner, and an upper surface connected to a wire by a contact. Thickness, t1, of the insulation film, thickness, t2, of each edge portion of the second electrode, and interval, S, between the first electrodes are adjusted to satisfy the expression of S<(2t1+2t2).

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device optimal for use in a transfer section of a solid state imaging device, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor in the prior art. In FIG. 1, arrows A1 to A3 show the transfer direction of charges. The image sensor includes an imaging section 101 for performing photoelectric conversion with an optical image of an imaging subject, a storage section 102 for temporarily storing charges to be transferred from the imaging section 101, and a horizontal transfer section 103 for transferring charges from the storage section 102 to an output section 104 (output amplifier).
The imaging section 101 and the storage section 102 each include, for example, a three-phase drive vertical transfer CCD (not shown). Terminals P1 to P3 and C1 to C3 are connected to transfer electrodes of the vertical transfer CCDs. The transfer of charges in the imaging section 101 and the storage section 102 is performed in accordance with three-phase drive pulse signals provided to the terminals P1 to P3 and C1 to C3.
The horizontal transfer section 103 includes, for example, a two-phase drive horizontal transfer CCD (not shown). The terminals H1 and H2 are connected to transfer electrodes of the horizontal transfer CCD. The transfer of charges in the horizontal transfer section 103 is performed in accordance with two-phase drive pulse signals provided to the terminals H1 and H2.
The output section 104 receives charges corresponding to an optical image of the imaging subject and converts the charges to a voltage signal in accordance with the number of charges. An external signal processor (not shown) performs an appropriate signal process on the voltage signal.
FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show the horizontal transfer section 103. FIG. 2A is a plan view schematically showing part of the horizontal transfer section 103, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2B—2B in FIG. 2A. Arrow A3 in FIG. 2A shows the transfer direction of charges in the same manner as in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the horizontal transfer section 103 includes first electrodes 22 and second electrodes 24 that are arranged alternately. The first electrodes 22 and the second electrodes 24 function as transfer electrodes of the CCD image sensor. An interlayer insulation film 25 (refer to FIG. 2B) is deposited on the first and second electrodes 22 and 24. Contact holes 25a connected to the second electrodes 24 are formed in the interlayer insulation film 25. The second electrodes 24, which are connected to upper layer wires via the contact holes 25a, are electrically connected to the terminal H1 or H2 (refer to FIG. 1) by the upper layer wires.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the horizontal transfer section 103 includes a semiconductor substrate 20, a plurality of insulation layers 21, a plurality of first electrodes 22 arranged on the insulation layers 21, an insulation film 23, and a plurality of second electrodes 24. The first electrodes 22 and the second electrodes 24 are formed from a conductive material such as N-type polycrystalline silicon. The insulation layers 21 and the insulation film 23 are formed from an insulative material such as silicon oxide.
The first electrodes 22 are formed at the same level above the semiconductor substrate 20. Further, the first electrodes 22 are spaced from one another by a predetermined interval. The insulation film 23 covers the first electrodes 22. The second electrodes 24 are arranged along the first electrodes 22. Each of the second electrodes 24 has an upper surface with a recess. Thus, each second electrode 24 has a U-shaped cross-section. Part of each second electrode 24 is located between the adjacent first electrodes 22, and the remaining part of each second electrode 24 is laid above the corresponding first electrode 22 in an overlapping manner. The insulation film 23 electrically insulates the second electrodes 24 from the first electrodes 22.
The interlayer insulation film 25, which is formed from, for example, silicon oxide, is deposited on the first and second electrodes 22 and 24. The contact holes 25a are formed in the interlayer insulation film 25. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, each contact hole 25a is connected to the generally flat bottom of the recess in the corresponding second electrode 24.
Each contact hole 25a is filled with a wiring material, such as tungsten, to form a contact plug. The contact plug electrically connects the corresponding second electrode 24 and upper layer wire.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-308313 describes an example of a semiconductor device in the prior art.
In recent years, to improve image quality, there is a stronger need to miniaturize pixels of a CCD image sensor. However, when pixels are miniaturized, with the structure of FIG. 2, there is a possibility of the connection between the second electrodes 24 and the upper layer wires being unstable. The reason for such instability will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a miniaturized horizontal transfer section. The miniaturization of pixels reduces the dimensions of the recesses in the second electrodes 24. As a result, it becomes difficult to connect the contact holes 25a to the recesses of the second electrodes 24.
Furthermore, if the processing accuracy is low in a manufacturing process, such as photolithography, a contact hole 25a may be connected to an inclined portion in the upper surface of the corresponding second electrode 24. When such a contact hole 25a is formed by etching the interlayer insulation film 25, there is a risk of the second electrode 24 being over-etched. The broken lines in FIG. 3 show over-etched second electrodes 24.
Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, in the prior art structure, steps St are formed in the interlayer insulation film 25 in correspondence with the shape of lower members. Steps St are also formed above the second electrodes 24. During the lithography process, the steps St remain even after applying a resist to the interlayer insulation film 25. Thus, referring to FIG. 2B, during the formation of the contact holes 25a, the thickness of the resist may be uneven, and light reflection at the interface between the interlayer insulation film 25 and the resist may vary the amount of exposure. This may result in the contacts holes 25a being formed as deficient holes, with, for example, the contact holes 25a having different dimensions.

Semiconductor device for use in a solid state imaging device


A computer data transmission system is provided with proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control over a data transmission rate so as to maximize use of available bandwidth of a datagram-based network. A data channel and a separate feedback channel are established between the sender and receiver units of the system. The sender unit coupled to the data and feedback channels sends datagrams over the data channel to the receiver continuously until a source of data is exhausted or paused by the receiver unit. The receiver unit sends acknowledgment messages over the feedback channel to the sender unit at predetermined intervals. A PID controller in the sender unit uses the information provided in the acknowledgment messages to track unsuccessfully transmitted datagrams and to adapt the data transmission rate to any changing network transfer conditions. In particular, the rate of datagram loss may be used as a PID process variable to control an inter-datagram delay of the sender. There may also be absolute speed and transmission rate acceleration/deceleration limits constraining the PID control. PID control may also be adapted for data compression control, datagram block sizes, and degree of redundancy in the datagrams sent.

In recent years, some limited attempts have been made to apply software PID control to control computer data network traffic. Consistent with the historical application of hardware PID controllers, these applications have focused on stabilizing traffic to avoid highly fluctuating data transmission rates.
Aweya, et al., in "Rate-based proportional-integral control scheme for active queue management", International Journal of Network Management, March 2006, present a two-term Proportional-Integral (PI) control algorithm that enables rate-based Active Queue Management (AQM) schemes to "match the aggregate rate of the active TCP connections to the available capacity while maintaining minimal queue size and high link utilization".
Hong, et al., in "Design of Adaptive PI Rate Controller for Best-Effort Traffic in the Internet Based on Phase Margin", IEEE Press, April 2007, proposed a PI rate controller to provide best-effort traffic in the Internet. This AQM control system aims to improve transient behavior by adapting to sudden changes in the network environment.
Li Yu, et al., in "An Analysis and Implementation Study on a Robust Congestion Controller for the Internet", International Conference on Advanced Infocomm Technology, Jul. 29-31, 2008, Shenzhen, China, describe a PID controller for Internet congestion control, the main advance being its robustness in adapting to dynamic networks.
In contrast, an important goal of the present invention is to maximize the data transmission rate within available bandwidth limits, i.e. to transmit datagrams as rapidly as possible while avoiding unacceptable amounts of datagram losses or corruption under changing network conditions.

Telecommunications protocol with PID control of data transmission rate


A currency examining system for detecting counterfeit currency. There is a magnifying device, substantially above the bill of currency being examined, configured to magnify the image of the currency; a transparent support member, substantially below the magnifying device, whereupon currency for examination may be placed; and a light unit, substantially below the transparent support member, configured to illuminate so as to show light through the transparent support member. Additionally there is a security mark index display, being configured to provide indicia of various security marks for determining authenticity of a bill of currency. The currency examining system also includes an adjustable frame member; a reflective member configured to reflect and direct light from the light unit generally towards the bill of currency being examined; and a control device in communication with the light unit, configured to control the intensity of light emitted from the light unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to examining systems, specifically for currency examining systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, it has been known to use devices to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit paper currency. There are distinguishing features incumbent with authentic currency so as to provide an opportunity to distinguish authentic from counterfeit paper currency. There are people who endeavor to create counterfeit currency and try to use it as authentic currency. Such criminal behavior causes great financial damage to individual persons and well as the economy as a whole. There is a need for devices that accurately, quickly, easily and affordably distinguish the difference between authentic and counterfeit paper currency. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,068, issued to Bryenton et al., discloses a method and apparatus of reading bank notes is provided comprising storing signals in a memory. The imaging apparatus for scanning a stationary banknote includes a stationary light source, mirror, charge coupled device (CCD), and lens. The method corresponding to at least a portion of an array of pixels defined by a printed pattern on the face of a bank note, raster scanning the face of the bank note with a charge coupled device (CCD) to obtain a serial signal representing the pattern, searching the memory for the serial signal, comparing the serial signal with the stored signals, and indicating the correct presence of the bank note in the event the comparison correlates to a predetermined degree.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,765, issued to Cooper et al., discloses an apparatus to detect counterfeit U.S. paper currency in a manner which is simple, quick, and requires little or not skill. Almost all official U.S. paper currency does not exhibit a chromamorphic response other than that naturally attributable to the cotton or linen stock. Almost all counterfeit currency will exhibit a definite chromamorphic response in the blue range when activated by properly filtered ultraviolet light. Any suspected counterfeits are further subjected to a test for determining the magnetic characteristics of the ink. Genuine U.S. paper currency for the last 25 years uses black ink which incorporates a magnetic pigment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,393, issued to Kawakami, discloses a bill discriminating device which is able to carry out a bill discriminating operation at high speed and precision based on a reduced amount of processing data for bill-type discrimination by extracting and reading only characteristic regions of the bill. According to the present invention, bill discrimination can be carried out by: reading the picture image data output from an image sensor; roughly discriminating the type of bill from the length of the picture image data (corresponding to the width of the bill); reading position data and reference patterns of the characteristic regions corresponding to the type of bill; extracting picture image data (a characteristic pattern) corresponding to the characteristic regions from the position data; and, finally discriminating the type of bill by comparing the characteristic patterns with the reference patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,891, issued to Chichester et al., discloses a document handling device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,529, issued to Wong, discloses method for discriminating between desired and undesired documents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,463, issued to Kivenson, discloses a detector apparatus for counterfeit paper currency comprising a clamp and torsion pendulum assembly for holding a note to be tested, a moveable magnetic field source mounted so that it can be brought into contact with the note and then withdrawn, and indicating means for detecting and measuring deflection of the note.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,812, issued to Koltai et al., discloses an apparatus and process for hiding the secondary image within the primary image and generating a high quality hard copy of the unified elemental image of a variety of media. The process comprises the steps of rasterizing the first image into a first elemental image and rasterizing the second image, compensated with its own inverse, into an second elemental image. The first elemental image and the second elemental image are merged into a unified elemental image based on a predetermined decoding and compensating principle, resulting in the second elemental image being hidden within the first elemental image. An output image is created based on the unified elemental image where the primary image is visible to an un-aided eye while the secondary image is hidden from the un-aided eye.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 283,803, issued to Zonn, discloses the ornamental design for a counterfeit currency examining device.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which may include being inconvenient, unduly complicated, limited accuracy, expensive and/or otherwise fail to provide an easy, portable and/or time efficient means to distinguish the authenticity of paper currency.
What is needed is a currency examining system that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.