An oilfield tubular torque wrench and a tong therefore is described. In one aspect, a torque wrench is described including an upper tong including a recess for accepting an oilfield tubular positioned along an axis passing through the recess; a lower tong including a recess positioned below the recess of the upper tong so that the axis passes therethrough; pipe gripping dies in the recesses of the upper tong and the lower tong drivable toward and away from the axis; a swivel bearing between the upper tong and the lower tong permitting the upper tong and the lower tong to swivel relative thereto while the recesses remain positioned with the axis passing therethrough, the swivel bearing including a first partial ring mounted to one of the upper tong and the lower tong and a second partial ring mounted on the other of the upper tong and lower tong, the second partial ring being interengaged at a bearing surface to ride along a length of a bearing surface of the first partial ring; and a retainer ring positioned adjacent one of the first partial ring and the second partial ring to act against lateral disengagement of the second partial ring from the first partial ring. In another aspect, dissimilar materials are selected for the first ring and the second ring to avoid galling. In another aspect a tong with adjustable dies is described.

Various types of torque wrenches have been employed when making up or breaking out drill pipe joints, drill collars, casing and the like in oil well drilling and oilfield tubular running operations. Generally torque wrenches include upper and lower tongs that sequentially grip and release upper and lower tubulars with the upper and lower tongs being moved in a swivelling or scissoring manner to torque as by threading or unthreading a threaded connection between the tubulars. Power operated tongs have been provided for this purpose.
In some torque wrenches, an upper tong and a lower tong are swiveled with respect to each other by a torqueing cylinder which can be extended or retracted to break out or make up the tubulars as may be required. A pipe biting or gripping system on each tong utilizes moveable die heads that include pipe gripping dies. The die heads may be moveable by various means including, for example, hydraulic rams that extend to move the die heads into gripping or biting engagement with the pipe.


A lid assembly for a semiconductor processing apparatus having at least two chambers comprises a lid plate having a first side and a second side and a plasma generation source mounted to the first side of the lid plate. Additionally, at least two gas boxes are coupled to the first side of the lid of the lid plate, and a divider is coupled between the plasma generation source and the at least two gas boxes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for performing chemical vapor deposition. More particularly, the invention relates to a lid assembly for distributing gases within a chemical vapor deposition system having a plurality of chambers.
2. Description of the Background Art
Chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, is a well-known and practiced technique for the deposition of material on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. A CVD chamber is typically defined by electrically grounded walls and a lid. A pedestal for supporting a substrate is disposed within the chamber. A showerhead is disposed beneath the lid and above the pedestal. Coupled to the chamber is a gas panel and, for process conditions above atmospheric pressure (i.e., high-pressure systems), optionally a RF source. The gas panel is coupled to the showerhead and provides process and other gases to the chamber. The process gases and substrate are preheated to a temperature that facilitates thermal decomposition of the gases and substrate film formation. In high-pressure systems, the showerhead is coupled to the RF source. When used, the RF source drives the showerhead, igniting and sustaining a process gas plasma that enhances the deposition process for plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD). Deposition occurs when the process gas or gases injected into the chamber react to form a layer of material upon the substrate. As the formed material is often additionally deposited on components within the CVD chamber other than the wafer, the gas panel typically also supplies a cleaning agent such as Fluorine to clean or xe2x80x9cscrubxe2x80x9d the chamber of unwanted deposition material remaining after wafer processing.
Although CVD remains a key process in the sequence of most integrated circuit manufacturing, pressure to create more robust, reliable, and cost effective processing equipment has increased with greater competition and pricing pressure within the integrated circuit manufacturing trade. One solution has been to use multi-chamber, or cluster tools. Although this solution increases system throughput, each chamber has a dedicated Fluorine source to facilitate cleaning processes. This redundancy of hardware among chambers increases system capital costs. Additionally, as more components comprise a system, the likelihood of service and downtime frequency increases as well. For example, systems that incorporate a dedicated plasma generation source can be particularly problematic as microwave magnetrons have a tendency to require service often.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for apparatus for CVD processing that provides increased reliability while reducing the overall system hardware costs.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention of an apparatus for distributing gases in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system. In one aspect of the invention, a lid assembly for a semiconductor processing apparatus having at least two chambers comprises a lid plate having a first side and a second side and a plasma generation source mounted to the first side of the lid plate. Additionally, at least two gas boxes are coupled to the first side of the lid plate, and a divider is coupled between the plasma generation source and the at least two gas boxes.
In another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor processing apparatus comprises at least two chambers and a lid assembly disposed over the at least two chambers. The lid assembly comprises a lid plate having a first side and a second side, and a plasma generation source mounted to the first side of the lid plate. Additionally, at least two gas boxes are coupled to the first side of the lid plate, and a divider is coupled to the plasma generation source and the at least two gas boxes.

Apparatus for distributing gases in a chemical vapor deposition system


Systems and methods are described herein that provide storage array side write locking. In embodiments, data is on storage arrays that are shared by a plurality of clients, and the storage array prevents write contentions on the shared data by employing a storage array side write locking strategy that uses a write lock table to determine whether requested data is currently being serviced by one of the plurality of clients. For example, upon receiving a request for data, the storage array checks a lock table to determine whether any of the requested data is currently write locked (which indications current use of the data). If the grains are not write locked, then the data request may be allowed. If the grains are write locked, then the data request may be denied. In embodiments, the storage array takes steps to determine whether write locks have become stale and should be removed.

Shared storage systems involve a shared data storage and multiple computer systems which access the shared data storage, for example servers and/or computers (collectively called clients). Large scale storage systems operate with hundreds and/or thousands of clients, which share access to a shared data store comprising many storage arrays, wherein the shared data store is capable of storing many terabytes of data. Traditionally, a storage array is used to store large amounts of data on a large group of storage media (e.g. hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), and the like).
In a shared storage system, because multiple clients (e.g. servers) share the same data, circumstances arise wherein two different servers attempt to access the same data during the same unit of time. Such a circumstance leads to write contentions, wherein one server may overwrite data that another server is using. Such an overwrite causes data inconsistencies and should be avoided. As such, in order to prevent write contentions, traditional systems employ client based write locking methods.
Traditionally, shared storage systems implement a distributed, server-side write locking scheme, wherein the servers are the above described clients. In server-side write locking, a server may access a grain, which is a set of data records. The granularity describes the size of the grain, and the granularity of the name space may be static or dynamically sized. When a server accesses the grain, the accessing server locks the grain by communicating its use of the grain with the other servers in the cluster. Then, when the accessing server is finished with the grain, the accessing server unlocks the grain by communicating its release of the grain's write lock with the other servers in the cluster. For example, if accessing server accesses grain A, accessing server communicates with all other servers in the system to inform the other servers that grain A is write locked, and thus, the other servers are not allowed access grain A. As a result, all the other servers often have logic disallowing access to grain A, and all servers are often capable of receiving and processing high speed signaling from the accessing server to provide notice that grain A is available for use again. Likewise, the same steps are followed by a different accessing server using a different grain (e.g. grain N). As such, the above described write locking method is distributed among the servers in the cluster and the write locking is handled on the server-side.
Traditionally, distributed server-side write locking presents several problems. For example, each server is responsible for locking the data it accesses, which means that all of the servers must constantly communicate with each other in order to keep the write locks up to date. As a result, if any of the servers become noncommunicative for any amount of time and/or for any reason the distributed server-side write locking method becomes unreliable.
For example, if server A access grain A and sends a communication to the other servers that grain A is write locked, then server A will believe that the grain is properly locked and begin operations using the data in grain A. However, if server B does not receive the write lock communication for any number of reasons (e.g. communications malfunction, data corruption, temporary loss of power, etc.), server B may not be aware of the write lock. As such, server B may unwittingly access grain A and overwrite the data therein while server A is performing operations on the same data. As a result, due to a communication error between server A and server B, a write contention may occur.
In another example of traditional methods, server A access grain A and sends a communication to the other servers that grain A is write locked. As a result, the other servers will not access grain A because they believe it to be write locked. Then, while grain A is write locked, server A goes offline for any number of reasons (e.g. loss of power, data corruption, communications malfunction, etc.). As a result, server A may be unable to communicate a release to unlock grain A for minutes, hours, days, etc., thereby causing grain A to be unnecessarily inaccessible to the other servers for an unacceptable amount of time. Because distributed server-side write locking depends on the operability of so many different servers and their communication paths, distributes server-side write locking is vulnerable to a large number of malfunctions originating from a large number of sources.
In order to decrease the number of sources which may cause a write locking breakdown, other traditional methods centralize the write locking operations to a dedicated server. A single server-side write locking system, sometimes called a metadata manager system, controls write locking with a dedicated server; thus, each server request for a grain (e.g. grain A) is funneled through the dedicated write locking server and if the write locking server identifies grain A as unlocked, then the write locking server allows access to the grain A, which is stored on a remotely located storage array. Likewise, if the write locking server determines that grain A is locked, then access to grain A is denied.
While this traditional method may minimize the number of vulnerable nodes within the write locking method, the dedicated server-side scheme is limited in scalability. For example, a dedicated server is limited in the number of requests it can process at any one time. As such, the more data requesting servers which are added to the cluster and need access to the shared data store, the more bottlenecks occur at the dedicated write locking server. Eventually, as more and more data accessing servers and more and more storage arrays are added to the cluster, the dedicated server will be unable to service all the data requests for the grains in the cluster open for write access and the write locking method will become unable to keep up with the volume of write locking requests and cluster operations will break down. As such, single server-side write locking systems are limited in scalability to about a dozen data accessing servers and a couple storage arrays.
In response to the bottleneck problem described above, alternative traditional approaches have extended the dedicated server-side write locking method to multiple dedicated servers. However, as the number of dedicated write locking servers grow, the number of vulnerable points within the system grows as well, as described in the distributed server-side locking method above. As such, if any one of the dedicated write locking server goes offline for any reason or any one of the communications between the dedicated write locking servers is lost for any reason, then the write locking method breaks down as described above in the distributed server-side locking method.


Chemical mechanical apparatuses including a polishing pad conditioning unit for improving a conditioning rate and wear uniformity of a polishing pad are provided. In one aspect, a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a polishing pad conditioner including conditioning disks disposed in a radial direction of a planarizing surface of a circular polishing pad and contacted with the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad during rotation of the circular polishing pad. The conditioning disks are connected to first drive units supported by an arm disposed over the circular polishing pad and extended in a radial direction of a planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad. The arm is connected to second drive units. The second drive units move the arm horizontally and reciprocally in the radial direction of the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad. Thus, a conditioning rate and wear uniformity of the polishing pad may be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a polishing pad conditioner and a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus having the polishing pad conditioner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polishing pad conditioner of a chemical and mechanical polishing apparatus that is used for planarizing a surface of a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
To meet various demands of consumers, technologies for manufacturing semiconductor devices have been developed to improve the quality, e.g., integration degree, reliability, response speed, etc., of semiconductor devices. Generally, a semiconductor device is manufactured using multiple processes including deposition, photolithography, etching, implantation, and polishing processes, etc. The polishing process plays an important role to improve structural stability and electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device. And consequently, planarizing has become increasingly more important.
In general, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is widely used to planarize a surface of a layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. The CMP process uses both chemical reactions between a slurry and the surface of the layer and mechanical frictions between a circular polishing pad and the surface of the layer to planarize the surface of the layer formed on the semiconductor substrate.
A CMP apparatus for carrying out the CMP process includes a circular polishing pad disposed on a polishing table, a polishing head for holding and rotating the semiconductor substrate, a slurry supply unit for supplying the slurry at an interface between a surface of the semiconductor substrate and a planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad, a polishing pad conditioner for improving conditions of the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad, etc. The CMP apparatus may also include an endpoint detector for detecting an endpoint of the CMP process.
The slurry is a carrier including abrasives and chemical materials used for polishing the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A polishing rate is an important variable in the CMP process that uses the slurry. The polishing rate may be determined in accordance with the type of slurry used in the CMP process. One factor in determining the polishing rate in the CMP process may be the diameter of the abrasive in the slurry, which may be about 10 Å to about 1000 Å. The hardness of the abrasive may also be used in determining the polishing rate in the CMP process. For instance, the hardness of the abrasive may be substantially equal to that of the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
A plurality of grooves in which the slurry flows is formed in concentric circles at the planarizing surface portion of the circular polishing pad. A plurality of micro pores is also formed at the planarizing surface portion of the circular polishing pad to receive the slurry therein.
The circular polishing pad is classified into two groups. One is a soft circular polishing pad and the other is hard circular polishing pad. The soft pad is a felt pad including urethane. The hard circular polishing pad is a porous urethane pad.
In a case where the semiconductor substrate is polished by a CMP process using the circular polishing pad and the slurry, micro pores are often filled with byproducts that are generated during the CMP process. Thus, a conditioning process for removing the byproducts from the micro pores may be required. The conditioning process may be performed simultaneously with the CMP process. Alternatively, the conditioning process of the circular polishing pad may be independently performed after the CMP process.
As an example of the circular polishing pad conditioner, a convex shaped polishing pad conditioner including nickel alloy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,709 B1 issued Nanda, et al. Diamond abrasives attached to a lower face of the polishing pad conditioner contact a planarizing surface of a circular polishing pad.
In addition, a polishing pad conditioner comprising a conditioning element that includes a body and a bonding medium composed of nickel or, another metal, wherein the nickel layer is attached to a lower face of the body and diamond particles attached to a lower face of the bonding medium is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,413 B1 issued Skrovan.
The polishing pad conditioner for performing the conditioning process includes a conditioning disk. The diamond particles are attached to a lower face of a conditioning disk. The lower face of the conditioning disk contacts the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad. The conditioning disk is then rotated and moved across the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad during the conditioning process, thereby improving conditions of the planarizing surface of the circular polishing pad.
As a diameter of a wafer that is used as a semiconductor substrate is increased, a diameter of the conditioning disk is also increased. However, although a conditioning rate of the circular polishing pad is increased in proportion to an increase of the diameter of the conditioning disk, a pad wearing uniformity may decrease. In contrast, although the pad wearing uniformity is increased in proportion to a decrease of the diameter of the conditioning disk, the conditioning rate of the circular polishing pad may also decrease. Accordingly, to overcome the above-mentioned problems, an improved polishing pad conditioner is required.

Polishing pad conditioner and chemical mechanical polishing apparatus having the same


An atomic oscillator includes a base, a unit portion including a gas cell and the like, and a support member that supports the unit portion against the base. The support member includes a plurality of leg portions and a connecting portion that connects the plurality of leg portions to each other. A connection portion between each leg portion and the base is separated from the unit portion in plan view from a direction in which the base and the unit portion overlap each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a quantum interference device, an atomic oscillator, and a moving object.
2. Related Art
An atomic oscillator that oscillates based on the energy transition of atoms of alkali metal, such as rubidium and cesium, is known. In general, the operating principle of the atomic oscillator is largely divided into a method using a double resonance phenomenon caused by light and a microwave and a method using coherent population trapping (CPT) caused by two types of light components having different wavelengths.
In the atomic oscillator of any method, in order to fill alkali metal in a gas cell together with buffer gas and keep the alkali metal in a gas state, it is necessary to heat the gas cell to a predetermined temperature using a heater. In addition, excitation light for exciting the alkali metal is emitted into the gas cell from a light emitting portion, and the intensity of the excitation light transmitted through the gas cell is detected by a light detecting portion.
As such an atomic oscillator, as disclosed in Pamphlet of International Publication WO2006/017345, a configuration is known in which a gas cell, a light emitting portion, a light detecting portion, and a heater are unitized and this unit is housed in a package.
In the atomic oscillator disclosed in Pamphlet of International Publication WO2006/017345, in order to suppress the thermal interference between the unit including the gas cell and the like and the outside of the package, the unit is supported by the suspension frame structure.
In the atomic oscillator disclosed in Pamphlet of International Publication WO2006/017345, however, since the suspension frame structure is flexible, there has been a problem in that the unit including the gas cell and the like vibrates due to natural vibration and the oscillation characteristics are degraded.
In addition, in recent years, an atomic oscillator using the CPT in particular is small compared with an atomic oscillator using the double resonance phenomenon. Accordingly, building such an atomic oscillator into various electronic apparatuses is expected, and a further miniaturization (in particular, a reduction in height) is desired.

Quantum interference device, atomic oscillator, and moving object


An occupant protection device for a motor vehicle having at least one inflatable airbag which, upon activation leaves through an exit opening, normally closed by a panel or cover, into the interior of the motor vehicle, and having a mechanism, independent of the airbag, for removing the panel or cover. In order to permit immediate activation of the airbag without a time delay and unhindered exiting of the same from the exit opening when an associated sensor or an associated sensor system responds in the event of an accident, the mechanism for removing the panel or cover can be activated separately from the airbag and before the response of the sensor or sensor system effecting the activation of the airbag.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle having at least one inflatable airbag, which upon activation leaves through an exit opening, normally closed by a panel or cover, into the interior of the motor vehicle. The device includes means independent of the airbag for removing the panel or cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the case of the known occupant protection devices having inflatable front or side airbags for motor vehicles, the exit opening through which, in the event of a collision, the airbag leaves in the direction of the interior of the motor vehicle is generally closed by a panel or cover for safety reasons and because of outer appearance. The panel or cover is usually formed by part of an internal paneling of the motor vehicle, a steering wheel covering or a cover part of an airbag housing and is generally detachably fastened in such a way that, when the airbag inflates, it can be opened explosively or by impact of the airbag in order to clear the exit opening. In this case, the panel or cover is usually accelerated in the direction of the interior of the motor vehicle, so that the risk of injuries to the vehicle occupants being caused by the moving panel or cover cannot be ruled out.
To solve this problem, in German reference DE-A 42 17 174 there is proposed an occupant protection device of the previously mentioned type in which the airbag is arranged in a pivotable housing open on one side. The exit opening of the housing is normally closed by a part of the housing designed as a foam padding. In the event of an accident, the housing part is pivoted, before inflation of the airbag, with the aid of a pyrotechnic propellant charge, in order to remove the foam padding from the region of the exit opening and at the same time pivot an open exit side of the housing in front of the exit opening arranged in an instrument panel of the motor vehicle. In the case of the known occupant protection device, in the event of an accident, first of all the pyrotechnic propellant charge is automatically ignited by acceleration sensors or the like which then respond and, as a result, the housing is pivoted, so that its open exit side comes to lie in front of the exit opening and the airbag then automatically inflated by an associated gas generator is able to leave from the exit opening. Although this sequence of events which proceed automatically in the event of an accident can eliminate the possibility of occupants being endangered by the panel or cover, the period of time between the response of the acceleration sensor and the beginning of the inflation of the airbag is extended by decisive fractions of a second, which cannot be tolerated because of the brevity of the time period available, in particular in the case of side airbags. The reason for the time delay is the necessary acceleration of the housing and the time required for covering the pivoting path, during which it is necessary to wait since, in the case of the known occupant protection device, the ignition of the airbag gas generator may take place only when the open exit side of the housing is completely in line with the exit opening, because otherwise catching or tearing open of the airbag cannot be ruled out.
Occupant protection devices for motor vehicles which include sensors designed as proximity sensors, which respond even before the motor vehicle collides with another object, are already known per se, for example from German references DT 20 49 183 and DE 44 24 878 A1. These sensors usually comprise a transmitter and a receiver which measures the radiation emitted by the transmitter and reflected by an obstacle and determines from this the distance from the other object. However, the sensors of these known occupant protection devices always effect an activation of the airbag and do not serve for the removal of a panel or cover which closes an exit opening for the airbag.
Furthermore, an occupant protection device which, in addition to an impact sensor, comprises an additional proximity sensor is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,309. In this case the proximity sensor effects the activation of the airbag, while the impact sensor serves the purpose of controlling the inflation of the airbag according to the force of impact.

Occupant protection device for a motor vehicle


A running tool coupled to a running string and for operational use in a well casing. The running tool having a collapsed and expanded state, a tubular positioned around the centralizer to hold the centralizer in the collapsed state, a release assembly maneuverable to release the tubular causing the centralizer to enter into an expanded state, and a cleaning device for cleaning walls of the well casing. The cleaning device includes at least one of a scraper, magnet, brush, and a high flow rate circulation valve for channeling fluid from the running string into the well casing. The centralizer functions as a stabilizer in the expanded state protecting the running tool during operation.

The present disclosure relates, in general, to running tools used on running strings for operational use in downhole well casings and, in particular, to a running tool having a centralizer for stabilizing a running tool and/or running string during well cleaning operations.
When a hydrocarbon well, or water injector well is drilled, casing is installed in the upper region of the well and then, normally, a reservoir liner equipped with a reservoir liner hanger is attached to drill pipe (running string) and ran into the well. Once the reservoir liner is set in place, cement is displaced into the reservoir liner and back up the annulus outside the reservoir liner, cementing it in position; after which, the reservoir liner is left filled with drilling mud. At this stage, mud is circulated through the casing to remove residual cement, metal swarf, etc. The drill pipe is then removed from the well and fitted with a running tool used for cleaning the well casing that can provide high flow rates and high speed rotation of the running string. This operation can be time consuming. During the actual cleaning operation, the running tool can rotate at a high rate of velocity and potentially cause damage. All of this results in additional time and expense for a well site operator.

Running tool and method of cleaning a downhole well casing


An auxiliary device is used in the exchanging of a filter in a clean room having a production section, and a filter frame including a filter-supporting portion which supports the filter and an extending portion which extends from the filter-supporting portion toward the production section. The auxiliary device includes a block plate to be inserted in the extending portion of the filter frame, a support supporting the bottom of the block plate and facing an inside wall of the second portion of the filter frame, and an inflatable tube disposed along the circumference of the support. The tube is inflated to press outwardly and seal the device in the filter frame, thereby blocking the flow of any unfiltered air past the filter and into the production section. Thereafter, the filter is removed and a new filter is set in its place. Finally, the tube is deflated so as to free the device from the filter frame. Accordingly, the production operation as well as the circulation of cleaning air can proceed while the filter is being exchanged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for use in the exchanging of a filter in a clean room. The present invention also relates to a method in which the auxiliary device is used to exchange the filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-tech industries presently demand high-purity production environments to ensure the quality and yield of production products. In this respect, the precision, purity, and asepsis of the production line are especially important.
These characteristic requirements of a production environment have been greatly improved by the introduction of the clean room. Clean rooms include the Bio Clean Room (BCR) and the Industrial Clean Room (ICR). The Bio Clean Room (BCR) is used in the medical field for preventing bio-contamination during the manufacturing of medicine, drugs, and foods, and during genetic engineering, etc. The Industrial Clean Room (ICR) is used in the more industrial fields for preventing particles from contaminating such products as semiconductor devices, precise machinery, raw materials, etc.
The semiconductor device fabrication process requires a clean room in which a down stream laminar flow is formed in a production line in order to remove particles which would otherwise have an enormous adverse effect on the performance of the final semiconductor devices and thus, on the production yield.
The Down Stream Laminar Flow Type of clean room is good for quickly removing the particles generated by the various equipment in the production line, by the various materials that are used in the manufacturing process or by operators of the production line. Various methods of developing a down stream laminar flow are being developed along with the continuous development of the make-up of the production line and its maintenance.
The structure and function of a clean room which forms a down stream laminar flow thereinside will next be described referring to FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, a grating 14 having a plurality of holes is installed on a frame 12 which is set a certain distance above the bottom of the clean room 10. The clean room is thus divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by the grating 14.
Above the grating 14 is a production line 16 comprising the equipment for fabricating semiconductor devices (not shown in the figure for the sake of clarity). On the other hand, below the grating 14 is an auxiliary facility for assisting the fabrication equipment (also not shown in the figure) and a circulation pan 18 for circulating the air inside the clean room 10.
The circulation pan 18 induces air from the upper portion of the clean room 10 to the lower portion thereof by suction and then recirculates the air to the production line 16 through a passage 20 defined in the sidewall of the clean room 10.
Meanwhile, a plurality of filters 22 are installed above the production line 16 for filtering the air. These filters 22 are supported by a filter frame 24. The air is forced through the filters 22 by the pressure formed by the circulation pan 18 and is then directed into the production line 16. The air passing through the filters 22 and directed downwards into the production line 16 passes through the holes of the grating 14 to thereby form a down stream laminar flow.
The particles continuously generated inside the production line 16 are discharged toward the lower portion of the clean room 10 by the down stream laminar flow in order to maintain highly pure state of the clean room 10.
In the meantime, when a filter becomes damaged or contaminated enough, the particles in the air are not filtered by the damaged or contaminated filter 22. This contaminated air spreads quickly, and adversely affects the formation of the down stream laminar flow. As a result, the production line 16 is contaminated.
In order to prevent this problem, the filters 22 are regularly inspected. Any filter found to be damaged is replaced. However, if the filter is replaced while the air is continuously circulated, a large amount of contaminated air is induced into the production line 16 through an open area at the place where the filter has been removed. Accordingly, the production line 16 will become contaminated.
A conventional method of exchanging a damaged filter has been used in an attempt to prevent such a contamination of the production line 16 from occurring. Referring now to FIG. 2, in the conventional method, a curtain of anti-electrostatic vinyl 26 is hung between the filter frame 24 and the grating 14 at that portion of the filter frame 24 which supports the filter to be exchanged. The ends of the curtain of anti-electrostatic vinyl 26 adjacent the grating 14 and the filter frame 24 are sealed with adhesive members 28, respectively. Then, the damaged filter 22 is replaced by first removing the damaged filter into the space above the filter frame 24.
However, when the damaged filter 22 is replaced, the air existing in the space above the filter frame 24 moves toward the open area due to a pressure differential existing above and below the filter frame 24.
Unfortunately, air passing within the curtain of anti-electrostatic vinyl 26 is under such pressure that it separates the seals at the respective ends of the curtain of anti-electrostatic vinyl 26. The induced, non-filtered air spreads through these openings in the seals and contaminates the production line 16.
Therefore, the conventional method of exchanging a filter 22 requires the various operating portions of the production line 16 to be first shut down. Further, the method is carried out while the air circulation is also shut down. Afterwards, the production line facilities must be restarted. Accordingly, carrying out the conventional method of exchanging a damaged or contaminated filter results in a great reduction in the productivity of the line 16.

Method of exchanging filters in a clean room and auxiliary device for use in the exchanging of the filters


A new sand bag filling device for taking bulk sand and filling sand bags with the bulk sand on demand. The inventive device includes a hopper having interior space, a top, a bottom, a pair of end walls, and a pair side walls extending between the end walls. The top of the hopper has an opening into the interior space of the hopper while the bottom of the hopper has ground engaging members. A conduit outwardly extends from one of the end walls of the hopper away from the hopper. The conduit has a first opening into the interior space of the hopper and an exterior second opening outside the hopper. An auger member is rotatably mounted in the interior space of the hopper. The auger member extends from the interior space of the hopper into the conduit through the first opening of the conduit so that its screw portion is extended into the conduit. A motor is proved for rotating the auger member in a direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sand bag filling devices and more particularly pertains to a new sand bag filling device for taking bulk sand and filling sand bags with the bulk sand on demand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of sand bag filling devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, sand bag filling devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art sand bag filling devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,041; U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,127; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 320,800; U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,775; U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,522; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,702.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new sand bag filling device. The inventive device includes a hopper having interior space, a top, a bottom, a pair of end walls, and a pair side walls extending between the end walls. The top of the hopper has an opening into the interior space of the hopper while the bottom of the hopper has ground engaging members. A conduit outwardly extends from one of the end walls of the hopper away from the hopper. The conduit has a first opening into the interior space of the hopper and an exterior second opening outside the hopper. An auger member is rotatably mounted in the interior space of the hopper. The auger member extends from the interior space of the hopper into the conduit through the first opening of the conduit so that its screw portion is extended into the conduit. A motor is proved for rotating the auger member in a direction.
In these respects, the sand bag filling device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of taking bulk sand and filling sand bags with the bulk sand on demand.


The present invention related to an improved structure of an optically transparent element that can be used in optical scanners, supermarket scanners, lenses for eyeglasses, etc. The application of oxynitride PECVD films provide good hardness and optical transparency. Such films displaying these physical properties are extremely useful as a scratch resistant coatings in lenses and systems in which an article contacts a transparent surface, such as in scanners and in environments in which intermittent, environmental contact occurs such as in displays for computers and suchlike and in liquid crystal displays, touch displays and compact disks.

This invention relates to a coating system which forms a highly abrasion resistant, chemical resistant, impact resistant protective finish for a substrate.
This invention relates to items such as face shields which are exposed to solvents and high velocity particulates such as found in sand blasting operations, etc. These devices are manufactured from impact resistant polycarbonate which is relatively soft and susceptible to scratching and damage with severely limits the life of these articles. Polycarbonate is also susceptible to solvents such as acetone, methylethylketone, methylene chloride, etc. Most coatings which can be applied and impart these desirable properties are not transparent to light and result in distortion, attenuation of light or color dispersion which are undesirable. It would be desirable to have a coating on the face shield which provides the properties described above and is also transparent to optical radiation.
Coating compositions have been developed which, when applied to a substrate impart a highly abrasion resistant surface to the substrate. Coating compositions of this type have been widely used to impart abrasion resistance to plastic lenses such as eyeglass lenses, to plastic panels and films, to wood surfaces such as furniture, and many other applications where an abrasion resistant or scratch resistant surface finish is of importance.
Abrasion resistant coatings of this type are typically organic based materials which are cured or crosslinked after application of the coating, typically by radiation curing. Radiation curable coatings offer the advantage of being rapidly cured and polymerized without requiring curing ovens and they can be applied and processed without having to remove solvents and deal with solvent vapors in the workplace environment.
Prior abrasion resistant coatings have sought to deal with the brittleness and cracking problem by using a softening comonomer (a monomer with a low second order transition temperature) to impart some degree of flexibility to the coating. However, in achieving increased flexibility and reduced brittleness, the abrasion resistance of the coating is sacrificed.
To overcome the disadvantage of a brittle coating, a PECVD process can deposit an inorganic film which has a considerably higher modulus, hardness and scratch resistance such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,661 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Recently, a method has been disclosed for the deposition of a silicon oxynitride film. This film has excellent hardness, high modulus and it was discovered that this coating can be transparent to optical radiation and therefore useful in applications in which transparent hardcoats are used.
The resistance of a coating to scratching abrasion is typically measured by the rotary steel wool test, which involves subjecting the coating to five revolutions of a pad of 0000 grade steel wool at a defined pressure, usually 12 or 24 psi. The scratching abrasion resistance is rated by measuring the increase in haze from the abrasion. Test methods such as ASTM D-1044 have been developed for optically measuring the resistance of transparent plastic materials to abrasion. Other standard tests for abrasion resistance are the Taber abrasion test described in ASTM D-1004-56.
In many applications, the protective finish needs not only to be "hard" and thus resistant to scratching, but also must have excellent toughness and resistance to impact. The toughness or impact abrasion resistance of a coating is commonly measured by the "falling sand" test (ASTM D968-51). A coating which has good scratch abrasion resistance may not necessarily have good impact abrasion resistance. With the falling sand test, sand is poured onto a coating from a predetermined height, while the thickness of the coating is observed. The results are expressed in terms of the number of liters of sand required to abrade away one tenth of a mil of the coating thickness. The radiation cured abrasion resistance coatings noted in the aforementioned prior patents have a relatively poor resistance to impact abrasion which renders these types of coatings unacceptable for applications requiring both good resistance to scratching abrasion an good resistance to impact abrasion.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a coating system which provides not only good resistance to scratching abrasion, but also provides excellent resistance to impact abrasion.

Transparent hard coats for optical elements

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of manufacturing an orifice member used in a nozzle for ink-jet printing includes a first step of applying an adhesive onto one surface of a synthetic resin member; a second step of forming at least one through-opening in a metallic member such that the through-opening extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of penetration of the through-opening; a third step of bonding together the metallic member having the through-opening and the synthetic resin member via the adhesive; and after the bonding step, a fourth step of forming a plurality of through-holes having substantially the same diameter in a portion of the synthetic resin member corresponding to the through-opening of the metallic member such that the through-holes are aligned at a substantially constant pitch along the through-opening of the metallic member and such that the through-holes do not deviate from an area corresponding to the through-opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nozzle for ink-jet printing, an orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing, and a method of manufacturing the orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nozzle for ink-jet printing in which a plurality of orifices are provided at a constant pitch in at least one row, an orifice member of such a nozzle for ink-jet printing, and a method of manufacturing such an orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a nozzle for ink-jet printing in which a plurality of orifices are provided at a constant pitch in at least one row, as well as an orifice member for such a nozzle, an example of which is disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828. Also, there has been known a method of manufacturing such a nozzle and orifice member, an example of which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560.
The nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828 comprises a main body including a manifold portion formed to supply ink to a liquid-droplet discharge surface along the longitudinal direction of the main body; a plurality of piezoelectric strips attached to the main body; and an orifice member attached to the liquid-droplet discharge surface and having a row of orifices arranged along the longitudinal direction of the main body.
The orifice member of the nozzle is made of bright nickel or nickel alloy and is formed through electroforming. The orifice member is composed of a first layer for defining orifices and a second layer which reinforces the first layer to increase the strength of the orifice member and defines conduits (channels) each communicating with the corresponding orifice through an opening facing the opening of the corresponding orifice and having a diameter greater than that of the corresponding orifice. The open face of the second layer is bonded to the main body of the nozzle through use of epoxy adhesive having a large molecular weight.
In the orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560, a thin metallic member is laminated onto one or both surfaces of a synthetic resin member to form a laminate having increased mechanical and thermal stability; openings are formed in the thin metallic member by means of chemical etching; and holes (orifices) are formed to penetrate the synthetic resin member such that the holes open within the openings provided in the thin metallic member.
The method of manufacturing an orifice member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560 comprises three steps. In the first step, a thin metallic member is laminated onto one or both surfaces of a synthetic resin member, in order to manufacture a laminate. In the second step, the thin metallic member forming the surface of the laminate is etched chemically to form holes at a relatively low degree of accuracy so that the synthetic resin member is exposed. In the third step, a plurality of through-holes having a predetermined diameter are formed in the exposed portion of the synthetic resin member by means of heat fusion such that the through-holes are aligned at a predetermined pitch.
In the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828, ink fed to the manifold is jetted from the respective orifices in the form of straightly-advancing ink filaments, and the main body is vibrated by means of piezoelectric strips serving as vibrating elements in order to cut the ink filaments to an uniform length measured from the exits of the orifices, thereby forming ink droplets of a constant size.
However, in the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828, since the orifices are formed through electroforming, the length of the orifices along the center line is not sufficient relative to the diameter of the orifices. Therefore, the ink fed to the orifices jets therefrom without assuming a clear laminar flow. In this case, since the state of the ink filaments jetted from the respective orifices is not stable, the ink filaments are difficult to cut to a uniform length measured from the exits of the orifices. Therefore, the size and traveling distance of ink droplets are not consistent making it difficult to obtain ink-jet printed material of high quality.
Moreover, since the orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828 is formed through electroforming as described above, the length of the orifices along the center line is not sufficient relative to the diameter of the orifices. Therefore, the ink fed to the orifices jets therefrom without assuming a clear laminar flow. Accordingly, even when the orifice member is employed for the nozzle for ink-jet printing, it is difficult to obtain ink-jet printed material of high quality.
The orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560 has overcome the drawbacks of the orifice member used in the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in PCT Kohyo Publication No. 4-504828. That is, the orifice-forming layer of the orifice member is formed of a synthetic resin member having a desired thickness, and orifices are formed in the synthetic resin member through use of laser heat fusion such that the ratio of the axial length to the diameter becomes greater than 1. Thus, the ink passing through the orifices is caused to assume a laminar flow.
However, in the orifice member of the nozzle for ink-jet printing disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560, the surface of the synthetic resin member is covered with the thin metallic member in order to obtain mechanical stability and thermal stability, and chemical etching is performed to partially remove the thin metallic member at positions where orifices are to be formed. Thus, openings are formed at the positions corresponding to the orifices. However, since the metallic member is extremely thin, irregular side etching (corrosion in the lateral direction) occurs easily, and therefore the shape and accuracy of the openings vary. Therefore, in a nozzle for ink-jet printing employing the orifice member, the flow of ink supplied from the manifold into the orifices becomes turbulent after having reached the openings of the thin metallic member, and ink flows turbulently into the orifices. Therefore, there exists a possibility that the ink passing through the orifices does not assume a laminar flow.
Further, since the nozzles (holes) of the synthetic resin member are formed through material removal utilizing laser fusion; i.e., heat fusion by means of infrared laser, burrs or irregular protrusions are formed at the edge portions of the openings. This cause the problems of turbulent flow of ink and deflection of the jetting direction of ink.
Therefore, when the orifice member is used in a nozzle for ink-jet printing, the size of ink droplets and the traveling distance and direction of ink droplets sometimes become inconsistent, making it difficult to obtain ink-jet printed material of high quality. Accordingly, the nozzle does not operate stably as a nozzle for ink-jet printing
Further, in the method of manufacturing an orifice member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99560, as already described, side etching occurs during the step of chemically etching the thin metallic member at the surface of the laminate. Therefore, desired finish cannot be obtained. In addition, since the nozzles (holes) of the synthetic resin member are formed by use of infrared laser, it is impossible to prevent the generation of burrs and irregular protrusions at the edge portions of the openings stemming from heat fusion.
That is, it is difficult to manufacture an orifice member that has a desired shape and accuracy and thus has a well-stabilized performance.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional techniques and to provide a nozzle for ink-jet printing which enables ink filaments jetted from orifices to be cut to a uniform length measured from the exits of the orifices, thereby enabling production of high quality printed material through ink-jet printing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an orifice member having a plurality of orifices and used in a nozzle for ink-jet printing, which orifice member allows ink filaments jetted from the orifices to be cut to a uniform length measured from the exits of the orifices.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method for stably manufacturing the orifice member to a high degree of accuracy and precision.
A nozzle for ink-jet printing according to the present invention comprises: a manifold having an outside surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the manifold as well as a hollow space, the hollow space having a opening opened in the outside surface such that the opening extends along the longitudinal direction while maintaining a substantially constant width; a vibrating element attached to at least one outside surface other than the outside surface in which the hollow space is opened; and an orifice member brought into contact and attached to the outside surface in which the hollow space is opened.
The orifice member is composed of a metallic member provided in contact with the manifold, and a synthetic resin member bonded to the metallic member through use of adhesive. The metallic member has at least one through-opening at a position facing the opening of the hollow space of the manifold such that the through-opening communicates with the opening of the hollow space. The synthetic resin member has a plurality of through-holes having substantially the same diameter formed to face the through-opening. The through-holes are aligned at a substantially constant pitch along the through-opening of the metallic member such that they do not deviate from an area corresponding to the through-opening of the metallic member.
An orifice member used in a nozzle for ink-jet printing according to the present invention is composed of a metallic member and a synthetic resin member bonded to the metallic member through use of adhesive. The metallic member has at least one through-opening that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of penetration of the through-opening. The synthetic resin member has a plurality of through-holes which have substantially the same diameter not greater than the size of the through-opening of the metallic member and are aligned at a substantially constant pitch in a direction perpendicular to the direction of penetration of the through-holes. The opening of each through-hole faces the through-opening of the metallic member and does not deviate from an area corresponding to the through-opening.
A method of manufacturing an orifice member used in a nozzle for ink-jet printing comprises:
a first step of applying an adhesive onto one surface of a synthetic resin member;
a second step of forming at least one through-opening in the metallic member such that the through-opening extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of penetration of the through-opening;
a third step of bonding together the metallic member having the through-opening and the synthetic resin member via the adhesive; and
a fourth step of forming a plurality of through-holes having substantially the same diameter in a portion of the synthetic resin member corresponding to the through-opening of the metallic member such that the through-holes are aligned at a substantially constant pitch along the through-opening of the metallic member and such that the through-holes do not deviate from an area corresponding to the through-opening.
Preferably, the through-holes of the synthetic resin member are formed through cutting of molecular coupling of the synthetic resin member by means of photon energy. In this case, a UV laser is preferably used as a source of photon energy.
The nozzle for ink-jet printing according to the present invention enables ink filaments having substantially the same diameter to be jetted straight in a predetermined direction. Therefore, it becomes possible to cut the ink filaments to a uniform length measured from the exits of the orifices, thereby forming ink droplets having a constant size, which ink droplets travel a desired distance in a desired direction. Thus, high quality printed material can be produced through ink-jet printing.
Further, the manufacturing method of the present invention enables accurate and stable formation of fine holes that have an axial length sufficiently greater than the diameter.

Method of manufacturing an orifice member


A regulator valve assembly adapted to be used in conjunction with a torque converter in a vehicular transmission having a pressurized hydraulic distribution system, a cooling system and a torque converter. The regulator valve assembly has a stepped valve chamber to receive a spool valve member for axial translation. The spool valve member defines first, second, third and fourth subchambers within the stepped valve chamber. Axial translation of the valve member effects selective communication between the subchambers. A first land on the spool valve member is interposed between the first and second subchambers. A second land is interposed between the second and third subchambers. A third land is interposed between the third and fourth subchambers, and a fourth land is exposed to the fourth subchamber. A first outlet communicates with the first subchamber. A first inlet and a second outlet communicate with the second subchamber. A second inlet and third outlet communicate with the third subchamber. A third inlet port communicates with the fourth subchamber. The first land exposes a projected area to the second subchamber that is less than the projected area that the second land exposes to the second subchamber. Translation of the spool valve member controls communication between the second and third subchambers as well as between the second and third subchambers. A spring biases the spool valve member in a direction to preclude communication between the first and second subchambers.

Fluid couplers in the nature of torque converters are widely employed in vehicles to transfer torque between the engine and the transmission. In additional to this fundamental purpose, torque converters serve two other primary functions. First, they provide a means by which to effect a smooth coupling between the engine and the transmission. Second, they provide hydraulic torque multiplication when additional performance is desired.
The typical torque converter being utilized in vehicular drive trains normally has three major components--vis.: a centrifugal pump or torque input member (commonly designated as the impeller); the driven or torque output member (commonly designated as the turbine); and, a reaction member (commonly designated as the stator) that is interposed between the impeller and the turbine to effect a more favorable direction for the flow of hydraulic fluid exiting the turbine and returning to the impeller.
The vanes of the impeller are generally secured to the cover of the torque converter. Inclusion of the cover as a component of the impeller assembly has simplified sealing the torque converter so that the impeller assembly may be contained within a housing that is filled with hydraulic fluid. Although hydraulic fluid is supplied to the torque converter under pressure by a pump and torque converter valve arrangement, dynamic circulation of the hydraulic fluid through the torque converter is effected by rotation of the cover to which the impeller vanes are affixed, and the dynamically circulating hydraulic fluid impinges against the opposed vanes of the turbine to effect rotation of the turbine in response to rotation of the impeller. The torque converter is thus a closed system with the impeller operatively connected to a source of input torque and with the turbine member operatively connected to deliver the output torque, as required.
Typically, the cover and the vane elements of the impeller that are attached thereto--the combination of which constitutes the impeller assembly --are affixed to a flex plate that is bolted to the crankshaft of the engine. The turbine, on the other hand, is connected to an output shaft which exits the torque converter to serve as the input shaft of the vehicle transmission.
Because of the aforesaid fixed mechanical connection between the engine and the impeller, the impeller will rotate at engine speed whenever the engine is operating. It is this rotation of the impeller which causes it to operate as a pump, and particularly a centrifugal pump. That is, the impeller ingests pressurized hydraulic fluid present at the central or hub portion thereof and discharges hydraulic fluid axially into the turbine at the radially outer rim of the impeller assembly. Although the axial component of the hydraulic fluid discharging from the impeller moves the hydraulic fluid axially into the turbine, rotation of the impeller also imparts a circumferential or centrifugal component to the hydraulic fluid as it exits the impeller. As the hydraulic fluid exiting the impeller engages the turbine, the kinetic energy of the moving hydraulic fluid urges the turbine to rotate in response to rotation of the impeller.
When the vehicle is not moving, and even though the engine is idling, the impeller is not spinning at a sufficient angular velocity to supply the energy necessary to overcome the static inertia of the vehicle. In that situation, therefore, the hydraulic fluid simply flows through the turbine, and ideally the turbine does not rotate. This allows the vehicle to remain at rest, even though the transmission has been shifted into a selected drive range and the engine is running.
As the throttle is opened, however, the rotational speed of the engine, and therefore the impeller, increases. At some rotational speed of the engine, sufficient energy is being imparted to the turbine so that it will be able to overcome the static inertia that theretofore prevented the vehicle from moving. At that time, the energy transferred from the impeller to the turbine will be delivered to the drive wheels through the transmission.
Kinetic energy is most effectively imparted to the turbine when the hydraulic fluid circulating within the torque converter follows the contours of the turbine blades and the shell from which they are presented, and then leaves the turbine. The most effective configuration for the contoured surfaces of the impeller vanes have evolved over years of testing and experience. Perhaps, the most effective vanes are the bulbous-nosed curvilinear vanes having a hydrofoil configuration, but the cost to fabricate this efficient contour is comparatively high. In any event, the configuration of the turbine causes the fluid passing therethrough to exit in a direction that is generally inappropriate to that direction at which one would prefer to have the hydraulic fluid re-enter the impeller. Accordingly, were the fluid to re-enter the impeller in that direction, the fluid would strike the vanes of the impeller in a direction that would be detrimental to the rotation of the impeller.
In order to minimize the problems resulting from the undesirable direction at which the fluid would enter the impeller as it exits the turbine without any redirection, a stator is generally interposed within the path which the hydraulic fluid must traverse between its exit from the turbine and its re-entry into the impeller. In fact, the stator redirects the hydraulic fluid which has exited the turbine so that the fluid will enter the input of the impeller in a direction that will cause the fluid to assist the engine in turning the impeller. The force which the hydraulic fluid thus imparts to the impeller comprises one source for additional kinetic energy being applied to the turbine. It is this additional energy applied to the impeller which results in an increase in the force applied to drive the turbine--thereby accomplishing torque multiplication.
In order to obviate the costs of casting, machining and finishing vanes having sophisticated contours, noncontoured blades are being substituted for the contoured vanes, and the blades are, for the most part, being stamped from sheet metal and then secured to the shell of the impeller. However, as might be expected, such sheet metal blades provide lower efficiency than the more expensive contoured vanes. This result is particularly apparent during those conditions of operation at which the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the torque converter falls within the lower portion of the acceptable operating range.
In order to achieve utmost economy, torque converters are often provided with a clutch arrangement that effectively locks the impeller and the turbine into a unitary rotating mass when "slip" between the impeller and the turbine is no longer required for smooth coupling. Typically, the torque converter clutch is activated to effect unitary rotation in response to reduced hydraulic pressure within the torque converter. Thus, should the lowered pressure be the result of the reduced efficiency resulting from the use of a noncontoured impeller and/or turbine blades rather than the result of the impeller and the turbine operating at near unitary rotational speeds, the torque converter clutch could inadvertently activate before such activation was desired.
It must be appreciated that torque converters are not closed systems. In practice, torque converters require a source of clean pressurized hydraulic fluid. A pump draws hydraulic fluid from the transmission pan or from a sump, and delivers hydraulic fluid at a predetermined pressure. A torque converter control valve has been traditionally employed to maintain the preselected pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied by the pump. The pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to the converter, where the hydraulic fluid is used to effect a hydraulic torque transfer between the impeller and the turbine within the torque converter. Thereafter, the fluid is directed through a cooling system to the pump inlet and then recycled. The pump which delivers the pressurized hydraulic fluid is normally driven by the engine of the vehicle. As such, pressures at the outlet of the pump will normally vary, at least to some degree, in response to engine speed.
Torque converter control valves are usually spring balanced and are opened to permit flow to the torque converter only after the pressure at the outlet of the pump reaches some predetermined value. Thus, it is only after the pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the outlet of the pump attains the desired magnitude that the torque converter control valve will open to permit the flow of pressurized fluid to the torque converter. As the pressure continues to increase, the torque converter valve directs excess fluid to the inlet side of the pump.
Such arrangements have worked quite well in the past, and continue to work well for torque converters having sophisticated impeller vanes. However, when one substitutes noncontoured blades for the contoured vanes of an impeller, it has been found that the historic torque converter control valves are unable to maintain the hydraulic fluid within the torque converter at the pressures necessary to accommodate the efficiency differential between impeller vanes and impeller blades.
In addition, those torque converters which incorporate clutches that interact between the impeller and the turbine generally require that some minimum pressure be maintained within the torque converter.

Regulator valve assembly for a torque converter


A microfluidic device comprising in sequence first, second and third layers of plastics materials. A microfluidic circuit including a laterally extending microfluidic channel is formed at the interface between the first and second layers by surface structure in one or both of the first and second layers. A via is formed in the third layer for supplying or removing fluid to or from the microfluidic circuit. A conduit is formed in the second layer to provide fluid communication between the microfluidic channel and the via. A weld is formed at the interface between the second and third layers in a continuous closed path around the via and forms a fluid-tight seal for fluid flow between the via and the microfluidic circuit.

The disclosure relates to microfluidic devices and methods of manufacture and inspection thereof.
Microfluidic circuits are typically manufactured as planar structures from two substrates which are bonded together and arranged in a carrier. The carrier is sometimes referred to as a caddy. In the case of polymer substrates, solvent vapour bonding can be used to bond the substrates. For glass substrates, suitable cement can be used. Microfluidic circuit elements, such as channels and mixing chambers, are formed at the interface between the substrates by surface structure in one or both of the substrates. In addition, to supply fluid to the circuit and to remove fluid from the circuit, one of the substrates has through holes to provide external access, these through holes being aligned with corresponding through holes in the carrier. Fluid-tight seals are needed around these external access points to prevent liquid leakage or pressure loss between the carrier and the adjacent substrate. These seals are conventionally provided by O-rings or other forms of gasket made of resilient material.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-section showing features of such a conventional microfluidic device. The device comprises first and second substrates 2 and 4 arranged in a carrier 6. A laterally extending channel 12 is shown at the interface between the substrates formed by surface structure on one face of the first substrate 2. The second substrate 4 has a through hole 10 which is in fluid communication with the channel 12 and which is aligned with a further through hole 8 in the carrier. An O-ring 27 is arranged around the through hole 8/10 (as considered in plan view) at the interface between the second substrate 4 and the carrier 6. Location of the O-ring 27 is aided by ring-shaped grooves or surface indentations 28 in the carrier 6 and/or second substrate 4 (both in the figure). One end of a male luer connector 26 is also schematically illustrated having a tip portion with a diameter dimensioned to fit into the hole 10 and a location portion having a larger diameter which is greater than the diameter of the hole 10, but less than the diameter of the hole 8, so that a shoulder is formed at the transition between the location portion and tip portion which serves as an abutment surface. The holes 8 and 10 and seal 27, 28 therefore collectively form a female luer connection.
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-section showing features of a specific prior art device from US 2011/0243813 A1. An opaque layer 4 is sandwiched between transparent layers 2, 6. The layer 4 is perforated to carry a microfluidic circuit structure made up of channels, mixing chambers and so forth, whereas the layers 2 and 6 are essentially unstructured except for layer 6 carrying an inlet port and a vent for external fluid communication. Specifically, layer 6 has a through hole 8 for external input of liquid, which is in fluid communication with a larger diameter chamber 15 formed in layer 4 which leads into a capillary channel 12, also formed in layer 4. Laser welding is used to bond the layers together.
US 2004/0148777 A1 also discloses a microfluidic device made of two, three or four rigid layers in which laser welding is used to bond the layers together.
FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-section showing features of a specific prior art device from WO 2011/113630 A2. First and second substrate layers 2 and 6 sandwich a resilient elastomeric gasket layer 4 which is also opaque to laser radiation from a laser welding apparatus. A channel 12 is formed by mutually facing surface structure in the substrate layers 2 and 6, and a similarly shaped aperture in the gasket layer 4. The channel 12 is sealed by a laser weld 20 having a weld seam or weld joint which partly or fully runs around the channel 12 and which is somewhat laterally offset from the channel 12.
US 2011/0076204 A1 discloses a valve for a microfluidic device which employs a three layer structure similar to FIG. 10 with two outer layers sandwiching an elastomeric middle layer. Again similar to the device of FIG. 10, a seam weld is provided by laser welding in a joint line around the channel somewhat laterally offset from the channel 12.

Microfluidic device and a method of manufacturing a microfluidic device


In an integrated circuit device, a continuous-output, zero-standby-current non-volatile storage cell is formed by P-MOS and N-MOS transistor elements coupled in series between first and second power supply nodes (e.g., VDD and ground) and having a shared floating gate. When a positive charge is stored on the shared floating gate, the N-MOS transistor is switched to a conducting state, coupling the common-drain output of the transistor elements to the more negative power supply node to output a first logic value, and when a negative charge is stored on the shared floating gate, the P-MOS transistor element is switched to a conducting state, coupling the common-drain output to the more positive power supply node to output a second logic value.

During a read operation in a conventional non-volatile storage cell, an operating current will flow through the cell for at least one of the two possible stored logic states. Assuming that collection of such cells within a register or array are accessed in parallel and that storage of a logic '1' is equally as likely as a logic '0', on average, half of all accessed cells will conduct current throughout a read operation. To avoid this undesired power consumption, non-volatile storage cells are generally read out only at certain events (e.g., power-up-reset) with their contents being copied into volatile memory elements (e.g., flip-flops or latches) that may be read continuously with negligible power consumption (i.e., without DC operating current). After the non-volatile data has been captured in volatile memory, the read operation within the non-volatile register or array is terminated to conserve power.
Unfortunately, the need for additional storage elements (i.e., the volatile storage elements) to make non-volatile data continuously available to downstream circuitry without power penalty requires circuit overhead and increased die size. Additionally, the non-volatile storage elements still consume substantial power during read operations. Further, additional circuits, such as sense-amplifiers and digital control circuitry, are typically required to retrieve data from the non-volatile storage cells and copy the data into the volatile counterparts. For example, the copy operation may require a state-machine and clock signals.
Another problem with the read-and-copy approach is that it delays the power-on-reset (POR) cycle, requiring circuitry for reading and copying the non-volatile data to be enabled and functional before the non-volatile data may be applied to control/configure analog or digital circuitry, generally meaning that such circuitry will not be available until after completion of the power-on-reset cycle. Worse, where the non-volatile data is needed for proper reset and/or initialization of analog or digital circuitry, an additional power-on-reset cycle (and corresponding circuitry for initiating and carrying out the additional POR) may be required, further delaying system readiness.

Always-evaluated zero standby-current programmable non-volatile memory


A computer-based method is provided for managing a transaction including provision of a process intelligence engine comprising a workflow aligner and process tool box, receiving deal parameters at the process intelligence engine, defining transaction subjects, each requiring the participation of at least one network partner, where each transaction subject is a requirement for achieving the objective of the transaction, defining, for each transaction subject, a plurality of subject goals to be addressed by a network partner, and defining, for each subject goal at least one action item required for satisfying the subject goal. The subject goals are then sequenced by the workflow aligner by defining prerequisites for at least one subject goal and transaction modules are defined based on the sequencing. During execution of a deal using the method, subject goals are not made available until prerequisite subject goals have been completed.

Multi-functional operations between various industries and businesses are vastly complex, non-standardized, and unstructured in terms of task management, task assignment, task execution, and task validation.
Existing transactional operations in various industries utilize different processes, communication strings, and security standards largely incompatible across the industries and businesses involved resulting in timely, costly, and unstructured transaction flow results.
Isolated business operations already utilize simplified digital transaction tools in their specific industry e.g. digital real estate and mortgage lending tools. However, existing tools are not functional across additional industries to facilitate the completion of a cross-functional transaction. E.g.: while the mortgage lender utilizes a mortgage lending tool to sell a mortgage no tool exist to support the home buyer and seller in the process of closing the real estate transaction by incorporating other necessary partners, like attorneys, title insurers, appraisers, or others as relevant network participants for a transaction.
The existing management tools simplify and ease transactional processes by way of static informational dashboards which only support the project- or task management aspect of the transaction but not the automation of the entire process itself.
The lack of a multi-functional and cross-business transaction tool increases transaction time and decreases productivity for network participants leading to less efficient operations for all participants.
Existing transactional software programs typically fill market needs for either (1) the automation of specific business needs which are executed through internal workflow channels, e.g. credit card transactions, where the single "host", the creditor, allows the single consumer, the creditee, to draw a line of credit without any further transaction participants or other process tools, other than the internal processing of the credit. Or for (2) the ease and higher efficiency of users offering web-based and static task management tools for manual use, e.g. real estate brokers, using various software programs as project managements tools to follow the external closing processes.
Various individual parts for the claimed method are available, but not in the structure, complexity, and interconnectivity needed for complex cross-network business operations.
Even though individual parts of business solutions exist for designing and depicting transactional operations within one industry, these solutions are not designed to function across various industries to facilitate a cross-network transaction, nor are they designed for simple usage by an end-user.
Existing workflow software (e.g. process maker, etc.) typically fill the market needs for providing a tool for software engineers targeted to design a specific workflow for a business. These are built for experts in the IT area but are not usable for an end-user. The engineer has to (1) create a map for all business-related requirements and then (2) use the workflow software to design a simple workflow.
While the specific aspects of the workflow can be handled by a knowledgeable person, these programs have an inherent lack of guidance since they do not function across industries or are not designed for providing guidance since they are built for IT specialists. As a result, users are required to have deep knowledge in the fields of BPMN (Business Process Model and Notification) as well as in programming.
For example, the entire system or application may only relate to the process creation aspect itself without any reference to the execution of the process or any other relevant aspect for completing an entire complex transaction cycle.
Consumer satisfaction is highest when digital processing exists and personal interaction with a representative remains available.
Parties executing deals are typically concerned with reducing costs, accessing the best technology, and continuing to comply with regulations. Such parties must also deal with transactions that are overly complicated due to a large number of distinct parties that must be coordinated.
Existing products only relate to some small portions of a transaction. Accordingly, they are not, and cannot, be integrated into a transaction network, they cannot be synchronized with each other to create coherent workflows, and they cannot be made fully transparent. Accordingly, workflows cannot be automated and executed in a single platform, nor can they be optimized in relation to each other.
This results in slower transactions and more consumer frustration. Further, because time is expensive, transactions are more expensive. Further, it is difficult to verify the overall process, since no single system can provide secure verification of more than one subcomponent of the process.
There is a need for a single coherent platform that can optimize and simplify a complete transaction workflow, while integrating multiple systems to create a coherent and consistent user experience. Such a platform should decrease the time of a transaction, accelerate the velocity per transaction, thereby increasing the volume of transactions per time, reduce the cost per transaction, and provide immutable and secure verification of transactions.

Systems and methods for designing, designating, performing, and completing automated workflows between multiple independent entities


A wrench for driving an object includes a circular engaging surface formed in a head portion, a number of ribs are formed in the circular engaging surface and extended radially inwards of the engaging surface, and the object includes a number of depressions for receiving the ribs such that the contact area between the ribs and the depressions are increased when the object is driven by the wrench.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrench, and more particularly to a wrench having a greater driving strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical wrench is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises a head portion 41 having an engaging surface 43 formed therein for engaging with an engaging surface 51 of a bolt or a socket 50, normally, the engaging surfaces 43, 51 include a hexagonal cross section, such that, when the socket 50 is engaged with the engaging surface 43 of the head portion 41 and during the driving operations of the wrench, only six points are contacted and engaged between the engaging surfaces 43, 51. Accordingly, after long term of usage, the engaging points of the engaging surface 51 of the socket 50 will be easily damaged.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional wrenches.

Wrench having a greater driving strength


A New Guinea Impatiens plant particularly distinguished by red flowers and a v-shaped and ascending habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'KLENI21160'. 'KLENI21160' originated from a controlled hand-pollination between May to August 2015 in Kenya between the proprietary female New Guinea Impatiens variety 'NI-2015-0192' (unpatented) and the proprietary male New Guinea Impatiens variety 'NI-2015-0247' (unpatented).
The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated 'KLENI21160' was selected from the group in May 2016. 'KLENI21160' was first vegetatively propagated via apical vegetative cuttings. 'KLENI21160' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via apical vegetative cuttings.


A camera system for a vehicle includes: a camera housing; an imager module accommodated in the camera housing, the imager module including a carrier device, a lens accommodated in the carrier device, and an image sensor accommodated at the carrier device, an optical axis of the camera system being set by the image sensor and the lens. The image sensor makes contact with a metallic housing part of the camera housing via a heat-conducting element. The imager module is fixed in one direction perpendicular to the optical axis in the camera housing, i.e., it is braced in the radial direction and cooled axially toward the rear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera system, which is in particular usable in a vehicle, as well as to a method for manufacturing the camera system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Camera systems are used in vehicles in particular for the detection of a roadway area ahead of the vehicle. The camera systems are generally designed here as a camera module including an external camera housing which accommodates a lens, an image sensor, and generally a circuit carrier including additional electronic elements.
The design of an imager module including a lens, a lens holder, a sensor carrier and an image sensor mounted on the sensor is known. The lens holder may, for example, be screwed to the sensor carrier. This imager module is subsequently installed in the camera housing and the sensor carrier makes contact with, for example, a circuit carrier.
In fixed-focus systems, the imager module is adjusted during its manufacture by adjusting the lens in the lens holder along the optical axis by analyzing image signals of the image sensor, for example by a test pattern being detected within a relevant distance whose image is then analyzed for contrast. Published German patent application document DE 10 2009 0275 14 A1 shows such a camera system in which the lens is fixed in the lens holder using an adhesive after the adjustment.
Furthermore, MID (Molded Interconnect Devices) circuit carriers are generally known in which metallic printed conductors for electrical connections are applied directly on, for example, molded plastic carriers. In this way, electrical circuits may be implemented on spatially more complex structures, the structures also being able to simultaneously assume mechanical functions without additional parts needing to be patched on. In this way, a high mechanical strength is achieved.

Camera system with image sensor contacting metallic housing via heat conducting element


A fuel control system for reheat burners of a gas turbine engine has a plurality of metering valves for respective burners, and throttle valves in series with the respective metering valves. A pressure regulating valve is provided for introducing pressurized fuel into fuel manifolds downstream of the respective throttle valves when the metering and throttle valves are shut. The pressure regulating valve also acts to relieve pressure in low pressure parts of the system when the latter is closed down and to prevent excessive temperature rise at the inlet of a fuel supply pump. The metering valves include pressure return ports which communicate with the metering valve outlets when those valves are shut.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to valves for regulating fluid flows and fluid pressures, and to gas turbine engine fuel control systems incorporating such valves.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
It is known to provide metering valves for fluids in which a control element is moved in response to variations in a servo-pressure, the servo-pressure being regulated by a valve which is energised by an electric force motor. It is a disadvantage of such known valves that failure of the force motor or its current supply may result in rapid change in the servo-pressure and consequent rapid movement of the valve control element away from its previously selected position. The present invention describes a metering valve arrangement in which this disadvantage is overcome.

Gas turbine engine fuel control system and regulating valves therefor


It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device where power consumption can be suppressed and the number of gray scales can be increased without a scanning line driver circuit on both sides of a pixel portion. In a display device having a scanning line driver circuit, a shift register included in the scanning line driver circuit has 4m-stage (m is a natural number) flip-flop circuits in every m scanning lines, and a signal which selects the scanning line in a first half period of one scanning line selection period and a signal which selects the scanning line in a second half period of the one scanning line selection period are output to the scanning line by another start pulse.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device. In particular, the present invention relates to the structure of a scanning line driver circuit in an active matrix display which includes a light-emitting element and which is manufactured by using a semiconductor device.
A semiconductor device herein described indicates any device which can function by using a semiconductor characteristic.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, demand for thin displays mainly applied to TVs, PC monitors, mobile terminals, or the like has increased rapidly, and further development has been promoted. The thin displays include a liquid crystal display device (LCD) and a display device equipped with a light-emitting element. In particular, an active matrix display using a self-light-emitting element is expected as a next-generation display for its features of high response speed, wide viewing angle, and capability of bending with the use of a flexible substrate or the like, in addition to advantages of a conventional LCD such as thinness, lightness in weight, and high image quality.
In an active matrix display using a light-emitting element, a structure shown in FIG. 16B is given as the most basic pixel structure (see Non-Patent Document 1:M. Mizukami, K. Inukai, H. Yamagata, et al., Society for Information Display '00 Digest, vol. 31, pp. 912-915). As a driving method of the pixel structure, there are a current driving method, by which a driving transistor is driven in a saturation region and emission luminance is controlled by current applied to the light-emitting element, and a voltage driving method, by which the driving transistor is driven in a non-saturation region (a linear region) and light emission is controlled by voltage applied to the light-emitting element.
With the above method of current driving, it is necessary to operate the driving transistor in the saturation region. Ideally, current flowing through the light-emitting element does not depend on drain-source voltage (Vds) but on gate-source voltage (Vgs) of the driving transistor. However, when there is variation of characteristics of the driving transistor in each pixel due to a manufacturing process of the transistor or the like, the amount of current flowing through the light-emitting element is affected. In particular, when effective Vgs (hereinafter, referred to as eVgs) is non-uniform depending on pixels due to the variation of threshold voltage (hereinafter, referred to as Vth) of the transistor, emission luminance differs widely among pixels, which results in display unevenness and deterioration of display quality.
Thus, it is desirable to employ a voltage driving method by which a driving transistor is operated in a linear region less subjected to the variation of Vth. As a gray-scale method of the case of driving voltage, a digital time gray-scale method by which a gray scale is displayed with the continuous change of a light-emitting time. In addition, in the digital time gray-scale method, there are problems such as high speed of a signal line driver circuit, increase of a video signal in division number, and increase in number of transistors of each pixel. As a means for solving these problems, a driving method, by which a scanning line selection period is divided back and forth and a writing period and an erasing period of a signal are provided alternately, has been proposed (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-338777).

Display device and electoric device having the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Sweet Marmalade’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per plant; daisy-type inflorescences with yellow to light orange-colored ray florets; relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant, botanically known as Coreopsis verticillata, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Sweet Marmalade'.
The new Coreopsis plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Coreopsis verticillata 'Creme Brulee', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,096. The new Coreopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of 'Creme Brulee' in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Niitsu City, Niigata, Japan in July, 2006.
Asexual reproduction of the new Coreopsis plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Niitsu City, Niigata, Japan since September, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Coreopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.