An upper mold for MLCC lamination comprising: a vacuum head comprising a first area formed by a plurality of base holes, which communicate with an air channel formed on the upper surface, and by through-holes that connect the lower surface and respective base holes so as to communicate with each other such that air flows between the base holes and the lower surface, the first area having a predetermined area, and the vacuum head comprising a second area configured, thereby suctioning air; a mesh plate fixed to the lower surface of the vacuum head to have a size corresponding to that of the first area, the mesh plate having a porous structure such that, when air flows through the through-holes of the first area, suction and discharge can occur evenly; and a contact plate fixed to the lower surface of the vacuum head by adhesion of the second area.

The present invention relates to an upper mold for MLCC lamination and, more particularly, to an upper mold for MLCC lamination configured such that ultra-thin film sheets for MLCC fabrication are precisely laminated into a lamination array.
In general, for increasing the capacity of a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), an area of opposite electrodes is increased, a distance between electrodes is reduced, or a dielectric material with high specific permittivity is applied between electrodes. However, to increase the capacity while maintaining the size to be compact, film sheets mainly having electric circuits are fabricated to have an ultra-thin thickness, and tens to hundreds of ultra-thin film sheets are laminated. For such lamination, a dedicated laminating apparatus for MLCC is used.
Such multi-layer ceramic capacitors (hereinafter referred to as 'MLCCs') are widely used in a variety of fields requiring a compact capacitor, such as for special purposes such as mobile appliance, e.g. a memory module, tuner, etc, military appliance, medical appliance, aircraft, automotive, etc, as well as for IT products (mobile phones, PCs, D-TVs, etc.). Because of high noise removal effect at high frequency over that of other capacitors due to having low internal inductance, the MLCCs serve as compact capacitors with high capacity and reliance, and are thus used in mobile phones, satellite, etc. Generally, the MLCCs are highly compatible parts that are used in a mobile phone (250 or more parts are used) (for smart phones, two times of parts are used relative to a normal mobile phone), a notebook (300 or more parts are used), an LCD TV (700 or more parts are used), or the like.
Like this, laminated layers of such compatible MLCCs are different for target products, such as 250 or more parts in a mobile phone (two times of parts in a smart phone), 300 or more parts in a notebook, 700 or more parts in an LCD TV, or the like.
For implementation of miniaturization and high performance of electronic appliances such as mobile communication device, e.g. a smart phone, tablet PCs, notebooks, smart TVs, etc, recently, the MLCCs are fabricated using film sheets having an ultra-thin thickness of 1.5 μm or less.
Thin-film sheets of such MLCC are fabricated by forming tin-film sheets with a tape casting method, performing a process such as lamination, pressing, cutting, plasticizing, polishing, polishing, or the like, on the thin-film sheets, and forming plating layers for forming electric circuits thereon, generally using a dedicated laminating apparatus for MLCCs.
In the process of laminating thin-film sheets for fabricating the MLCC, a thin-film wound around a supply roll is moved to a predetermined position along a conveyor, and then is cut into a predetermine size.
An upper mold is installed above the conveyor such that the upper mold is movable along a rail. The upper mold is moved down to contact and vacuum-suck the surface of the cut thin-film sheet and moves the sucked thin-film sheet to a lower mold disposed on one side.
The upper mold is moved down at a position above the lower mold, such that, when the upper mold is moved in proximity to the lower mold, the upper mold releases the vacuum pressure and puts the thin-film sheet on the lower mold. This process is repeated until a predetermined number of thin-film sheets are laminated.
Here, the upper mold is provided with a plurality of through-holes, through which air flows with vacuum pressure so as to suck the thin-film sheet. However, when the thin-film sheet is directly sucked through the through-holes, the thin-film sheet is sucked into damaged by the through-holes due to ultra-thin thickness of the thin-film sheet so as to generate a distortion effect. To prevent this effect, a porous mesh plate in a type of nonwoven fabric (mesh) is applied onto the surface of the upper mold, so that the thin-film sheet can be sucked through pores of the mesh plate. Such a mesh plate is formed from synthetic resin.
However, in such a conventional upper mold, when a thin-film sheet is laminated, a cushion effect may occur in the mesh plate due to a porous structure of the mesh plate. Thus, if the thin-film sheet has an ultra-thin thickness of 0.001 mm or less, in the process of laminating the thin-film sheets over the mesh plate, the thin-film sheets may slip due to the cushion effect of the mesh plate, thereby causing a lamination array of thin-film sheets to be distorted or torn.
As such, an array of electric circuits of the thin-film sheets is distorted so that problems arise in that a short-circuit during cutting of hundreds of laminated thin-film sheets and circuit defect of a finished MLCC may occur. Moreover, since the failed products should be disposed, hundreds of normally laminated thin-film sheets should also be disposed, being disadvantageous in terms of economical aspect.
Further, since the mesh plate is continuously pressed and damaged during the lamination process, the mesh plate should be frequently replaced with a new one. Furthermore, since the mesh plate is attached with an adhesive, a difficult, troublesome problem also arises in that the adhesive should be removed and a new adhesive should be applied.


Provided is a release sheet which is non-silicone-based and has a good releasability from a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive and which has a stable antistatic property without being influenced by the air environment and is free of bleeding out of ionic substances derived from an antistatic agent. The release sheet is prepared by providing an undercoat layer containing a polyurethane-based resin and 0.1 to 45% by mass of a lithium salt-based antistatic agent and a layer of a rubber-based release agent formed by coating and drying a liquid containing a release agent in order on a substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a release sheet. More specifically, it relates to a non-silicone-based release sheet which has a good releasability from a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive and which has an excellent antistatic property and is suitably used for applications related to precision electronic devices since it is free of bleeding out of metal ions and ionic inorganic substances (hereinafter occasionally referred to as "ionic substances") derived from an antistatic agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet is used in various forms at various stages of production steps for precision electronic devices such as ceramic condensers, hard disc drives, semiconductor equipments and the like.
In a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet used at such production steps for precision electronic devices, a silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive is likely to cause troubles in electronic parts due to low molecular weight silicone compounds contained therein, and therefore non-silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesives, for example, acryl-based pressure sensitive adhesives, polyester-based pressure sensitive adhesives, polyurethane-based pressure sensitive adhesives and the like are usually used.
In the above non-silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesives, a release sheet comprising a layer of a release agent provided on a substrate is laminated thereon in order to protect a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive until use.
A silicone-based release agent is often used for a layer of a release agent in a release sheet in general applications, and when used for electronic parts and the like, the electronic parts and the like are likely to bring about troubles by silicone compounds transferred to the layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Accordingly, alkyd-based resins (refer to, for example, JP 1982-049685A) and long-chain alkyl-based resins (refer to, for example, JP 2002-249757 A) which are known as non-silicone-based release agents are tried to use for a layer of a release agent in a release sheet used for the applications described above.
However, when the above resins are used for a layer of a release agent, brought about is the problem that because of a high releasing strength required for releasing from a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive, the layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive is not released from the layer of a release agent in a certain case.
Accordingly, a release sheet in which polybutadiene known as a rubber-based resin is used for a layer of a release agent and in which polyurethane is used for an undercoat layer is proposed as a non-silicone-based release sheet which has a good releasability from a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive and which is excellent in an adhesion between a layer of a release agent and a substrate (refer to, for example, JP 2005-199586 A).
However, since both of the above materials have a high insulation property, releasing charge caused in releasing and delivering charge brought about when delivered from a roll can not be inhibited, and involved therein is the problem that troubles such as attracting of dirts, dusts and the like brought about.
A method in which an antistatic agent is added to a layer of a release agent is proposed as well in order to solve the above problem (refer to, for example, JP 1998-086289 A). However, involved in the above method is the problem that ionic substances contained in the antistatic agent bleed out to cause heavier releasing and whitening of a coated surface or pass through the pressure sensitive adhesive to bring about corrosion of internal elements in semiconductor devices and the like.


A lubricating composition of the present invention comprises a base oil for lubricating oil or base grease; at least one molybdenum compound as component (A) selected from the group consisting of a selected sulfurized oxymolybdenum dithiocarbamate, a selected sulfurized oxymolybdenum dithiophosphate and a selected molybdenum amine compound; and a (poly)glycerol ether and/or a (poly)oxyalkylene glycol monoalkyl ether as component (B).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lubricating compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to a lubricant composition obtained by compounding molybdenum dithiocarbamate, molybdenum dithiophosphate, and/or a molybdenum amine compound; and a (poly)glycerol ether and/or a (poly)oxyalkylene glycol monoalkyl ether, in a base oil. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lubricating oil composition which exhibits excellent stability to hydrolysis and excellent friction reduction even after deterioration with water, and a grease which is used for universal joints including constant velocity joints (CVJ) for automobiles, constant velocity gears, and transmission gears, and which has excellent friction and abrasion properties.
2. Description of the Related Art
The automotive field is today confronted with strict fuel regulations, and exhaust gas regulations, etc. against the background of environmental pollution, e.g. global greenhouse effect, air pollution, and acid rain, and in order to preserve limited petroleum resources from exhaustive use. Improvements in mileage are the most effective way to respond to such regulations at present.
Improvements in engine oil, such as low viscosity engine oils and the addition of friction modifiers, as well as improvements in automobiles themselves, e.g. light weight vehicles and improved engines, are important means for achieving low fuel consumption in the automotive field. Engine oil acts as a lubricant between pistons and liners, and friction loss can be reduced by decreasing the viscosity of the engine oil due to the high fluid lubrication in this portion. However, the decreases in oil viscosity in recent years have also created such problems as deteriorated sealing properties and accelerated wear. Engine oil also plays an important role in the valve train and bearings. Low viscosity oil will cause increased wear due to mixed lubrication or boundary lubrication in these systems. Friction modifiers and extreme pressure agents are added to the oil to decrease friction and prevent wear.
Generally used friction modifiers include, for example, higher fatty acids, e.g. oleic acid and stearic acid; higher alcohols, e.g. oleyl alcohol; esters; amines; sulfide oils; chlorinated oils; and organic molybdenum compounds. Generally used extreme pressure agents include, for example, sulfide oils; sulfur compounds, e.g. sulfides; phosphorous compounds; and organic metals e.g. zinc dithiophosphate (ZnDTP).
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 59-25890 discloses glycerin monoalkyl ether or glycerin monoalkenyl ether as the friction modifier, as well as a common lubricant composition produced by combining ZnDTP with an ash-free detergent-dispersant.
The addition of organic molybdenum friction modifiers providing low friction in mixed or boundary lubrication is inevitable in order to solve all the problems associated with the lowering of lubricating oil viscosity. Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 5-279686 proposes an improvement in frictional properties without deterioration in other properties such as abrasion resistance by compounding an organic molybdenum compound; a fatty acid ester; a metallic detergent, such as calcium sulfonate, magnesium sulfonate, calcium phenate, and magnesium phenate; an ash-free detergent-dispersant, such as benzylamine and its boron derivative, and alkenylsuccinic imide and its boron derivative; and wear improvers such as ZnDTP and zinc dithiocarbamate (ZnDTC).
Alternatively, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 5-311186 discloses a drastic decrease in the friction coefficient of lubricating oil which contains a combination of a metal dithiocarbamate and an oil-soluble amine; sulfoxy molybdenum dithiocarbamate and/or sulfoxy molybdenum organophosphorodithioate; and a fatty acid ester and/or organic amides, in a selected ratio.
However, neither of the compositions disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Nos. 5-279686 and 5-311186 show reduced friction when oil contains water even with the addition of the molybdenum compound.
Inclusion of water in an engine oil formed during fuel combustion is inevitable. In particular, when engine oil is not heated, that is during repeated short distance operation cycles water content in the engine oil increases as the water does not evaporate. Water causes not only deterioration of the additives but also the activation of blow-by gas, resulting in significantly adverse effects on the engine oil. Thus, the development of an oil which can maintain decreased friction while maintaining fuel saving performance with little deterioration even when water is included has been needed.
Recently, CVJs have been widely employed for front engine front drive vehicles, four wheel drive vehicles, and front engine rear drive vehicles with independent suspension. CVJs are used to transmit power from the engine to the wheels, and the power must be smoothly transmitted even during steering. Thus, a CVJ generally consists of a combination of a plunging-type joint at the engine side capable of sliding in the axial direction and a fixed-type joint fixed in the axial direction at the wheel side. Since the sliding friction in the rotational direction occurs through the rolling-sliding motion during the reciprocating motion in the plunging-type joint, various noises and vibrations, e.g. vibrations during idling in an automatic transmission vehicle, lateral vibration during starting and accelerating, beat oscillations at certain speeds, and booming occur. Decreased vibration is an important issue to be solved for the development of more comfortable and quieter vehicles. Thus, not only has the joint itself been improved to decrease such vibrations, but the grease filled in the joint as well.
As there is a correlation between the vibration and the friction coefficient, and further as reduced fuel consumption is increasingly demanded, greases for providing decreased friction are being sought.
Molybdenum disulfide, sulfur-phosphorous additives, and lead additives have been conventionally used in grease for CVJs. Recently, organic molybdenum compounds have been used instead of the above additives, in order to produce grease exhibiting lower vibration or lower friction. Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 6-184583 discloses a grease composition for CVJs comprising a urea grease, molybdenum dithiophosphate, molybdenum dithiocarbamate, and ZnDTC. Additionally, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 4-178499 discloses a grease composition for CVJs comprising a urea thickener, sulfurized molybdenum dialkyldithiocabamate, zinc dithiophosphate, and sorbitan fatty acid esters.
Although, long drain lubricating oils are now desirable with the aim of achieving a maintanance free lubricating composition, it is becoming an important problem to maintain this in addition to reduced fuel consumption. Engine oils undergo the most severe oxidative deterioration among lubricating oils, and the deterioration starts with the running of the vehicles. Additives also deteriorate along with this oil deterioration. Thus, improvements in the additives are also essential for maintaining the fuel saving properties of lubricating oil. That is, because the use of oil-soluble molybdenum compounds is essential for fuel savings, it is even more important to effectively draw out and maintain the properties of the molybdenum compounds.
Further, the friction of the grease compositions set forth above is not satisfactory and must be further lowered. Demand on greases has shifted to increasingly severe site conditions due to the decreased quantity of grease fillable in smaller and light weight CVJs, higher power output and higher vehicle speeds. Thus, low frictional performance is required for such greases in addition to high durability and high friction resistance.


The invention disclosed herein provides methods for the examination and/or quantification of biochemical pathways that are disregukted in pathologies such as cancer and to reagents and kits adapted for performing such methods. For example a correlation between VHL loss and mTOR inhibitor sensitivity in human kidney cancer cells is disclosed, indicating that VHL loss confers autonomous and angiogenic competitive advantages to such cells.

Cancers are the second most prevalent cause of death in the United States, causing 450,000 deaths per year. One in three Americans will develop cancer, and one in five will die of cancer. While substantial progress has been made in identifying some of the likely environmental and hereditary causes of cancer, there is a need for additional diagnostic and therapeutic modalities that target cancer and related diseases and disorders. In particular, there is for a need a greater understanding of the various biochemical pathways that are involved in disregulated cell growth such as cancer as this will allow for the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods for identifying and treating pathological syndromes associated with such growth disregulation.
With 32,000 new cases (representing an annual increase of 2%) and 12,000 cancer related deaths every year (see, e.g. Jemal, A. et al. Cancer statistics, 2004. CA Cancer J Clin 54, 8-29 (2004)), kidney cancers represent a major oncological therapeutic challenge. Standard chemotherapy agents have not been useful, and biologic agents such as interleukin-2 and interferon have shortcomings due to their toxicity profiles and the low meaningful response rates. Systemic chemotherapy produces few and only transient responses in patients with metastatic (i.e. advanced) kidney cancer. Given these limited treatment options, the results of the Phase II clinical trial using CCI-779 in patients with advanced kidney cancer, which found objective response rate of 7% and a disease stabilization rate of approximately 50% are intriguing, especially as there is no current molecular insight into the these group of patients who have mTOR dependent tumors (see, e.g. Atkins et al., J Clin Oncol 22, 909-18 (2004)). The parallels to the recent EGFR inhibitor trials in unselected lung cancer patients are striking. EGFR inhibitors (Iressa, Tarceva) have low, but consistent single agent objective response rates in refractory lung cancer.
Successful translation of kinase inhibitor compounds from the laboratory to the clinic depends on identifying subsets of patients most likely to benefit from them. A key is to this is identifying kinase dependent tumors (see, e.g. Sawyers et al., Genes Dev 17, 2998-3010 (2003)). Most of the kinase inhibitors in clinical practice at present work on the paradigm of directly targeting the kinase mutation, e.g. BCR-ABL and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) mutations/ligand overexpression, resulting in constitutive activation of downstream signaling molecules. These pathways can also be indirectly activated by loss of negative regulators, resulting in kinase activation, i.e. loss of PTEN and subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade (see, e.g. Neshat et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98, 10314-9 (2001)). Prostate and brain tumors, which have tie highest mutation rates of PTEN, exhibited enhanced sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors, solidifying the proof of concept. Oncogenic dependence on this signal transduction pathway with subsequent inhibition of mTOR paralleled a "synthetic lethal" mode of action. Interestingly, CCI-779, a mTOR inhibitor, shows promising antitumor activity in advanced kidney cancers, with approximately 7% of patients showing objective response rates and disease stabilization in approximately 50% of patients (see, e.g. Atkins et al., J Clin Oncol 22, 909-18 (2004)). Based on preclinical data generated in prostate and brain tumors, this increased sensitivity could possibly be explained by the loss of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene. A potential drawback to this hypothesis however is the low incidence of somatic PTEN mutations in renal cancers. In addition, there are no known mutations of mTOR in kidney cancers.
As noted above, while researchers have identified a variety of genes and pathways involved in pathologies such as cancer, there is need in the art for additional tools to facilitate the analyses of the regulatory processes that are involved in disregulated cell growth. Moreover, an understanding of how the products of genes involved in disregulated cell growth interact in a larger context is needed for the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods for identifying and treating pathological syndromes associated with growth disregulation. In particular, there remains a need to identify signal transduction events driving oncogenesis and to identify markers useful for assessing progression or inhibition of the oncogenic phenotype.

Biomarker for sensitivity to mTOR inhibitor therapy in kidney cancer

The Regents of the University of California


A system for repairing a continuous loop chain includes a plurality of pairs of chain links, each link having a pair of straight, substantially parallel side bars. Each pair of chain links has an outer link having a first width between the outer link side bars, and an inner link having a second width between the inner link side bars. The second width is less than the first width such that the side bars of the inner link are adapted to fit between the side bars of the outer link. The outer links and inner links are pivotally joined to each other. A repair link having a pair of offset side bars is adapted to connect on one end to the inner link of one of the pairs of chain links and on the other end to the outer link of another one of the pairs of chain links. In this way, a defective link, or a pair of defective links, can be replaced by one or more of the repair links. Such a system, apparatus, and method provides means useful for repairing a linked chain in a tobacco bulk silo utilized in manufacture of smoking articles.

Generally, tobacco is processed by threshers from its whole leaf form into strips and then into smaller "cut filler" pieces. In this form, tobacco may be made into smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, and the like. Various types of smoking articles are made according to blend formulas from tobacco that is stored and aged and then processed through a final processing phase. This processing phase can include conditioning, casing, cutting, drying, top flavoring, and blending. Once this is done, the raw material is finally ready to be made into the smoking articles. In order to produce a characteristic, homogenous blend of tobacco, different types of tobacco are mixed, or blended, according to precise recipes. Tobacco products are blended and/or stored in a "blend bulk silo." A "silo," or "bulker," is a bin for conveying tobacco products from a source of tobacco, blending and/or storing the tobacco, and conveying the tobacco products to processing stations for manufacturing smoking articles. A bulk silo can be used to handle whole leaf tobacco, tip leaf, "strip" tobacco, stems, cut roll stems, cut filler, and other tobacco products as well.
A typical bulk silo may be a rectangular-shaped, longitudinal bin provided with a shuttle car located over it and apparatus for feeding tobacco onto the car and then into the silo. In a blending apparatus, a portion of the bin is charged by a belt moving in one direction on a shuttle which reciprocates back and forth above the bin. The speed and direction of the belt and shuttle can be controlled so as to discharge the tobacco into the bin in an evenly filled manner. A description of such apparatus and methods of processing tobacco in a blend-bulk silo can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,585, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
An example of a tobacco bulk silo is one commonly in use today available commercially from Griffin & Cardwell, Inc., of Louisville, Ky. In such a bulk silo, tobacco is layered onto a conveyor means that is connected to a pair of drive chains. The drive chains include assemblies of links, rollers, bushings, and pins. These drive chain components become defective and ultimately inoperative from normal wear and tear related to duration of use, the load on the chain, and the abrasive effect of tobacco on metal parts.
Chains for such conveyors, as well as for other industrial applications, such as elevators, are available from Webster Industries of Tiffin, Ohio. One type of chain commonly used in automated conveyance systems in tobacco product manufacturing equipment is a "roller chain." In a roller chain, a whole chain link is configured so as to comprise two paired "half" links. One link, or half, of a matched pair has an inner width wider than the other outer width of the other half link of the pair. As such, the narrower half link can fit inside the wider half link so that the two paired half links can be pivotably attached about a pivot member, such as a pin. Due to this paired configuration of half links, replacements for a defective chain half link are provided only in units of two half links.
To replace an entire continuous loop of conveyor chain due to one (or even a few) defective half link(s) would be expensive. An entire chain can cost as much as $9,000 per chain or more. Chain link replacements for conveyors in manufacturing equipment are generally sold in relatively small volumes, and are thus expensive to make and purchase. For example, replacement of a pair of half links can cost as much as $1,800 or more. In addition, because such replacement units are so costly, it is impractical to maintain a stock of these items. Without a ready supply of chain replacement links, when a half link becomes defective and causes the chain to be inoperable, the likelihood of prolonged down time for the manufacturing equipment is increased until a replacement can be procured.
A conveyor chain in manufacturing equipment may operate effectively at a tension that is slightly loose. In tobacco product manufacturing equipment, such as a bulk silo, the gears that engage and move the conveyor chain may be repositioned to adjust the tension on the chain. The length of a chain half link can vary, and can be in a typical chain, for example, approximately six inches in length. To remove a defective half link would involve removing both the defective half link and its matched pair so that the widths of the remaining adjacent half links would properly mate in order to re-establish the continuous chain linkage. Thus, removing two six inch half links would eliminate approximately 12 inches from the overall chain length. Removing this much length from a chain would make the chain too short to connect back into a continuous loop, even with the length adjustment of the chain being at the minimum position. Thus, even with adjusting the positioning of the chain drive gears, removing a defective chain half link and its matched pair is not a workable solution to chain half link repair needs.
Thus, there is a need to provide a system for repairing a linked chain in manufacturing equipment that is relatively inexpensive and that allows maintaining a supply of such repair links for quick repair of a defective chain link.


An integrally formed gear set with a plurality of gears comprises a first, a second and a third gear. Each gear has a plurality of teeth and a plurality of recess portions. The teeth and recess portions are alternatively arranged. The first, second and third gears are formed by a sheet which is firstly formed as a stepped structure containing three layers which are the first gear, second gear and third gears; the rings between two gears are formed with a plurality of teeth which are bent to be at the same plane of the second and third gears.

The prior art gear sets are used in bicycle. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 shows a prior art structure. The gear set 10 includes a first gear 11, a second gear 12, and a third gear 13. Each gear 11, 12 and 13 is punched with a plurality of teeth 24, a plurality of recess portions 25 and a plurality of rivet holes 16. Then sleeves 17 and rivets 18 serve to rivet the first, second and third gears 11, 12 and 13. The first gear 11 has a via hole 110 and the second gear 12 has an assembled hole 120 for assembling the treading sheet 19 of the pedal. The prior art has the following disadvantages. (1) Each gear is formed individually and then the sleeves 17 and rivets 18 are assembled. The assembled work is tedious and complicated so that the cost is high. The combination of sleeves 17 and rivets are loose so that after a long time, the gears will loose. The connection of rivets 18 are point connections so that the combination of gears is not firmly. Gaps are formed between gears so that a released chain will fall into the gap. All the actions are applied upon the teeth 14 and the concave portions 15. The gear is easily worn.

Integrally formed gear set with a plurality of gears


A first groove, a second groove, and a prepared hole are formed in a traverse chassis. The first groove restricts the downward movement of a printed circuit board as a lower edge portion of the board is slidably pinched in the first groove. The second groove restricts the sliding movement in one direction of the board as an edge portion on one side of both lateral sides of the board whose lower edge portion is nipped in the first groove is fitted in the second groove. The prepared hole vertically penetrates a portion of the traverse chassis defining the first groove and is disposed adjacent to an edge portion on another side of the both lateral sides of the board whose edge portion on the one side is fitted in the second groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk apparatus for reproducing and recording information with respect to an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD which is an information recording medium, and more particularly to a structure in which a printed circuit board, which is a component element of an encoder for controlling the driving of a motor for driving each of a pickup unit, a traverse chassis, and a disk tray, is attached in an upright state on the traverse chassis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an optical disk apparatus is an apparatus in which a clamped optical disk is rotated, and laser light is applied to a recording surface of the optical disk to write (record) information on the recording surface, and the laser light reflected from the recording surface of the optical disk is received to read (reproduce) the information on the recording surface. The outer configuration of the optical disk apparatus is mainly comprised of a fixed main chassis and a movable traverse chassis (e.g., refer to JP-A-2004-253130, JP-A-2003-297065 and JP-A-11-224482). A disk tray is supported in the main chassis in such a manner as to be drawably inserted into the main chassis from the front side.
Referring to FIG. 5, a description will be given below of an example of the specific construction of such an optical disk apparatus. A main chassis 1 is a molded product of a synthetic resin such as polystyrene (PS), and a traverse chassis 2 is a molded product of a synthetic resin such as polyphenylene ether (PPE).
A pickup unit 3 which reciprocatingly moves in the radial direction (in the back-and-forth direction in FIG. 5) parallel to the recording surface of the optical disk is provided on the traverse chassis 2. A motor 4 for mainly moving the pickup unit 3, as well as a gear train 5 consisting of a plurality of spur gears which mesh with each other while one of them meshes with a spindle gear of this motor 4 and which are connected substantially in the back-and-forth direction, are provided on one side portion (right-side portion in FIG. 5) adjacent to the pickup unit 3. As one spur gear of the gear train 5 meshes with a rack 3a formed on a side of the pickup unit 3, the driving force of the motor 4 is transmitted to the pickup unit 3, thereby moving the pickup unit 3. It should be noted that the guiding of the movement of the pickup unit 3 is generally effected by a pair of guide shafts supported on the traverse chassis 2 in parallel to its moving direction.
In addition, the frontmost spur gear of the gear train 5 meshes with a tray gear 8 provided on the traverse chassis 2. This tray gear 8 is capable of meshing with a rack of a cam slider 6 disposed on the main chassis 1 side in front of the traverse chassis 2. The cam slider 6 is in cam engagement with a shift lever 7 provided on a front end portion of the traverse chassis 2, and is movable in the transporting direction (back-and-forth direction) of the disk tray and in a direction (left-and-right direction) substantially perpendicular to the raising/lowering direction of the traverse chassis 2. Further, as the rack of the cam slider 6 meshes with the tray gear 8, the driving force of the motor 4 is transmitted to the cam slider 6, so that the cam slider 6 moves in the left-and-right direction. While the shift lever 7 which is in cam engagement is thereby guided, the traverse chassis 2 is raised and lowered.
Furthermore, the tray gear 8 is capable of meshing with a rack formed on the disk tray in such a manner as to extend in the back-and-forth direction. As the rack of the disk tray meshes with the tray gear 8, the driving force of the motor 4 is transmitted to the disk tray, so that the disk tray is moved in the back-and-forth direction.
In such an optical disk apparatus, the optical disk is loaded on the disk tray drawn out of the main chassis 1, and as the motor 4 is driven, the disk tray is sent into the main chassis 1. When the disk tray is sent up to a predetermined position, the rack of the disk tray and the tray gear 8 are disengaged, and the rack of the cam slider 6 and the tray gear 8 are engaged with each other. As the motor 4 is driven, the cam slider 6 moves in the left-and-right direction to raise the traverse chassis 2. When the traverse chassis 2 is raised to a predetermined position, the rack of the cam slider 6 and the tray gear 8 are disengaged, and the optical disk is clamped.
Here, a specific description will be given of the clamping of the optical disk. A clamper holder is installed on the upper side of the main chassis 1 in such a manner as to extend in the left-and-right direction, and a substantially disk-shaped clamper is rotatably provided on its center. Meanwhile, a spindle motor is installed on the traverse chassis 2 opposing the clamper, and a turntable 9 which rotates as the spindle rotates (the spindle motor is driven) is fixed to a distal end of the spindle of this spindle motor. Then, as the traverse chassis 2 is raised, a central hole of the optical disk is fitted to the turntable 9, and the optical disk is clamped between the upper surface of the turntable 9 and the lower surface of the clamper.
When the optical disk is clamped, the rack 3a of the pickup unit 3 and the spur gear of the gear train 5 are meshed. Then, as the motor 4 is driven, the pickup unit 3 moves in the radial direction of the optical disk, and the reproduction and recording of information with respect to the optical disk are effected by an optical pickup which moves together with the pickup unit 3. It should be noted that when the optical disk is removed, an operation opposite to the above-described operation is carried out.
With such an optical disk apparatus, the driving of the pickup unit 3, the driving of the traverse chassis 2, and the driving of the disk tray are effected by the driving force of the motor 4, and an encoder E is used to properly control the driving of the motor 4 when each of these members is driven.
This encoder E is configured by a disk-shaped slit plate S fixed to the distal end of the spindle of the motor 4 as well as a photo interrupter (PI) P disposed in such a manner as to sandwich an outer peripheral portion of this slit plate S from above and below. A multiplicity of radial slits are formed in the slit plate S. The photo interrupter P is mounted on an exclusive-use printed circuit board (hereafter referred to as the "PI board" in some cases) 10 by soldering, and this PI board 10 is attached in an upright state on the traverse chassis 2. This attachment is performed by first screwing down the PI board 10 to an exclusive-use board holder, i.e., a separate part, by a screw, and by screwing down the board holder to the traverse chassis 2 by a tapping screw. This PI board 10 is connected to a control unit for controlling the operation of the overall optical disk apparatus.
In the above-described construction, the slit plate S rotates as the motor 4 is driven, i.e., as its spindle rotates. At that juncture, the slits which passed through the photo interrupter P are consecutively detected, and a pulse signal corresponding thereto is outputted from the PI board 10. The control unit, upon receiving the pulse signal, counts the number of pulses, and imparts to the motor 4 a drive signal (e.g., a signal concerning a voltage value to the motor 4) which is appropriate for driving each of the pickup unit 3, the traverse chassis 2, and the disk tray. It should be noted that reference character SW in FIG. 5 denotes an inner peripheral end detecting switch for detecting whether or not the pickup unit 3 has reached the inner peripheral end position of the optical disk. The point of time when an on/off output of this inner peripheral end detecting switch is provided is used as a reference point when the pulse signal from the PI board 10 is counted.

Structure for attaching printed circuit board on traverse chassis


An optical waveguide element includes a waveguide core formed of silicon, and a cladding layer formed of a material identical to the waveguide core for enveloping the waveguide core. The optical waveguide element comprising: a high-order propagation mode waveguide; a single input tapered waveguide that is provided on an input terminal of the high-order propagation mode waveguide; a plurality of output tapered waveguides that are provided on an output terminal of the high-order propagation mode waveguide; and an optical feedback elimination waveguide that is provided on the input terminal and disposed alongside the input tapered waveguide. In the optical waveguide element, the input tapered waveguide and the output tapered waveguides are tapered waveguides in which a waveguide width becomes gradually narrower the greater the separation from a terminal of connection to the high-order propagation mode waveguide, and the optical feedback elimination waveguide eliminates reflected light into the cladding layer.

The present invention relates to an optical waveguide element that functions as a branching element or a wavelength filter.
In recent years, an optical waveguide element that has a waveguide core made of silicon is attracting attention. An optical waveguide that is formed by enclosing a silicon waveguide core in a cladding layer of a material having a lower refractive index than silicon (silicon oxide or silicon nitride, for example) is referred to as a silicon waveguide. The silicon waveguide achieves an extremely high difference in the refractive indices between the core and the cladding layer and thus, if a silicon waveguide is used, a compact optical waveguide element can be realized.
Further, if the optical waveguide element using silicon as the waveguide core uses a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate, it is possible to form the optical waveguide element using known etching processing, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) etc., which are used in the manufacturing processes of integrated circuits and optical waveguide elements and the like. As a result, there is the advantage that it is not necessary to develop new manufacturing processes. Further, a characteristic of these manufacturing processes is that they are suitable for mass production.
A branching element and a wavelength filter are essential elements when constructing an optical communication system or the like, and known optical waveguide type branching elements include an element that uses a Y-branch waveguide, an element that uses a directional coupler and an element that uses multimode interference (MMI) (refer to JP-T-8-508351 and to E. Kleijn, et al., "Multimode Interference Couplers With Reduced Parasitic Reflections" IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 26, pp. 408-410 (2014).)


A rear suspension system for a two wheel cycle such as a bicycle or motorcycle having a vertically pivotable rear frame assembly to which the rear wheel is mounted. The rear frame assembly includes a primary swingarm which extends downwardly and rearwardly from a pivotable connection on the main frame. A rear wheel fitment is attached at the rear of this primary swingarm. A secondary swingarm is also fixed to the rear wheel fitment, and extends forwardly from the fitment at an angle below to the primary swingarm. The secondary swingarm mounts to the main frame via an attachment which has capability of permitting a change in vertical and horizontal location of the attachment point of the secondary swingarm, necessitated for rotation of the rear frame assembly about the main swingarm pivotable connection, while still providing lateral rigidity. Both swingarms pass along one side of the cycle only, with the rear wheel being mounted in a cantilever fashion from the rear wheel fitment which is also on the same one side. The system provides convenience in wheel and tire access, and also provides very high lateral and torsional rigidity in passing lateral loads from the rear tire contact patch to the main frame, due to the vertical spacing between the frame connections of the primary and secondary swingarms.

This invention relates to bicycle frame construction, and in particular to bicycle frames having rear suspensions, yet having easy access and removal of the rear wheel.
Bicycles and motorcycles were originally built with rigid frames. As the horsepower, weight and speed of motorcycles increased, and they began to be used off road, both front and rear wheel suspensions were developed and have now reached a very high degree of sophistication. Many different arrangements have been used for springing and damping rear suspensions, including complex linkages. The majority of rear suspensions on two wheeled vehicles use a fork-type rear swingarm as the main rear suspension structural member, regardless of the type of springs, damping devices and linkages used. The fork-type swingarm has a member on each side of the rear wheel, these two members being fixed together at the front pivot area, and joined at the rear by a rear axle which clamps the wheel between the two members. Changing the wheel, tire, brake, rotor, or wheel bearings requires removal of the rear axle from the swingarm, with attendant problems relating to reinstallation and alignment.
Automobiles have for many years used cantilevered stub axles which allow wheels, brakes, and so on to be removed easily, without removing the axle from the swingarm. A few two-wheeled vehicles have used a single-sided swingarm, which is generally a large section tubular member down one side of the wheel, the tubular member being attached at its front to the frame with a bearing set mounted on a single axis. Because the side loads on the wheel are transferred through this tubular member in torsion only, the member is large and heavy, yet provides only mediocre lateral and torsional rigidity.
This invention relates to improvements to the apparatus set forth above and to solutions to some of the problems raised or not solved thereby.

Single sided cycle rear suspension system


A communication terminal device includes a UHF-band RFID system including a wireless IC element for UHF-band RFID and a loop-shaped conductor coupled to the wireless IC element for UHF-band RFID, and a UHF-band mobile communication system including a wireless IC element for UHF-band mobile communication and an antenna conductor coupled to the wireless IC element for UHF-band mobile communication. The loop-shaped conductor and the antenna conductor are closely adjacent to each other. The loop-shaped conductor is electromagnetically coupled to a portion of the antenna conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication terminal devices and specifically to communication terminal devices including a UHF-band RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system and a UHF-band mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The UHF-band RFID system provides a longer communication distance than the HF-band RFID system and is capable of collectively reading a plurality of tags. Therefore, the UHF-band RFID system is advantageous in constructing an article management system in which articles are managed based on ID information read from tags attached to the articles.
Particularly, a wireless IC device disclosed in WO 2009/011154 is useful as an RFID tag used in a system for management of various electronic devices in manufacturing processes and/or at product steps. This wireless IC device uses a ground conductor provided in a printed wiring board incorporated in an electronic device as an antenna element, and therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an antenna element for exclusive use, leading to size reduction of the tag.
In recent years, size reduction and thickness reduction have been demanded of mobile communication terminals such as smartphones, and there is a trend that the area of an incorporated printed wiring board is reduced. Accordingly, the area of the ground conductor provided in the printed wiring board is also reduced. As a result, the RFID tag which uses the ground conductor as the antenna element has difficulty in securing a sufficient communication distance.

Communication terminal device including a UHF-band RFID system


A method for coupling ventilator breathing circuit tubing to a respiratory ventilator using a compression coupler. The tubing has a corrugated or ribbed portion and a non-corrugated cuff. The cuff is inserted into the coupler, which is in turn coupled to the ventilator. The coupler has inner and outer tubular members that compressively engage the cuff between them when they are rotated with respect to one another.

The present invention relates generally to medical ventilators and, more specifically, to tubing for use in that portion of the ventilator commonly known as the breathing circuit, which includes the gas supply and control paths and the patient's respiratory system.
The breathing circuit includes an inhalation conduit for delivering gas to the patient, an exhalation conduit for receiving gas from the patient, a patient wye at which the inhalation and exhalation conduits join, and an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy outlet for interfacing the ventilator and patient sides of the breathing circuit. Another conduit may connect the patient wye to the endotracheal tube or tracheostomy outlet. The breathing circuit may also include filters located at the junctions between the exhalation and inhalation conduits and the ventilator housing, a humidifier, and other devices.
Tubular fittings on the patient wye, filters and other portions of the breathing circuit receive the conduits. The conduits include a length of flexible tubing and may also include endpieces for connecting the tubing to the fittings. One commonly used type of fitting is a barbed, cylindrical or frusto-conical projection. The end of the flexible tubing is stretched over this fitting. Alternatively, the end of the flexible tubing may be attached to an elastomeric endpiece, which is, in turn, stretched over the fitting. Another commonly used type of fitting, which is defined by the ISO 5356-1 standard, consists of a rigid frusto-conical female half, into which a male half attached to the end of the flexible tubing is inserted. The male and female halves are formed of a rigid material such as metal. Nevertheless, the friction between the mating halves maintains the connection.
The conduits are an extremely critical aspect of the breathing circuit. The coupling between a conduit and the fitting to which it is connected must withstand tensile stresses to prevent disconnection. The tubing must withstand flexure resulting from normal movement of the patient or ventilator without kinking or collapsing and thus restricting gas flow. Failure of the tubing or coupling can cause damage or death to a patient. In fact, an industry standard attachment test requires that a conduit remain connected to a fitting when a 20 pound tensile force is exerted for 60 seconds. The tubing is typically ribbed, such as by providing corrugation or a continuous spiral rib, to provide sufficient lateral rigidity to prevent the tubing from kinking or collapsing while allowing it to flex laterally and longitudinally. The spiral rib may also be used to attach an endpiece to the tubing in a screw-like manner.
The tubing must either be disposable or sterilizable because medical practitioners typically replace it after about 72 to 168 hours of continuous use. Re-use of tubing through sterilization is increasing in response to concerns over damage to the environment by excessive medical waste.
Moreover, re-use of tubing maximizes economy. Sterilization is performed by exposing the tubing to heat ("heat-sterilization") or chemicals ("coldsterilization"). In heat-sterilization the tubing is typically exposed to steam at 270 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Heat-sterilization is preferred because it is easier and more economical to perform than cold-sterilization.
Materials commonly used to form the flexible tubing include silicone rubber, high-density polyethylene, HYTREL.RTM., which is a thermoplastic copolymer produced by DuPont, Inc., and KRATON.RTM., which is a rubbery styrenic block copolymer or thermoplastic elastomer produced by Shell Chemical Company. Silicone rubber is durable and highly elastomeric. It may be reused many times over a lifetime of up to approximately fifteen years by removing it from the fittings, sterilizing it, and reattaching it to the fittings. (Hospitals, however, typically replace such tubing after three to five years because it becomes discolored and gives the appearance of uncleanliness.) In addition, the superior elastomeric and frictional properties of silicone rubber facilitate formation of a strong coupling. However, such tubing is relatively uneconomical because it is formed using a molding process. At present, a conduit between the ventilator and the patient wye made of silicone rubber tubing costs a hospital in the U.S. on the order of $150.
Polyethylene is considerably more economical than silicone rubber because it can be continuously extruded and then cut into the required lengths. Unlike silicone rubber, no expensive molding process is necessary. Nevertheless, it cannot be re-used in conjunction with either heat-sterilization or cold-sterilization. Not only will it melt or deform when subjected to the high temperatures of heat-sterilization, but polyethylene tubing that has been removed from a fitting for any reason cannot be re-attached to a fitting because polyethylene has little or no memory. Once stretched over a fitting, such tubing remains permanently stretched and cannot form a coupling with sufficient strength to pass the above-described attachment test. Therefore, polyethylene tubing must be discarded after a single use.
HYTREL.RTM. is more economical than silicone rubber, but it is not nearly as economical as polyethylene, both because the material itself is less economical than polyethylene and because it cannot be extruded like polyethylene. Although it can withstand high temperatures without melting or otherwise deforming, the tubing will harden over time when repeatedly heat-sterilized. Moreover, like polyethylene, it is not sufficiently elastomeric to be re-used by connecting it directly to a friction fitting. Silicone rubber endpieces are therefore screwed onto the ends of a length of HYTREL.RTM. tubing having a spiral rib and sealed with liquid silicone. The silicone rubber endpieces are sufficiently elastomeric and durable to be repeatedly reconnected to a fitting without degradation in the strength of the resulting coupling. (Silicone rubber has a tensile modulus of approximately 160 psi.)
KRATON.RTM. is nearly as economical as polyethylene because it can be extruded using thermoplastic processing methods. Like silicone rubber and HYTREL.RTM., it can withstand the temperatures of heat-sterilization. However, like polyethylene and HYTREL.RTM., it is not sufficiently elastomeric to be reused by connecting it directly to a friction fitting. (KRATON-D.RTM. has a tensile modulus between 400 and 1,000 psi.) Moreover, silicone rubber endpieces cannot be attached to the ends of a length of KRATON.RTM. tubing because KRATON.RTM. is too soft and pliable to form a strong spiral rib onto which an endpiece could be screwed and too resistant to adhesive bonding for liquid silicone or other adhesives and sealants to be used. (It is believed that a leaching agent in KRATON.RTM. prevents adhesion.) In attempts to secure KRATON.RTM. tubing directly to a fitting, plastic cable ties and rubber O-rings have been used as crude hose clamps. However, such clamping methods are inconvenient and unreliable. Moreover, succesive couplings using the same length of KRATON.RTM. tubing become weaker as repeated uses increasingly stretch the tubing. For these reasons, medical practitioners are reluctant to rely on such methods.
It would be desirable to provide a breathing circuit conduit that is not only relatively economical but can also be removed from a fitting, sterilized, and replaced in a fitting multiple times without suffering unacceptable degradation in the strength of the resulting coupling. These problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by the present invention in the manner described below.

Assembly of semi-disposable ventilator breathing circuit tubing with releasable coupling


A chuck for receiving a working tool (2) rotable about a longitudinal axis (A) includes a receiving sleeve (3) having a guide surface (12) extending along the longitudinal axis (A) and at least three, axially extending, up to a free end surface (4) of the chuck (1), entraining grooves (5) located in front of the guide surface (12), arranged radially outside of the radial dimension (R) at angles of 0°, 120°, and 240°, and each having a central angle (α) defined with respect to the radial dimension (R) and amounting to at least 40°; and at least one locking member (6) radially displaceable over the radial dimension (R) and arranged between two circumferentially adjacent entraining grooves (5) and diametrically opposite a third entraining groove (5).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chuck for receiving a rotary/percussion tool such as a drill bit, chissel, or bore-crown cutter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a chuck for receiving a shank of a rotary-percussion working tool, e.g., such as disclosed in German Publication DE 3941 646 A1, has a shank-receiving sleeve with an inner cylindrical guide surface and with radially inwardly extending entraining webs, and radially inwardly displaceable locking members engageable in locking grooves of the tool shank, limiting axial displacement of the tool. Because of a high surface pressure, which is necessary for transmitting a predetermined torque, the radially inwardly projecting entraining webs are subjected to high wear which substantially reduces the service life of the chuck. A reduced wear of chucks is very important for their reliability, in particular, for those used in power tools used in mining for working concrete, mortar, and abrasive earth materials.
German Publication DE 38 43 465 A1 discloses a chuck with two entraining webs located radially inwardly with respect to guide surfaces, and with four, located radially outwardly with respect to the guide surfaces, entraining grooves which are axially offset relative to the entraining webs. The entraining grooves have a central angle of 45°. The inwardly located entraining webs are subjected to a strong wear which substantially reduces the chuck service life. Moreover, with four symmetrically distributed entraining grooves, the remaining central angle of 45° between the grooves, does not provide a sufficient guide space for the radially displaceable locking bodies which, therefore, are displaceable axially, which leads to an increased length of the chuck.
German Publications DE 196 04 283 A1 discloses a chuck having two entraining webs arranged radially inwardly with respect to the guide surfaces, and three, located radially outwardly with respect to the guide surfaces, entraining grooves symmetrically distributed over a circumference. With small entraining grooves having a central angle of less than 30, a suitable shank with small entrainable wings of less than 30 should be used. Because of the over-proportional dependency of the circumferential flexural strength of the entrainable wings on the surface pressure, and the elastic/plastic deformation of which leads to transformation of a surface contact to a linear contact that causes a substantial wear, with so small entrainable wings, the surface pressure and thereby a torque, which is transmitted by the surface area of the chuck, are limited.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a chuck having a reduced length and capable of transmitting high torques, without being subjected to a substantial wear.

Chuck for receiving a rotary-percussion tool


A surgical apparatus for positioning within a tissue tract accessing an underlying body cavity, includes a seal anchor member comprising a compressible material and being adapted to transition between a first expanded condition to facilitate securing of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract and in substantial sealed relation with tissue surfaces defining the tissue tract and a second compressed condition to facilitate at least partial insertion of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract. The seal anchor member defines a central longitudinal axis and has leading and trailing ends. At least one longitudinal object port extends between the leading and trailing ends and is adapted for reception of a surgical object whereby compressible material defining the at least one longitudinal object port is adapted to deform to establish a substantial sealed relation with the object. The seal anchor member includes at least two separable anchor segments dimensioned to be positioned in adjacent stacked relation to selectively alter the longitudinal length of the seal anchor member to accommodate tissue tracts of different lengths.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a seal for use in a surgical procedure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a seal anchor apparatus adapted for insertion into an incision in tissue, and, for the sealed reception of one or more surgical objects such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with both the tissue and the surgical object, or objects.
2. Background of the Related Art
Today, many surgical procedures are performed through small incisions in the skin, as compared to the larger incisions typically required in traditional procedures, in an effort to reduce both trauma to the patient and recovery time. Generally, such procedures are referred to as "endoscopic", and when performed on the patient's abdomen, is referred to as "laparoscopic". Throughout the present disclosure, the term "minimally invasive" should be understood to encompass both endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.
During a typical minimally invasive procedure, surgical objects, such as surgical access devices, e.g., trocar and cannula assemblies, or endoscopes, are inserted into the patient's body through the incision in tissue. In general, prior to the introduction of the surgical object into the patient's body, insufflation gasses are used to enlarge the area surrounding the target surgical site to create a larger, more accessible work area. Accordingly, the maintenance of a substantially fluid-tight seal is desirable so as to prevent the escape of the insufflation gases and the deflation or collapse of the enlarged surgical site.
To this end, various valves and seals are used during the course of minimally invasive procedures and are widely known in the art. However, a continuing need exists for an apparatus that can be inserted directly into the incision in tissue and that can accommodate tissue tracts of varying lengths and a variety of surgical objects while maintaining the integrity of an insufflated workspace.

Seal anchor for use in surgical procedures


Disclosed is a system and a method for providing a terminal with a notification message reporting changes of a system and of a service in the middle of a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) broadcasting service. The system inserts channel information related to the transmission of the notification message into Electronic Service Guide (ESG) service fragment or ESG acquisition fragment, then transmits the inserted channel information, or specifies a notification session for a session to transmit the session. In this manner, the channel information related to the notification message can be transmitted to a terminal through an ESG, and the terminal acquires the channel information related to the notification message from the received ESG to receive the notification message by using the channel information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) system, and more particularly to a system and a method for providing a terminal with a notification message reporting system and service changes in the middle of a DVB-H broadcasting service.
2. Description of the Related Art
DVB-H specifies technical standards which have been established for the purpose of improving the receptibility of a Digital TeleVision (DTV) during motion, and the letter 'H' represents 'Handheld.' It supports mobile multimedia broadcasting, which provides high quality audio and image services anytime and anywhere, even during driving or walking.
A service model using this DVB-H has the following configuration. Above all, a sending side is configured with a network through which common carriers and broadcasters interact with one another according to standards of the Digital Video Broadcasting-Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (DVB-UMTS). The broadcasters deliver compressed data to a terminal in a transmission scheme of DVB-H on the basis of Digital Video Broadcasting-Advanced Video Coding (DVB-AVC) standards. The terminal communicates with the common carriers according to communication standards such as the Digital Video Broadcasting-Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/Global System for Mobile communication (DVB-UMTS/GSM), and is now able to deliver information on the receiving-side to the broadcasters in real time via a communication network.
Most information pertinent to broadcasting is included in an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) in DVB-H, with which a user can choose an interesting TV or radio channel or an item to download. In addition, the ESG provides information allowing the terminal to be connected with a specified Internet Protocol (IP) stream included in the DVB-H transport stream. The whole process of managing the ESG is specifically divided into three processes as follows: bootstrapping the ESG, acquiring the ESG and updating the ESG.
Bootstrapping the ESG causes a terminal to perceive what kinds of ESGs the terminal can receive and how these ESGs are obtained. Acquiring the ESG causes the terminal to gather the ESG information and to manage the gathered ESG information. Updating the ESG causes the terminal to restore the ESG information having the latest version.
Changes can occur in a DVB-H system due to a variety of factors in the middle of receiving services of high-quality voice and images, and some of the changes can be vital information.
However, a framework for transmitting a notification message has not been defined in standards of Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld Convergence of Broadcasting and Mobile Service Electric Service Guide (DVB-H CBMS ESG). Thus, it is difficult to expand the function of transferring the notification message into a diversity of functions such as a prior notification regarding various types of changes or prior notification services for application services. Consequently, there exists a need for a method for transferring notification information which is not defined in standards.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing notification message in DVB-H system


The laser light generator control circuit comprises a load section, a control section, a bias current circuit section, and a modulation current circuit section. The load section generates a monitor voltage V1 that corresponds to the optical current corresponding to the amount of light received by a monitor light receiving element for receiving light from the laser light generator. The control section selects a combination (Db, Dm) in accordance with the result of comparing a value corresponding to the monitor voltage V1, and a reference value, from a group of combinations (Db, Dm)n that comprises a plurality of combinations (Db, Dm) of a value Db that corresponds to the bias current and a value Dm that corresponds to the modulation current, these combinations being specified so that the light emission power and the extinction ratio are constant, and generates a first control signal V2 and a second control signal V3 on the basis of the selected combination (Db, Dm).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser light generator control circuit and to a method for controlling a laser diode.
2. Related Background Art
Optical transmitters comprise a semiconductor laser and a laser drive circuit. In the field of optical communications, a semiconductor laser is driven by a laser drive circuit and generates signal light that corresponds to a transmission signal.

Laser light generator control circuit and laser light generator control method


Provided is a display method used for a display device that displays a design image and a pickup image in a superimposing manner, including: a distortion correction process of correcting distortion of the pickup image; an alignment process of aligning a position of the design image and a position of the pickup image; and a display process of displaying the design image and the pickup image in the superimposing manner. In the distortion correction process, the distortion of the pickup image is corrected so that a quadrangle formed by connecting four points on the pickup image becomes a rectangle in parallel with a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, the four points specified on the pickup image corresponding to four points on the design image which are connected to form a rectangle in parallel with the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. In the alignment process, the position of the design image is aligned with the position of the pickup image by carrying out at least one of right-left reversal, top-bottom reversal, shift, rotation, enlargement, and reduction, with respect to at least one of the design image and the pickup image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display method of displaying a design image obtained from design data and a real pickup image in a superimposing manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for example, in failure analysis of a large scale integrated circuit (LSI), locations that cause a failure of the LSI (candidates for a logical failure) are logically narrowed down using a failure simulator or the like. Then, the names of the candidates for the logical failure are retrieved and displayed using a layout viewer or the like, whereby the candidates for the logical failure are checked in the layout thereof.
When an LSI has a physical abnormality, failure locations can be physically narrowed down using an analysis device such as an emission microscope, an optical beam induced resistance change (OBIRCH) analysis device, a field ion beam (FIB) device, or a secondary electron microscopic (SEM) device. For example, the emission microscope is capable of acquiring an image on which heated locations are detected, whereas the OBIRCH analysis device is capable of acquiring an image on which OBIRCH reaction is detected. The SEM device and the FIB device are capable of acquiring a real image of the LSI.
When it is found that a physical abnormality discovered by the analysis device has caused a logical abnormality, the discovered physical abnormality can be determined as a cause of the failure of the LSI. Accordingly, if the layout image (design image) displaying the candidates for the logical failure and the analysis image (pickup image) obtained by the analysis device can be easily superimposed over each other, it becomes easy to specify a location of the failure. For example, JP 10-163283 A describes position alignment between a layout image and an analysis image obtained by an analysis device such as an electron beam tester.
The following analyses are given by the present invention.
When an analysis image (pickup image) is displayed and analyzed, the analysis image is sometimes distorted compared to the real image, like in a case in which the analysis image cannot be acquired from a direction vertical to the LSI, or in a case in which the image becomes blurry when photographed. Thus, there occurs a case in which the position alignment cannot be performed sufficiently with the method described in JP 10-163283 A. As an LSI becomes finer, it becomes more difficult to specify the location of a failure due to finer position displacement.

Display method and display device for displaying a design image and a pickup image in a superimposing manner, and storage medium storing a program for executing the display method


The invention relates to an integrated method for gasification and indirect combustion of a solid hydrocarbon feedstock in a chemical loop, comprising:

In a context of increasing world energy demand, capture of carbon dioxide for sequestration thereof has become an imperative necessity in order to limit greenhouse gas emissions harmful to the environment. The Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) method allows to produce energy from hydrocarbon-containing fuels while facilitating capture of the carbon dioxide emitted during the combustion.
An oxygen carrier (metallic oxide) is used for continuous transfer of the oxygen from the "air reactor" or "oxidation reactor" (RO) to the "fuel reactor" or "combustion reactor" or "reduction reactor" (RR) where the oxygen is provided to the fuel. Thus, direct contact between the air and the fuel is prevented. The resulting gas is rich in CO2 and it is not diluted with nitrogen. It can thus be compressed and stored after simple condensation of the water produced. The reduced oxygen carrier (Me) is then sent to the air reactor in order to be reoxidized (to MeO), thus forming a chemical loop.
Solid fuels having a high carbon to hydrogen ratio produce large amounts of greenhouse gas. Thus, the combustion of solid fuels is a particularly interesting application for the CLC method. Various CLC configurations have already been developed and tested on the laboratory scale for the combustion of solids. However, additional research work is necessary to guarantee the feasibility of the method. The most important technological challenges for the CLC method with solid feedstocks relate to the solid—solid separation (oxygen carrier—unburnt solid fuel) and to the high-pressure operation of the method.
In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, a new system is provided for burning (and/or gasifying) a solid fuel without direct contact between the oxygen carrier and the fuel.

Integrated method for gasification and indirect combustion of solid hydrocarbon feedstocks in a chemical loop

Abstract: contacting solid hydrocarbon feedstock (1) with water (2) in a gasification reaction zone RG in order to discharge ashes (9) and to produce a gaseous effluent (3) comprising syngas and water,

Abstract: supplying reduction reaction zone RR of a redox chemical loop with at least part of gaseous effluent (3) produced in the gasification reaction zone in order to produce a CO2 and H2O-concentrated gaseous effluent (4),

Abstract: reoxidizing the oxygen-carrying solid particles from reduction reaction zone RR of the chemical loop in oxidation reaction zone RO by means of an oxidizing gas (6) and discharging fumes (7).

Abstract: The invention also relates to a plant allowing said integrated method to be implemented.


A write current is contracted without loss of precision of current-driven structure. While a capacitance TFT is switched off, a data current is supplied from a power supply line PVDD through a driver TFT and a selection TFT to a data line DL. With this process, a voltage which is lower than PVDD by an amount corresponding to a writing current of the driver TFT is set to gate of the driver TFT. Then, a control TFT is switched on so that a current corresponding to the gate voltage of the driver TFT flows to an organic electroluminescence element. In this process, the capacitance TFT is switched from an off state to an on state so that the gate voltage of the driver TFT changes corresponding to the change in capacitance and the drive current is contracted while the threshold value and mobility of the driver TFT are compensated for.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a current-driven pixel circuit which controls a current for an organic electroluminescence (hereinafter simply referred to as "EL") element using a current data signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a current-driven pixel circuit is known as a pixel circuit for driving an organic EL element. In the current-driven pixel circuit, a gate voltage of a driver transistor is set based on a current data signal while a corresponding current is applied to the driver transistor.
When a data voltage is simply set on the gate of the driver transistor, the drive current flowing through the driver transistor varies because of a variation in the threshold voltage among the driver transistors, resulting in a variation in light emission brightness of the organic EL element. With a current-driven pixel circuit, because the gate voltage of the driver transistor is set while a current corresponding to the current data signal is supplied through the driver transistor, it is possible to obtain relatively accurate drive current (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-147659).
In a current-driven pixel circuit, in order to realize a minimum brightness, a voltage corresponding to a small data current signal must be set on the gate of the driver transistor, and therefore, there is a problem in that the time before setting becomes long.
Alternatively, there is another proposed method to drive the organic EL element with a contracted drive current by using a relatively large current data signal and setting a voltage corresponding to the current data signal on the gate of the driver transistor (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-12897). In this method, however, it is not possible to apply a voltage corresponding to each driver transistor when the voltage is contracted and a constant voltage is applied. Therefore, there is a problem in that the error becomes large when the electron mobility varies among driver transistors.


Disclosed are an apparatus and method of restoring at least one data file. The method may include retrieving the at least one data file to be restored from a data storage location, determining that the at least one data file is a link file, and regenerating a previously exchanged shared secret. The method may also include decrypting a key from the link file using the shared secret, and retrieving data from a data repository location to be restored.

With data computing in general, data de-duplication is a form of data compression used to eliminate redundant data and increase storage utilization. In the de-duplication process, duplicate data may be deleted, which leaves only a unique copy of the data to be stored along with references to the unique copy of the data. In general, de-duplication may reduce the required storage capacity since only the unique data is stored.
Depending on the type of de-duplication being implemented, the number of redundant data files may be reduced, or, even portions of data files or other similar data may also be removed. Different applications and data types have different levels of data redundancy. Backup applications generally benefit the most from de-duplication due to the nature of repeated full backups of an existing file system.
In operation, de-duplication identifies identical sections of data and replaces them by references to a single copy of the data. Data de-duplication increases the speed of service and reduces costs. Data de-duplication increases overall data integrity and includes reducing overall data protection costs. Data de-duplication allows users to reduce the amount of disk space they need for data backup by 90 percent or more. It also reduces the data that must be sent across a WAN for remote backups, replication, and disaster recovery.
Data de-duplication is particularly effective when used with virtual servers, providing the ability to de-duplicate the virtual system state files used when deploying virtual servers. In many cases, virtual servers contain duplicate copies of operating system and other system files. Additionally, when backing up or making duplicate copies of virtual environments, there is also a high degree of duplicate data. Data de-duplication can provide considerable capacity and cost savings compared to the conventional disk backup technologies.
However, when data is transformed, de-duplicated and/or accessed, certain concerns arise about potential loss of data or data integrity (e.g., unauthorized access). By definition, data de-duplication systems store data differently from how it was previously written. As a result, there are concerns with the integrity of the data. However, the integrity of the data will ultimately depend upon the design of the de-duplicating system, and the quality used to implement the algorithms. One method for de-duplicating data relies on the use of cryptographic hash functions to identify duplicate segments of data. If two different pieces of information generate the same hash value, this is known as a collision. The probability of a collision depends upon the hash function used, and although the probabilities are small, they are always non-zero. As a result, concerns arise that data corruption can occur if a hash collision occurs.
In addition to the prospect of data integrity, malicious attacks are another major concern anytime user data is accessed and/or modified. If user data is processed for de-duplication then the user data is increasingly vulnerable to unauthorized access to the backup data. Providing data security during the data backup, data de-duplication and data restore stages of data processing is important.

Method and apparatus of securely processing data for file backup, de-duplication, and restoration


A method for producing a unitary part having a property enhancing coating strongly bonded to a core of either plastic or fiber reinforced composite is provided by applying the coating to a formed and shaped carrier substrate which is placed into the mold. Plastic is injected into the mold such that the plastic infiltrates the coating during molding and therefore locks the coating to the part after cure. Utilizing the present method substantially enhances the coating bond strength and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating a post production coating step.

It is common to enhance the properties of a composite part by applying a polymer coating to the surfaces of the part. Reinforced composite materials are used to fabricate many components due to their light weight and high strength. However, in certain applications, such as where high temperatures, chemical exposure or high erosion are expected, such composites are not used, as composite properties will typically degrade in such environments. To overcome this, a barrier coating may be added to a composite part. For example, a glass fiber reinforced epoxy part may have a thermal barrier coating added to it to protect the part at high temperatures. Similarly, other coatings, such as thermoplastic coatings may be applied to enhance properties such as corrosion resistance.
The method used to apply these coatings typically requires first production of the part and post production addition of the desired coating layer by either adhesive bonding or thermal spraying a property protecting material onto the part.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,259, a method of applying a continuous thermoplastic coating in one coating step is discussed. A thermoplastic polymer is applied to a porous metal surface at a temperature which provides a semi-fused highly coarse coating. The coating and surface are then heated such that the coating flows and locks into the pores in the substrate.
In coating molded composites, there is a lack of porosity on the external surfaces and the usual methods of application suffer from the inability to lock the coating to the part. Consequently, other post production steps such as sandblasting to roughen up the surface may be required before coating can be undertaken. If the bond between the coating and part surface is not uniform, there is the potential for separation and localized coating failure.

Method for comolding property enhancing coatings to composite articles

Dow-United Technologies Composite Products, Inc.


A package structure for a wireless communication module is disclosed and includes: a substrate having an upper surface defining a supporting region, an annular ground pad surrounding the supporting region, and at least one auxiliary ground pad formed in the supporting region; at least one chip mounted on the supporting region and electrically connected to the substrate; and a shielding lid having a receiving space for receiving the chip, a ground end surface electrically connected to the annular ground pad of the substrate, and at least one auxiliary ground portion electrically connected to the auxiliary ground pad for forming at least one auxiliary ground pathway to adjust the characteristic of the enhanced peak generated by the cavity-resonance effect of the shielding lid. Thus, the enhanced peak can be shifted out of a regulated frequency range of the EMI shielding test, so that the yield thereof can be increased.

Recently, the manufacturers of semiconductor assembly gradually develop various different package structures for satisfying needs of various high-density assembly, wherein various different design concepts of system-in-package (SIP) structures are frequently used to construct package structures for wireless communication modules, which will be applied to various electronic devices (such as mobile phones or global positioning system, GPS) which need wireless communication functions. Generally, the SIP structure can be classified into multi-chip-module (MCM) structure, package-on-package (POP) structure, package-in-package (PIP) structure and etc. The MCM structure includes a substrate, a plurality of chips mounted on the same substrate, and an encapsulant for encapsulating all of the chips. The MCM structure can be further classified into stacked-die package or side-by-side package. Besides, the POP structure includes a first package having a substrate and an encapsulant, a second package stacked on an upper surface of the encapsulant of the first package, and a plurality of suitable interconnection elements (such as solder ball or gold wires) for electrically connecting the second package to the substrate of the first package, so as to construct a composite package structure. In comparison with the POP structure, the PIP structure further includes another encapsulant for encapsulating the second package, the interconnection elements and the encapsulant of the first package on the same substrate of the first package, so as to construct a different composite package structure.
For a package structure for a wireless communication module, the mono-chip-module structure or the multi-chip-module structure may be used as the package structure according to the complication of the function designs of the wireless communication module. In addition, for reducing the phenomenon of electromagnetic interference (EMI), the mono-chip-module structure or the multi-chip-module structure generally is provided with an EMI shielding lid on an upper surface of a substrate of the package structure. Thus, although a wireless communication chip in the EMI shielding lid generates electromagnetic waves due to the electromagnetic induction effect, the electromagnetic waves will be restricted by the EMI shielding lid, so as to prevent the electromagnetic waves from externally transmitting to interfere with peripheral electronic apparatuses.
Referring now FIGS. 1 and 2, a traditional package structure for a wireless communication module is illustrated, wherein the package structure comprises a substrate 11, at least one chip 12, a plurality of passive elements 13, 14 and a shielding lid 15. The substrate 11 has an upper surface for supporting and electrically connecting to the chip 12 and the passive elements 13, 14, while the substrate 11 has an annular ground pad 111 surrounding the upper surface thereof. The shielding lid 15 is a hollow lid having a ground end surface 151 which can be connected to the annular ground pad 111 of the substrate 11 by welding, in order to reduce the phenomenon of electromagnetic interference (EMI). After the production line of semiconductor assembly factory finished the package structure of the wireless communication module, the EMI shielding effect of the package structure will be tested, in order to ensure if the electromagnetic waves of the package structure in a regulated frequency range has been reduced. Only when the package structure complies with a predetermined standard rule (such as various international certifications including CCC GB4943 of China, BSMI CNS13438 of Taiwan, VCCI of Japan, MIC of Korea, FCC Part 15 of U.S.A., CE EN55022 of European Union, C-Tick ANS3548 of Australia and New Zealand and etc.), the package structure will be recognized as a good product for shipping.
However, the technical problem of the traditional package structure of the wireless communication module is described as follows: although the shielding lid 15 can restrict the electromagnetic waves generated by the chip 12 therein to prevent from interfering with the peripheral electronic apparatuses, the hollow structure of the shielding lid 15 affected by the electromagnetic waves inevitably causes the effect of cavity resonance, so that the yield of the EMI shielding test will be lowered. In other words, even though most of the electromagnetic waves in the regulated frequency range can be weakened by the shielding lid 15, a specific electromagnetic wave of a certain frequency will be enhanced due to the resonance effect, so as to generate an enhanced peak. For example, in a package structure of a wireless communication module having a size of 10×10 mm, if the shielding lid 15 is made of copper and the thickness thereof is ranged between 0.1 to 0.15 mm, the enhanced peak generated by the shielding lid 15 is about 6.0 GHz which is a frequency check point of EMI detection for the wireless communication module. As a result, the yield of the EMI shielding test will be substantially lowered.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop a package structure for a wireless communication module to solve the problems existing in the traditional package structure, as described above.

Package structure for wireless communication module

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


A stable, pourable and water dispersible liquid fabric softening composition is provided comprising (a) from about 2% to about 25% of one or more fabric softening compounds selected from among quaternary ammonium compounds and amine compounds; (b) from 0 to about 10% of a co-softening ingredient; and (c) from about 0.02% to about 3% of a defined fatty alcohol ethoxylate-diurethane polymer as a thickener to provide commercially desirable viscosities without adversely affecting the physical stability of the composition. The balance of the composition is comprised of water and optional ingredients such as an acid, an emulsifier and adjuvants.

Aqueous compositions containing cationic quaternary ammonium compounds or imidazolinium compounds having at least one long chain hydrocarbyl group, or combinations of quaternary ammonium compounds with certain fatty amidotertiary amines in the form of a protonated complex are well recognized in the art to provide fabric softening benefits in a laundry rinse operation.
Achieving a commercially desirable viscosity in such fabric softening compositions has been the focus of much attention in the patent literature. The viscosity of a softening liquid is clearly an important factor for both the product manufacturer as well as the consumer. For the consumer, the cream-like quality of a fabric softening liquid is associated with concepts of softness and mildness. On the other hand, if a liquid product is unduly viscous, dispensing problems in the washing machine may result. Consequently, product acceptance by consumers is often dependent on the manufacturer being able to provide a desirable and stable product viscosity which allows convenient handling and pourability by the consumer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,059 describes a process for the manufacture of a shear thinning fabric softener wherein the softening composition is thickened with polymeric thickeners, such as polyvinylacetate, polyacrylamide and mixtures of guar gum with xanthan gum.
EP 331237 describes an aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising a fabric softener and a hydrophobically modified nonionic cellulose ether.
EP 385749 describes aqueous fabric conditioning compositions containing as a thickener a hydrophobically modified nonionic polymer having a hydrophobic backbone and at least two hydrophobic groups per molecule attached to the backbone. Described in particular are (i) copolymers of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with small amounts of C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 side chains; (ii) hydrophobically modified poly(ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide/urethanes); and (iii) alkyl substituted poly(vinyl) alcohols.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,851 describes polymeric thickeners which are polyurethanes. Among the intended applications for such polymeric thickening there are described latex paints and paper coating compositions. The use of the described polymers in a fabric finishing composition is said to promote softening effects (Col. 6, lines 40-42).
Notwithstanding the availability of numerous commercial thickeners for fabric softening liquid compositions, there remains a need in the art for a thickener capable of being efficaceous in highly concentrated fabric compositions as well as capable of maintaining its stability in low pH softening compositions which are acidified by mineral or polycarboxylic acids.

Liquid fabric softening compositions containing a fatty alcohol ethoxylate diurethane polymer as a thickener