An apparatus may be used to deposit metal or conductive layers upon semiconductor wafers using an electrochemical process. The apparatus comprises a housing for retaining a first electrode (e.g., anode) and a second electrode (e.g., cathode), in a fixed spaced-apart relation to each other, with the surface area of the anode exceeding the surface area of the cathode (the wafer). The back surface of the wafer is mounted on a handling disk; the disk has an aperture for accessing the wafer and is held in the housing. A contact probe passes through the aperture to touch the back surface of the wafer, the probe having a spring-loaded spherical radius head for depressurizing the head as it touches the wafer. This apparatus permits a uniform current distribution as the contact probe is not interposed between the electrodes, and the larger surface area of the anode relative to the wafer enhances the production of uniform and reproducible films. The housing may be comprised of at least two separable parts so that access may be readily gained to the inner cavity of the housing, thus enhancing the ease with which the device may be used. The handling disk as well as the spring-loaded probe head reduce the risk of wafer damage.

In semiconductor chip assembly, there are many instances in which a layer of metal or conductive material has to be deposited on a wafer. One instance involves the depositing on the wafer of soldering layers which are used to bond parts together. The solder may be placed between a photodetector and a substrate, melted in contact with the two parts, and then resolidified to create a bond between them. The solder is typically comprised of various metal components, such as a eutectic gold and tin solder. To produce high-strength and reliable bonds between the parts--as is required for semiconductor applications--it is important to achieve good uniformity in the thickness and composition of the solder plated on the wafer.
Typically, fabrication of a multi-layered solder on the wafer has been achieved by a plasma vapor deposition (PVD) process, which involves placing the wafers in a reaction chamber and evaporating gold and tin in the chamber. The PVD process is time consuming (in light of the time required to evaporate the metals), and it also is expensive. Much of the gold and tin upon evaporation becomes deposited on the chamber walls, rather than on the wafer, leading to a waste of precious metals which is costly.
Electrochemical deposition of gold and tin or other solder elements onto the wafer has been considered for avoiding the cost and inefficiencies of PVD, as electroplating uses less material than evaporation. Electrodeposition also uses less material than sputtering, another form of metal-layer deposition. However, typical electrodeposition processes are not well-suited for the handling of fragile semiconductor wafers, and they do not provide the uniform layers required for wafer applications. To illustrate, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a traditional electrodeposition apparatus. The article to be plated, i.e., the wafer 10, defines the cathode of the electrolytic cell 8, and a rod, bar or wire mesh 12, which may be fabricated with the plating metal, is the anode. The wafer 10 may be held within the electrolytic cell 8 with a bracket 14. A contact probe 16 coupled to a current source 18 touches the wafer surface on the side where plating occurs. An electrolyte (not shown) containing ions of the metal to be deposited is placed in the cell, and as current is generated in the cell between the anode and cathode, metallized ions are deposited on the cathode (i.e., the wafer).
There are a number of drawbacks with this conventional cell design as applied to the coating of semiconductor wafers. One of the challenges with electroplating wafers involves providing a good electrical contact to the wafer which has been attempted by having the probe 16 touch the wafer surface. Directly contacting the wafer, however, may cause it to break, crack, or otherwise incur damage. Placing the probe between the wafer surface and the anode (as in FIG. 1), also impedes the deposition of a uniform layer. The probe blocks the deposition of metal at the point where the probe meets the wafer, i.e., at point 10a (FIG. 1), and since the probe 16 is interposed between the cathode 10 and anode 12, it disturbs the current distribution between them. Furthermore, if the probe 16 is not completely sealed from the electrolyte, metal ions may be deposited on the probe, rather than on the wafer. Each of these features reduces the efficiency of the process for electroplating wafers and leads to the production of non-uniform, non-reproducible films.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus for coating wafers via electrochemical deposition which is efficient, produces uniform films, and accommodates the fragile nature of wafers. The invention provides such an apparatus. Further advantages may appear more fully upon considering the description below.

Electrodeposition apparatus for coating wafers


A washing machine is arranged to reuse and accordingly recycle rinse water for a laundry procedure, wherein a plurality of solenoids are operative and in cooperative relationship relative to one another to arrange for initial directing of rinse water into a recycling tank and subsequently directing the rinse water from the recycling tank back to the washing machine tub permitting subsequent drainage of the rinse water subsequent to its reuse.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to washing machine apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved washing machine water recycling apparatus wherein the same is arranged to recycle and filter washing machine rinse water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Apparatus in washing machines to permit the reclamation as well as recycling of water is indicated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,570,272; 4,953,369; 5,004,536; and 3,514,631. U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,994 indicates a prior washing machine structure utilizing a fixed drum and drive motor and the like of substantially conventional construction.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a holding tank mounted in adjacency to and in surrounding relationship relative to the wash machine tub to permit temporary storage of rinse water or reuse and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Washing machine water recycling apparatus


A dual mode laser/microwave transceiver for use in line-of-sight communications includes a housing that is formed with a single aperture for receiving both a laser beam and a microwave beam. A turning mirror and a beam splitter are mounted within the housing, and the turning mirror reflects an incoming laser/microwave beam onto the beam splitter which separates the laser beam from the microwave beam. The microwave beam is then directed by the beam splitter toward a microwave feed that is mounted on the housing. On the other hand, the laser beam is directed by the beam splitter toward an optical receiver that is mounted on the housing. Transmitted laser and microwave beams are respectively sent through the transceiver in directions opposite to that of the received beams.

The present invention pertains generally to communications systems. More particularly, the present invention pertains to wireless communications links between line-of-sight stations in a communications system. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as a communications link that can alternate between a laser mode and a microwave mode of operation in order to maintain effective communications in a wide variety of atmospheric conditions.
Wireless communications systems per se are well known in the prior art and have been used for communications links for the transmission of data, video and audio signals. Wireless systems offer the general advantage that they include links which do not require the laying of cables between the stations and, therefore, are more flexible in their installation and reconfiguration. One type of wireless system that is finding many new applications is a system which carries its communications signals on light beams.
Laser data links between line-of-sight stations are capable of handling high data transmission rates, which are in the range of several Gigabits per second (Gb/s). Laser data links, however, can be adversely affected by certain types of atmospheric conditions. For instance, it can be shown that haze, fog or heavy snow conditions will cause severe attenuation of the laser beam. This attenuation is due to scattering and when it happens, the laser data link becomes unreliable. Thus, even if adverse weather conditions are infrequent, an additional backup system may be necessary or desirable.
Microwave communications systems, like laser systems, are also well known as a means for establishing a wireless data link. Microwave data links, however, also have certain shortcomings. These shortcomings, however, are different than those associated with laser links. Specifically, microwave data links generally have a slower data transmission rate than laser systems. Typically, rather than transmitting data at rates of Gigabits per second (Gb/s), the data transmission rate for a microwave data link is less than a few hundred Megabits per second (Mb/s). Further, certain atmospheric conditions also adversely affect a transmitted microwave.
It happens that the atmospheric conditions which adversely affect microwave transmissions are different from the atmospheric conditions which adversely affect laser transmissions. Heavy rain, for instance, may not greatly affect a laser beam but it can cause significant attenuation of a microwave beam. On the other hand, it happens that a microwave beam is relatively unaffected by the same conditions mentioned above that will severely attenuate a laser beam, such as haze, fog and heavy snow. In sum, microwave data links can be reliably used to transfer data during periods when atmospheric conditions make a laser data link unreliable, and vice versa.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid wireless communications system that uses a single receiver for receiving either a laser beam or a microwave communications beam. It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual laser/microwave mode communications system that is available for effective data transfer between line-of-sight stations in a variety of atmospheric conditions. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual laser/microwave mode communications system that is compact and space efficient. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dual laser/microwave mode communications system that is effectively easy to use, relatively simple to manufacture and comparatively cost effective.
A transceiver for a dual mode laser/microwave communications system in accordance with the present invention includes a housing which is formed with a single aperture for establishing communications along a common beam path inside the housing. As intended for the present invention, communications signals can be carried on either a microwave beam or a laser beam. In either case, the beam will be directed along the common beam path inside the housing from the aperture to a receiver (an incoming beam), or from an appropriate transmitter toward the aperture (outgoing beam).
Mounted within the housing of the system of the present invention are: an optical transceiver for receiving and transmitting communications on a laser beam; a microwave feed for receiving and transmitting communications on a microwave beam; a dielectric mirror (e.g. a beam splitter) for connecting either the optical transceiver or the microwave feed with a common beam path; and, a turning mirror for directing communications along the common beam path between the housing aperture and the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dielectric mirror (beam splitter) is made of a material that will reflect a laser beam but which will allow the passage of a microwave beam through the mirror (beam splitter). Alternatively, the dielectric mirror will reflect a microwave beam and allow the passage of a laser beam. The turning mirror may be spherical or parabolic (or any other desired shape) and is preferably made of a metalized material which will reflect both a laser beam and a microwave beam.
For a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the turning mirror is formed with an opening at its center, and its reflective surface is oriented to establish the common beam path between the housing aperture and the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). The dielectric mirror (beam splitter) is then oriented to reflect either the laser beam or the microwave beam between the reflective surface of the turning mirror and the opening in the turning mirror. For this configuration, wherein the turning mirror has a central opening, a plurality of lenses and the optical transceiver can be positioned in the opening of the turning mirror for transmitting or receiving communications signals that are carried on a laser beam. It is, or course, also possible to mount separate laser transmitters on the outside of the housing. In this case, the optical transceiver will function only as a receiver. If microwave beams are directed toward the opening in the turning mirror, a microwave feed can be positioned in the opening of the turning mirror.
In an alternate embodiment, there is no need for the turning mirror to be formed with an opening at its center. Specifically, if the optical transceiver has a low profile configuration, such as is the case with a transceiver which incorporates an optical fiber, the optical transceiver (fiber) can actually be positioned between the turning mirror and the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). For either embodiment (i.e. the turning mirror with or without the central opening) the cooperation and combination of components for the system of the present invention is able to receive and to transmit communications signals on a laser beam.
Due to the use of a dielectric mirror (beam splitter) in the system of the present invention, a separate operation for receiving and transmitting communication signals that are carried on a microwave beam is also possible. Specifically, if the communications signal is carried on a microwave beam, the microwave beam will reflect from the turning mirror and then be reflected or passed by the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). This, of course, will depend on whether the dielectric mirror passes or reflects a laser beam and, in either case, it will do the opposite for the microwave beam. Thus, a microwave feed can be positioned within the housing behind the dielectric mirror for the reception and transmission of microwave beams. Preferably, the microwave feed is conically shaped and is sized for optimum reception or transmission of microwave beams in the range of thirty to fifty Gigahertz (30 GHz less than f less than 50 GHz).
For the operation of the dual mode laser/microwave system of the present invention in the laser mode, the optical transceiver at one station transmits a laser beam along a line-of-sight path. This laser beam is then received as an incoming laser beam by the optical transceiver at another station. At the receiving station this incoming laser beam is received through the aperture of the housing and is reflected by the turning mirror toward the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). The dielectric mirror (beam splitter) then reflects the laser beam towards the receiving optical transceiver. Depending on the particular embodiment of the system that is being used, the receiving optical transceiver may be located in an opening in the center of the turning mirror, or at some other location.
For the operation of the dual laser/microwave mode communications system of the present invention in the microwave mode, the microwave feed of the transceiver at the sending station transmits a microwave beam. This transmitted microwave beam passes freely through the dielectric mirror (beam splitter) and is reflected from the turning mirror toward, and through, the aperture of the housing at the sending station. This transmitted microwave beam is then received as an incoming microwave beam at the receiving station. At the receiving station, the incoming microwave beam is received through the housing aperture and is reflected from the turning mirror toward the dielectric mirror (beam splitter). Unlike a laser beam, however, the microwave beam passes through the dielectric mirror (beam splitter) and is received by the microwave feed. In this manner, the communications system of the present invention establishes a dual laser/microwave mode communications link between line-of-sight stations using a single aperture and a common beam path, for increased reliability over a single laser mode or microwave mode system, and increased data rate over a single microwave mode system. As indicated above, depending on the capabilities of the beam splitter, the respective positions of the laser beam optics and the microwave feed may be reversed.

Laser/microwave dual mode communications system


Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine, capable of controlling acceleration-response characteristics, performing an operation at an optimal fuel-efficiency point, and learning variation factors in an internal combustion engine provided with a supercharger including a wastegate valve. A target throttle-valve upstream pressure is calculated based on a target charging efficiency and a rotation speed. An exhaust-gas flow rate is calculated based on an air/fuel ratio and an intake-airflow rate. A target compressor driving force is calculated based on a target intake-airflow rate and a target throttle-valve upstream pressure. A wastegate-valve control value is calculated from the exhaust-gas flow rate and the target compressor driving force by using the relationship in which the relation expression expressing the characteristics of the exhaust-gas flow rate and the target compressor driving force depends only on the wastegate-valve control value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for an internal combustion engine, for controlling an internal combustion engine provided with a supercharger which includes a turbine provided to an exhaust path and a compressor provided to an intake path.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a turbocharger including a supercharger to be mounted to an intake path of an internal combustion engine (hereinafter, referred to simply as "engine"), which is achieved for the purpose of improving an output of the engine. The supercharger moves a turbine by rotating the turbine with an exhaust gas. The turbocharger has a risk of damaging the engine due to a supercharging pressure which becomes higher than needed when the turbine is rotated at a high rpm under a high load. Therefore, in general, an exhaust-gas bypass path is provided at upstream of the turbine so as to divert a part of the exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust path into the exhaust-gas bypass path by a wastegate valve provided to the exhaust-gas bypass path, thereby adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas flowing into the turbine. In this manner, the supercharging pressure is controlled at an appropriate level (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-228848).
Specifically, an exhaust pressure and the supercharging pressure of the supercharger are controlled by an opening degree of the wastegate valve. A control amount of the opening degree of the wastegate valve is determined by closed-loop control for a predetermined target amount of an intake system (for example, a set supercharging pressure or a set intake amount) based on an engine rpm and an engine load or simple open-loop control.
In recent years, the following control device for an internal combustion engine has been proposed. The control device provides good running performance by determining an air amount, a fuel amount, and ignition timing, which correspond to engine control amounts, using an output-shaft torque of the engine, corresponding to a requested value of a driving force by a driver or a vehicle, as a target engine output value.
Further, it is generally known that the control amount which most affects the engine output-shaft torque among all the engine control amounts is the air amount. In this context, a control device for an internal combustion engine, which controls the air amount with high accuracy, has also been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-013922).
The conventional wastegate-valve control device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-228848 controls the opening degree of the wastegate valve by a target amount obtained by a map value previously determined in accordance with each of operation variables. Therefore, if there is: (1) an individual variability, (2) a change with time (deposit accumulation, deterioration of a bearing, or the like), (3) a change in viscosity of an engine oil (change in bearing loss), or (4) an environmental change (a turbine output, a turbine rpm, and a requested compressor driving force differ depending on an atmospheric pressure and a temperature) as a variation factor of the turbocharger, the control device is affected by a variation in control. Therefore, there arises a problem in that an actual operation point greatly deviates from a set operation point.
Moreover, the supercharging pressure is controlled by the opening degree of the wastegate valve. However, the supercharging pressure can also be controlled by an opening degree of a throttle valve. Therefore, for controlling the same supercharging pressure, there exist a plurality of combinations of the opening degree of the wastegate valve and the opening degree of the throttle valve. Thus, there is another problem in that an operation point, at which the optimal fuel efficiency is obtained, cannot be known.
Further, when the conventional wastegate-valve control device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-228848 is replaced by the control device for the internal combustion engine, described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-013922, which uses the engine output as the target value, the control is also replaced by control for the engine output with respect to an opening degree of an accelerator, that is, control for drivability (=acceleration). Therefore, a plurality of map values are required to be set in accordance with the opening degree of the accelerator as the target amounts of the opening degree of the wastegate valve. Therefore, the operation point also changes. Thus, even in this case, there is a problem in that the setting of the ignition timing and an air/fuel ratio is required to be changed.

Control device for internal combustion engine and method for controlling internal combustion engine


The present invention relates to a database table modeling and a event handling method for a real time management to efficiently process the event by mapping each client with an alarm sequence number, and performing a database modeling supporting the mapping with an event management technique, when an alarm and a related event generated in a network equipment are transmitted to alarm managers in real time. According to the present invention, when an alarm event is generated in a network system equipment, an alarm management processor stores such alarm information in an alarm database. The alarm managers poll the alarm information stored in the database by corresponding to the alarm sequence number, and store the polling-related information on a client list table when the polling process is completed. A daemon processor manages a current alarm list of a listener table by mapping a certain amount of current alarm information accumulated on the listener table with a reading alarm sequence number of the client list table, and manages abnormally-completed clients by recognizing a state of the client list table with a last polling time and the alarm sequence number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a database table modeling and an event handling method for a real time management, and more specifically, to a database table modeling and an event handling method for a real time management to efficiently process the event by mapping each client with an alarm sequence number, and performing a database modeling supporting the mapping with an event management technique, when an alarm and a related event generated from a network equipment are transmitted to alarm managers in real time.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a network management system is used to manage a network connected with many systems. Therefore, the network management system receives and manages state information of each system by being directly or indirectly connected to the systems of the network.
In addition, each operator computer connected to the network management system can confirm the state information.
The systems connected to the network management system are divided into a switching system, a transmission system, etc. The network management system is connected to the switching system and the transmission system, collects alarm data and maintenance data from each system, and manages the collected data in a database.
The network management system maintains an optimal state by always monitoring a state of a communication network, and collects/accumulates states, alarms, and traffic data of a network. Particularly, a network alarm management system stores much alarm information generated in the network, and supplies desirous alarm information to many alarm manager computers linked with the network alarm management system.
A host computer(server) for alarm management is a work station for network management, including an alarm management processor, a broadcasting list table, an alarm database, an event database, a daemon processor, many listener tables, and many alarm managers.
Various state information generated in a network is collected by a management information system based on a computer. The management information system is composed of computer hardware, software, data, procedures, and people, and produces various information by processing data generated in the network.
Alarm and event information informed by the management information system is transmitted to the alarm management processor. The alarm management processor is operated by an alarm management application program, a daemon application program. As known, a daemon is a resident program performing a system operation related work in the background state. That is, a daemon application program for alarm management is automatically driven to carry out necessary works, if there occurs work conditions to be processed in the background state.
The alarm database having a multi distribution table structure includes an uncleared alarm table and a cleared alarm table. The alarm management processor stores alarm information, which is not cleared after being generated in the network, on the uncleared alarm table, and deletes the corresponding alarm information from the uncleared alarm table if an alarm is cleared, then moves to the cleared alarm table to store the alarm information.
Then, a generated event is stored in the event database.
An alarm management server is connected to the alarm managers implemented as an application program operating in a work station or a personal computer, or the alarm management server in order to support distribution alarm management by many operators. If time for reading the alarm information from the uncleared alarm table is not synchronized, some of the alarm managers reading the alarm information at first can read already-cleared alarm information and the rest alarm managers reading the alarm information later can read uncleared alarm information only. In this case, the alarm information of the alarm managers is not equal to each other.
To prevent this problem, the alarm managers have the listener tables, inherent alarm information recognizing spaces. Names of the listener tables are registered on the broadcasting list table. Alarm information generated in the network is stored on the uncleared alarm table, and simultaneously stored on the listener tables corresponding to each of the alarm managers. The alarm managers read the alarm information from each of the corresponding listener tables.
In another words, to process a real time event, alarm managers of earlier art are assigned with tables named listeners in a database generated by a server, when a client drives the alarm managers. The listener tables are generated as many as the number of the driven alarm managers, so as to transmit independent performance results of each alarm manager.
As is generally known, since size and a management range of the network are increasing exponentially, an NMS (Network Management System) managing a high-capacity network is required. So, in order to operate the network management system, it is predicted that a server capable of high-capacity processing will be connected to numerous clients.
However, since a real time alarm processing method of earlier alarm managers has been developed by targeting on a system having a relatively small-sized network, a server has to perform a writing operation on listener tables generated as many as the number of the alarm managers in order to process and transmit alarms to clients. Namely, while processing one event(alarm event), an unnecessary writing operation is carried out as many as the number of events×the number of listener tables.
Thus, an earlier alarm management system increases the number of the listener tables to be processed, as the number of alarm managers of connected clients is increased, thereby reducing an alarm processing speed.
In other words, an earlier alarm processing structure causes a problem that does not satisfy alarm processing performance standards of a high-capacity network management system reflecting a real time function.

Database table modeling and event handling method for real time alarm management


An apparatus and method for determining the strength of impact of closing the folder portion of a folder-type terminal are disclosed. When closing of the folder portion is detected, the impact force generated when the folder portion contacts the main body portion is measured, the relative strength of the measured impact force is determined, and an output corresponding to the measured impact force is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folder-type terminal and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for determining the strength of impact when the folder portion of a folder-type terminal is closed and generating a display corresponding to the determined strength of impact.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the use of mobile communications terminals has increased, the use of folder-type terminals has increased. Although such terminals have an advantage in that they are more compact and less bulky to store and carry, they also have disadvantages.
One of the disadvantages is that users have experienced an increased occurrence of breakage in the folder portion of these terminals. One of the possible reasons for this breakage is that users tend to close the terminals with sufficient force to weaken and damage the apparatus attaching the folder portion to the main body portion of the terminal. Although it is known in the art to sense the opening and closing of a folder-type terminal, sensing the impact upon closing such a terminal would allow the user to determine if he or she is closing the terminal in a manner that may lead to damage to the folder portion.
FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a conventional apparatus for sensing the closure of the folder portion of a folder-type terminal. The terminal 1 includes a folder portion 10 with a protrusion 11 at a certain position along the folder portion and a main body portion 20 having a contact switch 21 at a position where the protrusion contacts the main body portion.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the terminal 1 detects opening and closing of the folder portion 10 by a mechanical contact between the protrusion 11 and the contact switch 21. When the folder portion 10 is closed, the protrusion 11 of the folder 10 depresses the contact switch 21 of the main body portion 20 to cut off (or supply) a current flowing to the contact switch 21. Accordingly, the terminal 1 detects opening or closing of the folder 10 based on whether or not current flows at the contact switch 21.
Although the terminal 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 can determine whether the folder portion 10 is open or closed, it can detect only the fully open or fully closed configuration, not the configuration where the folder portion 10 is in the process of closing. Furthermore, the terminal 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 cannot determine the force with which the folder portion 10 is closed.
FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a conventional apparatus for sensing the closure of the folder portion of a folder-type terminal. The terminal 25 includes a folder portion 30 having a magnet 31 at a certain position along the folder portion and a main body portion 40 having a Hall effect switch 41 for sensing the magnetic field of the magnet of the folder portion.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal 25 detects opening and closing of the folder portion 30 by using a Hall effect switching method. As the folder portion 30 is closed, the magnet 31 nears the Hall effect switch 41 of the main body portion 40. The Hall effect switch 41 senses the magnetic field of the magnet 31 and changes an output accordingly. A Mobile Station Modem (MSM) (not shown) of the main body portion 40 detects the change in the output of the Hall effect switch 41 and determines whether the folder portion 30 is open or closed.
The terminal 25 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be able to determine the "imminent closure" configuration in addition to the fully closed and fully open configuration. However. The terminal 25 illustrated in FIG. 2 still cannot detect the force with which the folder portion 30 is closed.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus that can determine not only the closing or opening of the folder portion of a folder-type terminal, but also the force with which the folder portion is closed. The present invention addresses this and other needs.

Apparatus and method for determining strength of impact when closing a folder-type terminal


The P21 protein is used as a medicament in the treatment of cancer. A conjugate comprises a first region comprising the P21 protein, or a homologue or functional fragment thereof; and a second region comprising a translocation factor.

Cancer is one of the major causes of human mortality and has been the subject of intensive research. It is well known that almost all malignant tumours result from the transformation of a single cell into an immortal state, where the cell has lost the ability to control proliferation.
Uncontrolled proliferation results from a malfunction in the control of the cell cycle which, in eukarya, is controlled largely by cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). A complex mechanism of control over the phosphorylation state of the cyclins and CDKs controls whether cyclin/CDK complexes are able to drive the cell into the next phase of the cycle. The importance of the phosphorylation state of cyclin/CDK complexes is reflected by the fact that a large number of cancers involve mutations in the P53 and P21 tumour suppressor proteins, which are key components in the control of cyclin/CDK phosphorylation and complex formation. In particular, P21 blocks cycD/cdk4 complex formation and causes G1 arrest. Reviews detailing the P21 protein and its biological function may be found in O'Reilly M A, Antioxid Redox Signal. 2005 January-February; 7(1-2):108-18 and Liu G & Lozano G, Cancer 25 Cell. 2005 February; 7(2):113-4.
The treatment of cancer usually involves a combination of surgical procedures, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (including immunotherapy). Despite significant advances in cancer therapies in recent years, there remains a constant need for the development of improved therapies. Ideally, a cancer therapy will specifically target and destroy cancerous cells only.
A further problem that needs to be addressed is drug resistance resulting from chemotherapy. The continued administration of a cytotoxic drug can cause a tumour, that was initially sensitive to the drug, to become increasingly drug resistant such that the drug loses its therapeutic efficacy. Methods of improving the sensitivity of cancerous cells to drugs are therefore also required.

Conjugate comprising P21 protein for the treatment of cancer


Paste-extruded sulfonamide herbicide compositions having improved spray equipment clean-out properties are made by preparing a mixture comprising a sulfonamide herbicide free acid, at least about 50 equivalent % of an inorganic base relative to the sulfonamide herbicide free acid and sufficient water to form an extrudable past, extruding the mixture to form an extrudate, and drying the extrudate.

Since the discovery of the sulfonamide herbicides comprising the sulfonylureas and triazolopyrimidines, more than two dozen sulfonylurea and close to a half dozen triazolopyrimidine herbicides have been commercially developed for selective weed control in a wide variety of crops (The Pesticide Manual, Twelfth Edition, C. D. S. Tomlin, ed., British Crop Protection Council, Surrey, U.K, 2000). As the mode of action of these sulfonamide herbicides is inhibition of the enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS) found in plants but not animals, sulfonamide herbicides provide a valued combination of excellent efficacy against weeds with low use rates and very low toxicity to animals.
Sulfonamide herbicides like other agricultural chemicals can be formulated as concentrates in a variety of different forms, including liquid compositions such as emulsifiable concentrates and solid compositions such as wettable powders and granules. Granular compositions can be conveniently transferred and measured like a liquid, but unlike liquids, very little residue adheres to the walls of the product container. Furthermore, organic solvents and vapors are avoided. Compared to wettable powders, granules are relatively dust-free. A particularly useful type of granules are those which are water-dispersible. Water-dispersible granules, sometimes described as "dry flowables", readily disintegrate when added to water to form a solution or suspension, which can then be sprayed on the locus to be treated. It is also advantageous for granular compositions to have good attrition resistance, low tackiness, and uniform bulk density.
Water-dispersible granules can be manufactured by a variety of processes, including fluid-bed granulation, pan granulation, spray drying, intensive mixing, compaction, paste extrusion and heat extrusion (such as melt extrusion). The physical dimensions and porosity of water-dispersible granules depends upon the manufacturing process used. Fluid bed granulation, spray drying and intensive mixing give granules that very rapidly break up and disperse in water because of granule dimensional properties such as small size, irregular surface and porosity. On the other hand, paste extrusion and heat extrusion provide granules of relatively consistent diameter and shape. The consistent diameter of extruded granules makes them useful in uniform blends as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,552.
Granule composition is an important factor for obtaining sufficiently rapid dispersion of extruded granules. The dispersed particles formed on dilution should be no larger than 50 microns in their largest dimension to avoid premature settling, which may result in uneven application of the pesticide. It is therefore necessary that all of the components of the formulated product rapidly and completely disperse or dissolve in the dilution water. (If all of the components completely dissolve, then they can be regarded as being dispersed at the molecular level.) Water dispersibility of granules is determined not only by the composition of the granules but also by the composition and other properties of the aqueous medium to which the granules are added. For example, low temperatures and high concentrations of solutes can greatly retard granule disintegration.
Extruded granules are often most conveniently and cost-effectively prepared through paste extrusion using water to plasticize a powder mixture, which is then dried after extrusion. Paste extrusion avoids need for including binders that soften at elevated temperatures, as is required for heat extrusion. However, the use in paste extrusion of water as a plasticizer precludes inclusion of water-activated gas-generating ingredients, which otherwise can be used for accelerating disintegration and dispersion of heat-extruded or compacted granules.
Besides achieving satisfactory granule disintegration and dispersion, spray equipment clean-out can also be important. As sulfonamide herbicides comprise a highly active class of herbicides, it is desirable to clean out spray equipment before the equipment is subsequently used to treat a crop sensitive to the sulfonamide herbicide used in the previous application. Clean-out may require a rinsing procedure that is time-consuming and results in wastewater requiring proper environmental disposal. Furthermore, clean-out can be affected if the spray equipment contains organic deposits remaining from previous crop protection chemical applications or from other chemicals tank-mixed with the sulfonamide herbicide composition.
PCT Patent Application Publication WO 93/16596 describes a method for reducing residual sulfonylurea herbicide contamination of spray equipment by requiring as the first step the formulation of the sulfonylurea active ingredient in the form of an agriculturally suitable water soluble salt. Although a variety of methods are known for preparation of salts of sulfonamide herbicides from the corresponding free acid forms, as processes to prepare sulfonamide herbicide active ingredient often provide the free acid form either directly or as part of isolation, conversion to a salt would require an additional process step. Preferable would be formulations with improved spray equipment clean-out properties whereby the free acid form of the sulfonamide herbicide is directly used in the formulation process.
Now discovered is a process for conveniently preparing paste-extruded granular sulfonamide herbicide formulations that not only have satisfactory water dispersibility but also improved spray equipment clean-out properties.

Process for preparing paste-extruded sulfonamide compositions


In an integrated circuit, a first delay locked loop circuit is configured to adjust a phase of a first clock signal input to a first clock input terminal, and to at least one of transmit and receive information based on the phase-adjusted first clock signal. A second delay locked loop circuit is configured to adjust a phase of a second clock signal input to a second clock input terminal, and to at least one of transmit and receive information based on the phase-adjusted second clock signal. A path selection circuit is configured to select, in response to a select signal, one of a first signal path through the first delay locked loop circuit and a second signal path through the second delay locked loop circuit as a signal path for at least one of transmitting and receiving the information.

1. Field
Example embodiments of inventive concept relate to memory systems and/or methods of controlling operations thereof, and more particularly, to integrated circuits and/or methods for dynamic frequency scaling.
2. Description of Conventional Art
A synchronous memory system, such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), operates in synchronization with a clock signal applied from the outside, or operates an internal circuit at a timing of a predetermined phase relationship with respect to a phase of a clock signal. In the synchronous memory system, a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit is required to remove the influence of a propagation delay of a clock signal. Therefore, a synchronous memory system using such a DLL circuit requires a technique to change the operating frequency of a clock signal quickly and reliably.

Integrated circuits and methods for dynamic frequency scaling


A cord having two electrodes for generating a shark-repelling electromagnetic field about a user. The cord is connected to a field generator supported by the user, and in use, maintains contact with surrounding water, even if the user is out of the water.

Numerous devices are known for the purpose of repelling aquatic creatures. The majority of these devices are designed to generate an electromagnetic field in close proximity of a diver or to form a barrier or boundary in the nearby water.
Most studies are conducted on the aquatic creature sub-group of elasmobranchii, otherwise known as sharks. Most shark repelling apparatus use electromagnetic pulses, delivered into the water by submerged antenna or electrodes, to create an appropriate electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the diver.
Various types of pulse generators are used, the characteristics of which include a specification of its duration, repetition rate, amplitude and a pulse rise time. The value or ranges of each characteristic are carefully selected so as to create the electromagnetic field deemed most effective.
In the past, such field generators have been disposed on the body of the swimmer. For example, a field generator unit might be attached to scuba equipment of a diver which would produce a shark repelling zone about the diver. While generally effective, this arrangement suffers from a number of disadvantages particularly, if the swimmer is not otherwise encumbered by other apparatus or if the swimmer is for example engaging in surfing and is not continually in the water. This will result in the protective field being absent for a proportion of time, and thus reducing its effectiveness.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which may be used effectively by swimmers and those who spend a proportion of their time outside of the water, such as surfers, when standing on a surfboard.


A clip having superimposable parts for securing, between the parts, thin pliable materials, at any locations on the material, adjacent the material edges or at any position between opposing material edges.

The use of clips to retain and hold objects in place is very common and has been well exploited over the years. General mechanisms in building a clip involve folding or twisting a piece of certain material over itself to generate resistance and create a catch area where objects are trapped and secured, such as paper clips, binder clips, etc. Generally, these types of clips require a leverage mechanism to open the catch area to insert the objects/items to be held.
Other types of clips designs entail the introduction of various types of springs that can exercise pressure on the reverse side of each part of the clip. This process produces a relative response within the contact area inside the clip allowing it to grasp and hold on to objects, such as clothespins.
In both the cases, however, opposing sides of the clip must constantly and resiliently be attached together because taking them apart may ruin the apparatus or compromise the clips integrity. In addition, the dimension of the clips, such as binder clips and clothespins can only grab and secure objects/adjacent the perimeter of the objects to be held together. When reaching beyond the perimetric edges of the object is a necessity, other solutions are necessary, such as fabric pins or other mixed techniques. However, this approach produces results and outcome that are often negligible, poor, not desirable and at times dangerous. For example, fabric pins are much like needles; they usually have one blunt extremity and another extremity that is sharp by design which can cause injury if not handled with dexterity and vigilance.
Conventional clips and their applications, though widely popular, lack many desirable features. For example, with fabric material, a line or rod is used over which the material is folded, placed or laid before applying the clip, but the support system must not exceed a certain thickness. Otherwise, if that consideration is neglected, the corresponding clip may fail or only produce a loose bite; not strong enough to retain objects. Further, clothespins and other fabric clips are practically useless beyond the perimeter or border of an object because, if separated, the parts become faulty and will not work properly. This deficiency imposes the need for considering fabric pins as complement even though in some cases they pose functionality and safety concerns. Additionally, clothespins and fabric clips are not versatile enough and thus not built with the intention of reaching the central areas of the objects or items to be held together. These limitations and drawbacks are overcome with the clip in accordance with the invention described below.


The quality of signals during SDMA is raised.

In wireless communication, it is generally desired that the limited frequency resources be used effectively. In order to effectively utilize the frequency resources, the radio waves of the same frequency are used repeatedly as close in distance as possible, for example. In that case, the communication quality degrades due to the co-channel interference from the neighboring base station apparatuses or the like that use the same frequency. One of the techniques to prevent the degradation of communication quality due to the co-channel interference is adaptive array antenna technology. In the adaptive array antenna technology, the signals received by a plurality of antennas, respectively, are weighted with different weighting factors and then combined together. For example, the weighting factors are adaptively updated in such a manner as to reduce the error between a signal to be referred to and the combined signal.
To adaptively update the weighting factors, adaptive algorithms, such as RLS (Recursive Least Squares) algorithm and LMS (Least Mean Squares) algorithm, are used. There are also cases where the weighting factors are calculated based on the response factors in a channel between a transmitting side to a receiving side. There are also cases where a radio apparatus equipped with an adaptive array antenna technology derives transmitting weight factors based on the weighting factors and response factors derived from the received signals and then the signals to be transmitted are transmitted after having weighted with said transmitting weighting factors. In this manner, in the adaptive array antenna technology the desired components are extracted from the received and the directivity at the time of transmitting the signals is adjusted, so that the degradation of the communication quality due to the co-channel interference can be prevented (See Patent Document 1, for instance).    [Patent Document 1] International Publication WO00/079702 Pamphlet.
The multiple access technique utilizing the adaptive array antenna technique is space division multiple access (SDMA) or path division multiple access (PDMA). In a base station apparatus using SDMA, a time slot in the same frequency is spatially divided in plurality, based on the adaptive array antenna technique, for example, and the radio channels associated respectively with the divided spaces are allotted to terminal apparatuses. In this manner, said base station apparatus transmits data to the terminal apparatuses to which the radio channels have been allotted.
Under these circumstances, the inventors of the present invention came to recognize the following problems to be solved. In a case where the intensity difference of signals received respectively from a plurality of terminal apparatuses multiplexed by SDMA is large or in a case where spatial correlation values of a plurality of terminal apparatuses multiplexed by SDMA are large, there are cases where the base station apparatus cannot achieve sufficient spatial separation of a plurality of terminal apparatuses. For the former case, this is because a plurality of signals, having difference greater than the difference between the maximum signal intensity and the minimum signal intensity, in the antenna directivity realized by the receiving weight vectors exceed a separation limit achievable by the adaptive array. Also, in a case where difference in power among a plurality of terminal apparatuses is large, the signal of a user in the side of small power may be hidden behind those in the side of larger power or enough dynamic range cannot be obtained, so that the user signals will not be estimated accurately.
For the latter case, this is because the arrival angles of signals transmitted from a plurality of terminal apparatuses are close to one other. Even in a case when the signals received from a plurality of apparatuses are separated according to the directions, there are cases where no correspondence is established between the respective signals thus separated and a plurality of terminals. That is, it is difficult to establish correspondence between the terminal apparatuses and the arrival directions of signals or the receiving weight vectors. Further, since the transmission processing is carried out based on the above receiving processing, the incompleteness of spatial separation in a plurality of terminals at the time of receiving will affect the transmission performance.

Channel allocation method for allocating channels to terminal apparatuses to be communicated and base station apparatus utilizing the same

Abstract: In an uplink, a signal processing unit receives signals respectively from a plurality of terminal apparatuses which have been multiple-accessed by division of time. It derives receiving channel characteristics corresponding to the plurality of terminal apparatuses, respectively, for each time slot. In a downlink, the signal processing unit derives transmitting channel characteristics from the receiving channel characteristics derived and, based on the transmitting channel characteristics derived, it transmits signals respectively to the plurality of terminal apparatuses to which SDMA has been performed. In the downlink, a control unit allocates channels to the plurality of terminal apparatuses, respectively, in a manner that the plurality of terminal apparatuses are multiple-accessed by SDMA; and in the uplink it allocates channels to the plurality of terminal apparatuses, respectively, in a manner that the plurality of terminal apparatuses are multiple-accessed by TDMA.


The present invention relates to a method for preparing graphene from a biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase, which includes: soaking a base substance into an ethanol solution of a biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase; after a certain period of time, taking out and drying the base substance, a layer of biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase film being attached to the surface of the base substance; subjecting the base substance to a heat treatment under the protection of a hydrogen atmosphere, then a stacked graphene film was formed on the surface of the base substance; and further subjecting the base substance to ultrasonic dispersion in an alcohol solvent to separate the graphene film and the base substance, then a graphene alcohol was formed. The preparation process of the present invention is easy to implement. The raw material biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase has abundant sources and is low in cost. The preparation process has low energy consumption, and is applicable to mass production. The obtained graphene film and graphene alcohol can be used in solar cells, nano-electronic devices, sensors, and so on, and have broad market prospects.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the technical field of advanced materials, and particularly to a method for preparing graphene from a biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase.
2. Description of Related Arts
Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of a two-dimensional carbon atom crystal and shapes like a hexagonal honeycomb. It is considered to be the basic structural element of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphite: if decomposed, the graphene becomes a zero-dimensional fullerene; if curled up, the graphene becomes a seamless hollow tube, namely, a one-dimensional nanotube; and if stacked in a parallel way, the graphene becomes three-dimensional bulk graphite. Since the discovery of the single-layer graphene in 2004, with a series of good physical and chemical properties such as its unique optical property, outstanding thermal conductivity and mechanical property, and extraordinary electron conduction performance, graphene has attracted wide attention and great interests of scientists.
Current graphene preparation methods mainly include mechanical exfoliation, epitaxial growth on SiC or metal substrates, graphite oxide reduction, chemical vapor deposition, and the like. In mechanical exfoliation, graphene wafers are repeatedly exfoliated from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite through a transparent photoresist. The method has a small yield, is low in production efficiency and poor in repeatability, and is limited to the production in laboratory only. By means of epitaxial growth on SiC, large-area and high-quality graphene wafers can be prepared, but the preparation conditions require high temperature and high vacuum, which results in high costs of raw materials and process control. The chemical vapor deposition uses carbon-containing compounds as a carbon source, decomposes the carbon source on the metal base at a high temperature, and deposits the decomposed carbon source on the surface of the base; the obtained graphene wafer is spliced by small sized graphene flakes, and the presence of crystal boundary affects the performance of graphene.
According to the research on the prior art documents, the Patent Publication No. CN 102409399A discloses a method for preparing high-quality graphene, in which a graphene wafer formed by opening single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes is used as a seed crystal, and by means of chemical vapor deposition, graphene is grown on the substrate surface with the seed crystal as a core. This method prepares a large-scale and low-defect graphene material, but uses an expensive raw material, namely the carbon nanotube, which is also short of sources. Besides, the carbon nanotubes need to be opened through ion etching or chemical oxidization to form graphene as a seed crystal, which increases the complexity of the experiment process.
The Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 1421477A discloses a method for preparing an optically anisotropic carbonaceous mesophase by using a biomass resource material and waste thereof as raw materials and performing a serious of processing thereon. The biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase has abundant sources, is cheap and environmental-friendly, and is applicable to mass industrial production. Moreover, different from the carbonaceous mesophase produced with petroleum and coal as raw materials, the biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase has a larger inter-layer spacing. There have been a lot of reports about the preparation of graphite from the carbonaceous mesophase produced with petroleum and coal as raw materials, so the biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase can be used as a precursor to prepare graphene.

Method for preparing graphene from biomass-derived carbonaceous mesophase

SHANGHAI SWITCHDIY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A vacuum tight reaction vessel for steel processing has a vessel bottom and a cover that can be placed vacuum-tightly on the vessel bottom. The cover has a packing gland as a vacuum-tight passage. The packing gland includes a packing gland housing fixedly connected to the cover, a packing gland seal, and a packing gland passage for guiding a blast pipe that is vertically movable relative to the cover. A lateral compensator connects the packing gland passage to the packing gland housing and allows lateral movements of the packing gland passage relative to the packing gland housing.

The invention relates to a vacuum tight reaction vessel for steel processing, comprising a vessel bottom and a cover that can be placed thereon in a vacuum tight manner. The cover comprises a vacuum tight passage, that is embodied in the manner of a packing gland with a packing gland housing fixedly connected to the cover, a packing gland seal, and a packing gland passage, for guiding a blast pipe that is vertically movable relative to the cover.
Reaction vessels having the aforementioned features are known in practice for steel processing. For moving the blast pipe, guided through the packing gland into the interior of the vessel, a support with a carriage displaceably arranged thereat and a coordinated drive unit is, in general, provided at the cover of the vessel whereby the blast pipe is supported. A coordinated drive unit is provided This arrangement has the disadvantage, respectively, results in the problem that due to imprecise manufacturing dimensions as well as due to thermal loading of the components during operation, tolerances result which impede a straight and thus friction-reduced and easy movement of the blast pipe through the packing gland. The result is that, due to the high movement resistance, the blast pipe upon passage through the packing gland, when the driving power of the carriage is too high, is bent or that the carriage drive cannot provide sufficient power to overcome the moving resistance.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve a vacuum tight reaction vessel with the aforementioned features such that in all operation positions a secure and easy movement of the blast pipe through the packing gland is achieved.

Vacuum tight reaction vessel for steel processing with a packing gland

Technometal Gesellschaft fur Metalltechnologie mbH


A novel automatic tree waterer is provided herein. It is adapted to be connected to a stand which holds a tree, e.g. a Christmas tree, in an upright position. The waterer includes a hollow support base and a hollow two-piece body section. The lower body section is assembled to the support base by means of a slide coupled lip/coupling support lip to be airtight and watertight. The upper body section is assembled to the lower body section by means of male/female threads to be airtight and watertight. The upper body includes a male threaded upper neck. A hat including an inner well with interlock threads is assembled to the upper body by means of the male/female threads to be airtight and watertight. A water outlet is provided from the interior of the body section. A flow controller unit is connected to the water outlet to close the water outlet to enable filling the interior of the hollow two-piece section with water. A hose is adapted to be connected between the flow controller and the stand which holds the tree. Once the flow of water is commenced, a cyclic automatic flow of water ensues. The water will not flow unless air is allowed to enter through the tube. Thus, when the end of the tube is submerged in water, no water can flow.

(i) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stand assembly for a Christmas tree or the like. More particularly, it relates to such a stand assembly including a stand to hold the tree and a container for a supply of water whereby a live tree, or a cut tree, or a cut portion of a tree (e.g. a cut-off limb or tip) can be irrigated with water. It should be understood that "water" is meant here to include nutrient, preservative, and fire-retardant solutions as well as plain water.
(ii) Description of the Prior Art
Many Christmas tree stands and holders have been provided by the prior art. Some of such stands come apart for storage, and many of them held some water in a cavity or cup around the bottom of the severed tree portion. Some trees can absorb as much as a couple of quarts of water daily, and keeping them irrigated is thought to be very desirable.
There, thus, exists a need for automatically watering such trees so that they may be left unattended for long periods of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,453,401 patented May 1, 1923 by M. W. Mattson, attempted to solve this problem by providing a plant waterer which included a water receptacle provided with an annular series of outlet openings adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. A single common closure was provided for all of the openings, which was insertable and openable from the top of the receptacle for completely or partially closing communication through the opening. Individual closing means are provided for each of the openings. The aim of that device was to provide a device which would simultaneously irrigate a plurality of plants without any attention from the user and to provide a portable plant waterer which may be conveniently handled and which will dispense the water in any desired volume and in a concentrated jet to prevent splashing or displacement of the water. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,134 patented Aug. 19, 1975 by H. B. Larson, attempted to solve this problem by providing an automatic watering device which was said to be able to apply water to potted plants after a predetermined and adjustable interval of time. The invention included a relatively large container that was filled with a quantity of water sufficient to irrigate the plants. The container had a relatively small discharge opening to avoid substantial evaporation therefrom and was supported for pivotal movement about an axis that was displaced from the centre of gravity or balance point of the container. There was thus a tipping moment on the container which tended to tip the container to a water discharging position. For counter balancing such tipping moment, a lever arm extended from the container. Secured to the lever arm remote from the container was a relatively small container or dish. The volume of the small container and the distance from the pivot axis were such that when the small container was filled with a pre-determined amount of water it would counteract the tipping moment and retain the large container in an upright position. The small container or dish had a large opening so that the water therein was subject to evaporation. When the water evaporated to an extent that the weight thereof was insufficient to maintain the large container in an upright position, the main container tipped and discharged water into a potted plant disposed therebelow. The interval between the time the apparatus was set up and the time it discharged the water was adjustable. Such adjustability could be achieved by regulating the amount of water introduced into the small container or dish or by adjusting the position of such dish along the lever arm. However, such device was complex and was unsuitable to provide for the water of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,934 patented Dec. 6, 1977 by L. L. Scaggs, attempted to solve this problem by providing an automatic water tender which was said to be able to water a plant in accordance with the amount of moisture which had evaporated or had been transpired from the plant. The apparatus comprised a support base upon which a horizontal pivot shaft was pivotally mounted. A cantilever platform was rigidly mounted to the pivot shaft and a counter weight was mounted to the pivot shaft opposite to the cantilever platform. A plant container was supported by the cantilever platform, which contained the plant to be watered. The plant container on the platform was counter-balanced about the pivot shaft by the counter weight. A fluid reservoir was mounted on the support base in an elevated position with respect to the plant container. A valve means was mounted on the fluid reservoir and was operatively connected to the pivot shaft, for controllably conducting fluid from the reservoir to the plant container in response to the pivotal motion which the pivot shaft undergoes when the counter weight overbalances the platform. In this manner, the plant in the container was automatically watered after a predetermined loss of weight of water by the plant through evaporation and plant transpiration. However, such device was complicated in structure, relied upon a valve means and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,608 patented Oct. 24, 1978 by E. MacLeod, attempted to solve this problem by providing a moisture responsive liquid metering device for use in controlling the amount of liquid delivered to a given location according to the moisture level at that location. The device included a flexible tube through which the liquid flows from one location to another as from a container of water to a potted plant. A valving device comprised of a wooden tubular sleeve and an elongated valve core are provided for opening and closing the tube in a squeezing action. The valve core was provided with an opening at one end through which the tube was threaded in close proximity to one end of the wooden sleeve which was substantially coextensive with the core. The device was planted in soil, for example, and when the soil was damp, the moisture caused the wooden sleeve to expand to pinch the tubing shut. As the soil dried out the sleeve contracted, releasing pressure on the tube and allowing water to flow. However, such device was complicated in structure, relied upon a valve means, and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Watering systems have also been provided for use in systems commonly referred to as "hydroponic systems" wherein a plant root system is mechanically supported in an inert medium while the plant is fed a nutrient solution consisting of metered amounts of an exact formulation.
Such prior watering systems have utilized pumps in an attempt to deliver the proper amount of nutrient to the plant which are controlled by timing circuits so as to deliver only a required amount of nutrient solution at proper intervals. While such operations may be suitable for commercial operations, such are not suitable for the average individual as they are costly and require rather sophisticated installations. Other systems have sought to utilize wick feeding of the nutrient solution but a problem arises in that much of the nutrient is filtered out in the wick, and cannot furnish nutrient solution fast enough to large plants. None of these systems were adaptable for the watering of Christmas trees.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,155 patented Apr. 10, 1979 by D. J. Allen, provided a system and apparatus for growing plants in a nutrient solution while they were supported in an inert medium contained in a pot container. The system included a nutrient solution reservoir and automatic feeder apparatus for maintaining a predetermined level of nutrient solution in the container. A tube member having an open end was connected to the reservoir and was carried a predetermined distance above the container bottom for dispensing the solution. An air vent communicated with the tube member allowing air to enter the reservoir in response to the level of nutrient solution in the container falling below the open end of the tube member as the solution was drawn by capillary action through the media into the roots. The nutrient solution flowed into the container until the open end of the feeder tube was covered so as continuously to maintain the level of nutrient solution. An overflow opening drains excess liquid from the pot prevented overwater and stagnation when used outdoors. However, such device required an open access to the atmosphere, thereby being uneconomical in liquid usage and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,836 patented Sep. 29, 1981 by W. Chen-Hsiung, provided apparatus for intermittently supplying a predetermined quantity of water at regular, predetermined intervals. Such patented apparatus included a water tank for accumulating and storing water and water feeding means and inlet valve means. Float-actuated valve means were provided within the water tank. A down pipe was connected to the water tank and terminated in a tapered tube. A siphon tube was provided from the water tank terminating in a tapered tube which extended together with the tapered tube of the down pipe into a venturi outlet. An ejector tube extended downwardly from the venturi outlet. However, such device required a float operated valve means and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Watering systems have also been provided for irrigating plants, particularly for hydroponics and hanging plants for propagating plants. Earlier devices for watering hanging plants or for hydroponic irrigation have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,076 to Merrill described a watering device for house plant containers that utilized a hand pump mechanism. A bulb was used to pump air into a liquid-containing chamber. This forced liquid into the bottom of a tube for flow upwardly into gravel. However, such device required a pump and a valve and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,383,368 to Ambrose disclosed a flower pot that included a filling tube which allowed manual watering a plant from the top. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the automatic watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,311 to Marchant disclosed a hydroponic irrigation valve and system. A control valve with an inlet port allowed liquid to pass into or from the container. However, such device required a valve means and thus was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
In addition, hanging plant waterers are known which comprise a flexible container and a rigid, cone-shaped tube. The bottom of the tube extended through the top of the container to the bottom of the container. Water was forced up the tube to the downwardly curved upper end to water the plant when the container was manually squeezed. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the automatic watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,983 patented May 15, 1984 by J. Shirada, provided an apparatus for irrigating plants. Such patented apparatus included a planter having a container for a growing medium. A liquid reservoir was disposed below the container. Openings were provided between the reservoir and the container, permitting a flow of liquid from the reservoir to the container. A filler conduit communicated with the reservoir. A float chamber was near the top of the reservoir. A float chamber conduit extended from the reservoir to the float chamber. A normally closed air valve was operatively connected to a float in the float chamber so the float opened the valve when liquid from the reservoir rose in the float chamber. An air conduit was connected to the valve so pressurized air from the air conduit was discharged when the valve opened. A closed liquid container was normally positioned below the planter. A liquid conduit communicated with the insides of the container near the bottom thereof and was connected to the filler conduit. An air pump was also provided for pressurizing the liquid container. However, such device required air under pressure and an air pump and therefore was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,446 provided an irrigation method which utilized part of the liquid being supplied for irrigation to generate air pressure or vacuum which operated a diaphragm valve that shut off flow whenever air was unable to pass through a porous sensor in the soil because the soil contained adequate moisture to fill the pores in the sensor. Air must flow through the sensor continuously while irrigation was in progress and, only after air flow was stopped, the energy of the irrigating liquid under the pull of gravity is used mechanically to stop liquid flow. However, such device, by requiring continuous air flow, was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,937, issued Mar. 30, 1982, operated on the principle whereby a valve device used the pressure of air entrapped in a passage between an upper liquid supply container and counter-balancing liquid retained lower in the passage to prevent outflow of liquid from the container until air was released by a control device which detected the need for moisture in a zone of liquid use. The released air was replaced by liquid which initiated outflow by rising in a column of increasing weight and pressure which acted to oppose and overcome the pressure of the entrapped air and counterbalancing liquid which had been preventing outflow of liquid from the container. Liquid then flowed out until the container was empty, after which it refilled from a liquid source through a restricted conduit or other flow-limiting means. Restricting inflow ensured that, once outflow had started, the container emptied faster than it refilled, allowing air to become entrapped in the passage after each flow cycle to prevent further outflow from the container until the control device again releases air. However, such device, by requiring trapped air in water flow passages, was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,937, issued Mar. 30, 1982, utilized an additional, secondary portion of counterbalancing liquid, which was not expelled by moderate fluctuations in supply level, but was expelled by a rise in the flow-triggering column of liquid when air escaped through the detector. When the secondary portion of liquid is expelled, it triggered outflow from the container. However, such device, by requiring the escape of entrapped air, was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,762 patented Sep. 24, 1985 by B. M. Littlehale, provided an automatic liquid delivery apparatus which employed no moving parts and required no external source of energy except gravity to operate. It dispensed liquid from a constantly available source, which was open to the atmosphere, to a receiver or zone requiring liquid in response to a detector which was located in the zone and initiated discharge of the liquid. The apparatus included a valve device which retained liquid against discharge from a container or supply by air pressure confined in a space in a passage. The valve device delivered liquid through the passage when air in the space was released by a control device. The control device was a detecting mechanism or other automatic operating element. The detecting mechanism can sense the moisture level in soil, in liquid, in roots growing in moist air, in plant tissues or any other location where moisture differentials can be detected. However, such device, by requiring a valve device and a central mechanism was complicated and was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
There have been many prior inventions concerning the better watering and/or feeding of plants in containers and also for the watering of cut flowers in a vase even for their limited times of enjoyment. By way of example, Charles E. Reynolds in U.S. Pat. No. 1,842,687, described a structure for automatically dispensed water from a container which was placed in a vase among cut flowers. The principle utilized was: water will not flow from an airtight receptacle unless air was admitted thereto. When a level of water in a vase or pot, or other container dropped to the bottom of an air tube depending from the receptacle, air was permitted to pass up into the receptacle, and water or other liquid is discharged from the tube or from other means, until the level of the water in the container again rose to cover the bottom of the air tube, thereby shutting off the flow of air and water and/or other liquid. However, the structure of such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Hermann Rohling in U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,575 described a structure for a root controlled watering device utilizing this same principle in several other embodiments of apparatus, some of which were connected to irrigation supply systems to replenish the water tanks, i.e. the receptacle. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Gary G. Bates, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,352, provided a device for watering trees and plants, which delivered water to root locations, when the roots were soon to be dry, utilizing this same principle, wherein water was held in a receptacle until the water seal below ground level was broken, allowing air to reach the space above the water in the receptacle and eliminate the vacuum. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Hermann Rohling provided another watering device in U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,205 which was a structure for the proper watering of potted plants using small size apparatus having no moving parts. Over a period of time, the water evaporated from the soil and/or was absorbed by the roots of the plant. Thus, the water level in the pot lowered below the bottom opened end of a tube, thereby allowing air to flow through the soil and into the tube and subsequently into the container, i.e. receptacle. Thereby the vacuum was relieved, causing water to flow again, until a subsequent equilibrium was reached. Although that apparatus was small and had no moving parts, many especially formed components were assembled to complete the watering device. However, such device was complicated and thus unreliable in operation, and thus was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Donavan J. Allen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,155, provided a system for automatically feeding plants, wherein water and/or a plant food nutrient flowed out of a receptacle, until the sufficient quantity of such liquid in the soil, sealed off the bottom vent opening, i.e. bottom of an inserted tube. Bottles were used as reservoirs or receptacles. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,897 patented Apr. 1, 1986 by R. A. Pazar provided a plant watering and/or feeding unit which automatically and periodically dispensed water as needed. As assembled, an air tube extended essentially throughout the central length of a selected plastic bottle and beyond the otherwise sealed cap entry of this plastic bottle for insertion of the extending, first heat sealed then partially cut opened, air tube end, down through the soil without being blocked by any entering soil, to contact the bottom of the earth filled plant container. A liquid orifice was located in the plastic bottle in its shoulder about midway between the entry and the side of the bottle. During plant watering and/or feeding cycles, liquid dripped from the liquid orifice in the shoulder, until the water table in soil i.e. the liquid level in the soil, rose above the end of the partially opened air tube to seal off the entry of air. Then the dripping of liquid stopped, until this liquid level dropped below the end of the partially opened air tube. With the liquid seal broken once again the vacuum volume above the liquid level in the bottle became a pressure air volume, and liquid dripped out the orifice and into the soil. This cycle continued until the prefilled volume of watering and/or feeding liquid was depleted. In this patent an aperture was provided whereby air flowed into the bottle when the water level dropped below the opening, thereby allowing water to exit via another hole in the shoulder of the bottle. However, such device was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,224 patented Mar. 31, 1987 by E. C. Weckesser, provided a Christmas tree irrigating device for supplying water to an open cup around the base of such tree. The device comprised a tree-holding stand section having a cavity for receiving the base of a severed tree or portion of a tree. The cavity was capable of retaining an initial volume of water in contact with the base. A container was adjustable as to elevation for holding a reserve volume of water for the cavity but apart therefrom. A flexible water conduit interconnected a volume of water in the cavity with a volume of water in the container. The stand section subcombination included an inlet tube integral with or separatable from the water cavity in the stand, the tube reaching near to the bottom of said cavity. The reserve container and conduit included a container with a flexible conduit for water leading therefrom, and the other end of the conduit has a fastener for attachment to the tree base or to the stand. However, such device was complex in structure and complicated in operation and thus was not practically suitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
There are many types of automatic plant watering apparatus systems which are actuated in response to water loss by the plants. However, these apparatus suffer from a number of disadvantages such as, for example, they require complex mechanism to operate and they are difficult to install in that a variety of complex apparatus are required to assemble them. Furthermore, they are provided with an elevated water reservoir with a spring loaded valve therein which is actuated by the loss of weight of water by the plants in a container supported by the spring. Since the springs lose their strength as the temperature increases, plants are frequently overwatered on hot days.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,666 patented Aug. 2, 1988 by J. Han, provided a watering device for plants which included a plant container which was balanced on a horizontal pivot rod by an adjusting weight member. A water reservoir tank was operatively associated with the plant container so that as the plant container became lighter as to a loss of water, the adjusting weight member disposed at the opposite end of the horizontal pivot rod from the plant container actuated a valve in the water reservoir tank and transferred water from the water reservoir tank to the plant container until a balance is again achieved. When the balance was reached, the valve in the water tank is again closed. However, such device, in requiring a valve mechanism, was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,029 patented Jul. 18, 1989 by J. Han, provided a watering device for plants which included horizontal parallel pivot rods and a plant container which was balanced on one of the horizontal pivot rods by an adjusting weight member slidably disposed at the other horizontal pivot rod. A water reservoir tank is operatively associated with the plant container so that as the plant container became lighter as to a loss of water, the adjusting weight member operatively associated with the plant container actuated a valve in the water reservoir tank through a transfer member mounted to a third one of horizontal parallel pivot rods and transfer water from the water reservoir tank to the plant container until a balance was again achieved, and when the balance is reached, the valve in the water tank is again closed. However, such device, by requiring valve means was complicated and thus was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.
Canadian Patent No. 881,224 patented Sep. 21, 1971 by H. Simon et al, provided a water container or receptacle having at least one porous body with open pores, provided below the water level and extending through one wall of the receptacle into an area which is to be watered, the porous body being secured in the wall of the container and open at both sides of this wall at least at its ends. A constant, slow, controlled water flow from the water receptacle to the material or plant area which was to be watered took place via the porous body. For irrigating larger sized areas such as flower-beds it was expedient to use a water receptacle the bottom of which is connected to a water pipe preferably made of plastic material leading from the receptacle to the flower bed. Porous bodies may protrude laterally along the length of the pipe to maintain a water flow connection from the water to receptacle to the area to be watered. However, such device, by requiring a complicated porous body which could be unreliable, was unsuitable to provide for the watering of a Christmas tree, i.e. a cut tree, so that it would not dry out and hence become a fire hazard.


Hosting user interface controls in a window via an interface for controlling the window is disclosed. One aspect of the invention is a computerized system having an operating system and at least one program. The operating system provides for hosting controls of a predetermined type within windows of a predetermined type via an interface for controlling the windows. The programs utilize the interface to host one or more controls within one or more windows. Thus, with respect to versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system, a program may utilize the WIN32 API (i.e., interface) to host ACTIVEX-type controls within windows hosted by the program, also via the WIN32 API.

Graphical user interfaces have become standard fare on most computers sold today. For example, versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system provide a graphical user interface in which a pointer is positionable over windows on a screen via an input device such as a mouse or a trackball. Clicking a button on the input device when the pointer is positioned over a given feature of the window, such as a control, registers with the program hosting the window, such that the program performs a given functionality associated with the control. For example, moving the pointer over a "save" button in a window hosted by a word processing program, and clicking a button on the input device, typically causes the word processing program to save the current file to a storage device (such as a hard disk drive).
While graphical user interfaces may offer computer users great advantages in ease of use and productivity as compared to traditional text-only user interfaces, they make program development more difficult for computer programmers. A computer programmer, for example, must not only be concerned with programming the given functionality of a computer program, but also with providing for windows, and controls within those windows, so that users can access the functionality. Typically, this means that the programmer must be well-versed in writing programs that operate within a given operating system, such as versions of MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems. Using the WIN32 application programming interface (API), for example, the programmer is able to have an application program host windows, and host rudimentary controls within those windows (e.g., dialog boxes, check boxes, buttons, text-entry fields, etc.).
A programmer does not have a vast number of different controls with the WIN32 API, however, to utilize when developing a computer program. The programmer is then usually left with having to create user interface controls himself or herself for inclusion into the computer program. Development of user interface controls, however, is a tedious and time-consuming endeavor. Furthermore, many programmers that may be skilled in other areas of program development (e.g., such as a database expert), may not be similarly skilled in developing user interface controls.
Various technologies have been developed in an attempt to remedy this potential problem. ACTIVEX controls are currently being utilized with desktop-oriented application programs in the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system. ACTIVEX controls are known within the art, and are described in Adam Denning, ActiveX Controls Inside Out (ISBN 1-57231-350-1) (1997), and David Chappell, Understanding ActiveX and OLE (ISBN 1-57231-216-5) (1996), both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. For example, in the Chappell book, on page 205, is states that qualifying as an ActiveX control (OLE Controls technology was renamed ActiveX Controls) requires only support for the IUnknown interface and the ability to self-register with the system registry. Using ACTIVEX controls that have already been created means that computer programmers do not have to "reinvent the wheel"—that is, they do not have to create controls that have been already created by others.
However, for many programmers normally accustomed to only the WIN32 API, using ACTIVEX controls in MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system-intended programs is not straightforward. A programmer may, for example, have to write original "container code," so that the ACTIVEX control may be hosted within a window via the container code. Again, many programmers may not be experienced in creation of such container code. Furthermore, hosting ACTIVEX controls within application program windows may require the programmer to have experience in Component Object Model (COM) objects, which the programmer may not have. COM is known within the art, and is described in Dale Rogerson, Inside COM (ISBN 1-57231-349-8) (1997), which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thus, even if having access to a large number of ACTIVEX controls, a programmer may still not be able to easily include them in a given computer program under development.
A limited solution to this problem is provided by the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC). ACTIVEX controls may be accessible through MFC for programmers who use the computer language C++ to develop computer programs. a significant disadvantage is presented to those programmers who do not utilize C++ to develop programs. That is, because MFC is typically not accessible except through C++, a computer programmer without such knowledge may find himself or herself still unable to utilize existing ACTIVEX user interface controls within computer programs the Again, however, programmer may be developing.
There is a need, therefore, for permitting computer programmers to include ACTIVEX controls in their programs in an easy-to-understand and straightforward fashion. That is, there is a need for permitting computer programmers to include ACTIVEX controls in their programs without having to resort to COM, or MFC (via C++). Ideally, a programmer should be able to include ACTIVEX controls in a computer program using precepts and constructs already familiar to him or her.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hosting controls in a window via an interface for controlling the window


A tape-roll supporting device consists of a shaft, a threaded tube and two side covers. The shaft is to be assembled on a machine body and the threaded tube is rotatably fitted around the outer side of the shaft for fitting and positioning thereon a tape roll of different widths. The two side covers are respectively bored with a threaded hole in the center to be threadably combined with the opposite ends of the threaded tube. The two side covers can be rotatably adjusted in position to closely clamp the tape roll fitted on the threaded tube between them, enabling a tape roll of different widths to be steadily fitted and positioned thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape-roll supporting device, particularly to one able to steadily receive thereon a tape roll of different widths.
2. Field of the Invention
A conventional tape-roll supporting device for receiving a tape roll, such as a label-tape roll, a packaging-strap roll or an adhesive-tape roll, includes a shaft and two side covers. The two side covers are respectively fixed with the opposite ends of the shaft and form an interval of a fixed width between them. Thus, a tape roll fitted around the shaft can be restricted in position by the two side covers.
However, the distance between the two side covers of the conventional tape-roll supporting device is fixed and impossible to be adjusted so only a specific-sized tape roll can be fitted therebetween.