A method of separating ions includes providing a FAIMS analyzer region for separating ions, the FAIMS analyzer region in fluid communication with an ionization source and with an ion detecting device. The method further includes affecting a gas composition within a first portion of the FAIMS analyzer region to be different from a gas composition within a second portion of the FAIMS analyzer region. The establishment of a gas composition gradient within the FAIMS analyzer region enhances ion focusing and ion transport efficiency.

High sensitivity and amenability to miniaturization for field-portable applications have helped to make ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) an important technique for the detection of many compounds, including narcotics, explosives, and chemical warfare agents as described, for example, by G. Eiceman and Z. Karpas in their book entitled "Ion Mobility Spectrometry" (CRC, Boca Raton, 1994), the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. In IMS, gas-phase ion mobilities are determined using a drift tube with a constant electric field. Ions are separated in the drift tube on the basis of differences in their drift velocities. At low electric field strength, for example 200 V/cm, the drift velocity of an ion is proportional to the applied electric field strength, and the mobility, K, which is determined from experimentation, is independent of the applied electric field. Additionally, in IMS the ions travel through a bath gas that is at sufficiently high pressure that the ions rapidly reach constant velocity when driven by the force of an electric field that is constant both in time and location. This is to be clearly distinguished from those techniques, most of which are related to mass spectrometry, in which the gas pressure is sufficiently low that, if under the influence of a constant electric field, the ions continue to accelerate.
E. A. Mason and E. W. McDaniel in their book entitled "Transport Properties of Ions in Gases" (Wiley, New York, 1988), the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, teach that at high electric field strength, for instance fields stronger than approximately 5,000 V/cm, the ion drift velocity is no longer directly proportional to the applied electric field, and K is better represented by KH, a non-constant high field mobility term. The dependence of KH on the applied electric field has been the basis for the development of high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS). Ions are separated in FAIMS on the basis of a difference in the mobility of an ion at high field strength, KH, relative to the mobility of the ion at low field strength, K. In other words, the ions are separated due to the compound dependent behavior of KH as a function of the applied electric field strength.
In general, a device for separating ions according to the FAIMS principle has an analyzer region that is defined by a space between first and second spaced-apart electrodes. The first electrode is maintained at a selected dc voltage, often at ground potential, while the second electrode has an asymmetric waveform V(t) applied to it. The asymmetric waveform V(t) is composed of a repeating pattern including a high voltage component, VH, lasting for a short period of time tH and a lower voltage component, VL, of opposite polarity, lasting a longer period of time tL. The waveform is synthesized such that the integrated voltage-time product, and thus the field-time product, applied to the second electrode during each complete cycle of the waveform is zero, for instance VH tH+VL tL=0; for example +2000 V for 10 μs followed by −1000 V for 20 μs. The peak voltage during the shorter, high voltage portion of the waveform is called the "dispersion voltage" or DV, which is identically referred to as the applied asymmetric waveform voltage.
Generally, the ions that are to be separated are entrained in a stream of gas flowing through the FAIMS analyzer region, for example between a pair of horizontally oriented, spaced-apart electrodes. Accordingly, the net motion of an ion within the analyzer region is the sum of a horizontal x-axis component due to the stream of gas and a transverse y-axis component due to the applied electric field. During the high voltage portion of the waveform, an ion moves with a y-axis velocity component given by vH=KHEH, where EH is the applied field, and KH is the high field ion mobility under operating electric field, pressure and temperature conditions. The distance traveled by the ion during the high voltage portion of the waveform is given by dH=vHtH=KHEHtH, where tH is the time period of the applied high voltage. During the longer duration, opposite polarity, low voltage portion of the asymmetric waveform, the y-axis velocity component of the ion is vL=KEL, where K is the low field ion mobility under operating pressure and temperature conditions. The distance traveled is dL=vLtL=KELtL. Since the asymmetric waveform ensures that (VH tH)+(VL tL)=0, the field-time products EHtH and ELtL are equal in magnitude. Thus, if KH and K are identical, dH and dL are equal, and the ion is returned to its original position along the y-axis during the negative cycle of the waveform. If at EH the mobility KH>K, the ion experiences a net displacement from its original position relative to the y-axis. For example, if a positive ion travels farther during the positive portion of the waveform, for instance dH>dL, then the ion migrates away from the second electrode and eventually will be neutralized at the first electrode.
In order to reverse the transverse drift of the positive ion in the above example, a constant negative dc voltage is applied to the second electrode. The difference between the dc voltage that is applied to the first electrode and the dc voltage that is applied to the second electrode is called the "compensation voltage" (CV). The CV prevents the ion from migrating toward either the second or the first electrode. If ions derived from two compounds respond differently to the applied high strength electric fields, the ratio of KH to K may be different for each compound. Consequently, the magnitude of the CV that is necessary to prevent the drift of the ion toward either electrode is also different for each compound. Thus, when a mixture including several species of ions, each with a unique KH/K ratio, is being analyzed by FAIMS, only one species of ion is selectively transmitted to a detector for a given combination of CV and DV. In one type of FAIMS experiment, the applied CV is scanned with time, for instance the CV is slowly ramped or optionally the CV is stepped from one voltage to a next voltage, and a resulting intensity of transmitted ions is measured. In this way a CV spectrum showing the total ion current as a function of CV, is obtained.
Numerous ionization sources, including atmospheric pressure ionization sources, have been described for use with FAIMS. Some examples of ionization sources include MALDI, ESI, nanoelectrospray, picoelectrospray, APCI, laser desorption chemical ionization, photoionization, corona discharge, as non-limiting examples. In addition, detection of ions using several types of detectors, including mass spectrometry is known. Other examples of post-FAIMS ion processing tools include FAIMS, IMS, ion funnels, as some non-limiting examples. The above-mentioned ionization sources and detectors optionally are further assembled into various tandem arrangements, including ESI-FAIMS-funnel-IMS-funnel-MS, or ESI-FAIMS-FAIMS trap-IMS-funnel-MS, as two very complex but non-limiting examples of tandem instruments with practical importance in chemical analysis.
In an analytical instrument that includes (1) an atmospheric pressure ionization source, such as for example electrospray ionization (ESI), (2) an atmospheric pressure gas phase ion separator, such as for example high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS) and (3) a detection system, such as for example mass spectrometry, (MS) it is advantageous to provide each with independent control of some of the operating conditions including temperature, operating gas pressure, and operating gas composition. In these regards, the ion source, FAIMS and mass spectrometer have significantly different requirements for optimum performance.
The performance of FAIMS for separation of ions may be dependent on temperature. For example an elevation in temperature may cause peaks in a CV spectrum to widen because of an increase in ion diffusion. Under this condition two ions that are separated at room temperature fail to be separated at 100° C., for example. Similarly, two ions that fail to separate at room temperature are separated at 10° C. with cooled FAIMS electrodes, for example.
Furthermore, the efficiency of transmission of ions through FAIMS is a function of temperature. For example, some types of ions are subject to thermal dissociation and therefore are more efficiently transmitted through FAIMS in a cool bath gas.
Furthermore, the separation of ions is a function of the composition of the carrier gas. Some mixtures of gases, including nitrogen plus helium, and helium plus carbon dioxide, as some non-limiting examples, are known to significantly affect the compensation voltage of the transmission of some ions. These mixtures of gases optionally are controlled and selected to separate ions which otherwise are not separated in any one pure type of carrier gas. Prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,360 describes the method and apparatus for improvements in separation and sensitivity in FAIMS, and is included herein by reference. Related patent publications WO 03/067237 and WO 03/067242 describe detection of traces of gases in FAIMS using the shift of CV of a monitor ion, and also are included herein by reference. The CV of the monitor ion shifts because the presence of the trace gas changes the carrier gas composition and therefore changes the optimum conditions for the transmission of the monitor ion.
Furthermore, the separation of ions and the efficiency of ion transmission in the FAIMS analyzer are a function of many mechanical electrode dimensions and a function of many aspects of the voltages and experimental conditions used in FAIMS. For example, the resolution of the separation in FAIMS is a function of the diameters of the electrodes, the width of the analyzer region between the electrodes, the length of time that the ions reside within the analyzer region, the longitudinal location of the inner electrode (domed type electrodes), the frequency of the applied asymmetric waveform, the shape of the asymmetric waveform (square vs two or more superimposed sinusoidal waves), the peak voltage of the asymmetric waveform (DV), as some non-limiting examples. A skilled user of FAIMS adjusts these parameters, and others, to achieve separations.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide control of a number of non-mechanical experimental parameters that impact on the separation of ions, including the temperature of one or both FAIMS electrodes, the pressure of the carrier gas in the FAIMS analyzer, the temperature gradient across the analyzer region of FAIMS, and the composition of the gas mixture used as the carrier gas in the FAIMS analyzer, as some non-limiting examples. These parameters optionally are adjusted independently, or in conjunction with each other, to achieve the performance that is desired.
A method and apparatus for control of the temperature of the ionization source of FAIMS has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,739 and is incorporated herein by reference. The methods and apparatus for independent control of temperatures and pressures of the ion sources and FAIMS systems was first introduced in previously filed U.S. provisional applications 60/536,707 and 60/572,116 which are incorporated by reference herein. In these filings it was shown to be advantageous to design cylindrical FAIMS and parallel plate FAIMS with independent control of temperatures of the two electrodes to permit adjustment of the two electrodes to be at different temperatures, and at temperatures that differ from the average temperature of the carrier gas. Appropriate selection of these temperatures produces temperature gradients in the gas across the analyzer region, to beneficially influence the ion transmission efficiency and the separation of ions during their passage through the analyzer region.
Certain mixtures of carrier gases are known to significantly impact on the performance of FAIMS. Examples of reports in the scientific literature describing this impact include a paper by Barnett, D. A.; Purves, R. W.; Ells, B. Guevremont, R., entitled "Separation of ortho-, meta-, and para-phthalic acids by high-field asymmetric wavefrom ion mobility spectrometry using mixed carrier gases, " in J. Mass Spectrom. 2000, 35, 976-980 and a paper authored by Shvartsburg, A.; Tang, K.; Smith, R. D., entitled "Understanding and designing field asymmetric waveform ion mobility separations in gas mixtures, " in Analytical Chemistry 2004, 76, 7366-7374, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, additions of carbon dioxide (1% to 20% by volume) to a carrier gas of nitrogen increases the CV of transmission and the efficiency of transmission for many low-mass ions, as a non-limiting example.

Apparatus and method for forming a gas composition gradient between FAIMS electrodes


A bendable, washable, watertight key switch assembly is disclosed to include a polymeric flexible top layer made, which has key caps and a conducting member respectively bonded to the inside wall of each key cap, a polymeric flexible bottom layer defining with the flexible top layer an accommodation space, and a thin film circuit board set in the accommodation space and sealed to the flexible top layer and the flexible bottom layer with an adhesive, the thin film circuit board having printed switch contacts corresponding to the conducting members in the key caps for the contact of the associating conducting members to output a corresponding electric signal and a cable electrically connected to the printed switch contacts and extended out of the flexible top layer and the flexible bottom layer at one side for connection to an external electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to key switch assemblies and more particularly, to a watertight key switch assembly, which is bendable and washable with water, and superior in weather-resisting property. The invention relates also to the fabrication of such a watertight key switch assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile digital data playing apparatus, for example, mobile CD/VCD/DVD player or MP3 player has been intensively used by many people as one's mobile personal music-playing device. These digital data playing apparatus are high-precision electronic products. When a digital data playing apparatus is exposed to a high or low temperature environment for a long period of time, the internal electronic component parts may become abnormal, failing to function well. Further, these electronic products are commonly equipped with key switches for operation. However, regular key switches are inferior in waterproof property. When wetted, the electronic components on the inside circuit board may be damaged, resulting in malfunctioning of the product.
There are manufacturers who provide waterproof key switches. Taiwan Patent Publication No. M269556, issued on Jul. 1st, 2005, entitled "Waterproof key switch", shows an example. According to this design, the waterproof key switch comprises a hard key cap, a flexible key switch holder, a hard bottom plate having a plurality of switches, and a hard shell covering the hard bottom plate. The key cap has a plunger downwardly extended from the bottom side thereof and inserted through a through hole on the key switch holder. This design of key switch has a waterproof characteristic. However, when the key switch is dipped in water, water will go through the through hole on the key switch holder to wet the switches, loosing its waterproof capability.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,606 discloses a waterproof key switch design entitled "Waterproof switch with single contact and method for manufacturing same". According to this design, the waterproof switch has a single contact arranged in a sealed housing, with an actuator arm protruding from one end and electrical terminals protruding from an opposite end. The single contact is arranged close to a metal portion that is moved by the actuator into mechanical and electrical contact with the single contact. The sealed housing is formed of two pieces that are attached by a heat activated adhesive. The switch can be assembled by forming the metal switch parts on a long strip and subsequently, following the assembly of the housing, the small metal portions joining the switch parts are sheared away. This design of switch assembly is function and waterproof. However, the hard material property of the housing does not allow bending of the switch assembly, limiting the applicability of the switch assembly. Further, when the switch assembly is mechanically washed with water, the internal parts may be forced out of place, loosing the waterproof capability of the switch assembly.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a watertight key switch assembly that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

Watertight key switch assembly and its fabrication


A high-manganese hot-dip coated steel sheet is disclosed which provides high corrosion resistance, high ductility and high strength, mainly used for inner and outer panels of automobiles, and a method of manufacturing the same. The high-manganese hot-dip coated steel sheet includes a substrate steel sheet having a composition of (in weight %) 0.1 to 1.5% of C, 5 to 35% of Mn, and the remainder includes Fe and other unavoidable impurities, and a hot-dip zinc coating layer formed on the substrate steel sheet, the hot-dip zinc coating layer having a composition of (in weight %) 0.1 to 10% of Mn, 5 to 15% of Fe, and the remainder including Zn and other unavoidable impurities.

Recently, regulation has been deepened on waste gas in automobiles due to the exhaustion of fossil fuels and environmental-related problems. As a result, the reduction of weight in automobile bodies to increase automobile fuel efficiency has come to the fore.
Various kinds of high-strength steel sheets have been developed to accomplish the reduction in weight of automobile bodies. As the strength of the steel sheets increases, however, the steel sheets exhibit low ductility. As a result, the use of the steel sheets to be formed as automobile parts is limited.
Much research has been carried out to epochally solve the reduction in ductility of the high-strength steel sheets. As a result, technologies have been proposed for adding 7 to 35 weight % of Mn to a steel, such that the twin deformation of the steel is maintained when the steel is plastically deformed, thereby considerably improving the ductility of the steel while maintaining high strength of the steel (WO93/013233, JP1992-259325, WO99/001585, and WO02/101109).
Meanwhile, Mn is an element exhibiting high ionization tendency. For this reason, a steel having a high Mn content corrodes more rapidly than general steels.
In order that a steel having a high Mn content may be applied to automobiles, therefore, it is necessary to treat the steel such that the steel has high corrosion resistance.
However, development has not taken place on an optimum coating layer and a hot-dip coating process for providing a high-manganese steel containing approximately 5 to 35 weight % of Mn with high corrosion resistance.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a high-manganese hot-dip coated steel sheet exhibiting high corrosion resistance and high workability as well as high ductility and high strength.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method of hot-dip coating a high-manganese steel sheet to manufacture a high-manganese hot-dip coated steel sheet exhibiting high corrosion resistance and high workability as well as high ductility and high strength.

High Mn steel sheet for high corrosion resistance and method of manufacturing galvanizing the steel sheet


A plasma CVD method uses an electrode array in a reaction chamber, the electrode array including a plurality of inductively coupled electrodes, each electrode being folded back at the center so that each electrode is substantially U-shaped with two parallel straight portions, the electrodes are arranged such that all of the parallel straight portions are arranged parallel to each other in a common plane, each of the electrodes having at least a portion with a diameter of 10 mm or less, and a phase controlled power supply for feeding high frequency power to the feeding portions so as to establish a standing wave of a half wavelength or natural number multiple of a half wavelength between a feeding portion and a folded back portion and between a grounded portion and the folded back portion, and is controlled to have a phase difference between adjacent two feeding portions.

Solar cells have been noted and expected as a clean energy source, but their cost reduction is indispensable for their spread. It has, therefore, been earnestly desired to provide an apparatus to deposit high quality a-Si film with uniform thickness distribution over large-area substrate at a high throughput.
To deposit thin films such as a-Si film, a parallel-plate (or capacitively coupled type plasma CVD apparatus has been widely used. In this case, the film can be formed on only the surface of one substrate facing the electrode plate. For this reason, to simultaneously deposit films on two substrates in a deposition chamber, the film can be formed at most on both substrates by arranging two electrodes in the chamber forming two discharge regions. There is also an idea of multi-zone deposition system where the number of discharge regions is further increased. However, it is practically very difficult to realize this system because the system has disadvantages due to its complex structure and low maintainability.
In addition, large area solar cells having a desired characteristic can be hardly manufactured since the film thickness uniformity is seriously lowered with the increase in the size of the substrates.
A variety of investigations have been made to observe plasma with uniform density over large area substrates in order to deposit thin films with uniform thickness distribution. However, it is very difficult for the parallel-plate type electrode system to generate uniform plasma over a large area substrate as the electrode becomes large with the substrate. This is attributed to the essential difficulties of the parallel-plate type electrode system, as will be mentioned below.
First, this system requires a precise arrangement of two electrode plates with a prescribed distance all over the electrodes to generate plasma with uniform density, which is practically difficult as the substrate becomes large.
In addition, as the electrodes are enlarged, standing waves tend to appear on the electrode surfaces, which causes non-uniformity of plasma density. This non-uniform plasma distribution becomes more noticeable when higher frequencies such as in the VHF band is employed. For these reasons, the upper limit of the substrate size has been thought to be, for example, 0.3 m×0.3 m when the high frequency of 80 MHz is employed (U. Kroll et al. and Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol, 557 (1999), p121-126).
Under such a circumstance, other type of plasma CVD method using inductively coupled type electrodes has been proposed. This method is absolutely different in the mechanism for maintaining the discharge from the capacitively coupled type plasma CVD method. This method does not require precise arrangement of electrodes, and high-density plasma can be obtained using the excitation frequency in the VHF band which is advantageous for depositing high quality a-Si film at high deposition rate. The plasma CVD apparatus using inductively coupled type electrodes are exemplified in Japanese Patent Laid-Open 4-236781 that employs a ladder-shaped electrode and in Japanese Patent No. 2785442 that employs a zigzagged-folded electrode.
During the investigations on a variety of inductively coupled electrodes including the above-mentioned electrodes, the present inventors have found that as the inductively coupled electrodes such as the ladder-shaped or zigzag-folded electrodes become larger, the current flowing on the electrodes tends to vary with the positions and standing waves appear at unexpected positions. In short, it was found difficult to create uniform plasma to cope with the large area substrates so far as the electrode structures of the prior art are employed.
Accordingly, the present inventors carried out fundamental investigations on the plasma homogenization using the inductively coupled electrodes and developed several electrode structures that positively utilize the standing waves which caused the uniformity to deteriorate in the prior art inductively coupled electrodes. Here, for instance, a U-shaped electrode was used, which had a power feeding portion at one end and a grounded portion at the other end. The distance from the turning portion to the feeding portion and the grounded portion were set to be a half wavelength of the high-frequency wave to establish the standing wave at predetermined position over the electrode (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-255219). When plasma was generated to form thin film in this configuration, the film thickness distribution obtained was such that the film thickness decreased from the feeding portion toward the turning portion, then increased to show a maximum, decreased again. This distribution is thought to originate in the interaction of the attenuation of high frequency power and the effect of standing waves. Since this film thickness distribution is reproducible, the idea is to obtain thin films with uniform thickness distribution by using only the region with desired uniformity of film thickness of about the same size as the substrate.
Since this film forming method utilizes the portion of the electrode where the uniform plasma density is generated, the electrode becomes longer than the substrate, and thus the apparatus itself becomes larger. On the other hand, a smaller apparatus is strongly requested from the viewpoints of the floor space to be installed, the maintainability, and the cost. Accordingly, the electrode structure and apparatus that can generate the uniform plasma in longer region along the electrode are inevitable to comply with the requests.
In addition, in order to continuously perform stable thin film formation using a plasma CVD apparatus, it is necessary to periodically carry out cleaning etc. to remove films deposited, such as on the inner wall of chamber before the deposited films peel off. However, since the plasma density in the vicinity of the power feeding portion was very high in the case of the U-shaped electrode structure, a large amount of the film deposited on the wall near the power feeding portion. This necessitated more frequent cleaning treatments.
Under such circumstances, the present invention aims at providing a plasma CVD apparatus and method which can form high quality thin films having an excellent film thickness uniformity on larger substrates. That is, the objective of this invention is to provide the electrode structure and the power supply method which make it possible to expand the uniform plasma region in the longitudinal direction of the electrode, and thereby, to realize a plasma CVD apparatus and method which enable to form thin films having an excellent uniformity on a larger substrate using the same size apparatus as that of prior art. Another object of the invention is to provide a plasma CVD apparatus and method that make it possible to form such thin films at a high throughput. Still another object of the invention is to provide a high-productive plasma CVD apparatus and method by suppressing the film deposited, such as on the inner wall of apparatus, to extend cleaning cycle.


A multi-mode communication device having a scan optimizer capable of prioritizing scan frequencies for different radio access technologies (RATs) during a network search. The scan frequency prioritization may be based on various network coverage considerations associated with RAT availability, RAT density within a region, geographic location, historic attachment for the multi-mode device, an operation mode of the multi-mode device, etc. The multimode device can utilize its scan optimizer to generate an optimized scan schedule to be employed for a limited duration during a network search to improve its likelihood of success in detecting and/or attaching to a network associated with a prioritized RAT. A default scan schedule having equal scan frequency prioritization can be employed by the multi-mode device at a time when the limited duration of the optimized scan schedule expires and no networks associated with a prioritized RAT have been acquired.

Fourth generation (4G) cellular networks employing newer radio access technology (RAT) systems that implement the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LIE) and LTE Advanced standards are rapidly being developed and deployed within the United States and abroad. However, the lion's share of modern, deployed cellular networks are not 4G. For instance, the majority of deployed cellular networks in the Americas are associated with various combinations of third generation (3G) legacy networks and second generation (2G) legacy networks, which respectively employ a number of different RATs.
In addition to LTE network deployments at a particular geographic location, existing legacy cellular networks may also be deployed within the same overlapping coverage area or geographic region. Older legacy networks, which have not been completely outmoded, may be associated with any number of 3G or 2G legacy RATs, such as those associated with 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)/High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) systems, 3G Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000/1x Evolution-Data Only (EV-DO) systems, as well as, 2G Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) systems.
Further, modern wireless communication devices are being manufactured as multi-mode devices that are capable of communicating within these heterogeneous network topologies using multiple RATs, as needed. The term "multi-mode" generally refers to a device's ability to communicate using more than one 4G, 3G, or 2G RAT. By way of example, many multi-mode devices are configured to include multiple modems and/or transceivers that enable the devices to communicate using 4G LTE networks, as well as to communicate using various 3G and/or 2G legacy networks.
When a multi-mode communication device attempts to search for an available network at its present geographic location, the device may scan various frequency spectra resources that are associated with different compliant RATs for the device, i.e., by looping though its different communication modes. For example, an LTE-enabled device also having 3G and 2G communications capability can scan through several distinct frequency bands associated with each RAT type during a network search procedure. These multi-RAT network scans can be repeated until a network is ultimately acquired.
Unfortunately, device resources are often wasted during network scans due to many network considerations that modern multi-mode communication devices do not evaluate while performing network scans and acquisition. Accordingly, there remains a need for generating a network scan schedule for a multi-mode communication device that can account for various network coverage considerations to reduce unnecessary network scans during network searches.

Scheduling prioritized network searches for a multi-mode communication device


A coffee machine includes: a base, a basal body locating above the base, a coffee pot located above the basal body, a first coffee exit located in the bottom of the coffee pot, a coffee outlet located under the first coffee exit, the coffee outlet includes a receiving water base, a top lid; a first pin joint part and a second pin joint part respectively located at both sides of the first coffee exit, one end of the receiving water base pivotally joins the first pin joint part, another end of the receiving water base extends to the second pin joint part and outside of the bottom of the coffee pot, a second coffee exit is beside the another end of the receiving water base, a third pin joint part is between the second coffee exit and the second pin joint part.

Known coffee machine comprises a base, a basal body and a coffee pot, the basal body locates above one side of the base, the coffee pot locates at the side of the upside of the basal body, and the coffee pot and another side of the base correspond up and down, namely, the room for placing the coffee cup forms between the coffee pot and the another side of the base, so the coffee in the coffee pot dribbles into the coffee cup. Coffee bag with coffee powder sets in the coffee pot, the basal body also includes a hot-water heater and a water pump for driving the hot-water to the coffee pot, the coffee exit locates at the downside of the coffee pot, when the coffee cup set under the coffee pot to open the valve, the coffee will effuse from the coffee pot.
Above coffee machine has biggish limitation in the structure design, it can't break through the limitation of the coffee pot being above the coffee cup, which occupies biggish room. In addition, when the coffee cup is taken away from the coffee machine, although the valve is closed, but because it has some distance between the valve and the coffee exit, it also has some coffee between the valve and the coffee exit, consequently, it will cause the unnecessary waste and is inconvenient in use.

Coffee machine with improved coffee outlet


The present invention pertains to novel aspartic endoproteinases from Th. cacao which are involved in the production of cocoa flavor and DNA sequences coding for them. These enzymes are advantageously used in the manufacture of cocoa flavor.

The present invention pertains to novel endoproteinases involved in the production of cocoa flavor and the DNA coding for them. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of said enzymes for the manufacture of cocoa flavor.
It is known that in processing cacao beans the generation of the typical cocoa flavor requires two steps—the fermentation step, which includes air-drying of the fermented material and the roasting step. Though roasting seems to be the key stage of obtaining cocoa flavor subjecting non fermented beans to a roasting step does not yield cocoa flavor suggesting that during the fermentation step precursors are produced that are essential for flavor generation (Rohan J. Food Sci. 29 (1964), 456–459).
During fermentation two major activities may be observed. First, the pulp surrounding the beans is degraded by micro-organisms with the sugars contained in the pulp being largely transformed to acids, especially acetic acid (Quesnel et al. J. Sci. Food. Agric. 16 (1965), 441–447; Ostovar and Keeney, J. Food. Sci. 39 (1973), 611–617). The acids then slowly diffuse into the beans and eventually cause an acidification of the cellular material. Second, fermentation also results in a release of peptides exhibiting differing sizes and a generation of a high level of hydrophobic free amino acids. This latter finding led to the hypothesis that proteolysis occurring during the fermentation step is not due to a random protein hydrolysis but seems to be rather based on the activity of specific endoproteinase (Kirchhoff et al., Food Chem 31 (1989), 295–311). This specific mixture of peptides and hydrophobic amino acids is deemed to represent cocoa-specific flavor precursors.
So far in cacao beans several proteolytic enzyme activities have been investigated and checked for their putative role in the formation of cocoa flavor precursors.
An aspartic endoproteinase activity which is optimal at very low pH (pH 3.5) and is inhibited by pepstatin A has been identified. A polypeptide described to have this activity has been isolated and is described to consist of two peptides (29 and 13 kDa) which are deemed to be derived by self-digestion from a 42 kDa pro-peptide (Voigt et al., J. Plant Physiol. 145 (1995), 299–307). The enzyme cleaves protein substrates between hydrophobic amino acid residues to produce oligopeptides with hydrophobic amino acid residues at the ends (Voigt et al., Food Chem. 49 (1994), 173–180). The enzyme accumulates with the vicilin-class (7S) globulin during bean ripening. Throughout germination, its activity remains constant during the first days and does not decrease before the onset of globulin degradation (Voigt et al., J. Plant Physiol. 145 (1995), 299–307).
A cysteine endoproteinase activity had been isolated which is optimal at a pH of 5. This enzymatic activity is believed not to split native storage proteins in ungerminated seeds. Cysteine endoproteinase activity increases during the germination process when degradation of globular storage protein occurs (Biehl et al., Cocoa Research Conference, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, 17–23 Nov. 1996).
Moreover, a carboxypeptidase activity has been identified which is inhibited by PMSF and thus belongs to the class of serine proteases. It is stable over a broad pH range with a maximum activity at pH 5.8. This enzyme does not degrade native proteins but preferentially splits hydrophobic amino acids from the carboxy-terminus of peptides. Yet, peptides with carboxy-terminal arginine, lysine, or proline residues are seemingly resistant to degradation. The rate of hydrolysis has been found to be not only determined by the carboxy-terminal amino acid as such, but also to be affected by the neighboring amino acid residue (Bytof et al., Food Chem. 54 (1995), 15–21).
During the second step of cocoa flavor production—the roasting step—the oligopeptides and amino acids generated at the stage of fermentation have been found to obviously undergo a Maillard reaction with reducing sugars present eventually producing the substances responsible for the cocoa flavor as such. This hypothesis has been confirmed in an experiment, wherein an oligopeptide fraction isolated after fermentation of cacao beans had been subjected to roasting in the presence of free amino acids and reducing sugars to obtain cocoa flavor (Mohr et al., Fette, Seifen, Anstrichmittel 73 (1971), 515–521 and 78 (1976), 88–95).
Cocoa-specific aroma has also been obtained in an experiment wherein acetone dry powder (AcDP) prepared from unfermented ripe cacao beans was subjected to autolysis at a pH of 5.2 followed by roasting in the presence of reducing sugars. It was conceived that under these conditions preferentially free hydrophobic amino acids and hydrophilic peptides should be generated and the peptide pattern thus obtained was similar to that of extracts from fermented cacao beans. An analysis of free amino acids revealed that Leu, Ala, Phe and Val were the predominant amino acids liberated in fermented beans or autolysis (Voigt et al., Food Chem. 49 (1994), 173–180). In contrast to these findings no cocoa-specific flavor could be detected when AcDP was subjected to autolysis at a pH of as low as 3.5, the pH, at which the known aspartic endoproteinase shows activity. Only few free amino acids were found to be released but a large number of hydrophobic peptides were formed. This may be explained by the aspartic endoproteinase having a high activity at this pH with the carboxypeptidase being substantially inactive under these conditions. When incubating peptides obtained after autolysis of AcDP at a pH of 3.5 with carboxypeptidase A from porcine pancreas at pH 7.5 hydrophobic amino acids were preferentially released. The pattern of free amino acids and peptides was rather similar to that found in fermented cacao beans and in the proteolysis product obtained by autolysis of AcDP at pH 5.2. After roasting of the amino acids and peptides mixture as above, a cocoa aroma could be generated. On the contrary, with a synthetic mixture of free amino acids alone whose composition was similar to the spectrum found in fermented beans cocoa flavor could not be detected after roasting, indicating that both the peptides and the amino acids are important for this purpose (Voigt et al., Food Chem. 49 (1994), 173–180).
Apart from the enzymes also the protein source of the peptides/amino acids seems to be of importance for the generation of cocoa flavor.
During cacao bean fermentation, the percentage reduction of protein concentration observed for vicilin and albumin was 88.8% and 47.4%, respectively (Amin et al., J. Sci. Food Agric. 76 (1998), 123–128). When peptides obtained by proteolysis of the globulin fraction were post-treated with carboxypeptidase, hydrophobic amino acids (Leu, Phe, Ala, Val, Tyr) were preferentially released and a typical cocoa aroma was detected after roasting in the presence of reducing sugars (Voigt et al., Food Chem. 50 (1994), 177–184). In contrary to that, the predominant amino acids released from the albumin-derived peptides were aspartic acid, glutamic acid and asparagine. Furthermore, no cocoa aroma was detected with the albumin fraction. It was therefore concluded that cocoa-specific aroma precursors are preferentially derived from the vicilin-like globulin of cacao bean. Consequently, the mixture of hydrophobic free amino acids and remaining oligopeptides required for the generation of the typical cocoa flavor components seems to be determined by the particular chemical structure of the cacao vicilin-class globulins.
These globulins isolated from cacao beans were also found to be efficiently degraded by pepsin (an aspartic endoproteinase) and chymotrypsin (a serine endoproteinase). Products derived from cacao globulins by successive proteolytic digestion with pepsin and carboxypeptidase A revealed a typical, but less pronounced cocoa aroma upon roasting. No cocoa aroma precursors were generated by degradation of globulins with chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase A (Voigt et al., Food chem, 51 (1994), 7–14). Therefore, the specific mixture of oligopeptides and hydrophobic free amino acids required for the formation of the typical cocoa aroma is not only determined by the structure of the protein substrate but also dependent on the specificity of the cacao enzyme cleaving the protein.
In view of the above data a hypothetical model for the generation of the said mixture of peptides and amino acids, i.e. the cocoa flavor precursors, during fermentation had been devised (FIG. 1), wherein in a first step peptides having a hydrophobic amino acid at their end, are formed from storage proteins, which peptides are subsequently further degraded. For splitting off hydrophobic amino acids from peptides formed in a preceding step the above carboxypeptidase activity seems to be involved. Yet, for the stage of producing the said peptides having C-terminal hydrophobic amino acids, the only known enzymatic activity which might be considered in this respect is an aspartic endoproteinase activity related to that mentioned above. It is also possible that the activity mentioned above is the result of different enzyme activities which are still unknown.
Though some aspects of cocoa flavor production have been elucidated there is still a need in the art to fully understand the processes going on, so that the manufacture of cocoa flavor may eventually be optimized.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cacao endoproteinases and production of cocoa flavor from same


Specific, highly potent 2-oxo-amide based inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity are provided. A role for PLA2 activity in spinally mediated inflammatory processes is established, and a method for treating hyperalgesia and other inflammatory conditions associated with PLA2 activity is provided.

Injury to one part of the body often results in hypersensitivity to painful stimuli. It has recently been discovered that this phenomenon is not, as previously thought, driven only by transmission of nerve impulses from a site of peripheral inflammation through the spinal cord to the brain. Rather, Samad, et al. have opined that hyperalgesia results from facilitation of pain processing signals inside the brain and spinal cord. Samad, et al., Nature 410, 471-475 (2001).
One theory as to how such signalling occurs posits that an increase in cerebrospinal levels of interleukin-1β may signal the central nervous system that an injury to the body has occurred. Eck, et al. have suggested that interleukin-1β may interact with cells at the blood-brain barrier to stimulate expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E synthase. Eck, Nature 410: 430-431 (2001).
Following hydrolysis of arachidonic acid from phospholipid by phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2 converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandin H2. In turn, prostaglandin E synthase converts prostaglandin H2 into prostaglandin E2, a potent inflammatory mediator. Prostaglandin E2 also activates the synthesis of interleukin-1β by microglia (possibly explaining the latter's presence in cerebrospinal fluid).
Whatever the specific mechanism, the end product of the central cyclooxygenase signaling cascade is enhanced pain and inflammation.
To date, therapeutic proposals to target the cyclooxygenase signalling cascade to treat hyperalgesia have focused on inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 activity. See, e.g., Bartfai, T., Nature 410: 425-427 (2001); referencing Samad, et al. and Eck, supra. However, current pain remedies and anti-inflammatories commonly employed to this end are either potentially addictive opiates or are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) designed to target the cyclooxygenase enzymes (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, ketorolac, Celebrex™ and Vioxx™). Cyclooxygenase-2 is also the target of most antipyretic (fever-reducing) drugs.
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has not received much attention as a therapeutic target in the cyclooxygenase signaling cascade. To the contrary, it has been reported that no increase in PLA2 activity in the spinal cord or brain is produced in response to peripheral injury in an animal model (rat paw edema). See, e.g., Samad, et al., at 471 and 473, FIG. 2, which recently concluded that "COX-2 [cyclooxygenase-2] alone appears to be pivotal in central [nervous system] PGE2 induction." Id., at 471.

Compositions and methods for inhibition of phospholipase A2 mediated inflammation

The Regents of the University of California


The cassette has a bottom on which holding means are provided for holding optical fiber connections thereon, and optionally on which a cylinder is provided for coiling the fibers. The bottom includes different sets of openings. Either two connection supports chosen from different supports, or else one of said different connection supports and said cylinder are removably mounted side-by-side in two of said sets of openings, the supports and the cylinder having respective sets of snap-fastening catches corresponding to respective sets of openings. The cassette is thus made adaptable to being used in different ways.

Such cassettes are essentially used to store surplus lengths that are left on fibers for connection purposes, and to protect coils of said surplus lengths and the connections or "splices" between the optical fibers. Each cassette is assigned to connecting together two fibers, or preferably to connecting a plurality of fibers respectively to a plurality of other fibers.
Each cassette must also ensure that the radius of curvature of the surplus lengths does not drop below a minimum, either where they are coiled inside the cassette or where they enter the connections. The cassette must also make it easy to handle the coiled surplus lengths and the connections, for the purpose of installing them in the cassette and for any subsequent maintenance.
Document FR-A-2 646 928 describes such a cassette used in a connection module for connecting together optical fiber cables. That cassette includes a bottom surrounded by a discontinuous peripheral rim. Accesses for the fibers are thus delimited in the rim. In that method of using the cassette, a cover closes both the cassette and the module at the same time.
The bottom of that cassette delimits a connection support at a location provided on the bottom for that purpose substantially in a first half of the middle portion of the bottom. The support serves as a housing and retains the connections between the fibers received in the cassette. The support is formed with ribs on its bottom, which ribs delimit said location. Two of the ribs that face each other have corresponding slots in which the connections are retained.
The bottom also delimits a projecting cylinder substantially in the other half of its middle portion. The fibers are coiled around the cylinder which guides them and returns them with no less than the minimum required radius of curvature.
That cassette further includes tabs folded inwards on the rim. The coiled surplus lengths are retained underneath the tabs between the cylinder and the rim.
That cassette is used in such a way that the fibers that are received and coiled in the cassette are bare fibers. In other ways of using cassettes which operate in analogous manner to the preceding cassette, the received fibers may also be bare, or they may be protected in individual sheathing tubes, but they do not need coiled surplus lengths to be guided and returned by the above-mentioned cylinder. Such a cylinder then clutters the surface of the bottom unnecessarily, and is a hindrance when the fibers and the connections are being handled.
In the cassette described in that document, the connection support delimited on the bottom can also only be used with fiber connections that are adapted to that support. However, different types of connection may be used with dimensional and/or mechanical characteristics that differ from one type to another. The following existing different types of connection are given by way of example: connections sold under the trademark "Fibrlok" by 3M and connections sold under the trademark "Placoptic" by Alliance Technique Industrielle, having protective sheaths that are more or less rigid. In a variant the connections can be performed by welding the fibers together and protecting each weld with a flexible sheath. The different types of connection may be used selectively depending on how the cassettes are used, and on the different requirements with respect to their specific characteristics. Different supports correspond to the different types of connection.
The requirements relating to coiling and connecting optical fibers inside cassettes lead to specific cassettes being made, and as a result have repercussions on manufacturing costs and methods.

Adaptable cassette for coiling and splicing optical fibers


A circuit protection device includes an overvoltage monitor circuit that is operable to monitor a power supply circuit to detect an overvoltage condition on the power supply circuit and to change a state of an overvoltage output responsive to the overvoltage condition on the power supply circuit. A bi-directional switch is operable to interrupt or limit current flow though the power supply circuit responsive to the change in the state of the overvoltage output. A bi-directional voltage limiter is connected across output terminals of the circuit protection device and is operable to limit an overvoltage to a predefined voltage limit.

Frequently, excessive voltage or current is applied across service lines that deliver power to residences and commercial and institutional facilities. Such excess voltage or current spikes (transient overvoltages and surge currents) may result from lightning strikes, for example. The above events may be of particular concern in telecommunications distribution centers, hospitals and other facilities where equipment damage caused by overvoltages and/or current surges and resulting down time may be very costly.
Typically, sensitive electronic equipment may be protected against transient overvoltages and surge currents using Surge Protective Devices (SPDs). For example, brief reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a system including conventional overvoltage and surge protection. An overvoltage protection device 10 may be installed at a power input of equipment to be protected 50. The overvoltage protection device 10 may include a surge protection device 12. When a surge current Isurge flows towards the equipment 50, the surge protection device 12 may conduct a portion thereof (ISPD), leaving a surge current portion IEQ that flows through the equipment 50.
However, there are applications where the immunity level of the sensitive electronic equipment to be protected against transient overvoltages and surge currents is very low. In such cases, the residual voltage of the SPD (VSPD) or the portion of the surge current that flows to the electronic equipment (IEq) may exceed the immunity level (resistibility) of the equipment to overvoltages and/or surge currents and may result in damage thereto.

Devices and methods for overvoltage protection


A method of diagnosing failure of fuel level sensors includes a first measuring step of measuring voltages from first and second failure detection terminals; if the voltage is higher than a reference, diagnosing the voltage as “high,” and if the voltage is lower than a reference, diagnosing the voltage as “low;” and if the voltage is neither high nor low: a second measuring step of receiving the voltages from the first and second failure detection terminals; calculating and storing a difference between the voltages of the first and second failure detection terminals; determining whether an amount of fuel is reduced; if the amount of fuel is reduced, calculating a difference between voltage signals of the first and second failure detection terminals; determining whether the voltage difference before and after the amount of fuel was reduced are identical; and if the voltage differences are identical, returning to the first measuring step.

In general, a saddle-type fuel tank is provided with two level gauges, that is, a main fuel level sensor and a sub fuel level sensor, and the two level sensors are utilized to measure the fuel level.
However, such a saddle-type fuel system has a problem in that the state of the wires connecting the two level sensors is not accurately diagnosed, therefore the disconnection or short circuit of the wires between the two level sensors cannot be detected. In particular, in North America, the diagnosis of the leakage of evaporated gas and misfires in a fuel system is essential according to OBD-2 regulations. For this purpose, the values detected by fuel level sensors are essentially required for the determination of the amount of fuel, so that monitoring the connection states of wires between fuel level sensors is also essential.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention recognizes the necessity of monitoring the connection states of wires between two level sensors provided in a saddle-type fuel system, and has put forth this proposal.

Apparatus and method for diagnosing failure of fuel level sensors


The present invention relates to a novel GS (glutamine synthetase) gene knock out transgenic HEK293 (human embryonic kidney 293) cell line and a production method of a target protein using the said transgenic HEK293 cell line. Particularly, the present inventors eliminated the expression of GS in the HEK293 cells in order to overcome a barrier of the cell line selection caused by the over-expression of GS, for producing a target protein by GS/MSX system, by which the efficiency of the cell line selection for the high production of a target protein would be increased and accordingly the protein production by the selected cell line would be increased, suggesting that the human originated transgenic HEK293 cell line could be efficiently used for the production of a target protein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glutamine synthetase knock out transgenic HEK293 (Human embryonic kidney 293) cell line and a production method of a target protein using the transgenic cell line.
2. Description of the Related Art
The size of the world-wide protein medicine market is as big as almost 15.7 billion dollars as of 2011. This market is expected to grow continuously to 20 billion dollars in 2016. Mammalian cells are the most widely used system in the production of biomedicine (antibody for treatment, growth factor, hormone, etc), which are exemplified by HEK293 cells, CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells, NS0 (mouse myeloma) cells, and PER.C6 (human retinal cells). Among them, CHO cells have been used for the production of ⅓ of the total animal cell originated protein medicine but there is some concern about the characteristics of the produced protein thereby because of the rodental characteristics of the cells.
The difference in the quality of the produced protein caused by such cell line origins is attributed to the posttranslational modification (PTM). In particular, the glycosylation process during which a sugar chain is added seems to have the biggest effect on the efficacy of the protein medicine product. The component and structure of a sugar chain attached onto a protein medicine have an effect on the persistence of an applied medicine and the medicinal effect of the same. When it is administered repeatedly, it can also be a reason of immunogenicity. The structure of the sugar chain adhering on the protein in CHO cells is the closest to that of human cells, compared with other rodent originated cells. However, it still contains such sugar chain structures that human cells do not contain which are N-glycosylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and Galα1-3Galβ1-GlcNAc-R (α-Gal), and these sugar chains might cause an immune response, leaving a question in stability (Ghaderi et al., Biotechnol. Genet. Eng. Rev. 2012, 28:147-75). Therefore, it is necessary to develop a human originated production cell line that can be a useful system for the production of a protein that is equally qualified to the protein of human.
The human originated cell lines that have been used for the production of a protein medicine are HEK293, F2N, and PER.C6, etc. Among them, HEK293 cell line has a great potential for the production of a medicinal protein as a human originated host cell. And the reasons for that potential are as follows:                (1) HEK293 cell line has been most widely used in the field of science whose cellular characteristics have been continuously studied, so that the relevant information regarding the cell line is rich. (2) HEK293 cell line can be suspending-cultured in a serum free medium, so that it can be used for the high concentration cell culture and for the mass-production in an industrial scale. (3) The protein medicine produced in HEK293 cell line has been approved by such supervisory institutions as FDA and EMA, proving the stability of HEK293 as a production cell line. However in the real industrial field, HEK293 cell line is only applied for transient transfection system for the screening of a target protein for the protein production, and there is no stable protein production system for the continuous high concentration production established so far, suggesting that HEK293 is not widely used as expected for the mass production of a target protein as a real medicinal product.
As a method for producing a protein medicine with high concentration using an animal cell line, a cell line selection technique using a gene amplification system has been developed. The most common systems are DHFR/MTX (dihydrofolate reductase/methotrexate) and GS/MSX (glutamine synthetase/methionine sulfoximine). These two systems are mainly used to produce a protein in CHO cell line. Particularly, a host cell is transfected with a plasmid comprising a therapeutic recombinant protein gene and a selection marker gene, and then a cell line is selected in an environment in the presence of an inhibitor corresponding to each enzyme gene. The transgenic cell line designed to be suitable for the production of a target protein amplified the selection marker gene included in the plasmid in order to overcome the added inhibitor, during which the therapeutic recombinant protein included together in the plasmid is also amplified. As a result, the cell line displaying a high productivity per cell (qp) can be selected, with which the continuous high concentration target protein production can be achieved. The DHFR/MTX and GS/MSX systems are widely used in the industry. In particular, GS/MSX system makes the selection of a high production clone possible simply by one time MSX amplification, so that the time for the cell line construction can be decreased with this system. Therefore, it is most widely used recently. A recombinant HEK293 cell line that can produce a target protein can be prepared by transfecting the HEK293 cell line with a therapeutic recombinant protein gene by using the GS/MSX system (Noh et al., Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng. 2013, 2:391-7).
In order for the gene amplification system to be effective, it is important to inhibit the effect of the selection marker gene included in the host cell in the course of the gene amplification mediated by an inhibitor. If a selection marker gene is already expressed at a high concentration in a host cell line, the endogenous selection marker gene is amplified together with the introduced protein production plasmid in the host cell despite an inhibitor is treated during the selection, so that the efficiency of the amplification of the therapeutic recombinant protein gene is accordingly reduced and the productivity per cell (qp) is arrested.
In the case of using the DHFR/MTX system, the selection marker gene dhfr knockout CHO dhfr(−) cell line has been developed. For the GS/MSX system, NSO or CHO-K1 cell line expressing the selection marker gene gs at a low level endogenously is used.
The present inventors noticed the high resistance against MSX, the GS inhibitor, in HEK293 cell line which was resulted from the endogenously, highly expressed GS protein (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the inventors confirmed that HEK293 cell line cannot be introduced in GS/MSX system without gene manipulation unlike the previous NS0 or CHO-K1 host cells. The present inventors introduced the gene editing method CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; CRISPR/cas9, Cho et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 2013, 31(3): 230-2) targeting gs, the selection marker gene of gene amplification system in HEK293 cell line. As a result, the inventors constructed the glutamine synthetase (gs) gene knockout HEK293 cell line. Owing to the knockout of gs gene there, cell line selection can be efficiently performed by using MSX. The present inventors confirmed that the selection efficiency of a cell line for the production of a target protein was improved by increasing the concentration of MSX, leading to the completion of this invention.

Cell line containing a knockout of the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene and a method of producing target proteins using a GS knockout HEK293 cell line

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


Using an ultrasonic field, properties of a solid liquid suspension such as through-transmission attenuation, backscattering, and diffuse field are measured. These properties are converted to quantities indicating the strength of different loss mechanisms (such as absorption, single scattering and multiple scattering) among particles in the suspension. Such separation of the loss mechanisms can allow for direct comparison of the attenuating effects of the mechanisms. These comparisons can also indicate a model most likely to accurately characterize the suspension and can aid in determination of properties such as particle size, concentration, and density of the suspension.

Suspensions or slurries having moderate and high particle concentrations are found in a variety of industries. As the characteristics of the suspensions influence production costs, product quality and yield, it is useful to rapidly, cost-effectively, and non-invasively characterize these suspensions.
Commercially available devices utilizing ultrasonic measurements for particle sizing typically rely on a measurement of the through-transmitted attenuation and the velocity. While effective at low solid concentrations (<10 wt %), particle-particle interactions in higher concentration slurries can complicate both the measurement and the interpretation of the data. Also, it may be difficult to tell at what point a given measurement (e.g., through-transmission attenuation) becomes unreliable. Another potential problem arises from the very small propagation paths (on the order of millimeters), found in some commercial devices, which can become clogged. Additionally, such measurements are often obtained using facing transducers, which can lead to inaccuracies from misaligned transducers.

Ultrasonic characterization of solid liquid suspensions


An object is to transfer a concavo-convex pattern formed on the surface of a transfer die onto a transfer target accurately. A pattern transfer apparatus according to the present invention is one for putting a transfer die having a concavo-convex pattern against a transfer target on a substrate to transfer the concavo-convex pattern onto a surface of the transfer target. It is characterized by comprising pressing means for pressing the transfer die against the transfer target on the substrate at a plurality of different locations independently.

In the process of manufacturing an optical disc that records and reproduces information by using laser light or the like, an imprinting method has been employed in which a concavo-convex pattern including pits and guide grooves is formed on a resin by using a transfer die. More specifically, a transfer die having a shape pattern on its surface is initially created so as to have pits corresponding to projections, and projections corresponding to pits, of the concavo-convex pattern to be formed on the surface of a resin replica which constitutes part of the optical disc. This transfer die is pressed into a softened resin from above with pressure, the resin being applied onto glass or resin in a uniform thickness, thereby transferring the shape pattern on the surface of the transfer die onto the resin. After the resin is cured, this resin replica is released from the transfer die, and a recording film, a reflection coating, and the like are deposited thereon by sputtering or the like, thereby fabricating the optical disc.
The concavo-convex pattern of the resin replica mentioned above has been formed increasingly finer and at higher densities with increasing recording densities of information recording media. In such cases, the transfer die must be pressed into transfer targets with pressure higher than heretofore, and it is necessary to maintain the transfer targets and the transfer die more strictly in parallel with each other while bringing them closer and pressing in.
To address this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-100038 discloses a jig which allows free relative movement between means for holding a transfer die and means for holding a transfer target while always maintaining them in parallel. More specifically, the transfer die and the transfer target (substrate) are both fixed to holding means of the jig while the parallelism therebetween is adjusted by using a CCD camera. It is stated that when the transfer die and the transfer target, accompanied by the jig, are subsequently transported to a hydraulic stamp press and put closer to each other, the transfer die can approach the transfer target in parallel and be pressed into the same. It is also stated that if an elastic member is interposed between the means for holding the transfer target and the hydraulic stamp press, it is possible to apply a uniform pressure to the transfer die and the transfer target for uniform transfer of the concavo-convex pattern.

Pattern transfer device and pattern transfer method


Disclosed in an embodiment is a light source comprising: a housing; a coupling unit which fixes the housing on the target structure; a light source module for emitting light onto the target structure; and a power source module which supplies power to the light source module. The light source module comprises: a first circuit board; a second circuit board disposed on one side of the first circuit board; a third circuit board disposed on another side of the first circuit board; at least one first ultraviolet light emitting element disposed on one surface of the first circuit board; at least one second ultraviolet light emitting element disposed on one surface of the second circuit board; and at least one third ultraviolet light emitting element disposed on one surface of the third circuit board, wherein one surface of the second circuit board and one surface of the third circuit are disposed so as to face each other.

An escalator and a moving walkway are installed in various places, such as subways, airports, and department stores, having many floating populations and convenient for many people. However, a handrail which is a safety device for an escalator and a moving walkway is easily exposed to bacteria.
Recently, a device for sterilizing a hand rail using an ultraviolet light emitting device has been developed. The ultraviolet light emitting device can output light (ultraviolet (UV)-A) in a near ultraviolet wavelength range, can output light (UV-B) in a far ultraviolet wavelength range, and can output light (UV-C) in a deep ultraviolet wavelength range. Among the above, the light (UV-C) in the deep ultraviolet wavelength range can have a sterilizing function.
The ultraviolet light emitting device can increase a sterilization effect when uniformly irradiated onto the hand rail. However, since the hand rail has various sizes and shapes, there is a problem in that the sterilization effect is not guaranteed according to types of the hand rail to be mounted.
Further, there is a risk that a safety accident can occur when a user' hand or foreign substances are introduced into a sterilization device.
In addition, since the user generally moves by holding the hand rail, side surfaces of the hand rail can be easily exposed to bacteria. Accordingly, it is necessary to sterilize the side surfaces of the hand rail.


A fixing device is provided in the middle of a conveyance path for conveyance of a sheet on which a toner image is transferred. A fixing roller round which an endless fixing belt is put is provided on a top surface side of the sheet, i.e. on one side of the conveyance path. The fixing belt is longer than an outer periphery of the fixing belt. A pressurizing roller for pushing the sheet on the fixing belt is provided on a back surface side of the sheet, i.e. on the other side of the conveyance path. A halogen lamp is arranged on an outer side of a part of the fixing belt where the fixing belt is not put round the fixing roller. The toner image on the sheet is heated and fused, and pressurized on the sheet by the fixing belt, which is heated by the halogen lamp, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet. Since only the fixing roller is in contact with the inner side of the fixing belt, xe2x80x9cescapesxe2x80x9d of heat from the halogen lamp can be reduced, energy efficiency can be increased and the time required for the warm-up can be shortened.

The present invention relates to a fixing device for allowing a recording medium on which a toner image is electrostatically transferred to pass therethrough, heating the toner image and pressurizing the recording medium such that the toner image is permeated on the recording medium, and fixing the toner image on the recording medium.
A device using an endless fixing belt is known as a conventional device built in a printer or a copier. In the device of this type, an endless fixing belt is put round a plurality of rollers and stretched, a pressurizing roller is arranged to pressurize the surface of the fixing belt, the fixing belt is heated, a recording medium on which a toner image is transferred is conveyed between the fixing belt and the pressurizing roller, and the toner image is heated, pressurized and thereby fixed on the surface of the recording medium.
A device disclosed in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-66541, is known as a fixing device using a fixing belt. This fixing device is provided on a printer body so as to be detachable therefrom. This device is assembled by providing a unit in which an endless fixing belt is put round a heater-incorporated heating roller and a fixing roller, and the heating roller and the fixing roller are integrally mounted in a cover, to a device body containing a pressurizing roller so as to be detachable therefrom. The fixing belt is heated by the heater incorporated in the heating roller. A sheet on which a toner image is transferred is conveyed between the pressurizing roller and the fixing roller round which the fixing belt is put, and the toner image is fused and fixed on the sheet by heat supplied from the fixing belt. The unit can be easily exchanged and maintenance can be facilitated by mounting a unit in which members such as the fixing belt having a comparatively short life are integrally provided in the fixing device body so as to be detachable therefrom.
A device disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-292669 is also known as another fixing device using a fixing belt. In this fixing device, an endless fixing belt is put round three rollers including a drive roller and stretched, a heater is arranged inside the fixing belt, and a pressurizing roller is arranged to pressurize the drive roller by the fixing belt. The fixing belt is heated from a back side thereof by the heater. A sheet on which a toner image is transferred is conveyed between the pressurizing roller and the drive roller round which the fixing belt is put, and the toner image is fused and fixed on the sheet by heat supplied from the fixing belt.
In the device disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-66541, since the fixing belt is heated by the heater incorporated in the heating roller, heat from the heater transmits to the heating roller, the back surface of the fixing belt and the top surface of the fixing belt in order, much time is required to raise the temperature of the surface of the fixing belt to a desired temperature, and much time is also required to warm up the fixing device. Further, for example, since heat escapes to the cover through the rotary shaft of the heating roller, more thermal energy than necessary is required to raise the temperature of the surface of the fixing belt to a desired temperature and power consumption is thereby increased.
In the device disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-292669, the belt is directly heated by the heater arranged inside the fixing belt. However, since the heat from the heater transmits to the back surface of the fixing belt and then to the top surface of the fixing belt, for example, heat escapes through rotary shafts of three rollers that are in contact with the back surface of the fixing belt, and much time and much energy are required to raise the temperature of the surface of the fixing belt to a desired temperature.
The present invention is accomplished in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device capable of reducing power consumption and shortening a warm-up time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device which allows the only fixing belt having a comparatively short life to easily exchange and which can thereby reduce maintenance costs.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a fixing device for allowing a sheet-like recording medium on which a developer image is transferred to pass through a conveyance path and fixing the developer image on the recording medium, the fixing device comprising:
a first roller and a second roller arranged opposite to one another to sandwich and mutually pressurize the conveyance path, the first roller arranged on the surface side of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path;
an endless belt put round a part of the first roller, for running while an outer surface thereof is in contact with the surface of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path, the belt being longer than an outer periphery of the first roller; and
a heater for heating the belt.
Further, there is provided a fixing device for allowing a sheet-like recording medium on which a developer image is transferred to pass through a conveyance path and fixing the developer image on the recording medium, the fixing device comprising:
a first roller and a second roller arranged opposite to one another to sandwich and mutually pressurize the conveyance path, the first roller arranged on the surface side of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path;
an endless belt put round the first roller and stretched, for running while an outer surface thereof is in contact with the surface of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path;
a third roller having an outer peripheral surface that is in contact with an inner surface of the belt, and being urged in a direction of separating from the first roller so as to apply tension to the belt, the third roller having a smaller diameter portion that is made narrow to reduce an area of the outer peripheral surface; and
a heater for heating the belt.
Moreover, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising:
image forming means for forming an image of a developer on an image carrier;
a transfer device for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming means on a surface of a sheet-like recording medium;
a conveyance path in which the recording medium on which the developer image is transferred by the transfer device is conveyed; and
a fixing device for fixing the developer image on the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path,
the fixing device comprising:
a first roller and a second roller arranged opposite to one another to sandwich and mutually pressurize the conveyance path, the first roller arranged on the surface side of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path;
an endless belt put round a part of the first roller, for running while an outer surface thereof is in contact with the surface of the recording medium conveyed in the conveyance path, the belt being longer than an outer periphery of the first roller; and
a heater for heating the belt.

Fixing device with reduced power consumption and shortened warm-up time


An outboard engine assembly for use on a boat has an engine mechanism including in an upper region thereof an engine having a substantially vertical crankshaft and a vertical array of substantially horizontal cylinders. The engine mechanism is mounted on the stern of the boat by an attachment. The attachment includes a stern bracket adapted to be fixed to the stern of the boat, a swivel case supported on the stern bracket for vertical angular movement, a substantially vertical swivel shaft supported on the swivel case for horizontal angular movement, and a pair of upper and lower supports mounted on the swivel shaft and supporting the engine mechanism. The engine has joint members coupled to the upper support at a position between adjacent two crankshaft counterbalances which correspond to adjacent two cylinders, respectively, as viewed in side elevation, the joint members having respective portions located within a path of the two crankshaft counterbalances as viewed in plan. The engine mechanism also has a balancer mechanism mounted on a front wall of the engine for attenuating engine vibrations, and a fuel supply assembly mounted on an engine side wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an outboard engine assembly for use on small boats which has in its upper region an internal combustion engine having a substantially vertical crankshaft and a vertical array of cylinders each extending substantially horizontally, and an internal combustion engine for use in such an outboard engine assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some outboard engine assemblies are mounted on the stern of a boat by an attachment including a stern bracket, a swivel case, a swivel shaft, etc., and include an engine supported by rearwardly extending upper and lower support arms disposed above and below, respectively, the attachment. The engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft and a vertical array of cylinders each having an axis extending substantially horizontally. The engine is disposed in an upper region of the outboard engine assembly by the upper support arm.
Increasing the engine displacement and the number of cylinders of such an outboard engine assembly for a higher engine output power results in an increase in the vertical dimension of the engine, i.e., in the vertical dimension of the outboard engine assembly above the upper support arm.
The outboard engine assembly is usually tiltable about a horizontal tilt axis in the attachment. If the vertical dimension of the outboard engine assembly above the upper support arm is increased, then when the outboard engine assembly is tilted upwardly at the time the boat is anchored or placed ashore, it projects greatly into the boat.
For reducing the size and weight of an outboard engine assembly, it has been proposed to couple the upper support arm to opposite sides of the engine as disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 59-176192.
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 63-192693 also shows an outboard engine assembly with an engine supported in an upper region by an upper support arm that is joined to opposite sides of the engine. The engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft whose lower end is connected to a vertical shaft for transmitting rotational power from the engine to a propeller shaft.
However, the lateral dimension or width of the above disclosed outboard engine assemblies is increased because the upper support arm is coupled to the opposite sides of the engine.
The engine of the outboard engine assembly disclosed in the latter publication has a balancer mechanism for attenuating engine vibrations, the balancer mechanism having balancer shafts parallel to the crankshaft of the engine. The balancer mechanism is positioned in an upper portion of the engine. The balancer mechanism thus positioned necessarily raises the center of gravity of the engine. Care should be exercised in the design of the outboard engine assembly to keep the balancer mechanism out of physical interference with various engine accessories including a carburetor, a starter motor, a flywheel, etc., and also with an engine support structure.
Another known outboard engine assembly with a substantially vertical crankshaft has a vertical array of two horizontal cylinders in its upper region and a single carburetor for supplying atomized fuel into combustion chambers in the cylinders. If the engine displacement is increased and three or more cylinders are used for a higher engine output power, then as many carburetors as the number of cylinders are required to be installed in a vertical array. The vertical array of three or more carburetors on one side of the engine cylinders puts a limitation on the space available around the engine, and necessitates a complex engine maintenance procedure.

Outboard engine assembly and internal combustion engine therefore


A method for machining a hold-down pressure shoe that conforms to a preselected pattern on a workpiece for firmly maintaining the workpiece against a surface of a machine so that the workpiece may be moved adjacent a rotating cutterhead without elevating it from the surface, comprising the steps of: programming a computer to control a cutting means for shaping the preselected pattern; and operating the cutting means to cut the hold-down pressure shoe into a shape which corresponds with the preselected pattern.

The production of molded or patterned wood generally involves exposing a piece of material or a workpiece to a rapidly rotating cutterhead blade (or blades) which cuts, shapes and conforms the workpiece into a specific shape or molded pattern. While the workpiece feeds into and is molded by the cutterhead blade(s), certain difficulties are often encountered. For example, the cutterhead blade (or blades) has a propensity to elevate the workpiece during the cutting process and accordingly, causes the workpiece to be pulled into and pushed away from the cutter which causes knife or chatter marks along the length of the molding and sniping along its ends. Attempts have therefore been made to eliminate these and other related problems by applying pressure to the workpiece during the cutting and shaping process with a hold-down pressure shoe.
A variety of prior art hold-down pressure shoes are known in the milling industry, including wood, plastic and steel shoes. However, these pressure shoes do not effectively resolve the aforementioned problems. Their ineffectiveness is due, in part, to poor contact between the pressure shoe and the workpiece. Specifically, the surface of the pressure shoe that contacts the workpiece does not precisely conform to the detail of the pattern on the workpiece. Instead, the pressure shoe contacts only selective areas on the surface of the workpiece. This irregular contact between the surfaces of the pressure shoe and the workpiece causes the chatter, sniping and fly-away problems of the cutterhead blade.
The prior art shoes were inadequate as it was not known that a precise fit between the surfaces of the pressure shoe and the workpiece was necessary during the cutting and shaping process. In contrast, the prior art pressure shoes included surfaces that imprecisely conformed to the pattern on the workpiece. These prior art pressure shoes and the methods and materials used in their production are described in greater detail hereafter.
Wood pressure shoes are widely used in the industry and are made by one of two methods. The wood pressure shoes in both methods are easily worn and damaged, cause distinct pressure marks and marring on the workpiece, and are susceptible to wood chip or sawdust build-up from heat and resin in the wood.
The first method is known as reverse pattern shoes and involves manually grinding a cutting blade to match a template and then exposing a section of workpiece to the blade to produce a piece of molded wood that is cut into shoe blanks. This method is inaccurate in that the templates and, likewise, the cutting blades are hand filed and are therefore, at best, only approximations of the original pattern.
A second method involves producing wood shoes by table sawing, dadoeing or routing to create a shoe that allegedly conforms to the pattern on the workpiece. This method, however, is also inaccurate in that the dimensions of the shoes are mere approximations.
Another known method involves casting plastic cast shoes to a wood sample. Both the method and the product are inaccurate due to wide variations in the casting patterns. Moreover, this method creates distinguishable pressure marks on the workpiece.
Finally, two further methods involve steel pressure shoes which may be milled or used in an uncut form. A milled pressure shoe may be produced on a vertical or horizontal milling machine. Although milled steel pressure shoes wear well and are not as susceptible to damage as other shoe materials, it is difficult to obtain and transpose accurate dimensions of the design pattern to the steel for the milling process. Furthermore, the surface of the milled shoe generally is limited to its points of contact with the and this causes pressure marks and damage to the molded workpiece. Moreover, the milling process creates a rough finish which causes sawdust build-up.
Alternately, a steel flat or ground hold-down pressure shoe may be used in its uncut form. Steel flat pressure shoes are generally rectangular in shape and are not conformed to the molded workpiece. Furthermore, these shoes contact only the highest point on a detailed pattern. Because it is generally recommended that there be a minimum of 70% contact between the shoe and the workpiece, the steel shoes are only adequate for a or workpiece with a non-detailed or flat pattern.
Despite the numerous disadvantages with the above-mentioned hold-down pressure shoes, these shoes are still widely used in the construction industry. Thus, while these shoes apply pressure to a workpiece during the cutting and shaping process, they do not effectively resolve any of the aforementioned problems.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that conforms precisely to the detail of a preselected pattern on a workpiece.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that evenly distributes pressure on the surface of a workpiece that is being shaped during the cutting and shaping process.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that limits the movement of the workpiece as it feeds through the cutterhead, thereby eliminating end sniping, blade or chatter marks and pressure marks on the workpiece.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that increases the quality of the pattern on the workpiece by stabilizing the workpiece and maintaining it in its proper cutting plane.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that permits increased linear footage output (feed speed) on the wood molder machine without chatter, sniping and other related problems.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that precisely matches the profile of the cutterhead blade and/or template.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that is machined on the same machine as the cutterhead blade and/or the template which is used to make the pressure shoe and the blade.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that may be used with a variety of different machines.
A further object of the invention is to provide a hold-down pressure shoe that has a long life expectancy and requires little or no maintenance.

Method for machining a precision conformed hold-down pressure shoe

Precision Pattern, Template & Shoe, Inc.


A multiple section conveyor for the positioning of loose items for manual loading or stacking is, in combination, a first, telescoping gravity fed conveyor connected with a second powered elevated and delivery conveyor, controlled by the arrival of objects at the end of the second powered conveyor. The combination is coupled to a mobile, powered elevating work platform, to provide cargo items to a work crew at a controlled rate and at a proper height for safest handling, over the range of motions and elevations of the work platform.

This patent pertains to the field of cargo loading machinery, especially to apparatus for more efficiently loading loose items into a container or truck, where manual placement of the cargo by cargo handlers is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,963 to McWilliams discloses a conveyor for loading mail bags from a loading dock into a trailer. This conveyor system has two fixed power driven conveyors, each individually, manually controlled for on/off. The conveyors are interconnected about a hinging point so that the conveyor system (front and rear conveyors) may be moved in and out of the truck. The end conveyor is supported at a mid point by a hoisting mechanism and pivots around its rearward point so that its discharge end may be raised or lowered in the vehicle. Lateral positioning with the vehicle requires moving the entire conveyor.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,249,239 to Suffolk discloses a conveyor, for use in a coal mine for transporting bulk coal. This conveyor discloses a mechanism which shows a typical construction for a telescoping, gravity fed conveyor.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,960 to Eberle discloses a telescoping conveyor of the gravity fed roller type. This is described as being a truck bed loading conveyor. This patent also discloses a mechanism for temporary holding of delivered articles; operator intervention is required to deflect overflow bundles to a holding table (78). The claims of this patent are generally drawn to an extensible telescoping conveyor, with means at a work delivery end for raising and lowering the work delivery end.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,849 to Craggs, et el discloses a telescoping powered conveyor with means for raising and lowering the end. The claims are directed to a system of suspending the intermediate support rollers for the conveyor belt from a cable or strands, claimed to provide a self-aligning capability for centering the conveyor belt under varying loads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,276 to Pelletier discloses in combination a concrete conveyor containing a multiplicity of angled or telescoping powered conveyor belts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,480 to Loosli discloses a conveyor. The claim is drawn to a combination of a chain drive conveyor which can easily be driven in a small and a belt conveyor for protecting delicate produce from the chain. The patent discloses a mobile, two section conveyor having a fixed, powered section and a second, tilting powered section for delivery of produce to varying heights.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,089 to Jerome discloses another form of variable inclined conveyor having a single conveyor section in which there is both an upper and lower belt so as to restrain the transported object between the two belts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,555 to Rydell. The structure of this conveyor includes a feed conveyor (22), an angularly variable elevator conveyor (24) and a final horizontal feed conveyor (26). It is a part of the invention that the horizontal feed conveyor 26 is maintained level even though the elevator 24 may be raised or lowered.

Adaptable conveyor for man-loaded cargos


Problem

A drive unit integrated rotating electrical machine in the related art employed in an electric power steering device or the like uses a ceramic board as a drive board in a drive unit part (see, for example, PTL 1). Further, drive semiconductor switching elements (for example, MOS-FETs) are mounted by bare chip mounting on the ceramic board, which is the drive board (see, for example, PTL 1 and PTL 2).

Drive unit integrated rotating electrical machine

Abstract: Problem

Abstract: To obtain a drive unit integrated rotating electrical machine that makes it easier to connect power circuits and achieves not only excellent vibration resistance but also excellent heat releasing properties.

Abstract: Means for Solution

Abstract: A drive unit integrated rotating electrical machine has a motor, a drive unit driving the motor under control and provided with power switching elements and conductors passing a current to the power switching elements, and a heat sink cooling the drive unit, which are combined into one unit. The drive unit integrated rotating electrical machine is characterized in that: the power switching elements are molded and formed into mold modules in a state in which terminals thereof are exposed; the conductors are insert-molded in a frame in a state in which terminals thereof are exposed; and the exposed terminals of the mold modules are connected to the exposed terminals of the insert-molded conductors and the mold modules are firmly fixed to the heat sink.