An anisotropically conductive sheet which does not contaminate an object of connection, does not adhere to the object of connection even when it is left to stand for a long period of time in a state pressurized by the object of connection under a high-temperature environment and can prevent or inhibit electric charge from being accumulated to eliminate an adverse influence by static electricity, a production process thereof, and applications thereof. The anisotropically conductive sheet has an anisotropically conductive sheet body formed by an elastic polymeric substance and having a plurality of conductive parts extending in a thickness-wise direction of the sheet body and an insulating part mutually insulating these conductive parts, and a DLC film integrally formed on one or both surfaces of the anisotropically conductive sheet body so as to cover at least the insulating part.

An anisotropically conductive sheet is a sheet exhibiting conductivity only in its thickness-wise direction or having pressure-sensitive conductive conductor parts exhibiting conductivity only in its thickness-wise direction when it is pressurized in the thickness-wise direction. Since the anisotropically conductive sheet has such features that compact electrical connection can be achieved without using any means such as soldering or mechanical fitting, and that soft connection is feasible with mechanical shock or strain absorbed therein, it is widely used as a connector for achieving electrical connection between a circuit device, for example, a printed circuit board, and a leadless chip carrier, liquid crystal panel or the like in fields of, for example, electronic computers, electronic digital clocks, electronic cameras and computer key boards.
On the other hand, in electrical inspection of circuit devices such as semiconductor integrated circuit devices such as packaged ICs and MCMs, wafers, on which integrated circuits have been formed, and printed circuit boards, in order to achieve electrical connection between electrodes to be inspected formed on one surface of a circuit device, which is an object of inspection, and electrodes for inspection formed on the surface of a circuit board for inspection, it is conducted to cause an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet to intervene between an electrode region to be inspected of the circuit device and an electrode region for inspection of the circuit board for inspection.
As such anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets, those of various structures have heretofore been known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 93393/1976 discloses an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet (hereinafter referred to as "dispersion type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet") obtained by uniformly dispersing metal particles in an elastomer, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 147772/1978 discloses an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet (hereinafter referred to as "uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet") obtained by unevenly distributing conductive magnetic particles in an elastomer to form a great number of conductive parts extending in a thickness-wise direction thereof and an insulating part mutually insulating them. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 250906/1986 discloses an uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet with a difference in level defined between the surface of each conductive part and an insulating part.
In the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, since the conductive parts are formed in accordance with a pattern antipodal to a pattern of electrodes of a circuit device to be connected, it is advantageous compared with the dispersion type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet in that electrical connection between electrodes can be achieved with high reliability even to a circuit device small in the arrangement pitch of electrodes to be connected, i.e., center distance between adjacent electrodes.
However, the conventional anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets have involved the following problems.
In electrical inspection of circuit devices such as semiconductor integrated circuit devices, a burn-in test that electrical inspection of circuit devices is conducted under a high-temperature environment is carried out for the purpose of sorting circuit devices having latent defects.
A burn-in test using an anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet will be specifically described. A circuit device to be inspected is arranged on one surface of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, a circuit board for inspection is arranged on the other surface of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, and they are pressurized in a thickness-wise direction thereof, whereby electrical connection between electrodes to be inspected of the circuit device to be inspected and inspection electrodes of the circuit board for inspection is achieved. The circuit device to be inspected is then heated to a prescribed temperature, and held for a prescribed period of time in this state. Thereafter, necessary electrical inspection of the circuit device to be inspected is performed.
Since an uncured low-molecular weight component remains in an elastic polymeric substance for forming the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, for example, silicone rubber, and the low-molecular weight component bleeds out to the surface of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, however, the circuit device to be inspected coming into contact with the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is contaminated.
In addition, since the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet bears adhesiveness at a high temperature because the low-molecular weight component remains therein, the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet adheres to the circuit device to be inspected when it is held for a long period of time in a state brought into contact under pressure with the circuit board to be inspected under a high-temperature environment. As a result, a problem that one or both of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and the circuit device to be inspected are damaged when both are separated from each other is involved.
On the other hand, when the burn-in test is conducted by causing a sheet-like connector to intervene between the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and the circuit device to be inspected, the contamination of the circuit device to be inspected with the low-molecular weight component and the adhesion of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet to the circuit device to be inspected can be avoided.
In such a case, however, the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet adheres to the sheet-like connector. As a result, one or both of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and the sheet-like connector are damaged when both are separated from each other. In addition, when the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet adheres to the sheet-like connector, the sheet-like connector causes bent. When the sheet-like connector is used in electrical inspection of a circuit device in this state, it is thus difficult to achieve stable electrical connection to all electrodes to be inspected in the circuit device to be inspected.
Further, when a conventional anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is used in electrical inspection of a circuit device having electrodes to be inspected, which are formed of solder, the following problem is involved.
Namely, when the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is used repeatedly over many times in a probe test of a circuit device having electrodes to be inspected, which are formed of solder or used repeatedly in a test under a high-temperature environment, for example, a burn-in test, a solder material forming the electrodes to be inspected adheres to the surface of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and further diffuses into conductive particles. As a result, it is difficult to retain necessary conductivity.
In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed a means for forming a metal layer having diffusion resistance to the solder material on the surfaces of conductive parts in the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-280092).
However, it is impossible to inhibit the adhesion of the solder material to the surface of the metal layer by such a means. After all, it is thus difficult to retain necessary conductivity over a long period of time.
Further, the conventional uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheets involve the following problem.
Since an insulating part of a considerably wide area is present in the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, the surface of the insulating part of the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is charged with static electricity according to usage or service environment of the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, so that various problems arise.
For example, when the uneven distribution type anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet is used in electrical inspection of a circuit device, electrical connection between the circuit device to be inspected and a circuit board for inspection is achieved by causing this anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet to intervene between the circuit device to be inspected and the circuit board for inspection and pressurizing the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, thereby performing the electrical inspection. However, electric charge is easy to be generated by a pressurizing operation and a separating operation. Therefore, the electric charge is accumulated on the surface of the insulating part in the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet when the electrical inspection of a great number of circuit devices is continuously conducted, whereby the surface of the insulating part comes to be charged with high-voltage static electricity.
When the static electricity is discharged through the conductive parts of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet, an adverse influence may be exerted on not only the conductive parts of the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and a wiring circuit of the circuit board for inspection, but also the circuit devices, which are objects of the inspection, in some cases. As a result, there is a possibility that the anisotropically conductive elastomer sheet and the circuit board for inspection may be damaged, or the circuit devices to be inspected may be broken.

Anisotropic conductive sheet, its manufacturing method, and its application


A process for the extrusion of peroxide crosslinked polymer parts, mainly tubes, in which the crosslinkable polymer is heated in an extruder in a controlled manner to a value above the crystallite melting point of the polymer, but below the crosslinking temperature, and fed continuously to an extrusion die to create the part and in which at least a partial crosslinking of the polymer is achieved in the extrusion die by heating of the polymer above a crosslinking temperature provision.

This invention relates to a process for the extruding peroxide crosslinkable polymer parts, mainly tubes, in which the crosslinkable polymer is heated in an extruder and is fed continuously to an extrusion die to create the part and in which at least a partial crosslinking of the polymer occurs in the extrusion die by the heating of the polymer above a crosslinking temperature.
EP 0 999 030A1. describes a process, in which tubes are made of a peroxide crosslinkable polymer. These tubes consist of a polyethylene to which an organic peroxide is added as the crosslinking agent as well as an antioxidant. Other polyolefins, such as polypropylene and copolymers of ethylene and propylene with monounsaturated or poly unsaturated polymerizable monomers can also be used in place of polyethylene. In the process described in EP 0 999 030, the unmolten mixture of the polymer and the peroxide is fed to the extruder through a known feed hopper. The extruder conveys the polymer to the extrusion die, in which the tube is then created and the crosslinking of the polymer is achieved. For this purpose, heat is induced in the vicinity of the extrusion die, which initiates the crosslinking of the polymer. Firstly, the polymer is melted with the crosslinking agent in the extrusion die, and then heated above the crosslinking temperature. The material crosslinked in the extrusion die then discharges from the extrusion die as an extruded tube. To prevent premature melting and crosslinking of the polymer, the extruder is particularly short, in length, and is also equipped with a cooling unit at its exterior.
The finished tubes are particularly suitable as water pipes. Compliance with the process parameters poses a problem in the manufacture of this type of tubes. Failure to address these problems can lead to heavy fluctuations in the quality during the manufacture of the tubes or parts.
Unintended crosslinking can also lead to undesired stresses and loads in the extruder or the extrusion die. Apart from inadequate properties of the finished tube, this can also cause damage to the extrusion die or the extruder.

Extrusion of peroxide crosslinkable polymer parts


A compressed air filtering cartridge includes a housing and a filter in the housing, the filter having a thermal vent. In one embodiment the filter includes a wall portion having a first condition when below a predetermined temperature range in which the wall portion blocks flow of air between opposite sides of the wall portion. The wall portion has a second condition when above the predetermined temperature range in which the wall portion does not block flow of air between opposite sides of the wall portion. The cartridge may be part of a compressed air system, between a compressor and an air dryer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to filtering devices used in combination with compressed air, heavy vehicle braking systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a filtering cartridge that is disposed downstream of an air brake compressor and that has a thermal venting capability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compressed air systems are used in vehicles to provide and maintain air under pressure to operate vehicle brakes and associated auxiliary air systems. Conventional systems include an air compressor for generating pressurized air and a drying device or air dryer disposed downstream from the compressor for removing entrained liquid from the air. The air dryer includes a desiccant material that removes water vapor from the air as it passes therethrough.
Air brake compressors are typically supplied with oil from the vehicle engine in order to lubricate the bearings and other components of the compressor. However, because oil is difficult to contain, a small portion of the lubricating oil passes into the pressurized air stream exiting the compressor in the form of oil vapor and carbon particles. If air exiting the compressor passes directly to the downstream components, elastomeric seals and seats of the components, as well as the desiccant material housed within the air dryer, can become contaminated with the oil and carbon.
Therefore, some vehicle air brake systems are provided with a filter cartridge located immediately downstream of the compressor. The filter cartridge includes a filter located in a housing. The filter is spring biased against an inlet end of the housing. Air flowing into the filter housing is directed to flow through the filter before it flows out of the housing. The filter causes the oil vapor and carbon particles to coalesce in the filter, thus preventing it from flowing downstream to the operating components of the braking system.
The coalesced oil and carbon has an autoignition temperature of around 400° F. If it ignites within the filter it can cause major damage to the vehicle. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0110949 A1 discloses a spin-on filtering cartridge that includes a thermal vent. With the thermal vent, pressure is released from the cartridge upon reaching a threshold temperature.
In the known filter cartridge, a pressure increase due to filter clogging can cause the filter to compress the spring and move away from the inlet end of the housing, allowing air to flow freely around the filter.


A system and method are described herein for a sensor device which biomechanically detects in real-time a user's movement state and posture and then provides real-time feedback to the user based on the user's real-time posture. The feedback is provided through immediate sensory feedback through the sensor device (e.g., a sound or vibration) as well as through an avatar within an associated application with which the sensor device communicates. The sensor device detects the user's movement state and posture by capturing data from a tri-axial accelerometer in the sensor device. Streamed data from the accelerometer is normalized to correct for sensor errors as well as variations in sensor placement and orientation. Normalization is based on accelerometer data collected while the user is wearing the device and performing specific actions.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to biomechanical sensors used for biofeedback, and in particular, to biomechanical sensors that interface with computing devices.
Description of the Prior Art
Inactivity and poor posture can cause significant back problems. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year. A. T. Patel and A. A. Ogle (2000), "Diagnosis and Management of Acute Low Back Pain", in American Family Physician, March 15; 61(6): 1779-1786.
Back pain also exacts a huge economic cost—estimated to be over $50 billion per year in direct (e.g., health care expenditures) and indirect (e.g., lost productivity) costs. In the United States, back pain is the primary reason for job-related disability, one of the leading causes of missed work days, the primary reason for people younger than 45 to limit their activity, and the second most common reason for visits to the doctor.
Medical practitioners agree that back pain can often be reduced by maintaining good posture—that is, a "neutral spine" posture—while sitting, standing, lying, or moving. The neutral spine posture in a healthy spine is an optimal position of three natural curves of the spine: a neck (cervical) region, a mid-back (thoracic) region, and a lower-back (lumbar) region. As shown in FIG. 1, the neck region curve involves cervical vertebrae C1-C7, and is ideally anteriorly convex (i.e., should curve inward). The mid-back region curve involves thoracic vertebrae T1-T12, and is ideally posteriorly convex (i.e., should curve outward). The lower-back region curve involves lumber vertebrae L1-L5 and is ideally anteriorly convex (i.e., should curve inward).
Posture is determined to some degree by pelvic tilt. As shown in diagram 201 of FIG. 2, a neutral pelvis (i.e., a pelvis that is not tilted) indicates that anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) and the pubic symphysis (not visible in FIG. 2) fall along a vertical line running through the leg bones, the anterior curves of the lumbar and cervical regions, and out the top of the head.
If the ASIS and pubic symphysis are not properly aligned, the pelvis is rotated and thereby changes the curvatures of the lumbar, thoracic, and/or cervical regions of the spine. When the pelvis is rotated to a forward tilting position (i.e., an anteverted position), the lumbar curvature increases beyond a neutral spine position. When this anterior rotation of the pelvis is extreme, it can result in an unhealthy swayback posture (i.e., lordosis) as shown in diagram 202. If an individual instead slouches, the pelvis rotates to a backward tilting position (i.e., a retroverted position as shown in diagram 203), thereby flattening out the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar curvatures as also shown in the figure.
Biofeedback (i.e., a process of using physiological indicators of a biological system to monitor and control behavior of that biological system) is one way to provide feedback to individuals about how their bodies are functioning, with a goal of using that information to monitor and change problematic behaviors, such as smoking and weight gain. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,838 (Kline) discloses a posture training device which can be held against the backbone of a person by a belt or garment such that an increase in curvature of the backbone in either a midsagittal or transverse plane moves a module within a frame relative to the frame. When the module has been moved sufficiently to indicate a poor posture position, a tactile signal generator within the module is activated to vibrate, thereby alerting the person that he has assumed a poor posture.
This and other conventional biomechanical devices typically require garments or belts to hold sensors in place. It can be difficult to apply these devices in a way that people find visually appealing, comfortable, and convenient. Furthermore, these devices tend to be bulky, adding to the discomfort of wearing these devices. What is needed is a flexible, comfortable device that can measure a user's positions and movements to provide postural feedback.

System and method of biomechanical posture detection and feedback including sensor normalization


Provided is an image processing apparatus that improves performance of reading data of a RIP process. A multi-channel DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller performs reading or writing of stored data related to a RIP (Raster Image Processor). A FIFO (First In, First Out) is able to change a number of entries for each of the channels of the multi-channel DMA controller. An image processing control unit interprets the RIP order, and according to that order, changes the configuration of the number of entries for each of the channels, and controls processing of the data.

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image processing method.
There are image forming apparatuses such as multifunctional peripherals (MFPs) or the like capable of printing documents and images.
In such an image forming apparatus, RIP (Raster Image Processor) image processing that forms an image of page data described in a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark) or the like is performed.
Therefore, there are image forming apparatuses provided with an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, a processor for a specific application) for speeding up the RIP process.
In a typical technique, there is an image forming apparatus equipped with such an ASIC.
In this kind of ASIC, a RIP processing data pipeline may include a multi-channel DMA (Direct Memory Access).

Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method for improving performance of reading data of RIP process


Fishing tackle covers are useful separately or together: Fishing rod cover has a see-through pliable perforate sleeve with a closure flap. A fishing rod and reel assembly can be inserted into and removed from it repeatedly. Fishing rods can be protected from contact with other rods without the need for disassembly of rod, reel, line and even attached lure or hook. The rod cover keeps fishing lines from tangling, especially when used with other covers of the invention; it permits quick visual identification and rapid removal of the assembled rod combination ready for fishing; it facilitates drying out of any wet equipment it may cover, and it may be rolled up and kept that way easily for convenient stowage. For example, the rod cover may be made to primarily incorporate a fiberglass screen in its sleeve and closure flap. As well, fishing hook/lure cover is a purse having a panel set. The purse generally has insertion and extraction ends, with a repeatedly sealable border, and it is non-damaging to rod, line and hook and/or lure. The hook/lure cover may be transparent. For example, the hook/lure cover may be made to primarily incorporate clear vinyl in its panel set.

One of a fisherman's most aggravating obstacles is a problem of tangled fishing lines. The problem is even worse when several fishing rods are put together in storage, in which case the tangle of the various lines in a closet, in a trunk of a car or hold of a boat, or in an ice-fisherman's bucket, can make for a fisherman's nightmare.
Various covers have been proposed to protect rods. For example, rod cases, rigid imperforate tubes with end caps, are available; rod socks of opaque cloth or felt are known. In using these, typically the rod is stripped of reel and line, and taken apart, before being inserted into the case or sock for storage. An air shipping rod case, a rigid tube with zippered end pouch, is also known generally to hold a disassembled rod, e.g., a fly rod, even though a reel may be attached to one part of the rod. In each of those covers, visual identification of enclosed tackle is hardly possible; lures or hooks typically must be removed before insertion, and each has its further drawbacks as well, not the least of which is a lack of ease of use under diverse circumstances encountered in fishing, from care and storage of the covered equipment, to transport, to stowage of empty covers, etc.
The art for a long time has lacked and needed a fishing tackle cover which can ameliorate such problems.

See-through pliable/perforate fishing tackle covering system


In one embodiment a blower comprises a case comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side wall extending between portions of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the side wall comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller disposed in the case and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending between the first surface and the second surface. Portions of the side wall are disposed at least a first distance from the axis of rotation and the impeller is to define a circumferential airflow path within the case, and the impeller is to create an airflow in the circumferential airflow path between the air inlet and the air outlet.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to the field of electronic devices and more particularly to a blower assembly for one or more electronic devices.
Modern computing systems generate heat during operation. The heat may affect certain platform components of a system, and is therefore generally required to be dissipated or removed from the system. Heat generated by the computing system may be limited or reduced using various thermal management techniques and/or heat dissipation techniques. For example, heat generated by a processor may be dissipated by creating a flow of air using a fan or blower. Further, various platform-level cooling devices may be implemented in conjunction with the fan or blower to enhance heat dissipation, such as heat pipes, heat spreaders, heat sinks, vents, phase change materials or liquid-based coolants.
Traditional blowers used in portable computing systems generate a flow of air from an inlet parallel to the axis of rotation (e.g. the axial direction) to an outlet substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This may be problematic in notebook computers, for example, because these traditional fans require inlet gaps above and/or below the fan housing. Because of the size constraints of a notebook computer, the cooling capacity of traditional systems is thermally limited by the size of fan that can be accommodated inside a notebook computer housing while allowing sufficient space for inlet gaps above and/or below the fan housing. Furthermore, the form factor of notebook computers continues to decrease in size, resulting in less available space for cooling components. Consequently, a need exists for improved cooling techniques for notebook computers.


This invention is directed to dry, negatively charged toner compositions and developer compositions which employ, as a charge-control agent, a compound selected from the group consisting of phthalimide, 4-aminophthalimide and 4-tert-butylphthalimide; as well as to methods of utilizing such compositions in electrostatographic imaging systems.

In electrostatography an image comprising a pattern of electrostatic potential (also referred to as an electrostatic latent image) is formed on an insulative surface by any of various methods. For example, the electrostatic latent image may be formed electrophotographically (i.e., by imagewise radiation-induced discharge of a uniform potential previously formed on a surface of an electrophotographic element comprising at least a photoconductive layer and an electrically conductive substrate), or it may be formed by dielectric recording (i.e., by direct electrical formation of a pattern of electrostatic potential on a surface of a dielectric material). Typically, the electrostatic latent image is then developed into a toner image by contacting the latent image with an electrographic developer. If desired, the latent image can be transferred to another surface before development.
One well-known type of electrographic developer comprises a dry mixture of toner particles and carrier particles. Developers of this type are commonly employed in well-known electrographic development processes such as cascade development and magnetic brush development. The particles in such developers are formulated such that the toner particles and carrier particles occupy different positions in the triboelectric continuum, so that when they contact each other during mixing to form the developer, they become triboelectrically charged, with the toner particles acquiring a charge of one polarity and the carrier particles acquiring a charge of the opposite polarity. These opposite charges attract each other such that the toner particles cling to the surfaces of the carrier particles. When the developer is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image, the electrostatic forces of the latent image (sometimes in combination with an additional applied field) attract the toner particles, and the toner particles are pulled away from the carrier particles and become electrostatically attached imagewise to the latent image-bearing surface. The resultant toner image can then be fixed in place on the surface by application of heat or other known methods (depending upon the nature of the surface and of the toner image) or can be transferred to another surface, to which it then can be similarly fixed.
A number of requirements are implicit in such development schemes. Namely, the electrostatic attraction between the toner and carrier particles must be strong enough to keep the toner particles held to the surfaces of the carrier particles while the developer is being transported to and brought into contact with the latent image, but when that contact occurs, the electrostatic attraction between the toner particles and the latent image must be even stronger, so that the toner particles are thereby pulled away from the carrier particles and deposited in the desired amount on the latent image-bearing surface. In order to meet these requirements for proper development, the level of electrostatic charge on the toner and carrier particles should be maintained within an adequate range.
Many known dry, two-component electrostatographic developers contain thermoplastic toner particles and carrier particles that comprise a core material which may or may not be coated with a polymer. Such polymeric carrier coatings can serve a number of known purposes. One such purpose can be to aid the developer to meet the electrostatic force requirements mentioned above by shifting the carrier particles to a position in the triboelectric series different from that of the uncoated carrier core material in order to adjust the degree of triboelectric charging of both the carrier and toner particles. Another purpose can be to reduce the frictional characteristics of the carrier particles in order to improve developer flow properties. Still another purpose can be to reduce the surface hardness of the carrier particles so that they are less likely to break apart during use and less likely to abrade surfaces (e.g., photoconductive element surfaces) that they contact during use. Yet another purpose can be to reduce the tendency of toner material or other developer additives to become undesirably permanently adhered to carrier surfaces during developer use (often referred to as scumming). A further purpose can be to alter the electrical resistance of the carrier particles.
Many different types of polymers have been described as useful for one or more of these purposes, among which are, for example, various styrene and methacrylate polymers and copolymers thereof. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,209,550; 4,572,885; and 4,822,708, and British published Patent Specification 1,385,231, suggest that, among many other polymers, poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) may serve one or more of these purposes.
However, while such carrier coatings can serve the above-noted purposes well, in some cases they do not adequately serve some or all of these purposes simultaneously. For example, in some developer compositions, styrene and methacrylate polymer carrier coatings can serve many of the above-noted purposes well, but, depending upon the nature of the toner particles, such carrier coatings can cause the toner to acquire a triboelectric charge that is too low for optimum developer performance. This is true in some negatively charged developers (developers in which the toner particles triboelectrically acquire a negative charge, and the coated carrier particles acquire a positive charge). This is particularly true in such developers where the carrier coating material comprises poly(methyl methacrylate) or a copolymer of p-t-butylstyrene and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl methacrylate and the toner particles comprise a polymeric binder which is a polyester having a glass transition temperature of approximately 500.degree. to 100.degree. C. and a weight average molecular weight of approximately 20,000 to 100,000. Such polyester toner binders are very useful and are widely used in producing electrophotographic color images because of their ability to minimize offset which occurs when some of the toner adheres to the paper, while some remains on the fusing roller and then bonds to the next piece of paper. The low toner charge is due to the fact that these polymeric carrier coating materials are not triboelectrically potent or efficient enough to achieve the desired degree of charging. Consequently, the toner particles are undercharged resulting in less than optimum developer performance and hence less than optimum image development and image quality.
Thus, there remains a need to establish and maintain a proper level of charge on the toner particles described above so that the desired level of charge on the toner particles required for optimum image development and image quality can be achieved. The present invention meets that need.

Electrostatographic toner and developer compositions with phthalimide derivatives


An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a substrate; forming a base assembled package over the substrate; forming a top package over the base assemble package; and applying a top package stacking material for stand-off or insulation to the base assembled package and the top package.

Integrated circuits have become ubiquitous in many portable electronic products, such as cell phones, portable computers, voice recorders, etc. as well as in many larger electronic systems, such as cars, planes, industrial control systems, etc. Across all applications, there continues to be demand for reducing the size and increasing performance of the devices.
Virtually all electronic products benefit from increasing functions and performance in integrated circuit chips while being designed into ever-smaller physical space. These demands are often very visible with the many consumer electronic products including but not limited to personal portable devices, such as cellular phones, digital cameras, and music players.
Thus, there is a constant drive within the semiconductor industry to reduce dimensional footprints as well as increase quality, reliability, and performance. This drive is fueled by consumer demands for smaller, higher quality computers and electronic devices that operate more reliably.
These demands have resulted in continual improvement in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors, as well as in the manufacture of integrated circuit packages incorporating such transistors. Additionally, reducing defects in the manufacture of the components including integrated circuit packages also lowers the overall cost of integrated circuit devices.
While stacking integrated circuits within integrated circuit packages has improved dimensional densities and footprints it has not been without problems. Integrated circuit failures have plagued integrated circuit package yields thereby increasing costs and reliability. Attempts to validate the individual integrated circuit devices address only a portion of the problems.
The ever-smaller integrated circuits and electrical connections can be easily damaged during manufacturing processing as well as handling. Protective packaging including encapsulation can protect the fragile circuits and connections once they have been applied. Unfortunately, the process of applying the integrated circuit package can also be a cause of damage.
Despite the advantages of recent developments in integrated circuit manufacturing, there is a continuing need for improving integrated circuit die and integrated circuit package attachment with stacked die and packages to provide improved dimensional sizes and footprints as well as structural integrity and manufacturing yield.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit package system to provide improved die attach, dimensions, and footprint. In view of the increasing demand for improved density of integrated circuits and particularly portable electronic products, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit package system with internal stacking module adhesive


Systems, methods, apparatus and software can make use separated I/O processors and strategy processors in performing virtual device I/O operations. I/O processors operating on cluster nodes, storage appliance ports, or other devices can receive I/O operation requests directed to virtual devices, e.g., volumes or virtual logical units. Information about the request is forwarded to a strategy processor, operating independently or as part of larger volume management software where corresponding physical device I/O operations are determined. The physical device I/O operations are sent back to the I/O processor which executes the operations and/or passes the operation on to the appropriate storage device.

Distributed computing systems are an increasingly important part of research, governmental, and enterprise computing systems. Among the advantages of such computing systems are their ability to handle a variety of different computing scenarios including large computational problems, high volume data processing situations, and high availability situations. For applications that require the computer system to be highly available, e.g., the ability to maintain the system while still providing services to system users, a cluster of computer systems is a useful implementation of the distributed computing model. In the most general sense, a cluster is a distributed computer system that works together as a single entity to cooperatively provide processing power and mass storage resources. With a cluster, the processing load of the computer system is typically spread over more than one computer, thereby eliminating single points of failure. Consequently, programs executing on the cluster can continue to function despite a problem with one computer in the cluster. In another example, one or more computers of the cluster can be ready for use in the event that another computer in the cluster fails. While each computer in a cluster typically executes an independent instance of an operating system, additional clustering software is executed on each computer in the cluster to facilitate communication and desired cluster behavior.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified example of a cluster 100. The members of the cluster include Server A 140 and Server B 145. As members of cluster 100, servers 140 and 145 are often referred to as "hosts" or "nodes." Thus, a node in a computer cluster is typically an individual computer system having some or all of the software and hardware components illustrated and as is well known in the art. FIG. 5 (described below) illustrates some of the features common to cluster nodes. Another common feature of a cluster is the ability of the nodes to exchange data. In the example of FIG. 1, servers 140 and 145 can exchange data over network 120, typically a local area network (LAN), e.g., an enterprise-wide intranet, or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Additionally, network 120 provides a communication path for various client computer systems 110 to communicate with servers 140 and 145. In addition to network 120, servers 140 and 145 can communicate with each other over private network 130. As shown, private network 130 is only accessible by cluster nodes, i.e., Server A 140 and Server B 145. To support the high availability of cluster 100, private network 130 typically includes redundancy such as two network paths instead of one. Private network 130 is used by the nodes for cluster service message passing including, for example, the exchange of so-called "heart-beat" signals indicating that each node is currently available to the cluster and functioning properly. Similar functions can be implemented using a public network.
Other elements of cluster 100 include storage area network (SAN) 150, SAN switch 160, and storage devices such as tape drive 170, storage array 180, and optical drive 190. These devices are examples of the type of storage used in cluster 100. Other storage schemes include the use of shared direct-attached storage (DAS) over shared SCSI buses. As shown in FIG. 1, both servers 140 and 145 are coupled to SAN 150. SAN 150 is conventionally a high-speed network that allows the establishment of direct connections between storage devices 170, 180, and 190 and servers 140 and 145. Thus, SAN 150 is shared between the servers and allows for the sharing of storage devices between the servers to providing greater availability and reliability of storage. SAN 150 can be implemented using a variety of different technologies including fibre channel arbitrated loop (FCAL), fibre channel switched fabric, IP networks (e.g., iSCSI), Infiniband, etc.
SAN switch 160, tape drive 170, storage array 180, and optical drive 190 are all examples of shared resources. The most common shared resource in a cluster is some form of shared data resource, such as one or more disk drives. Using a shared data resource gives different nodes in the cluster access to the same data, a feature that is critical for most cluster applications. Although a disk device (and various related devices such as storage array 180) is perhaps the most common example of both a shared resource and a shared data resource, a variety of other types of devices will be well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, although servers 140 and 145 are shown connected to storage array 180 through SAN switch 160 and SAN 150, this need not be the case. Shared resources can be directly connected to some or all of the nodes in a cluster, and a cluster need not include a SAN. Alternatively, servers 140 and 145 can be connected to multiple SANs. Additionally, SAN switch 160 can be replaced with a SAN router or a SAN hub.
One well known problem among computer system clusters is the coordination of input/output (I/O) operations on the shared resources. Since multiple nodes have access to the same data resources, care must be taken to ensure that data is not corrupted, e.g., because of uncoordinated write operations to the same logical or physical portions of a storage device or read operations that do not present data reflecting the most recent updates.
A variety of software mechanisms, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are employed to both enable clustering functionality and prevent data corruption. A cluster volume manager virtualizes shared storage so as to present a consistent view of shared storage, typically in a logical format such as one or more volumes, to all nodes of the cluster. Additionally, a cluster volume manager allows an administrator to configure and reconfigure shared storage. In some implementations, this reconfiguration can be accomplished without interrupting applications' access to the storage. A cluster monitor regularly checks the status or "health" of each node in the cluster to quickly and reliably determine when a node stops functioning (or stops functioning properly) and inform the remaining nodes so that they can take appropriate action. In some embodiments, a cluster messaging service, which can be a part of cluster monitor and/or a separate software or hardware system, exists to quickly and reliably communicate cluster-critical information among the nodes in a secure manner. Finally, a cluster locking mechanism provides distributed locks that are used by instances of a cluster application to achieve proper coordination. In some embodiments, this is achieved through the use of a formalized distributed lock manager. In still other embodiments, the lock management is implemented in an ad hoc fashion using the messaging services to communicate and coordinate the state. These software tools operate in conjunction with applications, database management systems, file systems, operating systems, etc., to provide distributed clustering functionality.
In one approach to I/O coordination, one node is elected as master of all the shared storage and the remaining nodes are slaves. The master node can typically change disk configurations and maintains control over disk areas used for transaction logs. The master node also reads volume management metadata from all of the disks and maintains this mapping between each logical block of the volume and one or more physical blocks of the disks. Slave nodes must obtain copies of this volume management metadata in order to have knowledge of the volume organization. Moreover, if there are changes to the volume configuration, that change must be communicated to all of the slaves using, for example, a messaging protocol and/or a system of shared and exclusive locks on the volume management metadata.
In clustering systems where changes to volume configuration occur frequently, the added system resource overhead needed to make all nodes aware of the changes can be burdensome. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a more scalable and flexible scheme for performing I/O operations on shared resources in a clustering environment.

System and method for performing virtual device I/O operations


A flat-plate portion of a negative electrode composite material layer includes a first end portion at one end portion in a direction of axis of winding of a flat electrode winding assembly, a second end portion located opposite to the first end portion, and a central portion lying between the first end portion and the second end portion. The flat-plate portion of the negative electrode composite material layer is provided with a plurality of communication grooves. The communication groove includes a first terminal end portion at the first end portion, includes a second terminal end portion at the second end portion, includes in the central portion, a starting portion located closer to a bottom portion of a prismatic case relative to the first terminal end portion and the second terminal end portion, and extends from the starting portion toward the first terminal end portion and the second terminal end portion.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-285607 (PTL 1) discloses a non-aqueous secondary battery in which a groove is formed in a surface of a positive electrode composite material layer obtained by coating a core with a positive electrode composite agent paint followed by drying and compression to a defined thickness, by causing the positive electrode composite material layer to pass through a gap between an upper roll having a protruding projection and a lower roll.

Non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery and method of manufacturing the same


The imaging apparatus has a plurality of pixels each of which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion units; generates a plurality of first combined signals obtained by combining signals based on electric charges of photoelectric conversion units in one side with each other, and a plurality of second signals obtained by combining signals based on electric charges of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units with each other; and outputs a part of the first combined signals out of the plurality of first combined signals.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging system, and a method for driving the imaging apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
An imaging apparatus is known which has a plurality of pixels containing a plurality of photoelectric conversion units arranged under the same microlens, and outputs a signal based on one photoelectric conversion unit and a signal based on another photoelectric conversion unit. This imaging apparatus uses signals of at least two photoelectric conversion units provided under the same microlens, measures a phase difference, detects a focus. Furthermore, the imaging apparatus adds up the signals of the above described two photoelectric conversion units, and thereby obtains an imaging signal. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-090160 discloses a technology of adding and reading out signals per pixel unit and solely reading out a signal from each photoelectric conversion unit, in an imaging element in which each pixel has a plurality of photoelectric conversion units and which reads out signals sent from the respective pixels.
However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-090160, a study has not sufficiently been conducted for increasing the speed of reading out an added signal of signals based on the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and reading out a signal for measuring a phase difference, which is sent from a part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units.
The technology that will be described below relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging system and a method for driving the imaging apparatus, which can increase the speed of an operation.

Imaging apparatus, imaging system, and method for driving imaging apparatus


A solar collector includes a plurality of elongated parabolic reflectors mounted within a glass-topped enclosure for pivotal movement such that each reflector is incrementally pivoted throughout the course of a day to remain substantially perpendicular to the sun. The incremental pivotal movement is caused by a motor energized from a solar switch having solar cells that also pivot throughout the day so that in one position of the switch, no electricity is being generated and transferred to the motor, but in a second position, the switch receives solar radiation and energizes the motor to again incrementally pivot each reflector along with the solar switch. The reflectors are therefore incrementally pivoted throughout the course of a day to follow the sun for optimal collection of solar radiation which is used to heat liquid carried by tubes positioned at the axis of generation of the parabolic reflectors and/or strips of solar cell material so that electricity can be generated alone, liquid heated alone, or liquid heated and electricity generated simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to solar collectors and more particularly to an enclosed solar collector having a plurality of pivotal parabolic reflectors with systems mounted along their axis of generation for converting solar radiation to heated liquid and/or electricity. The parabolic reflectors are connected together with linkage for unitary pivotal movement so as to follow the course of the sun and a solar switch is utilized for incrementally driving a motor to maintain a perpendicular relationship of the reflectors with the sun. The entire system is mounted within an enclosed box with a glass top.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Systems for harnessing the energy generated by the sun have been investigated for many years, and in recent years, collectors have been developed for capturing solar energy so that heat transfer fluids can be heated within the collector and transferred to other locations for domestic or commercial use in heating water, air or the like. Most such systems have a plurality of black fluid conducting tubes confined within a glass enclosed box so the radiation from the sun will heat the tubes and the liquid being carried therein before it is transferred to a remote site for domestic or commercial use. Temperature sensors and pumps are utilized so the fluid is only transferred when it attains a certain predetermined temperature and typically glycol or other liquids having low freezing points are utilized as the collectors may be exposed to environmental elements, which in the winter, can be extreme.
Solar cells are also well known and are designed to generate electricity from solar energy. Accordingly, instead of using liquids in which heat can be collected, stored and transmitted to a remote location for use in heating air or water, solar cells generate electricity, which can also be transferred to remote locations for domestic or commercial uses.
It is also known that parabolic surfaces will reflect solar rays as emanated from the sun and focus them along an axis of generation of the parabola to concentrate the sun's rays along a line. Accordingly, by placing liquid-conducting tubes along that axis of generation, the efficiency of a solar collector can be enhanced. Such systems are currently utilized in large commercial establishments and typically the parabolic surfaces are made of a reflective material and exposed to the elements.
In some instances, the parabolic reflectors are also mounted to follow the sun so the incident rays received from the sun are received in perpendicular relationship to the parabola whereby the rays are more efficiently concentrated along the axis of generation of the parabola.
While many systems have been developed for collecting and transferring energy generated by the sun, efficient collectors have not been developed where a plurality of parabolic reflectors mounted to follow the sun are enclosed in a glass-topped box. It is to this end that the present invention has been developed.


An abrasive flow apparatus for polishing a workpiece wherein a horizontal machine tool is adapted such that a workpiece may be secured to first shaft rotatable about a first longitudinal axis. A conjugate form to the workpiece may be secured to a second shaft which is rotatable about a second longitudinal axis. The workpiece and conjugate form are secured to each shaft in a manner such that they are facing one another and slightly set apart to define a gap. A flowable abrasive media is introduced within this gap. The centerlines of the workpiece and the conjugate form are offset from one another such that rotation of the shafts in the same direction and at the same rotational speed produces relative motion between the workpiece and the conjugate form thereby polishing the workpiece. A slide may be used for axially positioning the first shaft and the second shaft a predetermined distance to define the size of the gap. A feeder may be used for introducing flowable abrasive media within a work zone defined by the volume of the gap between the workpiece and the conjugal form.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to orbital polishing and more particularly to an apparatus and method for polishing a workpiece utilizing an orbital polishing machine with a flowable elastic abrasive media.
2. Description of Related Art
Abrasive flow machining is a well known non-traditional machining process whereby a visco-elastic media permeated with an abrasive grit is extruded through or past a workpiece surface to abrade surfaces over which the media passes. The abrasive action and abrasive flow machining can be thought of as analogous to a filing, grinding, lapping or honing operation where the extruded visco-elastic abrasive media passes through or past the workpiece as a "plug." The plug then becomes a self-forming file, grinding stone or lap as it is extruded under pressure through or past the workpiece, thereby abrasively working upon selected surfaces of the workpiece. The special properties of the visco-elastic media are such that the material will become most aggressive at its greatest restriction.
Recently, this technology has been utilized with orbital polishing to create a hybrid technology. Orbital polishing uses much of the same technology as abrasive flow machining, but utilizes a mechanical motion to polish three-dimensional forms not possible to be polished by the conventional abrasive flow machining technique. While traditional abrasive flow machining requires flow of abrasive media over or through the workpiece, such flow may or may not be used with the orbital polishing process, since motion is imparted to the abrasive media by the orbital polishing machine independent of any abrasive media flow. Details of an orbital polishing machine may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,916, assigned to Extrude Hone Corporation, the assignee of the present invention and the contents of this patent are herein incorporated by reference.
The flowable abrasive media may be a flowable, visco-elastic polymer with abrasive particles mixed therein. The polymer and abrasives selected for a given polishing operation are determined in part by the material to be polished and the polish finish desired. Typical abrasives include silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and boron carbide. The use of such media for metalworking operations is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,787, assigned to Extrude Hlone Corporation, the assignee of the present invention and the contents of this patent are hereby incorporated by reference.
One area of manufacturing in which orbital polishing has been used only to a limited amount is for the polishing of motor vehicle wheels. Many of these wheels have decorative, highly polished shapes which are very difficult to polish into a finished product. Manufacturers of after-market motor vehicle wheels are presently limited in their production volumes due to limitations required by polishing such wheels and the existence of few facilities capable of supporting the industry. The current production volumes of a given wheel range from hundreds of sets to thousands of sets per month. Typically, these wheels are polished by hand, although some other semi-automated process, such as a buffing process, may be used as well. Hand polishing generates high demands on the existing labor force and the semi-automatic process generates high demands on existing equipment. Current equipment and processes also generate high amounts of air-borne pollutants. The demand for such polished wheels currently exceeds the supply by up to 30% since such production increases have not been possible because of lack of equipment and a process to polish cast wheels in a more timely and cost effective manner.
Whenever the wheels are polished by hand, the finish of such a polishing effort is dependent on the skill of the individual person and, as a result, each wheel will have a variance from the next wheel for a given size. Another prior art polishing process involves a shot peening process where a media is forced into contact with a wheel and the wheel is set in motion in an effort to polish it. In other mechanical processes, buffing and/or brushing are utilized. The shot peening process does not produce the desired highly polished surface. With the buffing process, the complexity of some of the wheels is such that the buffing wheels do not extend into the intricate pattern of the face of the wheel. The buffing wheel will only reach limited areas of the wheel, thereby requiring the use of hand finishing to achieve the final luster. Nevertheless, it is impossible to create a consistently "leveled" surface finish on a wheel with any current process.
In general, prior polishing systems have failed to achieve the desired cycle times with the desired efficiency. Furthermore, the size and operational dynamics of a traditional abrasive flow machine for polishing wheels larger than 20 inches in diameter, such as wheels for over-the-road vehicles, makes the use of existing AFM techniques impractical, since such techniques are intended for much smaller workpieces.


An automotive vehicle is disclosed with a vehicle body, an ornamental fascia mounted to a front end of the vehicle body and a structural member mounted to the vehicle body front end. The structural member extends through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body for a compact arrangement of structural, functional and design characteristics of the vehicle front end.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to automotive front ends, more particularly to automotive front end fascias and automotive front end structural members.
2. Background Art
Automotive vehicles often utilize a structural member on a front end of the vehicle, such as a bumper, for protecting the vehicle and operational components of the vehicle from front end impacts.
Automotive vehicle front ends often utilize an air intake for receiving ambient air into the vehicle system for utilization of operation of the vehicle, including cooling of the vehicle, climate control of the vehicle and for mixture with fuel for a propulsion device of the vehicle, such as an internal combustion engine.
A front end of a vehicle is a prominent end of the vehicle, which is commonly associated with the styling and identity of a vehicle. Accordingly, front end fascias are often utilized for incorporating styling, design and structure of the vehicle. Often, the fascia is integrated with an air intake and encloses the structural member for concealing the structural member from an external ornamental appearance of the vehicle.

Automotive front end fascia with integrated structural member


To develop a Fenton reaction catalyst that can maintain divalent iron stably for a long period of time, can utilize trivalent iron or metallic iron, which is an inexpensive iron-supplying source, by converting into divalent iron, and is harmless to the human body and the environment, provided is a Fenton reaction catalyst, including, as an active component, a reaction product obtained by mixing a specific reducing organic substance (e.g., ascorbic acid, a polyphenol-containing plant component, or a plant dry distillation liquid component) with an iron-supplying source at a predetermined ratio in the presence of water. Also provided are a sterilization method, a pollutant degradation method, and a luminescence method based on chemiluminescence, which involve using the Fenton reaction catalyst.

The sterilization or removal of harmful substances is important in the agriculture and food processing field. However, many conventional methods using chemical drugs are not preferred because they could remain in foods or agricultural products. In addition, sterilization with chlorine usually results in a strong chlorine odor that is a disadvantage in this treatment.
Therefore, in the food field, ozone sterilization may be used as a sterilization method free from leaving any odor for the foods. However, this method has the disadvantage of high cost to introduce an expensive ozone gas generator in a place other than a large-scale facility.
Under such circumstances, in many industrial fields, there is a high need for development of a low cost sterilization method free from causing any harmful residual effect for human body.
Therefore, a Fenton reaction has attracted attention as a sterilization method for solving such problems.
The "Fenton reaction" refers to a reaction for generating hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide through a reaction of divalent iron. The generated hydroxyl radicals have the strongest oxidation effect among radicals.
Based on the strong oxidation effect, the reaction is expected to be applied in various fields such as sterilization and degradation of harmful substances and persistent pollutants (for example, a technology for soil cleanup by injecting a Fenton reaction catalyst into soil polluted with harmful substances).
In addition, the Fenton reaction is a technology having a low environmental burden because hydrogen peroxide is converted into harmless oxygen and water after completion of the reaction.
Hitherto, iron (II) sulfate has been generally used as a Fenton reaction catalyst. However, it is necessary to add divalent iron as needed because divalent iron is immediately oxidized to be precipitated and lose catalytic ability.
Therefore, a technology for improving solubility of ferrous sulfate using EDTA, citric acid, or the like has been developed to maintain its water solubility (see Non Patent Literature 1).
In addition, there has been reported a technology for sterilizing a mold based on the strong oxidation effect of the Fenton reaction (see Patent Literature 1).
However, in such conventional methods, there is a fatal problem in that divalent iron used as a catalyst is very unstable and cannot be prevented from being oxidized into trivalent iron, resulting in losing the catalytic ability in a short time.
Therefore, there has been required development of a stable Fenton reaction catalyst that can maintain the state of divalent iron, which is in nature unstable, for a long period of time.
Further, in the conventional Fenton reaction catalysts, trivalent iron or metallic iron, which is present in large amounts in the nature and can be inexpensively supplied, cannot be used as an iron raw material.

Fenton reaction catalyst produced using reducing organic substance as raw material

INCORPORATED ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, NATIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH ORGANIZATION


According to one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a frequency band (FB) determination method of a wireless access device which provides an access point to enable one or more terminals to wirelessly access a network. The method may comprise the steps of receiving database-related information from database servers which have database related to unused FBs of a television broadcasting band (TVBB), determining a database server to be accessed among the database servers on the basis of the database-related information, requesting the determined database server and receiving information on available FBs, and determining FBs, among the received operating FBs, for the one or more terminals. The operating FBs are determined by the database server so that the wireless access device can coexist with a neighboring homogeneous or heterogeneous wireless access device without mutual interference within the TVBB.

Conventionally, frequency arrangement for a new service or frequency arrangement for a new provider has been made under the control of the government.
In particular, if there are new providers, a new frequency may be allocated through auction or the existing frequency may be collected from the existing provider and then rearranged for another provider to distribute frequencies of limited resources.
However, with the recent spread of various wireless Internet based applications such as opened user equipment platform, application store, and mobile VoIP, the demand of radio data traffic has been increased rapidly. For this reason, frequency distribution under the control of the government was very inefficient, and it has been gradually difficult to ensure new frequency on a frequency distribution table.
In particular, with the rapid growth of broadcast and communication systems, a next generation communication system has been designed in the form of combination of various networks, the system has been gradually complicated, and the need of interworking has been gradually increased. Also, as the communication technology and services are developed, the usage frequency for frequency resources has been increased. As a specific spectrum band is fixedly reserved for excellent communication technology and service, the problem of the spectrum scarcity is becoming a big issue.
Recently, as a method for solving such a problem, a spectrum sharing scheme has received attention. The spectrum sharing scheme is based on the aspect that the spectrum scarcity may be solved through sharing although the spectrum is scarce on the spectrum distribution table as the current spectrum scarcity is based on the existing partitioning spectrum control scheme.
As the problem of the spectrum scarcity is recognized as the important issue all over the world, on the November of 2008, the US federal communications commission (FCC) has decided to apply the cognitive radio technology which is the spectrum sharing technology to TV idle spectrum (white space) to increase spectrum usage efficiency and facilitate the introduction of a new service and then has amended the related rule.
As this action has been gradually enlarged, the UK has allowed to use the cognitive radio (CR) based spectrum sharing technology at a band of TV broadcast bands, which is not used spatially, that is, white space band, in 2009, the EU is currently discussing the introduction of the CR based spectrum sharing technology, and the South Korea is also preparing for the policy for the spectrum sharing based on the white space band.
The cognitive radio technology refers to a system that allows a communication device to observe a communication status by itself, to determine and select an action mode for optimized communication, and to make a plane for the later determining procedure from the previous communication experience.
In other words, the cognitive radio technology is the technology that discovers an idle resource (spectrum hole, white space) of spectrum bands allocated to an unlicensed band, and uses the idle resource in an adaptive and opportunistic way, wherein the idle resource is not used in time and space and its availability is low. At this time, if a primary user having the license for the corresponding band is discovered, the cognitive radio system should immediately stop use of the corresponding band or control a transmission power so as not to interrupt the primary user.
However, there have not been suggested detailed technical methods for discovering the idle resource (spectrum hole, white space), of which availability is low or which is not used in time and space, and using the idle resource efficiently without interference with a neighboring homogeneous or heterogeneous system.

Frequency band determination method in coexistence scheme


An engine idle speed control device set a target idle speed NsetN for a non-traveling range is set to a high value to activate the catalytic converter early, after the engine is started. Upon detecting that the automatic transmission has been shifted from a non-traveling range to a traveling range, the target idle speed is lowered to a first traveling idle speed Nset1 for a prescribed period (200 ms). After the prescribed period elapses, the target idle speed is lowered even further to a second traveling target idle speed Nset2. When the target idle speed is set to the first traveling target idle speed Nset1, the ignition timing retardation amount RET is set in accordance with the actual engine rotational speed Ne in such a fashion that the higher the engine rotational speed Ne is, the more the ignition timing ADV is retarded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an engine idle speed control device for an internal combustion engine provided with an automatic transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for controlling the idle speed appropriately when the automatic transmission from a non-traveling range to a traveling range.
2. Background Information
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 05-280398 discloses a technology regarding an engine provided with an automatic transmission in which the actual engine speed is adjusted toward a target idle speed based on the difference between the actual engine speed and the target idle speed by feedback controlling the air quantity. The engine is configured such that when the automatic transmission is shifted from a non-traveling range (e.g., the N range) to a traveling range (e.g., the D range), the target idle speed is lowered in two stages.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved engine idle speed control device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A laser diode pumped solid state laser is provided with a first temperature control circuit which controls the temperature of the laser diode to a predetermined value and a second temperature control circuit which controls the temperature of the resonator of the solid state laser to a predetermined value. When the solid state laser is in a steady state, an automatic power control is carried out for keeping the light output of the solid state laser at a reference output value. When a predetermined command is issued, the automatic power control is switched to an automatic current control for keeping the electric current flowing through the laser diode at a reference current value. A temperature of the laser diode at which the light output of the solid state laser is maximized is detected while changing the temperature of the laser diode, and the first temperature control circuit controls the temperature of the laser diode to the detected temperature. A temperature of the resonator at which the light output of the solid state laser is maximized is detected while changing the temperature of the resonator, and the second temperature control circuit controls the temperature of the resonator to the detected temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a laser drive method and a laser drive system for controlling a light output of a laser diode pumped solid state laser, and more particularly to such a method and a system for restoring the light output of the laser diode pumped solid state laser upon receipt of a predetermined command. This invention further relates to a radiation image read-out apparatus provided with a stimulating light source driven by the laser drive system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62(1987)-189783, there has been known a laser diode pumped solid state laser in which a solid state laser crystal doped with a rare-earth element such as neodymium is pumped by a light emitted from a laser diode. In such a solid state laser, it has been widely put into practice to dispose a nonlinear optical crystal in the resonator thereof in order to convert a solid laser beam (a laser beam emitted from the solid state laser crystal) to a second harmonic or a sum frequency, thereby obtaining a laser beam of a shorter wavelength. For example a solid state laser in which a second harmonic is taken out is generally referred to as "a SHG laser".
In the solid state lasers including those in which the wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the solid state laser crystal is converted, the temperatures of the laser diode, the solid state laser crystal and the resonator are generally controlled to predetermined temperatures in order to suppress fluctuation in the light output and the oscillation wavelength of the laser diode and further to keep a predetermined phase matching state at the nonlinear optical crystal in the case of the lasers where the wavelength conversion is effected. Such temperature control is generally effected by placing those elements on cooling surfaces of electronic cooling elements (Peltier elements), detecting the temperatures of the laser diode and the inside of the resonator and feedback-controlling the electronic cooling elements on the basis of the detected temperatures so that the temperatures of the cooling elements are kept at target temperatures. In order to keep constant the light output of the solid state laser, there generally carried out an automatic power control in addition to said temperature control.
Further since the solid state lasers are suitable for obtaining a high light output, they have been increasingly used as high power lasers. For example, they are used as a stimulating light source in a radiation image read-out apparatus disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,584,482 and 5,530,261, due to their high output powers. The radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a stimulating light projecting means which projects stimulating light onto a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image has been stored and a read-out means which detects light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating light in proportion to the radiation energy stored thereon and reads out the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet.
There is a phenomenon that the light output power of the solid state laser gradually reduces with time though the automatic power control is carried out. The reason of this phenomenon has not been found.
When the solid state laser is used as the stimulating light source in said radiation image read-out apparatus, reduction in the light output power of the stimulating light source directly leads to deterioration in the image quality and accordingly the phenomenon governs the performance of the apparatus. Therefore, not only search for the reason of the phenomenon has been made but also how to deal with the phenomenon has been searched.

Laser drive method, laser drive system, and radiation image read-out apparatus


The invention relates to a twin clutch transmission of high efficiency which is compact in every dimension. This twin clutch transmission can be used particularly in vehicles having a longitudinally installed engine. For this purpose, the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft are arranged coaxially with respect to one another, whereas the two countershafts are arranged parallel to one another. Furthermore, the shift sleeves are arranged in a special way, thus making seven forward gears and a plurality of reverse gears possible.

DE 101 02 028 A1 already discloses a twin clutch transmission, in which the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft are arranged coaxially with respect to one another. The countershafts assigned to the two partial transmissions are arranged parallel to one another.
Furthermore, DE 31 31 156 A1 discloses twin clutch transmissions in which a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft are arranged coaxially with respect to one another. The twin clutch transmission has a plurality of reverse gears in addition to six forward gears.
DE 103 25 647.4, not yet published, shows a twin clutch transmission, in which, in accordance with the invention:                a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft are arranged coaxially with respect to one another,        two countershafts are arranged so as to be offset in parallel with respect to one another and to the transmission input shaft and transmission output shaft,        a direct gear is provided,        otherwise, all the even-numbered forward gears are assigned solely to one countershaft and all the odd-numbered forward gears are assigned solely to the other countershaft,        there being arranged coaxially on the transmission output shaft, offset axially with respect to a shift sleeve assigned to the direct gear and a further forward gear, a further shift sleeve assigned to two forward gears,        there lying, offset axially with respect to said two shift sleeves, a shift sleeve plane, in which are arranged two further shift sleeves, each of which is assigned in each case to one of the two countershafts.
In contrast to the invention, in this twin clutch transmission, a forward gear runs via four gear ratio stages.

Twin clutch transmission with coaxial drive and output


A method of packaging an article comprises wrapping the article in a plastic film; and heat sealing the film using a sealing apparatus comprising a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, such that when the film is sealed, a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package is made. A package comprises an article wrapped in a plastic film, the film being heat sealed to form a seal, the seal comprising a main seal, and a second seal attached at an angle to the main seal, and shorter than the main seal, and defining a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package. A sealing apparatus for making an easily opened package comprises a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, and capable of creating a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package.

Many packaging applications require the use of packaging materials, especially flexible packaging materials, that can be used to package food or non-food articles and protect these articles, during storage and distribution. Abuse resistance is thus often an important feature of the packaging material. Another property often desirable for such materials is heat shrinkability. In heat shrink packaging, an article is wrapped with a heat shrinkable polymeric film, typically a thermoplastic. The packaging material can be in the form of a bag, pouch, sheet folded in two ("centerfold film") or the like. The container formed by the film is loaded with the article to be packaged, and the film is then typically heat sealed (by constant heat type sealing or by impulse type sealing) or clip sealed along one or more edges of the film or bag to create a closed (hermetic or non-hermetic) package, followed by heat shrinking (e.g. by exposure to hot air or hot water) to provide a tight package. Heat shrinking not only adds aesthetic appeal; it also permits the packaging of articles with irregular shapes.
Film technology has progressed to the point where many films offer a high degree of abuse resistance and heat shrinkability. Examples include heat shrinkable films supplied by the Cryovac Division of W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. These include D-955.TM., MPD-2055.TM., BDF-2001.TM., and other bag and film products.
Unfortunately, the same properties of toughness and abuse resistance that are desirable for the performance of the packaging material in protecting the contained article, often makes it difficult for the end user to open the package.
Various solutions to this problem have been proposed with a view to overcoming this problem and making it easier to open packages, especially heat shrunk packages, of the type just described.
One proposal calls for a line of perforations in a specific part of the film so that the package can be opened by tearing along the perforated line. This proposal suffers from the inherent weakening of the packaging material that occurs when a line of perforations is made in the film. If the film is a heat shrink film, the perforations can grow in size upon heat treatment of the film, and contaminants can potentially get into the package through the holes. This of course could reduce or totally negate the commercial value of the contents.
Another proposal has been to make a U-shaped hole in a specified location on the film, and then attach a paper seal over the hole to form a seal label that serves as an aid in opening the package. The disadvantage of this approach is that it requires a special apparatus for opening the U-shaped hole. The use of paper seals also adds to the production costs.
Still another proposal has been to attach an "opening tape" to the package. This is inherently cumbersome, and again adds cost to the package.
For certain equipment applications where flexible packaging film, especially heat shrink film, is used frequently, these proposals are extremely difficult to apply. This includes L-type sealer packaging machines which use centerfold film.
It would therefore be of great benefit to the packaging industry to provide a method of making an easy open package wherein the method is very compatible with current packaging systems, and makes use of currently available packaging films, but without the drawbacks of past proposed solutions to this problem.

Easy open method, package, and apparatus


A non-magnetic material layer which is formed with a taper region of which the film thickness is gradually reduced over the top surface and the side of an upper core layer and the side of the gap layer is formed by cutting the gap layer and the upper core layer on a lower core layer with a track width and the lower periphery of the taper region is contacted with the top surface of the lower core layer. On the top surface of the lower core layer extending from the lower periphery of the taper region to the both sides, the slopes inclined in the direction apart from the upper core layer are formed and a protrusion having a track width is formed on the lower core layer. The material layer having the same material as the lower core layer adhered to the outside of the non-magnetic material layer is removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inductive magnetic head used in, for example, a floating magnetic head, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a magnetic head in which a track width of a recording magnetic gap is precisely formed and light fringing can be suppressed.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 15 is a partial front view of the vicinity of a magnetic pole of a conventional magnetic head, which is viewed from the surface opposing a recording medium, and FIG. 16 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the magnetic head shown in FIG. 15. The magnetic head shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is an inductive head for writing a signal onto the recording medium such as a hard disk. This inductive head is laminated on a reading head using a magnetoresistance effect in the trailing side section of a slider of the floating magnetic head opposing to the recording medium such as a hard disk. However, the magnetic head may be composed of only the inductive head, without providing the reading head.
Reference numeral 201 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 denotes a lower core layer formed of a magnetic material having a high magnetic permeability, such as Fe—Ni based alloy (Permalloy). A compound type thin film magnetic head on which the inductive head shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is successively laminated at upper side (Z direction) of the reading head (not shown) using the magnetoresistance effect is composed and the lower core layer 201 functions as an upper shielding layer of the reading head. The lower core layer 201 is formed with a rectangular protrusion 201a integral with the lower core layer 201.
On the lower core layer 201, a gap layer 203 made of non-magnetic material such as Al2O3 (alumina) is formed. On the gap layer 203, a coil insulating underlaying layer 204 made of resist material or other organic material is formed.
On the coil insulating underlaying layer 204, a coil layer 205 made of a conductive material having a low electric resistance, such as Cu, is formed in a spiral shape. Further, the coil layer 205 is formed so as to surround the periphery of a base end 207b of an upper core layer 207, but only a portion of the coil layer 205 is shown in FIG. 16.
Therefore, on the coil layer 205, an insulating layer 206 composed of an organic insulating material or an inorganic insulating material is formed. On the insulating layer 206, a magnetic material having a high magnetic permeability, such as Permalloy, is plated to form the upper core layer 207. The front end 207a of the upper core layer 207 is bonded onto the lower core layer 201 through the gap layer 203 in the portion opposing the recording medium and a magnetic gap having a gap length G1 is formed. Further, the base end 207b of the upper core layer 207 is magnetically connected to the lower core layer 201.
In the writing inductive head, if a recording current is applied to the coil layer 205, a recording magnetic field is induced to the lower core layer 201 and the upper core layer 207 and the magnetic signal is recorded in the recording medium such as the hard disk by a leakage magnetic filed from the magnetic gap between the lower core layer 201 and the front end 207a of the upper core layer 207.
Furthermore, on the top surface of the lower core layer 201 extending in the both sides of the base end of the protrusion, slopes 201b, 201b are formed.
In the magnetic head shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, since the protrusion 201a is formed, the leakage magnetic field generated between the protrusion 201a and the upper core layer 207 is surely converged in the width Tw (=track width) of the upper core layer 207 and thus the light fringing can be suppressed. Also, since the slope 201b is formed at the lower core layer 201 and the distance between the slope 201b and the upper core layer 207 can be widened, it is difficult to generate the leakage magnetic field between the upper core layer 207 and the lower core layer 201 extending from the base end of the protrusion 201a and thus the light fringing can be suppressed.
The method of manufacturing the inductive head is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-143222 (hereinafter, refer to Patent Document 1). FIGS. 17 and 18 show a process for forming a magnetic pole of the inductive head described in paragraph [0135] of Patent Document 1.
In the method of manufacturing the magnetic pole of the inductive head described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 17, the gap layer 203 and the front end 207a of the upper core layer 207 are formed in this order from the lower side, on the lower core layer 201 of which the front shape which is viewed from the surface opposing the recording medium is rectangular. At this time, the states of the gap layer 203 and the front end 207a of the upper core layer 207 are shown by a dashed line and the width in the track width direction (X1-X2 direction) of the gap layer 203 and the front end 207a is T5.
Next, for example, the sides of the gap layer 203 and the front end 207a are cut by an ion milling process in which an ion irradiating angle θ10 is in the range of 60° to 75° and the width in the track width direction of the gap layer 203 and the front end 207a is T6. The width T6 is controlled to the track width Tw. The states of gap layer 203 and the front end 207a at this time are shown by a solid line in the drawing. Also, the top surface 201c of the lower core layer 201 is cut from the state shown by the solid line to the state shown by the dotted line and thus the protrusion 201a is formed on the lower core layer 201.
Next, as shown in FIG. 18, if the ion irradiating angle θ11 is changed in the range of 45° to 60° to form the slope 201b at the top surface 201c of the lower core layer 201, and the magnetic pole of the conventional inductive head shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is formed.
On the other hand, FIGS. 3A through 3E of U.S. 005867890A (hereinafter, refer to Patent Document 2) describes another method of forming the magnetic pole of the inductive head. In the process shown in FIG. 3A of Patent Document 2, a gap layer (G) is entirely formed on a bottom pole piece (P1/S2) which functions as the lower core layer and a top pole piece (PT2) which functions as the upper core layer is formed on the gap layer. Next, after forming a non-magnetic material layer (SL) from the top pole piece (PT2) to the gap layer (G) in the process shown in FIG. 3B, the non-magnetic material layer (SL) and the gap layer (G) formed on the top surface of the bottom pole piece (P1) is removed by using a reactive ion etching (RIE) method in the process shown in FIG. 3C, and then the non-magnetic material layer (SL) is formed at the side of the top pole piece (PT2) as shown in FIG. 3D. At this time, the width of the non-magnetic material layer (SL) is a constant width in the vertical direction. Next, as shown in FIG. 3E, the bottom pole piece (P1/S2) is cut by the ion milling process and a bottom pole chip element (PT1a) and a top pole chip element (TP1b) which is the protrusion are formed in the bottom pole piece (P1/P2), thereby forming the magnetic pole of the inductive head.
However, in the method of manufacturing the inductive head shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 of Patent Document 1, when the top surface 201c of the lower core layer 201 is cut to form the slope 201b in the process shown in FIG. 18, the cut lower core layer 201 is reattached to the front end 207a of the upper core layer 207 and the gap layer 203 and thus a reattached layer 201d is formed at the side of the front end 207a of the upper core layer 207 and the side of the gap layer 203.
Here, since both the lower core layer 201 and the upper core layer 207 are formed of the magnetic material such as Permalloy, there is a problem in that the track width Tw controlled in the process shown in FIG. 18 becomes substantially large.
On the other hand, in the method of manufacturing the inductive head described in Patent Document 2, the top pole chip element (PT1b) is formed by forming the non-magnetic material layer (SL) at only the side of the top pole piece (PT2) and then cutting the bottom pole piece (P1/S2) at an interval controlled by the width between one outside and the other outside of the non-magnetic material layer (SL) formed with a constant width in the vertical direction. Since the width of the top pole chip element (PT1b) cut by the ion milling process is the width between one outside and the other outside of the non-magnetic material layer (SL), the width of the top pole piece (PT2) is different from that of the top pole chip element (PT1b) at the boundary of the gap layer (G). Accordingly, when the recording magnetic filed generated from the top pole piece (PT2) formed with a narrow width flows through the bottom pole piece (P1/S2) formed with a wide width, the recording magnetic field becomes spread and the light fringing is apt to be generated.
Further, when cutting the bottom pole piece (P1/S2) by the ion milling process in the process shown in FIG. 3E, the non-magnetic material layer (SL) is formed at the side of the top pole piece (PT2). Therefore, the width of the top pole piece (PT2) is not reduced by the ion milling process. However, since the non-magnetic material layer (SL) is not formed at the side of the gap layer (G), the side of the gap layer (S) is cut or the bottom pole piece (P1/S2) cut by the ion milling process is reattached to the side of the gap layer (G) upon the ion milling process and thus the width of the gap layer (G) is varied.


A pneumatic tire including a first row of blocks arranged in a substantially central region of a tread of the pneumatic tire, wherein the first row of blocks includes a plurality of first blocks; a plurality of first grooves, each arranged between two adjacent first blocks; a plurality of second rows of blocks each including a plurality of second blocks, each arranged on either side of the first row of blocks; a plurality of second grooves, each arranged between the first row of blocks and each of the second rows of blocks; and a plurality of third grooves, wherein each third groove is arranged between two adjacent second blocks, the third grooves including a plurality of fourth grooves and a plurality of fifth grooves, with each fourth groove being narrower than each fifth groove, and the fourth groove and fifth groove being arranged alternately.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pneumatic tire, and specifically relates to a pneumatic tire for use on ice and snow.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pneumatic tires for use in winter is required to have good performance on both ice and snow. One approach to improve the performance on ice is to make small a ratio of a groove area to a ground contact area of a tire. However, simple reduction in this ratio leads to a decline in performance on snow and in the capacity to prevent hydroplaning. Consequently, it is difficult to have good performance both on ice and snow in one tire.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-225814 discloses a conventional pneumatic tire. The conventional pneumatic tire includes a pair of wide first main grooves that runs around the circumference of the tire; a central land parted with the first main grooves in a central region on a tread; a pair of second main grooves that extends on outer sides of the first main grooves in the direction of a tread width to form lateral lands between the first main grooves and the second main grooves; and a plurality of transverse main grooves that opens to the first main grooves via the second main grooves from ends of the tread. The central land includes a series of blocks around which are arranged a plurality of narrow transverse sub-grooves that opens to the first main grooves. Each of the lateral lands includes a circumferential narrow groove that runs around the tire. The lateral land includes a series of outer blocks on the outer side in the direction of the tread width and a series of inner blocks on the central side of the tread on each side of the circumferential narrow groove. Each series of the blocks include sipes. The inner blocks of the lateral land include sipes that are equally angled in a certain direction on each tread, and notched with an angle reverse to the transverse main grooves. The other blocks include sipes that are notched in substantially parallel to the transverse main grooves.