A multi-panel door comprises a plurality of side-by-side door panels and a water-resistant shield. Each one of the door panels is pivotably attached at an edge thereof to an adjacent one of the door panels thereby defining an edge interface between the adjacent ones of the door panels. Each one of the door panels has a cargo space facing major surface and an exterior facing major surface generally opposite and spaced apart from the cargo space facing major surface. The water-resistant shield extends over at least a portion of the cargo space facing major surface of all of the door panels. The water-resistant shield covers each edge interface defined by the door panels and wraps at least partially around a bottom longitudinal edge of a lower-most one of the door panels.

It is well know that cargo within enclosed truck trailers (i.e., truck trailers) is often damaged by water from rain, snow and ice (i.e., water damage). Whether the truck trailer is that of a company that owns the cargo or the truck trailer is owned by a trucking company hired to haul the cargo, there are financial incentives for reducing the potential for water damage to such cargo. For example, under certain circumstances, a trucking company assume the liability for cargo damaged while in their possession. More specifically, a trucking company typically holds liability for cargo within truck trailers owned by the trucking company or otherwise under control and/or hire by the trucking company. Accordingly, during transport, trucking companies and cargo owners transporting their own cargo each have a vested interest in protecting cargo from adverse situations such as theft, damage from handling and damage from the elements.
The typical truck trailer is not impervious to water, whether the water is in the form of rain, snow or ice or from a source such as a sprinkler system or truck wash. As a result, cargo is often subjected to water damage during transport within a truck trailer. The doors of a truck trailer, particularly multi-panel doors (e.g., roll-up type doors, push-up doors, etc.), are susceptible to water intrusion. Water often makes it's way through seams between the discrete panels of a multi-panel type door of a truck trailer. Once in the trailer, the water can damage cargo within the truck trailer as it gathers on the floor, flows within the truck trailer and/or impinges directly upon cargo adjacent the multi-panel door of a truck trailer.
Therefore, a multi-segment door of a truck trailer that is configured for reducing, if not eliminating water from entering a cargo space of the truck trailer through the door would be useful and advantageous.


The disclosure of this invention relates to odor control and more particularly, to a process and composition whereby household, institutional and industrial odors are eliminated wherein these odors are incorporated in a variety of substrates or are emitted from industrial sludges, gas side streams, waste water, etc. The odor control composition of this invention is a solution containing active ingredients which will provide or demand active Cl+ donor which may incorporate a suitable wetting agent. The solutions in this invention may further be buffered. The concentration of the Cl+ donor can be from about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent when used. The concentration of the wetting agent can be from about 0.1 to about 5%. The solutions of this invention are effective over a pH range of about 6-14, with a preferred pH range being from 8 to about 9.5. Solutions in accordance with this invention may further incorporate an effective amount of a synergist.

The application of materials and solutions to substrates for purposes of odor control is common and in fact is thousands of years old, in the most common situation solutions or materials with a pleasant odor are applied to a substrate, for example, to furniture or carpets. In the past the most common method of odor control was to apply solutions which are perfumes to the odor containing substrate. These perfumes did not control the odor but only masked the odor. That is in the prior art the odor was not controlled but instead it was only masked. In contrast in accordance with the subject invention the troublesome odors are not just masked but instead they are chemically controlled or eliminated. This end is effected by treating the substrate with a solution which contains Chloramine-T, Chloramine-B or N-Chloro-4-Carboxybenzenesulfonamide sodium salt. With this invention it is possible to eliminate odors resulting from a wide range of sources such as smoking, animal and human fluids, cat litter, mildew, cooking, industrial by products etc. In its broadest terms, this invention relates to the utilization of solutions of Chloramine T, Chloramine-B and N-Chloro-4-Carboxybenzenesulfonamide sodium salt, which react with odor producing molecules as may be contained in a substrate or in an industrial waste product. The performance of the odor control compositions in accordance with this invention, is further enhanced by the presence of small percentages of a low molecular weight alcohol.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a power control method applicable to a power over Ethernet system, which includes: when it is determined that there is a target powered device connected to the power over Ethernet system, calculating a sum of actual power of all powered devices currently powered on to obtain a total required power; and determining whether the total required power exceeds a preset second threshold power threshold, if yes, powering off a powered device that is currently powered on according to priorities corresponding to port numbers of all the powered devices that are currently powered on until the total required power is less than the second power threshold; if not, determining whether to power on the target powered device according to a preset first power threshold, wherein the second power threshold is greater than the first power threshold.

Power Over Ethernet (POE) refers to the technology to provide DC power supply to some IP-based terminal devices, such as IP phones, wireless LAN Access Point (AP), network cameras and the like while transmitting data signals to these terminal devices, without any changes to the existing Ethernet cabling infrastructure. With the power over Ethernet technology, the safety of power supply can be ensured while assuring the normal transmission of data signals, thus minimizing costs at the maximum extent.
In a power over Ethernet system, a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and a Powered Device (PD) are included. The PSE is one end that provides power supply over a network cable and belongs to power providers, such as, a POE switch and a POE centralized power supply device. The PD is a powered device that accepts power supply from the PSE, that is, the other end that accepts power from the network cable, belonging to power accepters, such as IP phones, network security cameras, wireless access points, and many other Ethernet devices.
At present, the total output power of the power sourcing equipment supporting POE power supply is limited, and the powered devices that can be connected to the power over Ethernet system are also limited. When the total required power by the powered devices is less than the total output power, the power sourcing equipment can supply power for the respective powered devices normally, so that the connected powered devices can work normally. However, with the increase of the number of powered devices that are connected to the power over Ethernet system, if the total required power by the connected powered devices is greater than the total output power, the respective powered devices that are connected to the power over Ethernet system cannot work normally, thus causing the power over Ethernet system to be crashed, which reduces the reliability of the operation of the power over Ethernet system and affects user communication.
In order to improve the power control efficiency of the power over Ethernet system, in the prior art, the level of the powered device that is connected to the power over Ethernet system is obtained, the maximum power corresponding to the level is determined according to the obtained level, and the sum of the maximum power corresponding to each powered device is controlled to be not greater than the total output power. However, in this power control method, since each powered device does not always operate under the maximum power, the output power of the power sourcing equipment may be wasted, resulting in low power control efficiency and low output power utilization rate.

Power control method, device and electronic equipment in ethernet power supply system

HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A tank ventilation system for a motor vehicle has a fuel tank, a fuel vapor store which is connected to a fuel tank, and a ventilating device which is connected to the fuel vapor store, in order to ventilate the latter. The ventilating device has an aeration line which opens in an interior space of the motor vehicle, which interior space is delimited on all sides by vehicle body parts from the surroundings of the motor vehicle.

The invention relates to a tank ventilation system for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
Such a tank ventilation system is known from DE 196 50 517 C2. The hydrocarbons escaping from the tank are absorbed in an activated carbon filter. For regeneration of the activated carbon filter the absorbed hydrocarbons are aspirated into the intake duct at defined operating states of the internal combustion engine and supplied to the cylinder for combustion. In order to achieve a rinsing effect of the activated carbon filter an aeration line is provided which connects the activated carbon filter with the atmosphere when the aeration valve is open. The ventilation line usually exits at an outside of the motor vehicle.
In such known tank ventilation devices however the functioning may be impaired.

Tank ventilation system for a motor vehicle


An oblique-view cone-beam CT system comprising an X-ray source for irradiating an object with X-ray from an oblique direction with respect to a rotational axis of said object. A detector is provided for detecting projection images resulting from the X-ray irradiation. A computer electrically connected to the detector is provided for recording the detected projection images and reconstructing the recorded projection images to provide a 3-dimensional image.

In a conventional 3-dimensional X-ray or cone-beam CT system, an X-ray source A, a sample D and a 2-dimensional detector B are disposed in one plane as shown in FIG. 5. The sample D is irradiated with X-ray from a direction perpendicular to (at 90 degrees with) a rotational axis C of the sample D. The projected image is received by the 2-dimensional detector B.
In such a cone-beam CT system, the X-ray generator or source cannot be moved sufficiently close to the rotating object due to its large rotation radius. Thus, even if one attempts to acquire a magnified image of a part of an object having a large surface area, a desired magnification cannot be obtained. In addition, when projection data on an object having a large flat surface area are acquired by irradiating the object with X-ray from a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the sample, beam hardening is undesirably generated in a direction parallel to the flat surface.
Beam hardening is described asunder. When X-rays having a sequence of spectrum penetrates through an object, low energy constituents appear to be attenuated more than their actual attenuation. This is believed to be because it is greater than the attenuation of high energy constituents. Because of this, when an image reconstruction calculation is performed where an effect of the spectrum is not considered, even a uniform substance appear non uniform. This effect is called beam hardening.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-153817 discloses a laminography technique where an object is imaged from an oblique direction with respect to a rotational axis of the object. In such a laminography technique, several sets of 2-dimensional image data are generated. These 2-dimensional image data sets are then superimposed together 3dimensionally. Such a laminography technique enables one to make desirable observations in the 2-dimensional plane. However a clear 3-dimensional image can not be obtained due to insufficient resolution in height direction.
The disclosed teachings is aimed at overcoming some of the disadvantages in the conventional cone beam CT systems.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


A stent delivery system, and methods of use, are provided in which a stent is constrained in a contracted delivery state with binding straps that are electrolytically eroded to deploy the stent. The binding straps are attached to a power source and each have a small electrically uninsulated reduced thickness portion. A second electrode wire is disposed adjacent to the uninsulated areas or separately electrically coupled to an exterior surface of the patient's body. When an electric current is applied, the uninsulated areas of the binding straps are electrolytically eroded and rupture, thereby allowing the stent to at least partially deploy.

In recent years a number of minimally invasive technologies have been developed to treat arterial diseases, such as atherosclerosis, which result in narrowing and stenosis of body lumens, such as the coronary arteries. Specifically, a large number of endoluminal prostheses, often referred to as "stents," have been developed to maintain the patency of a vessel, following, for example, an balloon dilatation procedure (e.g., angioplasty). These devices generally are inserted percutaneously and transluminally to the site of a constricted region in a contracted delivery state. After being positioned at a desired deployment site, the stents are then permitted to self-expand, or are balloon dilated to support the vessel or body lumen.
A drawback encountered with many previously known stents is the inability to precisely control the placement of the stent during deployment. For example, coiled sheet stents, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,500 to Sigwart, are constrained in a contracted delivery state by a locking wire or exterior sheath, and deployed by removing the wire or retracting the sheath proximally. A disadvantage of these deployment mechanisms, however, is that the distal end of the stent expands while the proximal end is still constrained, and may result in cocking or longitudinal movement of the stent during deployment.
Similar types of stent motion may be encountered in deploying helical spring-type stents, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,545 to Maass et al. It would therefore be desirable to provide a stent delivery system and methods that enable portions of a stent to be deployed in a predetermined sequence along the length of the stent, thereby minimizing the risk for cocking or displacement of the stent during deployment.
A further disadvantage of retractable-sheath delivery systems is that the exterior sheaths increase the overall diameter of the delivery system and reduce the ability of the delivery system to negotiate tortuous anatomy. It would therefore be desirable to provide a stent delivery system and methods that permit the thickness of an exterior sheath of the delivery system to be reduced or eliminated altogether.

Electrolytic stent delivery system and methods of use


A method of preparing an unsaturated ester resin having improved storage stability is disclosed. An epoxy compound and polymerizable unsaturated monocarboxylic acid are reacted in the presence of a trivalent organic phosphorous catalyst. The catalyst is subsequently deactivated by oxidation. The resin may then be reacted with an acid anhydride.

Unsaturated epoxy ester resins, or epoxy acrylates, are widely used as various coating materials and structural materials because of their outstanding chemical resistance, water resistance and mechanical properties. Such unsaturated epoxy ester resins are usually produced by esterifying an epoxy compound with a polymerizable unsaturated carboxylic acid in the presence of a catalyst and are often used in combination with a photopolymerization initiator as a photosensitive resin. Improved properties such as adhesiveness, thermal resistance, photocurability and, at the same time, heat-curability can be imparted to the resin by further incorporating an epoxy resin and its curing catalyst therein to prepare a photosensitive composition.
However, when this photosensitive composition is employed as an image-forming material such as a resist material for preparing a printed circuit board, an organic solvent is usually necessary for the development step, which results in an environmental problem of handling the organic solvent.
Recently, in order to avoid this problem, a carboxylated unsaturated epoxy ester resin which is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution due to the presence of the carboxyl group in its molecule has been prepared by reacting the hydroxyl group in the unsaturated epoxy ester resin as described above and an acid anhydride to introduce a carboxyl group therein. Further, when an epoxy compound and its curing catalyst are added to this carboxylated unsaturated epoxy ester resin, not only the development with an aqueous alkaline solution is possible, but also, in addition to water-resistance, adhesiveness and thermal resistance can be advantageously imparted by heat treatment after the development.
However, the widely used photosensitive resin compositions, comprising an unsaturated epoxy ester and an epoxy resin plus an epoxy curing agent such as a polycarboxylic acid, or comprising a carboxylated unsaturated epoxy ester resin plus an epoxy resin, contain a residual catalyst. This catalyst is used for the synthesis of the unsaturated epoxy ester by reaction of an epoxy compound and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. Even without particular addition of a catalyst, a curing reaction between the epoxy group and its curing agent will proceed slowly and gradually. This formulation therefore has a flaw of having little storage stability. For this reason, these photosensitive resin compositions are being offered for sale as a two component type composition where the epoxy resin component and polyvalent carboxylic acid component are supplied separately.
To solve this problem, the amine compound which could act as a curing catalyst is removed by washing the unsaturated epoxy ester resin after its synthesis with an aqueous acidic solution. However, this process which requires a longer period of time and a drying step is disadvantageously complicated and high in cost.

Preparation of unsaturated epoxy ester resin and carboxylated unsaturated epoxy ester resin and photosensitive composition comprising the same


A height-adjustably mounted apparatus has a flexible supply line that is conducted to the apparatus from above and is provided with a weight compensation device so that the apparatus can be easily adjusted to different vertical positions. The weight compensation device includes a cable drum that accepts a first carrying cable which is loaded with the height-adjustably mounted apparatus and is subjected to a force directed opposite to the weight of the device and the weight compensation device includes a second carrying cable that is accepted on the cable drum and has an end secured to a supply line at a fastening location, so that the fastening location is lifted by the second carrying cable during vertical adjustment of the apparatus.

The present invention is directed to a weight compensation device or counterbalance device for a height-adjustable apparatus or device that is connected to a flexible supply line conducted to the mounted device from above. The compensation or counterbalancing device comprises a cable drum that accepts a first carrying cable loaded with the height-adjustable device and that is loaded by a force directed opposite to the weight of the height-adjustable mounted device.
Weight compensation devices or counterbalance devices are utilized in many height-adjustable devices or apparatuses so that the height-adjustable device can be effortlessly and exactly positioned in height without exerting increased force to overcome the force of gravity and will remain in this position that has been set. A typical area of employment for such weight compensation devices occurs in the field of medical-technical devices, such as x-radiators, etc., which are often secured in the x-ray room via a ceiling mount and that must be freely positionable in all three spatial directions with the assistance of the ceiling mount and must additionally be pivotable around a vertical and/or horizontal swiveling axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,705, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference thereto and which claims priority from German 197 47 393, shows an example of such an x-radiator suspended in a ceiling mount. The ceiling mount is composed of what is referred to as a telescope carriage that is displaceable along a bridge mounted underneath the ceiling of the x-ray room. In order to achieve the two-dimensional adjustment, the bridge is seated at corresponding suspensions in the room movable transversely to the motion direction of the telescope carriage. At its underside, the telescope carriage comprises a telescoping column at whose lower end the x-radiator is, in turn, suspended. Pivotable around the telescoping column, the x-radiator is secured to the telescoping column by means of a support mount. The telescope carriage includes a weight compensation device, wherein the cable drum is situated inside the telescope carriage and a carrying cable proceeds downward through the telescoping column proceeding from the cable drum. The cable drum is loaded by a coil spring arranged inside the cable drum that will exert a force on the cable drum that opposes the weight of the x-radiator device and mount.
The x-radiator is also connected via various lines in a standard way to other devices belonging to the x-ray apparatus. For example, an x-ray generator supplies the x-radiator with a high voltage via a high-voltage line. Over and above this, the x-radiator is connected, for example, to control signal or data lines by which data and control signals can be exchanged between other components of the x-ray apparatus and the x-radiator. These various lines are combined inside a hose, for example a ribbed or corrugated hose, that is conducted upward from the terminal location of the x-radiator to the telescoping carriage and proceeds from the latter via the bridge to a terminal location in the room or, respectively, to the other devices. Such lines shall be referred to as supply lines hereinafter, regardless of whether they are a matter of a hose with a plurality of separate lines located therein, of electrical lines or, for example, of compressed air, gas, water and/or hydraulic lines, and regardless of the exact function of these lines.
One problem with such a height-adjustable device with supply lines brought in from above is that the supply lines must be dimensioned with respect to their length so that the maximum lowering in a vertical direction is not negatively affected. This, in turn, has the disadvantage that the supply lines are too long in and of themselves when the device is in the upper position and hang into the working area and, thus, limit the user-friendliness of the device, especially given a very high working position of the device, for example, given only a very slight extension of the telescoping column of the ceiling mount. In the extreme case, swiveling around the vertical axis can even be greatly impeded by the dangling supply line. This problem is necessarily all the more pronounced the greater the height adjustment range of the device.


An image forming apparatus, which contains: an image bearing member; a charging unit; an exposing unit; a developing unit; a transferring unit; and a cleaning unit, wherein the image bearing member contains an electrically conductive support, a photoconductive layer formed on the electrically conductive support, and a surface layer containing a binder resin and particles formed on a surface of the photoconductive layer, or contains the electrically conductive support, and the photoconductive layer formed on the electrically conductive support, wherein the cleaning unit contains a cleaning blade, which contains a cured composition containing a curing agent in a region of the cleaning blade, which is to be in contact with the image bearing member, and wherein the curing agent contains a polycyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and a (meth)acryloyloxy group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, conventionally, a toner remained on a surface of an image bearing member after transferring a toner image to a recording medium or an intermediate transfer member is removed by a cleaning unit.
As for the cleaning unit, a cleaning blade has been used, as a structure thereof is simple.
A cleaning blade is typically constructed by supporting an edge part of an elastic member with a support member, and stops the toner remained on a surface of an image bearing member, and scrap the toner off to remove the remained toner on the surface, by pressing the end ridge part of the elastic member onto the surface of the image bearing member.
There is however a problem that a cleaning failure occurs.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2010-152295 (PTL 1), disclosed is a cleaning blade, which is brought into contact with a surface of a member to be cleaned to thereby remove a powder from the surface of the member to be cleaned. The cleaning blade is composed of an elastic body blade, an end ridge part of which has the friction coefficient of 0.5 or less, and a surface layer, which covers the end ridge part of the elastic body blade, has a layer thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm at the position that is 50 μm apart from the end ridge part, and is harder than the elastic body blade.
Meanwhile, there is a problem that an image bearing member is abraded by a contact with a cleaning blade.
In JP-A No. 2011-145457 (PTL 2), disclosed is an image forming apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic photoconductor containing an electrically conductive support, and a photoconductive layer and surface layer provided on the electrically conductive support, and a cleaning blade. The surface layer is a cured layer containing filler.

Image forming apparatus and process cartridge including a cleaning blade which includes a cured composition


A network (100) capable of quickly restoring traffic includes main and tertiary communications media (103, 105), each having associated main channels (102.sub.1-- 102.sub.n) and tertiary channels (104.sub.1 -104.sub.m), respectively. A first main channel (102.sub.1) and first tertiary channel (104.sub.1) run in parallel between a pair of digital signal protection switches (106.sub.1 -106.sub.2) coupled to a pair of digital cross-connect systems (108.sub.1, 116) that are spanned by the remaining main channels (102.sub.2 -102.sub.n) and tertiary channels (104.sub.2 -104.sub.m) in parallel. A controller 120 is responsive to the traffic on the main communications medium for signaling the first and second digital protection switches (106.sub.1, 106.sub.2) to switch traffic from the first main channel (102.sub.1) to the first tertiary channel (104.sub.1) should the first main channel become unavailable. The controller also subsequently signals the first and second digital cross-connect devices, which switch slower than the digital signal protection switches, to switch traffic from one or more of the other main channels to corresponding tertiary channels should such main channels become unavailable.

Present day networks, especially those carrying telecommunications traffic, often employ different types of communications media to carry information between an origin and a destination. For example, within the AT&T telecommunications network, fiber optic cables, copper cables, satellites and microwave stations collectively carry telecommunications traffic. In some instances, a telecommunication network may employ two different types of communications media in parallel between a pair of network nodes to allow traffic to be routed from one medium to another should one become unavailable because of a disruption or a lack of transport capacity. For example, within the AT&T network telecommunications, both an undersea fiber optic cable and a satellite link exist between Alaska and the continental United States. Thus, in theory, traffic that cannot pass on the undersea cable because of a disruption could be routed via satellite, avoiding blocked calls.
In practice, traffic restoration via satellite is usually not instantaneous. In many instances, the satellite may already be carrying traffic on an assigned transponder frequency. Thus, additional transponders may be necessary to carry the traffic unable to pass via the undersea cable. Assuming such transponders are even available, their use often requires re-orientation of the uplink and/or downlink earth stations which may take time, resulting in blocked calls. Often, restoration of full traffic occurs only after repair of the cable which may take days, even weeks to complete.
Thus, there is a need for a telecommunications network architecture that facilitates rapid restoration.


An energy storage device includes: an electrode assembly; a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; a spacer interposed between the case and the electrode assembly; and a strip-like member being brought into contact with each of a side surface of the spacer and a side surface of the electrode assembly and fixing the spacer and the electrode assembly to each other. A portion of the spacer with which the strip-like member is brought into contact is wholly formed of a recessed portion.

Conventionally, as energy storage devices, there has been known an energy storage device where an electrode assembly is housed in a case with a spacer interposed between the electrode assembly and the case, and the electrode assembly and the spacer are integrated to each other by a tape member (see Patent Document 1).


The present disclosure is drawn to material sets for 3-dimensional printing, 3-dimensional printing systems, and 3-dimensional printed parts. A material set can include a thermoplastic polymer powder having an average particle size from 20 μm to 100 μm, an x-ray contrast ink including a jettable x-ray contrast agent, and a fusing ink. The fusing ink can include a fusing agent capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation to produce heat.

Methods of 3-dimensional (3D) digital printing, a type of additive manufacturing, have continued to be developed over the last few decades. Various methods for 3D printing have been developed, including heat-assisted extrusion, selective laser sintering, photolithography, as well as others. In selective laser sintering, for example, a powder bed is exposed to point heat from a laser to melt the powder wherever the object is to be formed. This allows for manufacturing complex parts that can be difficult to manufacture using traditional methods. In general, 3D printing technology improves the product development cycle by allowing rapid creation of prototype models for reviewing and testing. Both prototype and production parts created using 3D printing processes may require marking with quality control tracking information, serial numbers, and/or trademarks.
The figures depict several examples of the presently disclosed technology. However, it should be understood that the present disclosures is not limited to the examples depicted.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A tent structure arranged to afford protection to an individual during a tire changing procedure, wherein the tent structure includes a U-shaped base rib, with a plurality of intermediate ribs and a leading rib, with each of the ribs pivotally mounted relative to a central axle, with web members extending between the ribs to afford protection to an individual positioned within the tent structure. The tent organization includes magnet members mounted to the leading rib for magnetic adherence to a body panel of an associated vehicle to enhance positioning of the tent structure relative to the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The Field of Invention relates to tent apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved tire changing tent apparatus wherein the same is directed for positioning and securement relative to an automotive vehicle for affording protection to an individual during a tire changing procedure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tent structure of various types are available in the prior art and exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,993,773; 3,875,953; 3,707,977; and 3,894,765.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a tent structure easily and readily extended for positioning adjacent to a body panel of a vehicle to afford protection to an individual during a tire changing procedure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A system performance prediction mechanism based on software component performance measurements. The system performance prediction of the present invention is performed in the following procedure: (1) determine operating conditions, under which individual software components operate, from the software components and requests constituting a processing content of the transaction to be processed by the system; (2) determine system resource utilizations by searching a performance database 10 using each software component and operating conditions as keys; (3) combine results of searching for the system resource utilizations of all software components involved in processing of a transaction important in the system performance and predict the system resource utilization of the transaction; and (4) predict a system resource utilization of the entire system by combining the results obtained in the above (3) and inputting them into a system performance prediction model.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system performance prediction mechanism based on performance measurements of software components, and more particularly to a system performance prediction mechanism based on performance measurements of software components in a system that combines a plurality of software components.
2. Related Background Art
In a first conventional system construction, a desk study of performance is conducted in the early stage of designing or performance measurement of a prototype system is conducted in some cases, whereas performance is rarely evaluated by measuring a system under development. In most cases, a performance evaluation of a development system is performed for the first time in a joint test phase when the entire system starts to operate (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-108656 (pp. 8 to 10, See FIG. 1)).
In a second conventional performance evaluation (prediction) methodology in a system construction, there has been disclosed a method of dividing software execution to be able to estimate a system resource utilization necessary for executing a program before predicting a system performance based on system resource utilization estimated for individual processing steps (for example, refer to the technical literature, "Connie U. Smith, Software Performance Engineering, pp. 157-224, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.").
In the first conventional technology, the performance of the development system is evaluated for the first time in the joint test phase when the entire system starts to operate. Therefore, if a performance problem is found at that time, it is impossible to take large-scale countermeasures such as a change of a basic architecture of a system since the time for countermeasures is limited, thereby causing a problem that the countermeasures are limited to superficial ones having only poor effects. Therefore, in some cases, the performance cannot be improved enough, by which it causes such a situation as missing the time of delivery or a situation that a system integration vender copes with the problem by enhancing the hardware without compensation.
Furthermore, in the second conventional technology above, a software developer estimates a system performance for each processing step, thereby causing a problem that the performance cannot be measured systematically.

System performance prediction mechanism and method based on software component performance measurements


Optical properties of a lens, including localized defects, are determined by analyzing the refracted image produced by transmitting a beam of light through an aperture and a lens to be tested. The image is reflected onto a light sensitive detecting surface. Information obtained from the light detecting surface is digitized and sent to an Image Processing Unit which calculates the optical properties of the lens. The aperture may consist of a single shaped opening or alternatively a plurality of concentric, annular rings. Correction lenses may be employed, either permanently or selectively, to alter the refracted beam before the beam intersects the detecting surface.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for determining the optical parameters of a lens, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for automatically and objectively obtaining measurements of such parameters.
In the past, to determine the quality of ophthalmic lenses, manufacturers have had to rely upon testing devices which require a good deal of subjective determinations by the operator of the testing device. One such typical measuring instrument, which requires careful manipulation of the lens and continual subjective evaluations, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,383,678 to Tillyer et al. Because of having to rely on the subjective evaluations of each operator, differences in the readings acquired from operator to operator are encountered. Further, a relatively long period of time is required for even experienced operators to make an accurate measurement. Consequently, in order to measure the large quantities of lenses encountered in a production environment, a large number of operators is required.
Various attempts have been proposed in the prior art to alleviate these difficulties. One such method illuminated a test lens with collimated light, while behind the lens was placed an opaque mask containing two small holes symmetrically placed with respect to the axis of the system. The mask selects two bundles of rays from the refracted bundle passing through the lens. After first determining the separation of these bundles at some point down stream, the lens power of the lens could be calculated given the geometry of the optical system. However, this method is only useful for testing lenses having only spherical power, and also utilizes a moving part, namely a rotating chopper wheel having a slit therein, to determine the separation of the bundles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,525 discloses a lens measuring device without moving parts that relies on the effect of a lens upon at least three small bundles of light. An analysis of the direction and amount of displacement of the bundles permits the sphere, cylinder and axis of the lens to be calculated. However, the repeatability and accuracy of devices of this type, as well as other commercial lens measuring devices, is dependent upon the curvature uniformity and surface quality of the lens. Furthermore, this device could not be relied upon to detect isolated defects in the lenses.
It would be advantageous to devise a method and apparatus, utilizing no moving parts, which is capable of consistently and easily providing objective measurements of the optical properties of lenses, including the ability to detect isolated defects, if so desired.

Method and apparatus for determining the optical properties of a lens


The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining a custom fit stance for the user of a board-type conveyance such as a snowboard, wake board, or the like. The apparatus comprises a housing having top, bottom, front, back and side walls defining a space within, leveling means extending downward from the bottom of the housing and an anti-slip surface on the top of the housing, at least one plate linearly translatable across a portion of the top of the housing and having a first binding mounting plate separately radially rotatable thereon, a second binding mounting plate spaced from the linearly translatable mounting plate and radially rotatable relative to the housing and separate and independent of the first binding mounting plate, means for separately and independently rotating the first binding mounting plate and the second binding mounting plate, and means for linearly translating the movable plate and the first binding mounting plate relative to the second binding mounting plate.

A stance represents the way a snowboarder stands on his/her snowboard that should be comfortable, natural and stable. The stance determines the way the bindings mount onto the snowboard according to personal preference. A snowboarder's stance is comprised of three variables: the angle of the left foot, the angle of the right foot and the distance between the feet. By determining a custom fit stance to reduce abnormal stresses on the knees and ankles, the rider may feel more comfort on the board before setting foot on the mountain.
Currently there is no means of designating a custom fit stance to a customer for his/her newly purchased or rented snowboard. The rental shop provides a board according to the customer's height, weight, and favored foot. The bindings are situated randomly, disregarding his/her lower physiology. Even when the customer buys a brand new board, the shops rarely set the board up for the customer's individual physiology. Rookie snowboarders are constantly sent out onto the slopes without any stance knowledge.
Everyone's lower physiology is different. Mathematically there are hundreds of thousands of ways to mount the bindings to the board. Even the different styles of boots and bindings can affect the users' stance. The snowboard market needs the convenience of a device that simulates the typical snowboard, yet is capable of manipulating the foot placement while the customer is on the device with his/her feet in a chosen set of bindings. The device must allow the user to adjust the binding stance according to the individual's comfort and stability on the board. The stance positioning must be easily measured quantitatively and transformed into dimensions that can be used to mount the bindings onto the board in the same position. Being able to adjust the angles of each individual foot and the width between the feet into a comfortable position will maximize the rider's performance and confidence while minimizing the loading on the joints, thus preventing injury.
Currently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,959 Soejima discloses a method for positioning bindings to be fitted to a snowboard and a device therefore. The device comprises a snowboard shaped base with a pair of binding mounting discs thereon. However we note that the device only provides for determining and adjusting the rotational or axial deviation. There is no provision for determining a longitudinal position (stance width) for the bindings. With regard to longitudinal spacing between left and right foot bindings on a snowboard, prior art teaches such adjustment when bindings are actually mounted onto the board not on a measuring device prior to actually mounting the bindings on the board.
The angles of the left and right feet are very important for mounting the bindings onto the snowboard. But the distance between the feet is essential for proper stance configuration. Soejima clearly overlooked this concept. Foot angulations will change if the distance between the feet changes. Foot angles are directly proportional to the angle between the upper legs (femur bones). As the angle between the femur bones increases, the stance width increases. The lower leg remains at a fixed position in relation to the respective femur, translating into the angular position of the respective foot. As the distance between the feet increases, there will be an increase in external (lateral/outward) rotation of both feet. Angle of the foot is dependant upon the rotation of the hip. The distance between the feet can range from roughly 15″ to 24″ so the foot angulations will change respectively. Soejima does not take into consideration that the angles of the left and right feet are a direct function of the distance between the feet.

Apparatus and method for determining the correct stance for riders of board-type title conveyances


A capacitance type sensor good in operability and less in erroneous operation is provided. Switches SW1-SW4 are formed between a displacement electrode 40 and switch electrodes E11-E14 kept at a predetermined potential and grounded switch electrodes E15-E18. Switches SW11-SW14 and SW51-SW55 are connected to respective capacitance electrodes E1-E4 that cooperate with the displacement electrode 40 to form capacitance elements. A decision circuit judges states of the switches SW1-SW4. When at least one of the switches SW1-SW4 is off, an X-axial output is calculated based on the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C1 and C2, and a Y-axial output is calculated based on the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C3 and C4. When any of the switches SW1-SW4 is on, a Z-axial output is calculated based on the sum of the capacitance values of the capacitance elements C1 to C4.

A capacitance type sensor is generally used for converting into an electric signal the magnitude and direction of a force applied by an operator. For example, in an input device for a computer, a capacitance type sensor for inputting a multidimensional operation is incorporated as a so-called joystick.
With the capacitance type sensor, an operation quantity having a predetermined dynamic range can be input as the magnitude of a force applied by the operator. In addition, such a capacitance type sensor is also used as a two- or three-dimensional sensor capable of resolving into each dimensional component an applied force to be detected. In particular, capacitance type force sensors in which a capacitance element is formed between two electrodes to detect a force on the basis of a change in capacitance value caused by a change in the distance between the electrodes, have been put into practical use in various fields because they have a merit that the construction can be simplified to intend to reduce the cost.
In a capacitance type sensor, fixed electrodes on the X-axis, fixed electrodes on the Y-axis, and a fixed electrode on the Z-axis surrounded by the X- and Y-axial fixed electrodes, cooperate with a movable electrode to form variable capacitance elements, for example, see Patent document 1. In the capacitance type sensor, for example, when an X-axial force Fx is applied to an operation portion, the distance between a fixed electrode on the X-axis and the movable electrode is decreased to increase the capacitance value of the capacitance element formed by the electrodes. Therefore, by detecting the change in the capacitance value of the capacitance element, an X-axial signal corresponding to the X-axial force Fx can be output.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-91382


A method for producing an integrated optical circuit comprising an active device and a passive waveguide circuit includes: applying an active waveguide structure on a source wafer substrate; exposing a portion of the source wafer substrate by selectively removing the active waveguide structure; applying a passive waveguide structure on the exposed portion of the source wafer substrate, wherein an aggregation of the active waveguide structure and the passive waveguide structure forms the active device, the active device having a bottom surface facing the source wafer substrate; removing the source wafer substrate from the active device; and attaching the active device to a target substrate comprising the passive waveguide circuit such that the bottom surface of the active device faces the target substrate.

Silicon photonics is rapidly gaining importance as a generic technology platform for a wide range of applications in telecommunications, data communications, interconnect and sensing. It allows implementing photonic functions through the use of CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) compatible wafer-scale technologies on high quality, low cost silicon substrates. However, pure passive silicon waveguide devices still have limited performance in terms of insertion loss, phase noise (which results in channel crosstalk) and temperature dependency. This is due to the high refractive index contrast between the SiO2 (silicon dioxide) cladding and the Si (silicon) core, the non-uniform Si layer thickness and the large thermo-optic effect of silicon.
Silicon nitride-based passive devices offer superior performance. Propagation loss below 0.1 dB/cm has been demonstrated for waveguides with a 640 nm thick SiNx (silicon nitride) core and even below 0.1 dB/m for waveguides with a 50 nm thick core. Also, the slightly lower refractive index contrast between SiNx (n=2) and SiO2 (n=1.45) versus Si (n=3.5) and SiO2 (n=1.45) results in less phase noise and larger fabrication tolerances. This facilitates the fabrication of high performance but still very compact optical circuits such as AWGs (Arrayed Waveguide Gratings), ring resonators, etc. Silicon nitride waveguides have been reported both as a high performance passive waveguide layer on an active silicon photonics chip but also as 'stand-alone' passive optical chips. Due to their compact size, these circuits are ideal for the realization of low-cost receivers and transceivers. For these applications, however, either high speed detectors, or lasers and modulators are required. Lasers cannot be fabricated in the silicon platform whilst none are possible on the silicon nitride platform.
There are two solutions for this problem. Classically active devices made using InP/GaAs materials are flip-chipped or coupled to the passive waveguide circuit. This significantly increases the complexity of the chip, as externally coupled devices require active alignment. Alternatively, one can choose to bond a III-V film 111 to the passive waveguide circuit 120 to integrate the active devices 110 on the chip to obtain an integrated optical device 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The passive waveguide circuit 120 includes a hybrid waveguide structure 125 within a SOI (Silicon On Insulator) waveguide 121 and a tapered mode converter 123. The active device 110 includes a III-V diode with quantum wells 111 attached on a SOI circuit 113 and covered by metal contacts on silicon dioxide 115. The complexity of this integration stays approximately the same whether few or many components are integrated, as the processing of all the devices is done at wafer scale. This approach therefore becomes more and more effective as the chip complexity grows.
In most heterogeneously integrated active devices, adiabatic tapering is used to transfer light between the passive circuit and the active device. This taper is fabricated in the same epitaxial layers used to create the active devices. FIG. 2 shows a photograph depicting an exemplary adiabatic taper 200 in a III-V active device. In integrated detectors, the additional length in the taper increases the capacitance, reducing the possible device bandwidth. In integrated lasers, these tapers need to be pumped in order to avoid losses. However, in this case, the injected current flows near the etched sidewalls, thereby reducing the device lifespan. In integrated modulators, the residual absorption in the taper section cannot be avoided.
The main problems with the adiabatic taper as it is used so far are excess loss due to doping, increased device capacitance and need for pumping the tapers. Excess loss is related to doping and active region, especially for the modulator. Increased device capacitance can be resolved in the modulator by electrically insulating the taper sections from the main modulating section, however this approach is not possible in the detector. Need for pumping the tapers in integrated lasers is in order to avoid excessive losses. This probably reduces the lifespan of the laser. In monolithic III-V waveguide platforms, passive and active sections are made by selectively growing active waveguide sections (with MQW, Multiple Quantum Wells and doping), and passive waveguide sections (without MQW and doping).
FIG. 3 is a schematic 300 showing typical differences between active 301 and passive 311 regions for monolithic III-V waveguide platforms. The active region 301 includes a lower layer 307 of n-InP, a middle MQW layer 305 and an upper layer 303 of p-InP attached on a common n+-InP substrate 310. The passive region 311 includes a lower layer 317 of non-doped InP, a middle layer 315 of passive material, also called quaternary layer and an upper layer 313 of non-doped InP attached on the common n+-InP substrate 310.
However, using current heterogeneous integration techniques it is not possible to use a regrown III-V wafer. This is because the III-V material is bonded to the target wafer 'face-down' as shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the production process 400. The unprocessed III-V die 401 is attached 402 on top of the SOI photonic waveguide 403 by "face-down" bonding 404 providing a SOI waveguide with bonded III-V die 405. Note that the "face-down" bonding 404 of the III-V die 401 inverts the epi layers. Then, substrate is removed 406 and the thin film device 407 is ready for further processing. The uneven surface topology at the interface between passive and active areas prevents successful bonding using a regrown III-V wafer, i.e. applying "face-up" bonding.
There is a need to couple light between active devices and passive waveguide circuits, in particular by using high performance, low loss adiabatic tapers between III-V active devices heterogeneously bonded to a separate wafer containing passive waveguide structures.

Method for producing an integrated optical circuit


A semiconductor device capable of stabilizing an internal voltage is provided. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a stabilized power supply circuit for generating a first voltage, a charge pump circuit for generating a second voltage different from the first voltage using the first voltage, the COUT2 including a comparison circuit for comparing the second voltage with a reference voltage, and a dummy load circuit controlled to be turned on or off in response to a comparison result signal COUT2 outputted from the comparison circuit, and the Dummy load circuit receives the comparison result signal COUT2 and is turned on for a predetermined period, whereby at least a part of a current IDD based on the first voltage flows into the dummy load circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device including a charge pump.
In recent years, miniaturization of processes has progressed, and the core power supply voltage has also decreased in proportion to a decrease in the breakdown voltage of a device. However, the voltage used at the time of data rewriting in a semiconductor memory device, particularly a flash memory, is still high. Therefore, as the power supply voltage drops, the voltage step-up ratio of Charge pump circuit increases, and the operating current tends to increase. In the Stabilized power supply circuit where the power supply voltage is supplied to the Charge pump circuit, the increase in the operating current causes the load variation of the output voltage to increase due to the effect of the response rate. The voltage drop in the output voltage causes performance degradation. Further, a voltage rise in the output voltage lowers the breakdown voltage life of the device. For this reason, there is a need for a technique for suppressing the influence of the load fluctuation of the power supply voltage.

Semiconductor device having power supply voltage circuit, charge pump, comparator, and load circuit for controlling memory device


A method for defining a cycle time for a transmission cycle on a system bus of a monitoring and/or control system having at least one communication module and at least one input/output module, which is connected to the communication module via the system bus for transmitting measurement and/or control signals and is intended to input and/or output measurement and/or control signals to field applications, the at least one communication module having a time control unit for controlling a transmission cycle which is constantly repeatedly carried out and has defined communication times for the communication and input/output modules which are connected to the system bus, comprises measuring the signal propagation times on the system bus and defining the cycle time for a transmission cycle on the system bus on the basis of the longest signal propagation time measured.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for controlling the access times to a system bus of a monitoring and/or control system having at least one communication module and at least one input/output module, which is connected to the communication module via the system bus for transmitting measurement and/or control signals and is intended to input and/or output measurement and/or control signals to field applications, the at least one communication module having a time control unit for controlling a transmission cycle which is constantly repeatedly carried out and has defined communication times for the communication and input/output modules which are connected to the system bus.
The invention also relates to a communication module for a monitoring and/or control system, said module having a system bus interface for connecting subordinate input/output modules and having a time control unit for controlling a transmission cycle which is constantly repeatedly carried out and has defined communication times for the communication and/or input/output modules which are connected to the system bus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to control the communication processes on a system bus of a monitoring and/or control system, exact synchronization and the definition of access times for individual communication and input/output modules, which are connected to the system bus, are necessary in order to avoid access collision.
DE 101 43 972 A1 describes communication control for a process control system communication bus, which uses a communication schedule to control communication occurring on the communication bus. The communication schedule prescribes when each of the devices which are coupled to the bus can communicate on the bus. A test algorithm is used to detect the presence of devices which are connected to the communication bus.
EtherCAT: Die Beckhoff-Lösung für Echtzeit Ethernet [EtherCAT: The Beckhoff solution for real-time Ethernet] in: SPS Magazin, Issue 5+6/2003, pages 42 to 45 discloses a method for synchronizing a control system with input/output modules which are connected to one another via an Ethernet field bus. Each input/output module has a clock in order to control the access time to the Ethernet field bus. A master clock determines the propagation time offset with respect to individual secondary clocks of the distributed control system. The distributed clocks are corrected on the basis of the respective propagation time differences so that its highly accurate network-wide time base is available.

Method for controlling the access times to a system bus and communication module


An inspecting method for an object lens driving device including a base, an objective lens, a holder for holding the objective lens on the base, and a drive mechanism for driving the holder so as to move the objective lens in the focus direction, the method comprising the steps of: emitting a laser beam through the objective lens; allowing the laser beam emitted through the objective lens to pass through an aperture having a predetermined diameter; applying to the drive mechanism a drive voltage for moving the holder between a first position closest to a surface of the base and a second position farther than the first position from the surface of the base; performing photoelectric conversion of the laser beam having passed through the aperture; and inspecting the objective lens driving device based on a signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspecting apparatus for an objective lens driving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An objective lens driving device is known which drives an objective lens for applying a laser beam for recording or reproducing information to/from an optical disc (see e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-16668 (Pages 1 to 3, FIGS. 11 to 12)). In the objective lens driving device, focusing control is performed for correcting focusing displacement of the laser beam on a disc surface by moving the objective lens in the direction perpendicular to the disc surface. The objective lens driving device is used for an optical pickup apparatus for recording or reproducing information to/from the optical disc, for example.
A configuration of an objective lens driving device 1 will then be described with reference to FIG. 11.
A base 10 is a metal plate-shaped base including a magnet 21 and a magnet 22 each in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a yoke 11 and a yoke 12 each in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape having the magnet 21 and the magnet 22 respectively fixed thereto. Specifically, a pair of the yokes 11 and 12 in the substantially rectangular flat plate shape is so formed on the base 10 as to be opposed to each other in the tangential direction of FIG. 11 (tangential direction of a track of the optical disc (not shown) mounted on a turn table (not shown)) and a predetermined housing portion 90 is so formed as to have an opening for providing a main body portion 30 (an actuator main body portion) of an actuator ACT in between the yokes 11 and 12. The "actuator" refers to a driving device that converts energy into translational movement or rotational movement, for example.
The magnet 21 and the magnet 22 are rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped monopole permanent magnets having polarities different from each other. A back surface 21b of the magnet 21 is fixed to the yoke 11 and a back surface 22b of the magnet 22 is fixed to the yoke 21, such that front surfaces of the pair of the magnets 21 and 22 are opposed to each other across the housing portion 90 on the base 10. For example, a magnetic gap is formed in and around/near the housing portion 90 on the base 10 positioned between the opposed surfaces of the magnets 21 and 22. Bottom surfaces 21a and 22a positioned in the focus direction (direction perpendicular to a surface of the optical disc (not shown) mounted on the turn table (not shown)) of the magnet 21 and the magnet 22 are bonded to top surfaces 10b and 10c of the base 10 with an adhesive. Reference numerals 61 and 62 shown in FIG. 11 denote bonding areas between the magnets 21 and 22, and the base 10.
The actuator ACT includes: for example, a lens holder 31 (holder) that holds an objective lens OBL; substantially linear suspension wires 40 (wires) that elastically support the actuator main body portion 30 including a holder 31, etc. provided with the objective lens OBL, etc., so that the actuator main body portion 30 can move; a support plate 50 to which one ends 42 of both ends 41 and 42 of the substantially linear suspension wires 40 is fixed; locking members 32 that lock the other ends 41 of the both ends 41 and 42 of a plurality of the substantially linear suspension wires 40 on each of two opposed side surfaces 31a and 31b positioned in the radial direction (direction perpendicular to the track of the disc surface) of the holder 31 (e.g., two wires for each of the side surfaces 31a and 31b); tracking coils 33 that drive the actuator main body portion 30 positioned mainly substantially in the radial direction; and a focus coil 34 that drives the actuator main body portion 30 mainly substantially in the focus direction. A space 90a for moving the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT in the focus direction exists between a rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT and a one-step lowered surface 10a positioned substantially in the center of the base 10 and at a distance in the focus direction from the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT.
The suspension wires 40 are metal wires elastically supporting the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT via the locking members 32 and having a function of lead wires for passing electric currents through the tracking coils 33, the focusing coils 34, etc. Specifically, each of the suspension wires 40 is locked at the one end 41 to the locking member 32 with solder flux and is fixed at the other end 42 to the support plate 50 with solder agent, damper material, etc., so as to extend parallel to the base 10. The damper material functions to absorb vibrations such as abnormal vibrations when the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT is driven/moved.
The support plate 50 is a plate to which the other ends 42 of the suspension wires 10 are fixed. The support plate 50 and the base 10 are fixed with each other via a metal case (not shown), for example.
As above, constituent elements other than the base 10 and the holder 31 in FIG. 11 make up a drive mechanism for driving the holder 31 so as to move the objective lens OBL in the focus direction and the tracking direction.
The bonding areas 61 and 62 are areas for bonding the bottom surfaces 21a and 22a of the magnets 21 and 22 to the top surfaces 10b and 10c of the base 10 with an adhesive agent, however, the adhesive agent may flow out or seep out to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 opposed to the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT provided with the holder 31, for example. The adhesive agent may not be applied to the bonding areas 61 and 62 as prescribed and may adhere to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 opposed to the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT.
The locking member 32 of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT locks the one end 41 of the suspension wire 40 by soldering using solder flux, for example, however, the solder flux may adhere to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 opposed to the bottom surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT when performing the above soldering operation.
The other end 42 of the suspension wire 40 is fixed to the support plate 50 using the soldering agent or a damper material, for example, however, the damper material may adhere to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 opposed to the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT when performing the above fixing operation.
It is assumed that an adhesive foreign substance such as the adhesive agent, soldering flux, or damper material adheres to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 opposed to the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT, as above. In this case, when the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT is moved for the focusing control such that the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT is moved closer to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10, the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT adheres to the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10 due to the adhesive foreign substance as above.
Under such a situation, when attempting to move the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT away from the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10, there is a problem that the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT may not smoothly be moved (the controlled response may not be in a linear form) due to the adhesive foreign substance, and thus, the focusing control may not be performed as intended.
This is not limited to the above adhesive foreign substance, but also in a case where a foreign substance such as dust enters between the rear surface 30a of the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT and the one-step lowered surface 10a substantially in the center of the base 10, there is the problem that the main body portion 30 of the actuator ACT is not smoothly moved.

Use of a photoelectric converted signal to inspect an objective lens driving device


A process for enhancing the consistency of a macerated fruit or vegetable product by macerating a fruit or vegetable material to almost completely disrupt cellular material therein; adding calcium chloride to the fruit or vegetable material in an amount sufficient to increase consistency after subsequent heat treatment of the material; and heat treating the calcium chloride containing fruit or vegetable material for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to inactivate pectin or other carbohydrate polymer degrading enzymes therein to form a macerated fruit or vegetable product with enhanced consistency. For optimum results, the calcium chloride is added to the macerated material within 1 minute after maceration and the heat treating is conducted within 1 minute after the addition of the calcium chloride.

FR-A-93/00294, WO94/12055 and WO94/25575 describe a method for increasing the firmness and consistency of fruits or vegetables by the use of pectin methylesterase. FR-A-93/00294 describes the optional addition of from 0.5 to 2.0% of a calcium salt such as calcium carbonate. WO94/12055 describes the optional addition of calcium chloride to fruit or vegetable material which has been treated with pectin methylesterase and which is naturally low in calcium. WO94/25575 states that the firming of fruits and vegetables, and increasing the viscosity or producing gel formation in vegetable or fruit based products, can be accomplished by treating these components with pectin methylesterase and divalent cations, e.g. divalent ions such as calcium.
In "Journal of Food Science-Volume 57, No.5, 1992, pp.1144-1147", the article entitled "Optimization of a Diced Tomato Calcification Process" by John D. Floros et al states that processing of diced tomatoes at a CaCl.sub.2 concentration of 0.43% for 3.5 minutes would yield a product with increased firmness. Firmness is critical for diced tomatoes in aseptic processing and packaging, because the diced product is subjected to high shear stress as it is transferred through pumps, pipes, strainers, pressurized tanks and fillers. In diced pieces, the firmness has been attributed to the formation of calcium/pectate cross-links in the middle lamella and cell wall induced by the added calcium ions. These new calcium/pectate cross-links increase the rigidity of the tomato pieces and may also cause a decrease in the activity of the tomato polygalacturonase, thereby inhibiting the degradation of pectin in the middle lamella, cell wall and pericarp tissue in general by endogenous hydrolases such as polygalacturonase. During the CaCl.sub.2 treatment, the enzyme pectin methylesterase is believed to remain active, creating additional calcium/pectin cross-links and thus generating further rigidity in the tomato pieces.
It should be noted that in diced tomato pieces, the cellular material is only slightly disrupted whereas in macerated tomatoes used, for instance, for preparing a tomato paste, the cellular material is almost completely disrupted. In the normal industrial process for the manufacture of tomato paste, the tomato tissue is macerated and then immediately heat-treated to above about 82.degree. C. to inactivate the pectin degrading enzymes naturally present in the tomato. In the absence of this enzyme inactivation step, significant breakdown of the pectic and other carbohydrate polymers will result in a product of low consistency (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,375). This heat treatment to inactivate the pectin degrading enzymes naturally present in the tomato is known as the "hot-break" in the tomato industry. It is widely held in the tomato industry that the pectin degrading enzymes (pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, pectin lyase) and other cell wall carbohydrases such as the enzyme exo-(1-4) beta-D galactanase (WO95/232228) and the endobeta (1-4) glucanases (Lashbrook, et al. (1994) The Plant Cell 6, (1485-1493) will degrade the carbohydrate polymers responsible for high consistency if they are not immediately inactivated by heat. Therefore it is assumed that, to obtain tomato paste having a high consistency, the enzymes in the macerated tomatoes should be inactivated by heat as soon as possible by the "hot-break" method (see W.Gould "Tomato Production, Processing & Technology, 3.sup.rd Edition (1991) CTI Publications Inc).


A seal pattern structure for a liquid crystal display panel is disclosed. Because an overlap portion of the seal pattern that encompasses in a closed form the outer edge of the image display part is minimized, excessive distribution of sealant at the seal pattern overlap portion may be prevented. The liquid crystal display panel including the seal pattern includes a substrate having at least one image display part; a start pattern formed from a point spaced apart from the image display part to a point adjacent to an outer edge of the image display part; a main pattern connected to the start pattern and encompassing the outer edge of the image display part; and an end pattern connected to the main pattern and formed from the outer edge of the image display part to a point spaced apart from the image display part, wherein a connection part between the start pattern and the main pattern and a connection part between the main pattern and the end pattern cross each other. A method of forming a seal pattern on a substrate for a liquid crystal display panel is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seal pattern structure for a liquid crystal display panel and, more particularly, to a seal pattern structure for a liquid crystal display panel capable of minimizing an overlap portion of a seal pattern encompassing an outer edge of a image display part in a closed form.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display is a display device where data signals that correspond to picture information are individually supplied to liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix form. The light transmittance of each of the liquid crystal cells is controlled to display a desired picture.
The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having pixels arranged in a matrix form and a gate driving unit and a data driving unit for driving the pixels.
The liquid crystal display panel also has a color filter substrate and a thin film transistor array substrate attached to each other, but maintaining a uniform cell gap there between, and a liquid crystal layer between the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor array substrate.
The liquid crystal display panel is formed by the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor array substrate being attached. A common electrode and a pixel electrode are formed to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer and may both be formed on the thin film transistor array substrate or the common electrode may be formed on the color filter substrate and the pixel electrode may be formed on the thin film transistor array substrate, depending on the type of LCD.
Namely, in a state that a voltage is applied to the common electrode, a voltage applied to the pixel electrode is controlled, thereby individually adjusting light transmittance of unit pixels. In order to control the voltage applied to the pixel electrode by unit pixels, a thin film transistor is used as a switching unit is formed at each unit pixel.
Alignment layers are formed at both facing surfaces of the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate. The alignment layers are rubbed or photoaligned to align the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in a certain direction.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the unit liquid crystal display panel formed by a thin film transistor array substrate and a color filter substrate according to the related art.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display panel 100 includes an image display part 113 in which the liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix form, a gate pad part 114 connected to the gate lines of the image display part 113, and a data pad part 115 connected to the data lines. The gate pad part 114 and the data pad part 115 are formed along an edge region of the thin film transistor array substrate 101 that does not overlap with the color filter substrate 102, e.g., the portion of the thin film transistor array substrate 101 that extends beyond the edge of the color filter substrate 102. The gate pad part 114 supplies a scan signal from a gate driver integrated circuit (not shown) to the gate lines of the image display part 113, and the data pad part 115 supplies image information from a data driver integrated circuit (not shown) to the data lines of the image display part 113.
Data lines to which image information is applied and gate lines to which a scan signal is applied are provided on the thin film transistor array substrate 101. The data lines and the gate lines cross each other. Additionally, a thin film transistor for switching the liquid crystal cells is provided at each crossing of the data lines and the gate lines. A pixel electrode for driving the liquid crystal cells connected to the thin film transistor is provided on the thin film transistor array substrate 101, and a passivation film protecting the pixel electrode and the thin film transistor is formed on the entire surface of the thin film transistor array substrate 101.
Color filters (not shown) in the cell regions are separated by a black matrix (not shown). A common transparent electrode is provided on the color filter substrate 102. A cell gap is formed by a spacer between the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102, which are attached to each other by a seal pattern 116 formed along an outer edge of the image display part 113.
In fabricating the liquid crystal display panel, a method for simultaneously forming a multiple liquid crystal display panels on a large-scale mother substrate is typically used. Thus, this method requires a process for separating the liquid crystal display panels from the large-scale mother substrate by cutting and processing the mother substrate having the plurality of liquid crystal display panels formed thereon.
After a liquid crystal display panel is separated from the large-scale mother substrate, liquid crystal is injected through a liquid crystal injection opening to form a liquid crystal layer in the cell gap that separates the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102. Then, the liquid crystal injection opening is sealed.
To fabricate a liquid crystal display panel, the following processes are generally required. First, the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102 are separately fabricated on the first and second mother substrates. The first and second mother substrates are attached in such a manner that a uniform cell gap is maintained therebetween. The attached first and second mother substrates are cut into unit panels. Then, the liquid crystal is injected to the cell gap between the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102.
A process of forming the seal pattern 116 along an outer edge of the image display part 113 is required to attach the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102. The related art seal pattern forming method will now be described.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a screen printing to form a seal pattern.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, there is provided a screen mask 206 patterned so that seal patterns forming regions for forming seal patterns 216A–216F are selectively exposed. A rubber squeegee 208 for selectively supplying a sealant 203 to the substrate 200 through the screen mask 206 is used to simultaneously form the plurality of seal patterns 216A–216F. Thus, the plurality of seal patterns 216A–216F are formed along each outer edge of image display part 213A–213F of the substrate 200, and liquid crystal injection openings 204A–204F are formed at one side. The openings are for injecting liquid crystal into a gap between the thin film transistor array substrate 101 and the color filter substrate 102. The seal patterns 216A–216F prevent leakage of the liquid crystal.
In general, the screen printing method includes applying the sealant 203 on the screen mask 206 having seal patterns forming regions patterned thereon; forming the seal patterns 216A–216F on the substrate 200 through printing with the rubber squeegee 208; drying the seal pattern 216 by evaporating a solvent contained in the seal patterns 216A–216F; and leveling it the seal pattern 216.
The screen printing method is widely used because it has the advantage of processing ease. However, it has the disadvantage of sealant waste. More particularly, sealant is wasted because sealant is applied to the entire surface of the screen mask 206 and then the seal patterns 216A–216F are simultaneously printed with the rubber squeegee 208 such that the excess sealant material, which is not printed, is thrown away.
In addition, the screen printing method has another disadvantage in that a rubbed alignment layer (not shown) formed on the substrate 200 is degraded as a result of the screen mask 206 being brought into contact with the substrate 200. The degradation of the rubbed alignment layer degrades picture quality of the liquid crystal display device.
Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of the screen printing method, a seal dispensing method has been proposed.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of a dispensing method for forming a seal pattern in accordance with the related art.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, while a table 310 with the substrate 300 loaded thereon is being moved in forward/backward and left/right directions, a plurality of seal patterns 316A–316F are formed along each outer edge of image display parts 313A–313F formed on a substrate 300 by applying a certain pressure to the plurality of syringes 301A–301C filled with sealant. In this case, the seal patterns 316A–316F are sequentially formed by the unit of line of the image display parts 313A–313F, and one side of each seal pattern is opened to form liquid crystal injection openings 304A–304F.
In this seal dispensing method, because the sealant is selectively supplied to the region where the seal patterns 316A–316F are to be formed, sealant consumption can be reduced. In addition, since the syringes 301A–301C do not contact the alignment layer (not shown) of the image display parts 313A–313F of the substrate 300, the rubbed alignment layer cannot be damaged, and thus the picture quality of the liquid crystal display device is not degraded.
One respective side of each of the seal patterns 216A–216F and 316A–316F formed by the screen printing method or the seal dispensing method are opened to function as liquid crystal injection openings 204A–204F and 304A–304F. The seal patterns can be varied in their forms according to methods for forming a liquid crystal layer on the liquid crystal display panel, that is, for example, according to a vacuum injection method and a dropping or dispensing method.
First, the vacuum injection method is performed using a liquid crystal injection opening of a unit liquid crystal display panel that has been separated from a large-scale mother substrate, which is put in a container filled with a liquid crystal in a chamber in which a certain vacuum is set. Then, liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal display panel according to a pressure difference between interior and exterior of the liquid crystal display panel by varying the degree of vacuum in the chamber. After the liquid crystal is filled in the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal injection opening is sealed to form the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display panel.
Thus, when the liquid crystal layer is formed on the liquid crystal display panel through the vacuum injection method, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the seal patterns 216A–216F and 316A–316F are opened at one side to form the liquid crystal injection openings 204A–204F and 304A–304F.
However, the vacuum injection method as described above has the following problems.
First, it takes a long time to fill the liquid crystal into the liquid crystal display panel. In general, the attached liquid crystal display panel with an area of several hundreds cm2 has a gap of a few μms (micrometers). Thus, even with the vacuum injection method, which uses pressure difference, the injection of liquid crystal takes a long time. For instance, in the case of fabricating a liquid crystal display panel of about 15 inches, it takes 8 hours to fill the liquid crystal display panel with liquid crystal. Thus, because such a long time is taken during the fabrication of the liquid crystal display panel, the productivity is degraded. In addition, as the liquid crystal display panel increases in size, the time required for filling liquid crystal correspondingly increases, and thus liquid crystal filling defects further occur. Therefore, the vacuum injection method can hardly cope with the large-scale liquid crystal display panel.
Another problem with the vacuum injection method is that too much liquid crystal is consumed. In general, the actually injected quantity of liquid crystal in the vacuum injection method is very small compared to the quantity of liquid crystal in the container. When liquid crystal is exposed in the air or to a specific gas, it reacts with the gas and degrades. Thus, even if liquid crystal in a container is filled into a plurality of liquid crystal display panels. A large quantity of liquid crystal remaining after the filling has to be discarded, which increases the overall unit price of the liquid crystal display and thus decreases price competitiveness.
In order to overcome such problems of the vacuum injection method, a dropping method is proposed.
In the dropping or dispensing method, liquid crystal is dropped or dispensed on a plurality of thin film transistor array substrates fabricated from a first large-scale mother substrate or on color filter substrates fabricated from a second large-scale mother substrate. The first and second mother substrates are then attached to each other so that liquid crystal is uniformly distributed over the entire image display regions by the attaching pressure, thereby forming a liquid crystal layer.
In the dropping method, liquid crystal may be dropped within a short time compared to the vacuum injection method. Even though the liquid crystal display panel is large in size, the liquid crystal layer may be quickly formed.
In addition, because only the amount of liquid crystal that is required, is dropped the high unit price of the liquid crystal display panel formed by the vacuum injection method caused by the expensive liquid crystal being discarded is prevented such that price competitiveness is improved.
When the liquid crystal layer is formed on the liquid crystal display panel through the dropping method, the seal patterns 416A–416F encompassing each outer edge of the image display parts 413A–413F formed on the substrate 400 have the closed patterns with start points and end points met each other, as illustrated in FIG. 4, thereby preventing leakage of liquid crystal outwardly. In this case, in order to ensure that the start points and the end points of the seal patterns 416A–416F meet each other, the start points and the end points overlap with each other at certain portions.
Accordingly, in the case that the seal patterns 416A–416F are formed by the seal dispensing method such that their start points and end points overlap with each other at some portions, sealant is excessively distributed at the overlap portion compared to other portions.
The sealant excessively distributed at the portion where the start points and the end points of the seal patterns 416A–416F meet each other may spread internally and externally of the image display parts 413A–413F because of an attaching pressure in a follow-up process of attaching the substrates of the liquid crystal display panel.
Sealant that spreads into the image display parts 413A–413F contaminates liquid crystal, causing problems with picture quality of the liquid crystal display device and thus a yield of the liquid crystal display device is degraded.
In addition, sealant spread externally of the image display parts 413A–413F may infiltrate into a cut line at which a plurality of unit liquid crystal display panels fabricated on the large-scale mother substrate are cut, a follow-up process for cutting the plurality of liquid crystal display panels into individual unit liquid crystal display panels is interfered, and thus, productivity of the liquid crystal display device is degraded.

Liquid crystal display panel having seal pattern for easy cut line separation minimizing liquid crystal contamination and method of manufacturing the same


A bicycle suspension assembly elastically supports a first frame member to a second frame member. The suspension assembly preferably forms a bottom bracket unit that allows the rear frame member to pivot about the axis of the bicycle crank axle without any adverse affects to the drive train assembly. Preferably, the suspension assembly includes a first suspension member, a second suspension member, a first bearing unit, and a shock-absorbing structure. The first bearing unit is operatively disposed between the first and second suspension members to movably support the first suspension member for rotation relative to the second suspension member about a center pivot axis. In the preferred embodiment, each of the shock-absorbing structure includes a plurality of biasing members. Preferably, the suspension assembly includes a second bearing unit that is axially spaced from the first bearing unit along the center pivot axis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle suspension assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle suspension assembly for elastically coupling a first frame member to a second frame member. The suspension assembly is preferably part of a rear suspension assembly in which a rear frame member is elastically coupled to a main frame member such that the rear frame member pivots about the bottom bracket.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. In the past, most bicycles had rigid frames, which typically transmitted the shocks resulting from rough riding surfaces directly to the rider. In other words, most bicycles were not provided with any type of suspension.
Recently, bicycles, especially mountain bikes (MTB) and all terrain bikes (ATB), have been outfitted with front and/or rear suspension assemblies to absorb the shocks transmitted to the rider when riding on a rough road. Moreover, handlebars and seats are now also being provided with suspensions. These suspension assemblies range from very simple to very complex. However, these prior art suspension assemblies have many drawbacks to them. For example, some of the prior suspension assemblies are expensive to manufacture and/or difficult to assemble. Some prior art suspension assemblies require constant adjustments. Other suspension assemblies have adverse affects on the drive train.
Examples of some prior art bicycles utilizing rear suspension assemblies are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,821 to Bock; U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,937 to Lawwill; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,572 to Buell et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,241 to Girvin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,674 to Buell et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,224 to Busby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,637 to Busby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,354 to McWethy; U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,036 to Busby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,327 to Bell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,246 to Buell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,085 to Gally; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,411 to Takamiya et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,361 to De Bei; U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,249 to Busby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,396 to Sutter et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,318 to Castellano; U.S. Pat. No. 5,452b,013 to Hwang; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,896 to Collins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,557 to Farris et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,022 to Matsui; U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,175 to Fujii; U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,176 to Fujii; U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,858 to Fujii; and U.S. Pat No. 6,481,700 to Fujii.
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 bicycle suspension assembly. 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.