A thrust generator including a superconducting solenoid magnet 1, a thrust duct 2 and a power supply device 3. The spiral portion of the thrust duct 2 is inserted in the hollow interior of the superconducting solenoid magnet 1. Anode 8 and cathode 9 are fixed at both inner walls of the thrust duct 2. Electric power is supplied to an electromagnetic fluid 10 in the duct 2 to produce a magnetic field and a Lorentz's force f. The electromagnetic fluid 10 flows into the thrust duct 2 through an opening 6a at the inlet end portion 6 where it is urged continuously by the Lorentz's force F and jetted outside from an opening 7a at the outlet end portion 7. The reaction of the jet force becomes a thrust. A Lorentz's force f, generated by the superconducting solenoid magnet 1 and by the current J flowing through each current feed element, rotates and drives the thrust duct 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust generator which may be used as a superconducting Electro Magnetic Thruster (hereinafter referred as EMT) for ship propulsion devices, a Dynamic Positioning System for ocean platforms, an Electro-Magnetic pump for an electrically conductive fluid, such as, sea water, an MHD generator, and pumps and generators of pumping-up power systems. Conventionally, diploe, quadruple, saddle and racetrack type superconducting magnets are used for EMTs. These conventional EMTs may however, be too big and too heavy to provide enough thrust for full-scale ships and may be difficult to construct. Their magnetic field must be strong enough on 10 to 20 Teslas to obtain the efficient propulsion of EMT ships. The EMT having such a strong magnetic field may be while the size and weight of an on-board EMT propulsion device is limited by available hull space. Consequently, the size, weight, thrust force and high magnetic field of conventional EMTs has proven unsatisfactory. In view of this, there is an important technical problem to develop EMTs for practical use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A previous application by the present inventor, PCT/JP89/01153, disclosed a light weight and compact thrust generator includes superconducting magnets. According to that previous application, the superconducting EMT generator includes a superconducting solenoid magnet and a helical or spiral thrust duct with a pair of electrodes inserted in the hollow interior of the superconducting solenoid coil magnet. The openings of the inlet and the outlet of the spiral duct are provided along the longitudinal center axis of the solenoid coil magnet. In the case of sea water as a conductive fluid flowing the thrust duct an anode, or positive electrode, is arranged continuously on the inner side wall of the duct and a cathode, or negative electrode, is opposed to the outer side wall of the duct.


Surfactants are used in low concentrations in order to solubilize water-insoluble solids for inclusion in aqueous beverages. Beverage concentrates, beverage syrups and finished beverages, all of which contain surfactant and water-insoluble solids, are stable; the concentrates and finished beverages are clear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use of surfactants to solubilize water-insoluble solids in ready-to-drink beverages which are clear, stable and free of crystals, floc, sediment and any other phase separation phenomena. More particularly, the present invention relates to the formation of stable, clear beverage concentrates, beverage syrups and stable, clear finished beverages which contain water-insoluble solids which have been solubilized or micro-solubilized by an amount of surfactant that is substantially less than the amount of surfactant used in known dispersions and often less than the amount of the water-insoluble solids.
2. Related Background Art
A variety of water-insoluble solids are useful ingredients in beverages. Examples of such water-insoluble solids include, without limitation, flavor compounds, taste modifiers, nutrients and colors. While these water-insoluble solids may be dissolved in non-aqueous solvent systems to form solutions, when such solutions are added to a beverage syrup and subsequently included in an aqueous finished beverage, the water-insoluble solids precipitate, crystallize or oil-off due to the overall dilution of the non-aqueous solvent in which the solids were dissolved. In addition, in the absence of suitable surfactant(s), water-insoluble solids form large crystalline pieces or waxy or oily material floating on top in beverage concentrates and syrups, respectively. All of the above-noted phase separation phenomena, aside from the obvious negative aesthetic impact, prevent the effective delivery of flavor to a given beverage.
Hence, there exists a dilemma in the formulation of beverages containing such water-insoluble solids. Many approaches have been taken to address this problem. Most notably, methods such as encapsulation (U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,798), microemulsion (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,835,002 and 6,251,441), emulsion (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,701), etc., have been employed. In addition, it is known to simply add a solubilizer such as a surfactant to a beverage system in order to solubilize an otherwise insoluble component (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,444,253, 6,048,566, 4,136,163, 4,230,688 and 4,296,093).
However, each of these approaches has associated disadvantages. For example, beverages containing encapsulations or emulsions are not optically, visually, clear, i.e., water-clear. What is more, microemulsions, while optically clear and stable, rely on large amounts of co-solvents and large amounts of surfactants; the latter are typically present in an amount that is at least five to ten times the amount of water-insoluble solids present. Such a high requirement for the amount of surfactant has potential negative impacts upon beverage quality and manufacturing efficiency. A finished beverage having such large amounts of surfactant may have off-tastes. In addition, such a beverage may not be amenable to typical beverage manufacturing processes, e.g., the dilution of concentrate to syrup to finished beverage (see above). Further, surfactants are also foaming agents; using a large amount of surfactant will generate foam during carbonated beverage manufacturing, will therefore have an impact on line speed and filling and will thereby complicate the manufacturing process. Finally, large amounts of surfactant may be beyond the regulatory limit in a given beverage market, thereby creating an additional hurdle to be overcome.
In short, there is a need for a method of formulating stable, clear beverages containing water-insoluble solids which does not suffer from the above-noted problems.

Use of surfactants to solubilize water-insoluble solids in beverages


A mobile computing device has an operating system that configures the mobile computing device by defining at least one user session, wherein the at least one user session includes a plurality of contexts, each context of the plurality of contexts having separate bindings of input and output resources, and separately managed applications. For example, a different context can be associated with each display device. The operating system is further configured to receive information about applications executed in the separate contexts, to receive information about environmental conditions of the computer, and, to selectively limit operation of applications in each context according to the environmental conditions and the applications executed in both contexts.

Mobile computing devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers and other small computing devices, are commonly primarily battery operated and have limited resources, in comparison to typical desktop or laptop computing devices that are not primarily battery powered. Processors in such devices may have limited instruction sets, limited memory, limited processing speed, limited input/output capability and the like, compared to their line-powered counterparts. In some uses, such mobile computing devices are connected to yet other devices, such as display devices, to provide the user with a better user experience. However, connecting multiple displays or other external input and output devices to a mobile computing device can present battery power management challenges and other resource management challenges to the operating system.

Dynamic adjustment of user experience based on system capabilities


A method of doping solar cell front contact can improve the efficiency of CdTe-based or other kinds of solar cells.

Photovoltaic devices can use transparent thin films that are also conductors of electrical charge. The conductive thin films can include transparent conductive layers that contain a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), such as tin oxide or zinc oxide. The TCO can allow light to pass through a semiconductor window layer to the active light absorbing material and also serve as an ohmic contact to transport photogenerated charge carriers away from the light absorbing material.


The microtome of the present invention includes a base, a knife for cutting a sample, a knife holder fixed on the base and holding the knife, a carrier bar carrying the sample at the leading end thereof and vertically traveling with the trailing end as a fulcrum. A bar traveling mechanism supports and moves the carrier vertically. A transmission lever transmits force to feed the leading end of the carrier bar toward the knife. A support plate is mounted on the base and rotatably supports the transmission lever. A tension spring pulls the carrier bar toward the transmission lever. A lever moving mechanism is in contact with the transmission lever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microtome. More particularly, it relates to a microtome suitable for the manufacture of an extra-thin section for an electron microscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
When observing a fine form of a sample using a transmission type electron microscope (TEM), it is the common practice to use the extra-thin section method as a standard technique for the manufacture of the sample.
In order to observe the form of a sample, such as a tissue specimen or a metallic thin piece as a transmission image with the use of a TEM, an electron beam should transmit through the sample. For this purpose, it is necessary to manufacture the sample into an extra-thin section having a thickness within a range of 50 to 100 nm.
One mechanism for finely feeding a sample include mechanically feed based on a combination of a screw, lever and the like. Another method of thermal expansion feed utilizing thermal expansion by an electric lamp or the like.
A thin section cut from a sample should, as described above, preferably have a thickness on the order of a micron or less. During cutting, the micro-feeding accuracy of the sample holder is an important factor. A vibration-free environment is a required prerequisite.
A drawback of the above-mentioned conventional examples is that they do not provide such a vibration-free environment, and are thus not as accurate as possible.

Microtome having vibration dampening and micro-feeding mechanism


A control unit causes a first display and a first vibration when a finger has continued to exist in a first X-Y region of a touch panel and a first Z region for a prescribed time. When the finger being in a second X-Y region of the touch panel enters a second Z region from the first Z region, the control unit activates a prescribed function and causes a second display and a second vibration. When the finger being in the second X-Y region enters the second Z region before the finger continues to exist in the first Z region for the prescribed time, the control unit causes only a third display and a third vibration without activating the prescribed function.

An example of electronic apparatus of the above kind is disclosed in Patent document 1. The information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent document 1 includes a touch panel display which displays icons, a detection unit which detects a duration of a touch to an icon displayed on the touch panel display, and a control unit which causes the touch panel display to display a notification picture for announcing setting details of a function that is correlated with the icon according to the touch duration detected by the detection unit.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


Described is a high-frequency connecting device comprising a first connecting element and a second connecting element which in the connecting position are in electrical contact without engaging into each other, forming a coaxial connection. The first connecting element and the second connecting element each have a respective plurality of separate outer conductors which are arranged at a spacing relative to each other and which are respectively arranged at a spacing around an inner conductor. In the electrical connecting position the mutually facing contact ends of the outer conductors are in touching contact. At the same time the mutually facing contact ends of the inner conductors are in touching contact. The outer conductors and the inner conductor of the second connecting element are in the form of resilient contact pins while the outer conductors and the inner conductor of the first connecting element are in the form of non-resilient fixed contact pins and lie with their contact ends in a common contact plane.

German utility model DE 299 15 180 discloses mobile telephone units with connecting devices between the mobile telephone unit and an external connector arrangement such as a motor vehicle connection, data plug, mains unit or the like. The mobile telephone unit is electrically conductively connected to the external connector arrangements by the connecting devices. The described electrical connecting device is subdivided into two regions, wherein the one region comprises loop-shaped spring contacts and the other region is of a coaxial structure with loop-shaped or sleeve-shaped external contacts. In the known design, the contact elements are of a specific configuration, depending on the respective nature of the transmitted signal, that is to say depending on whether the situation involves an antenna coaxial contact or a supply voltage contact.
Another connecting device is described in DE 689 10 184 T2. That connecting device comprises a plug fitted to the end of the antenna cable and a guide passage with contacts which is arranged in or on a radio unit.
An electrically conductive contact is achieved by pushing the plug into the guide passage. A connection cannot be formed by simply placing the radio unit on to the plug, but the plug and the guide passage must be pushed one into the other.
A further connecting device is disclosed in DE 198 44 730 A1. It serves for connecting a mobile radio unit to an external antenna. The structure of the connecting device is coaxial and the arrangement does not include any connecting elements for transmitting further signals, such as for example supply voltages.
DE 695 13 512 T2 proposes a further connecting device which permits contacting of a part of a radio communication unit to/with an electrical circuit. That connecting device aims at a permanent connection, it is not designed for frequent, flexible separation and connection, as would be required for example between a mobile telephone holder and a base member which can be mounted at a stationary position in a motor vehicle.
In the case of the other connecting device disclosed in EP 0 578 099 A1, a releasable coaxial plug connector element is pushed on to the pin of a pin strip array. As the plug element must be pushed on to the pin with a very high degree of accuracy, that kind of mechanical connection is not suitable for connecting a mobile telephone holder to a base member which can be stationarily mounted in a motor vehicle.
DE 199 45 176 A1 which is not a prior publication discloses a connecting device in the form of an arrangement of spring contacts in a predetermined grid pattern. Those spring contacts serve to pick up signals on a printed circuit board (PCB) and transmit them to a measuring device. There is no provision for use with mobile telephones.
Other known high-frequency connecting devices are in the form of so-called coaxial plug connections. As the connecting elements, they have a plug and a socket. The plug and the socket each comprise an inner conductor and a sleeve-like outer conductor which serves for shielding purposes. In the connecting position the inner conductors and the outer conductors of the plug and the socket engage one into the other in axially contacting relationship. A dielectric layer is arranged between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The dielectric layer is in the form of a coating on at least one of the outer and inner conductors of the plug and the socket. The coaxial connectors with components which engage one into each other are thus relatively complex and are of a filigree structure, and they are also susceptible to wear.
Known coaxial connectors of that kind are frequently employed for uses inter alia also in telecommunication devices as in mobile telephone devices, for example hands-free speaker devices in motor vehicles. The coaxial connection serves for the transmission of the antenna signals between the mobile telephone and a holding cradle which is designed for temporarily receiving the mobile telephone, in practice being referred to just as the cradle, and also for transmission of those signals between the cradle and a base member which is mounted fixedly to the motor vehicle and to which the cradle can connecting elements, which are be coupled for holding purposes. The fixedly installed in those components, of the coaxial connectors, more specifically the socket and the plug, are susceptible to wear and fouling. In practice, it frequently happens that the socket becomes clogged and blocked by particles of dust or that condensate water accumulates therein. Furthermore, in practical use, mechanical damage sometimes occurs due to bending of the filigree components of those plug connections. There are thus also handling disadvantages when inserting and removing the mobile telephone into and from the cradle and when fitting the cradle on the base member which is fixed with respect to the vehicle and releasing the cradle therefrom, for, simultaneously with the steps of connecting and releasing the mechanical coupling devices, the respective electrical coaxial connection also has to be made or released respectively. Added to that is the fact that, in addition to the electrical power supply and signal conduction, further electrical connecting devices also have to be provided between the mobile telephone and the cradle and between the cradle and the base portion respectively, and those further electrical connecting devices also have to be handled automatically when mechanically connecting and releasing the components. Those further electrical connecting devices are of a different structure and operate differently from the coaxial connectors used, whereby the specific design structure and handling when coupling and releasing that overall complex arrangement are made still more complicated.
The object of the present invention is to improve a mobile telephone device in such a way that handling when releasing and connecting the mechanical and at the same time electrical coupling between the cradle and the base member which can be fixedly mounted in the motor vehicle and/or between the mobile telephone and the cradle, can be carried out easily and involving a small amount of wear.

Mobile telephone device comprising multiwire electrical connection devices


A continuous chain caster has upper and lower mold assemblies comprising endless belts and chains traveling at synchronized speeds. The mold assemblies meet to form a mold channel which is filled with molten metal from a headbox and feed tip. As the molten metal passes through the mold channel, the metal solidifies into the shape of the mold channel. Each belt is positioned outside the corresponding chain so that the smooth surface of the belt defines the surface of the mold channel thereby preventing the formation of fins between mold blocks which make up the chain, protecting the chain blocks, and neutralizing deformations in the chain blocks. The upper and lower blocks of the chains have protrusions at opposite ends which engage the opposing blocks to form the sides of the mold channel. By sliding the chains relative to each other, the width of the mold channel is adjustable. Further, the gauge of the mold channel is adjustable over the length of the channel by tilting one mold assembly relative to the other, so that the gauge at one end of the caster is greater than at the other end of the caster. In this embodiment, the protrusions are replaced with retractable legs which are held against the opposing block with a resilient member. The legs move in and out of slots in the blocks as the gauge of the channel mold is decreased and increased respectively.

This invention relates to continuous casting apparatuses and methods.
Continuous casting of metals and metal alloys of various kinds, both ferrous and nonferrous, has been undertaken for many years. The majority of the prior art discloses machines in which casting is performed by discharging molten metal between a pair of rollers which are continually cooled. It is possible to cast vertically downward, downward at an angle, or horizontally.
Continuous casting of metals is undertaken by two common methods that are similar in some respects. Briefly, continuous casting is performed by means of endless members e.g. mold blocks mounted on or forming continuous chains, or endless belts with moving side dams disposed between the belts. The endless members which are typically disposed horizontally or slanted at a small angle from the horizontal serve as the mold for the cast metal, e.g., billet, slab, sheet, plate, or strip. The endless members, moving in non-circular paths, come together tangentially in a casting region to form a casting mold channel and stay together long enough so that the metal is solidified enough to support itself after which the endless members separate and are carried back to the beginning of the casting region. This method of casting has proved efficient and economical particularly in the casting of shapes such as slab, plate or strip, which may be used as the finished product, or if desired, the shape may be subjected to reduction rolling as it emerges from the horizontally disposed casting machine.
As stated, these generally horizontally disposed continuous casting machines are predominantly of two types. The first type utilizes a pair of continuous belts which approach each other tangentially to form a movable mold therebetween. As the molten metal is introduced between the belts, the belt is cooled. The cooling is, however, somewhat inefficient, and the thickness of the strip varies because of the lack of stiffness in the belt. To prevent variations in the thickness and shape of the strip, the molten metal must be supplied to the mold at a low pressure which effects the casting process and causes surface and shape problems as well as deficiencies in the metal structure.
To overcome the inefficiencies in cooling, thickness, and cast metal quality control, the belt is replaced with a continuous chain in the second type of caster which has consecutive mold blocks attached to or actually forming the chain. The mold blocks provide a structure which can be externally cooled, internally cooled, or both externally and internally cooled. This structure efficiently cools the metal being molded between the caster blocks, and the continuous caster utilizing the mold blocks also provides increased stiffness which results in a uniform thickness of the strip. This process is, however, subject to other deficiencies. Where the consecutive mold blocks abut each other, molten metal can flow in between the blocks and solidify there creating protrusions extending from the molded metal across its width. These protrusions are commonly referred to as fins. The presence of fins on the molded strip interferes with the subsequent formation processes, such as rolling, to which the molded metal might be subjected.
Further, it is frequently necessary, during the casting of flat products such as sheets or strips, to adjust the width of the strip. To adjust the width of the strip, different widths of chains must be kept in stock or continuous, expensive, adjustable width side dams which are movable across the width of the blocks must be provided. Because of the weight and bulk of the chain, the change is a difficult, time consuming, and extremely costly procedure.
It has also been difficult to obtain high accuracies of strip thickness/shape with the continuous casting machines. As the molten metal moves along the length of the chain caster, the metal cools and solidifies in the mold channel. As the metal cools, the volume decreases thus changing the casting pressure applied to the metal as it solidifies in the mold channel. The metal may even lose contact with the mold channel. This slows cooling thus requiring a longer mold channel, and under some circumstances, this can lead to undesirable variations in thickness and other shape deformations. More frequently, this has adverse effects on the microstructure of the cast product.
Thus, the production of continuous cast products without fins is desirable to enhance the products fabricated from continuous casting process and increase the ability to subject the continuously cast metal to further processing. It is also desirable to change the mold width of a continuous caster utilizing a chain without changing the chain. Further, it is desirable to maintain the casting pressure on the metal as it solidifies. The production of continuous cast products without fins, shortening the stop time of a width change, changing the mold width without changing the chain, and controlling the casting pressure, translate directly into increased use of continuously cast products and a reduction of manufacturing expenses for continuously cast products.


A method of transferring data using a Trivial File Transport Protocol (TFTP) includes sending first request packet from client to server, first request packet requesting that first file be transferred; transferring first file according to first request packet if first acknowledgement packet is received at client from server indicating that server can accommodate request of first request packet; sending second request packet from client to the server if transfer of first file does not complete successfully, the second request packet including TFTP option indicating that transfer of first file be retried beginning at first block after final block that was successfully transferred in response to first request packet; and retrying transfer of first file according to second request packet if second acknowledgement packet is received at client from server indicating that server can accommodate request of second request packet.

The Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is a simple file transfer protocol that is widely used. TFTP can be used by a first TFTP agent (also referred to here as a "TFTP client") to write a file to a second TFTP agent (also referred to here as a "TFTP server"). TFTP can also be used by a TFTP client to read a file from a TFTP server. The details of TFTP are defined in various Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) documents, including RFC 783 (TFTP Protocol (revision 1)), RFC 1350 (TFTP Protocol (revision 2)), RFC 906 (Bootstrap loading using TFTP), RFC 1785 (TFTP Option Negotiation Analysis), RFC 2347 (TFTP Option Extension), RFC 2348 (TFTP Blocksize Option), and RFC 2349 (TFTP Timeout Interval and Transfer Size Options). The TFTP described in such IETF RFC documents is also referred to here as "standard TFTP." Some avionics standards, such as Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) Standard 615A, specify that standard TFTP can be used for loading data from a file stored in a file system into the memory of a target device. This type of transfer is also referred to here as "data loading."

Trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) accelerated file retry option


A polymerizable composition for an optical material includes an episulfide compound (A); an organic coloring matter (B); an UV absorber (C); and a polymerization catalyst (D), wherein the organic coloring matter (B) has a main absorption peak (P) between 565 nm and 605 nm in a visible light absorption spectrum, an absorption coefficient (ml/g·cm) of a peak apex (Pmax) exhibiting a maximum absorption coefficient of (P) is equal to or greater than 0.5×105, a peak width in an absorbance of ¼ of an absorbance of (Pmax) of (P) is equal to or less than 50 nm, a peak width in an absorbance of ½ of the absorbance of (Pmax) of (P) is equal to or less than 30 nm, and a peak width in an absorbance of ⅔ of the absorbance of (Pmax) of (P) is in a range of equal to or less than 20 nm.

Plastic lenses are lighter and harder to be broken than inorganic lenses, and thus are rapidly spreading as optical materials such as spectacle lenses and camera lenses, recently.
With respect to an optical material, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a polymerizable composition including a composition containing a compound having an episulfide group and a compound having two or more mercapto groups in a molecule and indicates that an optical material having a high refractive index and low dispersion can be obtained by causing the composition to be a resin by polymerization.
Here, recently, with respect to an optical material such as a spectacle lens, in order to reduce visual fatigue and the like by clarifying the contours and colors of objects, it is desired to improve the contrast of an object visually recognized through the lens.
In order to improve the contrast, it is necessary to selectively shield (cut) the wavelength band which is likely to cause glare as much as possible. For example, a neodymium compound can highly selectively absorb visible light near 585 nm, and it is known that a spectacle lens including an organic coloring matter such as a neodymium compound or a tetraazaporphyrin compound has improved contrast of the recognized object. The reason that a rare earth metal compound such as a neodymium compound can improve the contrast of the recognized object is that the peak shape of the absorption spectrum in an absorption wavelength band in a visible light region is extremely sharp, that is, the absorption wavelength range is narrow and wavelength selectivity is high. As this wavelength selectivity is high, it is possible to obtain an effect of having a large transmittance in a wavelength band that is necessary for visibility and selectively absorbing a wavelength band that adversely affects glare.
In the same manner as the neodymium compound, the tetraazaporphyrin compound can provide excellent antiglare performances and improved contrast to a spectacle lens. That is, since the light transmittance at other than around 585 nm is good and a bright field of vision can be secured due to the sharpness of the peak at a specific absorption wavelength, it is possible to provide a spectacle lens with an extremely good balance between antiglare characteristics and visibility (contrast).
A method of previously dissolving a tetraazaporphyrin compound in a monomer composition and then performing polymerization to obtain a lens is disclosed in Examples of Patent Document 2. A method of mixing a tetraazaporphyrin compound with a prepolymer and then performing heat curing to obtain a lens is disclosed in Examples of Patent Document 3.
Meanwhile, in the related art, adverse effects due to exposure of the eye to ultraviolet (UV) rays are regarded as problems. Recently, the influence on the eyes such as feeling fatigue and pain of the eyes due to blue light included in light emitted from natural light, a liquid crystal display of office equipment, and a display of a mobile device such as a smart phone or a mobile phone has been a problem, and thus it is desired to reduce the amount of exposure of the eye from UV rays to blue light of a relatively short wavelength of about 400 to 420 nm.
That is, another function provided to the plastic lens is an UV cutting function. In recent years, a plastic lens having a function of cutting UV rays has been developed.
Here, the influence of blue light having a short wavelength of about 420 nm on the eyes is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1.
In this document, damage to retinal neuronal cells (cultured retinal neuronal R28 cells of a rat) by irradiation with blue LED lights having different peak wavelengths of 411 nm and 470 nm is verified. As a result, it is presented that, irradiation with blue light having a peak wavelength of 411 nm (4.5 W/m2) causes cell death of retinal neuronal cells within 24 hours (hs), while, with blue light having a peak wavelength of 470 nm, cells were not changed even in the same amount of irradiation, and it is presented that, suppression of exposure of light having a wavelength of 400 to 420 nm is important for prevention of ocular disorders.
For a long period of time, there is a concern that, exposure of the eyes to blue light causes fatigue of the eyes or stress, and it is considered that, exposure of the eyes to blue light causes age-related macular degeneration.

Polymerizable composition for optical material, optical material, process for preparing polymerizable composition for optical material, and method of manufacturing optical material


An apparatus is provided for controlling discharge of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck. The apparatus comprises a housing defining an interior region, the housing being formed to include first and second inlet ports, a signal port, and an outlet port. The apparatus further comprises a first valve assembly movable between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port from flowing through the interior region during vehicle refueling and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port to flow through the interior region to the outlet port during vehicle operation. A signal passageway extends between the filler neck and the signal port to expose the first valve assembly to fuel vapor pressure from the filler neck to move the first valve assembly toward its venting position during vehicle operation. The apparatus further comprises second valve assembly movable between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the second inlet port from flowing through the interior region when the first valve assembly is positioned in its venting position during vehicle operation and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the second inlet port to flow through the interior region to the outlet port when the first valve assembly is positioned in its blocking position during the vehicle refueling.

The present invention relates to systems for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems including control valve assemblies for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank via a first vent path during vehicle operation and for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank via a second vent path during vehicle refueling.
It is well understood that significant quantities of fuel vapor can escape from a fuel tank through the filler neck to the atmosphere during the refueling of motor vehicles. Early attempts to control the vapor escape focused upon control devices fitted to the fuel dispensing nozzle. Later, control devices mounted directly on-board the vehicle (and thus referred to as "on-board vapor recovery" systems or "OBVR" systems) were developed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,835, relating to a vacuum-actuated vapor recovery system mounted on the fuel tank filler neck. OBVR systems which mount to the fuel tank have also been developed.
In addition to controlling vapor escape, well-designed OBVR systems also assist in controlling the amount of liquid fuel which can be pumped into the fuel tank during refueling. For safety reasons, fuel systems are designed so that the fuel tank is never completely filled with liquid fuel. Rather, at least a predetermined portion of the fuel tank is left for liquid fuel and fuel vapor expansion. Although fuel pump nozzles typically include sensors for shutting off the flow of liquid fuel into the fuel tank when the fuel tank is nearly filled, fuel pump users may manually override the sensors by continuing to pump fuel after the sensors have automatically shut the pump nozzle off. To assist in preventing tank overfill under such conditions, the OBVR system is usually provided with a fill-limit valve which prevents the escape of vapor through the OBVR system, and thus assists in triggering the nozzle shut-off mechanism, when the level of liquid fuel in the fuel tank has risen to a predetermined level.
It has also long been recognized that fuel vapor is generated in the fuel tank during operation of the vehicle, for example, by evaporation or by sloshing of the liquid fuel against the walls of the tank. Excessive pressure can build up in the fuel tank as a result of the newly-formed fuel vapor unless control devices are provided to vent the fuel vapor from the fuel tank during vehicle operation. Such valves have been referred to as "run-loss" valves or tank venting rollover valves because they handle fuel vapor loss during vehicle run and are capable of preventing liquid fuel carry over during vehicle rollover.
Coincident with developing OBVR systems to handle venting of fuel vapor during refueling, fuel systems engineers pursued advancements in tank pressure control systems, particularly run-loss valves for venting the fuel tank during vehicle operation. One driving force behind such advancements was the need to provide run-loss valves having very large flow capacities. For example, prior valves typically had flow orifices in the range of 0.050 inch diameter or smaller. Current valves might have flow orifice diameters as large as 0.290 inch.
Presumably, one might wish to use a high flow capacity run-loss valve with, for example, a tank-mounted OBVR system including fill limit control to provide a comprehensive vapor recovery and pressure control system. But it is contemplated that a parallel arrangement of the run-loss valve with the OBVR system would prove unacceptable because the two tend to work at odds with one another in controlling overfill of the fuel tank.
During refueling of a fuel tank provided with a parallel arrangement of a run-loss valve and an OBVR system, the fill-limit control valve in the OBVR system will close off the OBVR system, preventing further escape of fuel vapor, when a predetermined amount of liquid fuel has been pumped into the tank. However, the high-flow capacity run-loss valve will tend to remain open, continuing to allow escape of fuel vapor and thus allowing additional liquid fuel to be pumped into the fuel tank. It would thus be desirable to provide a tank venting and vapor recovery system capable of selectively providing venting through either a run-loss valve or an OBVR valve while properly preventing tank overfill.
According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for controlling discharge of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck. The apparatus is particularly suited for controlling venting of fuel vapor from a first vent valve (for example, a run-loss valve) and a second vent valve (for example, an OBVR system).
In particular, the controlling apparatus comprises a housing defining an interior region. The housing is formed to include first and second inlet ports connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank. The housing is also formed to include a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port.
The controlling apparatus further includes a first valve assembly movable between a blocking position and a venting position. When moved to its blocking position, the first valve assembly prevents fuel vapor received from the first inlet port from flowing through the interior region during vehicle refueling. When positioned in the venting position, the first valve assembly allows fuel vapor received from the first inlet port to flow through the interior region to the outlet port during vehicle operation.
The controlling apparatus further includes a signal passageway extending between the filler neck and the signal port to expose the first valve assembly to fuel vapor pressure from the filler neck. Filler neck pressure thus moves the first valve assembly toward its venting position during vehicle operation.
The controlling apparatus further includes a second valve assembly also movable between a blocking position and a venting position. When moved to its blocking position, the second valve assembly prevents fuel vapor received from the second inlet port from flowing through the interior region. Advantageously, the second valve assembly is maintained when the first valve assembly is moved to its venting position during vehicle operation. When the second valve assembly is positioned in its venting position, fuel vapor received from the second inlet port is able to flow through the interior region to the outlet port. Also advantageously, the first valve assembly is maintained in its blocking position when the second valve assembly moves to its venting position during vehicle refueling.
Further advantageously, the first valve assembly is initially actuated to move away from its blocking position by fuel vapor pressure received from the filler neck, but then is further depressed by fuel vapor pressure received from the fuel tank. This helps ensure that the first valve assembly maintains the second valve assembly in its blocking position during vehicle operation.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the controlling apparatus further includes a flow tube extending between the first inlet port and the first valve assembly. The flow tube includes a valve seat and the first valve assembly includes a rigid valve body sized to sealingly engage the valve seat. The first valve assembly further includes a flexible member linked to the rigid valve body and deformable under a predetermined amount of fuel vapor pressure received from the signal port to move the rigid valve body out of engagement with the valve seat to place the first valve assembly in its venting position.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A diode laser component has at least one cooling element and at least one laser diode arrangement provided on a mounting surface of the cooling element. The cooling element is produced as a multilayer material or substrate made of several stacked layers joined by their flat sides. These layers consist partially of a metal and partially of an insulating material and/or of a material with a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than metal. At least some of the layers form a cooling plane. At least one cooling channel through which a cooling medium flows is formed in the plane of at least one layer of said cooling plane by at least one recess formed in said layer. Passages or channels are provided for supplying and draining the cooling medium that flows through the cooling channel.

A diode laser component is an arrangement consisting of at least one diode laser or a diode laser arrangement with several diode lasers or emitters and a cooling element. In addition, in the diode laser component there can also be other components, for example, for triggering the diode laser or diode laser arrangement.
Multilayer cooling arrangements or cooling systems for electrical and electronic components are known, especially heat sinks for high power laser diodes or high power laser diode arrangements (U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,430).
In known cooling systems, cooling channels are formed in stacked layers through which a liquid cooling medium flows, for example water. These channels are typically microchannels which are formed in the layers in the immediate vicinity of the component to be cooled by three dimensional microstructures. This improves the cooling action by providing a surface which is as large as possible that comes into contact with the cooling medium. Using this heat sink can reduce the heat resistance by a factor of 2-5 relative to a convention conductive cooler.
Thus, for example, a cooling arrangement is known with a circulating cooling medium for cooling of solid-state diode lasers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,430) in which the component to be cooled is joined both electrically and thermally to the cooler. Microchannels are formed under the solid-state component. Feed and drain channels are in the cooling element for supply and removal.
Furthermore, an arrangement is known in which a large area cooler is produced by a host of microchannels under the surface to be cooled (U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,910). The particular feature in this known arrangement is the special form of meandering coolant guidance through the microchannels. The arrangement is generally suitable for cooling electronic components.
A cooling arrangement is known (U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,067) which is designed especially for compact integrated circuits. To increase the cooling and heat exchanger surface, cooling rods are housed in a chamber through which the cooling medium flows.
Finally, a cooling arrangement (U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,632) having a cross flow heat exchanger consisting of several structured sheets placed on top of one another is known.
The disadvantage in the known diode laser components or their coolers is that to achieve heat dissipation as efficient as possible they use microchannels, i.e., channels with a width less than 100 microns, and require relatively expensive production. In addition, the different coefficients of expansion of the cooling element and the chip material of the component to be cooled are ignored and the mechanical strength and possibilities of current feed are not optimally resolved.
Known cooling elements require, if the coolers are metallic and conductive, additional insulating foils for insulation or potential separation of the electrical components, especially between the anode and cathode of a diode laser. An additional difficulty arises when this insulating film, if it has a sealing function relative to the cooling medium, is deformed by the pressure of the cooling medium. For this reason, stresses in the solid-state component to be cooled are inevitable. They lead to premature damage of the solid-state component, such as the solid-state diode chip.
It is necessary to galvanically apply conductive layers as contact layers and printed conductors for reconductive coolers. These galvanically applied layers, however, generally have only very small thicknesses. Major ohmic losses occur and high current densities in the conductive layers are not possible, since they can lead to metallurgical alteration of the conductive layers, i.e., the printed conductors and contact surfaces.
Attempts have been made to match the coefficient of expansion of the cooling element to the coefficient of expansion of the chip material of the solid state-component, for instance, the coefficient of expansion of GaAs in solid-state diode lasers, by a corresponding choice of material. The materials to be considered here, however, have relatively low thermal conductivities.
The disadvantage in known metallic cooling elements having thin metal layers or metal foils is that the resistance of these cooling components to mechanical deformations is not very great. During or after an assembly process deformations are possible which then lead to stresses in the solid-state components provided on the cooling element and thus to a reduction of the service life of this component.
The object of the invention is to devise a diode laser component which avoids the disadvantages of known diode laser components and their cooling elements with the possibility of simple manufacture of the cooling element and optimum cooling action.

Diode laser component with cooling element and diode laser module


A method of setting up a pointing device on a portable terminal according to the present invention has a first step for moving a user icon on a display unit of the portable terminal by the pointing device to follow a target icon, and a second step for acquiring parameters associated with the pointing device based on user icon movement information generated by the first step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer terminal, and more particularly, to a method of setting up a pointing device on a portable terminal, a program for executing this method, and a portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, pointing devices have been provided for use with relatively large devices such as personal computers. This type of device is configured to have the ability to ensure an absolute amount of sufficiently large movements for the pointing device. Also, this type of device has sufficiently high software performance, a sufficient capacity of memory, and the like.
Therefore, in a pointing device associated with this type of device, variations in optimal parameter values related to a moving amount of the moving pointing device are sufficiently small as compared with the absolute movable range. For this reason, this type of device can absorb, to some extent, delicate variations in usage on a user-by-user basis. Also, this type of device can perform complicated processing for optimizing parameters of the pointing device, even in adjustments to delicate variations in usage on a user-by-user basis without relying on the users for the adjustments because of a large capacity of memory and high performance possessed thereby. Further, since users of this type of device usually have abundant knowledge of software, it is often the case that the users can adjust delicate parameters by themselves.
However, portable terminals such as a portable telephone are used not only by those users who have abundant knowledge of software but also by users in all walks of life. Therefore, a complicated method cannot be employed in portable terminals for adjusting optimal parameters related to a moving amount of the pointing device. Also, since the portable devices cannot ensure a sufficient movable range for the pointing device due to their small size, the portable terminals tend to be deeply affected by an assembling tolerance and a particular manner in which each user uses them.

Method of setting up pointing device on portable terminal


Disclosed is a device for maintaining extension of the knee joints of comatose, debilitated or bedridden patients. The device generally includes one or more elongate struts positionable adjacent the knee and having a bendable hinge formed therein to permit volitional bending of the knee. Such hinge is biased to an extended position so as to hold the knee in such extended position when not volitionally bent. An upper leg engaging member serves to anchor the upper ends of the elongate strut members to the leg, above the knee. A lower leg engaging member serves to anchor the lower ends of the strut members to the lower leg, below the knee. The lower leg engaging member may comprise a foot and ankle splint device which extends beneath the plantar surface of the foot, and which is attachable to the foot, thereby serving to prevent upward or downward movement of the device and further thereby limiting the need for tightening the device around the upper and/or lower leg of the patient.

Chronically ill, comatose, debilitated, elderly, or other bedridden patients frequently assume a contracted, fetal-like position wherein the legs are upwardly drawn and bent at the knees. Such upwardly drawn, knee-bent positioning of the legs over an extended period of time may result in atrophy of the leg muscles and/or other degenerative changes in the knee-joint-associated ligaments and tendons.
A number of orthotic appliances have heretofore been utilized to treat knee contracture by straightening the leg at the knee joint. One example of a knee-extension, orthotic appliance currently used in the art is the ProGlide.TM. (L.M.B. Hand Rehab. Products, Inc., San Luis Obispo, Calif.). Such orthotic devices may also permit bending of the knee joint when desired. Such devices commonly comprise a spring-hinge attached to the leg at points immediately above and below the knee. Attachment is typically via leg surrounding members such as straps or the like. Such leg surrounding members or straps are typically secured around the leg by way of buckles, hook and loop attachment tabs (e.g., VELCRO.TM.) or other tightening hardware capable of holding the appliance in its desired position on the leg. The tension of the spring-hinge disposed proximate the knee joint thus urges the leg into an extended position.
One problem associated with these knee-extending orthotic devices of the prior art is the vertical (superior or inferior) shifting or slippage of the device despite reasonably secure tightening of the leg surrounding member or straps to the affixation points above and below the knee. In an effort to overcome the inherent tendency of such appliances to undergo vertical (e.g., superior or inferior) shifting or slippage, it is common to over tighten the leg surrounding members or straps about the patients thigh and calf.
Such tightening of the leg surrounding member or straps may be accomplished to a point where the appliance becomes generally uncomfortable for the patient and reduces circulation in the patient's leg or causes breakdown of sensitive skin. Decubitus ulcers may form if the device is worn for extended periods of time.
Similar devices have been commonly utilized as braces to provide support to a knee joint after an operation and/or injury. Although structurally similar, such braces typically lack a spring for urging the leg into an extended position. Thus, such devices are not optimal for use as leg extension maintaining orthotic appliances, since they do not allow the patient's knee to be volitionally bent when so desired. One example of such a leg brace is the K.M.D. Post-Op Brace manufactured by Innovation Sports, Inc. of Irvine, Calif.
Furthermore, chronically ill or bedridden patients tend to be susceptible to a condition known as "drop foot" or "foot drop" wherein the foot hangs in a plantar-flexed position due to neuro-muscular atrophy and/or lesions of the peroneal nerve. Drop foot and plantar flexion deformities have been known to develop in patients who spend substantial amounts of time lying in bed with the lower leg/ankle allowed to hang in a flaccid position. Traditionally, such plantar flexion deformities are known to develop in patients who have suffered strokes or other debilitating conditions. One mode of treating and/or preventing plantar flexion deformities of the ankle is to splint or immobilize the ankle of the flaccid leg such that a controlled degree of dorsiflexion of the foot will be maintained. Various splints and splint-like devices have been provided for accomplishing such immobilization of the ankle. Typically, the splints and splint-like devices have comprised generally L-shaped members, attachable to the lower leg and foot so as to hold the foot at or in an approximately 90-degree angle to the lower leg.
In addition to being useable for the prevention of and/or treatment of plantar flexion deformities in chronically ill or debilitated patients, foot splints and devices have also been used for various other therapeutic purposes including immobilization of the leg and foot to facilitate healing following traumatic injury and/or surgery.
One example of a splint device is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,523 (Bodine), issued on Jun. 4, 1991, the entirety of which expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In view of the inherent deficiencies of the prior art, it is desirable to provide a knee-extending orthotic appliance need not be fastened so tightly around the leg as to cause discomfort or to, adversely affect circulation, and/or cause decubitus ulcers. It is also be desirable to provide a knee-extending orthopedic appliance having a removable foot orthosis component which may be used alone or in conjunction with the knee-extending component of the device to prevent degeneration changes in the lower leg, ankle and foot. (e.g., foot drop)


In accordance with various embodiments, there is provided an interlocking rolling sheet door and a method for assembling the interlocking rolling sheet door. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the interlocking rolling sheet door includes at least one curtain panel. Each curtain panel includes a first curl on a lateral end and a second curl on an opposing lateral end. One of the first curl and the second curl is an interior curl portion, and the other of the first curl and the second curl is an exterior curl portion. The first curl of one curtain panel is configured to rotationally engage an inner portion of the second curl of an adjacent curtain panel, whereby the first curl rotationally engaging the second curl until a distal end of the first curl fouls out against an inner surface of the second curl. The first curl and the second curl are configured to rotationally engage one another to form an interlocking mechanism between adjacent curtain panels to form the interlocking rolling sheet door.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to a rolling sheet door system. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to an interlocking rolling sheet door system that forms a continuous curtain of corrugated panels, which can be assembled and disassembled by rolling the corrugated panels together and apart.
Description of the Related Art
Sheet door manufacturers currently manufacture rolling sheet doors in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association Standard 207 (ANSI/DASMA 207). In accordance with ANSI/DASMA 207, a "rolling sheet door" is a vertically operating, coiling door typically used in commercial, industrial, or self-storage applications with a curtain consisting of formed metal sheets seamed together.
ANSI/DASMA 207 defines a "curtain" as an assembly of curtain panels seamed together. A "curtain panel" is defined as a formed metal sheeting consisting of multiple corrugations with horizontal hems. A "hem" is defined as interlocking "hooks" on the top and bottom edge of the curtain panel used to create a seam. A "seam" is defined as a method for permanently interlocking two consecutive curtain panel hems for creating a continuous sheet door curtain.
A conventional rolling sheet door is shown in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c). As shown in FIG. 1(a), the conventional rolling sheet door 100 includes one or more curtain panels 110 and a hem 120 formed on each end of each curtain panel 110. As shown in FIG. 1(b), a joint 130 is formed between two consecutive engaging curtain panel hems 120. FIG. 1(c) shows a seamed joint 130 interlocking the two consecutive curtain panel hems 120 of the conventional rolling sheet door 100.
Current sheet door manufacturers use a "hem and seam"-type panel, also known as a "positive lock"-type panel, to assemble a curtain of interlockable curtain panels. One conventional process includes roll forming an upward hem and a downward hem, as shown in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c), overlapping the opposing hems 120, and then rolling an industrial style press over the two hems 120 to form a seamed joint 130, interlocking the two hems 120 together. This process has proven to be a trustworthy method and has been used in the sheet door industry for over 25 years to create interlocking rolling sheet doors.
Conventional rolling sheet doors formed using this process, however, are difficult to disassemble and maintenance in the field. Because the hems are seamed together, it is difficult to remove or replace a curtain panel, which may be damaged, without causing severe damage to both the astatic and structural stability of the rolling sheet door, thus making conventional rolling sheet doors of this type a "disposable door".
For example, a curtain panel may be removed in the field by cutting the panel with a shear, snips, or a circular saw with the proper blade. The disadvantages of this process become apparent when trying to remove a curtain panel for repair, or add a new curtain panel. The new curtain panel would typically be attached by overlapping at least one rib of the corrugated curtain panel, and then using some type of fastener, such as a rivet or screw, to hold the curtain panels together. This process is not desirable when "curb appeal" is an area of concern. Overlapping the two curtain panels also adds weight to the door, which will have an adverse effect on the spring assembly, while also compromising the performance of the conventional rolling sheet door during, for example, a high wind event because of the added rigidity where the curtain panels overlap.
The curtain panel may also be removed in the field by manually opening the seam using a hammer, a flat head screw driver, a pry bar, or other tool to pry the two interlocked curtain panels apart. Once a portion of the hem is open, the claw end of the hammer or the pry bar is vigorously pulled across the door to open the rest of the seam. Due to the inconsistencies of pressure while pulling the tool across the door, such an action often results in the formation of ripples in the hems or other types of deformation. This process is not desirable when trying to add a new curtain panel. It is impossible to replicate the act of seaming in the field. In most cases, an operator attempts to seam the curtain panels using a hammer and "anvil" (e.g., another hammer, block of wood, heavy angle, etc.), and striking the hem across the length of the door. As a result, dents across the length of the door are routinely created. Forming a seam in the field between two interlocking hems is difficult because of the challenge in providing the proper amount of force or accuracy to form the seal. The major concern with both of these procedures is the effect they will have on rolling sheet door performance in certain conditions, such as high wind or impact resistance.
Another conventional rolling sheet door system includes a rolling steel or slat door, as shown in FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) (the "rolling slat door"). The rolling slat door is an overhead-coiling door having three basic components: a barrel assembly, guides, and a curtain. ANSI/DASMA 203-2004 defines a "barrel assembly" as a cylindrical horizontal member at the head of an opening that supports a door curtain and contains a counterbalance assembly. "Guides" are defined as a vertical assembly in which the door curtain travels and that is fastened to a jamb, retaining the edges of the door curtain and closing a space between a coil and a lintel. A "curtain" is defined as interlocked slats assembled together. ANSI/DASMA 203-2004 states that curtain slats shall interlock to allow the full range of angular rotation required to wrap the door curtain around the barrel assembly without binding or separation (i.e., the slats will not rotationally disengage). Due to the fact that the slats have to hinge or rotate around the barrel assembly (i.e., the hinge connecting adjacent slats is positioned on an interior side of the curtain door), the slats are limited to how they are assembled and disassembled. This limitation makes it difficult to repair the door curtain of slats in the field due to the amount of space needed to laterally slide slats apart and back together, as shown in FIG. 2(b).
What is needed is a rolling sheet door system that forms a continuous curtain of corrugated panels, which can be assembled and disassembled by rolling the corrugated panels together and apart without damage to the astatic or structural stability of the rolling sheet door.


A wiring groove 5 and a via-hole 7 (9) is formed on the backside surface 3 of a semiconductor chip 1. A circuit electrode ER led from the circuit formed on the chip 1 and a boding pad BP, both of which are formed on the front surface of the semiconductor element, are electrically connected with each other with the help of a backside wiring formed in the wiring groove 5 and a penetration wiring 13 formed in the via-hole 7 (9). With such a wiring structure, it is made possible to form a wiring pattern using the wire having an adequate width, without increasing the size of the semiconductor chip 1.

This invention relates to a wiring structure for a semiconductor element, more particularly to a wiring structure used for forming an electric circuit such as an integrated circuit on a semiconductor chip, and the invention further relates to a method for forming such a wiring structure.
FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a semiconductor chip 101 including an exemplary wiring structure which is formed by way of a prior art wiring method. As shown in the figure, the semiconductor chip 101 includes an electrode ER which is led from the circuit formed on the chip (for simplification, referred to as `circuit electrode ER` hereinafter), which is formed inside the circuit formation area 102 according to a predetermined process. The chip 101 also includes a bonding pad BP for wire bonding which is formed in the peripheral area of the circuit formation area 102. This bonding pad BP act as a junction point which electrically connects the internal chip circuit with an external circuit.
In the semiconductor chip 101 described in the above, the circuit electrode ER and the bonding pad BP have been generally connected with each other through a wiring pattern 105 which is formed within the circuit formation area 102, or through a wiring pattern 106 formed outside the same.

Wiring structure for semiconductor element and method for forming the same


A hole diameter adjustment device for changing an existing diameter of a hole formed in a component to a smaller desired diameter includes an outer sleeve adapted for insertion within the existing hole, the first outer sleeve having an inner bore including a first tapered portion and an axially aligned first threaded portion; and an inner sleeve adapted for insertion within the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve having a tapered outer surface adapted to engage the first tapered portion of the outer sleeve, and an axially aligned second threaded portion adapted to engage the first threaded portion, the second sleeve formed with an internal bore of the smaller desired diameter.

This invention relates to a steam turbine and, more particularly, to a device that enables adjustment and optimization of turbine wheel steam balance hole area for existing wheel steam balance holes in retrofit applications to facilitate reuse of an existing rotor.
Steam balance holes are used to optimize the flow and performance of steam turbine stages. Generally, a plurality of steam balance holes are used to pass leakage flows across the turbine wheel to minimize the disruption of the main stage flow and/or to provide cooling to the wheel. For a typical stage, if the total hole area is too small, steam will enter the main steam flow path between a rotating blade and the stationary blade. This intrusion flow disrupts the main flow and causes losses that are detrimental to stage performance. If, on the other hand, the total steam balance of the hole area is too large, flow is sucked from the main steam path, thereby decreasing the work generated by the stage.
In retrofit applications, where the steam path (rotating and stationary blades) is being replaced, the rotor (including the turbine wheels and shaft) is often the most expensive component, and often takes the longest to produce. The on-going development of brush seals to seal the shaft leakage and the optimization of radial clearances has generally caused a reduction in the required steam balance hole area. As a result, in a retrofit situation, the steam balance hole area is usually far greater than required for optimum stage performance, and therefore, the advantage of modern leakage control may not be fully realized. The requirement for a smaller steam balance hole area, coupled with the economic advantage of reusing the existing rotor, indicates the need for a device to adjust and optimize the existing wheel steam balance hole area during a steam path retrofit.

Device for optimizing and adjustment of steam balance hole area


To provide a thin film transistor having a high field effect mobility and a small variation in characteristics thereof, a second amorphous semiconductor layer patterned in a predetermined shape is formed on a first crystalline semiconductor layer 17 for constituting source and drain regions. By irradiating an irradiated region 21 of continuous wave laser beam while scanning along a channel length direction, the second amorphous semiconductor layer is crystallized to form a second crystalline semiconductor layer 22. The first crystalline semiconductor layer 17 is crystallized by selectively adding nickel and therefore, an orientation rate of {111} is increased. By irradiating laser beam, crystals of the second amorphous semiconductor layer grow by constituting a seed by the first crystalline semiconductor layer 17 oriented to {111} and therefore, a region 22a for constituting a channel forming region is also oriented highly to {111} and a direction of a crystal grain boundary becomes parallel with the channel length direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which an active layer is formed of a crystalline semiconductor film having a crystal structure and a method of forming the same. Particularly, the invention relates to a thin film transistor in which an active region is formed of a crystalline semiconductor film, a semiconductor device such as an integrated circuit using the thin film transistor and a method of forming fabricating the semiconductor device. Further, in the specification, a semiconductor device refers to general device functioning by utilizing a semiconductor characteristic, including, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit, an active matrix type display device, and other electronic device such as an electronic device mounted with a semiconductor integrated circuit or an active matrix type display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In developing an active matrix type display which is a kind of a flat panel display, there has been developed a technology of forming a thin film transistor (hereinafter, described as TFT) using a crystalline semiconductor film having a crystal structure for an active layer as an element of a pixel portion or a transistor of an integrated circuit for driving the pixel portion and there is realized a monolithic type display integrated with an integrated circuit of a pixel portion and a drive circuit necessary for driving the pixel portion on one glass substrate or quartz substrate. There have been sold various commodities such as a notebook type personal computer or a portable telephone mounted with an active matrix type liquid crystal display device formed by TFT using a polycrystal silicon film produced by crystallizing an amorphous silicon film.
There is requested TFT having fast operation speed, that is, high field effect mobility in order to realize higher pixel formation and higher miniaturization of a monolithic type of an active matrix type display. In order to achieve high field effect mobility, it is necessary to form TFT by using a crystalline silicon film produced by crystallizing an amorphous silicon film and for that purpose, an intensive research has been carried out on a technology of crystallizing a silicon film. As the crystallizing technology, there is known a method of heating an amorphous semiconductor film by a heating furnace or RTA apparatus for solid phase growth or a method of crystallizing an amorphous film by heating the amorphous film by irradiating laser beam.
Although in order to increase the field effect mobility of TFT, carriers may be moved smoothly by a channel without being scattered, in the case of TFT using a crystalline silicon film currently reduced to practice, there are many grain boundaries in the channel and therefore, the field effect mobility of TFT cannot be made higher than that of a transistor using a silicon wafer.
Hence, it has been tried to enlarge a crystal grain of a semiconductor of the channel to bring the field effect mobility of TFT close to that of a transistor of a single crystal silicon wafer. Because by enlarging the crystal grain, a number of crystal grain boundaries of a semiconductor at a channel of TFT is reduced and therefore, a probability that carriers are scattered by crystal grain boundaries can be reduced.
Further, although it is known that easiness of flowing carriers in a semiconductor differs also by crystal orientation, according to the conventional crystallizing technology, it is very difficult to align crystal orientation in the direction of carriers flowing in the channel. According to the above-described conventional crystallizing technology, crystals grow with crystal nuclei accidentally produced in an amorphous silicon film as seeds and therefore, the crystal grain boundaries cannot be eliminated at all, further, it is very difficult to control positions of crystal grain boundaries or crystal orientation.
That the positions of the crystal grain boundaries and the crystal orientation cannot be aligned in this way, is that the crystal structure of the crystallized silicon film differs at respective locations and therefore, even when TFT is formed by using the same silicon film, there is constituted one of causes of varying characteristics of TFT at respective locations.
Further, as TFT, there is also requested a characteristic that as a switching element, a threshold voltage value is small and a sub threshold value (S value) is small. It is known that in order to improve such a characteristic, a film thickness of the semiconductor film of the channel portion is thinned. This is because a characteristic of a sub threshold region on I-V characteristic is improved since when the semiconductor film of the channel portion is thinned, spread of a depletion layer (channel) in a film thickness direction (vertical direction) is restrained.
In the case of TFT using a polycrystal silicon film, normally, it is preferable to thin a channel forming region to be equal to or smaller than about 60 nm. However, in the case of crystallization by solid phase growth using a heating furnace or the like, when the film thickness is thinned, there is a case that it is difficult to increase a crystal grain size.
Further, also in the case of crystallization by continuous wave laser beam such as YAG laser or pulse laser beam such as excimer laser, similar to the case of solid phase growth using a heating furnace or the like, it is difficult to thin the film thickness of the amorphous silicon film. This is because there is posed a new problem that abrasion is liable to be caused and a margin of optimum energy is narrowed and in the case of continuous wave laser beam, unless the film thickness is equal to or larger than 60 nm in the case of continuous wave laser beam or 50 nm in the case of excimer laser, it is difficult to set optimum energy and therefore, it is difficult to reproducibly carry out crystallization.
Further, conventionally in order to thin the thickness of the semiconductor film of the channel portion, there is known a method of using thermal oxidation, however, according to the method, only a limited substrate having heat resistance, such as a quartz substrate or a silicon wafer, can be used.
As described above, according to conventional crystallization by laser annealing or crystallization of an amorphous silicon by solid phase growth by using an electric furnace, the crystallization is derived from crystal growth from accidentally produced crystal nuclei, a position of generating and a density of generating crystal nuclei cannot be controlled, further, orientations of crystalline planes of a semiconductor film cannot be controlled.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An automated system and method is provided for debugging training data used to train an automated language identifier. The system and method collects texts written in a particular language, generates an occurrence count for words in each text by counting the number of times each of the words is found within the text, and generates an occurrence ratio (OR) of each of the words by dividing the occurrence count by the total number of words in each text. Words are then filtered from the texts in which their occurrence ratios are substantially higher than their occurrence ratios in at least one of the other texts, to generate a clean text.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to automated language translation. More particularly, the invention relates to the automated removal of noise words and foreign words from language text data used to train automatic language translators.
2. Background Information
Throughout this application, various publications, patents and published patent applications are referred to by an identifying citation. The disclosures of the publications, patents and published patent applications referenced in this application are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.
Most data used to train automated language identification systems such as the Rosette® Language Identifier (RLI) (Basis Basis Technology Corp., Cambridge, Mass.), are collected from the World Wide Web and contain English or other noise words. These noise words may lead to misidentification of the given language as well as reduced accuracy rates of (e.g., English) text detection.
Heretofore, there were generally no efficient techniques for removing these unwanted words, other than having human eyes go through the text word by word. This approach tends to be undesirably labor intensive, as typical training text data may be megabytes in size, including millions of words.
A need therefore exists for enabling the automated cleaning of relatively large amounts of training text.


An plasma cutter, including a power supply, a cutting torch (with a nozzle), a source of air and a valve, is disclosed. The cutting torch is connected to the two power source outputs (cathode and anode). Air is supplied to the nozzle through the valve from the air supply. In one position the valve allows air to flow from the air source to the nozzle. In a second position the valve prevents air from flowing from the air supply to the nozzle and also vents the nozzle and torch. The torch has a movable electrode and the nozzle is in a fixed position. The nozzle and electrode are each electrically connected to a different one of the power outputs. The electrode is biased (preferably by a spring) to be in contact with the nozzle. However, air flowing into the torch and electrode overcomes the bias and moves the electrode away from the nozzle. If the arc is absent and the user desires current, then the valve is moved to prevent air from flowing into the torch and to vent the torch. Also, the valve is moved to provide air flow (thus purging the torch) when the power supply is powered up.

The present invention is generally directed to the plasma cutting and more particularly directed toward a method and apparatus used in a contact start plasma cutting process.
There are several known methods of initiating a plasma arc discharge and starting an arc plasma torch (for plasma cutting). The better known include: high frequency or high voltage discharge, contact starting, and with an exploding wire. In each method an arc is drawn between a cathode and an anode, and an ionizable gas is directed to flow around the arc, creating a plasma jet.
The high frequency discharge or high voltage spark discharge method of initiating a plasma arc is relatively old and at one time widely used. The method entails using a high voltage to break down the gap between a cathode and an anode, thus generating charge carriers which create the electric current path necessary to start the arc. Such a method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,308, to R. Couch, Jr., et al. As disclosed by R. Couch, et al. a brief high voltage pulse provided to the cathode initiates an arc discharge across the gap from the cathode to a grounded workpiece.
However, the high frequency method of arc starting can produce electromagnetic interference in nearby electronic equipment, thus requiring either shielding or a remote location of the high frequency electronics. Furthermore, the equipment required to generate the high frequency discharge may be expensive.
An electrical conductor is extended from the cathode to the workpiece in the xe2x80x9cexploding wirexe2x80x9d technique. The conductor vaporizes when the current is initiated, leaving the arc in its place. Obviously, the exploding wire technique cannot practically be used in start and stop type plasma cutting processes.
Contact starting of plasma arcs entails touching an anode and a cathode, thus requiring relatively little current and voltage, and eliminating the need for high frequency equipment (along with the associated high cost and electromagnetic interference). The cathode is manually placed into electrical connection with the workpiece in older methods of contact starting and a current is passed from the cathode to the workpiece. The arc is struck by manually backing the cathode away from the workpiece. Often, the cathode is the electrode and the nozzle through which the plasma jet passes serves as an electrical conductor connecting the electrode with the workpiece. The nozzle slides with respect to the electrode, and is forced into contact with the electrode when it is pressed against the workpiece. Thus, the electrode, nozzle, and workpiece function electrically in series when the current flow is initiated. When the electrode is manually backed away from the workpiece, the nozzle is allowed to separate from the electrode and return to its normal position.
One disadvantage of such contact starting systems is that when the nozzle is pressed against the workpiece there is a risk of damaging a brittle ceramic element usually located at the end of the nozzle. Also, it is difficult in practice to initiate a cut while at the same time attempting to press the nozzle down onto a workpiece. Another problem with this starting method is that nonconductive coatings such as paint make electrical contact starting using the workpiece difficult. As a result, a pilot arc circuit may be required, even when contact starting is available.
A more recent type of contact starting torch has a cathode and an anode in the torch that are initially touching. This contact is a path thorough which current flows. The cathode is then automatically moved and separated from the anode in response to a build up of gas pressure within the torch. The current flowing from the cathode to the anode before the separation creates a pilot arc across the gap as the cathode and the anode separate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,268, to N. Sanders, et al., describes such a torch having a movable electrode acting as the cathode and a fixed nozzle acting as the anode. A spring forces the electrode into contact with the nozzle when no gas is flowing within the torch. In this position the electrode blocks the nozzle orifice. After electrical current begins to flow from the electrode to the nozzle, gas is supplied to the torch. The gas exerts a force upon the piston part counteracting the force exerted by the spring, and, when high enough, the moves the electrode away from the nozzle. This breaks the electrical contact between the electrode and the nozzle and creates the pilot arc. Also, as the electrode moves away from the nozzle, it opens the nozzle orifice, and a plasma jet is provided by the torch.
A torch commercially available today from Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, N.H., is a contact start torch. The torch has an internal contact mechanism with an electrode to tip shorting position and an open position. The electrode is spring loaded into the shorting position, and may be moved to an open position by means of force applied with compressed air. This contact mechanism provides a reliable pilot current path when shorting and when the contact moves to the open position an arc is created. There is a predetermined travel distance between the shorting and open positions.
The cutting process is initiated with a pilot arc between the tip and electrode. An inductor located in the pilot current path stores inductive energy due to the pilot current. The short is forcibly opened by an applied air flow. When the short is opened, the inductor causes a discharge through the opening gap between the electrode and tip. The energy discharged ionizes the air in the gap, lowering gap resistance, thus providing a path for continuation of pilot current flow (now an arc).
Cutting of metal is initiated by transferring a portion of the pilot arc current from the electrode, through the metal being cut, to the positive polarity terminal of the power source. Electronics in the power source sense when the arc has transferred and then supply a greater magnitude main cutting current after the transfer has occurred. Also, the torch tip is disconnected (electrically) interrupting the pilot current path. Thus, the current is used to cut the workpiece, and follows a path including the positive terminal, the workpiece, and the electrode.
However, this type of torch has a significant drawback: if the arc is extinguished (or does not transfer) the process can only be reinitiated by releasing and retriggering (recycling) a trigger switch on the torch. This disadvantage is of particular importance when cutting an expanded metal (such as a grille), which necessarily involves extinguishing of the arc. Moreover, the cutting arc cannot be reignited until the air pressure built up in the hose leading to the torch is dissipated. This takes some time in the prior art systems, which do not provide a mechanism to vent the hose. Accordingly, a torch and power supply that allows arc reignition without recycling the trigger is desired.
One potential danger of plasma cutting systems is the possibly lethal voltage levels associated with this process. Generally, plasma cutting systems provide safety provisions such as a parts in place (PIP) circuit that will inhibit power source operation and prevent application of a high OCV if any part is missing. This technology does not provide a redundant safety system. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a redundant safety system that prevents dangerously high open circuit voltages, even if the PIP system is defeated and the torch engaged.
Another shortcoming of known torch and plasma cutting systems is that the torch and consumable parts in the torch can get very hot during operation. Moreover, when the arc is extinguished, the heat is typically not dissipated, thereby shortening parts life and possibly damaging the torch. Accordingly, a torch that provides postarc cooling is desired. However, the cooling should not interfere with reignition of the arc.
According to one aspect of the invention an apparatus for plasma cutting includes a power supply, a cutting torch, a source of air and a valve. The power source provides two outputs (cathode and anode) and the torch is electrically connected to the power outputs. Also, the torch has a nozzle. Air is supplied to the torch (and nozzle) through the valve from the air supply. In one position the valve allows air to flow from the air source to the nozzle. In a second position the valve prevents air from flowing from the air supply to the nozzle and also vents the nozzle and torch.
In one embodiment the torch has a movable electrode and the nozzle is in a fixed position. The nozzle and electrode are each electrically connected to a different one of the power outputs. The electrode is biased (preferably by a spring) to be in contact with the nozzle. However, air flowing into the torch and electrode overcomes the bias and moves the electrode away from the nozzle.
In another embodiment the torch includes a trigger switch that indicates whether or not the user desires current to flow. The power source senses when the arc is absent, and if the arc is absent and the user desires current, the valve is moved to prevent air from flowing into the torch and to vent the torch.
In yet another embodiment the power supply detects the absence of current flowing in the electrode, and reduces the output voltage in the event the absence of output current is detected.
In a different embodiment the valve is moved to provide air flow (thus purging the torch) when the power supply is powered up.
Other principal features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims.

Method and apparatus for a contact start plasma cutting process


A method for contactless conveyance of transactional data includes: displaying, on a display device interfaced with a computing device, a machine-readable code, wherein the machine-readable code is encoded with transaction data; receiving, by a receiver of the computing device, a trigger notification; generating, by the computing device, a contactless data message, wherein the contactless data message is formatted according to one or more standards and includes at least the transaction data formatted according to the one or more standards; and electronically transmitting, by a transmitter of the computing device, the generated contactless data message to a point of sale device using a contactless communication protocol.

With the increasing prevalence of computing devices, many methods have been developed to enable a computing device to be used to fund an electronic payment transaction. Originally, a user could manually input payment details into their computing device, which would be transmitted for processing in the payment transaction, such as via a web page or other similar application program. As technology became more advanced, electronic wallets were developed, which were specialized application programs that utilized more secure methods of storage to store payment credentials, which could be electronically transmitted to a merchant point of sale through a network (e.g., the Internet) or even directly, such as via near field communication for an in-purchase transaction. Traditionally, electronic wallets have operated by storing all of the same data that would be stored in a payment card and conveying it to a point of sale, where the point of sale receives the same data that it would if reading the payment card directly, effectively trading a payment card for a mobile device that acts as a payment card.
In more recent times, some entities have developed their own kinds of electronic wallets, such as Alipay® that use alternative methods to pay for payment transactions. In such wallets, the wallet may generate unique data that is provided to the merchant, where the merchant routes that data back to the provider of the wallet or an associated financial institution that can identify a related, pre-funded, cash balance account to be used to fund the transaction. Such methods provide for greater security than standard electronic wallets, as the unique data may be usable for only a single transaction, and may only be processed through merchants that are configured to receive and use such data, where the provider of the wallet acts as a payment service provider for the transaction. One common type of unique data is a one-time number.
Many electronic wallets and other application programs are configured to convey one-time numbers or other similar types of payment credentials by means of a machine-readable code, such as a quick response (QR) code. In many cases, the electronic wallet or application program is unable to convey the payment credentials using any other mechanism. At the same time, many point of sale devices may not be configured to read machine-readable codes, such as due to a lack of proper application programs or a lack of an image capture device suitable for reading the machine-readable code. Thus, there is a need for a technological improvement to computing devices to enable payment credentials in these cases to be conveyed by alternative means that can be adequately read and received by all types of point of sale devices.

Method and system for contactless payment via quick response code


The present invention relates to a solution reaction apparatus and solution reaction method using the same, and more particularly a solution reaction apparatus and a solution reaction method using the same, wherein a reaction vessel is made by using a sealing member, a reaction vessel forming member, and a substrate serving as the bottom part of the reaction vessel so as to cause one side of a reaction solution only to contact the solution, thereby adjusting the temperature of the substrate differently from the temperature of the solution. The solution reaction apparatus of the present invention can control temperature of the substrate and temperature of the reaction solution separately, thereby it can control the temperature of the solution above the boiling point of the solution, and can react the solution while constantly maintaining the concentration of the solution by the solution circulatory device. Accordingly, it has an effect of freely forming various nanostructures on the substrate.

Studies for manufacturing semiconductor devices, optical devices and memory devices using unique electrical, optical and magnetic properties of nanomaterials are proceeding, and in order to make the devices using the nanomaterials, a technique, which can grow the nanomaterials at a desired position, is essential. For this, previously, these device structures were embodied by Top-down method by which a semiconductor thin film is grown first, and then structure is remained by etching at the desired position. However, if etching is conducted by this method, physical and chemical damages of the material deposited by the method are inevitable, and this fatal problem of this previous method serves as a barrier to embody active optical devices such as laser.
Due to the problems of the Top-down method, Bottom-up method, which selectively grows nanomaterials, is being studied and developed, and it has an advantage, which can grow a desired material at a desired position to a desired shape, not to introduce the etching process because its basic concept is different from the previous Top-down method. As this Bottom-up method, a method for forming microstructure through chemical reaction occurred in a solution is being actively studied because it is easy to low temperature and mass production. Among solution reactions, i.e., methods for growing crystals using chemical reaction occurred in a solution, a general method of hydrothermal synthesis is a method, wherein metals, inorganic oxides and inorganic hydroxides are mixed with a reaction solution and additives needed for crystal growth, the mixed suspension is put into a high pressure reactor, and then crystals are synthesized or grown at a temperature of about 300° C. or less and a self-pressure of about 100 Mpa. In the case of zinc oxide, it is known that crystals can be grown vertically after pretreating a substrate on a two-dimensional flat substrate or forming seeds of the crystal on the surface thereof.
This previous hydrothermal synthesis method has advantages that crystals can be grown at relatively lower temperature than a catalyst and vapor deposition method, and can be produced in bulk. However, because it soaks the substrate itself in the reaction solution of the high pressure reactor and reacts thereof, there is a limit that the temperature of the substrate and the solution should be same, and it is impossible to change the kind and the concentration of the solution as the reaction progresses. Further, there was a problem that it is impossible to inpour the reaction solution as the reaction progresses in order because all reactants should be mixed at the same time.

Solution reaction apparatus and solution reaction method using the same

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