There is described a biaxially oriented polyolefin single or multi-layer film which comprises at least one core layer comprising a propylenic polymer component and either an ethylenic polymer component (preferably 0.2% to 8% by weight of core layer) or a styrenic polymer component (preferably 0.2% to 25% by weight of core layer). The films have a dynamic loss modulus (E″), at 3 Hz and 25° C., of 28 to 136 MPa (TD) and/or 73 to 135 MPa (MD) as well as a dynamic storage modulus (E′), at 3 Hz and 25° C., of 630 to 2800 MPa (TD) and/or 1300 to 3000 MPa (MD). These films are suitable for use as a label facestock with improved conformability for example to provide improved labels for squeezable containers.

The present invention relates to films of improved conformability suitable for use as a label on deformable and/or irregular shaped articles (such as a squeezable plastic bottle or graphic art displays).
It is desirable to provide improved polymeric films which conform better to irregular surfaces to which the film may be applied for example when used as a facestock in the label or graphic art fields. Previous films which were highly conformable were often unsuitable for use as labels. To achieve improved levels of conformability required unacceptable compromises on other film properties also desired or necessary in a label. For example conformable labels had unacceptable optical properties e.g. insufficient clarity for a transparent label to achieve a "no-label look".
Certain multi-layer polypropylene films which comprise layers of other copolymers are known.
For example WO 00/54968 (Mobil) describes a multi-layer film with a core layer of syndiotactic polypropylene. Other layers of the film (such as a skin layer and/or a layer adjacent to the core layer of this film) may comprise ethylene copolymers and/or terpolymers containing co-monomers of propylene and butene-1. These films are stated to have advantageous barrier properties for example for packaging applications. They are also described as having "remarkable toughness and resistance to deformation" which teaches directly away from use of such films on conformable substrates.
The present invention provides sheets which address some or all of the previously mentioned problems (for example with conformability) and are particularly suited for uses such as labelling squeezable articles.
Therefore broadly in accordance with the present invention there is provided a biaxially oriented polyolefin single or multi-layer film which comprises at least one core layer comprising a propylenic polymer component and either an ethylenic polymer component or a styrenic polymer component characterised in that the dynamic loss modulus (E″) of the film measured at 3 Hz and 25° C. is:    (a) from about 28 to about 136 MPa, preferably about 100 MPa measured in the transverse direction (TD); and/or    (b) from about 73 to about 135, preferably about 100 MPa measured in the machine direction (MD).
The films of the invention are suitable for use as a label on deformable substrates such as squeezable containers (e.g. plastic bottles). Labels of these films can conform with the substrate whilst retaining acceptable other properties. The films can exhibit reduced creasing and visual blemishes after repeated deformation yet can retain acceptable performances of other properties such as good optical performance desired for a transparent label film. The films can if desired be made with balanced properties and/or the core layer can be substantially free of additives which otherwise may have a detrimental effect on other film properties.
It is particularly surprising given the teaching of WO 00/54968 that films of the invention with ethylenic and/or styrenic polymer components have improved conformability.
Broadly in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a biaxially oriented polyolefin single or multi-layer film which comprises at least one core layer comprising a propylenic polymer component and either an ethylenic polymer component or a styrenic polymer component characterised by a dynamic storage modulus (E′), measured at 3 Hz and 25° C. of:    (a) from about 630 to about 2800 MPa measured in the transverse direction (TD); and/or    (b) from about 1300 to about 3000 MPa measured in the machine direction (MD).
Optionally films of the invention have the values given herein for both dynamic loss modulus (E″) and for dynamic storage modulus (E′)
Broadly in accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a biaxially oriented polyolefin single or multi-layer film which comprises at least one core layer comprising a propylenic polymer component and either    (x) from about 0.2% to about 8% of an ethylenic polymer component; or    (y) from about 0.2% to about 25% of a styrenic polymer component; by weight of the core layer.
The ethylenic polymer component is preferred.
Preferably the films of the invention are substantially transparent and/or have other acceptable optical properties such as haze (wide or narrow angle) gloss etc, for use as a clear transparent label to produce a no-label look.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of selecting those polymeric films which are of improved conformability suitable for labelling a deformable and/or irregular shaped article to having reduce blemishing thereon during use; the method comprising the steps of:    (a) preparing polymeric (preferably polyolefin) film comprising at least one core layer comprising a copolymer formed from at least propylene and ethylene monomers    (b) measuring at 3 Hz and 25° C. in the MD and/or the TD, the dynamic loss modulus (E″) and/or the dynamic storage modulus (E′) of the film;    (c) selecting those films for use in labelling (optionally as a label facestock) which have at least one of the following properties:            (i) E″ in the TD from about 20 to about 150 MPa;        (ii) E″ in the MD from about 70 to about 150 MPa;        (iii) E′ in the TD from about 600 to about 3000 MPa; and/or        (iv) E′ in the MD from about 1300 to about 3000 MPa.            (d) optionally applying a film selected from step (c) as a label to a squeezable article.
Conveniently films of and/or used in the present invention may exhibit the following values:    (i) E″ in the TD from about 28 to about 136 MPa;    (ii) E″ in the MD from about 73 to about 135 MPa;    (iii) E′ in the TD from about 630 to about 2800 MPa; and/or    (iv) E′ in the MD from about 1300 to about 3000 MPa.
More conveniently films of and/or used in the present invention exhibit the following values:    (i) E″ in the TD of from about 56 to about 124 MPa,    (ii) E″ in the MD of from about 76 to about 122 MPa,    (iii) E′ in the TD of from about 920 to about 2430 MPa, and/or    (iv) E′ in the MD of from about 1325 to about 2390 MPa.
Most conveniently films of and/or used in the present invention exhibit the following values:    (i) E″ in the TD of from about 80 to about 111 MPa,    (ii) E″ in the MD of from about 80 to about 108 MPa,    (iii) E′ in the TD of from about 1320 to about 2060 MPa, and/or    (iv) E′ in the MD of from about 1350 to about 2175 MPa.
Specific films which may be of and/or used in the present invention exhibit the following values:    E″ (TD)≈90 MPa; E″ (MD)≈94 MPa; E′ (TD)≈1360 MPa; & E′ (MD)≈1470 MPa;    E″ (TD)≈87 MPa; E″ (MD)≈89 MPa; E′ (TD)≈1280 MPa; & E′ (MD)≈1560 MPa; and/or    E″ (TD)≈84 MPa; E″ (MD)≈90 MPa; E′ (TD)≈1340 MPa; & E′ (MD)≈1580 MPa.


An easily transportable ink jet printer apparatus provides a chassis that includes an ink jet print head having nozzles for dispensing ink, the print head being movably mounted to the chassis along the travel path. The chassis also includes a paper output tray movably mounted to the chassis between printing and carrying positions. The print head has a parked position at a selected position along the travel path when not printing in which the nozzles are capped to prevent clogging of the nozzles by dried ink. A locking member is movably mounted to the chassis between carrying and printing positions. The locking member holds the print head in the parked position when moved into the carrying position. The locking member can also be used to lock other components such as paper storage tray, paper exit tray, and cover. The locking member can be a handle with a gripping surface thereon, enabling a user to grasp and lift the handle to a transport position that secures a component or components of the printer (e.g., print head carrier, paper storage tray, paper exit tray, cover).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ink jet printers, and more particularly to an improved ink jet printer that is easily transportable and wherein a locking member, movable between printing and transport positions, locks various components of the printer in a secure position when it is rotated from a first or xe2x80x9cprintingxe2x80x9d position to a second or xe2x80x9ccarryingxe2x80x9d position. The locking member can be in the form of a handle for carrying the printer from one location to another.
2. General Background of the Invention
Ink jet printers are common, commercially available printer devices that are typically used in conjunction with a desktop or laptop computer. In recent years, a new class of personal printer called a xe2x80x9cphoto printerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cappliance printerxe2x80x9d has become commercially available. An example is the Lexmark Photojet Printer 5770. These new photo or appliance printers have expanded the options for printing color photographs, especially those captured with digital cameras.
Some photo printers may also function as a personal computer printer. However the distinguishing characteristic in this definition is that photo printers or appliance printers have the ability to print photos as an appliance, without requiring a general purpose personal computer.
These appliance printers typically have an integrated photo controller that functions as a special purpose computer capable of processing the digital image and feeding appropriate data to the print mechanism. These appliance printers typically utilize ink jet or a dye diffusion print technology. These xe2x80x9cpersonal computer freexe2x80x9dappliance printers will soon be (if not already are) available that are capable of printing other file types beyond photo image files.
Since printer appliances are free of the desktop computer, there is likelihood that the printer will frequently be relocated by the user. However, when a user transports an ink jet printer, various components of the printer can be damaged if they are repositioned or abruptly moved during transport.
The present invention provides an improved ink jet printer apparatus that features a locking mechanism that is positioned out of the way when printing, but is repositioned when the printer apparatus is to be transported. This locking mechanism is movable between a first xe2x80x9cprintingxe2x80x9d position and a second xe2x80x9ccarryingxe2x80x9d position. The action of repositioning the locking member fixes into place one or more printer components such as, for example, the ink jet carrier, access cover, and paper tray(s). In this way, the printer can be more safely and conveniently relocated. In general every ink jet printer has a chassis or frame to which various components are attached. One such component is an ink jet carrier that moves in relation to a piece of paper to be printed. The ink jet carrier has one or more ink jet print heads that removably attach to the ink jet carrier. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cink jet carrierxe2x80x9d should be construed in the broadest sense to mean any carrier structure that moves a print head in relation to a piece of paper to be printed.
With the improved printer of the present invention, when the printer has been transported to a selected location and is ready to be set up again for printing operation, the locking mechanism is repositioned so that the fixed components are then freed.
In the preferred embodiment, the locking member is in the form of a handle. The handle is preferably the locking member so that a user can transport the printer easily with one hand while simultaneously securing one or more movable printer components.
The handle can provide a cam surface. The cam surface on the handle pushes a carrier lock into a position that prevents the ink jet carrier portion of the apparatus from moving out of a selected xe2x80x9cmaintenancexe2x80x9d position. The ink jet carrier holds a print head that has nozzles for dispensing ink. The print head carrier is movably mounted to the chassis along a travel path. The ink jet print head has a parked or maintenance position when not printing in which the nozzles are capped to prevent clogging of the nozzles by dried ink.
The locking member can lock other components into position such as a paper tray (storage tray and/or exit tray).
The cam surface of the locking member can be used to push a carrier lock into position that blocks the path of the ink jet carrier. The carrier lock drops into the ink jet carrier""s path when the exit tray is closed and prevents the ink jet carrier from moving out of a xe2x80x9ccappedxe2x80x9d position during transport. Ink jet printers are desirably capped when the ink jet carrier is normally xe2x80x9cparkedxe2x80x9d in a maintenance station. This capping of the jets prevents clogging of the nozzle by dried ink. U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,257 B1, incorporated herein by reference, discloses such a maintenance station with ink jet carrier print head and capping mechanism.
One embodiment of the present invention involves movement of the paper tray. Closing the paper storage tray actuates latches for securing both the access cover and exit the paper tray. This feature of the invention thus locks multiple components into a secured position when the locking member (for example, handle) is rotated from its first xe2x80x9cprintingxe2x80x9d position to the second xe2x80x9ccarryingxe2x80x9d position. The locking member closes the paper storage tray and simultaneously actuates a latch that secures the access cover. Securing the cover prevents it from swinging open once the paper tray is closed. An additional component that is secured is the paper exit tray. Closing the paper storage tray actuates a latch member at the bottom of the paper storage tray that secures the paper exit tray. The exit tray latch can be cantilevered to allow the tray to be stowed while the latch is locked. Once the paper exit tray is stowed with the paper storage tray closed, it is held in that position until the paper storage tray is opened. The access cover latch can allow the cover to be opened before any parts break in case the consumer attempts to pick the printer up by the cover.
The present invention thus provides an easily and safely transportable ink jet printer apparatus. The apparatus has a chassis that includes a paper storage tray that can be movably mounted to the chassis between xe2x80x9cprintingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccarryingxe2x80x9d positions. The chassis includes an ink jet carrier that has a print head having nozzles for dispensing ink. The ink jet carrier is movably mounted to the chassis along a selected travel path. A known paper handling mechanism on the chassis is provided that moves the paper from the storage tray to the print head. The ink jet carrier has a parked position when not printing in which the print head nozzles are capped to prevent clogging of the nozzles by dried ink.
A locking member (preferably in the form of a handle) is movably mounted to the chassis between xe2x80x9ccarryingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cprintingxe2x80x9d positions. The locking member can be used to secure one or more other components of the printer when it is moved to the carrying position.
The apparatus can include a carrier lock that is movably attached to the chassis, the carrier lock occupying a locking position in between the locking member and the ink jet carrier when the locking member is moved to the carrying position. The carrier lock has an end portion that engages the handle during use at least at some time during operation.
The chassis can provide an access cover that is movable between printing and carrying positions. The access cover is secured when the locking member (e.g., handle) is moved to the carrying position.
The chassis can provide an access cover and an exit tray. The access cover and the exit tray can be secured when the handle is moved to the carrying position.
The handle can provide a cam or cam surface that contacts the print head when the handle is moved to the carrying position, securing it against movement. The cam surface preferably pushes the carrier lock to engage the print head in the locking position. The cam preferably also closes the paper tray when the handle is moved into the carrying position. The carrier lock preferably drops into the travel path of the print head when the exit paper tray is closed to thereby prevent the carrier from moving out of the capped position during transport.


The present invention aims to achieve a chip having a construction in which each film of metal, dielectric, and fluorescent material is stacked on a glass substrate 1. Such a construction can enhance the intensity of fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent material owing to the interaction between the fluorescent material and the light propagation mode in that construction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorescence-enhanced chip that enhances the intensity of fluorescence.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Techniques for measuring the intensity of fluorescence emitted from fluorescent materials are important in the field of immunology and nucleic acid detection. In the case of detecting protein or nucleic acids or the like (hereinafter simply called xe2x80x98nucleic acidxe2x80x99), a nucleic acid of interest is labeled with a fluorescent material in advance, then this nucleic acid to be detected is identified by its fluorescence emission generated by the irradiation of excitation light.
In this case, the intensity of fluorescence is an index for quantifying the nucleic acid of interest. Accordingly, if the same quantities of fluorescent materials are used, the more intense the detected fluorescence intensity, the higher the detection sensitivity in that system. That is, extremely smaller quantities of protein or nucleic acid can be quantified.
For this purpose, enhancing fluorescence from fluorescent materials of equal quantity is extremely significant in immunology and the detection of nucleic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,280 mentions a fluorescence-enhanced chip, in which the intensity of fluorescence generated from fluorescent material 4 can be enhanced as a construction having a stack of metal 2, dielectric 3, and fluorescent material 4 films on glass substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 1.
It is disclosed that the intensity of fluorescence in this case is related to the thickness d of dielectric film 3, and lithium fluoride (LiF) is used as dielectric film 3.
However, in such conventional fluorescence-enhanced chips, there are the problems that the dielectric LiF used is expensive, cannot easily be used for general purposes, and is vulnerable to corrosion.
The objective of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to realize a fluorescence-enhanced chip that is cheap, can easily be used for general purposes, and also has excellent corrosion resistance. This can be done by employing silicon dioxide (SiO2), that is cheap, can easily be used for general purposes, and also has excellent corrosion resistance, as the above dielectric.
In order to achieve such a purpose, the present invention provides a fluorescence-enhanced chip that is composed of a glass substrate and stacked films of metal, dielectric, and fluorescent material and can enhance the intensity of fluorescence generated from light-excited fluorescent material;
employs SiO2 having the film thickness of 330 nm or less as the above dielectric; and
uses silver (Ag) or aluminum (Al) as the above metal.
According to such configuration, a fluorescence-enhanced chip that is cheap and excellent in corrosion resistance can easily be realized because SiO2, which is cheap, can easily be used for general purposes, and has excellent corrosion resistance, is used as the dielectric.

Center for Advanced Science and Technology Incubation, LTD


A magnet holding member is mounted onto a rotor of an alternator, and holds permanent magnets inserted between the claws of pole cores. The magnet holding member has twelve housing parts each of which has corrugated side surfaces which serve as shock absorbing structures to relieve stress when excessive stress is exerted thereon by the claws of the pole cores. The magnet holding member is manufactured in a state in which the housing parts are arranged in the shape of a belt and are connected with connecting parts. The magnet holding member is bent into an annular shape after the permanent magnets are pressed into the housing parts, and is then mounted onto the rotor. To facilitate ease of manufacture of the magnet holding member, the openings of each housing part face the same direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Lundell core type rotary electric machine having a rotor using Lundell-type pole cores.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional vehicle alternating current generator is provided with a rotor using Lundell-type pole cores each of which has a plurality of claws, and generates electric power by rotating of the rotor. In recent years the electric load demands placed on vehicle electric systems have increased. Thus, the output power requirements of vehicle alternating current generators have increased. In some known generators, in order to increase power output permanent magnets magnetized in a direction diminishing magnetic flux leakage are inserted between the claws of the pole cores. For example, JP-A 7-312854, 3-150055 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,577), and 61-85045, disclose AC generator rotors having permanent magnets magnetized in a direction diminishing magnetic flux leakage are inserted between the claws of the pole cores. Since a plurality of separate permanent magnets are separately inserted between the claws of the pole cores in the rotor of the alternating current generator, the rotor is not easy to assemble.
JP-A 7-123664 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,116) and 3-265450 disclose an improved device which is easier to assemble. In the rotor of the alternating current generator disclosed in JP-A 7-123664, sixteen permanent magnets are inserted into a magnet holding member made of resin and spirally wound in the shape of a crown. The magnet holding member and the inserted permanent magnets are engaged using collars formed between the claws of the pole cores or by making the cross section of the magnet holding member in the direction of the rotation a trapezoidal shape, whereby the rotor is assembled into the magnet holding member together with the permanent magnets. In the rotor of the alternating current generator disclosed in JP-A 3-265450, the permanent magnets are arranged in the recesses which are formed on the inner peripheral side of a generally cylindrical non-magnetic ring filling the gaps between the claws of the pole cores and the rotor is assembled in the state that the permanent magnets are arranged in the non-magnetic ring.
In the magnet holding member used in the rotor disclosed in JP-A 7-123664 and the non-magnetic ring used in the rotor disclosed in JP-A 3-265450, the outer peripheral shape thereof must be matched with the shape of the inside surface and the shape of the side surface of the claws. If manufacturing errors in dimension of the pole cores or the magnets or in assembling the pole cores are not tolerable, it is likely that unnecessary stress is exerted on the permanent magnets and that the permanent magnets are cracked or chipped at the worst case, which results in a reduction in the output power of the alternating current generator, a breakage of the stator winding, or the like.
Moreover, the magnet holding member or the non-magnetic ring has a complicated shape and therefore it is not easy to form it from a non-magnetic material such as resin. The magnet holding member disclosed in JP-A 7-123664, for example, can not be easily formed by using two-way dies resulting in an increase of manufacturing cost.


A combination of a cable raceway section with a cable exit box, wherein the raceway section is C shaped with one side having a gap in it. A cable exit box at the gap in the side of the raceway section. The box has an opening in one wall overlying the gap in the side of the raceway section and both the gap and the opening are of a length enabling a wide radius turn of cable out of the raceway section and into the box. The box is deeper than the raceway. The box has an open interior defined by sides shaped for supporting a wiring device in the opening, to which wiring device cables exiting from the raceway section are attached.

The present invention relates to a cable tray or cable raceway comprised of several elongate, generally U or C shaped sections which are clamped end to end to produce the cable raceway. Where some of the cable or wiring is required external to the raceway for connection to a wiring device at a particular location, typically either holes are field drilled into the side of the raceway or knockouts are provided as part of the manufacturing process and can be removed. A conduit bushing is put into each hole through which the cable exits the raceway. Use of bushings causes a tight or small radius turn in the cable, which could possibly damage it.
As an alternative to merely drilling holes, it is known to install a cable raceway cable exit box either directly in the raceway or sometimes to one lateral side of the raceway. A usually narrow, often tubular opening is provided between the raceway and the exit box, which has the above mentioned drawback of forming a tight turn in the cable. Further, the exit box for the cable raceway may sometimes be deep, front to back of the raceway, in order to house a wiring device to which some of the cables in the raceway would be attached. Examples of such wiring devices include various switches, plug sockets, electric components, illumination devices connected to optical fiber cables, any power or communications device, etc. In order to house a cable exit box, which is deep in order to contain a deep wiring device, and especially where the exit box is installed in the raceway, a deeper than normal raceway is needed to house the deep box. This is undesirable because extra material is required for the raceway which makes it more expensive, and the cable raceway greater depth may make it more difficult to conceal in a wall, ceiling, or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,484 teaches a first wire channel with an adjacent second wire channel disposed along one side, with gaps in the abutting sides of the two channels through which a wire may pass. The additional channel is not an exit box adapted to receive any wiring device, and the depth of the additional channel is substantially that of the first channel, since support of a wiring device in either channel is not contemplated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,974 shows access from a cable channel to a wiring device. It does not suggest a cable exit box adapted for supporting a wiring device therein and at the raceway section.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,568 shows a conventional cable exit from a cable raceway. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,131,512 and 2,023,433 to similar effect.


To judge with certainty whether the condition of attachment of each metal terminal is proper, a method and apparatus are provided in which a thinned distal end portion of a lance check pin having guide portions contacts an inner surface of a lance flexing space. The lance check pin, when inserted into the lance flexing space, is kept in a proper posture by the guide portions. Therefore, misjudgment of the terminal position is avoided.

This invention relates to a connector examination device and method for detecting improper attachment of a metal terminal inserted in a connector housing. The invention also relates to a metal terminal-correcting jig and a method for mounting a metal terminal, disposed in an improperly-inserted position, in a properly-inserted position, and to a connector correction device provided with the jig.
Generally, a connector comprises a connector housing of a plastics material in which metal terminals, each fixedly secured to one end of a wire, are mounted, and each metal terminal is retained against withdrawal by a lance (elastic retaining pawl) formed integrally within the connector housing. When the metal terminal is inserted into the connector housing, the lance is flexed downwardly toward a flexing space until the metal terminal is inserted into a proper position, at which point the lance is elastically restored to engage a void formed along a bottom surface of the metal terminal, thereby preventing withdrawal of the metal terminal.
With this type of terminal withdrawal prevention construction, a certain degree of a frictional force acts between the metal terminal and the lance when the metal terminal is inserted. The frictional force is of such a degree that the metal terminal cannot be inserted into the housing any further, which may give the impression to an operator that the terminal is reliably secured by the lance, even though it is not properly inserted into the housing. Accordingly, the operator, engaged in the inserting operation, may misunderstand that complete insertion has been achieved, and may stop the inserting operation before the lance actually engages the terminal.
However, if the metal terminal is not completely inserted into the proper position where the metal terminal engages the lance in the connector housing, the metal terminal can become withdrawn from the housing during use. Therefore it is necessary to preliminarily inspect the terminal connections to correct any improperly inserted or incompletely connected terminals.
Recently, various kinds of connector examination devices have been developed for detecting improper attachment of a metal terminal. The present applicant filed an application (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-281716) shown in FIG. 7. In this construction, a lance check pin 51 is provided in a projected manner in opposed relation to each lance 34 in a connector 60, and the lance check pin 51 is adapted to be inserted into a lance flexing space 63 formed in a connector housing 62. When a metal terminal 33 is completely inserted into a proper position, the lance check pin 51, inserted in the lance flexing space 63, does not strike against the lance 34, but is brought into underlying relation with the lance, as shown at an upper stage in FIG. 7. When the metal terminal 33 is in an improperly-attached condition, the lance check pin 51 strikes against the distal end of the lance 34 that is elastically deformed in the lance flexing space 63, as shown at a lower stage in FIG. 7. In this construction, when the metal terminal 33 is in an improperly-attached condition, with the lance 34 disposed in the lance flexing space 63, the lance check pin 51 strikes against the distal end of the lance 34. Accordingly, the check pin 51 cannot be positioned beneath the lance 34. As a result, improper attachment of the metal terminal 33 occurs.
For molding reasons, even when the metal terminal 33 is completely inserted into the proper position, with the lance 34 substantially retracted from the lance flexing space 63 and into the terminal 33, the lance 34 still projects slightly inwardly towards an inner wall surface of the lance flexing space 63. In this connection, a distal end portion 51a of the lance check pin 51 is made smaller in thickness than the lance flexing space 63 so that the lance check pin can be brought into underlying relation to the lance 34. Therefore, a gap is formed between the distal end portion 51a of the lance check pin 51 and the bottom portion of the terminal 33.
Therefore, it is possible that when the lance check pin 51 is inserted into the lance flexing space 63, the distal end portion 51a of the lance check pin 51 is inserted into the lance flexing space 63 in a bent, deformed manner, or the lance check pin 51 is inserted obliquely. In such a situation, even when the metal terminal 33 is completely inserted into the proper position, with the lance 34 fully retracted from the lance flexing space 63, the distal end portion 51a of the lance check pin 51 can strike against the slightly-projected portion of the lance 34. As a result, despite the fact that the metal terminal 33 is disposed in the proper position, the lance check pin 51 can not reach the position beneath the lance 34, and therefore it may be erroneously judged that the metal terminal 33 is in an improperly-attached condition.
In addition, there have been several proposed devices to confirm and inspect the position of the terminal. For example, a retainer that engages the metal terminal (with which the lance is also engaged) is inserted into the housing when an operator believes that the terminal is in the properly-inserted position, thus providing, together with the lance, a second engagement if the terminal is inserted to a depth where the lance engages a void or hole in the terminal. The retainer is provisionally attached to the connector before the metal terminals are inserted, and in this condition, after the metal terminals are inserted, the retainer is moved into a completely-attached position to engage the metal terminals.
At this time, if the metal terminal is disposed in an improperly-inserted position (short of the properly-inserted position), the retainer engages the metal terminal, and can not be moved into the completely-attached position. Thus, the retainer indicates whether the metal terminals have bee inserted into the properly-inserted position. If it is judged that any metal terminal has not been inserted into the properly-inserted position, i.e., the retainer engages the metal terminal rather than a recess or the void of the metal terminal, the metal terminal is removed and tried again.
In the above method in which the retainer is used to determine proper positioning of the terminals, the retainer, mounted on the connector in the completely-attached position, remains connected to the connector, and even after the inspecting of the terminal is complete, the retainers remain mounted on the connector housings. Therefore, inspection of the terminals requires a permanently mounted retainer for each terminal and therefore the cost and number of the parts required for inspecting terminals is high.
Moreover, the retainer merely judges whether the metal terminal is disposed in the properly-inserted position or an improperly-inserted position, and when it is judged that the metal terminal is in the improperly-inserted position, an operator is required to remove the terminal and attempt to reinsert the terminal. After the retainer is attached again, the condition of insertion of the metal terminals is rechecked, thus requiring even more time and labor. Therefore, the overall efficiency of the metal terminal-inserting operation suffers.

Connector examination and correction devices and methods examining and correcting same


An emission driver for an organic light emitting display device is disclosed. The emission driver includes a plurality of flip-flops, and each flip-flop selectively receives two input signals and inverts a level of a received input signal. Also, each flip-flop transmits the level-inverted signal to an adjacent flip-flop, inverts the level-inverted signal, and transmits the inverted level-inverted signal to the adjacent flip-flop and as an emission control signal. To invert the level of the received input signal, the emission driver includes a level shifter, which includes transistors of the same conductivity type arranged to reduce power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device (OLED) and, more particularly, to an emission driver for an OLED.
2. Discussion of the Background
An OLED is a light-emissive display that supplies a scan signal to selected pixels and supplies a data signal to pixels selected by the scan signal so that driving current supplied to an organic light emitting diode in a pixel can be controlled. Whether driving current is supplied to an organic light emitting diode is determined by an emission control signal. The emission control signal is supplied from an emission driver to the pixels.
An emission driver supplies an emission control signal to an active matrix-type pixel in an OLED. A data signal is transmitted to the pixel through a data line, and driving current corresponding to the data signal is supplied to an organic light emitting diode in the pixel in response to the emission control signal. Thus, the emission control signal controls the organic light emitting diode's light characteristics, including intensity and duration.
Each pixel includes an active circuit to store the data signal and to control a light-emission operation in response to the emission control signal. The active circuit can include PMOS transistors, which is common, or NMOS transistors, but all transistors of the active circuit generally have the same conductivity type.
Also, the emission driver may be formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate or on the same substrate as the OLED. When the emission driver is formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate, the emission driver generally uses CMOS transistors to minimize the power consumed during operation. However, when the emission driver is formed on the same substrate as the OLED, the emission driver includes all transistors of either PMOS or NMOS type, and power consumption increases as a result.
An emission driver typically includes a shift register with an arrangement of flip-flops, and data stored in a flip-flop is transmitted to a subsequent flip-flop coupled together in synchronization with a clock signal.
Examples of a shift register are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-083941, Japanese Patent No. 1994-138838, and Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-152482.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-083941 discloses a shift register used for a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and the shift register has a structure to prevent a reduction in contrast. Also, a shift register for an LCD, proposed by Japanese Patent No. 1994-138838, is directed to reducing power consumption and shortening the time required to transmit signals. Further, a shift register for an LCD, in which the shift register can change the pulse width of an output signal, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-152482. However, the scope of the above-described shift registers, provided to transmit scan signals to LCDs, are restricted to use with LCDs and do not teach similar applications to OLEDs.

Emission driver for organic light emitting display device


A solutions-based computer system manufacturing process includes assembling computer and storage system components for creation of a given solution-based product as a function of a customer order or plan. The process further includes assigning a solution identifier to the solution-based product. The solution identifier includes a solution type and a unique identifier within the solution type.

This disclosure generally relates to computer system manufacturing and service, and more particularly, to supporting solutions-based system apparatus and methods. A method is needed to service a built-to-order group of distinct computer systems that the customer intends to interconnect in a way that makes them a "solution".
Computer system manufacturers face major challenges with on-line support, phone-based technical support, on-site service, and the upgrade processes for solutions-based products such as Storage Area Networks (SANs), Network Attached Storage (NAS), server clusters, and more recently, e-commerce configurations consisting of multiple servers, storage systems, software components, and networking interconnects. Historically focused on "boxed systems", a build to order computer manufacturer assigns "Service Tags" to individual computer systems whether they are used as individual systems or as part of a larger system of components to provide a solution. While this approach is adequate to service and upgrade a single monolithic box (the box), it fails to work when that box is an integral part of a larger solution with complex interdependencies.
For example, the prompt availability and accessibility of a single software driver update may be needed to solve a critical problem in a large solution such as a Storage Area Network or Server Cluster. Using just a service tag, there is no way to associate the needs of the solution with the needs of the specific box. The ability to post product and educational documentation, technical alerts, and software updates for the solution online will also be a major challenge with respect to Storage Domain Management (SOM) and storage virtualization products.
With conventional on-line support systems, customers and computer manufacturer support personnel access updates and information via mechanisms such as on-line support systems and various search tools. Further, with conventional on-line support systems, documentation, OEM recommendations, and knowledge base searches arc provided via the service tag. Providing information to the customer using a single machine's service tag cannot account for the complexities of interconnecting that device with other devices and software in distributed environments. The conventional on-line support system possesses no capability to correlate multiple systems and software components involved in solving a complex problem. For example, if a given configuration comprises a server cluster using Microsoft's Cluster Server software, then the configuration includes the exact server models the customer is using, the shared storage enclosure(s), the operating system, the clustering software, and any other system components such as cluster-enabled RAID controllers. These components have individual support characteristics associated with them, but there is also a superset of support required for the implementation as a whole and the software components. This superset of support might include certain diagnostics routines to trouble-shoot any problems in the solution, validation routines to check for correct installation and wiring of the boxes in the solution, capture and audit mechanisms for reporting asset information for the entire solution, monitoring routines for sending health information to the support lines via the Internet, and the like.
Conventionally, none of the above identified configuration items are tied together when on-line support offerings and resources are presented in response to an on-line support inquiry. As a result, the support given might not be relevant to the particular configuration. For example, a customer may require a software update specific to a certain cluster configuration. The particular customer may be unable to locate the desired software update file because the conventional system lacks capability to search for updates based on the cluster configuration.
Tech Support:
The "Service Tag—centric" approach to support causes errors in Technical Support organizations and hinders the computer manufacturer's ability to deliver effective support to high-end computing solutions. The technician's access to internal support resources is similarly oriented to the "box" rather than the "solution". The complex interdependencies within the high-end computing and enterprise solutions are constantly changing. The complex interdependencies are also too numerous for technicians to memorize. Accordingly, it would be desirable for on-line system support tools to have an ability to present solution-oriented information to technicians for assisting technicians in their support of these enterprise solutions.
On Site Service:
If a technical support representative decides that a given server or storage device requires service, then the representative may dispatch on-site service to fix the server. The dispatch may include, for example, dispatching a technician who is trained in break/fix tactics for a specific component or all the specific components inside a single "box". For instance, the technician may be perfectly capable of replacing a Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) in a particular server, but may not understand actions required to recover proper operations throughout the solution once the HBA is replaced. It is becoming far more commonplace for that HBA to be plugged into a Fibre Channel switch with complex Fibre Channel zoning definitions that need to be modified or reconfigured if and when that HBA is replaced.
Upgrades:
Adding components and/or software upgrades for a given solution can be very complicated. For instance, significant "missing and wrong" and excessive field rework can be created because the sales and technical support representatives have a service tag focus. Accordingly, the sales and technical support representative are unable to efficiently view upgrade requirements based on the entire solution's configuration.
For example, a customer may desire to purchase an additional server or storage nodes or additional infrastructure for their Storage Area Network (SAN). For that customer, the following must first be determined: the overall topology and size of the SAN, as well as the number of servers and storage in the customer's SAN, what versions of firmware, PROM, device drivers, storage software, etc. are in place before determining the scope of work required, as well as products needed, to upgrade the solution. The process of manually identifying the installed the components and configuration can be very time consuming, as well as prone to error.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a support system having an ability to present solution-oriented information for assisting in the support of enterprise solutions and other large solutions with complex interdependencies.

Powertag: manufacturing and support system method and apparatus for multi-computer solutions


A method of joining orthodontic appliances or dental appliances by brazing with an alloy material containing at least about 50% by weight silver and at least about 20% by weight gold.

Various brazing alloys have been used in the orthodontic and dental field to join together a variety of members including orthodontic and dental appliances. It is typically desirable for such alloys to exhibit excellent corrosion resistance and bonding strength especially for orthodontic and dental use. One group of alloys known to be useful to braze together orthodontic appliances have compositions with very high gold contents. One such alloy contains 82% by weight gold and 18% by weight nickel. Satisfactory results are obtained when this specific alloy is used to braze together orthodontic brackets and pads. However, with its high gold content, this alloy and other high gold content alloys are very expensive. In addition, many orthodontic appliances, including brackets and pads, are made of stainless steel. For most of the high gold content brazing alloys used to join such appliances, the brazing joint has a noticeably different color than the stainless steel appliances. Aesthetically, this color difference is not desirable.
Another group of alloys known to be useful to braze together orthodontic appliances have compositions with very high silver content and virtually no gold. Examples of such silver based alloy compositions, by weight percent, are as follows: 72% silver (Ag) and 28% copper (Cu); 54% silver (Ag), 25% palladium (Pd) and 21% copper (Cu); and 54% silver (Ag), 25% palladium (Pd), 2% zinc (Zn), 16% copper (Cu) and 3% antimony (Sb). Because of the low gold content, these alloys are relatively inexpensive. However, these very high silver content brazing alloys tend to tarnish and discolor. This tarnishing also results in an undesirable color difference between the brazing joint and stainless steel orthodontic appliances.


The present invention is a water meter and leak detection system that has a private or public property(ies) facility water supply interruption system. The system is comprised of a water meter collection node system with shut-off/on mechanism that has wireless Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Zigbee, Z-wave LoRa, Wi-Fi, radio frequency and cellular technology with a private or corporate network, or internet connection that transfer water parameter data to a remote computer or server. Or the system can consist of a water meter collection node that communicates by Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, Zigbee, Z-wave LoRa, Wi-Fi, radio frequency and cellular technology with a data communication hub whereby the communication hub is in wired or wireless communication with an internet router that communicates with an internet connection, or with a private or commercial network system, to a remote computer/server or a cloud-computing commercial service.

Water is increasingly becoming a precious resource. While fresh water supplies have been challenged due to climate (short rainy seasons and long droughts) and increased pollution, water demand has been rising due to the growing population along with increased development. The increasingly limited supply of fresh water is a humanitarian concern and water conservation is becoming a major issue for many communities. An apparatus for real-time monitoring of water use and real-time detection of leak conditions at private and/or public property(ies) (e.g., residential structures and yards, business/industrial/commercial facilities, and governmental/institutional sites) can be useful in assessing and controlling water resources and supporting water conservation.
Water losses to private and/or public properties caused by broken or compromised water pipes and by unobserved leaks are enormous. Broken or compromised water pipes are often underground and are undetected, or, for example, when the property owner is absent or sleeping, and the resulting water loss and property damage can be catastrophic. Property insurance agencies report that a significant portion of total insurance losses are water related. It has been found that losses due to water leaks in residential homes amount to a significant percentage of the total water use.


An apparatus for reaming a bone canal, such as the medullary canal of a femur, has a flexible shaft (12, 92) with a proximal end (16) for engaging a rotary transmission source. A first reamer (14, 61) is coupled to the distal end of the flexible shaft for rotation therewith to prepare the distal portion of the canal. A second reamer (22, 93) coupled with the proximal portion of the shaft to form the proximal end of the lateral portion of the canal and/or the medial calcar region of the canal. The apparatus further comprises a metaphyseal template (70, 80) having the shape of the prosthesis for guiding the reaming apparatus in forming the calcar region of the canal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technique and instruments for performing orthopedic surgeries such as total hip arthroplasty. This technique allows a long bone, such as a femur, to be prepared to receive a prosthesis, such as a total hip replacement, by reaming a lateral bore, in the bone, until the isthmus using a series of reamers on a flexible shaft and then reaming the calcar region of the bone. The invention specifically relates to a combination of specially shaped remers that match the prosthesis shape and a flexible shaft that provides control, and allows the reamers to be angled in a controlled manner to shape the bone canal to fit the prosthesis line-to-line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Surgeons strive for accurate, replicable surgical techniques so that precise fits can be obtained between the prosthesis and bone. It is believed that in a non-cemented application a precise fit enhances prosthesis life. This increased contact area between bone and prosthesis has been shown to improve long-term fixation. Accurate bone preparation for cemented prostheses will also provide improved long-term fixation due to precise and optimal cement mantle thickness between bone and the prosthesis.
There has been a growing movement in the orthopedics community to move away from bone preparation that involves introducing large impact forces from hammer blows. Current surgical bone preparation technique involves shaping the bone by introducing a broach or rasp type device with a hammer. This can result in large dynamic stresses within the bone, which has been known to crack or deform the bone in some cases. Even with this drawback, broaching is widely used because it allows for very irregular, non-symmetric shapes for non-symmetric prostheses to be formed in bone. The broach is shaped exactly like the prosthesis with an appropriate gap or undersize condition for interference fit accounted for and impacted into a bone cavity that has been initially opened with straight or tapered reamers.
The traditional or current approach to forming the bone envelope for total joint replacement is generally termed a three step process, excluding the ostectomy, with multiple iterations per step. First a series of distal reamers are passed into the isthmus, swing up on each pass until cortical contact is felt. Next, a series of tapered mid-shaft or conical reamers are introduced in incremental sizes to shape the mid-shaft portion of the bone and to remove proximal lateral bone and to notch the greater trochanter to ensure neural alignment. Lastly, a series of incrementally sized broaches are impacted into the bone to remove proximal medial bone and to clean up any remaining bone from the lateral and distal areas. Leaving so much bone behind for the broaches to remove results in much hammering and impact stresses in the bone. So much so, that some surgeons have been known to do a prophylactic cerclage of the proximal bone with either wire or a clamp to prevent cracking while impacting the broach. The instruments required for this technique include two or three distal reamers, two tapered mid-shaft reamers, two broaches--broach handles/impactor extractors and hammers and an optional prophylactic cerclage device.
Commercially available jigs for off-axis reaming are not able to ream curves, rather than angles, around corners nor are they able to control the sizing and alignment of the medullary canal.


An optical tactile sensor and an image information integrating method capable of measuring large area force vector distribution are provided. The optical tactile sensor comprises a tactile section comprising a transparent elastic body (1) and a plurality of markers (3, 4) provided therein, and a plurality of imaging devices (6, 6) for obtaining a marker image by photographing the behavior of the markers when an object (5) contacts the tactile face (2) of the transparent elastic body (1). The method comprises a step of obtaining a partial image by photographing the partial regions A, B, C and D of the transparent resilient body (1) using the plurality of imaging devices (6, 6) such that each imaging device (6) has an overlapped photograph region (11), and a step of integrating the partial images obtained by each imaging device (6) such that the identical markers in the overlapped photograph region match.

When considering understanding the contact state of a contact surface using a tactile sensor, there are vectors of three components representing magnitude and direction of force acting at each point of the contact surface. This is represented as f(x,y) in the coordinate system of FIG. 1. Here, f is a vector, and so actually has three components x, y and z at each point. When explicitly expressing each component, it is represented as f(x,y)=[fx(x,y), fy(x,y), fz(x,y)]. Since force distribution has three components at each contact point, in order to reconstruct force distribution for each contact surface using a tactile sensor, it is necessary to acquire information for each contact point on the contact surface with at least three degrees of freedom.
Some of inventors of the present invention et al. have proposed an optical tactile sensor that is capable of measuring three-dimensional force vector distribution. A principle of the optical tactile sensor will be explained based on FIG. 2. The optical tactile sensor comprises a transparent elastic body and a CCD camera. By photographing spherical markers embedded in the transparent elastic body by the CCD camera, internal strain information of the elastic body is measured when a force is applied on the surface of the elastic body, and force vector distribution is reconstructed from the information.
By taking an image of the spherical markers by a CCD camera from z-direction where an elastic body surface is taken as the x-y plane and an orthogonal direction to the x-y plane is taken as the z-axis, movement of a point to be measured when force is applied is measured as a movement vector in the x-y plane. To reconstruct the force vector distribution from the strain information, N×N red spherical markers and blue spherical markers are arranged at different depths in the elastic body as points to be measured to obtain two sets of two-dimensional movement vectors with different depths as two pieces of different information, thereby increasing the amount of information to reconstruct the force vector distribution.
As a use for such an optical tactile sensor, initially, application to a robotic hand of a humanoid robot and so forth is considered, and as an application for an optical tactile sensor, study has focused on a small built-in type sensor. However, such an optical tactile sensor, which is capable of measuring three dimensional force vector distribution and has a sensor surface made of a elastic body, is expected to find application in a variety of fields, not only to a robotic hand.
As one of the expected applications, use of an optical tactile sensor as so called an environmental type tactile sensor can be considered. In this specification, as compared to a built-in type tactile sensor which is incorporated for use into a robotic hand or the like, a tactile sensor which is used in a fixed manner in an environment is referred to as an environmental type tactile sensor. However, with respect to an environmental type tactile sensor, which is used in a fixed manner in an environment, measurement of force distribution over a large area is expected to be necessary because such a sensor is assumed to be applied to, for example, a seating-surface of a chair, a bed, a floor, or the like. This hinders application of a conventional small optical tactile sensor, which is assumed to be incorporated in a robot hand or the like
Patent Reference: WO02/188923 A1
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical tactile sensor capable of measuring force distribution over a large area.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a marker information acquisition method and a marker image integration method capable of measuring force distribution over a large area. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a force vector reconstruction method employed in an optical tactile sensor capable of measuring force distribution over a large area.


A method and device for supporting cut plants is disclosed. A flexible walled pouch is provided having a moisturized gel medium therein. The wall of the pouch is formed of a material which will resist accidental tearing or puncturing, yet enables the wall to be punctured to insert a plant material through the puncture. The material of the wall receiving the puncture can either be a nylon and polyethylene laminate or a wall panel formed of a polyurethane foam material. Both of these materials serve to seal around the plant material when the plant material is inserted through the puncture. The moisturized gel material may comprise a water and starch mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a support device for plants and/or a method of supporting plants, and in particular cut plants.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When transporting cut plants there is a tendency for those plants to lose their freshness at a quick rate. Attempts have been made to enhance or prolong the freshness of the cut plants, for example, by providing a vial of water with an aperture at the mouth through which aperture the stem of the cut plant is positioned. The aperture may be in a membrane closing the mouth of the solid vial. Such a construction forms part of the disclosure of German patent specification 2232181. Such constructions have disadvantages however, for example, there can be a tendency for the devices to leak, particularly, in the area where the membrane is placed over the rigid structure. Also, the device can take up substantial space when the plant is packaged, and it can be awkward to insert the plant into the aperture, which may not be of a suitable size. Thus it is necessary to, in general, make the aperture somewhat smaller than the expected plant stem diameter. The difficulties make such a construction disadvantageous.


Brake system for retarding rotating machinery. It has an actuator with a first portion and a second portion. Actuator is supplied with energy and generates force causing relative motion of the first and second portions. The second portion is connected to an actuator lever and the first portion is connected to a brakebeam. The lever has a second pivot connection also connected to the brakebeam and it has a third pivot connection attached to a reaction device. The reaction device is connected to an equalizer lever which is connected to a second brakebeam and a second reaction device. The second reaction device is connected back to the first brakebeam, or to the first portion of the actuator. The brakebeams each have three pivot connections at each end. Two are about parallel to the brakebeam and one is perpendicular. A pair of brake hangers are pivotally attached to the two parallel pivot connections and a proportionalization lever is pivotally attached to the vertical pivot connection. It receives force from the brakebeam and conveys the force to a force delivery mechanism at each of its ends. Each brake hanger has a force receiving mechanism to receive force from the force delivery mechanism at the ends of the proportionalization lever and each brake hanger has a brake shoe for forcible application to the rotating machinery to retard the rotating machinery.

The art of railway brakes includes two methods of retarding a railroad vehicle. One method is dynamic braking, in which the propulsion motors of a diesel-electric locomotive are used to generate electricity which is then dissipated through resistors. Another method is friction braking in which brake shoes are pressed against the treads of the wheels of the railroad vehicle, to provide a friction force which retards the wheels. Friction braking may also be provided by attaching a disc to a wheel or to an axle of the vehicle, and pressing brake shoes against the disc, thereby providing a friction force which retards the disc and hence retards the wheels. For friction braking in which brake shoes are applied to the wheels, heat is absorbed by the thermal mass of the wheels and then dissipated to the environment by conduction, convection and radiation from the wheels. For friction braking in which brake shoes are applied to discs, heat is absorbed by the thermal mass of the brake discs and then dissipated to the environment by conduction, convection and radiation from the discs.
In both cases, the amount of energy which can be absorbed is limited by the temperatures generated, since high temperatures may damage the brake shoes, or cause thermal stresses which cause warping or cracking of the wheels or brake discs. In some systems, the two methods are combined so that some of the heat is absorbed by the wheels and some is absorbed by the discs. By combining the two methods, more heat can be absorbed than can be absorbed by either method separately.
Such systems generally employ lever arrangements in which a single actuator, such as a brake cylinder, applies equal or proportional forces to a number of brake shoes, some of which may be applied to wheels, and some of which may be applied to discs which rotate with the wheels. Such systems may connect a single brake cylinder to brake shoes applied to all four wheels on a pair of axles. The lever arrangement which is typically used may apply equal force to the brake shoes on all four wheels.
Likewise, if each wheel has a disc associated with it, the lever arrangement may apply equal forces to brake shoes applied to all four discs. In some of these systems, brake shoes are applied to the rims of the brake discs. In others, brake shoes are applied to the faces of the discs. Application to the rim has an advantage over application to the face because the radius at which the friction force is generated is greater when it is applied to the rim than when it is applied to the face. Hence, the retarding torque exerted on the brake disc is greater when the shoe is applied with a given force to the rim than when the shoe is applied with the same force to the face.
For a railway vehicle, it is particularly important to apply the brake shoe at as great a radius as possible because the radius of the disc is limited by the required track clearance. In the United States this is 2.75 inches, so the radius of the brake disc must be at least 2.75 inches less than the radius of the wheel tread.
It is generally desirable for a brake system to provide a system for applying pressure to the brake shoe which provides mechanical advantage to amplify the total normal force between the brake shoe and the surface being retarded. For a brake shoe applied to the rim of a brake disc, prior attempts to accomplish this have been made by having the braking surface of the brake shoe have the form of a wedge, which is applied to a groove on the rim of the brake disc. With this configuration, the total normal force between the brake shoe and the brake disc is greater than the inward radial force applied to the shoe. An example of this is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 2,422,004.

Tread-disc assist dual truck mounted brake assembly


An implantable optical sensor (1) comprising a substrate (2) and at least one optical microstructure (3) for evanescent field sensing integrated with the substrate (2), the at least one optical microstructure (3) being positioned to form an optical interaction area (4) on a part of a surface (5) of the substrate (2), the optical assembly (1) further comprising a thin protective layer (6) covering at least the optical interaction area (4), the thin protective layer (6) being in a predetermined material with corrosion-protection characteristics and having a predetermined thickness, so as not to affect the evanescent field sensing.

International patent publication WO2011/029886 discloses a sensor, sensing a substance such as glucose. The sensor is implantable in the body of a living creature. The sensor comprises a photonic integrated circuit, e.g. a silicon photonics based radiation processor for spectrally processing a radiation interacting with a sample.
US 2006/0251357 A1 discloses an optical component which contains a waveguide structure and a coupling element for the optical coupling of the waveguide structure to a further optical component. The waveguide structure and the coupling element are attached on a common substrate. The coupling element contains a reflecting, curved surface for the simultaneous change of the propagation direction and of the shape of the wave fronts of light which propagates between the waveguide structure and the optical components. Embodiments are described with a cover layer, which serves to protect the light-guiding core layer and the coupling element from external influences such as contamination, humidity or damage, and for optically insulating it from the surroundings. Typical thicknesses of the cover layer in the cured condition lie between 10 μm and 500 μm.
US 2007/0081758 A1 discloses an optical waveguide type biochemical sensor chip which includes a light beam transmittable substrate having at least a first optical element that allows a light beam to be impinged to the inside and a second optical element that emits a light beam from the inside, an optical waveguide layer that is formed on a main surface of the substrate on which at least one of the first and second optical elements is formed, has a thickness of 3 to 300 μm and is made of a polymer resin material having a higher refractive index than that of the substrate material, and a sensing membrane that is formed on the optical waveguide layer and creates a reaction product having the ability of absorbing the light beam or an evanescent wave of the light beam in response to an introduced specimen. The sensing membrane is formed in a region which is positioned between gratings and in which no protective film is formed.
US 2010/0016928 A1 discloses an implantable integrated circuit structure, e.g., an integrated circuit (IC) chip, an implantable pulse generator, a device with a multiplicity of IC chips where one chip contains electronic circuits and another chip has an optical sensor or emitter, etc. The structure comprises a conformal thin-film sealing layer for hermetically sealing circuitry layers. The sealing layer is a thin-film coating in that its thickness is such that it does not substantially increase the total volume of the structure with which it is associated. A thickness in a range from about 0.1 to about 10.0 μm is disclosed.
US 2016/0103065 A1 discloses an authentication apparatus for authenticating an object includes an input coupler configured to receive incident light and generate surface plasmons from the incident light; and an output coupler configured to output a speckle pattern based on the surface plasmons. The authentication apparatus includes a multilayer structure comprising a metal film and a dielectric film. The input coupler is provided in a first area of the multi-layer structure, and the output coupler is provided in a second area of the multi-layer structure. A dielectric film may be formed on the metal film and may be configured to protect the metal film.


Provided is a transparent conductive ink which contains metal nanowires and/or metal nanotubes as a conductive component and can form a coating film which has good conductivity and a high light transmittance property, and also provided is a transparent conductive pattern forming method wherein this transparent conductive ink is used for forming a transparent conductive pattern by simple production steps, to thereby suppress the production cost and environmental load. At least one of metal nanowires and metal nanotubes are dispersed in a dispersion medium containing a shape-holding material which contains an organic compound having a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 500 and which has a viscosity of 1.0×103 to 2.0×106 mPa·s at 25° C., to prepare a transparent conductive ink. A transparent conductive pattern is formed by printing a pattern having an arbitrary shape on a substrate using this transparent conductive ink, subjecting the pattern to a heating treatment to dry the pattern, and subjecting the pattern which has been dried to pulsed light irradiation.

A transparent conductive film is used in various fields such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic electroluminescence (OLED), a transparent electrode for a photovoltaic cell (PV) and a touch panel (TP), an electro-static discharge (ESD) film, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) film, etc. For the transparent conductive film, (1) low surface resistance, (2) high light transmittance, and (3) high reliability, are required.
For example, a transparent electrode for an LCD has a surface resistance within a range of 10 to 300Ω/□, and a light transmittance in the visible light range of 85% or more. More preferably, the surface resistance is within the range of 20 to 100Ω/□, and the light transmittance is 90% or more. A transparent electrode for an OLED has a surface resistance within a range of 10 to 100Ω/□, and alight transmittance in the visible light range of 80% or more. More preferably, the surface resistance is within the range of 10 to 50Ω/□, and the light transmittance is 85% or more. A transparent electrode for a PV has a surface resistance of within a range of 5 to 100Ω/□, and a light transmittance in the visible light range of 65% or more. More preferably, the surface resistance is within the range of 5 to 20Ω/□, and the light transmittance of 70% or more. An electrode for a TP has a surface resistance within a range of 100 to 1000Ω/□, and alight transmittance in the visible light range of 85% or more. More preferably, the surface resistance is within the range of 150 to 500Ω/□, and the light transmittance in the visible light range is 90% or more. An ESD film has a surface resistance within a range of 500 to 10000Ω/□, and a light transmittance in the visible light range of 90% or more. More preferably, the surface resistance is within the range of 1000 to 5000Ω/□, and the light transmittance in the visible light range is 95% or more.
Conventionally, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) has been used for transparent conductive films used for such transparent electrodes. However, indium used for ITO is a rare metal, and recently, stabilizing the supply and the price of indium has become an issue. Also, for the formation of ITO films, a sputtering method, a vapor-deposition method, and the like requiring high vacuum are used, and thus, a vacuum production apparatus is required and the production takes a long time, resulting in the higher cost. Further, a crack may be easily generated in ITO due to a physical stress such as bending and ITO can be easily broken. Therefore, applying ITO to a flexible substrate is difficult. Accordingly, alternative materials for ITO capable of overcoming these drawbacks have been searched for.
Among "alternative materials for ITO", as materials which do not require the use of a vacuum production apparatus, and which can be used for forming films by coating, conductive materials, for example, (i) polymer-based conductive materials such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT: PSS) (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), conductive materials containing a nanostructured conductive component such as (ii) metal nanowires (for example, refer to Patent Document 2 and Non-patent Document 1), and (iii) carbon nanotubes (for example, refer to Patent Document 3), have been reported.
Among these, (ii) conductive materials containing metal nanowires are reported to have a low surface resistance and a high light transmittance (for example, refer to Patent Document 2 and Non-patent Document 1), and further, have flexibility, and thus, are suitable as "alternative materials for ITO".
Here, pattern formation of a transparent conductive film is required corresponding to the purpose of use, in order that the transparent conductive film is used as a transparent electrode. For the pattern formation of ITO, a photolithography using a resist material has been generally used.
As a method for forming a conductive material containing metal nanowires, Non-patent Document 1 describes the following steps.    (1) Step for coating a conductive ink containing metal nanowires on a substrate    (2) Step for forming a transparent conductive layer by sintering    (3) Step for forming a photosensitive resist on the transparent conductive layer    (4) Step for applying photoenergy to the resist through an appropriate light shielding mask corresponding to a fine pattern    (5) Step for developing the obtained latent image of the resist with an appropriate development solution    (6) Step for removing the exposed patterned film (transparent conductive layer) by an appropriate etching method    (7) Step for removing a remaining resist using an appropriate method
In practice, in addition to the above steps, appropriate substrate surface treatment, washing, and drying steps, etc., may be required.
Patent Document 2 describes the following steps.    (1) Step for coating a conductive ink containing silver nanowires dispersed in water, on a substrate    (2) Step for forming a silver nanowire network layer by sintering    (3) Step for depositing a photo-curable matrix material containing a prepolymer on the silver nanowire network layer    (4) Step for applying photoenergy to the matrix material through a light shielding mask corresponding to a fine pattern    (5) Step for removing uncured regions by washing with a solvent (ethanol), or step for physically removing the uncured regions using an adhesive tape or a tacky roller.
Patent Document 4 describes the following steps.    (1) Step for coating a conductive ink containing silver nanowires dispersed in a solution containing a photopolymer, on a substrate    (2) Step for applying photoenergy to the photopolymer through an appropriate light shielding mask corresponding to a fine pattern    (3) Step for developing uncured regions with a developing solution.
Patent Document 5 describes the following steps.    (1) Step for coating a resin solution containing metal nanofillers on a surface of a transparent base material    (2) Step for arranging a mask having a patterned opening, on the surface of the transparent conductive film    (3) Step for performing a plasma treatment or a corona treatment through the mask on the side opposite to the side of the transparent conductive film, for forced oxidization of the metal nanofillers in the transparent conductive film at the portion corresponding to the opening of the mask, and forming a non-conductive portion with the oxidized metal nanofillers and forming a conductive portion with the unoxidized metal nanofillers.
However, in either of the methods disclosed in Non-patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a step for further forming a photosensitive layer for pattern formation, on the layer containing the metal nanowires, is necessary. Further, a step for developing the photosensitive layer, and a step for removing the exposed metal-nanowire containing layer, are necessary. Thus, the silver nanowires at the portion to be removed are wasted, waste disposal of the developer may be required. In addition, after the development of the photosensitive layer and the removal of the exposed metal-nanowire containing layer, a step for removing the photosensitive layer may be required.
The method disclosed in Patent Document 4 also requires a development step, and thus, the silver nanowires may be wasted by the development, and a problem regarding the waste disposal of the developer may occur.
Accordingly, in order to obtain a transparent conductive film, there are drawbacks that a large number of steps are required, the production cost is high, problems regarding the waste liquid disposed in each step occur, and each step is not optimized and thus, changes in electric properties and optical properties before and after each step are accumulated.
The method disclosed in Patent Document 5 also has drawbacks that complete insulation of silver nanowires by the plasma treatment or the corona treatment is very difficult, and the base material is deteriorated by the plasma treatment or the corona treatment, resulting in decreasing the transparency and the durability.
Although no example regarding the silver nanowire is disclosed, Patent Document 6 discloses a following method as a method for printing a conductive ink on a substrate to form a patterned conductive layer.    (1) Forming a pattern on a substrate by printing, using a liquid repellent transparent insulation ink which contains a resin and a silicone-based or fluorine-based surfactant, and    (2) Coating a conductive ink which is repellent against a dry film of the liquid repellent transparent insulation ink, on the entirety of the dry film, and as the conductive ink is repelled by the dry film of the liquid repellent transparent insulation ink, a conductive ink layer is formed on a portion of the substrate where the dry film of the liquid repellent transparent insulation ink is not formed.
According to this method, both a repellent transparent ink and a hydrophilic conductive ink should be designed, and thus, the blending system becomes complicated, and the pattern accuracy largely depends on not only the printing accuracy, but also the repellencies between the repellent-hydrophilic resins. Therefore, improving the pattern accuracy is difficult.
Accordingly, it has been desired to directly forming a pattern by applying silver nanowires by a printing method such as inkjet printing, screen printing, gravure printing, and flexographic printing. However, in order to perform printing, a binder resin is necessary, and in order to maintain the transparent property, the amount of silver nanowires used should be reduced, which leads to drawbacks that the binder resin covers the surfaces of the silver nanowires and the conductivity is lost. When no binder resin is used, there are drawbacks that the pattern cannot be maintained at the printing, or even if the pattern can be maintained immediately after printing, the pattern is broken when the solution is dried.
Therefore, in Patent Document 7, an organic conductive polymer is used as a binder resin, and a pattern (transparent electrode) is formed according to the following steps.    (1) Step for forming a conductive layer pattern by gravure printing using a conductive ink which contains silver nanowires dispersed in a solution containing an organic conductive polymer as a binder    (2) Step for forming a transparent electrode by transferring the conductive layer pattern formed in the previous step on a second substrate.
According to this method, an organic conductive polymer is used for a binder, and thus, the resistance can be maintained at a low level to some extent. However, since a organic conductive polymer having a low shape-holding strength is used as a binder, a printing accuracy is not good, and the long-term reliability is low compared to a metal and an inorganic compound. Therefore, a practical quality as a transparent conductive film cannot be achieved.
Patent Document 8 discloses a method for forming a pattern using a water-soluble polymer such as a cellulose derivative having a Tg in the range of 0 to 250° C. as a binder resin, the method including the following steps.    (1) Step for printing a conductive ink on a substrate, the conductive ink containing silver nanowires dispersed in a solution which contains a water-soluble polymer such as a cellulose derivative having a Tg in the range of 0 to 250° C. as a binder resin.    (2) Step for eluting the water-soluble polymer by subjecting the conductive pattern to a heating and humidifying treatment under a pressurizing condition.
According to this method, no alkaline waste liquid is generated, but waste elution water may be generated. Further, uniformly pressurizing a conductive ink film is difficult, and conductivity is poorly-reproducible.

Transparent conductive ink and transparent conductive pattern forming method


This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a headlamp assembly, and a corresponding method. In an example, a motor vehicle includes a fascia including an opening and a rear face having one of a projection and a recess. The motor vehicle further includes a lamp including a front face having the other of the projection and the recess. The projection and the recess are configured such that when the projection is received in the recess a lens of the lamp is aligned with the opening.

Motor vehicles include headlamps, which are lamps attached to the front of the vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are known to include a housing, a light source, and a lens. When mounting a headlamp to a vehicle, one typically must align the headlamp relative to various fasciae such as the front quarter panel, grille, hood, and bumper of the vehicle.


A method and system for determining trace oversize contaminant particles in a paper-making pulp employs a screen assembly having a screen housing with a screen mounted therein, and ports for introduction of aqueous pulp and rinsing and flushing fluids, and for withdrawal of screened aqueous pulp, the screen housing has no port designated for the sole purpose of removing accumulated contaminant particles from the screen housing; instead the port employed for introduction of aqueous pulp and which may also be employed for introduction of rinsing fluid to the housing, is employed as the flushing port for removal of contaminant particles.

i) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to contaminant detection in paper pulp, and more especially to a method and device for detecting and separating oversize contaminant particles from virgin pulp and recycled pulp. The invention also relates to a method and an apparatus for separating the contaminants from pulp and isolating the oversize contaminants.
ii) Description of the Prior Art
Pressure screens are commonly used in the Pulp and Paper Industry to separate oversize contaminants from good pulp fibre.
A basic industrial pressure screen consists of a housing equipped with a pulp feed port, accept port and reject port. Within the housing, a screen cylinder, also referred to as a screen plate, is designed to allow good fibre to pass through its small apertures but at the same time prevent oversize contaminants from going through. These oversize materials remain on the feed side of the screen cylinder and work their way down its length, until they exit the screen housing through the reject port. Accepted material, material that has passed through the screen cylinder, exits the screen housing via the accept port. Usually a rotor is used to generate pressure pulsations which prevent blinding of the screen plate openings.
Below are some of the more current U.S. patents referencing such screening devices.
1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,558 April 1997 "Method and apparatus for screening a fibre suspension" Frank Aaltonen, Frey Frejborg
2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,788 October 1993 "Pressure sorter" Reimund Rienecker, Peter Schweiss & Theodor Bahr
3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,552 August 1993 "Screening device" N. Jorgen Lundberg, Alf I. Lindstrom
4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,332 February 1993 "Paper stock screening apparatus having heavy rejects trap" Derald Hatton, Joseph Constiner & David Suica
Below are a number of "non-typical" screening related patents.
5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,584 May 1996 "Device for detecting foreign matter in pulp suspension" Yoshihiko Aikawa
6) Ca 2106211 September 1999 "Method of detecting foreign matter in pulp suspension and device for detecting the same" Yoshihiko Aikawa (same as U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,584 above)
7) U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,542 August 1996 "System for detecting contaminants" John Hoffmann, Robert Gooding, Norman Roberts & Robert Hart (Paprican is the assignee)
8) Ca 2,205,542 May 2002 "System for detecting contaminants" John Hoffmann, Robert Gooding, Norman Roberts & Robert Hart (Paprican is the assignee) (same as U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,542 above)
9) U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,863 September 1980 "Screening apparatus and method" Douglas Young
10) U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,538 April 1995 "Device for separating a mixture of paper pulp and contaminants" Jean Lamort.
A number of patented devices do not use a screening device to separate contaminants. Some patents of interest in this category include:
11) U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,308 July 1988 "System for monitoring contaminants with a detector in a paper pulp stream" Wayne Carr
12) U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,413 March 1998 "Method for removing contaminants from aqueous paper pulp" J. Alan Lawson.

Determination of contaminant particles in an aqueous pulp


A conduit mounting system includes a plurality of modular components. Each modular component includes first and second transverse sides that are spaced apart and substantially parallel with one another and third and fourth longitudinal sides that are spaced apart and substantially parallel with one another. The third and fourth longitudinal sides extend between the first and second sides. Each modular component also includes a fifth side disposed between the first and second sides and between the third and fourth sides. The fifth side includes a conduit support surface disposed between first and second side contact portions. Each modular component also includes a flange having a first flange portion extending beyond a surface of the third side and a second flange portion extending beyond a surface of the first side contact portion of the fifth side. Each modular component further includes a groove having a first groove portion formed in the fourth side and a second groove portion formed in the second side portion.

Typically conduits, for example, hoses, pipes, or wires, are mounted to fixed or movable structural elements. For example, hydraulic hoses may be mounted to movable components of a machine frame or electrical wires may be mounted to a fixed wall of a building. Conduit mounting systems often include a plurality of modular elements interconnected with one another and forming openings for supporting a conduit relative to additional conduits and to the structural element. Utilizing modular components reduces the number of different parts associated with a mounting system. However, the number and/or type of conduits that a particular modular mounting system may accommodate may be reduced as compared to a customized mounting system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,466 ("the '466 patent") issued to Myers et al. discloses an interchangeable hose, cable, and conduit support mechanism. The mechanism includes a pair of substantially identical covers interconnected and forming a first cavity adapted to retain a pair of substantially identical inserts. The pair of inserts form a second cavity that is adapted to retain a conduit. Each cover respectively includes an extension and a receptacle to interlock a pair of covers together. The extension of a first cover is configured to extend into the receptacle of a second cover and the extension of the second cover is configured to extend into the receptacle of the first cover. Each insert respectively includes an extension and a receptacle to interlock a pair of inserts together. The extension of a first insert is configured to extend into the receptacle of a second insert and the extension of the second insert is configured to extend into the receptacle of the first insert.