A novel, low volatility, non-phthalate plasticizer/coalescent blend for use in paints and other polymeric coatings comprises a triblend of diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, and 1,2-propylene glycol dibenzoate. The triblend when used in a paint or other coatings achieves a low VOC paint or coating having stable viscosity after three freeze/thaw cycles and equivalent or superior wet edge/open time ratings, gloss ratings, scrub resistance and block resistance when compared to traditional coalescents, including without limitation high VOC coalescents, low VOC non-dibenzoate coalescents and other dibenzoate blends. The triblend may be used as a substitute or alternative coalescent in latex and acrylic emulsion coatings, among others, to achieve a lower VOC content without sacrificing performance properties.

Volatile organic compounds ("VOC's") are carbon-containing compounds that readily vaporize or evaporate into the air, where they may react with other elements or compounds to produce ozone. Ozone, in turn, causes air pollution and a host of health concerns including breathing problems, headache, burning, watery eyes and nausea, just to name a few. Some VOCs have also been linked to cancer, as well as kidney and liver damage.
VOC's are of particular concern in the paint and coatings industry in the manufacture and application of products using VOC's. Use of VOC's in the manufacture of paint and coatings result in poor plant air quality and worker exposure to harmful chemicals. Persons who are exposed to VOC's may suffer from a number of health problems, including but not limited to several types of cancers, impaired brain function, renal dysfunction and other health problems.
Similarly, painters and other users of VOC-containing paints and coatings who are regularly exposed to harmful VOC vapors may suffer from health problems. VOC-containing products release harmful VOC's into the air as they dry, especially with indoor applications. Indoor VOC levels are routinely 10 times higher than outdoor levels and may be up to 1,000 times higher immediately after painting. Further, although VOC levels are highest during and soon after painting, they continue seeping out for several years. In fact, only 50 percent of the VOC's may be released in the first year.
Accordingly, regulations have been implemented to protect manufacturing workers and end-users.
Paints and coatings having high VOC content are also considered environmental hazards. They are the second largest source of VOC emissions into the atmosphere after automobiles, responsible for roughly 11 billion pounds every year.
Consumers are demanding safer alternatives, and coatings formulators continue to be faced with the challenge of reducing VOC's, while, at the same time, providing a coating with required performance characteristics. Most often, formulators reduce the amount of, or replace, the most volatile components used in the coatings, which reduces VOC concerns to some extent, but may result in compromised performance. Desirably, a low VOC content paint or coating should have, at a minimum, equivalent performance to paints or coatings having higher VOC content. Toward that end, raw material suppliers continue to develop new, lower VOC products for use in paints and coatings, which do not compromise performance.
One typically volatile, but often very necessary component, used in coating compositions is the film-forming aid, i.e., coalescent, which allows a coatings formulator to use conventional, well-recognized latex emulsions that are lower in cost. Coalescents facilitate film formation, by softening dispersed polymers and allowing them to fuse or form a continuous film. The coalescent will then partially or completely volatilize out of the film, allowing the film to regain its original physical properties such as gloss and scrub resistance. Coalescents are selected that improve the properties of the paint/coating film, such as gloss, scrub resistance, and block resistance. Coalescents are also selected based upon a variety of properties, including without limitation, volatility, miscibility, stability, compatibility, ease of use, and cost. Traditional coalescents are highly volatile and can contribute significantly to the VOC content of a paint or coating.
As an alternative for achieving lower VOC content, polymeric emulsion systems that do not require these highly volatile film-forming aids are being developed. The polymers used in these newer emulsion systems tend to be soft enough to allow a low MFFT (minimum film forming temperature); however, certain performance parameters can sometimes suffer, and these softer emulsion systems are often expensive.
Film-forming aids are known in the art. Hydrophobic film-forming aids, such as the industry standard, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (TXMB), partition to the polymer in the emulsion and soften dispersed particles of the emulsion during the coalescing phase of the application. The coalescent then partially or completely evaporates out of the film. By its nature, this "escaping" coalescent contributes significantly to the VOC's of the film, beginning with the coalescing phase and lasting for a sustained period afterwards. This, in turn, can affect the air quality around the film and be manifested as an unpleasant odor.
Because of these issues, there has been a trend toward developing and using less volatile, more permanent film-forming aids, such as plasticizers, for the coatings industry.
Plasticizers have been known and used for years as excellent coalescents for latex paints and other coatings. In some instances, they are also desired for their plasticizer function, because softening of a harder base polymer in the coating is often desired. It is also well-known that plasticizers can improve other paint performance characteristics, such as mud cracking, wet edge and open time. Plasticizers have a greater degree of permanence than other traditional coalescents, and in some instances the permanence of plasticizers can be a detriment. For coalescents, a balance must be struck between greater permanence—and thus lower VOC's—and good final film properties.
Phthalate plasticizers, such as di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) or butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), have traditionally been used in the coatings industry when a true plasticizer was required, as is the case when polymers with high Tg's (glass transition temperatures) are employed in one application or another. DBP and DIBP have a lower VOC content than traditional coalescents, but are still somewhat volatile, while BBP has a very low VOC content. Apart from VOC content, however, phthalate ester use has some disadvantages, as DBP and BBP uses, in particular, are restricted due to regulatory concerns.
Dibenzoate plasticizers have been recognized for various applications since about 1938. Their utility in coatings is also well known. Dibenzoates by their nature are non-phthalates and do not have the restrictions or health concerns associated with phthalates.
Monobenzoate ester coalescent technology has been developing and evolving since the 1980's, when isodecyl benzoate (IDB) was introduced to the coatings industry as a new, lower VOC coalescent. IDB has compatibility in a wide variety of polymers and was found to be an effective, low odor coalescent in latex paint formulations as compared to the traditional use of TXMB as the coalescent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,987 to Arendt discloses the use of isodecyl benzoate, decyl benzoate, isooctyl benzoate, nonylbenzoate, and dodecyl benzoate as coalescents for latex paint.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, 2-ethylhexyl benzoate (2-EHB) was launched as a new lower VOC film forming aid. 2-EHB was found to have greater efficiency than TXMB in many formulations, as well as lower odor. Isononyl benzoate (INB) was introduced in 2009 as a coalescent with a comparable formulated evaporation rate and efficiency to 2-EHB, while exhibiting a more effective MFFT lowering behavior than IDB.
Second generation benzoate ester coalescent technology has been developed with the less volatile dibenzoate esters. Dibenzoates can satisfy reduced VOC requirements where the volatilities of monobenzoate esters are considered too high. Dibenzoate technology, traditionally, is based on dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB) and diethylene glycol dibenzoate (DEGDB) blends. Films formulated with these blends have been found to exhibit comparable performance properties to those formulated with TXMB, with improvements in scrub resistance, chemical resistance and enhanced open times.
Dibenzoate blends along with other components for use in lower VOC aqueous polymer coating compositions and other film-forming compositions are described in the art.
U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2008/0182929 to Strepka et al. discloses lower VOC content aqueous coating compositions containing dibenzoates of diethylene and dipropylene glycols in combination with at least one of the corresponding monoesters for the primary purpose of extending the open time exhibited by aqueous polymer compositions and, in part, to replace at least a portion of more volatile organic compounds typically used as coalescents.
U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2008/0076861 to Strepka et al. discloses a film-forming composition comprising at least one acrylic or vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer as a film forming ingredient and a blend of the benzoate of a 6-carbon monohydric alcohol, diethylene glycol dibenzoate, and diethylene glycol monobenzoate for use as a floor polish.
U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2011/0218285 discloses a low VOC coating additive employing a water dispersible polymer, a water insoluble plasticizer, cyclohexanedimethanol, and optionally an amphiphilic component for coatings to improve at least one performance characteristic of the coating, such as wet edge, open time, scrub resistance, wet adhesion and water resistance. Among the plasticizers disclosed are diethylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate and tripropylene glycol dibenzoate.
Still, there is a need for continued efforts to improve plasticizer/coalescent technology to achieve minimal VOC's, while improving performance properties. A newer, next generation triblend of dibenzoate esters has been developed, which functions as well as traditional plasticizers or low VOC coalescents in coating applications, while achieving unexpectedly enhanced performance benefits in gloss and scrub resistance compared to current generation low VOC coalescent technology, including some enhancements over traditional dibenzoate blends.
A novel dibenzoate triblend plasticizer for use in low VOC paints and coatings has been developed. The present invention is directed to a blend of three dibenzoate plasticizers, DEGDB, DPGDB, and 1,2-propylene glycol dibenzoate (PGDB), that allows for low VOC coalescence, while yielding unexpectedly improved properties over the traditional dibenzoate blends. The inventive triblend is an improvement upon existing dibenzoate plasticizer technology used in paints and coatings and has not been previously known or used in paint and coatings applications. The 1,2-propylene glycol dibenzoate component was previously known for its use as a plasticizer, but not in the inventive blend disclosed herein. More specifically, 1,2-propylene glycol dibenzoate was known as a flavoring agent for beverages as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,291 to Bedoukian.
The inventive triblend is particularly useful in latex and acrylic coating applications and provides improved gloss, freeze/thaw stability, scrub resistance, and chemical resistance and comparable open times over traditional dibenzoate plasticizer blends. The novel triblend is compatible with a large variety of material used in paints and other coatings. The novel triblend of DPGDB, DEGDB, and PGDB has not been utilized in paints and other coatings in the past.
The focus of the present invention is on the use of the inventive blend to formulate paints and other architectural and industrial coatings; however, the invention is not limited to these applications. The inventive plasticizer triblend can be used individually and in blends with other plasticizers in applications that include but are not limited to: adhesives, caulks, OEM coatings, plastisols, sealants, over print varnishes, polishes, inks, melt compounded vinyl, polysulfides, polyurethanes, epoxies, styrenated acrylics and combinations thereof.
It is an object of the invention to provide a film-forming aid having low VOC content, efficiency and compatibility when used in traditional latex emulsions or other polymeric coatings.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a polymeric emulsion paint or coating having a low VOC content and improved performance properties, including without limitation gloss, scrub resistance and chemical resistance, over that achieved with current low VOC emulsion paints and coatings.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a low VOC content polymer emulsion paint or coating that is cost effective to produce and that is environmentally friendly, safe to handle, and not subject to regulatory control.

Dibenzoate plasticizers/coalescent blends for low VOC coatings


The invention relates to a confectionery product comprising a polymer system, flavor and sweetener, at least about 70% by weight of said polymer system comprising polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and less than 10% by weight of said polymer system comprises polymer having a molecular weight (Mw) of greater than about 50000 g/mol.

Vast numbers of variations of chewing gum are disclosed in the prior art. The chewing gum is typically characterized as a polymer based article having a gum featuring elastomeric properties. These elastomeric properties are maintained by careful dimensioning of the gum base in view of the applied chewing ingredients for the purpose of obtaining the desired chewing gum characteristic.
It is the object of the invention to provide a confectionery product having toffee-like textural properties.

Confectionery product comprising low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate


A memory cell includes a master cell storing first true/complement data and a slave cell storing second true/complement data. A first circuit associated with the slave cell is operable responsive to a first clock signal to copy first true/complement data from the master cell into the slave cell with same state to be the second true/complement data. A second circuit associated with the master cell is operable response to a second clock signal, which is a non-overlapping complement of the first clock signal, to copy second true/complement data from the slave cell into the master cell with complementary state to be the first true/complement data. A read/write circuit includes circuitry for supporting true/complement data read and write operations with respect to the master cell in either same polarity or opposite polarity state. A state machine tracks polarity state of the first true/complement data so as to control whether a same polarity or opposite polarity state read operation is performed by the read/write circuit.

The present invention relates to memories and, in particular, to memories which are non-imprinting and may be reliably and quickly erased.
There are known in the art a number of devices which include a memory for storing information. In some applications of such devices, such as where the device or system requires the storage of information comprising secret, confidential and/or sensitive data, including data such as cryptographic keys, algorithms or identity information. It is a critical system requirement with respect to such device applications to protect the stored information from improper or unauthorized access.
Many of these devices include a functionality for actively detecting an impending attack against the device (such as might occur when an unauthorized attempt is being made to gain access to the information stored in the memory). In response to the detection of such an attack, it is imperative that all secret, confidential and/or sensitive data stored in the memory be erased. In order to minimize, if not eliminate, the risk of access being gained to this information, the erasure of memory contents must be quickly and reliably accomplished by the device itself. The functionality necessary to achieve these goals can be costly and complex.
Many memory cell designs and technologies such as conventional static random access memory (SRAM) all share a common susceptibility to "data imprinting" which refers to a property of the memory to effectuate long term storage of data. In the case of SRAM implementations, the mechanisms for this relate to stresses placed on the gate oxide of a memory cell transistor during operation. These stresses arise as a result of the presence of a constant bias voltage on the memory cell over an extended period coupled with the cell being configured to store data of a certain logical value. This stress can lead to gate oxide charge accumulation which over time can progress to such a degree that it influences the power up state of the memory cell or leave sufficient data remnants which can be passively detected through advanced spectrographic analysis. Thus, the data, which was stored, is said to have left a permanent imprint through the stress induced oxide charge accumulation, and this imprint can be detected, and thus the logic state of the previously stored data identified, for a period of time long after power has been removed from the memory and/or the data has been purposefully erased. A number of active and passive methods are known in the art for discovering the state of an imprinted memory cell. To the extent that the memory cell stored secret, confidential and/or sensitive information, the imprinting would defeat any security actions to erase the cell which were taken in response to a detected impending attack against the device. This, of course, jeopardizes consumer trust in the device and can result in severe damages, which threaten electronic banking systems, facilitate identity theft, defeat access control systems or even more serious issues pertaining to national security.
Presently, the problem of imprinting is addressed by having the host central processing unit (CPU) alter or move data such that the secret, confidential and/or sensitive information does not remain in one memory location for a long enough period of time to imprint. However, designers and manufacturers of these devices or systems may choose not to implement this solution not only due to cost constraints, but also because the actions taken to move the data raise reliability issues (i.e., can the correct state and location of the data be tracked accurately and thus known) and because the read/write operations required for this solution require the consumption of significant amounts of power (which is unacceptable in power sensitive devices). Additionally, attack windows, although narrow, are nonetheless present and can be exploited to gain access to the secret, confidential and/or sensitive information.
As discussed above, in response to a detected impending attack against the device actions are taken by the device to erase all secret, confidential and/or sensitive data stored in the memory. There are problems, however, with the methods by which data is erased. One commonly used technique removes power from the memory and pulls supply voltage to a negative potential. Another technique causes the host CPU for the device to wake up in response to the detected threat and sequentially write to each memory location and thus overwrite the previously stored secret, confidential and/or sensitive data. Unfortunately, as is known in the art, each of these techniques can be relatively easily defeated and thus give a thief an opportunity to obtain access to the data.
In summary, at least two problems exist with conventional memory configurations. First, windows exist which provide sufficient time for data imprinting to take place. Second, the memories can not be reliably and quickly erased. There would be an advantage if means were provided for reliably and quickly erasing all or part of a non-imprinting memory which stores secret, confidential and/or sensitive information.

Non-imprinting memory with high speed erase


An automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) is provided for controlling an electrostatic dust precipitator (80). The system (200) includes a subsystem for monitoring voltage and current parameters of the high voltage transformer/rectifier (70) of the electrostatic dust precipitator system (100). On a periodic basis, automatic back corona detection and protection system (200) tests dust precipitator (80) to determine what operating conditions are conducive to back corona generation, operating parameters being utilized by the energization control (210) during the test, and then operates dust precipitator (80) at voltage and current values below those for which back corona conditions were detected. In detecting back corona, system (200) utilizes two methods of detection (220, 230). The subsequent adjustment of the precipitator operating conditions being made more accurate by a deenergization of the precipitator following detection of back corona to quench the back corona and permit proper adjustment of the precipitating operating parameters. Still further, system (200) provides for optimization of an intermittent operating mode wherein the pulse repetition rate of the voltage supplied to precipitator (80) is optimized to substantially prevent back corona.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a control system for an electrostatic dust collection system. In particular, this invention relates to electrostatic dust collection control systems having means for adjusting system parameters responsive to feedback signals from the system. More in particular, this invention relates to an electrostatic dust collection control system which periodically determines what operating system parameters produce back corona conditions and then automatically adjusts the system operating parameters to substantially preclude generation of back corona. Still further, this invention directs itself to an electrostatic dust collection control system which utilizes multiple methods for detecting the existence of a back corona condition. Further, this invention relates to an electrostatic dust precipitator control system which automatically periodically determines what operating conditions are conducive to back corona generation and uses those values to limit the input power supplied to the high voltage transformer/rectifier of the system to substantially prevent back corona in the precipitator. Additionally, the control system provides for optimization of an intermittent mode of operation wherein the number of "off" cycles between energizing "on" cycles is optimized to prevent back corona.
2. Prior Art
Control systems for electrostatic dust collection systems are well known in the art. The best prior art known to the Applicants include U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,197; U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,830; U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,228; U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,061; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,860.
In some prior art systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,197, having the same Assignee as the instant invention, an adaptive control system is utilized for controlling the operating parameters of the dust precipitator responsive to feedback signals from the high voltage transformer/rectifier supplying the precipitator. However, that system utilizes only a single method for determining the existence of back corona, utilizing a decrease in slope of the minimum AC ripple waveform to identify the existence of back corona. While this method is a better method of detection than use of the average value of the secondary voltage, it is not as accurate in determining the existence of back corona as the method of monitoring the instantaneous minimum voltage peak value, as utilized in the instant invention. Further, to insure detection of the existence of back corona, the instant invention, utilizes two methods for analyzing the secondary voltage applied to the precipitator, which provides a more accurate indication of back corona conditions, not seen in the prior art.
In other prior art systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,830, there is provided a control system which identifies back corona by comparing the current supplied to the precipitator with an average value of the precipitator voltage, to indicate the presence of back corona when the current begins to increase more rapidly than the voltage. The control system responds to back corona detection by reducing the current until the back corona condition is minimized in an attempt to operate at the knee of the voltage/current curve. However, the voltage/current curve characteristic exhibits a hysteresis type effect when the current is just lowered, as opposed to being removed totally and the system then driven to the desired lower current value, and thus such prior art systems do not maximize the operating voltage of the precipitator, as provided by the instant invention.

Automatic back corona detection and protection system


The invention provides a method to enhance Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plant cells, parts and tissues, thereby enhancing the production of transgenic plants.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the world's most important agronomic crops. Between 120 and 130 million acres are planted annually, resulting in 105 million tons of seed. Soybeans have dominated world oilseed production among the eight major oilseeds traded in international markets, accounting for over 97% of all world oilseed production since 1965. The value of the crop is estimated to be over 20 billion dollars. Both soybean oil and protein are used extensively in food products for human consumption. In the United States, 5% of the total protein is derived from grain legumes and up to 65% of the oil used by the food processing industry comes from soybean (Hoskin, 1987; Smith and Huyser, 1987).
Although a great deal of effort has been devoted towards the development of new cultivars of soybean with improved disease resistance, along with increased nutritional value, traditional breeding programs have been restricted because soybean germplasm is extremely narrow and the majority of the soybean cultivars in use are derived from very few parental lines (Christou et al., 1990).
Hence, modification of soybean using genetic engineering techniques would facilitate the development of new varieties with traits such as disease resistance, e.g., viral resistance, pest resistance, and herbicide resistance, and seed quality improvement in a manner unattainable by traditional breeding methods or tissue-culture induced variation. To attain genetically modified plants, a transformation system must be developed to optimize the integration of DNA in the plant, which is most commonly delivered using either an Agrobacterium-based system, which requires wounding of plant cells (Zambryski et al., 1989), or particle bombardment (Biolistics). Although transgenic soybean plants have been produced using both microprojectile bombardment (McCabe et al., 1988; Christou, P. et al., 1989) and various Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods (Hinchee et al., 1988; Chee et al., 1989; Parrott et al., 1989; Clemente and Zhang, 2000; Di et al., 1996), legumes, including soybeans remain extremely recalcitrant to transformation (Trick, 1997). And while successes in producing transgenic plants have been reported, the frequency of attaining transgenic plants is low, e.g., Parrott et al. (1994) report 1 transgenic plant out of 195 regenerated, and Zhang et al. (1999) report that the efficiency of producing marker-positive plants in five independent attempts was 0%, 0%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 3.0%. The demand and need for new and useful transgenic soybeans is evident from the fact that transgenic soybeans, which were derived from a single transgene integration event, represent more than 50% of the total commercial production of soybeans grown in the United States. In addition, the recalcitrant nature of soybeans to transformation has rendered many molecular, genetic, and genomic techniques commonly used in other major crops, such as maize, impractical.
The "cot-node" method is a frequently used soybean transformation system based on Agrobacterium-mediated T-DNA delivery into regenerable cells in the cotyledonary node. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,783 relates to a method for transformation of soybean tissue in which cotyledonary node cells are treated with a cytokinin, and then the cells are bombarded with microparticles carrying specific vectors and exogenous DNA. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,169,770 and 5,376,543 disclose a method in which soybean seeds are germinated, and the meristematic or mesocotyl cell tissues are inoculated with bacterial cells, specifically Agrobacterium strains which, through infection, transfer DNA into these explants.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,375, a process is described in which the cotyledonary node region from a donor plant is excised, and the explant is cultured in a nutrient media containing cytokinin, until shoots arose from resultant callus. The shoots are then rooted. U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,011 also utilizes a cotyledon explant, which requires removal of the hypocotyl, saving and separating the cotyledons, and inserting a chimeric gene by inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens vectors containing the desired gene. The histochemical marker GUS was employed to determine successful transformation. Nevertheless, the efficiency of the cot-node transformation system remains low apparently because of poor Agrobacterium infection of cot-node cells, inefficient selection of transgenic cells that give rise to shoot meristems, and low rates of transgenic shoot regeneration and plant establishment.
A number of reports on soybean regeneration utilized cotyledons from immature zygotic embryos induced to undergo somatic embryogenesis (Liu et al., 1992). Soybean regeneration through short meristem cultures resulted in up to 35% explants responding to plant regeneration 4 weeks after culture (Kartha et al., 1981). Regeneration via organogenesis utilizing different explants has been reported with a maximum of 97% of explants responding and 3 shoots produced per explant 10 weeks after culture, and 38% of shoots developing roots for another 4 weeks (Yeh et al., 1991). However, interactions between genotype and in vitro cultural conditions (medium, explant and light treatment) have not been reported in regeneration via organogenesis or meristem culture in soybean, although it has been studied in regeneration via somatic embryogenesis and was proven important (Powell et al., 1987; Komatsuda et al., 1991).
The unreliable transformation and regeneration of legumes in general is due, in part, to the difficulty in producing fertile mature plants from tissue culture as well as legumes being extremely resistant to Agrobacterium infection. Thus, although genes have been transferred to soybean protoplasts by electroporation of free DNA (Christou et al., 1987; Lin et al., 1987), regeneration technology for soybean has not progressed to a state where regenerated plants can be produced from protoplasts. For example, the formation of shoots, and eventual rooting, takes place only in a tiny fraction of the cases. Further, successful transformation and successful regeneration are frequently cultivar-specific, with no broad success. See, for example, Wayne et al., 1988; Finer et al., 1991; Sato et al., 1993; Moore et al., 1994; Parrott et al., 1994 and Steart et al., 1996.
Improvements have been reported in the three components of the cot-node transformation system. For example, improved selection systems and plant regeneration have been developed (Zhang et al., 1999). Considerable effort also has been applied to increasing Agrobacterium virulence by addition of chemical inducers of the vir genes (Bolton et al., 1986; Dyé et al., 1997), improvements in vir gene constructs (Hansen et al., 1994; Torisky, 1997), identification and selection of susceptible soybean cultivars (Meuer et al., 1998; Byrne et al., 1987; Delzer et al., 1990; Cho et al., 2000), and increasing the wounding of explants by either microprojectile bombardment or sonication (Bidney et al., 1992; Santarem et al., 1998).
Although agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) increase plant viability after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of grape (Perl et al., 1996) and ascorbic acid, the amino acid, cysteine, and silver nitrate individually or in combination decreased damage and increased viability of Japonica rice meristem cultures and, in combination, decreased the Agrobacterium-mediated tissue necrosis of those cultures (Enríguez-Obregón et al., 1999), no agents have been reported to enhance the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of soybeans.
Thus, what is needed is a method to reproducibly enhance the transformation of plants, e.g., soybeans.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtures in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g. by specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide tag to its tag complement on an addressable array; or such analysis can be carried out serially by successive specific hybridizations of labeled word complements, or the like.

Oligonucleotide tags have frequently been employed to label and sort polynucleotides in analytical molecular biology, e.g. Brenner et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 97: 1665-1670 (2000); Church et al, Science, 240: 185-188 (1988); Shoemaker et al, Nature Genetics, 14: 450-456 (1996); Hardenbol et al, Nature Biotechnology, 21: 673-678 (2003); and the like. The benefits of conducting analytical reactions with such molecular tags include (i) achievement of high degrees of multiplexing so that many analytes can be measured in the same reaction mixture with conservation of rare or expensive reagents, and (ii) ability to design oligonucleotide tags to optimize assay sensitivity, convenience, cost, and multiplexing capability. In most approaches, oligonucleotide tags are attached to polynucleotide analytes or probes in separate reactions, after which they are combined for multiplexed reactions, e.g. Church et al (cited above); Shoemaker et al (cited above); Hardenbol et al (cited above); Wallace, U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,176; and the like. Alternatively, unique oligonucleotide tags have also been attached to sets of polynucleotides in the same reaction by first forming a population of conjugates with a much larger set of oligonucleotide tags followed by removing a sample of polynucleotides (small in size relative to the oligonucleotide tag population), e.g. Brenner et al (cited above); Mao et al, International patent publication WO 02/097113. In the former approach, each analyte or probe may be identified in parallel by reading its oligonucleotide tag (whose sequence is known) in a single operation, e.g. by hybridization to a microarray. While such a readout is extremely efficient, the initial cost of synthesizing and separately labeling the analytes or probes is high. In the latter approach, the cost of attaching tags is low; however, the identity of the oligonucleotide tag attached to a given analyte or probe (even though unique) is unknown, so its use is limited to shuttling information about its probe or analyte to a readout platform.
It would be highly useful if a tagging method were available in which probes or analytes could each be uniquely labeled with an oligonucleotide tag in one or a few multiplex reactions employing a few tagging reagents, such that the resulting tags could be readily identified by a simple decoding procedure. Such a method would have the benefits both of the approach of separately attaching oligonucleotide tags (facile identification) and the approach of attaching oligonucleotide tags in multiplex reactions (less expense). Such a tagging method would find applications in many fields of scientific and biomedical research, particularly in genetics and cancer research where it is frequently necessary or desirable to analyze large numbers of polynucleotide analytes in rare or expensive samples.

Methods and compositions for tagging and identifying polynucleotides


Mechanisms are provided for performing security role definition testing. An application is received in a container of a runtime environment of the data processing system. The application has methods and security role definitions associated with the methods. A properties object, which specifies a user identifier to security role mapping, is received in the container. A test application is executed, in the container, by the processor, on an execution of the methods of the application based on the user identifier to security role mapping and the security role definitions. The test application tests an operation of the application with regard to the security role definitions. A result of the execution of the test application on the execution of the methods of the application is then output.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for performing security role testing using an embeddable container and properties object.
One of the application program interfaces (APIs) available in the Java programming language is the Enterprise Java Bean (EJB). EJB was originally developed by International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y., in 1997 and later adopted by Sun Microsystems in 1999. EJB is a server-side model that encapsulates the business logic of an application and thus, provides a managed, server-side component architecture for modular construction of enterprise applications. The EJB specifications provide a standard way to implement the back-end business code typically found in enterprise applications, as opposed to front-end interface code. EJBs are intended to handle concerns that are common to enterprise application code such as persistence, transaction integrity, and security in a standard way leaving programmers free to concentrate on the particular problems to be addressed by the enterprise application.
EJB applications contain security role information for each method in the EJB. This security role information defines what security roles are permitted to execute the particular method. Thus, if a user has a first security role and attempts to execute methods in an EJB, the first security role may be compared against the security role information defined for the methods of the EJB and determine which methods of the EJB may be executed by this user and which cannot. Thus, the user with the first security role may be able to execute a first set of methods of the EJB and a second user having a second, and different, security role may be able to execute a second set of methods of the EJB which may be different from the first set of methods of the EJB.
Currently, there is no efficient way for Java developers who are developing EJBs that utilize security roles to test the correctness of the role security definitions in the EJB. That is, with the current developer environment, in order for an EJB developer to test the EJB's security role definitions, the EJB developer must perform the following operations:
(1) install a Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) application server, such as Websphere available from International Business Machines Corporation;
(2) start the application server;
(3) configure the application server to have security enabled and have a user registry;
(4) define the necessary users, groups, and passwords in the user registry;
(5) install the EJB application on the application server;
(6) map the EJB's security role definitions to users and/or groups in the user registry;
(7) start the EJB application on the application server;
(8) invoke another program, such as a servlet, to supply a valid user id and password which then invokes the EJB application (if an invalid user id and password is entered, then another user id and password is entered and the process repeated until a correct user id and password are entered); and
(9) examine the output of the EJB application, or the application server logs, to look for any messages indicating a security violation while invoking the EJB application's methods. For any subsequent changes made to the EJB's security roles, the EJB developer must uninstall the EJB application from the JEE application server and then repeat steps 5 through 9 above for the updated EJB application.
As can be seen from the above, this process for verifying that the security role definitions of an EJB application are coded can be very slow and cumbersome, especially during the early stages of the EJB development lifecycle. As a result, EJB developers have a tendency to perform security role testing at a later phase of the EJB development lifecycle which adds to the development cost for developing an EJB application.

Security role testing using an embeddable container and properties object


An inkjet image forming apparatus includes an inkjet head including a nozzle portion having a length in a main scanning direction that is at least equal to a width of a printing medium, a conveying unit to convey the printing medium, a driving motor to drive the conveying unit, and a cap member to cap and uncap the nozzle portion, and the conveying unit and the cap member are driven by the driving motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an inkjet image forming apparatus including an inkjet head having a nozzle portion, a length of which in a main scanning direction corresponds to a width of a printing medium, and a cap member to cap the nozzle portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an inkjet image forming apparatus forms images by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, which reciprocates in a main scanning direction (shuttle type inkjet head), onto a sheet of paper conveyed in a sub-scanning direction. The inkjet head includes a nozzle portion including a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected. Ink droplets that are not ejected remain around the nozzle portion. When the nozzle portion is exposed to air when a printing operation is not performed, the ink droplets around the nozzle portion may harden, and impurities, such as fine dust in the air, may attach to the nozzle portion. The hardened ink or impurities may change an ink ejecting direction, thereby degrading printing quality. In addition, since a humidity of the ink in the nozzles evaporates, the nozzles portion may become clogged with ink.
Recently, high speed printing has been performed using an inkjet head (array inkjet head) including a nozzle portion having a length in a main scanning direction corresponding to a width of a sheet of paper. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, the inkjet head is fixed, and sheets of paper are conveyed in a sub-scanning direction. Therefore, a driving unit for the inkjet image forming apparatus has a simple structure, and a printing operation can be performed at a high speed. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, the length of the nozzle portion corresponding to A4 paper is about 210 mm, without considering a printing margin in a width direction of the paper. Since the array inkjet head ejects ink in a fixed position unlike the shuttle type inkjet head reciprocating in the main scanning direction, it is difficult to fix operational problems when some of the nozzles are clogged or when an ejecting direction of the ink is changed due to impurities.
Therefore, when the printing operation is not performed, the nozzle portion should be isolated from the outside (e.g., an environment surrounding the nozzle portion).

Inkjet image forming apparatus including cap member


To compensate for possible corruption in exhaust gas recirculation control caused by fuel vapor purging, while still enabling the purging to continue, an engine intake oxygen concentration may be corrected based on a fuel canister vapor purge only during boosted conditions. Responsive to the intake oxygen concentration, exhaust gas recirculation may be adjusted.

Engine systems may utilize recirculation of exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system, a process referred to as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to reduce regulated emissions. For example, a turbocharged engine system may include a low-pressure (LP) EGR system which recirculates exhaust gas from the exhaust system to the intake passage upstream of a turbocharger compressor. An intake oxygen sensor may be located in the engine intake downstream from the compressor to provide an indication of EGR flow.
The inventors herein have recognized various issues with the above system. In particular, intake oxygen sensor (IAO2) measurements for determining exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in low pressure EGR vehicle systems can be corrupted when purging fuel vapors to a boosted intake side of an engine. The purge fuel vapors can react on the surface of the oxygen sensor element and reduce the oxygen sensor element sensitivity. Accordingly, changes in oxygen concentration at the engine intake measured by the oxygen sensor are smaller than actual changes in oxygen concentration. The reduced change in oxygen concentration is interpreted by the engine control system as an erroneous larger than actual EGR. Engine operation with low EGR can lead to high engine temperatures, reduced fuel economy, increased NOx emissions, among other disadvantages.
To address the above issues, the inventors herein have identified that one example approach comprises measuring the oxygen concentration at the engine intake during a first condition when the EGR is off, boost pressure and manifold pressures are greater than the barometric pressure, and the canister purge is on. In this way, a purge fuel concentration can be estimated from the measured oxygen concentration. Furthermore, a purge correction factor can be determined from the estimated purge fuel concentration. During a second condition when the EGR is on, boost pressure and manifold pressures are greater than the barometric pressure, and the canister purge is on, the measured oxygen concentration can be corrected using the purge correction factor in order to determine the proper EGR. In this way, it is possible to compensate for possible corruption in EGR control caused by vapor purging, while still enabling the purging to continue.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


A telescopic gangway is provided for handling the passengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, which doors are located in front of, above or behind the wing. Passengers go through the lateral rear door, a door which is located directly in front of or behind the wing and through a central door of the upper deck of a doubledeck aircraft. The telecopic gangway includes tunnel elements which may be swivelled over the wing of the airplane and can be telescoped with a cabin (3) that can be moved up to the door of the airplane. A frame (6) surrounds the tunnel elements. An extension arm is rigidly or movably fastened to the frame (6), on which the telescoping tunnel elements are suspended in a height-adjustable manner. A post (4) is arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and the engine of the parked airplane. The frame (6) is mounted on this post (4) pivotably by an angle of 180xc2x0 around a vertical axis of rotation arranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of the tunnel elements (1, 2).

The present invention pertains to a telescopic gangway for handling the passengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, which doors are located in front of, above or behind the wing.
A stationary telescopic gangway for loading and unloading airplanes parked at right angles to the airport terminal with a gangway part extending over the wing approximately in parallel to the fuselage and a plurality stairs which are arranged thereon offset by 90xc2x0 and are displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the gangway with cabins for lateral contact with the fuselage has been known from DE OS 20 57 464. The supporting structure of the gangway is suspended on stationary pylons via a complicated framework and the stairs are mounted at the free end in a height-adjustable manner and displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the supporting structure of the gangway. This gangway structure is very complicated and can be used for limited, uniform airplanes.
A so-called xe2x80x9cover-the-wingxe2x80x9d telescopic gangway has been known as well, in which the telescoping tunnel parts with the cabin arranged at the end are suspended in a height-adjustable manner and pivotably through a maximum of 30xc2x0 in a rigid support structure anchored on the apron (see Aviobridge MK-11 xe2x80x9cover-the-wingxe2x80x9d bridge, Flughafen Amsterdam Schiphol+DE OS 19 63 983).
DE 197 17 386 A1 shows a multiple telescopic gangway for embarking and disembarking passengers of jumbo jets with a gangway extension arm and a ramp gangway, which are suspended vertically displaceably on a tower or frame. In one embodiment, the gangway extension arm is suspended in two vertically displaceable support frames, wherein an inner frame is mounted on a support column rotatably around an eccentric vertical axis and an outer frame is displaceable via tangentially arranged floor rollers. However, the range of pivoting is limited to a maximum of 30xc2x0 here due to the out-of-center arrangement of the vertical axis, so that the telescopic gangway has only a limited use.
The basic object of the present invention is to provide an especially variable telescopic gangway, by means of which it is possible to handle either narrow-body airplanes at the lateral tail door or wide-body and double-deck airplanes at the door arranged behind the wing or at one of the middle doors of the upper deck or wide-body airplanes also at the door arranged in front of the wing in combination with a telescopic gangway handling exclusively the nose door.
According to the invention, a telescopic gangway for handling the passengers of single-deck or double-deck passenger airplanes parked nose in at least at one of the doors of the main deck or upper deck, in which the doors are located in front of, above or behind the wing, is provided. The gangway includes tunnel elements which are pivotable over the wing of the airplane and can be telescoped with a cabin that can be moved up to the door of the airplane. A frame surrounds the non-displaceable tunnel element. An extension arm, which is rigidly or movably fastened to the frame, on which the telescoping tunnel elements are suspended in a height-adjustable manner in the case of a rigidly fastened extension arm, are suspended in a height-adjustable manner together with the extension arm in the case of a movable extension arm. A leg is arranged at a sufficient safe distance from the wing and the engine of the parked airplane. On the leg the frame is mounted pivotably by an angle of 180xc2x0 around a vertical axis of rotation arranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of the tunnel elements.
Provisions are made according to the present invention for the part of the telescopic gangway which leads over or along the wing and comprises the extension arm and the telescoping tunnel with the cabin, which said tunnel is suspended on or is directly fastened to the extension arm, to be fastened to a frame, which surrounds the gangway tunnel and is pivotable around a central vertical axis of rotation on a leg firmly anchored on the apron in front of the wing. The gangway tunnel is rigidly connected to the frame in the horizontal pivoting direction. In addition, the cabin-side end of the telescopic gangway can be adjusted in height around a horizontal axis of rotation arranged in the area of the frame by means of lifting cylinders or other mechanical adjusting means fastened in an articulated manner either at the apron-side or terminal-side end of the extension arm.
Depending on the category of the airplanes to be handled, a short or long leg may be provided to keep the adjustment of the cabin height as small as possible. The frame may be mounted according to the present invention on a ball type rim bearing on the leg. The frame can be pivoted by up to 180xc2x0 by means of lifting cylinders acting in both directions or other adjusting means which act on bearing brackets. The gangway tunnel with the parts fastened thereto can be raised and lowered by up to 45xc2x0 in relation to the approximately horizontal apron by means of the lifting cylinders arranged at the end of the extension arm.
The weight of the part of the telescopic gangway pointing toward the airplane is preferably balanced with a counterweight fastened to the extension arm. However, the counterweight with the part of the extension arm projecting toward it may be eliminated in the case of a correspondingly flexurally rigid embodiment of the leg, the ball type rim bearing and the frame.
It has proved to be favorable for safety reasons to provide a number of distance-measuring devices or sensors or contacts, which automatically raise the parts pivoting over the wing in the case of contact and an unacceptable approach, on the underside of the parts pivoting over the wing, especially of the gangway tunnel.
The gangway structure according to the present invention may also be used especially for handling passenger ships.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.


A bipolar transistor with very high dynamic performance, usable in an integrated circuit. The bipolar transistor has a single-crystal silicon emitter region with a thickness smaller than 50 nm. The base of the bipolar transistor is made of an SiGe alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of microelectronics, and more specifically to a bipolar transistor and to its implementation.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Bipolar transistors used as integrated circuit components especially those integrated with MOS transistors in integrated circuits of Bi-CMOS type will more specifically be considered herein.
Integrated circuits with increasingly high performance are developed. To achieve this, all components must be optimized. Bipolar transistors are used because of their dynamic performance which enable their use in the field of very high frequencies, greater than 50 GHz.
A conventional NPN-type transistor is schematized in FIG. 1. It comprises an N-type doped single-crystal silicon collector region 1, a P-type doped single-crystal silicon base region 2, and an N-type doped single-crystal silicon emitter region 3. The collector is formed in a silicon substrate, the base region is formed above the collector region. The emitter region is formed inside of the base region, for example, by diffusion of dopant atoms. A metal 4 is deposited on emitter region 3 to ensure an electric contact on this region. The operation of this bipolar transistor is the following. A control current Ib is injected between the base region and the emitter region and a collector current Ic usable in electronic circuits results therefrom, according to the biasing conditions of the collector region. Collector current Ic is a desired current and base current Ib is a parasitic current. Ratio Ic/Ib, which is the current gain of the bipolar transistor, is a figure of merit that those skilled in the art attempt to increase to obtain values greater than 60. A very large number of technological parameters modify the bipolar transistor gain. If metal 4 is close to the base-emitter junction, a significant base current is created by recombining the minority carriers located close to this junction. Thus, if base current Ib is desired to be decreased, it is necessary to increase the distance between metal 4 and base region 2. In other words, it is necessary to have an emitter with a thickness greater than several times the diffusion length of the minority carriers present in this emitter region. Thus, conventional bipolar transistors have an emitter thickness greater than 800 nm. The presence of metal is not the only parameter with an influence on the gain. The parameters which modify the current gain of bipolar transistors are in a greater number, sometimes poorly understood and often poorly controlled. But it has been observed that an increase in the emitter thickness would always result in a better injection efficiency (increase of Ic) and in a smaller base current Ib.
Bipolar transistors are often used for their dynamic performance. For purely geometric reasons, the structure shown in FIG. 1 is a low-performance structure because of the capacitance present between the base and emitter regions. This capacitance is proportional to the surface area of the junction between the base and the emitter. Since the emitter extends deeply into the base, the contribution of the emitter periphery to the total capacitance between the base and emitter regions is significant while this region, distant from the base/collector junction, plays a reduced part in the bipolar transistor currents. To increase the dynamic performance of the bipolar transistor, bipolar transistors with a polysilicon emitter according to FIG. 2 have been formed.
The transistor of FIG. 2 comprises an N-type doped single-crystal silicon collector region 10 on which is formed a single-crystal silicon base region 20 in and on which is formed an emitter structure 30-35-40. Emitter 35 is made of N-type doped polysilicon and is prolonged, in base region 20, by an N-type diffused region 30. A metal 40 rests on emitter 35. The thickness of single-crystal silicon portion 30 of the emitter is approximately 100 nm and the thickness of polysilicon portion 35 of the emitter is approximately 600 nm. Portion 30 of the emitter has a preponderating contribution for the stray capacitance between the emitter and the base region of the bipolar transistor. The small depth of portion 30 results in that this stray capacitance is greatly reduced with respect to the case of FIG. 1, although the general emitter thickness is similar for the cases of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Bipolar transistor with high dynamic performances


A display panel manufacturing method is provided. A display function unit is provided on a surface of a first substrate. Sealing material is provided in a region on the surface of the first substrate that is surrounding the display function unit. Resin is then placed in an inside region of the sealing material over the surface of the first substrate. A total volume amount of the resin placed is greater than a volume capacity of an open space surrounded by the sealing material above the surface of the first substrate. A second substrate is bonded with the first substrate via the sealing material to provide a closed space with the resin being provided in the closed space.

Conventionally, a variety of display panels each include a display unit that is sealed by two substrates facing each other via a sealing material have been put into practical use. Examples of such display panels include an organic electroluminescence (EL) display panel having organic electroluminescence elements in the display unit, and a liquid crystal display panel having liquid crystal elements in the display unit.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses an organic EL display device (display panel) in which an element substrate on which organic EL layers are formed is sealed by a sealing substrate via a sealing portion. In the organic EL display device, sealing the element substrate by the sealing substrate at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure causes both the element substrate and the sealing substrate to curve so as to be outwardly convex (in other words, the display panel expands) under the atmospheric pressure. Such a curved shape of the above organic EL display device can prevent deterioration of the elements due to an external pressure.
PTL 2 discloses an organic EL device including: a seal member having at least one sealing port and arranged between an array substrate and a sealing substrate; and a resin layer arranged inside the seal member. In the aforementioned organic EL device, an excess resin inside the seal member is discharged from the sealing port when sealing is performed. Such a sealing port in the aforementioned organic EL device reduces a load applied to the seal member, thereby preventing breakdown of the seal member.

Display panel manufacturing method and display panel


A system for producing an output signal representing movement of an object's surface has a continuous wave (CW) signal source for producing an CW signal directed at the object's surface. The CW signal is produced at a first frequency. A receiving element receives a signal reflected from the object's surface when the CW signal hits this surface. A down-converting frequency mixer converts the received signal into a signal of a second frequency lower than the first frequency. The frequency mixer is configured to produce an output signal representing an amplitude-modulated (AM) component of the received signal and having a parameter representing movement of the object's surface.

Movements of an object's surface may be analyzed, for example, to measure the free play in a shaft of a power generator or electric motor. A conventional system for measuring the free play in a shaft is based on a proximity detector that uses a free running LC oscillator. However, such proximity detectors need to be placed very close to the shaft's surface. This may result in the damage to the proximity detectors in case of significant free play of the shaft.
There is a need for a new system capable of providing information accurately representing movements of an object's surface, that may be arranged at greater distances from the object's surface.

Radar system and method for providing information on movements of object's surface


A rotation angle sensor that outputs different axis combination angles as absolute position information by forming a range of salient poles that have different axis combination angles from each other on the rotor and the stator.

The present invention relates to a rotation angle sensor having a variable reluctance resolver (hereinafter referred to as a VR resolver) for an axis combination angle 1X (single combination angle) and a VR resolver for an axis combination angle nX (n combination angle) wherein, n is 2 or an integer greater than 2.
Conventionally, resolvers, and other angle measuring devices, for which the axis combination angle is 1X, have primarily been used as a location detector. The axis combination angle is the ratio of the output electrical angle relative to the input mechanical angle of the detector. For example, when n multiplied by mechanical angle θ1=electrical angle θ2, the axis combination angle is indicated as nX (n combination angle).
First, the structure of a conventional resolver is described. FIGS. 5A and 5B show a representative conventional resolver.
The stator windings 101 in FIG. 5A are formed consecutively via crossing hooks 103 arranged on the stator yokes 102. The ends of the stator windings 101 are connected together and coupled to the connector portion 104. The shapes of the salient poles of the rotors 105 are formed in a way such that changes of the gap permeance in the direction of the circumference are appropriate. Accordingly, the amplitude of the output signal of the stator windings 101 corresponds to a sine wave with seven cycles per rotation depending on the position of the rotors 105. In this example, there are seven salient poles on the rotors 105.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-183169 discloses that such a position detector has the following problems.
A resolver with an axis combination angle 1X allows simultaneous detection of the angle, the magnetic pole and the original point by resolver/digital (R/D) converting a two-phase signal that is changed to a sine wave. The sine wave has a 90-degree phase shift per single cycle for each rotation of the axis. However, to obtain high resolution, the resolution of the R/D converter has to be increased, which is costly. Although the absolute position can be detected, the precision of detection depends on the electrical precision of the resolver. In other words, at all rotation angles, the manufacturing error and the temperature error directly affect the electrical precision. In addition, to improve the precision of the detection, the precision of the analog signal has to be increased. However, due to the effect of the winding precision included in the signal, the detection of the angle position at a high precision is difficult. Consequently, a position detector is more expensive and difficult to employ compared to a general resolver.
Furthermore, when the axis combination angle is increased, for example, when the axis combination is set to be 100×, 100 times precision can be obtained. If the signal precision is the same, however, implementation applications are limited to, for example, multiple motors, where the number of rotors is one hundred.
At the same time, when the application is focused on a multi-use motor with a low number of poles, position detection with high precision can be obtained. What has been proposed is a combination of a position detector with a small axis combination angle and a position detector with a large axis combination angle.
FIG. 6A shows a conventional multi-speed resolver system. FIG. 6B is illustrates the relationship of the output signals of the double resolver. FIG. 6C is an explanatory drawing that describes a method to find the rotation angle for the multiple-speed resolver system of FIG. 6A.
As shown in FIG. 6A, a multi-speed resolver system includes a resolver 110 and a digital converter 114. Depending on the application, an analog converter can be employed instead of the digital converter 114. In the resolver 110, the output of resolver 112 with an axis combination angle nX that is directly connected to the rotation shaft 111 becomes an axis combination angle nX resolver signal. The output of resolver 113 with axis combination angle 1X, which is connected to rotation shaft 111 with a mechanical device such as a gear system, is an axis combination angle 1X resolver signal.
The digital converter 114 carries out the following process. The axis combination angle nX resolver signal is converted to the sawtooth wave at the bottom of FIG. 6C by the R/D converter 115 in advance. The axis combination angle 1X resolver signal is converted to one of the triangular waves at the top of FIG. 6C via the R/D converter 116. Then both of the signals are recorded by the synthesizing circuit 117. Next, both resolver signals at the measuring point are input, and, based on the axis combination angle 1X resolver signal Ak, angle θk is found from the triangular wave at the top of FIG. 6C. The rotation angle Bak corresponds to the axis combination angle nX resolver signal Bk measured from the peak of the sawtooth wave (single triangular wave) of the axis combination angle nX resolver signal corresponding to angle θk.
FIG. 6B is an exemplary illustration of each of the resolver signals and indicates the sinusoidal resolver outputs. FIG. 6B indicates the relationship between the sine signal wave of the axis combination angle 1X resolver and the sine signal of the axis combination angle nX resolver (when n=2).
When two resolvers are employed as in FIG. 6A, the required space increases and the generation of a mechanical processing error is inevitable. In addition, a gear connection is arranged at the joint of the shaft, so the axial length of the shaft increases.
Therefore, instead of using two resolvers with the same axis combination angle, position detection at a high precision is carried out by combining a position detector with a small axis combination angle and a position detector with a large axis combination angle. However, the position detector uses magnetism and light, and therefore in general, it is difficult to obtain a sine wave signal with a long cycle. In addition, the manufacturing of a small axis combination angle is simple for a differential-mode transformer-type resolver. However, when a resolver with a large axis combination is manufactured, the number of winding poles increases, and consequently, manufacturing is complicated and the size increases.
To obtain a high detection resolution by eliminating the problems in the prior art position detector discussed above, a multi-speed resolver with multiple poles is disclosed in the same Japanese publication (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-183169), as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a conventional multi-speed resolver with multiple poles.
In the example of FIG. 7, two resolvers are arranged in parallel on the rotation shaft. A first resolver 122 has a rotor iron core 121 with an axis combination angle 50X, which has 50 rotor teeth. A second resolver 124 has a rotor iron core 123 with an axis combination angle 49X and has 49 rotor teeth. A value L is found by subtracting detected position value K of the 49th cycle of the second resolver 124 from the detected position value J of the 50th cycle of the first resolver 122. Then, the value N, which is L times M, is obtained from the following judgment conditions. In other words, the detected position value N of the axis combination angle 1X, is found.
N=L×M wherein, when L≧0, E=0; and when L<0, E=360°.
In the Japanese publication mentioned above, forty-nine and fifty teeth have to be provided respectively on the rotors, accurately and in alignment. The multi-speed resolver requires a processing circuit to produce the output signal of the axis combination angle 1X by finding the difference of the axis combination angle based on the number of teeth. Numerous teeth have to be formed on the stator in correspondence with the teeth of the rotor, and consequently, the manufacturing is difficult.


A method and apparatus for desulfating a NO.sub.x trap is proposed wherein the SO.sub.x purge temperature is achieved by modulating the amplitude of the A/F of the mixture supplied to the engine thereby storing oxygen in the trap during lean engine cylinder events and generating the required exotherm during rich engine cylinder events.

Lean burn engines usually operate at an air/fuel ratio (A/F).gtoreq.18 to obtain improved fuel economy. However, the usual three-way catalyst (TWC) is most efficient at approximately stoichiometry, (A/F=14.65). Accordingly, it has been proposed to locate a NO.sub.x trap downstream of the TWC to store NO.sub.x during lean A/F operation and subsequently converting the NO.sub.x to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 by operating the engine at a rich A/F. This NO.sub.x conversion occurs within an optimum temperature window of approximately 300.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. The trap is preferably located underbody so that during hard, wide-open throttle (WOT) driving, the trap temperature does not exceed 800.degree. C. The temperature of the three-way catalyst should not exceed approximately 1000.degree. C.
When operating with fuel containing contaminants such as sulfur, an accumulation of the contaminants in the trap causes a decrease in the amount of NO.sub.x the trap can absorb. The contaminants must be "burned" off or desorbed at temperatures >675.degree. C. and with an A/F.ltoreq.14.65 (rich). A previous method of raising the temperature of the trap from its usual operating temperature of approximately 300.degree. to 400.degree. C. to a temperature of at least 675.degree. C., employs secondary air injection. This approach to SO.sub.x purging or desulfation of contaminants is expensive. Another approach to the problem employs a split exhaust manifold, separated TWC, or separated exhaust pipes, as proposed in copending application Ser. No. 764,185 filed Dec. 13, 1996 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for desulfating a no.sub.x trap


An improved liquid fuel combustion device comprising a combustion chamber, a fuel inlet nozzle communicating with said combustion chamber, means for delivering a stream of turbulent air into said combustion chamber in a manner to cause liquid fuel to flow into an mix with said air stream, and means for igniting the mixture. If desired, additional air may be provided to promote more complete burning of the fuel.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to combustion devices and is particularly directed to compact, high-efficiency, liquid fuel burning combustion devices for use in space heaters, water heaters and the like.
2. Prior Art
Combustion device for liquid fuels have long been known and many prior art devices have been proposed to improve the efficiency and to minimize the size of such combustion devices. Unfortunately, many of the prior art devices have been complex in structure and operation and have been expensive to produce and maintain. Other prior art devices have reduced size, but have also reduced efficiency. Still other prior art devices have been extremely dangerous to operate and have been subject to fire or explosion, with attendant hazard to adjacent structures and people. Also, many prior art combustion devices have provided only partial combustion and, hence, have resulted in releasing substantial quantities of toxic or pollutant emissions. A search in the United States Patent Office has revealed the following:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 4,168,803 H. C. Simmons et al Sep. 25, 1979 4,595,143 H. C. Simmons et al Jun. 17, 1986 4,773,596 R. R. Wright et al Sep. 27, 1988 4,842,197 B. Simon et al Jun. 27, 1989 ______________________________________
Each of these references is subject to the limitations discussed above. Thus, none of the prior art liquid fuel combustion devices have been entirely satisfactory.


A connector for fiber optic cable comprising a one-piece body having a plurality of holes in a first end dimensioned to receive an optical fiber and reinforcing members. The connector comes preassembled with a ferrule connector at the opposing end. The first end has a slot therein dividing the first end and holes into two halves. A crimp sleeve is crimped to the connector body, compressing the first end of the connector body and thereby gripping the reinforcing members. Reinforcing fibers are crimped between the connector body and crimping sleeve.

This invention relates to fiber optic cable and specifically to connectors for fiber optic cable. Typical fiber optic cable is comprised of several components run together inside a sheathing. First, the cable contains at least one optical fiber, which is contained in a protective tube. Running along side the optical fiber and parallel thereto are reinforcing members and reinforcing fibers or yarns. The reinforcing members are typically fiberglass rods and the reinforcing yarn is typically a strong, synthetic fiber, such as aramid.
To connect a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic device or network component, a hardened fiber optic connector (HFOC) is attached to the end of the cable. These connectors typically terminate in ferrule assemblies enabling the cables to be connected to devices with receptacles dimensioned to receive the connectors and the ferrule assemblies. It is important for the connector to firmly grip the fiber optic cable components so as to avoid a signal disruption.
The connectors of the prior art are typically comprised of a plastic connector body that is divided into two halves. The two halves are assembled in the field around the fiber optic cable components (i.e. the optical fiber in its protective tubing and the reinforcing members that run along side the optical fiber) and the ferrule assembly. That is, both the fiber optic cable components and the ferrule assembly are sandwiched between the halves of the connector body.
With the connectors of the prior art, an adhesive is used to further secure the fiber optic components within the connector body. A crimping sleeve is then brought over and crimped to the connector body to ensure that the halves of the connector body do not separate. Assembling the connector of the prior art, therefore, involves a first and second half of a connector body, a separate ferrule assembly, and the use of an adhesive.
The several component parts of the connectors of the prior art make the assembly of these connectors time-consuming and tedious. The need to use an adhesive greatly exacerbates this problem. Moreover, since the connectors of the prior art are made of plastic, they tend to deteriorate relatively rapidly and loosen their grip on the fiber optic cable components resulting in an ever-increasing likelihood of signal interruption. These signal interruptions can cause enormous problems for the users of the fiber optic network and are expensive to repair.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simpler, more reliable, and more durable connector for fiber optic cables that has fewer parts and does not require the use of an adhesive.


Cleaning compositions which enhance hard surfaces to exhibit excellent water-spreading and oil-repellency and therefore provide a “next time easier cleaning” consumer benefit contain selected copolymers capable of forming invisible, extremely thin hydrophilic films on treated surfaces. The cleaning compositions feature a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer having a first monomer capable of forming a cationic charge on protonation and a second monomer that is acidic and that is capable of forming an anionic charge in the compositions, and may contain an optional third monomer having an uncharged hydrophilic group and/or an optional fourth monomer that is hydrophobic. The cleaning compositions may further contain functional ingredients including surfactants, organic solvents and/or other optional adjuvants to enhance the cleaning performance and aid in preparation of the surface for effective delivery of the copolymer during a cleaning operation.

Consumers are dissatisfied with their cleaner's ability to prevent soils, such as soap scum, toothpaste, hard water, greasy soils, brake dust, grime, rust, and toilet ring, from building up on household surfaces. Specifically, consumers want surfaces to maintain their cleaned look for longer periods of time.
One approach to solving this problem entails applying a sacrificial layer of material which is dissolvable by water with the attendant removal of dirt. Suitable cleaning formulations must be carefully applied in order to create a sufficiently thick, dry sacrificial film. Unfortunately, inconsistent consumer cleaning habits make this an almost impossible task. In many cases, the surface is rinsed before the film is dried thereby creating a sacrificial coating that is too thin to prevent soils from adhering. In cases where the sacrificial coating is too thick, an unsightly macroscopic film with visible residue is created.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,517 to Durbut describes an aqueous glass cleaning composition comprising an anionic surfactant and a hydrophilic, anionic maleic acid-olefin copolymer. The surface becomes hydrophilic such that the initial contact angle of water on the treated surface is from 12 to 23 degrees. While the presence of the copolymer yields an efficient hydrophilic surface coating, this sacrificial coating is easily rinsed away unless it is very thick.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,242,046 to Nakane et al. describes a more permanent stain-proofing treatment that employs a non-water soluble resin and a metal oxide sol. With this treatment, the surface must be washed with water before the film dries on the surface. This step appears to homogeneously spread a stainproof-treating agent on the surface and removes excess stainproof-treating agents. When washing with water is not done properly, however, the excess causes surface non-uniformity.
WO 00/77143 to Sherry et al. describes a surface substantive polymer which purportedly renders treated surfaces hydrophilic. The preferred polymers include a copolymer of N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone (PVPVI), a quaternized vinyl pyrrolidone/di-alkylaminoalkyl acrylate or methacrylate copolymer, or a polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide homopolymer. These polymers are purported to modify the surface to achieve water to treated surface contact angles of around 50 degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,849 to Jeschke et al. describes a cleaner for easier next time cleaning that contains a cationic polymer comprising at least 40 mole percent of a quarternary monomer such as methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride. The cleaning performance is said to improve with the presence of these polymers in the cleaner but it is expected that the wetting properties will decline after a single rinse step.
A second approach to preventing soil buildup is to deposit a release aid on the treated surface to modify surface characteristics. Unfortunately, the application of cleaner or water causes the soluble release aid to be completely removed. WO 02/18531 to Ashcroft et al. describes the use of cleaning solutions containing antioxidants that function as soil release agents. The antioxidants are purportedly retained on the surface so that soil subsequently deposited thereon is prevented from polymerizing thereby allowing for easier removal. However, it is expected that the antioxidants will not be effective on all soil types.
WO 00/29538 to Baker et al. describes a non-greasy sacrificial coating containing cellulose or gum and a release aid, such as lecithin. While this coating prevents sticking, its visual appearance makes it unsuitable for glass, counter-tops, showers and the like.
In view of the deficiencies of past endeavors in developing cleaning compositions that leave satisfactory low maintenance treated surfaces, the art is in search of cleaning compositions that provide a thin, stable invisible film that facilitates removal of a variety of soils. The cleaning composition should be suitable for household surfaces and should be rapidly adsorbed on the surface to yield a uniform film that causes water to sheet off and oil to roll off.


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a first electrode; a second electrode containing a metal element; and a variable resistance element formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance element comprises an insulating first film disposed on a side of the first electrode and containing oxygen; and a second film disposed on the side of the second electrode and containing an element having a diffusion coefficient larger than the diffusion coefficient of the metal element in the first film and an electronegativity higher than the electronegativity of the metal element.

When a voltage is applied to a metal oxide material, a phenomenon occurs in which the metal oxide material obtains two states, that is, a low resistance state and a high resistance state depending on the resistivity before voltage application and the magnitude of the applied voltage. An ReRAM (Resistance Random Access Memory) using this resistance change phenomenon as a storage medium (memory) has received a great deal of attention.
As for the device structure of the ReRAM, a three-dimensional cross-point structure including memory cells arranged at the intersections of word lines and bit lines has been proposed from the viewpoint of increasing the degree of integration. In the three-dimensional cross-point structure, at the time of write to a selected memory cell, a reverse bias is applied to unselected memory cells as well. For this reason, a storage element (variable resistance element) and a diode (rectifying element) having rectifying properties arranged as a memory cell. As the rectifying element, for example, an Si-PIN diode including a p-type impurity doped Si film (P), an Si film doped with no impurity or an Si film lightly doped with an impurity (I), and an n-type impurity doped Si film (N) is used.
One important thing of these functions is the variable resistance element that causes resistance change. As the variable resistance element, many metal oxide materials have been proposed. When changing the resistance state of a metal oxide film, a voltage is applied to move (diffuse) the metal element contained in the electrode material into the metal oxide film. A filament (conductive region) made of the metal element is thus formed in the metal oxide film, and the variable resistance element changes from the high resistance state to the low resistance state.
At this time, if the film thickness of the metal oxide film is 20 nm or more, the metal element diffuses into the entire metal oxide film. Even if the film thickness of the metal oxide film is 20 nm or less, the filament is difficult to form if the ionization of the metal element, is insufficient. Hence, when changing the variable resistance element to the low resistance state, a filament having a large size (for example, a width of 10 nm or more) is formed in the metal oxide film. Hence, the filament size largely varies depending on the place (for example, for each cell). Especially, when the memory cells are microfabricated to a width (diameter) of 10 nm or less and have a high density, some of them fail in forming the filament. As a result, the resistance value in the low resistance state may vary between the memory cells.
In addition, since the metal element diffuses into the entire metal oxide film in the low resistance state, it is difficult to move the metal element backward to obtain the high resistance state. For this reason, repetitive use may make even the resistance value in the high resistance state vary and may also decrease the resistance change amount between the low resistance state and the high resistance state.
Note that a structure using a single-layered GeSe film or a stacked film of an a-Si (amorphous silicon) film and an SiOX film in place of the metal oxide film has been proposed as the variable resistance element. However, these structures may also have the same phenomenon.

Semiconductor device, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus


A vehicle assembly having a front fender mounting structure, a rear fender mounting structure, a cowling and fuel tank assembly structure and an engine intake structure. The front fender mounting mechanism includes sides plates associated with the front fender and a bracket installed on a front fork which are fastened together by bolts. The bolts cooperate with nuts which are elastically retained by means of nail pieces extending inwardly from the inside surface of the side plate sections of the front fender. A rear fork cover section of a rear fender and a chain case are fastened together by screws to a boss formed on a rear fork of the vehicle. The rear fender and the rear fork appear as if they are formed in a single body through this mounting. On the upper cowling of the vehicle, bosses are formed which extend inwardly and receive elastic members. A fuel tank includes holes extending downwardly therefrom to receive the bosses and elastic members. The upper cowling is assembled from two halves and during assembly the bosses are positioned with the fuel tank so as to compress the elastic members. A rubber sheet is installed between the engine and the air cleaner of the vehicle and is retained by a stay extending from the vehicle body near the opening of the air inlet duct.

The field of the present invention is assembly features for vehicles such as motorcycles and the like.
Generally the front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or a scooter is provided with a front fender which covers the upper part thereof for the purpose of preventing mud splashing on the vehicle and rider caused by the rotation of the front wheel.
This type of front fender in conventional use is mounted as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle has a basic mounting structure with a pair of brackets 2b, front and rear, attached on two outer tubes 2a of a front fork 2 in turn supporting a front wheel 1. Both side plates 3a of a front fender 3 are bolted to the vehicle through the brackets 2b.
The front fender 3 is mounted by mounting a metal support plate 4, which is formed along the contour of the inner surface of the front fender 3, inside of the front fender 3 as shown in FIG. 2. The fender 3 is mounted by attaching the metal support plate 4 with a rivet 5 to the upper part of the front fender 3, by welding a nut member 6 to the inner surface of both the right and left side plates of the metal support plate 4, and further by tightening the flange bolt 7 to be inserted into the mounting hole 2c of the bracket 2b from outside of the vehicle (to the left in FIG. 2) into the member 6.
According to the above-described front fender mounting structure, the metal support plate 4 having the nut member 6 for fastening the flange bolt 7 must be disposed inside of the front fender 3, and, therefore, there remains the following problems to be solved:
Firstly, the installation of the metal support plate 4 to the front fender 3 requires time, resulting in a low operation efficiency. PA0 Secondly, the installation of the metal support plate 4 raises production costs.
Thirdly, it is necessary to make the mounting hole 3a in the upper part of the front fender 3 for mounting the rivet 5 which supports the metal support plate 4, detracting from the appearance of the vehicle.
Rear fender mounting structures for vehicles such as two-wheeled motorcycles have been used to mount rear fenders to motorcycle rear forks such that the feeders may rock together with the rear forks to which they are mounted. In such systems, a rear fork cover section covering at least the upper surface of a rear fork supporting a rear wheel and a fender section covering the upper front part of the rear wheel are typically produced of resin in one body. In mounting the above-described rear fender to the rear fork, there is generally provided a plurality of bosses mating with each other in the mounting positions. These bosses are connected by means of a bolt and nut.
Since the rear fender is formed to appear integral with the rear fork and swings together with the rear fork, the rear fork being produced of aluminum for example, it is sometimes designed to be painted to look like aluminum or in a color close to that of aluminum so that these parts appear as if produced as a single member. However, the need for fasteners positioned visibly reveals that the rear fender is not formed integrally with the rear fork, impairing the appearance of unitary structure.
Common today are full-covered type two-wheeled motorcycles equipped with a cowling mounted to cover almost the whole surface of the vehicle body, from the front to the rear, for wind rectifying and shielding purpose during travel. The cowling of this type is commonly composed of an upper cowl covering the periphery of a handlebar and a headlight at the front of the vehicle body, an under cover covering the side faces of an engine and its peripheral equipment, and a seat cowl extending as far as the rear part of the vehicle body to cover the side lower part of the seat. All these cowls are assembled and mounted on the vehicle body in a streamline form. Of these cowls, the upper cowl has in some cases a curved and continued shape formed along the outside surface of the side of the fuel tank, closing, with the rear top end part thereof, a gap existing between the upper cowl and the front part of the fuel tank.
During travel, the wind coming into the vehicle body from the underside of the upper cowl hits against the inside surface of the part of the upper cowl continued to the fuel tank, raising this part upward. In this case, the use of the fastening means such as bolts may be considered to prevent the rise of the part with the wind. This, however, is disadvantageous because the bolts will be exposed to impair the appearance of the interrupted curved surfaces of the upper cowl and the fuel tank, and moreover time and labor will be required for the assembling of the cowl.
Intake structures have been developed for the purpose of improving the intake efficiency of engines for two-wheeled motorcycles. An intake system passage extending from the engine is inclined higher at the rear than at the front so as to provide as much straight passage as possible. Air cleaners have been connected to such intake system passages and are disposed in a lower recessed section of a fuel tank. Further, air outlet ducts to the air cleaner have been extended forward, opening at the rear of the head pipe.
In the above-described intake structure, the use of a heat shield plate between the air cleaner and the engine has been considered for the purpose of protecting the air cleaner and the air introducing duct from the heat of the engine. Such a heat shield plate, installed in a narrow space enclosed with a main frame above the engine, must be made of a flexible material, for example a rubber sheet, in order to insure easy installation. However, if such a rubber sheet is installed in a position opposite to the air inlet duct, the rubber sheet is likely to become deformed with negative pressure in the engine intake system because of the narrowness of the space.


A hybrid composite tube includes a metallic tube, a first silica fiber layer positioned radially of the metallic tube, a fiber reinforced polymer layer positioned radially of the first silica fiber layer, and a second silica fiber layer positioned radially of the fiber reinforced polymer layer, wherein the first silica fiber layer thermally insulates the fiber reinforced polymer layer and the second silica fiber layer thermally insulates the fiber reinforced polymer layer.

Various engines, such as a gas turbine engine, include ducts for transporting fluids, including hydraulic fluids, oil, fuel, and waste fluid, among others. These ducts may be disposed in moderate to high-temperature environments. Furthermore, these ducts may carry high-pressure fluids. Typically, these ducts are made entirely of metal in order to withstand the temperatures and pressures associated with engine environments.

Hybrid composite tube systems and methods

GOODRICH AEROSPACE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED


A rear arm for a straddle-type vehicle that satisfies rigidity requirements and is manufactured more easily. The rear arm includes a pair of arms that support end sections of a wheel axle, and a cross member that connects the arms. The cross member is formed by bending a singular tabular member. A rear end section of the cross member has a recessed shape that is recessed toward pivot members.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arm member that is attached to a pivot member and supports a wheel of a straddle-type vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A straddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle often has an arm member that rotatably supports a rear wheel. The arm member is generally formed by left and right arms to which a wheel axle is attached. A connecting (cross) member is provided between and connects the arms. The connecting member may include a plurality of members, namely, a bridging plate that connects the arms and a vertical rib that extends vertically from the bridging plate (for example, refer to JP-UM-A-5-60997, FIG. 2).
In addition, the arm member preferably is able to bend to a suitable extent when a load is applied thereto. To address this need, the shape of the arms (for example, the thickness) may be changed to adjust the rigidity of the arm member.
However, because the connecting member is formed from a plurality of members, the manufacturing process of the arm member is complicated. Changing the shape of the arms in accordance with rigidity requirements also increases manufacturing costs.