The present invention provides a laminating apparatus comprising a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet on which an image is formed, a laminate film feeder for feeding laminate films, a heater for heating the laminate films being fed, a device for pressurizing the sheet and the laminate films being fed by the sheet feeder and the laminate film feeder, by overlapping the sheet and the laminate films, a temperature for detecting a temperature of the heater, and a controller means for prohibiting a laminate mode when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is lower than a predetermined set temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminating apparatus wherein a laminate object (object to be laminated) is encapsuled by heat-reactive upper and lower laminate films to perform a laminate treatment by heating and pressurizing the laminate films while sandwiching the laminate object between the laminate films.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, a laminating apparatus wherein appearance and preservation of a sheet-shaped laminated object (referred to as "sheet" hereinafter) are improved by performing a laminate treatment while encapsuling and sealing the sheet between laminate films has been proposed.
FIG. 24 shows an example of such a conventional laminating apparatus.
In FIG. 24, the laminating apparatus 900 includes an upper laminate film roll 901a of an upper heat-reactive laminate film 902a and a lower laminate film roll 901b of a lower laminate film 902b. The laminate films 902a, 902b unwound from the respective laminate film rolls 901a, 901b are wound around respective pressure and heat rollers 903a, 903b which are urged against each other to be laminated and are tensioned by pull rollers 905a, 905b. The pressure and heat rollers 903a, 903b include heaters 906a, 906b for heating the rollers therein, respectively.
From a sheet supply 909 disposed at an upstream side of the paired pressure and heat rollers 903, a sheet 901 is fed to a nip between the pressure and heat rollers 903a, 903b which constitutes a joining point for the upper and lower laminate films 902a, 902b. The sheet 910 is sandwiched by the upper and lower laminate films 902a, 902b and is pressurized and heated by the paired pressure and heat rollers 903, so that it is adhered between the laminate films. Thereafter, the sheet with the laminate films is ejected out of the apparatus by means of the paired pull rollers 905. Trailing ends of the sheet 910 and of the laminate films 902a, 902b are cut by a cutter unit 911 arranged at a downstream side of the paired pull rollers 905.
Above a body 900 of the apparatus, there is arranged an operation portion 913 which has switches 915, 916 for manually setting the feeding speeds of the laminate films 902a, 902b and of the paired pull rollers 905, and the temperature of outer surfaces of the paired pressure and heat rollers 903.
However, in the case where the above conventional laminating apparatus is connected to an image forming system such as a copying machine, when the copying operation is started, if the temperature of the heaters does not reach a predetermined value, it is feared that the laminate films are not adhered to the sheet, thus producing a poor article. Particularly, since the heaters have a low temperature upon initiation of the laminate treatment, many poor articles will be produced until the heaters reach the predetermined temperature. Thus, much sheet and laminate films are consumed, which is wasteful.
Further, conventionally, for example, the control of the temperature of the heaters 906a, 906b was so effected that, after the electric power was turned ON, the temperature was controlled until the melting temperature of the heat-reactive adhesive was obtained, and, thereafter, the temperature was maintained in a constant value during the waiting for the laminate treatment and the laminating operation. Thus, since the temperature of the heaters is maintained in the constant value during the waiting for the laminate treatment and the laminating operation, the temperature of the whole laminating apparatus is considerably increased, so that the elements constituting the apparatus are also heated up, thus reducing the service life of the elements.
Incidentally, if the heater temperature during the waiting time is held to the same temperature as the heater temperature during the laminating operation, the efficiency of the electric power will be worsened.
Further, in the above-mentioned conventional laminating apparatus, pre-heaters sometimes were provided for pre-heating the laminate films 902a, 902b, as well as the heaters 906a, 906b. In this case, however, since the total consumption power of these heaters and pre-heaters had to be set to have a value lower than an acceptable electric power value, the consumption power of the heaters were required to be smaller than the case of no pre-heaters, with the result that it took a long time until the temperature required for the laminate treatment was obtained. Thus, it was feared that the rate of operation was considerably worsened.


The subject matter herein provides a biotic method for recovering one or more hydrocarbons from a feedstock that includes one or more of oil shale, bituminous tar sand, coal and cellulous at atmospheric temperature and pressure. The method comprises loading the feedstock into a container, treating the feedstock in the container with a biomedium of micro-organisms, and forming an essentially liquid mixture from the feedstock and the biomass by rotary tumbling the feedstock and the biomedium in the container. The essentially liquid mixture is then separated into the one or more hydrocarbons by centrifuging.

Large quantities of hydrocarbons are trapped in geologic formations around the world. Crude oil and natural gas are the only hydrocarbons that naturally occur. These are viewed as strategic resources because of technological dependency on petroleum products for fuel and raw materials. Coal is a significant source of hydrocarbons for energy production and manufacturing.
Crude oil, natural gas, and coal are the most widely utilized sources of hydrocarbons because they are relatively inexpensive to find and refine. Thus, every spike in the price of common hydrocarbons stimulates interest in alternative sources of hydrocarbons.
Oil shale is such an alternative source. Oil shale is a hydrocarbon source rock composed of inorganic sedimentary particles and appreciable organic material. Some estimates suggest that global deposits of oil shale contain roughly three trillion barrels of recoverable hydrocarbons. Kerogen, the organic material in oil shale, is the solid precursor to crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Over geologic time, kerogen deep in the Earth decomposes under geothermal pressure and transforms into petroleum products.
This geologic process can be mimicked by retorting. Retorting is a method of extracting recoverable hydrocarbons that involves heating oil shale to several hundred degrees centigrade in the absence of oxygen. The kerogen in the oil shale decomposes into numerous hydrocarbon rich gases that are collected and liquefied. The liquefied " shale oil" is then refined and processed similarly to crude oil.
Unfortunately, many oil shale deposits contain as little as 25% kerogen. Further, there is a significant energy loss associated with heating the inert geologic materials in the oil shale to several hundred degrees centigrade. Thus, producing shale oil is not economically viable in regard to it's "energy return on energy invested" (EROEI), unless the price of crude oil is greater than about $75 a barrel. Retorting on a large scale is not desirable because of potential environmental pollution and heavy demand upon water resources. The environmental pollution is exacerbated because potentially valuable inorganic materials and metals are not recovered from the spent shale and advantageously disposed of
The EROEI of oil shale can be improved by enriching the kerogen content prior to retorting. This enrichment is very problematic because kerogen is insoluble and impervious to organic solvents. One solution is to crush the oil shale in order to expose more kerogen during retorting. Other solutions include using acid treatments to reduce the amount of rock in a sample of shale.
Limited biotic decomposition of kerogen is possible (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,565) but its use has apparently been economically unsuccessful, which is evidenced by its lack of pervasive commercial use over the last 100 years. There are known species of bacteria that are able to consume kerogen, but the bacteria excrete unknown compounds. On the other hand, while some bacteria have been genetically modified bacteria to excrete hydrocarbons, these do not consume kerogen.
Although producing hydrocarbons through biotic decomposition has not yet proven economically successful, there has been limited success in processing oil shale with microorganisms. For instance, the ability of certain bacteria to excrete acid has been applied to dissolve the inorganic sedimentary matrix in oil shale (See, U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,995). That inventive method produces sponge-like shale with increased surface area to promote combustion of the kerogen.
Coal, which is a solid derivative of kerogen, can be processed similarly to oil shale in order to obtain liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. All methods of coal liquefaction and gasification require significant heating of the coal. This leads to the same problems experienced as with shale oil including low EROEI and extensive environmental pollution.
There are two methods of coal liquefaction, direct liquefaction (DCL) and indirect liquefaction (ICL). The DCL process is operated between 302-572° F. (150-300° C.) and at a pressure range between one and several tens of atmospheres. Higher pressures would be favorable, but the benefits may not justify the additional cost of high-pressure equipment. The DCL process, like retorting used in oil shale, first coverts the coal to a gas, then condenses it to a liquid. The ICL process avoids the gasification process by using solvents or catalysts in a high pressure and high temperature process.
Cellulose (C6H10O5) does not contain hydrocarbons but is instead a carbohydrate. Hydrocarbons and carbohydrates are not interchangeable and cannot be conflated. However, microorganisms such as yeast can convert cellulose and water into liquid hydrocarbons through fermentation. Agricultural waste and recycled wood are common sources of cellulose for such purposes. As with methods of hydrocarbon recovery, manufacture of hydrocarbons from cellulose has significant drawbacks including low EROEI and extensive environmental pollution.
Conversion of a cellulose biomass into biofuel is currently achieved by thermal conversion. The major methods of thermal conversion are combustion in excess air, gasification in reduced air and pyrolysis in the absence of air. A number of combustion technologies are available, all requiring boilers or fluid bed combustors. The latter can produce fuels with lower NOx levels. Co-Firing, using a fossil fuel is also used as a combustion method. Gasification produces a lower calorific value but can still be used as a fuel for boilers, engines, and possibly combustion turbines but requires cleaning the gas stream of tars and particulates. Pyrolysis is thermal degradation in the absence of air. It produces a solid char, gas and a liquid bio-oil. The bio-oil can act as a liquid fuel.
A common thread among the efforts to obtain hydrocarbon fuels from oil shale, coal, tar sands, and cellulose has been the excessive cost. We know the cost to produce a barrel of kerogen using ex situ retorting methods is between S156 and S200 a barrel. With crude oil selling on the world markets between S40 and S75 a barrel, the cost to produce a barrel of kerogen hydrocarbon has a negative EROEI. No matter how efficient current in situ or ex situ retorting methods are, producing a barrel of hydrocarbon(s) using known methods is cost prohibitive. Each of oil shale, coal, tar sands and cellulose requires heating the feedstock to hundreds of degrees. In addition, the condensation of hydrocarbon gases from oil shale, coal and tar sands to a liquid form is an expensive process. What is needed is a method to produce hydrocarbon fuels from these various feedstocks with a lower EROEI than gasoline.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A toy and game system comprising a foundation board from whose surface protrude a multiplicity of knobs or nodules, to which a plurality of soft and flexible tubular elements of varying lengths are connectable, and a plurality of soft but firm polyhedral, prismatic or spherical blocks having holes bored through their several planar surfaces through which the tubular elements may pass, facilitating the construction and/or assembly of a limitless number of recognizable or fanciful objects as well as the playing of several games specifically formulated for those elements to be used as the playing pieces thereof.

Construction type toys, from which known, familiar, recognizable objects, or fanciful imaginary objects can be assembled, have been in existence and use throughout human history. In modern times, Erector.TM. sets, Tinkertoys.TM. and Lego.TM. plastic building blocks are among the most widely known and commonly used types of this class of toys. Also, as a contemporary variant on the age old set of wooden building blocks cut in basic geometrical and architectural shapes, in sizes manipulable by even small children, there are sets of sponge rubber blocks in similar formats currently available. Most of these toys, however, are made of hard substances, metal, wood, or inflexible plastic, and are often limited in their use to children 6 or 7 years of age or older. Also, because of the hardness of their materials, there is the ever present danger of injury to oneself or others. In some cases, the toys include very small component parts such as, metal nuts and/or bolts, which could possibly be swallowed by very young children when playing without adult supervision.
Many of these toys come with "instruction" manuals which are often quite complicated. These manuals guide the player in the reproduction of previously conceived constructions and arrangements. These toys generally do not encourage the spontaneous assembly of fanciful, imaginary objects, nor do they intrinsically stimulate and encourage the creativity of the players. Also, none of the currently available construction type toys has been expanded into the category of games, whereby some or all of their elements, singly or in combinations, have been designated as playing "pieces" for which rules, moves, and objects of "winning" have been devised and formulated.
Development of a toy and game system which can respond to and transcend all of these shortcomings and deficiencies represents a great improvement in the field of construction toys in general. Development of a toy and game system which, at the same time encourages an improvement in basic motor skills and in the recognition of spatial relationships, would represent an equally great improvement in the field of educationally related toys in particular, and would satisfy a long felt need of the teachers and parents of young children, as well as, possibly, the children themselves.


Methods of fabricating an integrated circuit on a wafer using dual mask exposure lithography is disclosed. Improved mask image alignment between a first mask image and a second mask image of a dual mask exposure technique can be achieved by aligning the second mask image to a latent image created by an exposure using the first mask image.

The formation of various integrated circuit (IC) structures on a wafer often relies on lithographic processes, sometimes referred to as photolithography, or simply lithography. For instance, patterns can be formed from a photo resist layer by passing light energy through a mask (or reticle) having an arrangement to image the desired pattern onto the photo resist layer. As a result, the pattern is transferred to the photo resist layer. In areas where the photo resist is sufficiently exposed and after a development cycle, the photo resist material can become soluble such that it can be removed to selectively expose an underlying layer (e.g., a semiconductor layer, a metal or metal containing layer, a dielectric layer, etc.). Portions of the photo resist layer not exposed to a threshold amount of light energy will not be removed and serve to protect the underlying layer. The exposed portions of the underlying layer can then be etched (e.g., by using a chemical wet etch or a dry reactive ion etch (RIE)) such that the pattern formed from the photo resist layer is transferred to the underlying layer. Alternatively, the photo resist layer can be used to block dopant implantation into the protected portions of the underlying layer or to retard reaction of the protected portions of the underlying layer. Thereafter, the remaining portions of the photo resist layer can be removed.
There is a pervasive trend in the art of IC fabrication to increase the density with which various structures are arranged. As a result, there is a corresponding need to increase the resolution capability of lithography systems. Various resolution enhancement techniques (RET) have been proposed to aid in the lithography process. For example, alternating phase shift masks and full phase shift masks have been employed. As another example, dipole illumination sources have been used.
In conjunction with these resolution enhancement techniques dual mask exposures have been used. An example dual mask exposure can involve exposing a photo resist layer with a first mask of a mask pair and then separately exposing the same photo resist layer with a second mask of the mask pair. Variations to this basic dual mask exposure technique exist and will be discussed in greater detail in subsequent sections.
Conventionally, integrated circuit fabrication involves exposing the wafer to multiple mask images. To achieve an acceptable overlay among the physical layers having patterns defined by these mask images, alignment of each mask within a given tolerance should be achieved. As is known in the art, overlay relates the lateral positioning between physical layers comprising an integrated circuit. If the layers are not properly aligned with each other, the performance of the devices of the integrated circuit can be compromised. In this situation, it is likely that the integrated circuit, if not the entire wafer (upon which multiple integrated circuits may be fabricated), may be unusable.
In conventional wafer processing mask image alignment is achieved by establishing a zero mark on the wafer. Typically, the zero mark is the first structure printed onto the wafer. The zero mark can be carefully optimized to provide a reference point to which each exposure (e.g., all mask images) are aligned. It is noted that some physical layers (e.g., a metal layer) may adversely impact the use of the zero mark for subsequent mask images and, in this situation, a new zero mark can be established on the wafer for use in aligning subsequent mask images.
Conventionally, each mask image of a dual mask exposure is aligned to the zero mark. In some situations, this method of mask image alignment does not result in satisfactory alignment between the first mask image and the second mask image of the dual mask exposure.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for techniques of improving alignment in dual mask exposures.

Method of lithographic image alignment for use with a dual mask exposure technique


A rectifying circuit includes a HEMT, a diode connected in antiparallel to the HEMT; and a gate drive circuit, wherein the gate drive circuit includes a gate drive power supply, a first transistor, a second transistor configured to turn on in a complementary manner with the first transistor, a first capacitor including an input capacitance of the HEMT, a second capacitor provided on a pathway configured to charge the input capacitance, a first resistor connected in parallel to the first capacitor, and a second resistor connected in parallel to the second capacitor, the gate drive circuit is configured to control a gate voltage of the HEMT to make the gate voltage lower than a source voltage of the HEMT when the HEMT is turned off.

Switching power supply devices are widely used as power supply devices for electronic equipment. For example, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is used as a switching element included in a switching power supply device. A diode having a PN junction parasitically exists between the drain and the source of the MOSFET. When a current flows through the parasitic diode, charge is accumulated in the PN junction and a reverse recovery current flows. Due to this, a switching power supply device using a MOSFET has a problem that switching loss is increased by the flow of the reverse recovery current.
PTL 1 describes a power switching circuit as a power supply circuit in which switching loss is reduced. In the stated power switching circuit, a second diode is disposed in parallel to a first diode that is connected in antiparallel to a semiconductor switching element so that a reverse recovery current is reduced by magnetic energy accumulated in a current pathway extending through the second diode. A similar circuit is described also in NPL 1.
A transistor using a compound semiconductor is known as a transistor without a parasitic diode. Hereinafter, attention is given to a HEMT, which is a type of transistor using a compound semiconductor. The HEMT is an N-channel transistor taking a two-dimensional electron gas as a channel, and does not contain a parasitic diode having a PN junction. Thus, in the HEMT, no charge is accumulated in the PN junction and no reverse recovery current flows. Accordingly, with a power supply device using a HEMT, switching loss can be significantly reduced.

Rectifying circuit and power supply device


According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a permission/inhibition information storage which stores a permission/inhibition information file, a changer which changes a first encryption key of a first private key encrypted with the first public key to the second public key by using the first re-encryption key, a first storage which stores a second private key in a device private key temporary storage, a second storage which stores a second re-encryption key in a re-encryption key storage, a permission/inhibition information registration module which registers second permission/inhibition information in the permission/inhibition information file, and a transmitter which transmits the second private key in the re-encryption key storage to the second terminal.

With the widespread use of mobile devices, there is an increasing need for the use of online storage services outside offices and homes.
In order to improve the security of content stored in an online storage, there is provided a technique of encrypting content in the online storage with a first public key and transmitting the content upon changing the encryption key from the first public key to a second public key allowing only a terminal from which a request has been received to decrypt the content.
When providing such an encryption service, it is sometimes necessary to use a special terminal to register, in a server which provides services, a new terminal which uses an online storage service. Therefore, there have been demands for a technique of registering a new terminal in a server from an arbitrary terminal which has already been registered.

Key change management apparatus and key change management method


An integrated circuit comparator includes a pair of differential input transistors having gate terminals configured to receive a pair of differential input signals and a comparator output circuit electrically coupled to the pair of differential input transistors. A pair of differential offset compensation transistors are also provided. This pair of differential offset compensation transistors, which is electrically coupled to the pair of differential input transistors, has gate terminals that are configured to receive a pair of unequal dc offset voltages. The source and drain terminals of a first one of the pair of differential input transistors are electrically connected to corresponding source and drain terminals of a first one of the pair of differential offset compensation transistors and the source and drain terminals of a second one of the pair of differential input transistors are electrically connected to corresponding source and drain terminals of a second one of the pair of differential offset compensation transistors.

Integrated circuit comparators may utilize differential amplifiers to perform a comparison operation on a pair of input signals. As illustrated by FIG. 1A, a conventional integrated circuit comparator 10 may include a pair of differential input transistors N1 and N2, which have gate terminals responsive to a pair of differential analog input signals D+ and D−, and a comparator output circuit. The input transistors N1 and N2 are enabled by driving a clock signal CLK low-to-high to thereby turn on an NMOS pull-down transistor N3. The comparator output circuit is illustrated as including cross-coupled NMOS transistors N4 and N5 and cross-coupled PMOS transistors P1 and P2 having source/drain terminals connected to a pair of differential outputs (OUT+ and OUT−). The differential outputs are equalized at precharged voltage levels (e.g., Vdd) when the clock signal CLK is driven high-to-low to thereby turn on PMOS pull-up transistors P3 and P4 and PMOS equalization transistor P5.
Input resolution, which is an important specification in the comparator 10 of FIG. 1A, is determined by the dc-input offsets and comparator response speed. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, non-zero dc-input offsets are caused by random transistor-transistor variations, which are typically inversely proportional to transistor size (e.g., layout area). Smaller input transistors can be used in the comparator 10 for higher response speed, but typically at a cost of increased dc-input offsets. Thus, there is a trade-off between dc-input offset and response speed.
Random transistor variations in NMOS transistors N1-N4 and PMOS transistors P1-P2 all contribute to increased dc-input offsets, which, as illustrated by the comparator 10′ of FIG. 1B, can be modeled by an input-offset dc voltage source (shown as VOFFSET), which is added in series with an analog input signal (e.g., at negative input terminal D−). To reduce the influence of dc-input offsets, relatively large transistor size can be used, but the use of larger transistors typically increases power consumption and layout area and reduces response speed.

Integrated circuit comparators having improved input resolution and methods of operating same


A system for updating a point cloud of an environment having markers for measuring an environment and a method are provided. The system includes a mobile device having a camera. The system further includes one or more processors responsive to executable computer instructions to perform a method comprising capturing one or more images of at least a portion of the environment that include the one or more markers in the one or more images, identifying the one or more markers within the one or more images, comparing the identified one or more markers to a reference system with known coordinates and integrating the one or more images into a point cloud.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to use of a 3D laser scanner time-of-flight (TOF) coordinate measurement device, and in particular to a phase-based TOF measurement device. A 3D laser scanner of this type steers a beam of light to a non-cooperative target such as a diffusely scattering surface of an object. A distance meter in the device measures a distance to the object, and angular encoders measure the angles of rotation of two axles in the device. The measured distance and two angles enable a processor in the device to determine the 3D coordinates of the target.
A TOF laser scanner is a scanner in which the distance to a target point is determined based on the speed of light in air between the scanner and a target point. Laser scanners are typically used for scanning closed or open spaces such as interior areas of buildings, industrial installations and tunnels. They may be used, for example, in industrial applications and accident reconstruction applications. A laser scanner optically scans and measures objects in a volume around the scanner through the acquisition of data points representing object surfaces within the volume. Such data points are obtained by transmitting a beam of light onto the objects and collecting the reflected or scattered light to determine the distance, two-angles (i.e., an azimuth and a zenith angle), and optionally a gray-scale value. This raw scan data is collected, stored and sent to a processor or processors to generate a 3D image representing the scanned area or object.
Generating an image requires at least three values for each data point. These three values may include the distance and two angles, or may be transformed values, such as the x, y, z coordinates. In an embodiment, an image is also based on a fourth gray-scale value, which is a value related to irradiance of scattered light returning to the scanner.
Most TOF scanners direct the beam of light within the measurement volume by steering the light with a beam steering mechanism. The beam steering mechanism includes a first motor that steers the beam of light about a first axis by a first angle that is measured by a first angular encoder (or other angle transducer). The beam steering mechanism also includes a second motor that steers the beam of light about a second axis by a second angle that is measured by a second angular encoder (or other angle transducer).
Many contemporary laser scanners include a camera mounted on the laser scanner for gathering camera digital images of the environment and for presenting the camera digital images to an operator of the laser scanner. By viewing the camera images, the operator of the scanner can determine the field of view of the measured volume and adjust settings on the laser scanner to measure over a larger or smaller region of space. In addition, the camera digital images may be transmitted to a processor to add color to the scanner image. To generate a color scanner image, at least three positional coordinates (such as x, y, z) and three-color values (such as red, green, blue "RGB") are collected for each data point.
Reference systems provide a link between a digital world and real world when camera digital images by measuring targets within an environment that can be used for localization and positioning within the environment. Reference systems use targets to obtain accurate and known locations relative to each other in order to register multiple individual scans from their own individual coordinate system into a single, aligned common coordinate reference system. Reference systems are used to measure an environment, e.g., a building, factory or any other enclosure, which can be used for later localization and positioning within the building or factory.
Accordingly, while existing localization and positioning of an environment using reference systems are suitable for their intended purposes, what is needed is a reference system that provides a more accurate link between a real world environment and the digital representations of the environment using certain features of embodiments of the present invention.

Localization and projection in buildings based on a reference system


A connector module includes a conductive body configured to receive an end of at least one cable. A clamping member is provided for clamping the end of the cable against an interior wall of the body. A female electrical bus portion extends into a side of the body and is configured to receive a male bus portion of a mating connector module.

Electrical power cables are ubiquitous and used for distributing power across vast power grids or networks, moving electricity from power generation plants to the consumers of electric power. Power cables characteristically consist of a conductive core (typically copper or aluminum) and may be surrounded by one or more layers of insulating material. Some power cables include a plurality of conductive cores. Power cables may be constructed to carry high voltages (greater than about 50,000 Volts), medium voltages (between about 1,000 Volts and about 50,000 Volts), or low voltages (less than about 1,000 Volts).
As power cables are routed across the power grids to the consumers of electric power, it is often necessary or desirable to periodically form a splice or junction in the cable so that electricity may be distributed to additional branches of the grid. The branches may be further distributed until the grid reaches individual homes, businesses, offices, and so on. For example, a single power cable supplying electrical power to a group of several buildings must be branched to each of the buildings. As used herein, the terms "splice" and "junction" are used interchangeably, and in each case refer to the portion of a power distribution system where an incoming cable is connected to at least one outgoing cable.
At each point where the cable is connected, it is necessary to provide some type of branch connector or splice or termination on the cable. Up to the present time, branches in cables have commonly been made using pre-formed branch connectors having a predetermined type and fixed number of branches.
The current products for splicing power cables to form branches have disadvantages. For example, the splice products (sometimes referred to herein as "branch connectors") must be purchased having a predetermined and fixed number of connection ports. This requires the end user to accurately anticipate the future connection requirements at each splice location, and then purchase a branch connector to meet the anticipated future needs. In other words, if the anticipated future need is to have four electricity services, a five-port splice must be initially installed to allow for the incoming supply cable and the four outgoing service cables. In addition, to provide a "safety margin" to accommodate possible future expansion, the end user will generally install a splice having an additional connection port beyond the current anticipated needs. Therefore, a six-port splice is installed on the incoming supply cable, when the anticipated need is for only four outgoing service cables to be installed in the future. This over-building leads to wasted capital expenditures, in the form of unused ports installed in the power distribution system. Further, if future expansion of the power distribution system eventually exceeds the original anticipated needs and any extra ports that may have been originally installed, then an entirely new splice with additional connection ports must be installed. The installation of a new splice requires the disconnection and disruption of service of all existing service cables extending from the original splice, and then reconnection to a new larger splice product. Of course, the new splice product will typically have unused ports and the associated wasted capital, just like the original splice product.
An additional problem with the current splice product configurations is the large number of products that must be manufactured and inventoried to provide for all of the possible splice requirements in terms of the number of connections required. For example, a typical splice product family might contain five different configurations, with each configuration having a different number of connection ports (i.e., two ports, three ports, four ports, five ports, six ports). Some product families need as many as ten different number of port configurations. The large number of product variations, just in terms of the number of connection ports, leads to significantly higher manufacturing costs for the supplier and higher inventory costs for the end user.
Additionally, there is an increased number of splice product configurations due to the many different types of cable constructions, configuration, and sizes required for different power distribution applications. For example, a business may require a power service with a 1,000 MCM power cable, a house may require service with a 4/0 AWG power cable, and a streetlight may require service with a #12 AWG cable. These cables could be stranded or solid, aluminum or copper, with different insulation composition types and thickness.
The complexity of the splice product families, due to the number and type of port configurations, can also lead to reduced productivity for the end user. Specifically, the complexity of the splice product families leads to additional time spent by the installers determining the correct splice product configuration for the current installation (i.e., examining the installation site requirements and reviewing product offerings to find the product that best meets the requirements), and actually obtaining the correct product (i.e., trips to the truck and back, or trips to the warehouse and back if the correct product is not in stock on the truck, etc.).
New neighborhoods and buildings (and thus new cable branches) are constantly being added to the power grid, and existing networks are constantly being modified. Therefore, a need exists for a branching connector that allows for easy expansion of the power distribution system, and that is readily adaptable for different numbers of outgoing service cable branches from an incoming supply cable. Further, because many different types and sizes of cables are used in the power transmission industry, it is desirable to have a branching connector that is easily adaptable for connection to a large variety of cable types in order to reduce manufacturing, handling and inventory costs associated with building and maintaining a large inventory of diverse connectors. Further, it is desirable to have an expansion connection capability to improve installer productivity by simplifying the planning process and eliminating undesirable trips from the field to the warehouse. It is further desirable for the ability to add expansion ports without disrupting existing service connections. It is further desirable for such connectors to be able to interconnect cables in as cost-effective manner as possible.

Modular electrical connector and method of using


A computer-implemented method of preventing computationally explosive calculations. The method includes obtaining, by a processor of the computer, measured data of one of a physical process or a physical object; performing hierarchical numerical modeling of a physical process inclusive of an Earth model containing at least one of (a) infrastructure in the ground and (b) a formation feature in the ground, wherein predicted data is generated; comparing the measured data to the predicted data to calculate an estimated error; analyzing the estimated error via an inversion process to update the at least one of the Earth model and infrastructure model so as to reduce the estimated error and to determine a final composite Earth model of at least one of the infrastructure and the feature; and using the final composite Earth model to characterize at least one of the process and the physical object.

As a representative example, finite element modeling (FEM) is a mathematical technique used to process data received from one or more sensors to characterize structures or processes in an area being sensed. Finite element method, in particular, is a numerical technique for finding approximate solutions to boundary value problems for partial differential equations. Like other numerical methods, finite element modeling subdivides a large problem into smaller, simpler parts. In this particular example, those parts are called finite elements.
In one of many possible examples, ground penetrating RADAR may be used to sense features or processes in the ground. The data from the ground penetrating RADAR (the sensor) may be processed using finite element modeling. The result of processing is to display an ongoing process being monitored, or to display a representation of a structure present in the ground.
However, a problem arises when modeling features or processes are very thin: that is, small in one or more of their physical dimensions. In particular, when finite element modeling techniques are applied to such features or processes, a very large number of finite elements are used to characterize the sharp edges or thin lines. Thus, when this type of feature or process is to be modeled, the number of calculations required to process the data using finite element modeling becomes computationally explosive.
The term "computationally explosive" means that a sufficient number of computations is required to process data to achieve a desired result and that the computer takes an undesirably long time to complete the processing of the data and achieve the desired result. While the computer is not actually "slower," a human user may perceive the computer as acting slowly as the computer processes all the required calculations. This undesirable amount of processing time can slow down a project and cost significantly more money as time is consumed waiting for the computer.
In some cases, so much computing time is required that a desired action becomes impractical. In a specific example from oilfield geophysics, if a user desired to monitor fracturing of underground structures because of fracking during a drilling operation, then the effect of computationally explosive calculations can result in the computer being unable to monitor the process in real time. In essence, the events of the process are taking place fast enough that the computer cannot keep up with the modeling process, thus making monitoring the process impractical or even impossible.

Methods and devices for preventing computationally explosive calculations in a computer for model parameters distributed on a hierarchy of geometric simplices

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC


This relates to an image scanner with a function of initiating scanning automatically. In addition to the main light source, an independent light source is provided in an image scanner for supplying a specific light signal, and a corresponding sensing window is also provided for detecting the open/close status of the top cover by means of the existing CCD/CIS in the image scanner, and decide the scanning of the document automatically or not accordingly. The independent light source being provided can be lighted on continually or be flickering for cooperating with the sensing window for detecting the open/close status of the top cover.

Conventional image scanner generally employs keystroke or software programming for initiating scanning, without any function for initiating scanning automatically, thus the operation of the image scanner is rather tedious. Some image scanners have been designed for initiating scanning automatically, but the devices used, such as microswitch, photointerrupter, photoresistor, phototransistor, are expensive and are hard to achieve reliability, thus increasing the cost of the image scanner, making the manufacturing process more complicated, and lowering the reliability.

Image scanner with a function of initiating scanning automatically


A robot control device includes: a creep-information storage unit that stores an amount of bending in correspondence with a cumulative time, the bending occurring in a robot due to creep deformation; a mastering-data storage unit that stores mastering data of the robot; a timer that measures the cumulative time; and a correction unit that corrects the mastering data stored in the mastering-data storage unit based on the amount of bending stored in the creep-information storage unit in correspondence with the cumulative time measured by the timer.

As robots are becoming lighter and lighter, it is desirable to reduce the effect on the accuracy of a robot caused by an increase in bending of a robot mechanical unit. A known robot control device achieves this by calculating bending occurring on a link on the basis of the kinematics of the robot, correcting bending of the entire robot, and positioning the robot to a target positional posture (e.g., see Japanese Patent No. 3808321).


User terminal 20 configured to perform MIMO transmission with radio base station 10 includes: control section 200 configured to generate first channel estimation information based on a reference signal transmitted by radio base station 10, and perform an operation for elimination of an interference signal on the first channel estimation information to generate second channel estimation information; and postcoder 208 configured to perform postcoding, based on the second channel estimation information, on a data signal to be transmitted by the radio base station 10, so as to detect a desired signal.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been specified for achieving a higher data rate, lower latency, and the like in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network. Successor systems of LTE have also been studied for achieving a broader bandwidth and a higher speed based on LTE. Examples of successor systems of LTE include the systems called LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). Future Radio Access (FRA), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G plus (5G+), New Radio Access Technology (New-RAT), and the like.
In a future radio communication system (for example, 5G), the use of Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) using a large number of antenna elements (for example, 100 elements or more) in a high frequency band (for example, 5 GHz or higher) is studied to further increase the speed and reduce the interference in signal transmission.
Multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) in which multiple beams are multiplexed for data transmission to multiple user terminals is known as a mode of utilization of Massive MIMO.
Examples of techniques of controlling beams or streams in MIMO include a method of combining digital precoding, analog fixed beamforming (BF), and channel status information (CSI) (for example, see Non-Patent Literature (hereinafter referred to as "NPL") 1).
In addition, using a block diagonalization precoding matrix is known as a technique for avoiding interference among reception signals to be received by user terminals in MIMO (for example, see NPL 2). By this technique, channels of user terminals are orthogonalized, so that the interference among the reception signals to be received by user terminals is avoided.

User terminal, wireless base station, and wireless communication method


A rotary atomizer (1) has a rotary atomizing head (4) driven by an air motor (2) at a rotational speed of 4,000˜5,000 rpm, for example. A coating material is supplied to a central portion of the rotary atomizing head (4) through a paint supply pipe (5). The atomizer (1) further includes a supersonic horn (6) having a vibration plane (6a) located adjacent to the outer circumferential perimeter of the rotary atomizing head (4). The vibration plane (6a) is an inclined plane gradually increasing its diameter forward. The coating material immediately after spattered from the outer circumferential perimeter of the rotary atomizing head (4) is exposed to supersonic vibration from the vibration plane (6a), and it is atomized by the supersonic vibration to particles of a uniform grain size. At the same time, the atomized coating material is driven forward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coating method and an atomizer, and more particularly to a coating technique using supersonic vibration.
2. Related Background Art
Some types of atomizers are currently known. They are rotary atomizers configured to atomize a coating material with a bell-shaped rotating member driven at a high speed, spray type atomizers configured to atomize a coating material by expelling it together with air from a nozzle, and hydraulic atomizers configured to atomize a compressed coating material by extruding it from a minute opening.
Rotary atomizers, in general, have a bell-shaped cup at one end of a rotary shaft of its main body as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication JP-H03-101858-A (equivalent to Japanese Patent No. 2600390), for example. A coating material supplied to the bell-shaped cup from a paint supply pipe spreads in form of a thin film along the inner surface of the bell-shaped cup radially outwardly under the centrifugal force, and it is next atomized while flying outwardly from the outer circumferential perimeter of the bell-shaped cup. Then, a shaping airflow drives the atomized coating material forward toward a work to be coated.
A known problem with rotary atomizers is irregularity of the grain size of the atomized coating material. Distribution of grain sizes includes two major peaks, i.e., one peak of a relatively large grain size and the other peak of a relatively small grain size. Irregularity of the grain size of the coating material invites instability of the film quality and degradation of the deposition efficiency of the coating material. This problem is known to occur in spray type atomizers and hydraulic atomizers as well.


A method of producing a glow plug, wherein a pin terminal is produced by applying a plastic working to a workpiece made of a conductive metal. The production method has: a first step of obtaining a first workpiece; a second step of setting the first workpiece to a second workpiece; a third step of setting the second workpiece to a third workpiece; and a fourth step of setting the third workpiece to a fourth workpiece.

JP-A-2002-260827 discloses a conventionally known glow plug. As shown in FIG. 11 of the aforementioned Japanese Patent document, the glow plug includes: a cylindrical housing 90; a heater 91 which is fixed into the housing 90, and which has a heating portion 91a projecting from the tip end of the housing 90; a rod-like inner shaft 92 which is placed in the housing 90, and in which a rear end portion projects from the rear end of the housing 90; and a pin terminal 93 which is fitted to the rear end portion of the inner shaft 92, and which is used for supplying electricity from the outside to the heating portion 91a through the inner shaft 92.
The heater 91 is a ceramic heater which is fitted into an outer sleeve 94 that is fitted to the tip end side of the housing 90, and that is made of a conductive metal, and which allows the heating portion 91a to project from the tip ends of the housing 90 and the outer sleeve 94.
The ceramic heater 91 is configured by a rod-like insulating member 80 containing Si3N4 as a major component. A U-shaped heating member 81 is embedded in the tip end side of the insulating member 80, and contains WC as a major component. A first lead wire 82 has one end connected to one end of the heating member 81, and the other end exposed from a part of the outer circumferential surface of the insulating member 80. A second lead wire 83 has one end connected to the other end of the heating member 81, and the other end exposed from another part of the outer circumferential surface of the insulating member 80. The other end of the first lead wire 82 is connected to the outer sleeve 94, that the other end of the second lead wire 83 is connected to an electric coil 95, and the electric coil 95 is connected to the inner shaft 92. The tip end side of the insulating member 80, in which the heating member 81 is embedded, functions as a heating portion 91a of the ceramic heater 91.
The pin terminal 93 has a small-diameter portion 93a in the rear end side, and a large-diameter portion 93b in the tip end side. The end surface on the rear end side of the small-diameter portion 93a has a curved surface shape. A first flange 93c, which abuts against an insulator 96 that is disposed on the rear end side of the housing 90 and that is made of an insulating material, is formed on the tip end side of the large-diameter portion 93b. A second flange 93d is formed on the rear end side of the large-diameter portion 93b. An engagement portion 93e, that engages an engagement convex portion 85a of a cap 97 to which electricity is supplied from the outside, is formed between the first flange 93c and the second flange 93d.
In the glow plug, the heating portion 91a of the ceramic heater 91 is located in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine by screwing a male thread 90a of the housing 90 to a cylinder head of the diesel engine. Then, the housing 90 is grounded to the cylinder head, and the cap 97 which leads to a battery, is fitted to the pin terminal 93. The cap 97 is configured by a cup-shaped cap body 85, and an electric conductive member 87 which is fixed, for example, in a state where the electric conductive member extends from the inner side toward the opening side, by a fixing member 86 that is disposed in the inner side of the cap body 85. An engagement convex portion 85a which inwardly projects is formed in the opening side of the cap body 85. The electric conductive member 87 is connected to a lead wire 88 which leads to the battery.
When the cap 97 is fitted to the pin terminal 93, the engagement convex portion 85a of the cap body 85 overrides the second flange 93d to be engaged with the engagement portion 93e. In the state, the electric conductive member 87 abuts against the surface of the small-diameter portion 93a.
In the ceramic heater 91, therefore, a voltage is applied between: the housing 90, the outer sleeve 94, and the first lead wire 82; and the pin terminal 93, the inner shaft 92, the electric coil 95, and the second lead wire 83, and heating portion 91a generates heat by means of the heating member 81. Therefore, starting of the diesel engine is initiated.
According to the publication, a glow plug of this kind is produced in the following manner. Namely, the housing 90, the ceramic heater 91, the inner shaft 92, and the like are first produced. Furthermore, the pin terminal 93 is produced by applying a cutting process to a workpiece made of steel. While required places of these components are electrically connected to one another, then, these components are assembled together, and a glow plug is completed.
In the method of producing a glow plug, however, the pin terminal is produced only by the cutting process performed on the workpiece. Therefore, swarf is excessively wasted, the time period required for production is long, and mass production is difficult. In the conventional production method, therefore, reduction of the production cost of a pin terminal is difficult. Accordingly, also reduction of the production cost of a glow plug is difficult.
The applicant of the present application has filed a patent application related to a method of producing a pin terminal for a glow plug, and method of producing a glow plug which can solve the problems, and obtained a patent on the production methods (Japanese Patent No. 4,241,489). In the production methods, small- and large-diameter portions, first and second flanges, and engagement portion of a pin terminal are formed by a plastic working on a workpiece.
According to the production methods, as compared with the case where a pin terminal is produced only by applying a cutting process to a workpiece, swarf is reduced, and the time period required for production can be shortened. Therefore, mass production is facilitated. According to the production methods, therefore, reduction of the production cost of a pin terminal is realized, and consequently reduction of the production cost of a glow plug is realized.
Also in the production methods, however, the first flange is formed in the tip end of the large-diameter portion, and the second flange is formed in the rear end side of the large-diameter portion in a similar manner as the pin terminal 93 of FIG. 11. In the pin terminal, therefore, a to-be-crimped portion which is formed to have the even outer diameter, and which is capable of being crimped is limited between the first flange and the second flange, and becomes short. In the short to-be-crimped portion, therefore, the inner shaft and the pin terminal are unlikely to be firmly coupled together. Therefore, the coupling strength between them must be ensured by employing a longish inner shaft. In the pin terminal, therefore, reduction of the material has not been sufficient, and also reduction of the weight has not been sufficient. Also in a glow plug, since such a pin terminal is employed, and a longish inner shaft is employed, reduction of the material has not been sufficient, and also reduction of the weight has not been sufficient.
The invention has been conducted in view of the above-discussed circumstances. It is a problem to be solved to enable a high-quality and light-weight pin terminal for a glow plug, and consequently a high-quality and light-weight glow plug to be economically produced.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a pin terminal for a glow plug, the method comprising:
obtaining a first workpiece which has a rod-like shape, and which is made of the conductive metal;
plastically deforming an end surface of a rear end side of the first workpiece into a curved surface shape to obtain a second workpiece;
plastically deforming a rear end side of the second workpiece into a small-diameter portion which is configured to be fitted to a cap for supplying electricity from an outside, and plastically deforming a tip end side of the second workpiece into a large-diameter portion which is larger in diameter than the small-diameter portion to obtain a third workpiece; and
plastically deforming a flange between the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion, the flange being larger in outer diameter than the large-diameter portion, and an engagement portion formed between a position where a diameter of the flange is maximum and the large-diameter portion, an outer diameter of the engagement portion being gradually reduced toward the large-diameter portion, and the engagement portion being configured to be engaged with the cap to obtain a fourth workpiece.
Also in the production method of the invention, the small-diameter portion, large-diameter portion, flange, and engagement portion of the pin terminal are formed by applying a plastic working to a workpiece in a similar manner as the above-described production method of Japanese Patent No. 4,241,489 issued to the applicant.
In the production method, moreover, the fourth workpiece which has the flange between the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion, and which does not have a flange in the tip end of the large-diameter portion is produced. When a pin terminal is produced by the production method, as compared with a conventional pin terminal which has the same total length, and in which the length from the tip end to the engagement portion is identical, therefore, the to-be-crimped portion which is formed to have the even outer diameter, and which is capable to being crimped is extended. Even when a shortish inner shaft is employed, therefore, the crimped portion which is actually crimped can be extended because of the to-be-crimped portion which is longer than a conventional one, and the inner shaft and the pin terminal are likely to be firmly coupled together.
In the pin terminal, moreover, reduction of the material can be sufficiently performed correspondingly with the configuration where a flange is not formed in the tip end of the large-diameter portion, and also reduction of the weight can be realized. A glow plug can employ such a pin terminal, and a shortish inner shaft can be employed. Also in a glow plug, therefore, reduction of the material can be sufficiently performed, and also reduction of the weight can be attained.
In the production method, moreover, a flange is not formed in the tip end of the large-diameter portion, and hence it is not necessary to employ a split die which is radially divided in the periphery of the large-diameter portion. According to the production method, therefore, the structure of the die is simplified, the production cost of the die can be lowered, and the durability of the die can be improved.
According to the production method of the invention, it is possible to economically produce a high-quality and light-weight pin terminal for a glow plug, and consequently a high-quality and light-weight glow plug.
In the production method of the invention, in at least one of the step of deforming the end surface, the step of deforming the rear end side and the step of deforming the third workpiece, a fitting recess to which a rear end portion of an inner shaft of the glow plug is fitted is formed in an end surface of the tip end side of the pin terminal. In this case, the steps which are performed until the processing of the fourth workpiece, including molding of the fitting recess are performed by a plastic working. Also during the molding of the fitting recess, therefore, swarf is not produced.
In this regard, in the case where the pin terminal is produced only by applying a cutting process to a workpiece, or where the formation of the fitting recess is produced by a cutting process, swarf is produced. Since there is a possibility that swarf may cause the inner shaft to be hardly fitted to the fitting recess, and that a short circuit may occur, swarf has to be removed away. However, this work for removing the swarf requires great labor. In a pin terminal which is obtained by employing a split die, furthermore, the large-diameter portion is liable to have radial burrs, and the work of surely removing the burrs in order to prevent a situation where the burrs are peeled off to cause a short circuit, from occurring similarly requires great labor. In the production method, by contrast, the amount of swarf can be made minimum, and burrs are hardly produced. Even when labor of removing swarf and burrs is not so much provided, therefore, the assembling property of the glow plug can be improved, and the short circuit caused by the pin terminal can be avoided.
When the steps of processing from the workpiece to the fourth workpiece through the second and third workpieces are performed by a plastic working, moreover, the process time in the process from the first workpiece to the fourth workpiece can be shortened. When the plastic working is performed as described above, for example, a large number of second workpieces can be simultaneously processed to third workpieces, and then to fourth workpieces. Therefore, pin terminals are easily mass produced. Because of these, when a pin terminal is produced as described above, reduction of the production cost thereof can be further realized, and consequently reduction of the production cost of a glow plug can be further realized.
In the production method, as described above, swarf is not produced during the molding of the fitting recess. Since, in the steps of processing from the first workpiece to the fourth workpiece, swarf due to the respective workpieces is not produced, the method can contribute to realization of further resource saving.
In the step of deforming the end surface, a first fitting recess having a first depth may be formed in an end surface on a tip end side of the first workpiece. In the step of deforming the rear end side, a second fitting recess having a second depth which is deeper than the first depth may be formed in an end surface on a tip end side of the second workpiece. In the step of deforming the third workpiece, the fitting recess having a third depth which is deeper than the second depth may be formed in an end surface on a tip end side of the third workpiece.
In this case, in the first to third workpieces, the fitting recess is formed respectively in a plurality of steps so that its depth becomes deeper in the sequence from the first fitting recess to the fitting recess. Therefore, even when the shape of the first fitting recess formed in the first workpiece is deformed in the other subsequent steps, the shape can be corrected when the second fitting recess is formed in the second workpiece. According to the production method, therefore, the shapes of fitting recesses of produced pin terminals are easily homogenized.
The fitting recess may be configured by a cylindrical inner circumferential surface which extends from a tip end of the large-diameter portion toward a rear end, and an upper bottom surface which is continuous to a rear end of the inner circumferential surface. The upper bottom surface may have a tapered shape in which a diameter becomes smaller toward a rear end side.
According to the inventor's confirmation, because of an affection of plastic deformation of the third workpiece in the formation of the flange, strain or the like easily occurs in the upper bottom surface of the fitting recess, and wrinkles or the like caused by the strain are easily formed in the upper bottom surface. On the other hand, a plating process is applied to a pin terminal of a glow plug for the purpose of protection of the surface thereof. In the case where strain occurs in the upper bottom surface, therefore, a washing solution or the like which is used in the plating process remains in the wrinkles or the like in the upper bottom surface, and therefore the quality of plating in the fitting recess is liable to be lowered. Because of the affection of the remaining washing solution or the like, rust or the like is easily formed on the upper bottom surface. Because of these, the quality of a pin terminal is liable to be lowered.
Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the upper bottom surface of the fitting recess is formed into a tapered shape in which the diameter becomes smaller toward the rear end side, whereby, in the third workpiece in which the fitting recess is formed, the thickness of the circumference of the upper bottom surface is made large. Therefore, the upper bottom surface is hardly (barely) deformed even by plastic deformation in the formation of the flange, and strain or the like hardly occurs in the upper bottom surface. Therefore, a washing solution or the like hardly remains on the upper bottom surface, and plating is satisfactorily applied to the fitting recess. Moreover, also rust or the like is hardly formed on the upper bottom surface. Because of these, the quality of a pin terminal is high.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the upper bottom surface is positioned on a tip end side of the fourth workpiece with respect to the maximum diameter position of the flange. The plastic deformation of the third workpiece in the formation of the flange is largest at the maximum diameter position of the flange. When the upper bottom surface of the fitting recess is positioned on the tip end side of the fourth workpiece with respect to the maximum diameter position of the flange, the influence of the plastic deformation on the upper bottom surface can be further reduced. Therefore, deformation of the upper bottom surface due to plastic deformation hardly occurs, and the pin terminal has a higher quality.
Preferably, the flange has: a first cylindrical surface which is positioned on a side of the small-diameter portion, which is larger in diameter than the small-diameter portion, and which is cylindrical; a convexly curved surface which is connected to the first cylindrical surface, and in which an axial section is arcuate, and a section in a direction perpendicular to an axis is circular; and a second cylindrical surface which is connected to the convexly curved surface, which is equal in diameter to the first cylindrical surface, and which cylindrical. Preferably, the flange has: a first disk surface which is connected to the small-diameter portion, and which extends in the direction perpendicular to the axis; a tapered surface which is connected to the first disk surface, in which a rear end side has a smaller diameter, and which is connected to the first cylindrical surface; and a second disk surface which connects the second cylindrical surface to the large-diameter portion, and which extends in the direction perpendicular to the axis.
In these cases, the convexly curved surface or the tapered surface causes the cap to be easily fitted to the pin terminal. Moreover, the second cylindrical surface causes the cap engaged with the engagement portion to hardly slip off from the pin terminal.
In the production method of the invention, a first die having a first cavity which can mold a rear end side of the convexly curved surface, and a second die having a second cavity which can mold a tip end side of the convexly curved surface may be used. In the first die and the second die, preferably, a parting surface between the first cavity and the second cavity is on a tip end side with respect to the maximum diameter position, and a maximum diameter of the second cavity is smaller than a maximum diameter of the first cavity.
Because of the difference between the maximum diameter of the first cavity and that of the second cavity, in the convexly curved surface formed by the first die and the second die, the side having an arc directed from the parting surface to the first cylindrical surface, and that the side having an arc directed from the parting surface to the second cylindrical surface are different in diameter from each other, with the parting surface as the boundary. Because of the difference between the diameters, in the outer circumferential surface of the convexly curved surface, a step is formed on the tip end side with respect to the maximum diameter position. Therefore, the cap can be engaged with the step. In a pin terminal which is produced by the above-described production method, therefore, the cap can be satisfactorily fitted.
In the case of a pin terminal, in which another engagement portion is disposed on the tip end side of the pin terminal with respect to the step and the cap is to be engaged with the engagement portion, even when the cap is caused to be disengaged from the engagement portion by vibrations or the like, and the cap is moved in the direction along which the cap slips off from the pin terminal, the cap is caused to be engaged with the step. In such a pin terminal, namely, a state is attained where the cap is doubly engaged by the engagement portion and the step, the cap can be further satisfactorily fitted.
In the production method of the invention, the step is formed by using a diameter difference between the maximum diameter of the first cavity and the maximum diameter of the second cavity. Therefore, as compared with the case where a step is formed by a cutting process on the whole outer circumferential surface of the convexly curved surface, for example, production of swarf from the workpiece can be suppressed.
Preferably, the production method of the invention further has an outer diameter finishing step of finishing the outer diameter of the fourth workpiece by performing cutting or polishing in which a cutting depth is 1 mm or less, to form the pin terminal. In this case, the fourth workpiece can be produced in a relatively rough manner, and the production of the fourth workpiece is facilitated. Then, a pin terminal with higher accuracy can be produced by performing cutting or polishing on the fourth workpiece. When the cutting depth is 1 mm or less in this case, cutting swarf or polishing swarf caused by cutting or polishing can be reduced. Therefore, resource saving and reduction of the production cost can be realized without impairing the effects of the invention.
The method of producing a glow plug according to the invention is a method of producing a glow plug including: a cylindrical housing; a heater which is fixed into the housing, and which has a heating portion projecting from a tip end of the housing; a rod-like inner shaft which is placed in the housing, and in which a rear end portion projects from a rear end of the housing; and a pin terminal which is fitted to the rear end portion of the inner shaft, which is used for supplying electricity from an outside to the heating portion through the inner shaft, the method comprising:
obtaining a first workpiece which has a rod-like shape, and which is made of the conductive metal;
plastically deforming an end surface of a rear end side of the first workpiece into a curved surface shape, and setting to a second workpiece;
plastically deforming a rear end side of the second workpiece into a small-diameter portion which is configured to be fitted to a cap for supplying electricity from an outside, and plastically deforming a tip end side of the second workpiece into a large-diameter portion which is larger in diameter than the small-diameter portion to obtain a third workpiece; and
plastically deforming the third workpiece to form a flange between the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion, the flange being larger in outer diameter than the large-diameter portion, and an engagement portion formed between a position where a diameter of the flange is maximum and the large-diameter portion, an outer diameter of the engagement portion being gradually reduced toward the large-diameter portion, and the engagement portion being configured to be engaged with to obtain a fourth workpiece.
The glow plug which is obtained by the production method of the invention includes a pin terminal including the features of claim 1 above. The glow plug which is obtained by the production method is light weight and economical, and its durability is enhanced because the inner shaft and the pin terminal are fastened to each other with a crimping area which is larger than a conventional one owing to the extended crimped portion. Therefore, its durability is enhanced.
In the glow plug, as compared with a conventional glow plug, a portion of the inner shaft which projects from the rear end of the housing can be shortened, and the whole inner shaft can be shortened. Therefore, reduction of the weight of the glow plug can be realized.
According to the production method of the invention, therefore, a high-quality and light-weight glow plug can be economically produced.
According to the production method of the invention, a high-quality and light-weight pin terminal for a glow plug or glow plug can be economically produced.

Method for producing glow plug terminals, and method for producing glow plugs


An interface for a blower in an automotive vehicle. The interface allows a blower requiring a DC control voltage to be controlled by either (1) a DC control voltage or (2) a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal. The interface converts the PWM signal to a DC voltage.

Climate control systems used in the passenger cabins of automotive vehicles can be classified into two types: simple and advanced. The two types use different signals to control the speed of a blower.
In a simple system, blower speed is controlled by an analog voltage which is controlled by the driver of the vehicle. That is, the driver controls blower speed directly. This analog voltage can be produced by a variable resistor.
In an advanced system, a digital control, rather than the driver, controls the blower speed directly. Further, the digital control does so by producing digital signals, rather than analog signals.
It is preferred that both the simple and advanced systems use the same type of blower. One reason is to reduce the number of types of blowers which the manufacturer must maintain in inventory. Clearly, this blower must be controllable by both the digital and the analog signals discussed above.
Interface circuits have been designed to convert both types of signal to a common signal which is intelligible to the blower. However, many of these interface circuits appear to be expensive, as well as subject to errors induced by variations in (1) power supply voltage and (2) ground offset voltages.


The image display system includes a calculation unit, a specifying unit, a generation unit and a transmitting unit. Upon change of a zoom level of a current image not containing position information to a specified value on a user terminal, the calculation unit calculates a display range of an object represented by the current image after change in zoom level. The specifying unit refers to data of a different image of the object and specifies a part of the different image indicated by the display range calculated by the calculation unit. The different image has a different resolution from the current image. The generation unit generates a next image representing the part specified by the specifying unit using the data of the different image. The transmitting unit transmits the next image to the user terminal for switching from the current image to the next image.

Techniques to change the zoom level of an image displayed on a computer in response to a user operation are known. For example, in the website disclosed in the following Non Patent Literature 1, when the zoom-in ratio or the zoom-out ratio of a map reaches a specified value by an operation such as pinch-out or pinch-in on a touch panel, the screen changes to the layer of a more detailed map or a wider area map.

Image display system, image display method, image display program, and computer-readable recording medium storing said program


A horizontal decanter centrifuge for enhanced recovery of drilling mud from drilling mud solids. Oilfield decanters will always suffer some drilling mud losses because they can only achieve a certain effectiveness with respect to solids dryness. The embodiment describes a process to mitigate the financial burden of drilling mud losses by adding a less expensive sacrificial fluid to take the place of drilling mud in the solids phase. A process and apparatus for drilling mud displacement is described including flowing the drilling mud into a horizontal decanter centrifuge, wherein the stresses imposed within the decanter act to force a sacrificial fluid to displace the drilling mud. The embodiment also describes a process wherein vapours or mist are prevented from escaping and becoming airborne into the external atmosphere.

During the drilling of a well, for example for gas or oil, drilling mud is typically pumped down the drill string through a drill bit. The drilling mud simultaneously cools the bit and carries drill cuttings up the well bore. Drilling mud is typically comprised of a fluid (or fluids), and mixture of additives which can be either fluids or solids, forming a useable drilling fluid. Oil base drilling fluids are often used to drill oil and gas wells because they have special characteristics that make them a better cooling/carrying fluid than other drilling muds. Additionally, such drilling muds may offer better wellbore stability and/or lubricity for the drill string in modern, horizontal wellbores.
Typically, the drill cuttings which are carried up the wellbore are subjected to solids separating devices when the cuttings exit the wellbore, such as that of shale shakers or decanter centrifuges. These mechanical separators allow a substantial portion of the drilling mud to be returned to the storage tanks for reuse, while the drill cuttings portion is sent to separate storage tanks.
The drilling mud is a very important aspect of drilling efficiency. "Mud checks" are typically done daily to monitor rheology, viscosity, low gravity solids accumulations, among other parameters. Conditioning or drilling mud rehabilitation is subsequently ordered, to maintain or enhance the drilling mud performance.
With the evolution of new drilling technologies such as horizontal drilling, shale oil or shale gas fracking, and the increasing cost of drilling fluids, the ability to, and benefits of, recovering or enhancing drilling fluid would have clear benefits.
Accordingly, there is a constant search for new technologies and improvements to existing technologies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of reclaiming and recycling processes.

Oilfield centrifuge decanter for drilling waste drying method and apparatus


A method of refreshing magnetization of a servo pattern in a magnetic medium within a disc drive is provided, wherein the servo pattern is at least partially defined by physical features of the medium. The method includes reading servo information through a transducer in the disc drive from a first portion of the servo pattern. The transducer is positioned at a radial position relative to the medium based on the servo information. The magnetization of a second portion of the servo pattern is then refreshed at the radial position with a magnetic field generated by the transducer.

The present invention relates to data storage devices and, in particular, to servo patterns on magnetic media within data storage devices.
In a magnetic disc drive, data is stored on one or more discs, which are coated with a magnetic medium. The magnetic medium is typically divided into a plurality of parallel data tracks, which are arranged concentrically with one another perpendicular to the disc radius.
The data is stored and retrieved by a transducer or xe2x80x9cheadxe2x80x9d that is positioned over a desired track by an actuator arm. The actuator arm moves the head in a radial direction across the data tracks under control of a closed-loop servo system based on position information or xe2x80x9cservo dataxe2x80x9d, which is stored within dedicated servo fields. The servo fields can be interleaved with data sectors on the disc surface or can be located on a separate disc surface that is dedicated to storing servo information. As the head passes over the servo fields, it generates a read back signal that identifies the location of the head relative to the center line of the desired track. Based on this location, the servo system moves the actuator arm to adjust the head""s position so that it moves toward a desired position.
The servo field patterns are typically written onto the disc surface through the product read/write head after the disc has been assembled within the disc drive housing to form a head disc assembly (HDA). A machine called a Servo Track Writer (STW) clamps the HDA along the X, Y and Z axes and then through some method, measures the position of the read/write head and positions the head to the appropriate radial locations to write the servo tracks. Typical methods of obtaining position feedback include the use of a laser interferometer or an optical encoder.
The servo track writer also provides a clock signal with which to align adjacent servo tracks in time. Typically, a clock head is inserted into the HDA and is flown on one of the disc surfaces. The clock head is used to write a clock signal onto the disc surface. This clock signal is then used to run a phased locked loop (PLL) for obtaining a stable reference signal with which to write adjacent radial tracks in a servo pattern with sufficient radial coherence.
In self-servo track writer systems, the servo tracks are written by bootstrapping the position of each track by the position of the previous track in the HDA with no external references. In these systems, errors in the placement of the servo tracks tend to propagate radially from one track to the next as each track is written in the HDA.
As the storage density of disc drives continues to increase, thermal decay of the individual magnetic domains in the servo fields is becoming a greater concern. This thermal decay is due to a xe2x80x9csuperparamagneticxe2x80x9d effect in which individual grains of the magnetic medium within a magnetic domain can spontaneously reverse polarity This causes a degradation in the quality of the read back signal that is produced by the magnetic domain. As the quality of the servo patterns decays, it becomes more difficult for the closed-loop servo control system to generate accurately the reference position signals with which the disc drive finds user data on the disc surface. As a result, some user data can be lost.
One approach that has been proposed to reduce the effects of thermal decay is the use of hard servo patterned media. Hard servo patterned media refers to producing physical features in or on the recording disc that cause the read back transducer to produce a signal that can be used to generate a position error signal (PES) with respect to the center line of the desired data track. Multiple approaches to fabricating servo patterned media have been proposed, which produce multiple classes of servo patterned media.
There are two main methods of producing hard servo patterned media. In the first method, the magnetic disc is fabricated using currently known methods, minus the carbon overcoat and lube. Then, portions of the magnetic medium are etched away to define the servo patterns and other features. The etched magnetic medium is then protected by a layer of carbon, and the lube is applied in the final fabrication step. The pattern of transitions between magnetic and non-magnetic media are used to define the servo patterns. This type of patterning technique may be less susceptible to the superparamagnetic effect if one dibit is formed from one etched island such that the magnetic material of adjacent dibits are physically isolated from one another. This may limit magnetic interaction between the grains of adjacent di-bits.
In the second method, the substrate surface is patterned to form a topography that defines the desired servo pattern features. The magnetic medium is then deposited on top of the featured substrate. Spacing loss between the head and the medium surface due to the substrate topography produces a read back signal that can be used to generate a position error signal (PES). However, because of the continuous magnetic medium film between the raised islands and recessed valleys along the topography, it is not currently clear that thermal decay will not occur if the raised islands are used to define the servo dibits.
The present invention addresses these and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.
One aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of refreshing magnetization of a servo pattern in a magnetic medium within a disc drive, wherein the servo pattern is at least partially defined by physical features of the medium. The method includes reading servo information through a transducer in the disc drive from a first portion of the servo pattern. The transducer is positioned at a radial position relative to the medium based on the servo information. The magnetization of a second portion of the servo pattern is then refreshed at the radial position with a magnetic field generated by the transducer.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of maintaining magnetization of a servo pattern in a disc drive. The method includes operating the disc drive in a normal operating mode in which user data areas within the magnetic medium are accessed by reading servo information from a first portion of the servo pattern through a transducer in the disc drive and positioning the transducer at a desired radial position relative to the medium based on the servo information. The disc drive is then operated in a refresh mode in which the first portion of the servo pattern is re-magnetized with a magnetic field generated by the transducer. The disc drive is returned to the normal operating mode after operating in the refresh mode.
In one embodiment, a representation of a magnetic field strength produced by the magnetic medium within the first portion of the servo pattern is measured while in the normal operating mode. If the representation of the magnetic field strength is less than a threshold level, the disc drive is switched from the normal operating mode to the refresh mode.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a disc drive, which includes a data storage disc and a transducer. The data storage disc includes a magnetic medium having a servo area and a user data area. The servo area is defined by a set of magnetic domains having a magnetization pattern, wherein at least some of the magnetic domains are defined by physical features of the medium. The transducer is adapted to generate a read signal in response to magnetic transitions within the servo area and the user data area and is adapted to generate a write signal in the form of a magnetic field. The disc drive further includes an apparatus for refreshing the magnetization pattern of the set of magnetic domains with the magnetic field generated by the transducer.

Method and apparatus for refreshing servo patterns in a disc drive


A plasma processing system and method wherein a power source produces a magnetic field and an electric field, and a window disposed between the power source and an interior of a plasma chamber couples the magnetic field into the plasma chamber thereby to couple power inductively into the chamber and based thereon produce a plasma in the plasma chamber. The window can be shaped and dimensioned to control an amount of power capacitively coupled to the plasma chamber by means of the electric field so that the amount of capacitively coupled power is selected in a range from zero to a predetermined amount. Also, a tuned antenna strap having r.f. power applied thereto to produce a standing wave therein can be arranged adjacent the window to couple magnetic field from a current maximum formed in the strap to the interior of the chamber. A desired amount of magnetic field and/or electric field coupling can be produced by arrangement of the chamber window adjacent that portion of the antenna strap exhibiting the desired current/voltage relationship. The system may be formed in a line source configuration, or in a cylindrical source configuration. The window may have slots and/or apertures, the size and shape of which may be variable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma processing system and method, and more particularly to a plasma processing system and method with inductive coupling.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventional plasma reactors used in semiconductor manufacturing have round parallel plate electrodes. A sample typically rests on a lower electrode and a plasma is formed above the sample to create reactive species to carry out deposition or etching operations. The power is coupled to the plasma capacitively.
For large area depositions, such as polycrystalline silicon deposition to form flat panel displays, it is difficult to use the round parallel plate reactors since larger area deposition requires larger electrodes which complicates the deposition process. Also, the machine becomes larger, greatly increasing its cost and the cost to use such a machine, since clean room floor space is very expensive.
A line plasma source has been developed, as described in application Ser. No. 08/383,495, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. A diagram of the source is shown in FIG. 1. A semiconductor wafer 20 with a top surface 20S is shown being transported in a transport direction (depicted by arrow 22) relative to plasma source 24 in a plasma reactor 25. Plasma source 24 includes a plasma chamber 30. Plasma chamber 30 includes walls for defining an essentially elongated narrow rectangular volume. Plasma chamber 30 includes chamber sidewalls 34SL and 34SR, and chamber top wall 34T. A face of plasma chamber 30 opposite chamber top wall 34T is open, forming a chamber outlet aperture. A plasma 44 is generated in the upper portion of the chamber and active species exit the chamber through a long, narrow "line" outlet where they react with a reactive gas or gas mixture on the sample surface. The sample is translated past the plasma line source and the film grows on the sample in a linear fashion. The power is applied to the reactor shown in FIG. 1 with an electric field applicator 50 encased in shield 52. The electric field applicator is positioned outside of the plasma chamber to couple an electric field through the plasma. Quartz windows 48 are disposed in the plasma chamber in the vicinity of the electric field applicator.
The above system has a problem when running at high power levels. The reactor has both current and capacitive components and at high power, and the capacitive component creates difficult problems for plasma reactors. At low frequency operation, the ions may develop significant kinetic energy from the applied a.c. field which may damage the electrodes or chamber walls and which may lead to contamination of the product. Typically the reactors are operated at higher frequencies so the ions cannot react to the a.c. field thereby to avoid collisions. However, operating the reactor at higher frequencies does not solve the problem. While the ions cannot follow the field reversal, a voltage develops between the plasma and the surroundings, termed the self-bias voltage. This DC voltage can accelerate ions into the walls resulting in chamber erosion, contamination of the work product and damage to the work product.
The line source is advantageous in forming large area polycrystalline silicon films. The problems described above occurs when forming such films since the depositions times are not short, increasing the possibility that some of the ions accelerated due to the self-bias will collide with the walls and/or with the product.


An aerodynamic fin and stowable jet vane system preferably for rocket motor issile applications to control roll, pitch, and yaw, in either the aerodynamic or thrust flight control conditions, has a retractable and stowable aerodynamic vane integrated with a stowable thrust vector reaction steering system on a common support. The integrated aerodynamic fins and thrust vector control reduce the overall missile mainframe dimensions and are mounted on a single, space saving support.

The present invention relates in general to an integrated aerodynamic fin and stowable jet vane system and pertains, more particularly, to an integrated system in a missile rocket motor. The integrated system of this invention is an improvement over the conventional thrust vector control (TVC) or jet vane retraction systems.
With the conventional retractable TVC system the jet vane could only be retracted if the jet vane was in a trailing position. The conventional missile air frame aerodynamic fin and TVC systems use a dual support shaft approach. The jet vanes and the aerodynamic fins are separately supported on individual support shafts.
Reference is made to U.S. Statutory Invention Registration (S.I.R.) No. H384 for a disclosure of a stowable, three-axis reaction-steering system control system. The present invention incorporates the TVC system disclosed in the identified reference.
Another drawback associated with existing missile airframe design is the reduction in overall system effectiveness since it is known that large wings or aerodynamic fins tend to limit the minimum size of a missile launcher and will require folding fins in an effort to reduce packing and storing volume. It is known to use folding aerodynamic fins which tend to be complex devices and which are known to introduce aerodynamic flutter. Existing missiles also have a drawback of prohibiting the use of smaller size missile launcher cells for aircraft.

Integrated aerodynamic fin and stowable TVC vane system

The United states of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A magnetoresistive element includes a stack formed by sequentially stacking a first fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a first nonmagnetic layer, a free layer in which a magnetization direction is changeable, a second nonmagnetic layer, and a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a first circumferential wall provided on the second nonmagnetic layer in contact with a circumferential surface of the second fixed layer to surround the second fixed layer, and made of an insulator, and a second circumferential wall provided on the first nonmagnetic layer in contact with a circumferential surface of the free layer to surround the free layer, and made of an insulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive element and a method of manufacturing the same, e.g., a magnetoresistive element capable of recording information by supplying a current in two directions, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) using a ferromagnetic material is expected as a nonvolatile memory that achieves high-speed operation, large capacity, and low power consumption. The MRAM includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element using the tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) effect as a memory element, and stores information in accordance with the magnetization configuration of this MTJ element.
In the conventional MRAM in which data is written by a magnetic field generated by a line current, the coercive force increases as the size of the MTJ element decreases. This often increases a current necessary for data write. In this conventional MRAM, it is difficult to achieve a small cell size for obtaining large capacity and low current at the same time.
A spin-injection-type MRAM using the spin momentum transfer (SMT) write method as a write method that solves the above problem has been proposed. In this spin-injection-type MRAM, information is written by directly supplying a current to the MTJ element, and changing the magnetization direction in a free layer in accordance with the direction of the current. Also, an MTJ element comprising two fixed layers sandwiching a free layer can increase the spin torque. This makes it possible to reduce the critical current density of the MTJ element.
When forming an MTJ element like this, a double magnetic tunnel junction is separated into MTJ elements in an etching step. However, the reaction product formed by etching during junction separation adheres to the side surfaces of the element, and short circuits the free layer and fixed layer. To avoid this short circuit of the free layer and fixed layer, taper etching can be performed. However, the processed sectional shape becomes a tapered shape, and the increase in etching film thickness caused by the two fixed layers increases the processing conversion difference during taper etching. This increases the MTJ element size.
As a related technique of this kind, a technique that improves the characteristics and reliability of an element by preventing the generation of, e.g., a metallic polymer when forming an MTJ cell is disclosed (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-214600).

Magnetoresistive element and method of manufacturing the same