In a method of making a polymer structure on a substrate a layer of a first polymer, having a horizontal top surface, is applied to a surface of the substrate. An area of the top surface of the polymer is manipulated to create an uneven feature that is plasma etched to remove a first portion from the layer of the first polymer thereby leaving the polymer structure extending therefrom. A light emitting structure includes a conductive substrate from which an elongated nanostructure of a first polymer extends. A second polymer coating is disposed about the nanostructure and includes a second polymer, which includes a material such that a band gap exists between the second polymer coating and the elongated nanostructure. A conductive material coats the second polymer coating. The light emitting structure emits light when a voltage is applied between the conductive substrate and the conductive coating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymer nanostructures and, more specifically, to a method of synthesizing aligned polymer nanostructures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aligned nanowires of inorganic semiconductor materials have important applications in photonics, electronics, sensing, bioscience and energy science. Highly desirable in such applications is cost-effective growth of high quality, patterned and uniformly aligned nanowires on a large scale. Aligned inorganic nanowire arrays can be grown using either the vapor-liquid-solid and vapor-solid-solid process at high temperature (>˜500° C.) with the assistance of catalyst particles, or the seed assisted chemical growth at low temperature.
There is an emerging need to fabricate high-performance polymer nanowire (PNW) based nanodevices for flexible electronics and photonics, but the above approaches are likely inapplicable for such purpose. Although templating, chemical synthesis, and even a few ion generating techniques have yielded some such devices, they do not lend themselves to simple and scalable techniques for producing high quality and controllable polymer nanowire arrays with the ability to pattern these polymer nanowires over a large scale.
Fabrication of polymer nanowire arrays of functional polymers has important applications ranging from printable electronics, to implantable synthetic human muscles to sensors and wires in smart clothing. Thin films of conductive polymers such as PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate)) have been used to develop organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), flexible displays and organic solar cells. Semi-crystalline PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) is widely exploited for its high Young's modulus and unique piezoelectric properties. While most organic devices are based on thin film configurations, patterned and aligned polymer nanowires could be used in improving integrated miniaturization of flexible electronics, including sensing textiles, bio-feedback devices, and flexible displays.
Therefore, there is a need for cost effective, scalable system for synthesizing aligned polymer nanowires.

One-step synthesis and patterning of aligned polymer nanowires on a substrate


A flexible display panel is disclosed. The panel includes: a flexible substrate; an organic material layer disposed on the flexible substrate, and the organic material layer includes multiple grooves; multiple thin-film transistors received in the multiple grooves; a planarization layer disposed on the organic material layer and the multiple thin-film transistors; a pixel definition layer disposed on the planarization layer, and including multiple openings; multiple organic light-emitting diodes received in the multiple openings; an encapsulation layer disposed on the multiple organic light-emitting diodes and the pixel definition layer. The formed organic material layer having the groove has good bending property, which can improve the stress absorption and release capability of the device, and can avoid the film from variations in the performance of the thin-film transistors (such as threshold voltage Vth, sub-threshold swing S.S, etc.) that occur during constant bending in order to increase the life of device.

In recent years, the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel has become very popular emerging flat display devices at home and abroad, because the OLED display panel has properties of self-luminous, wide viewing angle, short reaction time, high luminous efficiency, wide color gamut, low operating voltage, thin thickness, large size and capable of manufacturing flexible display panel, and simple process, and also has the potential for low cost.
Compared with the traditional rigid panel, the flexible panel has obvious advantages. It is not only thinner in volume, but also lower in power consumption than the original device, which helps to improve the endurance of the electronic device. At the same time, based on its bendable and flexible properties, it is also much more durable than hard panels, reducing the probability of accidental damage to electronic equipment. However, in the process of continuously bending the conventional flexible display panel, the stress inside the device easily changes the performance of the thin-film transistor in the device (such as the threshold voltage Vth, the sub-threshold swing SS, etc.), and it is also possible to cause delamination between layers in the device, resulting in degradation of device performance and thus reduced lifetime.

Flexible display panel and manufacturing method for the same

Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd.


A method of experimenting on aquatic life in an indoor facility and a lighting assembly for accomplishing the same. The lighting assembly includes a lighting device that emits light at a predetermined wavelength that provides a minimum water penetration depth and is positioned in a manner to provide uniform lighting at the air and water interface within a containment unit housing the aquatic life. The on and off functions are also controlled by the lighting assembly to provide a gradual turn on and turn off to prevent interference of effects of lighting with experimental results.

Lighting can be used to affect the physiology of aquatic animals. Specifically, light is needed for growth of most animal species and can substantially affects the animals' feeding, reproduction, and location in the water column, among other processes. Further, studies have shown that different living organisms are both behaviorally and psychologically affected by light and in particular the wavelength of light they receive. This holds true whether the living organism is a plant or animal as is discussed in several patent applications by the present inventor, including U.S. provisional patent applications 61/669,825 entitled "Light Sources Adapted to Spectral Sensitivity of Plants" by Grajcar and 61/698,074 entitled "Aquatic System for Manipulating Psychological and Physiological Effects in Aquatic Life" by Grajcar, both of which are incorporated in full herein.
In addition, in the field of aquaculture as issues with pollution and transportation costs continue to rise outdoor aquaculture facilities are starting to have significant drawbacks. In particular there is a desire in the aquaculture industry to have indoor aquaculture facilities. For example, in Las Vegas, in an attempt to reduce transportation cost and to ensure the freshest ingredients, some restaurants receive their fish, lobster, shrimp, etc. from local indoor aquaculture facilities.
One of the main differences between indoor aquaculture and covered units, and outdoor aquaculture is the use of artificial lighting as opposed to use of the sun for light. In particular artificial lighting does not provide the same spectrum or wavelength as the sun where many living organisms have both psychological and physiological responses to certain wavelengths as discussed above. As a result of this, companies and universities alike are doing experiments on not just indoor aquaculture, but also the effect of artificial lighting, including in the tank and underwater lighting.
A problem exists at these facilities however, in that the artificial lighting in these facilities themselves affects test results. Specifically, workers turning artificial lighting on and off, and the suddenness of lighting that goes on and off, is not natural in nature and is typically shown as presenting a negative effect on the aquatic animal. Similarly, the amount of secondary lighting from artificial lighting also effects experiments and makes repeatability of experiments difficult at best, thus minimizing scientific relevance of results.

Lighting system and control for experimenting in aquaculture


A row decoding circuit for an EEPROM is described. The row decoding circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit delivers to a word line a predetermined dc voltage in response to a decode signal during both read operation and write operation and stops delivering the predetermined dc voltage when the word line is selected during erase operation. The predetermined dc voltage is the read voltage when the word line is selected during read operation, is the write voltage when the word line is selected during write operation and is a prescribed voltage level when the word line is not selected during either read operation or write operation. The second circuit delivers to the word line a negative erasure voltage in response to the decode signal when the word line is selected during erase operation and stops delivering any voltage to the word line when the word line is not selected during erase operation. The second circuit stops delivering any voltage to the word line when the word line is selected during both read operation and write operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a row decoder and in particular to a row decoder for a flash EEPROM.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flash EEPROMs are characterized by electrical erasability and reprogrammability. Since flash EEPROMs (hereafter referred to as flash memories) fit any application that requires high density arrangement and reprogrammability, many investigations have been undertaken recently. Seki et al. presented a paper on an internal erase and erase-verify control system for a flash memory in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 1147-1151, 1990. The flash memory used by the authors is of the one-transistor type with a stacked gate structure. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the memory cell. N-type drain 202 and source 203 are formed in P-type substrate 201, and control gate 205 and floating gate 204 insulated by insulating layer 206 are provided above the channel region of substrate 201. An oxide layer approximately 10 nm thick, commonly called a tunnel oxide layer, is formed between floating gate 204 and the channel region.
Writing to the memory cell is effected both by applying a high potential (typically 12 V) to control gate 205 and drain 202, and by applying the ground potential to source 203, whereby an avalanche breakdown is caused, allowing hot electrons created by the breakdown to inject into floating gate 204. Erasure of written data is effected by applying the ground potential to control gate 205 and the high potential to source 203 with drain 202 floated, allowing electrons to discharge from floating gate 204 through the Flower-Nordheim tunneling.
In the method of erasing a flash memory described above, however, desired erase characteristics cannot always be obtained, because an erasure voltage is not applicable to source 203 beyond a junction breakdown voltage for the N-type diffusion region which forms source 203. In order to solve this problem, Miyawaki et al. proposed an erasing and row decoding scheme for a low supply-voltage operation of 16 Mb/64 Mb flash EEPROMs, published in the Digest of Technical Papers presented in the 1991 Symposium on VLSI Circuits held in Oiso, Japan (IEEE CAT. No. 91 CH 3018.9).
FIG. 2 shows the circuit diagram of the row decoding circuit devised by Miyawaki et al. The circuit is composed of an RX generator (a booster voltage generator), a row decoder, P-channel transfer gate T1 and P-channel transfer gate T2. Boosted voltage RX generated by the RX generator is applied to the upper-side drain of serially connected N-channel MOSFETs T3, T4 of the row decoder and is delivered to word line WL through P-channel transfer gate T1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ WL RX PG1 PW PG2 NVPP ______________________________________ Read V.sub.BST V.sub.BST V.sub.NEG V.sub.BST V.sub.BST GND Program V.sub.PP V.sub.PPB V.sub.NEG V.sub.PPB V.sub.PPB GND Erase V.sub.ERS GND GND GND V.sub.ERS V.sub.ERS ______________________________________ V.sub.BST : boosted voltage V.sub.PPB : boosted V.sub.PP V.sub.ERS : -12 V V.sub.NEG : negative voltage
As is known from the operating conditions shown in Table 1, transfer gate T1 is turned on during the read and write time in order to transfer read voltage V.sub.BST and write voltage V.sub.PPB respectively, to word line WL, and is turned off during the erase time in order to shut off negative erasure voltage V.sub.ERS from transmitting to the row decoder. Conversely, transfer gate T2 is turned off during read and write times and is turned on during the erase time in order to transfer negative erasure voltage V.sub.ERS to word line WL.
It is to be noted that P-channel MOSFETs are used for transfer gates T1, T2 in order to prevent a junction leakage current which may be caused between the drain.source diffusion region and the substrate when a negative erasure voltage is applied to word line WL during erase operation. Since gate voltage PG2 of transfer gate T2 is equal to source voltage N.sub.VPP (=V.sub.ERS), the erasure voltage applied to word line WL during the erase operation is V.sub.ERS -(-V.sub.th)=V.sub.ERS +V.sub.th, where -V.sub.th denotes the threshold voltage of P-type transfer gate T2 for grounded back gate bias PW. For example, if V.sub.ERS =-12 V and -V.sub.th =-2 V, the actual voltage applied to word line is -10 V which is V.sub.th (=2 V) higher than V.sub.ERS.
FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of the operating condition of the memory cell according to the conventional row decoding scheme and to that proposed by Miyawaki et al. By virtue of this scheme Miyawaki et al. were able to attain low power and high speed erase operation by making use of a source voltage of only 5 V.
A level shift circuit for a CMOS EPROM is presented in the paper of W. Ip et al. (Digest of Technical Papers, 1984 IEEE International Solid-State Circuit Conference, pp. 138 and 139). FIG. 4 shows a row decoding circuit including level shift circuit 2 and transfer gates P1, P2, wherein level shift circuit 2 is an application of the level shift circuit above and transfer gates P1, P2 correspond to transfer gates T1, T2 shown in FIG. 2. Level shift circuit 2 is intended to establish in level-shift line X.sub.SFT, dc voltage V.sub.SFT predetermined so as to act as read voltage V.sub.R and write voltage V.sub.W during read operation and write operation, respectively. Transfer gates P1 and P2 act identically with transfer gates T1 and T2, respectively, described above. Level shift circuit 2 is provided with transfer gate N21 of an N-channel depletion MOSFET, which is directed both to transferring the output of row decoder 1 to level-shift line X.sub.SFT and to shutting off write voltage from being transmitted to row decoder 1, as will be described below. CMOS inverter 23 is made up of P-channel MOSFET P21 and N-channel MOSFET N22, having a gate input connected to level-shift line X.sub.SFT, upper- and lower-side sources supplied with dc supply voltages VD and VSS, respectively. The transition threshold voltage of inverter 23 is set at a voltage below V.sub.th, where - V.sub.th denotes the gate.source threshold voltage of transfer gate N21. D.sub.C supply voltage VD is set at read voltage V.sub.R of high level H (preferably 5 V) during read operation and at write voltage V.sub.W (preferably 12 V) during write operation. Level-shifter transistor P22 is a P-channel MOSFET with the source connected to dc supply voltage VD, the gate supplied with output g of inverter 23 and the drain connected to level-shift line X.sub.SFT.
Transfer gate P1 is a P-channel MOSFET, which transfers dc voltage V.sub.SFT to word line X11 during read operation and write operation and shuts off level-shift line X.sub.SFT from word line X11 during erase operation. Transfer gate P2 is a P-channel MOSFET which transfers negative erasure voltage VS=V.sub.ERS to word line X11 during erase operation and shuts off word line X11 from the erasure voltage supply during read operation and write operation.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ VG1 VG2 VG21 VD VS VB1 VB2 ______________________________________ Read V.sub.NEG H H V.sub.R H H H Write V.sub.NEG V.sub.W L V.sub.W V.sub.W V.sub.W V.sub.W Erase L V.sub.ERS H H V.sub.ERS L L ______________________________________
In read operation, gate voltage VG1 of transfer gate P1 is set at negative voltage V.sub.NEG (preferably -5 V), and gate voltages VG21, VG2 of transfer gates N21, P2, respectively, back gate biases VB1, VB2 of transfer gates P1, P2, respectively, and dc supply voltages VD, VS are set at high level H (normally 5 V.) This voltage setting turns transfer gate P1 on and transfer gate P2 off. Applying high level H to the gate of N-channel depletion transfer gate N21 causes the transfer gate to turn on regardless of the logic level of the row decoder output. Further, applying high-level back gate voltages VB1, VB2 to N-type wells of transfer gates P1, P2 prevents junction leakage currents between the N-type wells and P-type drain.source diffusion regions from flowing. When word line X11 is selected for read operation, row decoder 1 provides a decode signal of high level H which is applied to the input of CMOS inverter 23 through transfer gate N21. Since the transition threshold voltage of CMOS inverter 23 is below H, CMOS inverter 23 delivers low level output g, which causes P-channel level-shifter transistor P22 turn on, causing dc supply voltage VD, i.e., read voltage V.sub.R, to be established in level-shift line X.sub.SFT. Read voltage V.sub.R, is then transmitted to row line X11 through transfer gate P1.
When word line X11 is not selected, row decoder 1 delivers a decode signal of low level L which is applied to the input of CMOS inverter 23 through transfer gate N21, causing output g of CMOS inverter 23 to be at dc supply voltage VD (=H), with the result that level shifter transistor P22 is cut off. Thus, low level L delivered from row decoder 1 is transmitted to word line X11 through transfer gates N21 and P1.
Accordingly, CMOS inverter 23 acts as a detector for detecting the logic level of the decode signal, and level-shifter transistor acts as a switching transistor to connect dc supply voltage VD to transfer gate P1.
In write operation, gate voltage VG1 of transfer gate P1 is set at negative voltage V.sub.NEG (preferably -5 V), gate voltage VG21 of transfer gate N21 is set at low level L (the ground potential), and each of back gate biases VB1 and VB2 of transfer gates P1 and P2, respectively, gate voltage VG2 of transfer gate P2 and dc supply voltages VD and VS are set at write voltage V.sub.W (preferably 10 V). This voltage setting turns transfer gate P1 on and transfer gate P2 off. Further, N-channel depletion transfer gate N21 is initially (it is assumed that the output of row decoder 1 is initially at a low level) caused to be on. Again, applying write voltage V.sub.W to N-type wells of transfer gates P1, P2 as back gate biases VB1, VB2 prevents creation of junction leakage currents. As in read operation, when word line X11 is selected for write operation, row decoder 1 delivers high level H, which causes level shift circuit to deliver write voltage V.sub.W to level shift line X.sub.SFT. When dc voltage V.sub.SFT rises above threshold voltage V.sub.th, transfer gate N21 is cut off, preventing write voltage V.sub.W from being applied to row decoder 1. Write voltage V.sub.W is transmitted to word line X11 through transfer gate P1.
In erase operation, each of gate voltage VG21 of transfer gate N21 and dc supply voltage VD is set at high level H, gate voltage VG1 of transfer gate P1, and back gate biases VB1, VB2 of transfer gates P1, P2, respectively, are set at low level L, and each of dc supply voltage VS and control gate voltage VG2 of transfer gate P2 is set at erasure voltage V.sub.ERS (preferably -10 V). This voltage setting causes transfer gates N21 and P2 to turn on and causes transfer gate P1 to turn off, if dc voltage V.sub.SFT is at low level L. In order to have dc voltage V.sub.SFT of low level L, means for causing the output of row decoder 1 to be at low level L during erase operation (not shown in FIG. 4) is provided in row decoder 1. In this way, dc supply voltage VS (=erasure voltage V.sub.ERS) is applied to row line X11 through transfer gate P2 without any transfer of erasure voltage V.sub.ERS to level-shift line X.sub.SFT.
A problem encounted in the row decoding circuits of prior art shown in FIG. 4 is that, since the gate of transfer gate P2 is not coupled with row decoder 1, the action of transfer gate P2 for erase operation does not respond to the decoding action of row decoder 1.
Another problem is that the negative erasure voltage actually applied to the word line is lower in absolute value than the negative voltage VS supplied to P-channel transfer gate P2 by at least V.sub.TH, as described above. This voltage loss takes place inherently in using a P-channel MOSFET, because the gate potential has to be lower than the source potential by at least V.sub.TH in order for the P-channel MOSFET to be conductive. However, it is quite common to use a P-channel MOSFET for a negative-voltage transmission rather than an N-channel MOSFET to avoid creating a junction leakage current between the source.drain diffusion region and the substrate. Nevertheless, the voltage loss is an important problem to be solved in order to use the internal negative voltage source of an EEPROM device efficiently.
A further problem encountered in the prior art is that none of the prior art row decoding circuits is capable of selecting one or more word lines from a group of word lines for erase operation.


Methods and apparatus to measure mass in low gravity environments are disclosed. A disclosed example low-gravity mass-measuring apparatus includes a coupler to couple a coupling portion to an object, the coupling portion including a first inertial measurement unit (IMU), a force device to provide a force to cause a movement of a dock relative to the coupling portion, where the dock is releasably couplable to the coupling portion and includes a second IMU, and a processor to calculate a mass of the object based on movement data from the first and second IMUs and the force.

In some situations, a mass of an object within a spacecraft in an orbital path (e.g., a near orbit path) may necessitate measurement to account for flight, movement, inertial and/or thrust effects. However, these mass measurements can be difficult to perform in low gravity environments. Some known low gravity measurement devices employ springs to calculate a mass. However, these known devices cannot typically measure smaller masses. Further, such devices can have inherent inaccuracies.


A first transmitting device is used to transmit a first signal on a first carrier frequency to a relay device. The relay device receives the signal by demodulating the first carrier frequency. Subsequently, the relay device retransmits the signal by modulating a second and/or a third carrier frequency. The signal is then recovered at one or more receiving devices by demodulating the second and/or third carrier frequencies. Further, a second transmitting device transmits a second signal on a fourth carrier frequency and the relay device retransmits the signal by modulating a fifth and/or a sixth carrier frequency. The signal is then recovered at one or more receiving devices by demodulating the fifth and/or sixth carrier frequencies. The transmitting and/or receiving devices are preferably voice terminals, such as a wireless telephones or data terminals, such as portable computers. The transmitting and/or receiving devices are optionally coupled to a communications network, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet. The relay device is preferably a multiple beam satellite and/or a ground station covering several distinct geographical regions.

Radio communication systems rely on modulating carrier frequencies (i.e. a channel) in a finite portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to wirelessly transmit and receive signals. Modulation can be performed on the amplitude, frequency, and/or phase of the carrier frequency to separate the signal from unwanted noise. The signals typically convey information such as voice, video, and computer data between transmitting/receiving devices such as voice terminals (e.g., wireless phone) and data terminals (e.g., portable computer).
In order to transmit the signals over a large distance, a relay such as a satellite may be used. Passive communication satellites may be used to return transmitted signals to earth on the same carrier frequency they were transmitted on. Active communication satellites can be used to receive the transmitted signals on one carrier frequency and to retransmit the signals on another carrier frequency. Geosynchronous satellites are especially well suited for such a task due to their stationary position relative to the earth's surface.
Often it is desirable to communicate in a netted broadcast fashion. For example, a military commander may need to transmit an order to a large number of receivers which individually confirm that they received the order, or a data server may need to transmit information to multiple clients who verify reception. Currently, systems relay broadcast signals on a particular frequency and people who want to participate, tune their receiver to that channel, as in a UHF satellite system. Alternatively, conference calls may be established. Each participant in the conference call communicates with a central station such as a cell site or satellite using a pair of unique carrier frequencies. The central station combines the signals of conferencing callers and then transmits the combined signal to each receiver using its unique carrier frequency.
Prior art approaches for netted broadcast communication suffer from certain drawbacks. For instance, conference calling requires one channel per user. As the number of receivers grows the channels are exhausted. Therefore, only a relatively small number of receivers may participate. Similarly, UHF and other broad beam systems have a relatively small number of channels and require users to tune their receiver to one particular channel. None of these techniques are well suited for use in a digital beam forming satellite communication system, wherein multiple beams distinguished by frequency band are used to cover multiple geographical regions while reusing frequencies to increase capacity in a spectrum limited system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An earpiece (2) for a hearing aid (12) comprises a plug (20) for contacting the meatus of the users ear canal, a contact element (13) for resting against an inside of the users tragus and or the ear canal, and a fixture for holding the plug and the contact element together, the fixture having means for adjusting the spacing between the plug and the contact element. The invention further provides a hearing aid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hearing aids. The invention further relates to an earpiece for a hearing aid. The invention, more particularly, relates to behind-the-ear hearing aids.
2. The Prior Art
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids generally comprise a housing, a tube and an earpiece. The housing accommodates electronics, a microphone and a miniature loudspeaker, which serve to pick up sounds, amplify them and produce an amplified acoustic output signal. The tube provides a conduit for conveying the acoustic signal from the housing to the earpiece, and the earpiece couples acoustic energy from the tube into the ear canal. In use, the housing is placed behind the external ear, partially concealed. The tube, or at least a part of it, is semi-rigid or resilient in order that the tube may also serve the purpose of resting the hearing aid on the external ear of the user. The earpiece is adapted, e.g. through resilience or customization, to the users ear, to rest in the meatus of the ear canal.
EP-A-1448014 provides an earpiece adapted to allow sounds from outside the ear to propagate to the tympanic membrane. This earpiece comprises a resilient fiber for abutting a lower part of the concha when the earpiece is inserted in the ear canal.

Earpiece for a hearing aid and a hearing aid


A device or system through which fluid is adapted to flow, such as, for example, a fluid-carrying conduit, flow control valve, or fluid expansion device including, for example, a steam turbine or fluid expander, according to which acoustic energy is generated by, or present within, the device or system and the acoustic energy is attenuated.

The present disclosure relates in general to devices or systems through which fluid is adapted to flow, such as, for example, fluid-carrying conduits, flow control valves, or fluid expansion devices including, for example, steam turbines or fluid expanders, and in particular to devices or systems through which fluid is adapted to flow and in which noise, or acoustic energy, is generated or present, and where it would be desirable to attenuate the acoustic energy. Therefore, the present exemplary embodiments provide, among other things, attenuation of acoustic energy generated and/or present within devices or systems through which fluid is adapted to flow.

Fluid expansion device and method with noise attenuation


Solder powders coated with a thin layer of parylene and solder pastes containing the coated solder powders are disclosed. The coated solder powders can exhibit a high degree of resistance to oxidation and to reaction with the flux contained in the solder paste without substantially interfering with the reflow characteristics of the solder.

In the electronics industry, electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, integrated circuits, chip carriers and the like, are typically mounted on circuit boards in one of two ways. In one way, the components are mounted on one side of the board and the leads from the components extend through the board and are soldered to the circuit on the opposite side of the board. In the other way, the components are mounted and soldered on the same side as the circuit, i.e. surface-mounted.
Solder paste is commonly used for surface-mounted soldering of electrical components to circuit boards. Solder paste is useful because it can be applied to selected areas of the circuit board and can be readily adapted to automation. Its tacky characteristic provides the capability of holding the electrical components in position without additional adhesives before forming the permanent bonds by soldering.
Solder paste typically comprises a solder powder, a resinous component such as rosin, activators such as organic acids or amines, rheological control agents, thickeners and solvents. The solder paste is typically coated on the circuit board by means of screen printing, dispensing, transfer printing and the like. Thereafter, the electrical components are placed on the circuit board and the solder paste is reflowed. The term "reflow", as used herein, means heating the solder sufficiently to cause it to melt and thereafter cooling the solder sufficiently to cause it to solidify.
One problem in the industry associated with the use of solder paste is that it often has a short and unpredictable shelf life, e.g., typically from about one month to six months. The unpredictability in shelf life is caused, at least in part, by variations in the lag time from when the solder powder is made to the time it is mixed with flux to form solder paste, thereby resulting in variations in the degree of oxidation on the solder powder. Such oxidized powder does not reflow as well as unoxidized powder and tends to agglomerate and form solder balls. Furthermore, when the solder powder is combined with flux, which is corrosive, the solder powder often reacts with the flux, thereby further oxidizing the powder and reducing the acidity of the flux. As a result, the solder paste often becomes less effective with time. Moreover, the reaction between the solder powder and the flux typically causes the viscosity of the solder paste to increase substantially, which can make printing of the solder paste difficult or impossible.
Attempts have been made to reduce the reaction rate between the solder powder and the flux and thereby increase the shelf life of the solder paste, by storing the solder paste under refrigeration conditions. However, refrigeration is not effective to compensate for the varying degrees of oxidation on the solder powder prior to its incorporation into the solder paste.
It has also been proposed to coat the solder powder with materials that are non-reactive with the solder paste. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,326, issued Feb. 19, 1991, discloses at column 4, lines 44 to 50:
The coating agents to be used are insoluble or hardly soluble in a vehicle for solder pastes to be described later, and may include those based on silicone and fluorine such as, for instance, silicone oils, silicone base high-molecular compounds, fluorinated silicone oils, fluorosilicone resins and fluorinated hydrocarbon base high-molecular compounds. PA1 When a carbon-containing compound is used as the coating agent, a quantitative analysis value for carbon is preferably 30 to 70 mol %.
The patent also discloses a relatively large mount of coating material which is applied to the solder powder. For instance, at column 5, lines 44 to 47, it is stated:
According to the above-referenced patent, the relatively large amount of coating material may be effective to inhibit oxidation of the solder powder. However, in general, large amounts of coating material are undesirable since they can create a barrier which can inhibit the reflow of the solder. Moreover, such large amounts of coating material may cause physical obstructions and/or impurities which result in poor reflow characteristics. In general, poor reflow characteristics are evidenced by the formation of solder balls and by the inadequate wetting of the substrate by the flux which can cause poor spreading of the solder and a discontinuous solder connection.
In addition, the above-referenced patent discloses the use of fluorinated hydrocarbons which are used as solvents in coating the solder powder. Currently, fluorinated hydrocarbons are considered to be an environmental pollutant and the use thereof is generally undesirable.
In view of the problems described above, improved solder pastes having coated solder powder are desired which can inhibit oxidation of the solder powder without substantially inhibiting the reflow characteristics of the solder.

Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation


An edge module for a modular plastic conveyor belt with a resilient blocking member for preventing migration of a hinge rod out of its resident position in the hinge joint of the belt. The edge module includes a hinge rod aperture intersected by a recess. A blocking element in the form of a resilient strip is retained at one end in the recess against a curved outer side wall of the recess in a blocking position occluding the aperture. The other end of the blocking element is elastically deformable away from the outer side wall into a non-blocking position by the force of a hinge rod being inserted into the aperture from the outside edge of the module.

The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to hinge rod retention structure in plastic conveyor belts constructed of rows of modules pivotally interconnected by hinge rods.
Conventional modular plastic conveyor belts and chains are constructed of modular plastic links, or belt modules, arranged end to end and side to side in rows. Spaced-apart hinge eyes extending from each end of the modules include aligned rod apertures. The hinge eyes along the leading end of a row of modules are interleaved with the hinge eyes along the trailing end of an adjacent row. Hinge rods, residing in the aligned rod apertures of interleaved hinge eyes, connect adjacent rows together end to end to form a conveyor belt of selected length and width capable of articulating about a drive sprocket or drum at the hinges formed between adjacent belt rows.
But belt motion and belt tension, especially in an environment subjected to wide temperature excursions, can cause the hinge rods to migrate along the hinge or to lengthen relative to the width of the belt. If a rod migrates away from one side of the belt, the modules at that side can disengage, which can cause damage to the belt. If a rod is allowed to extend out of the hinge beyond the side of the belt, the rod can catch on conveyor structure or other objects and cause damage. Consequently, it is important that hinge rods be contained within the belt.
Some conventional modular plastic conveyor belts use a stop in the form of a thin strip molded integrally as part of an edge module of a modular belt to retain a hinge rod in the belt. The integrally-molded stop and edge module are both made of the same material. But some applications require that the module exhibit properties, such as flexibility or stiffness, that are inconsistent with forming a firm, but resilient stop that can elastically bend from a blocking position preventing a hinge rod from migrating past the side edge of the belt to a non-blocking position during insertion of a hinge rod into a rod aperture in the belt.
Consequently, there is a need for a rod retention system for a modular plastic conveyor belt whose effectiveness does not depend on the material out of which the belt is molded.

Hinge rod retention in modular conveyor belt edges by means of resilient blocking elements


A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yocool’, characterized by its upright cut Chrysanthemum that is usually grown as a natural spray; dark green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit; uniform inflorescence form and development; large daisy-type inflorescences; white-colored ray florets; response time about ten weeks; strong peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Yocool'.
The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars having inflorescences with desirable colors and good inflorescence form and substance.
The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2000, in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as code number T2737, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as T2870, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.
The cultivar Yocool was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., in March, 2002. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence color and good inflorescence form and substance.
Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since May, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A polyol monomer comprising the formula:

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the formation of diols and polyols and formation of polyurethanes therefrom.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Epoxy compounds have been reacted with bisphenols to form high molecular weight polymers. These reactions typically result in solvent based resins that can then be cured with isocyanates.
Polyurethanes have been made from alcohols and isocyanates. These reactions may cure quickly, even at low temperatures. The polymers are generally flexible, tough, and have good adhesion, but have inferior chemical resistance in comparison to epoxy resins. Polyurethanes can suffer from cathodic disbondment, in general due to the nature of the diols, which are susceptible to hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. Polyether diols are also used, but suffer from high water pick-up. The traditional focus for polyurethanes has been for the decorative and automotive markets.
It is known that a polymer containing multiple hydroxyl groups can be cross-linked with isocyanates. However, the starting polymer may be a solid or have a high viscosity. The polymer may need to be dissolved in a solvent in order to perform the cross-linking. The solvent must then be removed from the system, typically by evaporation.
It is also known that polymers with terminal hydroxyl groups, such as poly(ethylene glycol), may also be cross-linked with an isocyanate. These polymers may also be a solid or have a high viscosity, requiring the use of a solvent.
It is also known that a low molecular weight polyol, such as low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) can be cross-linked with an isocyanate. These polyols suffer from the drawback that they are not compatible or soluble in the isocyanate.
Low molecular weigh esters and acrylics have been reacted with isocyanates to form thermosets. However, these polymers suffer from hydrolysis under alkaline conditions.
There is need for a polyol monomer that is compatible with isocyanates, such it can cross-link with a polyisocyanate without the need for solvent. The desirable system would have the chemical resistance of a polyepoxide and the curing and mechanical properties of a polyurethane.

Abstract: R1 is aliphatic or aromatic, R2 is aliphatic, aromatic, ester, ether, or acrylic, and R1 contains a hydroxyl group, R2 contains —O—CH2—CH(OH)—, or both. R1 is not a C4 or larger linear, unsubstituted aliphatic when R2 is a residue of a bisphenol. The polyol monomer may be made by reacting an epoxy and an alcohol. Either the epoxy contains more than one epoxide groups, the alcohol is a polyol, or both. A thermoset made by reacting the polyol monomer with a polyisocyanate.

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


There is provided a vehicle headlamp that can be miniaturized and that can form a synthetic light distribution pattern (for example, a low-beam light distribution pattern) in which a hot zone is brighter. The vehicle headlamp that forms the synthetic light distribution pattern including the hot zone and a diffusion region diffused from the hot zone, includes at least one first lighting fixture unit including a laser light source and a first optical system that forms a first light distribution pattern to irradiate light forward from the laser light source and irradiate the hot zone, and at least one second lighting fixture unit including an LED light source and a second optical system that forms a second light distribution pattern to irradiate light forward from the LED light source and irradiate the diffusion region.

In the related art, there is suggested a vehicle headlamp which includes a plurality of light source units using a semiconductor light-emitting element such as an LED as a light source and which synthesizes a target light distribution pattern by overlapping a plurality of light distribution patterns formed with the light irradiated from the plurality of light source units (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4365253 "PTL 1").
The vehicle headlamp described in PTL 1 includes: a light focusing unit including an LED with relatively high luminance and a reflector of substantially ellipse spherical shape that forms a hot zone by focusing light from the LED with high luminance; and a diffusion unit including an LED with relatively low luminance and a diffusion optical system that forms a diffusion region by diffusing light from the LED with low luminance.
According to the vehicle headlamp described in PTL 1, it is possible to form a synthetic light distribution pattern in which a hot zone is brighter (for example, a low-beam light distribution pattern), by overlapping a hot zone formed with the light irradiated from the light focusing unit (that is, the light from the LED with relatively high luminance, which is focused by the reflector of a substantially ellipse spherical shape) and the diffusion region formed with the light irradiated from the diffusion unit (that is, the light from the LED with relatively low luminance, which is diffused by the diffusion optical system).
However, in the vehicle headlamp described in PTL 1, although an LED equal to or above a certain light-emitting size is required to secure the brightness requested in the hot zone, it may be necessary to improve the light harvesting using a reflector equal to or above a certain size in order to focus the light (light source image) from the LED equal to or above the certain light-emitting size to the hot zone.
Therefore, in the vehicle headlamp described in PTL 1, although it is possible to form a synthetic light distribution pattern in which the hot zone is brighter (for example, the low-beam light distribution pattern), there is a problem that it is not possible to miniaturize the optical system including the reflector (that is, miniaturize the headlamp). If the optical system including the reflector is miniaturized (that is, the headlamp is miniaturized), the light (light source image) from the LED equal to or above the certain light-emitting size cannot be sufficiently focused, the vehicle front side other than the hot zone is brightened too and therefore there is a problem that the brightness feeling in the distance decreases (that is, the distance visibility decreases).
The disclosed subject matter is made in view of such conditions and can be configured to provide a vehicle headlamp that can be miniaturized and that can form a synthetic light distribution pattern (for example, a low-beam light distribution pattern) in which a hot zone is brighter.


A method of authenticating a computing device to a back-end subsystem. In one embodiment a prover black-box in the computing device regenerates a credential containing a key pair from a PIN and a protocredential, and authenticates cryptographically to a verifier black-box in the back-end subsystem; then the verifier black-box sends an authentication token to the prover black-box as verifiable confirmation of the cryptographic authentication, the prover black-box sends the authentication token to an application front-end in the computing device, the application front-end sends the authentication token to an application back-end in the back-end subsystem, and the application back-end verifies the authentication token.

Passwords are commonly used for returning-user authentication to a software application back-end across a network such as the Internet, but they have well known security weaknesses, including vulnerability to phishing attacks, breaches of back-end database security, and reuse at malicious sites. Furthermore, passwords are ill-suited for use on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets: entering a strong password with letters, digits and punctuation on a small touch screen keyboard is cumbersome, and password characters are exposed to shoulder surfing because they are echoed by the keyboard as they are being typed in an effort to prevent typographical errors.
Cryptography provides alternatives for returning-user authentication that are more secure and better suited for mobile devices. For example, a mobile device could authenticate to an application back-end by proving knowledge of a private key that is part of a key pair pertaining to a public key cryptosystem, a hash of the public key that is part of the same key pair having been previously registered with the application back-end; the user would be indirectly authenticated as the owner of the device. This is more secure than authentication with a password because the private key is not sent to the application back-end or stored in a back-end database; and it is better suited for mobile devices because it does not require typing a password.
Cryptography also allows a user to authenticate to an application back-end as having an identity or attributes asserted by a third-party, without the third-party being involved in the authentication transaction. For example, a computing device owned by the user may generate a key pair pertaining to a public key cryptosystem. The user may ask the third-party to sign a public key certificate binding the public key that is part of the key pair to one or more identifiers and/or attributes that the third-party is authoritative for, and may then store the public key certificate in the computing device together with the private key that is part of the key pair. The computing device may then authenticate to the application back-end by sending the certificate and proving knowledge of the private key. The user controlling the device is then indirectly authenticated as being entitled to the identifier and/or attributes.
Cryptography is currently used successfully for user authentication in some specific use cases, such as authentication of a US federal employee to the information system of a US federal agency using a public key certificate and its associated private key stored in a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card connected to a personal computer. But cryptographic authentication is not broadly used outside such specific use cases.
But cryptographic authentication also has drawbacks.
One drawback is that it is difficult to implement for application developers. While user authentication with a password simply requires transmission of the password from a user's device to the application back-end, cryptographic authentication requires execution of a cryptographic protocol involving multiple cryptographic operations (such as digital signatures, verification of digital signatures, computation of cryptographic hashes, etc.) by multiple parties, and transmission of multiple messages between those parties. The details of the individual cryptographic operations performed by the parties to a cryptographic protocol are typically hidden from application developers in cryptographic libraries, but application developers must still cope with many difficulties. They must understand the cryptographic protocol, install cryptographic libraries, ensure that all parties agree on the parameters of the protocol, implement the sequence of messages and cryptographic operations required by the protocol, and handle errors and exceptions.
Another drawback is that it relies on one or more secrets stored in the user's device, such as a private key. Mobile devices are easily lost or stolen, hence the user's device may easily be captured by an adversary. If no precautions are taken the adversary may obtain the secrets used for cryptographic authentication and use them to impersonate the user. One precaution that can be taken, is to encrypt such secrets using an encryption key derived from a password supplied by the user. However, prior art techniques for encrypting the secrets allow the adversary to launch an offline dictionary attack against the password after capturing the device and obtaining the encrypted secrets. To resist the attack, the user must use a high-entropy password, which is not practical when the password must be entered on a small touch screen keyboard.
Hence there is a need for cryptographic authentication techniques, well suited for mobile devices, that are easier to implement for application developers and provide more effective protection against an adversary who captures a device.

Cryptographic authentication techniques for mobile devices


A phosphor sheet-forming resin composition uses a low-cost resin material having high light fastness and low visible light absorption and is capable of providing a phosphor sheet at low cost with deterioration of a phosphor due to moisture being suppressed. The phosphor sheet-forming resin composition contains a film-forming resin composition and a powdery phosphor that emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light. The film-forming resin composition contains a hydrogenated styrene-based copolymer, and uses a sulfide-based phosphor as the phosphor. Examples of the hydrogenated styrene-based copolymer include hydrogenated products of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers. CaS:Eu is used as a preferred sulfide-based phosphor.

In one conventional attempt to obtain white light, a phosphor sheet, in which a powdery red phosphor that emits red fluorescence when irradiated with blue light and a green phosphor that emits green fluorescence when irradiated with blue light are dispersed in a resin material having high visible light transmittance, is irradiated with light emitted from a blue light-emitting diode (blue LED) so that red light and green light are caused to be emitted from the phosphor sheet irradiated with the blue light, and then the blue light is mixed with red light and green light to produce white light (Patent Literature 1).

Phosphor sheet-forming resin composition


Formats for the optical testing of fluids are manufacturing using modular format components. The format components are constructed so that matching format components can be mated together to form a single format for optical testing. Formats may be manufactured using pin-and-hole construction so that pins on optical format components mate with holes on opposing format components. Optical read surfaces provided on optical format components oppose each other in a completed optical format to form a read area.

In recent years, various types of medical analysis have become increasingly decentralized and more accessible to the patient. The testing of bodily fluids represents one example of this decentralization. Many tests that previously had to be performed at a doctor's office and perhaps even analyzed at a separate office can now be performed immediately and inexpensively in the comfort of a patient's home. One example of such a test is blood glucose monitoring, which is widely used among diabetic patients.
Optical analysis has presented itself as one convenient method for analyzing bodily fluids. In a typical optical analysis application, a certain amount of fluid is placed in a read area adapted to allow light to pass through the fluid or to reflect or diffuse upon contact with the fluid. The light as altered by the fluid can then be collected and analyzed, with changes in the light indicating medically significant properties of the fluid. Fluid may be directed to a read area using a "format," or a platform for collecting and handling the fluid.
A problem arises in that the fluid volumes used for such analyses is very small—typically in the range of from about 50 nl to about 250 nl, though not limited to any given volume. It is preferable to enable testing with a small sample volume, but such a small sample volume calls for the use of a small read area or window upon which the sample is placed and through which light is passed for analysis. Further, the small sample size requires tight tolerances in the manufacture of formats for optical testing. To ensure consistent analysis from sample to sample, it is important to minimize format-to-format variations in the path light travels through an optical format. Any variability in optical path length directly impacts the magnitude of a transmission signal. Smaller sample sizes drive the need for increased consistency in format construction. Solutions to address the problem of optical path length variation between manufactured formats have resulted in costly precision cuvettes, complex molding techniques, or long optical path lengths to minimize the impact of path length tolerance. None of these solutions is ideal for high-production-volume, low cost, and low-sample-volume systems.
One type of format uses a base member with a cover member adhesively connected to the base member. In these formats, the placement of adhesive between the cover and the base is one source of variation in optical path length that tends to reduce the sample-to-sample precision of testing.
There is a need for optical formats that are efficient to manufacture and easy to use, and that result in precise measurements.

Formats for optical analysis and methods of manufacturing the same


A communication system and method for measuring communication channel qualities of one or more partial bands of a communication band is provided. A mobile station represents measured communication channel qualities of the partial bands by relative value information in a frequency direction and/or time direction and selectively communicates the relative value information to a base station. The relative value information in the frequency direction represents a difference in the communication channel qualities of the partial bands at a first timing. The relative value information in the time direction represents a difference between the communication channel qualities of the partial bands at a second timing and the communication channel qualities of the partial bands at a time prior to the second timing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication method and a mobile station and a base station used for the same, and more specifically to a communication channel quality informing method for informing a communication channel quality of a downlink channel of a plurality of different bands when a downlink packet communication is performed in a mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A packet communication method that includes a plurality of mobile stations sharing a wireless band includes the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the LTE (Long Term Evolution) which are standardized in the 3GPP. In such a packet communication system, a mobile station measures a receiving quality of a pilot channel that is sent in a downlink channel and informs a base station of the measurement via the uplink channel as the Channel Quality Indicator (CQI).
Association between the receiving quality and the CQI is determined, for example, the CQI of 30 levels (five bits of information) is defined in the HSDPA. A base station uses the CQI informed from a mobile station for packet scheduling for allocating a sending occasion or adaptive modulation for changing a coding ratio between the modulation method and the communication channel coding. By using the communication channel quality, the base station can provide communication according to a communication channel for each mobile station for enabling an effective use of a wireless band.
As an access method of a downlink channel of the LTE, the OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) is considered. With the wireless band allocated to a system divided into a plurality of small Resource Blocks (RB), the mobile station informs a base station of a CQI for each RB. That implements the frequency division multiplex, enabling to allocate the resources to different mobile stations by the unit of RB (see 3GPP TSG RAN, TR25.814v.1.2.0, "Physical Layer Aspects for Evolved UTRA", (2006-2)). FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless band allocated to a system divided into K RBs in total from 1 to K.
As a wireless band allocated to a system is getting wider, however, the transmission rate in the downlink channel is getting faster and the number of RBs are increasing. For example, under the LTE, a band for a RB is around 375 kHz, which is divided into 12 in the system band of 5 MHz. It is assumed that the band of the RB is constant regardless of the system band width. As the system band is getting wider, the mobile station needs to inform more number of CQIs.
The mobile station uses the uplink channel for informing the CQI. In the LTE, the uplink channel is also a shared channel and uses the frequency division multiplex. Therefore, the number of mobile stations that is allowed to send at the same timing is limited. Specifically, as more mobile stations are getting to connect with a base station, a periodical sending method is also used for increasing the multiplexing number in the uplink channel.
On the other hand, the CQI is used for scheduling or adaptive modulation in the downlink channel. In such a case, if a communication channel quality cannot be informed of at a suitable period, neither scheduling nor adaptive modulation adapted to the communication channel quality of the mobile station cannot be implemented. That lowers throughput in the downlink channel.
An exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a communication system with a CQI informing method that can reduce the usage rate of wireless resources required for the CQI information, a method for the same, and a mobile station and a base station used for the same.

Communication system, communication method, mobile station and base station used for the same


A storage protocol test server interfaced with a storage device and a client includes a multi-layered architecture for testing a conformance of the storage device to a storage protocol as dictated by the client. The layers operate to participate in a test case session between the server and the client to facilitate a communication of test case information from the client to the server, the test case information specifying elements for testing the conformance of the storage device to the storage protocol. Additionally, the layers operate to create a storage protocol conformance test based on the test case information received from the client, the test being specifically designed for testing the conformance of the storage device to the storage protocol, and to participate in a test session between the server and the storage device to facilitate an exchange of test instructions and test results in accordance with the test.

Storage protocol conformance testing is known in the art for verifying an operation of a storage interface to an industry standard. There are many different storage protocols (e.g., Fibre Channel, Serial Attached SCSI, and iSCSI), and historically different test systems (e.g., hardware and device drivers) have been required to test the different storage protocols. Specifically, the test system for Fibre Channel is different than the test system for Serial Attached SCSI, which is different than the test system for iSCSI. Furthermore, the test systems for variations of a storage protocol may be different.
As such, there is little, if any, reuse between test systems for different storage protocols and different variations of a storage protocol. It is a challenge for the computer industry to therefore develop techniques for reusing a test system that is used for a particular storage protocol to the greatest extent possible in developing a new test system for a different storage protocol or variation of a storage protocol.

Multilayered architecture for storage protocol conformance testing of storage devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A virtual production line indicating an object (e.g., a vehicle) sequence for an actual production line and objects (e.g., vehicles) planned in the future is updated based on a long-term production plan, a fixed production plan, and actual production results. Then, the ordering timings for the parts necessary for the respective objects in the virtual production line are calculated based on the timing for using the parts and the delivery lead time, and the orders are placed according to those timings.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a parts procurement system and method that allows a parts order required to manufacture objects (e.g., vehicles) manufactured on a production line to be made at the appropriate time.
2. Description of Related Art
It has conventionally been necessary to properly procure parts during the course of assembly for products such as automobiles and other vehicles that are composed of many parts. Accordingly, various proposals are being made so as to allow ordering of parts at proper times in accordance with the production plan.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-190586 proposes a parts procurement system in which judgment as to when to make a parts order is made based on when the parts are used, lead time necessary for the delivery of parts from the time an order is placed, the number of parts used, and the like, and selecting an appropriate ordering method thereby.
The parts ordering methods include a replenishment method in which orders are placed to replenish the parts that have been used, a production stage ordering method in which orders are placed at an actual production stage, and a production planning stage ordering method in which orders are placed when a production plan is fixed.
By adopting these ordering methods as appropriate, parts are ordered at appropriate times, thereby preventing a shortage of parts and enabling the number of stocked parts to be decreased.
However, the above-mentioned technique is built on an assumption that the lead time for parts delivery is relatively short, and therefore does not deal with cases with long delivery lead times. That is, there are no methods provided which cover those parts that cannot be delivered in time if the order is placed after the production plan is fixed. In the case of such parts with long delivery lead times, usually a long-term plan is made before the production plan is fixed so as to make orders based on that long-term plan. However, there are many cases where the actual production is not carried out as planned by the long-term plan, resulting in a shortage of parts or unnecessary stock of parts.


A system and method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving one or more bids for at least one of an enhanced rendering quality and an enhanced rendering order of an object in a virtual universe (VU) and performing a bid resolution for the received one or more bids. Additionally, the method includes rendering one or more objects in the VU with the at least one of the enhanced rendering quality and the enhanced rendering order based on the bid resolution.

Virtual universes (VUs) are rapidly becoming a popular part of today's culture. A VU is a computer-based simulated environment. Many VUs are represented using 3-D graphics and landscapes, and are populated by many thousands of users, known as "residents". Often, the VU resembles the real world such as in terms of physics, houses, and landscapes.
VUs are also known as metaverses and "3D Internet." Some example VUs include: SECOND LIFE™, ENTROPIA UNIVERSE®, THE SIMS ONLINE™ and THERE™—as well as massively multiplayer online games such as EVERQUEST®, ULTIMA ONLINE™, LINEAGE® and WORLD OF WARCRAFT®. (SECOND LIFE is a trademark of Linden Research, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. ENTROPIA UNIVERSE is a registered trademark of MindArk PE AB in the United States, other countries, or both. THE SIMS ONLINE and ULTIMA ONLINE are trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. THERE is a trademark of Makena Technologies, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. EVERQUEST is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation of America, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. LINEAGE is a registered trademark of NCsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. WORLD OF WARCRAFT is a registered trademark of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both.)
A VU is intended for its residents to traverse, inhabit, and interact through the use of avatars. In operation, user(s) control the avatar(s). An avatar is a graphical representation of the user, often taking the form of a cartoon-like human or other figure. The user's account, upon which the user can build an avatar, is tied to the inventory of assets the user owns. A region is a virtual area of land within the VU, typically residing on a server. Assets, avatar(s), the environment, and everything else visually represented in the VU each comprise universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) (tied to geometric data distributed to user(s) as textual coordinates), textures (distributed to user(s) as graphics files), and effects data (rendered by the user's client according to the user's preference(s) and user's device capabilities).
On-line virtual universes or environments present a tremendous new outlet for both structured and unstructured virtual collaboration, gaming and exploration, as well as real-life simulations in virtual spaces. These activities, along with yet to be disclosed new dimensions, in turn, provide a wide open arena for creative and new advertising methods and mechanisms. Immersive virtual universes, among other things, are an avenue to expose potential consumers to a company's advertising. One form of virtual universe advertising includes the display of billboards that are rendered on the client's screen. With the astounding and continual increase in the number of users of virtual worlds, companies are taking more interest in reaching out to virtual world residents through advertising.

System and method for prioritization of rendering policies in virtual environments

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


This invention discloses an electronic musical instrument incorporating an auto-accompaniment apparatus, which can desirably set a tempo of rhythm accompaniment tones (e.g., chord, bass, and drum accompaniment tones) using a tempo preset button or an increment/decrement button during a play operation. The read speed of an auto-accompaniment data memory is determined on the basis of the set tempo. A tempo controller for switching from the current tempo to a new tempo upon detection of a division of a bar of auto-accompaniment data is arranged, thereby eliminating uneasy feeling upon switching of tempo.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tempo setting apparatus and, more particularly, to a tempo setting apparatus suitably used in an electronic keyboard having auto-play functions such as a rhythm play function, a chord play function, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic keyboard (e.g., an electronic piano) has auto-accompaniment functions such as a rhythm auto-accompaniment function, and a chord auto-accompaniment function, where auto-accompaniment tones for one to four bars are repetitively played on the basis of auto-play data for rhythm tones, chord tones, and the like stored in, e.g., a ROM.
In an electronic keyboard, or the like, an auto-play tempo for chord tones can be desirably set (incremented/decremented) by a tempo setting button on an operation panel.
Auto-play data includes standard preset tempo data in units of rhythms. When a preset tempo button on the operation panel is depressed during an auto-play operation, the auto-play operation is performed in a standard preset tempo corresponding to the selected rhythm.
When a player sets a preset tempo corresponding to a rhythm while an auto-play operation of rhythm tones or chord tones is performed in a free tempo set by the player, the tempo of the music piece being auto-played abruptly changes in the middle of a bar, and the player feels uneasy in terms of the progress of the music piece.
When the tempo is changed using the tempo setting button during an auto-play operation, the tempo abruptly changes in the middle of a bar in the same manner as described above, resulting in uneasy feeling.
Therefore, when the tempo is changed during a play operation, an auto-play operation must be temporarily stopped, the tempo is changed, and thereafter, the auto-play operation is restarted, thus requiring cumbersome operations.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the tempo of auto-accompaniment tones at the end/beginning of a bar for an electronic musical instrument


A fuse circuit includes a fuse having an intact state and a blown state. The fuse can be switched to the blown state by enabling a blowing current to flow through the fuse. The fuse is coupled between a first transistor and a second transistor in series. The first transistor and the second transistor are complementary transistors and operable for reducing an electrostatic discharge current flowing through the fuse. The first transistor and the second transistor are turned on to enable the blowing current to flow through the fuse.

Fuse circuits can be used in a variety of semiconductor applications, e.g., memory devices or programmable logic devices. For example, memory devices can include fuse circuits for providing fuse data. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a conventional fuse circuit 100.
In FIG. 1, a transistor 104, e.g., a PMOS transistor, is coupled to a node of a fuse 102 for providing a blowing current IB to the fuse 102 in response to a trimming signal. The trimming signal can be input to a gate of the transistor 104 via inverters 110 and 112. A power supply can be connected to a source of the transistor 104 for providing an input voltage VDD to the transistor 104. Another node of the fuse 102 is connected to ground. A transistor 106, e.g., a PMOS transistor, is coupled to the fuse 102 for providing a reading current IR (IR<IB) to the fuse 102. A bias voltage VB can be provided to a gate of the transistor 106. The power supply can be connected to a source of the transistor 106 for providing the input voltage VDD to the transistor 106. Furthermore, an inverter 108 is coupled to the fuse 102 to detect a voltage drop across the fuse 102 and output a signal according to the voltage drop.
The fuse 102 has an intact state and a blown state. If the fuse 102 is blown, resistance of the fuse 102 can be relatively high, e.g., 100KΩ. Otherwise, the resistance of the fuse 102 can be relatively low, e.g., 100Ω. That is, the fuse 102 exhibits a highly resistive condition or a short circuit condition. If the trimming signal is asserted, the transistor 104 can be turned on to enable the blowing current IB to flow through the fuse 102 to blow the fuse 102. In order to detect whether the fuse 102 is in the blown state or in the intact state, the transistor 106 can provide the current IR flowing through the fuse 102. The inverter 108 can generate a signal indicative of the states of the fuse 102 according to the voltage drop across the fuse 102. If the voltage drop across the fuse 102 is lower than a predetermined level VTHR, e.g., 1V, the fuse 102 can be determined in the intact state. The inverter 108 can provide a logic high signal at OUT. If the voltage drop across the fuse 102 is higher than the predetermined level VTHR, the fuse 102 can be determined in the blown state. The inverter 108 can provide a logic low signal at OUT.
However, the fuse 102 may be heated or even melt by an electrostatic discharge current flowing through the fuse 102. The electrostatic discharge current can be a sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two nodes at different electrical potentials when an electrostatic discharge event occurs. Electrostatic discharge events can be caused by static electricity. The static electricity can be generated through tribocharging, in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into contact with another different material and are then separated. For example, the friction between two fuse circuits may result in tribocharging, thus creating different electrical potentials across the fuse. As a result, an electrostatic discharge current can flow through the fuse. As such, the fuse may be permanently damaged, which may cause detection errors of the states of the fuse.
Additionally, the resistance of the fuse 102 may vary because of process degradation, ambient temperature change, variation of supply voltage or fuse aging. The resistance of a blown fuse may decrease, such that the voltage drop across the fuse may decrease lower than the predetermined level VTHR, which result in a logic high signal at OUT. As such, inconsistent detection results of the fuse circuit may cause errors and decrease system robustness.


A composite extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask absorber structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A first mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a highly-selective second mask absorber layer, to produce a mask absorber with desirable hybrid performance properties.

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which is based upon exposure with the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum having a wavelength of 10-15 nanometers, can be used to print features with smaller critical dimension (CD) than other more conventional techniques, such as those utilizing deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation. For example, an EUV scanner may use 4 imaging mirrors and a Numerical Aperture (NA) of 0.10 to achieve a CD of 50-70 nm with a depth of focus (DOF) of about 1.00 micrometer (um). Alternatively, an EUV scanner may use 6 imaging mirrors and a NA of 0.25 to print a CD of 20-30 nm although the DOF will be reduced to about 0.17 um.
Masking and reflection of EUV radiation brings about a unique set of challenges generally not encountered with DUV radiation. For example, a mask for DUV lithography is transmissive, and layers of materials such as chrome and quartz may be used to effectively mask or transmit, respectively, DUV radiation. Thus, a desired pattern on a DUV mask may be defined by selectively removing an opaque layer, such as chrome, to uncover portions of an underlying transparent substrate, such as quartz. However, virtually all condensed materials absorb at the EUV wavelength, so a mask for EUV lithography is reflective, and the desired pattern on an EUV mask is defined by selectively removing portions of an absorber layer ("EUV mask absorber") to uncover portions of an underlying mirror coated on a substrate, the mirror, or reflective multilayer ("ML"), generally comprising a number of alternating layers of materials having dissimilar EUV reflectivity constants.
Selective removal of portions of the EUV mask absorber generally involves etching trenches through portions of the EUV mask absorber material, and the CD uniformity and bias are highly dependent upon the accuracy of such etching. Two particular issues are etch bias within etched trenches, and prevention of overetching to a depth greater than desired. These issues may be related, since material and technique pairings associated with anisotropic etching may be associated with overetching, while pairings associated with enhanced prevention of overetching may be associated with more isotropic etching patterns and negative trench etch bias. Given the geometric tolerances required during selective removal of EUV mask absorber portions for a preferred masking result, specialized materials, compositions, and processes are needed.

Dual-layer EUV mask absorber with trenches having opposing sidewalls that are straight and parallel


A glad hand locking device featuring a mounting bracket mountable atop the glad hand mating plate of a base glad hand via bolts; a pivot arm pivotally attached to the mounting bracket, the pivot arm can pivot between an up position and a down position wherein the second end of the pivot arm is pushed downwardly past the mounting bracket, the pivot arm is biased in the up position caused by a tension spring extending from the first end of the pivot arm to the first end of the mounting bracket; and a latch disposed on the second end of the pivot arm, wherein when the mating glad hand is mated atop the base glad hand, the pivot arm can be pushed to the down position such that the latch can snugly engage the tab of the mating glad hand.

Air hoses from the break systems of trailers and the air hoses from the break systems of tractors are generally coupled via glad hands, which provide air pressure and an electrical cable providing power to the lights and any specialized features of the trailer. Generally, one glad hand component (a base glad hand) is rigidly attached to the trailer and a corresponding glad hand component (a mating glad hand) is connected to an air hose extending from the brake system of the tractor. When the two glad hand components are mated, a leak-free path exists between the braking system of the tractor and the braking system of the trailer so that high pressure is maintained.
Once the glad hands are mated, the glad hands are only held in place by the glad hand shield (standard glad hand mating plate). The glad hand shield (standard glad hand mating plate) can be easily moved by a gentle push upward by the driver, thus disconnecting the glad hands. Or, in some cases, the glad hands can become disconnected by rotation of the glad hands, movements when driving down the road, wear on the glad hand shield of either the truck or trailer, bumps and dips in the road, u-turns, sharp turns, etc. The present invention features a glad hand locking device. The glad hand locking device helps prevent glad hands from becoming loose or disconnected from each other. The glad hands can only be released by pressing on a spring lock.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.


A power circuit breaker having a simple structure with a small number of components is provided. The power circuit breaker includes: a circuit receiver which receives a pair of circuit terminals connected to an end of an opened power circuit; and a plug body having a fuse to be mounted on the circuit receiver to close the power circuit. In the fuse, a pair of terminals extending from a housing, which receives a fuse element of the fuse, is bent approximately at right angles at the middle of the terminal. A central curving portion of the bent part is provided with a notch. A cross section of the terminal exposed within the notch is pressed by a jig, which fits with the notch, so that the fuse is press-fit into the plug body.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuse, which breaks a power circuit by fusing in response to an overcurrent, and to a power circuit breaker (service plug) including such a fuse.
(2) Description of the Related Art
For example, as for an electric vehicle, because the capacitance of an electric power source, which is a battery, is larger than that of a normal gasoline engine vehicle, a power circuit is opened by a power circuit breaker so as to secure the safety of maintenance work when an electric system of the electric vehicle is being checked and maintained. FIG. 8 shows an example of such a conventional power circuit breaker (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open H 10-83753).
A power circuit breaker 101 shown in FIG. 8 includes a circuit receiver 102 having female terminals 120 connected to an end part of an opened power circuit and a plug body 103 which electrically connects the female terminals 120 to each other. The plug body 103 includes a pair of male terminals 130 to be fit to the female terminals 120 and a fuse 140 arranged between the pair of the male terminals 130.
The fuse 140 includes a fuse element received in a housing 141 made of synthetic resin and a pair of tab-shaped terminals 142, one end of which is connected to the fuse element and another end of which projects outside of the housing 141. As shown in FIG. 9, the pair of the male terminals 130 is inserted in through holes formed at the other end of the tab-shaped terminals 142 and nuts 143 are screwed into the respective male terminals 130, so that the fuse 140 is unified with the pair of the male terminals 130.
The plug body 103 and the circuit receiver 102 are fit to each other so that the female terminals 120 are fit to the respective male terminals 130, thereby the power circuit breaker 101 closes the power circuit. The power circuit breaker 101 opens the power circuit by removing these fitting. When an overcurrent flows in the closed power circuit, the power circuit is electrically broken by fusing the fuse element of the fuse 140.
However, the power circuit breaker 101 described above has a problem in that it requires a structure for fixing the pair of the male terminals 130 and the tab-shaped terminals 142 of the fuse 140 as wall as a structure for fixing the pair of the male terminals 130 unified with the fuse 140 to the plug body 103, causing an increase in the number of parts and in the number of man-hours for assembling.

Fuse and power circuit breaker including the same


A computer file system, for use with a computer system having a multiplicity of distinct data storage devices, includes a management program that defines a set of service attributes which characterize operational characteristics of data storage devices. A service class table stores data denoting which of service attributes characterize each distinct storage device. The management program adds data to the service class table when additional data storage devices are added to the computer system. A storage device selection program responds to file allocation requests, which specify a set of service attributes, by comparing the specified set of service attributes with the data stored in the service class table and selecting one of the data storage devices in accordance with predefined service attribute matching criteria. The service attributes used by the file system may include required service attributes and optional service attributes. In that case, the predefined service attribute matching criteria include criteria requiring that the required service attributes of the selected data storage device, as denoted in the service class table, match all required service attributes specified in the corresponding file allocation request. In addition, there are predefined criteria for maximizing matching of specified optional service attributes with the optional service attributes of the selected data storage device.

Large, commercial computer systems (sometimes called data centers) typically have many types of data storage devices. Such data storage devices include solid state disks (RAM disks), cheap and slow magnetic disks, expensive and fast magnetic disks, striped disks, shadowed disks, optical disks, tape drives, and so on.
Data centers with a large variety of storage devices require sophisticated methods for managing storage. In addition, users and application developers are required to make intelligent decisions about where to place their files. In other words, they must decide which type of storage is best suited for the files they create.
Many storage management systems are built on top of the file systems and operating systems employed by the computer system. In many cases, the storage management systems define or support a particular storage model and use the underlying file system as a storage server that simply puts specified files on specified devices.
For example, in current UNIX.TM. based systems, each file system is associated with a single disk (or logical volume). If an application program needs to create a file on a particular type of disk (e.g., a shadow set), then it must choose the appropriate file system. In fact, the name assigned to the file by the application implies which disk the file is allocated on.
The present invention is an improvement on prior art file systems, adding to the file system the capability of performing some storage management functions on its own, as well as interacting with storage management software. Using the concept of dividing the available data storage devices into "service classes", the present invention provides a general mechanism for allocating data storage space for newly created files (as well as for subsequent updates or additions thereto) based on a specified service class, thereby avoiding the need for users and application programs to select and specify the particular data storage device on which each new file is to be stored.

System for allocating storage spaces based upon required and optional service attributes having assigned piorities


The protection method and circuit provide a time delay after a first contact with the power source is made until full power is allowed connection to the trolling motor. This time delay is longer than the “bounce” time, or the time a user may “bounce” a contact on and off of a battery terminal, during a typical batter connection. Therefore, this delay prevents sparking at the battery terminal. During the time delay, an initial pre-charge brings the main capacitor's voltage up to the battery voltage in a low stress, no spark process prior to being connected directly across the battery source terminal by relay contacts.

In current systems, when a trolling motor is connected to a power source such as a battery, and the trolling motor is on or otherwise presents a load to the battery, a surge current may flow and may create sparks at the battery terminals while the user is securing the terminal connections. The trolling motor presents a load to the battery when the motor controller is in the "on" position or the motor controller has a power up sequence which does not clear the load condition for several seconds or more. The main capacitors that are connected directly across the battery supply terminals are such, and must be charged. These main capacitors present a power up charging problem because they require almost zero series resistance with them to be effective when shuttling current from battery to motor in PWM modes of speed control.
Sparks from surge currents as described above, when connecting a trolling motor, can create a high risk condition for igniting fuel fumes that are typically associated with boat fuel tanks and gasoline engines. Typically, the boat batteries are located in the same area as fuel tanks, thus increasing the risk. Sparking can also damage trolling motor controllers and operator confidence.

Battery-spark and reverse polarity protection method and circuit for safely connecting a trolling motor to a power source


A photo-conductive layer for constituting a radiation imaging panel, which photo-conductive layer is capable of recording radiation image information as an electrostatic latent image, contains Bi4M3O12, in which M represents at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Ge, Si, and Ti. The photo-conductive layer may be formed with a coating technique or as a sintered film. The photo-conductive layer has a large effect of collecting formed electric charges and enhanced sensitivity, and is capable of yielding an image with good graininess characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photo-conductive layer for constituting a radiation imaging panel, which is appropriate for used in a radiation imaging apparatus, such as an X-ray imaging apparatus. This invention also relates to a radiation imaging panel comprising the photo-conductive layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have heretofore been proposed X-ray imaging panels designed for use in a medical X-ray image recording operation, such that a radiation dose delivered to an object during the medical X-ray image recording operation may be kept small, and such that the image quality of an image and its capability of serving as an effective tool in, particularly, the efficient and accurate diagnosis of an illness may be enhanced. With the proposed X-ray imaging panels, a photo-conductive layer sensitive to X-rays is employed as a photosensitive material. The photo-conductive layer is exposed to X-rays carrying X-ray image information, and an electrostatic latent image is thereby formed on the photo-conductive layer. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image, which has been formed on the photo-conductive layer, is read out by use of light or a plurality of electrodes. The techniques utilizing the X-ray imaging panels have advantages over the known photo-fluorography utilizing TV image pickup tubes in that an image is capable of being obtained with a high resolution.
Specifically, when X-rays are irradiated to a charge forming layer located in the X-ray imaging panel, electric charges corresponding to X-ray energy are formed in the charge forming layer. The thus formed electric charges are read out as an electric signal. The photo-conductive layer described above acts as the charge forming layer. As the material for the photo-conductive layer, amorphous selenium (a-Se), PbI2, HgI2, Cd(Zn)Te, or the like, has heretofore been used. (The materials for the photo-conductive layer are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,614 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-211832.)
However, of the radio-conductive materials described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,614 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-211832, amorphous selenium has the problems in that it is necessary for the layer thickness to be set large because of a low radiation absorption efficiency, application of a high electric field is required, and therefore the reliability is not capable of being kept high. Also, each of PbI2, HgI2, Cd(Zn)Te has the problems in that a dark current is high, and the signal-to-noise ratio is not capable of being kept high.
Therefore, the use of BiI3 as the radio-conductive material has been proposed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,173. BiI3 has the advantages in that the load to the environment is low. However, BiI3 has the problems in that, in cases where a layer of BiI3 is formed with a coating technique, the effect of collecting the formed electric charges is small, electric noise becomes high, and therefore the image graininess characteristics become bad. Also, as the material for the radio-conductive material, ZnO is described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11(1999)-211832. ZnO has the advantages in that the load to the environment is low. However, ZnO has the problems in that, since the radiation absorption efficiency is low, a high sensitivity is not capable of being obtained.
As materials for scintillators, Bi4Si3O12 and Bi4Ge3O12 have been known. (The use of Bi4Si3O12 and Bi4Ge3O12 as the materials for scintillators is described in, for example, "Phosphor Handbook" edited by Shigeo Shionoya and William M. Yen, CRC Press, 1998 pp. 540-545.) Also, as a ferroelectric material, Bi4Ti3O12 has been known. (Bi4Ti3O12 is described in, for example, "Physical Review," Vol. 122, No. 3, pp. 804-807, 1961.)
However, whether Bi4M3O12, such as Bi4Si3O12, Bi4Ge3O12, or Bi4Ti3O12 described in "Phosphor Handbook" edited by Shigeo Shionoya and William M. Yen, CRC Press, 1998 pp. 540-545, or "Physical Review," Vol. 122, No. 3, pp. 804-807, 1961, exhibits or does not exhibit the photo-conductivity has not heretofore been known at all. Also, Bi4M3O12 described above has not yet been selected as the photo-conductive material. The applicant conducted extensive research and found that Bi4M3O12 has the photo-conductivity. The present invention is based upon the findings described above.

Photo-conductive layer for constituting a radiation imaging panel


A method of a double starwheel unit in multiple rows with a multi-hole manner, an instrument and the like are disclosed. The double starwheel unit has a sleeve and two starwheel parallel-arranged and connecting the sleeve. The instrument has a plate-like assembly fixture and an orientation mechanism. The plate-like assembly fixture has a plurality of strip-like tools. The method combines the strip-like tools with the plate-like assembly fixture and a plurality of module holes, presses an exterior mold on the starwheel onto upper and lower surfaces of the plate-like assembly fixture, and injects a working fluid to shape the double starwheel units. The strip-like tools are engaged or disengaged by the orientation mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of a double starwheel unit in multiple rows with a multi-hole manner, an instrument and the like, and particularly relates to a method of a double starwheel unit made integrally in one piece, an instrument and the like.
2. Background of the Invention
An ink-jet printer usually uses a starwheel unit to increase friction while pushing a sheet of paper out from an outlet thereof after printing. With respect to FIG. 1, a first conventional starwheel unit 1′ is provided and includes a sleeve 10′ and a starwheel 14′ disposed in a middle of the sleeve 10′. The sleeve 10′ has a center hole 15′ formed therein for wrapping a spring to be parallel with the outlet of the printer. The printer further includes a second starwheel unit (not shown), different from the first starwheel unit 10′ and engaging with a concave-convex structure, which is arranging on the sleeve 10′.
The ink-jet printer requires many first conventional starwheel units 1′ for average loading on the paper; thus the cost and the assembly steps thereof increase. The ink-jet printer with the second conventional starwheel unit, which increases loading on the paper by the concave-convex structure, encounters more difficulties with module designing and sleeve engaging process than a printer with the first conventional starwheel unit 1′, and further has so many problems both of yield rates of the sleeve engaging process and failure rates that cost of the ink-jet printer with the second conventional starwheel unit cannot be diminished.

Method of a double starwheel unit in multiple rows with a multi-hole manner, an instrument and the like