One embodiment of the present invention provides a distributed file system that is able to use direct connections between clients and disks to perform file system operations. Upon receiving a request at a client to access a file, the client performs a lookup in a local cache to determine what physical disk blocks are associated with the request. If the lookup cannot be satisfied from the local cache, the client forwards the request to a server. In response to the forwarded request, the client receives a block map for the file from the server. This block map includes location information specifying physical disk blocks containing the file. The client uses this block map to determine which physical disk blocks are involved in the request and then accesses the file directly from the disk without going through the server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to distributed file systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for implementing a distributed file system that is able to bypass a file server and instead use direct connections between clients and disks to perform file system operations.
2. Related Art
Distributed file systems are typically based on a client-server model, wherein a client wishing to access a file sends a request to a server to Upon receiving a request, the server accesses the underlying file system to perform the operation on the file. For example, if the request is to for a read operation, the server communicates with the underlying file system to locate the file and read the data from the file. During this process, the server translates a file identifier and an offset into identifiers for the physical disk blocks where the file is stored. The server then requests the disk blocks from one or more disk drives that contain the disk blocks. After the requested data is retrieved from the disk drives, the server forwards the data to the client that initiated the read request. A similar process takes place during a write operation, except that the data goes in the opposite direction.
This client-server model works well for systems that support a small number of clients that generate a small volume of requests. However, systems that support larger numbers of clients that generate a large volume of requests can potentially suffer from a bottleneck at the server. Such a bottleneck can dramatically increase the server's response time and can make accesses to the distributed file system unacceptably slow.
As computer networks provide additional connectivity, there often exists alternative pathways that connect a client with a disk drive containing a file without running through the server. However, these alterative pathways cannot be used by existing distributed file systems, because existing distributed file systems rely on the server to perform translations between file access requests and disk block identifiers. Hence, the server remains a bottleneck in such distributed file systems.
What is needed is a method and an apparatus that uses additional communication pathways between clients and disk drives to alleviate the performance bottleneck caused by routing all distributed file system operations through a server.

Implementing a distributed file system that can use direct connections from client to disk


An optical pulse generator comprises a signal source, an excitation light source, a first optical fibre, a first lens, a diffraction grating, a second lens, a second optical fibre and an optical switch. Herein, signal beams produced form the signal source are transmitted through the first optical fibre, first lens, diffraction grating and second lens in turn, so that a signal beam having a desired wavelength is selectively outputted. This signal beam is converged onto and is incident to a terminal portion of the second optical fibre which is excited by an excitation beam produced from the excitation light source. Under an operation of the optical switch, the terminal portion of the second optical fibre is vibrated, resulting that an optical path to be formed between the first optical fibre and the second optical fibre is periodically opened or closed. Thus, an optical pulse of which amplitude is controlled and of which pulse width is also desirably controlled is outputted form the second optical fibre. Preferably, the second optical fibre is made of a predetermined material including a rare-earth material.

The present invention relates to an optical pulse generator which can selectively change a wavelength of an optical pulse signal.
In a general-use optical pulse generator, an optical fibre made of a predetermined material added with a rare-earth material is vibrated by a displacement element such as a piezoelectric element so as to open and close an optical path provided for an optical signal, so that an optical pulse signal is generated.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing an electric configuration of an example of the optical pulse generator. In FIG. 3, a numeral 1 designates a signal source having a wavelength .lambda..sub.a,while a numeral 2 designates an excitation light source having another wavelength .lambda..sub.b ; 3 designates an optical fibre added with the rare-earth material; 4 designates an optical switch; 5 designates a wave divider; 7 designates a wave divider/mixer; 8A and 8E designate lenses; and 9 designates a slit plate. In the optical pulse generator shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined wavelength is selected for a signal beam by the wave divider 5, and then, an amplitude of the pulse-like signal beam is enlarged (in other words, the optical pulse signal is amplified).
In general, the optical pulse is defined as a light which is radiated for a short period of time. This optical pulse has a pulse like waveshape having a peak level. Normally, a pulse width for the optical pulse is defined as a period of time in which an amplitude level of the optical pulse is approximately higher than a half of the peak level. Thus, the waveshape of the optical pulse can be defined by use of the peak level and the pulse width.
Now, the wave divider S removes unnecessary wavelength components from the signal beam produced from the signal source 1 so as to only pass a signal component having the wavelength .lambda..sub.a therethrough. On the other hand the wave divider/mixer 7 introduces the excitation beam having the wavelength .lambda..sub.b, produced from the excitation light source 2, to the optical fibre 3 so as to excite the optical fibre 3. By driving the optical switch 4. The optical path provided between the signal source 1 and the optical fibre 3 is opened for a short period of time. In such short period of time. The signal beam outputted from the signal source 1 is introduced into the optical fibre S wherein it is amplified. Then, the signal beam amplified is passed through the wave divider/mixer 7 from which it is outputted as an output beam.
Next, a configuration and an operation of the optical switch 4 will be described in detail by referring to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4. a numeral 1A designates an optical fibre which introduces the signal beam outputted from the signal source 1; 3A designates a terminal portion of the aforementioned optical fibre S made of the predetermined material including the rare-earth material; 4A designates a displacement element; 4B designates a fulcrum point; 4C designates a transmission plate; and 4D designates a drive circuit. These elements 4A to 4D are assembled together to form the optical switch 4.
The displacement element 4A is vibrated when being driven. As the displacement element 4A, it is possible to employ an piezoelectric element, a tuning-fork vibrator, a quartz oscillator and the like. The terminal portion 3A of the optical fibre 3 is formed as a free terminal, while the optical fibre 3 itself is supported at the fulcrum point 4B. The transmission plate 4C transmits a vibration caused by the displacement element 4A to a certain part of the optical fibre 3 which is existed between the terminal portion 3A and the fulcrum point 4B.
In FIG. 4. The optical fibre 4 is located to face with the terminal portion 3A of the optical fibre S. Then, by vibrating the optical fibre 3. An optical path between the optical fibres 1A and 3 is opened or closed.
Next, a vibrating state of the terminal portion 3A of the optical fibre 3 will be described by referring to FIG. 5. For example a distance between the terminal portion 3A and the fulcrum point 4B is set at 1 cm. It can be observed from FIG. 5 that a vibrating pitch of the terminal portion 3A of the optical fibre 3 is larger than that of the transmission plate 4C. If a core diameter of the optical fibre 1A is 10 .mu.m, by vibrating the terminal portion 3A of the optical fibre 3 with a vibrating pitch of 10.mu.m or more, it is possible to open and close the optical path between the optical fibres 1A and 3.
Next a construction of the slit plate 9 shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail by referring to FIG. 6. Under beams are converged on a crossing point at which location the slit plate 0 having a slit 9A is located. For example, an opening interval of the slit 9A is set at 10.mu.m.
The lens 8E and the optical fibre 3 are arranged such that when the displacement of the displacement element 4A is equal to zero. The lens 8E is located to be connected with the optical fibre 3. The slit plate 0 shuts off any light components other than the signal beam. As the signal beam, a pulse-like beam or a continuous beam can be employed if its width is larger than a pulse width of the signal beam to be amplified.
When the displacement is equal to zero, an amplitude of the signal beam (i.e.. optical pulse signal) reaches the peak; while as the displacement becomes larger. The amplitude of the signal beam becomes lower. If a pulse width of the signal beam to be inputted into the optical fibre 3 is smaller than an optical-connection period in which lens 8E and the terminal portion 3A is optically connected it is difficult to control the pulse width (or wavelength) of the signal beam to be outputted. However if the pulse width of the signal beam is larger than the above optical-connection period, it is possible to control the pulse width of the signal beam to be outputted from the optical fibre 3. For this reason, it is necessary to select the pulse width of the signal beam inputted larger than the above optical-connection period. Thus it is possible to employ the continuous light as the signal beam inputted because its pulse width is very large.
Meanwhile the pulse width of the signal beam to be amplified depends on a time at which the displacement of the displacement element 4A is set at zero. Because, as described before when the displacement of the displacement element 4A is zero. The amplitude of the signal beam outputted reaches the peak. While the pulse width of the signal beam is determined responsive to the amplitude level.
Incidentally the drawings shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are identical to FIGS. 6, 1, 2 and 3 attached with the specification of the Japanese Patent Application No. 4-179242 whose filing date is Jun. 12, 1992. Of course, this application has not been published in Japan.
By the way, the wave divider 5 shown in FIG. 3 is designed to selectively pass the signal beam having a specific wavelength only. Thus, there is a problem in that the wavelength of the signal beam outputted cannot be arbitrarily altered.


In an example embodiment, information about one or more failed payment attempts via an electronic payment processing system is obtained. One or more features are extracted from the information. Then, for each of a plurality of potential candidate retry time points, the one or more features and the potential candidate retry time point are fed into a dunning model, the dunning model trained via a machine-learning algorithm to produce a dunning score indicative of a likelihood that a retry attempt at an input retry time point will result in a successful payment processing. The dunning scores for the plurality of potential candidate retry time points are used to select a desired retry time point. Then the electronic payment processing system is caused to attempt to reprocess a payment associated with one of the failed payment attempts at a time matching the desired retry time point.

The present subject matter seeks to address technical problems existing in conventional payment processors. For example, while payment processors seek to provide merchants with an easy and efficient mechanism for collecting payments from customers, collecting such payments may present difficulties for various reasons. One such difficulty involves payments that do not process for some reason. For example, a recurring credit card charge may be attempted to be billed on a particular day and time each month, but it may turn out that the processing of the payment may be rejected because, for example, the user has an insufficient credit limit left on the card, or the card has expired, or the credit card company's fraud protection has denied the charge. It can be difficult to determine whether these rejections or other non-completions of the payments are due to temporary reasons (whether the above examples or even just technical difficulties in the communications during the processing) or permanent reasons.
Under the assumption that the problems in processing a charge may be temporary, a merchant may attempt to retry processing of the charge at a later time. This retry process is known as "dunning." A charge may be unsuccessful now, but successful later, due to a change in circumstance (e.g., customer updating card details, issuing a new card, freeing of credit limit, increase in credit limit, different mode of processing, etc.).
While a merchant may be tempted to simply keep trying to process the charge over and over at brief intervals (e.g., trying every minute for a month), practical considerations make this impossible. For protection, most credit card companies limit the number of retries for a single charge (such as a maximum of six retries).

Optimized dunning using machine-learned model


A fan-out wafer-level-package (FOWLP) is provided. The FOWLP includes a redistribution layer (RDL) comprising a dielectric layer and a first metal layer; a passive device in the first metal layer; a first passivation layer covering a top surface of the RDL; a second passivation layer covering a bottom surface of the RDL; a chip mounted on the first passivation layer; a molding compound around the chip and on the first passivation layer; a via opening penetrating through the second passivation layer, the dielectric layer, and the second passivation layer, thereby exposing a terminal of the chip; a contact opening in the second passivation layer; and a second metal layer in the via opening and the contact opening to electrically connect one electrode of the passive device with the terminal of the chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor packaging, and more particularly to fan-out wafer level packaging (FOWLP) and manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With recent advancements in the semiconductor manufacturing technology microelectronic components are becoming smaller and circuitry within such components is becoming increasingly dense. To reduce the dimensions of such components, the structures by which these components are packages and assembled with circuit boards must become more compact.
As known in the art, embedded wafer ball grid array (eWLB) or fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) is a packaging process in which contacts of a semiconductor die are redistributed over a larger area through a redistribution layer (RDL) that is typically formed on a substrate such as a TSV interposer.
The RDL is typically defined by the addition of metal and dielectric layers onto the surface of the wafer to re-route the I/O layout into a looser pitch footprint. Such redistribution requires thin film polymers such as BCB, PI or other organic polymers and metallization such as Al or Cu to reroute the peripheral pads to an area array configuration.
The TSV interposer is costly because fabricating the interposer substrate with TSVs is a complex process. Thus, forming FOWLP products that includes an interposer having a TSV interposer may be undesirable for certain applications.
In wafer level packaging, the wafer and the dies mounted on the wafer are typically covered with a relatively thick layer of the molding compound. The thick layer of the molding compound results in increased warping of the packaging due to coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, and the thickness of the packaging. It is known that wafer warpage continues to be a concern.
Warpage can prevent successful assembly of a die-to-wafer stack because of the inability to maintain the coupling of the die and wafer. Warpage issue is serious especially in a large sized wafer, and has raised an obstacle to a wafer level semiconductor packaging process. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for an improved method of manufacturing wafer level packages.

Fan-out wafer level packaging and manufacturing method thereof


The development port or Debug port of a microprocessor on an intelligent daughterboard is used for downloading code or configuration information from a motherboard for use in boot-up. In various aspects, the code or configuration information can include information used for configuring a port, other than the development port, and/or for configuring a memory controller, such as for a daughterboard DRAM. Use of the Debug port makes it possible to reduce or eliminate the need for storing boot-up code or configuration information on a daughterboard ROM, or other non-volatile memory, thus reducing cost and space requirements, power consumption and the like.

It is common for microprocessor-based electronic equipment to include two or more interconnected printed circuit boards, often including a main circuit board having the main controller or microprocessor (often termed the "motherboard") and one or more connected "daughterboards". In many electronic devices, some or all of the daughterboards, may, themselves, be "intelligent", i.e., may have their own programmable controllers, typically microprocessors.
When electronic devices of these types are operated, upon initial power-up (or, in some cases, upon resetting the microprocessors) some or all devices on the boards need to access and/or execute certain microcode or other code or configuration information. Some or all of this code or information may include what is commonly called "boot-up code". Because such boot-up code must be available, (e.g. upon power-up), it is often stored in a read only memory (ROM) device mounted on the same board where the microprocessor is mounted. Although ROM components are commonly provided for this purpose, it is, at least theoretically, possible to use any type of non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, SRAM and the like.
In many situations, providing or mounting a separate ROM (or other non-volatile memory) component on an intelligent daughterboard is a non-optimal approach to providing boot-up code. The mounting of a ROM component on a daughterboard occupies surface area on the board which is often needed for accommodating other components or circuitry (particularly since many daughterboards have relatively small surface area). Furthermore, the ROM components themselves undesirably add to the cost of the daughterboard and the cost of mounting such ROM devices undesirably adds to the cost of board fabrication. ROM devices undesirably consume power. Furthermore, ROM devices and similar memory devices may be cumbersome or impossible to reprogram, e.g., to accommodate upgrades and the like. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a system, method and apparatus for use in booting up an intelligent daughterboard while eliminating or reducing the need for mounting a ROM or other nonvolatile memory on the daughterboard.
Cost is often a consideration in designing and implementing electronic devices and, although there are advantages (noted above) to avoiding the need for mounting nonvolatile memory on a daughterboard, the cost for such an approach can be a significant issue. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a system, method and apparatus to reduce or avoid the need for mounting nonvolatile memory on an intelligent daughterboard in which at least some of the components or features involved are components and features which are already present, e.g. for another purpose.

Method and apparatus for using a development port for boot up


A neck cushioning device is adapted for use with a shampoo basin having a neck-receiving notch and includes a cushioning pad formed of a gel-based material. The shape of the cushioning pad is configured in such a way that the neck cushioning device conforms to a variety of different-shaped neck-receiving notches in shampoo basins. The shape of the cushioning pad is symmetrical about two orthogonal axes, with the first of these axes being generally transverse to a person's head and neck. The first dimension of the cushioning pad along the first axis is greater than a second dimension of the cushioning pad along the other of the two axes. The neck cushioning device includes a covering for housing the cushioning pad which is formed of a flexible, water-repellent material. The covering includes a pair of flap portions on opposed sides of the first axis of the cushioning pad. The flap portions include components for releasably securing the neck cushioning device to the shampoo basin.

Professional hair stylists and barbers typically utilize a shampoo basin or bowl for shampooing the hair of their patrons. The patron reclines in a chair such that the head of the patron is within the basin with the neck resting against the rim of the basin. Most shampoo basins include a neck-receiving notch, which is either a U-shaped or V-shaped configuration, to receive the patron's neck during shampooing or other hair treatment.
Typically, the basins are made of a hard porcelain, fiberglass, or another similar material which can cause considerable discomfort to a patron's neck when the patron is reclined during the shampooing operation. To alleviate this discomfort, several neck cushioning devices for use with shampoo basins have been proposed in the art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,364 to Morgan discloses a neck cushioning device comprised of a cushion of resilient material coated with a flexible, water-repellent substance over the entire surface. The cushioning device is adapted to overlay a U-shaped neck-receiving notch typically found on commercial shampoo bowls. The cushioning device wraps laterally around the edges of the notch for engagement therewith by means of downwardly projecting walls, one of which includes a protruding lip that curls around the notch and secures the cushioning device to the bowl.
Another shampoo basin neck rest is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,407 to Singer et al. In this patent, the neck rest comprises a generally semi-cylindrical cushion made of a soft resilient material, such as neoprene, rubber, or plastic foam, with a thin coating of a waterproof and chemically resistant material. A flexible material is attached to the inner semi-cylindrical surface of the cushion and includes a plurality of small suction cups to secure the cushion to the basin.
Although the above-described neck cushioning devices alleviate some of the discomfort associated with shampooing or other hair treatment, several problems still exist with these and other prior support devices. For example, most of the previously proposed neck support designs do not readily conform to a variety of shampoo bowls, such as what are commonly referred to as U-shaped shampoo bowls or V-shaped shampoo bowls. Also, the thickness of many prior neck protection devices creates too much bulk in the neck area. Consequently, the necks of patrons do not properly fit within the neck support which can allow water to run down the back of a patron during shampooing.
While existing neck support devices have tried to include components for securing the support device to the basin, the shapes of many of these neck supports lend themselves to slippage during the shampoo process. Also, traditional neck supports fail to prevent water from being trapped in the support allowing bacteria to grow, thus making the support unsanitary. Finally, many neck supports only protect the base of the neck without giving total support to the neck.


Described is a solid phase benzopyran composition comprising predominately 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[G]-2-benzopyran and at least one other benzopyran compound. The novel compositions are used in augmenting, enhancing and/or imparting aromas in to consumable materials such as perfume compositions, perfumed articles including soaps, detergents, fabric softener compositions, fabric softener articles, fragranced candles, cosmetics, hair preparations, perfumed polymers and colognes. Also described is a process for producing the solid phase benzopyran compositions.

The liquid phase benzopyran composition containing from 70-81% by weight of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[G]-2-benzopyran having the structure:
(known as "GALAXOLIDE 100", registered trademark of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. of New York, N.Y.) and solutions thereof, for example, 50% solutions in diethyl phthalate (known as "GALAXOLIDE 50", registered trademark of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. of New York, N.Y.) are among the largest volume aroma chemicals currently in use in commerce. The material is known to impart to consumable materials including fine fragrances and perfumes for use in functional products such as soaps and detergents, a tenacious and substantive musk aroma. As manufactured, the liquid phase benzopyran composition known as "GALAXOLIDE" contains 70-75% by weight of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[G]-2-benzopyran having the structure:
which structure contains four diastereomeric isomers including the 4R-cis and trans isomers and the 4S-cis and trans isomers. Frater et al. I, U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,471, the specification of which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses that the mixture of the 7R and 7S diastereoisomers have a stronger musk aroma and Frater et al. II, Helvetica Chimica Acta. Vol. 82, 1999, pp. 1656-1665 discloses that the strongest isomer is the (−)-(4S,7R) isomer. GALAXOLIDE as commercially produced and as taught by the art to be produceable, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,530, the specification for which is herein incorporated by reference, consists of a thick, viscous liquid which can solidify at cold temperatures, for example at 0° C. It is well known to those skilled in the art that this material is difficult to handle either as the highly concentrated viscous liquid or as diluted in a solvent such as diethyl phthalate benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate and/or dipropylene glycol. Typically, it is diluted so that the major isomers, indicated by the structure:
make up 50% of the solution, by weight. As currently manufactured, and as disclosed in the prior art, GALAXOLIDE has been reported to have some adverse environmental effects. Accordingly, a need exists to provide a form of GALAXOLIDE that can be used in perfumes, colognes and perfumed articles in substantially lower dosages than heretofore known in the art, thereby protecting the environment.
Solid forms of GALAXOLIDE are disclosed in the prior art, including                (a) Sprecker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,603, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference; and        (b) Frater et al. II, U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,471.However, the solid forms of GALAXOLIDE so disclosed in the prior art do not contain the necessary and desirable high percentages, 85-95 weight % of the isomers having the structure:
which high percentages cause the solid phase benzopyran compositions of our invention to have unobvious, unexpected and advantages organoleptic properties regarding aroma quality, strength and substantivity.

Solid phase benzopyran composition, process for preparing same and organoleptic uses thereof


On-board device mounted in a vehicle includes output device including a display device and a speaker. The on-board device comprises a communications device that communicates with a mobile device having an information processing function. The on-board device also comprises an output controller that receives through the communications device information produced by the mobile phone and controls output of the received information to the output device. The output controller is configured to determine if the received information satisfies one or more certain conditions that are determined from the standpoint of safety of the vehicle, and further configured to output the received information to the output device if the determination is positive, and to process the received information to satisfy the one or more certain conditions or retards the output until it satisfies the one or more certain conditions if the determination is negative.

Recently, some on-board systems that respectively work in communication with a mobile device such as a mobile phone have been proposed. Patent literature 1 below describes an on-board electronic system comprising an on-board device mounted on a vehicle and a portable device having a display unit, the portable device being capable of being attached or removed. When the vehicle is running, the on-board device outputs inhibition signal to prohibit display of moving images on the portable device. The portable device prohibits display of moving images upon receipt of the inhibition signal.
Patent literature 2 below describes a technology that connects a mobile phone to an on-board display to enable browsing on a display screen of applications such as a navigation program included the mobile phone.


In one arrangement, a memory device (100) can include a number of banks (102-0 to 102-2n) and corresponding counters (104-0 to 104-2n). In response to a corresponding active access signal, each counter (104-0 to 104-2n) can generate a bank available indication (BA0 to BA-2n) that may be initially inactive, and remain inactive during an initial count operation. Once a counter (104-0 to 104-2n) reaches a predetermined limit, the corresponding bank available indication (BA0 to BA-2n) can be activated. A count limit can correspond to a minimum active-to-active timing parameter (TRC). An output circuit 106 can provide output data BA_DATA representative of bank available indications (BA0 to BA-2n).

Memory devices, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), enjoy wide use in electronic devices. DRAMs can be considered "dynamic" in that memory values can be lost unless continually (i.e., dynamically) refreshed. Conventional DRAMs can have a very high capacity to store data, as compared to other memory device types, and are relatively less costly when compared to other memory device types. Conventional DRAMs can typically include a number of banks each of which includes multiple rows of memory cells. A bank selection operation can be used to select which bank can be active at a given time.
In a conventional DRAM, a row can be accessed by first "activating" a row within a given bank. Such an activation typically includes the application of a certain combination of control signals along with a row address. Even more particularly, in a synchronous DRAM, a row can be activated by different combinations of a chip select (CS) signal, row address strobe (RAS) signal, column address strobe (CAS) signal, and write enable (WE) signal. Different combinations can indicate different command types, including, but not limited to, ACTIVE, READ, WRITE, and PRECHARGE commands. Accesses typically start by activating a row with an ACTIVE command.
Following a row access, a precharge command can be issued to precharge bit lines and thus condition the bank for a subsequent access. Such a feature can give rise to an active-to-active timing parameter (TRC). A parameter TRC can refer to a minimum allowable time between two row activation cycles on a same bank.
To better understand various features of the disclosed embodiments, a conventional memory device will now be described.
A block diagram of a conventional DRAM with a multi-bank architecture is shown in FIG. 7, and designated by the general reference character 700. A DRAM 700 can include a core 702 (where data is stored) arranged in the form of a number of memory array banks, typically either effectively 4 or 8 in number.
Accesses to a DRAM can involve opening a row in a particular bank (row activation) and then selecting a particular column, along with the assertion of the appropriate control signals. Following row activation, the same row can then be "closed" (or precharged), before a different row of the same bank can be accessed. The above sequence can take several cycles (e.g., minimum of 8) and hence can limit the frequency at which a bank can be accessed. In other words, a first activation of a row can make the bank 'unavailable' (for a subsequent access to a different row) for a specific period of time. This time period of TRC can be a critical specification in a DRAM device. In particular, if a second successive access to the same bank happens such that it violates the TRC limit, the access can be unsuccessful.
Referring now to FIG. 8, a timing diagram shows one example of a conventional TRC timing arrangement. FIG. 8 shows a read operation for an address multiplexed synchronous DRAM. FIG. 8 shows a clock signal CLK, an applied address "Address", an applied command "Command", a data output "Data". At time t0, a row in a particular bank can be activated by application of an activate command ACT along with a row address ROW. At time t1, a read command RD can be issued along with a column address COL. At time t2, a burst of read data can start to be output beginning with data value DQ1.
At time t3, a predetermined time before a last data value DQ4 is output, a precharge command PRE can be issued. At this time, bit lines have already output data value DQ4 (or currently outputting such data). Thus, a precharge operation can be initiated. However, while such a precharge operation is taking place, the same bank may not be accessed. As a result, there is a "bank lockout period" 800 between times t3 and t4, during which a new active command may not be received, or be considered invalid.
At time t4, precharge operations are completed, and a new active command can be issued.
Thus, in FIG. 8, a parameter TRC extends from time t0 to t4.
Conventional SDRAMS with a banked architecture can enable the pipelining of accesses to the memory. In particular, multiple banks can be active at the same time, thereby allowing for faster access. However, as explained above, in accessing a row, the bank must be conditioned with an activate command and subsequently closed with a precharge command.
A drawback to conventional arrangements can be that an SDRAM controller, different from the SDRAM devices, typically must track bank availability. An SDRAM controller is typically a different integrated circuit device that issues commands and addresses to one or more SDRAMs. As a result, SDRAM controllers can be increasingly more complex, having to track multiple operations and states of corresponding SDRAMs, including bank availability. Failure to keep track of bank availability can result in access failures. While conventional solutions have an SDRAM controller tracking bank availability, this can limit an SDRAM controller as other operations that can be started during a bank lockout period may be overlooked.

Bank availability indications for memory device and method therefor


Substituted 3-isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2-ol compounds are disclosed that are inhibitors of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). The compounds of this invention have the structure:

3-Isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2-one, also known as tetrabenazine (TBZ), has been used as a drug for decades. Tetrabenazine is a potent, reversible inhibitor of catecholamine uptake by vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) (IC50=3.2 nM) (Scherman, et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, (1983) 80:584-8) and is currently used in the treatment of various hyperkinetic movement disorders. Side effects associated with TBZ include sedation, depression, akathisia, and parkinsonism. Inhibition of VMAT2 by TBZ results in depletion of brain monoamines in vivo (Pettibone, D. J. et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. (1984) 102:431-6). TBZ also inhibits presynaptic and postsynaptic dopamine receptors in rat brain (Login, I. S., et al., (1982) Ann. Neurology 12:257-62; Reches, et al, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. (1983) 225:515-521). This off-target activity of TBZ may be responsible for some of the observed side effects.
TBZ, which contains two chiral centers and is a racemic mix of two stereoisomers, is rapidly and extensively metabolized in vivo to its reduced form, 3-isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2-ol, also known as dihydrotetrabenazine (HTBZ). HTBZ is thought to exist as four individual isomers: (±) alpha-HTBZ and (±) beta-HTBZ. The 2R, 3R, 11bR or (+) alpha-HTBZ is believed to be the absolute configuration of the active metabolite (Chirality 1997 9:59-62). Despite its success in treating hyperkinetic disorders, tetrabenazine has a fairly low and variable bioavailability. Tetrabenazine administration to humans is complicated by extensive first pass metabolism and little or no tetrabenazine is observed in the urine.
There is a need in the art for analogs of tetrabenazine that provide the advantageous properties of tetrabenazine without exposing the body to all of stereoisomers of dihydrotetrabenazine. There is also a need for analogs of tetrabenazine that exhibit a longer half-life than tetrabenazine. There is likewise a need in the art for analogs of tetrabenazine that exhibit greater selectivity for VMAT2 than tetrabenazine. The present invention provides a tetrabenazine analog that exposes the body to a single stereoisomer of dihydrotetrabenazine, exhibits greater selectivity for VMAT2 than tetrabenazine, exhibits a longer half-life than tetrabenazine, and may exhibit lower variability in dose required from patient to patient.

Substituted 3-isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrido[2,1-A]isoquinolin-2-ol compounds and methods relating thereto

Abstract: wherein R1 is as defined herein, including stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Also disclosed are compositions containing a compound of this invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as methods relating to the use in a subject in need thereof.


An execution unit comprising a runlet and execution environments and methods for using runlets. According to one aspect, abstract parameters comprising function arguments defined for child runlet functions may be bound to corresponding real variables in a parent runlet. As a result, when a function corresponding to a child runlet gets invoked, it uses the current values of the parent runlet variables as the function arguments. According to another aspect, each runlet execute in an execution context comprising an instance of variables and parameters declared by that runlet. A context manager, typically implemented by an application server, may be used to manage execution of the runlets so as to prevent anomalies, such as race conditions. According to another aspect, abstract parameters for a runlet may be bound to corresponding application parameters for an application.

In today's object-oriented enterprise software, a standard programming model is used for development of enterprise applications. FIG. 1A shows such a model 100, comprising three main blocks, including a presentation layer 103, a computation layer 101, and a database 102. In some cases, the presentation layer and the computation layer are combined into an execution model (EM) block 120, as shown in FIG. 1B. Execution model block 120 comprises the presentation layer and the computation layer. Often, additional blocks may be inserted, such as a business object model 122, which is responsible for the business processes that are executed in an enterprise system. Execution model block 120 comprises the presentation layer and the computation layer. Often, additional blocks may be inserted inserted, such as a business object model 122, which is responsible for the business process are that executed in an enterprise system.
The manner in which the combination of the process layer, the presentation layer, and the computation layer are configured allows for structuring of internal modules (layers). Typically, these modules represent function calls, so a module is called as a function with an argument. These arguments may have local and/or global parameters, and the programmer must pay careful attention to which type of argument is invoked. Once the number of local and global parameters exceeds a dozen or so, they tend to become difficult to manage. As a result, the number of programming mistakes may rise dramatically, increasing project cost and timing in unpredictable ways.
Accordingly, what is clearly needed is a new method for modularizing such blocks that offers the flexibility of abstract mapping of parameters, so that the number of parameters remain manageable.


A transversal-coupled resonator type surface acoustic wave filter includes a piezoelectric substrate and first and second interdigital transducers. The piezoelectric substrate has a pair of substrate edges which are substantially parallel to each other and reflect a shear horizontal type surface wave excited and propagated on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate edges. The first and second interdigital transducers have the same resonance characteristics and are provided on the piezoelectric substrate. Each of the first and second interdigital transducers includes a pair of outermost electrode fingers which are arranged to be flush with the substrate edges of the piezoelectric substrate, respectively and a pair of adjacent electrode fingers which are adjacent to the pair of the outermost electrode fingers, respectively. A distance D' from one of the substrate edges of the piezoelectric substrate to a center of the corresponding adjacent electrode fingers satisfies the following inequalities: EQU .lambda./2<D'.ltoreq.(.lambda./2)+(5.lambda.)/16. where .lambda. is a wavelength of the shear horizontal type surface acoustic wave excited on the piezoelectric substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface acoustic wave filter utilizing shear horizontal type (SH type) surface acoustic waves, and more particularly, to a transversal-coupled resonator type surface acoustic wave (hereinafter referred to as SAW) filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transversal-coupled resonator type double mode SAW filters utilizing Rayleigh waves are known. An example of this type of lateral coupling type SAW filter will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view for explaining a configuration of electrodes of a conventional transversal-coupled resonator type SAW filter using Rayleigh waves. A SAW filter 31 has a structure wherein first and second interdigital transducers (hereinafter abbreviated to read "IDTs") 32 and 33 are provided on a piezoelectric substrate (not shown) and grating reflectors 34, 35, 36, 37 are provided on both sides of the IDTs 32 and 33.
The IDT 32 includes a pair of comb-shaped electrodes 32a, 32b each having at least one electrode finger. The comb-shaped electrode 32a and the comb-shaped electrode 32b are arranged such that their electrode fingers are interdigitated with each other. Similarly, the IDT 33 includes a pair of comb-shaped electrodes 33a and 33b.
The space between adjacent electrode fingers of the IDTs 32 and 33 is set to be .lambda./4, and the width of each electrode finger is set to be .lambda./4. .lambda. represents the wavelength of a surface acoustic wave to be excited in the surface acoustic wave filter. The comb-shaped electrode 32b of the IDT 32 and the comb-shaped electrode 33a of the IDT 33 share a common bus. The comb-shaped electrode 32a of the IDT 32 is the input electrode and the comb-shaped electrode 33b of the other IDT 33 is the output electrode of the SAW filter 31. The comb-shaped electrodes 32b and 33a are grounded.
When an input voltage is applied to the IDT 32, surface acoustic waves are excited at the IDT 32 and the excited surface acoustic waves are propagated in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the electrode fingers extend and are reflected between the reflectors 34 and 35 to become a standing wave. An output that is based on this standing wave is obtained at the IDT 33.
In the SAW filter 31, a surface acoustic wave of a symmetric mode indicated by the solid line S in FIG. 6 and a surface acoustic wave of an asymmetric mode indicated by the solid line A are generated. Thus, the SAW filter 31 operates as a transversal-coupled resonator type double mode SAW filter.
While the first and second IDTs 32 and 33 of the SAW filter 31 shown in FIG. 6 are coupled in a direction perpendicular to the propagating direction of surface acoustic waves, i.e., in a lateral direction, a configuration is also known in which a plurality of SAW resonators having the above-described first and second IDTs 32 and 33 are further coupled in the lateral direction. In a SAW filter 41 shown in FIG. 7, transversal-coupled resonator type SAW filters having IDTs 32 and 33 are transversally coupled to each other in the form of three stages. The configuration of each of the IDTs and reflectors is the same as that in the SAW filter 31 shown in FIG. 6.
In the SAW filter 41, a comb-shaped electrode of IDT 32 of the upper stage is used as the input end as illustrated, and an outer comb-shaped electrode of an IDT 33 of the SAW filter at the final stage is used as the output electrode. Conductive patterns 42 and 43 connected to the ground potential are provided between the stages, and the conductive patterns 42 and 43 are connected to a bus bar which is connected to the ground potential of the SAW filter at each stage.
As described above, in a conventional transversal-coupled resonator type SAW filter utilizing a Rayleigh wave, reflectors 34 through 37 have been required on both sides of IDTs 31 and 32 in order to produce a standing wave. Such reflectors have a structure in which a multiplicity of electrodes fingers are short-circuited or open-circuited. Therefore, it has been necessary to increase the dimensions of the substrate according to an amount required for providing the reflectors 34 through 37.
Further, in the case of conventional SAW filters 31, 41, there has been a problem in that only a filter having a narrow band can be configured because the electromechanical coupling coefficient of a piezoelectric substrate is not so great.
Accordingly, there has been a demand for a transversal-coupled resonator type SAW filter which can be formed with smaller overall dimensions and which has wider band characteristics.


A golf ball retrieving system, which includes a magnetic golf ball retriever and a golf ball attracted thereto, is disclosed herein. The golf ball retriever includes an elongated rod assembly and a body portion having a circular magnet. The elongated rod assembly is connected to the body portion at one of its ends, and extends radially outward from the circular magnet of the body portion. The golf ball includes a metallic material disposed in one of: (i) an inner core, (ii) at least one mantle layer, (iii) an outer skin, (iv) a space between the inner core and the outer skin, (v) a space between the inner core and the at least one mantle layer, and (vi) a space between the at least one mantle layer and the outer skin. The metallic material provided in the golf ball is in the form of a ferrous powder.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a golf ball retrieving system, which includes a magnetic retriever and a golf ball attracted thereto. More particularly, the invention relates to a magnetic golf ball retriever that is configured to retrieve a golf ball having a metallic material disposed therein.
2. Background
Golf is one of the few sports that can be readily enjoyed by people of all ages. As such, the popularity of this sport has been increasing rapidly for many years. In response to such demand, many new golf courses have been developed in and around metropolitan areas throughout the country. Moreover, billions of dollars have been spent on the development of high performance golf equipment, such as golf clubs and balls. Naturally, the high development costs of this sophisticated golf equipment are passed on to the consumer. As a result, the golf equipment that is used by even an average golfer tends to be quite costly. While golf clubs typically can be used for many years without the need for replacement, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for golf balls.
In order to make play more interesting and challenging for their golfers, most golf courses comprise a myriad of different hazards that include, but are not limited to, water hazards in the form of ponds and creeks, sand traps and bunkers, wooded areas, tall grass, and other areas of dense vegetation. Quite frequently, golfers are unable to find their golf balls once they enter one of these common golf course hazards. Also, even if a player is fortunate enough to find his or her golf ball after it enters one of these hazards, there is often insufficient time to retrieve the golf ball because of the need to maintain a steady pace of play on the course. In many of these hazards, there are often a large number of golf balls that have not been retrieved because checking each ball takes far too much time, especially when they are sometimes difficult to reach (i.e., the ball is located in brush or behind fallen trees/limbs). Thus, once the golf ball enters one of these hazards, it is often lost forever. Over time, this eventually necessitates the purchase of new, often quite expensive, golf balls by the player. As such, regular golfers expend significant financial resources on the replacement of golf balls lost in the hazards of a typical golf course.
Therefore, what is needed is a golf ball retrieving system, which includes a golf ball retriever and a golf ball attracted thereto, that significantly reduces the quantity of golf balls that are lost during a typical round of golf. The golf ball utilized in such a system would be readily retrievable in a fraction of time that is required for that of a conventional golf ball. Moreover, the golf ball retrieving system would even facilitate the retrieval of a golf ball that is hidden from view (e.g., a golf ball buried under leaves, tucked in tall grass, or lying in murky water) or is located in close proximity to a large number of conventional golf balls. Furthermore, what is needed is a golf ball retrieving system that utilizes a golf ball having the aforementioned benefits, but which is still compliant with the rules and regulations set forth by the United States Golf Association ("USGA®").

Golf ball retrieving system, including a magnetic retriever and a golf ball attracted thereto


An ESD avoiding circuit includes a first ESD protection unit, an ESD detection unit, a switch unit, and an RC filter unit. The first ESD protection unit transmits an ESD current between a first conducting path and a second conducting path. The ESD detection unit is coupled to the first conducting path. The ESD detection unit includes an input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the first ESD protection unit for detecting an ESD and controlling the first ESD protection unit to conduct the ESD current according to a detection result. The switch unit is coupled between the first conducting path and a core circuit and conducts the first conducting path to the core circuit according to signals of the input terminal and the output terminal of the ESD detection unit. The RC filter unit couples a first voltage to the input terminal of the ESD detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrostatic discharge (ESD) avoiding circuit, and more particularly, to an ESD avoiding circuit which avoids an ESD current from flowing into a core circuit when the ESD occurs, and provides an operation voltage to the core circuit when working in a regular operation mode.
2. Description of Related Art
In operation, electronic products may suffer ESD, and sometimes are damaged by the ESD affection. ESD usually generates a voltage much larger than voltages provided by ordinary power supplies. As such, when an ESD occurs, the ESD current may burn the component on which it applies. Therefore, ESD protection circuits are usually employed in some circuits for dissipating the ESD current.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional ESD protection apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor N0. The NMOS transistor N0 is a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a thick oxide layer. A trigger-on voltage Vt of the NMOS transistor N0 is about 6 to 10 volts, e.g., Vt=8 volts. In a regular operation mode, the core circuit 120 is operated with a predetermined programming voltage. The programming voltage may be a voltage varying according to a clock, a swinging voltage, or a fixed power source voltage. The programming voltage is assumed as a fixed power source voltage, for example 7 volts.
In an ESD mode, as shown in FIG. 1, an ESD high voltage enters from a pad 110. Meanwhile, if the trigger-on voltage Vt of the NMOS transistor N0 is higher than the programming voltage, the ESD current will very likely enter the core circuit 120 before the NMOS transistor N0 is turned on. In other words, the ESD current cannot be guided via the NMOS transistor N0 to a ground voltage trace line VSS. Instead, it enters the core circuit 120 and damages internal components of the core circuit 120.
FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram of a conventional ESD protection apparatus. Referring to FIG. 2A, this conventional ESD protection apparatus utilizes a surface triggering technology to lower the trigger-on voltage of the MOS transistor N0, which is about 1 volt. When working in the ESD mode, an ESD high voltage enters from a pad 210, a high level signal, i.e., a signal of the pad 210, is coupled via a P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor P1 to a gate of the NMOS transistor N0, so as to conduct the NMOS transistor N0, and thus guiding the ESD current to the ground voltage trace line VSS.
When working in the regular operation mode, the programming voltage enters from the pad 210, an RC circuit composed of a resistor R and a capacitor C provides a high level signal to an input terminal of an inverter 230. The inverter 230 is composed of a PMOS transistor P1 and an NMOS transistor N1. The high level signal is inverted by the inverter 230, and thereafter conducts the NMOS transistor N1, and therefore pulls down a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor N0 to the ground voltage VSS, so that the NMOS transistor N0 is not conducted. In such a way, the NMOS transistor N0 can be prevented from being incorrectly conducted and generating a leak current thereby.
However, a certain time is needed prior to achieving and providing a fixed programming voltage. During the period of boosting the programming voltage, supposing the programming voltage is to be boosted from 0 volt to 3.3 volts, the PMOS transistor P1 inside the inverter 230 may likely be conducted, and further the NMOS transistor N0 is conducted accordingly. Therefore, a part of the leak current will be guided via the NMOS transistor N0 to the ground voltage trace line VSS.
Further, in the regular operation mode, in order to prevent the RC circuit from delaying the signal of the pad 210 and whereby causing a misoperation of the inverter 230, the pad 210 should not be connected to a swinging voltage. FIG. 2B illustrates another coupling configuration of the ESD protection apparatus of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIG. 2B, a pad 240 which is electrically coupled to a stable power source, e.g. 3.3 volts, and the pad 210 is an input pad or an output pad. When working in an ESD mode and the ESD high voltage enters from the pad 210, the pad 240 can be taken as floating connected, and therefore theoretically, an input terminal of the inverter 230 is featured by a low level signal. The low level signal is inverted by the inverter 230, and therefore conducts the NMOS transistor N0, and guides the ESD current to the ground trace line VSS.
According to the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, although when working in the regular operation mode the pad 210 can be electrically connected to a swinging voltage, when a higher programming voltage (comparing with the foregoing power source, assuming the programming voltage is 7 volts hereby) may likely conduct the PMOS transistor P1 inside the inverter 230, and therefore the NMOS transistor N0 is conducted, and thus generating a leakage current thereby.
Further, the NMOS transistor N0 employed in the ESD protection apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B are directly coupled to the pads 110, 210. In a typical layout, a silicide block is often used for blocking implanting silicide at a drain of the NMOS transistor N0, and thus increasing the surface resistor of the drain of the NMOS transistor N0. Therefore, in such a way, when an ESD occurs, it can be guaranteed that the ESD current will be guided flowing through a parasite transistor in the NMOS transistor N0 to the ground voltage trace line VSS, rather than flowing through a P-type channel of the NMOS transistor N0, which may damage the gate of the NMOS transistor N0. Likewise, the core circuits 120, 220 are directly coupled to the pads 110, 210, respectively, and source/drains of their internal transistors should also include silicide block for blocking implanting silicide to protect internal gates thereof. However, the implantation of the silicide block directly affects the size of the layout.

Electrostatic discharge avoiding circuit


Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing complex, anisotropic materials with desirable properties for information storage, processing, and display. Certain of these methods involve employing a magnetic field during manufacture to induce desired orientations of precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies. The applied magnetic field steers the precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies into desirable orientations while the precursors, subunits, and/or molecular subassemblies are assembled or self-assemble into a complex, anisotropic material. One embodiment of the present invention is a class of new, complex, well-ordered, network-like materials that include a ferromagnetic-material-based framework in which organic and/or organometallic compounds are organized. The ferromagnetic-molecule-based framework provides a scaffold for assembling the stable, precisely separated layers of organic and/or organometallic compounds and maintaining the layers of organic and/or organometallic compounds in well-ordered, anisotropic arrangements. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing the new ferromagnetic-molecule-based, network-like materials.

Significant research and development effort is currently being applied to produce various types of extremely dense materials with useful electronic, magnetic, and/or optical properties, which find particular use in information storage, processing, and display applications. For example, research efforts are currently directed towards developing bi-stable optoelectronic materials with molecular rotors that can be placed in several stable positions with respect to a rigid molecular framework, and can consequently store a bit of information within a region of the material limited in size only by the cross-section of a light beam used to access the bit of information. In future materials, a bit of information may be stored in the orientation or electronic state of a single, asymmetrical molecule, or even in the spin state of a trapped subatomic particle. Molecular electronics may enable not only extremely dense storage of information, but may also yield an enormous decrease in power consumption, a decreased need for heat dissipation, and an increase in the speed by which the physical states that encode logical memory values can be altered, or switched. To the extent that molecular-electronic components can be coaxed to self-aggregate from precursors, subunits, or readily synthesized molecular subassemblies, manufacturing costs per bit greatly decrease.
Unfortunately, as with most things, the spectacular advantages potentially provided by molecular electronics may be achieved only after various problems are overcome. Many of the new materials theoretically useful in information storage, processing, and display applications are manufactured by sandwich-like assembly of organic and organometallic compounds into molecular-film layers on a substrate to produce a complex, multi-layered material. In many of these materials, the desirable properties useful for information storage and display accrue from an ability to orient molecular subassemblies, such as molecular rotors, within the materials in particular directions, using electric fields. However, reliable and robust manufacture of the layered molecular materials, in many cases, remains elusive, and, in many other cases, the stacking and orientations of molecular layers may be disrupted or destroyed by repeated electronic access to information stored within them. For these reasons, research scientists, technologists, manufacturers, and system designers have recognized the need for improved methods of manufacturing layered materials and for new, layered materials that do not suffer deterioration or destruction when electrically, optically, or magnetically accessed.

Method for preparation of anisotropic materials

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An image aspect ratio adjustment system comprises an adjustment module configured to adjust image content to correspond to an aspect ratio of a display device based at least in part on motion within the image content.

Image content is available in a variety of different aspect ratios (e.g., 4:3, 2.2:1, 2.35:1, 16:9, etc.). Additionally, televisions, computer monitors, and other types of image display devices are available with different screen aspect ratios or sizes. Accordingly, image content having an aspect ratio different than that of the display device screen is generally modified and/or adjusted in an attempt to fill the screen with the image content. For example, image content may be stretched, zoomed, or cropped in an attempt to fill the screen with the image content. However, such adjustments have drawbacks. For example, image stretching generally results in image distortion, cropping results in unviewable image content, etc.

Image aspect ratio adjustment system and method


A dry toner useful for one component developer developing method is provided which has good image qualities and durability without contamination of developing apparatus. The toner includes a metal oxide in an amount of from about 10 to about 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the toner and a metal-containing azo dye.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming method and dry toner useful for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by electrography, electrostatic recording, electrostatic printing or the like.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A variety of methods using electrophotography for obtaining a recorded image have been disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691 and Japanese Patent Publications No. 49-23910 and 43-24748, incorporated herein by reference. Generally, these methods include the following steps:
(a) an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductor by various methods; PA1 (b) the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner; PA1 (c) the developed toner image is transferred to a recording material such as paper or the like; and PA1 (d) the transferred toner image is fixed by application of heat, pressure or organic solvent vapor to obtain a recorded image. PA1 (1) an image forming apparatus using the one component developing method needs not have a toner concentration controlling device and therefore a cost efficient image forming apparatus can be manufactured; PA1 (2) a developing unit using the one component developing method needs only a small agitating device and therefore a compact image forming apparatus can be manufactured; and PA1 (3) life of the one component developer is relatively long. PA1 (1) fluorine-containing materials tend to be negatively charged when rubbed with toner because of their large negative polarity and therefore toner almost always charges positively and negatively charged toner can hardly be obtained; and PA1 (2) silicone resins have too poor durability to be applied to these members.
Methods of developing an electrostatic latent image are broadly classified into two types. The first type of the developing methods is a liquid toner developing method using liquid toner which is made by dispersing a pigment and/or a dye in an insulating organic liquid. The second type of the developing methods is a dry toner developing method which uses dry toner made by dispersing a coloring agent, such as carbon black or the like, in a binder resin, such as natural resins or synthetic resins. Currently, the dry toner developing method is widely used for electrophotography.
Further the dry toner developing method is broadly classified into two types. The first type of the dry toner developing method is a one component developer developing method using a one component developer (i.e., toner) in which, for example, both a coloring agent and a magnetizable substance are dispersed in a binder resin. The second type of the dry toner developing method is a two component developer developing method using a two component developer which includes a mixture of dry toner and a magnetizable carrier, such as iron powder or the like.
Between these two methods, the one component developer developing method is widely used for electrophotography because of the following advantages:
Further, the one component developer developing methods are broadly classified into two types. The first type of the one component developer developing methods is a one component magnetic developer developing method using one component magnetizable developer in which an electrostatic latent image is developed with one component magnetizable developer held on a magnetic developing roller. The second type of the one component developer developing method is a one component non-magnetic developer developing method in which an electrostatic latent image is developed with one component non-magnetizable developer which is supplied onto a non-magnetic developing roller by a toner supplying member.
In one component developer developing methods of both magnetic and non-magnetic developer developing types, when a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) adheres on a toner carrying member in a developing unit and a toner film is formed on the toner carrying member, there occurs a problem in which waste toner collected at a cleaning section of the developing unit increases because of adhesion of toner on an area of a photoconductor which corresponds to the background of an image (hereinafter "adhesion of toner on an area of a photoconductor" referred to as "photoconductor fouling"). Since the waste toner does not contribute to the toner image formation, a fixed amount of toner packed in a toner container which is guaranteed to be able to develop more than a fixed number of copy sheets has to be increased, resulting in an increase of manufacturing cost. Therefore, the toner adhesion and the resultant film formation on the toner carrying member should be avoided.
In attempting to solve this problem, a toner film formation preventing method has been proposed in which a toner releasing material, such as fluorine-containing materials and silicone resins, is applied onto a toner contacting element of the toner carrying member. However, the method has the following drawbacks:
Therefore, these materials cannot be applied to the carrying member and a need exists for toner which does not adhere on a toner carrying member.
Further, a one component developer developing method can generally induce in toner less friction electricity than a two component developer developing method and accordingly a proper amount of a charge controlling agent is frequently added to the toner. For example, conventional positive charge controlling agents which make toner be charged with positive friction electricity include Nigrosine type oil soluble dyes, quaternary ammonium salts, azine dyes having an alkyl group, basic dyes and lakes thereof. Conventional negative charge controlling agents include metal-containing dyes, such as chrome-containing monoazo complexes, chrome-containing salicylic compounds, zinc salicylate compounds and chrome-containing organic dyes, such as copper Phthalocyanine Green and chrome-containing monoazo dyes.
However, when even the toner including these charge controlling agents adheres on a toner carrying member and toner film formation occurs on the toner carrying member, photoconductor fouling also occurs.
There is known a one component non-magnetic developer developing method in which an latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrying member is developed with a thin toner layer formed on a toner carrying member in a developing unit which includes the toner carrying member, and a toner layer regulating member and a toner supplying member in which the toner layer regulating member contacts the toner carrying member. In this one component non-magnetic developer developing method, toner tends to adhere on the toner carrying member and make a toner film thereon more frequently than in the case of the magnetic developer developing method. This is because toner is forced to be supplied to the toner carrying member using the toner supplying member in the one component non-magnetic developer developing method while the toner is supplied to the toner carrying member using a magnetic force of the toner carrying member in the one component magnetic developer developing method.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 5-341556 appears to discuss a non-magnetic one component developer developing method which includes a non-magnetic toner carrying member feeding toner to an electrostatic latent image carrying member and a toner layer regulating member forming a toner layer on the non-magnetic toner carrying member wherein a metal oxide is included in the non-magnetic one component toner in an amount of from 20 to 50% by weight. This method improves reproducibility of half tone images but cannot improve toner film formation on the non-magnetic toner carrying member.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for toner for a one component developer developing method which has good image qualities and durability without contamination of developing apparatus such as toner film formation.

One component developer developing method and dry toner therefor


Disclosed is a method for determining whether a test protein is capable of interacting with a retinoid X receptor protein. The method involves: (a) providing a host cell which contains (i) a reporter gene operably linked to a protein binding site; (ii) a first fusion gene which expresses a first fusion protein, the first fusion protein including a retinoid X receptor protein covalently bonded to a binding moiety which is capable of specifically binding to the protein binding site; and (iii) a second fusion gene which expresses a second fusion protein, the second fusion protein including the test protein covalently bonded to a gene activating moiety; and (b) determining whether the test protein increases expression of the reporter gene as an indication of its ability to interact with the retinoid X receptor protein. Also disclosed is purified DNA encoding retinoid X receptor-interacting proteins and the polypeptides expressed from such DNA.

This invention relates to receptor proteins.
This invention was made in part with Government funding, and the Government therefore has certain rights in the invention.
The retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are members of a large superfamily of intracellular hormone receptors. These proteins bind to specific DNA sequences and directly regulate transcription of target genes in response to activation by their specific ligands (Leid et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. 17:427–433, 1992; Leid et al., Cell 68:377–395, 1992; Mangelsdorf et al., Nature 345:224–229, 1990 and Yu et al., Cell 67:1251–1266, 1991). The RXRs belong to a large subgroup of the superfamily defined by a conserved subregion within the DNA binding domain. This group also includes the receptors for retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D as well as a number of other less well characterized proteins, called orphan receptors, that do not have known ligands. As monomers, the members of this class can bind to sequences related to the hexameric consensus AGGTCA. RXR homodimers bind to tandem repeats of this consensus separated by a single base pair (Manglesdorf et al., Cell 66:555–561, 1991), and apparently to additional elements including β-RARE (Zhang et al., Nature 358:587–591, 1992). These homodimer binding sites confer specific response to 9-cis-RA (9-cis-RA), the ligand for the RXRs. In addition, the RXRs heterodimerize with a variety of other family members, including the receptors for all-trans-retinoic acid, thyroid hormone (T3), and vitamin D. This heterodimerization strongly increases the affinity of these receptors for their specific response elements (Yu et al., Cell 67:1251–1266, 1991; Zhang et al., Nature 358:587–591, 1992; Bugge et al., EMBO J. 11:1409–1418, 1992), and recent evidence also demonstrates that it is also required for full hormone dependent transcriptional activity of at least the thyroid hormone receptor-RXR complex.
Mammals have three genes encoding α, β, and γ isoforms of RXR (Mangelsdorf et al., Genes & Dev. 6:329–344, 1992). The expression patterns of murine RXRs (Mangelsdorf et al., Genes & Dev. 6:329–344, 1992) and homologues of RXR found in Xenopus (Blumberg et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:2321–2325, 1992) and Drosophila (Oro et al., Nature 347:298–301, 1990) suggest that the members of the RXR family play important roles in several aspects of development and central nervous system differentiation as well as in adult physiology. Based on both their specific response to the 9-cis-RA metabolite and their heterodimerization with the RARs, it is clear that the RXRs play a central role in the broad regulatory effects of retinoids. Moreover, their heterodimeric interactions with other family members indicate that the RXRs also play a central role in response to thyroid hormone, vitamin D, and perhaps other compounds. This dual function is unique within the nuclear receptor superfamily.

Retinoid X receptor-interacting polypeptides and related molecules and methods


A control mechanism for a fluid displacement apparatus is disclosed. The control mechanism controls fluid communication between an intemediate pressure chamber and a suction chamber of the fluid displacement apparatus, which has a communication channel extending between the intermediate pressure chamber and the suction chamber. The mechanism includes a first valve element having a cylinder and a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder between positions corresponding to maximum and reduced displacement of the compressor. This movement defines a maximum amplitude of the compressor. The cylinder has a bottom wall seperating the cylinder chamber from the suction chamber. A hole is formed in a wall between the cylinder chamber and the intermediate pressure chamber. A distance between the bottom wall and the hole is designed to be greater than the maximum amplitude to prevent the piston from striking the bottom wall. Different shapes may be used for the hole to change the nature of the transition from maximum to reduced displacement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a scroll-type refrigerant compressor having a variable displacement mechanism.
2. Background
Compressors used in automotive air conditioning systems are typically driven by an automobile engine'power, which transmitted to the compesssor through an electromagnetic clutch. If the compressor is not provided with a variable displacement mechaniam, and if the engine is rotating at a high rate, the compressor will be driven at a high rate as well and the operating capacity of the compressor may be larger than necessary. The electromagnetic clutch operates to ensure proper functioning of the compressor. However, under these conditions, the operation of the electromagnetic clutch can cause a large change in the load on the engine, thereby reducing the speed and acceleration performance of the automobile.
A solution to this problem is to provide the compressir with a variable displacement mechanism. Scroll-type compressors having variable displacement mechanisms for varying the compressor capacity are generally known is the art. Such a compressor is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.4,904,164 issued to Mabe et al.
With reference to FIG.1 a scroll-type compressor includes housing 10 having a front end plate 11 and a cup-shaped casing 12, which is attached to a end surface of front end plate 11. An opening 111 is formed in the center of front end plate 11 and drive shaft 13 is disposed in opening 111 is formed in the center of front end plate 11 and drive shaft 13 is disposed in 111. An annular projection 112 extends from a rear end surface of front end plate 11. Annular projection 112 faces cup-shaped casing 12 and is concentric with opening 111. Annular projection 112 extends into cup-shaped casing 12, such that an outer peripheral surface of annular projection 112 is adjacent an inner wall surface of opening 121 of cup-shaped casing 12. Opening 121 of cup-shaped casing 12 is thus covered by front end plate 11. An O-ring 14 is placed between the outer peripheral surface of annular projection 112 and the inner wall surface of opening 121 of a cup-shaped casing 12 to seal the mating surfaces thereof. An annular sleeve 16 longitudinally projects forward from a front end surface of front end plate 11. sleeve 16 surrounds a portion of drive shaft 13 and partially defines a shaft seal cavity 161. A shaft seal assembly 18 is coupled to drive shaft 13 within shaft seal cavity 161 of annular sleeve 16. Drive shaft 13 is rotatably supported by annular sleeve 16 through a bearing 17 located within a front end of annular sleeve 16. Drive shaft 13 has a disk-shaped rotor 131 at its rearward end. Disk-shaped rotor 131 is rotatably supported by front end plate 11 through a bearin 15 located within opening 111 of front end plate 11.
A pulley 201 is rotatably supported by a bearing 19, which is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of annular sleeve 16. An electromagnetic coil 202 is fixed by a support. plate about the outer surface of annular sleeve 16 and is disposed within pulley 201. An armature plate 203 is elastically supported on the forward end of drive shaft 13. Pulley 201, electromagnetic coil 202 and armature plate 203 from an electromagnetic clutch 20.
A fixed scroll 21, an orbiting scroll 22 and rotation preventing/thrust bearing mechanism 24 for orbiting scroll 22 are disposed in the interior of housing 10. Fixed scroll 21 includes a circular end plate 211 and a spiral element 212 affixed to and extending from a forward end surface of circular end plate 211. Fixed scroll 21 is fixed within cup-shaped casing 12 by screws (not shown),which are screwed into circular end plate 211 from the exterior of cup-shaped 12. Circular end plate 211 divides the interior of housing 10 into a front chamber 27 and a rear chamber 28,Spiral element 212 of fixed scroll 21 is located within front chamber 27.
A partition wall 122 longitudinally projects from the inner end surface of the rear portion of cup-shaped casing 112 to divide rear chamber 28 into a discharge chamber 281 and an intemediate pressure chamber 282. The foward end surface of partition wall 122 contacts the rear end surface of circular end plate 211.
Orbiting scroll 22, which is located in front chnaber 27, includes a circular end plate 221 and a spiral element 222 extending from a rear end surface of circular end plate 221. Spiral element 222 of orbiting scroll 22 and spiral element 212 of fixed scroll 21 interfit at an extending from a rear end surface of circular end plate 221. angular offset of approximately 18 degrees and a predetermined radial offset to form a plurality of sealed spaces between spiral element 212 and 222. Orbiting scroll 22 is rotatably supported by a bushing 23, which is exxentrically connected to the inner end of disc-shaped rotor 131 through a radial needle bearing 30. While orbiting scroll 22 orbits, rotation therof is prevented by rotation preventing/thrust bearing mechanism 24, which is placed between front end plate 11 and circular end plate 221 of orbiting scroll 22.
Compressor housing 10 is provided with an inlet port 31 and an outlet port 32 for connecting the compressor to an external refrigeration circuit (not shown). Refrigeration fluid from the external refrigeration circuit is introduced into suction chamber 271 through inlet port 31 and flows into the puluality of sealed spaces formed between spiral elements 212 and 222. The fluid then flows through the spaces between the spiral elements. The plurality of sealed spaces between the spiral elements sequeentially open and close during the orbital motion of orbiting scoll 22. When these spaces are open, fluid to be compressed flows into these spaces. When the spaces are closed,no additional fulid flows into these spaces and commpression begins. The outer terminal ends of spiral elements 212 and 222 terminate at a final involute angle, and the location of the plurality of spaces is directly related this final involute angle. Furthermore, refrigeration fluid in the sealed spaces is moved radially inward and is compressed by the orbital motion of orbiting scroll 22. Compressed refrigeration fluid at a central sealed space is discharged to discharge chamber 281 past valve plate 231 through dischange port 213 formed at the center of circular end plate 211.
A pair of holes (only one hole is shown as hole 214) are formed in circular end plate, 211 of fixed scroll 21 and are symmetrically placed so that an axial end surface of spiral element 222 of orbiting scroll 22 simultaneously cross over both holes. Hole 214 (and the other hole not shown)provide fluid communication between the plurality of sealed spaces and intermediate pressure chamber 282. Hole 214 is placed at a position defined by involute angle (.phi..sub.1 )(not shown) and opens along a radially inner side wall of spiral element 212. The other hole is placed at a position defined by involute angle(.phi..sub.1 .pi.)and opens along a radially outer side wall of spiral element 212. A pair of valve plates (only one valve plate is shown as valve plate 341) are attached by fasteners (not shown)to the rear end surface of circular end plate 211 opposite hole 214 and the other hole, respectively. Valve plate 341 and the other valve plate (not shown)are made of a material having a spring constant which biases valve plate 341 and the other valve plate against the opening of hole 214 (and the other holes)to close these holes. When a valve plate is forced open due to a pressure difference between the jpressure in front chamber 27 and rear chamber 28, a valve retainer (not shown)receives the valve plate to prevent excessive bending of the valve plate. Excessive bending of the valve plate can cause damage to the valve plate.
Circular end plate 211 of fixed scroll 21 also has communicating channel 29 formed therein and located at a radially outer side portion of the terminal end of spiral element 212. Communicating channel 29 provides fluid communication between suction chamber 271 and intermediate pressure chamber 282. A control mechanism 36 controls fluid communication between suction chamber 271 and intermediate pressure chamber 282. Control mechanism 36 comprises a first valve element 37 having a cylinder 371 and a piston 372 slidably disposed within cylinder 371. Control mechanism 36 also comprises a second valve element 38.
A first opening 373,which opens to intermediate pressure chamber 282,is formed through a side wall of cylinder 371. A second opening 374,which opens to communicating channel 29,is formed at a bottom portion of cylinder 371.A ring member 61 having a sealing function is disposed on a rear surface 122 a of partition wall 122 located at the bottom portion of cylinder 371. An annular projection 376 forwardly projects from the bottom of the portion of poston 372. A plurality of communicating holes 377 are formed in axial annular projection 376 to provide fluid communication between the interior of piston 372 and space 60. A bias spring 39 is disposed between a rear end surface of circular end plate 211 and the bottom portion of piston 372 to urge 327 toward a ceiling 379 of cylinder 371. An opening 63 is formed in cup-shaped casing 12 and opens into space60.Opening 63 is normally blocked by a plug 62.
A hollow portion 378 is formed of an inner surface of ceiling 379 of cylinder 371. Portion 378 is formed such that it exists even if top portion 375 of piston 372 contacts the inner surface of ceiling 379 of cylinder 371. This configuration allows discharge gas to pass into cylinder 371. An orifice tube 63 is disposed in the side wall of cylinder 371 to lead discharge gas to hollow portion 378 from discharge chamber 281.
Second valve element 38 comprises a bellows 381.A needle ball-type valve 382 is attached to a rear end of bellows 381 by pin member 383,and is disposed within piston 372. The bottom of bellows 381has a screw portion 384,which screws into an inner surface of axial annular projection 376. Screw portion 384 can be screwed in or out to adjust an intital condition of bellows 381. A valve seat 385 is formed at the upper portion of piston 372. A bias spring 386 is disposed within valve seat 385 and urges needle ball type valve 382 forward toward screw portion 384. In addition,a sealing member 71 is disposed at a upper portion of the outer peripheral wall of the piston 372 to seal a gap between an inner peripheral surface of cylinder 371 and the outer peripheral wall of piston 372.
The operation of control mechanism 36 is as follows. When the compressor is not in operation,piston372 is positioned as shown in FIG.1 because bias spring biases piston 372 rearward toward ceiling 379. When the compressor is in operation,and is driven in a condition in which the suction pressure is relatively high (i.e.,the load is relatively great) bellows 381 is compressed and contracts because refrigerant gas at suction pressure is led into the interior space of piston 372 from communicating channel 29 through communicating holes 377. As a result,needle ball-type valve 382 moves forward to block valve seat 385. Therefore, discharge gas pressure led into cylinder 371 through orifice tube 63 fills hollow portion 378 to urge piston 372 forward toward cicular end plate 211 against the restoring force of bias spring 39. Piston 372 moves forward,and if the heat load is high enough poston 372 blocks first and second openings 373 and 374,thereby preventing communication between sucrion chamber 271 and intermediate pressure chamber 282 as shown,for example,in FIG.2. Therefore,the pressure in intermediate pressure chamber 282 to gradually increased due to fluid passing from intermediate pressure chamber 282 to sealed space 272 through hole 214 and the other above-described hole (not shown). This passage of compressed fluid contuines until the pressure in intermidiate pressure chamber 282 is equal to the pressure in sealed space 272. When pressure equalization occurs,hole 214 and the other hole are closed by the spring characyeristic of valve plates 341 and the other above-described valvel plate (not shown),respectively. Compression then continues normally and displacement volume of sealed spaces is the same as the displacement volume when the terminal end of each of spiral elements 212 and 222 first contacts the other spiral element. In this situation,the forward bias of piston 372 caused b the discharge gas pressure on the rearward side of top portion 375 fully overcomes the rearward bias of piston 372 caused by suction pressure and the restoring force of bias spring 39.
As the heat load decreases,continuation of this non-reduced displacement compression results in a decrease in the suction pressure. As a result,bellows 381 is expanded by the reduced suction pressure gas,which passes into the interior space of piston 372 from communicating channel 29 through comminication holes 377. Therefore,needle ball-type valve 382 moves rearward toward celing 379 to open valve seat 385. When valve seat 385 is opened, discharge gas led into hollow portion 378 through orifice tube 63 passes through valbe seat 385, through the interior of piston 372,and through communication holes 377 to communicating channel 29. Conquently,the pressure on the rearward side of top portion 375 is reduced and the rearward bias of piston 372,caused by the suction pressure and the restoring force of bias spring 39,overcomes the forward bias of piston 372. As first and second openings 373 and 374 are opened,communication between suction chamber 271 and intermediate pressure chamber 282 is restored.
When suction chamber 271 communicates with intermediate pressure chamber 282,the pressure of intermediate pressure chamber 282 is greatly reduced.Thus, valve plate 341 (and the other valve plate)is opened by virtue of the pressure difference between sealed space 272 and intermediate pressure chamber 282. This allows the refrigeration fluid in intermediate sealed space 272 to flow into intermediate pressure chamber 282 through hole 214 (and the other above-described hole),and back into suction chamber 271. The compression phase of the compressor begins after spiral element 222 of orbiting scroll 22 passes over hole 214 and the other hole. In this situaltion,the compression ratio of the compressor is greatly reduced and the compressor operates at a displacement which is less than maximum displacement.
As the displacement of the compressor transitions from maximum displacement. to a reduced displacement,as describe above,the pressure in suction chamber 271 increases Also,the pressure o the rearward side of top portion 375 quickly decreases since discharge gas introduced into cylinder 371 rapidly flows into suction chamber 271 through communication holes 377. As a result,bellows 381 is contracted by increased pressure of fluid which is led into the inner space of piston 372 from communication channel 29 holes 377. Needle ball-type valve 382 once again blocks valve seat 385 . Therefore,discharge pressure led into cylinder 371 through orifice tube 63 once again presses against the rerward side of top portion 375 of piston 372 forward against the restoring force of bias spring 39.
However,this rapid increase in pressure with the communication channel 29 is temporary and,in fact,the suction chamber pressure has been reduced due the decreased heat load. Therefore,the pressure in communication channel 29 (and therefore the pressure in the interior of piston 372)is soon reduced causing piston 372 to again move rearward.
Therefore,as the compressor operation transitions from maximum displacement to a reduced displacement,as described above,piston 372 vibrates axially at a certain amplitude and period within cylinder 371. This vibration gradually decreases to zero and athe compressor continues to function normally at the reduced displacement. In the configuration shown in FIG.1. and 2, L .sub.1 can be defined as the distance between rear surface 122 a of parition wall 122 and the forwardmost portion 373a of the first opening 373. With respect to control mechanism 36,distance L .sub.1 is relatively small and is not designed with any consideration of the effect that L .sub.1 has on the operation of the compressor. When the compressor first begins to transitions from maximum to reduced displacement,piston 372 viberates at a muximum amplitude,which can be defined by a length S (not shown).Length S can be determined,for example,by connecting a sensor to the piston or cylinder. In the compressor of FIG.1 and 2,length S is greater than distance L .sub.1. As a result,annular shoulder portion 372 a of piston 372 strikes rear surface 122 a of partition wall 122,and does so with a relatively large force. The inpact stress caused by this repeated striking can damage the control mechanism components including partition wall 122 and piston 372. This damage can take the form of excessive abrasion,for example. Moreover, the vibration caused by the impact can be transmitted to other componets of the compressor, thereby potentially damaging those components. Also,the impact causes undersirable noise.
As a partial solution,ring member 61 is provided,as described above,on the rear surface 122 a of partition wall 122. Ring member 61 acts a buffer between piston 372 and partiton wall 122. Ring member 61 prevents control mechanism 36 from causing the impact noise and eccentric abrasion. In this arrangement,however,providing the necessary ring member 61 causes increased material costs and increased assembly time during manufacture of the compressor. Other problems exist with prior art compressor as will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the pertinent art.

Fluid displacement apparatus with variable displacement mechanism


A protective garment incorporates a face and neck mask adapted to filter out airborne particulates. The protective garment outwardly has the appearance of a conventional shirt, sweater or jacket, yet incorporates a convenient, easy to use, and readily accessible mask that is always available to the wearer and is ready for use on short notice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of protective respiratory masks and more particularly to a mask which is contained within and as part of a garment for protecting persons from dust, smoke, toxic gasses and any other from of airborne pollution such as car and truck exhaust, paint particles and infectious biological agents. The mask is configured to be worn as a folded over collar when not in use and to be unfold and rolled up to cover a wearer's nose and mouth and substantially all of the wearer's neck when in use as part of the protective garment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent times, there has been some concern for public safety with respect to the detrimental effects of prolonged exposure to pollution in the form of airborne particulates. The most common forms of airborne pollution encountered by typical individuals are automotive exhaust, smoke whether caused by uncontrolled fires or from nearby manufacturing facilities, and dust and dirt which has become entrained in the air due to the passage of cars and trucks, the operation of construction equipment and not uncommonly from engaging in recreational activities which kick up dust such as mountain biking and off-road travel in popular four-wheel drive vehicles and the like.
Though rarely encountered, concern has also arisen among the public regarding protection from biological attacks by terrorists or other criminal elements. The potential for biological attacks is believed to be primarily in the form of airborne chemicals or biological agents. Another area of increasing public concern is the threat posed by airborne infectious disease such as SARS or a potential flu pandemic.
Safety masks of various types designed to address the above concerns have long been known in the art. For example, the common painter's mask has long been used to protect painters from toxic airborne paint particles which arise during the painting process. Similarly, gardener's masks have long been in existence to protect gardeners and other outdoor workers such as field workers from airborne dirt and dust. Likewise, surgeon's masks have long been in use by doctors and their staff to protect against coming into contact with infectious airborne bacteria and viruses.
In addition to the above, other more complex mask systems have been developed. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,516 entitled "SMOKE ESCAPE MASK," issued to Hollander et al. on Aug. 26, 2003. The Hollander device includes a breathing filter sized to cover the nose and mouth of a user and also includes a transparent eye shield, which is attached to the breathing filter as well as pressure sensitive adhesive located on the device's peripheral edges for securing the mask to the face of the user. The Hollander device is provided in a sealed package for one-time use and is meant to be stored in areas where the risk of smoke inhalation from an uncontrolled fire is high.
While the Hollander device may be effective in reducing the likelihood of smoke inhalation in the case of an emergency, it like the simpler masks mentioned above suffers from a serious drawback. Namely, such masks are not commonly worn or carried by the public, especially in public areas. The lack of use by the public of such masks can partially be attributed to the fact that many people may consider the wearing of such a mask in public socially or fashionably unacceptable. In addition, such masks are an extra accessory which must be packed when traveling to a public area. As such many people forget to pack and/or purchase such masks and therefore do not have such masks readily available during a time of need. Room for improvement remains in the art.
What is needed therefore is a mask that may be incorporated into a commonly worn garment such as a shirt. The mask should be configured so as to remain unobtrusive when not in use and yet be easily deployable when the need (for instance in the case of fire or biological attack) or desire (for example to protect from irritating dust or automobile exhaust) to protect oneself from airborne particulates arises.