Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for externally cued aircraft warning and defense are disclosed. A surveillance system may include a sensor field or array and may include a processor system that processes signals including acoustic signals received by the sensor array. Signals including acoustic signals are processed to determine the presence of indicia, including acoustic signatures, of known surface-to-air missiles including man-portable air defense systems. When the presence of such surface-to-air missiles is indicated, a cue signal is sent to one or more countermeasure systems that include one or more countermeasures such as chaff, expendable decoys and flares. The countermeasure systems may be ground-based or aircraft-based. The countermeasures are deployed in response to the cue signal. The surface-to-air missile may consequently be defeated.

Surface-to-air missiles, including certain types known as man-portable air defense systems can pose a threat to aircraft that are within the effective range of such missiles. For example, certain man-portable air defense systems such as the Stinger and SA series missiles, have altitude and horizontal or slant ranges of up to 15,000 ft and four miles, respectively. Such missiles can consequently threaten grounded or airborne aircraft within these ranges. Surface-to-air missiles may also be a threat to aircraft flying at altitudes below 15,000 feet in so-called landing and takeoff corridors before landing and after taking off, typically for horizontal ranges of up to 50 miles of a given landing or runway facility.
Certain autonomous infrared countermeasures (IRCM) are known and have been implemented on aircraft as fully independent aircraft defense systems. However these systems typically employ an active infrared detector array and associated mechanical and electro-optics systems and are therefore relatively expensive.
What is needed therefore are effective and inexpensive methods, computer-readable media and systems for defending aircraft, including civilian aircraft, against such surface-to-air missiles.

Externally cued aircraft warning and defense


A transfer device includes an endless intermediate transfer belt that moves circularly, a first rotating body pressed into contact with the inner surface of the belt, and a second rotating body disposed at a position facing the first rotating body to contact with the outer surface of the belt. The belt includes a first pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a first pressure from the first rotating body such that a toner image that has been first-transferred to the outer surface of the belt is second-transferred onto a recording medium that passes between the belt and the second rotating body and a second pressing section that is in contact with the second rotating body due to a second pressure smaller than the first pressure on the upstream side of the first pressing section in the belt movement direction.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a transfer device and an image forming apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a unfixed toner image that has been formed in an image forming unit is first-transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt, the unfixed toner image, which has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, is second-transferred onto a recording medium, and the unfixed toner image, which has been transferred to the recording medium, is heated and applied with pressure in a fixing device, so that an image is formed.

Transfer device and image forming apparatus


An array substrate, a method for manufacturing the array substrate and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate includes: a display region; a common bus line disposed at all edges of the display region. The common bus line comprises a first and a second regions which are opposite to each other. A plurality of gate lines, each of which is configured to drive a row of sub pixels. The gate lines are parallel to the direction from the first region to the second region of the common bus line. At least one gate line intersects one or both of the first region and the second region of the common bus line.

A pixel structure of an existing display apparatus usually adopts a RGB (red, green and blue) three primary color pixel design, that is, as shown in FIG. 1, each pixel is composed of a red sub pixel, a green sub pixel and a blue sub pixel. When an image is displayed by the display apparatus, the display apparatus controls each sub pixel to emit light at a corresponding luminance, whereby a desired image can be generated by visually mixing. The display apparatus with the RGB pixel structure has the advantage of high pixel independence, that is, each pixel can display all 3 colors, while the disadvantage of the display apparatus with the RGB pixel structure is relatively low display brightness. The back light must be enhanced if a higher display brightness is required, leading to an increase of power consumption. In addition, in the related art, for improving the display brightness, other sub pixels such as a white sub pixel and yellow sub pixel other than the red sub pixel, the green sub pixel and the blue sub pixel are introduced. In the case of a same pixel density (Pixels Per Inch, PPI), the introduction of other color sub pixels reduces the resolution, resulting in blurred display, insufficient sharpness and so on.

Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and display apparatus

SHANGHAI AVIC OPTO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


An illuminating apparatus includes a lamp member, a lighting member, a waterproof member, and cooling liquid. The lamp member has a closed chamber, in which the cooling liquid is filled. The lamp member has at least a metal heat sink in the chamber, and the heat sink has at least a slot. The lighting member is isolated from the cooling liquid by the waterproof member. Therefore, the heat of the light emitting diode may be dissipated quickly through the cooling liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lighting device's structure, and more particularly to an illuminating apparatus which has a good thermal dissipation performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light emitting diode (LED) is widely used in the present days because of its small size, low power consumption, high efficiency, and long lifespan. FIG. 1 shows a conventional LED bulb 1, which includes a base 2, a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) 3 mounted on the base 2, a plurality of LEDs 4 on the MCPCB 3, and a cover 5 connected to the base 2 to cover and protect the LEDs 4. The conventional light bulbs are gradually replaced by the LED bulbs. However, the conventional LED bulb 1 still has the following drawbacks:
1. The size of the MCPCB 3 is limited by the cover 5, and therefore the LEDs 4 on the MCPCB 3 are very crowded, so that the conventional LED bulb 1 is very hot, and the heat is hard to dissipate. It will reduce the illumination efficiency and shorten the LED bulb's 1 life. The problem is even worse for a high lumens LED bulb.
2. Although the base 2 is made of aluminum, which is good at thermal dissipation, but the base 2 only has a very small area in touch with the MCPCB 3 and a dissipating surface 2a is far away from the MCPCB 3, so that the conventional LED bulb 1 only has poor thermal dissipation performance. Besides, the aluminum base 2 is very expensive.
3. The base 2 is opaque, and therefore the light of the LEDs 4 only comes out through the transparent cover 5. It limits the angle of illumination.


A method for inputting Japanese letters and a device with which the method is carried out are provided. The method involves prearranging predetermined letters and symbols in a matrix array of M columns and N rows, and inputting a desired letter or symbol by designating the corresponding column and row coordinate. In one embodiment, the designation of the corresponding coordinate is accomplished by use of the pointer of a direction designation unit, the unit having positions corresponding to the coordinates uniformly spaced in a circular pattern.

The present invention relates to letter input methods and devices and, more particularly, to small-size Japanese letter input devices for portable terminals.
Among usual letter input means are keyboards with key top impression of alphabets, numerals, Japanese kana letters, etc. and also ten key sets used for portable telephone sets or the like.
Among other typical letter input devices are touch panels. A touch panel is a letter input device for inputting position data corresponding to its touched spot. This device has an integral display with a keyboard display thereon. By touching the keyboard display at spot thereof, corresponding letter data is inputted.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-58590 entitled "Vector Pattern Input Device" discloses a character input device using a touch panel. In this device, characters are inputted by recognizing them from strokes drawn on the touch panel.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-161433 entitled "Electronic Musical Instrument with Letter Input Function" discloses a device using a rotary dial, which is rotatable for displaying letters on a display. In this device, Letters are inputted when they are displayed. This device has a set selection switch for selecting a numeral set and a large and a small alphabet letter set. The large and small letter sets are selected by depressing the switch.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-129294 entitled "Letter Input Device" discloses a letter input device, which permits inputting letters with a single hand. To this end, the device comprises a frame, which is of such a size that it can be gripped with a single hand and has a rotor capable of being rotated with the thumb and a key switch operable with a finger other than the thumb. In this device, letters are inputted by deducing a vowel row from a detected angle of rotation of a rotary bar and deducing a consonant column from a detected state of depression of a key switch.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-168658 entitled "Letter Input Device and Method" discloses input of letters by using a track pole and a set of step-wise depression adjustment switches. In this case, four switches capable of detecting five depression steps are used to determine letters to be inputted, and a track pole is used to cause movement of a cursor displayed on a display. In this way, the input of letters and the cursor operation are permitted.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-202807 entitled "Letter Input/Display Device" discloses an input device using a mouse. In the device, a table of letters is partly displayed on a display for scrolling by moving a mouse. When a desired letter appears, it can be inputted by clicking the mouse.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-131095 entitled "Japanese Kana Letter Input System Based on Pointing Device" discloses combined use of a pointing device and a push button switch having a single button capable of being depressed in a plurality of different steps. In this case, certain steps of depression of the button are allotted to the consonant mark and p-sound mark of Japanese kana letters. The input of Japanese kana letters is thus simplified by the combination of the 50-letter set displayed on a display and the button.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-341903 entitled "Letter Information Input Device" discloses simplified letter input. In this case, a tablet is used, and a keyboard display is made on a display. In this letter information input device, a letter is not inputted absolutely by pointing a position on the display. Instead, the letter is inputted according to position relative to the pointed position, that is, touch feel letter input is possible without reference to the display.
The above first-mentioned case of letter input by using a usual keyboard, has the following problems. Where romaji letters are inputted with a keyboard, at least 26 letter keys are necessary in addition to a large/small letter size switch key and numeral keys, that is, a total of at least 40 keys are necessary.
In addition, where these keys are to be depressed with fingers, the size of each of key in the set can not be made smaller than is necessary for being depressed with a finger. Thus, a large area is required as a whole.
This input method poses no problem in the case of a relatively large device used on a desk, such as a desk top personal computer or a note personal computer. However, in relatively small portable terminals such as PDAs (personal digital assistants), it is not so realistic to mount a keyboard. Besides, in the case of a PDA or like terminal which is relatively frequently held and used with a single hand rather than being put on a desk, it is extremely difficult to input letters with a keyboard.
The above second case, in which a touch panel is used for letter recognition, has the following problems. In a small-size device such as a portable telephone set or like portable terminal, if it is intended to secure a hand-written letter input area for letter recognition, the display area of the screen is reduced, thus making it difficult to input a sentence. In addition, for inputting letters it is necessary to use in combination a pen or like relatively thin input device with a pointed tip. This means that a pen or the like should always be carried and be taken out whenever letter data is to be inputted. Moreover, in such a situation it is necessary to use the pen while holding the device body with one hand. That is, it is necessary to hold the pen with one hand while holding the body with the other hand. Both hands are thus occupied.
The above third-mentioned case, which is an electronic musical instrument with a letter input function and having a dial for selecting letters and also a set selection switch for selecting a small or a large letter set, has the following problem. For detecting a letter on the diametrically opposite dial side of a presently selected letter, i.e., 180-degree out-of-phase therefrom, a number of finger operations are necessary. It is thus difficult to continuously input a large number of letters.
The above fourth-mentioned letter input device has the following problems. In this case, a rotor is used to deduce vowel rows, and a key switch is used to deduce consonant columns. However, it is difficult to determine by the sense of feel the rotation angle of the rotor corresponding to a vowel row to be selected. Also, it is difficult to determine by feel the number of times of depression of the key switch corresponding to a desired consonant column to be selected. For letter selection, it is thus necessary such means that all the letters capable of being selected are always displayed on a display for selecting letters with reference to the display. Such a display of letters, however, requires a corresponding display area. This means that it is difficult to input letters by viewing a sentence. Besides, since letters are inputted with two different kinds of switches, i.e., the rotor and a see-saw switch, it is impossible to input letters with a single finger.
The above fifth-mentioned case of letter input, i.e., the letter input device and method using a plurality of step-wise depression adjustment switches for the letter input, has the following problems. In this case, positions of one of the switches which can be depressed step-wise is allotted to the vowels, and positions of the other switches are allotted to the consonants. This dictates the user to memorize the vowels and consonants corresponding to the respective switch positions. However, it is rather difficult for the user to memorize these switch positions. In addition, the switches are adapted to produce clicks when they are depressed step-wise to the individual positions, and thus can be readily depressed to desired positions. However, since a plurality of switches are provided, their depression forces adjustment at a time is difficult.
The above sixth-mentioned case, i.e., the letter input/display device, in which the 50-letter set is displayed on a display for scrolling, and a desired letter is inputted with a determining button switch when it appears, has the following problem. In this case of letter input the display should be scrolled at a high speed such as on a display unit of a personal compute CRT monitor. However, in the case of a liquid crystal display in a portable terminal or the like, such scrolling makes it difficult to recognize the display and frequently makes it substantially impossible to select letters.
The above seventh-mentioned case, i.e., the Japanese kana letter input system based on pointing device, has a problem that a Japanese kana letter set should be displayed on a display. In a portable terminal or the like, the display area of the screen is too small to be able to display the kana letter set, or if such display is possible, the size of the individual displayed letters is extremely small. This means that it is difficult to select letters.
The above eighth-mentioned case, i.e., the letter information input device, is applicable to devices without need of portability considerations. A problem in this case resides in the use of a tablet independently of the display screen for the letter input. The tablet requires an extra space, and is therefore unsuited to the cases concerning the portability.

Letter input method and device using the same


A photo-curable epoxy resin type composition which comprises (a) an epoxy resin, (b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (i) a compound having a group, other than an imido group, which is represented by the formula --CONH and (ii) an aromatic amine, (c) an organic metal compound, where said metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum and zirconium; and (d) an organic silicon compound having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a peroxysilyl group and an o-nitrobenzyloxy group capable of forming a silanol group by irradiation with light. The photo-curable epoxy resin type composition according to this invention is capable of readily curing by light (ultraviolet ray in particular) and also capable of heat curing at a temperature of 150.degree. C. or more, and yet provides a cured product that is free of ionic impurities, does not corrode metallic materials which may be in contact with the composition, and displays excellent electrical properties.

This invention relates to a photo-curable epoxy resin type composition. More particularly, it relates to a photo-curable epoxy resin type composition capable of giving a cured product which has shortened curing rate and improved curability and has electrical properties suitable for use in insulating materials for electrical equipments and also for use in resist materials.
Recent years, in view of energy saving and improvement of workability, attention has been paid to processes for curing resins by light. Of the processes, a process by which epoxy resins are cured by light has been applied widely and considered important. In the process for effecting photo-curing of the epoxy resins, most important factor is the epoxy resin composition itself, although the conditions for the photo-curing shall not be neglected, and extensive studies have been made on those having a variety of components. The photo-curable epoxy resin compositions having been known in the art can be roughly classified into the following two types.
One is a composition obtained by modification of an epoxy resin with use of a vinyl group-containing compound such as an acrylic acid and its derivatives However, a photo-cured product of the modified epoxy resin has a problem that it is considerably inferior to a cured product of the epoxy resin itself in the heat resisting property.
The other is a composition obtained by adding to the epoxy resin a photodecomposable type catalyst and curing it by use of the catalyst An example of the catalyst used therefor is a complex represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar represents a phenyl group, or the like; X represents an iodine atom, a sulfur atom, a diazo group, or the like; and Y represents BF.sub.4, PF.sub.6, AsF.sub.6, SbF.sub.6 or the like,
as disclosed in Macromolecules, 10, 1307 (1977); Journal of Radiation Curing, 5, 2 (1978); Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Chemistry Edition, 17, 2877 (1979); ditto, 17, 1047 (1979); Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Letters Edition 17, 759 (1979); Specification of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 65219/1980; specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,054; specification of British Patent No. 1,516,511; specification of British Patent No. 1,518,141; etc.
However, when the composition obtained by adding to an epoxy resin the photo-curable type catalyst is used, the resultant photo-cured product has a good mechanical strength and a heat resisting property, whereas the catalyst component tends to remain as an ionic impurity. Therefore, it has problems that the deterioration of electrical properties such as electrical insulating property and corrosion phenomenon in electrical equipments may occur when such a cured product is applied in an electrical equipment.

Photo-curable epoxy resin type composition


The field of the invention relates to a method for the production of a recombinant protein in a plant-based system comprising the steps of providing a plant-based system comprising a modulation for a plant endogenous prolyl-4-hydroxylase gene, delivering a gene encoding the recombinant protein into the plant-based system, and cultivating the plant-based system for the expression of the gene encoding the recombinant protein. The field of the invention further relates to a recombinant protein, which has been produced in a plant-based system. A plant-based system and use of the recombinant protein are also provided.

Recombinant production of pharmaceutical proteins is pivotal, not only for personalized medicine. While most biopharmaceuticals are produced in mammalian cell culture, plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMP) are gaining momentum with the first product released to the market (protalix.com). Although posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of plants are similar to those of humans, slight differences can affect quality, safety and efficacy of PMPs (Walsh and Jefferis, Nat. Biotechnol., 24:1241-1252, 2006). One of the most common PTMs in higher eukaryotes is prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H)-catalyzed prolyl-hydroxylation. P4H sequence recognition sites on target proteins differ between humans and plants leading to non-human PTMs. Moreover, in plants the resulting hydroxyprolines are the anchor for O-glycosylation which again differs from human O-glycosylation.
Plant-based systems are gaining acceptance as alternative production platforms for recombinant biopharmaceuticals (Paul and Ma, Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem., 58:58-67, 2011). With regard to slight differences in post-translational modifications between humans and plants considerable progress was achieved in the humanization of Asparagin (N)-linked glycosylation of PMPs (Karnoup et al., Glycobiology, 15:965-981, 2005; Pinkhasov et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 9:991-1001, 2011; Weise et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 5:389-401, 2007, Cox et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 24:1591-1597, 2006). The attachment of immunogenic plant-specific β1,2-xylose and α1,3-fucose residues to the core N-glycan was abolished in different plant systems (Cox et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 24:1591-1597, 2006; Koprivova et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 2:517-523, 2004; Strasser et al., FEBS Lett., 561:132-136, 2004; Sourrouille et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 6:702-721, 2008). In addition, the elimination of Lewis A epitopes on N-glycans of rhEPO was reported recently (Parsons et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 10:851-861, 2012). Further humanization of the N-glycosylation on PMPs was achieved by expression of the human β1,4 galactosyltransferase (Bakker et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 103:7577-7582, 2006; Huether et al., Plant Biol. (Stuttg.), 7:292-299, 2005) and additional heterologous enzymes necessary for engineering sialylation (Castilho et al., J. Biol. Chem., 285:15923-15930, 2010). Despite this progress in humanizing N-glycosylation, differences in O-glycosylation can affect product quality. Plant O-glycosylation differs explicitly from the typical human mucin-type O-glycosylation (Gomord et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 8:564-587, 2010) and induces antibody formation in mammals (Leonard et al., J. Biol. Chem., 280:7932-7940, 2005; Yates et al., Glycobiology, 6:131-139, 1996). Immunogenicity of biopharmaceuticals may result in reduced product efficacy and is a potential risk for the patients (Schellekens, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov., 1:457-462, 2002). Such adverse effects hamper the broad use of plants as production hosts for biopharmaceuticals. In plants, the main anchor for O-glycosylation is 4-trans-hydroxyproline (Hyp) (Kieliszewski, Phytochemistry, 57:319-323, 2001), while no further modification of Hyp occurs in mammals (Gorres and Raines, Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 45:106-124, 2010). Although Hyp is always synthesized posttranslationally by prolyl-4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) via hydroxylation of the γ carbon of proline, recognition sites differ between mammals and plants (Gorres and Raines, Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol., 45:106-124, 2010). Hyp is an important structural component of plant cell walls and of the extracellular matrix of animals and humans. Here, Hyp plays a key role in stabilizing the structure of collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in mammals, where the second proline of the tripeptide PPG is usually hydroxylated by collagen P4Hs. In plants, Hyp residues are the attachment sites for O-glycosylation in hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs), the most abundant proteins in the plant extracellular matrix and cell wall. HRGPs include extensins, proline-rich glycoproteins and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) (Kieliszewski, Phytochemistry, 57:319-323, 2001; Kieliszewski and Lamport, Plant J., 5:157-172, 1994; Shpak et al., J. Biol. Chem., 276:11272-11278, 2001). Prolyl-hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation of plant cell wall proteins is of major importance for growth, differentiation, development and stress adaption (Velasquez et al., Science, 332:1401-1403, 2011; Lamport et al., New Phytol., 169:479-492, 2006).
The target motifs for Hyp-anchored O-glycosylation in plants, so-called glycomodules, were defined and validated (Kieliszewski and Lamport, Plant J., 5:157-172, 1994; Shpak et al., J. Biol. Chem., 276:11272-11278, 2001). From these, the consensus motif [A/S/T/V]-P(1,4)-X(0,10)-[A/S/T/V]-P(1,4) (where X can be any amino acid) was derived for predicting prolyl-hydroxylation in plants (Gomord et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 8:564-587, 2010). According to in silico analysis of the human proteome, approximately 30% of all proteins contain this motif, and are thus candidates for non-human prolyl-hydroxylation and subsequent O-glycosylation when expressed in plants (Gomord et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 8:564-587, 2010). Consequently, adverse plant-typical prolyl-hydroxylation and even arabinosylation of PMPs was reported (Karnoup et al., Glycobiology, 15:965-981, 2005; Pinkhasov et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 9:991-1001, 2011; Weise et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 5:389-401, 2007). On the other hand, the artificial introduction of Hyp-O-glycosylation in PMPs was suggested as an alternative to PEGylation to increase the serum half-life of biopharmaceuticals (Xu et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng., 97:997-1008, 2007; US patent application 20060026719). However, non-human prolyl-hydroxylation does not only alter the native sequence of the protein, but also serves as anchor for O-glycans, which in turn may be immunogenic. Thus, the elimination of the anchor Hyp is the only safe way to avoid adverse O-glycosylation in PMPs.
The three documents EP 2 360 261 A1, Xu et al. (BMC Biotechnol, 11:69, 2011) and Stein et al. (Biomacromolecules, 10:2640-2645) each deal with the production of collagen in different plant systems (e. g. maize, tobacco). Mammalian- or human-specific prolyl hydroxylation is achieved by expression of exogenous mammalian/human prolyl 4 hydroxylase. Thus, the disclosed methods in all three documents require expression of exogenous mammalian/human prolyl 4 hydroxylase.
Among plants, the moss Physcomitrella patens offers the unique possibility for precise and targeted genetic engineering via homologous recombination (e.g. Strepp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 95:4368-4373, 1998; Koprivova et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 2:517-523, 2004). Further, several PMPs have been produced in the moss bioreactor, including rhEPO (Decker and Reski, Plant Cell Rep., 31:453-460, 2012), the leading biopharmaceutical world-wide. Its market turnover is over 10 billion Euros per year. EPO is a highly glycosylated peptide hormone stimulating erythropoiesis. Recombinant hEPO produced in CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells is used for prevention or treatment of anemia in nephrology and oncology patients, and can be abused for illegal doping activities. A glyco-engineered version of EPO (asialo-EPO) has no hematopoietic activity but can serve as a safe drug with neuro- and tissue-protective functions after stroke and additional hypoxia stress (Erbayraktar et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 100:6741-6746, 2003). Production of correctly N-glycosylated asialo-EPO in the moss bioreactor was reported recently (Parsons et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 10:851-861, 2012). However, plant-derived rhEPO is hydroxylated within the motif SPP (147-149) (Weise et al., Plant Biotechnol. J., 5:389-401, 2007) and thus may have adverse effects on patients.
Weise et al. (Plant Biotechnol. J., 5:389-401, 2007) and Parsons et al. (Plant Biotechnol. J., 10:851-861, 2012) both deal with the production of rhEPO in moss and with the modulation of the glycosylation pattern of N-glycans by targeting the plant-specific fucosyl-/xylosyl-/galactosyltransferases. Thereby, immunogenic fucoses/xyloses/galactoses on the N-glycans are removed. Both documents do not address O-glycosylation because prolyl hydroxylation (as an anchor for O-glycosylation) is not subject of these disclosures.
The hydroxylation of prolines of a recombinant human protein produced in a plant-based system cannot be obviated so far. It only becomes apparent after production of a recombinant human protein if its prolines are hydroxylated and if non-human or plant specific O-glycosylation is present.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method for the production of a recombinant protein using a plant-based system. It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide a recombinant protein, which has been produced in a plant-based system without the need to introduce exogenous prolyl-4-hydroxylase genes into the system, wherein the recombinant protein does not comprise any non-human prolyl hydroxylation. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a plant-based system used for the production of such a recombinant protein and to provide a use of such a recombinant protein.

Modified expression of prolyl-4-hydroxylase in physcomitrella patens


A hinged vertical exhaust pipe is provided to allow easy adjustment of the height of the exhaust pipe. The upper and lower sections of the exhaust pipe are hinged together by a stiff joint, e.g., a spring-loaded hinged friction joint, and are positioned in line with one another with a slight gap between them. The lower section is double walled, and the inner wall extends somewhat up into the upper section. The upper section is single walled, with its wall aligned with the outer wall of the lower section. Air is drawn into the space between the inner and outer walls at the base of the lower section and also at a gap at the joint between the upper and lower sections. This air is drawn in both due to the aspiration caused by the higher speed exhaust flow through the inner exhaust pipe, and due to thermal rising of heated air. The space between the inner wall of the lower section and the wall of the upper section acts as a venturi, directing the air in a uniform fashion up into the upper section of the exhaust pipe. This cools the pipe and minimizes blow back at the joint between the upper and lower sections of the pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exahust pipes, and in particular to adjustable height vertical exhaust pipes.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common for work vehicles, e.g., agricultural tractors, to have a vertical exhaust pipe extending well above the other portions of the vehicle to direct the exhaust well away from the operator. However, it is desirable to provide a vehicle with a lower height exhaust pipe in some work environments, for example, in orchards or buildings, to provide clearance.
The same vehicle may be used in both restricted height environments and open field travel. This means that it is desirable to provide some mechanism to convert a standard height vertical exhaust pipe to a low clearance pipe with a minimum amount of effort and no hand tools.
One possibility is to provide a completely removable upper pipe section. This has the disadvantage that the upper pipe section can easily be lost or damaged, and may need hand tools to remove. Some other mechanism therefore is preferable.
The trucking industry sometimes uses a jointed tip-over vertical exhaust for low clearance maneuverability. This eliminates the problem of losing the upper exhaust pipe, but it poses other problems, for example, leakage at the pipe joint when the pipe is in the standard height position.


A stacked package module is disclosed, which comprises: a first package structure comprising a first circuit board with a first chip embedded therein, wherein the first chip has a plurality of electrode pads; the first circuit board comprises a first surface, an opposite second surface, a plurality of exposed electro-connecting ends, a plurality of first conductive pads on the first surface, a plurality of conductive vias, and at least one circuit layer, therewith the electrode pads of the first chip electrically connecting to the electro-connecting ends and the first conductive pads directly through the conductive vias and the circuit layer; and a second package structure electrically connecting to the first package structure through a plurality of first solder balls to make a package on package. The stacked package module of this invention has characters of compact size, high performance, high flexibility, and detachability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stacked package module and, more particularly, to a stacked package module which can enhance the elasticity of conductive pad layout and the electro-connecting region.
2. Description of Related Art
In the development of electronics, the design trend of electronic devices is towards multifunction and high-performance. Thus, high-density integration and miniaturization are necessary for a semiconductor package structure. On the ground of reason aforementioned, the mono-layered circuit boards providing electrical connections among active components, passive components, and circuits, are being replaced by the multi-layered circuit boards. The area of circuit layout on the circuit board increases in a restricted space by interlayer connection to meet the requirement of high-density integrated circuits.
In general, a conventional semiconductor package structure is made such that a semiconductor chip is mounted by its back surface on the top surface of the substrate, then the package structure is finished through wire bonding, or a semiconductor chip is mounted by the active surface thereof on the top surface of the substrate, thereby finishing a flip-chip package structure, followed by placing solder balls on the back surface of the substrate to provide electrical connections for an electronic device like a printed circuit board.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional wire bonding package structure. The wire bonding package structure 1 comprises a circuit board 10, a chip 11, a plurality of metal wires 14, and a molding material 15. The circuit board 10 has a first surface 10a having a plurality of wire bonding pads 101 and an opposite second surface 10b having a plurality of solder pads 102. In addition, the circuit board 10 has a cavity 105, and the chip 11 is disposed in the cavity 105. The active surface 11a of the chip 11 has a plurality of electrode pads 111, electrically connecting to the wire bonding pads 101 of the circuit board 10 by the metal wires 14. The cavity 105 of the circuit board 10 is filled with the molding material 15, and the molding material 15 wraps the chip 11 and the metal wires 14. The solder pads 102 of the circuit board 10 can electrically connect with an electronic device (not shown) by solder balls 16.
FIG. 2 shows a stacked package module comprising the aforementioned package structure. The stacked package module is accomplished by stacking two same package structures 1 and 1′ as shown in FIG. 1. The solder pads 102'on the surface 10b' of the upper package structure 1′ electrically connect with the conductive pads 103 on the surface 10a of the lower package structure 1 by a plurality of solder balls 203.
However, in the above module comprising a plurality of stacked package structures, only the remaining region of the substrate of each package structure, where no semiconductor chip is disposed, can suffice conductive pads for electrically connecting with another package structure by solder balls. It is indicated that the electrical connecting area on the substrate of each package structure is limited, and thereby the number and the layout of I/O connections of each package structure is limited, resulting in reduced elasticity of circuit layout on the substrate and design flexibility of the package structure.
In addition, soldering is the only method for electrically connecting the aforementioned package structure with an electronic device, resulting in nondetachable electrical connections.
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a package structure having characteristics of compact size, high performance, high flexibility, and detachability.

Stacked package module and board having exposed ends


A driving apparatus for a washing machine including: a housing; a brake drum rotatably disposed inside the housing; a dewatering shaft coupled to the brake drum; a washing shaft rotatably disposed inside the dewatering shaft; a rotor to which the washing shaft is coupled; a stator disposed inside the rotor; a brake lever disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing and adapted to operate a brake pad connected to one end thereof to control the rotation of the brake drum; a coupling clutch moved upwardly and downwardly along a lower end portion of the dewatering shaft; a clutch lever mounted on the housing and rotating upon the rotation of the brake lever to move the coupling clutch upwardly and downwardly; and a pressurizing lever coupled to the brake lever to rotate together with the brake lever and to push and rotate the clutch lever.

Generally, a washing machine is an electronic appliance that removes the pollutants from clothes, bedding and the like through the friction and impacts of the flow of water caused by the emulsification of detergent and the rotation of washing wings, and the washing process of the washing machine generally has washing, rinsing, dewatering and water supplying/discharging strokes.
The washing machine is largely classified into a pulsator type washing machine and a drum type washing machine in accordance with washing ways, and the pulsator type washing machine rotates only the washing wings to form the flow of water in the state where the washing tub stops at the time of the washing and rinsing strokes and rotates the washing wings and the washing tub together at the time of the dewatering stroke to perform the dewatering stroke from the laundry put into the washing tub by using a centrifugal force.
Typically, the washing machine includes a washing shaft adapted to rotate the washing wings, a dewatering shaft adapted to rotate the washing tub, a clutch unit adapted to selectively transmit a driving force of a motor to the washing shaft and the dewatering shaft in accordance with the washing mode, and a brake unit adapted to fix the washing tub at the time of the washing stroke.
The clutch unit is operated by means of a clutch motor and selectively transmits the driving force of the motor to the washing shaft and the dewatering shaft, and the brake unit is operated by means of a brake motor to allow a brake pad to fix a brake drum thereto, so that the washing tub can be kept fixed at the time of the washing stroke.
According to the conventional washing machine, however, the clutch unit and the brake unit are operated independently of each other by means of their respective motors, thus making the driving apparatus more complicated in configuration, and further, such motors are needed, thus making the volume bulky and raising the manufacturing cost.


A method for forming a wiring for a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: forming a predetermined pattern on a first surface of a silicon substrate by selectively etching the first surface; coating, with a metal layer, a selected area of the first surface, including an area whereat the predetermined pattern is formed; forming organic material in the first surface to fill an etched portion and cover the coated metal layer; forming a plurality of via holes in the organic material and connecting the metal wiring to the coated metal layer through the via holes; and grinding a second surface corresponding to the first surface to remove a part of the metal layer formed in the etched portion.

A metal wiring formed by using photoresist (hereinafter referred to as "PR") and electroplating has limitation in forming a thick metal wiring having a high aspect ratio characteristic due to the limitation in the maximum thickness and the aspect ratio of the PR.
Furthermore, in a semiconductor device, there is a problem that the overall thickness of the module is increasing due to the thickness increase in the structure formed on the substrate surface.
Recently, an inductor structure, having a through silicon via (TSV), has been suggested in order to form a thick metal signal line.
However, in this case, there is a difficulty in the process wherein the via must be fully filled with metal; moreover, the high dielectric constant existing between the signal lines and the lossy characteristic of the silicon relatively degrade the performance of the inductor.
Especially, the densely integrated thin film inductors for a semiconductor device are being manufactured with the thickness less than 10 μm, and designed with a limited line width due to the limitation in the area thereof. Therefore, there is a limitation in implementing a high quality characteristic of an inductor for a semiconductor device due to the thin metal thickness and limitation in the line width of the wiring.

Wiring for semiconductor device and method of forming same


A system and processes for causing the simultaneity of events from two or more families of events are described. A repetition rate and modulus of each one the first families of events is determined. A second family of events has a controlled repetition rate that optimizes the simultaneity of a number of events of the second family with a corresponding number of events from the first family within a desired time period. The first families of events can be occurrences of scanning an image of a target across a detector element of a scanning imaging system. The modulus can be a number of lines per frame of the scanning imaging system. Laser pulses having a pulse repetition rate can be events from the second family of events. A system and processes may disable one or more scanning imaging systems by controlling a pulse repetition frequency of a laser output.

Optical systems are commonly used in ground-based surveillance systems and in guidance systems of aircraft and missiles to identify and track other objects or aircraft. Such surveillance and guidance or "seeker" systems may be based on infrared detectors (IR), i.e., those that detect light in the infrared region of the spectrum. Such surveillance systems are often referred to as forward looking infrared systems or "FLIRs." Forward looking infrared imaging systems may be divided into two broad categories, namely, scanning systems and non-scanning or staring systems. For missile guidance there are also non-imaging systems based on a single detector element and modulating the light from a target image.
Staring systems have an image field of view that is fixed in relation to a focal plane of the system. In contrast, scanning imaging systems have an optical element, for example a prism or mirror, that rotates or oscillates, causing an image captured by the system to move or "scan" past a focal plane of the imaging system. Typically systems from each category have infrared detector elements or pixels positioned at a focal plane of the system. Because an image of the field of view of the system is focused at the focal plane, a detector placed at the focal plane may detect optical intensities and consequently the presence of any object in the field of view. An array of detectors may be used in place of a single detector, in which case the array may be referred to as a detector array. When an array is positioned at a focal plane of the system, the image received by the array may be processed by digital imaging techniques and systems.
Examples of applications in which forward looking infrared systems are used include missile seeker systems, airborne threat warning systems, and infrared search and track systems. Forward looking infrared systems are also used for navigation, target acquisition, fire control, and reconnaissance on aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and man-portable systems. As an example of the prominence of these infrared systems, it has been reported that shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles guided by infrared seeker systems have accounted for 80–90% of the aircraft combat losses since the Persian Gulf War of 1991, including the only Army attack helicopter downed by Iraqi forces during that war.
As used in imaging systems, detector arrays may be connected to or integrated with suitable digital signal processing circuitry for image processing, e.g., display, reconstruction, filtering, manipulation, etc. The detectors used in such arrays are often charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or photodiodes. A common type of array used in such scanning imaging systems is a linear, one-dimensional or "1×N" array, referring to the geometry of the array being one row or column with N individual detectors. The terms row and column are relative and depend on the orientation of one viewing the array. For the sake of clarity, the term "column" or "line" will be used hereinafter. Arrays of more than one column may be used in scanning systems. These arrays may be referred to as two-dimensional or "2D" arrays and may be referenced by the number of columns they contain and the number of elements residing in each columns, e.g., 2×128, 4×64, etc. When two or more columns are present in an array, the signal from each element or pixel may be added and averaged over time in a process called time delay integration (TDI) to improve the signal to noise ratio of the detected image. Common FLIR detector materials include indium antimonide, InSb, and mercury cadmium telluride, HgCdTe.
Some forward looking infrared systems include detectors that have in-focal-plane electronics, which enable signal processing on each detector or pixel in the array. Signal processing capability on each pixel may provide imaging advantages, such as the opportunity to perform digital matched-filter processes, but also presents opportunities to perform countermeasures that disable the pixel or array. It has been demonstrated that infrared detector arrays may be damaged and disabled by directing a laser beam at a detector element or pixel in the array.
When focused by imaging optics onto a detector array, a laser beam or pulse, if having sufficient fluence, can cause laser sparks, which in turn can produce laser-induced damage of the array material. Such resulting laser sparks may remove material by melt, ablation, vaporization and may "drill" down through the infrared detector material to the underlying processing electronics. This phenomenon may be referred to as laser-material interaction. Disablement of the pixel or array may occur when a spark induces thermal damage and/or mechanical damage or causes a quantity of charge to move though the layers of the detector into an underlying layer, e.g., readout integrated circuitry (ROIC), multiplexing circuitry, integration circuitry, etc. Any of such phenomenologies resulting from a laser spark can causes either an open circuit or a short circuit in one of the layers under the detector or array, causing a total shutdown of the functionality of the array. The focused beam or pulses may further interfere with the normal operation of the array by producing heated plasmas at the detector surface that may induce disruptive voltages and currents.
As previously stated, forward looking infrared systems using both scanning or non-scanning systems may employ detector arrays or focal plane arrays, where a focal plane array usually implies multiple columns of detectors. Staring systems employing focal plane arrays may be disabled by a continuous-wave (CW) or pulsed laser beam with sufficient fluence when the beam is focused in the focal plane. The focal plane array is always positioned at the focal plane of such a staring system, and the focal plane is fixed in relation to the focal plane array. Therefore, as long as the laser beam or pulse travels through the imaging system, the beam or pulse will be focused on the focal plane and any array positioned there. This is not the case with scanning imaging systems, however, since the image of the field of view is not fixed and is instead scanned past the focal plane, where the detector array is located. Therefore, there is no guarantee that at any particular time an incident laser beam will hit an array in the focal plane of the imaging system. At any particular time, the position on the focal plane where an incident laser beam is focused depends on the orientation of the moving optical element, e.g., prism or mirror. As a result, an incident laser beam or pulse may be focused on an area of the focal plane that at the moment critical for disablement does not include the detector array, despite the beam or pulse having entered the optical imaging system.
Besides being disabled by material damage from a direct hit through laser-detector interaction, an array may also be at least temporarily disabled by the application of a laser beam not directly on but near to the array, for example on whatever material is adjacent to the array. This temporary disablement condition may be referred to as a "latch-up" condition. The latch-up condition is not a damage condition but the functionality of the array is lost until the array system is rebooted. For a more detailed description of latch up, see "Understanding Latch-Up in Advanced CMOS Logic," Application Note, Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (Revised 1999).
Countermeasures have been developed to attempt to defeat the seeker systems of "guided" missiles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,314 issued to Meeker discloses a countermeasure system, adapted for use onboard an aircraft, for confusing an incoming missile as to the location and heading of the aircraft. The countermeasure system generates for each side of the aircraft at least two infrared energy images, which are projected onto the aircraft's fuselage and then swept across the aircraft's fuselage to confuse the incoming missile's infrared seeker. This system does not disable a detector in the guidance system of the missile.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,885 issued to Brown et al. discloses a missile tracking and deflection system for protecting a platform that includes a missile warning system for detecting the presence of a missile and generating a warning signal. A countermeasure processor receives the warning signal and analyzes characteristics of the missile to prioritize a trajectory signal. The countermeasure processor generates a jam code delivered by a laser beam to divert the trajectory of the missile away from the platform. U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. U.S. 2002/0097390 with inventors Hick et al. is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,885 and further discloses that a nulling or blanking signal may be used during generation of the laser beam to improve reception of the active signature. Neither of the disclosed systems disables a detector in the guidance system of the missile.
While CW lasers producing a beam of sufficient fluence might hit and disable a focal plane array within a scanning imaging system, the average power requirements to ensure disablement could require a laser and power source that are prohibitively large for aerospace applications where mass is a critical consideration. Therefore, there is a need for a system and processes for disabling scanning imaging systems by use of a pulsed laser having a carefully controlled pulse repetition frequency.

System and processes for causing the simultaneity of events including controlling a pulse repetition frequency of a pulsed laser for disabling a scanning imaging system


Process for preparing a catalyst support which process comprises a) mixing pentasil zeolite having a bulk silica to alumina molar ratio in the range of from 20 to 150 with water, a silica source and an alkali metal salt, b) extruding the mixture obtained in step (a), c) drying and calcining the extrudates obtained in step (b), d) subjecting the calcined extrudates obtained in step (c) to ion exchange to reduce the alkali metal content, and e) drying the extrudates obtained in step (d); process for preparing a catalyst by furthermore impregnating such support with platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 0.1 wt % and tin in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt %, each on the basis of total catalyst; ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst obtainable thereby and a process for dealkylation of ethylbenzene which process comprises contacting feedstock containing ethylbenzene with such catalyst.

Ethylbenzene is one of the aromatic hydrocarbons that is obtained from naphtha pyrolysis or in reformate. Reformate is an aromatic product given by the catalysed conversion of straight-run hydrocarbons boiling in the 70 to 190° C. range, such as straight-run naphtha. Such hydrocarbons are themselves obtained by fractionation or distillation of crude petroleum oil, their composition varying depending on the source of the crude oil, but generally having a low aromatics content. On conversion to reformate, the aromatics content is considerably increased and the resulting hydrocarbon mixture becomes highly desirable as a source of valuable chemicals intermediates and as a component for gasoline. The principle components are a group of aromatics often referred to as BTX: benzene, toluene, and the xylenes, including ethylbenzene. Other components may be present such as their hydrogenated homologues, e.g. cyclohexane.
Of the BTX group the most valuable components are benzene and the xylenes, and therefore BTX is often subjected to processing to increase the proportion of those two aromatics: hydrodealkylation of toluene to benzene and toluene disproportionation to benzene and xylenes. Within the xylenes, para-xylene is the most useful commodity and xylene isomerisation or transalkylation processes have been developed to increase the proportion of para-xylene.
A further process that the gasoline producer can utilize is the hydrodealkylation of ethylbenzene to benzene.
Generally, the gasoline producer will isolate BTX from the reformate stream, and then subject the BTX stream to xylene isomerisation with the aim of maximising the para-xylene component. Xylene isomerisation is a catalytic process; some catalysts used in this process have the ability not just to isomerise xylenes but also simultaneously to dealkylate the ethylbenzene component. Normally the para-xylene is then separated out to leave benzene, toluene (unless toluene conversion processes have already been applied) and the remaining mixed xylenes, including ethylbenzene. This BTX stream can either be converted by transalkylation to increase the yield of xylenes by contacting with a heavier hydrocarbon stream or can be converted by dealkylation to eliminate selectively ethylbenzene and to increase the yield of benzene, while allowing the xylenes to reach equilibrium concentrations. The latter process is the subject of the present invention.
In ethylbenzene dealkylation at this latter stage of BTX treatment, it can be desirable to have a catalyst with high activity. Such catalyst makes it possible to operate at high weight hourly space velocities. Additionally, it is advantageous if a catalyst has high flat plate crushing strength as this leads to less fines and broken material being formed during handling and catalyst loading or unloading from the reactor. Fines are known to cause problems in operation such as contributing significantly to the pressure drop over a reactor.
Ethylbenzene dealkylation catalysts are well known in the art and typically comprise platinum on a zeolite containing support as described for example in EPA0018498.
WO2009016143 relates to ethylbenzene dealkylation catalysts comprising pentasil zeolite having a bulk silica to alumina ratio in the range of from 20 to 150, platinum and tin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,815 describes a method for preparing silica-rich solids which comprises mixing silica-rich solids with water in an alkali metal base or basic salt followed by mulling, extruding, drying and neutralizing the base before calcination. Calcining can cause the alkali metal to become trapped, perhaps by encapsulation, and it is then difficult to remove by ion exchange and is usually removed incompletely. The products are described to be suitable for a wide variety of processes which are both non-catalytic and catalytic such as hydrocracking, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, polymerization, reforming, catalytic cracking and catalytic hydrocracking.

Process for the preparation of a catalyst support


A method is provided for diagnosing the operation of a photometric particle analyzer. The method may determine when the operation is degraded from normal operating conditions, automatically, and the result displayed locally as well as being transmitted to a remote observer. The present invention may be used by optical photometric particle analyzers, or by analyzers that measure other properties of particles collected on filters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to calibration methods, and more particularly to a method to automatically diagnose photometric particle analyzers.
2. Discussion of the Background
There is a class of instruments, often referred to as "photometric particle analyzers" that analyze airborne particles by collecting samples of the particles on a filter, and then sensing the collected particles on the filter. One example of such an instrument is an optical photometric particle analyzer known as an AETHALOMETER® (Magee Scientific Corporation, Berkeley, Calif.). The AETHALOMETER® collects particles suspended in an air stream by continuous filtration of the air through a porous, fibrous substrate, such as a quartz fiber filter. Simultaneously, the optical transmission of the filter is continuously measured by illumination of the upper surface, and detection of the light transmitted through various portions of the filter to its underside.
If the sampled air stream of an AETHALOMETER® contains optically-absorbing particles, the accumulation on the filter will contain a mass of material (including the "Black Carbon" component, denoted "BC") that will absorb some of the incident light, and reduce the amount of light transmitted through the filter. The AETHALOMETER® precisely measures the intensity of light transmitted through the "sensing" portion of filter material, on which particles are collected, and compares this with the intensity of light emanating from the same source but passing through a "reference" portion of the same filter material but which is not subject to the collection of particles. The AETHALOMETER® may function, for example, by using photo-detectors to accurately measure the intensity of light transmitted through various portions of an "optical analysis head." The illuminating light is provided by a multiplicity of light-emitting diode (LED) sources emitting at a variety of wavelengths. The ratio of these intensities leads to the calculation of optical absorption, since the common denominator is the intensity of light produced by the source. The relation between optical absorption and mass of BC, determined by separate laboratory techniques, allows the increase in optical absorption between one measurement and the next to be interpreted as the accumulation of a certain amount of BC during the measurement period. Since this material was collected from the flowing air stream, the concentration of BC in the sample air stream can be calculated, given a simultaneous measurement of the air flow rate by a separate sensor. In this way, the AETHALOMETER® offers a real-time measurement of the concentration of BC particles in an air stream.
While the use of photometric particle analyzers is effective, and generally have a linear response, variations of light intensity or detector response can degrade the accuracy of the instruments. There are many different potential sources of error in the use of photometric particle analyzer. Thus, for example, degradation in accuracy can result from contamination of the optics or the light sources, or from changes in the linearity of response of the instrument. There is a need in the art for a method of determining when the performance of a photometric particle analyzer is degraded under such circumstances. Such a method should be compatible with existing instruments, should be easy to implement.

Method for automatic performance diagnosis and calibration of a photometric particle analyzer


A method for fabricating a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim mechanically rolled onto a wheel disc. The wheel disc includes at least one continuous circumferential bead or groove. During the rolling operation a complementary groove or bead is formed in the wheel rim. The bead is received by the groove to mechanically secure to the wheel rim to the wheel disc. A resilient material including an adhesive is disposed between the wheel disc and the wheel rim. The adhesive bonds the wheel rim to the wheel disc while the resilient material forms air-tight seal therebetween.

This invention relates in general to vehicle wheels and in particular to a method for fabricating two piece wheels having a wheel rim rolled onto to a separately formed wheel disc to form a mechanical connection therebetween.
It is known in the art to fabricate a vehicle wheel by attaching a wheel rim to a separately formed wheel disc. Typically, the wheel rim is rolled from steel strip stock and the disc is stamped from steel sheet stock. The rim is welded to the disc to form the wheel. Such a wheel is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,455 to Iwatsuki. Alternately, the wheel rim can be rolled from steel and the wheel disc cast or forged from a light weight metal, such as aluminum, titanium or magnesium, or an alloy of a light weight metal. Because the metals forming the rim and disc are different, a ferrous weld anchor is usually attached to wheel disc. The wheel rim is welded to the weld anchor to assure that a good weld is formed between the rim and disc. Such a wheel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,311 to Nobach and is commonly referred to a bimetal wheel. A bimetal wheel combines the economy, flexibility and strength of a steel rim with the pleasing ornamental appearance of three dimensional contours formed in a cast or forged wheel disc.
To enhance the appearance of a two piece wheel, it is known to attach a full face wheel disc which includes the outboard tire retaining flange to a partial wheel rim to form a full face bimetal wheel. When a tire is mounted upon a full face wheel, the joint between the wheel disc and wheel rim is completely hidden and only the wheel disc is visible. A decorative finish is often applied to the face of the wheel disc to further enhance the appearance of the wheel. Examples of typical decorative finishes include metal plating, such as chromium plating, clear coatings and paint.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fragmentary sectional view of a typical prior an bimetal full face wheel 10. The wheel 10 is described in the Nobach patent listed above and includes a full face wheel disc 11 formed from a light weight metal or light weight metal alloy by a conventional process, such as gravity, low pressure or die casting. The full face wheel disc 11 includes a central wheel hub 12 which is supported by a plurality of wheel spokes 13 (one shown) within an annular sidewall 14. An outboard tire bead retaining flange 15 extends in a radial outward direction from the sidewall 14. The wheel disc 11 also includes a ring-shaped weld anchor 16 formed from a ferrous material, such as steel, which is partially embedded in the wheel disc sidewall 14. A portion of the weld anchor 16 is exposed to form a welding surface 17. The sidewall 14 further includes a cylindrically-shaped collar 18 which extends axially from the inboard side of the flange 15. The collar 18 extends radially over a portion of the weld anchor 16 to secure the weld anchor 16 to the wheel disc 11.
A conventional partial wheel rim 20 is attached to the inboard side of the wheel disc 11. The wheel rim 20 is formed from steel strip stock with conventional rim roll forming machinery. The wheel rim 20 includes an inboard end 21 which terminates in a conventional inboard tire bead retaining flange 22. An inboard tire bead seat 23 and inboard safety bead 23A are also formed on the inboard end 21 of the wheel rim 20. A leg portion 24 extends in an outward axial direction from the inboard safety bead 23A. A deepwell 25 is formed in the wheel rim 20 adjacent to the leg portion 24. The wheel rim 20 also includes a cylindrically-shaped outboard end 26 which is adjacent to the deepwell 25. The outboard wheel rim end 26 includes an outboard tire bead seat 27 and outboard safety bead 27A. The outboard rim end 26 extends over the wheel disc collar 18 and into contact with the welding surface 17 of the weld anchor 15. The outboard rim end 26 and the wheel disc collar 18 are sized to form a clearance fit therebetween, allowing the wheel rim 20 to be rotated relative to the wheel disc 11.
A continuous circumferential air-tight weld 28 is formed between the wheel rim 20 and the weld anchor 16. Typically, a conventional friction or inertial welding process is used to form the weld 28. During the welding process, the wheel disc 11 is held stationary while the wheel rim 20 is rotated with the outboard rim end 23 pressed against the weld anchor 16. The heat generated by friction partially melts the outboard wheel rim end 26 and the adjacent portion of the weld anchor 16 to form the weld 28.
An alternate structure for the weld anchor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,642 to Archibald where the weld anchor includes an annular collar which is received by the outboard end of a partial wheel rim. The weld anchor collar positions the wheel rim on the wheel disc.
While the wheel disc is typically welded to the wheel rim, it is also known to heat shrink the wheel rim onto the wheel disc, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,347 to Baumgartner and European Patent Application No. 0 096 399 to Stahlschmidt & Malwurm GmbH & Co. KG. The U.S. Patent discloses wheel structures having either cylindrical or conical shrinkage surfaces. The U.S. Patent also discloses optional cutting or rolling of threads on the cylindrical shrinkage surfaces to allow the disc to be threadedly attached to the wheel rim. The European Patent Application discloses conical shrinkage surfaces. The European Patent Application further discloses optional forming of cleats and corresponding grooves, which receive the cleats, on the shrinkage surfaces.

Method for fabrication of a two piece vehicle wheel having a rolled connection between sections


An additive manufacturing device is disclosed that enables the manufacturing of 3D objects at a short time. The device uses multiple writing heads to write simultaneously different segments of the object and thus complete the object manufacture in a shorter time as compared to a one head additive manufacturing device.

Additive manufacturing devices usually use a single material dispensing or writing head to deposit and cure material in order to construct a solid object out of non-solid material. The writing head typically writes layer after layer, gradually adding object details to the object to build the three-dimensional (3D) object representation. One such example of additive manufacturing product is Mojo system, commercially available from Stratasys, Ltd., Edina, Minn., United States.
Additive manufacturing devices are characterized by utilizing a single material dispensing or writing element that can typically move in a plane to add a layer of the 3D object. Additional motion mechanism or actuation mechanism typically perpendicular to the plane where the added layers reside enables the device to add layers on-top of existing layers to build the 3D object. The time required to build a 3D object depends on various parameters, including the speed of adding a layer to the 3D object and other parameters such as for example, curing time of resin using UV radiation, the speed of adding solid material to the layer which depends on the material itself, the intensity of the curing agent and the desired resolution of the 3D object details.
It is the purpose of this disclosure to provide apparatus and methods that support faster 3D object manufacturing in spite of the speed limitation of writing heads and different other technologies.


A coaxial dye laser flashlamp, each electrode of which is made of spaced rings joined by several molybdenum strips evenly spaced about and between the coaxial quartz tubes of the flashlamp. The coaxial quartz tubes are then fused together in the regions of the molybdenum strips.

The invention relates to coaxial dye laser flashlamps and more particularly to the electrodes of such flashlamps.
Such flashlamps include spaced, concentrically arranged tubes of different diameter so as to provide an annular space between the tubes. Circumferentially arranged ring electrodes are located at each end of the tubes and are sealed between the tubes with cement or a graded glass seal. The thus sealed and isolated annular space between the two tubes is then filled with xenon gas. One ring electrode is grounded and the other is subjected to an electrical charge. The charge travels through the xenon gas causing the emission of a bright flash.
The major problem with the above described prior art methods of sealing the electrodes to the tubes is that undesirable substances are introduced into the closed annular gas filled space between the tubes regardless of which method is used. The result is a much shortened lamp life.
The present invention overcomes this deficiency by provision of a series of equally spaced molybdenum strips which have ring electrodes attached to each end. Two of these assemblies are then arranged at each end of and between the tubes. The tubes are then heat fused together in the region of the strips to produce a satisfactory seal.

Dye laser flashlamp and method of making same


In accordance with one illustrative embodiment, a system for determining a self-discharge current characteristic of a storage cell (or a bank of storage cells) includes a voltage source, first and second voltage measurement circuits, a current measurement circuit, and a processor. The voltage source provides a potentiostat voltage to the storage cell coupled to the system. The first voltage measurement circuit provides a first voltage resolution for measuring an open circuit voltage across a pair of terminals of the storage cell. The second voltage measurement circuit provides a second voltage resolution that is significantly higher than the first voltage resolution for measuring a terminal voltage at one of the pair of terminals of the storage cell. The processor executes a test procedure by using the voltage source, the first and second voltage measurement circuits, and the current measurement circuit, to determine the self-discharge leakage current characteristic of the storage cell.

A storage cell, such as a nickel-cadmium (NiCad) cell or a lithium ion cell, typically loses its charge over a period of time, primarily as result of a self-discharge current that occurs in the storage cell. Unfortunately, given the current state of the art, it is practically impossible to completely eliminate the self-discharge current in these storage cells. Furthermore, while there has been a limited level of success in testing individual storage cells in a laboratory environment, it is turning out to be quite complex and impractical to measure the self-discharge current characteristics of each of a batch of storage cells in a manufacturing environment.
More particularly, measuring the self-discharge current parameters of each of a batch of lithium ion cells during manufacture is turning out to be impractical due to a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include shortcomings associated with existing lithium storage cell technologies, while other shortcomings are associated with commercially available potentiostat systems used for carrying out these types of measurements. The shortcomings associated with commercially available potentiostat systems, particularly those used for characterizing lithium ion cells that are larger than button cells, can include complexity, insufficient accuracy, and undesirably high cost.
Consequently, in lieu of batch testing lithium ion cells on a manufacturing floor, some test entities have opted to use an alternative approach wherein an open circuit voltage of each of a batch of lithium ion cells is measured prior to storing the batch of lithium ion cells in a controlled temperature facility. In many cases, the storage period can extend to a couple of weeks or longer. Upon completion of the storage period, the open circuit voltage of each lithium ion cell is measured once again in order to evaluate the self-discharge current characteristics of each lithium ion cell on the basis of a drop in the open circuit voltage as a result of the storage. As can be understood, not only does such a procedure merely provide an approximation of the self-discharge current characteristic of each lithium ion cell but also suffers from various other shortcomings such as the testing period having to extend over a couple of weeks or longer, storage requirements (including controlled environmental conditions), and potential hazards (fire hazard, chemical leaks, toxic emissions etc.) during storage.

Systems and methods for determining a self-discharge current characteristic of a storage cell


A wing shroud is provided for an earth moving machine bucket adapted to be positioned at least partially on a tooth adapter and/or at least partially on a lateral plate of the bucket for protecting wear sensitive bucket parts. The wing shroud includes at least one self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the bucket.

Shrouds are installed at different parts of a bucket for protecting defined bucket parts from abrasive wear. The installation of shrouds can prolong the bucket life since it will be sufficient to replace the outworn shrouds instead of purchasing a new bucket.
Currently, different kinds of shrouds are in use. For example, lip shrouds are placed on the leading edge of the bucket to protect the sensitive bucket edge parts which are strongly stressed during excavator work. Shrouds located at the bucket corner are called wing shrouds which are mainly designed for protection of the bucket cheek plates.
There are several processes known from the state of the art for mounting said protection means to the respective bucket parts. It is common practice to connect the protection means by bonding or welding. A further example suggests a wing shroud which is locked with a pin on a bucket sidewall. Another embodiment suggests protecting the top of a tooth adapter on the basis of a wear cap. On top of the wear cap a separated wing shroud is placed for protection of the bucket sidewall. Consequently, at least two single parts are necessary to achieve a sufficient protection of corner tooth adapter and sideplates. Regularly, said protection parts are held with an additional fixing element, in particular a pin or an axis situated on the bucket sidewall.
Alternatively, the above mentioned protection can be fixed by welded stopper arranged at the bucket. However, it is always necessary to modify the bucket or the shroud by a welding process.
All aforementioned solutions have the same disadvantage that the fixing of the protection requires additional parts to maintain a sufficient connection between the protection and the bucket. Consequently, replacement of the protection is either impossible or rather complicated and time-consuming.
Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a wing shroud for a bucket which can be easily fixed to a bucket without the need of extra equipment.
In accordance with the present disclosure, this object is initially solved by a wing shroud adapted to be positioned at least partially on a tooth adapter and/or at least partially on a lateral plate of the bucket for protecting wear sensitive bucket parts wherein the wing shroud comprises at least one self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the bucket. Advantageous aspects of the wing shroud in accordance with the present disclosure are provided in the sub claims following the main claim.
Accordingly, in one example, a wing shroud for an earth moving machine bucket, in particular a mining bucket, is adapted to be positioned at least partially on a tooth adapter and/or at least partially on the lateral plate of the bucket. In case of a corner tooth adapter connected to the bucket, in particular by a welding process, the inventive wear shroud protects the tooth adapter, the lateral plate of the bucket and the connection line, in particular the welding line between tooth adapter and bucket.
In case of a casted corner tooth adapter the tooth adapter comprises a vertical portion vertically extending from the top surface of the adapter. The vertical portion forms a part of the lateral plate of the bucket. The vertical portion is connected to the bucket, in particular by a welding process. The inventive wing shroud is adapted to protect the tooth adapter and the vertical portion of the tooth adapter and optionally the lateral plate of the bucket.
This offers a sufficient protection for the most wear sensitive bucket parts. Protection of at least one bucket tooth adapter and at least one lateral plate of the bucket and/or the vertical portion of the tooth adapter is achieved by one single shroud. The inventive shroud combines the protection function of a known wear cap and a wing shroud.
The wing shroud further comprises at least one self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the bucket. Therefore, the inventive wing shroud is maintained without any additional parts, as for example a pin, an axis, or with help of any welded parts at the bucket and/or tooth adapter. During connecting process a self-lock occurs between the wing shroud and the bucket and/or the tooth adapter which does not require any welded part at the bucket or at the wing shroud. Further, a very easy and comfortable way of replacing said wing shroud is possible. Especially, the present disclosure offers a hammerless installation and disassembly of the wing shroud after abrasive wear occurred.
In an example aspect of the present disclosure, the wing shroud is adapted to protect at least one tooth adapter, in particular, a corner tooth adapter or a casted corner tooth adapter, at least one lateral plate of the bucket and/or a vertical portion of the tooth adapter and/or the welding line between the tooth adapter and the lateral plate. Consequently, three or more wear sensitive parts of a bucket can be easily protected with only a single part, namely the inventive wing shroud.
In accordance with another advantageous aspect of the present disclosure at least one self-lock mechanism assures a form-lock between the shroud and the bucket.
It might be sufficient that the wing shroud comprises at least one self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the tooth adapter. Additionally or alternatively, the wing shroud may comprise a self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the lateral plate of the bucket or to the vertical portion of the tooth adapter. In a particular aspect of the present disclosure, the wing comprises at least one self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the tooth adapter and at least another separated self-lock mechanism for a detachable connection to the lateral plate.
The wing shroud and the bucket may be closely linked to each other by mechanically locking them together. For example the locking mechanism comprises at least one plug formed on an inner surface of the wing shroud. The formed plug is adapted to engage into a groove arranged at the bucket or the tooth adapter. Said plug may snap into the respective groove. Alternatively, at least one plug may be slid into the respective groove from a predefined direction.
If at least one plug is engaged with at least one groove a movement of the wing shroud will be blocked, in particular a vertical and/or horizontal movement of the wing shroud will be blocked.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, at least one plug is substantially wedge shaped. The plug may also be formed with one straight longitudinal side and one angular longitudinal side.
In an aspect of the present disclosure the wing shroud comprises an u-shaped cap member which is adapted to be arranged on top of at least one tooth adapter. The u-shaped cap member can partly embrace at least one tooth adapter to provide a sufficient protection of the covered tooth adapter part. In that case, at least one plug may be formed on an inner surface of the u-shaped cap member. In particular at least one plug extends horizontally along the inner surface of the cap member in parallel to the center line of the cap member. Especially, at least two plugs are arranged on opposite inner surfaces of the cap member.
According to another advantageous aspect of the present disclosure the wing shroud comprises a rising u-shaped neck member which extends from a base member, in particular from the u-shaped cap member of the shroud. The u-shaped neck member may be adapted to be arranged on the vertical front edge of the lateral plate of the bucket and/or the vertical front edge of the vertical portion of the tooth adapter when connecting the shroud to the bucket. In particular, the u-shaped neck member is adapted to partly embrace the lateral plate and/or vertical portion.
The present disclosure is further directed to a bucket for an earth moving machine comprising at least one wing shroud according to the present disclosure or according to any of the advantageous aspects of the present disclosure. Obviously, the bucket offers the same characteristics and benefits as the above mentioned wing shroud.
In an example aspect of the present disclosure, a horizontal movement of the wing shroud which is connected to the bucket is prevented by at least one tooth connected to a tooth adapter. In that case, at least one wing shroud may be detachable connected to the bucket on the basis of at least one locking mechanism. In particular, the wing shroud is connected to the bucket by at least one plug engaging in a respective groove of the bucket and by blocking a horizontal movement of the wing shroud by a tooth connected to the protected tooth adapter.
Further, the present disclosure is directed to an earth moving machine, in particular a mining machine, having at least one bucket according to the present disclosure.
Further details and advantages of the present disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

Wing shroud for an earth moving machine bucket, bucket and earth moving machine


A drilling apparatus including plurality of subsystems, each subsystem includes a subsystem controller, one or more sensors, and one or more actuators. Each subsystem controller is configured to determine a local subsystem state from measurements received from the one or more sensors and further configured to receive global state estimates and updated control strategies. Each subsystem controller is configured to send command signals to one or more actuators based at least in part on the local subsystem state, global state estimates, and updated control strategy. A method and system for coordinating the control of a plurality of drilling subsystems during drilling operations is provided. A method of drilling subsystem controller decision-making based on a co-player inference playing strategy is further provided.

Wellbores are drilled into the earth for a variety of purposes including tapping into hydrocarbon bearing formations to extract the hydrocarbons for use as fuel, lubricants, chemical production, and other purposes. Systems for drilling subterranean wellbores can be complex often involving multiple subsystems. For instance, a drilling system may include a rig subsystem, a drilling fluid subsystem, and a bottom hole assembly (BHA) subsystem. Each drilling subsystem typically collects measurements from sensors to detect various parameters related to the drilling process. Drilling systems are generally characterized by subsystem equipment and measurement devices spread over large distances, which involves communication delays and bandwidth issues. For instance, sensor measurement data collected near the bottom hole assembly (BHA) is typically transmitted to the surface where it is analyzed and used to adjust downhole drilling equipment. Mud pulsing, a common form of communication between the rig at the surface and the BHA, is bandwidth limited and delayed, making controlling the drilling process difficult. Additionally, downhole sensor measurements and surface sensor measurements alike can be inaccurate, delayed, or infrequent, limiting the effectiveness of using such measurements in drilling control systems. Effective control over the drilling process is further complicated as a result of interactions between the plurality of drilling subsystems. For instance, manipulation of drilling variables by each of the individual drilling subsystems can affect the measurements and control requirements of neighboring drilling subsystems.

Game theoretic control architecture for drilling system automation


A simplified method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate is disclosed. The method includes: forming gate electrodes, gate lines and gate pads on a substrate with the use of a first mask; forming a gate insulation film, a semiconductor layer, and a metal layer on the substrate; forming a first photoresist pattern on the metal layer with the use of a second mask; forming first contact holes for the gate pads with the use of the first photoresist pattern; forming a second photoresist pattern, and providing patterns for data pads, data lines, and thin film transistors with the use of the second photoresist pattern; providing a third photoresist pattern, and forming contact holes for source/drain electrodes and second contact holes the gate pads with the use of the third photoresist pattern; forming a protective film on the substrate and providing a fourth photoresist pattern on the protective film with the use of a third mask; forming third contact holes for the gate pads, contact holes for the data pads, gate lines, and drain electrodes, and contact holes for pixel electrodes, with the use of the fourth photoresist pattern; and forming a transparent conduction film on the fourth photoresist pattern having the contact holes.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the liquid crystal display (LCD) device uses an electric field and controls a light transmittance of liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy, in order to display pictures. The LCD device is formed by combining a color filter array substrate and a thin film transistor array substrate in the center of liquid crystal.
The TFT array substrate includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode which are formed in each pixel region on a substrate. The pixel regions are defined by crossing gate lines and data lines on the substrate. The thin film transistor responds to a gate signal from the gate line and applies a data signal from the data line to the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode is formed of a transparent conduction layer. This pixel electrode depends on the data signal from the thin film transistor and drives the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal allows its molecules to rotate in accordance with an electric field, which is formed by the data signal on the pixel electrode and a common voltage on a common electrode, and controls its light transmittance, thereby implementing a gray scale. The common voltage is provided as a reference of driving the liquid crystal. The common electrode receiving such a common voltage can be formed on either the thin film transistor array substrate or the color filter array substrate.
The thin film transistor array substrate of the LCD device is manufactured through multiple masking processes. Each masking process involves a plurality of steps including depositing a thin film, washing the thin film, forming a photoresist pattern, etching the thin film, stripping the photoresist pattern, testing the etched thin film, etc. Such multiple masking processes become the primary factor in complicating the manufacturing process of the thin film transistor array substrate and increasing the cost of the LCD device.
To address this matter described above, a four-step masking process, which uses a diffraction-light exposing mask and reduces the procedure by one step from a previous five-step masking process, has been proposed as a part of the manufacturing method of the TFT array substrate. The four-step masking process includes a first masking process for forming gate patterns, a second masking process for forming semiconductor and source/drain patterns, a third masking process for forming a protective film pattern, and a fourth masking process for forming transparent electrode patterns.
However, since the four-step masking process is also complicated, it continues to be difficult to decrease the manufacturing cost. Accordingly, a simpler manufacturing method adapted to reduce more of the manufacturing cost of the thin film transistor array substrate is required.

Method of manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate


A testing tool allowing convenient testing of programs and also classes in general. The tool automatically divides each program into many groups such that if one line (or statement) is executed it may reasonably be assumed that all the lines in the group are also executed. A tester is provided the ability to provide desired arguments (including class instances) and cause all groups to be executed such that all lines of code in the programs of a class are executed at least once. The groups are conveniently further logically combined into hierarchical blocks, with each block at a higher level corresponding to a logical structure such as if structure, for structure, while structure, etc. The blocks at the lowest level may contain a single group. Due to such hierarchy, a tester may visually easily identify the unexecuted blocks/groups. The tester may further define and execute small pieces of code (macros) in the middle of testing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software testing, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for testing entities such as programs and classes used in object oriented environments.
2. Related Art
A program generally refers to a set of instructions which are written according to a convention specified by a corresponding programming language. Typical programming languages define structures such as program delimiters (e.g., program begin and end), control structures (e.g., if . . . else structure), and loops (e.g., for, while, until structures) using which a developer can develop programs. The programs when executed on a data processing system provide a desired feature.
Programs are often part of what are referred to as classes in object oriented environments (e.g., based on Java programming language). Classes generally contain data structures and associated programs as is well known in the relevant arts. For conciseness, the description below is provided substantially with reference to classes. However, several aspects of the present invention may be implemented outside of object oriented environments.
There has been recognized a need to test classes typically before being used in production environments. Testing generally refers to identifying any problems (defects) in the developed classes. Thus, usually a tester tests the developed objects using testing tools after a developer has developed the programs and/or classes of interest. To facilitate the identification of problems with developed classes, a testing tool may need to support several features.
One desired feature of testing is to ensure that all lines of code are executed at least once so that there can be some level of confidence that a class operates in an intended manner. In one prior approach referred to as 'stub and driver' approach, a developer typically designs drivers (a piece of code) which can be used by a tester to invoke different programs on the class being tested with different arguments. The class being tested may invoke other programs on other classes which may not yet be available to the tester. The tester often writes some dummy code to simulate such missing classes that can then be used to test the class of interest. The dummy code is referred to as a stub.
A tester may not be able to determine whether all lines of code of a program are executed using the stub and driver approach usually because of absence of mechanisms to determine whether each line has been executed. In addition, the overhead (usually on the developer) in maintaining the stubs and drivers may not be acceptable in several environments. Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus which enables an easy determination of whether all the program lines of a class have been executed at least once during testing.
Another desirable feature of testing is the ability to provide different argument values (parameters) to each program contained within a class. A tester may use such a feature, for example, to control the program flow or to test a program with different arguments. One type of argument of particular interest is the ability to pass an instance of a class since such a feature simplifies testing of scenarios when an instance of a class is to be provided as an argument to another class.
Yet another desirable feature of testing is the ability to quickly execute pieces of code, not part of the classes being tested, in the middle of testing classes. Such a feature may be used, for example, to examine or store the state of different variables contained within an instance of a class.

International Business Machines Corporation


A football shoulder pad includes a pair of relatively rigid arch portions which extend over the shoulders of a wearer and a pair of resilient pads which are removably secured to the rear surfaces of the arch portions. The pads reduce the tendency of a football to bounce off of the arch portions.

This invention relates to football shoulder pads, and, more particularly, to a football shoulder pad which is provided with outer pads to reduce the tendency of a football to bounce off of the shoulder pad.
Football shoulder pads conventionally include a pair of relatively rigid U-shaped arch portions which extend over the shoulders of the wearer. The arch portions are molded from plastic or similar material, and padding and suspension straps are generally attached to the inside surfaces of the arch portions for cushioning impacts.
The outside surfaces of the arch portions generally remain uncovered. As a result, a football or other object which contacts the hard outer surfaces will tend to bounce away. That is a disadvantage to pass receivers, kick returners, and other players who must catch the football. It is not uncommon for a pass receiver or a kick returner to attempt to catch a ball, only to have the ball hit one of the hard arch portions and bounce away from the player.