A relative humidity or water activity sensor includes a body defining a cavity with at least one resonant humidity sensing element comprising a crystal plate coated in part with an adsorbent material and at least one resonant temperature sensing element disposed inside the cavity. A membrane suitable for passing water vapor acts as a barrier to liquids and is situated between the cavity and the medium whose relative humidity and/or water activity is to be measured. The value of the relative humidity or of the water activity of the medium, and the temperature are determined from the resonant frequencies of the sensing elements. The invention also provides an installation including a plurality of such sensors.

In the prior art, relative humidity or water activity has been measured in an industrial medium, e.g. powder or granular products flowing along ducts, by putting an adsorbant or a desorbant material in contact with the atmosphere in said substance and by measuring variations in electrical parameters that result from variations in the quantity of water adsorbed or desorbed by the substance. More precisely, it is now known how to make relative humidity measurements by determining variations in electrical resistance or variations in the dielectric constant of such a material as a function of the quantity of water it contains.
A major drawback of known solutions lies in that they all require a current or a voltage to be established, with variations in the amplitude thereof providing the looked-for relative humidity information after being processed. It is therefore necessary to make use of very high quality electronic apparatuses in order to avoid any inaccuracy resulting from variations in the amplitude of the electrical quantity that are not due to variations in the quantity of water. In practice, measuring devices of affordable cost do not provide high accuracy.
The present invention seeks to mitigate these drawbacks of the prior art and to propose a novel sensor and a novel installation enabling relative humidity and/or water activity in an atmosphere, and where applicable water content in a solid medium, to be measured extremely accurately.

Humidity sensor, and a measurement installation including a plurality of such sensors


Various embodiments pertain to generating and causing display of a bridge page responsive to a user request for an advertiser's web page when the web page resolution is higher than the screen resolution of the user's device. The bridge page can be, for example, a lower resolution summary of content included on the web page. In various embodiments, the bridge page is generated and hosted by an ad platform server rather than the advertiser server. In at least some embodiments, the bridge page is stored in a database and can be served from the database responsive to subsequent requests for the advertiser's web page.

Mobile devices, such as smartphones, can be used to access the internet, play games, and perform many tasks in addition to making calls. Some programs or "apps" are available to users for free, but include ads in the form of ad banners that are displayed to the user during the user's interaction with the app. Users can click or otherwise select the link or ad banner to be taken to an advertiser's web page for additional details. The web page can be, for example, the advertiser's home page or a full page advertisement.
When a user views a page on a screen of a mobile device, the page is viewed at a lower resolution than if the page is viewed on a desktop or laptop computer. For example, while a desktop or computer can have a resolution of 1024×768, mobile devices have smaller screens with resolutions around 800×480. Because of the high number of traditional web pages and the cost associated with creating both high resolution and low resolution pages, web pages, including advertiser's web pages, can be shrunk to fit on a smaller device screen rather than creating a dedicated mobile page. The shrunken page, however, can be difficult to read because of small, almost invisible, text size.


In a swing type rotary compressor, a roller (2) is fitted on an eccentric portion (31) of a drive shaft (3) and installed within a cylinder chamber (11) so as to be able to orbit. On the roller (2), a blade (21) partitioning the cylinder chamber (11) into a compression chamber (X) and a suction chamber (Y) to which a suction port (13) is opened is integrally protruded. On the cylinder (1), a support body (4) swingably supporting the blade (21) is swingably supported. On an outer circumferential surface of the roller (2), a cutoff portion (22) extending forward in a rotation direction from near a blade protruding position on the roller (2) and shifting a suction shut-off point for suction gas sucked from the suction port (13) toward a side of the compression chamber (X) is formed on a side of the suction chamber (Y) with respect to the blade protruding position. With the configuration, only by forming the cut-off portion with a simple cutting operation applied on an outer circumference of the roller (2), suction resistance in sucking suction gas into the suction chamber (Y) and passage resistance in supplying suction gas from the compression chamber (X) to the suction chamber (Y) via the cut-off portion (22) are reduced and thus, its compression capacity can be exactly adjusted. Furthermore, its manufacturing cost can be reduced by sharing various parts in common.

Generally, rotary compressors are set to different predetermined compression capacities depending on models, and in order to reduce their cost as low as possible, capacities thereof are adjusted by changing an eccentricity amount of a drive shaft and an outer diameter of a roller without changing a shape of a cylinder of the compressor. In this case, however, while the cylinder can be made common between different models, the control of parts becomes complicated because the kinds of drive shafts and rollers increase in number. In addition, there has been such a problem that changes in their production line and changes in centering become necessary, resulting in cost increase.
Furthermore, while there is known an inverter controlled type rotary compressor which is made variable in its compression capacity by control of the number of revolutions to achieve the use of the same of parts, because such an inverter-controlled compressor is very expensive, a refrigeration apparatus incorporating such a compressor becomes very expensive in manufacturing cost.
As a result, as another means for adjusting the compression capacity of the rotary compressor, there is conventionally known, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 54-29403, a method constituted so that a thin plate is inserted between a cylinder and a front head or a rear head, a bypass passage communicating, at starting time of suction, a suction chamber in which a suction port of the cylinder opens with a compression chamber in which a discharge port opens is formed on said thin plate and the compression capacity is adjusted by shifting a suction shut-off position of suction gas toward the compression chamber side.
Namely, said capacity adjustment method is constructed as follows. As shown in FIG. 6, in a rotary compressor wherein, in a cylinder chamber A1 of a cylinder A arranged between a front head and a rear head, a roller B is internally installed with an eccentric portion C1 of a drive shaft C being fitted on said roller B, and on an intermediate position between a discharge port A2 and a suction port A3 formed on said cylinder A. A blade D divides an inner space of said cylinder chamber A1 into a compression chamber X communicating with said discharge port A2 and a suction chamber Y communicating with said suction port A3 and the blade D reciprocably mounted. A rear end of said blade D is urged by a spring D1 so as to contact a tip end thereof with an outer circumference of said roller B at all times. A circular thin plate E having the same diameter as that of said cylinder A and having a shaft hole E2 pierced by said drive shaft C at the center thereof is inserted between said front head and said cylinder A. A bypass passage E1 shifting the suction shut-off position of suction gas sucked from said suction port A3 into said suction chamber Y toward said compression chamber X side is formed on this thin plate E. Said bypass passage E1 is formed in a long circular arc shape along an inner wall of said cylinder chamber A1 and said bypass passage E1 is formed through the thickness of said thin plate E.
Accordingly, with said configuration, the internal space of said cylinder chamber A1 is partitioned, by the blade D and a contact point O in which the outer circumference of said roller B is brought into contact with the inner wall face of said cylinder chamber A1, into a suction chamber Y formed between the contact point O and a wall face of the blade D in the forward side of the rotation direction of said eccentric shaft portion C1 and a compression chamber X formed between said contact point O and a wall face of the blade D in the backward side of the rotation direction of said eccentric shaft portion C1. When driving the drive shaft C, said contact point O of the roller B with the inner wall of said cylinder chamber A1 is moved along the inner wall of said cylinder chamber A1 and gas is sucked into said suction chamber Y from said suction port A3 and compressed in said compression chamber X to be discharged from said discharge port A2, and thus, the suction and compression of gas is repeated. In addition, because said thin plate E is inserted between said cylinder A and front head, when said contact point O is positioned at the bypass passage E1 formed on said thin plate E, said compression chamber X and said suction chamber Y are communicated with each other and the gas within said compression chamber X is not compressed. First when said contact point 0 has passed the bypass passage El, suction of suction gas is shut off and the suction chamber Y and compression chamber X are partitioned in a hermetically sealed state, and thus the compression of gas in the compression chamber X is started. Therefore, by shifting the shut-off position of suction gas to the compression chamber by an arbitrary amount toward the compression chamber X side through changing the length of said bypass passage El, the start time-point of gas compression in the compression chamber X is adjusted and thus, the compression volume in the compression chamber X can be adjusted. In other words, the compression capacity in said compression chamber X becomes controllable arbitrarily and the variation in the capacity of said rotary compressor is enlarged.
However, in said configuration, because a thin plate provided with said bypass passage E1 is required separately, the number of parts is increased and assembly man-hours thereof are increased that much, resulting in complication of the over-all construction. In addition, because said bypass passage E1 has only the passage area corresponding to the thickness of said thin plate E inserted between said cylinder A and front head, not only it is necessary to guide suction gas sucked into the suction chamber Y from said suction port A3 to an axial direction end side of said cylinder A where said thin plate E is arranged but also the resistance when the suction gas within said suction chamber Y passes through said bypass passage E1 is increased, resulting in the problem that an exact control of the compression capacity becomes difficult.

Swing type rotary compressors having a cut-off portion on the roller


An electromechanical power steering system for a vehicle may include an electric motor having a stator fitted with at least two electrical winding sets and having a rotor fitted with permanent magnets. The electric motor may exert a steering movement introduced by a driver on the vehicle. A main control unit may determine a motor current prespecification based on the steering movement. The motor current prespecification can be output to the electrical winding sets and may comprise a power control unit that provides and feeds the motor current prespecification to the winding sets. A driver control system may be provided for each winding set, wherein all driver control systems and the main control unit each have a microcontroller and are combined to form an assembly. A power driver may be connected to each of the driver control systems, and at least two power drivers are arranged in a power control unit. Each power driver may be a half-bridge with power semiconductor switches.

The increasing further development of electromechanical power steering systems has resulted in the demands placed on the stability and reliability of such power steering systems steadily rising. An important requirement in this case is for a steering assistance function to be maintained even in the event of sensors and/or parts of the control system or parts of the electric motor failing.
DE10053818A1 discloses a solution in which a redundant servo motor is used, the said servo motor having two windings which are independent of one another and which are driven by two inverters which are independent of one another and, for their part, are driven by a redundant control arrangement, so that redundancy is ensured in the event of a fault. However, the proposed solution is very complicated since two independent control devices which are separate from one another are required.
JP20147784A likewise discloses a solution in which a servo motor is provided, the said servo motor having two windings which are independent of one another and which are driven by two inverters which are independent of one another, so that redundancy is ensured in the event of a fault. This solution is also relatively complicated.
Thus a need exists for an electromechanical power steering system that has improved redundancy behavior and is simple and cost-effective in terms of design.


An SRAM disclosed herein includes 64 memory cell array blocks and a redundant memory cell array block. The redundant memory cell array includes a total of 16 redundant memory cell columns. A defect address indicating a location of a defective memory column is programmed in an address programming circuit, and the specific defecting column in the defect address is programmed in an I/O programming circuit. Although each memory cell does not include a spare memory cell column or row for redundancy, the defect can be repaired by using a redundant memory cell array, so that the high integration of the SRAM can be accomplished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and, more particularly, to semiconductor memory devices including redundant memory cell arrays for repairing defects. The present invention has particular applicability to a semiconductor memory device, more specifically to a static random access memory (SRAM), including a data comparing circuit for a test before shipment.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a semiconductor memory, such as a static random access memory (hereinafter referred to as "SRAM") and a dynamic random access memory (hereinafter referred to as "DRAM"), includes a redundant circuit to increase a yield in manufacturing. When any defect exists in a manufactured semiconductor memory, it is repaired through a function of a redundant circuit thereof. More specifically, in a conventional semiconductor memory, a row or a column containing a defective memory cell is functionally replaced with a predetermined spare row or column. Although the present invention is generally applicable to a semiconductor memory, such as an SRAM and a DRAM, the following description explains the case in which the present invention is applied to an SRAM as an example.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a conventional SRAM including a redundant circuit. Referring to FIG. 12, an SRAM 100 comprises a memory cell array 80 for storing data, a row decoder 82 responsive to a row address signal RA for selecting a word line WL in the memory cell array 80, a column decoder 83 responsive to a column address signal CA for selecting a column in the memory cell array 80, a write driver circuit 84, and a sense amplifier 85. The SRAM 100 further comprises a spare memory cell column 81 as a redundant circuit, an address programming circuit 86 for programming a defect address indicating a location where a defect exists, and an I/O programming circuit 87.
In operation, the row decoder 82 activates one word line WL in the memory cell array 80 in response to the externally applied row address signal RA. The column decoder 83 selects one column to be accessed in response to the externally applied column address signal CA. More specifically, the column decoder 83 selectively turns on a transmission gate TG1 connected to a column to be accessed so that its bit line can be electrically connected to the write driver 84 or the sense amplifier 85. In writing operation, therefore, an externally applied input data Di is written in the memory cell selected by the row decoder 82 and the column decoder 83. In reading operation, on the other hand, the sense amplifier 85 amplifies a data signal read from the selected memory cell by the row decoder 82 and the column decoder 83 and the amplified signal is provided as an output data Do.
If any defect is found to exist in a certain memory cell column, the defective memory cell column will functionally be replaced with the spare memory cell column 81 as follows. A defect address indicating a location of the defective memory cell column is programmed in the address programming circuit 86 by selectively blowing off a fuse (not shown). The address programming circuit 86 which includes a coincidence detecting circuit, not shown, detects a coincidence of the externally applied column address signal CA and the programmed address signal. A coincidence detecting signal CO is then applied to the I/O programming circuit 87.
A fuse in the I/O programming circuit 87 (not shown) is previously selectively blown off so that a bit line in the spare memory cell column 81 is connected via the transmission gate circuit TG2 to the write driver circuit 84 and/or the sense amplifier 85. As a result, when the column address signal CA coincides with the programmed address signal, access to the spare memory cell column 81 is made in place of normal access to the memory cell array 80. At this time, the transmission gate circuit TG1 is turned off.
While FIG. 12 shows the memory cell array 80 and its peripheral circuits 82, 83 . . . , for the purpose of simplifying the description, a conventional SRAM generally comprises a plurality of memory cell arrays and peripheral circuits thereof. More specifically, while FIG. 12 shows only a block of a memory cell array and its peripheral circuits, a plurality (for example, 64) of blocks are provided in practice.
Since one or two spare memory cell columns (or rows) are provided in each of the memory cell arrays 80 as can be seen from FIG. 12, an SRAM including a plurality (for example, 64) of memory cell arrays contains 64 or 128 spare memory cell columns (or rows).
After an SRAM containing a defect is repaired utilizing a spare memory cell column thereof as described above, the following test before shipment is carried out in a manufacturing factory of semiconductor devices. A test mode signal is first externally applied to the SRAM so that the SRAM can be made to be in a test mode. In the test mode, test data are written into two memory cell arrays within the SRAM. The written test data, namely the two stored data from the two memory cell arrays are then read. The two read data are applied to a comparing circuit to detect whether these data coincide with each other. If the two read data coincide, a defect in the SRAM will be recognized to have been repaired, and if a coincidence is not detected, indicating that the SRAM contains a further detect therein, a further measure will be taken for repairing the defect.
In general, a comparing circuit can compare two data having multi-bits (for example, 8 bits). More specifically, a comparing circuit can detect a coincidence of two read data between corresponding bits thereof. Since one coincidence detecting operation can determine the presence of a defect in a plurality of memory cells, a verification test before shipment can be completed in a short period.
FIG. 13 is a diagram of the transmission gate circuits TG1 and TG2 shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 13, the transmission gate circuit TG1 is connected between a bit line pair BLa and BLb and a data line pair DLa and DLb in a normal memory cell array, while the transmission gate circuit TG2 is connected between a bit line pair RBLa and RBLb and the data line pair DLa and DLb in a spare memory cell column. The transmission gate circuit TG1 is turned on in response to a column selecting signal of a high level Y.sub.L applied from a column decoder (not shown), so that the bit line pair BLa and BLb and the data line pair DLa and DLb are electrically connected. Although a power supply potential Vcc is applied to a gate of an NMOS transistor 89, thereby turning the transistor 89 on, the column selecting signal Y.sub.L is not affected in potential because of a high on resistance of the transistor 89. Therefore, the column selecting signal of a high level Y.sub.L is correctly applied to the transmission gate circuit TG1 through a fuse 88.
If any defect exists in a memory cell MC1, the fuse 88 is blown off, and the grounded potential is applied via the transistor 89 to the transmission gate circuit TG1 which is then turned off. On the other hand, when a column address signal selecting the column containing memory cell MC1 is applied, a signal of a high level RY is applied via the I/O programming circuit 87 to the transmission gate circuit TG2, which is then turned on. Consequently, the column containing MC1 and the spare memory cell column 81 are functionally replaced.
As described above, a conventional semiconductor memory includes a plurality of memory cell arrays and one or two spare memory cell columns for each memory cell array. Therefore, an SRAM including 64 memory cell arrays, for example, has an ability to repair 64 or 128 defective memory cell columns or rows. In practice, however, not so much repairing ability is necessary because not so many defects can exist in a semiconductor memory experientially. In the aforementioned SRAM, for example, it is experientially recognized that ten or less defects at most can exist. In other words, a conventional semiconductor memory comprises spare memory columns or rows excessively, although unnecessary from the practice point of view, which prevents high integration of a semiconductor memory.
In addition, a conventional spare memory column or row cannot be used for repairing a column or row in other memory cell arrays, for it is provided for each memory cell array. More specifically, when defects exist in more than two memory cell columns or rows, they cannot be repaired, since they cannot be repaired by utilizing one or two spare memory cell columns or rows.

Semiconductor memory device including redundant memory cell array for repairing defect


Provided is a method for manufacturing a reflow-plated member, which comprises a process for forming a plated layer of Sn or Sn alloy on the surface of a base material, at least the surface of which is formed of Cu or Cu alloy, by electroplating, and a process for running the base material at a traveling speed equivalent to 80% to 90% of the lowest traveling speed that said plated layer does not melt when the base material is continuously run for reflowing in a heating furnace at a predetermined temperature. The obtained reflow-plated member is excellent in any of properties including solderability, heat resistance, bendability, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflow-plated member and a manufacturing method therefor, and more specifically, to a method for manufacturing a reflow-plated member which is satisfactory or excellent in wettability by solder, bendability, and heat resistance.
2. Prior Art
Plated members may be obtained by coating the surface of a base material made of Cu or Cu alloy with Sn or Sn alloy. They are high-performance conductors which efficiently combine the good electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of Cu or Cu alloy and the corrosion resistance and solderability of a coating layer of Sn or Sn alloy, and are used in a wide variety of applications, including various electrical and electronic appliance parts, such as terminals, connectors, lead wires, etc., and wire cables.
Conventionally, the connectors are fabricated by plating the surface of a strip of Cu alloy with Sn or Sn alloy and punching pieces in a predetermined shape from the plated strip. In this case, however, scraps are inevitably produced in the punching process. Recently, therefore, scrap-free pin connectors (pin-grid arrays) have been developed and started to use, as their pin material, a square wire (base material) of Cu alloy plated with solder (Sn--Pb alloy).
Melt plating and bright electroplating are prevailing methods of preparing the material of this kind.
The melt plating is a method in which a base material of Cu or Cu alloy is continuously run in molten Sn or Sn alloy so that its surface is coated with a layer of Sn or Sn alloy.
Although this method ensures relatively low manufacturing cost, it involves a problem that the resulting layer is highly irregular in thickness, entailing a large variation in thickness. Moreover, a thick layer of a Cu--Sn intermetallic compound is liable to be formed on the interface between the base material (Cu or Cu alloy) and the layer, resulting in the following awkward problems.
If the Cu--Sn intermetallic compound layer, a rigid layer itself, is thick, the resulting plated member sometimes may be fractured when it is bent in machining, for example. The Cu--Sn intermetallic compound, moreover, is a chemically stable substance itself. If this layer is too thick, therefore, the compound cannot easily react to solder when the plated member is soldered, so that the solderability of the layer is lowered.
On the other hand, the bright electroplating has frequently been used as a method which enables formation a thin layer of uniform thickness. According to this method, the surface of the layer is smoothed and brightened by loading a plating bath of Sn or Sn alloy with additives, such as benzylideneacetone, cinnamaldehyde, or other brightener and glue, gelatin, .beta.-naphthol, or other smoothing agent.
In the case of the bright electroplating, however, the additives are occluded at the boundaries between deposited crystal grains which constitute the formed plated layer, so that the binding power between the crystal grains is lessened. As a result, a Cu component of the base material and the like freely diffuse at the grain boundaries, and the aforesaid Cu--Sn intermetallic compound layer is formed thick in the plated layer, so that the bendability and solderability of the plated layer are liable to be lowered. The additives make the crystal grains more minute, thereby enlarging distortion at the grain boundaries. This accelerates diffusion of the Cu component and the like, which entails the aforesaid problems.
If the deposited crystal grains become more minute, discoloration advances starting from the grain boundaries, and is accelerated by change in properties of the additives which are occluded at the grain boundaries or adsorbed by the plated layer surface.
If the binding power between the crystal grains is lessened by the occlusion of the additives, moreover, the wear resistance of the plated layer is lowered. If the plated member is touched by a working tool or the like to be subjected to external force when it is worked, for example, the plated layer is liable to pulverize and separate from the base material. In some cases, furthermore, the additives may grow whiskers, as well as the crystal grains, so that the resulting plated member cannot be a reliable electrical or electronic appliance part.
In order to solve the problems of the melt plating and bright electroplating described above, a reflowing method has been developed and is widely-used now.
In this reflowing method, a plated layer is first formed on the surface of a base material by electroplating, using a plating bath of Sn or Sn alloy which is loaded with only a smoothing agent without containing any of the aforesaid brighteners. Then, the resulting plated member is continuously run in an furnace which is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, whereby the plated layer is melted and brightened.
According to the reflowing method described above, the additive (smoothing agent) occluded at the grain boundaries during the plating process is thermally decomposed and removed in a reflowing process in the next stage, so that the binding power between the crystal grains is enhanced. In the reflowing process, moreover, stress strain at the grain boundaries is eased. Thus, plated members (reflow-plated members) manufactured in the reflowing process surpass ones which are manufactured by the melt plating or bright electroplating in bendability, solderability, wear resistance, etc.
Even according to this reflowing method, however, a relatively thick Cu--Sn intermetallic compound layer may be formed on the interface between the base material and the plated layer, depending on the reflowing conditions, so that the bendability or solderability may possibly be lowered. After the reflowing process, moreover, the crystal grains in the reflowed-plated layer may become so coarse that the wettability of the layer surface by solder is worsened. After the plated layer is reflowed, furthermore, it cannot enjoy a satisfactory wear resistance, and may pulverize, though only slightly, when it is rubbed.
With the recent progress of miniaturization of electrical and electronic appliance parts, the reflow-plated members have come to require further improvement in various properties, such as formability, springiness, and electrical conductivity, and also a satisfactory heat resistance such that stable functions can be fulfilled even under severe temperature conditions.
However, the molten state of the plated layer (Sn or Sn alloy) formed on the surface of the base material (Cu or Cu alloy) varies depending on the reflowing conditions.
If the running speed of the plated member in the reflowing process is too low, for example, the plated layer melts so that its fluidity increases. If the running speed is too high, on the other hand, melting of the plated layer cannot advance, so that the reflowed layer cannot be brightened.
The thickness of the reflowed-plated layer becomes irregular, that is, one portion of the reflowed-plated layer becomes thicker than another, if the running speed of the base material during the reflowing process is so low that the fluidity of the molten plated layer is increased, if the molten state of the plated layer lasts for a long period of time, or if the base material oscillates violently during the reflowing process. After prolonged actual use of the reflow-plated members at high temperature, the Cu component of the base material or Cu--Sn intermetallic compound layer may diffuse to the surface of the thinner portion of the reflowed-plated layer, thereby changing its color. These reflow-plated members are poor in heat resistance.
In the case where the target reflow-plated member is a solder-plated square wire whose base material is the aforementioned square wire, in particular, the molten layer is caused by surface tension to flow from the corner portions of the square wire to the flat portions thereof during the reflowing process. As a result, the reflowed-plated layer at the corner portions becomes so thin that the discoloration is liable to occur. Inevitably, therefore, the heat resistance of the solder-plated square wire would be worsened.

Reflow-plated member and a manufacturing method therefor


A nickel based material for a semiconductor apparatus is provided which includes between 0.5 and 5% of at least one material selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, aluminum, manganese, silicon, carbon, and copper; residual nickel; and unavoidable impurties. With this nickel based material, electrical conductivity thereof can be maintained within a proper value and the plate film adhesion in silver plating nickel based products can be improved remarkably and both heat dissipation capacity and the coefficient of thermal expansion can be improved.

This invention relates to a nickel based material for a semiconductor apparatus.
In the past, as a lead frame material for a semiconductor apparatus, an alloy with the common name "42 alloy"in which a principal component thereof is Fe-Ni having a composition of Fe 42% Ni and a copper alloy containing copper as a principal component have been used. The main properties required of a lead frame material are as follows: (i) a small coefficient of thermal expansion which is close to that of a silicon chip; (ii) superior heat dissipation capacity; (iii) high strength; (iv) superior workability; (v) superior corrosion resistance; and (vi) superior heat resistance. With regard to the above property (i), this is for preventing a silicon chip from cracking by stress therein which is caused by the difference in thermal expansion while heating at a die bonding process, in which the silicon chip which forms an electrical circuit is placed on the lead frame material. The above property (ii) is for preventing trouble in an integrated circuit (IC) arising from the self-exotherm of the IC during operation. And the above properties (iii) to (vi) are also both required for ever IC from a practical point.
The first reason why the above 42 alloy has been used in the main is that among the above required properties the coefficient of thermal expansion thereof is particularly small. Also, the 42 alloy is easy to compose during massproduction. Moreover, the 42 alloy has many merits, namely, the strength and workability thereof are superior, corrosion resistance and heat resistance are high, and adhesion to plastic packing is superior. However, the 42 alloy has defects in that it is costly and heat dissipation capacity thereof is inferior.
Therefore, copper alloys have been noted in recent years instead of the 42 alloy for their low cost and in that the copper alloy is a raw material having high electrical conductivity which will decrease the exotherm of the IC itself accompanied by an increased integration. The required properties of the copper alloy are approaching that of the 42 alloy within possible limits, however, the coefficient of thermal expansion, which is one of the most important properties, is large. This large coefficient of thermal expansion of the copper alloy must be compensated by IC production packaging techniques.

Nickel based material for a semiconductor apparatus


A plant monitor-control apparatus includes a control device which controls a to-be-controlled device of a plant, an operation/monitor device which delivers an operation instruction to the plant, operates the plant via the control device and monitors the plant, and a user skill level management device which manages respective user skill levels and determines an operation authority corresponding to each user skill level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plant monitor-control apparatus which monitors and controls a plant.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a plant monitor-control apparatus includes a control device which controls a device to be controlled in a plant, and an operation/monitor device. An operation instruction is delivered from the operation/monitor device to the plant via the control device. Thereby, the to-be-controlled device of the plant is operated, and the plant is monitored.
FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing an example of the plant monitor-control apparatus. In FIG. 39, a plurality of control devices 2 to 2n and a plurality of operation/monitor devices 3-3n are connected to a network 1. A to-be-controlled device 4 is connected to each of the control devices 2 to 2n. FIG. 39 shows the case in which the to-be-controlled device 4 is connected to the control device 2.
In the plant monitor-control apparatus with the above structure, the to-be-controlled device 4 is operated by any one of the operation/monitor devices 3 to 3n. In this case, an operation instruction from the operation/monitor device is sent to one of the control devices 2 to 2n via the network 1. In FIG. 39, the operation instruction is output from the control device 2 to the to-be-controlled device 4. The state information of the to-be-controlled device 4 is input to the control device 2 from the to-be-controlled device 4, and is displayed on the operation/monitor device, 3-3n, via the network 1.
As regards the security in this plant monitor-control apparatus, in general, switching from a prohibition state to a permission state or from the permission state to the prohibition state can be executed by inputting a password for operation permission/prohibition in the system. In addition, the permission/prohibition of the device operation can be switched in units of an operation/monitor device.
There is a technique in which various data and operation/monitor information, which are handled by a control device, are monitored, and abnormality is reported to a plant operation/monitor device (see, e.g. Patent Document 1).    Patent Document: Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-189582


Embodiments provided herein relate to methods and compositions for treating mesothelioma and/or a small cell lung cancer that express midkine.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor of mesenchymal origin and is increasing worldwide as a result of widespread exposure to asbestos. The median survival of patients with mesothelioma from time of diagnosis ranges between 1 and 2 years. The mortality is expected to increase, at least until 2020, which is mainly due to the long latency (30-50 years) of the disease. Despite considerable advances in the understanding of its pathogenesis and etiology, malignant mesothelioma remains largely unresponsive to standard modalities of cancer therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic options for mesothelioma.

Methods and compositions for treating mesothelioma and small lung cancer that express midkine


A method for detecting a state of an electric motor includes: energizing the motor with electrical power such that an associated current applied to the electric motor rises over time toward a reference level; determining an amount of time that elapses between when the motor is energized and the reference level is reached; and, evaluating a state of the motor based upon the determined amount of time.

The present inventive subject matter relates to the art of electric motors. It is particularly applicable to stepper motors driven by chopping amplifiers, e.g., as are commonly implemented in printers, copiers, scanners, facsimile machines, xerographic devices, image reproduction and/or marking engines, etc., and it will be described with particular reference thereto. However, application is also found in connection with other devices and/or implementations.
In image reproduction and/or marking engines such as printers, copiers, scanners, facsimile machines, xerographic devices, etc., direct current (DC) electric motors, and in particular stepper motors, are commonly employed to carry out various motorized tasks, e.g., paper transporting, moving a print head, carriage assembly or other object, or other similar tasks. However, in certain instances the motor may malfunction or deviate from otherwise normal operation. For example, the motor may become stalled or stopped due to some physical obstruction or other impediment. Alternately, the load on the motor may vary from normal operating conditions, e.g., due to a failing or bad bearing, and hence the motor speed may vary from normal operating conditions. In such instances, diagnostic evaluation of the motor's operational state is often advantageous to determine where in fact the fault lies. Whether or not the motor is stalled and/or the motor's speed are of interest in diagnosing such problems.
In some instances, separate and/or independent detectors, e.g., an optical encoder or flag and sensor, are used to monitor the position and/or speed of the motor and/or the object being moved thereby. Such implementations however can be disadvantageous as the separate independent detectors present added production cost and/or other drawbacks that normally attend the use of additional components.
The present inventive subject matter contemplates a new and improved electric motor implementation and/or method for detecting an operational state of the of the same that overcomes the above-mentioned limitations and others.

Method and apparatus for detecting a stalled stepper motor


A movable core is movable relative to a needle main body of a needle. A stationary core is placed on an opposite side of the movable core, which is opposite from a valve seat. A spring is operable to urge the needle and the movable core toward the valve seat. A spring seat is shaped into a ring form and is placed on a radially outer side of the needle main body at the valve seat side of the movable core. The spring is placed between the movable core and the spring seat and is operable to urge the movable core toward the stationary core. A guide is placed on the valve seat side of the movable core in an inside of a housing. An outer wall of the spring seat is slidable relative to an inner wall of the guide to guide reciprocation of the needle.

Previously, there is known a fuel injection device that forms a gap in an axial direction between a movable core and a flange of a needle in such a manner that the movable core is accelerated in the gap and collides against the flange of the needle to implement valve opening of the needle. For example, the patent literature 1 discloses the fuel injection device that includes a gap forming member, which can form the gap in the axial direction between the movable core and the flange of the needle. In this fuel injection device, the movable core, which has an increased kinetic energy that is increased through the acceleration of the movable core in the gap, collides against the flange. Therefore, even though a fuel pressure in a fuel passage in an inside of a housing receiving the needle is high, the valve opening of the needle is possible. Thereby, the high pressure fuel can be injected.
In the fuel injection device of the patent literature 1, the gap forming member is shaped into a bottomed tubular form. An inner wall of a tubular portion of the gap forming member is slidable relative to an outer wall of the flange, and an outer wall of the tubular portion is slidable relative to an inner wall of the stationary core. In this way, reciprocation of the needle in an axial direction is guided. The needle is supported by the gap forming member and the stationary core only at one end part of the needle, which is opposite from a valve seat in the axial direction.
As discussed above, in the fuel injection device of the patent literature 1, the gap forming member has a double slide structure of that both of the inner wall and the outer wall of the tubular portion of the gap forming member are configured to slide along the other members. Therefore, a total slide resistance, which is applied to the gap forming member, may possibly be increased, or wearing or uneven wearing of the slide surfaces may possibly occur upon a long time use. In this way, response of the needle may possibly be deteriorated, or reciprocation of the needle in the axial direction may possibly become unstable. Therefore, it may possibly cause variations in the injection amount of fuel injected from the fuel injection device. Furthermore, when the wear debris is generated, the wear debris may possibly be caught between corresponding members, which make relative movement therebetween, to possibly cause operational failure.
Furthermore, in the fuel injection device of the patent literature 1, the gap forming member has the double slide structure, so that the size management may become difficult, and the slide resistance may possibly vary from product-to-product. Thus, the injection amount of fuel may possibly vary among the fuel injection devices.
Furthermore, in the fuel injection device of the patent literature 1, a spring seat of an urging member, which urges the movable core toward the stationary core, is formed integrally with the housing such that the spring seat extends from the inner wall of the housing toward the radially inner side. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately set a distance between the spring seat and the movable core, and thereby the urging force of the urging member may possibly vary among the fuel injection devices. Thereby, the injection amount of fuel may possibly vary among the fuel injection devices. Here, it should be noted that a cylindrical gap is formed between an inner wall of the spring seat and an outer wall of the needle, and thereby the spring seat and the needle do not slide relative to each other.


2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexanitrostilbene, a thermally stable explosive material, is repared by reacting 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexanitrobibenzyl with a quinone in a suitable reaction solvent such as hexamethyl phosphoric triamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and N-methyl-pyrrolidinone. The use of organic bases to promote the reaction and to allow the use of normally inoperative reaction solvents is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to a novel method for preparing 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexanitrostilbene (HNS), an important thermally stable explosive material which is also useful as a nucleant for promoting optimum trinitrotoluene-crystallization.
The discovery and an early synthesis for preparing HNS is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,413 to K. Shipp. That reference teaches adding 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) dissolved in an appropriate solvent to a metal hypochlorite solution to form trinitrobenzychloride (TNBCl), which will then react with the metal hydroxide normally present in the hypochlorite solution to form HNS. The reaction can be controlled by drowning the reaction mixture with an acid such as HCl during the TNBCl transition stage to obtain TNBCl and then reacting the TNBCl with a metal hydroxide such as NaOH to form HNS.
This reference also discloses a method for preparing 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexanitrobibenzyl (HNB), a starting material necessary in the instant process, which will be more fully explained below.
Unlike the Shipp process, the instant method for preparing HNS involves the reaction of HNB and a quinone in a suitable solvent. This type of reaction can best be described as dehydrogenation by a quinone and is discussed by H. O. House in Modern Synthetic Reaction, 2nd Edition, 1972, W. A. Benjamin, Menlo Park, California, pp 37-44. However, the instant process operates under conditions different from those set forth by House. For example, House states that operative solvents include xylene and orthodichlorobenzene. However, as will be seen below these solvents do not work in the instant method whereas other solvents not previously disclosed for this type synthesis work quite well. Also, the quinones previously found operative with this type synthesis were those containing chlorine or cyano and chlorine groups. However, it has been discovered that benzoquinone, naphthoquinone and others also work while anthraquinone does not.

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


One object of the invention is to provide an illuminated tap handle including a handle with one end capable of being secured to a tap and a threadable and detachable end allowing the placement of a removable energy source into the handle completing a circuit and illuminating a light source connected to a conducting strip inside the handle when the threadable end is substantially threaded onto the handle and a conducting portion on the threadable end touches the conducting strip and energy source. Another object is where the conducting strip is situated within the tap handle such that when the threadable end is partially or completely unthreaded the tension of the conduction strip is released and situated just above and not touching the energy source, but when the threadable end is substantially threaded onto the tap handle, the conducting strip is again pressed onto the energy source completing the circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of bar advertisement, supplies, and related collectibles. More specifically, the invention relates to a bar tap handle that is illuminated so as to market a particular brand of beverage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the increasing number of bars, pubs, and microbreweries marketing more and more beers to patrons, there has been a growing need for each beer brand's distributors to distinguish their product from all others. The number of beers now being offered at each location is not inconsequential and is often in the number of 100 or more at a single location. Obviously, even the beer products of the largest beer manufacturers can be lost amidst the myriad of small and large brews despite having spent hundreds of millions of dollars in advertisement costs.
Historically, beer distributors and manufacturers have relied on such things as branded neon signs, coasters, tap handles and other marketing techniques to highlight their product in a last ditch attempt to gain notice and ultimately—a sale. These are typically low-cost marketing items either sold at cost by the manufacturers or distributors or even given away as "freebies" so as to increase brand name recognition. These are also items that over time have become valuable to those who have an interest in bar-related collectibles.
One way in which manufacturers and distributors have marketed their products is through the use of tap handles. These are handles that usually have a male end that is placed onto a female portion of a tap spigot. Most all of the tap spigots are of the same size and shape so that any conforming tap handle is simply inserted into the tap so long as the tap end of the handle conforms to a standard tap mount. When the tap handle is pulled, a bar beverage is dispensed from the spigot portion of the tap. Each tap handle has some form of brand recognizing color, trademark, decoration, or shape so as to identify that particular brand of beverage. In this way, undecided patrons at the selling establishment are lured by the brand names on the tap handles to purchase the tap that is most pleasing to their eye.
There have been attempts to illuminate tap handles although they have been unsuccessful largely due to their cost of manufacture, the lack of mechanical simplicity, and lack of a portable power supply. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,414,446; 3,286,385; and 3,326,385)
The present invention better meets the marketing needs of the manufacturers, distributors, and establishment owners by providing a portable, inexpensive, and illuminated tap handle thereby making the illuminated brand more noticeable to the patron. This is an item that may be placed on any generic tap in any establishment, and manufactured at a very low cost using an inexpensive and readily available power source.


Method and apparatus for dislodging a test baffle in a fluid conduit following pressure testing without permitting fluid to escape. The invention provides a device for dislodging or unseating a test baffle, for releasing a pressure within the conduit contained by the baffle, and for removing the baffle without leakage or other fluid escape. A preferred apparatus according to the invention comprises a rigid plug adapted for sealing engagement of an end of a fluid conduit such as a pipe, and a removal device adapted to pass through an aperture in said plug and to engage and dislodge a test baffle disposed within an interior of the conduit. Preferred removal devices comprises flexible lines attached to the test baffle and tools adapted to pass through the aperture and engage the test baffle. A method aspect of the invention comprises the steps of substantially blocking or sealing an end of a fluid conduit with a plug, passing a removal device through an aperture in the plug, and using the removal device to unseat or dislodge a test baffle in the interior of the conduit.

In the construction of buildings and mechanical systems, a newly installed or repaired fluid transfer system or system component, as for example a building plumbing or sewage system, must frequently be isolated from a larger system until the fluid-tight integrity of the new section is tested, generally by subjecting the system to an increased fluid pressure to locate any leaks. In building construction, system tests of this kind are often required as a condition of certification of compliance with building code requirements. The inherent difficulty of making pressure tests of this type is often aggravated by the fact that some portion of the new installation is embedded in a wall or is buried, obstructed by other components, or otherwise difficult to access at the time the test is conducted. Thus a vexing question has been posed by the need to seal selected portions of such systems in order to accommodate testing without permanent obstruction or other damage to the system.
Several solutions to the problems of completing such tests have been offered, including those disclosed in my own previous U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,155, 4,936,350, 5,033,510, and 5,163,480, and in my previous patent applications Ser. No. 60/092,313, filed Jul. 9,1998 and entitled Water Closet Fitting with Test Baffle; Ser. No. 60/092,322, filed Jul. 9, 1998 and entitled Water Closet Fitting Installation Assembly; Ser. No. 60/093,682, filed Jul. 22, 1998 and entitled Test System for Fluid Tight Integrity of Installed Pipeline; and Ser. No. 60/102,372, filed Sep. 29, 1998 and entitled Test Assembly for Fluid Tight Integrity of Pipeline Joint. The disclosures of each of these patents and patent applications is incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full.
Each of the incorporated references discloses systems for the leak or pressure testing of pipelines and other fluid conduits, the systems comprising removable test baffles adapted to seal off portions of the fluid conduits and later to be removed without permanently obstructing or damaging the fluid systems. When making tests by means of such baffles, it is frequently advantageous to be able to dislodge, unseat, or remove the test baffle without permitting fluid within the system to leak while the system remains sealed. That is, it is frequently advantageous or important to accomplish the release of pressure within that portion of the conduit which has been tested, or the removal of the test baffle, or both, while the system is sealed without allowing the discharge of significant or uncontrolled amounts of fluid. It is also advantageous to be able to remove the tool or device by which the baffle is unseated or dislodged without having to open the system or permit leakage or drainage therefrom. Several means for accomplishing the unseating of test baffles have been suggested--particularly in the incorporated references--but they do not in general provide a means for doing so without leakage or other release of fluids, or for the removal of unseating tools without leakage. For example, several of the systems disclosed are best suited to use with an open free end of a conduit, as for example an open end of an uncompleted pipeline, or require opening of the system to remove the dislodging tool. Others of the systems provide for access from Y-joints or cleaning or maintenance points, but only with the end plates or covers removed.
Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,568, discloses a closure plug assembly for pressure testing liquid drain and vent plumbing pipe systems. Tagliarnio, U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,642, discloses a test tee having a plug which is a removable blocking disk. Ver Nooy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,106, discloses a pipeline plugger. Svirsky, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,279,257; 2,299,116, and 2,299,434 disclose various plugs and closure means for conduits. Fischer, Swiss patent No. 313,441, discloses a test plug for a Y-shaped, dimpled pipe. Roberson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,203,473 and 4,658,861, discloses plug assemblies. Each of the above references, however, requires removal of a plug or other test fixture to facilitate removal of the dislodging tool. Many of the tools, moreover, do not permit dislodging or unseating of the test plugs, or the release of test pressures within the system, without venting the system and opening possibilities for leakage or other drainage.
Another difficulty with making tests of the type described is that a single tester is often required, over the course of hours, days, weeks, or even longer periods, to test portions of systems which comprise conduits of differing inside diameters. For example, most fluid conduit systems such as building plumbing and pneumatic systems use conduits of differing, but standard, diameters. In building construction, for example, pipe diameters varying between 1/2" and 6" are common, and are frequently used within the same building in different portions of the same plumbing systems. The advantage of having a single test plug or system which would permit testing of two or more standard conduit sizes, without changes or modifications to the plug, is clear: the tester is able to perform the same function while carrying fewer plugs, and therefore has less weight and fewer components to transport. Convenience, safety, and economy are all improved.
None of the prior art references discussed herein discloses a test plug adapted for sealing the end of 2 or more pipes of differing diameter, so that the burden of carrying multiple test plugs is imposed upon the users of such systems. Given the bulk and weight of such plugs, and the desirability of making test equipment easily portable, it may be seen that any requirement for carrying multiple test plugs is to be avoided.
Thus there is a need for a test plug or cap which will permit dislodging of a test baffle for a system for the non-destructive and non permanently-obstructing testing of the fluid tight integrity of an installed fluid transfer line such as a drain pipe or vent and wastewater system of a building, the test baffle being disposed within a sealed or substantially sealed fluid conduit, without removal of the plug and without leakage or other drainage from the fluid system after the test has been completed. There is a further need for such a test cap which will permit removal of the dislodging tool without removal of the cap and without such leakage or drainage. There is still further need for such a test plug or cap which is suitable for use with a plurality of standard-sized fluid conduits. It is further desirable that such a test plug or cap not require the employment of a T- or Y-fitting for access to or removal of the test baffle, or separate access covers, and that it not require the replacement of parts or seals following completion of the test or the use of pneumatic or otherwise inflatable apparatus in performing the test.

Method and apparatus for removal of fluid conduit test baffle


An injector for forming films respectively on a stack of wafers is provided. The injector includes a plurality of hole structures. Every adjacent two of the wafers have therebetween a wafer spacing, and each of the wafers has a working surface. The hole structures respectively correspond to the respective wafer spacings. The working surface and a respective hole structure have therebetween a parallel distance. The parallel distance is larger than a half of the wafer spacing. A wafer processing apparatus and a method for forming films respectively on a stack of wafers are also provided.

The atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been proposed as an alternative to the CVD-based deposition method for the formation of a silicon nitride film or a silicon oxide film, such as an Si3N4 film or an SiO2 film. The ALD is a surface controlled process conducted in a surface kinetic manner, which results in the two-dimensional layer-by-layer deposition on the wafer surface. The precursors of silicon nitride, such as the DCS (dichlorosilane, SiH2Cl2) gas and ammonia (NH3) gas, flow into a tube for forming the silicon nitride film.
The deposition of the silicon nitride film according to the ALD process is preformed by repeating a cycle until a desired film thickness is obtained. The cycle includes the following steps. Firstly, a deposition gas, which contains the DCS gas as a silicon source, is supplied to a processing vessel such that the silicon source can be adsorbed by the wafer surface. Secondly, the nitrogen gas is supplied to drive out the DCS gas. Thirdly, a nitride gas, which contains the ammonia gas radicalized by the plasma, is supplied to the processing vessel such that the adsorbed DCS can be decomposed and nitrified. Fourthly, the nitrogen gas is supplied to drive out the ammonia gas. However, the above-mentioned steps will result in a delivery problem due to the very low vapor pressure of the precursors as well as a pattern loading effect. There is a need to solve the above problems.

Injector for forming films respectively on a stack of wafers

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A bone material removal device, including a tubular element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a shaft received within the tubular element and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a cutting tooth movably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and a shaft displacement actuator at the proximal end of the tubular element rotatably coupled to the shaft, wherein at least partial rotation of the actuator in a first direction brings the cutting tooth to travel from a closed retracted position to an open extended position.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to bone removal tools and more particularly, but not exclusively, to tools that change an effective diameter of a bore in bone.
It is known that during various arthroscopic procedures drilling of a bore is required within a bone of a patient. In many occasions the bore may need to have portions having various diameters. Enlarged diameters may be needed for one or more surgical procedures such as, for example, insertion of an anchor, administration of a drug or biologicals, insertion of a graft and insertion of an implant in AVN treatment procedures.
In other examples, in various arthroscopic procedures e.g., rotator cuff repair and hip labrum replacement, an anchor is inserted into the bone in order to reattach injured tissue. Different drilling tools are employed in order to drill a bore having predetermined dimensions.
Drilling tools are also used for insertion of biological material or providing for bone bleeding to induce cartilage healing.

Bone material removal device and a method for use thereof

T.A.G. Medical Devices—Agriculture Cooperative Ltd.


An improved nonpolluting method of dyeing fibers or fabric, including natural cellulose fibers such as cotton or linen, using indigo dye. The improved process includes pretreating the fibers with a mordant solution, preferably a natural nonpolluting mordant solution. The fibers are then treated with a reduced indigo liquor in an inert atmosphere, preferably nitrogen. The indigo is then oxidized by flooding the dyed fabric with cold water. This indigo dye process can be adapted to conventional garment, package and piece dye processes and machinery, which has not been possible with existing indigo dye processes. The improved process results in a more consistent and even dyed material which is color and washfast.

This invention relates to an improved process for dyeing fibers with indigo dye, including natural cellulose fibers, textile fabric and yarn. The improved indigo dye process includes premordanting the fibers and oxidizing the leuco indigo dye by flooding the fibers with cold water, thus eliminating the requirement for skying and polluting effluents. Further, the indigo dye process of this invention can be adapted to utilize conventional garment, package and piece dye machinery and processes.
Indigo has been used to dye fabric with "indigo blue" since before recorded history. The sap which oozes from the plant when bruised was applied to fabric by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Indigo has been used in India to dye fabric for at least 4,000 years by methods which are practically identical to the methods employed today. Indigo was introduced in Europe in large quantities by the Dutch East India Company in the early 17th century.
Indigotin (C.sub.16 H.sub.10 N.sub.2 O.sub.2) is the true coloring matter of indigo. When pure, indigotin forms a dark, rich blue powder or bronzy blue-colored needle crystals. The most important reaction of indigotin is its reaction with reducing agents. When subjected to a reducing agent in the presence of alkali, indigotin combines with two atoms of hydrogen and is reduced to a colorless body, known as indigo-white or the leuco form, which is insoluble in water, but dissolves in alkali, with a yellow color. This reaction may be represented, as follows: ##STR1## It is reoxidized to indigotin with great ease, simply by exposure to oxygen, by the following equation: EQU C.sub.16 H.sub.12 N.sub.2 O.sub.2 +0=C.sub.16 H.sub.10 N.sub.2 O.sub.2 H.sub.2 O
The commercial vat method thus utilizes these reactions to dye fabric or yarn indigo blue. Commercial indigo vat dyeing is carried out in an aqueous alkali vat containing the reduced leuco form of indigo. Fibers in the form of warp yarns are dipped into the vat for a residence time sufficient to permit the fibers to absorb the desired amount of leuco dye. Following each dip, the fibers are squeezed between rolls and then carried into the open air, which is known as "skying," wherein the leuco dye is oxidized to the insoluble indigotin form in the fibers.
Oxidation of the reduced leuco form in the dip vat is troublesome in all vat dyeing, but is a particular problem with indigo dyeing. The oxidation occurs where the dye liquor contacts the air, especially in the region of the squeeze rolls where multiple interfaces are generated, exposing large areas of leuco dye liquor to the air as the dye liquor drains from the squeeze rollers. This oxidation results in a significant loss of dye liquor and formation of floating scum of oxidized insoluble dye. U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,198 discloses an "inert atmosphere" indigo dye process which includes an enclosure of the air-liquor interface of a leuco indigo bath comprising sodium hydrosulfite and sodium hydroxide, which results in consumption of oxygen at the enclosed interface. However, the enclosure cannot be gas tight and would not result in an inert gas enclosed process. Further, the process is impractical for commercial indigo dyeing operations and thus does not solve the problems associated with the use of natural indigo dyes.
Synthetic indigo has essentially replaced natural indigo in commercial dyeing. The production of synthetic indigo requires the use of toxic materials, including sodium cyanide, formaldehyde, sodium and potassium hydroxide and synthetically produced aniline, which are carried through to the cloth. The waste products include the unspent toxic chemicals described above, plus sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, sodium dioxide and insoluble salts. Thus, there has been a renewed interest in the use of natural indigo; however, the prior indigo dye methods result in dyed fibers or fabric which are not nearly as wash and lightfast as synthetic dyes and naturally dyed colors are difficult to reproduce using known techniques.
Thus, there remains an important need for a process for dyeing fibers, particularly cellulose fibers, which is suitable for natural indigo and which produces a consistent natural color, which is wash and lightfast. The process for dyeing textile fibers with indigo dye of this invention is suitable for natural indigo, thus avoiding the problems associated with synthetic indigo dyes, including toxic wastes. The process of this invention may also be utilized to dye over other colors, producing a full palette of consistently reproducible natural colors which are wash and lightfast.


The present specification describes techniques and apparatus that adjust filter tap values to be used in filtering a data value input to a detector and/or that increase or decrease a threshold value used to determine whether to adjust the filter tap values.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A detection system can be used to detect values encoded in particular signals. However, such detection can be difficult because the signals can be subjected to interference or noise. One type of interference or noise is from within the signal itself, with one portion of the signal encoding one value interfering with another portion of the signal encoding another value. Such interference is also referred to as ISI (inter-symbol interference). One technique for filtering out ISI is a LMS (least mean square) scheme, which is based on minimizing the power of an error signal.

Reducing bit-error rate using adaptive decision feedback equalization


A method for recognizing the layout pattern of radiation images comprises the steps of preparing two-valued masks, each composed of a two-valued signal representing a layout pattern for radiation images which are to be stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and obtaining a preliminary read-out image signal by carrying out preliminary read out on a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation images have been stored. The layout pattern of the radiation images is recognized by converting the preliminary read-out image signal into a two-valued image signal, calculating rating values, which represent the degree of pattern matching between the two-valued image signal and the two-valued masks, finding the highest rating value that represents the highest degree of pattern matching among the rating values, and comparing the highest rating value with a predetermined value representing a predetermined degree of pattern matching.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a radiation image read-out and reproducing system for scanning a recording medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a single radiation image or a plurality of radiation images are recorded, with a light beam, obtaining image signals which carry information about the radiation images from the scanning process, and reproducing visible images by use of the image signals. This invention particularly relates to a method for recognizing the layout pattern of radiation images recorded on the recording medium. This invention also relates to a method for automatically recognizing a subdivision pattern of radiation images recorded on the recording medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Techniques for reading out a recorded radiation image and obtaining an image signal therefrom, carrying out appropriate image processing of the image signal, and then reproducing a visible image by use of the processed image signal have heretofore been known in various fields. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54(1979)-121043, an X-ray image is recorded on an X-ray film having a gamma value designed so as to match image processing, the X-ray image is read out from the X-ray film and converted into an electric signal, the electric signal (image signal) is image-processed and then used for reproducing the X-ray image as a visible image on a copy photograph or the like. In this manner, a visible image having good image quality such as high contrast, high sharpness and high graininess can be reproduced.
Also, when certain kinds of phosphors are exposed to radiation such as X-rays, .alpha.-rays, .beta.-rays, .gamma.-rays, cathode rays or ultraviolet rays, they store part of the energy of the radiation. Then, when the phosphor which has been exposed to the radiation is exposed to stimulating rays such as visible light, light is emitted by the phosphor in proportion to the amount of energy stored when it was exposed to the radiation. A phosphor exhibiting such properties is referred to as a stimulable phosphor. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,264, 4,276,473, 4,315,318 and 4,387,428 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56(1981)-11395, it has been proposed to use a stimulable phosphor in a radiation image recording and reproducing system. Specifically, a sheet provided with a layer of the stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as a stimulable phosphor sheet) is first exposed to radiation which has passed through an object such as the human body in order to store a radiation image of the object thereon, and is then scanned with stimulating rays such as a laser beam which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored during exposure to radiation. The light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is photoelectrically detected and converted into an electric image signal, and by using the image signal the radiation image of the object is reproduced as a visible image on a recording material such as a photographic film, a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), or the like.
The radiation image recording and reproducing system using a stimulable phosphor sheet is advantageous over conventional radiography using a silver halide photographic material in that an image can be recorded for a very wide range (latitude) of radiation energy intensities. More specifically, since the amount of light emitted upon stimulation after the radiation energy is stored on the stimulable phosphor varies over a wide range and is proportional to the amount of said stored energy, it is possible to obtain an image having a desirable density regardless of the energy intensity range of the radiation to which the stimulable phosphor sheet was exposed, by reading out the emitted light with an appropriate read-out gain and converting it into an electric signal to reproduce a visible image on a recording medium or a display device.
In order to detect the image signal correctly, the energy intensity range of the exposing radiation and other conditions must be determined from the recorded radiation image. Therefore, the aforesaid radiation image recording and reproducing system may be constituted such that a preliminary read out for approximately ascertaining the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is carried out by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a light beam of a comparatively low energy level, and a preliminary read-out image signal, obtained from the preliminary read-out process, is analyzed. Thereafter, the final read out for obtaining the image signal used in reproducing a visible image is carried out by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a light beam of a comparatively high energy level and reading out the radiation image under conditions adjusted on the basis of the results of an analysis of the preliminary read-out image signal.
Regardless of whether the preliminary read out is or is not carried out, it has also been proposed to analyze the preliminary read-out image signal or the image signal obtained and thereafter to adjust the conditions under which processing of the image signal is carried out on the basis of the results of the analysis of the image signal. The proposed method is applicable to cases where an image signal is obtained from a radiation image recorded on a recording medium such as conventional X-ray film, as well as to systems using stimulable phosphor sheets.
In the aforesaid radiation image recording and reproducing system, a plurality of radiation images are often recorded on a single recording medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet for the purpose of efficiently utilizing the recording medium or for comparing radiation images of a single object recorded at different angles.
If it is not known that a plurality of radiation images exist on a single recording medium or the layout of the images on the medium is not known before the radiation images are read out from a single recording medium or are image-processed, the conditions under which a final read out is conducted and/or the conditions under which an image signal is processed are adjusted such that all of the radiation images recorded on a single recording medium are regarded as a single radiation image. In these cases, few problems arise when the image recording conditions and the consequent required image processing do not differ very much among the radiation images recorded on a single recording medium. However, when the image recording conditions and the consequent required image processing differ greatly among the radiation images recorded on a single recording medium, adjusting the conditions under which a final read out is conducted and/or the conditions under which an image signal is processed, as if all of the radiation images recorded on a single recording medium were a single radiation image, is unsuitable. As a result, visible images are reproduced with unsuitable densities, or images unsuitable for viewing purposes are reproduced because of inappropriate processing of the image signals.
These problems may be eliminated by inputting the number and layout of the radiation images recorded on the recording medium from a keyboard or the like into an apparatus before the radiation images are read out from the recording medium. However, the inputting operation is troublesome. Also, when an operator fails to input or erroneously inputs the number and layout of the radiation images recorded on the recording medium, the same problems described above arise, and the operator is often required to carry out the recording of an image again.
Also, in the aforesaid radiation image recording and reproducing system, in order to eliminate various influences caused by variations in the image recording conditions and/or to obtain a radiation image having a good image quality with enough accuracy to aid in efficient diagnoses of illnesses, it is desirable to ascertain the conditions under which the radiation image was stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet such as, for example, the radiation energy intensity levels used for image recording, or the image input pattern which is determined by the portion of the object (e.g. the chest or the abdomen of a human body) or the image recording method used, such as plain image recording or contrasted image recording, before reproducing the radiation image as a visible image, and then to adjust the read-out gain to an appropriate value based on the ascertained image recording conditions or the image input pattern. The image recording conditions and the image input pattern will hereinafter be referred to simply as the image input information when they are referred to generically. It is also desirable to adjust the scale factor to optimize the resolution in accordance with the contrast in the image input pattern.
The ascertaining of the image input information may be carried out prior to the reproduction of the visible image by use of the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58(1983)-67240. In this method, a preliminary read out for ascertaining the image input information of a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet is carried out in advance by use of stimulating rays having a stimulation energy of a level lower than the level of the stimulation energy of the stimulating rays used in the final read out from which a visible image for viewing is obtained, which visible image is used particularly for diagnostic purposes. After the preliminary read out the final read-out is carried out. In the final read out, the read-out gain and/or the scale factor is adjusted to an appropriate value, and/or some type of appropriate signal processing is conducted, on the basis of the image input information obtained in the preliminary read out.
Various methods may be used for approximately ascertaining the image input information from the preliminary read-out image signal obtained by performing the aforesaid preliminary read out. One method is to utilize a histogram of the preliminary read-out image signal. Specifically, the image input information can be ascertained from, for example, a characteristic value such as the maximum signal value, the minimum signal value, or a signal value at a point where the frequency in the histogram is at a maximum. Therefore, a visible radiation image having improved image quality, particularly a quality allowing for a high diagnostic efficiency and accuracy, can be reproduced by adjusting, on the basis of the histogram, the conditions under which the final read out is carried out such as the read-out gain and the scale factor and/or the conditions under which the image signal is processed.
On the other hand, in the course of radiation image recording, it is often desirable to prevent portions of an object not related to a diagnosis or the like from being exposed to radiation. Further, when portions of the object not related to a diagnosis or the like are exposed to radiation, the radiation is scattered by such portions to the portion related to the diagnosis or the like, and the contrast and resolution of the reproduced image are adversely affected by the scattered radiation. Therefore, in many cases, when a radiation image is recorded, the irradiation field is limited to an area smaller than the overall recording region on the stimulable phosphor sheet.
However, in cases where the image input information is ascertained in the manner described above, the problem described below arises. When an irradiation field is limited to an area smaller than the image recording region on the stimulable phosphor sheet and the preliminary read out is carried out over an area markedly larger than the irradiation field, for example, over the overall image recording region on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the image input information is ascertained incorrectly. Specifically, in the aforesaid case, since the preliminary read out image signals at regions outside of the irradiation field are also included in the histogram, the histogram does not accurately represent the actual image input information stored within the irradiation field.
The applicant has proposed various methods for recognizing an irradiation field such as the method disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61(1986)-39039. The aforesaid problem can be eliminated by automatically recognizing the irradiation field by use of the proposed methods, and carrying out the preliminary read out only over the region thus recognized.
On the other hand, in the course of radiation image recording on a recording medium such as stimulable phosphor sheets, subdivision image recording is often carried out. In subdivision image recording, the recording area on the stimulable phosphor sheet is divided into a plurality of predetermined subdivisions, and the respective subdivisions are exposed to radiation in order to record images thereon. Subdivision image recording is economical since, for example, when an image of a small portion of an object is recorded on a large stimulable phosphor sheet, images of a plurality of object portions may be recorded on a single stimulable phosphor sheet. Also, the radiation image recording and read-out processing speed becomes high.
However, when irradiation fields are limited during subdivision image recording, the respective irradiation fields become separated from each other. FIG. 5 shows the condition of a single stimulable phosphor sheet 103 in a case where subdivision image recording was carried out by dividing the recording region on the stimulable phosphor sheet 103 into two subdivisions, and the irradiation field was limited in each subdivision image recording step. In FIG. 5, B1 and B2 denote the respective irradiation fields. In most conventional methods for recognizing an irradiation field, the recognition process is carried out on the assumption that a single irradiation field is present on a single stimulable phosphor sheet. With such methods, irradiation fields such as those shown in FIG. 5 are recognized incorrectly. On the other hand, a method for automatically recognizing a plurality of irradiation fields on a single stimulable phosphor sheet has also been proposed. However, with the proposed method, the algorithm for recognition of the irradiation fields becomes very complicated, and a very expensive apparatus is necessary for executing the method.
In cases where information on the positions of the respective subdivisions is entered manually into an irradiation field recognizing apparatus, processing for detecting a single irradiation field in each subdivision may be carried out, and the problem of the algorithm's for recognition of the irradiation fields becoming very complicated can be eliminated. However, it is very troublesome to manually enter the subdivision pattern each time radiation image read out from the stimulable phosphor sheet is to be carried out.
The problems described above arise also when radiation images are read out from recording media different from stimulable phosphor sheets.

Method of recognizing layout and subdivision patterns of radiation images


The patient examination table for medical examinations comprises a support structure, a patient rest plane, first movement means to rotate the patient rest plane in two directions about a horizontal axis, potentially covering an angular range of not less than 180 degrees, and a second movement means to translate the patient rest surface vertically in both directions. (FIG. 1).

The present invention relates to an examination table which can be varied in height and angle for use in the performing of various medical examinations, especially radiological examinations such as stratigraphy, mammography, tomography, or endoscopic examinations, where wide-ranging patient position changes are needed in order to carry out all of the examinations correctly.
Prior art examination tables relating to the above field are equipped with blocking elements to constrain the supine patient to the table, and are inferiorly solid to a slide element having a horizontal-axis part-cylindrical shape, with the arched portion inferiorly arranged. This slide element is inferiorly supported and can perform oscillations about its own axis on command of special movement means which bring the patient into all the positions necessary for the examinations, starting from a vertical position with head up to a slightly inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, with the patient's head slightly below his feet. Owing to well-known geometrical problems, a so-conformed slide element together with its support elements cannot bring the patient into a position where his head is considerably below the level of his feet, nor, obviously, where the patient is in a vertical head-down position. Numerous examinations would be more efficiently carried out if the above-described positions were possible.
Further, height regulation of the known examination tables is not possible, which once again leads to drawbacks where numerous types of medical tests are concerned.

Patient's examination table for carrying out medical examinations


A magnetic door gasket (10) having a central web (18) and three enclosed chambers (12, 14, 16) projecting from a first side of the web, and a U-shaped recess (20) formed by the web and a leg (22) spaced from the opposed side of the web and joined thereto by a bight (26). The leg has a U-shaped projection (24) projecting therefrom partly to the web, the projection being spaced from the bight. The projection has a nib (28) projecting obliquely from a closed end (30) toward the web and the bight. The gasket is formed from a resilient material, such as PVC, by extrusion.

It is customary to provide a gasket formed from a resilient material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), around the perimeter of a door to seal the juncture between a cabinet and the door when the door is hinged to the cabinet along one of the vertical sides of the door. A household refrigerator is an example of such a cabinet and door assembly. Typically, a gasket of the foregoing type has a complex configuration in cross-section, with an enclosed chamber containing a magnetic insert and one or more additional enclosed chambers that is or are yieldable under load to continuously seal the junction between the cabinet and the door, notwithstanding some variations in spacing therebetween around the perimeter of the door. A typical gasket of this type also has a generally U-shaped recess that is adapted to receive the outer edge of a panel of the door to permit the gasket to be assembled to the door.
The assembly of a door gasket to the door of a refrigerator involves frictional engagement of the gasket to the door. Because of the substantial vertical height of some doors, it is possible for a long, vertical leg of a door gasket to pull away from the edge of a door panel during assembly due to the gravitational forces acting on the gasket, thus slowing down the assembly process and/or resulting in an improperly assembled door and gasket assembly. The disengagement of the gasket from the door panel tends to be by a pivoting motion in a plane extending transversely through the gasket and the door. Examples of prior art disclosures of magnetic door gaskets include U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,509 (Merla), U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,873 (Thomas), U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,590 (Monti), and U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,145 (Foley), Canadian Patent 707,945 (issued Apr. 20, 1965) and British Patent Specification 1,416,151 (published 3 December 1975), the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.


An apparatus for tapping a container including an open-ended shell with an interiorly-disposed absorbent pad, both having a radial aperture. A sleeve, in registration with the aperture, slidingly and sealingly receives a tap assembly. The tap assembly includes a tubular tap with a radially extending pin and a split collar having a slot for receiving the pin. The shell closely receives a container, then the user urges the tap through the sleeve toward the container and pierces the container. Flowable material in the container flows out of the tap. A method of use is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to containers and opening means therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to retractable, piercing taps adapted for use with resilient containers of flowable matter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sealed containers play an integral role in virtually every facet of modern life. Comestibles and durable goods alike are packaged and transported, retailed and secured in cans or glued cartons. Despite the usefulness of sealed containers, consumers are often frustrated attempting to release stored items from their seemingly impenetrable shell.
One group of container opening conventions includes containers having frangible members that permit the user to remove an entire container wall or portion thereof. Another group of container opening conventions includes piercing the container to permit flowable materials to flow out. The present invention falls within the piercing group.
When piercing a container, the user typically grasps the container manually or places the container against a resilient surface, then forces a tap through a container wall. Frequently, containers are constructed from thin materials sufficient to withstand the hydrostatic or static forces of its contents, but little else; the container readily deforms under minimal loading. Grasping the container or forcing a tap through the container wall usually deforms the container. Unluckily, the user sometimes exerts too much force and drives the tap through the container and the surface behind it causing, if not pain, a mess. A need exists for an invention providing a user with means to pierce a container without risking injury and spills due to container deformation.
Several types of piercing taps and methods are described in the literature. Unfortunately, the prior art fails to provide maintaining a container without deforming it. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 438,475, issued Oct. 14, 1890, to Daniel Green, U.S. Pat. No. 1,088,332, issued Feb. 24, 1914, to Harry P. Disher, U.S. Pat. No. 1,806,363, issued May 19, 1931, to Lauritz M. Narbo, U.S. Pat. No. 2,245,698, issued Jun. 17, 1941, to Howard Miller and Great Britain Patent No. 208,180, published Dec. 20, 1923, issued to John Parkinson, describe hand held taps. As described above, the user grasps or otherwise fixes the container and manually forces the tap to pierce a container wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,708, issued Oct. 5, 1993, to Thomas Magness, describes a container puncture spout. The apparatus includes a collar which slidingly receives a tap. The user mounts the collar on a container, slides the tap therethrough and pierces the container.
Clearly, the above demonstrates a need for a piercing tap and method of use therefor including means for maintaining a container without deforming it.
None of the above references, taken alone or in combination, are seen as teaching or suggesting the presently claimed piercing tap and method of use therefor.