An apparatus for releasably securing a line having a cross sectional thickness and at least one free end. The fastener has a shaft dimensioned for wrapping the line around the shaft. The shaft has a pair of ends at least one of which includes: an insertion structure extending from the end that defines an insertion opening and a retaining structure extending from the end a distance greater than the cross sectional thickness of the line. The retaining structure defines a retention aperture operably dimensioned smaller than the cross sectional thickness of the line. When the free end of the line is inserted through the opening, positioned adjacent the shaft, wrapped around the shaft and positioned in the retention aperture, the line is thereby releasably secured.

Previous line fastener devices typically required a degree of fine motor skills and manual dexterity to quickly and properly thread and knot the line to the fastener. Prior fastener devices also require the use of both hands to properly thread and tie the line to the fastener. Further, the nature and function of most fastener devices require that any knot formed between the fastener and the line be permanent, thus necessitating a cutting of the line to remove the fastener from the line. In addition to the damage associated with cutting the line, prior fastener devices may place undesirable wear and tear on a line. Finally, many known fasteners allow line to slip or loosen which can be undesirable and even dangerous.
It is desirable to provide a fastener device that overcomes the shortcomings described above by allowing a user to quickly and easily tie a line to the fastener resulting in a secure, non-slip line attachment that is just as quickly and easily untied with little to no damage to the line.


Retroreflective sheeting comprising at least a reflective element layer made up of a large number of reflective elements and a holding body layer and a surface protective layer provided on the reflective element layer, wherein a printed layer is provided on the lateral faces of the reflective elements or between the holding body layer and the surface protective layer or on the surface protective layer, the printed layer being formed of a discrete repetitive pattern of unit patterns, and the unit patterns each having an area of 0.15 mm2 to 30 mm2.

The present invention relates to retroreflective sheeting having a printed layer, particularly a triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting constituted of triangular cube-corner retroreflective elements (hereinafter also referred to simply as triangular reflective elements) which is characterized by having a printed layer for tone improvement in a part thereof and is useful for signs such as road signs and construction signs; license plates of vehicles such as automobiles and motorcycles; safety equipment such as garments and lifesaving equipment; markings of signboards; and reflectors such as visible light, laser light or infrared light reflective sensors; and the like.
Retroreflective sheeting which reflects incident light toward the light source has been well known. The sheeting having such retroreflective properties has been used widely in the above-described fields. In particular, cube-corner retroreflective sheeting making use of the retroreflection theory of cube-corner retroreflective elements such as triangular reflective elements and triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting having a vapor-deposition layer on the lateral faces of the triangular reflective elements thereof (hereinafter referred to as vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting) are extremely superior in retroreflectivity to conventional retroreflective sheetings using micro glass beads and have been extending their use year by year because of their excellent retroreflective performance.
Such retroreflective sheetings and processes for producing them are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,959 and WO98/18028 as to triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting, and JP-A-49-106839 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,706) as to vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting.
Vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting has a disadvantage attributed to its retroreflective elements that the appearance is darkened by the influence of the metal color.
In order to improve the hue of the triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting and the vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting, it has been attempted to provide a continuous printed layer in part of the retroreflective sheeting.
However, because a printed layer has slightly poor adhesion to both the reflective element layer and a surface protective layer and also has poor weatherability, it is liable to suffer lifting in a weathering test. It also has a disadvantage of easily absorbing water. Where a continuous printed layer is provided in a triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting or a vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting, the sheeting has poor adhesion around the printed layer and poor weather resistance or water resistance.
In addition to the above-described triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting and vapor-deposited retroreflective sheeting, retroreflective sheetings include those using micro glass beads, such as encapsulated retroreflective sheeting and encapsulated lens retroreflective sheeting.
The encapsulated retroreflective sheeting comprises a light-transmitting support layer, a microbead layer provided opposite to the light incident side of the light-transmitting support layer in which a large number of micro glass beads are arrayed substantially in a monolayer with their almost semi-spherical portions being embedded, a light-transmitting focusing layer which is formed along the surface of the other non-embedded semi-spherical portions of the micro glass beads and has such a thickness that the micro glass beads may substantially focus on the surface of the focusing layer that is not in contact with the micro glass beads, and a light-reflective metal film which is formed on the surface of the focusing layer that is not in contact with the micro glass beads. If necessary, the sheeting can have a light-transmitting surface protective layer superposed on the surface of the light-incident side of the support layer.
The encapsulated lens retroreflective sheeting comprises a light-transmitting coating layer, a support layer, a lens retroreflective element layer provided on the surface of the support layer which faces the light-transmitting coating layer in which a large number of micro glass beads are arrayed substantially in a monolayer with their almost semi-spherical portions being embedded and with the embedded semi-spherical portions being coated with a light-reflective metal film, and an air layer provided between the light-transmitting coating layer and the lens retroreflective elements. The air layer is formed by partly connecting the light-transmitting coating layer and the support layer via joints such that gaps are formed between these layers, and the air layer is partitioned by the joints into a large number of closed small vacant spaces.
The encapsulated retroreflective sheeting and the encapsulated lens retroreflective sheeting essentially have lower retroreflective performance than the triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting or the vapor-deposited triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting. Therefore, where a printed layer is provided, they are incapable of satisfying the requirement for retroreflective performance.
In the light of the disadvantages of the conventional techniques, the present invention provides retroreflective sheeting with an improved hue by a very simple and inexpensive method.
The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive investigation on hues of triangular cube-corner retroreflective sheeting or vapor-deposited triangular retroreflective sheeting. As a result, they have found that disposing a specific printed layer on the reflective element layer or the surface protective layer of the retroreflective sheeting provides retroreflective sheeting with excellent weather resistance and water resistance and an improved hue and thus have completed the present invention.
The present invention provides retroreflective sheeting having a printed layer which comprises at least a reflective element layer made up of a large number of reflective elements and a holding body layer and a surface protective layer provided on the reflective element layer, which is characterized in that the printed layer is provided in the lateral faces of the reflective elements or between the holding body layer and the surface protective layer or on the surface protective layer, the printed layer is formed of a discrete repetitive pattern of unit patterns, and the unit patterns each have an area of 0.15 mm2 to 30 mm2.

Retroreflecting sheet having printed layer


An electronic postal meter system is separated into a meter unit and an input/output control unit. The two units are linked by a communications link which preferably uses light transmitting fibers to transmit data and instructions. The meter unit is used to process and store only that data which pertains to the critical accounting functions of the meter or to the control of the printer driven by the electronics control within the meter unit. Less critical functions, such as zip-to-zone conversions, are restricted to the less secure control unit. By restricting the meter unit to highly critical data and by enclosing only the meter unit in a secure housing, the overall security of the meter system is enhanced. Novel failure detect circuitry for a printer setting detector array and a novel event-indicating signal generator circuit are disclosed. The significant routines employed in the operation of the meter system are described.

The present invention relates to an electronic postal meter and more particularly to an electronic meter which is highly secure from tampering involving the data processing capabilities of the meter.
Postal meters in use today are, almost universally, mechanical devices in which postage values are set, printed, and accounted for by means of mechanical assemblies such as linkages and registers. Such meters include a mechanical ascending register which provides a record of the amount of postage printed over the life of the meter. The meter also includes a mechanical descending register which provides a record of the amount of postage remaining for use in the meter. To prevent tampering with the critical functions of such mechanical meters, a number of different mechanical interlocks have been used. Such interlocks prevent a user from printing postage amounts without changing the contents of the ascending and descending registers. Similarly, such interlocks make it nearly impossible for a user, without leaving telltale signs, to reset the descending register himself to "recharge" the postal meter.
Electronic postal meters have been developed. In such meters, a computer device such as a microprocessor may calculate postage amounts and cause an electrically driven printer to be set to the proper postage amount. All data, including critical accounting data, is stored in electrical format in memory units.
The advantages of electronic postal meters are known. Such meters, having fewer mechanical parts, should last longer and prove more reliable than mechanical meters. Furthermore, electronic postal meters are extremely versatile devices which may perform functions that cannot practically be performed in a purely mechanical meter. For example, an electronic postal meter may include logic circuitry for determining the destination zone of a package given the zip code of the point of origin and the zip code of the point of destination. Moreover, such meters can generally be more readily changed to accommodate changes in the postal regulations or rates. Also, such meters are generally capable of performing at high speeds, a necessity for high volume mailing operations.
While electronic postal meters have many advantages, they also present certain problems which had already been solved in the widely-used mechanical postal meters. The use of electronics to perform the necessary meter functions renders obsolete many of the mechanical interlocks formerly developed to prevent tempering with the meter contents. Naturally, this increases the risk that a user knowledgeable in the electronic technologies employed in a postal meter may find a way to print postage amounts without these amounts being registered in the descending or ascending registers. Similarly, a knowledgeable and unscrupulous user may attempt to develop a method for "recharging" the meter without the normally necessary payment to the Post Office.
Another problem which can arise with electronic postal meters is that their proper operation depends upon the proper functioning of many components which cannot be readily inspected. For the most part, these components are "binary" in nature; that is, their output is either on or off. A failed component may, unless noticed, provide an unchanging output which would be interpreted erroneously by the microprocessor.
Still another problem with electronic postal meters is that such meters will not necessarily be disabled upon a malfunction or failure in a particular section or upon the occurrence of certain events. The meter will continue to function, albeit perhaps improperly, until instructed to stop.


A refractory brick for use in rotary cement kilns has improved properties by the addition of small quantities of MnO.sub.2 to the composition used to form the brick.

This application relates to the art of refractory compositions and refractory bricks. The invention is particularly applicable to refractory compositions and bricks intended for use in rotary cement kilns. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader aspects, and that the improved composition and brick of the present application can be used in other environments and for other purposes.
It is known that the properties of refractory brick for use in rotary cement kilns can be enhanced by the addition of chromium oxide to the brick composition. However, environmental concerns about toxic chromium compounds has restricted the use of such compounds in refractory bricks. This is because toxic chromium compounds may be released to the environment by kiln exhaust emissions and by the disposal of spent refractory linings.
Alternatives to MgO-chrome bricks have included MgO bricks, MgO-CaO and dolomite bricks, and MgO-spinel bricks. MgO bricks are not usually used in cement kilns because of undesirable high thermal conductivity and high thermal expansion. MgO-CaO and dolomite bricks have been successfully used in the center burning zone, but have not generally proven successful in the upper and lower transition zones on either side of the center burning zone. MgO-spinel bricks have most frequently been used in place of MgO-chrome bricks in the transition zones. The performance of MgO-spinel bricks has generally been satisfactory in the upper transition zone, but not in the lower transition zone.
It would be desirable to have a refractory brick to replace MgO-chrome bricks.


In a ferroelectric memory, a plate line and a complementary bit line are electrically connected with each other by a MOS transistor turned on, so that a voltage of the complementary bit line amplified by a sense amplifier is transferred to the plate line. An electric current for driving the plate line flows only when the voltage of the complementary bit line is different from that of the plate line. Because the sense amplifier can drive the plate line, it is unnecessary to provide the ferroelectric memory with a plate line-driving circuit.

The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory which stores information in accordance with a polarization state of a ferroelectric material interposed between electrodes of a capacitor.
A semiconductor memory using a ferroelectric material is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory storing and holding information in a polarization direction thereof. Conventional nonvolatile semiconductor memories using a ferroelectric material will be described below.
FIG. 4 shows the circuitry of a conventional semiconductor memory as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,664. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F and 5G show an operation timing of the conventional semiconductor memory of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows a hysteresis characteristic of a ferroelectric material used in a memory cell capacitor in the conventional semiconductor memory. FIG. 7 shows a hysteresis characteristic of a ferroelectric material used in a dummy cell capacitor in the conventional semiconductor memory.
In the circuitry of the conventional semiconductor memory of FIG. 4, a bit line (BIT) 26 and a complementary bit line (/BIT) 28 are connected with a sense amplifier 30. Memory cells 20a, 20b, and 20c and a dummy cell 46 are coupled to the bit line 26. Memory cells 20d, 20e and a dummy cell 36 are coupled to the complementary bit line 28. The memory cell 20a includes a MOS transistor 24 and a memory cell capacitor 22. The memory cell capacitor 22 includes two spaced apart plates, or electrodes, with a ferroelectric material between them. In the MOS transistor, the gate is connected with a word line 32, the drain is connected with the bit line 26, and the source is connected with a first electrode of the memory cell capacitor 22. A second electrode of the memory cell capacitor 22 is connected with a plate line 34. Similarly, the dummy cell 36 has a MOS transistor 38 and a dummy cell capacitor 40. The dummy cell capacitor 40 includes two spaced apart plates, or electrodes, with a ferroelectric material between them. The gate of the MOS transistor 38 is connected with a dummy word line 2, the drain is connected with the complementary bit line 28, and the source is connected with a first electrode of the dummy cell capacitor 40. A second electrode of the dummy cell capacitor 40 is connected with a dummy cell plate line 44. The sense amplifier 30 is activated by a sense signal SE.
The circuit operation of the circuit of the conventional nonvolatile semiconductor memory will be described below with reference to the operation timing shown in FIGS. 5A-5G, the hysteresis characteristic of the ferroelectric film of the memory cell capacitor shown in FIG. 6, and the hysteresis characteristic of the ferroelectric film of the dummy cell capacitor shown in FIG. 7.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the hysteresis curves of the ferroelectric film. The abscissa represents the electric filed applied to the capacitor, and the ordinate represents the electric charge (polarization) corresponding to an electric field applied. Even when the electric field applied is zero, a polarization remains, that is, there exists a remanent polarization, in the ferroelectric capacitor, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 at points B, E, H, and K. The remanent polarization values are used to represent nonvolatile data to thereby achieve a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. When the data of the memory cell is "1", the memory cell capacitor has a state at point B of FIG. 6, whereas when the data is "0", the memory cell has a state at point E of FIG. 6.
Suppose that an initial state of the dummy cell capacitor is represented by the state at point K of FIG. 7. To read the data of the memory cell 20a, the logic voltages of the bit line 26, complementary bit line 28, word line 32, dummy word line 42, cell plate line 34, and dummy cell plate line 44 are each set to "L" (ground voltage: GND) as an initial state. Thereafter, the bit line 26 and the complementary bit line 28 are each set to a floating state. The logic voltage of the sense signal SE is set to "L" (ground voltage: GND).
Then, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the word line 32, the dummy word line 42, the cell plate line 34, and the dummy cell plate line 44 are each set to a logic voltage "H". The logic voltage "H" of each of the word line 32 and the dummy word line 42 is a voltage (Vpp) obtained by boosting a supply voltage. The logic voltage "H" of each of the cell plate line 34 and the dummy cell plate line 44 is the supply voltage (Vcc). By this setting, the MOS transistor 24 of the memory cell 20a and the MOS transistor 38 of the dummy cell 36 are turned on. Thus, an electric field is applied to the memory cell capacitor 22 and the dummy cell capacitor 40. If the data of the memory cell 20a is "1" at this time, the memory cell 20a undergoes a state change from the state at point B of FIG. 6 to the state at point D. The difference Q1 between the electric charge at point B and the electric charge at point D is read as the voltage of the bit line 26. At this time, the dummy cell 36 undergoes a state change from the state at point K of FIG. 7 to the state at a point J. The difference Qd between the electric charge at point K and the electric charge at point J is read as the voltage of the complementary bit line 28. Then, the sense signal SE is set to the logic voltage "H" (supply voltage: Vcc). Thereby, the sense amplifier 30 amplifies the difference between the voltage of the bit line 26 derived from the memory cell 20a and the voltage of the complementary bit line 28 derived from the dummy cell 36. Then, the voltage of the bit line 26 is raised to the level of the supply voltage Vcc, and the voltage of the complementary bit line 28 is lowered to the level of the ground voltage GND, and data "1" of the memory cell 20a is read.
On the other hand, if the data stored in the memory cell 20a is "0", the memory cell 20a undergoes a state change from the state at point E of FIG. 7 to the state at point D. The difference Q0 between the electric charge at point E and the electric charge at point D is read as the voltage of the bit line 26. At the same time, the dummy cell 36 undergoes a state change from the state at point K of FIG. 7 to the state at point J. The difference Qd between the electric charge at point K and the electric charge at point J is read as the voltage of the complementary bit line 28. The sense amplifier 30 detects the difference between the voltage of the bit line 26 derived from the memory cell 20a and the voltage of the complementary bit line 28 derived from the dummy cell 36. Then, the sense amplifier drops the voltage of the bit line 26 to the level of the ground voltage GND, raises the voltage of the complementary bit line 28 to the level of supply voltage Vcc, and reads the data "0" of the memory cell 20a.
When the data of the memory cell 20a is "1", the amplifying operation of the sense amplifier 30 causes both the bit line 26 and the cell plate line 34 to have the supply voltage Vcc. Thereby, no electric field is applied to the memory cell capacitor 22, which then comes into the state at point E of FIG. 6. Thereafter, to restore the memory cell capacitor 22 to its original state at point B of FIG. 6, the voltage of the cell plate line 34 is set to the ground voltage to change the memory cell capacitor 22 from the state at point E of FIG. 6 to the state at point A, and then, the logic voltage of the word line 32 is set to "L". As a result, no electric field is applied to the memory cell capacitor 22. Thus, the memory cell capacitor 22 returns to the state at point B of FIG. 6. Thereby, rewriting of the data "1" to the memory cell 20a is completed. Normally, a boosted or raised voltage (Vpp) is supplied to the word line 32 so that the "H" voltage of the bit line 26 is sufficiently applied to the memory cell capacitor 22 when it is placed in the state at point A of FIG. 6.
On the other hand, when the data of the memory cell 20a is "0", the bit line 26 has the ground voltage and the cell plate line 34 has the supply voltage Vcc due to the amplifying operation of the sense amplifier 30. Therefore, the memory cell capacitor 22 has the state at point D of FIG. 6. Then, the logic voltage of the cell plate line 34 is set to "L", so that no electric field is applied to the memory cell capacitor 22. Thus, the memory cell capacitor 22 is changed from the state at point D of FIG. 6 to the state at point E. Then, the logic voltage of the word line 32 is set to "L". However, even at this time, no electric field is still applied to the memory cell capacitor 22. Thus, the memory cell capacitor 22 keeps the state at point E in FIG. 6. Thereby, rewriting of the data "0" to the memory cell 20a is completed.
When data of the memory cell 20a is "1", the complementary bit line 28 has the ground voltage, and the dummy cell plate line 44 has the supply voltage Vcc. Thus, the capacitor 40 of the dummy cell 36 has the state at point J of FIG. 7. Then, each of the dummy word line 42 and dummy cell plate line 44 is set to the ground voltage. Thus, no electric field is applied to the dummy cell capacitor 40. Thus, the dummy cell capacitor 40 returns from the state at point J to the state at point K of FIG. 7.
On the other hand, when the data of the memory cell 20a is "0", both the complementary bit line 28 and the dummy cell plate line 44 have the supply voltage Vcc. Thus, the dummy cell capacitor 40 has the state at point K of FIG. 7. Thereafter each of the dummy word line 42 and the dummy cell plate line 44 is set to the ground voltage, in which state no electric field is still applied to the dummy cell plate line 44. Thus, the dummy cell capacitor 40 keeps the state at point K of FIG. 7. In this manner, rewriting of the data "0" to the dummy cell 36 is completed.
FIG. 8 shows the circuitry of another conventional semiconductor memory in which the potential of a plate line is fixed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2-110895 and 8-55484).
In the circuit of the semiconductor memory shown in FIG. 8, a sense amplifier 76 is connected with a bit line B and a complementary bit line /B. Memory cells MC1 and MC2 are connected with the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B, respectively. The memory cells MC1 and MC2 each have a MOS transistor T and a capacitor C. The capacitor C of the memory cell MC1 has two spaced-apart electrodes and a ferroelectric film between them. In the MOS transistor T of the memory cell MC1, its gate is connected with a word line W1, its drain is connected with the bit line B, and its source is connected with a first electrode of the associated capacitor C. A second electrode of the capacitor C is connected with a cell plate line P. Similarly, in the MOS transistor T of the memory cell MC2, its gate is connected with a word line W2, its drain is connected with the complementary bit line /B, and its source is connected with a first electrode of the associated capacitor C. A second electrode of the capacitor C of the memory cell MC2 is also connected with the cell plate line P. The sense amplifier 76 is activated by a sense signal SE.
This conventional semiconductor memory has a pre-charge circuit 70, an intermediate potential generation circuit 72, and a reference level generation circuit 74. According to a bit line pre-charge signal BLP, the pre-charge circuit 70 pre-charges the potentials of each of the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B to an intermediate level. The intermediate potential generation circuit 72 generates an intermediate potential between "H" and "L" levels of the bit line and supplies it to the plate line P and the pre-charge circuit 70. According to a bit line potential-setting signal BLST, the reference level generation circuit 74 sets the potentials of each of the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B to the ground potential level immediately before the potential of a word line (for example, W1) has a select level. Once the word line W1 has a select level, the reference level generation circuit 74 supplies a reference level to the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B on which information stored in a selected memory cell MC is read, by a dummy word line (DW1) that is placed at a select level synchronously with the word line (W1).
The read operation of this conventional nonvolatile ferroelectric memory is described below with reference also to waveform charts shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F.
In a stand-by state, i.e., before access to the memory cell MC1 starts, the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B are pre-charged to an intermediate potential almost equal to the potential of the plate line P. Then, immediately before the potential of the word line W1 has the select level after the access starts, the bit line potential-setting signal BLST becomes active, and the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B are set to the ground potential (or supply potential). Thereafter, each of the word line W1 and the dummy word line DW1 has the select level, so that information stored in the selected memory cell MC is output to the bit line B while the reference level generation circuit 74 supplies the reference level to the complementary bit line /B. Thereafter, the sense amplifier 76 amplifies the differential potential between the bit line B and the complementary bit line /B and outputs it to the outside.
If the transistor T of the memory cell MC is placed in an off state and the first electrode (storage node) of the capacitor C is placed in a floating state in the above stand-by state, leak of an electric charge occurs between the storage node and a substrate although the amount of the leaked electric charge is slight. Therefore, the leak between the storage node and the substrate, which is normally at the ground potential level, results in drop of the potential of the storage node to a level in the vicinity of the ground potential level and inversion of a spontaneous polarization of the memory cell MC. Thus, in the conventional semiconductor memory, to prevent the inversion of the spontaneous polarization of the memory cell MC, the potential of the word line (W1 or the like) is set to a predetermined level between the select level and a non-select level to turn on the transistor T slightly. This is to allow the storage node to have an intermediate potential almost equal to the potential of the plate line P by, through the bit line B, compensating the storage node for an electric charge which has leaked to the substrate or the like.
The above two kinds of the conventional ferroelectric memories have the following problems.
First, in the first type of the conventional nonvolatile ferroelectric memory shown in FIG. 1, because the plate line is driven to have a predetermined potential for each access to a memory cell, a plate line-driving time is totally long. Accordingly, a high-speed operation cannot be accomplished and in addition, the power consumption is large due to repeated charge and discharge of the plate line.
The second type of the conventional ferroelectric memory shown in FIG. 8 does not have such a problem because a predetermined potential is always supplied to the plate line.
However, in the second conventional ferroelectric memory, to prevent the inversion of the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric film of the capacitor element in the memory cell MC, the word line (e.g. W1) is set to a predetermined level between the select level and the non-select level to slightly turn on the transistor T to thereby compensate, through the bit line B, the storage node for a leaked electric charge and hold the storage node at the potential substantially equal to the plate line during the stand-by mode, as described above. Accordingly, complicated control of the potential of the word line is required, and there is also a possibility that the transistor of the memory cell is not turned on owing to a variation in quality of component parts manufactured. In this case, the leak from the storage node cannot be compensated for and the spontaneous polarization will be inverted.


The intermediate tray of a copying machine for copying on both sides of recording paper or recording paper feeding apparatus incorporates a mechanism for loosening and separating recording papers by air blow in order to prevent duplicate feed. Conventionally, such constitution could not be commonly applied to recording papers of plural sizes, and the recording paper vibrated due to the air flow to give off a loud noise. In the invention, the air flow is formed by plural nozzles arranged in the widthwise direction of the recording paper, and the nozzles near the both ends are controlled by opening and closing depending on the paper size. When the recording paper is conveyed by vacuum attracting to the belt, the recording paper is attracted closely to the belt, eliminating the space for allowing the air flow to enter in, so that vibration may be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus such as recording paper feeding apparatus and intermediate tray of a copying machine for both side of paper for feeding one sheet each by separating from a stacked state of sheets, regardless of the sheet size, when sheets of single-form documents or recording paper are used in plural sizes in a copying machine or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a copying machine equipped with a recirculating document handler (RDH) for stacking up documents of single form in a plurality, separating and feeding the documents one by one from the top side or bottom side, and returning to the stacked position after reading the documents in the bottom side or top side, a sheet feeder is used, such as the feeding apparatus of documents and the feeding apparatus of separating and feeding the stacked recording sheets one by one. In printing apparatus and photographic printing device, too, an apparatus for separating and feeding stacked recording papers is employed. In such paper feeding device, it is necessary to separate the stacked sheets one by one, and various separating methods are known, such as the air flow separating method, separating claw method, and method for separating sheets by using a roller rotating in a reverse direction of sheet feeding direction.
As an example of the prior art of separating sheets by using air flow, "the sheet feeding apparatus" is disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 58-78932, and a similar structure is found in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,514 or the Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-19859. The structure is shown in FIG. 1, a side view, and in FIG. 2, a plan view. This composition is, for example in a copying machine of RDH method, a paper feeding 1 for feeding by separating the stacked recording papers one by one. The paper feeder 1 is provided with a support tray 3 on which recording papers 2 are stacked up.
At the downstream side of the feeding direction A1 of the recording paper 2 and near the middle of the widthwise direction of the support tray 3 intersecting with the feeding direction A1, a notch 4 is formed, and a feed belt 7 stretched on a pair of rotating rollers 5, 6 disposed beneath the support tray 3 and having many penetration holes formed is exposed at this notch 4. Between the rotating rollers 5, 6 is arranged an air intake duct 8 opposite the notch 4 across the feed belt 7, and the recording paper 2 on the support tray 3 is attracted by vacuum to the feed belt 7, and is fed in the feeding direction A1 by running and driving of the feed belt 7.
On the other hand, since there is a possibility that plural recording papers 2 on the support tray 3 be attracted and fed together by the feed belt 7, an air injection duct 9 is disposed above the downstream side of the feeding direction A1 from the support tray 3, and nozzles 10b to 10e parallel to the feeding direction A1, and plural nozzles 10a, 10f directed toward the middle of the widthwise direction are communicated. On the other hand, the support tray 3 has a base part 5 in an extended shape from the downstream side to the upstream side of the feeding direction A1, and a side wing parts 15, 16 formed obliquely upward from the both sides of the widthwise direction of the base part 14, as shown in FIG. 3
The air injection duct 9 and support tray 3 in this prior art are arranged as shown in FIG. 1, and the air stream in a flat shape is concentrated near the middle position in the widthwise direction of the support tray 3 by the nozzles 10a to 10f. This state of distribution of air stream by the air injection duct 9 is indicated in the shaded area in FIG. 4.
This prior art is capable of separating the recording papers 2 favorable as far as the size of the recording papers 2 is relatively small or the weight is relatively large.
However, in the case of recording paper of relatively large size or small weight, or therefore in the case of recording paper of weak consistency, favorable separation may not be always possible. That is, in this prior art, by concentrating the air stream near the middle portion of the widthwise direction of the support tray 3, the air stream is inflated in the vertical direction near the middle position to realize the action of separating the recording papers. On the other hand, in the recording paper of large size or small weight, not only the lowermost recording paper but also plural recording papers are deformed with a relatively large deflection, in a recess 19 formed by the base part 15 and side wing parts 15, 16 of the support tray 3, in a shape corresponding to the pattern of the recess, and the gap for entry of air stream is hardly formed among the recording papers, and separation of recording papers may be sometimes unsuccessful.
Or among the recording papers indicated in the shaded area in FIG. 4, the area of separation region 17 mutually separated by entry of air from the air injection duct 9 becomes relatively smaller than the area of the non-separating region 18 where the recording papers adhere with each other, and therefore when the lowermost recording paper is attracted in vacuum by the conveying belt 7 and conveyed, duplicate feed may occur due to the frictional force in the non-separating region 18. At this time, in order to extend the separating region 17, when nozzles 10g, 10h indicated by double point chain line in FIG. 2 are disposed further outward in the widthwise direction of the nozzles 10a, 10f in the air injection duct 9 so as to be directed outward in the widthwise direction, in the case of recording paper 2 of which width W1 is smaller than the interval L11 shown in FIG. 2 between the nozzles 10g, 10b, the air stream from the nozzles 10g, 10h collides against the both ends 2a, 2b in the widthwise direction of the recording paper, and these end parts 2a, 2b come to flap. In this case, the stacked state of the recording papers 2 piled up in the paper feeder 1 is disturbed, and duplicate feed or defective feed may take place. Or when the recording paper 2 is relatively small in size, the separation capacity due to the air stream concentrated by the nozzles 10a to 10f is excessive, and the recording papers of small size may scatter about in the paper feeder 1.
In the prior art, therefore, although the separating capacity is relatively favorable as far as the recording paper is limited in type, separation failure or feeding failure may occur from the viewpoint of versatility of separating recording papers in a wide variety of sizes effectively, and it is not sufficient in versatility, and the sheet feeding apparatus with versatility having the favorable separating capacity in a wide range of size and weight of recording paper is desired.
Usually, an electrophotographic apparatus such as copying machine and laser printer possesses a transfer unit composed of photosensitive material and transfer charger, and in this transfer unit, the image of the photosensitive material is transferred on one side of the recording paper contacting with the photosensitive material.
Incidentally when the recording paper is passed twice in the transfer unit so that the same side of the recording paper makes contact with the photosensitive material, a composite copy of obtaining an image synthesize on the same side of the recording paper is realized. On the other hand, when the recording paper is passed in the transfer unit so that one side and other side of the recording paper may contact with the photosensitive material sequentially, a two-sided copy of forming images on both sides of the recording paper is realized.
Generally, an electrophotographic apparatus capable of executing such composite copy or two-sided copy is equipped with a circulating route capable of transferring the recording paper repeatedly in the transfer unit, and this circulating route is composed of the transfer unit, conveying roller and other rollers, inverting claw, switchback part, and intermediate tray for temporarily storing the recording paper on which visible image is transferred on one side thereof. They interact to realize favorable composite copy or two-sided copy.
Such composite copy and two-sided copy are desired to be capable of performing plural times continuously for the sake of improving the working efficiency. Therefore, the intermediate tray is designed to store plural recording papers, and conventionally, in the paper feeding portion from the intermediate tray, the recording papers are taken out sequentially from the bottom side while blowing air and separating the recording papers.
In the conventional intermediate tray, however, when taking out the recording papers, scatter of recording paper due to air blow or defective biting into paper feed roller may occur.
More specifically, the recording paper conveyed in the circulation route is heated at the fixing unit in order to fix the image transferred in the transfer unit. At this time, the recording paper is often curled downward at the end portion due to massive heat, and the curved recording papers are stacked up on the intermediate tray. This curling will form a space between the recording papers and the intermediate tray, and this space may cause to scatter about the recording papers when air is blown in. This scattering of recording papers by air is particularly obvious when the number of recording papers is not enough to suppress this space by the own weight of the recording papers. Furthermore, the curling may cause defective biting such as folding at the curved part when held between the paper feed rollers.


A method and apparatus for inspecting the surface of articles, such as chips and wafers, for defects, includes a first phase of optically examining the complete surface of the article inspected at a relatively high speed and with a relatively low spatial resolution, and a second phase of optically examining with a relatively high spatial resolution only the suspected locations for the presence or absence of a defect therein.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optically inspecting the surface of an article for defects. The invention is particularly useful for optically inspecting patterned semiconductor wafers used in producing integrated circuit dies or chips, and the invention is therefore described below particularly with respect to this application.
The inspection of unpatterned semiconductor wafers for surface-lying particles is relatively simple and can be easily automated. In one known type of such system, the wafer is scanned by a laser beam, and a photodetector detects the presence of a particle by collecting the light scattered by the particle. However, the inspection of patterned semiconductor wafers for defects in the pattern is considerably more difficult because the light scattered by the pattern overwhelms the light scattered from the particles or defects, thereby producing high rates of false alarms.
The existing inspection systems for inspecting patterned wafers are generally based on analyzing high resolution two-dimensional images of the patterned wafer utilizing an opto-electric converter, such as a CCD (charge-coupled device), on a pixel-by-pixel basis. However, the extremely large number of pixels involved makes such systems extremely slow. For this reason, the inspection of patterned wafers is done at the present time almost only for statistical sampling purposes. As a result, microdefects in patterned semiconductor wafers remain largely undetected until a considerable number of such wafers have been fabricated and have begun to exhibit problems caused by the defects. The late discovery of such defects can therefore result in considerable losses, low yields, and large downtimes.
There is therefore an urgent need to inspect patterned semiconductor wafers at relatively high speeds and with a relatively low false alarm rate in order to permit inspection during or immediately after the fabrication of the wafer so as to quickly identify any process producing defects and thereby to enable immediate corrective action to be taken. This need is made even more critical by the increasing element density, die size, and number of layers in the integrated circuits now being produced from these wafers, and now being designed for future production, which requires that the number of microdefects per wafer be drastically reduced to attain a reasonable die yield.

Optical inspection apparatus for substrate defect detection


In an inspecting method of a color filter, comprising irradiating light from a light source to a coloring portion, measuring a transmitting light amount transmitted through the coloring portion by a light receiving element, and calculating a coloring density of the coloring portion, the light amount of the light source is set substantially constant, the amount of incident light received by the light receiving element is adjusted by an optical element arranged within an optical path, the transmitting light amount of an uncoloring portion is measured and the coloring density of the coloring portion is inspected by comparing the transmitting light amount of the coloring portion to the transmitting light amount of the uncoloring portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspecting method of a color filter for inspecting the coloring density of a coloring portion of the color filter at high speed with high accuracy, and a manufacturing method of the color filter utilizing this inspecting method.
2. Related Background Art
A color filter constituting a liquid crystal display unit is generally constructed by arranging coloring portions colored in red (R), green (G) and blue (B) as three primary colors of light on a transparent substrate. A dyeing method, a pigment dispersing method, an electrodepositing method, etc. are conventionally used as a manufacturing method of the color filter. However, an ink jet system simple in process and economically advantageous has recently been used.
When a coloring portion is formed by using the ink jet system, ink is individually given to predetermined areas. Therefore, unlike the other systems, a problem of uneven coloring is caused by the density distribution in the coloring portions. A defect of the uneven coloring is more than visually recognizable even when this density distribution is only several %, depending on a color of the coloring portion. Accordingly, in a manufacturing process of the color filter using the ink jet system, it is required that these color irregularities are discriminated with high accuracy and an ink amount to be given is further controlled on the basis of the results of this discrimination.
In an inspection of the color irregularities of the color filter, generally, an absolute value of the coloring density is a problem as well as the color irregularities. Therefore, a reference light amount is adjusted. In the reference light amount adjustment, a transmitting light amount is adjusted in a transparent (no light shielding layer such as a black matrix, etc. exists) uncoloring portion within a non-display area. An amount of incident light entering to a CCD camera at an adjusting time of this reference light amount reaches two to five times an amount of incident light entering to the CCD camera when the transmitting light amount of the coloring portion is measured. Therefore, when a light amount of the light source is set such that this light amount is equal to or smaller than a light amount providing a full output of the CCD camara at the time of the reference light amount adjusting, only a light amount of 1/5 to 1/2 times this set light amount is entered to the CCD camera at a measuring time of the coloring portion. Therefore, a reduction in S/N is caused by a dark electric current of the CCD, etc. In particular, in the inspection of the uneven coloring in the color filter, it is necessary to discriminate the amount of incident light entered from a transmitting light amount equal to or smaller than 1% in the coloring portion of the same color. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid this reduction in S/N. To avoid this reduction, it is considered that the light amount of the light source at the measurement time of the coloring portion is increased.
However, when the light amount of the light source is adjusted, the light amount is unstable for some time after the adjustment. As described above, it is necessary to discriminate the coloring density distribution at a level of several %. Accordingly, such an unstable light amount just after the adjustment of the light amount causes an error in measurement. Therefore, when the light amount is adjusted, it is necessary to take time until the light amount is stabilized, which is an obstacle in improving efficiency by shortening an inspecting time.

Inspecting method of color filter and manufacturing method of color filter


A scouring agent composition for a fabric which exhibits high penetrating and scouring powers even under highly alkaline conditions and can produce a scoured fabric excellent in rewettability and which can dissolve in a 11quid medium for current high-speed and automatic desiring, scouring, bleaching and mercerization systems to give a clear cleaning fluid which causes little foaming, comprising (A) an adduct of a secondary or branched alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms with an alkylene oxide, (B) a salt of a secondary alkanesulfonic acid having 13 to 17 carbon atoms and/or a salt of carboxymethylate of an adduct of a branched alcohol having 12 to 18 carbon atoms with an alkylene oxide and (C) a fatty acid having 6 to 18 carbon atoms or a salt thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a scouring agent composition for a fabric and a process for treating a fabric with such a composition. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a particular scouring agent composition for a fabric which is used in a desizing, scouring, bleaching and mercerization system of an unscoured or gray fabric made of a cotton or synthetic fiber, an unscoured blended yarn fabric comprising cotton and synthetic fibers or the like.


Embodiments of the present invention may provide automated techniques for quickly and easily installing a different model for image recognition on each of numerous devices without doing manual configuration of each and every device. For example, in an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for configuring devices may comprise capturing data at a device, transmitting the captured data to a remote system, receiving configuration data for the device, wherein the configuration data has been generated by processing the captured data at the remote system using a plurality of different machine learning techniques and generating the configuration data based on at least one of the plurality of different machine learning techniques, and configuring the device using the received configuration data.

The present invention relates to automated techniques for setting up machine learning devices to be used for image recognition.
Image recognition has a number of potential applications. For example, image recognition may be used for tracking product stocking on store and warehouse shelves, for surveillance of indoor or outdoor areas, and for detection of particular people, animals, cars, trucks, etc. Where large areas are to be monitored, relatively large numbers of monitoring devices may be installed. For example, a supermarket or other store, may install hundreds or thousands of small devices, such as single board computing devices, to monitor its shelves. Typically, single board computing devices have limited memory resources. Thus, is not feasible to load a generic machine learning model that would cover a whole store, or even a department, on every device. However, such devices have sufficient resources to store a model that covers only the subsection of products that the individual device is set to monitor.
Some conventional monitoring systems may use a limited generic model installed on every device. However, given the limited memory on the devices, this generic model must be small. Such a small model cannot deliver the adequate detection performance—rates and accuracy. Some conventional monitoring systems may use the monitoring device merely as an interface to cloud computing resources. The image recognition itself may then be performed in the cloud. However, in these systems, the computational resources on the devices themselves are not utilized. This results in additional costs for cloud computing and unnecessary network traffic. As each such device includes computational resources and is already purchased, there is a strong incentive to process captured shelf images on the devices rather on the cloud. However, manual configuration of a different model on each of hundreds or thousands of computing devices is very time-consuming and costly.
Accordingly, a need arises for techniques to quickly and easily install a different image recognition model on each of numerous devices without doing manual configuration of each and every device.

Object detection on local devices using remotely generated machine learning models

International Business Machines Corporation


In a fixing device for fixing a toner image to a recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image between a heat fixing member and a pressure member, a fixing-member housing is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the heat fixing member, while a reflection member is attached to an inner side of the fixing-member housing opposed to the heat fixing member. Air blown by an air blower is circulated through space between the fixing-member housing and the heat fixing member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus including the same. The fixing device fixes a toner image to a recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image between a heat fixing member and a pressure member opposed to this heat fixing member. Particularly, the invention is directed to an effective utilization of the heat of the heat fixing member so as to achieve adequate reduction of the power consumption of the fixing device.
Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles and multi-functional peripheries thereof, an operation is commonly performed to transport the recording medium with transferred toner image from an image carrier such as a photoreceptor to the fixing device, which fixes the toner image to the recording medium.
Such a fixing device generally has an arrangement where the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image between the heat fixing member and the pressure member opposed to this heat fixing member.
However, the conventional fixing devices have the following problem. The fixing device does not effectively utilize the heat of the heat fixing member serving to heat and press the recording medium with transferred toner image, and releases the heat to the outside. Thus, the fixing device fails to reduce the power consumption. Further, the surrounding temperature of the fixing device is raised by the heat released as described above, adversely affecting image formation.
Heretofore, there is known a fixing device which prevents vapor occurring in the heat fixing process from leaking from the fixing device while condensing the vapor for easy moisture removal and reduction of extra exhaust heat. That is, the fixing device achieves resource saving and is less likely to degrade office environment. As suggested in Patent Document 1 (JP-A No. 2006-58695), such a fixing device is provided with a cover member for covering a transport path for the recording medium. Disposed in this cover member is fixing means including the heat fixing member and pressure member which heat and press the recording medium with transferred toner image. Air containing the vapor occurring in the heat fixing process is sucked by air suction means and circulated in a circulation flow path of a reflux duct such that the heat of the vapor-containing air circulated through the circulation flow path is released to the outside by means of heat releasing means.
However, even the fixing device disclosed in the patent document 1 fails to effectively utilize the heat of the heat fixing member. The problem of the fixing device that cannot achieve the reduction of power consumption and such still remain unsolved.
The fixing device as described above may adopt the following structure for effective utilization of the heat of the heat fixing member for heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image. The structure is made such that a fixing-member housing is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the heat fixing member while a reflection member is attached to an inner side of this fixing-member housing opposed to the heat fixing member. The reflection member reflects the heat released from the heat fixing member so as to enhance heat retention of the heat fixing member. Thus, the fixing device is reduced in the power consumption.
However, the following problem is encountered by the fixing device where the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressing the recording medium with transferred toner image between the heat fixing member and the pressure member opposed to this heat fixing member. This image fixing operation entails the generation of foreign substances including volatile organic compounds (VOC), ultrafine particles (UFP), toner powder, paper dust and the like. These foreign substances adhere to a surface of the reflection member on the inner side of the fixing-member housing and hence, the heat released from the heat fixing member is not reflected but absorbed by the adherent foreign substances. Accordingly, the heat fixing member cannot be fully improved in the heat retention, making it difficult to fully reduce the power consumption of the fixing device.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


An automatic magnetic switch comprising an over-load or short-circuit protection means and a manual magnetic switch installed in the switch casing. A magnetic control means is contained in a sub-casing of the switch. The manual magnetic switch has a conductive plate with an electrical contact fixedly mounted in its casing and another conductive plate, generally rigid and inflexible, has an electrical contact mounted thereon for pivoting or sliding movement. Permanent magnets, one on the movable plate, and one outside the casing urge the movable plate to a contact engaging position when the outside magnetic member is brought proximate to the casing, and a spring is used to restore the movable plate to its non-engaging position when the outside magnetic member is moved away from the casing. The magnetic control means of said embodiment has a T-lever actuatable by protection means, and a control lever having a second magnet mounted thereon corresponding to a first magnet on the T-lever, a pair of first and second control parts being mounted on a coupling arm of the control lever to lock in first and second stop recesses of a control rod to thereby control the movement of the outside magnet away from or towards the switch casing.

The present invention relates to switches, and more specifically to magnetic switches for use in common or specialised applications.
In conventional electric switches, especially those used in power circuits, the contacts are exposed to air, whether the contacts are of the knife or magnetic type. These kinds of switches are not fit for use in a dusty, moist, easily explosive or combustible environment. Several different types of switches for preventing explosions have been developed, such as oil switches, safety switches, and so forth. However, due to the complex constructions of these switches, they are not practical from a manufacturing or economic point of view.


In one embodiment, a device receives data regarding a plurality of heterogeneous computing environments. The received data comprises measured application metrics for applications executed in the computing environments and indications of processing capabilities of the computing environments. The device generates a training dataset by applying a machine learning-based classifier to the received data regarding the plurality of existing heterogeneous environments. The device trains a machine learning-based configuration engine using the training dataset. The device uses the configuration engine to generate configuration parameters for a particular heterogeneous computing environment based on one or more system requirements of the particular heterogeneous computing environment. The device provides the configuration parameters to the particular heterogeneous computing environment.

Various approaches to designing computer processors have led to a myriad of different processing platforms available today. For example, available central processing units (CPUs) now include processors that rely on Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) and other processors that rely on Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC). Specialized processors are also available such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), etc., which are optimized for functions such as video processing, audio, motor control, and the like. Further processor types include Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which typically include millions of logic gates that can be configured to implement customized hardware that is optimized for a particular computation task. Additionally, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are also available, which include hardware solutions optimized for specific tasks (e.g., cryptographic processing, mining Bitcoins, video transcoding, etc.).
In general, heterogeneous computing environments attempt to leverage different types of processor architectures in the hopes of better matching the specific needs of the application software to the available architectures. For example, an application may use the GPU of the device for video rendering and the CPU of the device for other computational tasks. However, GPUs have also proven to be capable of handling compute-intensive tasks, thereby offering a programmatic choice to be made between processors. The assignment of various parts of the target computational algorithms to each type of processor must be made carefully to optimize factors such as: physical space, power dissipation, performance of the applications, etc. As the number of processors and processor types in a heterogeneous computing environment increase, so too do the number of options available as to where a given task or application is executed.

Configuring heterogeneous computing environments using machine learning


In the present invention, a temperature sensor system and methods for using the apparatus are disclosed, the temperature sensor having particular thermal-inertia time constants. More specifically, the temperature sensor system comprises prongs having a defined l/d ratio range, a sensing element having a low volume, and constant-current circuitry.

Temperature measurement in turbulent flow is required in many industries, from avionics to HVAC to chemical manufacturing. In many applications, temperature is a critical parameter that must be monitored or measured as accurately as possible. These turbulent temperature measurements are commonly performed using cold-wire anemometers. A cold-wire typically consists of a wire filament designed to adapt to the ambient temperature with a resulting change of its resistance. The temperature of the fluid is generally related to the resistance of the wire through a static calibration method. However, any static calibration implicitly assumes that the sensitivity is independent of frequency, that is, that the frequency response is flat.
It is well known that the frequency response of a cold-wire is affected by the heat transfer from the sensing element or wire to the stubs, from the stubs to the prongs, and from the prongs to the probe body itself, a phenomenon known as end-conduction. A recent study has shown that this effect is more severe than previously thought, and can lead to significant measurement errors. A typical approach to solving this is to simply make the wire length-to-diameter aspect ratio, l/d, very large to avoid such end-conduction effects. However, since the smallest diameter used, typically, is on the order of 1 μm, this implies that the wires need to be on the order of a millimeter. Although a long wire reduces the end-conduction, the spatial resolution is also reduced. Other studies have pointed out that minimizing end-conduction effects can result in an increase of the total error due to spatial filtering. One study, using a cold-wire with 0.63 μm diameter and l/d=1500, estimated that the scalar dissipation was underestimated by approximately 30%.
Therefore, there is a need for a sensor capable of more accurately measuring temperature in turbulent flow.


Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for limiting compression of a fracture imposed by a lag screw of a fixation system that includes a fixation device, a lag screw and a compression screw. The disclosed devices, systems and methods prevent over-compression of a fracture by a lag screw caused by over rotation of the compression screw. Specifically, implementations of a lag screw driver and a compression screw driver are provided whereby an engagement between the lag screw driver and compression screw driver prevents any further lateral movement of the lag screw, thereby providing a complete stop to further advancement of the lag screw and any additional compression.

A variety of devices are used to treat fractures of long bones, many of which are disclosed in co-pending and commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/074,320, which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring to FIG. 1, one such stabilizing assembly 30 includes an intramedullary nail 31 (in this case a humeral nail), a lag screw 32 and a compression screw 33. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the compression screw 33 includes an enlarged head section 34 that, in this embodiment, bears against the humerus 35 to compress the humerus 35. A threaded section 36 of the compression screw 33 passes through the nail 31 and engages a rack 35 disposed on a side of the lag screw 32 (the rack 35 is more clearly seen in FIG. 8). In some implementations, the lag screw 32 can include a threaded portion that engages the threaded section 36 of the compression screw 33. Rotating the compression screw 33 applies an axial force to the lag screw 32, which has previously been anchored in a fragment of the humerus 35 by a threaded distal end 37. Accordingly, rotating the compression screw 33 draws the lag screw 32, and the bone fragment affixed to the end 37 of the lag screw 32, in a direction along the length of the compression screw 33 and into position for proper healing.
In another example illustrated in FIG. 2, a stabilizing assembly 40 coupled to a femur 41 includes a compression plate 42, the compression screw 33 and the lag screw 32. A head section 44 of the compression plate 42 extends into the femur 41 and supports the compression screw 33 and the lag screw 32. As described above, the compression screw 33 bears against a surface of the compression plate 42 such that rotation of the compression screw 33 applies an axial force to the lag screw 32 to draw the lag screw 32 and a bone fragment in a direction along the length of the compression screw 33.
FIG. 3 illustrates another stabilizing assembly 50 applied to a proximal tibia 51. The assembly 50 includes a periarticular plate 52, the lag screw 32 and the compression screw 33. Again, the head section 34 of the compression screw 33 bears against the plate 52 to limit further insertion of the compression screw and to provide a positive stop such that rotation of the compression screw 33 interacts with the lag screw 32 causing compression of the tibia 51.
In contrast to compression plate 42 of FIG. 2, FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a stabilizing assembly 60 which includes an antegrade femoral intramedullary nail 61, the lag screw 32 and the compression screw 33 to stabilize a fracture 63 across a femoral neck 64. The designs of the nails 31, 61, plates 42, 52, and screws 32, 33 may vary greatly and may be configured to be applicable to other parts of the anatomy not specifically illustrated here or specifically addressed in this disclosure. Regardless of the designs, the compression screw 33 interacts with the lag screw 32 to compress the bone. Alternatively, the fracture can be distracted by interaction of the compression screw 33 and the lag screw 32. Additionally, the lag screw 32 and the compression screw 32 are configured to slide as a unit within the nail or plate.
However, problems may result if bone adjacent to a fracture is weak and/or prone to damage when exposed to compression, or excessive compression, force. For example, excessive compression force could cause the femoral head 65 shown in FIG. 4 to migrate towards or into the fracture site 63 resulting in misalignment. In extreme cases, excessive compression may cause the femoral head 65 to be compressed all the way into the trochanteric region 66 of the femur 41.
Further, compressing a bone more than a recommended or intended amount may cause the lag and compression screws 32, 33 to splay apart from each other, which can inhibit or prevent the screws from sliding within the intramedullary nail 31, 61 or plate 42, 52. Thus, while applying compression force using a compression screw/lag screw system 32, 33 is an important orthopaedic technique, excessive compression can be problematic and should be avoided.
Currently, separate compression screw and lag screw drivers are utilized. To limit the compressive force transmitted to the lag screw 32, some compression screw drivers are equipped with a line indicating 0 mm and/or red line indicating to the surgeon or other use that rotation of the compression screw to apply compression force should be stopped. However, even with this type of visual aid, experienced surgeons may still apply excessive compression force across a fracture site. Hence, a more reliable system, that is less prone to operator error, and that controls bone and/or fracture compression, is needed.


In the active pneumatic mount disclosed herein, a bellows or other flexible sealing means is utilized for containing a volume of pressurized gas which supports the weight of the equipment which is to be isolated. Within the pressurized volume is a means defining a chamber having an opening for receiving an acoustic transducer. An acoustic transducer is mounted in that opening for generating, in the pressurized volume, oscillatory pressure variations which reduce dynamic pressure variations induced by the vibrations which are to be blocked. The space within the chamber is vented to the pressurized volume, thereby to equalize the static pressure in the space.

The present invention relates to vibration isolation mounts and more particularly to an active pneumatic mount which can be energized by a controller to reduce, over a preselected band of frequencies, the vibratory force transmitted through the mount, while the mount supports a static load.
As is understood, there is increasing interest in controlling or reducing noise and vibration by active means, i.e., feedback controllers which energize a transducer so as to generate a cancelling noise or vibration. Such controllers typically utilize adaptive filters which are implemented digitally. The practicality and cost effectiveness of such controllers has been advanced by the availability of digital signal processors whose capabilities have advanced in correspondence with the advances in microelectronics generally.
While various active vibration isolation mounts have been proposed in the prior art e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,606,233, 4,600,863, and 5,052,510, such mounts have not been widely adopted due to their high cost and cumbersome nature. By and large, the problems confronted are associated with the sensing and driving transducers which are necessary to implement a practical active vibration or noise control system.
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted that the provision of a novel pneumatic vibration isolation mount; the provision of such a mount which is active and can be energized to effectively reduce the vibratory force transmitted through the mount over a pre-selectable band of frequencies; the provision of such a mount which will support a substantial static load; the provision of such a mount which is easily fabricated; the provision of such a mount which is highly reliable and which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


The present invention provides a new medical use of the hydroxycarbazole compounds of Formula (I), preferably the hydroxylated metabolites of 1-(carbazol-4-yloxy-3-[[2-(o-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]-2-propanol)(carve dilol), for inhibiting the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. In particular, the present invention provides a new use for the hydroxycarbazole compounds of Formula (I) for prevention of restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), suppression of the progression of vascular hypertrophy associated with hypertension, and prevention of development of atherosclerosis. ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 are independently --H or --OH, with the proviso that a at least one of R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 is OH.

Abnormal vascular smooth muscle migration and proliferation is associated with cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and most endovascular procedures. Abnormal vascular smooth muscle migration and proliferation is a common complication of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The incidence of chronic restenosis resulting from vascular smooth muscle proliferation following PTCA has been reported to be as high as 40-45% within 3-6 months. Capron, L., Huedes, D., Chajara, A. and Bruneval, P. (1991) J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol., 18, 207-211; Bourassa, M. (1992) J. Am. Coil. Cardiol., 19, 1410-1411. Several neurohumoral factors, including angiotensin II and norepinephrine, as well as growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), have been implicated in the development of vascular restenosis in vivo. Bourassa, M. et al. supra; Powell, J. S., Clozel, J. P., Muller, R. K. M., Kuhn, H., Hefti, F., Hosang, M. and Baumgartner, H. R. (1989) Science, 245, 186-198; Clozel, J. P., Hess, P., Michael, C., Schietinger, K. and Hypertension, 18(Suppl. II), 1155-1159; Fingerle, J., Sanders, K. H. and Fotev, Z. (1991) Basic Res. Cardiol., 86, 75-81; Fomey-Prescott, M., Webb, R. L. and Reidy, M.A. (1991) Am. J. Pathol., 139, 1291-1296; Kauffman, R. F., Bean, J. S., Zimmerman, K. M., Brown, R. F. and Steinberg, M. I. (1991) Life Sci., 49, 223-228; Azuma, H. Y. and Hamasaki, H. (1992 ) Br. J. Pharmacol., 106, 665-671; Ferns, G. A. A., Raines, E. W., Sprugel, K. H., Motani, A. S., Reidy, M. A. and Ross, R. (1991) Science, 253, 1129-1132; and Lindner, V. and Reidy, M. A. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 88, 3739-3743.
The high incidence of vascular reocclusion associated with PTCA has led to the development of in vivo animal models of restenosis and the search for agents to prevent restenosis. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, .alpha.-adrenoreceptor antagonists and growth factor antibodies have generally produced only a modest (10-50%) reduction of vascular restenosis in such animal models. Powell, J. S., et al., supra; Fingerle, J. et al., supra; Forney-Prescott, M. et al., supra; and Kauffman, R. F., et al., supra. Clinical studies with ACE inhibitors (which showed only a moderate protective effect in animal models of restenosis) have failed to demonstrate a significant efficacy in the prevention of angiographically-defined restenosis in humans. Popma, J. J., Califf, R. M. and Topol, E. J. (1991) Circulation, 84, 426-1436. This limited or insignificant protection against vascular restenosis affected by agents with specific mechanisms of action most likely reflects the complex nature of the pathophysiology underlying vascular restenosis. A multiplicity of chemotactic and mitogenic factors are believed to be involved in this response to vascular wall injury, and it is likely that interfering with the actions of only one of these factors will prove to be beneficial.
Therefore, therapeutic anti-mitotic agents which reduce or inhibit the abnormal migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells associated with cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and vascular hypertrophy associated with hypertension, or resulting from complications following PTCA and causing chronic restenosis are highly desirable.

Use of, and method of treatment using, hydroxycarbazole compounds for inhibition of smooth muscle migration and proliferation

Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals Corporation

SmithKline Beecham Corporation Limited Prtnrshp No. 1


An exercise table and exercise routine useful in treatment of low back pain is disclosed. The table design permits a users to apply low levels of traction to the lower back by pushing lightly on adjustable arm support posts. The table design permits the users to have complete control of the level of traction applied to the lower back. An exercise routine uses the methodology of relaxing the user and applying very low levels of traction to the lower back. The low level of traction is alternated every few seconds and utilizes deep breaths to keep the user in a relaxed condition.

The present invention generally relates to the therapeutic treatment of the back and more particularly to the treatment of the lower back.
Back troubles affect millions of people each year. Pain in the lower lumbar area of the back is the most common back difficulty. In response to this frequent problem, numerous treatments have been developed, recommended, and practiced. These treatments involve exercise therapy, specialized equipment, and even surgery to relieve the discomfort associated with lower back trauma.
Lower back therapy usually involves procedures that stretch or elongate the spine and decompress the vertebrae that contribute to back pain. Common procedures use various forms of traction using weights and even the individuals own body weight to stretch the back and provide pain relief
Procedures that use the patient""s weight and suspend the person in an inverted, head-down position have been and are currently being used to stretch and decompress the back. Using gravity and the individual""s body weight to stretch the back in this fashion has several disadvantages. In order for the back to properly decompress the person must be relaxed and hanging in an inverted state is not a relaxed position due to fear and to discomfort from being inverted. Supporting body weight with arms or elbows or being suspended in an inverted position may give a feeling of relief initially but after a short time muscles tighten and reduce and even eliminate the spinal relaxation required to alleviate the pain. When muscles become tense, the spine is prevented from decompressing and the relief is limited.
Therapeutic tables have been utilized for applying traction to the users lumbar region and achieving pain relief These procedures involve the individual lying horizontal, either face down or face up, on the table and mechanical traction is applied to stretch or decompress the affected area of the back. Traction is usually applied to the back using weights and pulleys. More recently, tables have been proposed that have movable sections where the individual is held fixed and traction is obtained by separation of the table sections. The separation of the table sections and the application of traction has been accomplished using cables and a winch, hydraulic cylinders, and a motor driven device.
Although various therapeutic traction tables are disclosed, few provide the user complete control of the amount of traction and stretch applied to their back and none provided specific procedures and methodology to utilize very low levels of traction to relieve back pain. The relief of back pain can best be accomplished when the back and the body in general are in a relaxed condition. The muscles that surround and protect the spine must be relaxed to permit the spine to be stretched and decompressed. Traction without relaxation will not successfully relieve the pressures that contribute to back pain.
According to this invention, an exercise table is described that permits an individual to apply very low levels of traction to the lower back. A user driven routine is also described that enables the body, especially the back, to relax allowing the lower spine to be efficiently and effectively stretched and decompressed. The exercise table is constructed with an 11-degree slope and has a smooth, hard surface. The 11-degree slope creates just enough downward gravitational force to make the exercises effective without being uncomfortable for the user. The table design provides foot brackets for attaching the feet using a simple harness.
The force needed to stretch and decompress the back is generated by the user lightly pushing against padded posts that are attached to the upper part of the table. Each user determines and controls the level of traction applied to the back. The traction is not constant but is alternated every few seconds using deep breaths to keep the body in a relaxed condition.
The table design and the harnesses used permit the feet and arms to be easily disconnected, allowing specific body movements that assist in treating lower lumbar pain. The procedural methodology that is used by the user while on the table is very important for successful reduction and even elimination of back pain. Using the table and applying traction to the lower back without using the methodology to achieve relaxation and muscle stretch, will result in a less successful outcome. The design of the table is important in that it provides a means for the user to apply the proper amount of traction to stretch and decompress the back. The procedures and methods described in this invention are, however, equally important for relieving lower back pain.
The table described in this invention is designed to permit the user to control the traction applied to the back and permit a slow extension of the lower back. The table also permits the user to move and stretch out of plane with one leg while retaining the other leg in a stretched condition. The amount of traction applied to the back is very low and is.easily controlled by the user. This control and the procedures described in this invention permit the user to relax and allow the low traction forces to gently stretch the back. The relaxation of the muscles in the back is important and significantly impacts the success of this form of treatment.


In a liquid crystal display apparatus in which a liquid crystal domain having radially tilted orientation is formed in a pixel, high-quality reflection display with occurrence of an afterimage being suppressed is attained. The liquid crystal display apparatus of this invention includes a first substrate 110a, a second substrate 110b and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer 120 placed therebetween, and has pixels each including a first electrode 111, a second electrode 131 and a liquid crystal layer located therebetween. The first substrate includes a reflection layer 116 having a concave/convex surface and an insulating layer 117 formed to cover the reflection layer. The first electrode 111 is placed on the insulating layer 117 and has a shape defined to exert alignment regulating force with which at least one liquid crystal domain having radially tilted orientation is formed in the liquid crystal layer in a voltage applied state. The second substrate 110b has a protrusion 125 protruding toward the liquid crystal layer in a region corresponding to the liquid crystal domain.

In recent years, taking advantage of their features of being thin and consuming low power, liquid crystal display apparatuses have found widespread use in notebook personal computers, mobile phones, information equipment such as electronic personal organizers, camera-integrated VTRs equipped with a liquid crystal monitor and the like.
As a display mode capable of attaining high contrast and a wide viewing angle, a vertical alignment mode using a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer has received attention. A vertically aligned liquid crystal layer is generally formed using a vertical alignment film and a liquid crystal material negative in dielectric anisotropy.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus in which an oblique electric field is generated at the periphery of an opening provided on a counter electrode facing a pixel electrode via a liquid crystal layer, to tilt liquid crystal molecules located around liquid crystal molecules that are in a vertically aligned state inside the opening, to thereby improve the viewing angle characteristic.
Patent Literature 1 described above has a problem that with the disclosed configuration it is difficult to generate oblique electric fields over the entire region of a pixel and as a result liquid crystal molecules may delay in response to the voltage in some portion of the pixel causing a problem of occurrence of an afterimage phenomenon.
To solve the above problem, Patent Literature 2 discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus in which openings are arranged regularly in a pixel electrode or a counter electrode to give a plurality of liquid crystal domains exhibiting radially tilted orientation in a pixel.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a technology in which a plurality of protrusions are provided regularly in a pixel to stabilize the aligned state of liquid crystal domains having radially tilted orientation that emerge around each protrusion as the center. This literature also discloses that the display characteristics can be improved by regulating the alignment of liquid crystal molecules using oblique electric fields generated with openings provided in an electrode, together with alignment regulating force of the protrusions.
In recent years, a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of presenting high-quality display both indoors and outdoors has been proposed (see Patent Literature 4 and Patent Literature 5, for example). Such a liquid crystal display apparatus, called a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus, has a reflection region meant for display in a reflection mode and a transmission region meant for display in a transmission mode, in each pixel.
Patent Literature 6 and Patent Literature 7 disclose a technology in which a reflection electrode having a concave/convex surface is used to attain a reflection display characteristic close to paper white. Such a reflection electrode having a concave/convex surface is obtained by patterning a photosensitive resin layer by photolithography, deforming the photosensitive resin layer by heating and forming a reflection electrode on a concave/convex surface of the resultant resin layer.
Currently commercially available transflective liquid crystal display apparatuses adopt the ECB mode, the TN mode and the like. Patent Literature 3 described above also discloses a configuration applying the vertical alignment mode, not only to transmissive liquid crystal display apparatuses, but also to transflective liquid crystal display apparatuses. Also, Patent Literature 8 discloses a technology in which, in a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus having a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer, the alignment (multi-axis alignment) of liquid crystal molecules is controlled with a depression that is formed on an insulating layer to make the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in a transmission region double that of the liquid crystal layer in a reflection region. This patent literature discloses a configuration in which the depression has a shape of a regular octagon, for example, and a protrusion (convex portion) or a slit (electrode opening) is formed at a position facing the depression via the liquid crystal layer (see FIGS. 4 and 16 of Patent Literature 8, for example).
Patent Literature 9 discloses a technology in which protrusions are formed on a substrate to attain radially tilted orientation of liquid crystal molecules in liquid crystal domains. This literature argues that the radially tilted orientation is stabilized, in a voltage applied state, with an alignment regulating structure provided on one substrate and the effect of the protrusions on the side of the other substrate facing a liquid crystal layer.    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-301036    Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-47217    Patent Literature 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-167253    Patent Literature 4: Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2955277    Patent Literature 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,140    Patent Literature 6: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-75238    Patent Literature 7: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-90426    Patent Literature 8: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-350853    Patent Literature 9: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-315803


Quantitative data concerning a gem such as a diamond is obtained by irradiating the gem with wide spectrum light. The internal reflections and refractions of this light are picked up and passed through different filters, the output intensity of light from various filters being compared to a reference output from a reference filter. The output data from the examined light provides information as to the quality of the gem.

The quality of valuable gems such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and the like is determined largely in a subjective manner. More particularly, persons allegedly skilled in the art will examine a gem with a magnifying eye piece looking for flaws and the like and will then express an opinion as to the quality of the gem and its value. About the only parameter that is not subjective is the weight of the gem itself.
While the above referred to "experts" may provide fairly consistent estimates as to a gem's quality, there is often a wide variation wherein the same gem is examined by two totally different "experts". Again, about the only parameter that the two experts will find in common is the weight of the gem.
As a consequence of the foregoing manner of evaluating gems, and the fact that any estimate as to worth based on the quality of the gem is largely dependent upon the particular person analyzing the gem, great disparities can exist in proper evaluation of a gem, particularly where the evaluators themselves are widely spaced geographically or come from other countries where different techniques might be used.


A rotor of a generator includes a plurality of permanent magnets and at least one magnetic band. The plurality of permanent magnets is arranged about an axis such that magnetic poles of the plurality of permanent magnets are radially oriented in regard to the rotor. The at least one magnetic band is disposed on a surface of the rotor such that magnetic poles of the magnetic band are between 1 degree and 90 degrees from being axially oriented in regard to the rotor.

Wound field synchronous machines are commonly used for electromechanical power transfer systems. Wound field synchronous machines may serve as both a starter/motor and generator when coupled to a variable speed prime mover, such as a gas turbine engine. The variable speed prime mover is mechanically coupled to a main generator and an exciter. The rotor of the main generator is coupled to the rotor of a permanent magnet generator. For proper function of wound field synchronous machines it is important to have a way to determine the angular position of the main generator rotor. Monitoring the position of the main generator rotor can be done by sensing the angular position of the permanent magnet generator rotor as it is coupled to the permanent magnet generator rotor. One method for determining the angular position of the rotor uses carrier injection sensorless stimulation signals. This method requires persistent excitation of the permanent magnet generator. Additionally, the permanent magnet generator needs to have saliency which limits the rotor design and capability.

Permanent magnet generator with magnetic rotor band


A wire gripping assembly for securing an electrical box or light fixture to a support. The wire gripping assembly includes a wire gripping device having a body with open channels and a through bore, a clip member having legs for sliding engagement within the channels, a cable having an end connector thereon, and a thumbscrew for adjusting the clip member with respect to the body. The thumbscrew includes a head having an outer circumference with serrations to enable hand tightening and an end with a slot for engagement by a screwdriver or similar tool. The wire gripping assembly eases installation of an electrical device to an overhead support by enabling a two-step connection including initial hand tightening using the serrated outer surface of the thumbscrew and subsequent secure tightening by engaging the slot of the thumbscrew with a screwdriver or similar tool.

Commonly owned parent application Serial No. 29/460,462 disclosed the ornamental design for a wire gripping device with a knurled thumbscrew. The wire gripping device is used for the adjustable suspension of electrical boxes or light fixtures from above as might be required in suspended ceiling installations and the like.
Although many overhead support devices have been proposed for the support of electrical boxes or light fixtures, the devices are usually cumbersome to operate as the installer must typically support the electrical box or light fixture while at the same time manipulating a tool, such as a screwdriver, to complete the installation.
What is needed is an improved overhead support device that eases the installation task by enabling the installer to at first hand tighten the electrical box or light fixture to the overhead support to hold it in place, and afterwards to complete the installation by tightening the connections with a screwdriver. Providing a hand tightening capability to the overhead support device enables the installer to quickly connect the suspended device to an overhead support while also freeing the installer's hands to subsequently complete the installation by tightening the connections with a screwdriver.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wire gripping assembly for drop wire support of electrical boxes or light fixtures