An object of the present invention is to provide a various-substance holder including a plurality of particulate carriers or plural sets of particulate carriers to which plural types of chemical substances are or can be immobilized and a carrier holding portion holding the plurality of particulate carriers or the plural sets of particulate carriers in a substantially stationary state such that the plurality of particulate carriers or the plural sets of particulate carriers can be externally measured. The various-substance holder is configured so that each of the plurality of particulate carriers or at least one of the particulate carriers belonging to the plural sets of the particulate carriers are labeled according to types of the chemical substances or for each of the particulate carriers or each set of the particulate carriers so as to be mutually identifiable before the particulate carriers are introduced and held in the carrier holding portion.

To be subjected to a series of reaction treatments using a large number of reagents and substances, a target substance to be checked is conventionally bonded to micro carriers such as beads before being accommodated in a test tube. Various reagents are subsequently poured into the test tube. The carriers are separated from the substance using a certain method and are then moved to another container. Another reagent or the like is further poured into the test tube, or the test tube is heated. For example, if the carriers are a magnetic substance, a magnetic field is used to attract the carriers to an inner wall of the test tube for separation.
In a treatment of checking a target substance using a planar carrier such as a prepared slide to which for example, various oligonucleotides are immobilized, the base sequence structure of the target substance has been examined by performing a series of reaction treatments of moving the carrier through a suspension in which the leveled target substance is suspended, dispensing various reagents to the carrier itself, moving the carrier itself through a cleaning fluid, and moving the carrier to a measurement position in a measuring machine in order to measure luminescence.
Disadvantageously, achieving these treatments requires the separation and transfer of the carrier itself, complicating the treatments and requiring much effort and time. In particular, when the carrier itself is transferred and if the transfer is manually performed, a heavy burden may be imposed on the user and cross contamination may occur. Furthermore, if the carrier itself is mechanically transferred, a large-scale apparatus is required. Additionally, if a nonmagnetic carrier is separated, the separation needs to be performed depending on the size or specific gravity of the carrier. This complicates the treatments and requires much effort and time.
On the other hand, reaction treatments have been performed using, instead of the test tube or the planar carrier, a pipette apparatus having a pipette tip having a liquid passage through which liquid can pass, a nozzle in which the pipette tip is installed, a magnetic device that applies a magnetic field to the liquid passage in the pipette tip, and a suction and discharge mechanism that sucks a fluid into the pipette tip and discharges the fluid from the tip. This method sucks a suspension in which a large number of magnetic particles holding various substances on surfaces thereof are suspended. During the suction, a magnetic field is applied to the liquid passage in the pipette tip. The magnetic particles can thus be efficiently attracted to the liquid passage for separation or the like. However, since the magnetic particles can pass through the liquid passage, a magnetic field needs to be applied to the pipette tip to attract the magnetic particles to an inner wall of the pipette tip in order to hold the magnetic particles in the pipette tip. Thus, the treatments require a combination of the control of the suction and discharge, the control of the attraction by the magnetic field, and the control of movement of the pipette tip. Furthermore, if the carrier is nonmagnetic particles, the apparatus disadvantageously fails to separate the carriers (Patent Documents 1 to 3).
In another conventional apparatus, beads with probes are held in a small hole and then moved to a capillary or a groove. The beads are then arranged according to the types thereof and in a specified order to produce a probe bead array. Alternatively, the beads with the probes are poured into a liquid flow in a specified order and thus housed in the groove or the capillary to produce a probe array with the beads arranged in the specified order (Patent Document 4).
Another system or method for detecting a large number of analytes in a fluid sample to analyze and display the analytes in real time has at least one light source and at least one photodetector and includes an optical assembly located on substantially the same plane. The system or method can communicate with a computer and includes a memory medium which is readable by the computer and which stores commands from the computer. The commands involve treatments on a certain biological sample using a flow analyzer and determination of the presence and amount of at least one analyte of interest in the biological sample which determination is made substantially simultaneously with the treatment step (Patent Document 5).
However, since the particles are very small for human beings to handle (for example, several tens of μm to several mm), disadvantageously, the accurate alignment of the large number of particles in the groove or capillary in the specified order may require much effort and time and may be difficult to handle. Another problem is that the incorrect sequence of the particles may prevent accurate association. Furthermore, if particles suspended in a liquid are subjected to a specified flow speed so as to migrate through a flow tube and are measured by a photodetector provided outside the flow tube, the particles need to be strictly traced and measured one by one. This may disadvantageously complicate the apparatus structure and require complicated control.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3115501    [Patent Document 2] WO 96/29602    [Patent Document 3] WO 97/44671    [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000.    [Patent Document 5] National Publication of International Patent Application No. 14-534657

Various-substance holder, various-substance holder treating apparatus, and various-substance holder treating method


A new cultivar of shrub rose plant, ‘SFROSA151’, that is characterized by its compact and upright plant habit, its flowers that are a saturated yellow color and nearly non-fading, its flowers with 20 to 25 reflexed petals, its mild tea fragrance, its glossy dark green foliage, its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6, and its tolerance to resistance to powdery mildew and rust.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rosa hybrida. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'SFROSA151'. 'SFROSA151' is a new cultivar of shrub rose grown for use as a landscape shrub.
The new cultivar of shrub rose is a selection from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. with an objective to create new shrub rose cultivars with disease resistance, ever blooming habits, unique brightly colored flowers that can be readily propagated on their own roots.
The new cultivar of shrub rose, 'SFROSA151', was selected by the Inventor from amongst seedlings derived from a cross made in July of 2010 between plants of the cultivar, 'WEKvossutono' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,473) as both the female and male parent. 'SFROSA151' was selected as a single unique plant in May of 2011.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in August of 2011 by the Inventor. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A semiconductor memory device adapted to burst transmission is provided for improving flexibility of data write operation. The semiconductor memory device is composed of a memory array, a set of write registers, and an input buffer designed to sequentially receive a series of write data during a burst cycle, and to write the write data into the associated write registers. The device also includes a write release register containing a set of write release flags associated with the write registers, respectively, and a write release register controller asserting the associated write release flags in response to the write data being written into the associated write registers. The device also contains a write amplifier designed to concurrently write the write data contained in the write registers associated with the asserted write release flags, selectively, when the burst cycle is aborted in response to a control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory devices and method of operating the same, and more particularly, relates to semiconductor memory devices adapted to burst transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) is a typical semiconductor memory device used as a work memory for data processing. Using an SRAM as a working memory effectively achieves high speed data processing due to the enhanced operation speed.
The SRAM, however, often dissatisfies recent requirements of electronic devices due to the poor integration capability. Recent high-end electronic devices require a work memory having an increased capacity, and an SRAM may dissatisfy a required specification as a work memory. This necessitates an alternative semiconductor memory with an increased capacity, suitable as a work memory.
The pseudo SRAM is a semiconductor memory device satisfying such requirement. The pseudo SRAM designates a sort of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) with an external interface compatible with the SRAM. The pseudo SRAM, composed of DRAM memory cells suitable for high integration, can be used as a work memory with an increased capacity, providing the compatibility with the SRAM.
One drawback is that the pseudo SRAM suffers from the reduced access speed to the memory array, compared to the SRAM. This results from the fact that the access speed of DRAM cells within the pseudo SRAM is not as high as that of SRAM cells. Therefore, the improvement of the access speed is one of the most important issues for using a pseudo SRAM as a work memory.
Burst transmission is one known technique for improving the access speed of the pseudo SRAM. The burst transmission designates a technique for enhancing the transmission speed through successively transmitting read/write data associated with a series of addresses. The COSMORAM (Common Specifications for Mobile RAM) standard, which has been recently proposed for defining the functions of the pseudo SRAM interface, supports the burst transmission. Hereinafter, write operation based on burst transmission may be referred to as burst write operation, and read operation based on burst transmission may be referred to as burst read operation.
In order to improve the speed of burst write and read operations, pseudo SRAMs adapted to burst transmission often incorporate a set of registers for temporary storing write and read data; a register for storing write data may be referred to as a write register, and a register for storing read data may be referred to as a read register. The write operation of such designed pseudo SRAM involves sequentially storing write data associated with one burst cycle into the write register, and concurrently transferring the complete set of the write data from the write register to the memory array. The read operation, on the other hand, involves concurrently transferring a complete set of desired read data from the memory array to the read register, and sequentially outputting the read data from the read register. The concurrent data transfer between the memory array and the registers effectively reduces the number of accesses to the memory array, and therefore improves the access speed of the pseudo SRAM.
Partially transferring the write data stored in the write register to the memory array is considered as a preferred requirement for improving the flexibility of the burst write operation. Let us suppose a burst write operation sequence with the burst length being eight, which involves sequentially transferring eight data bits through each input/output pin during one burst cycle. In this burst write operation sequence, it would be advantageous for improving the data access flexibility of the memory array, if first to six data bits, for example, can be selectively transferred from the write register to the memory array.
Conventional pseudo SRAMs, however, are not adapted to selective data transfer of write data from the write register to the memory cells; pseudo SRAMs are conventionally designed to concurrently transfer the complete set of the write data. A special architecture is needed for satisfying such requirement.
As disclosed in Japanese Open Laid Patent Application No. P2003-7060A, synchronous DRAMs supporting burst transmission are designed to achieve selective data write into the memory array using the data mask signal (DQM signal).
The selective data write technique based on the data mask signal, however, is not applicable to the pseudo SRAM, because the standard SRAM interface is not adapted to the data mask signal.

Semiconductor memory device and operating method of the same


In the invention, words in f-structure are represented as illustrations that can be understood by any persons regardless of what languages they use, whereby it is made possible to make the f-structure completely language-independent representation. Accordingly, two translation systems of a translation system from one language L into f-structure using illustration representation and a translation system from f-structure using illustration representation into language L are simply constructed, whereby communication support among persons using every language can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication support system, a communication support method, and a computer program for supporting communication among a large number of different languages and in particular to a communication support system, a communication support method, and a computer program for supporting communication among a large number of different languages using an interlingua system for first converting a source language into an intermediate language independent of a specific language and then converting the intermediate language into a target language.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a communication support system, a communication support method, and a computer program that can be used regardless of what the language is and can be constructed with a small number of steps and in particular to a communication support system, a communication support method, and a computer program for supporting communication among a large number of different languages by representing an intermediate language in a more understandable form.
2. Description of the Related Art
A language used by a human being for daily communicating with another person, such as Japanese or English, is called "natural language." Natural language has an almost spontaneous origin and evolves with the history of human beings, the history of races, and the history of society; various natural languages exist at present. Of course, one person can communicate with another person by gesture, but the natural language enables most natural and advanced communication between the persons.
Natural language originally has an abstract and a highly ambiguous nature, but can be processed in a computer by handling the text mathematically. Consequently, various application services concerning the natural languages by automation processing, such as machine translation, an interactive system, and a search system, can be realized.
Among them, "machine translation" is a system for supporting communication between persons using different languages by making the most of computer processing.
The commercially practical machine translation systems at present are based on a system called direct machine translation system (henceforth "direct system") or transfer-based machine translation system (henceforth "transfer system").
Basically, the direct system simply replaces words of a source language with words of a target language. This is an effective system only when the grammar of the source language is similar to that of the target language as with Japanese-Korean translation.
On the other hand, the transfer system includes processing of replacing syntactic structures as well as replacing words. By way of example, the case where English sentence (1) is translated into Japanese sentence (2) in an English-Japanese translation system is considered.
(1) It is important to study English every day.
(2) Eigowo mainichi benkyousurunoha jyuuyouda.
(*Japanese Sentence)
The syntactic structure in (1) is largely different from the syntactic structure in (2). Thus, the transfer system performs the steps of first converting (1) into an English sentence (3), which can be easily translated into Japanese, and then converting the English sentence (3) into Japanese.
(3) To study English every day is important.
That is, the transfer system requires a conversion rule of converting a source language sentence into "a source language sentence easily translated into a target language sentence" (within the same language) and also requires a conversion rule of converting the syntactic structure of source language sentence into the syntactic structure of target language sentence. For both conversion rules, if either of the target language and the source language differs, entirely different conversion rules are required. Of course, like the direct system, the transfer system requires a word dictionary to convert words of a source language into words of a target language.
As a third machine translation system, a technique called interlingua-based machine translation system (henceforth "interlingua system") has been proposed. In the interlingua system, a source language is converted into an intermediate (interlingua) language independent of a specific language and then the intermediate language is converted into a target language. As an example of the intermediate language, there is a structure called f(unctional)-structure obtained as a result of syntactic analysis based on a grammar theory called Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG).
In LFG, the language knowledge of a native speaker, namely grammar, is formed as a component separated from other non-grammatical processing parameters affecting computer processing and computer processing operation. Details of LFG are described, for example, in paper "Lexical-Functional Grammar: A Formal System for Grammatical Representation" in collaboration with R. M. Kaplan and J. Bresnan (The MIT Press, Cambridge (1982). Reprinted in Formal Issues in Lexical-Functional Grammar, pp. 29-130. CSLI publications, Stanford University (1995).) The f-structure represents grammatical functions clearly and is made up of grammatical function names, semantics formats, and feature symbols. The f-structure is referenced, whereby semantic understanding of subject, object, complement, and adjunct can be obtained.
A machine translation system using the f-structure as an intermediate language is described in detail in document "Frank, A., "From Parallel Grammar Development towards Machine Translation." In Proceedings of MT Summit VII, "MT in the Great Translation Era," Singapore, pp. 134-142. (1999)." As a document giving a general description of the three systems, "Hozumi TANAKA, "Natural Language Processing and Its Application" The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (1999)" can be named.
Supporting communication among a large number of different languages by a machine translation system is considered hereinafter.
The direct system requires that a word dictionary to convert words of a source language into words of a target language be provided for each of combinations of source languages and target languages. Likewise, the transfer system also requires that a syntax dictionary (a conversion rule set to convert syntax of source language sentence S into syntax of source language sentence S′, which is easily converted into a target language sentence, and a conversion rule set to convert S′ into syntax of a target language sentence S″be provided for each of combinations of source languages and target languages in addition to the word dictionary.
Thus, to support communication among n different languages, n2-n dictionaries (machine translation systems) must be constructed. For example, to support communication among 10 different languages, 90 (=10P2) systems need to be constructed (see FIG. 2).
However, simply constructing a single word/syntax dictionary (translation system) requires an enormous number of steps. Therefore, it is an extremely difficult job to construct dictionaries or translation systems to deal with all language combinations.
If such a dictionary construction job is applied between languages each having a large language population such as English, Chinese, German, French, and Japanese, the difficulty is relatively because there is a rich language resource of word dictionaries for translation and the like. However, when either or both of a source language and a target language are languages each having a small language population, the scholar resources involved in language processing are inevitably poor and thus it is practically impossible to construct a word dictionary or a syntax dictionary to implement a translation system. Therefore, if the transfer system or the direct system is adopted, it is extremely difficult to construct a support system for a person using a language having a small language population to communication with a person using any other language.
Even if the interlingua system is adopted, the conversion system between the intermediate language and each language depends on the language and therefore if it is necessary to support communication among n different languages, 2n entirely different conversion systems (machine translation systems) need to be constructed. For example, to support communication among 10 different languages, 20 translation systems need to be constructed (see FIG. 3). It is also practically impossible to construct such a system for a language having a small language population as with the transfer system and the direct system.

Communication support system, communication support method, and computer program


The invention concerns an optical device and its application to generate an adjustable wave front deformation of a laser beam and thus to generate an adjustable beam spot geometry in the focal plane of laser optics. For this purpose, a device is provided which allows adjusting and modifying a laser beam in such a way that a beam spot, the shape of which can be adjusted continuously based on the original focal shape, is generated after focusing the beam, i.e. at least one dimension parameter of the shape of the beam spot has to be variable and adjustable so that the beam parameter product of the beam can also be modified without having to modify the focal position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an optical device and its application to generate an adjustable wave front deformation of a laser beam. Using such a device aims at modifications of beam spot geometry in the focal range of the laser beam and with it modifications of the beam parameter product of the laser beam.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Using laser beaming, for example for material processing, it is often desirable to have the option to use a special beam spot geometry to optimize the work results. A laser beam focus or a beam spot with ring-shaped intensity distribution is required for many applications.
The use of a so-called axicon, for example, is mentioned in the State of the art, that i.e. a lens with a cone-shaped effective surface which is inserted into the optical path of laser processing optics. This type of devices is described in documents DE 28 21 883, DE 100 44 522, DE 102 54 847 or DE 10 2010 016 628.
The devices described in the documents mentioned above aim at a ring-shaped beam distribution on at least one plane. The mentioned devices cannot be used to adjust the beam parameter product continuously, for example by adjusting the diameter of the ring. Modifications of the diameter of the ring require replacing the axicon with another one with a different cone angle of the cone surface.
It is mentioned in the State of the art that it is necessary to place two optical elements with respectively specially shaped surfaces in the optical path to generate variable, i.e. adjustable wave front deformations. The optical elements are positioned transverse to the beam direction and they are displaceable against each other. It is possible to generate different types of wave front deformation depending on the type of optical elements. The lateral displacement of elements with spherical surfaces of which the refractive powers compensate each other allows inclining a plane wave front by an adjustable angle. Thus, the device acts as an optical wedge with an adjustable wedge angle. Such a device is called "Abat's wedge" in the field of technical optics. A similar device of this type, however using elements with cylindrical surfaces, is mentioned in DE 199 61 918.
A similar device, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,294, is used to generate a parabolic wave front deformation with an adjustable curvature, which corresponds to a lens with adjustable refractive power or with an adjustable focal length regarding its effect. In this case, the elements have to consist of surface shapes of which the local thickness of the elements is mainly defined by cubic terms, i.e. power functions of third degree with the lateral coordinates x and y in order to have the requested optical effect. This type of device has meanwhile been called "Alvarez lens" because it was invented by Alvarez. This lens with variable refractive power is used, for example, to adjust continuously the focal position of a lens. However, it is not possible to modify the beam parameter product.
None of the mentioned devices is able to generate a wave front deformation by means of which the beam parameter product of the laser beam can continuously be adjusted and magnified beginning with its original value.


An axial divergent section slot nozzle for an engine is provided. The nozzle has a plurality of spaced apart divergent flaps, at least one device for moving the divergent flaps to change a cross sectional area of the nozzle in a throat region, and a bridge member positioned intermediate adjacent ones of the flaps. The bridge member includes a bridge bracket and a sealing element joined to the bridge bracket. The sealing element has an upper surface. The bridge bracket has a lower surface which diverges from the upper surface of the sealing element. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bridge bracket has a shape which allows variable slot size depending on nozzle throat jet area.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an axial divergent section slot nozzle for use with a jet engine which allows a flow of ambient air by which an exhaust plume and thrust from the nozzle may be tailored.
(2) Prior Art
There are many convergent/divergent (C/D) exhaust nozzles for gas turbine engines that are disclosed in the literature and that are utilized on jet and turbojet engines for changing the throat configuration of the nozzle in order to improve engine performance during certain modes of operation. This is particularly the case in aircraft that are powered by gas turbine engines with augmentors. The exhaust nozzle may be configured in a two or three dimensional configuration with or without the capability of vectoring the exhaust gases. The purpose of the vectoring nozzle is to effectuate directional change of or reversing thrust to brake the aircraft.
For many years now, engineers and scientists have worked to design and produce gas turbine engines that are capable of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) operation. Also well known is that the exhaust nozzle may include positional flaps that are articulated to provide vectoring capabilities. Alternatively, the entire engine exhaust nozzle may be articulated by rotatable interconnecting ducts similar to what has been used in the Russian YAK-141 aircraft, manufactured by Yakovlevin Aircraft, in order to produce vectoring capabilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,544 to Ward illustrates a compact axisymmetrical C/D exhaust nozzle which may be utilized on a gas turbine engine for a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft and mechanisms for synchronizing the flaps and guiding the combined pressure balancing piston and synchronizing ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,347 to Madden et al. illustrates a variable area nozzle having the upstream ends of the flaps pivotally connected to an axially translatable unison ring. Apparatus is associated with the flaps to cause the flaps to rotate as the unison ring is translated to vary the area of the nozzle. The unison ring includes a balance surface fixed relative thereto which is subject to a net pressure load in the downstream direction thereby reducing the force which an actuator must exert to move the unison ring or to hold the unison ring in fixed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,637 to Barcza relates to a seal centering and restraining device for positioning the seals between the divergent flaps of a vectoring C/D nozzle. The device includes a restraint bar that spans between two adjacent divergent flaps and is pivotally attached to the air side of a seal and slidably secured by sliders to tracks on the adjacent divergent flaps, thereby sandwiching the adjacent divergent flaps between the seal and sliders. A positioning linkage connecting the two adjacent divergent flaps centers the seal at all nozzle operating conditions.
Despite the existence of these convergent/divergent nozzles, there remains a need for nozzle designs which improve performance.


A vessel has a body defining a storage unit and a spout communicating with the storage unit, a spout closure coupled to the body at a first coupling location for movement between open and closed positions, a handle having a front end movably coupled to the spout closure at a second coupling location and a rear end spaced from the body, and support structure fixed to the body and movably supporting the rear end of the handle at a third coupling location, the coupling locations being arranged so that the spout closure is unresponsive to a vertical lifting force exerted on the handle, but opens in response to a tipping force exerted on the handle by a user's hand.

This application relates to closures for spouted vessels, such as tea kettles and the like, and relates in particular to techniques for controlling opening and closing of the spout closure.
Various types of kettle spout closures have heretofore been provided, as well as various techniques for controlling opening and closing of the spout closure. In particular, prior arrangements have been provided with handles which move relative to the vessel body in response to lifting forces applied by a user's hand, for opening the spout closure. While such arrangements operate in a satisfactory manner, they have the drawback of maintaining the spout closure in an open position as long as a lifting force is exerted on the handle. This may be disadvantageous, since it may permit liquid to splash out of the spout while the vessel is being carried. This could be dangerous if the vessel contains hot liquid, such as boiling water.
Vessels, such as tea kettles, have also been provided with spout closures coupled to a pendulum-like counterweight mechanism which is acted upon by gravity to tend to maintain the counterweight mechanism vertical so that, when the vessel is tipped for pouring, the relative movement between the counterweight and the vessel causes the spout closure to open. Such arrangements have, however, been complicated, the counterweight mechanism necessitating additional parts which may make the vessel difficult to store or clean, if located outside the vessel body, or may interfere with the contents of the vessel, if located within the vessel body.


A security system can be used to trigger appliances. The security system can comprise a light socket camera that can be rotatably attached to a light socket of a building. The light socket camera can receive an audible instruction from a user, and in response to receiving the audible instruction from the user, the security system can trigger the appliance to perform an operation.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices and methods that enable people to observe remote locations. Certain embodiments relate to using a computing device to see video taken by a remotely located camera.
2. Description of Related Art
Video cameras can record images of various events that are viewable by remotely located people. Additionally, video cameras can be supported by objects such as tripods. Furthermore, video cameras often require electrical power. Some video cameras receive electrical power from batteries and/or power outlets.


A bicycle display apparatus comprises a computing component and a separate display component. The computing component is structured for attachment to the bicycle, calculates cumulative information produced from a bicycle-related running condition, and includes an information output for outputting the calculated cumulative information. The display component includes an information input that receives the cumulative information calculated by the computing component, and the display component displays the cumulative information calculated by the computing component.

The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to a bicycle display apparatus with distributed processing.
Cycle computers typically calculate and display travel information such as the bicycle velocity, travel distance, total distance, and so on. Such a cycle computer is shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai) 2000-16367. More specifically, cycle computers typically comprise a display control component having a microcomputer that is operated by power supplied from an internally mounted battery, a liquid crystal display (LCD) component for displaying the travel information, and mode buttons for various types of input and control functions. A conventional rotation sensor comprising a reed switch mounted on the bicycle frame and a magnet mounted on a wheel is operatively coupled with or without wires to the display control component, and the display control component computes the velocity, total distance, or travel distance based on electrical pulses from the rotation sensor.
Total distance is commonly referred to as distance traveled by the bicycle from the beginning of travel after the display has been mounted on the bicycle (or master reset) until the present, and it may be computed by counting pulses from the rotation sensor since that time. Travel distance is commonly referred to as distance traveled by the bicycle from the point at which a device referred to as a trip meter is reset, and it may be computed by counting pulses from the rotation sensor since the trip meter was reset. The computed total distance and travel distance are stored in a memory inside the microcomputer and selectively displayed as desired by the rider.
Some cycle computer display control components are designed to be detachable in order to prevent theft and to allow the display control component to be replaced separately without replacing the entire cycle computer. However, that means the total distance or travel distance is not calculated when the display control component is taken off during travel to prevent theft during rest stops or the like and the rider forgets to put the device back on when traveling resumes. In any event, total distance also cannot be carried over to replacement display control components when such components are replaced due to microcomputer malfunctions or the like. As a result, the total distance is not accurately displayed when the display control component is replaced.

Bicycle display apparatus with distributed processing


The present disclosure is directed to optical devices including a light source and an optical film having a first surface disposed to receive light from the light source and a second surface facing away from the light source. The second surface includes a two-dimensional array of closely packed substantially hemispherically-shaped structures. In some implementations of the present disclosure, the optical film further includes a substrate portion having an optical characteristic different from optical characteristics of the second surface comprising the two dimensional array.

Display devices, such as liquid crystal display ("LCD") devices, are used in a variety of applications including, for example, televisions, hand-held devices, digital still cameras, video cameras, and computer monitors. An LCD offers several advantages over a traditional cathode ray tube ("CRT") display such as decreased weight, unit size and power consumption, as well as increased brightness. However, an LCD panel is not self-illuminating and, therefore, sometimes requires a backlighting assembly or a "backlight." A backlight typically couples light from one or more sources (e.g., a cold cathode fluorescent tube ("CCFT") or light emitting diode ("LED")) to a substantially planar output. The substantially planar output is then coupled to the LCD panel.
The performance of an LCD is often judged by its brightness. Brightness of an LCD may be enhanced by using a larger number of light sources or brighter light sources. In large area displays it is often necessary to use a direct-lit type LCD backlight to maintain brightness, because the space available for light sources grows linearly with the perimeter while the illuminated area grows as the square of the perimeter. Therefore, LCD televisions typically use a direct-lit backlight instead of a light-guide edge-lit type LCD backlight. Additional light sources and/or a brighter light source may consume more energy, which is counter to the ability to decrease the power allocation to the display device. For portable devices this may correlate to decreased battery life. Also, adding a light source to the display device may increase the product cost and weight and sometimes can lead to reduced reliability of the display device.
Brightness of an LCD may also be enhanced by efficiently utilizing the light that is available within the LCD device (e.g., to direct more of the available light within the display device along a preferred viewing axis). For example, Vikuiti™ Brightness Enhancement Film ("BEF"), available from 3M Company, has prismatic surface structures, which redirect some of the light exiting the backlight outside the viewing range to be substantially along the viewing axis. At least some of the remaining light is recycled via multiple reflections of some of the light between BEF and reflective components of the backlight, such as its back reflector. This results in optical gain substantially along the viewing axis and also results in improved spatial uniformity of the illumination of the LCD. Thus, BEF is advantageous, for example, because it enhances brightness and improves spatial uniformity. For a battery powered portable device, this may translate to longer running times or smaller battery size, and a display that provides a better viewing experience.

Optical film having a surface with rounded structures


Techniques for grouping images are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include identifying at least one event-based image group among a plurality of images based on an event that is associated with each identified image, receiving a selection of one or more objects in a first image of the identified event-based image group, identifying other images in the identified event-based image group that each include at least one of the selected one or more objects, and associating the identified images with the first image. In one instance, the selected objects include individuals captured in the image.

Many mobile computing devices today have the ability to capture an image, such as a photograph, video, and the like. The images may be stored locally on the device or remotely and made accessible by the device. Some image viewing applications available today organize (e.g., group) the captured images by objects in the image, for example, by a person captured in the image. The image grouping is possible only through complicated facial recognition applications. Also, grouping the stored images into separate collections may require a substantial number of manual operations conducted on the device. Image grouping allows a user to view images that contain a specific object, but does not allow easy sharing the images with any one person. The user still has to share (e.g., email, text, post, etc.) the images individually or upload the images to a service that is made accessible to the people that the user intends to share the images with.


Systems and methods for capturing waste are disclosed. The systems and methods provide for a high level of confinement and long term stability. The systems and methods include adsorbing waste into a metal-organic framework (MOF), and applying pressure to the MOF material's framework to crystallize or make amorphous the MOF material thereby changing the MOF's pore structure and sorption characteristics without collapsing the MOF framework.

The capture and storage (CSS) of waste materials continues to be a problem is many industries. In the nuclear industry, the capture and storage of fission gases is important in both the disposal of large quantities of high level radioactive wastes generated in the reprocessing of spent power reactor fuel and from nuclear reactor accidents. It is generally accepted that the most promising approach is to convert these radioactive wastes to a dry solid form which would render such wastes chemically, thermally and radioactively stable. This problem of dry solid stability is closely related to the safety of human life on earth for a period of over 20,000 years. For example, radioactive wastes contain isotopes including 129I, 90Sr, 240Pu, and 137Cs, whose half-lives are >15 million years, 29 years, 66,000 years, and 30 years respectively. These isotopes alone pose a significant threat to life and must be put into dry, solid forms that are stable for thousands of years. The solid radioactive waste form must be able to keep the radioactive isotopes immobilized for this length of time, preferably even in the presence of a water environment.
For radioactive gases, one present immobilization route is the so-called dry solids approach which involves the method of fixation of waste materials in glasses via melting glass procedures. This approach offers some improvement regarding isolation and decrease in the rate of release of radioactive elements when the outer envelopes or containers are destroyed. However, standard nuclear waste glasses (such as borosilicate glass) glasses with high chemical durability and low alkali ion conductivities are melted at very high temperatures, e.g., 1800° C. and higher. Such high melting processes are economically unsound and moreover, cause a dangerous problem due to the volatilization of pernicious radioactive materials. Additionally, none or very small amounts of gaseous radioactive materials are further trapped in case of volatilization during glass formation.
In nuclear power accident clean-up, the removal of radioactive Cs and/or Sr from seawater or containment fluids is a critical issue. Other scenarios include the removal of uranium (U) based compounds and ions from water systems in case of accidents of for reuse, and/or in the act of resource extraction (in a sense ocean water "mining").
In the power generation industry, and in particular coal fired power generation, the generation and release into the atmosphere of large quantities of CO2 remains an area of concern. A number of CO2 CCS technologies have been developed. One method for CCS uses metal oxide solutions, such as potassium or magnesium oxide, to remove CO2 from flue gas or other CO2 containing vent gases. The general capture mechanism involves reaction of the metal oxides with CO2 to form metal carbonates. These carbonate salts can either be land-filled, or be regenerated via oxidation to form a concentrated CO2 stream that can be compressed and injected into geological formations for storage.
Present methods of gas capture, and in particular, waste gas capture, lack the ability to store the captured gas in a stable form for a lengthy period of time. In particular, present day storage does not provide sufficient isolation and immobilization of such waste material, sufficient long-term resistance to chemical attack by the surroundings, and sufficient stability at high temperature.
In addition, a process for fixating radioactive materials inside a dry solid form having high resistance to leaching and other forms of chemical attack would not only be suitable for the containment, interim storage and possible eventual disposal of radioactive nuclear wastes.
The need remains, therefore, for a method and system for the capture and storage of gases that provides a high degree of stable containment. The need also remains for a method of forming waste forms below the volatilization temperature of the captured waste.

Method for the capture and storage of waste


An LSI designing system includes a memory;, a database configured to store a layout layer definition file, and a control section configured to refer to the database to build up a plurality of layout layers in the memory based on the layout layer definition file. The plurality of layout layers are provided for extending directions of patterns in one of physical layers of an LSI to be formed. The control section divides each of the patterns into pattern structures based on the extending directions, and assigns each of the pattern structures to a corresponding one of the plurality of layout layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a design technique of an LSI, and more particularly relates to a system and method for designing and manufacturing an LSI, and an electron beam (EB) data generating system for generating an EB data used in an electronic beam drawing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is essential to use a computer for LSI design in order to reduce the time for design and check and remove an artificial mistake. A software program used for the LSI design is referred to as a CAD (Computer Aided Design) program. In the CAD program, a plurality of [Layout Layers (Digitized Layers)] are defined. A designer carries out the LSI design by arranging data of desirable pattern structures in the plurality of layout layers defined on the computer. In this way, a [Layout Data] indicating the pattern configuration of the designed LSI is obtained on the computer. Here, the pattern structure to be formed in a same physical layer is arranged in a same layout layer.
Also, in the foregoing LSI design, it is necessary to carry out the design for the LSI to meet [Design Rules]. The design rules defines a minimum pattern dimension and a minimum space dimension for each layout layer, and position relation between the layout layers in detail. It is necessary to obedience the design rules for the formation of a desirable device. A software program for checking whether or not the generated layout data meets the design rules is referred to as [DRC (Design Rule Checker)]. The designer modifies the layout data in accordance with an error data outputted by the DRC.
A reticle used in a lithography process is produced in accordance with the layout data generated in this way. In order to produce the reticle having a mask pattern determined based on the layout data, for example, [Electronic Beam (EB) Drawing Apparatus] is used. Here, it is necessary to convert the layout data into [EB Data] having a format suitable for the EB drawing apparatus (hereafter, referred to as [EB Data Converting Process]). For this reason, it is necessary to carry out a figure calculating process such as an inter-layer logic calculation, and a white/black inverting process.
In association with the higher integration and larger scale of the LSI, the number of layout patterns increases more and more. A large amount of time is required when all the layout patterns defined for the foregoing high integrated LSI are sequentially converted into the EB data. This causes a period for the design and development of the LSI to be made longer. For this reason, it is desired to provide the layout data suitable for the figure converting process.

System and method for designing and manufacturing LSI


A printer unit of a printer device having at least one printer unit which includes at least one toner container for toner particles and an electrode unit, including electrodes and apertures surrounded at least partly by the electrodes. The electrode unit is arranged to control the transportation of the toner particles by means of attraction fields from a toner carrier member arranged in the toner container or in a space communicating with it towards a back electrode and an information carrier insertable between the toner carrier member and the back electrode. The toner carrier member, the electrode unit, and/or the back electrode are arranged to form a transportation zone between two most remote transversal electrodes and generate the attraction fields, which through the apertures attract the toner particles towards the back electrode. The transportation zone consists of at least two smaller zones including, in the toner container or in a space communicating with it, a number of toner carrier members corresponding to the number of the zones and groups of electrode units consisting of apertures and electrodes having reduced numbers and/or sizes.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,351, a method and a device are known for producing images on an information carrier, e.g., paper, by means of electrostatic fields and using an electrode unit between a toner carrier member, so-called developer, and a back electrode.
The electrode unit can be formed as a woven net, consisting of electrodes crossing each other. Net meshes are arranged between the electrodes, through which toner particles are attracted from the toner carrier member towards the back electrode. By connecting electrodes, surrounding the meshes of the net, to different voltages, passages for the toner particles via meshes are opened and closed.
The electrode unit can also consist of a thin substrate, arranged with pervious apertures, which are surrounded by the electrodes, so-called ring electrodes. Such electrode units are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,144.
Another type of electrode unit is shown, for example, in UK 2 108 432, in which two electrode layers are arranged on each side of a conveyer, and the electrodes surround pervious holes to modulate particles from a toner carrier member towards a back electrode through the holes.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a printer unit 10 according to SE 9000031-6 or SE 8704883-1. The toner particles 11, which are adhered onto the toner carrier member by means of magnetic or similar forces, are transported from the toner carrier member 12 towards a back electrode 15 via the electrode unit by means of electrostatic fields. One condition to obtain transportation of the toner particles from the toner carrier member 12 onto an information carrier 13 with a good result is that the distance l.sub.k between the toner carrier member 12 and the electrode unit 14 is so short that the strength of the field that transports the toner particles is as strong as possible. The transportation field between the toner carrier member 12 and the back electrode 15 is obtained, for example, by connecting the toner carrier member to ground (0 V) and the back electrode to 1.5 kV. By connecting the electrodes 16 in the electrode unit 14 to a variable control voltage V.sub.0, for example 300 V, passages through apertures 17 are generated. The size of these passages can be varied to allow the transporting field to pass entirely, partly, or not at all through the apertures and convey toner particles in the direction towards the back electrode 15 and onto an information carrier 13 placed between the back electrode and the toner carrier member 12, such as a paper sheet.
The toner carrier member 12 is rotatably arranged in a toner container (not shown) and attracts toner particles by means of, for example, magnets (not shown) provided inside the toner carrier member. The toner particles 11 attracted onto the toner carrier member are leveled to a layer on the surface of the toner carrier member, which can include conducting or semiconducting material.
The toner carrier member is typically formed as a roller with a circular cross section, and the electrode unit is generally formed flat. Due to the cylindrical form of said roller, the distance l.sub.k from the surface of the roller to the apertures 17 varies. The variation is designated with .DELTA.l.sub.k. For example, the distance from the toner carrier member to the apertures A2 and A3 is shorter than to the apertures A1 and A4, with respect to a perpendicular line (not shown) from the center of the roller to a point between apertures A2 and A3.
The schematic graph of FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the distance l.sub.k and the electrostatic field E for attracting the toner particles in a direction towards the back electrode. Variations in .DELTA.l.sub.k result in variations in the electrostatic field E, which in turn causes variations in the number of toner particles which are attracted towards the surface of the information carrier 13. Said variations in the amount of the toner particles affect the printing quality and cause undesired variations in the produced image.
Another problem that may occur is at color intensive prints. This problem, so-called "white line noise," which is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, results in appearance of lighter lines in the image, because the toner particles on the toner carrier member are not enough for all apertures of the electrode unit.
In FIG. 3 the arrow shows the rotation direction of the toner carrier member. If, for instance, apertures A1-A4 are opened in numerical order, some portion of the toner particles 18 will be transported onto the information carrier 13 in a consecutive order, then the aperture A1 will receive the most of the toner, while the subsequent apertures receive lesser and lesser amounts. At aperture A4 the amount of the toner may be so much lesser that a deterioration in the printing quality occurs.
Another problem is that the toner particles "see" the conductive electrodes 16, as a source of the fields, which attract the toner particles. Lines illustrated with dots and dashes show the areas A'1-A'4, B'1 and B'2, which affect the toner particles on the toner carrier member. The shadowed areas show how the toner particles will be applied, i.e., will be transported onto the information carrier. It appears from the figures that B1 will also affect the printing area of A4.
Yet another problem which may arise is the so-called "curtain effect," where a large area image has reduced blackness at the beginning of the printing, followed by normal blackness after a short distance. This problem occurs when several adjacent electrodes 16 are energized at the same time to produce a large area image. The combined electric field of several adjacent energized conductors 19 is strong enough to attract the toner particles from the toner carrier member to the conductors. Diversion of those toner particles reduces the number of toner particles deposited on the paper, causing a less black image. The diversion of the particles soon becomes saturated, allowing normal black printing to occur for the remainder of that image portion. At the end of printing that image portion, the toner particles are attracted back onto the toner carrier member.

Method and apparatus for using dual print zones to enhance print quality


Systems and methods are disclosed for producing customized, predictable and reproducible supplies of radioisotopes using, for example, a reactor housing that is fabricated from a radioactive shielding material and has both an internal volume and a surface that comprises an entry port and an exit port, a chromatographic column that is positioned within said internal volume such that a first end of said column is in fluid communication with said entry port and a second end of said column is in fluid communication with said exit port, and a changeable filter module that is disposed external to said reactor housing and in fluid communication with said exit port.

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine dealing with the use of radioisotopes as radiopharmaceuticals or radioactive tracers in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Radioisotopes are natural or artificially created isotopes (isotopes being one of two or more atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers) of a chemical element that have an unstable nucleus that decays, emitting alpha, beta, or gamma rays until stability is reached.
Radioisotopes, such as the meta stable Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), are used in medical tests as radioactive tracers that medical equipment can detect in the body. Other generator-derived radioisotopes that are used as tracers include yttrium-90, rhenium-188, and gallium-68. Tc-99m, in particular, emits readily detectable gamma rays, and it has a half-life of 6 hours. A variety of different radiopharmaceuticals based on Tc-99m are used for imaging and functional studies of the brain, myocardium, thyroid, lungs, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, skeleton, blood and tumors. Schwochau, Klaus. Technetium, Wiley-VCH (2000) (ISBN 3-527-29496-1). Scientists continue to find new uses for radioisotopes, such as Tc-99m. For example, doctors recently used Tc-99m to diagnose precisely the infected lymph nodes in breast cancer patients by injecting Tc-99m into the breast around the tumor to allow them to locate the node quickly and precisely before ever making an incision. Brookhaven National Laboratory site on the history of the technetium cow. (http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/history/Tc-99m.asp).
A Tc-99m generator, often called a technetium cow, is a device used to extract Tc-99m from decaying molybdenum-99 ("Mo-99"). Mo-99 has a half-life of 66 hours and can be transported over long distances to radiopharmacies and hospitals where its decay product Tc-99m is used for nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. Removing the Tc-99m from the generator ("milking" the generator) is typically done every 6 hours or, at most, twice daily. Most commercial generators use column chromatography, in which Mo-99 is adsorbed onto alumina. Normal saline solution can be run through a column of immobilized Mo-99 to elute soluble Tc-99m, resulting in a saline solution containing the Tc-99m.
Today, commercial radiopharmacies typically replace their generators on a bi-weekly basis, since the useful life of a Tc-99m generator is about 6 half lifes or approximately two weeks. Hence, typical clinical nuclear medicine units purchase at least one such generator every two weeks or order several in a staggered fashion. The lead-lined generators are heavy and bulky and represent significant manipulation and toil for personnel to replace and to dispose of spent generators. Large quantities of lead, molded plastic containers, and packing materials are used only once and discarded after two weeks. Shipping costs and waste are real considerations for end-users. Further, conventional generator systems lack flexibility as they are limited to fixed activity denominations per unit sold, resulting in limited predictability and reproducibility. Typical generators also do not provide activity above 19 Ci.
It would be desirable therefore to provide systems and methods for producing customized, predictable and reproducible supplies of radioisotopes, including high activity levels, that do not require weekly replacement, handling and transport of heavy shielding materials associated with conventional generators.

Systems and methods for radioisotope generation


A sheet guidance channel includes a pair of opposite surfaces (2a, 2b) in which are formed elongated raised beads (12) extending in the transport direction (A--A). The elongated raised beads (12) are arranged on the two surfaces (2a, 2b) such that they are arranged in pairs opposite to one another, restricting the height of the sheet guidance channel. Relative to the central axis (M) of the surfaces (2a, 2b), the elongated raised beads (12) are inclined by an angle .alpha. in the transport direction and the elongated raised beads (12) extend in the transport direction (A--A) only over partial areas of the surfaces (2a, 2b).

Sheet transport in conventional copiers generally takes place in sheet guidance channels closed on both sides and having a constant height. Transport rollers are arranged in pairs in the sheet guidance channel in order to convey the sheet being transported through the sheet guidance channel. In addition, ribs or guide elements are formed over the full length of the sheet guidance channels for guiding the sheet. Since these ribs or guide elements along the transport route contact continually the same part of the sheet being transported, damage or contact marks can occur on the sheet.
The patent DE-A-33 13 055 describes a feeder for photographic copiers. Here a cover is shown that is shown on its side facing a sheet stack with full-length guide ribs and additional supporting ribs. The guide ribs project further forward than the supporting ribs, thereby minimizing the contact of the ejected sheet with the guide system.
Document JP-A-4-277763 discloses a device for avoiding in an image faults or irregularities that are caused by the guidance of a sheet. The guide surface has two inclined surfaces designed such that only the image-free areas of the copied paper are touched during transportation by the guide surfaces. This prevents the generation of faults or irregularities in an unfixed image.


To provide a method for reading out symbol information and a device for reading out symbol information which are able to prevent a decline in decoding reliability by reducing noise caused by a quantized error, localized contaminations or the like. The method for reading out symbol information may comprise a process in which the image data, obtained by imaging the symbol information such as bar codes and the like, are converted to corrected image data having zero angle of inclination; a smoothing process in which the corrected image data are smoothed; and a column specifying process in which breakpoints of said symbol information column are specified by computing the total sum in the row direction on the smoothed corrected image data.

Bar codes have hitherto been widely used as a means to impart unique information to a medium such as plastics, paper or the like for its autorecognition. For example, one dimensional bar codes are widely used for general consumer goods for the purpose of the POS management system, inventory management or the like. Furthermore, as the applications of bar codes are expanded, the demands on the information volume of bar codes increase, and the symbol information referred to as two dimensional bar codes, which have a significantly greater capacity than one dimensional bar codes, are making their appearance. And readout devices to deal with the two dimensional codes are also gradually being used widely.
Among these two dimensional bar codes, one form is to increase the information volume by piling up the one dimensional codes; this is called stack-type bar codes. For a representative one, there is a code system stack-type bar code referred to as PDF 417. Moreover, this code system PDF 417 is an international standard.
For the readout device to read out stack-type bar codes, there is a readout device described in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H2-268383 or Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H5-324887 (Paragraph [0013]). The bar code reader disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H2-268383 images bar codes with a two dimensional imaging device, integrates the image into memory, and decodes the bar code symbol information based on the above data.
However, the bar code reader disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H2-268383 has a problem that readout precision becomes dependent on the direction of the label of stack-type bar codes, and also a problem that it does not take into consideration a situation in which the label is imaged outside the view of the imaging device. The symbol information readout device disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H5-324887 (Paragraph [0013]) solves such problems. In the symbol information readout device disclosed in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. H5-324887 (Paragraph [0013]), bar codes are imaged with the two dimensional imaging device, and the bar code position and inclination are detected. As a result, whatever direction the label of stack-type bar codes is set to, or even if the image has defects, the symbol information readout device is arranged so as to be able to read out the bar code symbol information.
Moreover, Japanese Kokai Patent H9-050480 discloses a symbol information readout device which used is a line sensor that reads out without correcting the inclination to rearrange a recording medium when the symbol of two dimensional bar codes is placed.

Method for reading out symbol information and device for reading out symbol information


A form panel quick fastener including a clamping plate having an elongated channel base fixedly fastened to a form panel at an outer side and a through hole disposed in the middle of the elongated channel base and aligned with a through hole of the form panel and a barrel raised from the elongated channel base at an inner side around the through hole of the clamping plate; a screw rod inserted through the through hole of the clamping plate and the through hole of the form panel and having a spiral groove around the periphery; and a ball thrust bearing sleeved onto the screw rod and forced into engagement with the barrel of the clamping plate to hold down the screw rod, the ball thrust bearing including a hexagonal head having a center through hole which receives the screw rod, a tubular flange perpendicularly raised from the hexagon head at one side around said center through hole of the hexagon head, a plurality of spiral holes spaced around the tubular flange at different elevations, and a plurality of steel balls respectively moved in the spiral holes and forced by an inside wall of the barrel of the clamping plate into engagement with the spiral groove of the screw rod.

The present invention relates to a fastening device adapted for fastening form panels together, and more particularly to a form panel quick fastener which can be quickly installed, and then dismantled from the form panels after setting of concrete.
When constructing a concrete wall or the like, form panels shall be set up and fastened together by screw bolts and nuts so that concrete can be molded into the desired shape. After molded concrete is hardened, the nuts must be removed from the screw bolts so that the form panels can be detached. However, it is not easy to remove the nuts from the screw bolts because the nuts must be turned outwards from the screw bolts through several turns. Further, before removing the nuts from the screw bolts, covered concrete must be cleared from the threaded stems of the screw bolts.


After a remote control valve has been brought into a non-working state, a stop signal is to be sent from an engine controller in a controller to a governor controller in an engine to stop the engine automatically, under the condition that an illuminating lamp is turned off, after a preset allowance time has passed and when a gate lever provided at a gateway for an operator is opened (the operator gets off the machine). Further, before the engine is stopped, the operator is to be notified of the coming engine stop, and when the engine is stopped, a power supply is to be cut off automatically.

Conventionally, as a technique of this kind in an excavator and/or a crane, the following techniques have become publicly known:                (i) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-41069, when a gate lever for opening and closing a gateway of a cabin is opened, an engine is to be stopped automatically with the determination, based on a signal from a switch adapted to operate in accordance with the opening of the gate lever, that the operator gets off a machine (i.e. the machine is brought into a non-working state); and        (ii) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-96627, when a lock lever for inoperably locking a hydraulic circuit is operated, the engine is to be stopped automatically with the determination that the machine is brought into a non-working state.
However, based only on apparently optimum conditions for stopping the operation, that is, the opening of the gate lever in the above-described known technique (i), and the operation of the lock lever in the above-described known technique (ii), the engine is stopped immediately without considering other conditions, and no follow-up for engine restart, etc. after the stoppage is provided, which causes the following problems in relation to the engine stop:                (A) stopping the engine while performing, for example, a checking and/or repairing operation with an illuminating lamp on may lead to over discharge in the case of using a battery as a power supply;        (B) even though an operator does not intend to stop his/her work, the engine may be stopped unnecessarily; and        (C) it may take the operator, if not familiar with the system, a long time to restart the engine after an automatic engine stop.
Hence, the present invention has been made to provide a construction machine capable of avoiding the above-described troubles over the automatic engine stop.
To be more concrete, it is an object of the present invention to prevent unnecessary discharge in a machine in which the battery is used as a power supply.
It is another object of the present invention to notify the operator of the coming automatic engine stop to avoid unnecessary engine stop when possible.
It is a further object of the present invention to assist operators unfamiliar with the system to restart the engine.

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


A video server and a file management method which can erase an unnecessary program data file promptly are provided. Video server S divides processing of management of files performed by one frame into 11 sections, assigns five sections to playing process, assigns five sections to recording process and assigns one section to erasing process and performs processing of the file management. Server S supervises the file processing under executing. When a number of sections which perform the playing process or a number of sections which perform recording process is smaller than 5 and there is a demand of the erasing process for more than 2 files, server S assigns the section which is not used to the erasing process and unnecessary files are erased.

At a broadcasting station, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disc, etc. have been conventionally used to store program data. However, since storing large volume data and rapid accessing became possible by a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a semiconductor memory, such as a SSD (Solid State Disk), in recent years, a video server which stores the program data in those storage devices has been introduced.
In the video server, since a plurality of program data are stored in a large amount of storage device unlike the magnetic tape, file management of program data is required. Even if the large capacity storage device is used, it is important to erase a file of the unnecessary program data promptly to reserve recordable capacity greatly so that the video server can record new program data at any time.
In order to manage recordable capacity, it is proposed a technique which discovers and erases the oldest file recorded on a storage device when a program data file is recorded to exceed a predetermined capacity (for example, JP, PH08-115333A).
However, in the conventional video server, even when performing multitask operation, priority is given to recording and playing. Since erasing is processed with the lowest priority and the files are erased one by one, there is a problem that erasing is not performed promptly.


A fluid-filled vibration damping bushing including an inner tubular metal member and an outer peripheral sleeve elastically connected via a base rubber interposed therebetween with first and second fluid chambers formed therein. A stopper rubber constituted as a separate element from the base rubber, disposed at a circumferential location corresponding at a minimum to either the first or second fluid chamber, for restricting relative displacement of the inner tubular metal member and outer tubular metal member in an axis-perpendicular direction. The stopper rubber is formed separately from an orifice member and bonded to one axial end portion of the outer tubular metal member at a location outside the first and second fluid chambers so as to face toward the inner tubular member. The outer tubular metal member with the stopper rubber attached thereto is inserted onto the outer peripheral sleeve from the other axial end thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fluid-filled vibration damping bushing suitable for use as an automotive suspension bushing or other application.
2. Description of the Related Art
In automotive suspensions to date, a vibration damping rubber is interposed between an suspension arm and a linking portion to a body side, to absorb vibration between the suspension arm and the body side. Conventionally, a tubular mounting type suspension bushing was used as a suspension bushing of this kind, so as to be able to absorb vibration while ensuring oscillation of the suspension arm. An example of a vibration damping bushing for use as a suspension bushing of this kind is depicted in FIGS. 16–18. The illustrated vibration damping bushing is of fluid-filled type having a fluid sealed within a fluid chamber.
In FIGS. 17A and 17B, a fluid-filled vibration damping bushing includes an inner tubular metal member 200 and a base rubber 202 integrally bonded by vulcanization to the outer circumferential surface of the inner tubular metal member 200. A pair of first and second fluid chambers (hereinafter simply termed fluid chambers) 204-1, 204-2 mutually independent of one another are formed in the base rubber 202, in the form of depressions recessed towards the inner tubular metal member 200 side from the outer circumferential surface thereof.
At the outer circumferential surface of the base rubber 202, an outer peripheral sleeve (here fabricated of metal) 208 having an aperture window 206 of shape corresponding to the shape of the fluid chamber 204-1, 204-2 opening on the outer circumferential surface is integrally affixed to the base rubber 202 by means of vulcanization bonding. With the fluid-filled vibration damping bushing of this example, bushing body 210 is constituted as a integrally vulcanized unit, by the aforementioned inner tubular metal member 200, base rubber 202, fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2, and outer sleeve affixed to the outer circumferential surface of the base rubber 202. A rubber wall 212 divides the fluid chambers 204-1 and 204-2.
An outer tubular metal member 214 covers openings of the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 from an outer circumferential side of medial plates (orifice metal members) 216-1, 216-2, and a rubber layer 218 is provided on an outer circumferential sides of the medial plates 216-1, 216-2 (these will be described later). A seal rubber layer 215 is integrally bonded by vulcanization to an inner circumferential surface of the outer tubular metal member 214 over the entire axial length, thereby giving a fluid-tight sealing to the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 and an orifice passage 220 (described later) by means of this seal rubber layer 215. This outer tubular metal member 214 is fastened by caulking at both axial ends thereof to the aforementioned bushing body 210.
FIG. 17A shows metal medial plates 216-1, 216-2, 216-3 embedded within the base rubber 216-4. Of these medial plates, plates 216-1, 216-2, and 216-3 form orifice metal members for the purpose of forming an orifice passage 220. A rubber layer 218 is integrally bonded by vulcanization to an outer peripheral side of each medial plate, forming at an outer circumferential surface thereof the orifice passage 220 that connects the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2. The fluid sealed within the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 is able to flow from one side to the other and back again through this orifice passage 220.
The medial plates 216-1, 216-2 making up the orifice metal members are constituted as separate elements from the other medial plates 216-3, 216-4, i.e. as separate elements from the bushing body 210. At the inner circumferential surfaces of the medial plates 216-1, 216-2, stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 for restricting relative displacement of the inner tubular metal member 200 and the outer tubular metal member 214 in the axis-perpendicular direction, i.e. for restricting elastic deformation of the base rubber 202, are integrally bonded vulcanization projecting inward into the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 towards the inner tubular metal member 200.
This fluid-filled vibration damping bushing is used disposed so that the aforementioned fluid chambers 204-1 and 204-2 are situated along the principal vibration input direction. When vibration is input in the axis-perpendicular direction across the inner tubular metal member 200 and the outer tubular metal member 214 in the same direction, the base rubber 202 undergoes elastic deformation, and the liquid inside flows between the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 through the orifice passage 220, so that the vibration is absorbed effectively on the basis of liquid column resonance action at that time. Where elastic deformation of the base rubber 202 in the same direction attempts to go above a given level, the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 come into abutment with the inner tubular metal member 200, restricting deformation above a given level.
The metal outer peripheral sleeve 208 has the following significance. Where the base rubber 202 and the outer tubular metal member 214 are affixed without interposing this kind of outer peripheral sleeve 208, the bushing body 210 including the base rubber 202 is press-fit into the interior of the outer tubular metal member 214. However, in this instance, the problem of appreciable deformation and unstable shape of the base rubber can occur, and additional problems, such as to the need to for additional process after press-metal member in order subsequently bond the base rubber 202 and the outer tubular metal member 214 (secondary vulcanization), and the need for a subsequent process to seal the liquid in the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2, occur as well.
In contradistinction thereto, where the rigid metal outer peripheral sleeve 208 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the base rubber 202, the base rubber 202 and the outer tubular metal member 214 can be fastened together simply by constricting the outer tubular metal member 214 in the diameter-reducing direction, and moreover this constricting operation can be carried out in liquid, so that it becomes a simple matter to seal the liquid within the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2.
As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 18, these stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 are also constituted as separate elements from the bushing body 210, and the medial plates 216-1, 216-2 making up the orifice metal members are attached to the bushing body 210 by means of inserting them, together with the rubber layer 218 to the outer peripheral side thereof into the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 from the axis-perpendicular direction.
One reason for constituting the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 as separate elements from the bushing body 210 and subsequently attaching them is that if the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 and the base rubber 202 were constituted as a single body, the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 and the base rubber 202 would inevitably have the same rubber hardness, whereas if these are constituted separately, the rubber hardness of the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 can be varied freely relative to the rubber hardness of the base rubber 202, making it possible for vibration absorbing ability and stopper ability to each be better exhibited in the fluid-filled vibration damping bushing.
However, where the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 are constituted separately from the base rubber 202 and designed to be attached to the base rubber 202, the fluid-filled vibration damping bushing requires a greater number of vulcanized parts (vulcanized rubber components) (here, four vulcanized parts are required), as a result of which the problem of higher cost of the fluid-filled vibration damping bushing occurs.
Additionally, as the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 are situated within the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2, during stopper action the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 come into abutment with their partner components via the liquid, creating the problem of reduced frictional force and difficulty in achieving adequate stopper performance by the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 (i.e. a tendency to overstroke). Additionally, there is a risk that abraded particulate material produced during stopper action of the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 will be drawn into the orifice passage 220 and constrict, or in some instances clog up, the orifice passage 220.
An additional problem is that, in the event of input in the twisting direction between the inner tubular metal member 200 and the outer tubular metal member 214, i.e. input of force in a direction tilting their axes, the stopper rubbers 222-1, 222-2 can undergo appreciable strain due to abutment against the base rubber 202 in which the fluid chambers 204-1, 204-2 are formed.
While a number of problems pertaining to fluid-filled vibration damping bushings used as suspension bushings have been mentioned above, fluid-filled vibration damping bushings of this kind are used widely at various locations, with similar problems occurring in these instances as well. Fluid-filled vibration damping bushings that have a pair of stoppers for restricting displacement in the axis-perpendicular direction are taught in JP-A-8-193639 and JP-A-2003-269525, but these differ from the present invention in that the stopper pair is disposed within the fluid chambers.
JP-A-2003-269507 teaches the element of constituting a pair of annular stopper rubbers as separate elements from the base rubber and disposing these at each axial end. However, JP-A-2003-269507 does not teach a vibration damping bushing of fluid-filled, thereby being directed instead to a different purpose.


A device includes a first substrate bonded with a second substrate structure. The second substrate structure includes an outgasing prevention structure. At least one micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device is disposed over the outgasing prevention structure.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. Such advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale and are used for illustration purposes only. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

Micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) structures and methods of forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


In an engine generator unit, an engine is connected with an outer-rotor/magnet type generator that has a cantilevered outer rotor functioning also as a substitute for an engine fly wheel. Cooling fan device is attached to the outer rotor. The generator and cooling fan device are covered with a fain cover that is made of die-cast aluminum alloy. The fan cover has, at its one end remote from the engine, a cooling-air inlet portion for introducing cooling air from the outside via the cooling fan device, and a recoil starter is attached to the cooling-air inlet portion. Also, the fan cover is connected at its other end to the engine with a gap formed therebetween for blowing the cooling air onto an outer peripheral surface of the engine. Supporting leg members are secured to the fan cover and engine, and these leg members are also mounted to a framework via shock-absorbing members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine generator unit including an engine and an electric-power generators driven by the engine.
2. Related Prior Art
Among general-purpose power supply devices suitable for outdoor use is the so-called engine generator unit which includes an engine and an electric-power generator driven by the engine. The engine and generator would vibrate strongly and become hot during operation of the unit, and thus there have been demands for techniques that can appropriately minimize adverse influences of the vibrations and heat of the engine and generator. Typical example of such an engine generator unit is shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-5-96543.
The engine generator unit disclosed in the Japanese utility model laid-open publication has a crankshaft extending horizontally (in a front-rear direction) through a crankcase of the engine, and an engine-cooling fan fixed to the front end of the crankshaft. The disclosed engine generator unit also includes a recoil starter attached to the front end of the engine-cooling fan device covered with a fan case. Also, in the disclosed engine generator unit, a casing having a stator of the generator attached thereon is connected to a rear end portion of the crankcase, and a rotor of the generator supported at its rear end via bearings is connected to the rear end of the crankshaft. Generator-cooling fan device is provided where the rotor is connected to the rear end of the crankshaft. Further, the engine and generator are supported by a common framework.
However, because both the engine and the generator are supported by the common framework in the disclosed engine generator unit, it is very important to accurately center the generator relative to the crankshaft. Further, due to the fact that the stator-attached casing is supported by the framework and connected to the crankcase, the rotor must be mounted with high positional accuracy relative to such a casing. Furthermore, the provision of the two cooling fan devices, i.e., the engine-cooling fan and generator-cooling fan, would result in an increase in the necessary number of components and a complicated structure.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved engine generator unit which allows the engine and generator to be reliably mounted to a framework with great facility and can effectively cool the engine and generator using a simple structure.
To accomplish the above-mentioned object, the,present invention provides an engine generator unit which comprises: an engine; an electric-power generator to be driven by the engine, the engine and the electric-power generator being provided coaxially in a direction of an engine output shaft, the electric-power generator being an outer-rotor/magnet type generator having a cantilevered outer rotor functioning also as a substitute for an engine fly wheel; a cooling fan device attached to the outer rotor; a fan cover covering the electric-power generator and the cooling fan device, the fan cover being generally in a cylindrical shape and made of die-cast aluminum alloy, the fan cover having, at one end thereof remote from the engine, a cooling-air inlet portion for introducing cooling air from outside the engine generator unit via the cooling fan device, a recoil starter being attached to the cooling-air inlet portion, the fan cover being secured at another end thereof to the engine and having, at the other end, a cooling-air outlet portion for blowing the cooling air onto an outer peripheral surface of the engine; and supporting leg members secured to the fan cover and the engine, the supporting leg member being mounted to a framework via shock-absorbing members.
In the engine generator unit of the present invention, the electric-power generator is supported by the engine in a cantilever fashion, so that both the stator and the rotor of the generator will vibrate together with the engine during operation. Because the electric-power generator is fixed to the framework via the engine and rugged fan cover secured to the engine, it can be supported with sufficient firmness. Even where the engine and fan cover are mounted with some positional error therebetween, as is often the case with this type of engine generator unit, such error can be well accommodated by a gap present between the inner surface of the fan cover and the outer rotor.
Further, the fan cover is made of die-cast aluminum alloy having a high thermal conductivity, and the cooling air drawn in from the outside via the cooling fan continues to be blown onto the inner surface of the fan cover. Because such a fan cover is attached directly to the engine, the fan cover can function as a very efficient heat radiator through which the heat accumulated in the outer wall of the engine can be efficiently radiated to the outside. As a result, the generator and engine can be cooled with increased efficiency and the oil temperature and the like in the engine, can be constantly kept low.
In a preferred implementation of the present invention, the fan cover has a plurality of axial slits formed in an end surface of the cooling-air inlet portion, and the plurality of axial slits of the fan cover and an end surface of the recoil starter together constitute a plurality of air-sucking slits. The plurality of axial slits can be formed with ease simultaneously with formation of the fan cover.
Preferably, the cooling fan device is a centrifugal cooling fan device that forces the cooling air from the outside into between the outer rotor and the fan cover so as to send the cooling air to the engine and a vicinity thereof. The cooling air forced into between the outer rotor and the fan cover can also effectively cool the inner peripheral surface of the fan cover.

Portable engine generator having a fan cover with heat radiating surface


A system for generating an on-screen display (OSD) is described. The on-screen display, which has a semitransparent background area, is overlaid on top of an image. The data which make up this image are stored in a buffer. An accumulator, connected to the buffer, is used to examine this data, and store information about it. An attached OSD module used the stored information to automatically adjust the semitransparent background of the OSD.

Many electronic devices, particularly those with an attached or integrated display have extensive functionality available through the use of an on-screen display (OSD). On-screen displays are used for a variety of reasons, such as aesthetics, efficiency, and user comfort. For example, a digital television may only have four or five discrete buttons on the television itself, with perhaps an additional 20 to 30 buttons on an associated remote control. Between options related to audio and video configurations, input control, channel selection, digital video recorder functionality, and the like, the television may have several hundred discrete functions with which a user can interact. Providing a remote, or buttons on the television itself, with a one-to-one correlation of buttons to available functions would not be aesthetically pleasing, would not be an efficient use of hardware, and often can be intimidating to the end-user.
Instead, multi-level On-Screen Displays are utilized. While varying across manufacturer and application type, on-screen displays tend to have a number of common elements. In general, a background is laid over top, or in place of, the image shown on the display. Options, either in graphical or textual form, are displayed upon that background. In some applications, a solid color background is used, e.g., a single blue rectangle appears in the middle of the screen, and text or icons are displayed over top the rectangle. In other situations, a semitransparent background is used, such that at least some portion of the image on the display can be seen through the background. In most applications, the selection of background color, brightness, and transparency level are preset, and cannot be changed. In a very few applications, the user can manually choose one of several available schemes for the OSD, enabling them to choose from, for example, three or four color and transparency options, when setting up their device.
However, OSDs are not responsive to the image being shown on the display. Regardless of whether the on-screen image is dark or bright, the OSD does not change. This is a problem for several reasons. For example, if the OSD is using a lighter background, when the background image is also bright, the OSD text will be washed out and difficult to read. If the OSD uses a darker background, and the displayed image is dark, the image detail may not show through, and is blocked out by the OSD.

Dynamically adjustable elements of an on-screen display

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Disclosed herein is a gauge for slurry coating thickness determination. The gauge includes a body and at least three probes extending from the body. The at least three probes provide a go-no-go indicator including a first demarcation that defines a minimum slurry coating thickness and a second demarcation that defines a maximum slurry coating thickness. A minimum no-go region is defined between the first demarcation and a probe tip, a maximum no-go region is defined between the second demarcation and the body, and a go region is defined between the first demarcation and the second demarcation.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the art of manufacturing, and more particularly to slurry coating thickness measurement during a manufacturing or component repair process.
Manufacturing and repair processes for some types of components can include application of a coating material applied as a slurry. The slurry can include a metal mixture applied through spraying or dipping a portion of a solid component followed by a drying process to harden the slurry and bind the coating to the solid surface of the component.
The thickness of slurry material applied onto surfaces plays a role in the subsequent content diffusion into the coated parts. There is no quick and simple method to directly measure the thickness of a slurry coating applied to a part, especially in small areas of a part. Measurement of coating thickness may be performed in some instances using a device with at least a portion of its circumference convexly curved, e.g., a circular disc. Such measurement technology can involve rolling of the device over an intended measurement area, which is not feasible for small areas, such as blade root faces on turbine blades in the context of a gas turbine engine. Further, variations in dimensions of parts as manufactured may reduce the measurement accuracy of roller-type measurement devices. There is a need to maintain an appropriate range of coating thickness applied as a slurry on surfaces with complex geometries and/or areas that are too small for roller-type measurement.