Data encoded in packets modulated onto a carrier wave is transmitted between a base station and a transponder. Each packet includes a header section containing at least a reference symbol, and a further section such as a data section. In the transponder, the time duration of the reference symbol is determined, and a parameter is adjusted dependent on the determined duration. The parameter determines at least a property, such as the time resolution, of the encoding and/or decoding operation, and may be the clock frequency of a counter circuit or the charging current of an RC-circuit used to determine the duration of the symbols. The parameter may initially be set to a minimum default value, which is increased if the determined duration is less than or equal to a specified threshold. Thereby, power consumption is minimized while ensuring reliable encoding and decoding over a large range of transmission distances.

Transmission methods of the above mentioned general type forming the general field of this invention, between one or more base stations or reader devices and one or more transponders, are typically used for contactless identification systems, or particularly so-called radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, for example. It is also possible to integrate one or more sensors, for example for carrying out a temperature measurement, on the transponder. Such transponders are referred to as remote sensors. In this context, the transponder or remote sensor transmits, or especially backscatters, identification information or sensor information in a contactless manner from the transponder or sensor to the base station or reader device. Throughout this specification, the general term "transponder" should be understood to cover both passive and semi-passive transponders, as well as remote sensors that include sensor elements integrated in or connected to a transponder.
Such transponders, or particularly the receiving/backscattering or receiving/transmitting circuit arrangements thereof, typically do not include an active transmitter for actively transmitting the relevant data to the base station. Instead, the transponders are non-active systems that can be designated as passive systems if they do not comprise their own power supply, or as semi-passive systems if they do comprise their own power supply. Especially passive transponders derive the energy necessary for their operation from the electromagnetic field emitted by the base station.
In such non-active systems, the data transmission in the distant or far field of the base station using UHF waves or microwaves generally uses a so-called backscattering or backscatter-coupling between the transponder and the base station. In this regard, the base station emits electromagnetic carrier waves, which are modulated by the receiving/backscattering arrangement of the transponder according to a prescribed modulation process in accordance with the data that are to be transmitted from the transponder to the base station. With this modulation, the waves are then reflected or backscattered from the transponder back to the base station. The typical modulation processes used in this context include amplitude modulation, phase modulation, and amplitude shift keying (ASK) subcarrier modulation in which the frequency or the phase position of the subcarrier is varied.
The prior German Patent Applications DE 102 04 347 and DE 101 38 217 A1 (and its counterpart US Application Publication 2003/0133435 A1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) disclose methods for carrying out a wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder, in which data packets to be transmitted each comprise a header section, a data section including the useful data to be transmitted, and an end section. The useful data to be transmitted are encoded and transmitted through the use of suitable defined symbols that are identified in the header section of the data packet.
In this regard, a symbol serves for the definition or interpretation of the value of a character in the character sequence representing or embodying the data being transmitted. Such a symbol is typically represented or defined in connection with a time duration between two successive field gaps or so-called "notches" in the header section of the data packet. Such a field notch can be achieved or generated, for example in connection with an amplitude modulation, by the suppressing or damping of the carrier signal. Alternatively, as another example in the context of a double or dual sideband modulation, such a field notch can be generated by switching over the phase position of the carrier signal. The transponder decodes the received data packets on the basis of the symbols contained and defined in the header section, more particularly in connection with the time durations that have been respectively allocated to the respective symbols. For determining the value of a respective character, the transponder compares the determined time duration of the respective character with the time durations of the symbols as defined in the header section of the data packet.
In the data transmission from the transponder to the base station, in some cases it is provided that each character or bit that is to be transmitted is transmitted synchronously with a clock signal or clocking pulse prescribed by the base station. In this context, the modulation state is fixed and/or known at the beginning of the time interval, and then a change-over of the modulation state is carried out after the elapse of the time duration of the symbol allocated in the header section to the character or bit. As an alternative thereto, the data transmission is typically carried out a synchronously.
Through the selection of the time intervals or particularly the time durations respectively allocated to the respective symbols, it is possible to adapt the transmission rate to the prevailing transmission conditions within a certain transmission rate range. This range of the transmission rate is limited, among other things, by the point at which the transponder, or rather particularly the encoding/decoding unit provided in the transponder for this purpose, can no longer resolve or distinguish the time differences between various different time durations that are respectively allocated to the symbols or characters. In this regard, a higher time resolution generally goes along with a higher current consumption of the transponder, for example because it is necessary to increase the clock frequency of a counter used for the time duration determination, or the charging current of a functionally corresponding analog RC-stage in the encoding/decoding unit. Because a rather low power density prevails in the far field of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the base station, and this power density serves for the power supply of the transponder (especially the passive transponder), the achievable transmission distance or range is reduced as the current consumption of the transponder increases. The parameter or parameters determining the encoding or the decoding, or especially the encoding/decoding unit, is thus typically statically configured in such a manner so as to achieve a sufficient compromise between the capability of a high time resolution and conditional thereon also a high achievable transmission rate on the one hand, and a low current consumption on the other hand.

Wireless data transmission between base station and transponder with encoding/decoding parameter adjusted dependent on header symbol duration


An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a base and contact towers extending forward from the base. The base has an outer perimeter defined between a front and a rear of the base, and the base has a latch extending forward from the base generally parallel to and spaced apart from the towers such that a gap is defined between a bottom of the latch and a top of the towers. Flanges extend upward from the top of the towers and at least partially block the gap. Contacts are held by the housing, where the contacts extend into the contact towers for mating with mating contacts of a mating connector.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly, to electrical connector assemblies having mating features.
Electrical connector assemblies typically include mating halves that are mated together. Electrical connector assemblies are used in a variety of industries and applications, such as in the appliance industry in a refrigerator. Other examples include in the automotive industry, the machinery industry, cabling networks, and the like. The mating halves are typically terminated to ends of cables and include contacts that are mated together to make an electrical connection between the mating halves.
One problem with known connector assemblies is difficulty in mating the mating halves and/or damage to the various components during mating. For example, the contacts may be damaged if the mating halves are not properly aligned during mating. Additionally, in some applications, it may be difficult for the user to make the connection as the connector assembly may be positioned in an area that is difficult to reach or see the mating halves during mating. It is also difficult to grip the connector assemblies during mating and unmating.
Another problem with known connector assemblies is that the latches that are provided on one or both connector halves may be snagged by the wires that are associated with the connector assemblies. For example, during shipping of the cabled assemblies, the wires may wrap around or get snagged underneath the latch. When handling the connector assemblies, pulling on the wires may cause the latch to bend and/or break.
An electrical connector assembly is needed that overcomes these and other problems. An electrical connector assembly is needed that may be assembled in a convenient manner. An electrical connector assembly is needed that reduces or eliminates the problems associated with wire snag of the latch.


Provided is a resistive random access memory including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a variable resistance layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer includes a first sublayer, a second sublayer, and a conductive metal oxynitride layer disposed between the first sublayer and the second sublayer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a resistive random access memory and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to high memory density, fast operating speed, low power consumption, and low costs, the resistive random access memory has become an extensively studied memory device in recent years. The principle of operation thereof is that conductive paths are generated by some dielectric materials therein when a high voltage is applied. As a result, the dielectric materials are changed from a high resistance state to a low resistance state, and can return to the high resistance state through a "reset" step thereafter. Accordingly, the dielectric materials can provide the two different states corresponding to "0" and "1", and can therefore be used as a memory unit for storing digital information.
In various resistive random access memories, the hafnium oxide-based resistive random access memory is highly anticipated due to good durability and high switching speed. However, it is often difficult to maintain the currently used titanium/hafnium oxide (Ti/HfO2)-based resistive random access memory in a low resistance state at high temperature, thus causing deterioration of the so-called "high-temperature data retention". In this regard, research and improvements are necessary.

Resistive random access memory and method of fabricating the same


An electric power line monitoring, communication and response system schedules the transmission of packets to occur during voltage zero-crossing intervals when corona is minimized. The transmitters may be located at high voltage hanging directly from the power line conductors along with associated current transformers and voltage sensors. A system of these transmitters distributed throughout the power grid communicate with each other in a data-forward manner to bring complete, real-time current and voltage waveform, device status and fault monitoring information to data aggregation waypoints, such as transmission substations where supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) equipment is installed. The power line monitoring data is then transmitted from the data waypoints to a central monitoring and control center, typically using existing SCADA equipment, to provide h detailed power line monitoring data for a large number of data monitoring points distributed throughout the power grid.

Corona from high voltage lines is a known problem and well established as a design criteria for high voltage electric power lines. Years ago a test known as the Radio Influence Voltage (RIV) test was implemented in response to corona interference causing AM radios in automobiles to become unusable while driving under and near power lines. Corona interference is known to become significantly worse in the presence of bad weather, such as rain and fog. The implementation of the RIV testing with associated electric power line design criteria helped improve the situation. When the original RIV approach was implemented there were no electric power sensors operating at high voltage, but the electric utility world has changed in that a variety of electric power sensors operating at high voltage are now readily available.
Avoiding corona when transmitting data along high voltage power lines can be facilitated by transmitting data at higher frequencies where the corona interference is less intense. While this may appear to be a good technical solution for many design objectives, the FCC only allows relatively low power levels to be transmitted in these unlicensed frequency channels. The combination of utilizing low power communications at these relatively high frequencies results in relatively shorter range data transmission capability, in some cases only a mile or two in dry weather and much less in heavy rain or fog. Reliable communications under these constraints therefore requires a large number of repeaters and specialized designs to focus the transmission of data packets directly between sources and receivers.
Another design concern arises with the placement of communication antennas. Electric power line data sensors, such as current transformers and voltage monitors, are ordinarily located in the high voltage field immediately next to the power line conductors, which also happens to be the location where the corona interference is most intense. Locating the antenna at high voltage within a corona field effectively de-tunes the antenna and changes its communication pattern degrading its ability to transmit and receive data. Corona interference created by power lines is also known to cause voltage spikes that can damage sensitive and expensive transmitter and receiver electronics. Providing the antennas with physical corona protection, such as shielding, generally makes antennas much larger and cumbersome. In addition, electronic filtering is largely impractical when the corona frequencies occur in the same range as the communication transmission frequency. As a result, there is a persistent need for a better solution for monitoring, communicating and responding to electric power line data.

Corona avoidance electric power line monitoring, communication and response system


Wireless emergency alert messages are provide to mobile devices as predetermined (canned) messages. The predetermined messages are size limited to conserve network resources and accommodate various mobile devices. In an example configuration, the predetermined emergency alert messages are created based upon the attributes of the common alerting protocol (CAP). To provide greater flexibility to authorized originators of emergency alert messages, the predetermined emergency alert message can include free-form text or characters as provided by the authorized originator.

The wireless Emergency Alert System (EAS) is capable of providing messages indicative of a variety of types of alerts. Via the EAS, subscribers thereof can receive messages pertaining to weather conditions, disasters, AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alerts, and/or alerts issued by the Government, for example. Due to broadcast capabilities, bandwidth constraints, and limitations of mobile devices (e.g., limited number of characters displayable on the mobile device), the size of the EAS message is limited. However, initiators of EAS messages often are not aware of the size limitations. Thus, the limitation upon the size of an EAS message can be problematic. For example, approximately 50,000 emergency alert initiators exist throughout the United States and Canada. When notified of similar emergencies, emergency alert initiators should generate similar type EAS messages. Unfortunately, all emergency alert initiators do not receive identical training, and some emergency alert initiators tend to adlib by including additional information in the EAS messages. Emergency alert initiators may include undesired/unnecessary information (e.g., web addresses for wireless data services, phone numbers to call for more information) in the EAS text message. The inclusion of this undesired/unnecessary information can result in network congestion. Training is another problem. Training approximately 50,000 emergency alert initiators about updates to the EAS messages could be overwhelming and result in inconsistent EAS messages.


An electronic payment system is provided to comprise a mobile terminal 10 for emitting a remotely operable signal, a communications device 5 connected to an automated machine 1 for receiving remotely operable signal emitted from mobile terminal 10, and an automatic payment device 6 linked to a financial database 7. Communications device 5 retrieves from remotely operable signal an account number of a holder of the account at financial database 7. Payment device 6 receives a monetary signal indicative of a transaction fee, withdraws the amount of transaction fee from the correct holder's account to produce an authorization signal to communications device 5 that drives automated machine 1 without credit transaction.

In countries such as the U.S. that authorizes casino-owning business, players can enjoy games with gaming machines while paying cash for games in casinos or game halls. Some of known gaming machines usually have a bill acceptor for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,556 (Document 1). In another aspect, Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2009-265991 (Document 2) demonstrates an electronic settlement system in game halls such as amusement arcades.
The gaming machine shown in Document 1 comprises a button panel including a display and a user interface area for allowing an operator to play a game of chance, a bill acceptor incorporated into the machine for accepting and validating currency to credit the user with a corresponding number of play credits for the gaming apparatus, and a note dispenser for dispensing currency as payout for successful play.
The electronic settlement system exhibited in Document 2 comprises a plurality of terminal systems each electrically connected to corresponding one of a plurality of gaming machines provided in amusement arcades to handle transaction fee information in terminal systems, and a payment device communicated with the terminal systems through a communication network to electronically pay playing fees in gaming machines from terminal systems. Each terminal system comprises a card processor for rewriting squared information stored in an IC (integrated circuit) card for settlement and a settlement controller for establishing a telecommunication with the payment device to send and receive squared information between the card processor and settlement controller in accordance with command signals from the electronic settlement device and to give a gaming machine a permission of the utilization when receiving a notice of settlement completion from the payment device. The payment device comprises a signal processor for making settlement based on squared information read from IC card through a terminal system and for writing new squared information on the IC card through the terminal system upon completion of payment process, a settlement communicator for sending a settlement signal of the payment to the terminal system, and a processing communicator for sending processed information on settlement process to a superior settlement system through a communication route except the communication network.
Meanwhile, a known debit card is a plastic card that allows the cardholder electronic access to his or her bank account at a financial institution. Some cards have a stored value for payment by withdrawing funds from a designated account in favor of the designated payee's bank account. The card can be used as an alternative payment method to cash when making purchases. In some cases, the primary account number is assigned for use on the Internet. Unlike credit and charge cards, a debit card makes it possible to make an immediate payment to a payee from the cardholder's designated bank account. Debit cards usually also allow for instant withdrawal of cash, acting as the ATM card for withdrawing cash.
However, until now, no one has ever presented an electronic payment system for an automated machine that may offer services or goods to provide real-time electronic payment transactions. On the other side, there would be a need for providing an electronic payment system that enables to drive an automated machine such as a gaming machine at the same time as reception and electronic settlement of a transaction fee signal received from a cell phone.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic payment system capable of making electronic spot settlement for transaction between a user who pays electronic money and the system for driving an automated machine. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic payment system applied to a gaming machine for presenting games. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of selecting either electronic or cash payment for gaming.

Electronic payment system for automated machine


An annular fluid seal made of an elastomeric material has a body with a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface. The outer surface is contoured to be insertable into the opening in the end of a cylinder. The inner surface has at one side a radially inwardly extending sealing lip for slidably engaging and sealing a piston rod, and at the other side it has a radially inwardly extending wiping flap for wiping the piston rod. Between the sealing lip and the wiper flap is a radially inwardly extending guide member slidably engaging the rod for guiding the rod through the seal. The guide member is much wider than the sealing lip or wiper flap, to withstand radial forces imposed by the rod which would otherwise tend to distort the seal and cause it to leak.

Hydraulic systems usually convert fluid pressure to linear force by applying the fluid pressure to an end of a cylindrical piston which slides axially in a matching bore. A piston rod extends from the piston or shaft out through at least one end of the bore. To avoid loss of fluid and fluid pressure from the system, it is necessary to provide a seal between the piston rod and the end of the bore.
Typical fluid seals for use in hydraulic systems include a metal "cup" having a circular opening across most of its bottom. An elastomeric material is bonded around the inside of the metal cup and extends radially inwardly to define a lip encircling the opening in the cup. In use, the cup is pressed into a suitable recess at the end of the cylindrical bore and the lip extends into the bore to press against the sides of the piston rod and take up any space between the bore and the piston rod. To ensure that the lip presses against the piston rod and that the lip maintains its shape, the lip has a groove extending around it behind its sealing face and an annular metal spring is mounted in the groove.
Although attempts have been made to eliminate the metal cup and make the seal entirely of a resilient material, such attempts have previously met with little success. The sealing face of a seal is preferably relatively soft to contour around the cylindrical piston rod and minimize leakage. In some applications, such a soft seal without a metal cup will not be retained strongly enough in the cylindrical bore and will be dislodged as the piston rod is moved or if suction is applied. An example of an application where soft resilient seals have been found ineffective is in automobile power steering racks. Although a harder seal will not be dislodged or sucked out, harder seals do not usually have adequate sealing capabilities.
In addition, in power steering racks the piston rod is sometimes subjected to radial forces. When this occurs, the rod tends to distort the seal and the shape of the sealing lip. Such distortion can cause the lip to lose sealing engagement with the rod, resulting in the loss of fluid and fluid pressure from the power steering system.
It is an object of the present invention in one aspect to provide a fluid seal having a plurality of surfaces for engaging the movable member in a fluidly sealing manner and to guide the movable member through the seal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid seal without a metal cup which will nevertheless resist being dislodged by relative axial movement between the components being sealed.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a fluid seal which is resistant to abrasive wear by dirt adhering to the surface of the moveable member.


A recyclable continuous ink jet print head is provided that includes a manifold formed from a metal such as stainless steel, a die having ink jet nozzles formed from a ceramic material such as silicon, a control circuit connected to the die via microwiring, and an interposing member disposed between the manifold and the die. The interposing member is formed from a composite material such as Al—SiC having a coefficient of thermal conductivity that is higher than that of the silicon die, and a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is between that of the die and the manifold. During manufacture, the CTE value of the interposing member allows long-lasting, heat-cured epoxy compositions to be used to bond the die to the manifold and to encapsulate the microwiring between the die and a control circuit with while maintaining proper alignment of the die ink jet nozzles on the manifold. When the die wears out, the high thermal conductivity of the interposing member allows the die to be easily removed from the manifold, thereby facilitating re-cycling of the manifold.

Ink jet printing has become recognized as a prominent contender in the digitally controlled, electronic printing arena because, e.g., of its non-impact, low-noise characteristics, its use of plain paper and its avoidance of toner transfer and fixing, as well as its very fast printing speed. Ink jet printing mechanisms can be categorized by technology as either drop on demand ink jet or continuous ink jet.
The first technology, "drop-on-demand" ink jet printing, provides ink droplets that impact upon a recording surface by using a pressurization actuator (thermal, piezoelectric, etc.). Many commonly practiced drop-on-demand technologies use thermal actuation to eject ink droplets from a nozzle. A heater, located at or near the nozzle, heats the ink sufficiently close to its boiling point to form a vapor bubble that creates enough internal pressure to eject an ink droplet. This form of ink jet is commonly termed "thermal ink jet (TIJ)." Other known drop-on-demand droplet ejection mechanisms include piezoelectric actuators, thermo-mechanical actuators, and electrostatic actuators.
The second technology, commonly referred to as "continuous" ink jet printing, uses a pressurized ink source that produces a continuous stream of ink droplets from a nozzle. The stream is perturbed in some fashion causing it to break up into droplets at a nominally constant distance known as the break-off length from the nozzle. Control of these droplets can be either thermally-based or electrostatically-based. In thermally-based control, pulsed currents are applied to small, ring-shaped heating elements surrounding the nozzles to heat the ink passing through the nozzle region, and form ink droplets of different sizes. A pneumatic deflector generates a current of air which deflects the trajectory of the droplets so that the smaller droplets strike a printing medium, while the larger droplets strike a recycling gutter for collection and recirculation. In electrostatically-based control, a charging electrode structure is positioned at the nominally constant break-off point so as to induce a data-dependent amount of electrical charge on the drop at the moment of break-off. The charged droplets are directed through a fixed electrostatic field region causing each droplet to deflect proportionately to its charge such that some strike a recording medium while others strike a gutter for collection and recirculation.
The print heads of continuous ink jet printers generally comprise one or more printing modules, each of which includes a manifold having a slot-like opening for supplying a pressurized flow of ink, and a die mounted over the slot-like opening of the manifold. The manifold is precision-machined from a corrosion resistant metal, such as stainless steel, to tolerances better than 1/1,000 of an inch. The manifold has an elongated, generally rectangular face that includes the slot for conducting pressurized ink. The die is an elongated, rectangular plate of silicon which overlies the rectangular face of the manifold. It is precision fabricated to form a row of many small ink jet nozzles uniformly spaced apart at close intervals to achieve high resolution printing. Below each nozzle, a high aspect-ratio cavity is etched thru the thickness of the die so that pressurized ink can pass from the manifold through the cavity and out of each nozzle. In addition to the fabricated nozzles, the die can also include integrated micro-electronic circuitry. In the case of thermally-based control, such circuitry includes a circular micro heater around each nozzle, and an electrically conductive lead connected to each micro-heater that terminates in a metal pad on the other side of the die. Microwires are provided between each of the metal pads of the die to a corresponding metal pad on a flexible interconnect, which in turn is connected to the output of a control circuit of the printer.
For printing at 600 dots per inch (dpi), the nozzle-to-neighboring nozzle separation needs to be less than 43 micrometers. To print on a standard 8.5×11 inch media, the immobile ink ejecting print head can contain a single die that is 8.5″ long. Alternatively, printing may be from two dies each about 4.3″ long, or several shorter dies. Multiple dies need to be assembled end-to-end, usually in an offset manner, to form an 8.5″ long printing engine. It is difficult to fabricate 8.5″ silicon-based print head dies due to silicon wafer size limitations. On the other hand, in order to minimize the number of end-to-end assemblies, and to maintain quality control of individual dies, the use of a multitude of short dies is not preferred. One optimum compromise is to assemble two print head modules, each of which contains a 4.3″ long die. Two such modules can then be butted together to print onto 8.5″ wide media, or multiples of such modules can be lined up for printing even wider media. For 600 dpi printing applications, about 2600 nozzles are present in a 4.3″ long die. Full-size page printing needs two such modules for each color. Consequently, for full, four color printing (using black, magenta, yellow, and cyan inks), a minimum of eight modules are needed in a continuous ink jet printer.
During assembly of the die into a print head module, it is critical that the die containing the printing jets be precisely positioned on its respective manifold so that when the manifolds of two or more modules are mounted in end-to-end relationship in the print head housing, the spacing between the last ink jet on the die of one module is spaced about 43 microns from the first jet on the die of the abutting module. If the spacing between these two ink jets of the abutting modules varies substantially from 43 microns, either a light or dark streak artifact may occur in the printed product produced by the print head, depending upon whether these two ink jets are too far or too close to one another. The tolerance for such alignment has been examined by the applicant, and it has been found that if the nozzle misalignment is less than half the nozzle to nozzle separation, i.e. less than 21 micrometers, the resulting printing quality is acceptable, especially if some printing compensation procedure is used. For example, in a nozzle misalignment situation where the first and last nozzles are closer than 43 microns, a 25-50% decrease in ejected drop volume from these nozzles can be programmed in. Conversely, if the first to last nozzle misalignment is further than 43 micrometers, then a 25-50% increase in ejected drop volume is effective in masking printing artifacts. Hence the criteria for nozzle alignment tolerances are less than one half of the nozzle to nozzle separation distance.
It is, of course, highly desirable that the print head be durable and capable of as many hours of reliable operation as possible without servicing or replacement. Continuous ink jet print heads are almost exclusively used for long runs of high volume, commercial printing where the time and costs associated with print head replacement have a substantial impact on the expenses associated with such printing. At the same time, it is also highly desirable that the module be assembled in such a way as to allow the manifold to be recycled at the end of the service life of the print head, which may be several hundreds of hours. The manifold, being precision-machined out of stainless steel, is a relatively expensive component of the print head and has a potentially long service life. By contrast, the silicon die costs less than a tenth as much as the manifold, yet has a far shorter service life. While it is important that the die be mounted on to the surface of the manifold in such a way as to achieve a precise, secure and leak-proof bond during the service life of the die, it is equally important that the die be removable from the manifold at the end of the print head service life without damage to the manifold so that it can be re-used.
Finally, it is critical that the microwiring connecting the electrodes in the die to the pads of the integrated flexible interconnect be insulated from exposure to ink and mechanical shock which could interfere with the transmission of electrical control signals to the micro-heaters surrounding the dies.
To achieve all of the aforementioned assembly objectives of precise positioning, durability, die removability, and insulation of the microwiring between the die and the integrated control circuit, the silicon dies are usually bonded over the slot-like opening of the stainless steel manifold with ultra-violet or other room temperature curable epoxy adhesives. The curing of such epoxies does not significantly change the precise positioning between the die and the manifold, and can provide a reasonably secure and leak-proof bond. Such cured epoxies further allow the die to be easily removed from the manifold without damage by the application of localized heat to the die for a relatively short time. Finally, such epoxies can be easily be applied to form a "glop top" over the microwiring during assembly of the printing module that protectively encapsulates the microwiring connecting the die contact pads to the flexible interconnect contact pads.
While the use of room-temperature or ultra-violet cured epoxies results in a durable continuous ink jet print head that fulfills all of the aforementioned criteria, the bonds created by such curable epoxy materials ultimately fail over time, largely as a result of continuous exposure to the corrosive inks used in printing. In particular, the applicant has observed that the first occurrence of bond failure is usually in the area between the glop top and the microwiring that interconnects the die with the flexible interconnect. Bond failure caused by de-lamination in the glop top area can expose the microwiring to the conductive ink, resulting in a short circuit. Alternatively, bond failure caused by swelling of the glop top can lift up the microwires above the conductive pads on the die, creating an electrical open circuit between one or more of the circular micro heaters and the flexible interconnect. Both situations will cause undesirable image artifacts. The epoxy between the die and the manifold can also be gradually corroded by the ink, eventually resulting in leakage of ink into the printer. Consequently, a longer-lived and more reliable form of die/manifold bonding and encapsulation of the microwiring is needed which maintains all of the aforementioned assembly objectives of precise die/manifold positioning and die removability.

Recyclable continuous ink jet print head and method


A power transformer circuit (100) includes a capacitor (120) and a resonator (140). The resonator (140) is coupled in series with the capacitor (120) and is operable to provide a substantially inductive impedance between its terminals (142,144). Resonator (140) is preferably implemented as a piezoelectric lithium niobate resonator that is operated in a thickness-shear mode. In a preferred embodiment, power transformer circuit (100) is employed as a series resonant output circuit in an electronic ballast (500) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (30).

Several types of electronic circuits employ a power transformer circuit for providing voltage gain, impedance matching, and current limiting. Power transformer circuits usually require an inductive element that is typically realized using a conventional magnetic inductor.
Conventional magnetic inductors are physically large, heavy devices that are both costly to construct and difficult to automate. Magnetic inductors are also among the most ill-behaved of electrical components with regard to parameter tolerances and nonlinear effects, the latter being particularly troublesome in high frequency applications. Due to winding resistance and core characteristics, magnetic inductors dissipate significant amounts of electrical power in the form of heat. The heat produced by magnetic inductors not only detracts from circuit energy efficiency, but also requires that other circuit components be selected with high temperature ratings in order to maintain circuit reliability.
Further, because of these dissipative factors, magnetic inductors have a relatively low "quality factor" (i.e., "Q"), Accordingly, power transformer circuits that employ magnetic inductors have limited voltage gain capabilities. As a consequence of these shortcomings of magnetic inductors, the resulting power transformer circuit tends to be physically large and costly, prone to nonlinear effects and considerable variations in key parameters, constrained in voltage gain capability, and significantly sub-optimal with regard to energy efficiency and reliability.
In recent years, a number of efforts have been made to apply certain electromechanical devices, such as piezoelectric transformers (e.g., Rosen bar transformers), to power supplies and other types of energy transfer circuits. While it has been realized that these devices are, under certain modes of operation, considerably more energy efficient and capable of providing higher voltage gain than conventional magnetic inductors, most efforts have been limited to low power circuits for transferring relatively small amounts of power. Further, most existing approaches require considerable complexity in the physical structure of the devices themselves and/or additional control circuitry in order to operate the devices in an efficient manner.
It is therefore apparent that a need exists for a power transformer circuit that provides efficient transfer of a considerable amount of electrical power, that is smaller in size, lighter in weight, and less thermally dissipative than circuits using ordinary magnetic inductors, that provides high voltage gain, that employs devices with relatively simple physical structures, and that does not require complicated control circuitry. Such a power transformer circuit would represent a considerable advance over the prior art.

Power transformer circuit with resonator


A first duct connects a tank and a syringe together. A second duct connects the syringe and a dumper together. A third duct connects the dumper and the tank together. When a time (deformation restoration time) until the swollen dumper is returned to its original shape is determined, a controller deforms the dumper. The controller sets the position of a liquid level in the tank less than a specified position (syringe filling processing). The controller opens the third duct so as to measure a liquid level recovery time until the output of a liquid level sensor is changed (time measurement processing). The controller determines a deformation restoration time based on the liquid level recovery time.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus which discharges inks from nozzles so as to perform printing.
An apparatus is present which uses inks so as to perform printing. Such an apparatus has a head which includes a plurality of nozzles. Based on image data, the inks are discharged from the nozzles to a sheet. When the ink is consumed, the ink is supplied from an ink tank to the head. It is likely that the flow path of the ink from the tank to the head can be opened and closed.
A technology as described below is known. Specifically, an inkjet recording device is disclosed in which an ink cartridge where a region capable of closing a flow path is formed in an ink supply path for supplying an ink is removably fitted, in which the region of the ink cartridge can be pressed, in which the supply of the ink from the ink cartridge is received such that a recording head is made to perform printing, in which the recording head is sealed and in which a negative pressure is supplied to a capping means.
A dumper may be provided partway through the flow path of an ink from an ink tank to a head. The dumper is connected to the head. For example, the dumper lowers a variation in a pressure applied to the ink within the nozzles of the head. With the dumper, an abnormality in the discharge of the ink is reduced.
Cleaning which forcibly discharges inks may be performed. In the forcible discharge, for example, a pump is used to pass the inks into a head with a strong force (high pressure). The pressure is applied, and thus the inks are pushed out from the nozzles of the head. Here, the high viscosity inks can be pushed out from the nozzles. It is also possible to remove dust adhered to the nozzles.
When the inks are forcibly discharged, a dumper may be deformed by the pressure applied to the inks. When the pressure resistance of the dumper is lower than the pressure applied to the inks, the dumper is distorted (swollen). When the pressure applied to the inks is reduced (when the passage of the inks into the head is completed), the dumper is returned to its original shape. Even when inks are discharged for printing during shape restoration, it is likely that it is impossible to appropriately discharge the inks. Hence, after a constant waiting time has elapsed since the completion of the forcible discharge (pressure application), the printing (ink discharge) is restarted.
Conventionally, the waiting time is set to a common value in an image forming apparatus. Even in an image forming apparatus in which it takes much time to restore its shape, it is necessary to restart printing after the completion of the shape restoration. Hence, the waiting time is set long. The time necessary for the shape restoration of the dumper is varied depending on the individual image forming apparatus. It is likely that the waiting time after the forcible discharge is disadvantageously longer than necessary. A user is made to wait longer than necessary, and thus the operation time of the image forming apparatus is elongated.

Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus


Rainwater collected from roof gutters is poured into the vertical portion of an “ell” shaped perforated drainage pipe. The horizontal leaching pipe portion of the drainage pipe discharges the rainwater into a catch basin. Water from the catch basin flows into another perforated leaching pipe that is set in the bottom of a trench. In turn, the lower part of the trench is filled with crushed rock to a height of about three quarters of the trench depth. A water impermeable barrier of asphalt shingles or thirty pound asphalt roofing felt is placed over the top of the crushed rock and the balance of the trench is filled with soil up to the ground level.

This invention relates to a water conservation and distribution system and more particularly to a method and apparatus for burying a perforated leaching pipe in a trench, the pipe being covered with crushed rock to a level below that of the ground surface, a layer of thirty pound asphalt roofing felt water barrier interposed between the crushed rock and a further layer of soil that completes filling the trench to the ground level, and the like.

Water conservation and distribution system


The inventive connector includes a tubular dielectric external element within which is disposed an internal conductive element. Two ends of wire or coaxial cable are pushed into the device. The internal conductive element has skiving edges at each end which separate the conductors from the insulating layers. The conductors contact the internal conductive element to form an electrical connection while the skived insulation layers are used to further insulate the device and to apply a holding pressure.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates generally to devices for connecting wires, and more specifically, to a device that permits the ends of wires conducting electricity or other signals to be connected efficiently, safely and easily without the requirement of conventional preparation.
2. Background
The joining of electrical and signal conductors has generally involved twisting the two conductors together and soldering or otherwise physically joining the conductors. Wire connectors comprising a plastic outer shell and a single, unidirectional threaded insert are sometimes used to achieve a physical connection of two wire ends. With this type of connection, the conductors are held with their exposed ends in the same direction whereupon the ends are twisted together and the connector is applied to the intertwined conductors. Twisting the connector in a clockwise direction draws the ends of the conductors into tight contact with each other in the conductive thread of the connector, forming a satisfactory electrical connection.
One problem with physical connections of the type described is that the ends of wire must be prepared for the connection by cutting and trimming away insulation layers and then twisting or otherwise joining the wires together. The connections which are formed can be bulky and in many instances very difficult to achieve. Also, the change in direction required of the conductor is not convenient for the transmission of the signal. Connections of the type described also generate heat and are subject to rapid deterioration which increases the risk of a short circuit.
The applicant, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,200, which patent is incorporated herein by reference, addressed the problems of the prior art by providing a connector for wires that successfully eliminated the need for cutting, trimming, twisting or using insulating tape to achieve electrical connections between two ends of wire. The subject connector consists of two elements, a tubular external element and an internal element or internal metal contact. The external element has two oppositely disposed orifices each being adapted to receive an end of an insulated wire. A separate internal contact having oppositely disposed contact surfaces is positioned within the external element. The inner walls of the ends of the external element are internally and oppositely threaded such that by rotating the external element each wire end is drawn toward or expelled from the connector depending on the direction of rotation. Electrical communication between the wires is established when the conductors within the wire ends make contact with the internal element.
One limitation of applicant's prior device is that it does not separate the conductors from the insulation in the wires to be joined. Better connections can be achieved in certain circumstances when the conductive elements of the wire are isolated. Moreover, certain types of wires, such as coaxial wire or cable, have more than one conductor separated by an intermediate insulation layer. Wires or cable with such multiple conductors require electrical connections to be established between each conductor. Connections of coaxial wires are typically done by cutting the insulation, exposing the two conductors, and introducing both conductors into a metal coaxial connector. This is not convenient for the transmission of signals because of the drain of current through the metal connector and the exposure of the two conductors. The present invention is directed to novel improvements to the prior device which expand its capabilities to achieve better connections and to be used in connection with a wider variety of insulated wire or cable types.

Edificio Secambu , Apt. 22A Piso 2, Calle Los Fernandez


Devices and techniques for using four wave mixing in optical sensing of various materials, including isotopes, chemical and biological substances.

This document relates to optical sensing of various materials, including isotopes, chemical and biological substances.
Nonlinear four wave mixing is an optical process in an optical medium where three coherent optical waves interact with one another through nonlinear coupling to produce a fourth coherent signal wave. The nonlinearities of the medium, primarily the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the medium in some implementations, contribute to such nonlinear coupling. The signal wave includes information on optically-excited atoms or molecules present in the medium where the three input optical waves intersect and hence can be collected to extract information about the medium. The strength of the signal wave is associated with the population of atoms or molecules and the spectral characteristics of the signal wave can be analyzed to reveal the structure of the atoms or molecules of interest. The coherent characteristics of the four-wave mixing signal beam have a number of advantages, including a laser-like signal beam, efficient signal collection, excellent spatial resolution, and sub-Doppler spectral resolution. Hence, four-wave mixing has been widely used as a highly sensitive tool in spectroscopic measurements.

Ultrasensitive detection of isotopes, chemical substances and biological substances using laser wave mixing detectors


A polyimide precursor, a polyimide using the polyimide precursor, and a polyimide film using the polyimide. The polyimide film has excellent adhesiveness to a metal layer or an adhesive, and has improved heat resistance. The polyimide solution may be used as a coating material.

A polyimide film has been extensively used in the fields of electric/electronic devices, semiconductors and so on, because of its excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, mechanical strength, electric properties, dimensional stability and so on. For example, for a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), there has been used a copper-clad laminated substrate where a copper foil is laminated on one or both sides of a polyimide film.
In general, a polyimide film may not provide a laminate having adequately high peeling strength when a metal layer is formed on a polyimide film by dry plating such as metal deposition and sputtering, or when a metal layer is formed on a polyimide film by wet plating such as electroless plating.
Many of polyimides, particularly many of high heat resistant polyimides mainly containing an aromatic group is insoluble in organic solvents. Therefore, a high heat resistant polyimide is produced by a method including forming a self-supporting film (may be referred to as a gel film) using a polyimide precursor solution such as polyamic acid which is not fully polyimidized, and heating it to complete imidization. Although soluble polyimides are also known, the soluble polyimides known to date are generally low heat resistant, and components of a polyimide having relatively high heat resistance is limited.
Patent Document 1 has described a polyimide prepared by using a triazine-based diamine, showing an example in which a polyimide solution is applied on a metal foil. In addition, as examples of the use of a triazine-based diamine, Patent Document 2 has disclosed an end-modified imide oligomer prepared by using a triazine-based diamine, and Patent Document 3 has disclosed a polymer electrolyte prepared by using a triazine-based diamine. Patent Document 4 discloses a polyimide which is prepared by using a triazine-based diamine having two amino groups (—NH2) in para-positions in benzene rings relative to two NH groups bonded to the triazine rings (hereinafter, it may be referred as "p-ATDA"). Further, Patent Document 5 has disclosed that a laminate of a polyimide film prepared by using a triazine-based diamine and a metal foil has excellent adhesiveness and adherence.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Polyimide precursor, polyimide, polyimide film, polyimide metal laminate, and polyimide solution

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION IWATE UNIVERSITY


In percussion rock drilling a screw joint for a drill run or drill string including male and female screw threads (5, 9) on the elements (1, 2) are joined together to form a drill string. Within the screw joint the male thread (5) and the female thread (9) have a trapezoidal shape and a slight conical inclination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screw joint for a drill run for percussion rock drilling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Screw joints of this nature are used to join together drill string elements, such as a drill bit, one or more drill strings and a shank adapter. The screw joints include mutually co-acting male and female screw threads where an external male thread on a component element is screwed to an internal female thread on a co-acting element, so as to join said elements together.
Swedish Patent Specification 515518 teaches a screw joint of the aforesaid kind in which the male and the female threads are conical and the tops and bottoms of the thread profiles have a radius of curvature that is greater than 30% of the thread pitch. Such a screw thread is referred to typically as a rope thread.
Although such a thread functions satisfactorily in the case of drill strings of more slender dimensions, problems occur as the dimensions of the drill strings increase, resulting in shortening of the useful life of the thread. This is mainly due to the tensile stresses acting on the internal thread, causing the screw joint to be tightened excessively, or over-tightened. In turn, this makes it difficult to loosen or disconnect the joint when drilling has been terminated or when fresh drill rods shall be connected up.

Thread joint for a drill string for percussive rock-drilling


An input device of the present invention is configured in the following manner: an input part includes electrode parts, which are contactable arranged with facing each other and one of which is to be an operation object, and a pressure-sensitive layer disposed between the electrode parts facing each other; a charge/discharge waveform forming part includes a charge/discharge circuit having a constant current source, a switching element, a capacitor and a resistor, and forms a charge/discharge waveform with a capacitance detection part and a resistance detection part connected; a charge/discharge waveform calculating part detects the change of a capacitance and of a pressure in the input part based on the charge/discharge waveform formed by the charge/discharge waveform forming part, and calculates an operation state, an operation position and an operation pressure.

In recent years, a touch panel has been developed and been provided in the market, as an input device that inputs various kinds of information into electronic equipment by operating a specific area displayed on a screen using input means in which a conductor such as a finger and a nonconductor such as a stylus are operated. As an input system used in a touch panel, various systems such as a resistance film system and a capacitance system are used. The resistance film system detects a position operated by input means, by applying a voltage to one resistance film of resistance films (electrodes) facing each other and by detecting a voltage change in the other resistance film according to the position being operated (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). The capacitance system detects a position operated by input means by detecting the change of a capacitance between the input means and a conductive film or the change of a capacitance between conductive films (electrodes), (refer to Patent Literature 2, for example). In the capacitance system, since position detection is possible even in a state just before the input means contacts the conductive film, there is also proposed a configuration in which the capacitance system is used as a proximity sensor in an input device of the resistance film system (refer to Patent Literature 3, for example).

Input device using detection of both capacitance and pressure, and capacitance-system hybrid touch panel equipped with pressure-sensitive function


An apparatus for use in tuning a string of a musical instrument includes a shaft which extends from a pinion gear. A sleeve is fixedly connected to the shaft and encloses an end portion of the shaft. The sleeve has an end portion which receives a string of a musical instrument. The shaft may be integrally formed as one piece with the pinion gear. A force transmitting member may be provided between an end portion of the sleeve and a housing. A retainer portion of the sleeve may extend into a recess in the shaft. A grommet may extend around the sleeve to retain the sleeve against transverse movement.

The present invention relates to a new and improved tuning device tuning for a string of a musical instrument, such as a guitar.
A known tuning device for a string of a musical instrument is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,280. This known tuning device includes a housing. A pinion gear is disposed in meshing engagement with a worm gear in the housing. A shaft extends from the pinion gear through at least a portion of a base of the housing.
The tuning device disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,280 has a housing which fully encloses both the worm and pinion gear. Vintage guitars may have a housing which leaves the pinion gear exposed. A housing for a vintage guitar is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 267,410. The manner in which a pinion gear and worm gear may be mounted in a housing for a vintage guitar is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. 256,471.
In the past, the difficulty has been encountered in optimizing the playing characteristics of tuning devices used on stringed musical instruments. In addition, difficulty has also been encountered in satisfactorily mounting tuning devices on a stringed musical instrument. These difficulties are encountered with guitars of the vintage and non-vintage type. These difficulties are also encountered with other known stringed musical instruments.


A multiple sport practice apparatus which permits a person to engage in the repetitive striking of such objects at any position, even in a relatively confined location, so as to tone the required muscles, develop muscle memory of the proper motion, and develop the proper execution of the striking motion. The multiple sports practice apparatus includes, a secondary safety net section used as a back up for stray balls, and a impact net section used as the primary target so that projectile that has impinged upon falls to the base of apparatus. The apparatus is arranged to stop the flight of a ball that is incident thereon, and is suspended in Four Corners, to a structure such as rafters or walls in a garage or warehouse, but not limited to. The two nets making the apparatus gather as they rest on playing surface to form a seal at the bottom to catch balls directed toward apparatus. Balls are restrained and caught by the apparatus and laid to rest on playing surface. Gathered portion of nets also acts as a deterrent to ball rolling while on the playing surface.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1) Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to recreational games and, more particularly, to a multiple-sport apparatus that finds particular utility in the play of games of golf, baseball, tennis, football, and soccer but not limited to. The apparatus of the present invention is especially suitable for use as a practice device which enables a person to repetitively practice, resulting in a realistic resistance and flight of the ball and a quick dampened return of the object to the playing surface.
The apparatus can be used in any area where it may be suspended to a structure, such as in a building or garage of a house. The apparatus can easily be stored when not in use. Balls directed toward the apparatus are restrained from causing damage to walls and other adjacent objects.
In order to practice sports, athletes typically go to a designated area, which can be a considerable distance from the athlete""s home, and are often inaccessible or impractical to use due to poor weather conditions. The apparatus disclosed herein permits athletes to practice his or her ball sport at home or some other location, without concern for weather conditions, traffic, and convenience.
2) Description of the Related Art
Various devices for practicing sports have been developed over the years. However, the device shape, is different from the one in this application.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,140, issued to Romeo on Jan. 26, 1971, discloses a golf practice apparatus, which simulates a putting green. The apparatus comprises a backdrop, which depicts a putting green and has slits along the lower and side boundaries of the green so that a golf ball hitting the target area will pass through the slit and drop into a collection trough.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,146, issued to Windall on Apr. 16, 1985, discloses a practice golf net, which is suspended from a frame and contains a mechanism to signal the impact strength imparted to the ball, the direction the ball takes, and the loft that the ball assumes after being struck.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,996, issued to Tallent on Mar. 6, 1990, discloses a ball and target net game apparatus is set forth wherein a target net includes a perimeter framework securing a generally planar net wherein the frame work includes a plurality of forwardly extending horizontal legs and associated bracing to maintain the netting in a secure arrangement in use. The framework and the legs of the apparatus are telescoping to effect a compact structure easily stored when not in use. An inner net is selectively securable to spaced elongate straps longitudinally secured relative to the main net portion of the apparatus to provide a target in variable orientation relative to the main net.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,564, issued to Lamberti on Apr. 27, 1993, discloses a ball catching net apparatus, which has a back net from which extends, in a parallel relationship, sidewalls with a top wall interconnecting between the parallel sidewalls. The top wall, sidewalls and the back wall define a ball confining area. Within this ball confining area is located a pair of downwardly extending nets which are mounted on a mounting frame. Each of the downwardly extending nets can be used separately or together in order to achieve maximum absorption of the energy from the ball that is being directed into these nets.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,527, issued to Noval on Dec. 14, 1996, discloses a net support assembly for training and practicing sports, which use sports projectiles, is disclosed. The assembly is lightweight, easy to setup, portable, and versatile. A shock-corded segmented fiberglass pole formed into an arch is supported from the ground or other fixed support structure. A durable extra long nylon net is loosely draped within the arch to receive and dissipate the energy of any sports projectiles (e.g. golf balls, soccer balls, baseballs, footballs, etc.) which may be directed into the net. The flexible movement of the top of the arch also helps to dissipate the energy.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,896, issued to Core on Sep. 26, 1995, discloses a sports practice cage is disclosed. U-shaped side frames attach to a solid flat cage base, and horizontal poles connect the side frames to form the basic cage frame. Netting is suspended from the cage frame, with one side of the. cage left open, so that a five-sided chamber is formed. A platform is connected to the cage base at the open end of the chamber, and a tee may be mounted on the platform. In an alternate embodiment the platform is a golf platform, and a golf tee pad is attached to the golf platform.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,990, issued to Kitzhaber on Nov. 21, 1995, discloses a practice net for arresting golf balls hit from a golf tee on a practice mat. The device includes a frame having a first net and a second net relatively, orthogonally oriented, with a practice mat attached between the nets. A left-handed tee is positioned across from the first net and a right-handed tee is positioned across from the second net. Thus, the device may be utilized by either left or right-handed golfers. In addition, a pair of lateral nets flank the first and second nets, and a pair of overhead nets extend from the first and second nets to further contain errant golf balls.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,319, issued to Lee on Feb. 20, 1996, discloses a indoor golf chip shot practice apparatus which is to be used for practicing chip shots in the game of golf. The apparatus comprises a rectangular prism shape safety net with only one opening to the side of the user, therefore, the golf ball stays inside of the safety net even in case of bad shots. The apparatus also comprises a frame to support and encompass the safety net and is designed in such a way that the golf ball rolls back on the floor of the safety net to the user after each shot.
Additionally, various means for suspending sheets of fabric and other materials from overhead support structures have been developed.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,399 issued to Pryor on Dec. 27, 1988, discloses a hanger assembly for suspending an article or articles such as a curtain or other flexible sheet material below a support rail, said support rail containing a channel such that the material which is supported can be moved to different positions relative to the ends of the support rail.
The foregoing patents and publications reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant""s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these patents or publications teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant""s claimed invention.
This invention pertains to a multiple sport practice apparatus, which is suspended from a structure or other objects suitable for suspending.
The apparatus comprises of rectangular sheet of material, which covers the top and is suspended along its top edge and extends in a downward direction toward the playing surface. The length of the vertical sides are longer than the distance between the top edge and playing surface so that the bottom of the net gathers to form a seal with the playing surface to catch the balls directed towards the apparatus.
The apparatus is suspended from a structure such as the garage or warehouse rafters and can be tied to an eyebolt or any other item suitable for suspending apparatus.
A rope or other suitable material can be tied to a grommet in the top edge of the apparatus. The four corners representing the irregular rectangle is where grommets are positioned for suspending the apparatus.
The apparatus can be retracted to a horizontal position when not in use by simply pulling a rope and securing the rope by means of a rope cleat.
Balls, which hit the apparatus, drop into the gathered bottom of the net and are thereby prevented from rolling around the playing surface. Low flying balls are prevented from rolling under the net by the seal with the playing surface created by the gathering of excess netting at the bottom of the net.
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for practicing sports, which require a ball and have use of capturing a ball for purpose of practice, such as golf, baseball, tennis, etc. indoors or outdoors, provided a structure where apparatus may be supported.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, which can be easily stored when not in use, without disassembly.
Another object of the invention is to restrain balls, which are impinged upon.
Another object of the invention is to be suspended without the need for a frame supporting the top edges of the apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to restrain balls, more specifically golf balls, from rolling around the playing surface after apparatus restrains them. The balls gather at bottom edge of apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to prevent balls, which are hit at low angles from rolling under the net.
Another object of the invention is to restrain balls, more specifically golf balls, which are hit off of the xe2x80x9ctoexe2x80x9d of xe2x80x9cshankxe2x80x9d of a golf club.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.


Disclosed is an on-line role-playing game system and method in which buildings arranged on a road map are developed according to a degree of experience of a user who performs a quest. The method includes the steps of a) by a gamer, accessing an on-line role-playing game server; b) by the gamer, executing the on-line role-playing game; c) by the gamer, performing a quest of the on-line role-playing game; d) updating a degree of experience of the gamer when the gamer accomplishes the quest; and e) developing a building arranged on a road map for the performance of the quest in correspondence with the degree of experience of the gamer. According to the present invention, by applying a building development process to an on-line role-playing game, a limited map for progressing an RPG game story can be efficiently utilized, and, in addition, diverse maps reflecting characteristics of gamers who access the same game for a long time can be provided without imposing a burden on a game server.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-line role-playing game system and method, and more particularly to an on-line role-playing game system and method in which buildings arranged on a road map are developed according to the degree of experience of a user who performs a quest.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Great attention has been paid to on-line games as the next generation growth engine. At present, the on-line games occupy a significant percentage of the overall game market and show a rapidly rising growth rate every year with increasing possibility of growth. In such a trend, foremost existing game-related enterprises have established long-term strategies and run businesses for on-line games, and a number of other enterprises are currently joining in the on-line game market.
Although some great work is currently produced in the on-line game market as a result of large-scale investments, differently from the past, a great amount of game software that depends on small-scale capital and manpower in view of characteristics of on-line games has still been developed and come to the market. However, only a small minority of the many games advances to be a top brand and it is realistic that most game-related enterprises suffer from much difficulty in getting into the game market.
Among domestic games, some 3D on-line games that began in the latter half of 2001 have assume assumed third generational characteristics and structures. This may be known from the very concretely represented plan factors of LINEAGE® II of NCSOFT® CORPORATION. As another new trend, on-line games with a variety of formats and backgrounds have appeared, which is not limited to existing role-playing games (RPGs). In addition, an aspect of development to be achieved in the future is the advent of on-line games causing a radical change of a view of the world of on-line games, such as "Tactical Commanders" of the NEXON® CORPORATION, "Outpost Online", and "NavyField", or on-line games materializing diverse social experiences on-line, such as "MotorCity Online" and SIMS™ ONLINE.
On the other hand, from a view point of user interface, games using electronic means may be generally classified into a single player game, a multi-player game, and an on-line multiplayer RPG.
The single player game refers to a game in which a gamer solely operates a game program on a computer. Specifically, the single player game may refer to all games played by a gamer solely, including old arcade games such as SUPER MARIO BROS.® or GALAGA®, up-bringing simulation games such as "PrincessMaker", strategy simulation games such as "Samgugji", and action games such as ROGUE SPEAR® or HALF-LIFE®, irrespective of the genre of the game. Most existing computer games are single player games.
Such a single player game may be said to be a kind of novel from the first-person point of view. The basic framework of the novel is fixed by a game developer, so a gamer cannot help but following the basic frame. That is, in the single player game, a gamer is nothing but a visitor who visits a new cosmos created by a game developer as a master of the cosmos, and leaves the cosmos after trying the flavor of events and all sorts of delicacies set by the game developer. The role of the game developer is therefore extremely important in the single player game. This is because important factors of the game such as a realistic and interesting story (or scenario) of the game, adjustment of a degree of difficulty according to a level of the game, graphic effects as a perceptual factor of actual feeling, and the like, are created by the game developer.
On the other hand, as modifications of the single player game, there are games organized to compete or cooperate between two or more gamers. In addition, recently, games have appeared in which a plurality of gamers play a game simultaneously using their computers directly linked with one another through a wired line or indirectly linked with one another through the Internet. Such games are the wide multi-player games.
Game developers say that the multi-player games organized to compete between a plurality of gamers allows the gamers to be absorbed in the game more deeply and for a longer time because the gamers can always expect new responses and results in the game, while a gamer in the existing single player game can easily predict a result of play of the game as he gets familiar with it because he plays a game with the artificial intelligence (AI) of a computer. Techniques for implementing the multi-player game are complicated, but it is enough to regard the multi-player game as a kind of chess game, Paduk game, or poker game.
On the other hand, the role-playing game (RPG) is a game in which a gamer plays his role in the game to accomplish a given task. In the role-playing game, the gamer first selects one of characters of the game, plays the game using specified personalities such as intelligence, stamina, magic index, and the like of the character, and develops his power through strenuous battles, conversations, or acquisition of items to accomplish his mission. Such a role-playing game is similar to a traditional adventure game. However, in addition to game factors of the adventure game, the role-playing game further includes game factors such as character growth and development, conversational strategic battles, puzzle solutions, and the like. In addition, the role-playing game is a genre of game employing a NPC (Non-Player Character) and has a world of quest and grandiose fantasy.
In addition, a story line of the role-playing game employs a non-linear system, not a linear system as employed in the traditional adventure game, and has actions as an important factor of the game. As typical examples of the role-playing game, there are various games such as DIABLO® of BLIZZARD® ENTERTAINMENT, INC., FINAL FANTASY® VII of SQUARESOFT®, DUNGEON KEEPER® of Bullfrog Company, and "Genesis" series of SoftMax Company. In addition, on-line multi-user dungeon (MUD) games in recent fashion include those such as LINEAGE® of NCSOFT® CORPORATION, "Nation of Wind" of NEXON® CORPORATION, "RedMoon" of JC Entertainment Company, ULTIMA ONLINE® of ORIGIN®, EVERQUEST® of SONY® CORPORATION, and the like.
Scenarios and directing are the most important factors in role-playing games. Of course, fascinating graphics are also important as ever for all games. However, in a role-playing game, the scenario and the directing take precedence over the graphics. Specifically, since characters in the role-playing game are brought up with acting power accumulated based on their fighting strength, capability, experience, and the like, the role-playing game should be designed such that gamers play the game while grasping situations of progress of the game and such that striking power of a hero is strengthened as the hero defeats enemies or his experience is accumulated, and the enemies also strengthen in level of striking power, and accordingly, a degree of difficulty of the game is raised.
On the other hand, the on-line role-playing game, which is also referred to in the technical terminology as MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), is a different type of game from the multi-player game. As described earlier, a prototype of the multi-player game may be compared to "Paduk", a chess game, or a poker game in which a plurality of players participate.
Specifically, the multi-player game is over once victory or defeat is decided, although a result of the game is stored. However, a MMORPG is not so. In the MMORPG, the game continues to advance and varies independently of whether or not gamers continue to play the game. Therefore, characters created in the MMORPG are not in non-continual existence, but are in continual existence such that they continually suffer from new events and should adapt themselves to the events.
In addition, the MMORPG is a game of a special form in which a plurality of gamers creates a story and structure of the game by using and modifying environments provided by a game developer. MMORPG environments, set by the game developer, exist as NPCs like monsters. However, what is more important than NPC is Playable Characters handled by the gamers, That is, initial settings of the MMORPG are changed by collective activities of the gamers, which results in a completely different game. This is a process similar to dangerous traffic environments that may be formed if drivers do not observe traffic regulations although the traffic regulations are well enacted.
Now, with the advent of such an on-line role playing game, a conventional industrial social and standardized idea that computer games are designed and produced by game programmers and designers and are nothing but imaginary plays alienated from real affairs and life no longer has a useful meaning.
On the other hand, conventional simulation games, particularly simulation games of land transportation means such as vehicles and motorcycles, mostly employ a system in which a ranking is determined according to only running time of the land transportation means repeatedly running on a fixed track or road.
Hereinafter, a conventional on-line game system and a conventional method of MMORPG racing game will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a conventional on-line game system.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional on-line game system is composed of a plurality of gamers 121, 122, and 123, and a game web site 110. The game web site 110 may include an on-line game 111 accessed by the plurality of gamers 121, 122, and 123, a contents server 112, and a game database (DB) 113. When the plurality of gamers 121, 122, and 123 accesses the on-line game 111 in real time on-line through the Internet, the on-line game 111 provides a game to the plurality of gamers 121, 122, and 123 on-line in conjunction with the contents server 112 and the game DB 113 within the game web site 110.
On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a conventional method of a MMORPG racing game.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the conventional method of a MMOPRG racing game, first, a plurality of gamers access a MMORPG racing game (S210), and then, perform a log-in process (S220).
Thereafter, each of the plurality of gamers selects one of a plurality of servers (S230). Next, each gamer selects a racing car or tunes his racing car, and goes through a car preparation procedure of purchasing items and installing the purchased items at the car (S240).
Next, each gamer selects a kind of racing game such as battle racing or destination racing (S250).
Thereafter, each gamer plays a MMORPG racing game in which the plurality of gamers participate (S260).
At this time, the MMORPG racing game is progressed between players (PC) operated by the plurality of gamers (S270). More specifically, for example, battle racing is progressed between a player car and another player car on one road.
Next, the game is progressed according to a MMORPG racing story and each server updates the results of racing in real time (S280).
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the MMORPG racing game is to be terminated (S290). If it is determined that the MMORPG racing game is to be terminated, the MMORPG racing game is terminated.
However, the conventional RPG gamer server has a problem in that diverse maps reflecting characteristics of gamers who access the same game for a long time cannot be provided without imposing a burden on the servers, and it is difficult to infinitely provide maps for progressing the RPG game story.

System for online role-playing game using developing buildings, and a method thereof


An antiglare film includes: a transparent support; and an antiglare layer containing a light-transmitting particle and a light-transmitting resin, wherein the light-transmitting particle has a structure including a core particle and a shell layer, each of the core particle and the shell layer contains an organic polymer, the shell layer has a thickness of from 10 to 2,000 nm, the core particle has a refractive index of from 1.54 to 1.65, and the shell layer has a refractive index of from 1.46 to 1.53.

In various image display devices such as liquid crystal display device (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescent display (ELD) and cathode ray tube display device (CRT), an antiglare film or an antiglare antireflection film is used on the display surface to prevent reduction in the contrast due to reflection of outside light or disturbing reflection of an image. With widespread usage in an office or household environment, it is required to enhance the antiglare property of preventing a fluorescent lamp in room or the viewer's figure from causing disturbing reflection on the display surface and more improve the display contract in a bright place (see, for example, JP-A-2004-170901 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") (corresponding to US2004/0070041 A1)).

Antiglare film, antireflection film, polarizing plate and image display device


A sheet conveyer device to convey a sheet in a conveyer path, including a first roller pair arranged in an intermediate position in the conveyer path, a feeder to feed the sheet toward the first roller pair during a feeding operation, a discharge portion, on which the sheet is discharged, a second roller pair arranged in the conveyer path in a position closer to the discharge portion than the first roller pair, a control unit to control the first and the second roller pairs to rotate synchronously, and a judging system to judge whether a sheet feeding error has occurred in the feeder, is provided. The control unit controls the first and the second roller pairs to rotate synchronously in a second direction during the feeding operation and in a first direction when the judging system judges that the sheet feeding error has occurred during the feeding operation.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to a sheet conveyer device having a pair of discharge rollers, which nip a sheet therebetween and rotate to discharge the sheet out of a conveyer path, and an image forming apparatus having the sheet conveyer device.
2. Related Art
When an instruction for forming an image on a recording sheet is entered in an image forming apparatus (e.g., an inkjet printer), a feeder roller being pressed onto a surface of the recording sheet, which is stored in a sheet feed tray, rotates to direct the sheet into the sheet conveyer path. Along the sheet conveyer path in the image forming apparatus, several components for forming images are installed. Specifically, recording heads to record images on the recording sheet, a pair of conveyer rollers, and a pair of discharge rollers are provided. The conveyer rollers are arranged on an upstream side in the sheet conveyer path with respect to the recording heads, whilst the discharge rollers are arranged on a downstream side. The pair of conveyer rollers includes a driving roller, which is rotated by driving force provided by a drive source (e.g., a motor), and a subsidiary roller, which is pressed onto the driving motor and rotated according to the rotation of the driving roller. Similarly, the pair of discharge rollers includes a driving roller and a subsidiary roller. The driving rollers of the conveyer roller pair and the discharge roller pair are often connected to a single drive source and rotated in synchronization with each other. The recording sheet is carried in the sheet conveyer path by rotation of at least one of the conveyer roller pair and the discharge roller pair. The recording heads eject inks onto the surface of the recording sheet whilst the recording sheet is carried in the sheet conveyer path.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. H09-58912 discloses a sheet discharging device for an image forming apparatus as above. The sheet discharging device specifically has a sheet sweeping rotary body, which is, according to the publication, a flexible and resilient piece (e.g., sponge) formed to have a shape of a gear. The sheet sweeping rotary body is attached onto a shaft of the driving roller of the discharge roller pair through an intervening one-way clutch. When the discharge rollers rotate in a direction to discharge the recording sheet into a discharge tray, the sheet sweeping rotary body rotates in the same discharging direction along with the driving roller of the discharge roller pair. When the sheet sweeping rotary body rotates, teeth in the gear can catch a rear end of the recording sheet so that the recording sheet is forwarded and swept out of the discharge rollers. When the discharge rollers rotate in a reverse direction which is opposite from the discharging direction, on the other hand, the sheet sweeping rotary body is not rotated due to an effect of the one-way clutch. Therefore, the recording sheet once discharged in the discharge tray is securely stopped by the discharge rollers from being reversely retracted once again between the discharge rollers, and reverse conveyance to convey the recording sheet in the reverse direction can be prevented.
Meanwhile, in the image forming apparatus, skew orientation of the recording sheet with respect to the conveyer path can be straightened by an operation so called a reverse registering operation. That is, when a feeder roller performs a feeding operation to pick up and feed the recording sheet into the sheet conveyer path, the conveyer rollers and the discharge rollers are rotated in the reverse directions so that the recording sheet conveyed to the conveyer roller pair is pushed back by the reverse rotation of the conveyer roller pair toward the upstream side of the sheet conveyer path. Thus, a front end of the recording sheet is halted at the conveyer roller pair and straightened with respect to the sheet conveyer path.

Sheet conveyer device and image forming apparatus with error judging system


According to one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises a step of etching a trench in an ILD layer, said trench having sidewalls and a bottom surface. The method further comprises determining a height of the sidewalls of the trench. The method further comprises filling the trench with interconnect metal such the interconnect metal extends above the trench. According to this exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises performing a CMP process to remove a portion of the interconnect metal. In the present invention, the height of the sidewalls of the trench is utilized to control an amount of polishing performed in the CMP process. The remaining portion of interconnect metal in the trench forms an interconnect line, where the thickness of the interconnect line is controlled by utilizing the height of the sidewalls of the trench to control the amount of polishing in the CMP process.

Decreasing size and increasing functionality of consumer electronic devices, such as wireless communication devices, fuel an increasing demand for reliable integrated circuits ("IC") with larger scale of integration, higher device density, lower power consumption and faster speed. However, ICs having increased scale of integration, density, and speed and decreased power consumption also require highly conductive and reliable interconnect lines. Consequently, copper has become more desirable as a replacement for aluminum in interconnect lines, since copper has a lower resistance, i.e. it is more conductive, compared with aluminum. The lower resistance of copper enables signals in the IC to move faster by decreasing the RC time delay in the IC's interconnect lines. Furthermore, since copper has a higher electromigration resistance compare to aluminum, copper interconnect lines can reliably handle higher current densities with thinner lines.
Copper interconnect lines can be fabricated by using copper damascene interconnect technology. In current copper damascene interconnect technology, a trench can be etched in an interlayer dielectric ("ILD") film stack, and the sidewalls and bottom surface of the trench can be covered with a barrier metal, such as tantalum, which prevents copper from diffusing into the ILD film stack. Copper is then filled into the trench by electrochemical plating, and then a chemical mechanical polish ("CMP") process can be used to remove excess copper and the barrier metal and provide a substantially planar surface over the copper-filled trench, which forms an interconnect line.
However, due to ILD film stack thickness variations and non-uniformity in the CMP process, the copper thickness can vary significantly from wafer to wafer and can also vary across the wafer after the CMP process. As a result, copper interconnect resistance, which is critical in many types of circuits, such as analog, digital, and speed sensitive circuits, can undesirably vary across the wafer and from wafer to wafer.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method for reducing undesirable variations in copper interconnect thickness across a wafer and between wafers.

Method for achieving increased control over interconnect line thickness across a wafer and between wafers


A containing element is used to capture material in a blood vessel for removal. The containing element is positioned within a constraining catheter while it is advanced through the blood vessel. A filament is coupled to the containing element which assists in opening and/or closing the containing element.

Minimally invasive endovascular techniques have come to the forefront in the safe and expeditious use of embolectomy devices for thromboembolic clot extraction. Currently employed devices generally extract the clot using a combination of balloons, graspers, aspiration, and wire retrievers. These devices attempt to remove the clot in vivo by attaching to it and then pulling it through the vascular lumen and out of the body. With these devices the thrombus is typically not fully contained and if fragments of the clot break away, they may become new emboli in the blood stream. That is to say that existing devices typically maintain partial or full exposure of the thrombus within the vascular lumen and when clot extraction is attempted the "bare thrombus" can pose a threat of fragmentation or partial clot dislodgement which can predispose a patient to inadvertent distal embolization, non-target territory embolization or incomplete thrombus extraction.
Additionally, in order to limit the blood flow in the clotted vessel during clot removal, many procedures utilize a variety of flow arrest techniques such as balloon-assisted proximal vessel occlusion to minimize antegrade flow in an effort to exclude distal clot fragmentation during clot extraction. Mechanical or assisted suction techniques are oftentimes utilized simultaneously via the balloon flow arrest catheter to capture any potential embolic debris during clot extraction. However, complete flow arrest in the brain arteries is often difficult due to extensive intracranial collaterals (e.g. Circle of Willis), limiting the efficacy and utility of proximal flow arrest and suction in the carotid circulation. Even limited blood flow can create a significant risk of clot fragmentation and distal migration of clot during extraction.
Completely encasing the clot captured within the stent-retriever by isolating the thromboembolism and excluding it from the vascular flow channel would eliminate or markedly reduce the risk of embolization.

Devices and methods for removing material from a patient