A semiconductor substrate according to the present invention includes a first semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, an insulating film selectively formed in the first semiconductor substrate to define an exposed surface region, and a second semiconductor substrate of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type being bonded to the first semiconductor substrate. A DRAM cell formed by using the semiconductor substrate includes a trench capacitor formed in the first semiconductor substrate through both the second semiconductor substrate and the exposed surface region, and a transfer transistor formed in the second semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device such as a one-transistor-one-capacitor type dynamic random access memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) constituted by one-transistor-one-capacitor type memory cells has recently been improved rapidly in degree of integration and memory capacity, in virtue of the progress in semi-conductor technology, especially fine processing technology. There is a substrate plate trench (SPT) cell as a cell having a flat surface and a high capacitance of a capacitor.
The structure of the SPT cell will now be described, with reference to FIG. 8. A P-type epitaxial layer 52 is formed on P.sup.+ -type silicon substrate 51 serving as a cell plate of the memory cell, and an N well region 53 is selectively formed in the P-type epitaxial layer 52. A trench 54 is formed so as to penetrate both the N well region 53 and the epitaxial layer 52 and reach the inside of the P.sup.+ -type silicon substrate 51. The trench 54 is filled with P.sup.+ -type polysilicon 56 serving as a storage node of the memory cell, with a gate insulating film 55 formed on the inner surface of the trench 54. A silicon oxide film 57 is selectively formed on the surface of the substrate. A P.sup.+ -type diffusion layer 58 serving as a diffusion region of a PMOS transistor is formed in the N well region 53, and a P-type diffusion layer 59 serving as a plate electrode removing region is formed in the P-type epitaxial layer 52. The P.sup.+ -type polysilicon 56 and P.sup.+ -type diffusion layer 58 are electrically connected to each other by a conductive strap 60. A transfer gate 61 serving as a gate of the PMOS transistor is formed above the N well region 53 with an insulating film 62 interposed between them. Finally, a wiring layer 63 is selectively formed.
Since the SPT cell as shown in FIG. 8 is able to obtain a high capacitance of the capacitor in virtue of the trench 54 and the P.sup.+ -type silicon substrate 51 serves as a cell plate, the SPT cell can be formed to have a flat surface. It is however evident that only the P.sup.+ -type silicon substrate 51 contributes to the high capacitance of the capacitor and neither the P-type epitaxial layer 52 nor the N well region 53 contributes to the high capacitance of the capacitor.
The capacitance of the capacitor can be increased further by thinning the N well region 53 and the P-type epitaxial layer 52. However, a leak occurs owing to a parasitic FET in the longitudinal direction of the P.sup.+ -type diffusion layer 58, N well region 53, and P-type epitaxial layer 52. If the N well region 53 is thinned while keeping a constant concentration, the sheet resistance of the N well region 53 is heightened, the potential of the N well region 53 locally becomes unstable, and the operation of the transfer gate 61 becomes unstable. As described above, the N well region 53 and P-type epitaxial layer 52 need to have a predetermined thickness, and they cannot be thinned too much.
Further, the plate electrode removing region has to be contacted, excepting where the N well region 53 is formed. Since, however, the N well region 53 is deep, the semiconductor memory device requires a region extended sufficiently in the lateral direction, which prevents the device from improving in high degree of integration.

Method of making a semiconductor memory device


A system having a distributed web site is described. The web site is distributed between a client, a server and a web server. The client stores a set of predefined applications that correspond to a part of the web site. The applications are formatted according to a first markup language. From the set of predefined applications, the client can generate queries. The server receives the queries and generates new, related queries. The new queries correspond to a second query protocol. The second query protocol is used by the web server. The web server generates responses to the new queries and sends these responses to the server. The responses are formatted according to a second markup language. These responses correspond to the second portion of the web site. The server then converts the responses into new responses that the client can use.

Wireless communications provides one method for mobile users to communicate to a wired network. In particular, wireless communications allows consumers to receive and send information. Examples of such wireless networks include cellular phones, pager systems, and satellite systems. The wireless network systems can be broken into relatively high bandwidth and low bandwidth systems. High bandwidth systems are for example satellite systems. Lower bandwidth systems include cellular phones and mobile radio systems. Still lower bandwidth systems include pager networks and low bandwidth packet switched radio systems (e.g., the BellSouth Mobile Data Mobitex™ system).
For users to access information on the Internet using wireless communications, the method in which they access the information is highly dependent on the type of wireless communications available to the user. For example on a high bandwidth network such as a wired network or a satellite system, usual techniques for browsing data on the Internet are adequate.
An important source of Internet based data is the data accessible through the World Wide Web (referred to as the Web). The following describes the usual techniques for Web browsing. A user selects a web site associated with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL represents the address of the entry point to the web site (e.g., the home page for the web site). For example, the user may select a web site that supplies restaurant reviews. The user's computer (the client) makes an HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) request to the web server hosting the web site. The client typically needs to make multiple HTTP requests of the web server. For example, to load the restaurant locator home page, multiple HTTP requests are needed to download all the graphics, frame content, etc. Next, the user will typically need to browse through a number of linked pages to get to the page from which a search for restaurants can be made. Even if the user is immediately presented with the desired page, a great deal of information has had to been downloaded from the web site (e.g., graphics, advertisements, etc.). This additional information makes for a visually rich browsing experience. The user fills in the information on this page and selects a search button. The client makes another series of HTTP requests of the web server. The web server supplies the client with the requested information in an HTML formatted web page. The web page typically includes links to more graphics and advertisements that need to be accessed by the client.
For low bandwidth networks this technique does not work well. Too much bandwidth is needed to download the images. Also, low bandwidth networks typically charge per byte transmitted and can be very expensive if large amounts of data are downloaded. Thus, low bandwidth networks are desirable to use for accessing information on the Web but only if the amount of data transferred over the network is small. Specifically for packet data networks, the cost of transmitting messages increases with the number of packets transmitted. The cost of transmitting multiple packet messages is therefore a formidable obstacle for packet data network customer use.
One area in which Web access is becoming more desirable is in handheld devices. Handheld devices are emerging as important computer devices. Handheld devices typically implement a relatively small, but important function set. Examples of such handheld devices are the PalmPilot™ handheld device available from 3COM Corporation, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. Examples of the function set supported are address books, calendars, and task lists.
In the past, wireless communications with handheld devices have been performed using wireless modems, such as are available from Novatel Communications, Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, or wireless transceivers for dedicated wireless data access network. Essentially a wireless modem operates in the cellular phone network and supplies approximately 9600 baud bandwidth to the handheld device. This allows the user to access the web at a relatively low bandwidth.
An issue with using handheld devices to access the Web is related to their capabilities. Even if connected to a high bandwidth network, most handheld devices do not have the screen area or the processing power to display the graphics and large amounts of text in a typical web page. However, it is still desirable to support the browsing of information on the Web using handheld devices. It is further desirable that the handheld devices be able to use networks that have relatively low bandwidths.
Some of the methods by which previous systems addressed some of the issues described above are now described.
One method of reducing the amount of data transferred from the web site to the client is to cache the web site data locally on the client. For example, the Netscape Communicator™ browser application caches web pages on the client. Each cached web page is associated with a URL. Thus, when the client requests a web page, the Netscape Communicator browser attempts to use previously cached web pages before downloading the pages from the web site. Another type of caching program is NetAttache™, available from Tympany, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. The NetAttache program downloads all the web pages from a given web site. The web pages are all cached on the client. A NetAttache server runs locally on the client. A browser can then be used to browse through the local copy of the web pages. The problem caching is that the pages still need to be retrieved from the server before they can be reused and there can still be a significant number of connections made to the web server.
Alternatively, some programs are customized for accessing specific information from particular web sites. Examples of these programs are Java applets that reside on the client or are served to the client by a server. The applets can then be reused to access information from a web site. An example of a specialized program for accessing specific information is the RealVideo Player from Real Networks, Inc. A problem with these types of programs is that they are very specific to a particular type of content. For example, they do not use standard HTML (hypertext markup language) constructs. This means that web site developers cannot use standard web site development tools to create their sites.
Therefore what is desired is an improved system and method for handheld device to access Internet information over relative low bandwidth networks.

Method and apparatus for communicating information over low bandwidth communications networks


A method of consolidating thermoplastic fibrous layers by providing a plurality of fibers having a core with an exterior surface portion comprising polypropylene and a first layer disposed on at least a portion of the core containing at least 70% alpha-olefin units which is formed into a first fibrous layer. A second fibrous layer is applied to the first fibrous layer which second layer contains a second polymer being a co-polymer having at least 50% alpha-olefin units which is characterized by a number-average molecular weight of about 7,000 to 50,000 g/mol, a viscosity of between about 2,500 and 150,000 cP measured at 170° C. and a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the exterior surface of the core. Heat and optionally pressure are applied to the assembly to consolidate the layers.

Consolidation of thermoplastic fibers into a fibrous structure such as the consolidation of polypropylene fibers for molded parts and other applications is typically accomplished by hot pressing under pressure at typically high temperatures (about 300° F. or more) and typically high pressures of (about 300 psi or more) to obtain consolidated fibrous structures having the desired performance attributes. The high temperature requirement hinders the ability to co-process the polypropylene fibers with other materials such as polymer fibers that are compromised at or above 250° F. The high pressure requirements prevent these materials from being processed in cost-effective autoclavable processes where the maximum application pressure is often about 45-100 psi. Due to the existing method of high temperature-high pressure consolidation, manufacturability of large parts requires large metal moulds which add to the cost of the machinery and finished parts significantly.
Thus, there is a need for a method that produces the same or better performance characteristics for thermoplastic fibrous layers and structures at lower temperatures, pressures, and/or dwell times than the prior art higher temperatures and pressures processes.

Method of forming a consolidated fibrous structure


The present invention provides new types of synthetic turf. The synthetic turf includes a pile fabric having a backing (1) and tufts (2) projecting therefrom. In one embodiment, at least a number of the tufts are made of a composite yarn formed by at least one fibrillated yarn (6) together with a number of individual filament yarns (7), in particular with so-called monofilament or monotape yarns. The fibrillated yarn and the individual filament yarns are preferably made of polyethylene so that the synthetic turf is sliding-friendly. In another embodiment, at least a number of the tufts are made of a composite yarn formed by monotape yarns twisted together with a number of the monofilament yarns. The monofilament and monotape yarns are preferably made of polyethylene so that the synthetic turf is sliding-friendly. The combination of a fibrillated yarn and individual filament yarns or the combination of monofilament and monotape yarns in a composite yarn allows immediate achievement of the look of natural grass, that is, without post-fibrillation, and avoids any visible difference in wear pattern between the different types of yarns. In another embodiment, the invention also provides improved particulate material for use as infill material for top-dressing a synthetic turf.

Synthetic or artificial turf is used more and more to replace natural grass turf on playing surfaces, in particular on sport fields like fields for playing football, rugby, tennis, golf, hockey, baseball etc. In order to provide a somewhat resilient surface, a top-dressing can be applied onto the backing layer. The thickness of this top-dressing is smaller than the height of the tufts so that the grass-like filaments project above the top-dressing. A top-dressed synthetic turf is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,283.
In practice, the top-dressing of so-called third generation synthetic grass fields usually consists of a hard layer and on top a layer of resilient granules, as for instance disclosed in WO 01/98589. This document discloses a synthetic grass assembly for installation on a supporting substrate comprising a pile fabric with a flexible sheet backing and a plurality of upstanding synthetic ribbons of a selected length. An infill layer of particulate material, selected from the group consisting of hard and resilient granules, is disposed interstitially between the upstanding ribbons upon the upper surface of the backing with a depth less than the length of the ribbons. The infill layer in particular comprises a bottom course of hard granules, disposed upon the top surface of the backing and a top course substantially exclusively of resilient granules disposed upon the bottom course.
Frequently applied resilient granular materials that may be used as infill materials may include mixtures of granulated rubber particles like SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) recycled from car tires, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer), other vulcanised rubbers or rubber recycled form belts. However, these rubbers have several important disadvantages. In particular, they can not be re-used and have a limited life span since they loose there properties throughout use. Furthermore, the use of this type of rubbers in a top-dressing layer of a synthetic turf does not provide sufficient resilience or shock absorption. Most of the synthetic turf for football fields consists nowadays of pile fabric made of fibrillated yarn. This fibrillated yarn is usually made of polyethylene or of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene and is tufted on a machine with a needle distance of between ⅝″ (≈15.8 mm) and 3/16″ (≈4.7 mm). A drawback of the used fibrillated yarns is that they have a relatively low wear resistance and that a post-fibrillation with a rigid (steel) brush is required after having laid the synthetic turf. The post-fibrillation is required to separate the different filaments of the fibrillated yarn from one another in order to hide the topdressing better from view and in order to achieve the look of natural grass. A drawback of such a post-fibrillation is however that the pile yarn is damaged. In addition to synthetic turf made of fibrillated yarn, there is also synthetic turf made of so-called monotape or monofilament yarn. The difference between monotape and monofilament yarn is that, for the production of monotape yarn, a film is extruded which is cut into small bands whilst for the production of monofilament yarn the bands forming the monofilaments are separately extruded. A drawback of synthetic turf made of monotape or monofilaments is that the top-dressing is less stabilised against shifting and/or erosion and that the rubber granules are less hampered from jumping up. In practice, most of the monotape or monofilament yarns used to make artificial turf are moreover made of polypropylene which offers better resilience properties than polyethylene but which has a higher coefficient of friction so that burning wounds occur much quicker, for example when falling or making a sliding on the synthetic turf surface. Synthetic turfs formed by yarns made of polyamide have been reported in the art, and are for instance disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,522 and WO 99/04074. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,522 synthetic turfs are described comprising grass-like synthetic fibers and crimped fibers. One or more of the grass-like fibers are combined with an appropriate multi-fiber strand of crimped and/or latently crimpable fibers. The fibers are made of polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 6,10, nylon 6,12, and copolymers and blends of these. WO 99/04074 discloses yarns containing polyamide in combination with a polyolefin compound for producing artificial grass. A major disadvantage of this type of synthetic turfs formed by yarns made of polyamide is that the turfs show high sliding resistance, and a high coefficient of friction so that burning wounds occur much quicker, for example when falling or making a sliding on the synthetic turf surface.
In practice there is also a synthetic turf on the market comprising alternating rows of tufts made of fibrillated yarn and rows of tufts made of monofilament yarns. An advantage of such a combination is that the turf has an appearance which immediately resembles more natural grass. However, a post-fibrillation or several months of wear is still required to make the synthetic turf look like natural grass. A further drawback of this combination is that, due to the fact that the fibrillated yarn wears more quickly than the monofilament yarns, the difference in wear pattern between the fibrillated yarn and the monofilament yarns can clearly be seen after a more prolonged time of use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new type of synthetic turf that has more the look of natural grass, but which solves the problem of the difference in wear pattern which can be seen after a prolonged time of use of the prior art synthetic turf. It is another object of the invention to provide a synthetic turf having improved resilience, shock absorption and safeness (e.g. reducing the risks for skin burns when making a sliding on the turf surface).


A line buffering technique in which a plurality of line buffers are arranged based on a determined average number of branches and stages that are necessary to implement the buffers based on design constraints. In an exemplary embodiment, the line buffers may be arranged in any buffer topology arrangement meeting the average number of branches and the number of stages design constraints.

Imaging devices, including charge coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imagers, are commonly used in photo-imaging applications.
A CMOS imager circuit includes a focal plane array of pixels, each one of the cells including a photosensor, for example, a photogate, photoconductor or a photodiode overlying a substrate for accumulating photo-generated charge in the underlying portion of the substrate. Each pixel has a readout circuit that includes at least an output field effect transistor formed in the substrate and a charge storage region formed on the substrate connected to the gate of an output transistor. The charge storage region may be constructed as a floating diffusion region. Each pixel may include at least one electronic device such as a transistor for transferring charge from the photosensor to the storage region and one device, also typically a transistor, for resetting the storage region to a predetermined charge level prior to charge transference.
In a CMOS imager, the active elements of a pixel perform the necessary functions of: (1) photon to charge conversion; (2) accumulation of image charge; (3) resetting the storage region to a known state; (4) transfer of charge to the storage region accompanied by charge amplification; (5) selection of a pixel for readout; and (6) output and amplification of a signal representing pixel charge. Photo charge may be amplified when it moves from the initial charge accumulation region to the storage region. The charge at the storage region is typically converted to a pixel output voltage by a source follower output transistor.
CMOS imagers of the type discussed above are generally known as discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,630, 6,376,868, 6,310,366, 6,326,652, 6,204,524 and 6,333,205, assigned to Micron Technology, Inc., which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Relatively long signal lines are used in an imager integrated circuit to implement and interconnect the components used to process image data. A tree type routing scheme is widely accepted in many long signal line applications, including imager applications, where timing convergence, automatic placement and routability are required. Typically, automatic design tools use the tree type routing scheme to achieve the best possible maximum operating frequency. These design tools insert many line buffers into the design to meet the timing constraints and maintain signal integrity. However, the tree type routing scheme does not work well when implemented in large/small aspect ratio (i.e., width/height ratio of an array, for example an imager array or a memory block) designs. Often, too many line buffers are inserted into the design, which results in the timing constraints not being met, which in turn results in poor performance.
Typically when a long line is routed, the tree type routing scheme inserts a repeat line buffer corresponding to a first buffer branch 121, located in a first stage 217, that is at the center of the target signal sink points (e.g., device inputs 1-16), as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 also illustrates three more buffer stages 218, 219, 220 and many more branches 122, 123, 124. In a branch subsequent to the first branch 121, repeat line buffers are placed at the halfway point of the span between the left or right terminal and the repeat line buffer of the first branch 121 (or other previously placed buffers). This process continues until the repeat line buffers are close enough to the sink points (circuit inputs) 1-16 and the loading capacitance is small enough to be driven.
The tree type routing scheme is an effective scheme when deriving the maximum operational frequency of the whole circuit having an aspect ratio of approximately 1:1. In this implementation, the operating frequency as a whole is not hindered by several extremely slow paths. However, this routing scheme is not effective when the aspect ratio is large/small.
In the tree type routing scheme the sink points are driven by the last stage line buffers (e.g., line buffers 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132). The tree type routing scheme is arranged such that all of the sink points 1-16 (circuit inputs) are driven and switched at approximately the same time, which results in a high current peak at the switching point. This is often undesirable. Further, in the tree type routing scheme many horizontal signal lines are required because the direction of the signals is bidirectional in the horizontal direction of the routing scheme illustrated in FIG. 1. This characteristic may degrade the routing metal and thus create a higher risk of area congestion.
Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a buffering technique that reduces the number of line buffers and provides a propagation delay which reduces the peak current.

Buffering technique using structured delay skewing


Ophthalmic compositions, such as those used to care for contact lenses, methods of preserving such compositions, and methods for disinfecting contact lenses using certain of such compositions are disclosed. The compositions may comprise an ophthalmically acceptable, liquid aqueous medium and, included therein, an effective preserving or disinfecting amount of a combination of certain oxygen-containing ionene polymers and other antimicrobial agents, preferably certain urea components.

This invention relates to ophthalmic compositions and methods for preserving and using such compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to ophthalmic compositions, e.g., useful in caring for contact lenses, which include one or more of certain ionene polymers as preservatives or disinfectants, and to methods for disinfecting and/or preserving using such compositions.
Various compositions, e.g., solutions, are used in association with contact lenses to ensure that the lenses may be safely, comfortably and conveniently worn. Contact lens care compositions, for example, disinfecting compositions, preserving compositions, cleaning compositions, wetting compositions, conditioning compositions and the like, often utilize at least one disinfectant or preservative, depending on the type of composition, for disinfecting or preserving contact lenses after wear or preserving the lens care composition itself. A contact lens disinfecting composition generally has sufficient antimicrobial activity so that when the composition is contacted with a lens to be disinfected, microorganisms associated with the lens are killed or otherwise removed and the contact lens is effectively disinfected within a reasonable time, e.g., in the range of about 0.1 hour to about 12 hours. A contact lens disinfecting composition may be termed a microbiocidal composition. In contrast, a contact lens preserving composition has sufficient antimicrobial activity, often less of such activity than is present in a contact lens disinfecting composition, so that when the composition is contacted with a contact lens substantially no increase in the microorganism population in the composition is obtained. A contact lens preserving composition may be termed a microbiostatic composition or a microbiocidal composition. Contact lens care compositions are preserved to prevent any substantial increase in the population of contaminating microorganisms in the compositions and, thereby, to extend their shelf life. Such preserved contact lens care compositions may be termed microbiostatic compositions. Some preservatives used in lens preserving compositions or in preserved compositions may also be used as disinfecting agents in lens disinfecting compositions.
Various compounds are known for use as preserving agents in contacts lens preserving compositions and preserved contact lens care compositions. Examples include thimerosal, benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. However, these preserving agents are known to exhibit ocular toxicity which may result in irritation or sensitivity to the eye. The degree of ocular toxicity increases when these agents are utilized as disinfecting agents. Further, a soft contact lens, a rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGP) or a hard contact lens can absorb or adsorb these compounds. This causes the contact lens to retain the irritating compound and contributes to the eye irritation and sensitivity which may result.
Stark U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,346 discloses a contact lens disinfecting solution and preserved contact lens care compositions containing 1-tris (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium-2-butenyl-4-poly [1-dimethyl ammonium-2-butenyl]-w-tris (2-hydroxyethyl-) ammonium the salt of which has a pharmaceutically acceptable anion. The quaternary ammonium polymer disclosed in this Stark patent is capable of causing irritation and sensitivity to some contact lens wearers.
Japanese Patent Publication 63131124 discloses a liquid composition for contact lens care including as an antimicrobial component a polymeric condensate of a diamine, such as N, N, N', N'- tetramethyl 1,2-diaminoethane, and a dihalogen compound, such as 1,2-dichloroethane. Such polymeric condensates include no oxygen. Further, there is no suggestion that other polymeric condensates are useful as antimicrobial agents in the contact lens care context.
Other conventional methods of contact lens chemical disinfection utilize one or more active disinfecting agents in an aqueous medium, for example a chlorhexidine/thimerosal solution or a relatively mild solution of hydrogen peroxide. Some of these disinfecting solutions, such as those named above, are cytotoxic and are known to be adsorbed or absorbed onto or into a contact lens and cause the lens to elicit a cytotoxic response after disinfection. For example, contact lenses which have been soaked in a disinfecting hydrogen peroxide solution are to be treated to remove residual hydrogen peroxide, e.g., by soaking in a catalase solution, before they may be comfortably and safely worn again. If residual hydrogen peroxide remains on the lenses, then irritation or injury to the eye may result. A lens disinfecting system employing a substantially non-oxidative disinfectant composition is particularly useful since the risk of introducing active oxidizing agents into the eye is substantially eliminated.
Ellis et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,112 discloses treating an ionically charged contact lens with a lens solution containing an oppositely charged ionic polymer to form a hydrophilic polyelectrolyte complex on the lens surface. This complex forms a hydrogel and acts as a cushion which provides comfort to the eye. Ionene polymers are among the many ionic polymers disclosed by Ellis et al. In addition, Ellis et al discloses that other additives, such as preservatives, e.g., benzalkonium chloride, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, mercurials and chlorobutanol, can be included in the lens treating solutions. Ellis et al does not distinguish between ionene polymers, nor is there any suggestion than any ionene polymers are useful as preservatives or disinfectants in the contact lens care context.
Stockel et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,077 discloses oxidative contact lens disinfecting compositions including stabilized chlorine dioxide and a quaternary ammonium compound which is a copolymer of at least one mono-or di-tertiary amine and a dihalo organic compound. Stockel U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,208 discloses oxidative contact lens disinfecting compositions including one or more of the quaternary ammonium copolymers noted above in this paragraph plus a potentiating amount of a oxidizing agent. Neither of the Stockel et al patents disclose nonoxidative contact lens care compositions using such quaternary ammonium copolymers.
Trager et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,330 discloses compositions and methods for sterilizing contact lenses and preserving ocular medications which involve using imidazolidinyl urea and imidazolidinyl urea derivatives. Such components, in order to seek to meet the current stringent preservation/disinfection test criteria, need to be present in relatively high concentrations, which may have adverse effects on the lens being treated and/or on the wearer of the treated lens.
In general, it is advantageous to reduce the amount of disinfectant and/or preservative used in the contact lens care context. For example, with reduced amounts of such materials present, adverse reactions to the compositions are reduced. Also, the cost of obtaining effective contact lens disinfection and preserved ophthalmic compositions is reduced.
Thus, it is readily apparent that a continuing need exists for safe and efficacious compositions that can be used as contact lens disinfecting and preserving compositions and as preserved contact lens care compositions.

Ophthalmic compositions and methods for preserving and using same


A system and method for reliably and efficiently monitoring and arbitrating the performance of one or more UTM infrastructure systems are provided herein. The method for monitoring and arbitrating a plurality of UTM infrastructure networks involves monitoring and arbitrating a plurality of unmanned traffic management (UTM) infrastructure networks comprising integrating a UTM arbitration system between the plurality of UTM infrastructure networks, wherein the UTM arbitration system is operably configured to simultaneously monitor the UTM infrastructure networks; monitoring information and/or data associated with one or more UTM systems associated with the UTM infrastructure networks; detecting the presence or absence thereof of one or more inconsistencies in the data and/or information associated with the one or more UTM systems; and initiating a reconciliation activity in response to detecting the presence of at least one inconsistency in the data and/or information associated with the one or more UTM systems.

The rapid proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS's) necessitates systems and methods suitable for the integration of such systems into shared airspace. One of the most critical challenges associated with integration of small UAS's into shared airspace is effective unmanned traffic management (UTM). Currently, there are many limitations in the infrastructure used to enable and safely manage the widespread use of UAS's, regardless of the type of UAS. The size and altitude of many UAS's are such that traditional air traffic control systems, such as surveillance radar, are inappropriate. Radar technologies have difficulties monitoring UAS traffic at low altitudes, particularly when there are obstructions. As a result, other′ types of infrastructure networks, such as wireless and SATCOM, are used with radar to ensure appropriate levels of coverage.
Conventional UTM systems, such as flight plans, address vehicle tracking via flight plans, Internet of Things input, etc. However, these solutions are dependent upon the wireless infrastructure network for operation, which presents limitations. First, the wireless infrastructure network is often deficient in its effectiveness in supporting normal use due to geographic and terrain issues, inability to meet current and growing capacity needs, weather conditions, etc. We all have experienced loss of signal for various reasons. Wireless infrastructure alone is not adequate to enable tracking of huge populations of UAS's that will be in operation. This results in a loss of signal and degradation of performance as UAS's move from one location through another.
Consequently, there is a need for a reliable and effective solution for monitoring and arbitrating the performance of UTM infrastructure systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and methods for monitoring unmanned traffic management infrastructure


A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it moves along the surface is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a liquid distribution system operatively associated with the housing. The liquid distribution system includes a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution and a distributor fluidly connected to the fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. A liquid recovery system is operatively associated with the housing and includes a suction nozzle and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A filter system is provided on the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused. The filter system includes a first filter provided on a filter support mounted to the recovery tank for filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt, and a second filter fluidly connected between the recovery tank and the distributor for filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt of a smaller size than the particles filtered from the first filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable cleaning machine for cleaning a surface.
2. Background Information
It is know to have cleaning machines for cleaning a surface. One example of a cleaning machine is a carpet extractor that distributes water and detergent cleaning solution to a cleaning surface and substantially simultaneously extracts it along with the dirt on the carpet in a continuous operation. This machine generally uses one or two tanks for holding the cleaning solution and one tank for containing the extracted or recovered dirt and cleaning solution. When using this carpet extractor, the majority of this water is recovered and then discarded. Such an arrangement has several disadvantages. One is that at least two tanks are used which together provide about twice the tank volume that is need to hold the actual volume. Another is that the user has to carry the recovery tank when full to the sink for disposal of the recovered solution and then refill the solution tank(s).
To overcome these disadvantages, the carpet extractor can be designed to recycle the extracted cleaning solution for reuse. This solution would eliminate the additional recovery tank and the disposal of the recovered cleaning solution in the tank several times during the cleaning of the carpet with the carpet extractor. Further, this solution reduces significantly the number of times the user has to stop and refill the solution tank(s). It would also be desirable for such a carpet extractor that has a detergent tank to adjust the amount of detergent in the recycled water or the clean water from a different fluid source, if the extracted water is not reused, so that the ratio of detergent to water is optimized to produce the desired cleaning performance on the carpet.


An electric toothbrush with a handle, a brush head and a shank which connects the handle to the brush head. A rotary motor is arranged in the handle and drives an unbalanced mass. The unbalanced mass driven by the motor is supported on one side or on both sides in the shank close to the brush head and is driven via an extended drive shaft, preferably an intermediate shaft, by the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric toothbrush.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Electric toothbrushes consist of a handle, in which the electric drive is accommodated, a brush head and a shank connecting the brush head to the handle. Electric toothbrushes are known in which the drive consists of a rotary motor, on the shaft butt of which an unbalanced mass is secured in a self-supporting manner. This unbalanced mass is located close to the motor in the handle. The disadvantage of this design consists, on the one hand, in that the handle is strongly influenced by the oscillations (vibrations) generated by the unbalanced mass, which is unpleasant for the user, and, on the other hand, in that the influence of the unbalanced mass on the brush head is relatively feeble. A further disadvantage consists in that the motor is severely loaded by the unbalanced mass that is arranged on its shaft in cantilevered manner, as a result of which its lifespan is shortened.


A magnetic coupling assembly includes a rotatable male coupling member, a rotatable female coupling member, a static separation member, a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, and a magnetic coupling section of the static separation member, wherein the magnetic coupling section is a section of the static separation member. The rotatable female coupling member and the rotatable male coupling member are rotatably coupled by magnets through the magnetic coupling section. The first channel, the second channel, and the third channel contain fluid forced to flow through the first, second, and third channels for cooling and rotodynamic stabilization.

A demand exists for higher power, lower cost per power or effect coupled for magnetic couplings. The state of the art magnetic coupling, as far as known by the applicant, is described and illustrated in the patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 8,956,067 B2, in the name of Ruhrpumpen GmbH. With the magnetic coupling of said patent, it is possible to couple magnetically up to 800 kW effect or power, at 1800 rpm (rotations per minute). Other embodiments of magnetic couplings are described and illustrated in the patent publications US 2015/0322756 A1, US 2015/0270768 A1, DE 3413930 A1, WO 2014/109648 A1 and US 2011/0057456 A1.
None of the prior art magnetic couplings described in the patent publications mentioned above can couple magnetic power exceeding 800 kW effect at 1800 rpm.

Magnetic coupling assemblies and pump, turbine, and compressor including the magnetic coupling assembly


Filter media and media packs that provide robust performance in high-speed rotating coalescer (HSRC) elements for crankcase ventilation systems are described. The filter media is HSRC filter media. As such, the filter media has a higher resistance to compressibility than traditional coalescer filter media, such as filter media used in low-speed rotating coalescer arrangements or stationary coalescer arrangements.

During operation of an internal combustion engine, a fraction of combustion gases can flow out of the combustion cylinder and into the crankcase of the engine. These gases are often called "blowby" gases. The blowby gases include a mixture of aerosols, oils, and air. If vented directly to the ambient, the blowby gases can harm the environment. Accordingly, the blowby gases are typically routed out of the crankcase via a crankcase ventilation system. The crankcase ventilation system may pass the blowby gases through a coalescer (i.e., a coalescing filter element) to remove a majority of the aerosols and oils contained in the blowby gases. The coalescer includes filter media. The filtered blowby gases are then either vented to the ambient (in open crankcase ventilation systems) or routed back to the air intake for the internal combustion engine for further combustion (in closed crankcase ventilation systems).
Some crankcase ventilation systems utilize rotating coalescers that increase the filter efficiency of the coalescing filter elements by rotating the filter media during filtering. In rotating filter cartridges, the contaminants (e.g., oil droplets suspended and transported by blowby gases) are separated inside the filter media of the filter cartridge through the particle capture mechanisms, such as inertial impaction, interception, diffusion, and gravitational forces onto the fibers. By rotating the filter media, inertial impaction and gravitational forces are enhanced by the additional centrifugal force. Additionally, the rotation of the filter cartridge can create a pumping effect, which reduces the pressure drop through the filtration system. Rotating filter cartridges may include fibrous filters as well as centrifugal separation devices.

High speed rotating crankcase ventilation filter media and media pack


A process for manufacturing submarine optical communications cable may include: providing an optical core; providing a reinforcing structure consisting of at least one layer of wires onto the optical core, wherein at least part of the wires are clad with first metallic material; extruding an outer layer onto the reinforcing structure, wherein the outer layer is made of second metallic material having a softening point substantially similar to a softening point of the first metallic material; and cooling the outer layer immediately after extruding the outer layer. A submarine optical cable may include: an optical core comprising a plurality of optical fibers housed in an inner tube; and a reinforcing structure consisting of at least one layer of wires stranded onto the optical core. The cable may be substantially devoid of interstices between the at least one layer of wires and the inner tube.

A submarine optical communications cable is an optical cable suitable for being laid beneath the sea, for implementing a point-to-point optical link supporting exchange of information between two endpoints located ashore.
The point-to-point optical link may be either repeatered or unrepeatered. In the first case, the submarine optical communications cable forming the link merely carries light signals. In the second case, the submarine optical communications cable forming the link carries both light signals and electrical power for supplying the submarine repeaters of the link.
In both cases, construction of a submarine optical communications cable typically comprises an optical core containing optical fibers within an inner tube—generally made of stainless steel, aluminium or polymeric material—surrounded by one or more layer(s) of metal wires encircled, in turn, by an outer aluminium layer. The metal layers protect the optical core against the detrimental effects inherent to installation beneath the sea (especially in deep water), such as for instance moisture penetration and mechanical stresses (in particular, hydrostatic pressure). The one or more layer(s) of wires (typically steel wires) are mainly responsible for the mechanical properties (in particular, the hydrostatic pressure resistance) of the cable.
GB 2101505 discloses a method for manufacturing an optical fiber cable for submarine use, whose optical fiber cable core comprises a plurality of optical fibers held together around a strength member by a preform, and an aluminium tube in which the preform is arranged. A layer of high tensile steel wires are stranded helically over the tube, thereby forming a stranded strength member. An oversize aluminium tube is then directly extruded coaxially over the stranded strength member by a continuous extrusion process. The tube is subsequently drawn down and swung onto the stranded strength member so that the tube material fills at least the interstitial spaces between the wires and is in intimate contact with the layer of stranded wires.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,104 discloses a repeatered submarine cable where the cable core is surrounded by an outer strength member formed by a plurality of stranded steel wires which are successively wrapped in superimposed layers around the outer diameter of the core. A non-porous conductive jacket of aluminium or copper is then formed directly over the outer layer of stranded wires. The jacket surrounding the steel wires forms a DC conducting path for powering optical repeaters spaced at intervals along the cable, and also serves as a moisture barrier for the optical transmission lines disposed in the cable.
EP 0 092 980 discloses an overhead earth conductor comprising a central core of aluminium formed from a single extrudate of substantially C-shaped transverse cross-section whose limbs have been folded inwardly so that the gap between the free ends of the limbs is closed and the central core is of substantially circular cross-section. Extending through the length of the central core is an elongated compartment in which is loosely housed an optical fiber. A layer of galvanized steel wires surrounds the central core, the wires being helically laid around the central core. A circumferentially continuous outer layer of aluminium surrounds the layer of galvanized steel wires, the outer layer being formed from a single extrudate of substantially C-shaped transverse cross-section whose limbs have been folded inwardly so that the gap between the free ends of the limbs is closed. Aluminium of the central core and aluminium of the outer layer partially fills the interstices between the steel wires. Spaces of the interstices between the galvanized steel wires not occupied by aluminium are substantially filled with water-impermeable grease.

Submarine optical communications cables and processes for the manufacturing thereof


A stereoscopic video processing apparatus is constituted by: a video input section, for receiving input of stereoscopic videos constituted by a plurality of frames, which are viewable stereoscopically; a scene detecting section, for detecting positions within the stereoscopic videos at which scene changes occur; and a perceived depth adjusting section, for administering perceived depth adjusting processes that adjust the perceived depths of the stereoscopic videos such that the perceived depth changes gradually at the positions at which scene changes occur.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a stereoscopic video processing method and a stereoscopic video processing apparatus for processing stereoscopic videos. The present invention is also related to a program that causes a computer to execute the stereoscopic video processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that stereoscopic viewing that utilizes parallax is enabled by combining and displaying a plurality of images. Stereoscopic images that enable stereoscopic viewing may be generated by obtaining a plurality of images of a single subject using a plurality of cameras at different positions, then combining a plurality of images utilizing the parallax of the subject included in the plurality of images.
Specifically, stereoscopic images may be generated by causing colors in the plurality of images to be different, such as red and blue, then overlapping the images. Alternatively, stereoscopic images may be generated by causing the polarization directions to be different within the plurality of images, then overlapping the images. In these cases, stereoscopic images can be viewed three dimensionally, by viewers' eyes stereoscopically viewing the stereoscopic images, which are displayed using red/blue glasses or polarizing glasses, using the automatic focusing function of the eyes (the anaglyph method and the polarizing filter method).
It is also possible to view stereoscopic images three dimensionally without using polarizing glasses and the like. The parallax barrier method and the lenticular method enable stereoscopic images to be viewed three dimensionally, by displaying the stereoscopic images on a three dimensional liquid crystal display. In these cases, the stereoscopic images are generated by cutting the plurality of images into vertically extending stripes, which are then arranged alternately. Another example of a stereoscopic display method is the time division method, in which the light beam directions of left and right images are changed by the use of image separating glasses or by attaching optical elements to liquid crystal displays, and displaying the right and left images alternately.
A technique for setting the type of display to be performed in advance when reproducing stereoscopic videos has been proposed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-200813). According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-200813, settings may be set such that a two dimensional video which cannot be viewed three dimensionally is displayed for the first several seconds, and then display is switched to stereoscopic display.
A technique for resolving disorientation experienced by viewers during switching between three dimensional display of stereoscopic videos and two dimensional videos, which cannot be viewed three dimensionally, in cases that both types of images are present, has also been proposed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-328566). According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-328566, switching between three dimensional display and two dimensional display is performed gradually, in order to reduce disorientation experienced by viewers.
When stereoscopic videos are filmed, scenes change when operations such as initiation of filming, cessation of filming, change of zoom magnification rates, and the like are performed. As a result, the perceived depth changes prior to and after positions within the stereoscopic videos at which scene changes occur. However, in three dimensional viewing, depth perception is realized by the automatic focusing function of viewers' eyes. Therefore, viewers will become extremely fatigued if the perceived depths of scenes switch suddenly. The technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-200813 sets the manner in which two dimensional videos and stereoscopic videos are to be displayed in advance. Therefore, this technique cannot be applied to scene switching within stereoscopic videos. The technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-328566 switches between three dimensional display of stereoscopic videos and two dimensional display of to dimensional videos gradually. Therefore, this technique cannot be applied to scene switching within stereoscopic videos.

Method, apparatus, and program for processing stereoscopic videos


The device utilizes a changeable-configuration geometric arrangement including a plurality of units, such as tetrahedrons, connected together at points by means of joints. The tetrahedrons can be equally divided into two different types of units that are exact mirror images of each other. The unit in each type has four triangular faces. The units along with the joints form an articulated chain in which any two adjacent units are of different types. The assembly of any two units connected together with a joint allows both units to rotate relative to each other in all directions around the center of the joint. In the articulated device, six consecutive units can be used to form the configuration of a cube. Different coloring and/or numbering schemes can be used to provide different levels of complexity and challenge for the puzzle. Units can be formed as right tetrahedrons having two faces with side lengths generally equal to (L, .sqroot.2 L, .sqroot.3 L), and two faces with side lengths generally equal to (L, L, .sqroot.2 L).

The present invention relates to a manipulative type puzzle involving manipulation of a changeable-configuration geometric device. Prior arrangement of three dimensional structures to form geometric puzzles included "Rubik's Cube", and similar changeable-configuration structures such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,725. The "Rubik's Cube" device permits only limited movement of any specific smaller cube, usually only rotational movement in the plane of the face of the formed cube, and then only when all smaller cubes forming such face are rotated. Similarly the device in the 4,063,725 patent hinges tetrahedrons along adjoining edges to form a larger cube. While such structures may be formed in many various ways, Rubik's Cube puzzles, are limited to forming a cube. The variations in such puzzles are not in the geometric structure formed but in how such formed structure is compiled. The restricted movement of the joinder between individual elements create limitations on the final configured shape can be created.
Such an articulated structures hold a great deal of interest for both children and adults as a challenging puzzle and also as an amusement.


A heating chamber (1) for a heating furnace is proposed, with which electrothermal vaporization of impurities from samples can be effected in order to be able to then analyze them spectrometrically. The heating chamber has a wall (3), a sample reception area (5), a nozzle area (7) and two electrical connection areas (9, 11). The heating chamber (1) is specially configured such that an electric current flows through the wall (3) in such a way that a heating capacity caused by it is higher in the nozzle area (7) than in the sample reception area (5). For example, the electrical connection areas (9, 11) may be arranged in a radial direction remoter from the longitudinal axis (8) than a part of the wall (3) surrounding the nozzle area (7), and the heating chamber (1) may be configured, for example by means of a locally constricted area (13), in such a way that the current between the two electrical connection areas (9, 11) is predominantly conducted radially inwards towards the part of the wall (3) surrounding the nozzle area (7). Advantageous heat distribution in the heating chamber (1) achievable thereby may have a positive effect on the analysis of sample impurities.

For the analysis of foreign matter contents in samples, a so-called solid matter sample injection in the form of electrothermal vaporization (ETV) has been found to be a modern and highly promising variant for the preparation of analysis samples for spectrometric analysis as well as for the introduction of these samples into corresponding analytical apparatuses, as it often enables very low detection limits to be achieved.
For example, an analysis of carbon materials by means of electrothermal vaporization, coupled with an optical emission spectrometer using a plasma as an excitation source (shortly often referred to as ETV-ICP/OES), can be used as a proven method to determine a content of foreign atoms in, for example, high-purity graphites with a degree of impurities below 1 ppm. In this process, the sample is heated to up to 3000° C. in a heating furnace using, for example, argon as a carrier gas, and impurities, usually in the form of highly refractory compounds, are converted into a gas phase by means of reaction gases which react with the present impurities to form volatile substances. The carrier gas with the vapors containing foreign atom halide, for example, is then converted into an aerosol in a sheathing gas stream process. By means of such a direct solid matter injection, impurities may be conveyed directly into a downstream plasma of a spectrometer. A resulting transient spectrometer signal may then be recorded and evaluated.
This special combination of sample injection and analysis technology may achieve very low detection limits in the lower to medium ppt range (i. e. "parts per trillion", corresponding to [ng/kg]). Due to an analysis time of only a few minutes per sample and in combination with an autosampler, for example, this method may at the same time offer a high degree of economy in the laboratory.
The samples to be measured with the method mentioned may originate from a refining process of high-temperature gas purification. This last step may be based on the same principles as the solid matter sample injection by means of ETV. In order to be able to make a clear statement about a success of this process step of high-temperature cleaning, it may be essential to know both the level of impurities in the reactants (in this case the unpurified graphite) and that of the products (in this case the purified graphite). Since the content of foreign atoms in the starting material may lie in the middle to upper ppm range, an ETV-based analysis of these samples results in an increased risk of element carryover into the subsequent analysis run (so-called memory effect).
Due to the low level of total impurities in the product (the total content of all foreign atoms in purified graphites is typically approx. 1 ppm), a low detection limit of the individual elements is desirable in this case.
Therefore, it is desirable to increase a sensitivity of analysis devices and methods used for analyzing foreign matter contents in samples.
It was discovered that, among other things, hardware components of an analysis device used for the analysis method mentioned above may have a decisive influence on an optimization of the sensitivity of the analysis method.

Heating chamber, heating furnace, analysis device, and method for analyzing foreign matter contents in samples


A system for determining a viable area automatically and accurately includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive location information. The processor is configured to determine imagery data based on the location information, to determine a point cloud using the imagery data, determine one or more features using the point cloud, determine viable area using the one or more features, and determine a solar irradiance of the viable area.

Currently, the solution for determination of an active or viable solar production area for a solar installation is slow and labor intensive. Because of this constraint, the design process for solar installations suffers in accuracy (e.g., in order to get to a finalized design, sometimes steps are done in a less thorough manner in the pursuit of speed) and refinement (e.g., in order to get to a finalized design, iterations are not performed), and the delays negatively impact a user's ability to optimize solar installations.

Automated accurate viable solar area determination


Methods for reducing inclusion content of sputter targets and targets so produced are disclosed. Inclusions may be reduced by adding a small amount of Si to the molten Al or molten Al alloy followed by filtering of the molten metals through a filter medium. Targets having substantially no inclusions therein of greater than about 400 μm are especially useful in the sputtering of large flat panel displays and result, upon sputtering, in a reduction in the amount of macroparticles sputtered onto the substrate.

Macroparticles are generated during sputtering by the presence of dielectric inclusions in the metallic sputter target. Electrical charges build up on the dielectric particle and eventually electrical breakdown occurs. When this electrical breakdown occurs a high current density cathodic arc forms and melts a small section of the target. The arc pressure causes the liquid metal in the cathode to spurt out at high velocity and strike the intended substrate. The droplets solidify on the substrate creating a large defect in the metallization layer.
This problem has been frequently experienced in the sputtering of large flat panel displays that commonly operate at power densities of greater than 16 W/cm2. The appearance of macroparticles on these flat panel displays causes gaps or shorts in the metallization patterns required for addressing the various pixels in the display. Obviously, the gaps or shorts reduce the yield of acceptable display units.
Sputtered aluminum layers are often the initial conductive layer that is coated on the substrate. In addition to the desire in having low inclusion levels in the Al target, the targets must also provide good resistance to hillock formation. It is known that alloying additions of silicon and copper are effective at reducing hillock formation and that these alloying additions to aluminum do not significantly lower the electrical conductivity of the resulting sputtered Al films.

Sputter targets and methods of manufacturing same to reduce particulate emission during sputtering


A tool axis direction calculation method for determining a direction vector of the tool axis when a side is cut be a 5-axes numerically controlled machine tool. A normal vector (Ri) is determined at a dividing point (Pi) of the upper surface of a sculptured surface, and a normal vector (Si) is determined at a dividing point (Qi) of the lower surface thereof. Next, an intermediate vector (Ni) having a direction between the normal vector (Ri) and the normal vector (Si) and a size equal to the radius of a tool is determined. Offset points (Xi, Yi) are determined from the intermediate vector (Ni), and a vector (Zi) connecting the offset points (Xi, Yi) is determined as the direction vector of the tool axis. A direction vector of the tool axis closest to a generating line can be obtained, and thus a side closest to a desired sculptured surface can be cut.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool axis direction calculation method used in an automatic programming apparatus for creating NC data (machining program) for cutting a sculptured surface of a metal mold, and more specifically, to a tool axis direction calculation method of determining a direction vector of a tool axis in a side cut carried out by a 5-axes numerically controlled machine tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatic programming apparatuses for creating NC data for cutting a sculptured surface of a metal mold are provided with a software for creating various NC data, and this software can simultaneously determine offset data for a tool.
Also, 5-axes numerically controlled machine tools having B- and C-axes for inclining a tool axis in addition to the usual X-, Y- and Z-axes, are available and can cut a side of a workpiece by using a flat end mill.
When making this side cut, a direction vector of a tool axis is generally determined by the following calculation method:
(a) determining dividing points corresponding to the upper and lower surfaces of a curved surface to be cut;
(b) determining respective normal vectors at these dividing points;
(c) determining points obtained by offsetting the radius of a tool to the directions of the respective normal vectors; and
(d) creating a vector by connecting these points and using the thus created vector as the direction vector of the tool axis.
Nevertheless, this method has the following drawbacks:
First, the direction of the normal vector of the upper surface of a curved surface to be cut does not always coincide with the direction of the normal vector of the lower surface thereof, and thus the direction vector of a tool axis may not be parallel to the generating line of the curved surface and may be twisted.
Second, the tool axis may not be on the line segment (generating line of the curved surface) obtained by connecting the points corresponding to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the curved surface to be cut. More specifically, the tool axis is on the generating line only when the normal vector of the upper surface is equal to the normal vector of the lower surface.
As a result, a sculptured surface to be determined is different from an actual machined surface, i.e., a workpiece is bittin or partially not cut.


An approach is provided for controlling access to a resource. Visual representations of the resource and an entity and a second entity are included in a display. In the display, a movement of the entity visual representation (EVR) to a position proximate to a boundary of the resource visual representation (RVR) is detected. Based on an attribute assigned to the EVR being determined to satisfy an access control requirement (ACR) assigned to the RVR, the EVR is permitted to move across and be placed within the boundary of the RVR. A movement of the second entity visual representation (SEVR) to another position proximate to the boundary of the RVR is detected. Based on an attribute assigned to the SEVR being determined to not satisfy the ACR, the SEVR is prevented from moving across and being placed within the boundary of the RVR.

Known techniques for access control of information technology resources (e.g., computer files) employ traditional access control and/or mutually exclusive access control. Traditional access control ensures that an entity accessing a resource has certain attributes that match access control requirements. Mutually exclusive access control designates certain entities as incompatible so that the designated entities are not permitted to access a particular resource at the same time. The known access control techniques are based on access control lists and/or text-based rules, which are non-intuitive, error-prone, and difficult to use. Thus, there exists a need to overcome at least one of the preceding deficiencies and limitations of the related art.

Visually representing and managing access control of resources

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is for an elastic body formed by addition reaction type silicone rubber elastic material. The material is obtained by curing a polysiloxane mixture including at least (a) straight-chain dimethyl polysiloxane having the viscosity of 8000 poise or more at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and terminated with vinyl groups; and (b) resinous organopolysiloxane having at least two vinyl groups and having the viscosity of 10-1000 poise at the temperature of 25.degree. C. and a resin segment with at least one of a 4-functional constitutional unit and a 3-functional constitutional unit, and an oil segment with a 2-functional constitutional unit. The elastic body is used in forming an elastic roller and fixing device using an elastic roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elastic body made of elastic material such as addition reaction type silicone rubber, and more particularly, it relates to an elastic body used for forming rollers such as fixing rollers, feed rollers and the like or blades such as cleaning blades, developing blades and the like, which must have the good mold-releasing ability and are used with an image forming system such as an electrophotographic copying machine, electrophotographic printer and the like.
Further, the present invention relates to an elastic roller using such elastic body, and a fixing device having such elastic roller.
2. Related Background Art
Generally, feed rollers having a pair of elastic rollers, for feeding a sheet-like transfer material or a recording sheet such as a plain paper sheet, OHP film and the like (which is used with an image forming system such as an electrophotographic copying machine, electrophotographic printer and the like) along a predetermined path are required to have the good feeding ability, mold-releasing ability and durability.
The blade such as a cleaning blade for removing toner and/or dirt remaining on a photosensitive member used with the image forming system, a developing blade for forming a thin toner layer on a developing sleeve and the like is functionally disposed in sliding contact with the toner and thus is required to have the good mold-releasing ability and high wear resistance and therefore high durability.
The feed rollers used with the image forming system and having a pair of elastic rollers for feeding a recording sheet on which a non-fixed toner image was formed must have the good mold-releasing ability, high wear resistance and high durability, since they must pressurize the toner image on the recording sheet and, if necessary, heat the toner image to fix onto the recording sheet, and feed the recording sheet along a predetermined path while preventing the offset phenomenon.
Heretofore, a fixing roller is comprised of a metallic core, and a coating layer disposed around the core and made of good mold-releasing material such as fluororesin or silicone rubber. In the image forming system, the fixing roller having the silicone rubber coating layer which is inferior to the fixing roller having the fluororesin coating layer in the mold-releasing ability and durability but superior to the latter in the provision of the good image quality tends to be used in view of the importance of the image quality, and thus the improvement of the mold-releasing ability and durability of the silicone rubber material has been investigated and developed.
In color electrophotography, in order to reproduce an image color as close to an original image color as possible, since a plurality of color toners are heat-fused and mixed, it is necessary to use the toners having a low softening point. When the toner having the low softening point is used, if the toner image is thermally fixed by a fixing roller having the fluororesin (for example, Teflon) coating layer which has been used with a general copying machine for obtaining a black and white image, the offset phenomenon that the toner is adhered to the fixing roller will be generated noticeably, thus making the formation of the good fixed image difficult extremely. To avoid such offset phenomenon, it has been tried to always apply silicone oil (as toner separating agent) to a surface of a fixing roller having an outer coating layer made of silicone rubber material with the good mold-releasing ability and special grade.
However, the mold-releasing ability of the existing silicone rubber materials is still insufficient, and, therefore, the improvement of the mold-releasing ability and durability of the silicone rubber material has been investigated and developed.
For example, the Japanese Patent Appln. Laid-Open No. 61-144675 teaches the fact that, in the addition reaction type silicone rubber materials, hardened matter comprised of straight-chain dimethyl polysiloxane terminated with vinyl groups having molecular weight of 20000-200000 has the good mold-releasing ability.
According to the above Japanese gazette, it is said that as the molecular weight of the straight-chain dimethyl polysiloxane terminated with vinyl groups is greater, the mold-releasing ability get higher. However, if the molecular weight exceeds 200000, the physical strength of the matter will be doubtful, and thus such matter cannot be used practically.
Now, the relation between the molecular weight and the viscosity of the straight-chain dimethyl polysiloxane will be briefly described. In general, when the molecular weight of the dimethyl polysiloxane is increased, the viscosity is also increased; in case of the straight-chain dimethyl polysiloxane, the molecular weight of 200000 corresponds to the viscosity of about 60000 poise.
On the other hand, in the conventional coating layers of the roller, when the rollers having the mold-releasing agent applied thereto are used as the fixing rollers under the heated condition at high temperature, the mold-releasing agent enters into the outer layers of the rollers, thus deteriorating the silicone rubber constituting the outer layers. Such deterioration is particularly noticeable in the outer layer of the higher temperature roller.
To avoid such deterioration of the outer layers, the Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-41330 proposes providing an intermediate layer as an oil barrier layer made of fluororubber and the like between the silicone rubber layers as the outer layer of each roller. Further, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 54-41332 and 57-46068, it has been proposed that an underlayer was formed by mixing the base material with non-swelling material (i.e., material hard to be swollen). However, when the deterioration of the silicone rubber layer is prevented with the above-mentioned method, it is necessary to select materials having excellent mold-releasing ability as the outer layer material of the roller, with the result that at least two layers are required to constitute the outer layer of the roller.
Alternatively, Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-26373 teaches the fact that silicone rubber constituting the rubber layer used as the outer layer of the roller and silicone oil applied thereto are selected so as not to cause the swelling of the rubber layer, and the selected silicone rubber and silicone oil are combined. However, according to this Japanese gazette, it is said that the combination of addition silicone rubber and phenylmethyl silicone oil is not preferable because of the occurrence of the swelling.
Further, the Japanese Patent Appln. Laid-Open No. 3-33786 discloses a heat fixing roller comprising a metallic core member, an elastic layer made of silicone rubber, an oil barrier layer made of fluororubber, and a mold-releasing layer made of addition silicone rubber, where such layers are arranged around the core. With the arrangement of this heat fixing roller, the mold-releasing agent is prevented from penetrating into the elastic rubber layer by the oil barrier fluororubber layer, and the toner separating ability, lipophilic ability to the silicone oil, surface smoothness and wear resistance are provided on the roller surface by the mold-releasing agent or surface lubricant.
However, the mold-releasing layer formed on the surface of the heat fixing roller disclosed in this Japanese Patent Appln. Laid-Open No. 3-33786 is formed by curing the mixture comprised of 100 weight part of methylvinyl polysiloxane ((a) component) having at least two vinyl groups per molecule and a polymerization degree of 5000-12000, and 1-100 weight part of methylvinyl polysiloxane ((b) component) containing triorganosilhemioxane unit (M unit) and silicate unit (Q unit) in a specific rate. More particularly, in an embodiment, since it is said-that the heat fixing roller having the mold-releasing layer formed by combining 100 weight part of the (a) component and 30 weight part of the (b) component containing the M unit and Q unit has the durable offset life for 30000 sheets, it is considered that the methylvinyl polysiloxane constituting the (b) component is polymer having resin segment comprising the M unit and Q unit as a main component. Accordingly, the methylvinyl polysiloxane constituting the (b) component in this embodiment has a resin segment comprising the M unit and Q unit as the main component, and a soft segment comprising continuous diorganosiloxane unit (D unit) has only a short, hard resin skeletal structure wherein the number of repeating units is several tenths at the most. The mold-releasing layer formed by curing the mixture of the (b) component methylvinyl polysiloxane and the (a) component methylvinyl polysiloxane limits the service life of the roller, since the mold-releasing ability of the (b) component is insufficient. Further, if the mixing rate of the (b) component is increased, the elastic body obtained by heat curing the mixture will become harder and fragile.

Elastic body of an addition reaction type silicone rubber elastic material used in elastic roller and fixing device


A bandgap reference circuit that operates with a voltage supply that can be lass than 1 volt and that has one stable, non-zero current operating point. The core has a current generator embedded within it and includes one operational amplifier that provides a self-regulated voltage for several transistors used in the circuit

This invention relates to a bandgap reference circuit that operates with low voltage.
Bandgap reference voltage generators are used in DRAMs, flash memories and analog devices and are required to provide stable voltages over a wide range of voltage supplies and temperatures. Increasing demand for use of lower supply voltages will soon push the supply voltage below 1.25 Volts, the standard for which bandgap reference circuits are now designed. A conventional bandgap reference circuit includes three sections: a core where an input voltage is developed and conditioned, a bandgap generator, and a current generator. This circuit must operate with a supply voltage that is at least a few hundred millivolts (mV) above the desired bandgap voltage (≈1.25 Volts).
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional bandgap reference circuit 10 having a core region 11, a bandgap generator region 21 and a current generator region 31. The core region 11 includes two PMOS transistors, 12 and 13, connected at their sources to a voltage supply 14 and connected at their drains to negative and positive input terminals of a first operational amplifier 15 whose output terminal is connected to the gates of the first and second transistors, 12 and 13. First and second matched bipolar transistors, 16 and 17, have collectors and bases connected to ground. The emitters of the first and second bipolar transistors, 16 and 17, are connected to the drain of the first PMOS transistor 12 and through a first resistor 18 to the drain of the second PMOS transistor 13, respectively.
The bandgap voltage generator region 21 includes a third PMOS transistor 22, with source connected to the voltage supply 14 and gate connected to the output terminal of the op amp 15. The drain of the third PMOS transistor 22 is connected through a second resistor 23 to the emitter of a third bipolar transistor 24, whose collector and base are grounded.
The current generator region 31 includes a fourth PMOS transistor 32 with sources connected to the voltage supply 14 and gate connected to an output terminal of a second op amp 34. A negative input terminal of the second op amp 34 is connected to the drain of the third PMOS transistor. A positive input of the second op amp 34 and the drain of the fourth transistor 32 are connected through a third resistor 35 to ground. The fifth transistor 33 serves as a source for a current Iout. This device requires two operational amplifiers, at least five PMOS transistors, and a supply voltage that is at least about 400 mV above a target bandgap reference voltage.
If the supply voltage is decreased to 1.2 V and below, the standard bandgap voltage of 1.25 V can no longer be maintained. What is needed is a bandgap reference circuit that allows operation with supply voltages as low as about 1 V, or preferably lower, and that has no more than one or two stable operating points.
These needs are met by the invention, which provides a bandgap reference circuit that operates with a supply voltage of about 1V and that has one stable operating point, unless all currents in the system are substantially zero initially. The invention uses only one operational amplifier, four PMOS transistors and one additional current path to ground in one embodiment. The core includes a current generator embedded therein.


A waterproof plug for a connector, includes an elastically deformable seal member for sealing a housing which houses terminals fixed at edges of electric cables in the inside thereof. The seal member is housed inside the housing by press-fitting, and has at least two elements holding the electric cables by sandwiching from both sides and tightly contacting with outer peripheral surfaces thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof plug for a connector and a waterproof connector comprising the same, in more particular, to a waterproof plug for a connector for sealing a housing which houses a terminal, a waterproof connector comprising the same and a method of attaching the same.
2. Related Art
There is a conventional waterproof connector comprising a terminal fixed at an edge of an electric cable, a housing for housing this terminal in the inside thereof, a seal member as a waterproof plug for sealing (liquid seal) this housing and a holder for holding the electric cable by positioning the seal member inside the housing (for example, disclosed by JP-A 2005-129460).
The terminal has a projection (a stabilizer) for preventing a reverse insertion and is locked inside the housing.
The housing has a locking portion for locking the terminal and a guide for guiding the stabilizer, and is configured to open on a cable insertion side and an external terminal connection side for housing a portion of the electric cable, the seal member and the holder with the terminal in the inside thereof.
The seal member has a through hole allowing the press-fitting of the terminal and the electric cable, is housed in a state of being pressed against the inside of the housing and is entirely formed of a soft elastic material such as, for example, rubber or the like.
The holder has a through hole letting through the electric cable and is mounted inside the housing. And it is configured to be positioned at a predetermined position by pressing the seal member from the cable insertion side to the external terminal connection side when inserting the holder into the housing.
From the above-mentioned configuration, the waterproof connector is attached by inserting the seal member into the housing from the opening on the cable insertion side so as to be placed at a predetermined position, sequentially placing the holder on the cable insertion side of the seal member, subsequently passing the electric cable through by inserting the terminal into a through hole of the holder and that of the seal member, and pressing the seal member in a thickness direction thereof by moving the holder from the cable insertion side to the external terminal connection side after locking the terminal to the locking portion inside the housing.
In this case, when the seal member receives pressure from the holder, the seal member is compressed in the thickness direction thereof and expands in a direction to press against an inner surface of the housing, thereby sealing the opening of the housing (an opening on the cable insertion side).
However, according to the conventional waterproof connector, there is a possibility that sealing performance deteriorates as the seal member is damaged by the stabilizer of the terminal which scratches an inner periphery of the through hole of the seal member when passing the electric cable through the through hole of the sealing member.

Waterproof plug for connector, waterproof connector comprising the same and method of attaching the same

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A block for chemically dosing a stream of fluid flowing past the block, the block comprising at least one surface for the fluid to flow past to dissolve and/or erode the block, wherein the block is shaped to enable the at least one surface to be dissolved and/or eroded without a substantial change in the area of the at least one surface.

There are numerous applications where chemicals, dissolved or suspended in a fluid, are required to be applied over large areas or volumes.
One such application is in fire fighting, where fire retardant foam may sometimes be employed to smother a fire, particularly in the case of electrical fires or flammable liquid fires (such as oil fires) in which water is not a suitable fire extinguishing material.
The chemical components of the fire retardant foam are typically dissolved or suspended in water, the foam readily forming as the water and chemicals are sprayed out of a nozzle. The primary component of the fire retardant foam is a surfactant, which readily foams when sprayed out of the nozzle. The concentration of the surfactant in the water is typically less than 1%. Some types of surfactants employed include synthetic surfactants such as alpha-olefin sulfonates, perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooactanoic acid and protein based surfactants. Other components of fire retardant foams may include organic solvents such as trimethyltrimethylene glycol and hexylene glycol, foam stabilisers such as lauryl alcohol and corrosion inhibitors.
For hand held fire extinguisher cylinders, the foam components and water are held in a compressed volume, similar to the arrangement in an aerosol can. When operated, the compressed gas which compresses the water and foam components escapes through a valve, causing the application of a pressure on the water, driving it out of the cylinder through a nozzle. As this occurs, the foaming components form the foam.
For fire trucks, having a foam system, a foam tank containing water and the foam components is provided on board the fire truck. In this instance, however, the pressure required to drive the water carrying the foam components through a nozzle to form the foam is provided by the fire truck's onboard pump.
Although both these arrangements enable an operator to apply a controlled concentration of chemicals to produce a fire retardant foam, a significant disadvantage is that large volumes of water and these chemicals are required to be stored.
In more recent developments, solid blocks containing surfactants supported in a polyethylene glycol matrix have been employed to create fire retardant foams by placing the solid blocks in the path of a stream of water. Typically, the block is housed in a chamber at some point between a water source and a nozzle. As the stream of water passes around the block in the chamber, the block including the surfactant dissolves and/or erodes into the fluid. The rate of loss of material from the block is directly proportional to the exposed surface area of the chemical block. The fluid, now containing surfactant, may flow through a nozzle to create the fire retardant foam. A significant advantage of this arrangement is that it is not necessary to provide a large storage tank of water containing the foaming compounds. However, a noticeable problem in relation to such solid blocks is that the loss of material from the blocks into the fluid does not occur evenly over the surface of the block over time. It has been found that this problem causes a rapid reduction in the concentration of foaming agents in the fluid. It is consequently necessary to regularly replace the solid block in the chamber, without a substantial portion of the solid block having been used, in order to maintain the required concentration.
Another application where chemicals dissolved or suspended in a fluid need to be applied over a large area or volume is in the application of agricultural products such as fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. Such chemicals may be made up into a solution and sprayed over the necessary area using an irrigation system or a hose for example. Again, one problem with this arrangement is that it requires storage of large volumes of chemical containing solution. Furthermore, such chemicals can be difficult to handle when in liquid form.
In a further application, cleaning apparatus for cleaning cars and other vehicles may have accessories which enable a liquid detergent concentrate to be added to a stream of water to assist in the cleaning process. The detergent is added by flowing the water past an opening to a volume of the detergent through the opening and, which draws some of the detergent out into the water under a "venturi" effect.

Block for chemically dosing a stream of fluid and an apparatus for housing the block


Credential and authentication management in scalable data networks is described, including detecting a request from an extension installed on a browser to access a data network, initiating another request from the extension to a server to retrieve authentication data to access the data network, transferring from the server to the extension the authentication data and an instruction to the extension to generate a further request, transmitting the further request to the data network from the browser, the request comprising the authentication data from the server without manual input of the authentication data, presenting an overlay on the browser, the overlay being configured to indicate a login status associated with the data network, and monitoring a cookie and data transferred between the data network and the browser at an application layer or data layer after access to the data network has been provided to the browser in response to the request.

As various computer programs ranging from operating systems to client and server-side applications to online Internet platforms to distributed and cloud computing systems, and other types of software (hereafter "software" or "applications") increase in complexity, design, and scale, there is also an increase in problems associated with managing large amounts of data and providing data security against unauthorized access to data across a large distributed platforms and data networks.
Accessing and using applications that need to scale to support millions of clients (e.g., computers, servers, desktops, laptops, smart phones, mobile phones, cellular communication devices, tablet computers, and the like) and user accounts are often hampered by various types of operations that need to be performed in order to provide an efficient and scalable computing environment, many of which are distributed globally across numerous servers or server facilities and services, including cloud-based computing systems. Systems such as social networks and social media typically rely upon conventional solutions to address difficult operations such as data security, account security, and data privacy, but which are often limited and restrictive to users, including organizational accounts that may have many users. However, many conventional solutions for providing data security, account security, and data privacy are also problematic because of an inability to scale and support multi-client or multi-threaded operations such as authentication or login operations or to work with third party technology providers to provide data security. As a conventional example, social networks and social media are configured to provide both individual and organizational users with single-client accounts. However, if an organization has multiple users that require access to a single account for a social network, this can be problematic using conventional authentication techniques because only a single client can access a given account at any time, which is not only efficient, but stifles organizational use of valuable social media and networks to deliver, for example, commercial content such as advertising, promotions, coupons, or contextually or thematically-related content that users may find useful or valuable. Organizations with social media marketing departments, which may have one to many users are unable to effectively use powerful communication media such as social media and social networks because of technical limitations of conventional authentication solutions that render these inefficient, unscalable, and lacking in terms of organizational support.
Thus, what is needed is a solution for authenticating access to online accounts without the limitations of conventional techniques.