The present disclosure relates to a system and method for enabling SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) based Network Management System to correlate and control sequence of recovery actions to be performed and dynamically change the recovery action sequence across various systems/platforms/devices. Disclosed is a system for taking sequence of dynamic recovery actions in network management system upon occurrence of a fault, in one aspect of the present invention. The system includes an action definition repository containing a sequence of recovery actions for the fault in a particular business scenario. The action definition repository is initialized and updated for every new scenario. The system further includes an action sequence engine being capable of reading the recovery sequence listed in the action definition repository for the fault in the particular business scenario.

A communications network often includes different elements, such as servers, routers, switches and various other elements applicable for both data and voice networks, which perform various functions in the network. In addition, there would be elements not directly related to the communication function of the network may be also connected and available to perform a variety of tasks. These elements often have different management and control interfaces, and use different protocols to communicate.
Network management involves managing and monitoring of network elements. The management of the network elements is done by a system referred as network management system (NMS). The NMS interacts with an agent module running on the respective element for managing them. The NMS interacts with the agent module through a defined set of interfaces, protocols and operations. An example of such interface is Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The SNMP enables retrieving of various important parameters, attributes that are stored in the elements. These parameters, attributes vary at various instance of time based on the operating environment and these variables are referred as "Managed Object". As per SNMP definition, a collection of such managed objects is referred as Management information Base (MIB). The following request-response operations on the managed objects are supported as a part of the SNMP Framework.                GET        GET BULK        GET NEXT        SET
The SNMP Framework also supports notification mechanism through the following operations.                TRAP        INFORM
The GET operations enable fetching of data/value of the managed object. The TRAPS and INFORM protocol data unit (PDU) supports notification mechanism. The TRAP is an asynchronous notification without acknowledgement. However the INFORM based mechanism is an ACK based notification enabled as a part of SNMP V2. The SET operation enables to set a value of the managed object which is typically used for configuring/performing a command instructed by the SNMP manager.
With the proliferation of the network devices, it is envisaged that the number of devices to be managed are growing tremendously. The business service working in such a network environment is typically realized based on a set of functionality that is orchestrated across various systems and platforms in the network. Typically network management has been more focused on the monitoring of elements and the significance of recovery actions for business services in the case of problems/faults has been dealt in a manual manner wherein an administrator tends to login manually across multiple systems and perform the action recovery sequence. Since, the functioning of the business services is most important aspect for a provider offering the service, it is more appropriate to have an automatic/programmatic approach to the recovery of business services as opposed to the common practice of employing manual methods.
Traditionally SNMP has been leveraged largely for network monitoring and more importantly the GET operations are typically used to get the data with TRAPS being used for asynchronous notifications.
The SET operation has been typically used to perform configuration changes and set value of the managed object. Actions resulting out of TRAPS were invariably performed outside the SNMP based elements OR in some cases by defining the OID (Object Identifier) as a part of MIB definition. While this approach has been in practice, there is a fundamental challenge in this approach with respect to taking recovery actions for business services.
In this regard it may be noted that the prior art solutions based on SNMP does not inherently support/have an ability to handle a managed transaction across multiple elements required for performing recovery actions.
As various types of network elements are brought under the NMS, the set of recovery actions required for restoring the business service or fault spans across multiple platforms, systems and devices. Essentially, restoration involves performing multiple set of recovery actions within/across multiple network devices. Besides, the actions could result in intermediate responses from the devices and hence the mechanism to change a course of action sequence in a dynamic manner in a programmatic way by the Management System is important. Accordingly, there exists a need for providing a system and method which is capable of being instructing the recovery actions and correlate outcome of such recovery action responses performed by various agent modules running in the respective platforms/systems/devices.

System and method for taking sequence of dynamic recovery actions


A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (1-1) and (1-2), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds having a group represented by formulas (2-1) and (2-2):

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal composition suitable for use in an active matrix (AM) device, and an AM device containing the composition. The composition has a nematic phase and a positive dielectric anisotropy.
2. Related Art
In a liquid crystal display device, classification based on an operating mode of liquid crystals includes phase change (PC), twisted nematic (TN), super twisted nematic (STN), electrically controlled birefringence (ECB), optically compensated bend (OCB), in-plane switching (IPS), vertical alignment (VA), and so forth. Classification based on a driving mode includes a passive matrix (PM) and an active matrix (AM). PM is further classified into static, multiplex and so forth, and AM is classified into a thin film transistor (TFT), a metal insulator metal (MIM) and so forth. TFT is further classified into amorphous silicon and polycrystal silicon. The latter is classified into a high temperature type and a low temperature type according to a production process. Classification based on a light source includes a reflection type utilizing a natural light, a transmission type utilizing a backlight and a semi-transmission type utilizing both the natural light and the backlight.
These devices include a liquid crystal composition having suitable characteristics. The liquid crystal composition has a nematic phase. General characteristics of the composition should be improved to obtain an AM device having good general characteristics. Table 1 below summarizes a relationship between the general characteristics of the two. The general characteristics of the composition will be explained further based on a commercially available AM device. A temperature range of the nematic phase relates to the temperature range in which the device can be used. A desirable maximum temperature of the nematic phase is approximately 70° C. or more and a desirable minimum temperature is approximately −10° C. or less. The viscosity of the composition relates to the response time of the device. A short response time is desirable for displaying a moving image. Accordingly, a small viscosity of the composition is desirable. A small viscosity at a low temperature is more desirable.
TABLE 1General Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Composition and AM DeviceGeneral CharacteristicsGeneral CharacteristicsNoof a Compositionof an AM Device1Temperature range of aUsable temperature rangenematic phase is wideis wide2Viscosity is small1)Response time is short3Optical anisotropy is suitableContrast ratio is large4Dielectric anisotropy is largeThreshold voltage is low, electricpower consumption is smalland contrast ratio is large5Specific resistance is largeVoltage holding ratio is largeand a contrast ratio is large6It is stable to ultraviolet lightService life is longand heat1)A liquid crystal composition can be injected into a cell in a short time.
The optical anisotropy of the composition relates to the contrast ratio of the device. A product (Δn·d) of the optical anisotropy (Δn) of the composition and the cell gap (d) of the device is designed to maximize the contrast ratio. A suitable value of the product depends on the kind of operation mode. In a device having a TN mode and so forth, a suitable value is approximately 0.45 μm. In this case, a composition having a large optical anisotropy is desirable for a device having a small cell gap. A large dielectric anisotropy of the composition contributes to a low threshold voltage, a small electric power consumption and a large contrast ratio. Accordingly, a large dielectric anisotropy is desirable. A large specific resistance of the composition contributes to a large voltage holding ratio and a large contrast ratio of the device. Accordingly, a composition having a large specific resistance is desirable at room temperature and also at a high temperature in the initial stage. A composition having a large specific resistance is desirable at room temperature and also at a high temperature after it has been used for a long time. The stability of the composition to an ultraviolet light and heat relates to the service life of the liquid crystal display device. In the case where the stability is high, the device has a long service life. These characteristics are desirable for an AM device used in a liquid crystal projector, a liquid crystal television and so forth.
Conventional compositions are disclosed in the following patent documents. JP H10-245559 A/1998, JP H11-349945 A/1999, JP 2002-180050 A, JP 2003-183656 A, JP 2003-507526 A and JP H10-095978 A/1998.
A desirable AM device is characterized as having a usable temperature range that is wide, a response time that is short, a contrast ratio that is large, a threshold voltage that is low, a voltage holding ratio that is large, a service life that is long, and so forth. Even a one millisecond shorter response time is desirable. Thus, the composition having characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to an ultraviolet light, a high stability to heat, and so forth is especially desirable.

Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device

Abstract: wherein R1 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a single bond or ethylene; X1 is independently fluorine, chlorine, OCF3 or OCF2H; Y1 is independently hydrogen or fluorine; and n is independently 1 or 2.


A branched alkylsilane includes a branched hydrocarbon backbone which has a linear or branched alkylsilyl moiety extending asymmetrically from the backbone such that the backbone has a first portion and a second portion extending from the moiety. The second portion has two carbon atoms more than the first portion, and the alkylsilyl moiety includes at least one hydrolyzable group bound to silicon for reacting with a substrate. A method for preparing a branched alkylsilane useful for chromatographic applications includes the steps of preparing a vinylidene olefin by dimerization of an .alpha.-olefin and reacting it with a monomeric silane having a silicon-hydrogen bond in the presence of a metallic catalyst such that the silicon-hydrogen bond is added to the vinylidene double bond of the vinylidene olefin thereby converting the double bond to a single bond and bonding the silicon of the monomeric silane to the vinylidene olefin to form a branched alkylsilane.

Liquid phase chromatography and extraction techniques are dependent on the interaction of a region bonded to a solid support, such as silica, and a solvent environment containing solutes of interest. The support is stationary with respect to the liquid or solvent phase. The interacting region is designated as the bonded phase or interphase. A general overview of this technology may be found in C. Horvath, Silylated Surfaces (1980), p. 269. Features which contribute to a successful bonded phase include reproducible, non-bonding interactions with solutes in the mobile phase under a variety of operating conditions, such as temperature, pressure, the nature of the solvent and the stability of the interaction over a period of time.
The most widely used of such bonded phases is a hydrophobic phase which may be derived from octadecyl functional silanes. For example, octadecyldimethylchlorosilane- and octadecyltrichlorosilane-treated silica are the most widely used bonded phases for high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and solid phase extraction, respectively. These compounds terminally bond to the silica using a Si--O--Si bond.
In general longer, extended chain length is desirable to provide more interaction of the chain with the material of interest such as the solute. However, octadecyl (C18) has been considered a natural limit for two principle reasons. First, as linear chain length increases, chain folding is induced, particularly when the mobile phase is polar, such as water/acetonitrile combinations. The chain folding process reduces the ability of the bonded phase to interact with the material of interest. In the extreme case, crystallization of the bonded phase occurs resulting in minimal interaction. Second, difficulty is encountered in obtaining pure, higher olefins at practical economics. The oligomerization process for higher .alpha.-olefins produces mixtures which are increasingly difficult to purify at higher molecular weights, with .alpha.-olefins of a length greater than twenty carbon atoms available at purity levels of only about 50%. As such, for practical purposes, the highest number olefin used for chromatographic and extraction purposes is an 18 carbon atom chain length. Information concerning the hydrosilylation of olefins may be found in the textbook entitled, B. Marciniec, ed., Comprehensive Handbook on Hydrosilylation (1992).
As such, there is a need in the art for a material for forming an improved bonded phase which has increased bonded phase interaction while minimizing the effect of chain folding and protecting the Si--O--Si bond between the silanes and the support from hydrolytic attack. Further, there is a need for a simple synthesis reaction for forming an alkylsilane having a relatively long chain length with a high level of purity for use in a bonded phase.


A filtering cartridge made of compacted and sintered particles is manufactured from a powder consisting of chromium or a chromium alloy with at least 70% Cr by weight and a particle size of the chromium particles between 160 .mu.m and 500 .mu.m. Filtering cartridges of this type can be used advantageously, particularly in gas clarification for energy production by biomass gasification or coal gasification, in cracking processes in the petroleum industry, as well as for the production of melamine resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to filters, and more particularly to a filtering cartridge with a porous body of compacted and sintered noncorroding particles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, these types of filtering cartridges have a uniform pore structure and are utilized to filter out undesired particles from a liquid or gas. The undesired dispersed particles in the medium to be filtered arrive at the individual grains of the filtering cartridge through different transport mechanisms, such as screening effects, inertial forces, diffusion and electrostatic forces, while the remainder of the medium passes through the filtering cartridge. If the pores of the filtering cartridge are clogged by the filtrate, then the filtering cartridge is no longer operative and must be cleaned. As a rule, this cleaning is performed by reverse impulses in a counterflow of the medium.
Filtering cartridges must often be employed at high temperatures and for offensive media. For example, temperatures up to 1000.degree. C. can appear in dust extraction from hot process and exhaust gases. The filtering cartridges must therefore be resistant to both high temperatures and corrosion. In spite of the porosity necessary for the filter effect, the filtering cartridges must simultaneously have sufficient mechanical toughness in order to be easy to handle and, above all, to withstand without damage the mechanical stresses which occur from the shock-like reverse impulses for cleaning the filtering cartridge.
Currently, self-supporting filtering cartridges are used for high-performance extraction of dust from hot gases, mostly as a one-sided hollow cylinder, as a so-called candle made of ceramic material. Filtering cartridges of this type have excellent corrosion resistance and temperature resistance, but are indeed not well suited with regard to shock-like mechanical stress, so that a premature failure of filtering cartridges of this type often occurs from reverse impulses during the filter's mandatory cleaning.
Known metallic filtering cartridges indeed have a sufficient amount of the required mechanical toughness, but can no longer be satisfactorily used, especially for particularly offensive media and at high temperatures.
By way of example, DE-B2 24 56 626 describes a filtering cartridge made of an alloy with 30-40% chromium by weight, 2-4% silicon by weight and, except for small amounts of carbon and nitrogen, with iron as the remainder. Such a filtering cartridge is primarily used for polymerization liquefaction at temperatures of approximately 300.degree. C. and is only suitable to a limited extent for offensive media and higher temperatures.
Chromium is known as a metal with excellent corrosion resistance, even at high temperatures. Furthermore, it is also well known that pure chromium or alloys with a large chromium content normally are very brittle, and therefore do not fulfill the mechanical demands which are placed on filtering cartridges.
The alloy corresponding to DE-B2 24 56 626 is therefore limited to a maximum chromium content of 40% by weight, and no other filtering cartridges with a larger chromium content are known to be in practical operation.


A method for manufacturing a lithographic printing plate is provided in which conditions for heating a support and a photosensitive coated layer in a drying and heating step can be changed rapidly over a wide range, and the photosensitive coated layer and the support are heated without being contacted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a lithographic printing plate, and in particular, to a method of manufacturing a lithographic printing plate which is suited to the manufacturing of digital direct printing plates which are applied to direct plate-making systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called conventional printing plate is widely used as a conventional photosensitive lithographic printing plate. After this conventional printing plate is mask-exposed (planarly exposed) via a lith film, the non-image portions of the photosensitive layer are dissolved and removed, such that the printing plate carries a desired image.
In recent years, digitizing techniques for electronically processing image information by using computers have come into wider use, and new plate-making techniques corresponding to these digitizing techniques have come to be put into practice. Specifically, light having high directivity, such as laser light, is modulated in accordance with digitized image information. By scan-exposing an original plate of a lithographic printing plate by using this laser light, a computer-to-plate (CTP) technique can be realized in which a printing plate is manufactured directly without use of a lith film. The demand for so-called digital direct plates which are suitable for this CTP technique continues to increase.
It is known that the quality of such a digital direct printing plate (i.e., the stability of the sensitivity, the scratch resistance, the ability to withstand repeated printing, and the like) is more easily affected, than the quality of a conventional printing plate is, by the drying conditions or the heating hardening conditions (curing conditions) of the photosensitive coated layer formed on the support. In particular, it is known that quality is affected by the heating conditions (temperature and time) during curing in which the support and the photosensitive coated layer are heated in order to accelerate the hardening of the photosensitive coated layer after evaporating and drying have been carried out until the organic solvent of the photosensitive coated layer is contained in a predetermined amount. Specifically, for example, when a plurality of types of digital direct printing plates, which differ only in that the thicknesses of their respective supports (which are formed by aluminum plates or the like) differ, are manufactured, if these supports and photosensitive coated layers are heated under the same conditions, differences in quality of the supports of the digital direct printing plates, which differences in quality are of an extent that cause problems in practice, arise due to the differences in the heat capacities of the supports.
Further, in conventional lithographic printing plate manufacturing processes, the drying process and the curing process for the support and the photosensitive coated layer are not clearly separated. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 6-24673, while a support on which a photosensitive coated layer is formed is conveyed in one direction, drying and curing are carried out by a hot-air drying system drying device which blows out hot air into a heating furnace disposed along the conveying path of the support. However, in this hot-air drying system drying device, it is difficult to change the heating conditions within a short period of time. Accordingly, when the thickness or the width or the like of the support is changed, in order to change the heating conditions for the support and the photosensitive coated layer, in most cases, the conveying speed of the support, i.e., the speed of manufacturing the lithographic printing plate, must be changed, and it is difficult to stabilize the production speed of digital direct printing plates.
Further, it has recently become clear that, in order to make the quality (i.e., the stability of the sensitivity, the scratch resistance, the ability to withstand repeated printing, and the like) of digital direct printing plates sufficiently high and stable, there is the need to supply a great amount of heat to the photosensitive coated layer at the time of curing, as compared with conventional printing plates. (With regard to this point, refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-301240, the applicant of which is the same as the applicant of the present application.) Thus, when digital direct printing plates and conventional printing plates are to be manufactured by using the same equipment, the manufacturing speeds are controlled by the heating capacities with respect to the supports and the photosensitive coated layers, and the speed of manufacturing the digital direct printing plate must be decreased greatly as compared to that of the conventional printing plate.
As a means for overcoming the above-described insufficient heating capacity, JP-B No. 6-49175 discloses a method of supplying a large amount of heat to a support in a short time by heating rollers which contact the reverse surface of the support. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2-227160 discloses a method of controlling an amount of heat supplied to a support by changing the time over which heating rollers contact a support. However, when a support is heated by these methods, minute scratches are formed in the reverse surface of the support by the heating rollers due to the support expanding or contracting due to the temperature difference between the support and the heating rollers, or due to the linear speed of the heating rollers and the conveying speed of the support not being equal or the like. These minute scratches do not present problems in practice in conventional printing plates. However, with digital direct printing plates, there are cases in which the photosensitive coated layer is scratched and problems arise with respect to quality, at the time that the support is wound up in a coil form or at the time that plural printing plates are stacked.
Thus, there is the demand for a technique for manufacturing high quality digital direct printing plates stably and at a low cost, in which the conditions for the heating of the support and the photosensitive coated layer during a drying and heating process can be changed quickly within a wide range, and heating can be carried out without the support and the photosensitive coated layer being contacted, without greatly remodeling the equipment for manufacturing conventional printing plates.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of manufacturing lithographic printing plate


A method of launching a powered unmanned aerial vehicle at an altitude of at least 13,000 m, the method comprising lifting the vehicle by attachment to a lighter-than-air carrier from a substantially ground-level location to an elevated altitude, causing the vehicle to detach from the carrier while the velocity of the vehicle relative to the carrier is substantially zero, the vehicle thereafter decreasing in altitude as it accelerates to a velocity where it is capable of preventing any further descent and can begin independent sustained flight.

The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle and a method of launching such a vehicle.
High-altitude, long endurance solar powered aircraft concepts have been proposed for some time. Such vehicles at this altitude provide significant potential benefits. For example, wind strengths and turbulence levels are at a minimum between around 18,000 m and 30,000 m altitude. Additionally, this altitude range is above normal aviation authority certification needs, and large areas of the planet can be observed, with the distance to the horizon being over 500 km. Such unmanned vehicles are therefore suitable for aerial surveys, surveillance and emergency communications in disaster recovery situations.
In 1974, AstroFlight built the first solar powered drone Sunrise I. The promising results of the 10 m span, Sunrise I, led to the Sunrise II, with 4480 solar cells, theoretically capable of attaining a service ceiling of 23,000 m. Sunrise II flew successfully, but broke up in flight at 7,000 m due to a suspected aeroelastic problem.
NASA's High Altitude Solar (HALSOL) project in 1995 saw the flight of the Pathfinder, which reached an altitude of 13,000 m. This was followed by the Pathfinder-Plus which reached 24,500 m, with its 19% efficient silicon solar cells and a payload of 67 kg. Centurion followed with a wing span of 63 m with 62,100 bi-fractal solar cells and a payload of up to 270 kg.
Under NASA's Environmental research Aircraft and Sensor Technology Program (1998-2003) the Centurion was modified to become Helios. The Helios prototype was designed as a proof of concept high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle that could fly on long endurance environmental science or telecommunications relay missions lasting for weeks or months. Helios made use of 19% efficient silicon based solar cells on the upper wing and lithium batteries. Helios had a constant 2.4 m chord and was assembled in six 12.5 m sections with under wing pods at the juncture of each section. Helios reached an altitude of 29,000 m on solar power. Payload was around 300 kg.
In-flight breakup is thought to be caused by a gust induced aeroelastic wing shape change leading to a control system instability. The resulting pitch oscillation resulted in excessive speeds which caused failure of the wing covering.
In 2005, AC propulsion developed the SoLong aircraft. With the energy storage advances made with Lithium ion batteries (220 WHr/kg), SoLong was able to stay airborne for two half nights, starting with a charged battery at midnight and flying to midnight the next day.
This initial 24 hour flight was followed a few months later with a full 48 hour flight. The present inventor, together with QinetiQ built the Zephyr aircraft (Zephr III) in 2002 in order to film a balloon altitude record attempt at 40,000 m. QinetiQ went on with European funding to develop a ground launch system. In 2007, QinetiQ flew the Zephyr for 83 hours using both 25% efficient solar cells and 350 Whr/kg Lithium Solar batteries. Zephyr reached a record altitude of 29,000 m in 2008. A payload of around 2.5 kg was carried.
The Zephyr holds the official endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle for its flight from 9 Jul. to 23 Jul. 2010, lasting 336 hours and 22 minutes (2 weeks/14 days). Record claims have been verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for both duration and altitude. It beat the previous endurance record for unmanned flight by more than a factor of five.
However, these methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle at such altitudes involve a ground launching method, whereby the vehicle propels itself from ground level to the relatively calm stratospheric zone above 15-20,000 m.
US 2006/0278757 discloses a method of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle which involves the vehicle being attached to a lighter-than-air carrier from below and does not involve a ground launching approach. Once at the desired altitude the vehicle remains attached to the carrier and begins to fly in an ever-increasingly horizontal attitude, using the carrier as an anchor around which it flies, until it is at a velocity where it is capable of independent flight, whereupon it is separated from the carrier to begin independent and sustained flight.
However, it has been found that such a carrier must carry a significant additional mass, and therefore have a very high lifting force, in order to perform as such an anchor without it itself being moved by the vehicle. It is estimated that the carrier would need a lifting force five to fifteen times that of the weight of the vehicle. If the carrier is a balloon, then such a balloon would have to be very large, e.g 30 m in diameter for a small unmanned aerial vehicle of 75 kg take-off weight.
An improved method of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle into high altitude zones would therefore be highly desirable.

Unmanned aerial vehicle and method of launching


An improved tool for locking a band clamp, and an improved lock for a band clamp is disclosed. The tool includes a knife body having a knife edge that progressively cuts the free end of the band over a period of time, rather than simultaneously cutting the entire band width. In one embodiment, this is accomplished with a knife edge that is non-linear. The tool further includes a punch with a rounded or hemispherical shaped leading tip that forms an improved locking dimple. The locking dimple forms an improved lock having side walls that are, at least in part, parallel with the walls of the surrounding aperture in the band. By varying the profile of the knife edge, the punch can more fully form an improved locking dimple.

Flat band and buckle assemblies, also known as ties, have existed for sometime for use in bundling or securing objects together. Typically, a tie, comprising an elongate band having a free end and a buckle at the opposite end, is wrapped around a group of objects with the free end passed through the buckle. The buckle and overlapping band are secured in some fashion to thereby constrain the group of objects. Similarly, tools for tightening bands around objects, for securing or locking the free end of the band within a buckle or locking member and for cutting any excess portion of the band have existed for some time. Typically, these tools grasp the free end of the band after it has passed through the buckle and apply a force to the free end of the band while simultaneously maintaining the position of the buckle to tighten the band around the group of objects. Once an appropriate tension is applied to the band, the tool will create the desired locking geometry in the band and shear the portion of the free end of the band extending through the buckle. Typically, a pair of opposed knife-edges perform the shearing or cutting operation. One blade is stationary and is positioned beneath the free end of the band and the other knife reciprocates between a first and second position. Each knife-edge comprises a single linear blade or edge that simultaneously engage and simultaneously cut the entire width of the band at once.
Tools that perform the tightening, locking and cutting functions are primarily manual, pneumatic or electric in nature. In the case of pneumatic or electric tools for use in such purposes, the power generated results in these functions being accomplished with limited or reduced physical efforts required by the operator. Band tightening tools that are pneumatic or electric are usually semiautomatic in that the operator of such a tool is required to perform some, but not all, of the tasks or functions associated with providing a band clamp about an object. Manual tasks that remain can include locating the band or tie about the object and inserting or otherwise locating the band clamp relative to the tool so that a tool can perform one or more of its tightening, locking and cutting functions. In one such device, a desired tension can be set for the band clamp about the object. A pneumatic cylinder or similar component is activated to pull the band until the desired band tension is reached. Pneumatic control can also be involved with cutting the free end or band tail portion after the band clamp is tightened, and which can also involve forming a lock that prevents unwanted release of the band clamp.
Current band clamps, however, have significant drawbacks. For example, there is a need for improving loop tensile force (the force required to break the band or separate the lock) other than by simply increasing the physical size of the band. Also, there is a need for improving the percentage of retained force (the residual force in the band after forming the lock). Stated differently, there is a need to reduce or eliminate the force that is lost following formation of the lock and release of the band by the tool. For a number of reasons, including tolerances and imprecise metal forming techniques, once the tool cuts the free end of the band, a portion of the band slips back through the buckle expanding the circumference of the band, a portion of the retained tensile load is lost, and the percent retained force decreases. The lock may also relax or loosen over time, causing the band to expand, particularly if the outward force applied on the band by the constrained objects is large or if the band and buckle are subjected to external forces such as vibration or other motion causing relative motion of the band and buckle. Still further, there is a need in some applications to increase the clamping force (the maximum force reached just prior to the band tightening tool cutting off the excess end of the band). The clamping force is related to the retained force. Typically, the higher the clamping force, the higher the retained force. Unfortunately, there are upper limits to the clamping force in some applications, as the objects being clamped may be damaged if too large a clamping force is applied.
A prior art band clamp is shown in FIGS. 18-20. It consists of a band 10 and a buckle 12. The buckle is secured to a first end 14 of the band, between a retaining dimple 16 and a load dimple 18, generally preventing axial or lateral movement of the buckle relative to the length of the band. In the embodiment shown, the buckle comprises a box-like piece of metal having two side walls 20, a bottom 22, a top 24 and two open ends 26 which permit two layers of the band to pass through the buckle. The top of the buckle 24 has an opening 28 aligned with a similar opening 30 formed in the first end 14 of the band and another opening 32 formed in bottom 22 of the buckle.
A locked band clamp using a prior art tool is illustrated in FIG. 21. As used, the free end 34 of the band is wrapped around one or more objects and inserted into the buckle 12 above the first end of the band 14, thereby creating an overlapping band portion 36. Using a tool of the type generally known to those of skill in the art, the free end 34 of the band is grasped and pulled while the buckle 12 and first end of the band 14 are held stationary by abutting the buckle against a front surface of the tool and positioning the free end of the band clamp over an underlying cutter blade. A punch 38 having a conical shaped tip 40 is then driven through the upper opening 28 and forced into the free end 34 of the band 12 to form a locking dimple 42 in the free end 34 of the band. The locking dimple 42 extends through the opening 30 in the first end of band 14. The aperture 30 defines a two-dimensional area, bounded by surface 44, that defines where the locking dimple 42 may be formed. In general terms, the locking dimple 42 fixes and secures the circumference of the band by abutting the inside surface 44 of the opening 30. The constrained or banded objects place an outward force on the band which, in turn, causes the circumference of the band to expand until locking dimple 42 abuts the inside surface 44 of the aperture 30. The inside surface 44 of the aperture 30 may also be referred to as a load bearing surface.
Simultaneously, a knife 46, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is lowered to cut the free end of the band in conjunction with the underlying cutter blade. The knife 46 includes a single linear blade or cutting edge 48 that extends across the width of the band. The knife-edge engages and cuts the entire band width at once. Therefore, a significant portion of the force driving the tool is applied to cutting the band rather than driving the punch to form the locking dimple. Once the band is cut, the tool no longer holds or constrains the band clamp. Also, there is no further downward travel of the punch, no further formation of the locking dimple and the tool releases its hold of the free end of the band.
The manner in which the locking dimple 42 is formed limits the retained tensile force of the band and contributes to loss of tensile force due to band slip-back. A punch 38 is attached to and extends out in front of the knife 46. Typically, the punch is oriented perpendicular to the band. As the knife 46 travels toward the band, the punch 38 begins formation of the locking dimple 42. When forced against the free end 34 of the band 12, a conical shaped locking dimple 42 is created, as shown in FIG. 21. Moreover, the process of cold forming the locking dimple in combination with the pointed conical tip 40 causes the walls 50 of the locking dimple to be thinner or non-uniform in thickness at the base 52. In addition, and primarily due to manufacturing tolerances, the location of the locking dimple 42 may vary laterally along the band. In particular, the locking dimple 42 may be formed anywhere within the area defined by the inside surface 44 of the opening 30. The lateral or axial distance between the inside surface 44 of the opening and the wall 50 of the locking dimple 42 is shown as Δx1 in FIG. 21. As a result, when the free end of the band is cut and the tool releases its grip of the band, the band 12 will laterally release or slip-back at least the distance Δx1, as shown by comparing FIG. 21 with FIG. 22. Moreover, additional slip-back may occur, immediately or over time, due to the conical shape of the locking dimple 42 and the relative freedom of movement that the band has in the "Z" direction (Δz as shown in FIGS. 21-23). In particular, the space 54 defined between the top 20 and bottom 22 of the buckle 12 is greater than the combined height of the overlapping bands. This space permits the free end 34 of the band to pass through the buckle. The additional height also permits the overlapping bands to move vertically within the interior space 54 of the buckle, as shown in FIG. 22. This additional degree of movement, combined with the sloped outer wall 50 of the locking dimple 42, also allows further slip-back of the band, as illustrated in FIG. 23 as Δx2. Thus, even if the locking dimple 42 were initially formed abutting the interior surface 44 of the opening 30 such that there was no Δx1, as shown in FIG. 21, lateral slip-back would still occur due to the freedom of movement allowed by the gap Δz in combination with the sloped surface 50 of the locking dimple, as shown in FIG. 23. This results in further loss of the retained tension force.
Often, end users specify a retained tensile force for their end use applications, for example, 600 pounds. If the tie being used has a fifty percent loss in retained tensile force following locking and cut off of the free end, then the tie, just prior to locking and cut off, must have a tensile load or clamping force applied to it in the amount of 1,200 pounds to accommodate the fifty percent loss of tensile force. In many situations, the applied or clamping force can exceed the tensile load of the band, causing it to fail. This is more often true when clamping objects having hard surfaces.
Yet the process of forming conical shape of the locking dimple 42 causes another problem. The conical shape of punch tip 40 causes the walls 50 of the locking dimple 42 to be thinned, even to the point that there is no material left in the wall of the dimple, as they are cold formed. The non-uniform or thin portion 52 creates a weak spot that is susceptible to the shear forces acting on the locking dimple 42 by the retained tensile load. The additional height (Δz) creates a freedom of movement inside the buckle and allows the sloped walls 50 to ride up the edge 60 of the inside surface 44, further opening the band and releasing retained tensile load. The thinned portion 52 will then abut the inside surface 44 of the aperture 30, as shown in FIG. 23. When the retained load is applied against the thinned portion 52 of the walls of the locking dimple, a failure may occur where the edge of the surface 44 shears off the locking dimple or causes the locking dimple to collapse. Thus, the locked band will fail and the bundled objects will be released.
In addition to the foregoing problems, other considerations are relevant in designing a band clamp. First, the clamp should have a high tensile strength to resist the outward tensile force exerted on the clamp by the constrained objects. Second, the clamp should be inexpensive to manufacture. Band clamps are used in a variety of applications where cost is a concern. Thus, simply increasing the physical size of the clamp does not address all of the design considerations. A physically larger band clamp will have a greater loop tensile force, but it will cost more. Also, the band clamp should be simple in design and easy to use.

Method and apparatus for bundling objects


The present invention aims at surely and efficiently calculating size tolerances of a plurality of parts constituting a structure with the configuration that includes a tentative size tolerance setting section setting tentative size tolerances of the plurality of parts based on design data of the structure and part information of the plurality of parts; a primary analyzing section calculating a quality of the structure and sensitivities of the plurality of parts based on the tentative size tolerances set by the tentative size tolerance setting section; a judging section judging whether or not the quality satisfies a desired quality which the structure demands; and a secondary analyzing section calculating, if the judging section judges that the quality does not satisfy the desired quality, the size tolerances of the plurality of parts using the sensitivities such that the structure satisfies the desired quality.

First of all, description will now be made in relation to a sensitivity and a contribution rate that are to appear in the following.
A sensitivity of each of the parts constituting a structure (an assembly) is determined by the formation of the structure, irrespective of the size tolerances of each part, and is a degree of influence of the part on the size (the design specification value) of a predetermined measurement object portion (e.g., a portion which demands a predetermined quality when the object is to be assembled) of the structure.
More specifically, a sensitivity is a variation rate in the size of a measurement object portion relative to a variation in size of each part.
Accordingly, a part with a higher sensitivity is more important to the quality of the design specification value (in other words, the quality of the structure).
As shown in FIG. 13(a), in structure C formed by parts A and B, the variation in the size of measurement object portion (gap) G results in elongation of 1 mm if the size of part A is elongated by 1 mm in the direction of arrow a. Accordingly, the sensitivity of part A is "1".
Further, as shown in FIG. 13(c), since part B is inclined at 45 degrees to measurement object portion G, elongation of the size of part B by 1 mm in the direction of arrow B results in variation g′ in the size of the measurement object portion calculated to be "0.707" by following equation (1)g′=cos 45°×1  (1)
The sensitivity of part B is consequently "0.707".
Next, a contribution rate is detailed. A contribution rate of each of the parts is a ratio of a size tolerance of the part to the total sum (the deviation) of size tolerances of the parts that form a measurement object portion (a design specification value). For this reason, a part with a higher contribution rate has a size tolerance larger than those of the remaining parts.
Specifically, if structure D consists of parts D1 and D2 as shown in FIGS. 14(a)-14(c), the contribution rates of parts D1 and D2 are as follows.
As shown in FIG. 14(a), if part D1 has size deviation of "1.0" because the size tolerance of part D1 is "±0.5" and part D2 has size deviation of "2.0" because the size tolerance of part D2 is "±1.0", the size deviation (i.e., the total sum of the size tolerances of parts D1 and D2) at measurement object portion G′ is "3.0" as shown in FIG. 14(c) because sensitivities of part D1 and D2 are both "1".
As a result, the contribution of part D1 is "33%" and that of part D2 is "66%".
Conventionally, in designing a structure formed by a number of parts, the designer calculates size tolerances (design specification value) of a portion (a measurement object portion) that requires a predetermined quality in assembly of the structure by manual calculation of the root sum square based on size tolerances of the parts or by estimation based on experience.
However, both methods fail to consider the three-dimensional shape, and if a structure has a complex shape or consists of parts assembled densely, the calculation and inputting (of the sizes and the like) for the calculation tend to be complex and to cause errors.
If a calculation error or input error has occurred, assembly of a structure cannot satisfy the design specification value and results in, at worst, return to the design stage because the structure cannot be assembled.
To avoid this, there recently have been provided tolerance analysis systems utilizing, for example, three-dimensional CAD data (see below Patent References 1-3, for example).
In a conventional tolerance analysis system, tolerance analysis (that is, decision of size tolerances) is performed through the procedure shown in flow diagram FIG. 15 (steps S100-S108).
Specifically, in a conventional tolerance analysis system, design data (shape data, here three-dimensional CAD shape data) of a structure formed by a number of parts is obtained from a design unit using a CAD system or the like (step S100).
With reference to the obtained design data, the designer (the operator of the tolerance analysis system) sets the design specification value of a measurement object portion of the structure (step S101) and inputs size tolerances of each of the parts (step S102) via an interface such as a mouse and/or keyboard.
Further, the designer sets production process data (e.g., a production method and/or the accuracy) for each part according to the material and the production process of the structure (assembly process of part) (step S103).
The arithmetic unit (e.g., the CPU: Central Processing Unit) of the tolerance analysis system starts the tolerance analysis (step S104) and as a result automatically calculates the quality (a value; deviation) to the design specification value, and the sensitivity and the contribution rate of each part (step S105).
In succession, the designer judges whether or not the quality calculated as the result of the tolerance analysis reaches a desired quality (step S106).
Here, if the designer judges that the calculated quality reaches the desired quality (Yes route in step S106), the arithmetic unit outputs the size tolerances, which have been input by the designer in step S102, to complete the tolerance analysis (step S107). Finally, the procedure terminates.
On the other hand, if the designer judges that the calculated quality does not reach the desired quality (No route in step S106), the designer re-examines the size tolerances of each part (step S108) by considering the balance of the entire structure with reference to the sensitivities and the contribution rates of the parts calculated by the arithmetic unit in step S105. On the basis of the result of reexamination, the renewed size tolerances of the parts are input again (step S102).
Namely, until the designer judges that the calculated quality reaches the desired quality (Yes route in step S106), the processes of above steps S108 and S102-S105 are repeated.
A conventional tolerance analysis system calculates size tolerances of the parts which satisfy the desired quality in the manner above described.    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent No. 2820170    Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-82995    Patent Reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-6241

Apparatus and method for calculating size tolerance, and computer-readable recording medium in which program for calculating size tolerance is stored


The invention is based on an electric device, in particular an electric hand tool, having a removable power supply unit (18, 70, 104), an accommodation region (16, 102, 132, 144, 156) for accommodating the power supply unit (18, 70, 104), and a locking device (20, 76, 114, 134, 146, 154) for locking the power supply unit (18, 70, 104) to the accommodation region (16, 102, 132, 144, 156). It is proposed that the locking device (20, 76, 114, 134, 146, 154) is provided for the purpose of unlocking the power supply unit (18, 70, 104) from a locked state—by means of a force which is exerted on the power supply unit (18, 70, 104) and moves the entire power supply unit (18, 70, 104) in relation to the accommodation region (16, 102, 132, 144, 156).

The present invention relates to an electrical machine, in particular an electrical hand-held power tool.
Publication DE 38 41 735 A1 makes known an electrical hand-held power tool with a removable rechargeable battery and a holder for this rechargeable battery. The holder is provided with two actuatable, spring-loaded push-button blocks, which are used to secure the rechargeable battery in the installed state. To release the rechargeable battery, it is provided with a release push button. When the release push button is pressed, the blocks may be moved into a position that releases the rechargeable battery pack.

Electrical device, in particular an electrical hand-held power tool


A thin film magnetic head for perpendicular recording of a single-pole type has a flux enhanced part and a flux enhanced end arranged on a leading side of the main pole in parallel with the cross track direction. The side surface of the main pole intersecting the cross track direction is arranged on the track center side perpendicular to the track width. The field gradient of a perpendicular magnetic field on the trailing side of the main pole and near both ends of the track is made steep to realize a higher areal recording density. The head is fabricated by forming a first resist pattern on an inorganic insulating layer. A slope is formed on the inorganic insulating layer with the resist pattern as a mask. A second resist pattern is then formed on the inorganic insulating layer to form a magnetic layer on the inorganic insulating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head for perpendicular recording and a magnetic disk apparatus equipped with the magnetic head for perpendicular recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
To increase a recording capacity per unit area of a magnetic disk, the bit length and the track width must be reduced to decrease the size of one bit cell as a minimum unit of recording information. In the current longitudinal recording system, however, there arises the problem that bit cell reduction loses a written signal due to the influence of thermal fluctuation. To solve this problem, a perpendicular recording system magnetizes a medium in the perpendicular direction to write signal information.
The recording head of a magnetic disk apparatus writes signal information onto a medium. In the perpendicular recording system, there are a system which uses a double-layered perpendicular medium having a soft magnetic underlayer and a system which uses a single-layer perpendicular medium not having an underlayer. A structure which combines a double-layered perpendicular medium with a single-pole head having a main pole and an auxiliary pole can apply a more intense magnetic field to a medium.
When the cross-sectional area of a main pole of a single-pole head is flux enhanced to the front end thereof, magnetic flux in the magnetic pole is concentrated on the front end of the main pole so that a locally intense magnetic field can be applied to a medium. When a pole tip having a high permeability is arranged on the front end of the main pole, the flow of magnetic flux at the front end of the main pole can be smooth. Further, the processing dimension accuracy at the front end of the main pole can be enhanced.
The example described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 11-275188 discloses that when a main pole has a pole tip, arrangement of a pole tip and a main pole having the pole tip and arrangement of a pole tip and an auxiliary pole are defined so that the magnetic field gradient of a perpendicular magnetic field component on the trailing side can be improved. This prevents the influence of a magnetic field from the surface of the main pole having the pole tip opposite to a medium, but does not consider increase of the leakage magnetic flux by flux enhancing in the main pole and the pole tip.

Fabrication method of a high gradient-field recording head for perpendicular magnetic recording

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.


A method is provided for forming multi-valued linear resistors for an integrated circuit using a single mask level. A plurality of trenches are defined in a substrate. Each trench has contact regions of a specific lateral dimension and a narrower portion extending therebetween. Successive conformal layers of a first dielectric layer, a first conductive layer of high resistivity and a second conductive layer of lower resistivity are provided to fill the trench. The amount of the second conductive layer which fills the trench depends on the width of the trench. The resulting structure is planarized, preferably by chemical-mechanical polishing to provide fully planarized topography. Advantageously when the first and second conductive layers are provided from layers of undoped and doped polysilicon respectively, the trench dimensions control the amount of dopant incorporated in each region of the trench. After annealing to diffuse dopant, the wider end contact regions are heavily doped to form contact regions, and the intermediate narrow portion of the trench is doped to a level dependent on the width of the trench, thereby forming a resistive element having a resistivity inversely dependent on the trench width. The method is compatible with CMOS, Bipolar and Bipolar CMOS processes.

Multi-valued linear resistors are required for applications in integrated circuits, including for example, for static random access memory (SRAM) circuits, monolithic filters, and fusible links for programmable read only memories or redundant circuits. In a known method of providing a linear resistor for a MOS, Bipolar, or Bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS) silicon integrated circuit, a layer of polysilicon is deposited over a thick layer of dielectric, for example a field oxide provided on a silicon substrate. The polysilicon layer is patterned to define a resistor structure and then selectively doped by ion implantation. Typically, the polysilicon resistor structure comprises heavily doped end regions forming contact electrodes, and a resistive region extending between the contact regions which is doped sufficiently to provide a desired resistance value.
The latter method of fabricating resistors is applicable to forming either n- or p- type ohmic resistors, particularly low and medium valued resistors for applications in MOS and bipolar digital and analog ICs, which are typically formed. Resistors in the low to medium resistance value ranges (i.e. 10-1000 ohm/sq) are linear over a wide voltage range. High value (gigaohm) leakage current resistors, used for example in applications for high density static random access memories (SRAMS), are more difficult to fabricate reproducibly, because undoped or lightly doped polysilicon is required to obtain high resistivities. The latter is more susceptible to process induced damage and defects, which degrade quality, create leakage and lead to poor reliability.
More significantly, for a process to provide multi-valued linear resistors on an integrated circuit, the resistive portion of each resistor of a different value requires a separate implantation step, with a different dopant dose, to provide a different doping level. Thus multiple photoengraving steps are required, and the number of masks depends on the number of different values of resistors required.

Forming resistors for intergrated circuits


The present invention includes: a main body which defines a storage space in the lengthwise direction, and in which a plurality of biosensors can be stacked; a cover member covering one end of the storage space and including a discharge hole through which only one biosensor located at the outermost edge of the stacked biosensors can pass; and a cover coupled to the cover member in order to be raised and lowered so as to open and close the discharge hole. The discharge hole is closed such that the biosensors stacked in the storage space are not contaminated and the infiltration of impurities into the storage space is prevented, and the discharge hole is temporarily opened when the biosensors are to be used in order to withdraw the biosensors.

A biosensor is a means which studies properties of a substance using a characteristic function of a living organism. Since a biomaterial such as blood sugar and ketone is used as a detection element, the biosensor has excellent sensitivity and reaction specificity. Therefore, the biosensor is used in extensive fields such as a clinical chemistry analysis in medical and pharmaceutical fields, a process measurement and an environment measurement in a biotechnology industry, and a safety evaluation of a chemical substance, and the fields are continuously being expanded. In particular, the biosensor is used in rapid disease diagnoses and various self-examinations such as a blood sugar measurement, a pregnancy diagnosis, and a urine examination.
In the case of the most common electrochemical biosensor, it is mainly used to measure the blood sugar. Here, an electrical signal is generated by an electrochemical reaction occurring when a specimen such as blood is introduced into the biosensor, and then transmitted to a measuring device connected or coupled with the biosensor.
In general, a plurality of biosensors may be packaged in a storage container or may be individually wrapped, and a user takes out the biosensors one by one, when an analyzing operation is performed, and inserts it into the measuring device.
However, in the conventional biosensor as described above, when the plurality of biosensors are individually packaged and then taken out one by one, if using, packaging costs necessary to manufacture a separate storage container are required. In the case in which an individually wrapped flat strip-shaped biosensor is opened and used, the packaging costs for individually packaging the biosensor are increased, and also when the user grasps the packaging with hands to use the biosensor, it is apprehended that the biosensor may be contaminated by the hands.


Polymer particles having a hydrophobic core and various surface functional groups, particularly hydrophilic and chiral surface functional groups, are produced by adding a non-emulsified functional polymerizable monomer to the aqueous phase of a dispersion of soluble polymer particles which have previously been swollen with an emulsified-monomer and polymerizing the monomers. Preferably the particles are uniform macroporous beads.

Polymer beads are usually produced by free radical suspension polymerization, a well known process developed in 1909. See Hofman et al., Ger. Pat. 250,690 (1909). Porous polymer beads based on, for example, poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) are widely used in the synthesis of ion-exchange resins. In addition, significant speciality applications exist for the use of such polymer beads in areas related to separation science. These applications include separation of enantiomers from racemic mixtures, analysis of blood samples, water purification, high-performance liquid chromatography, and the like.
Some of these speciality applications require or would benefit from the use of polymer beads which have unique surface properties. For example, when a conventional column containing hydrophobic polymer beads is used in the analysis of human plasma, the proteins in the blood plasma are denatured on the hydrophobic surface of the beads. This eventually destroys the column through clogging which increases the back pressure to such an extent that the column must often be replaced after only a very short useful lifetime. In contrast, a column packed with polymer beads having a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic outer layer does not suffer from the same problem because the hydrophilic surface does not react with blood protein so as to cause clogging of the column.
Another speciality application is the separation of enantiomers from racemic mixtures. Such chromatographic separations require the use of beads with a chiral surface layer. These separations are important for the analysis, identification, or preparation of optically active compounds.
Other possible applications for which polymer beads having a hydrophilic or chiral outer surface include catalysis in which it is sometimes desirable to segregate an active component at the surface of a solid catalyst. The selection of a reactive chiral or hydrophilic group and its placement at the surface of a polymer bead could accomplish such an active component segregation. In toner chemistry, it is often desirable to modify the surface chemistry of toner particles which are generally non-porous non-cross-linked polymer particles. Currently this is performed through the use of simple mixtures or coatings of the toner particles with the desired additives.
While some polymer beads with hydrophilic surfaces are available, the processes used to produce such polymer beads are difficult to perform, are limited in the types of monomers and groups which they can introduce, and are in many cases not economical. As regards chiral surface groups, polymer beads having chiral surface functionality and hydrophobic cores and processes for producing such are not known in the prior art. Accordingly, the speciality applications discussed previously, which would benefit from the use of such polymer beads, remain as theoretical applications for polymer beads without suitable polymer beads to perform the operation needed by such.
The production of polymer substrates, particles and/or beads having hydrophilic cores and hydrophilic outer layers or hydrophilic surface functionality is disclosed in a number of publications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,390 discloses a porous styrene polymer substrate wherein the surface is rendered hydrophilic by chloromethylating it to introduce methylol groups onto the polymerized substrate. The substrate is disclosed as useful in adsorbing high molecular weight proteins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,913 is directed to a process for altering a macroporous crosslinked hydrophobic copolymeric lattice produced by a precipitation polymerization of ester monomers. According to the method described therein, the copolymeric lattice, after formation, must be separated from the mixture in which it is formed, and then, in a separate operation, the surface of the copolymer is rendered hydrophilic either by reaction with an aqueous alkali or by a second polymerization using a hydrophilic acrylate monomer.
European Patent No. 0371258 discloses porous polymer substrates comprising an acrylonitrile polymer or copolymer core with a hydrolized surface layer having post-generated amide surface groups. The porous substrates such as beads are disclosed as being useful in chromatography separation processes. The amide surface groups are produced by adding a peroxide to a polymer suspension and heating for a time sufficient to convert about 15 mole percent of the total surface nitrile groups to amide groups. This process and the resulting product are limited to specific types of surface functional groups.
Another polymer bead material having a hydrophilic surface is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,226. The polymer beads comprise (i) a core material obtained by the addition polymerization of monomers comprising methacrylic acid and (ii) a hydrophilic coating which is covalently bonded to the core as a result of complete or partial conversion of the carboxyl function with a compound containing at least three carbon atoms and an epoxy group. The formation of the covalent bond to create the hydrophilic surface is a multi-step and complex process.
An expensive and complicated process for producing polymer microspheres is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,685. The process involves the production of microspheres by the use of ionizing radiation. Hydrophilic characteristics are provided by addition of a suitable unsaturated comonomer. See also U.S Pat. No. 4,259,223 which discloses a similar process.
Japanese Patent No. 62046260 discloses still another polymer bead material having a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic surface layer to which a polyethylene fiber is laminated. The multilayer material is disclosed as being useful in determining components in a blood serum solution.
The prior art processes for forming polymer particles with hydrophobic cores and hydrophilic surface layers are either complicated and uneconomical or limited to a specific surface functionality. Moreover, none of the prior art processes describes a method for introducing a chiral functional group to the surface of hydrophobic polymer beads.
Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to develop an improved process for introducing hydrophilic or chiral surface functionality on hydrophobic porous polymeric particles.
It is another object of the present invention to produce polymeric particles that have chiral groups on their surface.
It is a further object to manufacture polymeric particles from solid monomers or monomers having a low solubility in the polymerization solvent.

Preparation of surface-functional polymer particles


An extendable slide member on a pistol slide action, providing leverage and a gripping base for a user to pull back or “rack” the slide along guides on a pistol frame, in a longitudinal motion relative to the pistol frame. The slide member facilitating racking the slide when in an extended position the slide member rotates either laterally outwards from a side surface of the slide or vertically upwards from a top surface of the slide, and presents a gripping segment for the user to pull the slide towards the breech end of the pistol.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semi-automatic firearms. Particularly it concerns hand-held pistols or repeating handguns having a slide action mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to facilitating the pulling or "racking" of a pistol slide using an extendable slide member on the slide action.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally designed pistols generally have a breech in the form of an exposed slide, which is movably arranged on a frame in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction along the length of the barrel. The frame, consisting of metal or plastic, serves to hold the mechanical parts of the firearm, such as the trigger housing and bolt carrier group. The frame includes a grip portion that receives the magazine. The frame provides support for the control and guide elements for the slide.
The slide is the part of the weapon on a majority of semi-automatic pistols that moves during the operating cycle and generally houses the firing pin or striker and the extractor, and serves as the bolt. A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the propellant burns, but moves out of the way to allow another cartridge or shell to be inserted in the chamber.
In an automatic or semi-automatic firearm, the bolt cycles back and forward between each shot, propelled by recoil or expanding gas (back) or the recoil spring (forward). When it moves back, an extractor pulls the spent casing from the chamber. When it moves forward, it strips a cartridge from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber. Once the cartridge case is clear of the chamber, the ejector kicks the case out of the weapon. The extractor and firing pin are often integral parts of the bolt. The slide of a semi-automatic pistol is a form of bolt. It is spring-loaded so that once it has moved to its rearmost position in the firing cycle, spring tension brings it back to the starting position chambering a fresh cartridge during the motion, provided that the magazine is not empty.
The majority of semi-automatic pistols in use are essentially of the single action type in which a firing pin, typically impacted by a hammer, is cocked into firing position by recoil of the slide when the weapon is discharged by the pull of the trigger. Some of these weapons may be double action on loading of the first round, but single action thereafter for all rounds in the magazine, and thus, are not double action only weapons.
Operation of a semi-automatic pistol requires one to first load bullets into a magazine. Next, a magazine is inserted into the pistol, usually within the pistol grip portion. A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm, such as a semi-automatic pistol. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable). The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. The slide is pulled back and released, which serves to load the cartridge or round into the chamber and cocks the hammer. The function of the hammer is to strike the firing pin, which in turn detonates the impact-sensitive cartridge primer. With each trigger pull, a round is fired and a new one is automatically loaded, ready for another trigger pull.
In order to fire a double action pistol, the magazine is first loaded, the slide is then pulled back or "racked", and a cartridge or round is placed in the chamber. Firing is then initiated by pulling the trigger. The trigger pull is cocking the hammer first. Then after it fires, the pistol will load a fresh round in and cock the hammer, so the second trigger pull is much shorter and lighter.
In a striker fire pistol, a striker is similar to a firing-pin with the exception of a spring being located in back of the striker and forcing it to the front. When the pistol is cocked a sear holds the striker in a rearward position. When the pistol is fired the sear releases the striker, which flies forward under the impetus of its spring and strikes the primer.
In a double-action striker-fired pistol, when the slide is racked, the striker is latched back far enough to be clear of the breech face when feeding a round into the chamber, but not far enough to fire the pistol if released. When the trigger is pulled, the striker is pulled back farther, and then released.
It is sometimes difficult for some people to pull or "rack" the slide on pistols, due to weak hand strength, grip, age, and/or related medical conditions, like arthritis or joint tenderness. New shooters are sometimes too gentle with a pistol and are afraid of slide "bite" to definitively and aggressively rack the slide as they should. It is understood, however, that shooters cannot operate a semi-automatic pistol efficiently for loading, unloading, and clearing malfunctions without racking the slide properly and quickly. Thus, there remains a need in the art for facilitating proper racking of the slide on a pistol.
Racking the slide simply means manipulating and moving the slide back and forth on its guide rails. There are many ways and considerations for racking the slide. Even some experienced competitors have demonstrated that they cannot optimally rack the slide to perform reloads. Others have concluded that they have no choice but to use a revolver, rather than a semi-automatic pistol, especially for concealed carry purposes, because they cannot rack the slide. Consequently, racking the slide is a prevalent issue in pistol ownership and shooting, and the user must be confident to perform this function effectively.
Two common methods for racking the slide are the "sling shot" method and the "over-the-top" method. For the sling shot method, the thumb and index finger of the support hand are in a "V" position to grasp or pinch the back of the slide on the slide grip portion, which is generally a serrated section of the breech end of the slide, and quickly pull the slide to the rear, not unlike shooting a slingshot. A length of the slide is pinched and grasped for better control. Concurrently with the grasping of the slide with the support hand, the strong hand is quickly pushed forward away from the shooter's body. Throughout this action, the grasped slide must be tightly held.
In the over-the-top method, the shooter's support hand is used to grasp the rear slide serrations over the top of the slide. For a right-handed shooter, the heel of the support hand rests on the left-side serrations, while the outside, right-side serrations, are grasped with the four fingers of the support hand. This method yields a more powerful grip on the slide because more fingers and the heel of the support hand are used for added strength. Again, throughout this action, the grasped slide must be tightly held.
Moreover, the slide must be moved back to a lock position in order to insert a new loaded magazine, for cleaning purposes, or to insert a new magazine when a magazine follower automatically locks the slide back when the spent magazine becomes empty. To lock the slide to the rear, the slide stop lever is pushed up as the slide is racked backwards by the support hand, and before it travels forward. Many shooters will shift their strong grip hand around to the left (for a right-handed shooter) so they can lift up the slide stop lever with their strong-hand thumb.
It is apparent from these methods that proper technique and a strong grip are required to rack the slide. Older shooters, shooters with certain medical conditions, weaker shooters, younger shooters, and others with difficulty racking the slide would benefit from an easier way to reduce the grasping force while securing the grip.

Extendable slide member for pistol slide

Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.


The method operates in a wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system (10) which includes a fixed communication unit (114). The fixed communication unit has a plurality of paging channels (230, 235) and a plurality of traffic channels (245, 247). A mobile communication unit (320) is responsive to the fixed communication unit via an active paging channel of the plurality of paging channels. The method includes selecting a paging channel of the plurality of paging channels over which to transmit the message to form a selected paging channel (410); transmitting a preliminary message via each of the plurality of paging channels (415), the preliminary message comprising the selected paging channel; and transmitting the message over the selected paging channel (425), the mobile communication unit receiving the message over the selected paging channel while continuing to monitor the active paging channel.

In a typical wireless communication system such as a cellular radio frequency (RF) radiotelephone system, a base station system having a controller and a plurality of transmitters and receivers communicates with a switching center and with a mobile communication unit, or mobile station, operating within an area served by the base station system.
Multiple access wireless communication between the base station and the mobile station occurs via RF channels which provide paths over which communication signals such as voice, data and video are transmitted. Base-to-mobile station communications are said to occur on a forward- or down-link channel, while mobile-to-base station communications are referred to as being on a reverse- or up-link channel.
Code division multiple access (CDMA) is one example of a well-known digital RF channelization technique. A communication system using CDMA channelization is described in detail in TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-95A Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System, Telecommunications Industry Association, Washington, D.C. July 1993 IS-95A!; "TIA Telecommunications Systems Bulletin: Support for 14.4 kbps Data Rate and PCS Interaction for Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular Systems", February 1996 the Bulletin!; and in TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-96 IS-96!, IS-95A, the Bulletin and IS-96 incorporated herein by reference. Another communication system using CDMA channelization is described in TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-99, Data Services Option Standard for Wideband Spread Spectrum Digital Cellular System, Telecommunications Industry Association, Washington, D.C., also incorporated herein by reference.
Typically, all users of a CDMA system transmit and receive communication signals over a common frequency spectrum, and specialized codes, such as Walsh codes, are used for separating multiple communication signals from one another in the system. Each specialized code typically represents one communication channel within the common frequency spectrum. A communication channel may be, among other things, a paging channel or a traffic channel.
IS-95A provides a maximum baseband data rate of 9600 bits per second for a communication signal on a particular down-link channel, although lower data rates are often used for periods of less speech activity. Generally, communication signals broadcast to subscriber units on traffic channels require different amounts of down-link power according to the baseband data rate, and a signal having higher baseband data rate is transmitted at a higher down-link power level than a signal having a lower baseband data rate.
It may be desirable in a CDMA communication system to deliver the same message to a number of mobile communication units. The message is commonly referred to as a broadcast message, and may be, among other things, traffic, weather or sports information, emergency information, speech or video segments or a software download.
It is generally known to deliver a broadcast message to a number of mobile communication units over a CDMA paging channel. See, for example, TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-637, incorporated herein by reference. Because CDMA paging channels are generally broadcast with high down-link power, however, sending unnecessary or excessive messages over a paging channel may cause interference and may degrade down-link capacity. And down-link capacity may be further reduced if the broadcast message is transmitted over more than one paging code channel.
It is also known to deliver a broadcast message via a CDMA traffic channel. When a broadcast message is being transmitted over a traffic channel, it is typically sent at the maximum baseband data rate. When a large number of mobile communication units are to receive the message, a spike in down-link power may occur and cause poor reception at the mobile communication units.
Existing techniques for delivering broadcast messages over CDMA paging or traffic channels may also result in multiple copies of the same broadcast message in the common frequency spectrum received by each mobile communication unit.
There is therefore a need for an improved method for delivering a broadcast message over a CDMA signaling or traffic channel which reduces down-link interference and which minimizes a number of copies of the broadcast message in the common frequency spectrum.

Method in a wireless code division multiple access communication system for delivering a message to a mobile communication unit


Methods and apparatus are provided for: monitoring processor tasks and associated processor loads therefor that are allocated to be performed by respective sub-processing units associated with a main processing unit; detecting whether a processing error has occurred in a given one of the sub-processing units; re-allocating all of the processor tasks of the given sub-processing unit to one or more participating sub-processing units, including other sub-processing units associated with the main processing unit, based on the processor loads of the processor tasks of the given sub-processing unit and the processor loads of the participating sub-processing units; and at least one of: (i) shutting down, and (ii) re-booting the given sub-processing unit.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling processor errors in a multi-processing system and, in particular, for re-allocating processor tasks among sub-processing units of the multi-processing system when a processor error occurs.
Real-time, multimedia applications are becoming increasingly important. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While single processing units are capable of fast processing speeds, they cannot generally match the processing speeds of multi-processor architectures. Indeed, in multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.
The types of computers and computing devices that may employ multi-processing techniques are extensive. In addition to personal computers (PCs) and servers, these computing devices include cellular telephones, mobile computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), set top boxes, digital televisions and many others.
A design concern in a multi-processing system is how to manage when one sub-processing unit exhibits a processing error. Indeed, a processing error could affect the overall performance of the multi-processing system and adversely impact the real-time, multimedia, experience by a user. This is particularly true when the result of one sub-processor is to be used by other sub-processing units in order to achieve a desired result.
Hard processor errors, such as error correction code (ECC) errors, parity errors, processor hang-ups, etc., may be characterized as fatal errors or recoverable errors. Fatal errors may occur due to operating system errors, kernel errors, etc., while recoverable errors generally do not involve operating system errors or kernel errors. When a recoverable error occurs, it would be desirable to be able to continue executing the processor tasks without violating any real-time processing deadlines or processing requirements, such as would be the case when recovery would require having to re-boot a given sub-processor and re-execute the processor tasks from the beginning. Until the present invention, this has not been possible.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for new methods and apparatus for achieving efficient multi-processing that reduces the adverse affects of hard processor errors.

Methods and apparatus for handling processing errors in a multi-processing system


The present invention relates to an acryl-silicon rubber complex polymer which has a seed-core-shell structure wherein vinyl monomer and hydrophilic monomer are cross-linked on the seed; the acryl-silicon complex IPN core having an IPN (interpenetrating network) structure formed by radical polymerization of acryl monomer and hydrosilyation of silicon rubber in which silicon rubber particles are dispersed by being cross-linked to acryl rubber, in a continuous phase, is formed on the seed; and a shell prepared by graft-polymerization of C1-C4 alkyl methacrylate to the acryl-silicon complex IPN core is formed on the core, and a method of preparation and use of the same, thereby having excellent impact resistance, weatherability and gloss, so that it can be effectively used as an impact modifier for vinyl chloride resin.

An impact modifier used to improve the impact resistance of a vinyl chloride resin is exemplified by methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS) resin, ethylene chloride (CPE) resin and acrylic resin.
To improve the impact resistance of a thermoplastic resin, a rubber polymer having as low a glass transition temperature (Tg) as possible is used. Among the rubber polymers, polybutadiene rubber added to HIPS, ABS and MBS resin has a glass transition temperature of about −80° C., which is much lower than the glass transition temperature (−50° C.) of polybutylacrylate which is a rubber component used as an acrylic modifier, suggesting that the polybutadiene rubber has excellent impact resistance. However, the polybutadiene rubber contains unsaturated double bonds, indicating that it shows weak thermal stability and low weatherability
In the meantime, acrylic resin which does not include unsaturated double bonds has excellent weatherability, so that it has been widely used as an impact modifier for outdoor plastic products which happen to be exposed to sunshine for a long time. For example, for products requiring excellent impact resistance and weatherability together, like a window frame etc, a polymer having a core-shell structure is applied, which is prepared by graft-copolymerization of methacryl polymer, which has excellent compatibility with vinyl chloride resin, with a rubber core composed of alkyl acrylate. However, the glass transition temperature thereof is higher than that of butadiene rubber, so the enhancement of impact resistance is insufficient.
Polyorganosiloxane, which is also called polydimethylsiloxane, has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of approximately −120° C., suggesting that this polymer is very effective for the enhancement of impact resistance. Thus, acryl-silicon rubber complex graft copolymer particles containing silicon can be effectively used to improve weatherability and impact resistance.
Major factors affecting the properties of the acryl-silicon rubber complex impact modifier having a core-shell structure are the rubber content in the impact modifier, the size of the rubber particles, the distance between rubber particles, the swelling index for a solvent, and the degree of coupling between the impact modifier particles dispersed by processing and a matrix. In particular, the bond between an impact modifier and a matrix depends on the shell-graft efficiency for the impact modifying rubber core.
The acryl-silicon rubber complex impact modifier for improving impact resistance of a vinyl chloride resin is prepared by the conventional emulsion polymerization, which is described in the following references.
First, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,359 describes how polydimethylsiloxane rubber seed is polymerized, followed by growing the rubber particles with a butyl acrylate monomer added as a rubber core, and then a shell-forming component is added to cover the surface of the core to complete the core-shell structure.
Second, U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,694 describes polydimethylsiloxane rubber latex, which is 100 nm or less, and polybutylacrylate latex being polymerized respectively, rubber particles are grown by agglomeration, and then a capsulated shell is formed, leading to microagglomeration to form the core-shell structure.
The problem with the above two methods is a long polymerization time due to the separate silicon polymer polymerizations. Particularly, to prepare silicon rubber, polymerization is performed by using cyclic organosiloxane as a precursor and organosilane as a cross-linking agent in the presence of an acid catalyst, and then separate neutralization and aging are required.
During the shell-polymerization, methylmethacrylate monomer having excellent compatibility with vinyl chloride resin is graft-polymerized onto the core surface or graft-polymerized with a small amount of another monomer having at least two functional groups. In particular, methyl methacrylate has excellent compatibility with a matrix and a high glass transition temperature, so it can play a role in improving the agglomeration of latex. To increase the dispersibility of an impact modifier in a matrix, a small amount of acrylonitrile monomer is effectively added during the shell polymerization.

Composition of acryl-silicone complex, preparing method and use thereof


The present invention relates to a preventive and/or a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases containing a fermentation product of a propionic acid bacterium as an active ingredient.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general name for diseases of unknown causes that are represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease which cause chronic inflammation and/or ulceration of the mucosa of the large and small intestines. The majority of the patients are affected at relatively young ages, i.e., in their teens or twenties, and they develop clinical symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain and systemic inflammatory symptoms. There have been problems that the patients become unable to efficiently absorb nutrients of foods and drinks taken orally, and their social life is seriously affected by food restriction and increased stool frequency. As to the possible causes of IBDs, theories that have been reported include autoimmune abnormality and enterobacteria, which still remain unclear, no treatment method leading to complete cure has been found up until today (Non-patent Document 1).
As a therapeutic agent for IBDs such as ulcerative colitis, salazosulfapyridine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroids, immunosuppressive agents, and the like are commonly used. However, sufficient treatment effect cannot be obtained by these therapeutic agents, and side effects caused by long term administration of steroids and immunosuppressive agents become a serious problem (Non-patent Document 1).
Recently, it has been shown that Propionibacterium freudenreichii, one of propionic acid bacteria, produces bifidogenic growth stimulators (BGSs) and that the active component thereof is 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA). DHNA is known to have effects of promoting the growth of bifidobacteria and improving inflammatory conditions of the mucosa in IBDs as well as suppressing infiltration of activated immune cells (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Further, DHNA has been reported to alleviate abdominal discomfort associated with milk intake in milk intolerance and to be useful for prevention and/or therapy of metabolic bone diseases (refer to the same reference). Since this DHNA is produced by propionic acid bacteria in large amounts both intracellularly and extracellualy, a fermentation method using a propionic acid bacterium is attracting attention as a highly safe production method of DHNA. A fermentation product of a propionic acid bacterium obtained by a fermentation technique contains DHNA at a high concentration and is approved as a food for specified health use that regulates the functions of the intestines.    [Patent Document 1] WO publication 03/016544 pamphlet    [Non-patent Document 1] Shoukakibyou seminar 77 Enshousei Chousikkan-Atarashii shiten (in Japanese) (Seminar on Gastrointestinal Diseases 77 Inflammatory Bowel Disease—A New View) Tadao Baba, Ed., Herusu Shuppan, Co., Inc. 1999

Preventive and/or remedy for inflammatory bowel diseases


A bucket for a machine, such as a wheel loader or track loader is disclosed. The bucket includes a bottom section connected to a top section by a middle section. The top, bottom and middle sections are connected to a pair of side walls. The bottom section includes a bottom distal edge and the top section includes a top distal edge. A rear side of the bucket includes a lower ear for receiving a lower pin. The lower pin connects the lower ear and the bucket to a lower linkage. A first distance between the lower pin and the bottom distal edge has a first length and a second distance between the lower pin and the top distal edge has a second length. A ratio of the first and second length, referred to as a loading index (LI) ranges from greater than 0.83 to less than 0.95.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to buckets for machines, and more particularly, to bucket designs that maximize the liquid transport capability of the disclosed bucket designs.
2. Description of the Related Art
A machine, such as a wheel or track loader, may be equipped with a bucket assembly to perform operations at a work site. Such operations may include, for example, penetrating material in the ground or in a pile, scooping material, moving material, and depositing the material in a desired location. Sometimes, the material is a liquid or a slurry, such as water, mud or a cement slurry. The transport of liquids and slurries differs from the transport of granular solids and rocks because of the tendency of a liquid or slurry to spill from the bucket during transport. Using current bucket designs, it is more difficult and time consuming and therefore less efficient to transport liquids and slurries than granular solids.
Further, the level of performance achieved by a wheel loader operator using the wheel loader may depend, at least partially, on one or more design characteristics of the bucket. This is particularly true when the bucket is used to transport liquids and slurries as current buckets are designed primarily for transporting solid materials, not liquids and/or slurries.

Bucket design for maximizing liquid transport