A material handling apparatus particularly suitable for transferring lay-out patterns to a molding die press comprises a central drive unit, a plurality of outstretched wing units operatively connected to the central drive unit, and a plurality of gripping talons supported by the wing units wherein the gripping talons are operative in unison by interconnection with the wing unit and central drive unit.

Reinforced, molded, plastic parts, particularly fiberglass-reinforced plastics, are produced from resin-impregnated fiberglass composites which approximate the configuration of the intended molded plastic part. A fiberglass preform is often used when the intended molded part design is complex, including deep draws and/or contouring. By the term "preform," it is generally meant a fiber-reinforced mat or layer which, in association with other layers, is applied to a mold and subsequently shaped and cured. Unsaturated polyester molding resins are the most commonly used thermosetting resins, although epoxy, phenolic, and silicone molding resins can be used to obtain special properties. The most common reinforcements are fibers, particularly fiberglass fibers, although carbon and synthetic fibers can be used, as well as glass fibers and other micro configurations. Sheet molding compounds can be advantageously used in closed die molding operations and ordinarily comprise preformed composites of randomly oriented glass fiber, thermosetting resin, fillers, initiators, catalysts, thickening agents, and the like. Sheet molding compounds can be up to about one-quarter inch thick and are particularly useful for compression molding. Compression molding for complete parts, however, has the disadvantage that several pieces or strips of sheet molding compound or other preformed resin impregnated fiberglass patterns must be transported by hand and individually located in various cavities within the die, a tedious and time-consuming preparatory step. Resin-impregnated fiberglass composites are typically unsupported and readily susceptible to damage upon handling in addition to having tacky surfaces. Manual arrangement of composites within the mold cavity is time-consuming and difficult. Technological molding problems are encountered due to the first applied resin-impregnated strip being subjected to heat for a longer period of time than the last applied strip and thus premature cure can occur. Cure inhibitors are generally added to prevent premature reaction, but extend the cure time and hence extend the molding cycle.
The various problems associated with molding complex thermoset molded fiberglass parts have prompted various proposed means for transferring uncured lay-out or patterns to molding dies. Lay-out stations are provided adjacent to the molding presses where resin-impregnated configurations are laid out in the same form or pattern as will be arranged in the press.
An impaling transfer apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,872, where the apparatus includes spearhead elements adapted to penetrate resinous composites to a molding press. The spearheads are rotated axially after penetration of the composite to engage the material for lifting and transportation. Upon reaching the molding die, the spearheads are aligned with stripper plates and reverse rotated and, in conjunction with the stripper plates, the preformed lay-out is discharged into the mold.

Material handling apparatus for transporting lay-out patterns


Devices to determine the filtration behavior of a device for filtering gaseous fluid. These devices are characterized by unchanged reproducibility during further tests. To this end, the device comprises                a first device for setting a particular differential pressure,        a second device having a certain degree of filtration efficiency of the gaseous fluid, which flows through the devices, of the filter test system such that a differential pressure and/or filtration efficiency are adjustable in a variable fashion and independently of one another,and the first device (2) and the second device (3) are normal for filtration,with permanently constant characteristics with regard to the differential pressure that is set and the filtration efficiency that is set as a reference device for simulation of a filtering separator,        a first adapter for coupling on the inflow side, and        a second adapter for coupling on the outflow side.

The invention relates to devices for testing filter test systems in order to determine the filtration behavior of a device for filtering gaseous fluids.
It is known to use filters to remove unwanted admixtures from fluid flows. The filtration behavior is characterized by the resultant pressure difference as the fluid flows through the filter and the filtration efficiency. The filtration efficiency allows for statements regarding the proportion of admixtures that are separated with respect to the amount fed in.
When used for gas filtration and the highly efficient separation of even very small solid particles or droplets of liquid, these filters are referred to as high-efficiency particulate air filters. These filters are often used in critical applications, such as in clean room technology, bioengineering or nuclear technology. This often results in the need for a certain minimum filtration efficiency to be reliably reached under all circumstances. Establishing the filtration efficiency of such a filter therefore makes it possible to classify filters and to check the quality of specific filter specimens.
In this respect, the quality of a device for testing the filtration behavior of a filter is particularly important in that said device itself should likewise be checked, tested or validated. A device for testing the filtration behavior of a filter measures the proportion of filtered test material, in this case particulate admixtures, when a gaseous fluid flows through the filter, and the differential pressure. The test device generally consists of the following function blocks: conveying and processing the gas flow, measuring the flow of gas, generating and supplying the test material, measuring the test material concentration on both the inflow and outflow side of the filter and measuring device for the differential pressure.
Validating such a test device that is very complex, which involves independently validating all the function blocks, is both technically and economically disadvantageous. The test device can be validated in a simpler manner by testing a test specimen having a standardized filtration efficiency as the filter normal or filtration normal and comparing the result of the test with the target filtration efficiency and differential pressure values for a certain flow of fluid.
The normal is therefore particularly important, since it must first be tested in a validated test device in order to obtain the target values for the filtration behavior and its filtration behavior must then remain completely unchanged for all other tests carried out. This is never the case for filters or filter materials used for this purpose, since the filtration behavior is changed by test material that is functionally incorporated.
The main effect of the filtration efficiency of a filter is the decrease in the content of a test material in a fluid flow. One indication of a particular preset degree of filtration efficiency is therefore the defined decrease in the concentration of a test material in a fluid flow.
Apparatuses are known that are used for this purpose to adapt a measuring instrument, the measuring range of which is limited, for an aerosol concentration.
DE 20 2008 013 327 U1 therefore discloses an aerosol source system having aerosol vents for a uniform distribution of aerosol from an aerosol generator in the surrounding area for test purposes, which system does not meet the requirement in respect of the continuity of the fluid flow by means of a plurality of vents.
DE 10 2014 200 823 A1 discloses a device for producing an adjustable differential pressure for a compressible medium when a fluid flow itself passes therethrough.
A dilution device for sample-taking in highly concentrated aerosols, which substantially consists of a capillary and a filter, is known per se from DE 296 10 043 U1. Another dilution device is disclosed by DE 10 2008 047 404 A1 as a device to be arranged upstream of a particle counter for the self-contained dilution of aerosols. This device substantially comprises a capillary and a filter in conjunction with a gas-tight conveying device, which is connected to a control device.

Device for checking filter testing systems


Dynamic compilation logic collects execution statistics into a persistent store as a computer program is executed so the execution statistics may be used by the dynamic compilation logic in subsequent executions of the computer program. By saving execution statistics in a persistent store, the dynamic compilation logic can use the execution statistics from previous executions to know which portions of the computer program to immediately compile when the execution of the computer program begins, and how to best compile and optimize certain portions of the computer program. In the preferred embodiments, the persistent store is an attachment to an object oriented class file.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically relates to apparatus and methods for processing computer programs.
2. Background Art
Since the dawn of the computer age, computer systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, and computer systems may be found in many different settings. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware, such as semiconductors and circuit boards, and software, also known as computer programs. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer hardware higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
Computer systems typically include operating system software that controls the basic function of the computer, and one or more software application programs that run under the control of the operating system to perform desired tasks. For example, a typical IBM Personal Computer may run a Microsoft Windows operating system, and under the control of the operating system, a user may execute an application program, such as a word processor. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. As the capabilities of computer systems have increased, the application software programs designed for high performance computer systems have become extremely powerful. Additionally, software development costs have continued to rise because more powerful and complex programs take more time, and hence more money, to produce.
One way in which the performance of application software programs has been improved while the associated development costs have been reduced is by using object oriented programming concepts. The goal of using object oriented programming is to create small, reusable sections of program code known as "objects" that can be quickly and easily combined and re-used to create new programs. This is similar to the idea of using the same set of building blocks again and again to create many different structures. The modular and re-usable aspects of objects will typically speed development of new programs, thereby reducing the costs associated with the development cycle. In addition, by creating and re-using a comprehensive set of well-tested objects, a more stable, uniform, and consistent approach to developing new computer programs can be achieved. The Java programming language developed by Sun Microsystems is one modern object oriented programming language that has become very popular in recent years.
Recent developments in Java include just-in-time (JIT) compilers. A JIT compiler is one specific example of a dynamic compiler that compiles portions of a computer program as the computer program is executing under control of a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that includes dynamic compilation logic. Most JVMs can execute a program in different modes, namely interpreted mode and compiled mode, and typically begin program execution before the entire program is loaded. In interpreted mode, each Java virtual machine instruction is individually emulated using a pre-written subroutine of native machine instructions. Interpreting Java instructions does not require compilation, but is typically much slower than executing the same Java instruction that has been compiled. In compiled mode, the Java instructions are compiled into machine code. Compiling on-the-fly requires overhead. However, once the compilation has been done, the compiled code can then be executed very quickly. Thus, a JVM typically begins loading and running a program in interpreted mode, and will us a dynamic compiler to dynamically compile portions of the code that are frequently executed to improve performance.
Dynamic compilation logic typically resides within a dynamic compiler and determines what is compiled, when it is compiled, and how it is compiled. One significant problem with known dynamic compilers is that they have no information about what portions of a computer program to compile until the computer program has been executed enough to generate execution statistics that can govern which portions are dynamically compiled, when they are compiled, and how they are compiled and optimized. Some dynamic compilers simply compile a method the first time it is invoked. This approach, however, is inefficient because it results in spending considerable time compiling methods that may be rarely invoked. A second approach is to compile execution statistics that show which portions of a computer program are executed often, and dynamically compiling portions of the computer program as their execution frequencies exceed some predefined threshold value. For example, the threshold value can be set to the number ten, which means the dynamic compiler will dynamically compile a program portion once the program portion has been executed ten times. With this second approach, the computer program must be run for a long enough period of time to collect execution statistics as it runs before dynamic compilation can occur.
Thus, this type of dynamic compiler must wait for execution statistics for the current execution in order to know what portions to dynamically compile, when to dynamically compile them, and how to compile and optimize them. This is true even if the computer program has been executed thousands or millions of times in the past.
Without a way for a dynamic compiler to use knowledge of past executions of a computer program in performing dynamic compilations, the computer industry will continue to suffer inefficient methods for dynamic compilation that are limited to the current execution of a computer program.

Dynamic compiler apparatus and method that stores and uses persistent execution statistics

International Business Machines Corporation


A crimp interconnect device, a crimped arrangement and a method for making a crimped arrangement are disclosed. In an embodiment a crimp interconnect device includes a deformable barrel body having an inner side and an outer side and a first material, and a second material that is softer than the first material, wherein the second material is arranged on the inner side.

Crimping allows connecting two pieces of ductile material by deforming at least one of them. A ductile material is a solid material having the ability to deform under mechanical or tensile stress. Crimping may be used to form a connection between a crimp interconnect device, also referred to as a crimp electrical interconnect device, and one or more conductors, which may be wires. The wires are inserted into a barrel of the interconnect device. Then the barrel is deformed in such a manner that it holds the wires. The deformation is called crimp. The crimp interconnect device may have a contact area to be connected to other parts or may be ring-shaped having a barrel function, which allows inserting wires from either side and connecting the crimp interconnect device to the wires on either side. Such interconnect devices may be referred to as slices. A simple embodiment of a slice is a press ring having a sleeve-shaped form.
If mechanically crimping together materials of different mechanical hardness, the softer material reduces its cross section during the crimping process. In other words, if crimping together a conductor made of one material and another one made of a softer material, the softer material is deformed more, thereby reducing the cross-section of the conductor made of the softer material. Due to cross-section reduction the electrical conductivity and the mechanical stability of the joint may be deteriorated, which may cause a high risk of overheating the joint due to electric overload and of mechanical breaking due to vibrations. If crimping together a solid aluminum wire and a solid copper wire, the above-mentioned problems would arise.
When crimping together a solid aluminum wire and a solid copper wire, the cross section of the copper, which is the harder material, does not change, while the one of the aluminum, which is the softer material, does. In the case of a cross section of 40 mm2 it may be reduced to 16 mm2 by the crimping process. Conventional press rings involve the above-mentioned problem and are not suitable for crimping together aluminum and copper in a proper way.

Crimp interconnect device, crimped arrangement and method for making a crimped arrangement


An electrical device for low-voltage applications that comprises at least one fixed contact designed to connect to a corresponding mobile contact; the electrical device also comprises at least one module, on which said fixed contact is housed, and the module is operatively connected to a structural part of the device and is at least partially separable from said structural part.

Low-voltage electrical devices, such as for example switches circuit-breakers and disconnectors, are, as is known, devices used generally in electrical systems the operating voltage of which generally reaches up to 1000 V. It is likewise known that for correct functioning of such devices it is necessary to envisage and carry out periodic interventions of inspection and maintenance.
The interventions of inspection envisage checking of the state and functionality of the components in order to choose the type of intervention of maintenance to carry out. The maintenance interventions can be divided principally into ones of a conservative type and ones of a replacement type. In interventions of a conservative type, operations are carried out that substantially involve adjustment, calibration and setting, cleaning and regeneration of one or more components constituting the device in order to restore them to optimal operating conditions. In interventions of a replacement type, instead, replacement is made of one or more components that, following upon operation of the device, have undergone alterations such as to jeopardize their functionality irreversibly.
The configuration of current electrical devices is far from conducive to either of the types of maintenance just referred to. The components making up the devices are in fact connected to one another according to a well-defined sequence of assembly. This aspect entails that the possible regeneration and/or replacement of one of the components assembled at the start of the sequence imposes as a consequence dismantling and subsequent re-assembly of a large number of the components.
Low-voltage circuit-breakers, for example, comprise, as is known, one or more seats in which one or more fixed contacts are housed that are to be connected to corresponding mobile contacts in the proximity of an arc chamber. An appropriate kinematic chain enables movement of the mobile contacts.
Traditionally, the fixed contacts are inserted and positioned within the respective seats before the mobile contacts and before the components of the kinematic chain. It is therefore understandable how, in the current state of the art, possible operations of maintenance carried out on the fixed contacts, for example of a replacement nature, impose the need to dismantle numerous functional parts of the devices such as, for example, mobile contacts, kinematic chains and arc chambers.
Some solutions present on the market are conducive to operations of inspection, i.e. checking of the conditions of the circuit-breakers. In some cases, for example, removable grills are used, located on the outer surface of the devices in the proximity of the arc chamber or arc chambers. Removal of these grills enables, in the best of cases, removal of the arc chambers, but does not facilitate or in any case is not effectively conducive to possible maintenance interventions. In particular, there remain prevented interventions of a replacement type on the fixed contacts. The very operations of inspection and conservative maintenance can be carried out only in a partial and approximate way, on account of the limited space and angle of access to the fixed and/or mobile contacts.
There is therefore the need to have available electrical devices for low-voltage applications, that will enable to overcome the previously cited drawbacks.

Electrical device with fixed contacts, mobile contacts and inspectable arc chambers


A material handling apparatus for selectively bulk filling or blend filling and concurrently discharging particulate material, such as reticulated tobacco and the like, into an open topped silo, bin, or hopper. The material handling apparatus includes a first shuttle car located over the open top of the silo for movement back and forth over the silo, a first belt conveyor on the first shuttle car in alignment with the direction of movement of the first shuttle car, a second shuttle car located over the top of the silo and above the first shuttle car for movement back and forth over the silo along a path parallel to the movement of the first shuttle car, and a second belt conveyor on the second shuttle in alignment with the direction of movement of the second shuttle car.

The present invention relates generally to material handling apparatus, and more particularly to a material handling apparatus which provides for selectively bulk filling or blend filling and concurrently discharging particulate material into a hopper, bin, silo and the like.
A particular application for such material handling apparatus is in the manufacture of cigarettes. In the manufacture of cigarettes, tobacco is processed as by cutting, shredding, grinding and the like into small pieces or particles in preparation for processing into the tobacco rod of a cigarette. Extremely large quantities of tobacco are used in the manufacture of cigarettes, and this tobacco must be processed rapidly through the cigarette manufacturing process. In addition, because the manufacturing process must be adaptable to make cigarettes of different blends or a single blend, the apparatus must be versatile.
Prior known material handling apparatus for conveying and feeding particulate material is known, per se, from the following U.S. Patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,038 is directed to a material handling apparatus for conveying and feeding particulate material which has a top or first conveyor discharging onto a second or bottom conveyor. The bottom conveyor is pivotally mounted at its upstream end for movement in a horizontal plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,435,967 is directed to a material handling system for filling a bin with free flowing material which includes a first conveyor belt which selectively feeds material to one or the other of two other conveyor belts mounted transversely at the opposite ends of the first conveyor belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,973 is directed to a feed conveying and distributing apparatus for feeding particulate material which includes a first or top stationary conveyor belt feeding material onto a second or bottom shuttle conveyor belt which then feeds the particulate material to a third conveyor located beneath the second conveyor.
Even more particularly, material handling or feed conveyor systems for conveying and feeding tobacco to hoppers, bins, silos and the like are known, per se, from the following patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,881 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,585 disclose essentially the same material handling apparatus for bulk filling and blend filling tobacco into a silo. The material handling apparatus includes a shuttle car movable back-and-forth over the top of the silo and a reversible belt conveyor mounted on the shuttle car having a conveying direction in alignment with the movement of the shuttle car. An index or cross shuttle car is located above the main shuttle car and perpendicular to the silo to feed tobacco to the conveyor belt of the main shuttle car. The cross shuttle car extends beyond the sides of the silo.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,576 is directed to a feed system for tobacco blending in bulk bins or silos which include a trolley movable over two side-by-side bins. A first belt conveyor is mounted on the trolley for movement thereon transversely to the movement of the trolley and a feed conveyor is located above the first conveyor at an angle thereto with its discharge end over the first conveyor. The feed conveyor is also mounted for movement transversely to the movement of the trolley as the first conveyor moves to maintain its discharge end over the first conveyor.
The present invention provides a material handling apparatus for selectively bulk filling and blend filling particulate material, such as tobacco, into a hopper, bin, or silo which is an improvement to the described apparatus.

Apparatus for filling a silo with tobacco and the like


An embodiment of the invention provides an air treatment device. The air treatment device comprises an air purifying unit configured to purify air; a scent dispenser configured to dispense scent; an air detector, configured to detect the purified air and provide an output signal; and a processor configured to receive the output signal from the air detector and control the operation speed of the air purifying unit and the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser, based on the output signal, wherein the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser is decreased with the increase of the operating speed of the air purifying unit. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of controlling a scent dispenser and an air purifying unit of an air treatment device, wherein the air treatment device further includes an air detector and a processor. The method comprises the steps of purifying air by using the air purifying unit; detecting the purified air by using the air detector; controlling, by using the processor, the operating speed of the air purifying unit and the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser, based on the detection result, wherein the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser is decreased with the increase of the operating speed of the air purifying unit.

Urbanization and industrialization cause much air pollution in the megacities, especially those in emerging markets. To purify the ambient air in order to improve air quality, air purifiers are widely used in homes, offices and automobiles to remove, for example, dust, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOC), germs, etc. Moreover, scent dispensers are also popular; they are used to improve air quality in that they can help remove/conceal/mitigate offensive odors and thus improve people's emotional feelings.
In the existing air purifiers, the scent dispenser is typically integrated with the air purifier to help provide a pleasant smell while purifying air. The air purifier and the scent dispenser mainly operate in the following two ways. In one approach, when the air purifier operates to purify air, the scent dispenser is controlled to open up to dispense scent at a constant speed, i.e. the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser is kept constant throughout the air purifying process. In the other approach, the dispensing flow of scent dispensed by the scent dispenser is controlled so as to increase with the speed of the fan of the air purifier.


An image forming apparatus of a type having a photoconductive drum surrounded by an exposure station, a toner dispenser, an image transfer roller, a pre-discharging lamp and a contact charging roller incorporates a novel apparatus and method for cleaning the transfer and charging rollers of toner and other contamination. The transfer roller first is cleaned by applying to it an electric bias of alternating polarity to repel toner to the photoconductive element. Charge induced on the photoconductive drum by the toner is neutralized by the contact charging roller, and thereafter, a cleaning element, such as a sponge, is moved into contact with the charging roller for cleaning it of toner. The transfer roller may be separated from the photoconductive drum during image exposure or in response to an exposure synchronization signal, to reduced image distortion caused by mechanical vibration of the drum.

Conventional electrophotographic apparatus, such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, etc., comprise an imaging surface, such as a photoconductive element, normally in the form of a drum or belt. Arranged in timed sequence around the drum are a plurality of processing stations for performing various functions. These processing stations may comprise apparatus for charging the imaging surface, electrostatically forming a latent image on the imaging surface, developing the latent electrostatic image with a developer commonly referred to as a toner, transferring the developed image from the imaging surface to a substrate such as a paper sheet, typically by means of a transfer roller, feeding paper to the transferring station, cleaning the imaging surface, i.e., removing residual toner on the imaging surface, and fixing the transferred developed image on the sheet.
A typical reproduction operation comprises charging the surface of the drum and exposing the charged surface to a light pattern of an original image to be reproduced thereby selectively discharging the imaging surface in accordance with the original image. The resulting pattern of charged and discharged areas on the surface of the photoconductive drum forms an electrostatic charge pattern or electrostatic latent image conforming to the original image.
The latent electrostatic image is developed by contacting it with finely divided toner held by electrostatic force on the imaging surface. The toner image is transferred to the sheet fed by a registration roller toward the drum in synchronization with drum rotation. As the leading edge of the sheet abuts the drum, electrostatic forces adhere the two together, and the transferring station applies toner image from the photoconductive drum to the paper. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed to form a permanent record.
Subsequent to development, and after transfer of the developed image to the paper, some toner inevitably remains on the surface of the photoconductive drum, held thereto by electrostatic and/or VANderWals force. Additionally, other contaminants, such as paper fibers, toner additives, Kaolins and various other forms of debris, have a tendency to be attracted to the charge retentive surface. This residual toner has a tendency to contaminate the backside of a sheet of paper whose front surface is to receive the developed toner image, despite conventional roller and drum cleaning techniques.
Referring to FIGS. 11a-11d, depicted schematically is an image forming apparatus comprising a photoconductive drum 1 that rotates in direction A such that the surface of the drum successively traverses contact charging roller 2, developing roller 4, transfer roller 5, cleaning blade 7 and pre-discharging lamp 8. The transfer roller 5, which fixes the toner image to a sheet fed to the drum 1 between developing roller 4 and transfer roller 5, is generally formed of a conductive Styrofoam having a porous surface. Toner remaining on the surface of drum 1 from developing roller 4 tends to deposit onto the surface of the transfer roller and into its pores. As the transfer roller 5 contacts the photoconductive drum 1 in a contact area establishing a nip, the toner remaining on the transfer roller tends to accumulate on the backside of the sheet, undesirably producing a darkened region. It has been proposed to clean the surface of transfer roller 5 using a cleaning blade; however, this has not proved to be practical because the blade has a tendency to push the toner on the surface of the roller into the roller pores, rather than remove the toner completely.
In order to clean the transfer roller 5 more effectively, it has been proposed to apply a bias voltage to the transfer roller of appropriate polarity and magnitude so as to electrostatically repel residual toner from the transfer roller 5 to the surface of the photoconductive drum 1 for subsequent removal. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,022, based on the realization that most toner has a negative polarity and some toner has a positive polarity, as depicted symbolically in application FIG. 11a. At first, a negative polarity bias is applied to the transfer roller 5 for a prescribed period of time, and then a positive bias is applied for a shorter time, as shown in FIG. 11b. Positive and negative polarity toner are expelled from the transfer roller 5 to the surface of the photoconductive drum 1, to be removed from the drum by cleaning blade 7. However, the surface of drum 5 now carries regions of positively and negatively induced electrostatic charge corresponding to the applied transfer roller bias.
FIG. 11c depicts removal of the residual toner from the surface of drum 1 by cleaning blade 7. The region of the drum surface 1 between cleaning blade 7 and charging roller 2 is irradiated by the pre-discharging lamp 8 to discharge negative charge on the drum surface (FIG. 11d). However, the pre-discharging lamp 8 has no effect on positively induced charge, which will remain on the surface of the drum 1, as shown symbolically. As the drum continues to rotate, the positive surface charge traverses the developing roller 4, picking up negative polarity toner which deposits onto the back side of the next sheet waiting for image development and fixing.

Image forming apparatus having roller cleaning system and method


In a method for forming a semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a semiconductor body (e.g., bulk silicon substrate or SOI layer). The gate electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body. A first sidewall spacer is formed along a sidewall of the gate electrode. A sacrificial sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the first sidewall spacer. The sacrificial sidewall spacer and the first sidewall spacer overlying the semiconductor body. A planarization layer is formed over the semiconductor body such that a portion of the planarization layer is adjacent the sacrificial sidewall spacer. The sacrificial sidewall spacer can then be removed and a recess etched in the semiconductor body. The recess is substantially aligned between the first sidewall spacer and the portion of the planarization layer. A semiconductor material (e.g., SiGe or SiC) can then be formed in the recess.

Semiconductor devices are used in a large number of electronic devices such as computers, cell phones and others. One of the goals of the semiconductor industry is to continue shrinking the size and increasing the speed of individual devices. Smaller devices can operate at higher speeds since the physical distance between components is smaller. In addition, higher conductivity materials such as copper are replacing lower conductivity materials such as aluminum. One other challenge is to increase the mobility of semiconductor carriers such as electrons and holes.
One technique to improve transistor performance is to mechanically strain (i.e., distort) the semiconductor crystal lattice near the charge-carrier channel region. Transistors built on strained silicon, for example, have greater charge-carrier mobility than those fabricated using conventional substrates. One way to create strain is to provide a stress layer over the transistor. Variants of stress layers can be used for mobility and performance boost of devices. For example, stress can be provided by a contact etch stop layer (CESL), single layers, dual layers, stress memory transfer layers, and STI liners. Most of these techniques use nitride layers to provide tensile or compressive stresses; however, other materials can be used in other applications, e.g., HDP oxide layers.
Another technique to strain silicon is to provide a layer of germanium or silicon germanium. A thin layer of silicon may be grown over the germanium-containing layer. Since the germanium crystal lattice constant is larger than the silicon lattice constant, the germanium-containing layer creates a lattice mismatch stress in adjacent layers. Due to the different lattice structures, the SiGe will impart a strain onto the silicon layer. This strained silicon layer can be utilized to fabricate faster transistors.
One example of making a strained-silicon CMOS device with a shallow trench isolation (STI) oxide region is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0101077, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this method, a silicon substrate is formed and a relaxed-SiGe layer is formed over the silicon substrate or a SiGe-on-insulator substrate with a buried oxide (BOX) layer. A strained-Si layer overlies the relaxed-SiGe layer. A silicon oxide layer is formed over the strained-Si layer and a silicon nitride hardmask layer is formed over the silicon oxide layer. The silicon nitride layer, the silicon oxide layer, the strained-Si layer, and the relaxed-SiGe layer are etched to form an STI trench. A sacrificial oxide liner is formed on the STI trench surface to round and reduce stress at the STI trench corners. The sacrificial oxide liner is then removed and the STI trench is filled with silicon oxide.
As another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0173815, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method of fabricating a strained-channel transistor structure. A substrate includes a first semiconductor material with a first natural lattice constant, a gate dielectric layer on the substrate, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, a source region and drain region oppositely adjacent to the gate dielectric layer, and a spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode. One or both of the source region and drain region are recessed to form a recess. The recess can then be filled with a second semiconductor material with a second natural lattice constant different from the first natural lattice constant as a lattice-mismatched zone.

Strained semiconductor device and method of making the same


A contactor is placed between a semiconductor device and a test board. A contact electrode of the contactor electrically connects the semiconductor device to the test board. The contact electrode is formed of a conductive layer provided on an insulating substrate. The contact electrode comprises a first contact piece which contacts a terminal of the semiconductor device, a second contact piece which contacts an electrode of the test board, and a connecting portion which electrically connects the first contact piece and the second contact piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of manufacturing a contactor for testing a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a contactor for testing an LSI (Large Scale Integration) circuit having fine terminals or terminals arranged with a fine pitch and a manufacturing method of the contactor.
In testing a semiconductor device such as an LSI circuit during a manufacturing process thereof, a contactor is used for making electrical contact with a terminal of the LSI circuit. In testing a conventional semiconductor device having a socket for connection, the socket can be used as a contactor. However, an LSI circuit, such as a so-called KGD (Known Good Die), which is to be tested as a bare chip not yet packaged, or a CSP (Chip Size Package), does not have a socket. Therefore, a contactor for test use needs to be prepared for such an LSI circuit.
Recently, a wafer-level packaging technology has been developed, which technology allows for packaging a semiconductor chip in the form of a wafer. This calls for testing of a plurality of semiconductor devices in the form of a wafer. Therefore, it is desired that a low-cost testing contactor be developed, which contactor can be easily manufactured and is usable for such testing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tests using contactors include a burn-in test and such a final test as a high-speed test.
Because a burn-in test requires a long period of time for its process, in a wafer-level testing, all of LSI circuits on a wafer need to be tested at one time. To realize this, terminals of all of the LSI circuits wafer to be put into contact with probes, and wires connected to the probes need to be drawn out to the exterior by a test board (burn-in board). Such a burn-in board has to have tens of thousands of terminals.
Because the burn-in test puts an LSI circuit under a high-temperature condition (ranging from 125° C. to 150° C.), a testing contactor has to have high heat resistivity. It has conventionally been very difficult to realize a contactor which fulfills these requirements, and if the contactor could be realized, the contactor would be extraordinarily costly and have a short life duration.
To conduct a high-speed test in the form of a wafer as a final test, a length of a probe of a contactor has to be smaller. That is, because the length of the probe is substantially proportional to the impedance of the contactor, the high-speed test cannot be performed with the increased impedance of a contactor having a long probe. Therefore, the probe of a contactor used in the high-speed test has to be as short as possible.
As in the burn-in test, in order to test a plurality of semiconductor devices at one time, a multitude of probes have to be arranged close to one another. It has conventionally been very difficult to realize a contactor which fulfills these requirements, and if it could be realized, the contactor would be extraordinarily costly.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a conventional contactor using an anisotropic conductive elastomer. The contactor shown in FIG. 1 uses an anisotropic conductive rubber 2 as an anisotropic conductive elastomer. The anisotropic conductive rubber 2 is disposed between an LSI circuit 6, a testee, and a test board 8. The test board 8 has electrodes 8a to be electrically connected to terminals 6a of the LSI circuit 6.
A membrane 4 is disposed between the anisotropic conductive rubber 2 and the LSI circuit 6 in order to ensure contacts between the anisotropic conductive rubber 2 and the terminals 6a of the LSI circuit 6. Therefore, the membrane 4 is unnecessary if the contacts can be ensured without it. In addition, although FIG. 1 shows the terminals 6a of the LSI circuit 6 formed on concave portions, the terminals 6a do not necessarily have to be formed on the concave portions, but may be formed on a flat surface.
The anisotropic conductive rubber 2 is arranged to have conductive portions 2b and other insulating portions. Accordingly, each of the terminals 6a of the LSI circuit 6 is electrically connected to the corresponding electrode 8a. In this structure, an elasticity of the anisotropic conductive rubber 2 ensures a contact pressure between each of the terminals 6a of the LSI circuit 6 and the corresponding electrode 8a of the test board 8.
The above-mentioned contactor using an anisotropic conductive rubber has a simple structure and is often used in conventional wafer-level testing. The anisotropic conductive rubber has an advantage of having a small inductance. Also, the anisotropic conductive rubber, when deteriorated or damaged, can be replaced, independent of a test board.
Aside from the above-mentioned contactor using an anisotropic conductive material, there is a contactor using a spring-type contact pin. FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of a conventional contactor using a spring pin.
The contactor shown in FIG. 2 has bent wires 10 as probes (contact pins) on a test board 12. Such a bonding wire as a gold wire is used as the wire 10. The wire 10 is formed by a wire bonder. Specifically, the wire 10 is severed after one end of the wire 10 is bonded to an electrode 12a of the test board 12 and is bent as shown in FIG. 2. The bent parts enable the wire 10 to deform elastically in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the test board 12. Pressing the other end of the wire 10 against the terminal 6a of the LSI circuit 6 and utilizing the elastic deformation of the wire 10 secures a sure contact of the wire 10 to the terminal 6a.
In the above-mentioned contactor using a spring pin, the wide range of the elastic deformation, from 100 μm to 300 μm, of the wire 10 (probe) secures a sufficient contact pressure. Additionally, in case heights of a multitude of the wires 10 vary to some degree, a sure contact is secured between each of the wires 10 and the corresponding terminal 6a. Also, a durability of the wire 10 is so superior to that of the anisotropic conductive rubber that the wire 10 can be used repeatedly one hundred thousand times approximately. Further, the wire 10 will not be deteriorated if put under a high-temperature condition as in a burn-in test.
As another example of a conventional contactor, there is a cantilever probing card. The cantilever probing card has a probe composed of such substances as tungsten. The probe is set oblique on a surface of a test board. The probe is of the size quite longer than the above-mentioned bent wire probe, providing flexibility to the probe under consideration. That is, the oblique arrangement and the flexibility of this probe give a sufficient elasticity so as to ensure a contact pressure.
The above-mentioned contactor using an anisotropic conductive material has the following problems to be solved: (1) a narrow range of an elastic deformation; and (2) a short durability.
(1) The Problem of a Narrow Range of an Elastic Deformation
A 200-μm-thick anisotropic conductive rubber has a narrow range of elastic deformation from approximately 25 μm to 100 μm. Therefore, if a terminal-containing surface of an LSI circuit is not flat enough, the narrow range of the elastic deformation cannot provide a sure contact. Thus, the LSI circuit has to have such a costly substrate as a ceramic substrate and a glass substrate having a flat enough surface. Additionally, with respect to such an LSI circuit as a wafer-level CSP using large solder balls, heights of the solder balls on a wafer vary by approximately 100 μm, with which variation the anisotropic conductive rubber cannot provide a sure contact.
(2) The Problem of a Short Durability
The anisotropic conductive rubber is extremely prone to deterioration in a high-temperature condition and, thus, cannot endure a repeated contact. Especially in a high-temperature condition (ranging from 125° C. to 150° C.) as in a burn-in test, a base rubber undergoes a plastic deformation and, thus, cannot endure repeated use. In response to this, the deteriorated anisotropic conductive rubber may be replaced, independent of a test board. However, an anisotropic conductive rubber usable for the size of wafer costs tens of thousands of yen per piece, raising a test cost for a wafer to be tested.
The above-mentioned contactor using a spring pin has the following problems to be solved: (1) an extremely high manufacturing cost; and (2) an irreplaceable contact pin.
(1) The Problem of an Extremely High Manufacturing Cost
A bent contact pin (probe) as shown in FIG. 2 is formed one by one by a wiring bonder. Therefore, in accordance with the number of probes to be formed, a manufacturing cost of a contactor increases. A wafer-level LSI circuit sometimes has as many as 50,000 terminals. In this case, a contactor has to have 50,000 probes correspondingly, extremely raising a manufacturing cost of the contactor. Additionally, a life cycle of a contactor is currently shortened to approximately 180 days, inevitably putting limits to repeated use of a contactor used in a lengthy burn-in test. For example, when a burn-in test requires 24 hours (a day) per wafer, a contactor can be used only 180 times approximately. Therefore, a depreciation expense of a contactor for a wafer becomes enormously high. Hence, such a contactor cannot practically be employed.
(2) The Problem of an Irreplaceable Contact Pin
When even only one of contact pins (probes) becomes damaged and unusable, the entire contactor also becomes unusable. As a matter of fact, in an LSI circuit test, it is difficult to completely keep a contact pin from being burned by a latch-up (overcurrent) in a burn-in test or from being damaged by a mechanical shock. However, since a contact pin is directly bonded to an electrode of a test board, it is difficult to remove a damaged pin from among other pins and re-form a new pin among the other pins. Therefore, a loss of only one pin may lead to spoiling an entire contactor and losing a huge sum financially.
Also, the cantilever probing card has a problem to be solved: a high impedance.
A contact pin of the cantilever probing card is ordinarily formed 20 mm to 30 mm in length in order to acquire a certain amount of elastic deformation. Generally, a pin of 20 to 30 mm in length has an impedance of 20 to 30 nH (nanohenries) and, thus, the entire probing card has large impedance. With the probe card having the large impedance, a high-speed test cannot be performed. For example, a device designed for an approximately 20 to 30 MHz operation can be tested with pins of 20 to 30 mm in length without a problem. However, a high-speed device designed to operate at more than 200 MHz cannot be tested at high speed because of the large impedance of the cantilever probing card.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device testing contactor having a circuit-side contact piece and test-board-side contact piece


The invention relates to the recording of an object (4) by imaging with a radiation source (2) on a recording medium (3) using aperture (6), the size of which may be adjusted using adjusting means (7), depending on the size of said object. Sensors (8) are provided for determination of object size. The quality of the images, which are in particular X-ray images, can thus be improved.

In photo technique moving apertures (shutter, shutter apertures) for the dosage of the amount of light are known, whereby e.g. the breadth of the aperture for the variation of the amount of light can be differently adjusted.
In radiology, apertures are known as collimators which serve with constant dimensions for the reduction of the produced radiation dosage, but which, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,087, also are used for the reduction of scattered radiation. Furthermore, collimators can be adjustable in order to, adjusted to the object to be recorded, limit the radiated area. In this way, it is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,350 a size-adjustable collimator for the limitation of the area impinged by rays in mammography, whereby no relative movement between the object and radiation source occurs. From U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,427, an adjustable collimator is known by means of which the height of the irradiated area can be limited in connection with cephalometric panorama photos. The breadth of the section of the ray beam and the slewing plane is determined by a non-adjustable slit at the exit of the radiation source. Perpendicular to the slewing plane, the ray beam is limited by the height-adjustable collimator, whereby signaling rods show the limitation of the height. From U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,435, an adjustable collimator is known, which limits the irradiated area depending on the film cassette size used. In connection with the type of recording shown, no relative movement between the object and the radiation source occurs. In general, it is known in radiology to use collimators for the limitation of the irradiated area and, prior to the real recording, to display the limited area for the control thereof on the object (patient) by means of visible light. Furthermore, collimators for the limitation of the X-rays are used when using line detectors such that the radiosensitive line detector is exclusively irradiated. In classic photographic radiology, radiation grids are also used for the reduction of the scattered radiation. However, this method for the reduction of scattered radiation also weakens simultaneously the wanted radiation so that, for the production of a high-contrast image, high dosages of X-rays have to applied. These radiation grids, which are between the object and the image, are constant in their dimensions. The absorption of undesired scattered radiation by the recording means during the image recording generally leads to a declined wanted signal/unwanted signal ratio and thus not to an optimal image quality.

Method and device for the recording of objects


The present invention relates to a process of the asymmetric hydrogenation of a ketal of an unsaturated ketone or an acetal of an unsaturated aldehyde by molecular hydrogen in the presence of at least one chiral iridium complex. This process yields chiral compounds in a very efficient way and is very advantageous in that the amount of iridium complex can be remarkably reduced.

Chiral compounds are important products and intermediates in different fields of application, particularly in the field of pharma, food supplements and flavours and fragrances as different stereoisomers have strongly different properties. A very important class of chiral compounds are chiral ketones and aldehydes.
Particularly important are chiral ketones for the synthesis of aroma ingredients and for vitamins, particular for tocopherol and vitamin K1.
Natural tocopherols bear a side chain having 3 stereogenic centres of the R configuration. Synthetic routes for the synthesis of (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-tocopherol are possible starting from (R,R)-isophytol or (R,R)-phytol. However, as natural sources of (2R,4′R,8′R)-tocopherols and (R,R)-phytol, are very limited, the market has a strong need for an effective synthesis of (2R,4′R,8′R)-tocopherols and (R,R)-isophytol, respectively, and chiral ketones or aldehydes are important intermediates for their synthesis.
It is known that chiral ketones are accessible from asymmetric hydrogenation of unsaturated ketones using chiral transition metal complexes. An important class of chiral transition metal complexes are chiral iridium complexes.
For example WO 2006/066863 A1 discloses a specific class of chiral iridium complexes which are suitable for the asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes showing high stereoselectivity in the formation of hydrogenated ketones at high conversion. However, the iridium complexes need to be used in a relatively high amount relative to the unsaturated compounds to be hydrogenated. Due to the high price of iridium complexes it is commercially interesting to use as little iridium complex as possible while maintaining high conversion and good stereoselectivity.

Process of asymmetric hydrogenation of ketals and acetals


A reconfigurable surgical apparatus that includes a surgical instrument assembly that is formed with a hollow manipulation shaft. A linearly or rotationally movable prime mover is received within the shaft and is activated by an actuator located at a proximal end. A coupler is formed about a distal end of the shaft to have a capture ledge that is configured to releasably engage an interchangeable surgical tool that is formed with an anchor adapted to releasably mate to the capture ledge. The coupler may optionally incorporate a frangible portion that severs a portion of the coupler when the interchangeable surgical tool is removed from the apparatus to ensure single use operation of the tool.

Medical professionals have long-recognized the need for surgical instruments that can utilize a multitude of interchangeable tools. What has been needed but heretofore unavailable are surgical instruments that are compatible for use with detachable and interchangeable tools that incorporate universal connectors that establish interchangeability with a multitude of surgical tools and devices. Such long-felt needs have been particularly prevalent in the field of endoscopic surgical instruments that are used in minimally invasive surgical procedures. These types of procedures are performed through one, two, three, or even four small incisions created in the skin of a patient. In multiple incision procedures, a single endoscopic instrument may be introduced per incision. Each such instrument can typically accommodate, for example, one or two surgical tools that can be manipulated from the exterior of the patient to remotely conduct a specific surgical operation inside the patient. To lessen the trauma to the patient, it is preferable to minimize the number of such incisions and surgical instruments.
The procedures can involve relatively non-complex biopsy procedures as well as very complicated caridiothoracic remedial and interventional operations. In the latter, one or more endoscopic tools are needed to perform the procedure and space inside the body of the patient is at a premium. Therefore, any tools that are to be introduced into the surgical field must compete for space with other tools including for example, clamps, cutting tools, fluid injection and suction ports, lighting and visual equipment, and similar devices. Accordingly, those with skill in the art can appreciate that there is limited intracorporeal space available for tools and equipment. Therefore, before one tool can be introduced, another tool may have to be removed. Since only a limited number of minimally-invasive-type endoscopic surgical instruments are preferably utilized during any given procedure, there has long been a need for the capability to interchange multiple surgical tools on any single endoscopic instrument.
The removability and interchangeability of the tools and reusability of such surgical instrument can reduce costs and complexity. For example, maintenance costs associated with refurbishment, cleaning, and sharpening tools after each surgical procedure is significant. Removable end tools can facilitate such efforts and can also be adapted for single use applications, which eliminates the need for cleaning and refurbishment. During use, biological tissue and fluids can become lodged in the crevices and interstices of small surgical instruments, which complicates sterilization and refurbishment.
Furthermore, the means for connecting the removable tool to the manipulation shaft of the surgical instrument is important to the usefulness of the surgical instrument. The connection must positively secure the components together during operation, and must maintain the connection throughout the range of motion forces typically encountered during surgical procedures. The connection must allow the smooth and controllable transfer of motion from an actuation shaft to the surgical tool. The connection must also facilitate quick and easy connection and disconnection of the interchangeable tool. The connection must be such that it does not become loose and allow movement between the components after repeated use.
Many attempts have been made to create reconfigurable endoscopic instruments that can employ a variety of surgical tools. One such attempt is limited to a medical instrument that incorporates a handle having scissor grips adapted to actuate a manipulation shaft that may be configured, for example, as a grasper, biopsy collector, dissector, or scissor.
Other attempts aimed at reducing maintenance expenses of surgical tools are exemplified by, among other patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,131 to Falk et al. The Falk et al. instrument is a device that has a handle and jaws that are separable from an instrument shaft so that the individual components may be more easily cleaned and sharpened, or disposed of after each use.
Surgical instruments such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,303 to Marlowe et al. have attempted to improve joints between components of the instruments. The Marlowe et al. discloses a device that includes a stub shaft or link means terminating in an enlarged end that is shaped to be received by a clevis. Other types of joints are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,203 to El-Mallawany et al., which teaches a T-shaped coupling joint.
What continues to be needed but missing from the field of interchangeable surgical tools is a secure connection between components of a surgical instrument that will not loosen after several uses, which is also designed for improved ease of manufacture and replaceability. While some of the prior art devices attempted to improve the state of the art of interchangeable surgical tools, none has achieved low cost part that is easy to fabricate and convenient to use. A more desirable interchangeable surgical tool would preferably include a more secure connection, which can be adapted so that different tools can be configured to the surgical instrument. With these capabilities taken into consideration, the instant invention addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art and offers significant benefits heretofore unavailable.


Methods and compositions for producing selected non-human mammalian germ cells and gametes and for making non-human animals using the produced germ cells and gametes are provided by the present invention. Methods of generating a non-human embryo and/or animal derived from donor stem cells, methods of generating chimeric non-human animals having substantially all gametes and/or germ cells derived from the donor stem cells, methods of producing a non-human host embryo lacking functional endogenous germ cells and non-human host embryos incapable of developing endogenous gametes of the present invention are described herein.

Prior to the present invention, the efficiency of stem cells to populate the germline and to produce non-human animals has been a major challenge, and there has been a continuing need for methods and compositions for the production of non-human animals from stem cells, including production of genetically modified non-human animals from genetically modified stem cells. This invention provides methods and compositions to produce non-human host embryos having a receptive niche for the development of donor stem cells, including genetically modified donor stem cells, into germ cells and gametes.

Compositions and methods relating to non-human animals modified to promote production of selected gametes


A static random access memory includes a plurality of memory cells each constituted by 5 elements. One memory cell is connected to a single bit line through a single access gate transistor. Additionally, a source line potential controlling circuit is provided for applying a predetermined intermediate potential to the source of a driver transistor of the memory cell in a column which is not accessed, when the memory cell is not accessed. Since one memory cell is constituted by only five elements, and connected to a single bit line, its density is improved. Furthermore, since a power supply voltage applied to the memory cell provided in the column which is not accessed is decreased by an effect of a source line potential controlling circuit, power consumption is decreased, and moreover, destruction of the memory cell can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to static random access memory devices and, more particularly to a high integrated and less power consuming static random access memory device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a static random access memory is used in various electronic equipments such as a computer. Less power consumption and high degree of integration are more increasingly required in the semiconductor memory as the function of those equipments improves.
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of a memory cell circuit and a source potential controlling circuit in a conventional SRAM. The circuit shown in FIG. 16 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 56-143587 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,679). Referring to FIG. 16, one memory cell MA includes NMOS transistors QB5 and QB6, and resistances R1 and R2 constituting a data storage circuit, and NMOS transistors QB3 and QB4 as access gates. Transistors QB3 and QB4 have their gates connected to a word line WL. The sources of transistors QB5 and QB6 are connected to a source potential controlling circuit 8z through a source line SL.
Source potential controlling circuit 8z includes NMOS transistors QB7, QB8, QB9, and QB10 for generating a predetermined intermediate potential and resistors R3 and R4. An output node No of an intermediate potential generating circuit is connected to source line SL. An NMOS transistor QB11 is connected between output node No and ground. Transistor QB11 have the gate connected to receive a column selection signal Y provided from a column decoder (not shown). Bit lines B1 and B2 are connected to an IO line (not shown) through NMOS transistors QB12 and QB13 constituting a Y gate circuit.
In operation, when a column shown in FIG. 16 is selected, a high level column selection signal Y is applied from a column decoder (not shown). Accordingly, transistors QB11, QB12, and QB13 turn on. When transistor QB11 turns on, a power supply potential VDD and a ground potential VSS are applied to a memory cell MA as a power supply voltage. Additionally, when word line WL attains a high level, transistors QB3 and QB4 turn on. As a result, bit lines B1 and B2 are driven by transistors QB5 and QB6, respectively, in response to a stored data signal.
When the column shown in FIG. 16 is not selected, column selection signal Y attains a low level. Therefore, transistors QB11, QB12, and QB13 turn off. When transistor QB11 turns off, an intermediate potential between VDD and VSS provided from source line potential controlling circuit 8Z is applied to the sources of transistors QB5 and QB6 through source line SL. Consequently, the power supply consumed in the memory cells of the non-selected column is decreased.
Memory cell MA shown in FIG. 16 is constituted by 6 elements. A wide region is needed on a semiconductor substrate in order to form these 6 elements. A certain area on the substrate is occupied in order to form two transistors QB3 and QB4, particularly needed as the access gates. Additionally, since two bit lines B1 and B2, and source line SL are needed in each column, the space between interconnections in the column direction is narrow. This is an obstacle to the improvement of the degree of integration. This means that in SRAM shown in FIG. 16, in particular, the interconnection formed in the column direction becomes dense, since source line SL is needed in each column in addition to two lines B1 and B2.
SRAM including the memory cells each constituted by five elements is known to decrease the region occupied by the memory cells on the semiconductor substrate. Memory cell circuits shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 show conventional examples of such SRAM. These are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 61-24092 and/or 61-26997.
FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of a conventional SRAM including the memory cells each constituted by five elements. Referring to FIG. 17, the SRAM includes memory cells MB1 to MB4, each constituted by three NMOS transistors and two resistances. Sources of driver transistors in memory cells MB1 and MB2 provided in kth column are connected to a write line WRk. Access transistors are connected to a bit line BLk. Memory cells MB3 and MB4 provided in k+1st column are connected to a write line WRk+1 and a bit line BLk+1 in the same manner.
The purpose of write lines WRk and WRk+1 being provided in SRAM shown in FIG. 17 is to apply a power supply potential VDD to the memory cells through the write lines in write operation. Power supply voltage VDD for data writing operation is applied through the write lines to a column where data is to be written in, namely, memory cells in a column which is to be accessed. In read operation, the write line is maintained at a ground potential Vss. It should be clear that the purpose of controlling the voltages of the write lines is not to decrease power consumption in the memory cells.
SRAM is improved as shown in FIG. 18 in order to prevent possible malfunction in SRAM shown in FIG. 17. In addition to this, SRAM shown in FIG. 19 is proposed to improve the degree of integration of SRAM shown in FIG. 17. It should be clear that the write lines WRk, WRk+1, WRi, and WRi+1 are provided to SRAMs shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 in the same manner as the SRAM shown in FIG. 17 for carrying out write operation and not for decreasing power supply consumption in the memory circuits. As a result, these write lines are brought to power supply potential VDD in write operation, and brought to ground potential Vss in read operation.
In the conventional memory cells as mentioned above, it should be clear that the gate oxide film of NMOS transistor connected to the word line may easily be destroyed, in addition to the fact that much power consumption is in the memory cell circuit. This means that the power supply potential VDD and the ground potential Vss are applied as the power supply voltages to all of the memory cells even when SRAM is at an active state, that is, even when read or write operation is carried out in SRAM. As a result, the voltage of VDD-Vss is applied across the gates-source of the access transistor in a memory cell which is not accessed. When high degree of integration is advanced in SRAM, a gate oxide film becomes thin. Consequently, the gate oxide film has a tendency to be destroyed by the voltage applied across the gate-source. It is preferable that the voltage applied across the gate-source decreases in order to prevent destruction of the gate oxide film. However, in the conventional SRAM, the gate oxide film is destroyed as time passes since a constant power supply voltage is always applied to the memory cells. It should be noted that the failure rate as time passes of destruction of the gate oxide film is high.

Static random access memory including a simplified memory cell circuit having a reduced power consumption


Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for determining a taxability status for a vehicular asset, such as an aircraft. The techniques include obtaining traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, detecting gaps in traffic control system information for the vehicular asset, and recording the gaps, computing a primary location for the vehicular asset based on the traffic control system information, and creating a vehicular asset taxability status report for the vehicular asset, where the report includes the primary location and gap information.

Transportation continues to be vital in our daily lives. People and goods often travel using commercial vehicles such as aircraft, boats, trains, and motor vehicles. While airlines carry a majority of air passengers, a considerable number of passengers travel via general aviation aircraft such as business jets. Recent reports have indicated that general aviation adds up to 1.1 million jobs and contributes over $200 billion to the U.S. economy. General aviation enables businesses to enable face-to-face contacts which can be vital for certain businesses. In addition to business travel, general aviation can provide other vital services, such as emergency medical flights, aerial firefighting flights, law enforcement flights, flight training, time-sensitive cargo flights, aerial photography/surveillance, personal travel, as well as agricultural functions.
Recent reports indicate that there are about 15,000 business aircraft registered in the United States. A "Business aircraft" is defined as fixed-wing turbine aircraft plus piston (single and twin engine) general aviation aircraft and flown as business or corporate operations as determined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). About 3 percent of these aircraft are flown by Fortune 500 companies, while the remaining 97 percent encompass a broad cross-section of operators that are primarily businesses of all sizes. Business aircraft operators are registered in every state in the country.
People and companies that rely on business aviation represent many different professions and locations, but they all share the need for fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across the country and around the world. In many instances, business aviation is the appropriate transportation solution, opening the door to global commerce for small-community and rural populations by linking them directly to population centers and manufacturing facilities.

System and method for determining a taxability status for a vehicular asset


Immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogenic polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle are described. The immunogenic polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence Xaa-Thr-Xaa-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Xaa-Ala-Ala-Arg-Thr-Thr-Xaa-Gly-Xaa-Xaa-Ser-Leu-Phe-Xaa-Xaa-Gly-Xaa-Ser-Gln-Xaa-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile (SEQ ID NO:8). The immunogenic polypeptide can be coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as a diphtheria toxoid.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and, more specifically, to the discovery of an immunologically important motif in the E2/NS1 region.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been identified as the major causative agent of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). Materials and methods for obtaining the viral genomic sequences are known. See, e.g., PCT Publ. Nos. WO89/04669, WO90/11089, and WO90/14436. For general information about HCV, see Houghton et al. (1991), Hepatology 14:381–388.
Molecular characterization of the HCV genome indicates that it is a RNA molecule of positive polarity containing approximately 9,500 nucleotides comprising a long translational open-reading frame (ORF) that could encode a large polypeptide of approximately 3000 amino acids (aa) beginning with the first in-frame methionine codon. A hypervariable domain located at the amino terminus of the putative envelope glycoprotein E2/NS1 (also called E2) has been located, see PCT Publ. No. WO93/016126; Weiner et al. (1991), Virology 180:842–48; Weiner et al (1992), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:3468–72; Weiner et al. (1992), Vaccines 92:303–08, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
As observed for other RNA viruses, there is a substantial fluidity of the HCV genome resulting from an error-prone replicase and the absence of repair mechanisms that operate during DNA replication. Even in a single infected individual, the HCV genome does not exist as a homogeneous species. Rather, it exists as a quasi-species distribution of closely related but nevertheless heterogeneous genomes. Martell et al. (1992), J. Virol. 66:3225–3229. In addition, the process of host selection and adaptation of a rapidly mutating genome has led to the evolution of many distinct (yet still fluid) HCV genotypes. At least four different HCV genotypes can be distinguished according to the actual degree of nucleotide and amino acid relatedness of full length sequences, and additional different genotypes have been identified based on partial sequences. Mori et al. (1992), Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 183:334–342; Chan et al., (1992), J. Gen. Virol. 73:1131; Cha et al. (1992), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7144–7148.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Conserved motif of hepatitis C virus E2/NS1 region


A multifunction apparatus is provided with a printer unit having a discharge tray disposed on a top face thereof and a scanner unit disposed on the image recording unit with a space being defined between the image reading unit and the discharge tray. The scanner unit has a casing. The casing is provided in the printer unit rotatably about a rear side of the apparatus in such a fashion as to open a front side of the apparatus. The casing has a recessed part formed at a position of a bottom plate thereof and corresponding to the discharge tray. Thus, a recording sheet removal opening opened on a front side of the apparatus is formed. A reinforcing portion recessed in such a fashion as to be swollen toward an internal space of the casing is formed on the bottom plate having the recessed part.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the invention relate to a multifunction apparatus provided with an image recording unit having a discharge tray disposed on a top face thereof and an image reading unit disposed on the image recording unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Multifunction apparatuses in general are provided with a printer unit for recording an image on a recording sheet and a scanner unit for reading an image of a document. Some of the multifunction apparatuses have a facsimile function and a card reader function. The printer unit is provided with a sheet feed cassette for housing recording sheets, a discharge tray for retaining recording sheets on which images are recorded, a transfer path for transferring the recording sheets from the sheet feed cassette to the discharge tray, and an image recording engine for recording images on the recording shoots in the transfer path. The scanner unit is an FBS (Flatbed Scanner) for reading an image of a document by the use of an image sensor such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) which reciprocates along a platen glass.
The printer unit is connected to a computer or the like to perform image recording based on print data sent from the computer. In the case of using the printer unit, a user inputs an instruction for printing a desired text or image to the computer. Upon reception of the print instruction input, the computer creates print data to send the print data to the printer unit. Upon reception of the print data by the printer unit, a recording sheet is fed from the sheet feed cassette to the transfer path. Then, the image recording engine records the image on the recording sheet based on the print data. Then, the recording sheet after the image recording is discharged to the discharge tray. The user takes out the image-recorded recording sheet discharged on the discharge tray.
In the case of using the scanner unit, the user opens a document cover to place a document on the platen glass and then closes the document cover to input an instruction of starting reading. When the scanner unit receives the reading start instruction, the image sensor moves along the platen glass to read an image of the document. After the image reading, the user opens the document cover again to collect the document placed on the platen glass. In the case of copying, the image data read by the scanner unit is sent to the printer unit, and then the printer unit performs the image recording on a recording sheet based on the image data in the same manner as described above. After that, the user takes out the image-recorded recording sheet from the discharge tray.
In view of the usages of the printer unit and the scanner unit, it is preferable that the scanner unit is disposed at an uppermost part since the open/close of the document cover and the placement/collection of document are conducted in the scanner unit. Also, in order to downsize an installation space of the multifunction apparatus, it is preferable that the scanner unit and the printer unit are disposed one above the other along a vertical direction and that the sheet feed cassette and the discharge tray of the printer unit do not project in a horizontal direction from the apparatus. From such viewpoints, a structure wherein: the scanner unit is disposed on the printer unit; the scanner unit and the printer unit are disposed with a space being defined therebetween; and the discharge tray is disposed in the space is generally employed.
Since the space for disposing the discharge tray is defined below the scanner unit, a part of a casing of the scanner unit corresponding to the space tends to be changed in shape. For example, a book of a heavy weight is placed on the platen glass of the scanner unit as being opened on the platen glass for image reading in some cases. Since a binding part of the book tends to be detached from the platen glass, the user might press the binding part against the platen glass for the image reading. When the book is pressed against the platen glass, the weight of the book and the pressure applied by the user act as a load on the platen glass and the casing of the scanner unit. When the load is too large, the platen glass and the casing can be deformed or damaged. Therefore, it is necessary for the casing of the scanner unit to have a rigidity which can bare the load.
Because of this, among multifunction apparatuses of the related art, there is that in which a casing support member for supporting the casing of a scanner unit is coupled to an electric equipment housing unit for housing an electric equipment unit by the use of a coupling member to establish a honeycomb shape between the casing support member and the electric equipment housing unit, thereby increasing a rigidity of the casing.
However, in the structure where the discharge tray of the printer unit is disposed below the scanner unit, it is undesirable to dispose a member projecting from an underside of the casing of the scanner unit or a member crossing on the discharge tray since such members interfere a recording sheet to be discharged to the discharge tray.


A servo control device for controlling a plant to generate the position information, comprises an initial bias value storage unit for updating the initial bias value with a bias value corresponding to the current position information, and an estimation unit for making an estimation of the current position, velocity, and disturbance, wherein the estimation unit increases the internal bias gain value, restores the increased internal bias gain value to the original value when settling is started, produces the disturbance estimation value corresponding to the gain value, and uses the disturbance estimation value as the initial settling value in response to a long seek stroke command, or uses the previous initial bias value of the preceding seek stroke updated by the initial bias value storage unit as the initial settling value in response to a short seek stroke command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of displacement control of plants that respond to one or more bias forces, and in particular to the field of controlling such plants with compensation for those bias forces. More particularly, the present invention has application in bias-compensating control of a head actuator in a magnetic storage disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many mechanical and electromechanical systems operating with automatic control systems include actuators that respond, or are affected by, one or more bias forces that perturb the actual position or velocity of the actuator away from the position or velocity expected by the control system. In the case of a magnetic storage disk drive, the actuator may be a head actuator for positioning the read-write heads of the disk drive over a desired data track on a rotating disk in the disk drive. Bias forces on such a head actuator may include the gravitational force exerted upon the head and actuator as they are positioned over a track, wind generated by the spinning disk, stress from the cable that usually transfers data between the head and the stationary portion of the disk drive, and so forth.
These bias forces are frequently described as disturbances because they cause the head actuator in the disk drive, or the actuator in the more general system, to respond inaccurately to a control instruction to assume a given position. This inaccuracy necessitates iterative adjustment by the control system to bring the actuator to the desired position, and this adjustment process delays completion of the positioning operation. Thus, modern control systems for plants subject to bias forces desirably compensate for those forces when generating control signals.
Two methods exist for compensating for a disturbance W. The first method involves calculating a compensation value to be injected into the control signal. Calculation of such compensation values requires detailed knowledge of a predictable relationship between the positions the actuator may assume and the disturbances it will experience in those positions. This method has the drawback that because the calculation process takes time, it delays the positioning operation when the target position lies only a short distance from the actuator's current position.
The second and more widely used method calculates disturbance estimation values in advance and stores them in a bias table for later use. This approach also has drawbacks in that it requires an initial calculating process to create the bias table and a separate memory area to store the bias table.
The significance of compensating for bias forces in controlling an actuator has been recognized previously. However, an approach has not heretofore been proposed that provides accurate disturbance compensation with rapid seek response but without requiring substantial storage capacity to store a bias table. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,976, entitled "Digital Sector Servo Incorporating Repeatable Run Out Tracking" and granted to Pham, discloses digital servo control system for controlling the head of a disk drive. The system compensates for repeatable run out during a seek operation by adding to the control signal a feed forward signal taken from memory. The system uses a plant model to generate predicted values for position, velocity, and bias force. However, in seek mode this system does not take advantage of the differences between long seeks and short seeks in its process for producing predicted bias force values.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,253, entitled "Estimator-Based Runout Compensation in a Disk Drive" and granted to Painter, shows a disk drive controller that compensates for bias forces; however, the bias force estimation process does not differentiate between long seek operations and short seek operations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,345, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Control" and granted to Phan et al., discloses an adaptive control system applicable to a disk drive servo actuator apparatus. This system also generates predicted values for position, velocity, and bias force and calculates a compensated control signal using a predicted value for bias force generated by an estimator algorithm. However, the control signal calculation process does not distinguish between long seeks and short seeks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,201, entitled "Disk Drive Head Position Controller with Static Bias Compensation and Plural Velocity Detectors" and granted to Abed, is incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is annexed hereto. This patent shows a system for accurately and rapidly positioning the head of a hard disk drive. The disclosed system specifically compensates for bias force values in the generation of control signals. The bias values may be computed ahead and stored in RAM; computed by the controller processor during an initialization phase, using a plant model; or computed by the controller processor as needed during seek maneuvers.
The Abed system distinguishes between high velocity and low velocity modes, with the distinction based on the number of tracks the head must move during a seek operation. However, the control signal generation process does not utilize this distinction in generating bias values. Indeed, this system uses a fill-in gain unit instead of scaling the bias values for the low velocity mode.
Thus, a need has existed for an actuator control system, and particularly such a system that is applicable to magnetic disk storage devices, that accurately compensates for bias forces experienced by the actuator but does not sacrifice either response speed or data storage capacity to do so.

Servo control device and method using a minimal bias table for displacement control of a plant responsive to bias forces


Systems, apparatuses and methods for controlling the various phases and in particular in a wash cycle of a wash machine are provided. In particular, the present application relates to controlling the water levels and detergent composition concentrations in order to reduce the amount of water and composition required to provide improved soil removal. The systems, apparatuses and methods provided allow for the use of less water and lower quantities of more concentrated detergent compositions which are customized to the types of soil to be removed.

Commercial, institutional and industrial (CII) laundry facilities clean large quantities of textiles made from many materials and used in many different applications. On premises laundries (OPLs) and other industrial laundries thus use vast amounts of water at varying degrees of efficiency. Water and wastewater disposal represent significant costs for many businesses and can account for more than 50% of total operating costs at a typical commercial laundry. Thus, decreasing water usage and reusing wastewater presents an appealing avenue for improving cost efficiency of CII laundries. However, water efficiency and wastewater reuse technologies and methods cannot sacrifice cleaning performance.
CII laundries regularly deal with textiles containing a high quantity and great diversity of soils, such as vacuum soils, food soils, oily soils, bacterial, viral and other microbial contaminants, industrial and food grease, makeup soils, waxy soils, and others. Both the quantity and diversity of these soils make CII laundry soil removal a challenge. Low water machines, washer-extractor machines, and current water recycle systems often provide inefficient and/or incomplete removal of soils. Currently available machines designed to use less water often do not provide enough free water to solubilize soils and carry them away from textiles. On the other hand, to allow solubilization of these soils, some laundry machines use a lot of water. This negatively impacts the cleaning of chemistry sensitive laundry stains due to the reduced chemistry concentration in a higher volume of water. Overall today's processes not only result in greater water and wastewater costs, but also increase the wear on the textiles, causing them to wear out faster, resulting in an increase in costs related to textile repair and replacement.
In some traditional cleaning systems or methods, the washing process comprises a pre-wash or pre-soak where the textiles are wetted, and a pre-soak composition is added. The wash phase follows the pre-soak phase; a detergent composition is added to the wash tank to facilitate soil removal. In some cases, a bleach phase follows the wash phase in order to remove oxidizable stains and whiten the textiles. Next, the rinsing phase removes all suspended soils. In some cases, a laundry sour is added in a souring or finishing phase to neutralize any residual alkalinity from the detergent composition. In many cases a fabric softener or other finishing chemical like a starch is also added in the finishing step. Finally, the extraction phase removes as much water from the wash tank and textiles as possible. In some cases, a wash cycle may have two rinse and extraction phases, i.e. a rinse cycle, an intermediate-extract cycle, a final rinse cycle, and a final extraction cycle. After the wash cycle is complete, the resulting wastewater is typically removed and discarded.
Traditional CII wash machines and CII wash machines with reuse systems do not effectively manage and reduce water and wastewater usage. Traditional systems simply use high quantities of water and do not manage wastewater. Existing water recycle systems fail to effectively minimize the quantity of wastewater produced and often recycle reuse water which is too heavily soiled to facilitate soil removal in a new wash cycle. The effectiveness of water recycling depends heavily on the scale of the application, the chemical and physical properties of the recycled water (based on the nature of the cleaning chemistry and soils), and the logistical requirements of the operation. Total water recycle systems in practice can reduce water usage by up to 70% by capturing, treating, and reusing all of the wash water and rinse water. However, mere water recapture does not indicate that a water reuse system is effective. Existing water reuse and recirculation systems struggle to make reuse water usable for a variety of reasons. First, total recycle systems often get fouled with heavy soils, thus requiring frequent manual cleaning operations and a large amount of downtime which takes personnel time and effort as well as prevents the operation from using recycled water during the manual cleaning operation. Second, when reuse water is stored in a reservoir tank, it is usually idle for a period of time. This idleness creates ideal conditions for microbial growth. Further, as the water sits idle in a reservoir tank, it cools in temperature to the point where it no longer provides effective soil removal. The cooled water must be reheated or have water temperature maintained through heating components; both heating options are costly.
Furthermore, the lower quantities of water used in each wash cycle often creates a challenge for detergent composition distribution. Lower water levels used in water-efficient or water reuse systems can result in poor distribution and diffusion of detergent composition. Further, industrial soils such as makeup, blood, and greasy soils, are especially difficult to remove using a reuse water system, even where water levels would be otherwise appropriate to remove soil from articles soiled with an average level of soils.
As a result, there is a need to develop improved water reuse systems, particularly systems using the rinse water of a wash cycle. Such rinse water reuse systems could save a high percentage of total water used in washing machines and require significantly less costly filtration systems to render the water readily usable.
There is also a need to develop water recirculation systems which enable effective contact between water and linens with smaller volumes of water in the wash tank.
Existing water reuse systems use a captured water reservoir tank to deliver water to only the wash step of a washing machines cycle. This delivery of water by using a pump is faster than delivering water from the building tap pipes but is only saves a small amount of cycle time because it only speeds up the wash step filling process. There is a pressing need to save as much time and labor as possible in laundry room operations so there is a need to speed up not only the wash step filling process, but to speed up the filling process of all steps in the laundry machines cycle.
There is also a need to develop methods and compositions for sufficiently distributing and diffusing detergent compositions in a wash machine and further preventing the redeposition of soils onto textiles in a low water wash environment. There is also a need to clean with recirculated and reuse water that uses customized detergent compositions and rely on water cleaning methods which do not require the use of expensive filtration systems.
Finally, there is a need to solve the aforementioned problems without substantially increasing installation and/or operating costs for industrial wash facilities. Also, to make a major impact throughout the industry, all the systems should ideally be retrofitted in existing machines as the turnover of laundry equipment is very slow. As such, there is a need to develop water reuse systems which do not take up more space than the footprint of the original wash machine, and there is a need to develop water reuse, water distribution, and wash phase systems that can be easily incorporated into a new machine or retrofitted onto an existing machine.

Controlling water levels and detergent concentration in a wash cycle