A test patch image is formed and the density thereof is detected to maintain the image quality at a constant level. One of the image forming conditions, for example, the developing bias voltage of the developing unit inside the image forming apparatus that serves as a density controller, and is controlled in accordance with the detection result. Here, a humidity sensor for detecting the environmental change, that is, the humidity, is provided inside the apparatus, and the reference value of the toner mixing ratio is changed and corrected while the developing unit is operating when the humidity sensor detects a change in humidity. However, the toner mixing ratio is maintained and neither changed nor corrected when the density of the test patch image remains at the same level, so that the developing bias voltage is not corrected. Consequently, the correction of the toner mixing ratio is neither changed nor corrected in response to the change in humidity alone, thereby making it possible to maintain a stable image quality state.

There have been proposed several methods to prevent image quality deterioration caused by changes over time or the like for image forming apparatuses, such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a laser printer, and these methods are already put into practice.
The image quality state of the image forming apparatus deteriorates gradually as the apparatus keeps forming images under the same conditions. The image quality deteriorates due to changes over time. More specifically, it occurs when initial image density can be no longer obtained as the charged state of a photosensitive body serving as a recording medium changes with an increase of the number of times of the image forming. Also, the image quality deteriorates when toner particles adhere to the background of the photosensitive body in a region where no toner particles are supposed to.
To eliminate such image quality deterioration in a simple manner, the following method has been proposed. That is, the number of times of the image forming by the image forming apparatus is counted, and a voltage supplied to charging means is controlled in accordance with the counted value, so that a charged potential of the photosensitive body is compensated to a predetermined state.
Also, the above method has been improved as follows. A charged potential of the photosensitive body is measured actually, and a voltage supplied to the charging means is controlled in accordance with the measuring result, so that the charged potential of the photosensitive body is maintained at a constant level to compensate the image quality. According to this improved method, since the charged potential of the photosensitive body can be maintained at a constant level in a secure manner, compensation accuracy is improved compared with the method to control the charged potential of the photosensitive body in accordance with the number of times of the image forming.
According to these methods, the charged potential of the photosensitive body is controlled to stay at a constant level at all times. However, controlling the charged potential of the photosensitive body alone is not enough, because an amount of friction-charge in the toner or the like varies with the environmental changes, such as changes in temperature and humidity, during the actual image forming process. Thus, even if the above methods are adopted, the toner density may differ from the initial density state or unwanted toner particles may adhere to a region in the background when a toner image is actually formed on the photosensitive body.
To solve the above problem, the following method has been proposed and put into practical use to further stabilize the image quality state. In this method, a test patch image (density detecting image) is formed directly on the photosensitive body, and the density of the test patch image is detected. Then, the detecting result and a predetermined reference density value are compared, and the image forming conditions are controlled in accordance with the comparison result, so that a test patch image having a reference image density will be formed. The image forming conditions referred herein are the charged potential of the photosensitive body applied by the charging means, an amount of light emitted from an exposing lamp, a developing bias from a developing device, and the like. The aforementioned unwanted adhesion of the toner particles to a region in the background can be prevented by controlling an amount of exposure, developing bias, etc.
As has been explained, the density of a toner image formed on the photosensitive body varies with not only the deterioration of the photosensitive body, but also the environmental changes, such as changes in temperature and humidity. However, since the above method can handle the environmental changes as well, it can realize more stable image quality compensation.
In case of a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image, when a toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive body is transferred onto a sheet, such as a normal paper serving as a transfer material, the toner image of each color must be superimposed sequentially one on another. Thus, the color image forming apparatus adopts a method using a transfer drum which winds the sheet around and transports the same to a transfer position. An intermediate transfer medium may be provided further, so that a toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive body is transferred thereon sequentially and superimposed one on another, after which the resulting image is transferred onto the sheet.
In the above color image forming apparatus, a testing toner patch image formed on the photosensitive body is transferred onto a transfer drum (including the intermediate transfer medium) touching the photosensitive body, and the density is detected by reading reflected light from the transferred toner patch image. As has been explained, a charging voltage supplied to the charging means is controlled in accordance with the density detection result and the density is adjusted to the reference density to compensate the image quality. According to this method, the density is detected after the toner image formed on the photosensitive body is actually transferred onto the sheet. Thus, it is obvious that better image compensation can be realized.
A method of such image quality compensation is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 11935/1994 (Tokukaihei 6- 11935). In an image forming apparatus disclosed therein, a toner image (test patch image) formed on the photosensitive body with a predetermined number of levels is transferred onto the transfer drum or the like, and the density of the transferred toner image is detected to judge whether the detected density is the reference density or not. A charge potential, a developing bias voltage or the like thereafter is modified in accordance with any difference between the detected density and the reference density so as to adjust the density of the toner image to substantially match the reference density.
Along with the image quality compensation, an image quality stabilizing control is carried out by a developing device which converts an image formed on the photosensitive body, that is, an electrostatic latent image, into a visual toner image. For example, a toner mixing ratio is controlled in addition to the aforementioned developing bias voltage control.
The developing device usually adopts a binary system developing method, and a mixing ratio (toner mixing rate or toner mixing ratio) of the toner and a carrier in a developing bath is maintained at a constant level, so that the toner density of a formed image remains the same. For this reason, the toner mixing ratio is detected by a magnetic permeability sensor and compared with a reference value, and the toner is replenished to the developing bath when the toner mixing ratio is judged to have dropped below the reference value. The density when developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive body is stabilized by controlling the mixing ratio of the toner and carrier in a developing agent to remain at the same level.
Consequently, it has become possible to realize the image quality compensation in response to the changes over time and the environmental changes concurrently by controlling the mixing ratio of the toner and carrier (developing agent) in the developing device to stay at the constant level while carrying out the above image quality stabilizing method at the same time.
On the other hand, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 282166/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-282166) discloses a method for controlling a mixing ratio of the developing agent in the developing device in accordance with the detection result of the changes of the environmental state, particularly, the change in humidity. An image forming apparatus disclosed therein is furnished with means for detecting humidity, especially, absolute humidity. More specifically, the toner is replenished under the control of lowering a mixing ratio target value at normal temperature when the absolute humidity is high, and raising the same when the absolute humidity is low. Thus, the density when developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive body is controlled to remain at the same level in response to the change in humidity, thereby making it possible to stabilize the image quality.
According to the above Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 282166/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-282166), a conventional toner density detecting means detects the magnetic permeability of a layer of developing agent adhering to the carrier. Specifically, the quantity of toner particles that adhere to the carrier at any given time depends upon the amount of friction-charge acquired by the toner particles during toner mixing. Hence, the toner density in a layer of developer agent adhering to the carrier at any given point in time may be determined according to the inductance of a coil located near the developing agent layer. Thus, if a predetermined amount of friction-charge is not generated in the toner, an amount of the toner particles adhering to the magnetic carrier varies, which makes it impossible to detect a precise mixing ratio of the developing agent.
Such variance occurs when an amount of the friction-charge in the toner varies while the developing agent is mixed and stirred due to the changes of the environmental conditions, particularly, the change in humidity. In other words, when the humidity is high, an amount of the friction-charge decreases, whereas an amount of the friction-charge increases when the humidity is low, and this causes the aforementioned adverse effect.
To be more specific, in case that the density of the developing agent having a predetermined mixing ratio is detected, a detection signal voltage of the mixing ratio of the developing agent is large (indicating a decrease in an amount of toner) under a high temperature/high relative humidity circumstance (ambient environmental state). On the other hand, the detection signal voltage of the mixing ratio of the developing agent outputted under a high temperature/low relative humidity circumstance or a low temperature/high relative humidity circumstance is similar to the one outputted under a normal temperature/normal relative humidity (indicating a predetermined amount of toner) circumstance. Also, an amount of charge in the toner decreases under a high temperature/high relative humidity circumstance, and more toner particles readily adhere to an electrostatic latent image. Thus, under the above circumstance, if the toner is replenished in a direct response to the detection signal of the mixing ratio of the developing agent, too many toner particles adhere to the electrostatic latent image during the developing process. Therefore, a toner replenish correction control for controlling an amount of replenished toner based on the detection result of humidity or the like is necessary.
In contrast, under the low temperature/high relative humidity and high temperature/low relative humidity circumstances, the detection signal voltage of the mixing ratio of the developing agent is similar to the one outputted under the normal temperature/normal humidity circumstance. Thus, if the toner replenish correction control is carried out based on the above idea with the relative humidity detection signal, the high temperature/high relative humidity circumstance and low temperature/high relative humidity circumstance can not be distinguished from each other, thereby making the corrected state an error. Hence, if the toner replenish correction control is carried out by merely referring to the relative humidity detection signal, the correction control is carried out erroneously under some environmental conditions, and the image density is affected adversely.
As has been explained, since an amount of the charge in the toner varies with humidity, when the magnetic permeability sensor is used as a detector of a mixing ratio of the toner and carrier in the developing bath, an output value from the magnetic permeability sensor varies while the mixing ratio remains the same, thereby causing an incorrect toner mixing ratio control.
To solve the above phenomenon, in case of a method, in which a humidity sensor is provided inside the image forming apparatus and a mixing ratio of the developing agent is corrected to the reference value in accordance with an output from the humidity sensor under the control, the absolute humidity is detected and the mixing ratio of the developing agent is controlled based on the detection result in above-mentioned Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 282166/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-282166). In other words, if the relative humidity is used, an erroneous correction may be carried out when the magnetic permeability varies with the environmental changes, which makes the correction unsatisfactory.
However, in case of detecting the absolute humidity, there is another problem of a cost increase, because a temperature sensor is necessary in addition to the humidity sensor. In other words, the sensors for detecting the absolute humidity are very expensive.
On the other hand, in the control device disclosed in above Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 11935/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-11935), when the developing bias voltage is varied, for example, a correction response is very quick. However, if a mixing ratio of the developing agent made of the toner and carrier is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, a desired image density can not be obtained no matter how well the developing bias voltage is controlled.
Thus, another possible correction control is to change a toner mixing ratio of the developing agent along with the control of the developing bias voltage. However, this is not an optimal method, because the responsivity is slowed down if the toner mixing ratio of the developing agent alone is corrected. Moreover, the image density varies considerably with the change of the mixing ratio. Further, in case of above Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 282166/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-282166), not only the image density varies with the change in humidity, but also the aforementioned mixing ratio problem occurs. Thus, controlling the mixing ratio based on the relative humidity can make the image quality unstable, thereby making the image quality stabilizing control very difficult.
The reason why the responsivity is slowed down when the mixing ratio of the developing agent is controlled is because it takes a considerable time until the mixing ratio stabilizes since the toner is replenished and mixed with stirring.
On the other hand, in the image quality compensating method disclosed in above Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 11935/1994 (Tokukaihei 6-11935), the test patch image is formed merely in accordance with the predetermined levels. However, an amount of reflected light differs significantly depending on the colors of the test patch images, for example, color toner and black toner. Thus, forming exactly the same test patch image for each color is not enough to carry out the correction control in a satisfactory manner.

Image forming apparatus including image quality compensation means


A learning unit learns a difference between a detected value ECT and a detected value RCT when it is determined that the detected value ECT and detected value RCT are stable while an engine is at a stop. A diagnostic unit performs a fault diagnosis for the engine based on the difference between the detected value ECT and detected value RCT having been corrected through use of a learned value learned by the learning unit. Accordingly, a fault diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine and a fault diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine can be achieved in which accuracy in fault diagnosis for the internal combustion engine can be improved and an erroneous diagnosis can be restrained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fault diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine and a fault diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine, and particularly relates to a fault diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine and a fault diagnostic method for an internal combustion engine in which a fault diagnosis for an internal combustion engine is performed based on the temperature of cooling water.
2. Description of the Background Art
An engine is known which includes a first water temperature sensor provided for a water jacket of the engine to detect an engine water temperature and a second water temperature sensor provided for a cooling water passage from a radiator to the engine to detect a radiator exit water temperature.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-220454 discloses an engine in which a cooling fan is controlled based on the temperatures detected by the first water temperature sensor and the second water temperature sensor.
However, in the case of performing a fault diagnosis for an engine through use of the engine water temperature detected by the first water temperature sensor and the radiator exit water temperature detected by the second water temperature sensor, accuracy in fault diagnosis for the engine may be degraded if there is mismatch between detection characteristics of the first water temperature sensor and detection characteristics of the second water temperature sensor.
That is, if a detected value of the first water temperature sensor and a detected value of the second water temperature sensor are different even though the engine water temperature and the radiator exit water temperature are identical, accuracy in fault diagnosis for the engine will be degraded due to the difference in detection characteristics between the first water temperature sensor and the second water temperature sensor.

Fault diagnostic system for internal combustion engine and fault diagnostic method for internal combustion engine


An eye image pickup device includes an object lens; an image pickup element, such as a CCD serving as an image pickup unit; a light shielding portion; and a light guide unit. The light shielding portion shielding one part of the pickup light path is coaxially positioned along a light axis of an optical image pickup system. The light guide unit guides visible light on the route of the guide light path leading to the object lens. A cross section of the guided visible light is similar to that of the light shielding portion, and the center of the visible light is coincident with the light axis. The cross-sectional area of the visible light is set substantially equal to or slightly larger than the effective cross sectional area of the light shielding portion with respect to the optical image pickup system along the light path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eye image pickup device for obtaining an image of an eye of a human being.
2. Description of the Related Art
Iris images are employed for management of room accesses of entrances/exits, or for verifying the identities of users of ATMs (Automated-Teller Machines), computers or cellular phones. Because human iris patterns, which are established during infancy, are distinctive and vary from person to person, even between the right and left eyes of any specific individual, the use of iris pattern data is exceptionally effective when employed for personal identification.
A well-known eye image pickup device for reading iris patterns uses a camera with a wide field of view to identify the position of an eye, and obtains eye images by adjusting the field of view of the camera equipped with a telephoto lens (for example, JP-A-10-137225). However, the structure of this device is too large, and can not be employed for a portable device, such as a cellular phone.
An eye image optical pickup device shown in FIG. 9 is also well-known. This optical pickup device includes an object lens 1 and a pickup element 2, such as a CCD, and a half mirror or a cold mirror 21 that is disposed in front of the object lens 1. The cold mirror 21 reflects visible light, but does not interfere with the passage of infrared light. Thus, the cold mirror 21 can be used for image pickup when infrared illumination is employed. When a person""s eye is positioned along a light axis 5 of the optical pickup device, the eye is reflected by a specific portion of the mirror 21 and a precise image can be obtained by the device in FIG. 9. However, since the mirror 21 required for this device is larger than the object lens 1, mounting such a mirror 21 on a portable device would be difficult. Further, when the eye of a person is not reflected by the mirror 21 as shown in FIG. 9, it is difficult for the person to determine in which direction to move to position the eye correctly.
Another eye image pickup device, for obtaining an iris pattern, has been proposed wherein first and second edge means, provided within the field of view of a camera with a telephoto lens, make it possible for a user to adjust eye positioning (see JP-W-10-505180, for example). However, since the first and second edge means are disposed forward of the object lens of the camera, the structure size is increased, and the pickup device can not appropriately be applied for a portable device, such as a cellular phone.
To resolve the shortcomings of the conventional art, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a simply structured eye image pickup device that can be mounted in a variety of devices, specifically including portable devices, and that can obtain precise eye images.
To achieve the above objective, according to one aspect of the invention, an eye image pickup device includes: a marker provided coaxially along a light axis of an optical pickup system for obtaining the eye image; and a light guide unit for guiding visible light, emitted by a visible light source, on the route of a pickup light path to the object lens, wherein the light guide unit is located nearer the image pickup unit than the marker, and a center of the light guide unit is coincident with the light axis so that the person can see both the light guide unit and the marker. Owing to this, because of the positional relationship existing between the marker and the guided visible light that can be observed through the object lens, one person can determine the precise direction in which to move one""s eye.
Furthermore, the light guide unit is located nearer the image pickup unit than a midpoint between the object lens and the image pickup unit. Owing to this, the light guide unit is not visible to the eye for which no image is to be obtained, and the position of the other eye, for which an image is to be obtained, can be easily adjusted.
Further, the marker is placed on the object lens. Owing to this, the size of the eye image pickup device is not increased.
Furthermore, the marker is constituted by a light shielding portion that shields a part of the pickup light path. Owing to this, the marker can be easily recognized visually.
Further, the light shielding portion is a black sticker that is glued to the object lens, or a black paint that is coated on the object lens.
The light shielding portion may also be a white sticker or a yellow sticker that is glued to the object lens, or a white paint or a yellow paint that is coated on the object lens. When a white paint or the like is used to coat the light shielding portion, the position of the light shielding portion can be more easily identified.
Further, the light shielding portion is provided in a ring shape in a periphery portion of the object lens.
Furthermore, the light shielding portion provided in a ring shape in the periphery portion of the object lens is formed by a lens holder of the object lens. In the case where the light shielding portion is formed by the lens holder, the manufacturing cost will be lowered.
Further, the light guide unit includes an optical fiber cable, one end of which is positioned opposite the visible light source and the other end of which is coaxially arranged with the light axis As a result, the structure of the light guide unit can be simplified.
Furthermore, a mirror is positioned between the object lens of the optical pickup system and the image pickup unit, and the light guide unit includes a visible light transmission portion located on the periphery of the light axis of the mirror. By employing this arrangement, a compact eye image pickup device can be made.
The visible light guided by the light guide unit may be obtained from a two-color LED that is located behind the visible light transmission portion, and the color of the visible light is changed depending on whether or not is the focus is adjusted. By employing this arrangement, at the time of adjusting the focus it is not necessary to watch the monitor screen.
Moreover, the image pickup device further includes: infrared light illumination means; and a visible light shielding filter, wherein an object is illuminated by the illumination means, and wherein the visible light shielding filter is positioned between the image pickup unit and a position to which the visible light is guided, and the visible light shielding filter shields the visible light guided into the image pickup unit. With this arrangement, an eye image can be obtained using infrared light, and any effect which visible light may have on the image pickup element can be removed, thereby ensuring that a high-precise image can be secured.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A custom gauge ordering apparatus facilitates selecting options related to a gauge panel, previewing the selected options under daylight or nighttime conditions, and submitting orders for a gauge panel with the selected options. The order may be automatically received by an order fulfillment system and used to direct or control manufacture of the custom gauge panel. In another aspect of the invention, a custom gauge panel includes a user-selected design printed on a translucent medium that is bonded to an electro-luminescent substrate. In one embodiment, the custom gauge panel also includes substantially transparent layer that stiffens and protects the translucent medium and user-selected design printed thereon during manufacture, installation, and use. The simplicity of the custom panel reduces the material and labor costs associated with producing a custom gauge panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices, methods, and systems for displaying information. Specifically, the invention relates to custom made gauge panels and devices, methods, and systems for ordering and manufacturing custom made gauge panels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gauge panels such as instrument panels found within vehicles are required to function in a wide variety of conditions and environments. The materials and methods used to produce gauge panels must be carefully selected to maintain color and vibrancy over many years of use.
Car and truck enthusiasts often modify their vehicles for aesthetic and functional reasons. As a result, a market for custom made gauge panels exists. Unfortunately, currently available gauge panels and associated manufacturing and ordering methods are not suited for customization. For example, current gauge panel manufacturing methods typically involve screen printing processes which are ill-suited for customization. Furthermore, materials appropriate for mass production often do not work well in custom manufacturing environments.
Operator error and tolerance drift occurs more frequently in custom manufacturing environments. Customers often do not accurately specify their expectations and technicians may misinterpret custom orders. As a result, producing custom gauge panels often requires rework resulting in reduced profits for the manufacturer and higher prices for customers.
What is needed is a custom gauge panel that is easy to order and install by the customer, and simple to produce by the manufacturer. In particular, customers need the ability to select various options for a custom gauge panel, preview a gauge panel with the selected options, and submit an order for a custom gauge panel with the selected options. Manufacturers, on the other hand, need a system and method to produce custom gauge panels in a reliable cost-effective manner. Preferably, such a gauge panel and associated ordering and manufacturing methods would require relatively few layers of material thereby reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.

Custom gauge panel ordering apparatus method and system


An engine unit for a motorcycle that efficiently supplies lubricating oil to a clutch mechanism includes a connecting rod connected to a crank shaft, an oil pump, a clutch shaft having a clutch shaft body and a centrifugal type clutch, and a reduction mechanism having a reduction shaft in parallel to the crank shaft. The oil pump supplies lubricating oil to a connection of the crank shaft and the connecting rod. The clutch shaft body is arranged in parallel to the crank shaft. The clutch shaft body is closer to the crank shaft than is the reduction shaft. Lubricating oil supplied to the connection to scatter is led to the clutch shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine unit for a straddle-type vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an engine for a straddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle comprises a clutch mechanism that transmits rotation of a crank shaft to an output shaft, or cuts off the rotation. An automatic centrifugal type clutch mechanism has a bowl-shaped outer clutch, of which an axial end is opened, fixed to an output side thereof and an input member arranged in the outer clutch to fix the same to an input side thereof (see, for example, JP-A-2001-3723). There is also known a wet multi-disc type clutch mechanism having a multiplicity of inner and outer clutch plates interposed between an outer clutch fixed to an input side thereof and an inner clutch fixed to an output side thereof (see, for example, JP-B-6-65894).
In such wet type clutch mechanisms lubricating oil must be supplied to inhibit seizure between constituent members of the clutch mechanism, such as between an outer clutch and an input member, between an inner clutch plate and an outer clutch plate, or the like. In one method of supplying lubricating oil, there is no specific construction for ensuring lubrication of the clutch mechanism, and the clutch mechanism itself scatters lubricating oil collected on a bottom of a crank case to provide for lubrication. However, there is a concern that a sufficient quantity of lubricating oil may not surely be supplied to the clutch mechanism only by the clutch mechanism itself scattering the lubricating oil.
A method has also been proposed that uses an exclusive lubricating-oil pump to supply lubricating oil to a clutch mechanism. While this method surely supplies lubricating oil to the clutch mechanism, size and complexity of the clutch mechanism is increased due to the need for an exclusive lubricating-oil pump.
In view of this problem, WO2003/085278 discloses a method by which lubricating oil supplied to a connection of a crank pin and a connecting rod is led to the clutch mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing an engine unit 112 described in WO2003/085278. As shown in FIG. 5, an oil supply passage 120d is formed in a crank shaft 120. Lubricating oil is supplied to a connection 142 of a crank pin 115, which is mounted to crank arms 120a, 120b, and a connecting rod 124 via oil supply passage 120d. Lubricating oil as supplied scatters rearward upon rotation of crank shaft 120. As shown in FIG. 6, an open hole 117c is formed in a clutch chamber and the scattering lubricating oil is introduced into the clutch chamber from open hole 117c. Lubricating oil as thus introduced is supplied to a clutch shaft 140 and a clutch mechanism 150.
With the engine unit of WO2003/085278, however, a transmission shaft 116a is arranged between crank shaft 120 and clutch shaft 140 and prevents lubricating oil scattered by rotation of crank shaft 120 from being supplied to clutch shaft 140. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is difficult to efficiently supply lubricating oil to clutch shaft 140 and clutch mechanism 150.

Engine unit and straddle-type vehicle provided with the same


A semiconductor process includes the following step. A stacked structure is formed on a substrate. A contact etch stop layer is formed to cover the stacked structure and the substrate. A material layer is formed on the substrate and exposes a top part of the contact etch stop layer covering the stacked structure. The top part is redressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor process, and more specifically to a semiconductor process that redresses a contact etch stop layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the integration of layouts of integrated circuits increases, the spacings between each of its semiconductor components shrink. Thus, structural defects and processing difficulties of the semiconductor components occur because of the processing limitations such as physical limitations. For example, as the spacings between a plurality of transistors shrink, the filling of an interdielectric layer becomes difficult because of too small spacings between the transistors. In nowadays processes, some processing steps may further be added to the semiconductor processes, such as removing spacers on a substrate beside gates for defining source/drains or epitaxial structures, or removing cap layers on the gates for being used as masks while etching, to improve aforesaid problems. However, these processing steps are complex and some problems may occur like when other parts of the semiconductor components such as gates may be damaged or polluted, which would degrade the electrical performances of the formed semiconductor component such as the reliability.


A valve system for a combustion engine that includes at least one combustion chamber is disclosed. The combustion chamber includes an intake port and an exhaust port. The valve system includes cylindrical valve shaft, the cylindrical valve shaft having a cylindrical surface, a central axis along the cylindrical valve shaft and containing at least two recessed areas, the recessed areas being at one hundred eighty degrees to one another along the axis of the valve shaft, the recessed areas extending approximately ninety degrees about the axis and along the cylindrical surface, or about 25 percent of the surface.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a valve system for allowing intake and exhaust of combustion gasses for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an axial valve system that rotates along an axis to allow the introduction and release of gasses from a combustion chamber.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
Axially rotating valve systems for internal combustion engines have been known for some time. Examples of these systems or devices are listed below:
U.S. Pat. No.InventorDate of Issue6,443,110QattanSep. 3, 20025,249,553GuiodOct. 5, 19934,944,261CoatesJul. 31, 19904,889,088BergerDec. 26, 19894,562,796EickmannJan. 7, 19863,526,216HenvauxSep. 1, 19704,077,382GentileMar. 7, 19781,135,719RitterApr. 13, 1915These known devices are designed to present an aperture or recessed area along a shaft to the top or inside of the cylinder of an internal combustion engine at a desired moment in the combustion or exhaust cycle. These apertures or recessed areas in the shaft are used as passages for intake and exhaust gasses during the cycle of the engine. It is important to note that while the majority of the discussion provided herein will focus on internal combustion engines, it is contemplated that the principles taught herein may also be applicable to expansion engines, such as steam engines.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,553 to Guiod is illustrative of the approach taken by many designers of rotary valve systems. The Guiod device teaches the use of a shaft with indents that are designed to provide "unrestricted and direct" flow of air/fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. Furthermore, the Guiod device asserts that the indents are designed to assist the rotating shafts in forcing the exhaust into the exhaust manifold and in forcing the air/fuel mixture into the combustion chamber. Unfortunately, how the Guiod indents assist the rotating shafts in forcing gasses into the exhaust manifold or the combustion chamber is not explained in the Guiod specification.
Still further, the "unrestricted and direct" approach of Guiod suggests the absence or very limited interaction between the indents and the flow of gas mixtures into and out of the combustion chamber. Accordingly, the lack of contact between the structure of the rotating shafts of Guiod and the flow of these gasses provides little insight into how the energy contained in this flow can be harnessed. Still further, it is well known that the exhaust gasses in particular are still expanding as they flow out of the combustion chamber, and thus there remains a need for a system that allows the harnessing of the energy being released through the expansion of these gasses.
One of the purposes for using rotary valve systems is the increase in efficiency that appears to be possible with the rotary valve versus the use of poppet type valves. Poppet type valve systems require the use of energy to overcome the springs that hold the valves in a closed position. Furthermore, poppet valves provide a great deal of resistance to the flow of gasses into and out of the combustion chamber. Still further, poppet valve systems use a reciprocating motion, which inevitably results in noise and vibration.
Accordingly, a review of known valve systems for piston engines indicates that there is a need for a rotary valve system that provides the advantages of efficient low flow restriction of rotary valves, and that does so with the use of few moving parts.
There remains a need for a rotary valve system that can remain dimensionally stable in applications that involve high temperature gasses, such as internal combustion engines.
The beneficial use of ceramic materials for both the valve shaft and the cylinder head minimizes thermal expansion during normal and high demand operating conditions. Additionally, ceramic material minimizes the heat transfer between the hot exhaust gasses and associated components and the cooler fuel/air intake mixture and associated components. Furthermore, the inherent property of ceramics makes for more options to attain gas tight seals.
Still further, there remains a need for a valve system that harnesses the energy associated with the flow of gasses out of the piston engine, and thus improving the efficiency of the overall system. This is accomplished by where the curvature of the valve shaft exhaust recessed area forces the energy from exhaust gasses to pass through the valve shaft at a right angle from the combustion chamber which exerts an opposite reaction on the valve shaft in a manner that pushes the recessed area to rotate the valve shaft in the opposite direction of the flow of the exhaust gasses.


A system is provided to aid in laying out circuits on a semiconductor wafer, in which a wafer map is automatically generated when entering chip sizes, arrangements and other enterable factors, with a goal to maximize yield probability. The subject system accommodates different chip types and arrangements within a wafer map and addresses edge exclusion, utilization of chiplets and accommodation of different centering techniques, including a variety of ways of measuring offsets, while outputting a display of replicated circuits on the wafer as well as chip count and density, utilizing a portable, tailorable, extendable PC-based program featuring an easy-to-use graphical interface. The software application provides a user with different graphical views customized for different process areas, such as lithography and dicing, with the application being useful for any semiconductor manufacturing facility, foundry or similar industry that needs to generate wafer maps automatically to maximize yield probability.

The capability of pattern 20 to 40 levels on wafers has resulted in the ability to fabricate large numbers of integrated circuits on a single wafer and to dice the wafer so as to provide individual integrated circuits or combinations of circuits.
Typically in wafer fabrication, a stepper is utilized which photographically replicates or reproduces a particular pattern of a layer for an integrated circuit across the wafer in a stepped fashion so that identical circuits can be fabricated across a given wafer.
For instance, taking a first metalization layer, one must first take a picture of the layer for the first chip to be replicated. One must then step to the next place where one wants to place a copy of the metalization layer, open the shutter and take the picture and then step to the next place in a step-and-repeat process performed by a so-called stepper. A photomask for microlithography is typically a quartz tile a quarter-inch thick and is covered with chrome. The chrome is then covered with photo-resist and, for a given level, a pattern is written onto the photo-resist and then the chrome is etched. When this tile is flipped upside down, it becomes a chrome-on-glass master mask for that particular level. One might have 20 to 40 of these master masks per device, depending on the number of levels required. With the masks, one goes layer by layer to build up the chip.
However, every time, one has to manually come back to photo and lay out the chips on the wafer in a desired pattern. It is noted that often times one puts down product chips at certain locations and then test chips or other product chips on the same wafer.
In terms of the design of a chip pattern on a wafer, the photo tooling that is capable of adequate resolution and overlay does not have the field size to be able to print the entire wafer at once.
To simplify, the mask contains a pattern for the circuitry for just one chip or if small enough for several chips or "chiplets". Sometimes the complete integrated circuit is small enough to fit more than one chip image on a mask and subsequent exposure field. These are then referred to as "chiplets" for the purposes of wafer layout. With a wafer having a six-inch diameter, the wafer can accommodate 20 or more of these exposure fields. One first designs the chip, then fractures the data, then has a mask manufacturer write the data to a series of masks, with the artwork being replicated, for instance, 40 times for the 40 chips that are to be placed on the wafer.
Just designing a single chip and providing the photolithography and manufacturing step for the chip, while indeed complicated, is further complicated when one wants to replicate the process across a wafer and make efficient use of wafer real estate to be able to place the maximum number of chips on a given-size wafer. The chip designers then defer to the photo layout engineers, who manually create a pattern of the tile is flipped upside down, it becomes a chrome-on-glass master mask for that particular level. One might have 20 to 40 of these master masks per device, depending on the number of levels required. With the masks, one goes layer by layer to build up the chip.
However, every time, one has to manually come back to photo and lay out the chips on the wafer in a desired pattern. It is noted that often times one puts down product chips at certain locations and then test chips or other product chips on the same wafer.
In terms of the design of a chip pattern on a wafer, the photo tooling that is capable of adequate resolution and overlay does not have the field size to be able to print the entire wafer at once.
To simplify, the mask contains a pattern for the circuitry for just one chip or if small enough for several chips or "chiplets". Sometimes the complete integrated circuit is small enough to fit more than one chip image on a mask and subsequent exposure field. These are then referred to as "chiplets" for the purposes of wafer layout. With a wafer having a six-inch diameter, the wafer can accommodate 20 or more of these exposure fields. One first designs the chip, then fractures the data, then has a mask manufacturer write the data to a series of masks, with the artwork being replicated, for instance, 40 times for the 40 chips that are to be placed on the wafer.
Just designing a single chip and providing the photolithography and manufacturing step for the chip, while indeed complicated, is further complicated when one wants to replicate the process across a wafer and make efficient use of wafer real estate to be able to place the maximum number of chips on a given-size wafer. The chip designers then defer to the photo layout engineers, who manually create a pattern of the desired chips across the wafer, which involves the pattern of the chip placement on the actual wafer.
While there exist steppers, such as provided by ASML of the Netherlands, what these steppers do are to step out pictures across the surface of the wafer in a pattern manually determined by the layout engineer.
However, the software for the steppers is relatively simplified and doesn't take into account the fact that one may wish to replicate different chips across the wafer and does not, for instance, take into account how to maximize the density of the chips, given the type of chips and placement one wishes. The stepper does not provide for a graphical interface which, aside from laying out the individual chips, accommodates such things as edge exclusion zones or edge areas that, while not being able to accommodate a full-sized chip, may nonetheless be utilized to fabricate so-called chiplets. Thus, with the stepper type of systems, there is no way to maximize the yield by being able to recognize that chiplets are possible, with the chiplets being manufacturable at the same time as the chips or full exposure field.
There is therefore a need for a system which allows the designer to enter in various parameters, such as wafer size, edge exclusion, flat-edge exclusion, periodicity in X and Y directions, and offsets in X and Y directions.
Also, when the integrated circuit chip is composed of a number of integrated circuits, oftentimes each of this number of integrated circuits can be characterized as a chiplet. Thus, when there is not enough room on a wafer for a complete chip, chiplets can be positioned on the wafer so they can be manufactured at the same time that the chips are manufactured. There is therefore a need for the layout engineer to be able to specify the location of these chiplets on the wafer, which involves specifying the number of chiplet rows and the number of chiplet columns. Moreover, it is important for the layout engineer to be able to specify the wafer type, meaning whether or not the wafer is notched or flat.
As will also be appreciated, there needs to be a way for the mask engineer to be provided with a wafer map or visual representation of where the chips and chiplets are on a wafer. Also there is a requirement to permit the designer to enter in field parameters, such as Usable Field attributes, Edge Field attributes and chiplet attributes.
Most importantly, there needs to be a graphical interface to be able to visually present to the wafer designer the placement of the various chips and chiplets, the areas which have the Usable Fields with circuits, or Edge Fields, which may or may not have circuits on them, as well as to indicate the number of chips and chiplets that are achievable with a given pattern. Note that a useable field is a field in which the outline of the chip does not touch the edge exclusion ring for the wafer, whereas an Edge Field is one in which at least a portion of the chip is in the exclusion region.
With such a handy tool in place, the wafer designer may lay out wafers not only by simply brute force replicating chips across a wafer, but rather placing them, organizing them in terms of the offset and other characteristics of the chips themselves, by defining chiplets and placing them at points where an edge exclusion does not affect the formation of the chiplet, and then by presenting the wafer designer with a chip count for his or her design.

Method and apparatus for generating a wafer map

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


Given the rise in popularity of communicating personal, private, sensitive, or vital peer-to-peer or peer-to-group information over insecure text messaging infrastructure, it would be highly desirable to provide a lightweight solution that enables the exchange of information in a secure manner. The non-limiting technology herein provides systems and methods for the exchange of cryptographic material that can be used to encipher message-oriented communications between at least two peer devices. Once the cryptographic material is exchanged between cooperating peers, this lightweight solution can be used by common off the shelf hardware such as smartphones, tablets, feature phones, or special purpose machine to machine devices for private communications, such as command and control, location services, etc. using insecure voice or data communication paths, such as SMS.

With the proliferation of inexpensive handheld communications devices such as mobile phones, texting has become a popular way to communicate. Based on the "Short Message Service" ("SMS") standardized by GMS wireless telephone network carriers worldwide since the mid-1980's, texting involves sending a message containing a maximum, relatively small number of characters (for example, 140 bytes or 160 7-bit characters in one non-limiting scenario) per message based on standard alphabets. Other data messaging services such as Twitter similarly constrain message length e.g., to 140 characters. Certain other messaging standards such as MMS permit transmission of a variety of other data such as multimedia.
Short messaging offers numerous advantages in terms of transport efficiency, succinctness and convenience, but there can be problems with security. Most short messages are sent and received in unsecured form. Interception by unauthorized people and spoofing are two of the problems that can arise from insecure short messaging. Hacking of insecure text messaging has caused numerous high-profile scandals and information leaks. Additionally, texting could be a valuable tool for law enforcement, the military and other government agencies if adequate end-to-end security could be provided.
While it would be highly desirable to secure short messaging, there are challenges to doing so. In particular, the short length, insecurity of the communications networks used to transport the messages and the relatively low processing power available on many devices commonly used to exchange short messages all present obstacles to introducing secure SMS or other secure short messaging.
Most secret or secure messaging is based on the concept of a "shared secret" that only the sender and receiver know. Such a shared secret can be a code book, a cryptographic key for the day or the session, a pseudorandom cryptographic key generated independently by each of the sender and the receiver based on shared "seed" data, or a variety of other mechanisms.
One of the many problems with ciphering data for messaging communications between devices that are connected over insecure voice or data networks is how to securely exchange the shared secret used to support cryptographic operations between the endpoints. Traditionally, a third party server or service is used to verify and/or exchange material between the devices used for this purpose—thus requiring a "middleman" computing device that may foreclose end-to-end secure communications between peers or other devices where no "middleman" is available. Other implementations may use heavyweight asymmetric encryption algorithms that while being quite secure are often not suitable for narrow bandwidth or short message oriented communications between devices having relatively low computing capabilities. Yet another approach is to share a secret key which is then used for a relatively long period of time and changed only rarely. While a individual message may be sent securely using this approach, key re-use can lead to insecurity based on frequency and traffic analysis. Nonce abuse (using the same cryptographic keying material more than once to encrypt different messages) may also allow attackers to compare multiple messages to derive the cryptographic keying material.
While much work has been done in the past, there remains a long-felt but unsolved need for an effective, robust secure technique for exchanging information needed to support secure short messaging.
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein provides non-limiting cryptographic processes and algorithms associated with ProtectedSMS that allow for a lightweight peer-to-peer exchange of cryptographic information over insecure communications links.
One example non-limiting implementation provides methods of exchanging information to enable secure messaging between first and second messaging devices involving encapsulating a first public key associated with a first device public-private key pair with a first identifier so that the encapsulated public key does not occupy more than half the available payload. The encapsulated first public key and first identifier are then communicated from the first device to the second device. The first device receives, from the second device, a response including a second public key and second identifier associated with the second device. The first device computes a shared secret based at least in part on the received second public key and uses the shared secret to encrypt or decrypt a short message sent over a messaging network. The short message can be time stamped to securely indicate when the message was actually sent. An acknowledgement of receipt can be received and transmitted. The encapsulation may occupy a short message of fixed or variable length such as a maximum of a single SMS or other secure message length (e.g., 140 text characters, 131 bytes, etc.).
The exemplary illustration technology herein avoids cryptographic collision of data and the cryptographic material to increase the level of security. In one example non-limiting illustrative implementation, a shared secret is derived from exchanged information such as secret public keys of PK key pairs. In one example, a well-known efficient but standard function that is proven to be computationally infeasible to hack (e.g., use of an elliptical curve based or other cryptographic algorithm) is used to derive shared secret cryptographic information from the public key.
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting light-weight technology herein is able to implement secure technology using a small amount of computational power of the type available on low-cost portable, mobile or any other end-to-end devices (e.g., any embedded processing technology) and within limited message length constraints. For example, the exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology provides a reduced or minimal message encapsulation having low consumption of available message payload. As one non-limiting example, by using less than 15% of available payload for security overhead of SMS messages, it is possible to provide defenses against known attacks while minimizing consumption of precious resources, namely processing power and/or characters in short messages being sent and received, and also reducing the probability of successful attacks due to cryptographic collision.
One exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation provides unique combinations of:                technology that works successfully and securely for short or constrained message lengths;        ability to exchange shared secret key information through a bandwidth-challenged interface in a way that is not onerous on the users who are sending and receiving secure messages;        no additional infrastructure required beyond conventional components already in place for exchanging messages;        using a friending paradigms to exchange public keys or other cryptographic information;        low computational requirements enabling security on a wide variety of different platforms including very inexpensive devices;        other.
In simple terms, an illustrative ProtectedSMS can be used to protect data content in SMS, Twitter or other short messaging. Furthermore, this technology can be used to protect message oriented communications such as MMS, picture messages, email messages, other text documents/attachments, command and control messages, alerts messages, machine to machine messages, etc.
The illustrative ProtectedSMS provides a mobile or portable device with an ability to encrypt and decrypt messages exchanged with other users and devices who also have access to the ProtectedSMS protocol and application algorithms. ProtectedSMS can use public key cryptography as the basis for the algorithms that secure the data. The technology herein provides an example non-limiting "Contact Registration Exchange" for how two peers secure data between one another. Non-limiting technical overviews and detailed descriptions of example non-limiting cryptographic technology and techniques employed to secure SMS traffic are provided. One example non-limiting target platform with which the present technology can be useful is RIM's Blackberry operating system, Apple iPhones and iPads, or any desired SMS or other short messaging platforms.


A retractable strap apparatus includes a reel, an axle and a strap. The reel includes a bore axially made therein, a flat face located by the bore, and a slot made therein along a secant line so that the bore is separated from the slot. The axle includes a flat face. The axle is inserted in the bore so that the flat face of the axle is in contact with the flat face of the reel so that the axle is rotatable together with the reel. The strap includes an end directed through the slot and connected to another portion of the strap.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to tow strap apparatuses and tie-down apparatuses and, more particularly, to a reel for a tow strap apparatus or a tie-down apparatus.
2. Related Prior Art
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,360, a tow strap apparatus includes a reel 28 that includes a hub 36. The reel 28 includes two halves 32. The hub 36 includes two halves (not numbered) each formed on a corresponding half 32 of the reel 28. A tow strap 18 includes a portion sandwiched between the halves of the hub 36. Each of the halves of the hub 36 includes teeth 40 for biting the tow strap 18 so that the tow strap 18 cannot slide relative to the hub 36. The teeth 40 cause damages in the tow strap 18 inevitably. Such damages render the strap 18 vulnerable to rupture.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,651,509, a tow strap apparatus includes a reel 31 that includes an axle 30 formed between two discs 38. The axle 30 includes a slot 32. A tow strap 20 includes a portion inserted in the slot 32. Two patches 21 are attached to the tow strap 20 so that the axle 30 is wrapped by the patches 21 so that the two strap 20 cannot slide relative to the axle 30. The patches 21 are attached to the tow strap 20 by sewing that is troublesome and hence expensive.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,520, a tie-down apparatus includes a crossbar 7 and two reels 4 and 14. A strap 20 is tied to the crossbar 7. The reel 4 includes a slot 5. The reel 14 includes a slot 15. Another strap 21 includes a portion inserted in the slot 5 and another portion inserted in the slot 15. The reel 14 is used to wind up the strap 21. A handle 3 is operable to rotate the reel 4 to straighten the strap 21.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,902, a tie-down apparatus includes a shaft assembly 2, a fastening unit 3 and a winding unit 4. The winding unit 4 includes a crank 41 and a reel 43. The reel 43 includes a slot (not numbered). The shaft assembly 2 includes two shaft members 21 and 22 separated from each other by a gap (not numbered). A strap 5 includes a portion inserted in the slot of the reel 43 and another portion inserted in the gap between the shaft members 21 and 22. The crank 41 is operable to rotate the reel 43 to wind up a strap 5. The fastening unit 3 is operable to rotate shaft assembly 2 to tighten the strap 5.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,172,203, a tie-down apparatus includes a U-shaped frame 51, a flat shank 52, two plastic bushings 53 and a levering set 54. The flat shank 52 includes a slot 521 and is supported on the U-shaped frame 51. The levering set 54 is connected to the flat shank 52 via the plastic bushings 53. A portion of a strap 4 is inserted in the slot 521. The levering set 54 is operable to rotate the flat shank 52 to wind up the strap 4.
As discussed above, a tow strap apparatus or a tie-down apparatus requires a reel. Some of the reels are structurally complicated. Some other reels are structurally simple but involve complicated processes for assembly or disassembly.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.


A method of detecting fluid flow through a solenoid valve in a fluid application system includes dispensing fluid through the solenoid valve, de-energizing a solenoid coil of the solenoid valve to close the solenoid valve and control a fluid flow through the solenoid valve, determining a closing time of the solenoid valve based on a signal from a poppet measuring sensor, determining a time delay between the de-energizing the solenoid coil and the closing time, and determining a fluid flow value based on the time delay.

The present disclosure relates generally to fluid distribution systems and, more particularly, to diagnostic systems for use with fluid distribution systems and methods of diagnosing such systems.
In agricultural spraying, the flow rate through a spray nozzle is an important factor in delivering a specified amount of agrochemical to a specified area. Most agrochemicals such as crop protection agents and many fertilizers are applied as liquid solutions, suspensions, and emulsions that are sprayed onto the target fields. Certain agrochemicals, such as anhydrous ammonia, are dispensed into soil through dispensing tubes positioned behind knives or plows that prepare the soil for application.
Typically, the agrochemical liquid is supplied by powered pumps to simple or complex orifice nozzles that atomize the liquid stream into spray droplets. Nozzles are often selected primarily on the desired range of flow rates needed for the job and secondarily on the range of liquid droplet size spectra and spray distribution patterns they produce.
Increasing concerns over inefficient agrochemical use, the cost of agrochemicals and inadvertent spray drift or pesticide run-off have resulted in attempts to improve the quality, precision, accuracy and reliability of application of agrochemicals. This has led to increased use of electronic control systems and GPS-guided operations. Growth in these "precision agriculture" products and strategies has led to greater demand for "variable rate" technologies and the fluid handling means to alter spray liquid flow rates.
New sprayer models may have booms of 30 m (approximately 90 ft) widths and allow application at speeds up to 30 km/hr (20 mph) or higher. Faster ground speeds and wider spray booms can lead to application errors that are significant yet unavoidable with existing spray technology. For example, if the sprayer is traversing the edge of a field while scribing about a 100 m radius (actually, a very gentle turn), the outer nozzles are traveling 35% faster than the inner nozzles. At a 50 m radius, the difference in nozzle ground speeds is 85%. With sharp turns, such as at the end of a pass, the inner nozzles will travel backwards, thereby retracing and overdosing previously sprayed areas, while the outer nozzles will significantly accelerate giving their associated land areas sparse coverage of chemical. Unless the flow rate from each nozzle is individually adjusted to compensate for these differences in travel speeds, application errors may occur.
Individual control of spray nozzles or nozzle assemblies is of growing importance in agrochemical application. As individual control increases, the need for individual flow monitoring will increase since feedback is often needed for closed loop control. Even with a linear control strategy, such as the binary control of multiple nozzles or pulse width modulation, confirmation of proper flow is important.
As the spray application industry adopts larger liquid storage tanks on mobile equipment, operators are likely to make fewer stops for refilling and cover greater land area between stops. Consequently, clogged nozzles or other problems on the boom are unlikely to be detected while significant land areas are being treated. For example, assuming a 30 km/hr ground speed, a 30 m boom width and 50 l/ha (apprx. 5 gal/acre) application rate, a 4000 l (apprx. 1000 gal) tank will cover 200 acres in apprx. 1 hour. A single nozzle in this example would treat apprx. 3.5 acres per tank load and a single undetected nozzle malfunction would correspond to this 3.5 acre area receiving an incorrect, or perhaps zero, dose of agrochemical.
Additionally, wider boom widths, travel speeds and vehicle sizes increasingly restrict an operator's view of the boom and the opportunities to view the boom while driving. On modern agricultural spray vehicles, 30 to 50% of the spray boom may not be visible to the operator.
On some larger sprayers such as those typically used by custom applicators in the Midwest, Central Canada and the Plains, video cameras are sometimes mounted on the rear of the sprayer so that the operator can monitor, at least in theory, the spray boom out of his or her line of sight. However, at high travel speeds, the operator's attention is fully devoted to driving instead of monitoring the spray boom in the rear, either in the line of direct sight or shown on the video monitor. Due to poor overall visibility from the operator's station and the infrequency of stops and refillings, there is a need for individual nozzle monitoring to confirm that no clogging, pinched hoses, damaged nozzles or other problems may be present or developing on the spray boom.
A similar problem exists on shielded or shrouded sprayers sometimes used in the North American Plains and in urban and landscape applications. In farming areas in extreme southern and northern latitudes and in high value specialty crops, often grown in coastal areas, the agronomic time window for pesticide applications can be critically short and often occurs during windy periods. Shielded sprayers are often used in these conditions. Similarly, sprayers used in golf course, landscape and other urban conditions commonly use shrouds, curtains or shields to reduce spray drift and as a concession to public relations. However, the shields prevent the operator from visually inspecting the nozzle spray patterns to confirm proper operation. Improperly operating nozzles are not easily detected. Commercial systems for agricultural use often address this problem by routing individual liquid lines to each nozzle through a small rotameter (ball in tube) flow monitor that is mounted in the operator's line of sight. Such rotameters require cumbersome plumbing for each nozzle and require the operator visually monitor the bank of tubes.
One drawback of relying on visual inspection (either direct line of sight or video) or simple flow measurement (ball in tube) is that such methods do not assure proper nozzle operation. Nozzles can be partially clogged or have an obstruction in the flow path and appear to be operating correctly even if the flow rate is significantly affected. Conversely, the nozzle pattern and spray droplet size can be severely distorted by an obstruction or damage, yet the flow rate remains close to the original value.
Electronic spray rate control systems and application monitors typically use a single flowmeter and/or pressure transducer for feedback of the flow conditions on the entire spray boom. In systems with many nozzles, such as a 50-60 nozzle boom, failure of 1 or 2 nozzles would be unlikely to raise an alarm since the overall effect is only 2% of the expected flow rate; the system would compensate by maintaining the correct overall flow to the entire boom. So, if one nozzle became completely clogged, the system would simply increase the spray pressure and force an additional 2% flow through the remaining nozzles operating properly. Even with the electronic control or monitor system, the driver would likely remain unaware of the failure.
Additionally, when individual nozzle control is implemented, the need for individual nozzle monitoring increases. Pulse width modulation systems have electrical and mechanical components on each nozzle. Multiple nozzle manifolds have multiple tips and actuators at each boom location. The opportunity for failure is increased over that of a simple nozzle. These systems require not only flow monitoring but also monitoring of the control actuators used for flow or droplet size modulation. Moreover, individual nozzle control implies that individual nozzle feedback is required for closed loop operation.
Future systems may incorporate individual nozzle injection of multiple agrochemicals or adjuvants, individual control of droplet size spectra, droplet velocity or spray distribution. In each case, the need for monitoring and actuation on a single-nozzle or single manifold basis increases.
Thus, a need currently exists for a system and process for monitoring spray nozzle operation. Such a system and process is well suited for use in the agricultural field. It should be understood, however, that similar needs also exist in other fields. For example, on irrigation systems, there may be many small nozzles, often obscured from view or in areas that are difficult to access. Failure of a nozzle might not be detected until drought damage to a plant had occurred and symptoms were visible. Likewise, in industrial spray driers, malfunction of a nozzle might not be detected until significant amounts of product had been damaged. In spray humidification or cooling systems, nozzle failures might not be detected until excessive heating or drying had occurred. Specifically, a system that monitors nozzle operation may find wide applicability in any system, whether commercial, industrial or residential, that utilizes spray nozzles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and methods for estimating fluid flow based on valve closure time


Game apparatus comprises a projectile and a head garment. The head garment includes a head-fitting member configured and dimensioned to be releasably worn on the head of the player. The head garment also includes a visor attached to said head-fitting member, wherein the visor is configured with an aperture of sufficient size to allow said projectile to pass through the aperture.

Throwing games in which one player attempts to throw a projectile at or through a target carried by another player are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,178 describes a game in which a hoop device is supported between the legs of a player. Such a device, however, severely restricts the mobility of the player wearing the hoop device.
Games in which the target is disposed on hands, elbows, chest, back and head are also known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,146; 5,085,442; 5,082,291; 4,971,334; 4,735,420; and 4,718,677. In such games, the surface of the target and the projectile include hook and loop fastening type materials (such as VELCRO brand materials) so that the projectile and target releasably bond upon contact. These kinds of devices, however, have not been entirely satisfactory for use in continuous action style games in which players try to avoid being hit by projectiles being thrown by other players. Play must be stopped frequently so that projectiles can be removed from players who have been "hit". Such interruptions can be frustrating for the players.


Provided is a novel synthesis of quetiapine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in which an alkali metal halide or siliyl halide is included in the reaction mixture.

Quetiapine,2-(2-(4-dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11-yl-1-piperazinyl)ethoxy)ethanol, having the following chemical structure:
is a psychoactive organic compound that acts as an antagonist for multiple neurotransmitter receptors in the brain and acts as an antipsychotic agent reportedly useful for treating, among other things, schizophrenia. Merck Index, 13th Ed., 8130 (2001). This drug, having the CAS number: 111974-69-7, was approved under the trademark Seroquel®, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is available from the innovator, AstraZeneca PLC. Quetiapine can be made, for example, as taught in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288, incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
As taught in the '288 patent, quetiapine can be made via reaction of formula I, 11-piperazinyl dibenzo[b,f]-[1,4]thiazepine hydrochloride and about a 2 molar equivalent of formula II, 1-(2-hydroxyethoxyethyl)piperazine,
wherein the reaction time is about 30 hours, the yield is about 77%, and puritfication is by flash chromotpgraphy.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved process for making quetiapine and salts thereof from 11-piperazinyl dibenzo[b,f]-[1,4]thiazepine and 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol using less than a 2 molar equivalent of 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol with respect to 11-piperazinyl dibenzo[b,f]-[1,4]thiazepine, a shorter reaction time, and affording a quetiapine product that contains a lower level of impurities (such as the unreacted starting material) so that the process can be easily, conveniently, and inexpensively applied on an industrial scale.

Process for preparing quetiapine fumarate


A highly active antioxidant composed of a diester of phosphoric acid with tocopherol and ascorbic acid or a salt thereof used to stabilize other materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel and safe antioxidant. More specifically, it relates to an antioxidant, for cosmetics, medicines and foods, which is composed of, as an effective ingredient, a diester of phosphoric acid with tocopherol and ascorbic acid and/or a salt thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In cosmetics, medicines, and foods comprising a base material which is easily deteriorated by oxidation, such oxidation is increased by contact with air and the quality is drastically degraded. Accordingly, an antioxidant is used to prevent this deterioration by oxidation.
As the antioxidant heretofore used, there can be mentioned synthetic antioxidants such as butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), and natural antioxidants such as D-.alpha.-tocopherol.
Synthetic antioxidants such as BHT and BHA have a relatively excellent anti-oxidizing effect, but since doubts have arisen with regard to the safety thereof, the use of these synthetic antioxidants is now being reconsidered.
A natural antioxidant, especially tocopherol, is highly evaluated with respect to safety but is defective in that the effect is not extensive. Moreover, the natural antioxidant has problems with regard to the supply source and the solubility. Therefore, an antioxidant able to exert a satisfactory anti-oxidizing effect when applied to an aqueous product is not known.

Highly active antioxidant of tocopheryl ascorbyl phosphate


A rotating head assembly which is arranged to suppress crosstalk between signals in signal transmission paths to or from erasing, recording and a reproducing heads mounted on a head rotating body, the rotating head assembly including: a plural number of rotary transformers located concentrically around the circumference of a rotational shaft of the head rotating body in spaced positions in a radial direction or in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotational shaft; a plural number of substrate boards located in spaced positions in the axial direction of the head rotating body; and a path of signal transmission for the erasing head and/or recording head and a path of signal transmission for the reproducing head routed separately through the rotary transformers in radially spaced positions and through the substrate boards in axially spaced positions to prevent crosstalk between signals being passed the respective signal transmission paths.

1. Field of the Art
This invention relates to a rotating head assembly suitable for application to digital video tape recorders or the like, and more particularly to a signal transmission path arrangement on such a rotating head assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a conventional rotating head assembly for digital video tape recorder, wherein upper and lower stationary drums 2 and 3 which are located coaxially on the upper and lower sides of a head rotating body 1 are integrally fixed to each other at one side by means of a drum holder 4. The head rotating body 1 is constituted by a rotary flange 1a which is fixedly mounted at its center on the upper end of a vertical rotational shaft 5, and a rotatary disc 1b which is securely fixed on and along the outer periphery of the rotary flange 1a. The lower end of the rotational shaft 5 is directly coupled with the output shaft of a motor 6 which is fixedly mounted on a lower portion of the lower stationary drum 3. The rotational shaft 5 is rotatably supported through a bearing 3b in a vertical cylindrical portion 3a which is integrally formed at the center of the lower stationary drum 3.
For recording and/or reproducing video signals, paired rotating heads, namely, a pair of erasing heads 7, a pair of recording heads 8 and a pair of reproducing heads 9 are mounted on the lower side of outer peripheral portions of the rotary disc 1b on the head rotating body 1 at an angular interval of 180.degree.. These plural number of heads 7 to 9 are protruded radially outward through a gap 10 between the upper and lower stationary drums 2 and 3. For recording and/or reproducing a magnetic tape (not shown) which is transported helically along the outer peripheries of the upper and lower stationary drums 2 and 3, the plural number of heads 7 to 9 are rotationally driven from the motor 6 together with the head rotating body 1 through the rotational shaft 5.
In this conventional rotating head assembly, a cylindrical portion 1c which is integrally formed in a lower portion of the rotary flange la of the head rotating body 1 is concentrically fitted around the outer periphery of the afore-mentioned cylindrical portion 3a. Three sets of rotary transformers 11 to 13 for transmission of signals to or from the erasing heads 7, recording heads 8 and reproducing heads 9 are located between the cylindrical portions 1c and 3a in series in the axial direction (in three successive positions in the axial direction).
For instance, the signal transmission path A for the erasing head 7 is routed from a harness 14a to the stator 11a of a rotary transformer 11 in the lower position through an annular relay board 15 mounted on an inner bottom portion of the lower stationary drum 3 and a harness 16a, from the rotor 11b of the transformer to a common substrate board 19 of annular shape through a harness 20a, a common annular relay board 17, mounted on upper portions of the rotary flange 1a and rotary disc 1b of the head rotating body 1, and a contact 18a, and from the common substrate board 19 to the erasing head 7 through a harness 21a.
Further, for instance, the signal transmission path B for the reproducing head 9 is routed from a harness 14b to the stator 12a of a rotary transformer 12 in the middle position through a relay board 15 on an inner bottom portion of the lower stationary drum 3 and a harness 16b, from the rotor 12b of the transformer to the common substrate board 19 through a relay board 17 on an upper portion of the head rotating body 1 and a contact 18b, and from the common substrate board 19 to the reproducing head 9 through a harness 21b. The signal transmission path for the recording head 8 is routed in a similar manner by the use of the rotary transformer 13 in the upper position.
In this instance, a plural number of spacers 22 are interposed between the rotary transformers 11 to 13 to prevent crosstalk between signals in the respective signal paths.
However, the above-described arrangement of the conventional rotating head assembly, having the three rotary transformers 11 to 13 located in series in the axial direction and having a plural number of spacers interposed between these rotary transformers 11 to 13 for the purpose of preventing crosstalk of the respective signals, suffers from a problem that the rotating head assembly as a whole needs to have a relative large height in the axial direction.
Besides, since the signal transmission paths between the rotors 11b, 12b and 13b of the rotary transformers 11 to 13 and the respective heads 7 are all routed through the common substrate board 19 which is mounted on an upper portion of the head rotating body 1, it has been necessary to pay special attention to the circuit arrangement on the common substrate board 19 or to employ shield cases or other countermeasures to prevent the crosstalk between the signals being passed through the common substrate board 19, resulting in an increased number of component parts or an increased number of steps in the assembling process, which is reflected by a higher cost.