Compositions comprising products of the csa operon, an isolated nucleic acid encoding the csa operon or functional fragments thereof, purified polypeptide products of the csa operon or functional fragments thereof, methods of eliciting an immune response to these products, and methods of producing products of the csa operon are disclosed herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed invention relates to the isolation and characterization of the csa operon, which encodes the CS4 pili and its use as an immunogenic agent with utility in preventing ETEC colonization of a subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Human ETEC strains are a major cause of diarrhea in infants and young children in developing countries (Black et al., Lancet, I: 141-143 (1981); Levine, J. Infect. Dis., 155:377-389 (1987); Qadri, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 38:27-31 (2000)), which account for a high rate of infantile morbidity and mortality. Human ETEC strains are also a major cause of travelers' diarrhea. (Black, Rev. Infect. Dis., 8S:S131-S135 (1986); DuPont et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 285:1520-1521 (1976); Hyams et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 325:1423-1428 (1991); Merson, et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 294:1299-1305 (1976)). ETEC infection is characterized by watery diarrhea often accompanied by low-grade fever, abdominal cramps, malaise and vomiting.
ETEC strains colonize the small bowel lumen by means of surface pili called colonization factor antigens (CFA), and coli surface antigens (CS), and cause diarrhea through the action of heat labile (LT) and/or heat stable (ST) enterotoxins. ETEC fimbriae are proteinaceous filaments exhibiting different morphologies such as rigid rod like shapes of 2-7 nm in diameter, fibrilar thin flexible wiry structures, or bundles. (Gaastra et al., Trends. Microbiol., 4:444-452 (1996)).
Human ETEC strains display a variety of over 20 serologically distinct pili on their cell surfaces. The most common human ETEC strains express CFA/I, CFA/II and CFA/IV (Levine, et al., "Fimbrial vaccines," In P. Klemm (ed.), Fimbriae: adhesion, biogenics, genetics and vaccines, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994; McConnell, et al., Epidemiol. Infect., 106: 477-484 (1991)). CFA/I produces a single type of fimbriae, while CFA/II and CFA/IV strains produce several types of coli surface antigens. CFA/II strains express CS1, CS2 and CS3; and CFA/IV strains (originally called PCF8775) express the nonpilus antigen CS6 either alone or together with CS4 or CS5 fimbria. (McConnell, et al., Infect. Immun., 56:1974-1980 (1988); McConnell, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 52:105-108 (1989); Svennerholm, et al., Infect. Immun., 56:523-528 (1988); Thomas, et al., J. Gen. Microbiol., 131:2319-2326 (1985)). The occurrence of CS4+CS6+producing strains is restricted to serotype O25:H42. (McConnell, et al., Infect. Immun., 56:1974-1980 (1988); Willshaw, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 49:473-478 (1988); Willshaw, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 56:255-260 (1990); Willshaw, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 66:125-129 (1991)).
The CS4 pili is rigid, 7 nm in diameter, and is composed of subunits with a molecular mass of 17.0 kDa. (Knutton, et al., Infect. Immun., 57:3364-3371 (1989); McConnell, et al., Infect. Immun., 56:1974-1980 (1988); Wolf, et al., Infect. Immun., 57:164-173 (1989)). Because of their epidemiological importance and due to the fact that cross protection does not occur between strains of ETEC expressing different fimbriae, at least these CFA/I and CS1—CS6 fimbrial types must be included in a broad spectrum ETEC vaccine, (Gaastra et al., Trends. Microbiol., 4:444-452 (1996); Levine, J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr., In Press (2000); Levine, et al., "Fimbrial vaccines," In P. Klemm (ed.), Fimbriae: adhesion, biogenics, genetics and vaccines, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994). Of these seven important fimbriae, only the genes encoding CS4 have not been cloned and sequenced.
The genes that are required for the expression of functional pili are characteristically linked in gene clusters (Sakellaris and Scott, Mol. Microbiol., 30:681-687 (1998)), and consist of the structural genes, assembly cassette genes and regulatory genes. The assembly cassette genes include chaperone and usher genes. The chaperone protein is thought to bind to fimbrial subunit proteins in the periplasmic space and prevent premature folding and degradation. The usher proteins are outer membrane proteins that serve as pores for the transport and assembly of the fimbriae. The structural gene encodes for the pilin protein that forms the fimbriae that is composed of repeated subunits of the pilin protein. Some fimbriae such as, CFA/I, CS1 and CS2, contain a minor pilin protein which is associated with the pili tip, that is probably involved in the attachment of the bacteria to the cell receptors. (Sakellaris, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 96:12828-12832 (1999)). Fimbria expression is controlled by genes such as rns and cfaD that are similar to the araC family of transcriptional regulators that positively regulate transcription. (Grewal et al., Vaccine, 11:221-226 (1993); de Haan et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 67:341-346 (1991); 19, 21, Savelkoul, et al., Microb. Pathog., 8:91-99 (1990)).
Genes encoding ETEC fimbriae have been located on large plasmids [CFA/I, (Hamers et al., Microb. Pathog., 6:297-309 (1989); 20); CS1, (Froehlich et al., Mol. Microbiol., 12:387-401 (1994)); CS3, (Jalajakumari, et al., Mol. Microbiol., 3:1685-1695 (1989), Manning, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 200:322-327 (1985)); CS5, (Duthy, et al., J. Bacteriol., 181:5847-5851 (1999)) and CS6, (Wolf, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 148:35-42 (1997))], or on the chromosome [CS2, (Froehlich et al., Mol. Microbiol., 12:387-401 (1994), Froehlich et al., Infect. Immun., 63:4849-4856 (1995))]. Early experiments to locate the CS4 encoding genes revealed disparate results without conclusive localization, (Sommerfelt, et al., Microb. Pathog., 11:297-304 (1991); Sommerfelt, et al., Infect. Immun., 60:3799-3806 (1992); Sommerfelt, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 30:1823-1828 (1992); Willshaw, et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 56:255-260 (1990); Wolf, et al., Infect. Immun., 57:164-173 (1989)).
Because the attachment of ETEC strains to intestinal cells is crucial for establishment of infection, the prevention of disease is based mainly upon immune responses against the pili that interfere with the attachment process. Studies performed with 14 healthy human volunteers who ingested 5×108 E. coli E24377A (O139:H28), a CS1 and CS3 producing strain, showed that all 14 became colonized, 9 developed a typical diarrheal syndrome, and 6 of these ill persons manifested a significant increase in serum IgG antibody to purified CS1 and CS3 antigens. Levine, M. M., et al., Infect. Immun., 44:409-420 (1984). These results suggest that the fimbria play a role in pathogenesis, and stimulate an immune response.
Passive protection against ETEC infection was demonstrated in a clinical trial done at the University of Maryland, which demonstrated that oral prophylaxis with hyperimmune anti CFA/I immunoglobulin provided 90% protection against diarrhea caused by oral challenge with 109 cfu of ETEC strain H10407, a CFA/I producing strain. Tacket, et al., N. Eng. J. Med., 318: 1240 (1988). In another study oral immunization with purified CS1 and CS3 antigens encapsulated in biodegradable polymer microspheres were used to induce the development of IgA anti CS ASC (Antibody Secreting Cells) and jejunal fluid secretory IgA anti CS in 50% of the vaccinees. Levine, et al., Fimbriae (pili) adhesions as vaccines, in Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions in Biological Systems. The molecular Biology of Microbial Pathogenicity, Lark, et al., Eds., Academic Press, London, p 154, 1986. This exposure also protected 30% of vaccinees from diarrhea following challenge with the virulent ETEC E24377A (CS1+CS3+LT+ST+) strain. A protective efficacy of 75% was demonstrated by immunization with the attenuated ETEC strain. Feeding volunteers with 5×1010 live E. coli E1392-75-2A (O6:H16) a CS1+ CS3+ LT− ST− strain, induced significant rise in intestinal fluid secretory IgA antibodies to CS1 and CS3 fimbria, and conferred protection to 9/12 volunteers that were challenged with a virulent heterologous serotype strain ETEC E24377A (O139:H28).
Another approach to develop an ETEC vaccine is to immunize with killed mixed ETEC strains. This type of vaccine is based on the fact that prior infection with an ETEC strain elicits protective immunity against a clinical illness that might be caused from subsequent exposure to the homologous strain. Oral immunization of children and adult volunteers with such a vaccine resulted in significant intestinal IgA responses against the CFA and CS components of the various strains. The vaccine induced high level of intestinal IgA antibody, IgA antibody ASC in the blood, and serum antibodies towards the colonization factor antigens. Jertborn, et al., Vaccine 16:255 (1997). Those results indicate that antibodies towards ETEC pilis provide protection against diarrhea caused by ETEC strains.
A combined vaccine against diarrheal disease caused by Shigella, Salmonella and ETEC has been proposed. These vaccines are composed of live attenuated Shigella or Salmonella strains that express ETEC fimbriae. The recombinant bacteria colonize the intestine and induced the mucosal and systemic immune response against the bacteria and the pili. Noriega et al., (Infect. Immun., 64:23-27 (1996)) co-expressed CFA/I and CS3 in Shigella CVD1203, immunized guinea pigs and mice, and showed that the immunized animals developed high titer of tears secreted IgA (similar to mucosal sIgA), and serum IgG antibodies, towards the Shigella LPS and the fimbrial antigens. The ETEC human recombinant LT (K63) gene was expressed in Shigella CVD1204, a guanine dependent strain, and showed production of sIgA and serum IgG toward the Shigella LPS as well as towards the LT-A and LT-B subunits of the LT enterotoxin, following immunization of guinea pigs. Koprowski, et al., (Infect. Immun., 68:4884-92 (2000)) co-expressed in CVD1204 the CFA/I and LT (K63) antigens, and demonstrates production of antibodies of the sIgA and serum IgG toward the Shigella LPS, the CFA/I pili antigens and the LT antigens. Altboum et al, (Attenuated Shigella flexneri 2a ΔguaBA strain CVD 1204 expressing ETEC CS2 and CS3 fimbriae as a live mucosal vaccine against Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection, In press) immunized guinea pigs with a mixture of CVD 1204 strains expressing ETEC CS2 and CS3 fimbria. All the immunized animals developed tears sIgA and serum IgG antibodies against Shigella LPS, CS2 and CS3 antigens, agglutinating antibodies against Shigella and ETEC CS2 and CS3 strains, and were protected against keratoconjunctivitis caused by eye challenge with the virulent S. flexneri 2a 2457T strain. Those results indicate that a combined immunization with live attenuated Shigella strains expressing ETEC fimbria might induce protection against Shigellosis and ETEC infection.


A photosensitive body cartridge detachably attachable to a body of an image forming apparatus has a photosensitive body, a lower frame, and an upper frame that is disposed above and is attachable to the lower frame. The upper frame includes an upper engaging portion that engages the lower frame and the lower frame includes a lower engaging portion that engages the upper frame, and the upper engaging portion and the lower engaging portion extend in directions opposite to each other in a state where the upper frame is attached to the lower frame, and when the upper frame and the lower frame are engaged with each other, the upper engaging portion and the lower engaging portion overlap each other.

This application claims priority from JP 2003-193981 and JP 2003-193982, both filed on Jul. 9, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a process device, a photosensitive body cartridge, a photosensitive body cartridge assembling method, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, such as a laser beam printer. The drum cartridge includes a lower frame and an upper frame, both of which are made of resin, wherein the upper frame is assembled to the lower frame. The upper frame is provided with a scorotron charging device, and the lower frame is provided with a photosensitive drum that is rotatably supported therein.
The upper frame and the lower frame are commonly assembled to each other by using hooks, which are often used to assemble resin parts to each other. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-116288 discloses upper and lower frames that are provided with hooks, wherein the upper frame is snapped into a place of the lower frame with a single motion by engaging the hooks with each other.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,041,203, 6,330,410, 6,411,789, 6,546,217, and 6,690,903 disclose a conventional image forming apparatus, such as a laser beam printer, to which a process unit is detachably attached, wherein the process unit includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a toner cartridge which is accommodated in the drum cartridge and has a developing roller.
As shown in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 10, a process unit 131 is attached to a body frame 133, a shaft 132 of a photosensitive drum 136 provided on the process unit 131 is engaged with guide members 134 provided to inner surfaces of both sides of the body frame 133 and the position of the process unit 131, in a front and rear direction and in an up and down direction, is set with respect to the body frame 133. In addition, both side surfaces of a housing 135 of the process unit 131 in the width direction abut against the respective guide members 134, thereby positioning the process unit 131 in the width direction with respect to the printer frame 133.

Process device, photosensitive body cartridge, photosensitive body cartridge assembling method, and image forming apparatus


A panel for use in air conditioning duct for carrying air along an enclosed path of travel. The panel includes a rectangular shaped frame made of a material having a relatively high R value. The frame is closed by a top cover and a bottom cover so that a cavity is established within the panel. The cavity is filled with a curable material that sets inside the panel to bond the walls of the frame together and to bond the covers to the frame. A bulb seal having high insulation characteristics extending along the length of one edge of adjoining panels so that energy transmission is further inhibited.

This invention relates generally to a panel for use in an air handling unit that forms a thermal barrier to limit the flow of energy through the panel.
Many air handling units found in the prior art are simply fabricated from sheet metal ducts that are connected together in the field to establish an enclosed flow path, through which air is conducted. The sheet metal walls of the ducts readily conduct heat and provide little in the way of a thermal barrier such that energy readily flows into or out of the ducts. When the air handling unit is carrying relatively cooled, conditioned air, this flow of energy into or out of the ducts can be costly and places an unwanted load on the air conditioning equipment.
In addition, when the air handling unit is installed in an unconditioned space and is carrying cooled air, the outer casing of the unit will xe2x80x9csweatxe2x80x9d due to condensation of water vapor in the relatively hot outside air upon contact with the casing. The moisture so developed will run off the unit onto the floor or onto equipment contained in the unconditioned space. Such run off creates a safety hazard for people working in the area and can damage the equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to improve ducts for conducting air along a desired flow path.
A further object of the present invention is to limit the loss of energy through the walls of a duct carrying conditioned air.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved panel for use in an air handling unit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structural panel for use in an air handling unit that has a relatively high R value.
Yet another object of the present invention is to prevent ducts of an air handling unit from sweating when carrying conditioned air.
These and other objects of the present invention are contained by a panel suitable for use in an air handling duct for carrying air along an enclosed path of travel. The panel includes a rectangular frame made of a material having a relatively high R value. The frame is closed by a top cover and a bottom cover so that a cavity is established within the panel. The cavity is filled with a curable material that sets inside the panel to bond the walls of the frame together and to bond the covers to the frame. A bulb seal having high insulation characteristics extending along the length of one edge of adjoining panels so that energy transmission is further inhibited.

Thermal barrier for air handling unit (AHU) cabinet


A process of producing a semiconductor device having a highly reliable groove isolation structure with a desired radius of curvature formed at the groove upper edge and without formation of any step. The device is produced by reducing the stress generation around the groove upper edge of an element isolation groove on a semiconductor substrate, thereby optimizing the shape of an element isolation groove and making the device finer and improving the device electric characteristics.

A shallow groove isolation (SGI) structure is now available to make an electrical insulation or isolation between adjacent elements such as transistors, etc. on a semiconductor substrate. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the SGI structure typically comprises a shallow groove formed on a semiconductor substrate 31 of silicon and an oxide film 35 and the like embedded in the groove and is suitable for devices requiring processing dimensional precision of 0.25 μm or under, because its processing dimensional precision is higher than that of the structure so far by local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS). However, the SGI structure sometimes suffers from formation of sharp protrusions 34 of semiconductor substrate 31 of silicon formed in the oxide film 35 formed by oxidation at the upper edge of the groove during the oxidation step, as shown in FIG. 1C. The presence of such sharp protrusions 34 of semiconductor substrate 31 of silicon causes concentration of electric fields around the protrusions during the circuit operation, sometimes deteriorating gate breakdown voltage or capacitance, as disclosed, for example, by A. Bryant et al (Technical Digest of IEDM ′94, pp. 671-674). It is known from experiences that such deterioration of gate breakdown voltage occurs when the radius of curvature of the substrate is not more than 3 nm around the groove upper edge, even if the angle of substrate is not less than 90° around the groove upper edge. To overcome the deterioration, pad oxide film 32 of FIG. 1B is recessed backwards by about 0.1 μm as shown in FIG. 1B′ and oxidized with an oxidant, preferably steam at a temperature of about 1,000° C. to form a desired radius of curvature at the groove upper edges, as disclosed in JP-A-2-260660.
Even though the desired radius curvature can be obtained by the prior art procedure, step (or unevenness) 44 is formed on the upper surface of semiconductor substrate of silicon 31 around the groove upper edge, as shown in FIG. 1C′. Such step 44 can be formed presumably due to the following mechanism. That is, semiconductor substrate 31 of silicon has a silicon-exposed region and a silicon-unexposed region in the recessed area at the edge of pad oxide film 32; the silicon-exposed region undergoes faster oxidant diffusion, i.e. faster oxidation, than the silicon-unexposed region, resulting in formation of step 44 at the edge of pad oxide film 32 as a boundary. Gate oxide film 37, when formed in such a step region, has an uneven thickness, which leads to variations of electrical properties. Furthermore, stresses are liable to concentrate therein, resulting in a possible decrease in the electrical reliability of a transistors to be formed on step 44.
Further, the silicon oxide film 36 is deposited on the semiconductor substrate 31 by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to embed the silicon oxide film 36 in the groove and then the semiconductor substrate 31 is heat treated to sinter the silicon oxide film 36 embedded in the groove. Sintering is carried out for improving the quality of the silicon oxide film 36 embedded in the groove. If the sintering is insufficient, voids are often generated in the groove in the subsequent steps.
Furthermore, it is said that wet or steam oxidation is effective for sintering the silicon oxide film 36 embedded in the groove, but the wet or steam oxidation is liable to oxidize the inside, particularly side wall, of the groove. Oxidation starts from the groove surface and thus the groove bottom is less oxidized. Once the groove side wall is oxidized, the active region is narrowed. This is another problem. Thicker oxide film will cause a larger stress on the boundary between the oxide film and the substrate and the once rounded shoulder edge will return to the original sharp one and crystal defects are also generated. This is a further problem. To overcome these problems, it was proposed to provide a silicon nitride film along the groove inside wall.
According to a process for forming a groove, disclosed in JP-A-8-97277, a groove is trenched on a silicon substrate at first, and then an oxide film is formed on the groove inside surfaces (side wall and bottom surfaces) by heat oxidation, followed by further formation of a silicon nitride film thereon and still further formation of a silicon film such as anyone of amorphous, polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon films on the silicon nitride film. Then, the groove is embedded with a silicon oxide film completely, followed by flattening of the groove top. After the deposition of the silicon oxide film on the entire surface of substrate, but before the fattening, the silicon film is oxidized in an oxidizing atmosphere including steam at about 950° C. to convert it to a silicon oxide film. The silicon substrate is not oxidized during the oxidation, because the silicon substrate is protected by the silicon nitride film. According to the process, a film having a good compatibility with a silicon oxide film, i.e. a silicon film is formed as a thin film on the groove inside surfaces and thus the groove can be embedded with the silicon oxide film without any remaining voids in the groove. The silicon film in the groove must be then converted to a silicon oxide film by oxidation, but the silicon nitride film is provided between the silicon film and the silicon substrate, the silicon substrate is never oxidized during the oxidation of the silicon film. That is, no device characteristics are deteriorated at all.
In the above-mentioned prior art processes for forming a groove, heat treatment is carried out at a high temperature such as 1,000° C. or higher to round the shoulder edge of element isolation groove. However, large-dimension wafers are liable to undergo dislocation, which will serve as nuclei for defects, by heat treatment at a high temperature such as 1,000° C. or higher, and thus a heat-treatment process at a high temperature such as 1,000° C. or higher would be hard to use in view of the future trend to use much larger-dimension wafers. In the heat treatment at a low temperature such as less than 1,000° C., it is hard to round the shoulder edge of element isolation groove.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor device and process for producing the same


The soap applicator holds a bar of soap for application to areas of the body of a person, particularly those which are hard to reach. The soap applicator is in the form of a hand shaped soap holder with an elongate handle attached at its base. A recess in the soap holder receives the bar of soap and secures the soap with the use of two serrated flanges. Water is delivered through a tube to the soap holder from a reservoir in the handle. Curved massaging fingers extend from the soap holder in a direction out of the palm for lathering the soap and massaging the body.

When bathing or showering it can often be difficult to apply soap to all areas of the body such as portions of the back and other difficult to reach areas. This is particularly true for old or infirm individuals.
To enable an individual to reach all parts of the body scrubbing brushes have been mounted on the ends of elongate handles which enable the individual to apply the brush to areas of the body which otherwise are difficult to reach by hand. These scrubbing brushes require that the brush head be wetted with water and that soap be applied to the brush before application to the person during washing. The wetting of the brush head and application of soap must be repeated periodically during washing if the brush is to continue delivering soap to the persons body. This does not allow for continuous washing and can at times be inconvenient.


A filter capacitor accumulating direct-current power and a semiconductor device module performing a switching operation that converts the direct-current power accumulated in the filter capacitor to alternating-current power are electrically connected with each other through a laminated bus bar. The laminated bus bar has a first bus bar and a second bus bar in which a plurality of connection conductors are laminated through an insulator. The second bus bar is provided with heat radiating portions that are formed by exposing a part of the conductor in each flat plate surface.

Regarding a power conversion apparatus having a relatively large capacity, it is desired for suppressing a surge voltage applied to a switching device that is turned off to reduce not only an inductance component of a main circuit but also a total inductance component including an inductance component between a semiconductor device module and a filter capacitor as much as possible. Therefore, in a conventional power conversion apparatus, such a configuration that a multi-layer bus bar in which a plurality of conductors are stacked through an insulator is used as a conductor for connecting between the semiconductor device module and the filter capacitor is often used (Patent Literature 1, for example).
One of the representative multi-layer bus bars is a laminated bus bar in which an external surface of the bus bar is coated with a laminate material such as a plastic film.

Power conversion apparatus with a laminated bus bar comprising an exposed heat radiating portion


Methods and devices adapted to receive a data in order to trigger a small cell search, including receiving a data from a network, wherein the data comprises at least one of: a small cell station location list comprising one or more small cell station locations, or a macro cell list comprising one or more macro cells, wherein the one or more macro cells have at least one small cell within their coverage; and triggering the small cell search at the device in response to at least one of the following: when the device is in proximity to a small cell station location listed in the small cell station location list, or when the device is within coverage of a macro cell listed in the macro cell list. These methods and devices may be configured to provide a mobile device with a method to search for and select a closed subscriber (CSG) cell for the first time.

Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) frequencies and CSG cells are typically not broadcast by a Macro Cell's system information as a neighbor frequency or cell to be measured for a user equipment's (UE's) idle mode mobility. In current implementations, CSG cells need to be explicitly searched via Manual CSG search across all of the frequency bands used by the operator and supported by the UE and manually selected for the first time. Furthermore, the Autonomous search is not specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and is left for UE implementation. Current Autonomous search implementations require the UE to have been camped on the CSG cell and the CSG cell maintaining the same CSG parameters in order to trigger the Autonomous search. Consecutive inbound mobility to a previously visited CSG cell is performed by an Autonomous CSG search using the fingerprints taken at the time while selecting and camping on the CSG cell.
A CSG cell is accessible only for a limited set of UEs. In order to prevent a UE from attempting to camp on a CSG cell which it does not have access, the UE maintains a CSG whitelist. The CSG whitelist is provided by the non-access stratum (NAS) and contains all the Identities of the CSGs, i.e. allowed or member CSG cells, to which the subscriber belongs and is allowed access. When reselecting to a CSG cell, the UE compares the CSG Identity of the detected CSG cell with its whitelist to check whether the detected CSG cell belongs to its group.
Operators and mobile phone vendors do not provide a user interface to either select a CSG Identity (i.e. CSG ID) from all available CSG IDs (i.e., manual CSG selection is not possible but a user can trigger a CSG search) or trigger a manual CSG search in order to perform a manual CSG selection (i.e., user does not have the option to specifically trigger the Manual CSG search and cannot select a CSG ID from the available CSG IDs). These restrictions introduce the need for UEs to perform a background search to detect and select a member CSG for the first time or select previously known CSG cells whose parameters are modified so they are no longer detectable through the Autonomous CSG search.
A background search can be implemented in several ways, for example, searching for a CSG cell once every time the UE is powered on or airplane mode is turned off or searching for a CSG periodically (e.g. every night, or every hour, or with variable periodicity).
However, such a background search presents several drawbacks. The UE's power may be compromised in order to reduce the time to detect and re-select an available CSG cell. Similarly, the time to detect and re-reselect an available CSG cell may be compromised in order to conserve power. Also, requiring the user to go through a power off/on or Airplane mode on/off sequence will break the user's internet protocol (IP) connection and interrupt pageability. In sum, these searches compromise user experience by draining power, interrupting mobile services, or the CSG selection does not happen when the user expects it to happen.

Methods and devices for small cell search


In this antenna in an element in an electrically conductive material, the element comprises a gauze coated at least in part by a coating of thermoplastic material.

The present invention concerns reflectors of electromagnetic waves in element in an electrically conductive material, preferably having a convex face which defines a focal point for radio waves. These are more often antennae in the form of a spherical or parabolic dish, but they may also have any other shape which provides focussing.
A metallic antenna produced by stamping in one or more passes, a spherical dish enabling signals from a satellite to be focussed to a point, is already known. The metal surface is radio opaque to frequencies transmitted by the satellite and permits a theoretical reflection rate of 100%. Since the shape is obtained by stamping, the sheet has to undergo several surface treatments in order to prevent corrosion. These treatments, in particular the application of a primer and a paint, have to be repeated after stamping.
Antennae made of thermosetting material which require tooling designed to obtain the desired shape, in particular parabolic, are also disclosed by DE 3911445 A. A metallic frame is manually shaped in the tool. A lump of material is then introduced into the tool above the frame. The tool is locked. A firing is carried out to polymerise the inserted material. After the firing, the tool is opened and the part is extracted from the mould. Because of the moulding technology, deburring has to be carried out, followed by sanding, application of a primer then a paint coat on the two faces.
An antenna containing a metallic gauze coated in thermoplastic resin by injection moulding is described in EP-595 418. The metallic gauze is given the desired shape before moulding is carried out. To shape a metallic gauze into a parabola with great accuracy is an operation that is very difficult to achieve.
Painting technologies with powder coating do not permit a large variation in colour without incurring disproportionate manufacturing costs due to the need to clean the production tool when changing from one colour to the other.
The invention overcomes these drawbacks and enables a reflector of electromagnetic waves to be obtained, which is protected against corrosion, much easier to manufacture and which in particular allows possible use of a paint that is much easier and less expensive to implement and thus eliminates any painting operation with powder coating and the cleaning operations which this involves.
The object of the invention is a process for manufacturing a reflector of electromagnetic waves having a shape providing focussing of electromagnetic waves, in which process an electrically conductive lattice is placed in a moulding tool, thermoplastic plastic material is placed in the moulding tool and a reflector is demoulded, wherein
the lattice placed in the moulding tool has a shape that differs from said shape providing focussing of electromagnetic waves, and
the thermoplastic material is injected into the moulding tool under such a pressure that it forms the lattice into said shape providing focussing.
The lattice no longer has to be shaped independently of the moulding operation. This shaping is carried out by the moulding operation itself
The lattice of electrically conductive material may comprise wires arranged at a distance, preferably at a constant spacing, from each other. For preference, the lattice is a gauze or a grid, in particular planar.
Manufacture is effected by injection moulding a thermoplastic material, preferably onto a grid with a uniform mesh of an electrically conductive material. Injection is carried out at high pressure, for example in excess of 50 bar and more often between 150 and 450 bar.
For preference, the process comprises
gripping between the two mould halves of a thermoplastic material injection mould a lattice of an electrically conductive material of such a dimension that it overhangs the periphery of the die of the mould,
injecting thermoplastic material into the die,
demoulding an injected part from the periphery of that which overhangs the lattice, and
cutting off the lattice level with the part.
The lattice is thus well supported during moulding and the curves of the lattice and of the coating are not off centre, everything being obtained automatically by the usual moulding operation. The coating of the wires is often virtually complete and in any case occurs over more than 80% of the transverse section of the wires.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals, among others, as well as carbon fibre or their oxides and particularly aluminium and stainless steel, can be used as an electrically conductive material. The wire usually has a diameter of 0.005 to 0.5 mm, it being understood that the wires can also have a transverse section that is other than circular and that the values indicated above then apply to the largest dimension of the transverse section.
Polyethylene, polypropylene or other polyolefins, ABS, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, among others, as well as any other injectable thermoplastic material, can be used as thermoplastic material. The thickness of the injected plastic material is generally between 0.5 mm and 1 cm.
Advantageously, the distance between the wires is between 0.003 mm and 1.5 cm.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the desired colour for the antenna is imparted to it by the fact the plastic material is coloured in bulk. The antenna may also be transparent.
The object of the invention is also a reflector of electromagnetic waves comprising a lattice of an electrically conductive material coated by a coating of thermoplastic material, having a central part and a border, characterised in that in the central part the lattice appears at points on one of the faces of the coating, while it is buried in the coating on one part of the border.
Depending on the direction of injection, the lattice appears at points on one or other of the faces of the border.

Electromagnetic wave reflector and method for making same


The formation of a one time programmable (OTP) transistor based electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) cell (100) is disclosed. The cell (100) includes multiple concentric rings (108, 110) out of which gate structures are formed. An inner transistor based cell (130) formed from the inner ring (108) is shielded from isolation material (106) by one or more outer rings (110). The lack of overlap between the inner transistor and any isolation material promotes enhanced charge/data retention by mitigating high electric fields that may develop at such overlap regions (30, 32).

One time programmable (OTP) electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) can be an effective, low cost mechanism for providing non-volatile memory in a variety of computer related applications, such as in small handheld digital devices like cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc.
A one time programmable EPROM cell generally comprises a transistor that can be programmed once so that a particular amount of charge is stored within the cell, where the amount of charge stored within the cell corresponds to digital data (i.e., 0 or 1). An OTP transistor is programmed by applying a first known voltage to the cell, and the data stored within the cell is read basically by applying a second different voltage to the cell and reading a resulting current that flows through the cell. A first amount of current generally corresponds to a logic 1, while a second amount of current generally corresponds to a logic 0.
OTP EPROM cells may be utilized to store configuration data, for example, in electronic devices. It can be appreciated that it is desirable for such data to remain continually accessible over long periods of time, such as for up to several years, for example. However, aspects of conventionally designed OTP transistors provide for weak spots that can result in electrical tunneling, which can cause a charge stored within an OTP transistor to diminish over time, which can lead to erroneous or false data reads.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to design an OTP transistor based EPROM cell in a manner that mitigates weak spots and resulting adverse effects associated with tunneling phenomena.

One time programmable EPROM fabrication in STI CMOS technology


A compressor has a piston attached to an eccentric part of a rotary shaft for being reciprocated to compress refrigerant. In order to provide lubricating oil to the shaft, an oil paddle is mounted in a hole of the eccentric part for pumping oil from the bottom of the compressor. The paddle includes a longitudinally extending gap rendering the paddle flexible so that either end thereof can be mounted in the hole. The paddle also includes slots formed in upper and lower ends of the paddle, respectively, in diametrically opposing relationship to the gap. The lower slot is submersed in the oil to reduce the amount of oil that is pumped and thereby reducing generated noise.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a hermetic reciprocating compressor used in an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc. More particularly, it relates to an oil pump for a compressor having an improved construction to reduce the noise produced during operation.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional compressor includes a housing formed by upper and lower shells 1 and 2 sealing and protecting internal components, a stator 3 installed in upper and lower shells 1 and 2, and provided with power to create a magnetic field, a rotor 5 mounted within stator 3 and rotating by the action of the magnetic field, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Within rotor 5 is installed a rotation shaft 9 to rotate with rotor 5. A connecting rod 11 is installed at an eccentric part of one end of rotation shaft 9 for converting the rotating motion of rotation shaft 9 into a reciprocating motion. A piston 13 is installed at one end of connecting rod 11 to reciprocate according to the reciprocating motion of connecting rod 11. A cylinder block 15 is provided to the outside of piston 13 to make a space in which a refrigerant is compressed, simultaneously with guiding piston 13. A valve plate 21 with a suction hole 17 and an exhaust hole 19 is mounted on cylinder block 15, and a cylinder head 27 with a suction chamber 23 and an exhaust chamber 25 at one side of valve plate 21.
A gasket 29 is interposed between valve plate 21 and cylinder head 27 for forming a seal, and an oil paddle 30 is provided to an eccentric part 9a of rotation shaft 9 to pump up oil flowing in the bottom of lower shell 2 by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of oil paddle 30. A hole 9b is also formed at eccentric part 9a of rotation shaft 9. Oil paddle 30 has a gap 31 so as to fit into hole 9b, and an oil scattering part 33 is provided to the middle of 11 paddle 30. A push fit portion 35 is formed on the upper part of oil paddle 30, and an oil dipper 36 which is immersed in the oil of lower shell 2 is provided to the lower part of oil paddle 30. Gap 31 is formed to face a centripetal point when rotation shaft 9 turns. Reference numerals 37 and 39 denote a suction muffler sending the refrigerant to cylinder block 15, and a connecting pipe transmitting the refrigerant of suction muffler 37 to cylinder block 15.
Once power is applied to the conventional compressor, a magnetic field is created in the vicinity of stator 3. As rotor 5 rotates by the action of this magnetic field, rotation shaft 9, integrally formed with rotor 5, also rotates, and connecting rod 11 disposed on one end of stator 5 reciprocates rectilinearly, thus making piston 13, provided to the inside of cylinder block 15, reciprocate rectilinearly.
The refrigerant, introduced to suction chamber 23 of cylinder head 27 through suction muffler 37 and connecting tube 39, flows into cylinder block 15 pushing intake valve 31 provided to suction hole 17 of-valve plate 21. Cylinder block 15 becomes compressed as piston 13 is moved, and the refrigerant in cylinder block 15 flows to the outside through exhaust hole 19 of valve plate 21. As push fit portion 35 of oil paddle 30, provided to one eccentric part of rotation shaft 9, rotates in a circle as rotation shaft 9 turns, oil dipper 36 of oil paddle 30 rotates about the center of rotation shaft 9, thus pumping out the oil flowing in lower shell 2 by centrifugal force produced by oil paddle 30.
According to the conventional compressor, push fit portion 35 of oil paddle 30 has directivity, and it must be properly positioned so as to fit into rotation shaft 9 in assemblage. Oil paddle 30 being locked rotates about rotation shaft 9 to pump the oil out, and an abnormal noise is produced by the wave motion of the oil surface, thus increasing the compressor noise.


A wave-shaped flow board suitable for a fuel cell includes an injection-molded body substrate, a reaction zone recessed into a surface of the body substrate, and a wave-shaped current collector, which defines a plurality of independent fuel channels. The wave-shaped current collector is integrally mounted in the reaction zone and comprises a bendable conductive lug portion for providing an electrical connection between the wave-shaped current collector and a circuit on the surface of the wave-shaped flow board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow board of a fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a flow board with high methanol resistance and high mechanical strength, superior fuel flow efficiency, and low cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is well known, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are power packages that use diluted methanol liquid as fuel, and change chemical energy to electric power electro-chemically. Compared with previous power generating methods, DMFCs have the advantages of low pollution, low noise, high energy density, and higher energy exchange rates. DMFCs are a clean energy resource, and can be applied in family power generated systems, uninterruptible power systems, electric products, transport, military equipment, and the space industry.
The operating principle of DMFCs is oxidizing the methanol liquid in the anode catalyst layer to generate hydrogen ions (H+), electrons (e−), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The hydrogen ions are input to the cathode by an electrolyte. At the same time, oxygen is supplied to the cathode, and the hydrogen ions and electrons in the cathode catalyst layer undergo a reduction reaction to generate water. In general, fuel cells are made from many basic units. Each basic unit provides low voltage so many basic units must connect in series to output a required operating voltage.
The DMFC module usually includes a current collector and a flow board, which both play important roles. The current collector collects the electrons generated from the electron-chemical reaction, and the flow board manages and controls the distribution of the fuel. In the past, the flow board design has focused on enabling fuel to pass smoothly through the fuel channel into the membrane electrode assembly (MEA).
The prior flow boards use graphite or glass fiberboard such as FR4, FR5 as the materials of the body substrates. The flow boards are conventionally made by using a computer numerical control (CNC) mill lathe. The shortcomings of CNC mill lathe include low yield, and high cost. The prior body substrates, which are made of graphite, FR4, or FR5, have poor mechanical properties, and occupy too much space. The above reasons are disadvantageous for the yield and popularization of the fuel cell.
In conclusion, a well designed flow board does not only depend on choosing a material that is resistive to corrosion caused by gaseous/liquid fuel and/or the chemical reactant, but also requires choosing a material that has superior mechanical properties, low cost, and fast mass production. There is a need to improve both the materials and the manufacturing methods utilized in conventional flow boards.

Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corporation


A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming circuit devices and a plurality of electrode pads within a semiconductor chip formation region. The method also includes forming, on the main surface of the semiconductor wafer, an insulating film which exposes a portion of each of the electrode pads. The method also includes forming a conducting film covering the electrode pads, on the insulating film, and forming a wiring layer on the conducting film. The method also includes forming a negative resist layer in the semiconductor chip formation region and a peripheral region. The method also includes covering protruding electrode formation regions in the semiconductor chip formation region and covering electrode portion formation regions in the peripheral region, and performing optical exposure of the negative resist layer. The method also includes forming aperture portions in the protruding electrode formation regions and a plurality of electrode portions. The aperture portions expose a portion of the wiring layer. The electrode portions are formed by exposing the conducting film. The method also includes performing plating using the resist layer as a mask to form protruding electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a so-called WCSP (Wafer-Level Chip Size Package) structure, and to a manufacturing apparatus used in this manufacturing method, in particular to an optical exposure apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A package having a size equal to a single semiconductor chip cut from the semiconductor wafer is generally known as a CSP (Chip-Size Package). The CSP obtained when resin sealing is applied over a semiconductor chip formed on a semiconductor wafer in the semiconductor wafer state is called a WCSP.
A WCSP is obtained by separation of a structure which includes a plurality of semiconductor devices formed in a matrix on a semiconductor wafer using wafer processes.
In a WCSP manufacturing process, when forming protruding electrodes (also called electrode posts), for example a negative resist material is used to form a resist pattern for a plating process over the entire wafer surface on which a rewiring layer is formed. In this resist pattern for a plating process, aperture portions are formed at positions at which protruding electrodes are to be formed. Those regions on the negative resist material (resist layer) which are not optically exposed by the exposure apparatus are removed to form aperture portions. Thus, the optical exposure process is performed using a mask to shield those regions on the resist layer in which protruding electrodes are to be formed.
Semiconductor devices are not formed along the periphery of the wafer. In the optical exposure process, a light shielding layer is formed covering the entire periphery of the wafer. After the optical exposure process, the UBM (Under Barrier Metal) layer (hereafter also simply called the conducting layer) in the peripheral region is caused to be exposed on the surface. Such technology is for example disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-open Application) No. 2001-156093.
There is another known technology. In order to expand the usable area of the wafer, optical exposure is applied on a peripheral region of positive resist provided on the entire wafer surface (see for example Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2-114628). As a result, there exists a contact portion in the peripheral region which is in contact with retaining claws used to hold the wafer, and the contact portion is also optically exposed.
As described above, in the conventional WCSP manufacturing methods the entirety of the wafer peripheral portion is optically exposed, so that the UBM film (conductive film) exposed at the surface in the wafer peripheral region is also plated in the protruding electrode formation process (plating process). In the plating process, the conductive film must be exposed at the surface as an electrode portion in the wafer peripheral region because it has to be electrically connected with the plating equipment. However, when a conductive film is exposed at the surface over the entire peripheral region, plating material is wasted in the plated film formed over the entire conductive film.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2-114628, if a mask is formed and a special optical exposure process is used to optically expose only the peripheral portion of the wafer, that is, if the process of forming the electrode portion for the plating process is a separate process, then the number of processes is increased. As a result, there tends to be an increase in the semiconductor device manufacturing costs.
Further, in the peripheral region near the outer perimeter of the semiconductor wafer, if the area of the UBM film exposed at the surface becomes large, there creates the possibility that a plated film may be formed in this region. When for example retaining the semiconductor wafer during the sealing process, stresses are concentrated in the region in which this plated film appears. This would result in damage to the semiconductor wafer.

Semiconductor device manufacturing method and apparatus used in the semiconductor device manufacturing method


Disclosed is a BRD4 inhibitor as shown in formula I, belonging to the field of compound drugs. The compound provided has a good inhibitory effect on prostate cancer cell proliferation, and can be used for preparing a drug combatting tumors, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases and viral infection, and in particular an anti-prostate cancer drug.

The BRD4 protein in the bromodomain of BET family contains acetylated lysine residues capable of binding histones and other proteins, and plays a key role in the regulation of gene transcription and the control of cell growth. The BRD4 protein is involved in the regulation of large protein complexes related with the transcription of many genes, including mediators, PAFc, and superelongation complexes. The investigation done by Jang et al. (Mol. Cell, 2005, 19, 523-534) indicates that the kinase activity of BRD4 can directly phosphorylate and activate RNA polymerase II, thereby regulating the transcriptional expression of genes. Devaiah et al., Rroc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA 2012, 109, 6927-6932 report that the progression of cells lacking BRD4 through the cell cycle is influenced. The investigation has shown that many human diseases are closely related to BRD4 protein, such as tumors and bacterial inflammation. For example, in the models of hematopoietic tumors including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, the expression of MYC can be inhibited by interfering with the binding of BRD4 to the oncogene MYC.
BRD4 is inhibited by the inhibitors targeting it. BRD4 inhibitors have great values in anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory as well as many other fields, and has attracted close attention from major pharmaceutical companies and scientific research institutions. For example, Dr. Hernando found that BRD4 was over-expressed in melanoma cells and maintained tumor cell proliferation in 2013. When its expression was suppressed, the growth rate of tumor cells is significantly retarded. Chen Chong, entitled "The effect and possible mechanism of BRD4 inhibitor GSK525762A on the proliferation and apoptosis of acute B lymphocytic leukemia cells", the National Symposium on the Progress of
Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment, 2014, shows that BRD4 inhibitors can inhibit the proliferation of acute B lymphocytic leukemia cells and promote their apoptosis. Ni Ping, et al., entitled "A preliminary study of BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 effects on non-small cell lung cancer cells", Journal of Nanjing Medical University (Natural Science Edition), 2015, issue 08, show that BRD4 inhibitors can inhibit the growth of non-small cell lung cancer. At present, small molecule compounds that can block the specific binding of lysine acetylate and BRD4 have gradually become a research focus.


A process and resulting product is provided in which vulcanized rubber crumb has selected chemical bonds broken and sulphur removal by biotreatment with hydrophobic bacteria, such as mycolic acid containing actinomycete bacteria of ‘mycolata’, without significant degradation of the hydrocarbon polymer. The products obtained from the use of these bacteria may be processed alone or in blends with virgin rubber and revulcanized to yield products of much higher quality than conventional reclaimed rubber materials.

The largest single application for rubber is in vehicle tyre. The principal rubbers used are the hydrocarbon polymers Natural Rubber (NR), Styrene Butadiene Rubbers (SBR) and Polybutadiene Rubbers (BR). During processing the polymer molecules are vulcanised i.e. cross-linked by sulphur atoms. The formation of cross-links enhances the mechanical properties of the rubber but renders it unsuitable for easy processing. Throughout this application, vulcanised rubber is taken to mean rubber cross-linked by sulphur.
Waste rubber materials, such as vehicle tyres, present a significant environmental problem.
Currently, the European Union scraps a total of nearly 2×106 tonnes of tyres per year of which 23% are retreaded and 46% disposed to landfill. In the UK, it is estimated that approximately 100000 tonnes of tyres are disposed of each year, mainly in landfill sites. In the USA, 300 million tyres are disposed to landfill per annum. In New York State alone, 12 million tyres are discarded per annum, which represents in excess of three million barrels of oil in energy equivalent being discarded.
The United Nations and EU have warned that waste rubber is becoming a significant environmental problem worldwide. The EC Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) has advocated the banning of disposal to landfill by 2003 for whole tyres and 2006 for shredded tyres.
Currently, alternative means of disposal of waste rubber, in particular waste tyres, include various recycling methods and burning of e.g. in cement kilns. However, burning of rubber materials such as tyres can produce significant pollutants including dioxins.
Life cycle analysis shows that only a small fraction of the energy used in manufacturing tyres is recovered on combustion.
Conventional recycling methods include mechanical, thermo-mechanical, cryomechanical, microwave and ultrasonic methods. Chemical recycling methods include reclamation using organic disulphides, mercaptans and inorganic compounds. However, rubber produced using these methods has poor mechanical properties. There is also pyrolysis of waste rubber to oils and carbon black. Alternative methods of recycling include employing reclaimed rubber that is blended with Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) to produce mixed polymer elastomeric material. However, rubber produced using these methods has poor mechanical properties.
Rubber crumb is also used in roads, playparks, running tracks and equestrian surfaces. However none of these applications come close to using the large quantities of waste rubber available.
A recent biotechnological approach to recycling rubber involves elastomer recycling to the viscoelastic state by removal of sulphur by the thermophilic bacterium Sulfolobus. However, the use of a thermophile at temperatures in the region of 70° carries a large energy cost penalty and generates highly acidic environments with production of sulphuric acid which can lead to reprocessing problems. DE04042009 describes the surface treatment of rubber crumb by suspensions of chemolithotrophic Sulphur-oxidising bacteria allowing revulcanisation to take place when mixed with new (virgin) rubber stock and devulcanisation of comminuted rubber scrap by similar suspensions of chemolithotrophs to produce viscoelastic rubber and sulphuric acid. However, the presence of sulphuric acid in the reaction mixture would be detrimental to revulcanisation and to the quality of any reprocessed rubber.
As current methods of disposal of waste rubber are environmentally unacceptable and conventional methods of recycling produce low quality rubber materials, there remains a need for a method of recycling rubber materials which produces rubber of high quality and reduces environmentally unacceptable consequences.


The present invention is a modular exhibit assembly adapted for rapid set up and breakdown, having interlocking rectangular framing sections each with independently attached and replaceable overlay skins. The rectangular framing sections are connected by abutting hollow peripheral members, placing one insert filler within each peripheral member, fastening the insert filler to the member by a socket set screw assembly, and engaging a rotatable latching member of one insert filler to a latching receptacle member of a second insert filler, thereby interlocking the two peripheral members. Overlay holders are attached to a framing member, or placed and secured between the interlocking peripheral members, and overlay skins are attached to the framing members by inserting the overlay skins into the overlay holders.

This invention relates generally to an exhibit apparatus for trade shows and the like, and more particularly to a modular locking panel system configured for simple and rapid set up and breakdown.
Display panel systems are commercially significant products with broad application to the communication of information relating to education, sales, marketing, and advertising. Such systems are commonly used in a variety of locations, such as trade shows, conventions, conferences, and the like. The success of these systems depends greatly upon the ability to convey this information to as broad an audience as possible. Accordingly, display panel systems are best able to achieve this goal when they are readily portable, affordable to transport, erect, and disassemble, and adaptable to varying display needs.
Existing display panel systems are commonly cumbersome to transport, erect, and disassemble, incurring unnecessary cost that limits the use of such a system. Traditional wood panels are constructed with plywood or solid lumber and are nailed together. Roto-lock devices are used in wood panels to lock panels together. However, skins are permanently nailed to frames and are belt sanded to fit adjoining panels then they are laminated with a Formica-type laminate. The wood panels are heavy, awkward to handle and are not modular. When a new finish or configuration is desired, old wood frame panels are discarded and new ones are constructed.
Further, existing display panel systems commonly employ a sliding button/channel system for interconnection of the panels. In such a system, a button mounted on the post of a first panel slides into the channel of a second panel, fastening the panels at that particular point. Such a structure is known to have limited structural integrity, since the buttons must be free to slide and thus cannot engage the channel in a firm, tight manner.
This invention provides a display panel system that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantages of the previously available display units. The display panel system of this invention assembles quickly, easily, and securely into a structurally sound unit. The display system of this invention is additionally cost-efficient through the use of custom extrusions and a totally modular system that permits replacement of the overlay skin without the expense of replacing the entire frame. Further, the custom extrusions are designed to be lightweight, overcoming the weight-based deficiencies of existing display panel systems.
This invention provides a modular exhibit assembly adapted for rapid set up and breakdown comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each adapted for supporting an overlay skin in a generally vertical plane. The frames comprise a plurality of longitudinally elongated peripheral members, each having a hollow interior extending the longitudinal length of the peripheral member. The peripheral members are generally rectangular in cross-section with one side of the rectangular cross-section having an open channel running the longitudinal length of the peripheral member. The peripheral members connect together and define a generally rectangular frame, with one end of each elongated peripheral member abutting one side of an adjacent peripheral member, such that the open channels face outwardly respecting the rectangular interior of the frame.
In one configuration, the plurality of frames are attached to each other in a coplanar orientation via their respective peripheral members, the adjoining peripheral members being connected along their longitudinal length. The attachment is accomplished using longitudinally elongated insert fillers. The longitudinally elongated insert fillers are inserted into the hollow interior of the adjoining peripheral members. A first insert filler has a latch member attached thereto, wherein the latch member faces outwardly through the first channel of a first adjoining peripheral member. A second insert filler has a latch receptacle member attached thereto, wherein the latch receptacle member faces outwardly through the first channel of a second adjoining peripheral member. The latch member and latch receptacle member of the two insert fillers mate to join the two respective peripheral members together.
As a further aid to assembly, the insert fillers have alignment members attached thereto to assist in orienting the aforementioned first and second insert fillers.
The insert fillers further have set screws attached thereto. The set screws extend inwardly into the hollow interior of the peripheral members and abut the peripheral member wall that is opposite to the first open channel. The set screws bias the insert fillers frictionally against a wall containing the first open channel of the peripheral member.
In a second configuration, the plurality of frames is attached to each other at prespecified angles via corner members. However, the corner members share various features in common with the elongated peripheral members. Namely, they have longitudinally extending open channels and hollow interiors extending the longitudinal length. Specifically, the corner members have two opposing open channels and two associated hollow interiors. The orientation between these two opposing open channels defines the pre-specified angle.
These open channels and hollow interiors accept longitudinally elongated insert fillers in the same manner as the elongated peripheral members described above. Each corner member in fact accepts two longitudinally elongated insert fillers. Each of these two insert fillers mate with a respective insert filler which has been previously mounted in a peripheral member of a frame. Thus, two frame members are joined to each other at the pre-specified angle of the corner member.
In a third configuration, the plurality of frames is attached directly to each other via a hinge member. The hinge member attaches to longitudinal surfaces of the peripheral members that do not contain the first open channels of the peripheral members. Attachment of the hinge member is accomplished by screws, bolts, or like fasteners. Alternately, the hinge member may be permanently mounted to the peripheral members by welding. The hinged peripheral members further attach to the aforementioned frame members in the manner described above utilizing the insert fillers.
The modular exhibit assembly of any of the above three configurations further comprises a plurality of overlay holders for retaining overlay skins to the frames. The overlay holders permit replacement of the overlay skins independently from the frame obviating the expense of replacing the entire frame.
The longitudinally elongated peripheral members can be extruded. Alternatively, the members can comprise aluminum, steel, brass, plastic, or a composite material.
The modular locking panel system can be used for trade show exhibits, window display walls, office partitions, ceiling canopies, lightboxes with plexiglass inserts, kiosks, double-level displays, and various other purposes.

Modular locking panel system for trade show exhibits


A seat for a motor vehicle is provided with an occupant detector (02) for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat (01). A foamed cushion element (05), into which the occupant detector (02) is foamed, is provided as part of the seat.

Seats of the generic type have an occupant detector which may be included, for example, in a signaling device for unbelted occupants located on the seat. Furthermore, incorporating the occupant detector in the triggering controller of an airbag is conceivable.
Until now, such an occupant detector has been implemented, for example, by a plastic film having capacitive sensors located between the covering and cushion element of the seat. However, this solution has significant disadvantages. Occupant detectors of this type are complex and costly to manufacture, difficult to position and not permanently fixed, have a poor influence on the seat climate and the seat comfort and obstruct the integration of additional seat elements such as a seat heater.
A further possibility for implementing an occupant detector is installing a scale in the seat frame, which, however, requires costly and complex electronics and is also costly and complex to manufacture.

Motor vehicle seat having occupant detector


In one embodiment, a content filtering system scans an incoming data for malicious content against a portion or the entirety of its knowledge base. If the incoming data is not detected to contain malicious content, the incoming data is forwarded to a content filtering agent that may perform further scanning of the incoming data against portions of its knowledge base that were not employed by the content filtering system. This advantageously allows a complete knowledge base to be segmented, with different computers scanning an incoming data using different segments of the knowledge base. The content filtering system and content filtering agent may be antivirus programs, while the knowledge bases may be virus/pattern files, for example.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data processing, and more particularly but not exclusively to scanning of data for malicious content.
2. Description of the Background Art
Content filtering systems are employed in computer systems to scan incoming data for malicious content, such as computer viruses, spam, unwanted content, and unauthorized network intrusion. A content filtering system typically includes a knowledge base against which an incoming data is compared. An example knowledge base is the pattern file of an antivirus program. A pattern file contains the patterns or signatures of known viruses. An antivirus program compares the contents of an incoming data against the contents of a pattern file to determine if the data has a virus. A pattern file is periodically updated to include the patterns of newly discovered viruses.
The size of a knowledge base increases as the knowledge base is updated to include more information. In the case of antivirus programs, pattern files get larger as more viruses are discovered. The increasing size of a knowledge base strains the resources (e.g., storage and processor) of the computer running the content filtering system. This problem is especially significant with computing devices that are not easily upgradeable.

Configurable hierarchical content filtering system


A method and system are provided for inspecting manufactured parts such as cartridges and cartridge cases and sorting the inspected parts. The system includes an illumination assembly for evenly illuminating a plurality of annular, exterior side surfaces of a part when the part is located in a circumference vision station with rings of strobed radiation to generate corresponding reflected radiation signals. A plurality of imaging detectors in the form of CCD cameras are located at the vision station to generate a plurality of side images. The system further includes at least one side image processor for processing the side images of each part to identify parts having an unacceptable defect. The system further includes a mechanism for directing parts identified as having an unacceptable defect to a defective part area and directing parts not identified as having an unacceptable defect to an acceptable part area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and systems for inspecting manufactured parts such as cartridge cases and sorting the inspected parts based on the inspection.
2. Background Art
Inspection of defects on small arms ammunition cartridges and cases is a vital aspect in the manufacturing process, allowing for maintenance of a high level of quality and reliability in the munitions industry. Standards have been developed and applied by manufacturers for many years to assist in classifying various types of defects. Alternatively, a military standard is used such as that introduced in 1958 by the US Department of Defense, MIL-STD-636. For small arms ammunition calibers up to .50, this standard serves to evaluate and illustrate a practical majority of defects assembled as a result of extensive surveys covering all the small arms ammunition manufacturing facilities in the United States.
FIGS. 1a and 1b are side and bottom schematic views, respectively, of a .50 caliber case. As explained in the above-noted military standard, a case is to be counted as a defective because of a split case if the cartridge case shows a definite separation of the metal entirely through the case wall. A case is to be classified as either a "major" or "critical" defect depending on the location of split. A split in the (I), (S) or (J) position shall be counted as a "major" defect when no loss of powder occurs; and as a "critical" defect when loss of powder occurs. A split in the (K), (L) or (M) position shall be counted as a "critical" defect.
FIGS. 1c and 1d are side and bottom schematic views, respectively, of a .30 caliber case. As noted above, a case is to be counted as a defective because of a split case if the cartridge case shows a definite separation of the metal entirely through the case wall. A case is to be classified either as a "major" or "critical" defective depending on location of split. A split in the (I) or (J) position shall be counted as a "major" defect when no loss of powder occurs; and as a "critical" defect when loss of powder occurs. A split in the (K), (L), or (M) position shall be counted as a "critical" defect.
FIGS. 1e and 1f are side and bottom schematic views, respectively of a .45 caliber case. Again, as noted above, a case is to be counted as defective because of a split case if the cartridge case shows a definite separation of the metal entirely through the case wall. A case is to be classified either as a "major" or "critical" defective depending on the location of the split. A split in the (I) or (J) position shall be counted as a "major" defect when no loss of powder occurs; and as a "critical" defect when loss of powder occurs. A split in the (K), (L), or (M) position shall be counted as a "critical" defect.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,066 discloses an automatic visual inspection system for small arms ammunition which sorts visual surface flaws at high speed according to established standards which can be tailored to fit specific needs. The system employs techniques for performing inspection independently of human inspectors and allows for quick changeovers in the type of ammunition to which it is applied. The system comprises interface apparatus for receiving a supply of ammunition cartridges and providing each cartridge with a predetermined orientation, conveying apparatus for locating each of the cartridges for inspection in at least one inspection station, apparatus for imaging selected areas of each cartridge to provide video surface feature data associated therewith, and apparatus for processing the video surface feature data to detect the presence of a predetermined set of characteristics and provide output signals in accordance therewith, the conveying apparatus being operated to sort each of the inspected cartridges in accordance with the output signals. A preferred embodiment comprises four subsystems, a feeding subsystem, an imaging and handling subsystem, an operation subsystem, and a computers subsystem. The imaging and handling subsystem provides each cartridge with the necessary orientation for inspection by a video camera feeding video surface feature data to an image processing computer. The image processing computer makes a very high speed computation based on image processing techniques to decide whether the cartridges have manufacturing defects for sorting purposes. Since many surface flaws look the same in two dimensions such as scratches and splits or acid holes and stains, special lighting of the cartridges is used so that discrimination between them can be achieved on the basis of off-specular reflections.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,108 discloses an inspection system. Workpieces to be inspected are consecutively and automatically launched to pass unsupported through the field of view of a plurality of cameras. As a workpiece passes through the field of view of the cameras, a sensor is activated which communicates with a computer system to activate the cameras to capture an unobstructed image, or image data, of the workpiece. The image data is then analyzed by a computer program to verify whether the image data indicates that the workpiece does not meet established criteria and therefore is considered defective. If the image does not meet the established criteria, the workpiece is rejected and segregated from workpieces which have not been identified as defective.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,530 discloses a laser for producing a beam of radiation which is then refined in cross-sectional dimension by use of plano-cylindrical lenses. The refined beam of radiation falls incident on a part to be measured. The unobstructed portion of the beam is then bifurcated by a pair of reflective surfaces which produce non-parallel radiating beams; each beam comprised of the unobstructed portion of radiation which has passed radially opposed halves of the part. The magnitude of radiation present in each non-parallel radiating beam is then measured.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,251 discloses an optical device for discriminating threaded workpiece by the handedness by their screw thread profiles. The device present a pair of light beams which pass generally tangent to the workpiece at angularly displaced positions. The light beams are inclined to follow the helix direction of a given handedness of a workpiece. Upon axial advancement of a workpiece through the device, a chopped output from the photodetectors indicates that the handedness of the threads matches the inclination of the light beams. The oppositely threaded workpiece, however, provides a generally constant DC output. With appropriate signal processing electronics, an automatic system for discriminating workpieces by thread handedness is provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,021 discloses a non-contact inspection system capable of evaluating spatial form parameters of a workpiece to provide inspection of parts in production. The system causes parts to be sequentially loaded onto an inclined track where they pass through a test section. The test section includes a length detection array for measuring the length of the workpiece, which includes a source generating a sheet of light oriented in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece. The profile of the parts are evaluated by one or more light sources also creating a sheet of light oriented transversed to the longitudinal axis of the parts. Single channel photodetectors are provided for each of the sources which provides an analog output of the extent to which each sheet of light is occluded by the part. These outputs are analyzed through appropriate signal processing hardware and software to generate length and profile data related to the workpiece geometry.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,263 discloses a non-contact inspection system capable of evaluating spatial form parameters of a workpiece to provide inspection of parts in production. The system causes parts to be sequentially loaded onto an incline track where they pass through a test section. The test section includes a length detection array for measuring the length of the workpiece, which includes a source generating a sheet of light oriented in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece. The profile of the parts are evaluated by one or more light sources also creating a sheet of light oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the parts. First and second pairs of single channel photodetectors are provided for each of the light sources which provides a pair of analog outputs of the extent to which each sheet of light is occluded by the part, as well as an ability to eliminate noise or scintillation caused by a point source of light, for example with a laser light source. These outputs are analyzed through appropriate signal processing hardware and software to generate length and profile data related to the workpiece geometry.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0174567 discloses a system to determine the presence of cracks in parts. The presence of cracks is determined through the use of an imaging device and illumination source. The part is moved along a track where it is sensed by a position sensor to initiate the inspection. The illumination source projects a sheet of light onto the part to be inspected. The line formed by the intersection of the sheet of light and the part is focused onto the imaging device. The imaging device creates a digital image which is analyzed to determine if cracks are present on the part.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0236792 discloses an inspection station for a workpiece including a conveyor, a mechanism for rotating the workpiece, and a probe. The conveyor includes a fixture for locating the workpiece and the conveyor is configured to translate the workpiece in a linear manner. A mechanism, such as a belt, engages the workpiece thereby rotating the workpiece within the fixture. The probe is configured to indicate if the workpiece conforms to quality criteria. To facilitate inspection while the conveyor translates the workpiece, the probe is attached to a stage where the stage is configured to move the probe synchronously with the workpiece over an inspection region.

Method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts


An impact elastic wave test is conducted to measure propagating waves in a pipe to be examined, a frequency spectrum of the propagating waves is analyzed, and at least a spectral area value in a first frequency region and a spectral area value in a second frequency region of the frequency spectrum are evaluated, thereby determining a type of a deteriorated state of the buried pipe. A correlation relationship between a parameter obtained from a force-deformation relationship indicating a relationship between a force externally input to a sample pipe and a deformation of the sample pipe due to the force, and impact elastic wave test data obtained by conducting an impact elastic wave test with respect to the sample pipe is previously obtained, an impact elastic wave test is conducted with respect to a pipe to be examined to collect impact elastic wave measurement data of the pipe to be examined, and the actually measured impact elastic wave measurement data is evaluated based on the correlation relationship, thereby quantitatively determining a degree of deterioration of the pipe to be examined.

Number of accidents such as cave-ins, water leakages, and the like, of sewer pipelines and agricultural pipelines is increasing year by year due to corrosion and abrasion or breakage of aging buried pipes. Therefore, there is a demand for appropriate diagnosis of the degree of pipe deterioration, and repair/replacement based on the result of the diagnosis.
In order to diagnose for sewer pipelines and agricultural pipelines, it is generally necessary to put elemental zones constituting an exploration range in order of deterioration level, and find quantitative deterioration p levels, so as to prioritize repair/reconstruction works and determine work methods.
Therefore, conventionally, external appearance is generally checked by visual inspection or a CCTV camera, and if necessary, a core is extracted and a physical property is examined. With such a method, however, only a deterioration which is visually perceived can be detected, a deterioration in the outer circumference or inside of a pipe fails to be found. Therefore, it is difficult to quantitatively detect a deterioration phenomenon as appropriate. It is also necessary to extract a large amount of core so as to collect quantitative data, so that the strength of a sewer pipeline or an agricultural pipeline is impaired, or much time and effort are required to conduct work.
Examination methods for concrete structures may be applicable. For example, a system for estimating a width and a depth of a crack using elastic waves has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). However, since this examination system utilizes a reduction in the propagation energy of elastic waves or the counted number of elastic waves (the counted number of amplitudes exceeding a predetermined value), the system is easily affected by a situation surrounding a buried pipe, resulting in poor examination accuracy.    Patent Document 1: JP H10-142200 A    Patent Document 2: JP H09-269215 A


An elevator car operating panel has push buttons corresponding to floors of a building, wherein the push buttons act on switch contacts registering elevator calls, and wherein the push buttons are mounted on the switch contacts.

The present invention concerns an elevator with a car operating panel to register elevator calls
In the new generations of inexpensive elevators for small buildings, the concept of a car operating panel with a keypad exhibiting ten digits (0 to 9) was introduced. This 10 digits-keypad system has reached the target of a unique factory produced car operating panel for all elevators, with evident cost and logistic advantages.
As an added feature, due to the presence of a 10 digits-keypad and several displays, the car panel could also be used as a maintenance tool.
Unfortunately, together with the advantages concerning the logistic and maintenance, derived by the fact that always the same car operating panel can be delivered, some important and advantageous features of the old customized car operating panels have been lost.
Unequivocal action of a button: a button identified by a certain number or letter had in the past only the function to place a call to the floor corresponding to said number. With a 10 digits-keypad solution this is no longer possible, since the button identified by the number 1, for example, is used in combination with other buttons to place elevator calls to the floors "1x" and "x1".
Multi-button input: the user interface of the elevator was a one-action machine-man interface. With a 10 digits-keypad solution the user interface of the elevator becomes a two-action machine-man interface, since, for example, to place a call to the floors 10 and above, the user must push two buttons sequentially.
Optical acknowledgment: Because one button serves for different inputs, the optical acknowledgment of a pressed button and of a registered call would be equivocal.
Limits of the shaft: these are with a 10 digits-keypad solution no longer recognizable. The user cannot recognize if the uppermost floor of a building is the floor 6, 7, 10 or 12 for example.
Nonexistent floors: the indication of all the 10 digits (0 to 9) on the car operating panel disturbs the customers possessing elevators in buildings with only few floors, since they get confused by the presence of the highest digits (9, 8 . . . ), which do not correspond to any floor in the building.
It is necessary therefore to develop a standard car operating panel, which can be fully customized at the elevator installation itself and does not need special customizing operations in the factory. Said car operating panel can preferably be used without adding special components and exhibits also preferably a maintenance interface to change the elevator parameters.
An attempt to attain these goals is for example shown in German patent document DE 19539288 C2, in which a freely configurable and customizable car operating panel for an elevator is disclosed, which exhibits freely programmable touch sensitive buttons and a maintenance mode for elevator service.
Such a car operating panel exhibits, however, the disadvantages to be expensive, not user-friendly, complex to be configured, and not esthetically attractive. Furthermore, this apparatus exhibits a difficult fabrication and assembly and cannot be produced using well-established components. The advantages for logistic are therefore lost. This apparatus, furthermore, does not conform to the norms concerning handicapped people, since blind people cannot recognize by tact the floor numbers on the keyboard. According to the standards EN 81-70, these requirements must be fulfilled for elevator push buttons: an operating force between 2.5 and 5 N, an operating and registration feedback and floor numbers in relief with a minimal height of 0.8 mm.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a car operating panel for an elevator installation which is freely configurable, inexpensive, user-friendly, conform to the norms concerning handicapped people, assembled using well-established standard components and esthetically attractive for the users.


A structure for supporting an instrument panel by a defroster nozzle so that sufficient rigidity can be imparted to the top of the instrument panel. A supporting member is attached to an upper wall of the defroster nozzle arranged inside the instrument panel and is disposed in contact with the instrument panel to support same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting structure for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, and more particularly, to a structure for supporting an instrument panel by a defroster nozzle.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automotive air conditioner provides a comfortable environment for occupants of the vehicle in all climatic and driving conditions, prevents fogging and frosting of the windshield etc. to secure the driver's range of vision, and also permits safe and comfortable driving, and thus most of motor vehicles are equipped with an air conditioner. The air conditioner is usually arranged in the vehicle body at a location under an approximately central portion of the instrument panel, and conditioned air is guided through an air duct arranged inside the instrument panel and let out from vents located in the vehicle compartment. Also, a defroster is provided for eliminating fogging of the windshield and adapted to eject warm air toward the inside of the windshield from thereunder, thus removing fogging of the inside of the windshield.
The air conditioned by the air conditioner flows up toward the vents while pushing the ceiling wall of the air duct upward, and thus the joint between the inlet of the air duct and the air outlet may possibly become separated, causing leakage of the air. To prevent this, an air conditioner air duct has been proposed wherein the air duct arranged inside the instrument panel is provided with a rib, as an abutment, which is disposed in contact with the inside surface of the top of the instrument panel (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H08-118942 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), for example).
The instrument panel is arranged along the overall width of the driver's and front passenger's seats of the vehicle, and a front end portion thereof extends to the bottom of the windshield and is provided with an opening for a defroster nozzle. Usually, the instrument panel is a resin molded article and has a reinforced structure such that the instrument panel is supported at its front portion by a deck cross member through brackets, supported at its rear portion by brackets extended downward from the deck cross member, and supported at its both sides by front pillars. However, the offset of the central portion of the instrument panel from the deck cross member is large, giving rise to a problem that the central portion is liable to be bent or warped because of its low rigidity. Especially in the case of a wide deck type instrument panel having an increased dimension between its front and rear ends, the rigidity of the central portion is noticeably low.
A rib may be formed on the inside surface (underside) of the instrument panel near the central portion thereof so that the central portion may be supported by the air duct etc. of the air conditioner located under the instrument panel. If such a rib is formed on the inside surface of the instrument panel, however, a problem arises in that a sink mark may appear on the outside surface of the instrument panel, impairing the appearance. Also, in the case where there is a considerable distance (large space) between the instrument panel and the air duct etc., the rib needs to be lengthened, which leads to poor moldability. Further, in the case of the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 wherein the air conditioner air duct is provided with a rib which is disposed in contact with the inside surface of the top of the instrument panel, not only the moldability is poor but a wide area cannot be secured for supporting the instrument panel. With this structure, it is difficult to increase the rigidity of the top of, in particular, a wide deck type instrument panel.

Structure for supporting an instrument panel by a defroster nozzle

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha