An improvement in protecting information transmitted via a network from illegal copying is disclosed. While data input from an information provider via a network is stored in a storage device, an ID inherent in an information terminal unit stored in a ROM, the time information which is output from a real-time clock counter, an ID of the owner of an ID card read by a card reader are multiplex-recorded as identification information on the input data. Identification information is also multiplex-recorded on the data read from the storage device and to be output through the output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a data recording medium, and an information processing system. More particularly, the invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a data recording medium, and an information processing system, in which digital data can be protected from illegal copying.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of recent widespread use of networks, typically, the Internet, various types of information can be transmitted and received via networks. Accordingly, different types of information can be easily accessed, but on the other hand, the danger of making illegal copies of electronic publications is seriously increasing.
In particular, the following problems are encountered through the use of known networks. Even if the users illegally make copies of information received by their own terminals via networks and distribute the copies, it is difficult to determine the source of such copying.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, data recording medium, and information processing system


A method of fabricating a biaxial tensile strained layer for NMOS fabrication and a uniaxial compressive strained layer for PMOS fabrication on a single wafer for use in CMOS ICs, includes preparing a silicon substrate for CMOS fabrication; depositing, patterning and etching a first and second insulating layers; removing a portion of the second insulating layer from a PMOS active area; depositing a layer of epitaxial silicon on the PMOS active area; removing a portion of the second insulating layer from an NMOS active area; growing an epitaxial silicon layer and growing an epitaxial SiGe layer on the NMOS active area; implanting H2+ ions; annealing the wafer to relax the SiGe layer; removing the remaining second insulating layer from the wafer; growing a layer of silicon; finishing a gate module; depositing a layer of SiO2 to cover the NMOS wafer; etching silicon in the PMOS active area; selectively growing a SiGe layer on the PMOS active area; wherein the silicon layer in the NMOS active area is under biaxial tensile strain, and the silicon layer in the PMOS active area is uniaxial compressive strained; and completing the CMOS device.

Carrier transport enhancement through the use of a strained-silicon channel results in CMOS technology having improved speed and using less power than conventionally fabricated CMOS devices. Data provided by Rim et al., Characteristics and Device Designs of Sub-100 nm Strained-Si N- and PMOSFETs, VLSI Symp. Tech. Dig., pp 98–99 (2002), was measured from a PMOS structure fabricated on biaxial tensile strained silicon. Data from Thompson et al., A Logic Nanotechnology Featuring Strained Silicon, IEEE Electron Device Letter, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 191–193 (2004), was measured from uniaxial compressive strained PMOS.
In order to improve the hole mobility at the operating voltage, Thompson et al., supra, reported using uniaxial compressive strain on the PMOS channel along the channel direction. Unlike the hole mobility, as report4ed by Rim et al., supra, which is dependent on the operating voltage of the biaxial tensile strained PMOS, the hole mobility data gathered by Thompson et al. indicates that the hole mobility improvement is independent of the operating voltage for a uniaxial compressive strained PMOS. To achieve uniaxial compressive strain in PMOS, silicon was etched on the source/drain areas and then SiGe was selectively grown on the source/drain area. For the NMOS, high stress Si3N4 film was deposited after the gate module completion and the NMOS channel was placed under uniaxial tensile strain. The mobility improvement detected in the NMOS in this case was not as much as in the biaxial strained NMOS case. In the case of a biaxial tensile strained NMOS, the electron mobility improvement is about 80% to 100%, and has little dependence on the vertical electrical field.
We have described direct wafer bonding in publications and co-pending patent applications: Lee et al., Fabrication of Strained Silicon on Insulator (SSOI) by Direct Wafer Bonding Using Thin Relaxed SiGe Film as Virtual Substrate, MRS Proceedings Vol. 809, (2004); Maa et al., Method of making relaxed silicon-germanium on glass via layer transfer, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/674,369, filed Sep. 29, 2003; Maa et al., Strained silicon on insulator from film transfer and relaxation by hydrogen implantation, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/755,615, filed Jan. 12, 2004; Maa et al., Method of Forming Relaxed SiGe Layer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,796 B2, granted Aug. 24, 2004; and Maa et al., Method of Making Relaxed Silicon-Germanium on Insulator via Layer Transfer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,802 B1, granted Jul. 27, 2004.

Integration of biaxial tensile strained NMOS and uniaxial compressive strained PMOS on the same wafer


An LDMOS (Laterally-Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor) device has a substrate, which includes a first doped region, a second doped region, and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region disposed in the second doped region. The first doped region and the second doped region are adjacent and have different conductivity types. The device also has a gate structure disposed on the substrate; the gate structure substantially does not overlap the second doped region.

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor technology. Specifically, embodiments of the invention are directed to device structures and methods of manufacturing for the LDMOS (Laterally-Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor) device.
With the development of the ultra-large scale integrated circuit (ULSI), device size and supply voltage continue to be reduced. In technologies with minimum device dimensions larger than 28 nm, the breakdown voltage of laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) devices needs to be greater than 10V. For conventional LDMOS devices, in order to make the breakdown voltage greater than 10 V, shallow trench isolation (STI) structures are often introduced in the active region between the gate and the drain. However, the inventor has discovered that STI structures are not conducive to epitaxially grown recessed STI source/drain structures often used in FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor) devices under the 14 nm technology node.
In addition, the inventor has also discovered that, with the further shrinking of device size, dishing effects in the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process and micro-loading effects in the epitaxial growth process are becoming serious problems. Typically, the gate length of small devices is limited to less than 0.2 um, but in the LDMOS device, in order to ensure the breakdown voltage is large enough, the gate length is often more than the minimum length, resulting in dishing problems in the CMP process.

FinFET LDMOS device and manufacturing methods

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


An apparatus comprising an analysis block, a graphic user interface and a memory circuit. The analysis block may be configured to generate debug information in response to (i) a command input, (ii) one or more simulation outputs, and (iii) one or more compiler outputs. The graphic user interface may be configured (i) to present the command input in response to one or more user input parameters and (ii) to display the debug information. The memory circuit may be configured to store the one or more simulation outputs and said one or more compiler outputs.

The validation of a processor based System-On-Chip (SoC) typically implements digital register transfer level (RTL) simulations. The simulations verify the correctness of the RTL code and system operability. A simulation model is used to emulate the processor. The processor executes one or more sample test programs in which the processor interacts with one or more peripherals. A disadvantage of the existing approach is a bottle-neck in the analysis of simulation results in case of failures.
Conventional approaches use a number of tools and methodologies to perform debugging. For example, conventional approaches include (i) manual debugging using the debugging features of digital simulators and processor simulation models, (ii) using software simulators and (iii) using co-simulators. Manual debugging involves analyzing the signal waveforms and examining the processor simulation model output files. The drawback of such an approach is the length of time needed and the number of errors.
A second conventional approach uses software simulators. The majority of processor development kits provide a software simulator. Replicating the RTL simulation on the software simulators has some draw-backs. For example, modeling the behavior of a complex peripheral (such as an Ethernet controller) can use considerable software resources and can be difficult to implement at a chip level. Furthermore, a software approach may help identify issues within a test-program, but may not be useful in debugging the RTL code.
A third conventional approach uses co-simulators. Co-simulators provide the most powerful tools for debugging by allowing a user to interact with the simulation by (i) monitoring memory accesses, (ii) observing processor status at a given point, (iii) stopping simulation at critical points by setting breakpoints, and (iv) forcing new values into register. The drawbacks of such an approach include (i) the cost of tools and (ii) the availability of suitable co-simulator models for the specific processor implemented.
It would be desirable to implement a debugging methodology that implements a graphical user interface to provide a solution that is easy to implement.

Methodology for debugging RTL simulations of processor based system on chip


An image forming system includes: a main casing of an image forming apparatus; a plurality of types of developing cartridges including first and second developing cartridges; and a plurality of types of image carrier cartridges including first and second image carrier cartridges each capable of accommodating selected one of the developing cartridges. The first developing cartridge includes a first cover member. The second developing cartridge includes a second cover member different from the first cover member. The first image carrier cartridge includes a first engaging portion engageable with the first cover member, and a first restriction portion. The second image carrier cartridge includes a second engaging portion engageable with the second cover member. The first restriction portion is configured to restrict the second cover member from engaging the first engaging portion.

Conventionally, there is known an image forming system constituting an image forming apparatus that includes a main casing, and a replacement component that can be mounted in and detached from the main casing.
As such an image forming system described above, there is known a laser beam printer including a main casing, and a process cartridge that is detachably mounted in the main casing. A projecting portion is provided in an access member of the main casing, and a recessed portion into which the projecting portion is fitted is provided in the process cartridge. With this configuration, mounting of a process cartridge that matches with the main casing is permitted by fitting the projecting portion into the recessed portion, while mounting of a process cartridge that does not match with the main casing is restricted by prohibiting the projecting portion from fitting into the recessed portion.

Image forming system including a plurality of types of developing cartridges and a plurality of types of image carrier cartridges


In a steam-heating apparatus in which a heating section formed in a heat exchanger is connected to a steam supply pipe for receiving supply of heating steam and connected also to a condensate-recovering unit for discharging condensate produced as a result of heating, the apparatus includes a steam ejector including a suction chamber connected to the heating section and an inlet for receiving supply of the steam. When the temperature of the heating section or between the heating section and the condensate-recovering unit is dropped by a predetermined value, steam is supplied from the steam supply pipe to the inlet of the steam ejector, and gas in the heating section is sucked into the suction chamber of the steam ejector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steam-heating apparatus in which a heating section formed in a heat exchanger is connected with a steam supply pipe for receiving supply of heating steam and connected also with a condensate-recovering unit for discharging condensate produced as a result of heating.
2. Description of Related Art
An example of such steam-heating apparatus is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 7-328423. In this steam-heating apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, a reaction vessel 1 is provided as a heat exchanger. The reaction vessel includes, as a heating section thereof, a jacket section 2, to which a steam supply pipe 3 for receiving supply of heating steam and a condensate-recovering unit 6 for discharging condensate produced as a result of heating are connected. More particularly, the steam supply pipe 3 is connected to an inlet of a steam ejector 5 and the jacket section 5 as a heating section is connected to a suction chamber 13 formed in an outer periphery of a nozzle communicated with the inlet of the steam ejector 5. Also, a shutoff valve 47 is connected to an outlet communicated with the suction chamber 13.
In operation, by opening the shutoff valve 47, air remaining within the jacket section 2 will be drawn into the suction chamber 13 to evacuate the inside of the jacket section 2. Thereafter, by closing the shutoff valve 47, low-pressure steam is supplied into the jacket section 2, so that an object in the reaction vessel 1 may be heated by low-temperature steam of 100° C. or lower.
With the conventional steam-heating apparatus described above, the apparatus is capable of steam-heating an object with the air remaining at the initial stage of the heating process being removed by suction. However, this apparatus cannot exhaust air which may be gradually accumulated with progress of the heating process, so that the apparatus becomes unable to maintain a predetermined heating temperature precisely. Specifically, when the heating apparatus is placed under the evacuated condition below the atmospheric pressure, atmospheric air may be inadvertently drawn through in the respective joints of the apparatus, thus leading to gradual accumulation of air inside the heating section. Moreover, the heating steam supplied to the apparatus may contain some air therein. Therefore, disadvantageous accumulation of air inside the heating section occurs not only in the initial stage of the heating process but also during the subsequent heating stage thereof.


To provide a microoptical system for free-space optical interconnection capable of relaxing the arrangement accuracy of a light source and a photodetector. A point light source and a photodetector are interconnected each other by first and second imaging lenses and focused Gaussian beams. In this case, the point light source, first imaging lens, second imaging lens, and photodetector are positioned so that the effective beam radius .omega..sub.2 of a focused Gaussian beam on the first interconnecting lens is larger than the effective beam radius .omega..sub.4 of a focused Gaussian beam on the second imaging lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microoptical system which is one of the arts for interconnection between electronics chips used for free-space optical interconnection and its setting method.
2. Description of the Related Art
The free-space optical interconnection is noticed because of the large bandwidth characteristic of light and the profitability of parallel processing. Moreover, it is known that a packaged optical system has a high reliability and it can be made compact in the art of interconnection between chip modules used for the free-space interconnection. One of the packaged optical systems is disclosed in Document I: "Optical Engineering" Vol. 33, pp. 1550-1560 (1994)".
Generally, in the case of the free-space optical interconnection, signals are propagated and combined in the form of light by using a lens and a mirror and making the most use of the degree of freedom of a three-dimensional space without using any optical fiber or optical waveguide. The optical interconnection system includes the following three types as shown in FIGS. 11(A), 11(B), and 11(C):
<1> a macrooptical system for optically imaging an element array or one chip module S comprising point-light-source elements s on an element array or the other chip module D comprising photodetector elements d in batch by common macro lenses M1 and M2 {FIG. 11(A)}, PA1 <2> a hybrid optical system in which each point-light-source element s is collimated by a lens m1 and each photodetector element d is collimated by a lens m2, and they are connected each other by being optically imaged through macro lenses M1 and M2 {FIG. 11(B)}, and PA1 <3> a microoptical system in which each point-light-source element s is collimated by a lens m1 and each photodetector element d is collimated by a lens m2, and these collimated beams are directly connected each other at an equal beam radius without using any microlens or macro lenses. PA1 .omega..sub.1 --beam waist of Gaussian beams of point-light-source element; PA1 .omega..sub.2 --effective Gaussian-beam radius of first microlens; PA1 .omega..sub.3 --beam waist of Gaussian beams of intermediate image of point-light-source element after first microlens; PA1 .omega..sub.4 --effective Gaussian-beam radius of second microlens; PA1 .omega..sub.5 --beam waist of Gaussian beams at light receiving plane of photodetector element; PA1 L.sub.1 --distance from point-light-source element to first microlens; PA1 L.sub.2 --distance from first microlens to intermediate image; PA1 L.sub.3 --distance from intermediate image to second microlens; PA1 L.sub.4 --distance from second microlens to light receiving plane of photodetector; PA1 f.sub.1 --focal length of first microlens; PA1 f.sub.2 --focal length of second microlens; PA1 .lambda.--wavelength of Gaussian beams; and PA1 .pi.--ratio of circumference of circle to its diameter, and moreover characterized in that:
Among these systems, the microoptical system <3> is more advantageous than two other systems in that any interconnection pattern can be realized.
In the case of the free-space optical interconnection of the microoptical system, it is one of the requisites for design to take a long interconnection length because it is more preferable from the view point of designing the architecture of the system that electronics chips farther separate from each other can be interconnected. In the case of a collimated optical system, however, it is impossible to take a long-enough interconnection length because of the diffraction effect. Therefore, a method for increasing the above optical interconnection length by using an optical system in which two microlenses are arranged so that a beam waist (imaged point) is set between the both microlenses is proposed in the above Document I.
This method for using a Gaussian optical system uses two imaging lenses to perform imaging from a point light source to an intermediate image by the first imaging lens and performs imaging from the intermediate image onto the light receiving plane of a photodetector by the second imaging lens. Moreover, in the case of this method, the value of the beam waist of the intermediate image for maximizing the distance (that is, interconnection length) between the two imaging lenses is obtained as a function of effective beam radiuses of two imaging lenses.
In the case of this microoptical system, however, the request for the arrangement accuracy of a point light source and a photodetector is severe and therefore, a positioning accuracy of approx. 1 to 2 .mu.m has been requested so far.
In general, however, the free-space optical interconnection between electronics chips is complex and any electronics chip is interconnected with other electronics chips. Thus, the conventional method for successively arranging electronics chips while monitoring the incident power of light or amount of light of a photodetector is not proper because it is considered that positioning errors are accumulated. Therefore, it is considered that it is necessary to design an optical-interconnection optical system for combining electronics chips by giving an allowance capable of absorbing point-light-source positional-deviation errors caused by flip chip bonding to the system and individually fixing the chips at an independent positioning accuracy by means of the flip chip boding. In this connection, there is a report that an experimental error of flip chip bonding is approx. 2 to 5 .mu.m (Document II: "IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol.4 pp. 1369-1372, 1992"). Therefore, to mass-produce microoptical systems, the advent of a microoptical system for free-space optical interconnection capable of relaxing the positioning accuracy of each element constituting an electronics chip up to a level adaptable to mass production and its setting method has been desired.

Microoptical system for free-space optical interconnection and its setting method


The invention relates to an aqueous, alkaline electrolyte for electrochemically depositing a zinc-, iron-, manganese-containing layer onto surfaces of metal piece goods, in particular piece goods made of iron and/or steel, characterized in that the electrolyte contains: zinc ions in an amount of 4-60 g/L; iron ions in an amount of 0.5-30 g/L; manganese ions in an amount of 0.1-15 g/L. The invention also relates to a method for electrochemically depositing a zinc-, iron-, manganese-containing layer onto one or more surfaces of a metal piece good. The invention also relates to a metal piece good comprising a zinc-, iron, manganese-containing layer electrochemically deposited onto a surface of the metal piece good in accordance with the inventive method.

In the prior art, different methods are available for protecting metallic material surfaces against corrosive environmental influences. A method that is widespread and established in the art is the application of a metallic coating onto the metal workpiece to be protected. For example, workpieces made of iron and steel are often galvanized in order to protect them from corrosive environmental influences. In this instance, the coating metal may behave in the corroding medium more like a noble metal or more like a base metal than the parent metal material on its own. If the coating metal behaves more like a base metal, in the corrosive medium it functions as a sacrificial anode, in the sense of cathodic corrosion protection, as compared to the host metal. Thus, the corrosion protection of zinc is based on the fact that it is even less noble than the parent metal, and therefore draws the corrosive attack exclusively to itself first.
The deposition of zinc-containing layers onto surfaces is widely used in many fields of technology. Zinc coatings are thereby especially suitable in the field of functional coatings. For example, it is typical to coat small parts such as screws, nuts, washers, prefabricated structural elements such as angled plates or connecting plates and the like in mass quantities.
The zinc layer may be applied with various chemical and physical methods, for example in a hot dip galvanization, where alloys are typical, but especially by means of electrodeposition. For galvanization, different electrolytes with very specific properties are used, wherein uniformity and degree of gloss may be adjusted by means of organic additives. Typical electrolyte compositions are described in numerous patents; listed in the following are only the significant electrolyte types:                a. more or less strongly acidic sulfate electrolytes (practical exclusively for continuous galvanization of pipes and strips with very high current densities and high relative velocity, usually without any organic additives)        b. weakly acidic chloride electrolytes (only in exceptional cases for continuous strip galvanization, since they absolutely require organic additives; chloride electrolytes are used almost exclusively in piece electroplating for relatively rapid and, in part, high-gloss galvanization)        c. alkaline-cyanide electrolytes, especially historically for piece electroplating in rack and drum applications        d. alkaline, cyanide-free electrolytes, for piece electroplating
Weakly acidic chloride electrolytes are generally characterized by a very good covering capacity and a rapid deposition rate with excellent efficiency, but they typically have a poor metal distribution, i.e. the produced zinc layer has large layer thickness differences. In alkaline electrolytes, the zinc is present as an anion, i.e. as a zincate ion, and in addition complexing agents may also be present, historically particularly preferably cyanide. However, these have largely been replaced by cyanide-free alkaline zinc electrolytes that possess quite acceptable values for the efficiency, and thus the deposition rate, with a very good metal distribution. Here, "cyanide-free" means that sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide are not intentionally added as a conducting salt, as before. Small, naturally present or resulting traces of cyanide may occur even in cyanide-free electrolytes. In addition, in both weakly acidic chloride electrolytes and in the various alkaline electrolytes, specific organic additives are necessarily used, for example polymers, surfactants, complexing agents, and polar molecules, that influence the gloss level, what are known as brighteners.
For its part, the electrolytically deposited zinc layer is normally sacrificed so quickly in corrosive media such as saline solutions, acids, or alkaline solutions and with the formation of solid, voluminous corrosion products, so that it is itself almost always protected from overly rapid sacrifice by an additional barrier layer, typically a conversion layer (chromating, passivation) and/or a thin lacquer layer (sealing, sealer, topcoat). Consequently, the achieved corrosion protection is usually expressed in relation to two types of corrosion: The coating corrosion, thus the formation of the zinc corrosion products, also known as "white corrosion", and the parent metal corrosion, also called "red rust" in the case of iron or steel. Typical testing methods are the neutral salt spray test DIN EN ISO 9227 or ASTM B117, and climatic change tests such as VDA 233-102, for example. A certain degree of white corrosion is normal for cathodic corrosion protection, as this is part of the protection mechanism, but company specifications increasingly demand high corrosion protection values in the salt spray test without visible alteration.
Here, the zinc+passivation system has reached a technical limit that cannot be further exceeded, but is quite sufficient for many applications. For higher requirements, numerous zinc alloys (co-deposits of zinc with one or more additional metals) have been proposed since approximately the 1980s, of which essentially zinc/cobalt and zinc/iron (both with very low alloying fractions of less than 1% Co or Fe, respectively) and zinc/nickel (>7% Ni) have had a wider practical application. Of these, zinc/nickel with a nickel content of 13-15% has by now prevailed as nearly the sole zinc alloy system, representing the present optimum with regard to corrosion protection, heat resistance, and avoidance of contact corrosion with aluminum alloys. This layer is widely used, most of all in the automotive industry. In piece electroplating, the other electrodeposited zinc alloys have been entirely, or for the most part, supplanted by zinc/nickel.
Unfortunately, nickel has the disadvantage of constituting a strong allergen. Moreover, zinc/nickel layers sometimes break down if the nickel content becomes too high, and this already starts at approximately 17% nickel. Such a layer is no longer less noble in relation to the parent metal, and therefore loses its function as a sacrificial anode in the cathodic anticorrosion system.
It is therefore necessary to develop a zinc-containing layer which, even without nickel, provides approximately the same high level of corrosion protection as zinc/nickel layers, but without the disadvantages thereof.
A large number of zinc alloys without nickel have been described in the literature. For example, it is known from DE 103 06 823 A1 to deposit zinc-manganese alloys, but here the corrosion products are bright red-brown in color and can hardly be distinguished from red rust. Since the 1980s, zinc/iron layers with a higher iron content than the commercially used layers cited above, having only approximately 0.5% iron, have also been described, for example in patent applications JP 58210191 NISSHIN STEEL (1982), DE3428345 OMI (1983), DE3619385 Elektro-Brite (1987). However, these have not previously been able to prevail, among other things because their corrosion protection is not constantly high, and there are always massive outliers with a great deal of white corrosion products. Zinc/iron electrolytes have been proposed as more or less strongly acidic sulfate electrolytes for continuous strip and tube coating, and as alkaline electrolytes for piece electroplating in rack and drum installations.
Although there is a Japanese patent application from 1987 (JP63176490A) which describes a phosphatizable zinc/iron/manganese layer, this is a process in a sulfate electrolyte with very high current densities and belt speeds, as is customary for electrolytic strip galvanization. Sulfate electrolytes are not suitable for piece electroplating since they are optimized for the high velocity and current densities (approximately 50-100 times more than is customary in piece electroplating), and moreover react very sensitively to different anode-cathode distances. In addition, they cannot be adjusted with organic additives, or can be adjusted only with difficulty. In strip galvanization, the anode-cathode distance is set in a fixed manner and does not vary in practice. In piece electroplating, parts are coated that are not simply just a flat plate, but rather are completely formed or even cast parts with three-dimensional geometry that is to some extent challenging. Therefore, the teaching described in JP63176490A is not usable for the present object.
It is therefore necessary to find an alkaline electrolyte which can be used for rack and drum electroplating, with good metal distribution and uniform alloy composition, which can be adjusted with organic additives. It should also be possible to electrolytically deposit zinc, iron, and manganese with sufficient homogeneity onto highly shaped components in a wide current density range.

Aqueous, alkaline electrolyte for depositing zinc-containing layers onto surfaces of metal piece goods


A closure for a tubular member having a first surface of a first internal diameter and a second surface of an enlarged internal diameter providing a circumferential ledge, and, in the second surface an increased internal diameter circumferential slot, the closure being formed of a cylindrical plug removably positioned within the tubular member and in engagement with the circumferential ledge and an expandable snap ring having a collapsed and an expanded condition and receivable in the expanded condition within the circumferential slot to capture the plug between the circumferential ledge and the snap ring and a keeper plate of external diameter equal the internal diameter of the snap ring when the snap ring is in its expanded condition, the keeper plate being receivable within the snap ring when said snap ring is within the circumferential slot and serving to prevent dislodgement of the snap ring.

It is frequently necessary to close an opening in a tubular member either permanently or semi-permanently, that is, to close an opening where a valve is not required or is not desirable. One example of a semi-permanent closure arises when a hot tap is made into a pipeline or a vessel through a fitting connected to the pipeline or vessel. In the typical hot tapping application as utilized in the petroleum industry, a fitting is welded on the exterior of a pipe that has flowing gas or liquid under pressure. A flange is then secured to the fitting and a hot tapping machine secured to the flange. By use of highly specialized equipment, a hole can then be drilled through the wall of the pipe while a gas or liquid continues to flow through it to provide access to the interior of the pipe, such as for inserting equipment to temporarily block flow through the pipe while repairs are being made to it. After the repairs are complete the equipment is removed but the opening that provides communication to the interior of the pipe needs to be closed. Preferably the closure is made in such a way that at some future date access can be again obtained through the fitting to the interior of the pipe. This is just one example of the need for a closure for an opening in a tubular member.
For background information relating to closure devices, reference may be had to the following United States patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat No. Patentee ______________________________________ 3,155,116 B. VER NOOY 3,483,894 FINOCCHIARO 3,766,947 OSBURN 4,377,185 KATZ 4,387,740 VANZANT 4,466,550 SULLIVAN 4,576,778 FERREE ET AL. 4,609,209 RALLS 4,693,278 WILSON ET AL. 4,902,043 ZILLIG ET AL. 5,035,266 BENSON ET AL. 5,038,830 ARNAUD 5,437,309 TIMMONS 5,450,765 STOVER ______________________________________


No effective vaccine exists for the devastating parasitic disease of Schistosomiasis. The present invention focuses on Sm-p80, a functionally important antigen of Schistosoma mansoni that plays a pivotal role in the schistosome immune evasion process. When used in a novel vaccine formulation, Sm-p80 demonstrates consistent immunogenicity, protective potential, and antifecundity effects. Two novel DNA constructs were made for immunization purposes. Sm-p80 coding sequence was cloned into VR 1020. Additionally, Sm-p80 coding sequence was cloned into pcDNA3.1 with flanking CpG motifs on each end of the Sm-p80 sequence. When used in different vaccine formulations, both of the constructs demonstrate the superior antifecundity and anti-worm effects of Sm-p80, which has great potential as an important vaccine candidate for the reduction of the morbidity associated with schistosome infection.

Without limiting the scope of the disclosed compositions and methods, the background is described in connection with a novel Sm-p80-based vaccine formulation against Schistosoma mansoni.
Schistosoma mansoni is a flatworm parasite that inhabits the porto-mesenteric circulation of humans. Considerable morbidity and mortality results from the affliction of an estimated 207 million people worldwide by several species of schistosomes. An additional 779 million people are at risk of acquiring this infection. Disability-adjusted life years for schistosomiasis have been calculated to be somewhere between 1.7 million and 4.5 million years. Schistosomiasis is endemic in 74 developing countries.
The infective cycle of Schistosoma mansoni involves asexual reproduction within an intermediate snail host, followed by infection of a human host. Cercariae, the larval stage which exits from an intermediate snail host, infect humans by penetrating human skin. These juvenile schistosomes mature to schistosomula, undergo an intricate migration through the host's lungs and liver, and develop into sexually mature egg-laying adults. Sexually mature male and female schistosomes begin the egg-laying phase of the life cycle within the intestinal venules. The constant production of large numbers of ova results in the excretion of some eggs with fecal matter, and in heavy infection, entrapment of eggs in visceral organs with ensuing host granulomatous immune responses directed against them. It is this egg-induced organ damage which results in complications such as hepatic fibrosis, portal hypertension, and esophageal varices, which lead to the death of chronically infected hosts.
The chronic nature of this debilitating disease results in cumulative damage to the liver, spleen, and colon due to the granulomatous reaction to accumulated embryonated eggs. Infection results in the production of circulating anti-schistosomal antibodies. The immune response is erratic, however, and does not lead to sterile immunity. Additionally, the adult parasites evade immune clearance by complex and multifactorial mechanisms.
Emphasis has been placed on chemotherapy as the preferred method for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Control programs based on chemotherapy are complicated, however, by the rapidity and frequency of re-infection and the difficulties and expense involved in maintaining these programs over a long term. The continuous drug treatment and re-infection cycle fails to reduce the overall egg output sufficiently to markedly reduce transmission of the disease in endemic areas. Additionally, concerns exist that the parasites may develop drug resistance. A critical need remains for the development of alternate approaches to control the disease.
No effective vaccine exists for schistosomiasis. Even though anti-parasitic drugs and other control measures, including public hygiene and snail control are available, the advent of an effective vaccine still remains the most potentially powerful means for the control of this disease. Vaccination of individuals at a young age would be the most efficient way of priming the immune system without the accompaniment of egg-induced pathology. A vaccine would also prevent severe infection and thus decrease transmission of eggs and help curb the cycle of S. mansoni infection. Boosting of immunity to schistosomes in vaccinated individuals would occur following subsequent exposure to infective cercariae.
Several adult S. mansoni proteins have been considered as potential vaccine candidates. Ideally, the most promising vaccine candidates may be those which are surface-exposed and are indispensable for the parasite's survival within the human host.
A major problem that has hindered schistosomiasis vaccine research and development concerns the identification and selection of potential protective antigens encoded by the parasite. During the last two decades, many laboratories have attempted to identify schistosomal antigens that induce partially protective immune responses. More than 100 such antigens have been identified, about 25% of which confer protection of varying degrees. None of these candidate antigens, however, have induced levels of an immune response approaching immunity levels (˜80%) that have been observed following vaccination with irradiated schistosome larvae. Independent examination of the six "priority antigens" (paramyosin, glutathione S-transferase, fatty acid binding 14 kDa protein, IrV-5, triose phosphate isomerase, and Sm23) via a standard comparative World Health Organization delineated procedure, resulted in none of the antigens providing the stated goal of 40% protection or better.
Schistosomes interact closely with their host, performing functions such as immune evasion, nutrient uptake, and attachment. Host-exposed schistosome proteins that undertake such essential functions are effective targets for a schistosomiasis vaccine. One such protein is the large subunit of calpain (Sm-p80) which plays an important role in the surface membrane renewal of schistosomes, an immune evasion mechanism employed by blood-dwelling helminths to evade host immunity. Sm-p80 is exposed at the host parasite interface and is naturally immunogenic. While the natural immunogenicity of the molecule does not provide protection under conditions of natural infection, it is possible to present calpain to the immune system in such a way as to induce potent immunity. The UNDP/World Bank/WHO-TDR special panel designated Sm-p80 as one of the priority antigens "with established credentials, needing further development" and Sm-p80 is now considered as one of the "first-tier candidates" by international experts in the field.
An efficacious schistosomiasis vaccine would make a significant contribution to current schemes of disease control, particularly if it provides a potent, long-lasting immunity to the disease. Such a vaccine would greatly reduce the need for logistically difficult and expensive drug-based programs which often require political commitment and well-funded public health systems. Even partial protection against cercarial infection would be a significant advance because a vaccine that reduces worm burden will reduce both the pathology and the transmission rates of the disease. This is because schistosomes, unlike most other infectious organisms, do not replicate within their definitive hosts. Therefore, a sterilizing immunity may not be required for schistosomiasis. The Scientific Working Group on schistosomiasis at the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that vaccines that lower adult worm burdens by 50% will be effective in reducing overall morbidity and mortality.
Most schistosome vaccine candidates confer 30-50% protection in the mouse model system. Thus, there is a great need to identify novel antigens, adjuvant vehicles, and cocktail vaccine formulations to induce protection that ranges from 70% to 80%, as has been recorded with radiation-attenuated vaccines.
The present invention proposes a novel vaccine formulation based on a schistosome protein, calpain, which was originally determined to be involved in schistosome surface membrane biogenesis. Calpain has two subunits, the larger of which, Sm-p80, has shown great potential as a relevant vaccine antigen for reduction of the morbidity associated with both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum.

Schistosomiasis vaccine compositions and methods of use


An air circuit breaker ratcheting mechanism includes a ratchet and pawl whereby the closing springs charging gear is prevented from reverse rotation during the closing springs charging operation. Upon completion of the charging operation, the ratchet and pawl become disengaged from the charging gear to allow the closing springs to respond to a manual closing, command. An operating handle pivot assembly allows a molded plastic handle operator to be employed and the ratcheting mechanism is arranged for modular assembly during the circuit breaker manufacturing process as well as motor to manual charge conversion one site.

Air circuit breakers as described within U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,095,489 entitled "Manual Charging Means for Stored Energy Closing Mechanisms of Electric Circuit Breakers" and 3,084,238 entitled "Ratchet Mechanism for Charging a Closing Spring in an Electric Circuit Breaker" include operating mechanisms that are mainly exposed to the environment. Since the air circuit breakers are rated to carry several thousand amperes of current continuously, the exposure to convection cooling air assists in keeping the operating components within reasonable temperature limits.
Such air circuit breakers are usually provided with a motor operator such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,988 entitled "Ratcheting Mechanism for Circuit Breaker Motor Operator" or a manual handle as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,065 entitled "Means for Charging A Stored Energy Circuit Breaker Closing Device" for charging the powerful closing springs contained within the air circuit breaker operating mechanism.
As described within the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,988, the ratchet mechanism includes a driving pawl coupled with the motor operator for incrementally advancing a ratchet wheel coupled with the circuit breaker operating mechanism. Each incremental advance of the ratchet wheel is sustained by a holding pawl. Ultimately, the ratchet wheel is advanced to an angular position where the circuit breaker closing springs are fully charged and therefore empowered to forcibly close the circuit breaker contacts. Typically, the discharge of the closing springs rapidly drives the ratchet wheel in the same direction as did the driving pawl in charging the closing springs. In the process, the teeth on the ratchet wheel impact with the driving and holding pawls, producing undue pawl and ratchet wear, as well as unnecessary stress on the pawl springs and mountings. Moreover, when the breaker contacts close, there is an inevitable rebound which tends to rotate the charging gear in a reverse direction. Under these circumstances, the straight sides of the ratchet teeth impact against the straight edges of the pawl tips, causing potentially damaging stresses in the ratcheting mechanism. The patent further suggests the use of a holding prop to hold the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheel until the closing springs have fully discharged to protect the pawls and the ratchet wheel from potential damage. When the contacts have become closed, the circuit breaker operating mechanism components are exposed to allow an operator to manually release the holding prop in order for the holding pawl to again become operative in re-charging the circuit breaker closing spring.
When the circuit breaker closing springs are brought to their fully-charged conditions, it is important that the springs do not become inadvertently discharged while an operator has hold of the charging handle in order to avoid damage to the ratchet mechanism and the associated air circuit breaker contacts. An early arrangement of a latching means to prevent rotation of a closing springs charging handle is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,021 entitled "Air Circuit Breaker".
The motor operated circuit breaker and manual variation thereof both employ a common operating mechanism and contact arrangement such that either the motor variation of the ratcheting mechanism or the manual ratcheting mechanism is installed during the manufacturing process, usually at the time of installation of the operating mechanism. It would be advantageous to have a modular ratcheting mechanism whereby a common platform with minor variation could be employed with either a motor-operated circuit breaker, a manual circuit breaker or a combination thereof.
When a manual ratcheting mechanism is employed, there is a large force concentration on the manual operating handle, particularly in the vicinity of the operating handle pivot. Tale operating handle components are usually made of hardened steel to resist bending or wear over long periods of continuos use. The use of a simple inexpensive operating handle structure has heretofore been avoided.
One purpose of the invention is to provide a modular ratcheting mechanism that will fit the requirements of either a motor operator driven circuit breaker closing spring, a handle operator driven circuit breaker closing spring or a combination of both with minor adjustment to the ratcheting mechanism.
A further purpose of the invention is to utilize a simple and inexpensive circuit breaker operating handle capable of withstanding several thousand pounds of force without failure over long periods of continued usage.
A further purpose of the invention is to provide a means to disengage the charging pawl when the closing springs are released without damaging the charging system.

Ratcheting mechanism for industrial-rated circuit breaker


The present invention allows a queue management system (QMS) to use presence information from a presence system to efficiently match requestors of information with qualified resources capable of providing the necessary response. The resources for information may be humans or automated systems, which may be configured to facilitate communications with the requestors using different types of communication technologies. Further, these resources may be associated with different skill sets, experience, or areas of expertise. Thus, the resources may provide different roles, and any given resource may provide multiple roles, in addition to facilitating communications using different mediums.

People often need to interact with resources that are able to respond to specific inquiries. The resources may be other people or automated systems capable of providing the necessary response. A few common scenarios where people assist incoming callers include customer service and ordering systems, as well as information and directory assistance systems. These systems may be fully or partially automated by replacing human resources with automated systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize various other types of attended and unattended systems, which provide information to requestors in response to various types of requests.
In these systems, the number of resources are limited and requestors of the resources are often placed in a queue until a resource becomes available. A queue management system (QMS) will monitor incoming requests and assign resources to requestors based on defined priority criteria.
Given the increasing number of situations where information resources are needed, as well as the wide acceptance of email and other data-based communications in addition to voice communications, the providers of resources can often communicate with the requestors via different communication technologies. For example, requestors may simply call in to an information retrieval system wherein a human or automated response system will ultimately be assigned to the requestor. Upon being assigned, the human or automated system will respond to some form of request by the requestor. Alternatively, the requestor may send an email requesting information, wherein the email is placed in a queue and ultimately assigned to either a human or automated system to generate a response to the email. The response may simply be another email sent to the requestor, or an initiated call to the requestor. Those skilled in the art will recognize various types of communications media such as instant messages, text based chat, and others, which can be utilized to communicate with the requestor.
Additionally, the available resources may be associated with different skill sets, experience, and areas of expertise, in addition to being able to communicate via different mediums. Unfortunately, existing queue management systems have difficulty handling different types of resources, let alone using different communication technologies to respond to requests. The combination of different types of resources and different communication abilities increases the difficulty in determining whether a resource is available. For example, typical call-based QMS systems will monitor whether a resource provider's telephone is on or off hook. If the telephone is on hook, the resource provider is assumed available. If multiple communication capabilities are supported by a given resource provider, the provider may be busy responding to an email, and as such, the status of the telephone does not bear on the availability of the resource.
Further, there is a desire to move away from central, dedicated QMS systems to more diverse and geographically dispersed architectures capable of supporting different types of resources as well as different techniques for interacting with requestors. Accordingly, there is a need for a way to determine the availability of resources having different skill sets, experience, and areas of expertise, and that may be geographically dispersed and capable of interacting with a requestor using different communication technologies.


A tiled projection display for use in an aviation environment which has fail operational capabilities without providing for fully redundant spare projectors. The system includes optics for redirecting light from one projector to a central position between an adjacent projector and involves the methods of switching light from one projector to project images for an additional adjacent projector in the event of a projector failure.

The present invention generally relates to panoramic cockpit displays and even more particularly relates to such displays having multiple projectors and a tiled display.
In the past, designers of avionics displays have endeavored to provide larger and larger display devices to better provide for enhanced situation awareness for flight crews. The use of projection displays in cockpits is gaining many followers because of their recognized ability to provide panoramic displays.
While these displays have many advantages, they also have significant drawbacks.
Typically, the projectors used in projection display screens are relatively large, heavy and expensive. To provide a Fail Operational system is required in a typical aviation environment. One approach to achieving a Fail Operational projection display configuration that has been proposed is to include fully redundant projectors or include two projectors for each normal projector requirement. One projector is the main unit and the other is a spare. However, if a tiled display system were to have four segments, with each segment using an independent projector, then eight projectors would be needed to provide fully redundancy and Fail Operational capabilities. The extra cost, weight and space required for the extra four projectors can be substantial.
Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in Fail Operational capabilities of tiled projection displays.
It is an object of the present invention to provide tiled projection displays having Fail Operational capabilities.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a shared projector in the event of a projector failure.
It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the need for fully redundant spare projectors.
It is another feature of the present invention to include an optical switching system for redirecting the images normally emitted by a main projector.
It is another advantage of the present invention to minimize the number of mechanical parts required in an aviation display system.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing a projection image in a tiled projection system when a projector fails to operate which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a xe2x80x9cfully redundant projector-lessxe2x80x9d manner in a sense that the need for fully redundant components in a system having Fail Operational capabilities has been greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is a tiled projection display system which utilizes an optical switching arrangement where one projector can be used to provide a projected image for an adjacent segment of a tile projection display system.

Fail operational optical design for tiled projection cockpit displays


Implementations of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and computer-readable storage mediums for providing in-place extensions to an application, including receiving one or more artifacts associated with the application; graphically depicting a representation of at least one artifact of the one or more artifacts on a display, the at least one artifact comprising extension points defined by a developer of the application; receiving first user input indicating a first extension to the at least one artifact, the first extension being associated with an extension point of the one or more extension points and being applied to the representation, the at least one artifact remaining unchanged in view of the first extension being applied to the representation; determining a delta based on the first extension and the at least one artifact; and storing the delta in an extension repository, the delta being usable to extend one or more other artifacts.

Extensibility is a topic of increasing importance in the software industry. In some examples, software applications are delivered by a software provider to support a certain domain through a set of predefined functionalities. Customers that acquire software applications can require additional functionalities that are not supported by the base software. In some examples, these additional functionalities can be realized through extensions. In some examples, extensions can be defined and/or developed by different roles. For example, extensions can be provided by the provider of the base software (the vendor), by the customer, and/or by a third party (e.g., an independent software vendor (ISV)). In some examples, to enable extensions, the provider of the base software defines extensibility concepts and mechanisms for the base software and provides supporting tools.

In-place definition of software extensions


An end-to-end client server system and related method for use in conjunction with mobile terminals. A client application on a mobile terminal is configured to remotely access a backend server via a gateway system. The mobile terminal includes a client application configured to generate a one time password using secret information and a password library, both known only to the client application and a verification component of the gateway system. The one time password provides an additional level of security, which is user dependent and not network dependent.

With the advent of 3G mobile terminals, particularly UMTS and GPRS-enabled terminals, the ability for greater functionality to be performed by such terminals, in addition to standard voice calls, has become possible.
For instance, end-to-end client-server systems have been developed for use in conjunction with mobile terminals. Such systems enable enterprise/back-end databases and applications to be represented and manipulated on mobile devices in a secure fashion. These systems provide field workers (i.e. those working off-site) with the ability to access certain back-end business systems and databases, for example.
The client component of such end-to-end systems comprise an application installed on one or more mobile terminals. Such mobile terminal applications typically perform one or more of the following functions:                Mediating between the mobile device and the enterprise system to transfer only the data that is required by the device;        Providing secure access to applications/servers only by users who are authorised to use those applications;        Keeping data on the mobile device and the enterprise system synchronized and up to date; and/or        Providing a suitable user interface to render data and other functionality to the terminal in a format that is suitable for the terminal.
To date, in order to ensure a suitable level of security, an entity, such as a telecommunications network service provider, hosts a Network Applications Manager (NAMan) server, allowing only authorised terminal users the ability to remotely access one or more back-end servers registered with the NAMan server. Such systems can be configured so that they are accessed by multiple users from multiple organisations, or by multiple users from a single organisation, which would be the case in the situation of company employees remotely accessing their company's back-end databases.
With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of such a system will be explained, where a user of a mobile terminal 10 wishes to access a backend/enterprise system for which they are registered to use. The user of the mobile terminal 10 would activate the appropriate client application preinstalled on the mobile terminal 10. The installed application will typically have a Graphical User Interface (GUI) in order to provide a user-friendly interface. The application requests a password for enabling the client application and the user enters this password. The client application checks the password against its internal database. The client application may then additionally request a password for the NAMan server.
The client application has an Access Point Name (APN) for the NAMan server 12, in order to enable the client application to access the NAMan server 12, serving as a gateway to the back-end systems 13, 14 and 15. The APN indicates to the GGSN which network/sub-network to give the user access to.
Therefore, once the client application is activated, the terminal connects to the network using its provisioned APN by creating a PDP context. The PDP context is forwarded to the service provider's GGSN 11, which verifies that the user is a subscriber to the NAMan server, identified by the APN, using a RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) server. In this regard, as security requirements dictate that a user should be authenticated before it connects to the NAMan server, the MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber International Subscriber Identity Number) associated with the mobile terminal is extracted from the PDP context and presented to the RADIUS server for an authentication check. The MSISDN is a unique number on the network and may be stored on the user's SIM card. The RADIUS server stores the MSISDNs of users allowed access to each of the backend system(s).
Once the user is validated, the GGSN 11 forwards the access request (including the NAMan password, if required) to the NAMan server 12, which allows the mobile terminal 10 access to the appropriate back-end server 13, 14 or 15. The client application may additionally request a username and password for back-end server 13, 14 or 15. The appropriate back-end server will be that which corresponds to the client application activated on the terminal 10. The GGSN 11 will route traffic received from the NAMan server to the terminal.
Once a user has gained access to the backend server, they are able to retrieve any data that they require and also, where they have been previously been using their client application "off-line", synchronise the data on their terminal with the backend server. To achieve synchronisation, any changed application data is uploaded to the NAMan server for onwards storage in the enterprise/backend system. The NAMan server does not permanently store application data; it merely acts as a conduit for data being transferred to the backend server. Communications between the NAMan server and the application on the mobile terminal typically are undertaken by the exchange of XML messages.
In terms of providing "off-line" functionality, the terminal application may be configured to allow the user to access and manipulate data previously downloaded from the backend system—such as a list of jobs that the user needs to perform that day and/or specific customer data. For instance, the user may mark off the jobs as each is done and also update the customer data, such as by correcting address details and updating their product/service requirements. Where this is performed offline, the changes are only effected in regard to the data on the terminal. When the user next goes "online", by performing the verification through the NAMan server, as described above, they are then able to again directly access the back-end system, and the data on the terminal can be synchronised with the backend data.
This approach works well where all remote users of the system subscribe to the particular telecommunications service provider providing the secure access to the backend system via their GGSN 11. In this regard, the service provider's GGSN has been configured to provide the RADIUS server with the data necessary for securely verifying the user/terminal as an authorised user, by extracting the user's MSISDN from their access request PDP context.
However, in today's competitive mobile telecommunications marketplace, many companies are not requiring all of their employees who have a company mobile terminal to subscribe to the same service provider, so for example, some employees may subscribe to Vodafone, whilst others subscribe to BT and Orange. In such a situation, requests for access to the NAMan server 12 would not necessarily go through the managing service provider's GGSN 11, which would be required to obtain the appropriate level of user verification, since it is specially configured to only forward requests from terminals with authorised MSISDNs.
Whilst it may be possible for access requests to be alternatively routed through another service provider's network to the managing service provider's GGSN 11, the GGSN 11 would not have the same degree of verification control, as it would only be able to have access to the MSISDN of the terminal by requesting the other network to provide it. This is not desirable, as the other service provider may not cooperate and refuse to provide the MSISDN information. Further, even if the other service provider did provide the MSISDN, the service provider managing the server 12 does not have full control over the verification process, and hence is more susceptible to hacking attacks.
A similar problem exists in relation to roaming users. Under the current arrangement, since the user needs to access the backend server via GGSN 11 of the managing network operator, if the user is in a country where the network operator does not have a presence or network operator does not have roaming connectivity, the user will not be able to directly access the back-end system via GGSN 11, and would need cooperation from the local service providers in order to obtain the MSISDN for the verification process.
There is therefore a need for an end-to-end client-server system that can operate more securely over different service providers/network operators or over otherwise non-compatible networks.

Mobile terminal authorisation arrangements


The invention relates to gudgeon pin bushes which find application in highly-stressed engines, with the problem of a tendency to pit, in particular in the middle regions (with relation to the radial axis of the bush), on starting the motor. According to the invention, the problem can be avoided whereby the friction surfaces of a gudgeon pin bush, at least in the high loading region, have the following parameters measured over the bush cross-section in the axial direction: the support percentage is a minimum of 99.0% to a depth of at most 1.800 m, the depth of the roughness core profile is at most 0.30 m, the proportion of the material Mr1 of the roughness core profile is at most 8%. The gudgeon pin bush can be obtained by finishing the bearing surface of the gudgeon pin bush using a surface machining method.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a piston pin bushing. In addition, the invention relates to a method of producing such a piston pin bushing.
2. Related Art
Piston pin bushings are bushings which are provided in the small end eye in connecting rods for internal combustion engines. In the event of heavy engine load, a problem has arisen in the form of a tendency on the part of the bushing, in particular in the middle area (relative to the radial axis of the bushing), to suffer seizure during running in of the engine.
Piston bushings may be solid and made from one material or they may comprise a backing layer and an overlay. Where an overlay is mentioned below, it is also used to mean the part of the material of a solid piston pin bushing located at the inner surface.
In the past, more attention was paid to the problem of the introduction of forces and distribution of stresses in the area of the piston/connecting rod connection.
The attempt is made in DE 30 36 062 C2 to avoid stress peaks in the upper area of the piston pin bosses by rounding the edge of the piston pin bore or widening the piston pin bore.
According to DE 41 33 586 A1, local overloading of the piston pin bushing is prevented by making resilient the end areas of the connecting rod bore, i.e. the small end eye, adjoining the end faces. To this end, either relief grooves are incorporated or the wall thickness is minimized.
In DE 198 28 847 A1, the piston pin bushing is provided with an adequate service life at relatively high operating forces in that material reductions, in particular perforations, are provided in the transition region between the apex lines of the bushing. In this way, the radial pressure is shifted to the area of the bushing ends.
According to DE 100 29 950 A1, the pressure peaks at the outer edge of the connecting rod eye, which are caused by bending of the pin under load, are absorbed in that the connecting rod eye takes the form of a shaped bore which differs from cylindrical in shape in such a way that it follows the deformation of the piston pin. The use of a bushing is thereby intended to become superfluous. Relief grooves, which are complex to produce and are therefore expensive and, moreover, lead to loss of oil, are also superfluous.
However, there are disadvantages in dispensing with a bushing: on the one hand, it is only possible to achieve optimum friction pairing between connecting rod and piston pin by using a bushing. On the other hand, the bushings also contribute to achieving alignment with the big end eye as a result of post-machining of the bushings after installation.
EP 0 716 240 B1 relates to increasing the seizure resistance of a plain bearing. This is achieved therein by a defined surface structure which extends from the bearing alloy layer through the intermediate layer and into the overlay layer. This peak and valley structure with specified conditions relating to peak height, intermediate layer thickness and overlay layer thickness has the effect that, even after a degree of abrasion, the sliding surface still includes parts of the overlay and intermediate layers, which are thus available as lubricant.
However, plain bearings differ fundamentally from bushings with regard to type of stress and lubrication conditions. Plain bearings are pressure oil lubricated and a hydrodynamic lubricating film generally forms due to the large relative speeds between shaft and bearing. In contrast, in the connecting rod small end eye generally only small, oscillating relative movements arise between piston pin and piston bin bushing, i.e. mixed friction conditions arise far more frequently, resulting in solid-solid contact. The findings disclosed in EP 0 716 240 B1 cannot therefore be directly transferred to bushings, in particular piston pin bushings.


A plastic film liquid pouch is formed from impermeable film sheet material and has opposed side walls with sealed circumferencial edges to form an enclosed chamber. A liquid product is provided in the chamber and a space is also provided to permit expansion of the liquid. An internal straw restraining passage is formed by seals between the opposed side walls. The straw restraining passage communicates with the liquid chamber and a straw is held loosely captive inside the passage and axially displaceable therein. The straw restraining passage defines a reduced cross-sectional area of the chamber whereby the opposed side walls of the bag at the restraining passage may be collapsed towards one another by the fingers of a user person thereby displacing a restricted quantity of liquid to expose the straw to grasp the straw and push an end of the straw through the film sheet material whereby to extract the liquid from the pouch either by sipping it through the straw or by compressing the pouch to force the liquid through the straw.

It is known to provide a package liquid container, such as a flexible plastic bag containing a liquid as well as a straw freely floating therein whereby liquid from the bag may be extracted by manipulating the bag to grasp the free-floating straw and push it through the bag so that liquid can be sipped through the straw or be expulsed from the bag through the straw by compressing the bag. Such a package liquid container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,336 issued on May 1, 1973. However, there are disadvantages associated with such bags and one of these disadvantages is that it is difficult to locate and grasp the free-floating straw by compressing the side walls of the bags due to the liquid and air which is contained in the bags. In an attempt to alleviate this problem a large air space is left within the bag so that the side walls can be collapsed with the liquid having sufficient space to be displaced inside the bag. When manipulating the bag to locate the straw often, weak seams of the bag can give away and the liquid accidentally discharge through the seam making it very messy. Also because, a large quantity of air needs to be provided it is necessary to make the pouch much larger than the contained volume of liquid.
Another disadvantage of such flexible liquid containers is that in trying to grasp the free floating straw within the liquid, often the straw will be bent in the process of while trying to grasp it through the liquid and thereby weakening the rigidity of the straw making it ineffective to puncture the bag. It is also necessary with such flexible liquid containers to manufacture the container with clear plastic material whereby the straw can be visually located by the user person. Therefore, the printing material appearing on the bag must be restricted whereby to provide this visual access to the interior of the pouch. It is necessary with such pouches or bags that a major portion thereof remain transparent.

Liquid pouch with internal straw restraining passage


A device for guiding cables or lines through walls, having a body having two mating parts, means for connecting the body to a wall surface, at least one passage through said body, the passage having an inlet and an outlet with the latter adapted to face a wall, a member at least partially substantially tightly disposed within the inlet, the member having a stress relief portion which can contact the circumference of a cable within the member.

In conventional devices of such cable and lines guides, as described, for example, in German patent No. 3,544,785 A1, and used in motor vehicle bodies, the guide has two thin-walled, plastic half shells, the interior of which is filled with a rubber-elastic containment body with appropriate openings for the cables and lines. The desired frictional connection between the half shells and the containment body is achieved by connecting the shell segments by snap fasteners. A simple and operative connection between the individual parts is, however, achieved only if the internal diameter of the cable openings is only slightly smaller than the external diameter of the cables contained therein. In all other cases either there is no tight connection between the contained cable and the containment body with an appropriate stress relief (diameter of the cable is smaller than the diameter of the opening), or the shell segments cannot be readily fastened together, because the diameter of the cable is clearly larger than the diameter of the corresponding opening. In such cases, it is possible to select soft rubber, however, at the expense of providing stress relief which is of decisive importance for control boxes.
In European patent No. 430,046, a device for sealing a hole is disclosed, which is mounted in the wall of the control box and through which a cable is to be passed. The device has cast iron housing parts and its interior is filled with compressible foamed blocks of rubber. Hose clamps for fastening the cable are attached to the inside of one of the two housing parts by screws which can be screwed into a cross member and transversely to the length of the cables. The housing parts can be connected by screws. It is a disadvantage of this device that a proper connection of the cables with the assigned hose clamps is not only cumbersome, but also time-consuming, especially when several devices are to be disposed in a very tight space or if the device is intended for a plurality of cables and/or lines.


An inkjet printhead that has an array of nozzles arranged in adjacent rows, each nozzle having an ejection aperture and a corresponding actuator for ejecting printing fluid through the ejection aperture, each actuator having electrodes spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the rows. It also has drive circuitry for transmitting electrical power to the electrodes. The electrodes of the actuators in adjacent rows have opposing polarities such that the actuators in adjacent rows have opposing current flow directions. By reversing the polarity of the electrodes in adjacent rows, the punctuations in the power plane of the CMOS can be kept to the outside edges of the adjacent rows. This moves one line of narrow resistive bridges between the punctuations to a position where the electrical current does not flow through them. This eliminates their resistance from the actuators drive circuit. By reducing the resistive losses for actuators remote from the power supply side of the printhead IC, the drop ejection characteristics are consistent across the entire array of nozzles.

The quality of a printed image depends largely on the resolution of the printer. Accordingly, there are ongoing efforts to improve the print resolution of printers. The print resolution strictly depends on the spacing of the printer addressable locations on the media substrate, and the drop volume. The spacing between the nozzles on the printhead need not be as small as the spacing between the addressable locations on the media substrate. The nozzle that prints a dot at one addressable location can be spaced any distance away from the nozzle that prints the dot at the adjacent addressable location. Movement of the printhead relative to the media, or vice versa, or both, will allow the printhead to eject drops at every addressable location regardless of the spacing between the nozzles on the printhead. In the extreme case, the same nozzle can print adjacent drops with the appropriate relative movement between the printhead and the media.
Excess movement of the media with respect to the printhead will reduce print speeds. Multiple passes of a scanning printhead over a single swathe of the media, or multiple passes of the media past the printhead in the case of pagewidth printhead reduces the page per minute print rate.
Alternatively, the nozzles can be spaced along the media feed path or in the scan direction so that the spacing between addressable locations on the media are smaller than the physical spacing of adjacent nozzles. It will be appreciated that the spacing the nozzles over a large section of the paper path or scan direction is counter to compact design and requires the paper feed to carefully control the media position and the printer control of nozzle firing times must be precise.
For pagewidth printheads, the large nozzle array emphasizes the problem. Spacing the nozzles over a large section of the paper path requires the nozzle array to have a relatively large area. The nozzle array must, by definition, extend the width of the media. But its dimension in the direction of media feed should be as small as possible. Arrays that extend a relatively long distance in the media feed direction require a complex media feed that maintains precise positioning of the nozzles relative to the media surface across the entire array. Some printer designs use a broad vacuum platen opposite the printhead to get the necessary control of the media. In light of these issues, there is a strong motivation to increase the density of nozzles on the printhead (that is, the number of nozzles per unit area) in order to increase the addressable locations of the printer and therefore the print resolution while keeping the width of the array (in the direction of media feed) small.
The Applicant has developed a range of pagewidth printheads with very high nozzle densities. The printheads use one or more printhead integrated circuits (ICs) that each have an array of nozzles fabricated on a silicon wafer substrate using semiconductor etching and deposition techniques. Each nozzle is a MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) device with an actuator mounted in a chamber for ejecting ink through a respective nozzle aperture.
To keep the printzone (i.e. the area encompassed by all the nozzles on the printhead) as narrow as possible, the printhead IC's on each printhead are mounted end to end in a line transverse to the paper feed directions. This keeps the width of the total nozzle array small to avoid, or at least minimize, the media feed control problems discussed above. However, end to end printhead ICs mean that the power and data to the nozzles must be fed to the side of each IC.
The drive circuitry for each printhead IC is fabricated on the wafer substrate in the form of several metal layers separated by dielectric material through which vias establish the required inter layer connections. The drive circuitry has a drive FET (field effect transistor) for each actuator. The source of the FET is connected to a power plane (a metal layer connected to the position voltage of the power supply) and the drain connects to a ground plane (the metal layer at zero voltage or ground). Also connected to the ground plane and the power plane are the electrodes for each of the actuators.
The power plane is typically the uppermost metal layer and the ground plane is the metal layer immediately beneath (separated by a dielectric layer). The actuators, ink chambers and nozzles are fabricated on top of the power plane metal layer. Holes are etched through this layer so that the negative electrode can connect to the ground plane and an ink passage can extend form the rear of the wafer substrate to the ink chambers. As the nozzle density increases, so to does the density of these holes, or punctuations through the power plane. With a greater density of punctuations through the power plane, the gap width between the punctuations is reduced. The thin bridge of metal layer between these gaps is a point of relatively high electrical resistance. As the power plane is connected to a supply along one side of the printhead IC, the current to actuators on the non-supply side of the printhead IC may have had to pass through a series of these resistive gaps. The increased parasitic resistance to the non-supply side actuators will affect their drive voltage and ultimately the drop ejection characteristics from those nozzles.
In light of the above, there are ongoing efforts to improve print resolution by increasing the density of nozzles on the printhead while maintaining consistent drop ejection characteristics.

Inkjet printhead with opposing actuator electrode polarities


An apparatus for providing time adjustment of an input signal includes a coarse timing digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a replica delay element and an interpolator. The coarse timing DAC has multiple delay settings for providing a coarse timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a first delayed signal by delaying the input signal by a first delay time corresponding to a selected setting of the multiple delay settings. The replica delay element receives the first delayed signal from the coarse timing DAC and outputs a second delayed signal by delaying the first delayed signal by a predetermined second delay time. The interpolator blends either the input signal and the first delayed signal or the first delayed signal and the second delayed signal for providing a fine timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a timing adjusted output signal including the coarse timing adjustment and the fine timing adjustment.

Digital-to-time converters, referred to as timing digital-to-analog converters (timing DACs), may be used to adjust timing of events in integrated circuits, for example. Timing DACs typically include circuits that provide coarse timing adjustments and fine timing adjustments, respectively, in order to obtain the desired timing adjustments.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating known circuits for providing coarse timing adjustments. Generally, coarse timing adjustments are accomplished by switching delay elements, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) gates, into or out of a delay path using multiplexers.
FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting a known coarse timing DAC 101, which multiplexes between taps of a CMOS delay chain, including delay elements 111-113 and dummy load 114. However, a large number of taps requires use of a wide multiplexer or a multiplexer tree, shown by multiplexers 121-123, controllable by coarse adjustment control bit cAdj<0>, and multiplexer 130, controllable by coarse adjustment control bits cAdj<2:1>. The multiplexer tree adds non-trivial delay.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram depicting another known coarse timing DAC 102, having a trombone structure that uses delays of multiplexers 141-144 as part of the delay line, thus decreasing the minimum delay time. The delay of the coarse timing DAC 102 is determined in response to a binary coarse adjustment control word cAdj<1:0> and corresponding coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0. The coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0 may be one-hot coded, for example, which means that only one bit of the coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0 is set to "1" at a time, and the remaining bits of the coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0 are set to "0", e.g., 0001, 0010, 0100, and 1000. A binary to one-hot decoder 145 converts the binary coarse adjustment control word cAdj<1:0> to one-hot coded coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0. The coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0 determine the number of multiplexers 141-144 that input signal In traverses before it arrives at the output Out. Whichever coarse select signal cSelN that is set to "1" forces the corresponding multiplexer 141-144 to select the input signal In. For example, Table 1 shows the multiplexers traversed by the input signal In in response to a binary coarse adjustment control word and corresponding coarse select signals cSel3-cSel0.
TABLE 1Binary coarseadjustmentMultiplexersDecimalcontrol wordCoarse select signalstraversed bynumbercAdj<1:0>cSel3 . . . cSel0input signal In00000011411010010142→1412100100143→142→1413111000144→143→142→141
The coarse timing DAC 102 effectively limits the size of the delay time steps to the relatively large delay of a 2:1 multiplexer. In comparison, the coarse timing DAC 101 of FIG. 1A can be designed with delay time steps of two inverter delays (for a single-ended delay chain) or even one inverter delay (for a pseudo-differential delay chain).
FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams illustrating known circuits for providing fine timing adjustments. FIG. 2A is a block diagram depicting known fine timing DAC 201, including delay elements 211 and 212, which may be CMOS inverters, for example. A variable load capacitor 213 is connected from a node between the delay elements 211 and 212 to ground. Thus, the fine timing DAC 201 adjusts time delay by varying the load capacitor 213 of the delay element 211.
FIG. 2B is a block diagram depicting another known fine timing DAC 202, which includes interpolator 250 and delay element 261. The interpolator 250 includes multiplexers 251-253. Each of the multiplexers 251-253 receives the input signal In directly and delayed signal D via delay element 261 in order to blend them according to a variable ratio between the two signals, determined in response to fine adjustment control word fAdj.
In applications requiring a wide range of time adjustment, as well as fine step size, a coarse timing DAC (e.g., shown in FIG. 1A or 1B) and a fine timing DAC (e.g., shown in FIG. 2A or 2B) may be cascaded to form a timing DAC, in which the range of the fine timing adjustment covers at least a LSB of the coarse timing adjustment circuit to avoid dead zones. However, cascading coarse and fine timing DACs is problematic when minimum delay time is critical because the minimum delay time of the resulting timing DAC is the sum of the respective minimum delay times of the coarse and fine timing DACs. Using a multiplexer tree-based structure, such as that shown in FIG. 1A, aggravates the problem because the structure has a large minimum delay time itself. Also, the relatively large LSB of a trombone structure, such as that shown in FIG. 1B, makes it difficult to the design a fine timing adjustment circuit with a sufficiently wide range.

Apparatus and method for providing timing adjustment of input signal


Sludge is removed from a reboiler while the reboiler is supplying heat to a fractionator, by using sludge removal apparatus added to the reboiler. The reboiler to which the sludge removal apparatus is added comprises an evaporative type shell and tube heat exchanger in which sludge can accumulate as a residue from evaporated liquid, and further in which unevaporated liquid is withdrawn from the reboiler as a product. Sludge removal is accomplished by drawing a relatively small liquid flush stream from the reboiler liquid product stream, pressuring the flush stream through a pump, and then recycling the flush stream to a sparger appropriately disposed in the heat exchanger shell. Sludge dislodged by the sparger is removed along with the reboiler liquid product in a flow path along the bottom surface of the shell through cut-outs provided in the lower edge of the weir and baffle plates in the reboiler which without the cut-outs would block the flow path for the sludge.

The separation of mixtures into their components is one of the most important processes of the chemical industry. A common procedure for performing this separation is distillation, and numerous petroleum refining processes employ fractionator-reboiler apparatus for performing distillation of hydrocarbon mixtures.
In the most conventional distillation method, a hydrocarbon feed mixture is introduced into a fractionator column and the mixture is segregated in the column with the lower boiling constituent concentrating in a vapor phase as it migrates upwardly in the column, while the higher boiling constituent, in which any particulate material present tends to concentrate, flows downwardly in the column in a liquid state. A portion of the heavier particulate-containing liquid is withdrawn from the lower, or so called kettle, portion of the column, vaporized in a reboiler and returned to the kettle portion of the column to supply heat requirements of the distillation process.
The choice of reboiler apparatus will be dependent on the heat requirements of the distillation process. Generally, the reboiler comprises a shell and tube heat exchanger of the evaporative type which is employed for vaporization of the fractionator bottoms liquid and wherein the vaporization occurs in the shell of the reboiler.
A typical reboiler of this type comprises: a horizontally oriented shell having an inlet for process liquid and an outlet for vaporized process fluid; an inlet and an outlet for the heating medium which may be either steam or a hot process fluid; a plurality of tubes disposed in the shell so as to form a tube bundle; a tube sheet for supporting the tubes at one end, a dividing plate that cooperates with the tube sheet forming a heating fluid inlet header at one end of the tube bundle and a heating fluid outlet header at the other end of the tube bundle; transverse baffles for side-to-side flow of process liquid across the tubes; and a weir positioned within the shell to insure that liquid level in the shell is maintained and that tube surface is not exposed, with further provisions for removal of a portion of the process liquid supplied to the reboiler through a separate liquid outlet on the discharge side of the weir so that only a portion of the process liquid supplied to the reboiler is vaporized. The excess unvaporized liquid supplied to the reboiler is withdrawn from the reboiler as reboiler product. Typically, the evaporating type of reboiler also includes an empty volume of about 40% of the total shell volume located above the liquid level in the shell for disengagement of liquid-vapor mixture generated in the reboiler.
If the fractionator bottoms malaria 1 is a contaminated liquid containing solid particles or sludge, which is often the case, the area on the inner surface of the shell below the tube bundle can become virtually plugged with accumulations of these solids. Unless these accumulations are promptly removed, corrosion and fouling of the reboiler can occur.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to reduce the accumulation of solid particles which cause fouling of a reboiler supplying heat for a distillation process.
It is another object of this invention to maintain efficiency and capacity of a reboiler by the continuous or intermittent sparging and flushing of solid or semisolid accumulations from the shell of a shell and tube reboiler.
It is a further object of this invention to flush out accumulations of deposits while the evaporative type reboiler is in service for supplying heat to a fractionator column.

Fractionator-reboiler sludge removal system and method