A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high strength low drag tethers and systems using such tethers.
2. Description of Related Art
Some airborne wind energy systems, powered kites, tethered tidal power systems, moored platforms, tethered aerostats, and other tethered devices require high tether strength, significant tether power transmission, and are also sensitive to the effects of fluid-dynamic drag.
In the case of some airborne power generation systems, an aerial platform such as an airfoil may support an array of turbine driven generators. The platform may be linked to the ground with a tether which provides both the physical coupling as well as the electrical coupling of the tethered platform to the ground. In such a case, the electrical power generated by the turbine driven generators may travel along the tether from the aerial platform to the ground. In the case wherein the turbine driven generators also function as motor driven propellers, such as may be used when the platform is raised from the ground, the tether may provide electric power to the aerial platform. Also, the tether may be the conduit for telemetry related to control functions on the platform.
In addition, the tether provides the mechanical linkage of the platform to the ground. In the case of cross wind flying scenarios, such as when the aerial platform may be flying in patterns wherein the platform the apparent wind is much higher than the nominal actual wind speed, the drag of the tether may play a significant role in overall system function. Typically, the tether is wound on a reel of some sort either for storage of as part of the mechanical winching of the aerial platform.
What is called for is a tether, and system using a tether, that provides high strength for the support of an aerial platform from the ground. What is also called for is a tether that is low in drag such that it is suitable for support of airborne platforms.

High strength windable electromechanical tether with low fluid dynamic drag and system using same


A holographic digital data storage apparatus detects a wobbling in a disc shaped storage medium, wherein the apparatus includes a beam generator and finding means, the disc including therein one or more holographically generated patterns. The beam generator projects at least two wobble detection beams to the holographically generated patterns, the wobble detection beams having different diffraction efficiencies provided at respective characteristic angles, wherein the characteristic angle is an angle between an optical path of one wobble detection beam and that of its corresponding pattern forming beam used in forming one of the holographically generated patterns and a diffraction efficiency is given by a ratio of a power of a diffracted beam of one of the wobble detection beams to a power of said one of the wobble detection beams. The finding means finds at least a difference between the diffraction efficiencies to thereby determine the wobbling in the disc.

Recently, there have been reported a lot of active researches on holographic digital data storage systems. Results of these researches are now being applied in such a field as a finger print recognition system, as well as any fields that take advantage of a large-scaled storage capability and a high-speed transfer rate.
A conventional holographic digital data storage (HDDS) system stores information on an interference pattern of an object beam and a reference beam in a storage medium, made of, e.g., photo-refractive crystal or photopolymer, which is sensitive to an amplitude of the interference pattern. The storage medium of the HDDS system is often fabricated in a disc shape, the so called "spinner disc" in the form of a CD or a DVD. The HDDS system stores information on an amplitude and a phase of the interference pattern beam by varying an angle of the reference beam. In this way, the spinner disc can store several hundreds or thousands of holograms, each of which is represented by a page in the form of a two dimensional array of binary digits.
When information stored in a storage medium are reproduced, wobbling may be resulted due to a misalignment between the storage medium and its axis of rotation, such that there exists an offset between the normal to the disc plane of the storage medium and the axis of rotation thereof.
Wobbling in certain storage media, e.g., conventional CD and DVD, can be corrected by using servo control of a head or a light pickup with a small mass. Since, however, the holograms are stored on a page-by-page basis in the spinner disc and the optics of the HDDS system is large, the wobbling compensation scheme of the conventional optical disc system cannot be used in the HDDS system.

Apparatus and method for compensating wobble in holographic digital data storage system


A surge protector for protecting telecommunications related equipment and other associated sensitive electrical components from over-voltage transient occurring on tip/ring conductors of telecommunication lines coupled thereto includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of surge protection circuits being mounted on the printed circuit board. Each of the plurality of surge protection circuits includes a first set of steering diodes and a second set of steering diodes. A common transient voltage clamping device has a first end connected to a first conductor lead and a second end connected to a second conductor lead so as to be shared by the plurality of surge protection circuits. A common pair of series-connected rectifier diodes has a first end also connected to the first conductor lead and a second end also connected to the second conductor lead so as to be shared by the plurality of surge protection circuits.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to surge protection devices for protecting telecommunications related equipment and associated sensitive electrical components from over-voltage and/or over-current transient surges.
2. Prior Art
As is generally known to those skilled in the telecommunications industry, modern telecommunications related equipment is susceptible to transient surges such as those caused by lightning strikes and other voltage/current surges occurring on the incoming power lines. During the occurrence of the lightning strikes or the voltage/current surges on the incoming power lines in a power distribution network provided by electric utility companies, the power lines may become crossed-over or applied directly to the incoming telecommunication lines carrying voice signals, data signals and the like to a users' or consumers' equipment. The voice/data signals may be used for transmitting and/or receiving signals to and from various types of customers' electrical or office equipment, such as telephone sets, computers, facsimile machines, photocopiers, alarm devices, modems, or high-speed interface circuit devices (T-1 line, DSL network, Ethernet network, 10/100/1000 Base-T interface, etc.).
Therefore, it is typically necessary to provide telephone lines with surge protection devices so as to protect equipment connected to the transmission lines from transient voltage and/or current surges. Such surge protection devices are generally operated as shunt-connected clamping devices. Under normal operating conditions, the clamping devices act as a high-impedance path or ideally an open circuit to a protected transmission line. When a transient voltage exceeds the normal operating voltage of the transmission line, the clamping device will create a low-impedance path to ground so as to prevent damage to the equipment caused by the transient. Once the line voltage returns to a normal operating level, the clamping device will return automatically to a high-impedance state.
Accordingly, there exist various types of surge protector circuits for protecting telecommunications related equipment from transient voltage and/or current surges occurring on transmission lines coupled thereto. However, known surge protector circuits suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, certain known Category 5 surge protector circuits could not meet the transmission line loss limitations set forth by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) for Category 6 standards. In addition, while certain known Category 6 surge protector circuits provided good transmission loss control, they were unable to provide RJ-45 jack interface connections. It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved surge protector for protecting telecommunications related equipment from transient voltage surges occurring on transmission lines coupled thereto which meets the performance TIA specifications of Category 6 while providing standard RJ-45 connections without the need of adding magnetic components thereto.
The present surge protector includes a plurality of surge protection circuits and has particular applications in being used for protecting telecommunications related equipment and associated sensitive electrical components from over-voltage transients occurring on four differential-pairs of tip and ring conductors of telecommunication or signal lines coupled thereto.

Transmission bandwidth extender/category 6 surge protector


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for resizing a video image. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adapter having a bilinear filter is provided. The bilinear filter contains two first-in first-out (FIFO) memory devices for storing the video image and a vertical and horizontal filters for vertically and horizontally resizing the image. To resize the image, the video data representing the image is transferred to the graphics adapter in M.times.M arrays of pixel data. Each one of the (FIFO) memory devices has the capacity of storing one row of pixel data at a time. Adjacent rows are stored in the FIFO devices for vertical interpolation by the vertical filter. The oldest row in the FIFO devices is replaced by a new row for further interpolation. As each row is transferred to the horizontal filter, intermediate pixels are generated. In another embodiment, extra storage devices are used to hold data elements for interpolating between every two adjacent horizontal blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer graphics systems and more particularly to a display graphics adapter having a video accelerator with reduced on-chip storage requirements for interpolative video upscaling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video resizing has become an essential feature in graphics and multi-media adapters for video monitoring and playback applications. Video resizing implies either upscaling or downscaling video frames of an image to a desired size. The video frames may come from either a real-time or a non real-time source. A real-time source includes a video camera or a VCR. A non real-time source includes a compact disk read-only-memory (CD-ROM), a hard disk storage or a network connected to a computer where the data is received in burst mode (i.e., video conferencing).
A video camera or VCR provides an uncompressed video signal that can be displayed on a TV monitor. If a National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) compliant video signal is decoded and digitized, it will have a square pixel resolution of 640.times.480 pixels/frame. The frame in the signal is constructed from two interlaced fields of 240 lines each. The fields are updated at 60 Hz to produce a smooth motion on the display. When the video signal is decoded to its components, it produces pixels in YUV color space which can be easily converted into RGB color space through a linear transformation.
A great amount of storage space is required to store a video signal after digitization. For example, 27 MBytes of storage are needed to store one second of RGB data of a digitized video signal. Therefore to save storage space, digitized signals are often compressed (usually by a factor of 10 to 50) before being stored on a CD-ROM or a hard disk storage. Often times, the video frames are scaled down before compression to further save storage space. The process of digitizing, downscaling, compressing and storing the video data is known as a capture operation. The reverse operation is called a playback operation.
Thus, a playback operation involves decompressing the video data, converting the data from YUV to RGB color space and scaling the decompressed image to the desired size (resizing) on the display screen. To perform the resizing operation, bilinear filtering is often used. Bilinear filtering is computationally intensive and is usually implemented in hardware as part of the graphics chip or as a separate video accelerator chip. The following linear interpolation algorithm is used in bilinear filtering: EQU 0.sub.1 =RF*p.sub.2 +(1-RF)*p.sub.1 ; EQU 0.sub.2 =2RF*p.sub.2 +(1-2RF)*p.sub.1 ; EQU 0.sub.3 =3RF*p.sub.2 +(1-3RF)*p.sub.1 ; EQU 0.sub.4 =4RF . . .
where the resize factor ##EQU1## p.sub.1, p.sub.2 , . . . are pixels of the original image; and 0.sub.1, 0.sub.2, . . . are pixels of the resized image. Bilinear filtering corresponds to performing linear interpolation in both horizontal and vertical directions.
Bilinear filtering may be used for upscaling as well as downscaling video images; although it is used mostly to upscale video images in playback operation. When bilinear filtering is used to upscale an image, RF is always less than one. When the values of RF multiples (e.g., 2RF, 3RF etc.) in the above equations becomes greater than one (e.g., 1.2), then only the fractional values are used (e.g., 0.2) in conjunction with the next pixel (p.sub.3) and the current pixel (p.sub.2) to generate the pixels in the resized image, the old pixel (p.sub.1) is discarded.
FIG. 1 depicts a bilinear filter 100 used in the prior art to resize video images. The bilinear filter 100 contains a vertical filter 110 connected to a vertical memory 120. The vertical filter is also connected to a buffer 130 which is further connected to a horizontal filter 140. The vertical filter 110 is used to expand the image vertically. Similarly, the horizontal filter 140 is used to expand the image horizontally. The vertical memory 120 typically has a capacity to store at least one scan line of pixels (768.times.3 bytes). The buffer 130 need only have a two-pixel storage capacity; however, to decrease the time required to acquire each new pixel, the buffer is usually provided with a three-pixel storage capacity.
During a video playback, a frame of video image pixels is scanned line by line from top to bottom and input into the bilinear filter. As the first line of video image is scanned, it is stored into the vertical memory 120. When the next line is scanned in, the vertical filter generates the intermediate lines by interpolating between the two lines of pixels. The filter 110 then replaces the previously stored line of pixels in the vertical filter memory 120 with the current scan line for further interpolation. The first line, ordinarily referred to as an anchor line, and the last line as well as all vertically interpolated scan lines are passed on to the horizontal filter. The process continues until the whole frame is vertically expanded.
When the first line of pixels is scanned into the vertical filter 110, it is also transmitted to the buffer 130. As the pixels are transferred to buffer 130, the horizontal filter 140 interpolates between every two pixels stored in the buffer 130. This process is repeated for each line of pixels received from the vertical filter 110. Consequently, a resized or scaled up version of the input image is produced at the video output.
As stated above, the bilinear filter 100 uses a memory device having 768.times.3 bytes (or 768 pixels of 24 bits each) of storage capacity. This amount of storage requirement uses a great portion of the real state of the die of the video accelerator chip which directly affects the chip's overall cost.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a cost effective video accelerator chip that requires a minimal amount of storage capacity.

Method and apparatus for resizing block ordered video image frames with reduced on-chip cache


To evaluate the output signal of an active sensor which is configured as a binary current signal, a circuit arrangement is disclosed by which a proportional current is produced from the sensor current by way of a current mirror circuit. The current produced by a current mirroring operation is drawn from a stabilized voltage source by way of an ohmic resistance, and a binary voltage signal corresponding to the sensor output signal is generated thereby. The voltage signal is sent to a flipflop which compares the voltage signal with a reference value that is composed of a reference voltage and a hysteresis voltage. The change-over threshold of the flipflop is varied or adapted as a function of the actual sensor current, leakage currents, etc.

The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for evaluating the output signal of an active sensor which is configured as a binary current signal, i.e., a square-wave signal with two different current levels.
German patent application No. 39 36 831 discloses a circuit arrangement for conditioning the output signal of a rotational speed sensor. The circuit arrangement includes a trigger circuit or flipflop having change-over thresholds which are varied in response to a coupling factor that influences the output voltage of the sensor. A circuit arrangement of this type is appropriate for use in passive and active sensors. When evaluating the output signal of an active sensor which issues a binary current signal, however, a current/voltage conversion by way of a serially connected load impedance of a relatively low ohmic value would be necessary to provide a sufficient operating voltage for the active sensor. This impedance would require a great load capacity to withstand a short-circuit of the sensor line with respect to the supply voltage. In addition, a high degree of accuracy of the impedance would be necessary because the signal identification of the sensor depends on this accuracy. Impedances of this type are complicated, and the high energy consumption is a shortcoming. Identification of sensor errors would be possible only by additional circuit structure. Overlapping of the range of function and range of error identification is not possible with such a circuit arrangement when used in an active sensor.

Circuit arrangement for evaluating the output signal of an active sensor


A method of reducing exhaust emission from a catalytic converter apparatus of a vehicle, the apparatus including at least one catalytic converter, each of the at least one catalytic converter having a catalyst brick positioned within a predefined length of the vehicle. The method includes directing exhaust to pass more than once through the predefined length through at least one of the at least one catalyst brick. The converter apparatus can accelerate catalyst conversion reactions and thus accelerate converter system light-off.

Gasoline-powered motor vehicles for highway use generally are equipped with catalytic converters, which treat exhaust emissions. Approximately one-third of total exhaust emissions from vehicles is produced during the first thirty seconds of operation after engine startup. As catalytic material in the catalytic converter becomes heated, conversion of exhaust gases is accelerated and the level of emissions decreases.


An electronic marker device affixes a fishing rod to a fishing reel. The device includes a marker housing having a base and a cover to wrap around an arm of a fishing reel and enclose a foot of the reel and a rod of a fishing rod thereby preventing removal of the fishing reel from the fishing rod. The marker housing also supports an electronic marker so as to deter unauthorized removal of the rod and reel combination. The marker may be preferably an electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker.

It is commonplace for fishing equipment, such as rods and reels, to be sold as a combined product, i.e., a particular fishing rod will be associated with a particular fishing reel and sold as a mated pair of components. The components of each pair are usually selected by the manufacturer so as to be compatible from a standpoint of quality and price. In this manner, a consumer will purchase a combined rod and reel having similar quality and use characteristics.
The manufacturer of the components would typically assemble the rod to the reel using simple securement techniques, such as plastic clips, cable ties, shrink wrap and the like. Once the combined product reaches the retail shelves, a consumer may seek to "swap out" one component of one pair with a component of a different pair. Such "swapping out" of components would allow a consumer to obtain a new combination at a price of the original combination. This results in the loss of revenue to the retailer.
One technique to assure that the combination supplied by the manufacturer remains intact until after purchase by the consumer is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,826. This patent provides a lockable reel seat system which secures the reel to the rod. However, this patent requires that the rod be specifically manufactured to accommodate the reel seat lock. Thus, the technique shown in this patent cannot be universally used with existing rod and reel combinations.
In addition, theft deterrence with regard to the individual components or the mated combination is also a significant consideration. While conventional theft deterrent markers may be used on one or more of the components of the combination, it requires separate application in addition to the application of securement structures to secure the rod to the reel.
It is desirable to provide a securement device which can attach to a conventional rod and reel combination to secure the rod to the reel and which would include an electronic tag such as an article surveillance marker so that an indication is provided that the components have been swapped out and which also provide theft deterrence.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rod and reel support with electronic marker device


A chair with a swivel seat and backrest includes a base support having a central portion on which is vertically mounted a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder having an upwardly extending piston rod, a seat having a bottom provided with a base frame, a first gear disposed under the base frame, a backrest having a lower portion provided with a support member, the supporting member having a lower end provided with a second gear meshed with the first gear, a bracket including an upper mounting and a lower mounting, the upper mounting having a top provided with two vertical bolts, one of the vertical bolts extending upwardly through the first gear to engage with the base frame, another one of the vertical bolts extending upwardly through the second gear to engage with the supporting member, the lower mounting being fixedly connected with the upper mounting having a downwardly extending tubular portion receiving the piston rod, and two armrests fixedly mounted on two opposite sides of the backrest, whereby the seat and the backrest can be rotated in opposite directions as desired thereby making it able to give exercise to an user's lumbar.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to an improved chair and in particular to one having a swivel seat and backrest.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although the backrest of some conventional chairs is adjustable in inclination, it is still impossible to prevent for those who have to sit on a chair and work in front of a desk for a long time from feeling aching in the back and lumbar. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chair which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.


Recording head of a printer is sealed by a cap connected with a gear pump. Fluid is discharged from a nozzle through the cap by a negative pressure being generated by the gear pump. The gear pump is driven at a first rotational speed to suck the fluid in the cap and to discharge the fluid from the nozzle. Subsequently, the gear pump is driven at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed and then it is stopped. This prevents backflow of the fluid to a liquid ejection head and breakage of a liquid meniscus in the nozzle of the liquid ejection head occurring when cleaning of the liquid ejection head is ended.

Inkjet type recording devices (hereinafter referred to individually simply as a "printer") are widely known as liquid ejectors that eject liquid toward a target. A printer performs printing by ejecting ink, which serves as a liquid, from a recording head, which serves as a liquid ejection head. However, when the ink in a nozzle of a recording head becomes viscid or when bubbles enter the nozzle, there is a possibility that the printer cannot perform satisfactory printing. In order to avoid the occurrence of such a phenomenon, the incorporation of a head cleaning mechanism in the printer has been proposed. Such a head cleaning mechanism covers a nozzle open surface of the recording head and drives a pump, which is connected to the cap, when the printer is idle. Ink, bubbles, and fluid are suctioned out of the nozzle of the recording head by negative pressure, which is generated by the pump (refer, for example, to Patent Publication 1). A pump, such as a tube pump or a gear pump, may be used.
When performing head cleaning, a pump motor or the like is driven at a preset rotation speed to generate negative pressure such as to enable the suction of fluid from the nozzle.    Patent Publication 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-218806

Liquid ejector cleaning method and liquid ejector


The present invention provides hydrofluorocarbon solvents having a portion which is fluorocarbon and the remaining portion is hydrocarbon and having 4 to 7 carbon atoms. The solvents are useful for dissolving contaminants or removing contaminants from the surface of a substrate.

The present invention relates to hydrofluorocarbons, and more particularly, to hydrofluorocarbon solvents having a portion which is fluorocarbon and the remaining portion is hydrocarbon.
Vapor degreasing and solvent cleaning with fluorocarbon based solvents have found widespread use in industry for the degreasing and otherwise cleaning of solid surfaces, especially intricate parts and difficult to remove soils.
In its simplest form, vapor degreasing or solvent cleaning consists of exposing a room-temperature object to be cleaned to the vapors of a boiling solvent. Vapors condensing on the object provide clean distilled solvent to wash away grease or other contamination. Final evaporation of solvent from the object leaves behind no residue as would be the case where the object is simply washed in liquid solvent.
For difficult to remove soils where elevated temperature is necessary to improve the cleaning action of the solvent, or for large volume assembly line operations where the cleaning of metal parts and assemblies must be done efficiently and quickly, the conventional operation of a vapor degreaser consists of immersing the part to be cleaned in a sump of boiling solvent which removes the bulk of the soil, thereafter immersing the part in a sump containing freshly distilled solvent near room temperature, and finally exposing the part to solvent vapors over the boiling sump which condense on the cleaned part. In addition, the part can also be sprayed with distilled solvent before final rinsing.
Vapor degreasers suitable in the above-described operations are well known in the act. For example, Sherliker et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,918 disclose such suitable vapor degreasers comprising a boiling sump, a clean sump, a water separator, and other ancilliary equipment.
Cold cleaning is another application where a number of solvents are used. In most cold cleaning applications, the soiled part is either immersed in the fluid or wiped with rags or similar objects soaked in solvents.
Chlorofluorocarbon solvents, such as trichlorotrifluoroethane, have attained widespread use in recent years as effective, nontoxic, and nonflammable agents useful in degreasing and other solvent cleaning applications. Trichlorotrifluoroethane has been found to have satisfactory solvent power for greases, oils, waxes, and the like. It has therefore found widespread use for cleaning electric motors, compressors, heavy metal parts, delicate precision metal parts, printed circuit boards, gyroscopes, guidance systems, aerospace and missile hardware, aluminum parts, and the like. Trichlorotrifluoroethane has two isomers: 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (known in the art as CFC-113) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (known in the art as CFC-113a).
Chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-113 are suspected of causing environmental problems in connection with the ozone layer. In response to the need for stratospherically safe materials, substitutes have been developed and continue to be developed. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,881 teaches a method of cleaning using hydrochlorofluorocarbons having 2 chlorine atoms and a difluoromethylene group.
A need exists in the art for a class of solvents which have zero ozone depletion potentials, have boiling point ranges suitable for a variety of solvent applications, and have the ability to dissolve both hydrocarbon based and fluorocarbon based soils. From an environmental standpoint, hydrocarbons (compounds having hydrogen and carbon), fluorocarbons (compounds having fluorine and carbon), and hydrofluorocarbons (compounds having hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon) are of interest because they are considered to be stratospherically safe substitutes for the currently used CFCs.
G. Giacometti et al., "The Gas Phase Reactions of Perfluoro-n-propyl Radicals with Methane and Ethane," Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 36, 1493 (1958) teach a method for the preparation of C.sub.5 F.sub.7 H.sub.5 but do not teach or suggest that it would be useful as a solvent.
R. H. Groth, "Fluorinated Paraffins", J. Org. Chem. 24, 1709 (1959) teaches a method for the preparation of C.sub.3 F.sub.7 C.sub.3 H.sub.7 but does not teach or suggest that it would be useful as a solvent.
Yung K. Kim et al., "Isomeric 2,4,6-Tris(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyl)-2,4,6-trimethylcyclotrisilox anes", J. Org. Chem. 38(8), 1615(1973) teach a method for the preparation of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluorohexane but do not teach or suggest that it would be useful as a solvent.
European Patent Publication 381,986 published Aug. 16, 1990 teaches hydrofluorocarbons having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.
The problem with hydrocarbon solvents is that although they are excellent solvents for hydrocarbon solutes as shown in Comparative G in Table V below, they have limited ability to dissolve highly fluorinated solutes. The problem with fluorocarbon solvents is that although they are excellent solvents for fluorocarbon solutes such as perfluorinated ethers, they are very poor solvents for hydrocarbons as shown in Comparative L in Table V below.
Turning to hydrofluorocarbons, we tested potential solvents for their ability to dissolve, in order of decreasing molecular weight: (a) hydrocarbons: paraffinic light mineral oil (maximum Saybolt viscosity 158), hexadecane (molecular weight 226), dodecane (molecular weight 170), decane (molecular weight 142), octane (molecular weight 114), heptane (molecular weight 100), and hexane (molecular weight 86) and (b) fluorocarbon: perfluorinated polyether (molecular weight 3500). The hydrocarbon listed in the Tables below for each Comparative and Example is the maximum weight hydrocarbon that was miscible with (a 1:1 volume ratio of solute and solvent were homogeneous) the Comparative or Example.
We found that although mineral oil solute is miscible with hydrofluorocarbon solvents such as CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 as shown in Comparative H in Table V below, the perfluorinated polyether solute is insoluble in CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 and CH.sub.2 FCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 F solvents as shown in Comparatives H and M in Table VII below and thus, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 and CH.sub.2 FCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 F are unsuitable for use as solvents with both hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon solutes.
Relative to hydrofluoropentane solvents, we found that mineral oil solute is miscible with CH.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 which has 53 weight percent fluorine as shown in Comparative F in Table V below. We found that dodecane solute is miscible with each of the following solvents: CH.sub.3 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.3 which has 53 weight percent fluorine, CH.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.3 which has 63 weight percent fluorine, and CF.sub.3 (CH.sub.3)CHCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 which has 63 weight percent fluorine, as shown in Comparatives A, E, and I respectively in Table V below. We found that decane is miscible with HCF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 which has 67 weight percent fluorine as shown in Comparative J in Table V below. We found that octane solute is miscible with CF.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH(CF.sub.3).sub.2 which has 73 weight percent fluorine as shown in Comparative K in Table V below. We found that hexane solute is miscible with CF.sub. 3 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 which has 70 weight percent fluorine as shown in Comparative B in Table V below.
Relative to hydrofluorohexane solvents, we found that decane solute is miscible with each of the following solvents: CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.2 CHFCH.sub.3 which has 66 weight percent fluorine as shown in Comparative C in Table VI below.

Method of dissolving contaminants from substrates by using hydrofluorocarbon solvents having a portion which is fluorocarbon and the remaining portion is hydrocarbon


An electronics chassis has many removable boards on sleds that are interconnected by a honeycomb interconnect structure. Interconnect boards in Y-planes and Z-planes are orthogonal to each other and form cells. Cooling air flows through the cells in an X direction, parallel to surfaces of the interconnect boards. The removable boards have connectors that mate with an edge of Z-divider interconnect boards. Fans blow air through the cells in the honeycomb structure unimpeded since no boards are perpendicular to the airflow. Notches in the rear of the Z-divider boards provide airflow equalization allowing closer spacing of fans to the honeycomb structure. A sled carrier honeycomb structure is placed in front of the honeycomb interconnect structure to guide sleds into position. Sled carrier dividers are offset from the Z-divider boards to allow removable boards to align with Z-divider boards in the Z-planes, parallel to airflow.

Many larger electronic systems are contained in one or more cabinets or chassis that allow removal of racks, drawers, or boards. Boards may need to be added or removed while the system is still operating for repair or expansion purposes. In older systems, boards were interconnected by many cables, often creating a confusing nest of cabling.
More recently, a larger board known as a backplane is provided with connector sockets that receive the edges of boards. A midplane is a variation of a backplane that is not located in the back of the chassis, but is located in the middle of the chassis. Connector sockets may be mounted to both sides of a midplane board, allowing boards to be inserted on both surfaces of the midplane.
Boards are inserted perpendicularly to the main surfaces of backplanes and midplanes. Cooling airflow is often directed between the removable boards. Since the backplane or midplane is orthogonal to the removable boards, backplanes and midplanes often act as a wall to block the airflow and to restrict the airflow to a single vertical direction. Holes or notches may be added to the backplane or midplane to allow for some air to flow through, but this may waste valuable component space. Cascading several boards together may require a higher or cooler airflow.
A variety of other configurations have been attempted, such as co-planar backplanes that are mated through a connector, and orthogonal backplanes that mate through specialized connectors. Although co-planner backplanes are parallel to each other, they only span one dimension each and are rarely used. Orthogonal backplanes often require staggering boards and other specialized connectors. The density of the removable boards is often less than desired.
What is desired is an improved high-density interconnect.

Electronic interconnect method and apparatus


An insulated wire uses a resin composition. The insulated wire includes a conductor; and an insulating material provided on the conductor, the insulating material includes a polyester resin in 100 parts by weight, a non-bromine flame retardant agent in 1-30 parts by weight, a polyorganosiloxane core-graft copolymer in 1-50 parts by weight, an inorganic porous filler in 0.1-50 parts by weight; and a hydrolysis resistance modifier in 0.05-10 parts by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulated wire using a resin composition, and more particularly to an insulated wire using a resin composition that are provided with flame retardant property, heat resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and excellent elongation property, in which the resin composition comprises a polyester resin to which various materials are blended (added) or the polyester resin containing the various materials, and the insulated wire comprises a conductor coated with an insulating material comprising the resin composition.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, insulating materials including a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin have commonly and widely been used as an electrical insulator. Such insulating materials containing PVC provide advantages of excellent properties in practical use and low cost. However, they have an environmental pollution problem associated with waste disposal because, e.g., they release a gas containing chloride during incineration. Thus, in recent years, there has been a need for an alternative material that can replace PVC. On the other hand, in the transportation industry such as automobiles and trains, there is a growing requirement for energy conservation by reducing the weight of a vehicle body and by saving space for electrical wiring in a vehicle, which in turn causes a demand for lighter and thinner wires.
In order to meet such demand for lighter and thinner wires, however, there is a disadvantage in use of conventional PVC materials that it is impossible to satisfy the required properties such as flame retardant property and abrasion resistance.
On the other hand, the polyester resins that are a type of general-purpose engineering plastic polymers, particularly polybutylene terephthalates (PBTs), are crystalline polymers and excellent in heat resistance, mechanical strength, electrical properties, chemical resistance and moldability. In addition, the polyester resins have properties of low water-absorbing as well as excellent dimensional stability, and readily achieve the flame retardant property. These features allow the polyester resins to be applied to a wide variety of fields such as vehicles, electrical systems, electronics, insulating materials and office automation systems. For example, JP-B-2968584, JP-B-3590057, JP-A-2002-343141 and JP-B-3650474 disclose the polyester resins. Such general-purpose engineering plastic polymers having the above-mentioned features are expected to provide lighter and thinner wires while maintaining flame retardant property and abrasion resistance.
However, since the polyester resins are crystalline polymers, there is a disadvantage in that a crystallization level is changed during the manufacturing process or under particular environment. In particular, the crystallization undergoes by heat treatment at the time of e.g. extrusion molding. Therefore, it is concerned that degradation of a tensile elongation property that is an essential characteristic as the insulating material for an electric wire.
For example, in JP-A-2006-111655 and JP-A-2006-11873, it is proposed that the crystallization is improved by the heat treatment or addition of a crystallization accelerating agent, in order to improve the mechanical strength, high speed molding property and productivity. However, it is concerned that the elongation property may be deteriorated by the acceleration of the crystallization.
Further, in JP-A-2005-213441, it is proposed to suppress the progression of the crystallization by introducing a flexible monomer as a raw material of the polyester resin. However, JP-A-2005-213441 never discloses the elongation property.
In addition, in JP-A-2004-193117, it is proposed to suppress generation of crazing by adding a resin including a functional group that is reactive with a polyester based resin to the polyester resin, thereby suppressing decrease in an insulation breakdown voltage and providing an excellent high temperature insulation property. However, JP-A-2004-193117 never discloses the elongation property of the insulating material for the electric wire under an influence of the heat treatment.

Insulated wire using a resin composition


A self-service shopper ordering guide system and method for use by retailers to customize product ordering promotions. An ordering guide database is synchronized with the retailer's product and inventory databases so that current product data is available to the system. The self-service ordering guide system comprises tools for developing and deploying screens to self-service terminals located throughout a store. A screen flow editor prompts a user to define screens for an order flow and to specify products from the ordering guide database to include on screens. The user's selections populate screen templates that comprise an order flow. Photographs and files for use in the screens and subscreens allow a retailer to create a customized look. A shopper using an in-store terminal is prompted to make selections from the screens to create an in-store order. The ordering guide system is further integrated with the retailer's fulfillment system for processing online orders.

Trade promotion systems help retailers create more tailored and relevant shopping experiences for shoppers that set them apart from the competition. One such computerized system that allows retailers to customize product and service promotions according to individual shopper preferences is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/353,685, entitled Trade Promotion Management System and Method. The invention described in the '685 patent application supports the development and deployment of customized promotions to significantly enhance the shopping experiences of retail shoppers. Using the invention, a retailer may provide each shopper with meaningful and relevant information based on the shopper's preferences and personal situation. The '685 patent application explains a process of developing and deploying trade promotions that is automated using a sophisticated system of computer hardware and software.
Targeted promotions according to the '685 invention are presented to shoppers upon their entry into the store or in the store aisles. Self-service terminals located throughout the retail establishment allow shoppers to identify themselves (e.g., by swiping or scanning a card with identifying information or by entering identification information) and to obtain information about products and services that are likely to be of interest. Promotions as well as terminals are managed centrally and allow a retailer to use a systematic approach to managing targeted promotions.
The trade promotion system of the '685 patent application is a complete enterprise-class solution for the remote operation of smart screen (terminal) networks using dynamic digital signage. It is a high-performance yet easy to use computer system that does not require programming knowledge to operate. It comprises an intuitive web interface and allows for definition of multi-user roles and permissions. File optimization ensures that only the required files are distributed in an automated process to single or multiple terminal devices that are fully monitored. All operations are logged. Multiple media types such as video (MPG, AVI), Flash, audio (MP3, WAV), still image (JPG, BMP), URL, and HTML are supported to provide a variety of shopper experiences.
Although an in-store trade promotion system can provide users with information about products of interest within the store, there is little opportunity for shoppers to find out about other products and services that the retailer may offer only through another outlet such as an online shopping or web site. Many retailers operate such online shopping sites to offer additional products and services to complement their store offerings. The additional products may be large products that the store does not stock or stocks only in small quantities because they require a substantial amount of floor space. The additional products may also be products that the store does not stock because the demand for them is low. Finally, the additional products may be products that require special handling or packaging such as gift baskets with items selected by the shopper or products customized for the shopper.
Some retailers provide shoppers with in-store access to their online shopping sites by providing self-service terminals within the store that connect to the retailer's online store or web site. While at the store, the shopper may peruse the retailer's online store or web site and select products to purchase. Although the shopper may be permitted to purchase products from the online store or web site, the experience is not connected in any way to the shopper's store experience. The experience is the same as it would be if the shopper completed it at a home computer rather than at the store. In some instances, a shopper is asked to provide a location because the online site is not designed to know where the shopper is located and to know that the shopper is actually accessing the site from one of the site's retail outlets.
Adapting an online store or web site for use within a particular store is one way to provide a more relevant ordering experience for a shopper. A single adaptation, however, may not work for retailers that have many stores, each of which is tailored to meet the needs of shoppers within a particular geographic region. Accounting for regional differences may require the retailer to provide different, customized online ordering experiences for shoppers throughout the country. The retailer may want to offer different products and services depending upon each store's location. The retailer may also want to change the offerings frequently to promote different specials, seasonal products, etc. according to store location. Finally, the retailer may want to promote products and services differently depending upon the locations of the self-service terminals within the store.
Providing such current, customized online experiences for different stores and locations of terminals within stores requires significant technical resources and expertise. Existing web pages and software applications may need to be modified frequently and in many different ways to accommodate different promotions and events. Even if the web pages and applications can be customized for different stores in different geographic regions as well as for different locations within a store, additional applications are needed to deploy the web pages and applications as envisioned by the retailer. Most retailers do not have the resources and expertise that is needed to develop and deploy an in-store ordering system so they use the use third-party vendors to provide equipment and/or services. Because such systems typically do not have customization features and are not designed for frequent changes, retailers continue to use the system as it was deployed initially and are not likely to ask the vendor to update it.
As a result of the difficulties in adapting technology to meet the needs of individual stores, many retailers continue to rely on paper order forms for shopper in-store orders. For example, food stores that offer catered meals may invite shoppers to complete a paper order form that allows a shopper to select a complete meal or specific food items for a meal to be provided at a later date. The shopper's selections may then be entered in a computer system that the store operates to manage such in-store orders. For some food stores, the volume of catering orders they receive at certain times of the year (e.g., for Thanksgiving Day, for Mother's Day, etc.) require careful planning and logistics to ensure each shopper receives the correct meal when requested.
The reliance on paper forms for recording shopper in-store orders results in several problems. Data entry errors may occur when information from orders is entered in the store's computer system. In addition, it can be difficult for shoppers to follow the logic of the form. They may require assistance from a store representative just to understand the product offerings and what they need to do to complete the order form. Although in-store ordering of products may be offered as a convenience to shoppers, the process can be labor-intensive and expensive for the stores that offer the service. If the demand for placing in-store orders increases even temporarily and the store is unable to meet the current, temporary demand, some shoppers may become frustrated and forego the opportunity to place an in-store order. For shoppers that do place orders, if their orders are processed incorrectly, they are unlikely to place future orders.
Existing manual and partially automated systems for in-store ordering fail to address the needs of shoppers as well as the stores that offer in-store ordering to their shoppers. There is a need for a system and method for incorporating self-service ordering with in-store shopping that reduces a store's reliance on manual processes and that does not require substantial technical resources and expertise to implement and update. There is a need for a system and method for providing a self-service ordering experience that is tailored to meet varying needs at different stores within a retailer's control and at different locations within each store. There is a need for a system and method for self-service ordering that is easy for shoppers to understand and use and that allows shoppers to place orders with little or no assistance from store representatives.

In-store self-service ordering guide system and method


This leakage prevention seal is provided with: a first seal ring which surrounds a rotating shaft and which is in circumferential contact with the surface of a housing which faces the upstream side; a second seal ring, which, on the upstream side of the first seal ring, surrounds the rotating shaft and which is in circumferential contact with the first seal ring; and a heat-driven section which, when high-temperature pressurized water reaches the heat-driven section, reduces the diameter of both the first seal ring and the second seal ring and causes the inner peripheral surfaces of both the first seal ring and the second seal ring to be in contact with the rotating shaft. The circumferential positions of both a first range between the first seal ring and the rotating shaft and a second range formed by the second seal ring are different.

A pump for a primary nuclear reactor cooling material is provided with a rotating shaft that rotates about an axis which extends in a vertical direction and a housing that surrounds the rotating shaft. A plurality of stages of shaft seals, which are arranged apart from each other in the vertical direction, are provided in a space between the rotating shaft and the housing. The plurality of stages of shaft seals perform pressure reduction so that high-pressure pressurized water on a lower side has the atmospheric pressure on an upper side (for example, refer to PTL 1).

Leakage prevention seal, and pump for nuclear reactor cooling material


An apparatus for treating an exhaust gas comprising:                (a) an inlet duct through which the exhaust gas is flowed in,        (b) a bend portion, and        (c) a catalyst duct connected to the inlet duct through the bend portion, and having a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas and disposed in the catalyst duct,        a baffle structure comprising plural baffle plates disposed at the inlet of the catalyst duct in the direction of the cross section of the catalyst duct,        wherein the plural baffle plates are formed and arranged so that the heights of the baffle plates gradually increase in the direction from the side of the inlet duct toward the extremity of the bend portion to make the flow distribution of the exhaust gas uniform in the direction of the cross section of the catalyst duct at the outlets of the exhaust gas in the baffle structure.

Heretofore, in large-sized boilers for thermal power plants, a large apparatus for treating an exhaust gas, such as a denitrating apparatus is installed. FIG. 3 illustrates a structure in the vicinity of a denitrating device installed in a duct for an exhaust gas generated from such a large-sized boiler (combustion apparatus). In this apparatus, inlet duct 1 through which exhaust gas G is flowed in and catalyst duct 6 in which denitrating catalyst layer 4 is disposed are connected through bend portion 2; and baffle structure 3 in which plural baffle plates 3A are arranged in the direction of the cross section of the duct is disposed at the inlet of catalyst duct 6. The arrows in FIG. 3 show the direction of the flow of a gas. In this apparatus, exhaust gas G reaches, through inlet duct 1, to bend portion 2 formed at a midway of a duct for an exhaust gas, changes there its flow direction by 90°, flows into catalyst layer 4 disposed in catalyst duct 6, and then reaches to outlet duct 5 after subjected to a denitration. In the structure as described above, however, there exists such a problem as the distribution of the gas flow rate at the inlet of catalyst device 6 becomes nonuniform as shown in FIG. 3.
As the result, it is desired or requested that (1) an exhaust gas flows into catalyst layer 4 as uniformly as possible and (2) the flow of an exhaust gas which flows into catalyst layer 4 and the flow of the exhaust gas in the catalyst layer 4 become the same as much as possible, namely, the pattern of the flow passages of an exhaust gas immediately prior to flowing into catalyst layer 4 agrees with the pattern of the flow passages of the exhaust gas, formed in the catalyst layer 4. These desires or requests are produced or made based on the following reasons:
That is, (1) the reason why the flowing of an exhaust gas into catalyst layer 4 is requested to be as uniform as possible is to efficiently use the area in which the exhaust gas contacts with the catalyst in the catalyst layer 4. If the flowing of the exhaust gas into the catalyst layer was not uniform, specific portions of the catalyst in the catalyst layer 4 contact with a large amount of the exhaust gas and thus the performances of the catalyst decrease as a whole. Besides, there exists such a problem as the portions of the catalyst which contact with a large amount of the exhaust gas remarkably deteriorate and thus the life of the catalyst becomes short as a whole.
Next, (2) the reason why the flow of an exhaust gas flowing into catalyst layer 4 is requested to agree with the flow of the exhaust gas in the catalyst layer 4 as much as possible is that, for instance, when dusts such as fly ashes and unburnt matters are contained in the exhaust gas, the exhaust gas sometimes obliquely flows into the exhaust gas flow passages formed among catalysts (catalyst plates) in the catalyst layer and thus (a) the dusts directly collide against the catalyst plates to wear their surfaces and (b) the dusts adhere to and deposit on the front portions of the catalyst layer to impede the flow of the exhaust gas into the flow passages.
In order to resolve the problems described in (1) and (2) above, a method in which baffle structure 3 such as a baffle lattice is disposed at the inlet of catalyst device 6 is proposed (Japanese Patent No. 2637119).

Waste gas treating device having flow regulating assembly


In a method for making a liquid crystal display device, a first conductive film is formed on a substrate, and patterned to form a gate electrode and a gate line; a gate insulating film for covering the gate electrode and the gate line, a semiconductor film, an impurity-doped semiconductor film, and a second conductive film are continuously formed; the second conductive film and the impurity-doped semiconductor film are patterned using a common mask to form a source electrode, a source line, and a drain electrode from the second conductive film and to form an ohmic contact layer from the impurity-doped semiconductor layer; an insulating film is formed onto at least the source electrode, the source line, the drain electrode, and the semiconductor film; the insulating film, the semiconductor film, and the gate insulating film are patterned using a common mask to form a thin film transistor to be in contact with a pixel electrode; a transparent conductive film is deposited on the non-deposited section of the substrate and patterned to form the pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal is enclosed between the resulting thin film transistor substrate and a counter substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for making liquid crystal display devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for making a liquid crystal display device using a substrate having a reverse staggered thin film transistor array. The method enables a reduction in the number of photomasks used in the process.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a substrate with a thin film transistor array of a conventional thin film transistor liquid crystal display device. Each segment of the thin film transistor array includes a reverse staggered thin film transistor, a gate line G, and a source line S. A matrix of the gate lines G and the source lines S is arranged on a transparent substrate composed of, for example, glass. Each region surrounded by the gate lines G and the source lines S forms a pixel 1. Each pixel 1 has two thin film transistors 2.
FIGS. 7A to 7E are cross-sectional views showing the production steps of a thin film transistor array substrate, and FIGS. 8A to 8E are plan views showing the steps. With reference to FIGS. 7E and 8E, a gate electrode 4 extracted from a gate line G is formed on a transparent substrate 3. A gate insulating film 5 is formed to cover the gate electrode 4. A semiconductive active film 6 composed of amorphous silicon (a-Si) is formed on the gate insulating film 5 at a position above the gate electrode 4. A source electrode 8 and a drain electrode 9 are formed over the semiconductive active film 6 and the gate insulating film 5 and are extracted to the source line S. An ohmic contact layer 7 intervenes between the source electrode 8 and the semiconductive active film 6 and between the drain electrode 9 and the semiconductive active film 6. These components constitute a thin film transistor 2. A passivating film 10 is formed to cover the thin film transistor 2. A contact hole 11 is formed in the passivating film 10 lying on the drain electrode 9. A pixel electrode 12 composed of a transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide (hereinafter referred to as ITO) is formed over the contact hole 11 and is electrically connected to the drain electrode 9.
With reference to the left sides in FIGS. 7E and 8E, a gate terminal pad section 13 is arranged on a terminal of the gate line G at the exterior of the display region. In the gate terminal pad section 13, a lower pad layer 14 corresponding to the terminal of the gate line G is formed on the transparent substrate 3, and the gate insulating film 5 and the passivating film 10 are formed on the lower pad layer 14. A contact hole 15 is formed so as to pass through the gate insulating film 5 and the passivating film 10. An upper pad layer 16 is formed over the contact hole 15, in which the upper pad layer 16 is composed of the same transparent conductive film as the pixel electrode 12 and is electrically connected to the lower pad layer 14.
Referring now to production of the thin film transistor array substrate, a conductive film is deposited on a transparent substrate 3, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 8A, and patterned to form a gate electrode 4 and a gate line G. A lower pad layer 14 is formed at a gate terminal pad section 13. With reference to FIGS. 7B and 8B, a gate insulating film 5 is formed to cover the gate electrode 4 and the gate insulating film 5. An a-Si film 18 and then an a-Si:n.sup.+ film 19 are deposited thereon and patterned using a photomask to form an island 17 on the gate insulating film 5 above the gate electrode 4. With reference to FIGS. 7C and 8C, a conductive film is formed on the entire surface of the substrate and patterned to form a drain electrode 9, a source electrode 8, and a source line S. The a-Si:n.sup.+ film 19 on the channel section of the a-Si film 18 is removed to form an ohmic contact layer 7 composed of the a-Si:n.sup.+ film 19.
With reference to FIGS. 7D and 8D, a passivating film 10 is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate and patterned to form a contact hole 11 on the drain electrode 9 and a contact hole 15 on the lower pad layer 14. The contact hole 11 electrically connects the drain electrode 9 and a pixel electrode 12, and the contact hole 15 electrically connects the lower pad layer 14 and an upper pad layer 16. With reference to FIGS. 7E and 8E, an ITO film is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate and patterned to form the pixel electrode 12 and the upper pad layer 16. A conventional thin film transistor array substrate is thereby produced.
The above-mentioned conventional process requires five patterning steps for forming the gate, for forming the island, for forming the source/drain, for forming the contact holes, and for forming the pixel electrode, and thus requires five photomasks (hereinafter the process is referred to as a five-mask process). A reduction in the number of patterning or lithographic steps and thus in the number of photomasks in the production line is eagerly awaited in view of reduction in material and production costs and production period, since the photomasks are expensive and the photolithographic steps require a long process time.
The line material for the gate and source lines must have low electrical resistance and thus a low-resistant metal, such as aluminum or molybdenum is demanded. Aluminum and molybdenum are, however, not resistive against etching of the ITO film (hereinafter referred to as ITO etching). When aluminum or molybdenum is used for the gate and source lines in the above-mentioned conventional process, the exposed positions of the gate and source lines are also etched during etching of the ITO film in the patterning step for the pixel electrode. Thus, the use of aluminum or molybdenum requires a protective film for preventing the metal film from being etched. Accordingly, the use of such a metal requires an additional patterning step using another photomask, in other words, a six-mask process, running counter to the demands of a more simplified process. Compatibility between low resistance of the line material and a reduction in production costs or shortened process time has not been solved by conventional processes.

Method for making liquid crystal display device with reduced mask steps


An interlocking modular pallet apparatus and method of construction and de-construction which includes plastic modular components aligned in a two-by-two arrangement with interlocking male and female tabs which connect in a vertically sliding manner to form an upper support structure with a series of upper apertures through the platform surface. A set of rail components are interconnected in a perpendicular manner to form an evenly spaced grid with corresponding lower apertures. Hollow formed spacing members are placed between each aligned aperture pair. A first interlocking insert is placed through each upper aperture and a second interlocking insert is placed through each lower aperture. The first and second inserts interlock to join the upper support structure with the lower rail assembly, with the spacing members forming cavities for insertion of lifting device appendages. The completed pallet device also includes frictional pads attached across its surface to prevent loads from sliding off.

The general utility of pallets is well known for their use as a loading platform for storage and movement of products in quantity. Pallets provide a stable base for a manufacturer or distributor of a product to stack items thereon allowing for ease of movement by use of a forklift or pallet jack. Pallets are constructed from wood, metal, or plastic, and designed to be placed under materials that are to be shipped or stored, providing a clearance underneath for placement of a forklift or pallet jack.
Pallets are reusable requiring that they be durable in construction, lightweight, and stackable. Ideally, the pallet should occupy a minimum amount of space, both vertically and horizontally. The durability of a pallet is dependent on the type of material used for construction. Pallets constructed of wood will provide years of service if not exposed to harsh conditions that could cause rotting, or unusual loading situations which could cause collapse of the wood frame or wood components. Wood pallets are in constant need of repair wherein a damaged pallet slat is replaced with a new slat by either nailing or stapling to the base frame. A additional problem with wooden pallets is that wood is a porous material. When used in the food industry, wood can harbor bacterial growth which may contaminate food products. Relatedly, insects and other pests can burrow into the wood and be transported into and infest a previously uncontaminated storage area. Such pests can continue to reproduce and thrive in the wooden structure of the pallet.
Additionally, the porosity of the wood allows for absorption of water. Should the pallet freeze, it can be easily cracked when loaded, even when supporting lightweight products. Should a pallet absorb water, the weight of the pallet can cause difficulties in moving the pallet, and/or injuries to an individual manually moving the pallet. Moreover, splintering from the wood requires an individual who handles the pallet to wear gloves, and otherwise take precautions to prevent from injuring himself during relocation of the pallet.
Wooden pallets also have a significant disadvantage in that they do not interlock or readily stack. Accordingly, should a number of wooden pallets be placed on top of each other, the possibility exists for the pallets to tip over. The is particularly true when any of the pallets within the stack slips away from a squarely stacked position above the underlying pallet.
An alternative to wooden pallets includes metal pallets, such as those formed by aluminum. Metal pallets are known for their durability under normal circumstances. However, aluminum pallets are expensive to manufacture and once damaged, cannot be readily repaired. Should any interim damage occur, such as breach of a weldment, the pallet could have a catastrophic failure under a loaded condition. This could cause injury to operating personnel or damage to the materials positioned on the pallet.
Yet another material used for the construction of pallets is plastic. Plastic is capable of being sterilized, and is impervious to most environmental conditions. However, a plastic pallet is even more difficult to repair than metal if it is not modularly constructed. Should a portion of the pallet become damaged, the entire pallet is destroyed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,395 ('395) discloses a plastic pallet. However, the top and bottom surfaces of '395 comprise a unitary, and not a modular, structure. Hence if the top or bottom unitary structures are damaged, the entire top or bottom structure, or even the whole pallet, must be replaced. The cost of such replacement makes the use of plastic pallets, as a direct replacement for wood pallets, cost prohibitive.
Moreover, despite their superior strength over wood pallets, plastic pallets still cannot withstand unusually forceful abuse, such as when a forklift or semi-truck runs over a portion of the pallet. In particular, the '395 patent subjects the internal locking means to load stresses. Such forces may cause the unitary plastic pallet to crack, whereas a wood pallet may only need a section replaced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,899 ('899) discloses a pallet structure wherein the internal locking means are integrally formed with the vertical dimensioning means. As a result, this pallet puts forceful loads directly on the locking means which is likely to cause breakage under stress. Since the locking means is integrally formed with the pallet part, breakage would require replacement of the entire pallet part. Such breakage of the interconnecting means can prove to be extremely dangerous in that the whole pallet my thereby fall apart and spill heavy objects off of the pallet onto nearby persons.
Accordingly, what is lacking in the art is a lightweight, re-usable plastic pallet comprised of component parts that allows for modular construction and related ease of component replacement, and which avoids placing undue load stresses on interconnecting component parts which might fail under such stresses.

Modular pallet with interlocking inserts


The methylated tertiary amines are selectively prepared by reacting a primary or secondary amine, or a nitrile or aminonitrile, including an aminoalcohol, etheramine, a polyamine or fatty polyamine or amidoamine, or amidopolyamine or dinitrile, with hexamethylenetetramine ("HMTA"), under hydrogen pressure at a temperature no greater than about 160.degree. C. and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a hydrogenation catalyst, e.g., nickel deposited onto appropriate support substrate therefor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of methylated tertiary amines, and, more especially, to the preparation of methylated tertiary amines by reacting hexamethylenetetramine with certain nitrogen compounds in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst.
The monomethylated or dimethylated tertiary amines which can be prepared according to the present invention constitute a wide variety of cyclic and acyclic amines having, inter alia, the following general formulae: ##STR1## These also comprise the polyamines and mixed amines and polyamines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The mono- or dimethylated tertiary amines comprise at least three types of compounds that are extensively researched in industry, e.g., quaternary ammonium salts, betaines and amine oxides, which find numerous applications in detergents, cosmetics, as bactericides, antibiotics, as agents for treating textiles, or for making organophilic clays.
Numerous processes are known to this art for preparing methylated tertiary amines, for example the direct methylation of primary or secondary amines by means of various methylation reagents such as methyl chloride or sulfate, or by the formaldehyde/formic acid system (Leuckart-Wallach reaction; see Merck Index, 1Oth Edition, p. ONR-55), by the hydrogenation of dialkylamides (EP-412,359 (Hoechst) or FR-2,633,927 (CECA S.A.)), or by the transformation of nitriles by the formaldehyde/hydrogen system (JP-63/287,752 (Kao Soap)).
These processes, however, present various major disadvantages. For example, those which are based on the Leuckart reaction, which itself is difficult to conduct, produce amines which are contaminated, inter alia, by formaldehyde; others, which entail methylation by methyl chloride, in addition to generating hydrochloric acid, lack selectivity and the resulting products contain quaternary ammonium salts in proportions that are difficult to control. The direct hydrogenation of amides uses a copper chromite catalyst, which is incompatible with the nickel catalyst otherwise employed in plants for preparing amines, and this multiplies the number of processing units required and increases the total cost of production of these plants.

HMTA preparation of methylated tertiary amines


An x-ray imaging system uses particular emission lines that are optimized for imaging specific metallic structures in a semiconductor integrated circuit structures and optimized for the use with specific optical elements and scintillator materials. Such a system is distinguished from currently-existing x-ray imaging systems that primarily use the integral of all emission lines and the broad Bremstralung radiation. The disclosed system provides favorable imaging characteristics such as ability to enhance the contrast of certain materials in a sample, to use different contrast mechanisms in a single imaging system, and to increase the throughput of the system.

X-ray imaging is a valuable technology for non-destructive imaging applications in medicine and industrial research and development.
All x-ray imaging systems include a source that generates the x-ray beam, which is used to probe the object to be examined, and a detector system for collecting the x-ray beam. The x-ray source is typically an electron-bombardment, a laser-plasma, or a synchrotron radiation source. The detector system is typically based on x-ray film or an electronic, such as charge-coupled device (CCD), detector. In some cases, an intervening scintillator is used to convert the x-ray radiation to a wavelength that is detectable by the detector device.
Further, the x-ray beam is often modified by one or more beam-conditioning devices. Sometimes an energy filter, monochromator, or pinholes are place between the object or sample and the source. To focus the beam onto the sample a condenser lens, in the case of a full-field imaging microscope, or an objective lens, in the case of a scanning system, are typically used. The beam passing through the sample is then imaged to the detector by an objective lens, in the case of a full-field imaging microscope, or reaches the detector directly in the case of a scanning system.

Optimized x-ray energy for high resolution imaging of integrated circuits structures


A coextrusion adapter for an extrusion installation with extruders and a tool for producing a composite coextrusion structure of thermoplastic material. The coextrusion adapter has a central conduit with an end at an inlet side for connecting an extruder and an end at an outlet side for connecting the tool. The coextrusion adapter has at least one coextrusion conduit with an inlet end and an outlet end. A second extruder can be connected to the inlet end. At an end facing the outlet end the adjusting elements have a wedge-shape adjusting section with one wedge surface facing the central conduit and another wedge surface facing the outlet end of the coextrusion conduit. The adjusting section of the adjusting elements is pivotal around an axis extending over the width of the outlet end by the actuating drives. When an increase of the inside diameter of the respective transverse section of the outlet end occurs the corresponding transverse section of the central conduit is narrowed, and vice versa.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a coextrusion adapter for an extrusion installation with several extruders and a tool supplied by the extruders for producing a composite coextrusion structure of thermoplastic material, wherein the coextrusion adapter has a central conduit with an end at the inlet side for connecting an extruder and an end at the outlet side for connecting a tool, the coextrusion adapter has at least one coextrusion conduit with an inlet end and an outlet end, a further extruder can be respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end terminates downstream of the end at the inlet side of the central conduit in the latter, and adjusting devices are assigned to each outlet end of the at least one coextrusion conduit, which have a plurality of adjusting elements which together extend over the width of the outlet end and which can be adjusted independently of each other by actuating drives so that the inside diameter of the respective transverse section of the outlet end can be changed.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Known coextrusion adapters are used for bringing together molten strands of thermoplastic materials coming from several extruders, for example while producing films, plates and panels. For this purpose, the individual melts of thermoplastic material provided by the extruders are brought together in the coextrusion adapter in the desired layer position and are then conveyed together to the extrusion tool for producing the composite coextrusion structure.
While layering different plastic materials within the coextrusion adapter, such as is often the case in actual use, different properties of the plastic materials, in particular different viscosities, or deviations from the selected material flow-through conditions of the individual extruders, must be compensated.
German Patent Reference DE-OS 37 41 793, which establishes the species, provides adjustment devices at the respective outlet end of the coextrusion conduits, which have a plurality of adjusting elements, which together extend over the width of the outlet end and can be adjusted by actuating drives in such a way that the inside diameter of the respective transverse section of the outlet end can be changed. Thus it is possible to affect the cross-sectional profile of the coextruded layer, which is supplied through the coextrusion conduit to the central circuit and the melt conveyed through it. This takes effect individually differently over the entire width of the coextrusion conduit, so that layer thickness tolerances, material throughput, as well as viscosity differences can be compensated. However, with this known device it is only possible to affect the profile of the melt flow supplied through the coextrusion conduit, while profiling of the melt flow moving in the central conduit, which would be desirable for achieving exact tolerances within the composite coextrusion structure, is not possible.
It is known from German Patent Reference DE 197 57 827 A1 to arrange a multi-layer adapter with separators tapering to a point in the meeting area between the central conduit and the coextrusion conduits, wherein the separators are designed as a multitude of separating plates over the entire width of the coextrusion conduits and can be adjusted independently of each other. Although a simultaneous effect on the thickness profile of the melt flowing inside the central conduits, as well as the melt inflowing through the coextrusion conduit is possible, it is not possible to affect the selected setting from the outside without interrupting the production. Instead, it is necessary to remove the separators having a plurality of separator plates from the multi-layer adapter, to adjust it as desired and then to reinstall it, wherein an interruption of the production occurs in each case. Thus the known device is essentially only suited for model tests, in which it is intended to determine the optimally best possible shape of the separator, and wherein afterwards a solid separator without adjustment possibilities is produced from the model having separator plates and used during production.
It is known from European Patent Reference EP 0 161 812 B1 to provide wing-like separating elements, which are pivotable around a pivot axis extending over a width of the coextrusion conduits, by which a compensation of viscosity and pressure differences can be performed in the individual conduits wherein, however, the separating element is seated pivotably in a free-floating manner, for example it is not intended to provide a desired adjustment by exterior adjusting elements. Because the known separating element extends continuously in one piece over the entire width of the coextrusion conduit, a profiling of the inside diameter which differs over the width of the coextrusion conduit is not possible.


An image processing apparatus for executing a process based on a count available for each group is disclosed, including: a remaining count acquisition part acquiring a remaining count available for a group to which a user authenticated by a user ID belongs, from a count management server which manages the count for each group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image processing apparatus for conducting a process in response to a count managed in a count management server, the count management server for managing the count allowing each group to use the image processing apparatus, and a count management method conducted by the count management server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for example, in an enterprise, when the number of limited sheets to be printed out is registered for each user and the number of sheets being printed out exceeds the number of limited sheets to be printed out, it is prohibited to perform a print process (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-108587).
Moreover, a copier installed in a convenience store or a like allows a user to copy within sheets available for an amount of money dropped in a coin box or recorded to a prepaid card.
However, since the above-described conventional technologies limits the number of sheets available for each user, it is difficult to manage the count corresponding to a user authentication of each user in a case in which each group includes a plurality of users and a count for using the image processing apparatus is given to each group.
If users in the same group are authenticated by using the same group ID, it is possible to manage the count for each group. However, if one user authenticates by using a group ID to use the image processing apparatus, another user cannot authenticate and use the image processing apparatus from another image process apparatus by using the same group ID.
In a case of using the image processing apparatus based on the user authentication for each user, it is required to divide the count assigned to one group for the plurality of users and manage each divided count corresponding to respective user. In this case, even in a case in which the count assigned to the group remains sufficiently, if the divided count for a certain user is spent, this user cannot user the image processing apparatus.

Image processing apparatus, count management server, and count management method


A helmet holder assembly for holding a helmet in an upright position on a motorcycle including a body portion and a tubular structure connected to the body portion. The helmet holder assembly comprises a mounting assembly for removably securing the helmet holder assembly to the tubular structure. A mounting block structure is positioned over the body portion. At least one mounting rod is connected between the mounting block structure and the mounting assembly and thereby links the mounting block structure to the mounting assembly and maintains the position of the mounting block structure relative to the body portion. The mounting block structure includes a helmet receiving slot having an inner slot edge. The helmet receiving slot enables the helmet to be rotatably inserted therein so that when the helmet is being rotatably inserted therein and when the helmet is fully inserted therein a confronting painted surface of the helmet is maintained substantially free and clear of contact with the inner slot edge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an article holder for use on a motorcycle and specifically relates to a helmet holder for supporting a helmet on a motorcycle where the helmet is supported in a cantilever position and secured there substantially by the force of gravity alone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art there are several helmet holder devices for use on a motorcycle, as evidenced by the patents cited in compliance with the applicant's Information Disclosure Statement submitted herewith. However, no cited device alone or in combination with another offers the features and advantages of my invention and also over comes the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
One significant problem with the prior art devices is they may require the original physical structure of the helmet to be altered in order to be supported in or lock to the prior art helmet holder, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,274,271 and 3,759,072 and 3,646,786. In addition to the disadvantage that once the helmet structure is altered it can never truly be returned to its original state, there is the significant safety consideration that altering the structure of the helmet is known to substantially reduce the ability of the helmet to effectively protect a rider in a crash situation. Also, it is well know that current motorcycle helmet regulations prohibit the alteration of the original physical structure of the helmet, thus making such helmet holding devices effectively unusable.
Another significant problem with the prior art devices is that they do not securely support a helmet and rather the helmet is free to dangle from the vehicle and crash into the vehicle itself as well as other objects adjacent the vehicle. Such devices are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,805; 4,063,637; 3,823,856; 3,531,955 and 3,399,855. Aside from obvious damage that a dangling helmet can do to the other objects it may come into contact with, the helmet itself can be structurally damaged and made effectively unusable due to visibly undetectable stress cracks caused when the helmet bangs into another object. Such visibly undetectable stress cracks only become obviously detectable when it is too late, namely, when a rider wearing the structurally damaged helmet is in a vehicle crash and the rider's helmet prematurely fails upon impact with another object due to the stress cracks.
Yet another problems with the prior art devices are they do not provide a helmet holder for holding a helmet while the motorcycle is in operation on a roadway, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,643. It is well know that wearing a helmet is not required by law in all states and thus when a rider is in such a state he or she needs a safe and secure place to put the helmet for later use. Also, when a rider is not on his or her motorcycle he or she needs a place to put the helmet without fear of it falling or being damaged. This is especially desirable when moving the cycle short distances such as from the garage, around the gas pump, at camp sites, at bike meets, in the parking lot, etc. Additional considerations for mounting a helmet in an upright position in the front portion of a motorcycle are limited mounting space in the front portion as well as determining a mounting location that will not interfere with the other parts and accessories in the front portion, namely, a windshield, a handle bar structure, a front console, and a radio, among others, depending on the particular motorcycle.
Still other problems with the prior art devices, and in particular U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,643, is that such a device is intended to exert a substantial amount of clamping type pressure on the helmet to maintain the position of the same in the holder. Such clamping pressure unfortunately tends to significantly deform an interior surface of the helmet which is usually constructed of a cushion material that is easily deformable. Additionally, employing a clamping mechanism requires significant surface area contact between the clamping member and an outside painted surface of the helmet. This contact often results in scratching or marring the outside painted surface.
These and other types of helmet holders disclosed in the prior art do not offer the flexibility and inventive features of my Helmet Holder For Use On A Motorcycle. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the disclosed and claimed features of the present invention differs from those previously proposed.


The present disclosure describes devices and methods monitoring a technology environment. In particular, a computing device including a processor with computer readable instructions to access a plurality of indicators (e.g., variables) that have corresponding stored historical information. The indicators are then used to calculate a summed weights table of relative risk for each time period in the past. The summed weights table is then correlated to a target variable (e.g., a variable that documents major issues, incidents, or disruptions that occurred in the technology environment in the past). The correlation coefficient between the summed weights table and the target variable is then used to implement a machine learning algorithm in order to better determine current risk levels (e.g., relative values that predict issues, incidents, or disruption).

Companies rely on technology to quickly deliver and receive high-quality and efficient information to customers. Over recent years, companies have become more reliant on information technology ("IT") systems and many have made significant investments in IT systems to deliver valued services to customers. As the IT and networking systems become more complex, there is an increasing need to manage the risk inherent in the growing sophistication in technology environments. In general, many systems are managed as separate systems. This leaves the complex technology environment of large entities more vulnerable to the many risks that endanger IT and networking systems. A disabled technology environment would undoubtedly be costly to a corporation and, in some circumstances, could cause the company to fail. Thus, a technology environment risk management ("ERM") system is needed in order to monitor and control risk, allowing technology environments to be effectively managed.

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.