Abstract: A fixing device including: a heated fixing member to fix a toner image on a recording medium; a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a first blowing unit that blows air to a position close to a leading edge of the recording medium; and a second blowing unit that blows air to the recording medium, wherein a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the first blowing unit is larger than that of the air ejected by the second blowing unit; a discharged air volume discharged by the first blowing unit is less than that discharged by the second blowing unit; and a first discharge port from which air is blown by the first blowing unit is arranged upstream of a second discharge port from which air is blown by the second blowing unit.

Abstract: A vertical alignment liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first insulation substrate, as well as a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode disposed in a same layer with the first pixel electrode on the first insulation substrate. The second substrate includes a second insulation substrate, a first patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the first pixel electrode, and a second patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the second pixel electrode.

Abstract: By correcting a data signal based on a current flowing through an EL element when an element driving transistor which controls a drive current to be supplied to the EL element is operated in a saturation region and the EL element is set to an emission level, it is possible to realize a rapid display variation inspection and a high precision display variation correction. By providing a current measuring function on an EL display apparatus, a characteristic variation after the apparatus is shipped can be handled and corrected.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber. A rack is disposed within the chamber and is moveable along a longitudinal axis. A pinion extends into the chamber for meshing engagement with the rack. A bearing supports the rack relative to the housing and is moveable relative to the housing to re-position the rack relative to the pinion. An adjustment mechanism continuously biases the bearing in response to loosening of the meshing engagement to re-position the rack. A dampener resists the movement of the bearing to slow the re-positioning of the bearing. Preferably, the dampener includes a plastic fluid having a very high viscosity. The plastic fluid is disposed between adjacent moving parts to resist the relative movement between the bearing and the housing.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for automatically triggering operations on a queue pair (QP). Methods include receiving a command at a remote direct memory access (RDMA) capable adapter. A trigger event element associated with the command is determined. The trigger event element is posted on a triggered QP. A triggeror element on a triggeror QP is posted, where the triggeror QP includes a reference to the triggered QP. A notification that the triggeror element has completed is received. The trigger event element is automatically initiated in response to receiving the notification.

Abstract: A method for transferring a pattern from an elastic stamp to a substrate in the presence of a third medium is described. A proximity contact is achieved between the stamp and the substrate. A layer of the third medium between the stamp and the substrate is controlled to a predetermined thickness. Stamps for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: Adaptive endurance coding including a method for storing data that includes receiving write data and a write address. A compression algorithm is applied to the write data to generate compressed data. An endurance code is applied to the compressed data to generate a codeword. The endurance code is selected and applied in response to the amount of space saved by applying the compression to the write data. The codeword is written to the write address.

Abstract: Provided are a graphene pattern and a process of preparing the same. Graphene is patterned in a predetermined shape on a substrate to form the graphene pattern. The graphene pattern can be formed by forming a graphitizing catalyst pattern on a substrate, contacting a carbonaceous material with the graphitizing catalyst and heat-treating the resultant.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio. A static random access memory (SRAM) array includes a plurality of SRAM cells, an SRAM cell including a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio.

Abstract: A display device includes gate lines; data lines; charge control lines each including a charge control voltage input pad; first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) each including control and input electrodes connected to the gate and data lines, respectively; a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the first TFT; a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the second TFT; a charge control TFT including a control electrode and an input electrode connected to one of the charge control lines and the second pixel electrode, respectively; and a charge-down capacitor connected to an output electrode of the charge control TFT. A duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the charge control TFT is different from a duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the first TFT transistor or the second TFT.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a substrate G includes a processing chamber for processing the substrate; a depressurizing mechanism reducing an internal pressure of the processing chamber; and a transfer mechanism disposed in the processing chamber to transfer the substrate, wherein the transfer mechanism includes: a guide member; a stage for holding the substrate; a driving member for moving the stage; and a movable member supporting the stage and moving along the guide member. The guide member and the movable member are maintained so as not to contact each other by a repulsive force of magnets.

Abstract: Processes for curing silicon based low k dielectric materials generally includes exposing the silicon based low k dielectric material to ultraviolet radiation in an inert atmosphere having an oxidant in an amount of about 10 to about 500 parts per million for a period of time and intensity effective to cure the silicon based low k dielectric material so to change a selected one of chemical, physical, mechanical, and electrical properties and combinations thereof relative to the silicon based low k dielectric material prior to the ultraviolet radiation exposure. Also disclosed herein are silicon base low k dielectric materials substantially free of sub-oxidized SiO species.

Abstract: Provided is a method for quantifying an initial concentration of a nucleic acid from a real-time nucleic acid amplification data. Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) extracted from organism or virus is amplified using an enzyme. Then, the initial concentration of the nucleic acid is found by calculating the characteristic amplification cycle number or the characteristic amplification time at which the fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid subtracted by the background fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid has half of its maximum value, or the characteristic amplification cycle number or the characteristic amplification time at which the amplification efficiency has the maximum or the minimum value, or the prior-to-amplification fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid subtracted by the background fluorescence intensity of the nucleic acid. Accordingly, the initial concentration of the nucleic acid can be calculated without differentiation or integration.

Abstract: A method of operating an alternating current (AC) power distribution assembly (PDA), where the ACPDA includes a plurality of AC power distribution modules, each connected to a respective AC load includes turning a first switch off and turning a second switch on in each of the AC power distribution modules; starting up each of the respective AC loads; monitoring a load current in the ACPDA and obtaining an acceptable load current in the ACPDA; determining if a set of motor sensor parameters for the ACPDA are within predetermined limits, and, in the event the motor sensor parameters are within the predetermined limits, determining if a startup period has elapsed; and in the event the startup period has elapsed, turning the first switch on and turning the second switch off in each of the AC power distribution modules.

Abstract: A method for magnetic character recognition may include: a peak detection process for detecting peak positions in a regeneration waveform; a character pitch measuring process for calculating an average character width and an average character period of each character according to a detection result of the peak detection process; a character segmentation process for calculating a peak interval array for each character according to the average character period; a peak searching process for searching for peak positions by using searching conditions, which are different from what the character segmentation process applies, on each waveform part segmented through the character segmentation process; a peak count evaluation process for choosing either a result of the character segmentation process or a result of the peak searching process, depending on whether the number of peaks in the waveform part agrees with a prescribed number of peaks; and a character determining process for a matching operation on a peak inte

Abstract: A closure system for a door opening includes a striker having a support plate and a striker wire, and a lock having a bolt actuated by a detent pawl and adapted to retain the striker wire in the door opening. The lock and the striker each have at least one attachment feature that is complementary and separate from the bolt and the striker wire. The striker is thus secured to the lock during the installation of the closure system on the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an screen in a manufacturing process step that employs a chamber including a drain line having a screen configured and disposed in the chamber above the drain line to trap soluble materials includes detecting a build-up of soluble material on the screen, ceasing a work operation in the chamber, and initiating a screen cleaning operation. The screen cleaning operation includes closing a computer operated valve fluidly connected to the drain line to fluidly isolate a portion of the chamber, automatically introducing an amount of solvent into the chamber once the computer operated valve is closed with the amount of solvent filling the chamber and/or the drain line to fully immerse the screen, and opening the operated valve after a predetermined amount of time to empty the chamber and the drain line of solvent once the soluble materials trapped on the screen are dissolved.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an embedded stressor within a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure including the embedded stressor includes forming forming a dummy gate stack over a substrate of stressor material, anistropically etching sidewall portions of the substrate subjacent to the dummy gate stack to form the embedded stressor having angled sidewall portions, forming conductive material onto the angled sidewall portions of the embedded stressor, removing the dummy gate stack, planarizing the conductive material, and forming a gate stack on the conductive material.