Abstract: A camera opening device for use with a single-use camera having an exposure button and a canister containing a film therein includes a base, a winding portion disposed in the base and which winds the film into the canister, and at least one of an end opening portion disposed in the base and which can remove an end of the canister; and a bottom opening portion disposed in the base and which can remove a bottom portion of the camera. The winding portion may have a winding receptacle dimensioned and disposed to receive the camera, an exposure button pressing device an interlock switch which detects if the exposure button is pressed, a winding switch, a motorized wheel, and a camera winding holding device.

Abstract: Each agent unit gets status information indicating the state of each of network printers connected by a LAN from the network printers every first time period. Whenever each agent unit gets the status information from the network printer, it overwrites a status log data file with the gotten status information. Each agent unit converts all status information stored in the status log data file into status mail of electronic mail and transmits the status mail to a mail server every second time period longer than the first time period. On the other hand, a console unit accesses the mail server and reads the status mail in a proper time period to the console unit.

Abstract: A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient involves sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient, using that test data to obtain a measured bandwidth of the signal path, and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with the measured bandwidth. The measured bandwidth value can be calculated each time the data recipient accesses a website or the measured bandwidth value can be retained for future use.

Abstract: A bi-directional transmission mechanism is provided for an image scanner to increase the scanning speed. The bidirectional transmission mechanism provides a first transmission device for driving a sheet table in a first direction, and a second transmission device disposed below the sheet table for driving an image reading device in a second direction. The two transmission devices are moving towards opposite directions and at the same time when the scanning operation is enabled. The present invention mainly encompasses a sheet table for placing a document sheet. A first transmission device is provided for supporting and connecting to the sheet table for driving the sheet table from a first direction to a second direction. An image reading device disposed under the sheet table reads the image information of the document sheet.

Abstract: A locking mechanism (11) suitable for use with office type chairs comprising an operating lever (13) movable between a locking position in which locking takes place and an unlocking position in which unlocking takes place, a spring, which biases the lever (13) into the locking position and a catch (23, 27, 29), which holds the lever (13) in the unlocking position upon movement of the lever (13) into the unlocking position. The catch (23, 27, 29) is disengaged when the lever (13) moves past the unlocking position. Upon disengagement of the catch, the lever (13) returns to the locking position under the action of the spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays and kits for carrying out said assays for the rapid, automated detection of infectious pathogenic agents and normal and abnormal genes. The present invention further relates to methods for general amplification of genomic DNA and total mRNAs and for analyzing differential mRNA expression using the amplification methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for coating an orifice plate and an orifice plate having a non-wetting coating thereon is provided. To form the plate, material having non-wetting characteristics can be provided as a surface of a transfer block. The non-wetting material is preferably Teflon (PTFE). The surface of the transfer block comprising non-wetting material can be pressed against the orifice plate, preferably under heating conditions. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-wetting surface is pressed against a spacer plate which is pressed against the orifice plate, preferably under heating conditions. The non-wetting material is vaporized and deposits on the surface of the orifice plate to coat the orifice plate with non-wetting material, but not the inside of the orifice.

Abstract: A topical insecticide is provided which can be safe to use and avoids many common deleterious side effects of conventional topical insecticides. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient of the insecticide formulation is an amine derivative, having a nitro-methylene group, a nitroamino group or a cyanoamino group, which can be formulated to have low toxicity and excellent insecticidal activity. One particularly suitable insecticide is 1-{(tetrahydro-3-furanyl)methyl}-2-nitro-3-methylguanidine (dinotefuran), an aldulticide that will kill adult fleas, dissolved in phenyl methanol or ethanol and ethyl lactate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a seed cartridge assembly including a cartridge body, a seed drawer slideably disposed within the cartridge body, a radiation shield slideably disposed around the cartridge body and a seed retainer in the seed drawer. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above including a gravity lock between the seed drawer and the cartridge body. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above, wherein the cartridge body includes a magnification lens positioned above the seed drawer. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above wherein a seed channel extends axially along the seed drawer and a plurality of vents extending from the seed channel to an exterior surface of the seed drawer.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic recording medium suitable for high density digital recording, in detail, a magnetic recording medium suitable for reproduction with an MR head. A magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic layer comprising a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic metal powder, a binder and a nonmagnetic powder provided in this order on a flexible nonmagnetic support. Said magnetic layer has an average thickness ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 &mgr;m, said ferromagnetic metal powder has a mean major axis length of less than 100 nm and a mean minor axis length of less than 20 nm, said nonmagnetic powder comprised in the magnetic layer is a granular or acicular nonmagnetic powder, the ratio of the mean particle size or minor axis length of said nonmagnetic powder to said mean minor axis length is higher than 0.2 and equal to or less than 2.5, and the maximum surface area of magnetic pinholes is equal to or less than 50% of a bit surface area.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape is described, which comprises a plastic support having provided thereon a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic metal powder dispersed in a binder, wherein the magnetic layer has the product P of the coercivity Hc (Oe) in the in-plane machine direction of the tape and the magnetic flux &phgr;m (G·cm) of from 100 to 160.

Abstract: A magnetic disk comprises a support, a substantially non-magnetic lower layer, and a magnetic layer containing at least one of a ferromagnetic metal powder and a hexagonal ferrite powder and a binder, wherein the magnetic layer has a thickness of 0.02 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m, a surface having a ten-point mean height Rz measured by a non-contact surface roughness profiler of 20 nm to 50 nm, and a number of projections having a height of at least 20 nm measured by AFM of 1×105/mm2 to 2×106/mm2.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-layered semiconductor structure having an alignment feature for aligning a lithography mask and that may be used in connection with a SCALPEL tool. The present invention is particularly well-suited for sub-micron CMOS technology devices and circuits, but is not limited thereto. The present invention advantageously permits use of an electron beam source for both alignment and exposure of a lithography mask on a semiconductor wafer. The present invention also advantageously enables the formation of an alignment feature early (i.e., zero-level) in the semiconductor device fabrication process.

Abstract: The present invention determines and monitors the connection pattern of data ports which are connected by multiconductor cables. An adapter jacket having an external contact is placed over a standardized cable such as an RJ45 cable which connects the data ports. An adapter board having a plurality of socket contacts is placed adjacent a plurality of data ports. An output and input module are coupled to the socket contacts. A micro-processor which is coupled to the output and input module scans the socket contacts to determine the connection pattern of the data ports.

Abstract: An improved method allowing for rapid sensitive and standardized detection of a target nucleic acid from a pathogenic microorganism or virus or normal or abnormal gene in a sample is provided. The method involves hybridizing a target nucleic acid to several non-overlapping oligonucleotide probes that hybridize to adjacent regions in the target nucleic acid, the probes being referred to capture/amplification probes and amplification probes, respectively, in the presence of paramagnetic beads coated with a ligand binding moiety. Through the binding of a ligand attached to one end of the capture/amplification probe and the specific hybridization of portions of the probes to adjacent sequences in the target nucleic acid, a complex comprising the target nucleic acid, the probes and the paramagnetic beads is formed. The probes may then ligated together to form a contiguous ligated amplification sequence bound to the beads, which complex may be denatured to remove the target nucleic acid and unligated probes.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer of the present invention, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost, an inexpensive EEPROM enabling only sequential accesses is applied for storage elements incorporated in a black ink cartridge and a color ink cartridge. The data array of a memory cell included in each of the storage elements mounted on the ink cartridges is determined in such a manner that a second storage area, in which rewritable data, for example, data on remaining quantities of inks in the ink cartridge, are stored, is accessed prior to a first storage area, in which read only data are stored. This configuration enables the rewritable data to be securely written into the second storage area even after a power-off operation. The second storage area has two memory divisions allocated to each ink, that is, a first ink remaining quantity memory division and a second ink remaining quantity memory division. Latest data on the remaining quantity of each ink is alternately written into these two memory divisions.

Abstract: A method and a system for remotely monitoring a person includes a portable unit including a self-recharging battery, the portable unit being adapted to monitor a biological parameter and a physical location of the person; a global positioning satellite transmitting global positioning system (GPS) data to the portable unit; and a central unit disposed remotely from the portable unit, the central unit being in communication with the portable unit via a ground station.

Abstract: A multifunction electronic analog timepiece includes a face and a plurality of indicators positioned on the face for displaying at least two time keeping functions. At least two step motors are provided for driving the plurality of time keeping function indicators. The time keeping function indicators are arbitrarily disposed about the face dependent upon the number of step motors and position of step motors required to drive the indicators. A microcomputer is provided and includes a program memory for storing software instructions for controlling the step motors.