A power source to drive a deflecting output unit is fixed, thereby simplifying so that it is possible to cope with two or more different horizontal frequencies. A resonance capacitor 4a and an auxiliary resonance capacitor 4b are serially connected and a variable capacitive switching element 7 to short-circuit the capacitor 4b is connected. When a tracing period changes from Tt to Tt' (Tt<Tt') in correspondence to a change from a first horizontal frequency on the high side to a second horizontal frequency on the low side, by turning on the variable capacitive switching element 7, the capacitor 4b is short-circuited and a capacitance is increased from C1.cndot.C1'/(C1+C1') to C1, thereby enabling (Tr'=Tr.cndot.Tt'/Tt) to be satisfied. Even when a fixed power source is used, a voltage of a retrace pulse does not change and a fluctuation of another voltage such as an anode voltage or the like which is formed from the retrace pulse can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a horizontal deflecting circuit suitable for use in a multiscan type television receiver which can receive video signals of different horizontal frequencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a television receiver corresponding to a plurality of different horizontal frequencies, in order to assure a necessary raster width, a power voltage which is different for every frequency is supplied to a horizontal deflecting circuit. FIG. 6 shows an example of such a horizontal deflecting circuit. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 21 denotes a variable voltage power source. A (-) terminal of the variable voltage power source 21 is connected to the ground. A (+) terminal of the power source 21 is connected to the ground via a coil 22, a horizontal deflecting coil 25, and an S-shaped correcting curve provided by capacitor 26. A switching element 23 for horizontal output is connected between the ground and a node of the coil 22 and horizontal deflecting coil 25. This node is connected to the ground via a resonance capacitor 24.
The variable voltage power source 21 supplies an electric power necessary for maintaining the resonance to the horizontal deflecting circuit through the coil 22. For a tracing period of time during which the horizontal outputting switching element 23 is turned on, a voltage of the capacitor 26 is applied across the horizontal deflecting coil 25. When a capacitance of the capacitor 26 is enough large, a saw-tooth wave current having a predetermined inclination flows in the horizontal deflecting coil 25 and a saw-tooth wave current having a predetermined inclination also similarly flows in the coil 22.
Subsequently, when the horizontal outputting switching element 23 is turned off for a retracing period of time, the current flowing in the horizontal deflecting coil 25 and coil 22 flows into the resonance capacitor 24, so that a voltage (called a retrace pulse) is generated across the resonance capacitor 24. A voltage of the retrace pulse generated across the resonance capacitor 24 reaches a peak value at time Tr/2 shown by the following equation (1). EQU Tr/2=(.pi./2).times. (L.cndot.C) (1) EQU L=L1.cndot.L2/(L1+L2)
where,
L1: inductance of the coil 22 PA1 L2: inductance of the horizontal deflecting coil 25 PA1 C: capacitance of the resonance capacitor 24 PA1 V: voltage of the variable voltage power source 21 PA1 Tt: tracing period
In equation (1), ( ) denotes the square root of the value in the parentheses.
A peak value Vcp of the retrace pulse is obtained by the following equation (2). EQU Vcp=V.cndot.(1+(.pi./2).cndot.(Tt/Tr)) (2)
where,
After that, the resonance capacitor 24 discharges the accumulated charges. When the voltage across the capacitor 24 is equal to 0, the horizontal outputting switching element 23 is again turned on and the foregoing operation is repeated. Thus, the saw-tooth wave current flows in the horizontal deflecting coil 25. In an actual circuit, by a combination of a bipolar transistor and a diode is often used as a horizontal outputting switching element 23 and, when the voltage across the resonance capacitor 24 exceeds a forward voltage of the diode, the circuit is automatically short-circuited.
The applicant of the present invention has proposed a multiscan type television receiver disclosed in JP-A-61-96875 (Japanese Patent Application No. 218863/1984). According to a horizontal deflecting circuit in the television receiver, a variable voltage power source is used. The variable voltage power source is controlled so that the product of a power voltage from the variable voltage power source and a horizontal tracing time is made constant. A serial circuit of a plurality of capacitors and a connection switch is connected in parallel with a resonance capacitor. By controlling so as to increase an electrostatic capacitance of a horizontal retrace capacitor as a frequency of a horizontal sync signal decreases and to make a high output voltage constant, it is possible to cope with a change in horizontal frequency of about twice.
However, in case of the horizontal deflecting circuit using the variable voltage power source, it is necessary that a dedicated variable voltage power source unit for the horizontal deflecting circuit is added separately from a main power supplying unit to output a predetermined voltage or the main power supplying unit itself is used as a variable voltage power source. There are consequently problems such that a construction of the power supplying unit becomes complicated, a circuit scale of the whole apparatus increases, and the costs rise.
In case of setting a duration of the retracing period constant, as shown in the equation (2), since the voltage of the retrace pulse generated for the retracing period rises as the horizontal frequency decreases, there is a possibility that unless the change in power voltage can transiently trace the frequency change, a voltage higher than the ordinary one is applied to elements constructing the circuit. There are, thus, problems such that a circuit construction to prevent the reliability from being lost is necessary and, further, the circuit becomes complicated.
Moreover, in a horizontal deflecting circuit of the conventional type such that the coil 22 provided between the horizontal deflecting coil 25 and variable voltage power source 21 is set to a transformer structure like a flyback transformer and a secondary output such as a high voltage or heater voltage which is applied to an anode of a cathode ray tube (CRT) is extracted from the secondary coil 22, by changing a power voltage that is supplied to the horizontal deflecting circuit, a peak value of the retrace pulse and a voltage for the tracing period change. Since the secondary output is formed by rectifying the retrace pulse and the voltage for the tracing period, the secondary output also fluctuates and there is a problem that a necessary constant voltage cannot be extracted.
In FIG. 7, a solid line waveform and a broken line waveform indicate retrace pulses when horizontal frequencies are different. Although a voltage according to a turn ratio with a primary coil is generated in the secondary coil of the transformer, as shown in FIG. 7, a voltage from a mean value of 0, namely, AC=0 is rectified for the tracing or retracing period and is extracted. There is, consequently, a problem that the secondary output fluctuates.


A method is provided for bonding a first semiconductor substrate to a second semiconductor substrate using low temperature thermo-compression. The bonding method comprises the step of in-situ mechanically scrubbing the metal contact structure surfaces prior to thermo-compression bonding step, thereby planarizing the removing the oxides and/or contaminants from the metal contact structure surfaces. The thermo-compression bonding step is followed by a thermal annealing step for creating interface diffusion between the metal contact structure of the first and second semiconductor substrates

Three-Dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor substrates is a promising technology for manufacturing devices with improved performance and power consumption while maintaining a low form factor. Over the past few years, numerous technological advances in the field of 3D technology have been reported. However, reliability and the high cost of manufacturing remain the main issues that prevent 3D technology to be adopted in volume production. These issues are mainly associated with the bonding of semiconductor substrates and more specifically with the material selection and bonding methods used therein.
One of the most attractive volume production methods for bonding semiconductor substrates is the Copper to Copper bonding, hereinafter referred to as Cu—Cu bonding. Copper is favored by the semiconductor industry over other metals, e.g., Al, Au, because of its superior electrical conductivity characteristic and low cost, when used in large volume manufacturing. On the other hand, Cu has a tendency to develop oxides and other contaminants during manufacturing. Therefore, in order to achieve a successful bond between the semiconductor substrates, the oxides and contaminants formed on the Cu surface need to be removed. In principle, Cu—Cu bonding is achieved through thermo-compression, hereinafter referred to as TC-bonding, whereby the Cu surfaces of the semiconductor substrates are brought into contact applying force (pressure) and heat simultaneously. In order to break through the oxides and contaminants formed on the Cu surfaces, TC-bonding typically requires a temperature of around 300 to 450° C. coupled with a pressure exceeding 300 MPa for duration of around 20 to 60 min. As a result of the high temperature and high pressure applied during TC-bonding, stress related failures might occur in the bonded semiconductor substrates, thereby compromising reliability and hence yield of the 3D device manufactured. Moreover, the conditions for performing TC-bonding, limit the applications that could benefit from Cu—Cu bonding. As an example, a memory chip containing DRAM or SRAM cells will not be able to withstand the temperature and forces applied during thermo-compression bonding.
In the context of TC-bonding, U.S. Pat. No. 7,973,407 describes a number of 3D stacked substrate arrangements and methods for minimizing or preventing Cu oxidization, thereby enabling low temperature and low pressure TC-bonding. More specifically, the process flows described therein minimize or prevent Cu oxidization by quickly bonding the semiconductor substrates after a chemical cleaning step has been performed, thereby reducing the time that the Cu surface is exposed to the atmosphere and thereby minimizing Cu oxidization. The proposed process flows are carried out in a controlled process environment and requires complex processing steps, for example the chemical cleaning step, that are incompatible with current high volume semiconductor manufacturing processes. As a result, overall cost of manufacturing is increased while throughput is reduced.

Method for bonding semiconductor substrates and devices obtained thereof

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A metering faucet includes a housing and a faucet metering cartridge positioned within the housing and having an outwardly extending faucet stem which is movable along a stem axis. There is a cartridge cap which is positioned within the housing and has a portion extending over and in contact with the cartridge stem to provide an inward force thereon. A handle is pivotally mounted to the housing on one side of the stem axis, with the handle having a portion which extends through a housing opening to contact the cartridge cap. Upon pivotal movement of the handle, an inward force is applied on the cartridge stem. The handle has a force applying area which extends a substantial distance from the pivotal mounting of the handle and terminates at the diametrical opposite side of the pivotal mounting of the handle.

The present invention relates to metering faucets of the type commonly found in commercial washrooms, and more specifically, to a metering faucet in which the handle is designed to provide the optimum mechanical advantage for the individual operating the faucet. Many present-day metering faucets of the type commonly found in public washrooms require a substantial application force to cause water to flow from the faucet. To be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, such faucets should provide a handle or lever which minimizes the force required to operate the faucet. The present invention is directed toward that end, and further provides a metering faucet which has minimum components and the optimum mechanical advantage, implemented with an aesthetically pleasing handle style.
The present invention relates to metering faucets and in particular to such a faucet which has a minimum number of components and the maximum or optimum mechanical leverage for operating the faucet.
A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a faucet as described in which the handle extends a substantial distance from its point of pivotal attachment to maximize the mechanical advantage upon operation of the handle.
Another purpose of the invention is to provide a metering faucet as described which has an aesthetically pleasing handle, but one which utilizes its shape to provide maximum mechanical advantage in operation of the faucet.
Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.


A method of dehazing a contained body of petroleum distillate by removing suspended water droplets from the distillate phase, or releasing free water trapped in an emulsion settled from the distillate phase, a detergent having been added to the petroleum distillate, comprising the step of adding to the distillate an effective amount of a vinyl copolymer which includes both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of additives for fuel dehydration, and more specifically, to additives for dehazing crude oil distillates and demulsifying separated water emulsions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Detergents are often added to gasoline to improve engine performance and prevent fouling and deposits. These hydrophilic compounds sometimes serve to disperse water into the gasoline. Additives are therefore needed for water removal. In addition, the separated water may be emulsified (rather than exist as "free" water). Chemicals which dehaze petroleum fuel and demulsify separated water emulsions include phenolic resin alkoxylates, polyethers, hydroxylated resin acids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention deals with a new class of additives which dehaze or dewater gasoline and crude oil distillates. These novel additives are vinyl polymers made from one or more hydrophilic monomers and one or more hydrophobic monomers. For discussion purposes, the term "hydrophilic" refers to monomers for which the weight percent of heteroatoms (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen) is greater than or equal to about 27, and the term "hydrophobic" refers to monomers for which the weight percent of heteroatoms is less than about 27.
Effective polymers are found within a wide range of hydrophilic/hydrophobic weight ratios. Especially efficacious are those polymers with overall hydrophilic/hydrophobic weight ratios of 65/35 to 35/65, and polymers for which the overall weight percent of heteroatoms ranges from about 25.5 to 27.5.


An endovascular treatment system includes a delivery sleeve that is insertable into an intravascular catheter. A therapeutic device is housed coaxially within the delivery sleeve and both are advanced within the catheter in combination. An advancement mechanism is connected to the therapeutic device to advance the therapeutic device out of the delivery sleeve and into a patient. The delivery sleeve includes a stop positioned on the proximal end. The stop contacts the proximal end of the catheter, limiting the distance the delivery sleeve is inserted into a catheter.

Intravascular catheters are common medical devices that are manufactured by numerous companies. The various companies provide catheters that have different physical performance attributes that physicians find attractive for the purposes of accessing a targeted vessel in the highly tortuous/varied vascular anatomy of each patient. The various catheters are provided in numerous length options and are provided with numerous pre-curved tip shapes and mechanical structure (e.g., bending stiffness/softness and "torqueability" to orient the tip shape remotely). Additionally, catheters are provided with variations in their internal lumen in both diameter size and surface material. In some medical procedures, the vascular catheter is routinely used to deliver embolic devices such as endovascular embolization coils to a particular target location in the vasculature to conduct vascular occlusions or embolizations to stop the blood flow in a vessel or isolate a vascular area from blood flow.
The various differences in physical attributes of the catheters, for example, relative roughness or friction coefficient of the material forming the interior surface, impacts the potential compatibility of using certain catheters with different manufacturers' embolic devices. For example, Boston Scientific contraindicates the use of its Interlock embolic coil products with any polyurethane, soft-tip catheter, for example, Terumo Glide catheters or AngioDynamics Soft-Vu catheters. These limitations detrimentally impact the ability of the embolic coil manufacturer to gain clinical use of their coil when the physician wants to use one of these catheters due to the feature benefits of the catheter in accessing the target vessel. In some instances, the physician may be forced to "exchange" one catheter for another over the guidewire to achieve a compatible catheter for deployment of the embolic device, which is a costly and inefficient method.
With current technology, embolic devices (such as coils) use an introducer tube to advance the coil into the catheter. The function of the introducer tube is to hold the device straight (i.e., in an uncoiled form) outside of the catheter and facilitate "introducing" the device into the catheter. In this structure, the embilic device is fed directly into the catheter, necessitating compatibility between the embolic device and the catheter, e.g., compatibility between outer diameter of the embolic device and inner diameter and surface of the catheter lumen and material compatibility between the material forming the embolic device and the catheter material to ensure smooth advancement of the embolic device through the catheter lumen. Thus, cost is increased and physician alternatives are reduced.
Clinicians utilize various imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy to direct the embolic device to the end of the catheter and into the targeted area for treatment. However, this reliance on the imaging modalities while the embolic device travels through the catheter requires additional cost and time, which results in heightened risk to the patient. As such, these risks and costs represent the insufficiency of typical solutions and room for improvements in the industry.
The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound.


A controller of an internal combustion engine operable by an alcohol-containing fuel, includes: an alcohol concentration detecting unit, operable to detect an alcohol concentration of the alcohol-containing fuel; a feedback controller, operable to perform feedback control to make an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine become equal to a target air-fuel ratio in accordance with an operation region; and an operation region setting unit, operable to set a stoichiometric operation region, in which the target air-fuel ratio is stoichiometric, in an enlarged manner when the alcohol concentration, detected by the alcohol concentration detecting unit, is higher than a concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller of an internal combustion engine operable by an alcohol-containing fuel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gasoline is used as a fuel in an internal combustion engine (engine) of an automobile or other vehicle. Meanwhile, there is a vehicle (FFV: Flexible Fuel Vehicle) in which is installed an engine enabled to use, in addition to gasoline, alcohol as an alternate fuel mixed at any ratio (0% to 100%).
The ratio of gasoline and alcohol (alcohol concentration; blend ratio) of a blended fuel supplied to an engine for FFV is not necessarily constantly fixed. For example, there may be a case where, in a state in which a blended fuel with an alcohol concentration of 80% is stored in a fuel tank of an FFV, a fuel of 0% alcohol concentration (that is, a fuel of 100% gasoline concentration) is supplied or a fuel of 100% alcohol concentration (that is, a fuel of 0% gasoline concentration) is supplied. Normally, the amount supplied also differs each time.
With an engine using a blended fuel, by ascertaining the alcohol concentration in the blended fuel, a fuel injection amount can be adjusted appropriately according to characteristics of the blended fuel. For example, although ethanol, which is an alcohol, is high in octane number, is thus less likely to cause knocking in comparison to alcohol, and has characteristics that are advantageous in terms of thermal efficiency, it is low in energy density, requires a fuel injection amount of 1.3 to 1.5 times that of gasoline, and thus has characteristics that are disadvantageous in terms of fuel consumption.
Due to such circumstances, for example, an art of enlarging a lean feedback region as the alcohol concentration increases and thereby improving the fuel consumption has been known (see JP-A-5-272383). However, from the point of traveling performance, there is a limit as to how much the lean feedback region can be enlarged, and because expansion of a lean operation region leads to early degradation of an exhaust purifying catalyst for cleaning an exhaust, the present circumstances are actually such that the lean operation region cannot be enlarged to a degree to which fuel consumption is improved adequately.
Thus, in actuality, with an engine for FFV, it is desired that improvement in exhaust gas performance by maintenance of exhaust purifying catalyst performance be achieved while achieving improvement in fuel consumption at the same time.

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A method and system for assessing the condition of a pipe carrying a fluid is disclosed. The method includes the steps of generating a pressure wave in the fluid being carried along the pipe and detecting a pressure wave interaction signal resulting from an interaction of the pressure wave with a localized variation in pipe condition. The method then involves determining from the timing of the pressure wave interaction signal the location of the localized variation in pipe condition and the extent of the localized variation in pipe condition based on a characteristic of the pressure wave interaction signal.

One of the main infrastructure items or assets of water or sewerage utilities is their pipeline network which functions to deliver or carry away fluids from discrete locations. Similarly, pipes and pipeline networks may be used to convey any number of types of fluids ranging from petroleum products to natural gas. Pipes in these networks may be located either above or below ground depending on requirements. Corrosion can occur on the inside wall of metallic pipes when protective linings deteriorate over time resulting in the subsequent formation of tubercules. Corrosion can also occur on the outside wall of metallic pipes when protective linings deteriorate over time with subsequent conversion of metal into corrosive by-products and pits. In the case of cement pipes, cement leaching can occur due to exposure (either internal or external) to soft water. Both of these effects can cause a wall thickness reduction or loss of elastic stiffness in the pipe wall resulting in a weakness at that location. These weaknesses increase the likelihood of a pipeline burst.
The consequences of a pipeline burst or failure, especially in the case of a large capacity pipe may often be catastrophic resulting in a serious disruption to those relying on the pipeline. As a result, a large amount of effort is often expended by utilities or other entities that manage pipe networks to determine the condition of pipes, and where a problem is detected, then engage in preventative maintenance. With the increasing age of many pipeline networks this task of ongoing maintenance is important in ensuring their reliability.
There are a number of different methods that are used to assess pipeline condition. The most intrusive method involves taking physical samples from a pipe section to determine the extent of any corrosion or cement leaching (this is termed "coupon sampling"). This destructive testing is not preferred by industry and requires the exposure of buried pipes and their subsequent repair after the coupon sample is obtained. Closed circuit television (CCTV) camera investigation is sometimes used but generally requires intrusive access and allows for only a visual classification of the extent of pipe wall deterioration.
Other non-destructive methods involve the use of ultrasonic gauge testing along a pipe to directly determine the wall thickness at a given location. This method however, relies on the pipe location being exposed i.e. the pipe is either above ground or excavation has been carried out to expose a section of pipe. In addition, this method will often rely on an initial estimate as to the location of an area of concern otherwise the cost and time involved in testing a large section at a series of discrete locations along the pipe is prohibitive. Both destructive coupon sampling and ultrasonic gauge testing provide information only at specific locations which may not coincide with points of damage to pipe walls. As a consequence, the condition of the pipe away from the sample or test locations can only be inferred using these methods.
Another method of non-destructive testing involves the transmitting of an acoustic signal along a pipe from a first location and then detecting these same signals at a location farther down the pipe. By noting the average propagation velocity of the acoustic signal as it travels from transmitter to detector, inferences may be drawn as to the average pipe condition along that section of pipe. While this process has the advantages of being non-destructive, it still is only able to provide a cumulative measure of pipe quality over the section being tested between measurement locations and hence is unable to indicate the location where weakness in the pipe wall may occur.
As a consequence, a large section of pipe may end up being needlessly replaced on the basis of this "average" measure. This is due to the distribution of pipe wall damage being often highly variable and often manifesting at individual localised sections of pipe that have a defect from manufacture or installation. Clearly, entities involved in the management of pipeline networks are focussed on finding and replacing these weak sections as opposed to the expensive process of replacing entire lengths of pipeline.
There is therefore a need for a method and system for assessing the condition of a pipe which allows improved location of potential variations in pipe condition.

Method and system for assessment of pipeline condition


A wireless device which operates according to a first protocol specification in active durations specified by the first protocol, and according to a second protocol specification in the idle durations specified by the first protocol specification. In an embodiment, the first protocol specification corresponds to IEEE 802.15.4 standard and the second protocol specification corresponds to IEEE 802.11 family of standards.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless networks, and more specifically to wireless device with WLAN and WPAN communication capabilities.
2. Related Art
A wireless device refers to a device which communicates with other devices/systems over a wireless medium. There are various wireless standard specifications (and corresponding communication technologies), designed for different requirements suitable for corresponding environments. A standard specification refers to a comprehensive set of required/optional protocol/electrical characteristics that devices are to follow for sharing the wireless medium and transmission of data packets.
WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is one such example of a communication standard defined by IEEE 802.11 specifications, as is well known in the relevant arts. As is also well known in the relevant arts, WLAN technology permits relatively high data transfer rates (e.g., or the order of few megabits per second) over distances of the ranges of a few meters.
WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) is another example of communication standard defined by IEEE 802.15.4 specification. As is well known, WPAN technology permits relatively lower data rates compared to WLAN.
The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.

Wireless device with WLAN and WPAN communication capabilities


A packaging bag is formed by bending a laminate film at two portions in parallel to each other such that both end portions thereof are mated to each other and the mated end portions are bonded together so as to provide a tubular body having upper and lower openings, which are sealed by forming upper and lower seal portions, respectively. In such packaging bag, the two bent portions 15 and 16 of the laminate film constitute side edge portions as boundary portions between a front surface portion 2 and a back surface portion 3 of a packaging bag, the upper seal portion 5 is formed with a rough surface seal open portion 10 formed with aggregation of a plurality of fine recesses formed to an outer layer constituting the laminate film and a plurality of fine through holes penetrating the outer layer so that the rough surface seal open portion is formed to the front surface and/or back surface portion of the packaging bag so as to include one of the side edge portions thereof, and the rough surface seal open portion 10 is formed in the upper seal portion 5 such that a lower end of the rough surface seal open portion is apart upward from a lower end of the upper seal portion 5.

In a conventional art, there have been provided various techniques for easily opening a packaging bag containing powder or liquid, such as by forming a cutout or like to a side edge portion of the packaging bag. However, the formation of such cutout will damage an outer appearance of the packaging bag, and in addition, fear of erroneously opening the packaging bag will also be increased.
In order to eliminate such defect, the inventor of the subject application had already disclosed a packaging bag provided with a rough surface portion at a opening-start point (see Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-140543). Further, it is to be noted that the term of "rough surface portion", used herein, means a coagulated structure of a plurality fine recesses formed to an outer layer constituting a laminate film and a plurality of fine through holes formed thereto so as to penetrate the outer layer. By providing such rough surface portion to the side edge portion of a packaging container, the strength of such rough surface portion is weakened to thereby easily open the packaging bag from this rough surface portion.
An invention of a packaging bag formed with such rough surface portion is disclosed other than the above patent application (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Unexamined Laid-open Publication No. 2002-211584).
However, in the packaging bag provided with such rough surface portion, there is a fear of slightly deteriorating barrier performance of the packaging bag at that portion in comparison with the other portions. Especially, at a time when the laminate film is pulled, while being drawn by a former of an automatic packaging machine, an excessive force is partially applied to the laminate film, and a portion subjected to surface roughing working, another film portion constituting the laminate film, or aluminium foil will be expanded, thus deteriorating the barrier performance.
In addition, in such packaging bag, particular material, in place of liquid material, may be contained in the packaging bag, and when the particular material is contained in the packaging bag, there is a fear that the particular material clogs a material pouring portion, preventing smooth pouring.


The invention features a beam hanger for use in combination with a precast foundation wall unit. The beam hanger allows for the mass production of identical foundation wall units, since it can be placed at regular intervals along the foundation length. The beam hanger eliminates the requirement for precast beam pockets that prevent identical, mass production wall units.

In recent times, many innovative ideas are being implemented in the construction of dwelling houses. Attempts are being made to lower labor and material costs by utilizing mass production techniques. One such mass production technique features the use of modular units that are assembled in a factory and then shipped to the construction site, where they are bolted together.
Another such mass production method employs the concept of precast waffle-type wall and foundation units that are also bolted together at the construction site. This precast system has the advantage of allowing the builder more flexibility in design with respect to the modular concept. It still reduces construction costs by providing precast building units that require less assembly and labor.
One of the current problems with precast construction, however, results from its attempts to provide flexibility of design. Flexible design requires that foundation units have beam pockets that are cast in place. These beam pockets support steel beams or wood girders at adjustable or desired locations along the wall. Therefore, in order to accommodate this need, special panels must be precast for each specific construction job, which seriously hampers or eliminates mass production runs.
This invention seeks to provide an apparatus for supporting beams anywhere along the foundation wall, and thus to restore the mass production of identical foundation wall units.
While the use of beam hangers is commonplace in standard beam construction, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,097,934, issued: May 26, 1914; 1,720,104, issued: July 9, 1929; 3,537,221, issued: June 19, 1967; 4,353,664, issued: Oct. 12, 1982; 4,422,792, issued: Dec. 27, 1983; they have never been used for foundations.
Even if they were, however, the precast foundation unit presents certain design problems that are uncommon to the art. For example, a bracing angle bracket for providing lateral and bending support requires a special design to span the hollow section presented by waffle configuration.
The uniqueness of the invention will become more apparent and will be better understood with reference to the following description and detailed drawings.


Noise caused by switching is reduced using a simple configuration in a circuit amplifying a pulse signal using a switching amplifier. A control data output section outputs control data that instructs that a pulse width of each of a pair of pulse signals be modulated. A data replacement section replaces the control data with data for replacement different from the control data in the case where the control data is output that instructs that the modulation leading to approximately a same pulse width for the pair of pulse signals be performed. A pulse width modulation circuit performs the modulation on each of the pair of pulse signals in accordance with the data for replacement. A pair of switching amplifiers amplify the pair of pulse signals that have been subjected to the modulation.

It has been common to use an analog class-A, class-B, or class-AB amplifier or a digital class-D amplifier to amplify an audio signal in acoustic equipment. Of these, the digital class-D amplifier has been widely known for its compact size and low power consumption as compared to its analog counterparts. This class-D amplifier generally has a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) circuit and a switching amplifier. The PMW circuit modulates a pulse width of a pulse signal. The switching amplifier amplifies the modulated pulse signal. Two such switching amplifiers are provided for each channel in the case of a differential output, and one switching amplifier is provided for each channel in the case of a single-ended output.
Here, in the case where two or more switching amplifiers are provided, and if edge timings of pulse signals input to the switching amplifiers are the same, a plurality of switching elements (e.g., transistors) in the switching amplifiers are switched at the same time. Then, as a result of this simultaneous switching, currents larger than when the switching timings are different flow momentarily, resulting in noise. For this reason, in order to avoid this simultaneous switching, an amplifier whose PWM circuit generates a plurality of pulse signals having different phases has been proposed (refer, for example, to PTL 1).

Control circuit and control method of the same

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


The present invention concerns a method of preventing the staining and voiding in an aluminum layer. This staining and voiding was found to be caused by cross-contamination of nitrogen from other processing steps in a multi-chambered wafer processing device. The present invention avoids the staining and voiding by introducing a pumping-out step of an aluminum layer sputtering chamber to remove some of the nitrogen from the aluminum layer deposition chamber before sputtering the aluminum layer onto the silicon wafer. Alternately, the temperature of the aluminum layer deposition step can be reduced to 310.degree. C. or less to prevent the staining or voiding.

This invention relates to processing of semiconductor wafers using a multi-chambered wafer processing device to form layers on a silicon wafer. Multi-chambered wafer processing devices do multiple sputtering and etching steps in the same device. One such multi-chambered wafer processing device is the MRC machine produced by Materials Research Corporation in Orangeburg, N.Y. The typical processing steps done on a multi-chambered wafer processing device can include sputter etching, forming titanium layers, forming titanium nitride layers, and forming aluminum layers. A problem noticed in the forming of aluminum layers using multi-chambered wafer processing devices is staining and voids in the aluminum layer. The aluminum layer formed on the silicon wafer can have discolorations or stains which in a later annealing step form voids or holes.
The suggested reasons for the aluminum layer voiding problem included incomplete nucleation of the aluminum layer. The nucleation sites are the points at which the grains in the metal film including the aluminum start to crystallize. It is desired that these nucleation sites be closely packed. It was thought that the voiding may have been caused by the incomplete nucleation of the aluminum layer, and that in later annealing steps, the voids were formed.
Another suggested reason for the voiding was that an aluminum layer formed on the silicon wafer was too thin, and was thus unstable during the annealing step.

Method of eliminating metal voiding in a titanium nitride/aluminum processing


A buried Schottky clamped transistor is described in which the Schottky diode comprises a region of metal silicide 24 in the epitaxial layer 15 adjacent the transistor. The structure includes an electrically isolated region of N type epitaxial silicon 15 having an upper surface, a region of metal silicide 24 formed in the epitaxial silicon 15 adjacent the upper surface, an emitter region 33 of first conductivity type also formed in the epitaxial silicon adjacent the upper surface, base region 29 of opposite conductivity type adjacent the upper surface which separates the emitter 33 from the metal silicide 24, and metal connections 37, 38 and 39 for making electrical connections to each of the regions of metal silicide 24, the emitter region 33, and the epitaxial silicon 15.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit structures and to processes for fabricating them. In particular, the invention relates to a semiconductor structure in which a bipolar transistor and a Schottky diode are merged.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the design and manufacture of integrated circuits, Schottky diodes and transistors are often connected as part of a larger circuit, for example, a logic gate. In the prior art these interconnections have been formed using conventional techniques such as fabricating the Schottky diode near the transistor to which it is to be connected, and then interconnecting the two components with a metal line. In some prior art techniques the Schottky diode has been formed on top of the silicon substrate in which one or more transistors are formed.
Furthermore, the Schottky clamped transistors of the prior art typically used heavily doped regions of boron, fabricated using conventional bipolar processing, for the base contact. The Schottky diode was then usually formed on additional epitaxial area adjacent to the base of the transistor. This structure resulted in an active transistor with an additional diode formed by the heavily doped base region, and a Schottky diode, both in parallel with the base-collector contacts of the transistor. The additional PN junction diode formed by the extrinsic base and epitaxial layer was a significant limitation on the switching speed of the transistor.


A photopolymerizable composition for cladding optical fibers comprises an unsubstituted or fluorosubstituted diacrylate monomer; a fluorinated monofunctional acrylate monomer in an amount of from about 2 to about 12 parts by weight per part by weight of the diacrylate monomer; a photoinitiator; and a viscosity modifying agent to increase the viscosity of the composition to about 1000 to about 15000 cP. Upon photocuring, the composition has a refractive index not greater than about 1.43, and preferably not greater than about 1.40.

This invention relates to a photopolymerizable composition for cladding optical fibers.
As discussed in, for example, Blyler and Aloisio, Polymer coatings for optical fibers, Chemtech, November 1987, pages 680-684, optical fibers consist of a central core, usually a highly transparent glass (silica, often containing various doping materials) surrounded by a cladding with a refractive index lower than that of the glass; this cladding serves to confine light within the central core in order to reduce radiation losses from the surface of the core, and hence reduce attenuation of radiation travelling along the core.
In most optical fibers, the cladding is formed from a second glass. Because minor flaws in such a glass cladding greatly reduce the tensile strength of the optical fiber, it is customary to provide the fiber with a secondary, protective cladding, which is usually formed from a polymeric material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,082, issued Dec. 10, 1985, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,185, issued May 5, 1987, describe acrylated silicone polymers useful as, inter alia, optical fiber claddings. These silicone polymers are prepared by reacting limonene oxide-functional silicones with acrylic acid or a substituted acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst, which can be a tetraalkylurea or a tetraalkylguanidine.
Acrylic resins have also been used as protective claddings for optical fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,823 describes an uncured, filled coating composition comprising 100 parts by weight of (a) a polyfunctional acrylic-type carboxylic acid ester monomer or its prepolymer, this monomer or prepolymer being composed of 0 to 75 percent by weight tri- or higher acrylates, and 25 to 100 percent diacrylate; (b) 0.001 to 20 parts by weight of a polymerization initiator; and (c) 5 to 250 parts by weight of an inorganic solid filler having a refractive index of 1.40 to 1.60 and an average first-order particle diameter of at least 1 m.mu. but less than 1 .mu..
U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,984, issued Oct. 30, 1984, describes multifilament bundles (which can be optical fiber bundles) impregnated with an ultraviolet curable resin to form a composite material suitable for use as a strength member. Among the resins which can be used in such bundles are various acrylate resins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,503, issued Sept. 1, 1987, describes a glass optical fiber having a primary coating constructed of two layers of ultraviolet cured acrylate resin. The first, inner layer has a modulus of elasticity at 25.degree. C. less than or equal to 5 N/mm.sup.2., while the second, outer layer has a modulus of elasticity at 25.degree. C. of from 25 to 1500 N/mm.sup.2., the ratio of the thickness of the first layer to the thickness of the second layer being between 0.5 and 2.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,610, issued Feb. 25, 1986, describes the cladding of optical fibers by contact with a coating composition comprising (a) a radiation-curable diethylenically unsaturated polyurethane resin constituted by an essentially saturated, halogenated, dihydroxy-terminated linear liquid polybutadiene polymer reacted with an organic isocyanate and a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying a single hydroxy group, to form a diethylenic diurethane having a halogen-containing, essentially saturated polybutadiene backbone; and (b) a liquid solvent for the resin (a), this solvent being preferably a monoethylenically unsaturated liquid having a low glass transition temperature. The coating composition is cured to produce the final cladding, which has a high refractive index, above 1.48.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,724, issued Sept. 4, 1984, describes protecting optical fibers against stress corrosion by first coating the optical fiber with a primary coating of an ultraviolet curable, cis, trans fluoropolyolacrylate in which the modulus is reduced by eliminating about 25 percent of the pendant ester groups, curing the primary coating, applying a secondary coating of a high-modulus, heat-curable fluoroepoxy or a high-modulus ultraviolet-curable cis, trans fluoropolyolacrylate over the primary coating, and curing the secondary coating. The cis, trans fluoropolyolacrylates used must contain aromatic and oxirane rings.
However, in some cases it is possible to form the primary cladding of the optical fiber (i.e., the cladding immediately adjacent the core) from a polymeric material. According to the aforementioned Blyler and Aloisio article, polymer-clad fibers usually consist of a silica core clad with either a poly(dimethylsiloxane) resin or a fluorinated acrylic polymer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,566, issued Feb. 4, 1986, describes photocurable silicone compositions, useful as optical fiber claddings, which compositions contain chemically combined siloxy units and units of the formula R.sub.2 SiO, where a number of the R units are acrylate or alkyl-substituted acrylate ester groupings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,339, issued Nov. 19, 1985, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,987, issued Jul. 1, 1986, describe organopolysiloxanes having a viscosity of 100 mPa. at 25.degree. C. and having both SiC-bonded acryloxyalkyl groups and Si-bonded hydrogen atoms in the same molecule. These organopolysiloxanes are prepared by adding an allyl alcohol to a diorganopolysiloxane containing a terminal Si-bonded hydrogen atom, then esterifying the hydroxyl groups of the resultant reaction product with acrylic acid and subsequently equilibriating the resultant diorganopolysiloxane with an organo(poly)siloxane containing an Si-bonded hydroxyl group in each of the terminal units. The final organopolysiloxane is stated to be useful as, inter alia, an optical fiber cladding, although it is not clear whether this refers to a primary or secondary cladding.
However, silicone primary claddings have a number of serious disadvantages. The viscosity and curing requirements of the silicones restrict the production rate of the clad fiber to about 0.5 meters/sec. Silicone claddings do not adhere well to quartz, and the softness of the cladding leads to difficulties in connecting the clad fiber to other components of the optical system; temperature changes can cause the quartz core to be forced into and out of the cladding at the connection. Furthermore, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,209, exposing the silicone-clad optical fibers to low temperatures in the range of -40.degree. to -50.degree. C. results in an increase in attenuation of 10-20 dB/km.; in many cases an increase in room temperature attenuation occurs after the fiber has been exposed to such low temperatures.
It is also known that fluorine-containing materials can be incorporated into claddings containing acrylates and methacrylates. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,916, issued Apr. 2, 1985, describes curable substituted urethane acrylates and methacrylates having an aliphatic backbone with at least one pendant fluorinated organic group attached thereto, this backbone being end-capped with an acrylic or methacrylic group.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,350, issued Oct. 14, 1986, describes a thermoplastic resin useful for optical purposes, including optical fiber claddings, and obtained by blending a polymer of an acrylic ester with a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoroacetone. The refractive index of the blend is in the range of 1.37 to 1.48.
European Patent Application Publication No. 196,212, published Oct. 1, 1986, describes a curable adhesive composition suitable for splicing optical fibers, or connecting optical fibers to other optical elements. This composition comprises a fluoroacrylate having the formula: EQU (R.sub.1).sub.2 CH(CF.sub.2).sub.n CH(R.sub.2).sub.2
wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are acrylate, methacrylate or hydrogen, n is an integer of 1 through 5, and at least one R.sub.1 is acrylate or methacrylate and at least one R.sub.2 is acrylate or methacrylate. The composition may also contain a polyfunctional acrylate or methacrylate monomer having 2 to 7 acrylate or methacrylate groups, this polyfunctional monomer allowing adjustment of the refractive index of the adhesive composition to precisely match the optical fiber refractive index. The composition may also contain an acrylate or methacrylate oligomer which does not affect the refractive index and is used to adjust the viscosity of the uncured composition to the desired level.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,209, issued Apr. 16, 1985 to Skutnik, describes a curable composition for use in cladding optical fibers, this composition comprising (a) a highly fluorinated monofunctional acrylate with a refractive index below 1.38 and constituting more than 50 percent by weight of the composition; (b) a trifunctional or higher acrylate that serves as a cross-linking agent; (c) a mono- or polyfunctional thiol that functions as a synergist; and (d) a photoinitiator. The resultant claddings have refractive indices in the range of about 1.39 to about 1.43.
The use of a thiol in this composition poses obvious pollution and environmental problems. Thiols are notorious for their obnoxious smells and also tend to be toxic. Although Skutnik does suggest the use of certain "low odor thiols", it would be advantageous to avoid the use of thiols entirely. In addition, to produce a composition with the viscosity needed to coat an optical fiber, it is sometimes necessary to include a solvent in the composition (some of the fluoroacrylates are solids at room temperature). The need for such a solvent imposes additional costs and environmental problems, especially if a chlorinated solvent, such as the methylene chloride used in some of Skutnik's Examples, is required. In addition, as noted by Blyler and Aloisio, supra, it is desirable to avoid solvents in cladding compositions because solvent removal is a slow process and the cladding must solidify quickly once it is applied to the optical fiber, in order that the fiber may be protected before it contacts any solid surface, such as the capstan used to draw the optical fiber.
It has also been found that very hard claddings, such as those produced by the Skutnik compositions, tend to produce microbends in an optical fiber, thus increasing the attenuation of the fiber.
There is thus a need for a photocurable composition for optical fibers which will produce claddings having suitably low refractive indices, which can be prepared without need for tri- or higher acrylates or thiols, and which produces coatings having a desirable degree of softness. This invention provides such a photocurable composition.

Photopolymerizable composition for cladding optical fibers


A power delivery method and system for powering a headset. A power signal is combined with an audio signal to form a composite signal that is communicated over a shared channel to the headset. The power signal is generated by modulating a carrier signal with a modulation signal. The modulation signal is derived from the amplitude of the audio signal so that the peak levels of the composite signal do not exceed the maximum allowable output of an audio I/O circuit driving the headset.

Headsets are often employed for a variety of purposes, such as to provide bi-directional voice communications for human-to-human or human-machine interaction. These interactions can take place in a voice-directed or voice-assisted work environment, for example. Such environments often use speech recognition technology to facilitate work, allowing workers to keep their hands and eyes free to perform tasks while maintaining communication with a voice-directed portable computer device or larger system. A headset for such applications typically includes a microphone positioned to pick up the voice of the wearer, and one or more speakers—or earphones—positioned near the wearer's ears so that the wearer may hear audio associated with the headset usage. Headsets may be coupled to a mobile or portable communication device—or terminal—that provides a link with other mobile devices or a centralized system, allowing the user to maintain communications while they move about freely.
Headsets typically include a multi-conductor cable terminated by an audio plug, which allows the headset to be easily connected to and disconnected from the terminal by inserting or removing the audio plug from a matching audio socket. Standard audio plugs are typically comprised of a sectioned conductive cylinder, with each section electrically isolated from the other sections so that the plug provides multiple axially adjacent contacts. The end section is commonly referred to as a "tip", while the section farthest from the tip is referred to as a "sleeve". Additional sections located between the tip and the sleeve are known as "ring" sections. An audio plug having three contacts is commonly referred to as a TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve) plug or jack. Standard audio plugs are also commonly available with two contacts (Tip Sleeve, or TS) and four contacts (Tip Ring Ring Sleeve, or TRRS), although other numbers of contacts are sometimes used. Standard diameters for TRS type plugs include 6.35 mm, 3.5 mm, and 2.5 mm, and the connectors also typically have standard lengths and ring placements so that different headsets may be used interchangeably with a variety of terminals.
As communications systems have evolved, one trend has been to add active electronics to headsets to improve their performance and increase their functionality. Headsets today may include active noise reduction and signal enhancement circuits that process signals from multiple microphones, as well as other signal processing or conditioning circuits and devices, such as microphone biasing circuits and audio amplifiers. As more functionality is added to headsets, the associated electronic circuitry creates a need for power. One way of providing power to a headset is with a battery or similar power storage device located in the headset. However, batteries undesirably increase the size and weight of the headset, and must be regularly replaced or recharged, adding to the cost and maintenance burden of operating a powered headset. The cost and maintenance burdens are particularly undesirable in a work environment, since the headset may stop functioning unexpectedly when the battery exhausts its charge, potentially stopping work until a replacement battery or headset can be provided.
To avoid placing a battery in the headset, it has been proposed that power may be supplied to the headset from the terminal into which the headset is plugged. For example, additional conductors and connector contacts could be added to the terminal/headset interface to allow power to be directly sourced from the terminal. However, doing so would require changes in both headset and terminal hardware, and would create additional compatibility issues with standard multi-contact TRS type connectors. For this reason, headsets and terminals having the additional conductors might not be sufficiently compatible with older equipment to provide even original levels of functionality, thus increasing the total number of terminals and headsets which must be purchased, maintained, and tracked. In addition, as the number of separate conductors increases, the size and cost of cables and connectors also undesirably increase.
Another method that has been proposed to provide power to the headset is to allow power and audio signals to share a single conductor by multiplexing out of band power signals, such as a DC signal or high frequency carrier, with existing audio signals. One such method is described in U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0321097, entitled "Headset Signal Multiplexing System and Method", filed on Jun. 14, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, multiplexing power signals and audio signals onto the same conductor has other drawbacks. For example, such multiplexing increases the peak composite signal voltage levels, which can cause clipping and distortion in the limited amplitude channels characteristic of most terminal audio input/output circuits. Therefore, to allow audio and power signals to share the same limited amplitude channel, often either the power level of the baseband audio signal will need to be reduced, impacting the ability of the headset to provide sufficient audio volume to the wearer, or the amplitude of the carrier will need to be reduced, impacting the amount of power that can be delivered to the headset.
Yet another method that has been proposed to allow sharing of a limited amplitude channel that avoids the power sharing problems associated with audio and power signal multiplexing is to use a carrier signal employing constant envelope modulation, such as frequency modulation. In this type of system, power is provided to the headset by the constant envelope carrier, with the audio information modulating the carrier's frequency or phase. However, because the constant envelope carrier approach requires the audio signals to be recovered by an appropriate demodulation process on the receiving side, it is incompatible with existing headsets, and thus undesirable for at least all of the aforementioned reasons associated with methods requiring incompatible connectors.
Therefore, there is a need for improved methods and systems for providing power to headsets, and in particular, for coupling power from terminals to headsets over existing standard connector and cable interfaces in a way that is compatible with existing terminals and headsets.

Method and system for power delivery to a headset


A method for authentication based on image location and image analysis, comprises: identifying a request of a user to access a resource; determining a location and view point of a device; selecting, based on the location and the view point, at least one three-dimensional model, geometrically mapping objects around the location; capturing an image at the location by a camera of the device; presenting the image on a display of the device; identifying in the at least one first image a set of objects corresponding to a plurality of user selections made by the user with reference to the image when the image is presented on the display; performing a match between the set of objects and a predefined set of objects in the three-dimensional model using the three-dimensional model and the view point; and authenticating the request based on an outcome of the match.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to an authentication system, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a system for continuous authentication and authorization.
As used herein, the term "computer-controlled system" means a system having computer-controlled access control and the term "computer-controlled object" means an object having computer-controlled access control.
There may be a need to restrict access to a restricted resource such as a computer-controlled system or a digital artefact, for example a software program, a document file, or a video file or other media file, and allow access only from within one or more secure locations, even for persons authorized to access the computer-controlled system or digital artefact. For example, restriction may be limited to be only from one or more rooms within the premises of an enterprise. Other examples of a secure location are a deal room, a war room and a safe room in a bank. Commonly used methods include restricting access to a predefined Local Area Network (LAN), identified by an Internet Protocol (IP) address range of the LAN.
In addition to initial authentication and authorization, there may be a need to continuously verify a person accessing a restricted resource is in the secure location all the while the restricted resource is accessed.
Digital combination locks are a commonly used way of controlling access to a location, an object or a digital artefact. For example, screen locking of a mobile device may comprise a digital combination lock. A typical digital combination lock comprises a code sequence. Some code sequences comprise a plurality of alphanumeric characters, for example a password and a Personal Identification Number (PIN); some other code sequences comprise a plurality of gestures, for example a pattern lock on a mobile device. In some cases, a code sequence for unlocking a digital combination lock is personal, that is a certain user is associated with a certain code sequence.

System and method for continuous authentication using augmented reality and three dimensional object recognition

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of converting production hybrid motor vehicles into hybrid livery motor vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, a production hybrid sedan motor vehicle is extended in length to meet with livery requirements, wherein said extension can be performed either at the center section of said vehicle, thereby providing additional room for the installation of a partition in taxi applications, or by extending the rear door section, thereby providing additional legroom for limousine or corporate vehicle applications. The resulting extended hybrid sedan, possessing an augmented passenger cargo compartment, can be utilized as a hybrid livery motor vehicle comprising reduced carbon emissions and superior gas mileage and brilliantly suited for urban employment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of converting a motor vehicle into a livery motor vehicle, and more particularly, to a method of converting a production hybrid motor vehicle into a hybrid livery motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
The livery industry is a multibillion dollar industry comprised of a plurality of motor vehicles, operators, as well as a plethora of passengers from across United States and around the world. The livery motor vehicle, with its extended passenger compartment, is a crucial component of this industry, and the method of converting production motor vehicles into extended livery motor vehicles is well known in the art.
As a result of recent environmental concerns, government agencies as well as a number of private corporations have pushed for a reduction of carbon emissions. The livery industry, with its millions of motor vehicles across the United States and around the world is a major contributor of global carbon emissions. For this reason, as well as out of energy independence concerns, the livery motor vehicle industry has recently come under heavy pressure to make the switch toward a cleaner and more energy efficient transportation solution. The livery motor vehicle industry in turn has answered the "switch to green" call by experimenting with alternate fuel sources such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Propane, which the industry has implemented in their LINCOLN TOWN CAR™ and MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS™ fleet. Unfortunately, the reduction in carbon emissions resulting from implementing these technologies has come at a price of a roughly twenty percent increase in fuel consumption, and consequently this approach has proven ineffective in meeting the aforementioned environmental and energy independence concerns.
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a low carbon emission, and highly energy efficient hybrid livery motor vehicle, by extending from three to twelve inches the wheelbase of production hybrid motor vehicles, thereby increasing the passenger compartment size, an essential requirement to meet the needs of the taxi, limousine, corporate transportation and other livery industries.
The present method can be utilized on any production hybrid vehicle, and meets or exceeds: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Standards, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emission requirements. Additionally, the present method allows one skilled in the art to either elongate the vehicle in the mid-section, to produce a hybrid taxi motor vehicle, or to elongate the vehicle at the rear door, to produce a limousine motor vehicle.

Method of converting a hybrid sedan into a hybrid livery vehicle


A method and system for correlating information retrieved from a data network, with a telephone call initiated by an initial address message (IAM) at a multi-line facility, such as a call center or a voice access server (VAS), hinges on extracting an identifier string inserted into the user-user-interface field of the IAM, and accompanying the information. The information is used to perform an enhanced service feature which may include aiding the selection of an internal line at call center""s call distributor, or the selection and customization of delivery of a service feature, at a VAS. The information may also be displayed at a display terminal associated with a call center agent handling the call.

This is the first application filed for the present invention.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to the field of enhanced service feature provisioning on telecommunications networks, and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for coordinating a delivery of information related to a calling party with a telephone call to a termination, the information being delivered concurrently with call setup.
Call centers are used by companies to communicate with customers or prospective customers for the purposes of sales, product support, service delivery, etc. Providing such services is costly. Consequently, systems for improving call handling efficiency at call centers are in demand.
The telephony equipment generally used in call centers is automatic call distributors (ACDs) or private branch exchanges (PBXs) connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by integrated services digital network (ISDN) trunks. It is also common practice for companies that operate call centers to provide toll-free access to all interested parties.
One way that efficiency is improved in call centers is by delivering caller information to call center agents as, or shortly after, calls are received. A method for supplying caller information to a respective display terminal of a call center agent is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,706, which issued to Windsor et al. on Mar. 31, 1998, teaches a system for providing caller identification information to users of a key telephone system. In accordance with Windsor, calls are received/sent and caller/ed party information is displayed on a computer terminal associated with the telephone set that received/sent the call. Windsor""s system supports up to 8 internal lines using a key telephone system. The system is therefore suitable for use only by call centers with small call volumes.
Moreover the caller/ed party information made available to the call center agents is limited to a log of calls from or to the directory number of the calling party; the name, and directory number of the calling party; and/or, the timing information and internal line used to receive logged call(s). Although xe2x80x98notesxe2x80x99 can be appended to logged calls, and the logs can contain any information pertaining to the calling party that the call center agents input, Windsor does not provide means for displaying information that is not locally stored by the call center. Since the storage of the information is time-consuming, and the information can only be accumulated for repeat callers, the system taught by Windsor is of limited value to call centers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,684, which issued to Lund on Aug. 31, 1999, teaches a method for providing an enhanced service feature to telephone service subscribers. According to Lund, a central office switch serving a subscriber is adapted to access a database to look up a network address such as a universal resource locator (URL) associated with the calling party. The network address is displayed by the called party""s personal computer. This enhanced service feature is available to telephone subscribers with a single line, and supplies calling party information to the called party. The calling party information provided by Lund""s invention is associated with the directory number by the service provider. The inability to tailor the information to the needs of a called party is a limitation to the usefulness of this invention.
While the desire to provide caller-related information along with calls to call centers, or other call destinations that serve multiple lines, has long been recognized, a feasible solution is not known to exist.
There therefore remains a need for a method and system for correlating telephone calls with caller-related information at a facility equipped with a plurality of telephone lines.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and system for correlating a call setup signaling message with information received from a data network at a facility, with telephony equipment adapted to serve multiple telephone lines simultaneously.
It is also an object of the present invention to improve efficiency at facilities adapted to simultaneously serve multiple lines, such as call centers, voice access servers (VASs) and the like.
Accordingly, a method is provided involving a first step of inserting an identifier string into a call setup signaling message used to set up a telephone call for which an enhanced service feature requiring information, is requested. A second step of the method involves retrieving and sending the information with a copy of the identifier string, to a data network address of the facility, and a third step involves using the respective identifier strings to correlate the call setup signaling message with the information, in order to provide the enhanced service feature. As the call setup signaling message and information are received prior to establishment of the call, the information may be used to prepare the enhanced service feature before the call is established. For example, the information may be used to select a call center agent to handle the call.
The system of the present invention involves a facility and a call control application that controls a call control node. The call control application is sent call parameters from a call setup signaling message from the call control node. The call control application determines what, if any, enhanced service feature to apply to the call. If information retrieval is needed to perform an enhanced service feature to be applied to the call, the call control application will be programmed to issue an information delivery request that requests the information be sent to the facility. An information database is invoked to retrieve the information in the present invention, but it will be understood by those of skill in the art that any data retrieval mechanism would be equivalent. In particular, the call control application could send, directly to the facility, a key to retrieve data relating to the calling party, and so the information could be supplied by the call control application, in alternative embodiments of the invention. According to the invention, the identifier string is sent with the information, so that the information can be correlated with the call. The call control node is directed by the call control application to forward the call setup signaling message, which is relayed across the public switched telephone network (PSTN), to the facility.
The facility in the present system is any equipment (distributed or co-located) that terminates a call and can perform enhanced service features to augment the call requiring additional information that is supplied with information provided from a data network. In particular, it will be understood that when the facility supports several calls concurrently, the correlation of the information and the call is required in order to perform service features for the call, and so the facility particularly includes equipment adapted to terminate a plurality of lines simultaneously, and to provide services to the respective lines. It is assumed that the facility of the present invention incorporates a data server adapted to interface the facility with a data network.

Method and system for correlating telephone calls with information delivery


A modular fluid-carrying manifold apparatus is provided for use in hydraulic fracturing blenders and other devices. A manifold can include one or more interchangeable sections. Each section may have a flat front face with ports cut into the front face. Components such as valves and hammer unions are directly removably connected to the ports via bolts. This eliminates the need for welded-on piping. Removable, wear-resistant inserts can be located in the ports. The removable components may be considered consumable and replaced when worn out.

In hydraulic fracturing operations, a fracturing fluid, such as a sand/water slurry, is driven into an oil and gas well at high pressure. The fluid, which can include various chemicals and materials in addition to proppant (e.g. sand) mixed in water, can be significantly abrasive. The fluid is initially mixed from its constituent materials in a blender, and then transferred to a fracturing apparatus for pumping into the well. The blender typically includes intake manifolds for receiving water and other liquids to be blended, one or more blending or mixing tubs, and discharge-side manifolds for providing the produced fluid, as well as other components such as proppant/sand screws and dry feeders. The manifolds typically include multiple externally connectable ports for collecting or dispensing fluid, along with at least one internal port for internally directing the fluid to or from the ports.
Fluid-handling parts of the hydraulic fracturing system in general, and the blender in particular, are subject to wear. Current manifolds are typically made from sections of pipe or hollow structural sections (HSS) with cut-outs. The cut-outs have short (e.g. 4 inch) pipes welded on. The pipes end in flanges at which valves (e.g. butterfly valves) and unions (e.g. hammer unions), or other connectors or block-off plates may be attached.
The manifolds are typically mounted outboard of the machinery they are installed on, and are often placed near or at the maximum width or length requirements for the machinery. The current common method of constructing a manifold, by welding on pipes and flanges, contributes to width of the manifold and is not ideal.
The current common method of constructing manifolds somewhat limits the material choice to common metals and alloys that are available to purchase as tubes, pipes, or HSS (hollow structural sections).
Due to heavy-duty usage in potentially harsh environments, and the abrasive nature of the fracturing fluid or parts thereof, the manifolds are subject to wear and failure. Wear may be due to washouts and erosion and is frequent at the ports of the manifold. Washouts in this context refer to a worn condition interior to a manifold. Replacement of a worn or failed manifold is a difficult process, and leads to expense and downtime. Manifolds are typically custom built with significant amounts of welding, which is labour intensive. They are difficult to manufacture, inspect and replace, and failure at one port typically necessitates replacement of the entire manifold. The welds are particular subject to cracking, due to the washouts as well as hammering of the hammer unions.
Manifolds often require several ports (10 or more), and as a result can be quite long and heavy and difficult to both handle and mount on machinery.
Therefore there is a need for a manifold that is not subject to one or more limitations of the prior art.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Manifold for hydraulic fracturing blender and other applications


A medical apparatus in which the measurement of an electrocardiogram and the detection of blood leakage that may occur if an accessing unit comes off the patient can be performed accurately without fail, and with which the efficiency in the operation to be performed before the treatment can be improved. A medical apparatus includes a blood purification device including an accessing unit formed of a venous puncture needle stickable into a patient, electrocardiogram-measuring devices closely attached to a skin of the patient and being capable of measuring an electrocardiogram of the patient, and a blood-leakage-detecting device attached to a position near the accessing unit and being capable of detecting blood of the patient that may leak from the accessing unit. The medical apparatus further includes an integrated detecting device provided as a unit including the electrocardiogram-measuring device and the blood-leakage-detecting device.

In general, dialysis treatment is performed by using a dialysis treatment apparatus including a blood circuit for extracorporeally circulating the blood of a patient, a dialyzer connected to a halfway point of the blood circuit, a peristaltic blood pump, and a dialysis-apparatus body capable of performing ultrafiltration while performing hemodialysis treatment in which dialysate is introduced into or delivered from the dialyzer. Typically, dialysis treatment performed with such a dialysis treatment apparatus continues for about four hours and is given every other day. Therefore, the hemodynamics of the patient during the treatment changes significantly. In particular, it is important to efficiently and assuredly prevent the decrease in blood pressure caused by the removal of excessive water (ultrafiltration).
Furthermore, many of patients who need to take dialysis treatment also suffer from cardiovascular complications such as arrhythmia. Therefore, abnormality in circulatory dynamics and the cause thereof need to be grasped by monitoring the heartbeat, the pulse, and so forth. One of general measures for monitoring such information on the heartbeat and the pulse of the patient is the use of an electrocardiograph capable of measuring an electrocardiogram. For example, during blood purification treatment, at least a pair of electrodes (electrocardiogram-measuring devices) are closely attached to the patient, and the electrocardiogram of the patient is measured on the basis of the potentials of the electrodes.
On the other hand, in blood purification treatment, an arterial puncture needle and a venous puncture needle are stuck into the patient, and the blood of the patient is collected through the arterial puncture needle and is extracorporeally circulated through a blood circuit so that the blood is purified. Then, the blood thus purified needs to be returned to the patient through the venous puncture needle. Hence, in the process of extracorporeal blood circulation, the puncture needles may each accidentally come off the site of the patient where the needle is stuck when, for example, the patient makes any move. In particular, if the venous puncture needle comes off, some blood may leak to the outside. To detect such coming off of the puncture needle, the known art employs detection of blood leakage from the puncture needle by using a blood leakage sensor or the like (see PTL 1, for example).


A fitting structure for a vehicle wheel cover, having an open loop formed by a curved bar, an elongate connecting cover, an adjusting nut and a plurality of fitting seats mounted to the loop. The loop has at least one end terminated with a bent portion and the other end formed with external threads. The connecting cover movably covers the first and second ends, and the adjusting nut is engaged with the external threads of the second end. Each of the fitting seats has a seat member, a holding member extending from one side of the seat for holding the loop, and a buffer element mounted to the seat member at one side opposite to the holding member. The seat member includes a displacement slot allowing one end of the buffer element to extend through. The other end of the buffer member is configured to engage with a screw member extending through the wheel cover.

The currently invention relates in general to a fitting structure of a vehicle wheel cover, and more particularly, to a fitting structure that installs the wheel covers on the wheel disks of large vehicle such as trucks and buses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,190 discloses a fixing device for fitting wheel covers on wheel disks of large vehicles such as trucks and buses. The fixing device includes an open loop with two straight ends which are formed with right hand and left hand threads, respectively. The straight ends can thus be joined with each other by a nut. By turning the nut, the diameter of the loop can be adjusted. However, as the nut is engaged with the straight ends by means of threads, a large torque is required for turning the nut. Further, as it is difficult to determine the length of the engaged portions between the nut and the straight ends, disengagement with the loop is unavoidable during adjustment. In addition, the fabrication of a nut with two opposing ends threaded in opposite directions is also difficult.

Fitting structure of vehicle wheel cover


A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion including a rotor hub, and includes a recording disk and a clamper mounted thereon. The rotor hub includes a hub circular plate portion whose outer circumferential portion includes a hub slanting surface, and a hub cylindrical portion whose outer circumferential portion includes a hub screw portion. The hub screw portion, to which the clamper is screwed, includes at least a first hub screw groove, a first hub screw thread arranged to be adjacent to the first hub screw groove, and upper and lower flanks arranged to together define the first hub screw thread. The hub slanting surface connects with the first hub screw groove. The length of the hub slanting surface is longer than the length of the upper flank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spindle motor and more specifically to a spindle motor included in a disk drive apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A spindle motor arranged to rotate a disk is installed in a disk drive apparatus. A known spindle motor and a known disk drive apparatus are described, for example, in JP-A 2001-35129. In the disk drive apparatus described in JP-A 2001-35129, a disk is adhered to a spacer whose inner circumferential portion includes a screw groove defined therein, and this spacer is screwed to an outer circumferential portion of a hub, the outer circumferential portion including a screw groove defined therein, whereby the disk is fixed to the hub (see paragraph [0014] of JP-A 2001-35129).
In the case where a fixing member including a screw groove defined therein is screwed to a hub including a screw groove defined therein as in the disk drive apparatus described in JP-A 2001-35129, the fixing member is mounted on the hub, and is then screwed to the hub by rotating the fixing member. At this time, if the fixing member is not stably mounted on the hub, the fixing member may be screwed to an outer circumferential portion of the hub in a tilted condition. This may result in a failure to securely fix a disk to the hub. There is accordingly a demand for the fixing member to be stably mounted on the hub.


An extraction device for a metal tube obtained by hot extrusion is located along an extrusion axis downstream of the die of an extrusion press. The extraction device has a group of elastic metal fingers for gripping the tube against a bearing surface of a discharge chute receiving the extruded tube. The fingers are joined at one end to a rotatable shaft in order to bring the fingers into elastic contact with an outer wall of the tube. A double-acting jack is connected directly or indirectly to the shaft in such a way as to permit the displacement of the tube clamped by the fingers towards the downstream end and to thereby extract its upstream end from the die.

1. Field of the Invention
The extractor device according to the invention relates to the presses used for the hot extrusion of metal tubes through a die. It more particularly relates to the extrusion of steels of all types or other metals or alloys at a temperature generally above 900.degree. C. with the use of glass as the lubricant.
2. Background of the Related Art
At the end of tube extrusion, when the thrust of the press tool is stopped, upstream of the die there is generally an untransformed metal portion. This portion can be of varying size representing several percent of the weight of the starting billet and can have variable shapes. This unextruded metal portion can e.g. be in the form of a mass remaining blocked at the end of extrusion in the front part of the container, or can be in the form of a more or less regular tube end.
It is therefore generally necessary to cut the tube off as close as possible upstream of the die in order to be able to extract it from the die from the downstream end. The tube is cut off following an adequate moving back of the container and the extrusion needle, whose downstream end is engaged in the tube downstream of the die and this moving back operation generally causes a slight moving back in the upstream direction through the die of the extruded tube. Once cutting off has taken place, the tube is extracted downstream through the die generally by forcing back the upstream end of the tube by the metal residue jammed in the container and which is again advanced.
This operation of extracting the tube from the die by forcing the upstream towards the downstream end suffers from the major disadvantage of making unusable for the preparation of the following extrusion cycle, both the container and the needle and leads to an overall and very large reduction in the extrusion rates.
Attempts have been made to obviate this operation of forcing the tube from the upstream to the downstream end by developing, according to the invention, an extractor device mounted downstream of the die and which permits, on the basis of a tube having an end blocked upstream of the die, but which is freed from the untransformed metal portion, to extract said tube through the die without causing local or general deformations or local or general defects on the hot tube, e.g. in the form of incrustations or dimensional changes as a result of the elongation resulting from the application to the tube of the tensile stresses necessary for the extraction.
The end blocked upstream of the die, but which is freed from the untransformed metal portion can be a cutoff end, as explained hereinbefore and in which the section may or may not have a rough edge, or can be a more or less regular end resulting from an almost complete extrusion, but which has remained in the die or upstream thereof, the case of almost complete extrusion being relatively rare.
Investigations have also taken place into the possibility of eliminating whenever the tube metal quantity still engaged in the die after extrusion is relatively small, the operation of cutting off the tube in the upstream area of the die. Attempts have also been made to obtain such a result without damaging the tube walls by clamping using a clamp or any other tool. The possibility of avoiding any significant extension of the operating cycle, which could be caused by carrying out a supplementary operation has also been investigated.


A system (99) and a method decodes digital audio data (126) by identifying circuits (112) on peripheral devices (119) attached to a computer (113) or peripheral interfaces (107), such circuits capable of performing digital to analog conversions, and sending to these circuits during an interrupt (133), digital audio data (126) for conversion to analog form (128) and outputting to conventional audio stages (139, 141). Because the system and method employs existing circuitry to perform the digital decoding they do not require the use of additional processing hardware to be implemented solely for the decoding process.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to systems and methods for decoding electronic files, particularly, such files containing digitally-encoded audio information.
2. Description of Related Art
Many computer applications afford the use of digitally-encoded audio files to enhance the value of the application to the user. Some educational and entertainment computer applications, for example, rely on the use of digital audio files to enhance the user's experience. The problem with affording the use of digital audio files is that, generally, personal computers do not have the necessary internal circuitry to decode such digital data. This requires the user to purchase and install additional dedicated processing hardware, known as "sound cards," to perform the decoding and outputting of digital audio files. In addition, the current lack of industry standards for the design of such sound cards results in individual sound cards being dedicated to decoding a limited variety of differently encoded audio files. This results in the user having to purchase various sound cards to perform different types of decoding, further increasing the cost to the user of using digital audio. Accordingly, there is a need for decoding digital audio files without using hardware dedicated solely to such use.

Method and system for decoding digital audio files


Examples are disclosed for updating a wireless communication channel estimation. In some examples, a packet may be transmitted or received via a communication channel, the packet having one or more pilot signals that may shift between subcarrier frequencies based on a predetermined first variable associated with a first time duration. A second variable associated with a second time duration may be determined by the receiver of the data packet. The second variable may enable a receiver of the data packet to decide how many pilot signals may be used to update an initial channel estimation for the communication channel. Other examples are described and claimed.

Wireless devices may include capabilities to access networks using various wireless access technologies. For example, these wireless devices may communicatively couple to each other through a wireless local area network (WLAN) using wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi™. The trend over the past few years has to been to incrementally increase the data rate and bandwidth of Wi-Fi-based WLANs. These increases have been made in a somewhat controlled interior environment within a building or a home. However, recent efforts are being made to interconnect wireless devices in large networks via Wi-Fi-based WLANs. These large networks may be deployed to cover a relatively larger area compared to traditional WLANs (e.g., a neighborhood or several city blocks).
Wireless devices in large networks may communicate via wireless communication channels passing through exterior environments in addition to the interior environments that traditionally related to Wi-Fi deployments. These exterior environments may be continually changing and unique. Thus wireless devices communicating in an exterior environment present a challenge to use of existing Wi-Fi WLAN standards that were primary established for controlled interior environments.

Techniques to update a wireless communication channel estimation


A powder for a powder magnetic core, a powder magnetic core, and methods of producing those products are provided, so that mechanical strength of a powder magnetic core can be enhanced by hydrosilylation reaction between vinylsilane and hydrosilane without degrading magnetic properties. The powder for a powder magnetic core is composed of magnetic particles 2 having a surface 21 coated with an insulating layer 3, wherein the insulating layer 3 includes a polymer resin insulating layer 33 comprising vinylsilane 4 and hydrosilane.

Magnetic cores used for a motor or the like are conventionally made by compacting powder for a powder magnetic core. The powder for making a powder magnetic core is composed of magnetic particles. Each of the magnetic particles has a surface coated with an insulating layer for securing electric insulation between the compacted magnetic particles.
Examples of the powder for a powder magnetic core include a powder for a powder magnetic core comprising magnetic particles and having a surface coated with a high insulating polymer resin such as a silicone resin that forms an insulating resin layer as the insulating layer, and a powder for a powder magnetic core comprising magnet particles and having a surface deposited with an oxide such as silica (SiO2) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) that forms an oxide insulating layer as the insulating layer. Furthermore, a powder for a powder magnetic core comprising magnetic particles and having an insulating layer formed of an oxide insulating layer and a silicone resin insulating layer (i.e. polymer resin insulating layer) in series from the magnetic particle surface in a thickness direction has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2.)    Patent Document 1: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2006-233295A    Patent Document 2: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2008-88505A

Powder for powder magnetic core, powder magnetic core, and methods for producing those products