A system and method for monitoring and control operation of a rotary disk refiner. The method regulates refiner operation in response to a process variable preferably in relation to a setpoint. The variable can be temperature, pressure, and/or stock consistency, refiner energy, or a variable based thereon. Volumetric flow rate of stock and/or the flow rate of dilution water can be regulated. Based on a refiner temperature, pressure, and/or stock consistency, refiner energy, or a variable based thereon, the flow rate of stock and/or dilution water can be regulated. Where temperature is used, it preferably can be a temperature inside the refiner or adjacent the inlet or outlet. Where pressure is used, it preferably can be a pressure inside the refiner or adjacent the inlet or outlet. Stock consistency can be determined using a sensor upstream or downstream of the refiner or using a sensed parameter in the refiner.

The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling operation of a rotary disk refiner that processes fiber. In particular, the invention relates to a method and system of regulating operation of a rotary disk refiner in response to a refiner process variable preferably in response to a set point.
Many products we use every day are made from fibers. Examples of just a few of these products include paper, personal hygiene products, diapers, plates, containers, and packaging. Making products from wood fibers, cloth fibers and the like, involves breaking solid matter into fibrous matter. This also involves processing the fibrous matter into individual fibers that become fibrillated or frayed so they more tightly mesh with each other to form a finished fiber product that is desirably strong, tough, and resilient.
In fiber product manufacturing, refiners are devices used to process the fibrous matter, such as wood chips, pulp, fabric, and the like, into fibers and to further fibrillate existing fibers. The fibrous matter is transported in a liquid stock slurry to each refiner using a feed screw driven by a motor. Each refiner has at least one pair of circular ridged refiner discs that face each other. During refining, fibrous matter in the stock to be refined is introduced into a gap between the discs that usually is quite small. Relative rotation between the discs during operation causes the fibrous matter to be fibrillated as the stock passes radially outwardly between the discs.
One example of a refiner that is a disc refiner is shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,508. However, many different kinds of refiners are in use today. For example, there are counterrotating refiners, double disc or twin refiners, and conical disc refiners. Conical disc refiners are often referred to in the industry as CD refiners.
Each refiner has at least one motor coupled to a rotor carrying at least one of the refiner discs. During operation, the load on this motor can vary greatly over time depending on many parameters. For example, as the mass flow rate of the stock slurry being introduced into a refiner increases, the load on the motor increases. It is also known that the load on the motor will decrease as the flow rate of dilution water is increased.
During refiner operation, a great deal of heat is produced in the refining zone between each pair of opposed refiner discs. The refining zone typically gets so hot that steam is produced, which significantly reduces the amount of liquid in the refining zone. This reduction of liquid in the refining zone leads to increased friction between opposed refiner discs, which increases the load on the motor of the refiner. When it becomes necessary to decrease this friction, water is added to the refiner. The water that is added is typically referred to as dilution water.
One problem that has yet to be adequately solved is how to control refiner operation so that the finished fiber product has certain desired characteristics that do not vary greatly over time. For example, paper producers have found it very difficult to consistently control refiner operation from one hour to the next so that a batch of paper produced has consistent quality. As a result, it is not unusual for some paper produced to be scrapped and reprocessed or sold cheaply as job lot. Either way, these variations in quality are undesirable and costly.
Another related problem is how to control refiner operation to repeatedly obtain certain desired finished fiber product characteristics in different batches run at different times, such as different batches run on different days. This problem is not trivial as it is very desirable for paper producers be able to produce different batches of paper having nearly the same characteristics, such as tear strength, tensile strength, brightness, opacity and the like.
In the past, control systems and methods have been employed that attempt to automatically control refiner operation to solve at least some of these problems. One common control system used in paper mills and fiber processing plants throughout the world is a Distributed Control System (DCS). A DCS communicates with each refiner in the mill or fiber processing plant and often communicates with other fiber product processing equipment. A DCS monitors operation of each refiner in a particular fiber product processing plant by monitoring refiner parameters that typically include the main motor power, the dilution water flow rate, the hydraulic load, the feed screw speed, the refiner case pressure, the inlet pressure, and the refiner gap. In addition to monitoring refiner operation, the DCS also automatically controls refiner operation by attempting to hold the load of the motor of each refiner at a particular setpoint. In fact, many refiners have their own motor load setpoint. When the motor load of a particular refiner rises above its setpoint, the DCS adds more dilution water to the refiner to decrease friction. When the motor load decreases below the setpoint, dilution water is reduced or stopped.
During refiner operation, pulp quality and the load on the refiner motor vary, sometimes quite dramatically, over time. Although the aforementioned DCS control method attempts to account for these variations and prevent the aforementioned problems from occurring, its control method assumes that the mass flow of fibrous matter in the stock entering the refiner is constant because the speed of the feed screw supplying the stock is constant. Unfortunately, as a result, there are times when controlling the dilution water flow rate does not decrease or increase motor load in the desired manner. This disparity leads to changes in refining intensity and pulp quality because the specific energy inputted into refining the fibrous matter is not constant. These changes are undesirable because they ultimately lead to the aforementioned problems, as well as other problems.
Hence, while some refiner process control methods have proven beneficial in the past, they in no way have resulted in the type of control over finished fiber product parameters and the repeatability of these parameters that is desired. Thus, additional improvements in refiner process control are needed.
A system for and method of monitoring and controlling operation of a disc refiner. The method regulates operation of a refiner in response to a refiner process variable preferably in relation to a setpoint. In one preferred implementation, the process variable is based on a temperature. In another implementation, the process variable is based on a pressure. In still another preferred implementation, the process variable is based on a stock consistency. In a further preferred implementation, operation of the refiner can be regulated in response to a refiner energy parameter or a parameter related thereto.
In one implementation, the volumetric flow rate of stock entering the refiner is regulated. In another implementation, the flow rate of dilution water entering the refiner is regulated. In still another implementation, both the stock volumetric flow rate and the dilution water flow rate are regulated.
In one preferred implementation, the volumetric flow rate of stock is regulated in response to a measured or calculated refiner temperature. In another preferred implementation, the dilution water to the refiner is regulated based on the refiner temperature.
In one preferred implementation, the volumetric flow rate of stock is regulated in response to a measured or calculated refiner pressure. In another preferred implementation, the dilution water to the refiner is regulated based on the refiner pressure.
In another preferred implementation, the dilution water to the refiner is regulated based on stock consistency. In still another preferred method, the volumetric flow rate of the stock is regulated based on stock consistency.
If desired, two or more of these parameters can be regulated based on the same process variable. For example, regulation of volumetric flow rate and dilution water can both be based on refiner temperature. Regulation of volumetric flow rate and dilution water can also both be based on refiner pressure. If desired, regulation of volumetric flow rate and dilution water can also both be based on stock consistency.
The refiner temperature is a temperature of stock inside the refiner or adjacent its inlet or outlet. In one preferred implementation, the refiner temperature is a temperature of stock in the refining zone. Where there is more than one sensor in the refining zone, the temperature can be provided by a particular selected sensor or calculated based on the sensor data from more than one sensor. In one preferred embodiment, temperature measurements from multiple sensors are averaged.
The refiner pressure preferably is a pressure of stock inside the refiner, such as a pressure in the refining zone, or a pressure inside the refiner adjacent the refiner inlet or outlet. Where there is more than one sensor in the refining zone, the pressure can be provided by a particular selected sensor or calculated based on the sensor data from more than one sensor. In one preferred embodiment, pressure measurements from multiple sensors are averaged.
Stock consistency can be determined using a consistency sensor upstream or downstream of the refiner. Where a consistency sensor is used, the sensor is located upstream of the refiner, preferably adjacent the refiner inlet.
Stock consistency can also be determined using a novel method that is based on a temperature or a pressure (or both) inside the refiner, preferably inside the refining zone. In one preferred implementation, the method uses temperature or pressure measured inside the refining zone along with other refiner parameters in determining the consistency of stock in the refining zone as a function of time and location in the refining zone. This method advantageously permits consistency of stock to be determined in real time in the refining zone.
A refiner energy related parameter includes refiner energy or power measured in real time. Other refiner energy related parameters include motor load, refiner gap, refiner plate force, hydraulic energy input, or another refiner energy related parameter.
Where volumetric stock flow is regulated, it preferably is regulated by controlling the speed of a feed screw that provides the refiner with stock. Where dilution water flow is regulated, it preferably is regulated by controlling operation of the dilution pump. Other refiner parameters can be controlling using the method of this invention.
So that the process can be controlled despite changes in refiner operation not due to regulation using the method, one preferred implementation pauses to permit refiner operation to stabilize before resuming regulation of refiner operation. For example, where an operator manually changes refiner operation, regulation is paused preferably until refiner operation stabilizes. The same is true where a refiner is also subject to control of a processing device, such as a Distributed Control System (DCS).
In one preferred embodiment, the method is implemented in the form of a controller that preferably is a PI or a PID controller. If desired, a proportional controller can be used. The controller can be a digital or analog controller and can be configured to operate with a digital processor such as a personal computer, a DCS, a programmable controller or the like.
The system includes a processor that receives data related to refiner operation. Suitable data includes data related to the process variable or variables used in regulating refiner operation. In one preferred embodiment, the processor receives data related to one or more of the following parameters: the power inputted into the refiner, the feed screw speed (or volumetric stock flow or feed rate), the temperature of the stock before it enters the refiner, the temperature of stock after it leaves the refiner, a refiner temperature, a refiner pressure, the force exerted on the refiner disks urging them together, the dilution motor power of the dilution pump, the chip washing water temperature, the dilution water temperature, the gap between the refiner disks, as well as other parameters.
In carrying out the method, the processor outputs at least one control signal. Each control signal can be directly provided to the refiner or a component related to the refiner, such as the feed screw or dilution water pump. If desired, each control signal can be provided to another processor, such as a DCS, that causes the DCS to regulate the desired parameter. For example, a control signal can be provided to the DCS that causes the DCS to change feed screw speed. Another control signal can be provided to the DCS that causes the dilution water flow rate to change.
One preferred embodiment of the system uses one or more sensors in the refining zone to provide sensor data from which a process variable calculation or measurement can be made. In one preferred embodiment, the one or more sensors are temperature sensors but can be pressure sensors or a combination of temperature and pressure sensors.
In one preferred embodiment, each sensor is carried by a refiner disk or segment of the disk. In one preferred sensor disk or sensor disk segment, each sensor is imbedded in the refining surface of the disk or segment.
In a preferred sensor embodiment, the sensor has a sensing element carried by a spacer that spaces the sensing element from the material of the disk or segment in which it is imbedded. One preferred spacer is made from an insulating material that preferably thermally insulates the sensing element from the thermal mass of the refiner disk material.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention include: a monitoring and control system and method that is simple, flexible, reliable, and robust, and which is of economical manufacture and is easy to assemble, install, and use.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and accompanying drawings, while indicating at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.


A raised portion 32 is provided on an upper face of an end portion of a plate 31 which forms one side of a frame member 30. An end portion of a plate 41 of another frame member 40 is abutted with the plate 31 of the frame member 30. The frame members 30 and 40 are aluminum alloy extruded frame members and the directions of extrusion of the two frame members are orthogonal. A welding padding is carried on an upper face of the plate 41 of the frame member 40. Under this condition, a rotary tool is inserted from above and a friction stir welding is carried out. Accordingly, the padding serves the same function on the plate 41 as the raised portion 32 on the plate 31, so that a good welding can be carried out.

The present invention relates to a method of friction stir welding which may be used in welding, for example, aluminum alloy material frame members; and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method of friction stir welding which may be used, for example, in a case where the heights of portions of two abutting aluminum alloy frame members to be joined by welding differ.
As disclosed in Japanese application patent laid-open publication No. Hei 9-309164 (EP 0797043A2), a friction stir welding method is a method in which, by rotating a round rod (called a rotary tool) which is inserted into a welding portion of two abutting frame members to be subjected to welding and moving the rotary tool along a welding line; the welding portion of the two frame members to be subjected to the welding is thermoplastically heated so as to be plastically fluidized and welded.
The rotary tool comprises a small diameter portion to be inserted into the joint of the welding portion and a large diameter portion which is positioned outside of the small diameter portion. The small diameter portion of the rotary tool and the large diameter portion of the rotary tool are positioned on the same axis.
The large diameter portion of the rotary tool and the small diameter portion of the rotary tool are simultaneously rotated. The welding according to the friction stir welding method is applied to an abutting portion and an overlapping portion of the two frame members to be subjected to the welding, which members are made of aluminum alloy materials, for example.
Further, to the welding portion of one frame member to be subjected to the welding, there is provided a raised portion which protrudes in a direction toward the large diameter portion of the rotary tool. This raised portion of the frame member is provided integrally with an end portion in a width direction of a hollow extruded frame member.
The above-stated raised portion provides material for burying a gap which is formed between the two hollow extruded frame members during welding. When a side of the raised portion of the frame member forms an outer face of a product, for example, an outer side of a car body of a railway vehicle, after the welding the remnants of the raised portion of the frame member are cut off.
When the above-stated raised portion is provided on the extruded frame member, the raised portion can be provided to extend along an extruding direction. However, the raised portion of the frame member can not be provided at an end portion of the extruded portion; in other words, the raised portion of the frame member can not be provided at a rectangular direction against the side of the raised portion. As a result, when the extruded frame members are arranged to be orthogonal to each other and the end portions of the extruded frame members are subjected to welding according to a friction stir welding method, a raised portion exists at an end portion of one extruded frame member, however a corresponding raised portion does not exist on the other extruded frame member at the welding portion.
Accordingly, it is considered that a good welding of the two extruded frame members can not be carried out, because one of the extruded frame members does not have a raised portion at the welding portion.
The above stated fact applies generally to a case in which the height of the surfaces in the width direction of the two extruded frame members of the welding portion differ from each other; in other words, for a case in which the height of the surface in the width direction of one frame member differs from the height of the surface in the width direction of the other frame member. The typical situation is that the height of the surface in the width direction of the one frame member is higher or lower than the height of the surface in the width direction of the other frame member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of friction stir welding wherein a good welding can be obtained even when the height of the surfaces of the two members at the welding portion differ.
The above stated object can be attained when the height of the surfaces of the two members at the welding portion differ, by welding a pad on the surface of a member at a low side, followed by friction stir welding of the welding portion of the two members.
Further, the above statement that xe2x80x9cthe heights of the surfaces of the two members at the welding portion differxe2x80x9d refers to a case in which the above-stated surface side, for example, extends toward an upper portion or a lower portion; however, when the rotary tool is standard as a determination of a position, it means that the distance from the rotary tool to the surface of the welding portion differs, for example. The above reference to xe2x80x9cthe member being on the low sidexe2x80x9d indicates a member which is at a larger distance from the rotary tool.

Car body formed by friction stir welding


An approach is provided for grouping and de-overlapping items in a user interface. A display manager determines one or more items for rendering in a user interface. The display manager then causes, at least in part, a determination of one or more rendering locations for one or more representations of the one or more items based, at least in part, on location information associated with the one or more items. The display manager further causes, at least in part, a grouping, a de-overlapping, or a combination thereof of the one or more representations based, at least in part, on an overlapping of the one or more rendering locations. The display manager also causes, at least in part, a rendering of the one or more representations in the user interface based, at least in part, on the grouping, the de-overlapping, or a combination thereof.

Service providers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. In particular, these services can include location and navigation services on a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone). For example, mobile devices may include a display, location-based sensors (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers), camera, and a processor, along with access to network-based databases of information. In addition, such devices can be programmed to provide a virtual view of geographic places or points of interest (POIs) and other display items surrounding the device to support augmented reality, virtual reality, three-dimensional mapping, and/or other similar perspective displays. In this context, the display of POIs can become challenging where information overload occurs on small display screens. For example, as more items are rendered in the perspective display, the representations or renderings (e.g., icons, touch buttons, thumbnails, etc.) of those items in display begin consuming the available display area which leading to obscuring, overlapping, etc. of the items. Accordingly, service providers and device manufacturers face significant technical challenges to enabling applications and services that support perspective-based displays to present POIs or other items so that users can more easily absorb and/or interact with those items. These challenges can be particularly acute on mobile devices where display, computing, memory, and/or other resources may be limited.

Method and apparatus for grouping and de-overlapping items in a user interface


A vibration damping apparatus for a saddle riding type vehicle that easily secures stiffness of a vehicle body frame, simplifies structure, and improves a degree of freedom in layout. The vibration damping apparatus includes at least a pair of mutually facing surfaces disposed on the vehicle body frame, the surfaces not being relatively displaceable while the vehicle is stationary, and being relatively displaceable while the vehicle is running. A damping member is fixed to each of the surfaces and is disposed therebetween. The damping member is not subject to load while the vehicle is stationary. One of the surfaces is disposed on a side of a first main frame of a pair of left and right main frames and the other of the surfaces is disposed on a side of a second main frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to vibration damping apparatuses for saddle riding type vehicles and, in particular, to a vibration damping technique in a saddle riding type vehicle, such as a motorcycle, that can damp vibrational behavior, such as weave, wobble, and chattering.
2. Description of Background Art
A known vibration damping apparatus for a saddle riding type vehicle incorporates an elastic member interposed between members constituting a vehicle body frame in order to reduce vibration at low frequencies, as shown, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 62-137287 or Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-145268.
Another known vibration damping apparatus incorporates a damper device to damp vibration of the vehicle body which vibration may cause chattering. The damper device includes, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-190454, a piston rod (120) and a piston (130) that make a stroke motion with an external input applied thereto, an inner tube (140) packed with a fluid (e.g. oil), and a tubular outer tube (160) covering the inner tube (140).
In each of the apparatuses disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 62-137287 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-145268, each member for receiving load (bearing load) in constituting the vehicle body frame is connected with each other via the elastic member, which makes it difficult to ensure stiffness of the vehicle body frame.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-190454 has a drawback of a limited position at which the damper device can be disposed, since the damper device has a complicated structure and vibration can be effectively damped only if a direction of piston motion coincides with that of vibration.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vibration damping apparatus for a saddle riding type vehicle that easily secures stiffness of a vehicle body frame, simplifies structure, and improves a degree of freedom in layout.

Vibration damping apparatus for saddle riding type vehicle


A self-balancing apparatus for a centrifuge is disclosed which employs two arcuately movable counterweights. The centrifuge has a plurality of receptacles for receiving one or more assay cartridges. Control apparatus in the centrifuge determines the location and number of received cartridges. Desired counterweight positions are then calculated which will substantially balance the centrifuge. The counterweights are moved into these positions prior to the centrifuge being operated at high speeds.

Automated patient sample analysis devices have been developed to run various tests or "assays" for the detection of various biological substances and determination of various biological quantities. Fully-automated apparatus of this type typically employ a rotor or platter for receiving one or more cassettes or cartridges containing the necessary chemical reagents for analyzing a patient's sample, typically human blood, blood plasma, or blood serum. It is often necessary to separate whole blood cells from their blood plasma or serum medium so that subsequent reaction of the plasma with various reagents can proceed. Such a separation step often involves spinning a platter or rotor at a high speed, up to 10,000 RPM, to achieve the desired centrifugal force which separates the whole blood cells from the blood plasma. After such separation has been achieved, the plasma may then react with various reagents to produce, for example, conjugates having optically detectable labels or labels detectable by other means. Detection and quantification of the labels are thus indicative of a biological quantity to be recorded.
Often, incubation and agitation of the separated plasma with the suitable reagents are necessary steps in performing the assay. Precise control of assay cartridge temperature, agitation magnitude, and agitation time may be necessary to achieve repeatable assay results. It is therefore highly desirable to control the degree of agitation to which such cartridges or cassettes are subject to provide consistent test results. It is also desirable for purposes of efficiency to process one or more cartridges, each containing samples from different patients, simultaneously. Assuming that the rotor itself is balanced about its rotation axis, and further assuming that receptacles for the cartridges are positioned at regular angular intervals about the rotation axis, the rotor will remain dynamically balanced as long as a cartridge is received in each cartridge receptacle on the rotor, or as long as multiple cartridges are distributed symmetrically around the rotor. However, in a clinical setting it may be desirable to operate the analysis instruments with less than a full load of cartridges for the rotor. In this case, the rotor will not remain balanced unless "dummy" cartridges are inserted into the empty receptacles of the rotor, or when the cartridges are symmetrically distributed by the instrument operator, which may be impossible due to the fixed spatial relationship of the cartridge receptacles. In the absence of providing " dummy" cartridges or some other means for balancing the rotor, undesirable vibrations can develop which may interfere with the performance of the assays. For example, consider a rotor having a plurality of receptacles for assay cassettes, and further assume that each cassette weights approximately 10 g when loaded with the appropriate reagents and patient sample. Assume further that the center of mass of the cassette is positioned 9 cm from the rotation axis. At 5,000 RPM, the radial force exerted by the cassette on the rotor is approximately 55 lbs. If this force is not balanced by a counterforce, vibrations may develop which will undesirably agitate the received cassettes in an uncontrolled and unanticipated manner. In addition, the vibrations may detrimentally effect the structural integrity of the analysis device.
To overcome the above-described difficulties, at least one automated patient sample instrument manufacturer has introduced a passive system for counterbalancing a rotor having a plurality of cassette receptacles. As described in Clinical Chemistry31(9), 1985, a two-dimensional centrifugation system for desktop clinical chemistry is described which employs a rotor having a plurality of receptacles for assay cassettes. The receptacles are positioned at the periphery of a rotor at regularly spaced angular intervals. Associated with each receptacle is a weight which slides on a radially-directed track. The weight is biased to move inwardly towards the center of rotation when the rotor is not rotated. At high rotational speeds, the weights move radially outward under centrifugal force to provide a larger centrifugal force on the rotor than at times when the weight is positioned radially inward. When a cassette is received in a cassette receptacle, a mechanism prevents the weight from sliding outwardly. Although this device suitably suppresses undesirable vibrations in the apparatus by counterbalancing the rotor, this device requires that a sliding weight, spring bias mechanism, and associated locking device be provided for each receptacle of the rotor. Such a system is expensive to manufacture and undesirably reduces the reliability of the counterbalancing technique because each of the counterbalancing devices for each cassette receptacle must operate properly for the rotor to be counterbalanced.
Various techniques are known for balancing shafts on high speed rotating equipment. These techniques often involve the rotational movement of two or more lopsided or elliptical cams with respect to the shaft rotation axis in response to vibrations developed in the shaft. Such devices typically employ a vibration sensor which detects the magnitude of shaft vibrations. The cams are then rotated until the vibrations subside. Such a system is inapplicable to a patient sample testing instrument described above because it is necessary to prevent undesirable vibrations before they occur to ensure that the assay cassettes do not receive any agitation in addition to the programmed agitation which may be provided by the test instrument.
Therefore, a need exists for a self-balancing apparatus for a rotating centrifuge which utilizes a minimum number of moving parts, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which balances the rotor prior to high speed centrifugation of the cassettes.

Self-balancing apparatus and method for a centrifuge device


An antifuse one-time programmable (OTP) semiconductor memory comprises a PN junction diode formed in an active area of a semiconductor substrate proximate metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor wherein MOS gate conductor and MOS channel region are of the same conductivity type. A vertical bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is present in each cell, comprising said PN junction diode and a semiconductor layer below said PN junction diode. In a programmed cell, BJT emitter, base and collector are connected to the bit line, word line and common collector terminal, respectively. In an unprogrammed cell, BJT is an open-base BJT.

A fuse is a device that is initially in a conductive state and becomes non-conductive when blown. In contrast, an antifuse is non-conductive in the native unprogrammed state and becomes conductive when programmed, hence the name antifuse. Antifuse used in integrated circuits is commonly constructed with a thin dielectric layer sandwiched between two conductors. To program an antifuse, a high voltage is applied between the two conductors. This leads to a physical and permanent breakdown of the thin dielectric layer and the formation of a current conduction path between the two conductors. Antifuse can thus be used as a memory element. Programmed state of an antifuse represents data "1" and unprogrammed state "0" or vice versa. Once programmed, antifuse memory cannot revert to unprogrammed state, i.e., it is a one-time programmable (OTP) memory. Antifuse retains conductive or non-conductive state even after the power is turned off, rendering the data non-volatile. As such, antifuse memory is a non-volatile OTP memory.
Use of antifuse OTP memory includes storing program codes, security codes and trimming data of analog circuits in various integrated circuits. Its application includes consumer, industrial, automotive electronics, and internet-of-things (IoT). For these applications, an antifuse OTP memory capable of high-speed and reliable operation with high-density and low-power consumption is desired.
Antifuse OTP memory is one of the several semiconductor OTP memory types available today, namely, electrical fuse, mask read-only memory (ROM), floating gate memory and antifuse memory. Due to its small bit cell size, good reliability, user programmability and easy integration and scaling with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process, popularity of antifuse memory as an OTP memory embedded in integrated circuit chips is increasing. The mainstream antifuse OTP memory manufactured today uses metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor as the antifuse element. In the conventional one-transistor one-capacitor (1T1C) antifuse memory cell, MOS capacitor is connected to an access device, typically a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) to form an antifuse memory bit cell. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A, a prior art. In FIG. 1A, PL is the program line where a high voltage is applied during programming, WL is the word line and BL is the bit line of the memory cell. FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of 1T1C cell from a standard CMOS process. Starting material in FIG. 1B is the P-type silicon substrate 100. Source/drain 102, gate dielectric 104 and gate polysilicon 106 form the access transistor. MOS capacitor shown inside a circle in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B comprises gate polysilicon 106, gate dielectric 104 and the channel region, which is the silicon substrate 100. MOS capacitor is connected to the access transistor by the MOSFET drain diffusion 102 on one end, and open-circuited at the other end with the gate polysilicon terminated on shallow trench isolation (STI).
In a standard CMOS process, source/drain and gate of a MOSFET are of the same conductivity type and the MOSFET channel region, i.e., silicon under the gate polysilicon is of the opposite conductivity type. This is seen in FIG. 1B, a cross-section view of the conventional 1T1C cell, wherein the source/drain 102 and gate 106 of the access transistor are N-type and the channel region 100 is P-type. Likewise, MOS capacitor shown in FIG. 2A, reproduced from FIG. 1B, has the gate 206 and the source/drain 202 doped in N-type and the channel region 200 under the gate polysilicon 206 doped in P-type. FIG. 2A highlights the current conduction path 205 formed at the ruptured spot in the gate dielectric 204 is not ohmic but takes the form of a PN junction diode because of the opposite conductivity types of the gate polysilicon 206 and capacitor channel 200.
Referring again to FIG. 2A, it should be pointed out the diode created at the connection 205 in a standard CMOS process is a polysilicon-to-silicon diode. Because of the low mobility of electrons and holes in polysilicon and the high interface trap density at the polysilicon grain boundaries, the electrical characteristics of polysilicon-to-silicon diode may be substantially worse than those of a PN junction diode formed in the single-crystal silicon substrate. FIG. 2B shows DC equivalent circuit of a PN junction diode wherein Rf 210 is the diode resistance in the forward mode, Rr 212 is the diode resistance in the reverse mode and the diode symbol 214 represents an ideal diode for which Rf is zero and Rr is infinity. Diodes formed in the single-crystal silicon substrate are, though not ideal, high quality diodes with low Rf values as low as a few ohms and very high Rr values well above 1×1012 ohms. By contrast, Rf of a polysilicon-to-silicon diode may be much higher and Rr may be much lower as much as by several orders of magnitude. Furthermore, uniformity of polysilicon-to-silicon diodes may be poor, causing a large variation of Rf and Rr among diodes. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the current-vs.-voltage characteristics of polysilicon-to-silicon diodes and diodes formed in the silicon substrate. Forward currents of polysilicon-to-silicon diodes 304 are lower and more scattered than those of diodes formed in the silicon substrate 302. For example, the forward currents of the polysilicon-to-silicon diodes may range from 10 micro ampere (uA) to 500 uA at a forward bias voltage of 1 volt (V) when the forward current of the diodes formed in the silicon substrate is 1 milli ampere (mA). Reverse leakage currents of polysilicon-to-silicon diodes 308 are higher and more scattered than those of diodes formed in the silicon substrate 306. For example, reverse leakage currents of the polysilicon-to-silicon diodes may range from 10 pico ampere (pA) to 1 nano ampere (nA) at a forward bias voltage of 1.8V when the reverse leakage current of the diodes formed in the silicon substrate is 10 femto ampere (fA). It is to be mentioned since reverse leakage currents 306 and 308 are much smaller than the forward currents 302 and 304, different scales are used in FIG. 3 for the positive Y axis and for the negative Y axis in order to show and compare the forward and reverse currents of these diodes in a single plot. The shortcomings of polysilicon-to-silicon diodes shown in FIG. 3 are an inherent limitation to building a high-performance high-density antifuse OTP memory array.
An antifuse OTP memory array featuring a small bit cell has been disclosed in a prior art found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,330,189. The OTP memory therein uses polysilicon-to-silicon diode as the bit-cell access device and has a cross-point array architecture. The buried bit-line cell structure employed therein enables a small bit cell size and cross-point array architecture. However, it causes a high and varying bit-cell series resistance among bit cells connected to the same metal bit line. In addition, use of polysilicon-to-silicon diode as the access device makes it more challenging to bring cell-to-cell variation under control. The problem of a high and varying series resistance stemming from the buried bit-line cell of U.S. Pat. No. 8,330,189 is solved in U.S. Pat. No. 9,406,397 wherein each bit cell is directly connected to the metal bit line. However, use of polysilicon-to-silicon diode as access device and cell-to-cell variation associated with it may limit its merit. To build a high-performance and high-density antifuse OTP memory array, it is crucial to have a tight control of electrical characteristics among cells. The objective of the present invention is to eliminate the shortcomings inherent in the prior arts, specifically a large cell-to-cell variation of the electrical characteristics, and thereby realize a high-performance and high-density antifuse OTP memory.

Antifuse one-time programmable semiconductor memory


A system and device for providing communications between two or more buses is provided. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a transfer component having a first port configured to be connected to a first bus and a second port configured to be connected to a second bus. The transfer component may be operable in a first operational mode in which signals received via the first port are output the second port and operable in a second operational mode in which signals received via the first port are not output the second port. The device may include a controller communicatively coupled to the transfer component to transition the transfer component between the first and second operational modes.

The present invention relates, in general, to communication networks, and more particularly to partitioning network elements.
In a communication system having a plurality of communication nodes connected to a bus, typically all the nodes monitor the messages on the bus. Some such communication nodes may operate in a first "normal" operational mode and in second, low power mode, sometimes referred to as "sleep" mode, to reduce power consumption. While operating in the low power mode, each time a message is communicated over the bus all of the communication nodes typically must "wake up" from low power mode to process the message—even though the message may be intended for only a subset (or only one) of the communication nodes. Each time each node wakes up from the lower power mode increases the power consumption of the network. Because all of the nodes connected to the bus typically must wake up each time a message is communicated over the bus, some (or many) of the nodes may be unnecessarily waking up from sleep mode (because the messages are not intended for such communication nodes), thereby unnecessarily increasing power consumption of the network.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to have a device, system, and method for reducing the number of communication nodes that are woken up from sleep mode to process messages intended for other communication nodes to thereby consume less power.
For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, are only schematic and are non-limiting, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements, unless stated otherwise. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. As used herein current carrying electrode means an element of a device that carries current through the device such as a source or a drain of an MOS transistor or an emitter or a collector of a bipolar transistor or a cathode or anode of a diode, and a control electrode means an element of the device that controls current flow through the device such as a gate of an MOS transistor or a base of a bipolar transistor. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the words "during", "while", and "when" as used herein relating to circuit operation are not exact terms that mean an action takes place instantly upon an initiating action but that there may be some small but reasonable delay, such as a propagation delay, between the reaction that is initiated by the initial action. Additionally, the term "while" means that a certain action occurs at least within some portion of a duration of the initiating action. The use of the word "approximately" or "substantially" means that a value of an element has a parameter that is expected to be close to a stated value or position. However, as is well known in the art there are always minor variances that may prevent the values or positions from being exactly as stated. It is well established in the art that variances of up to at least ten percent (10%) (and up to twenty percent (20%) for semiconductor doping concentrations) are reasonable variances from the ideal goal of exactly as described. When used in reference to a state of a signal, the term "asserted" means an active state of the signal and "negated" means an inactive state of the signal. The actual voltage value or logic state (such as a "1" or a "0") of the signal depends on whether positive or negative logic is used. Thus, "asserted" can be either a high voltage or a high logic or a low voltage or low logic depending on whether positive or negative logic is used and "negated" may be either a low voltage or low state or a high voltage or high logic depending on whether positive or negative logic is used. Herein, a positive logic convention is used, but those skilled in the art understand that a negative logic convention could also be used. The terms "first", "second", "third" and the like in the Claims or/and in the Detailed Description, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. For clarity of the drawings, doped regions of device structures may be illustrated as having generally straight line edges and precise angular corners. However, those skilled in the art understand that due to the diffusion and activation of dopants the edges of doped regions generally may not be straight lines and the corners may not be precise angles.
In addition, the description illustrates a cellular design (where the body regions may be a plurality of cellular regions) instead of a single body design (where the body region may be comprised of a single region formed in an elongated pattern, typically in a serpentine pattern). However, it is intended that the description is applicable to both a cellular implementation and a single base implementation.

System, method and device for providing network communications

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


The disclosure herein describes coupling a stylus and a computing device. Based on a tip of a stylus being brought proximate to a display of a computing device configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless protocol, the computing device is configured to receive a stylus wireless protocol identifier and transmit a wireless protocol identifier of the computing device and one or more security keys to the stylus via a communication channel in response, whereby the stylus and computing device are coupled. Based on receiving a signal associated with user input from the coupled stylus using the wireless protocol, the computing device performs an operation based on the signal. The described “loose coupling” enables streamlined use of styluses with compatible computing devices without requiring full pairing.

Many modern computing devices pair with pen or stylus devices and are configured to interact with them. Pen devices may include wireless communication capabilities that are used for inking, and off-screen control based on tail button clicks, battery state reporting, pen firmware updates, and/or telemetry. Some existing systems include the implementation of a "downlink" capability to the tip of the pen from which the identity of the pen can be established by a computing device. This enables the computing device to initiate a pairing procedure. However, these configurations have drawbacks. For example, the pen needs to be explicitly put in "pairing mode" by a long press of the tail button (e.g., the pen/device is not discoverable). Further, because of the need to explicitly have a single paired device in some systems, the pen can only target the last device on which the pairing process was completed, not necessarily the last device the user inked on (e.g., the device that the user has most recently written or drawn on with the pen device tip).
To utilize the full functionality of the pen, and not just inking, users must pair their pens with the companion devices (e.g., via Bluetooth) in existing systems. There are several ways in which Bluetooth pairing is possible, but some users do not pair their pens given the difficulties involved in current pairing processes and, therefore, do not get the benefit of the full functionality of the pen.

Coupling a pen device to a companion device based on pen proximity


It comprises, in addition to a sampling system (3), at the outlet of a vat (1) containing the liquid to be sampled, a selector (4) that establishes switching on an array of similar vats (1), and especially a suction unit (5) that operates by releasing compressed air into a nozzle (28); the airflow direction is controlled by a valve (29) between a direction directed toward the outlet (6), causing the suction of the liquid from the vat (1), and an opposite direction when the valve (29) is closed, feeding the liquid back into the vat (1) and cleaning the pipe (2).

Such devices are common in the nuclear industry in order to analyse certain liquids loaded with irradiating materials. The corresponding devices are generally placed in shielded units, and they are manipulated through the use of remote manipulators. The liquid to be analysed is first present in a vat. It undergoes a suction through a pipe exiting into the top of the vat, which carries it toward a sampling holder whereon a small container, generally called a jug, has been installed, and it partially fills this jug. The excess liquid is evacuated toward an outlet or returns to the vat by flowing through the pipe, which is inclined, as soon as the suction has stopped.
A disadvantage with these devices is that the return to the vat is not complete and that droplets of liquid remain on the pipe, and then crystallise: this can be considered as a pollutant, and limits the quality of the following measurements by mixing with the samples sucked thereafter when the original liquid of the vat has been replaced with another. Another disadvantage with these devices is that it is difficult to join them to an array of vats in order to sample by choice samples from any one of them.
The invention has for object to eliminate these disadvantages, and above all to allow for a sufficient cleaning of the pipe and of the pipes leading to the vats without substantially complicating the device or having it lose its faculty to be able to be actuated via remote handling.

Device for collecting liquid samples for a vat

Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Enegies Alternatives


The technology is a system and method for displaying a non-grid electronic program guide. Available television channels and episodes are identified in a program guide database. The available television channels are displayed in a first window of the guide. The television series associated with the available episodes are displayed in a second window of the guide. In response to selecting one of the available television channels, the available television episodes are narrowed to the television series that air on the selected television channel. In response to the selection of one of the television series, episodes of the selected television series are displayed in a third window of the guide. Selecting an episode displays the episode information in a fourth window of the guide.

The way people consume television is changing dramatically. Previously, a consumer had to watch a television program the night it aired. However, the introduction of the personal video recorder (PVR) and video on demand (VOD) services now provides the consumer the ability to watch a television program during other times. The original airing time of the television program is no longer the most important piece of information relating to the program itself. In fact, the airing time of the television program is irrelevant as long as the consumer requests recording of the television program prior to the airing time or the television program is available on video on-demand ("VoD").
Scheduling the recording of a television program is often done via an electronic program guide (EPG). Conventional EPGs are displayed on a grid. Typically, the vertical axis of the EPG grid displays the available channels and the horizontal axis of the EPG grid displays the time. Each intersection of the vertical axis (channel) with the horizontal axis (time) displays an airing of a television program. The viewer may scroll along both the horizontal axis and vertical axis to identify television programs being broadcast at different times and on different channels. The EPG provides the viewer the ability to view additional information for a television program by selecting the specific airing of the television program in the EPG.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional EPG 10 for selecting scheduled programs. EPG 10 may be used to schedule a recording request for a particular episode. In the EPG 10, an episode of "That '70s Show" 12 is scheduled to be broadcast between 10:00 pm and 10:30 pm on Channel 36, an episode of "SportsCenter" 14 is scheduled to be broadcast between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm on Channel 38, the movie "Forrest Gump" 16 is scheduled to be broadcast between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm on Channel 37 and an episode of "Good Eats" 18 is scheduled to be broadcast between 11:00 pm and 11:30 pm on channel 35. The EPG 10 restricts the user's view to a few channels at a time (6 channels at a time in the EPG 10) for a limited period of time (90 minutes in the EPG 10).


The present disclosure relates to blockchain-based data processing methods and devices to achieve balance between a service need and system resource consumption. In one example method, an amount of service data processed by consensus in a blockchain in a specified time period is monitored. A determination is made as to whether the monitored amount of processed service data in the specified time period is less than a specified first threshold or more than a specified second threshold. In response to determining that the monitored amount of processed service data in the specified time period is less than the specified first threshold or more than the specified second threshold, a block generation time for the blockchain is dynamically adjusted. A new block in the blockchain is then dynamically adjusted based on the adjusted block generation time.

Blockchain technology is also referred to as a distributed ledger technology, and is a distributed Internet database technology characterized by decentralization, transparency, tamper-resistance, trust, etc. A blockchain network can be constructed based on the blockchain technology. As a logical data structure in the blockchain network, a block can be used to store service data, but the block in the blockchain network is dynamically generated.
During an actual application, the blocks are usually generated based on a specified time interval (for example, one block is generated every ten minutes or an even longer time). The blocks store service data that is generated in the specified time interval.
However, with the development of science and technologies, the amount of service data is changing, and the data amount can be varied. Therefore, based on the existing block generation mechanism, the balance between a service need and the system resource consumption cannot be achieved.

Blockchain-based data processing method and device


The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet including: a laminated structure in which a light-shielding layer, a white or silver layer, and a colored layer are laminated in this order; and at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive layer as at least one surface layer, in which at least one surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has L* of 30 or more and C* of 3 or more, L* representing a luminosity and C* representing a chromaticness, and in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet as a whole has a transmittance of a light having a wavelength of 550 nm of 0.3% or less. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of the invention is excellent in light-shielding property irrespective of the thinness thereof as well as in decorativity due to the surface thereof that is colored with a bright color.

Recently, decoration on a surface of a housing of a mobile phone or a portable game console by attaching to the surface a decoration sheet on which a pattern or the like is printed has been carried out. For attaching such a decoration sheet, a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet such as a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has been generally used.
In recent years, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is often provided on housings of mobile phones, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet to be used for such housings is required to have a light-shielding property from the viewpoints of prevention of stray light from the LCD to thereby improve surface decorativity.
As the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a light-shielding property which satisfies the above-described requirements, pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets (including tape) having a black light-shielding layer have been known (see Patent References 1 to 13, for example). However, along with thickness reduction of mobile phones, the decoration sheet and the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet have been thinned. Consequently, in the case of using such pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets having the light-shielding layer, a problem of deteriorations in designability and decorativity has occurred due to a phenomenon that the black light-shielding layer is seen through a surface of the decorative sheet.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-2004-59723
Patent Reference 2: JP-A-2005-213282
Patent Reference 3: JP-A-2007-9137
Patent Reference 4: JP-A-2002-235053
Patent Reference 5: JP-A-2002-350612
Patent Reference 6: JP-A-2004-161955
Patent Reference 7: JP-A-2004-184443
Patent Reference 8: JP-A-2004-231736
Patent Reference 9: JP-A-2004-156015
Patent Reference 10: JP-A-2004-244499
Patent Reference 11: JP-A-2002-249741
Patent Reference 12: JP-A-2004-053759
Patent Reference 13: JP-A-2002-023663


A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.

Hydrogen gas can be produced from a sodium borohydride (SBH) reaction, which provides a compact, high-density, controllable source of hydrogen gas. When reacted with water, in the presence of a suitable catalyst, the hydrogen complexes can provide a sizeable hydrogen gas yield by weight.
When SBH is combined with water, an exothermic reaction occurs that does not require the addition of heat or high pressure.
Adding water to SBH results in a crust layer on the surface due to production of the reactant product. As the crust layer grows, the water is less able to penetrate it to react with the unreacted SBH, restricting or even stopping the hydrogen production.
What is needed is a hydrogen production system that provides hydrogen gas where the reactant product is propagated away from the reaction zone according to forces provided by the produced hydrogen gas.

Cartridge for controlled production of hydrogen


A support rack is interposed between a first open top container and a second open top container for supporting the second open top container within the first open top container. The support rack includes a base underlying a bottom wall of the second open top container and having a central region and a periphery, and a series of spaced apart support structures joined to the base. Each support structure is provided with a first portion connected to the base and extending along the base from a central region to beyond a periphery. The first portion supports the bottom wall of the second open top container. A second portion diverges upwardly and outwardly from the first portion and a third portion is secured to and extends outwardly from the second portion. The third portion defines a handle supported upon and extended outwardly of the upper edge of the first open top container. The handle is adapted to be easily grasped by one's entire hand.

Many people today choose to decorate their properties by displaying various plant and flower arrangements in large open top decorative containers commonly known as "whiskey barrel" containers which are widely available in most home and garden stores. Such large containers are typically fabricated from a number of wooden members encircled by metal straps, and have an upper diameter of about 25 inches and a height of about 16 inches. When filled with soil and foliage, the whiskey barrels can weigh approximately 125 pounds which can make them difficult to move.
As a result, it is desirable to provide an alternative way of displaying floral and other arrangements from large ground-based containers such as whiskey barrels without having to fill the large container with soil or other filler. That is, there exists a need for supporting a smaller, relatively wide based container capable of holding such arrangements from the open top of the larger container in a manner which will improve installation, maintenance and removal of a display arrangement.

Container support system with support device


Surgical systems for use in surgical procedures utilizing robotic devices. The surgical system having one or more components for housing a sensor or one or more tools for anchor or sensor delivery. The surgical system may include a surgical sensor anchor and/or a surgical sensor anchor delivery tool. A method of performing a robotically assisted surgical procedure, comprising using a surgical sensor anchor during a surgical procedure which utilizes a robot to track movement of at least one portion of a body structure undergoing a surgical procedure or to track movement of a body structure near a surgical site.

Surgical procedures, such as those performed on the spine, are well known in the art. The central nervous system is a vital part of the human physiology that coordinates human activity. It is primarily made up of the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord is made up of a bundle of nerve tissue which originates in the brain and branches out to various parts of the body, acting as a conduit to communicate neuronal signals from the brain to the rest of the body, including motor control and sensations. Protecting the spinal cord is the spinal, or vertebral, column. Anatomically, the spinal column is made up of several regions, including the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions. Each of the vertebrae associated with the various spinal cord regions are made up of a vertebral body, a posterior arch, and transverse processes.
While most people have fully functional spinal cords, it is not uncommon for individuals to suffer some type of spinal ailment or disorder which requires some type of surgical intervention. There are many different approaches taken to alleviate or minimize severe spinal disorders. One surgical procedure commonly used is a spinal fusion technique. Several surgical approaches have been developed over the years, and include the Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) procedure which utilizes a posterior approach to access the patient's vertebrae or disc space, the Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) procedure which utilizes a posterior and lateral approach to access the patient's vertebrae or disc space, and the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) which utilizes an anterior approach to access the patient's vertebrae or disc space. Using any of these surgical procedures, the patient undergoes spinal fusion surgery in which two or more vertebrae are linked or fused together through the use of a bone spacing device and/or use of bone grafts. The resulting surgery eliminates any movement between the spinal sections which have been fused together.
In addition to the spinal implants or use of bone grafts, spinal fusion surgery often utilizes spinal instrumentation or surgical hardware, such as pedicle screws, plates, or spinal rods. Once the spinal spacers and/or bone grafts have been inserted, a surgeon places the pedicle screws into a portion of the spinal vertebrae and attaches either rods or plates to the screws as a means for stabilization while the bones fuse. Currently available systems for inserting the rods into pedicle screws can be difficult to use, particularly in light of the fact that surgeons installing these rods often work in narrow surgical fields.
Moreover, since patients can vary with respect to their internal anatomy, resulting in varying curvatures of the spine, a surgeon may not always have a linear path, or may have anatomical structures that must be maneuvered around in order to properly insert the surgical rods into the pedicle screw assemblies. In addition to requiring surgical skill, difficulty in placing the rods correctly into the pedicle screws can result in unnecessary increases in the time it takes a surgeon to complete the surgical procedure. Prolonged surgery times increase the risk to the patient. More importantly, improperly aligning the rods and pedicle screw assemblies often results in post-surgery complications for the patient and requires corrective surgical procedures.
Surgery is often required to repair broken skeletal components. Some bones are easier to put into place for healing than others. For example, a pelvis is plate like, having a large surface area for a given volume and, when broken, can have multiple fragments that need to be reassembled in place so that the bone fragments can grow back together. Skulls also have plate like configuration. This is unlike setting a femur or the like, since they typically do not fragment. Further, when a large surface area bone such as the pelvis or skull breaks into multiple fragments, it is difficult to determine where a particular fragment goes; and, if the trauma to the body is severe, the fragments can move about and not be in the same orientation they were in before breaking. Such breaking can occur in car accidents, falls and industrial accidents. It is left up to the skill of the surgeon to determine where a fragment goes and its orientation relative to other fragments. It is often difficult for a surgeon to hold these bone fragments in place to secure them in their proper orientation as with plates, screws, adhesives or the like. The more fragments, the more difficult the surgeon's job is. To further complicate such reconstruction, time spent doing the surgery should be as short as possible to help avoid surgical complications. Generally, the longer the surgical procedure, the higher the risk to the patient. Additionally, the more fragments, the more hands are needed to effect the reconstruction. The more human hands participating, the more difficult the surgery from a space standpoint.
In addition to requiring surgical skill, difficulty in placing the fragments can result in unnecessary increases in the time it takes a surgeon to perform the surgical procedure. Prolonged surgery times increase the risk to the patient. More importantly, improperly alignment of the fragments or placing them in an incorrect position can result in post-surgery complications for the patient and might require complex corrective surgical procedures later.
Robotic surgery, computer-assisted surgery, and robotically-assisted surgery are terms for technological developments that use robotic systems to aid in surgical procedures. Robotically-assisted surgery was developed to overcome the limitations of pre-existing minimally-invasive surgical procedures and to enhance the capabilities of surgeons performing open surgery.
In the case of robotically-assisted minimally-invasive surgery, instead of directly moving the instruments, the surgeon uses one of two methods to control the instruments; either a direct telemanipulator or through computer control. A telemanipulator is a remote manipulator that allows the surgeon to perform the normal movements associated with the surgery while the robotic arms carry out those movements using end-effectors and manipulators to perform the actual surgery on the patient. In computer-controlled systems, the surgeon uses a computer to control the robotic arms and its end-effectors, though these systems can also still use telemanipulators for their input. One advantage of using the computerized method is that the surgeon does not have to be present, but can be anywhere in the world, leading to the possibility for remote surgery. One drawback relates to the lack of tactile feedback to the surgeon. Another drawback relates to visualization of the surgical site. Because the surgeon may be remote or the surgery may be percutaneous, is it difficult for the surgeon to view the surgery as precisely as may be needed.
In the case of enhanced open surgery, autonomous instruments (in familiar configurations) replace traditional steel tools, performing certain actions (such as rib spreading) with much smoother, feedback-controlled motions than could be achieved by a human hand. The main object of such smart instruments is to reduce or eliminate the tissue trauma traditionally associated with open surgery.
While robots are fully capable of repetitive tasks and work well in planned, routine settings, such environments are not always possible during a surgical procedure. In addition, robots are unintelligent in that they must be programmed to perform their functionality. However, this can be problematic when the environments they are programmed to function in are not static. As robotic systems become more prevalent in the surgical field, there exists a need for such robotic-assisted procedures to be performed safely and more intelligently, and capable of modifications in real time.


The invention relates to an orthosis (100) and method for the treatment of wrist and elbow illnesses. The orthosis (100) includes a first cuff (101) adapted to be secured to a hand of a user. A second cuff (102) is adapted to be secured to an upper arm portion above an elbow joint of the user. The first cuff (101) and the second cuff (102) include a first attachment point (103) and a second attachment point (104), respectively. The orthosis (100) also includes a resilient member (105) having a first end (106) and a second end (107) opposing the first end (106). The first end (106) of the resilient member (105) is attached to the first attachment point (104) of the first cuff (101). The second end (107) of the resilient member (105) is attached to the second attachment point (104) of the second cuff (102). The first attachment point (103) and the second attachment point (104) are positioned such that a wrist extension force and a forearm extension force are opposed by a counteracting force produced by the resilient member (105). The counteracting force opposes the rotation of the forearm relative to the upper arm about the elbow joint and maintains the wrist in a substantially flexion position.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to an orthopedic device. More particularly, the invention relates to an orthosis for the treatment of illnesses of the wrist and elbow.
2. Description of the Related Art
In tendinosis, wear and tear in the wrist and elbow joints is thought to lead to tissue degeneration. Numerous occupational and recreational activities often exacerbate the tendinosis. Such activities include, but are not limited to, typing, grasping a computer mouse, gardening, playing racket sports, and picking up and holding objects. A degenerated tendon, such as the tendons in the wrist and elbow, usually has an abnormal arrangement of collagen fibers. As a result, the body produces an inflammatory response. Special inflammatory cells make their way to the injured tendinous tissues to assist in the healing process.
In wrist injuries, this inflammation is sometimes manifested in or around the carpal and/or ulnar tunnels, compressing the nerves running through these tunnels. When the inflammation is centered around the medial nerve of the wrist, a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome is produced. When the inflammation is centered around the ulnar nerve, a condition known as ulnar tunnel syndrome is produced. Typical symptoms of carpal and ulnar tunnel syndromes include, but are not limited to, tingling, numbness, night time wakening, pain, coldness, and weakness in parts of the hand.
In elbow injuries, the inflammation is often manifested around the lateral or medial epicondyles of the humeral bone. When the inflammation surrounds the lateral epicondyl, it is commonly referred to as "tennis elbow," or lateral epicondylitis. When the inflammation is centered around the medial epicondyl, it is commonly referred to as "golfer's elbow," or medial epicondylitis.
In the case of lateral or medial epicondylitis, the body produces a type of cells called fibroblasts. When this occurs, the collagen fibers in the elbow tendon lose their strength. These fibers become fragile and can break with too much physical activity, developing small tears in the forearm tendon. Although the body tries to heal these small tears, constant strain and overuse keep re-injuring the tendon. Each time the collagen fibers break down, the body responds by forming scar tissue in the tendon. Eventually, the tendon becomes thickened from extra scar tissue and the healing process loses its effectiveness. The scar tissue never has a chance to fully heal, leaving the injured areas weakened and painful.
In addition to the aforementioned medical conditions, there can also be inflammation of the fluid filled tissue sheath (called synovium) that surrounds the tendons of the wrist and/or elbow. This inflammatory condition is commonly called tenosynovitis of the wrist and/or elbow. When the wrist and/or elbow tendons are inflamed, the synovium swells. As a result, the tendons cannot slide easily through the synovium, causing swelling and pain at the wrist and/or elbow joints.
Another medical condition, known as mogigraphia or "writer's cramp," refers to a disorder of the hand due to excessive fine motor activity. Writer's cramp is thought to result from a problem of motor control involving the basal ganglia of the brain. Common manifestations of simple writer's cramp include excessive gripping of the pen, flexion, and sometimes deviation of the wrist, elevation of the elbow, and occasional extension of a finger or fingers causing the pen to fall from the hand. Sometimes the disorder progresses to include the elevation of shoulders or the retraction of the arm while writing.
In the field of orthopedics, there are numerous treatment options for treating writer's cramp, tendinosis and related illnesses of the wrist and elbow. Over the years, some of the treatment devices and methods in this particular area have been the use of supports, wraps, armbands with or without air bubbles, static splinting and casting with fiberglass or plaster materials, as well as magnets, ultrasound, acupuncture, physical therapy, cortisone patches and/or injections, ice/heat packs, and anti-inflammatory medications.
Various other treatment methods attempt to treat the condition by immobilizing the muscle(s), tendons, ligaments, and/or capsular structures to prevent their use. This idea of immobilization is based upon an agonist-antagonist functional interaction in every activity of the elbow, forearm, wrist, hand and fingers. The rationale for immobilization is to relax the muscle to allow it to heal. Relaxing the muscle in this way can ameliorate, modify, and reduce inflammation.
There have been many attempts in the art to design an orthosis for the elbow joint to treat tendinosis and related illnesses of the wrist and elbow. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,595 to Chesher et al. provides a supination-pronation orthosis for the elbow joint. The orthosis includes a hand and wrist cuff that restricts wrist flexion, essentially immobilizing the wrist joint. A flexible torsion unit is mounted to extend between the upper arm cuff and the hand and wrist cuff along the forearm of the patient. The torsion unit selectively opposes rotation of the forearm of the patient about the elbow joint.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,735 to Townsend et al. discloses a torsion bar splint for a patient's forearm. The device retains and restricts the forearm in the position to which it is rotated.
U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. US2004/0138597 to Varn teaches a dorsal blocking hand orthosis. The orthosis has a rigid hand splint member which has a forearm portion attached to a finger portion, which are adapted to receive a patient's hand so that a forearm portion and a splint member rest on the dorsal portion of the patient's wrist and forearm.
However, one drawback to the devices shown in the art is that restricting a muscle's use by permanent joint immobilization can cause joint stiffness. Some other major problems associated with permanently immobilizing the elbow joint and/or wrist joint include joint stiffness, contractures, muscle atrophy, skin irritation, and functional restrictions.
It is also known in the medical and scientific literature, and specifically in the field of hand surgery, that tendons can be repaired and sewn together. Typical methods used in treating a post-operative patient are to allow the repaired tendons to heal by an external fixation device that immobilizes movement at the elbow joint. As discussed, such a device can cause stiffness (contractures, muscle atrophy, skin irritation, and functional restrictions) in the neighboring joints.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is an orthosis that can restrict the contraction of muscles connected to tendons attached at either the lateral or medial epicondyles. At the same time, the orthosis should not immobilize movement at the wrist and elbow joints. Thus, the orthosis should allow the muscle(s) tendons, ligaments, and/or capsular structures in question to relax to prevent aggravating the tendinosis and its related illnesses of the wrist and elbow.


In accordance with one embodiment, a method can be implemented that comprises receiving as an input a title of a video from a video sharing web site; parsing the title of the video into one or more n-grams; computing with a computer a title-searchability-score by utilizing the one or more n-grams.

Digital media sharing websites such as YouTube™ facilitate user searches for digital content and make a large amount of content available to the public. When a user performs a keyword search for digital content, the search results often include a series of titles and occasionally thumbnail images representative of the content. High-traffic digital media websites maintain user-searchable indices and may add tens of thousands of media files every day. Of these, some titles are more suitable and searchable than others.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Title rating and improvement process and system