A distributed optical detection system comprising: a broadband optical source; and a phase and amplitude receiver for measuring phases and amplitudes of distributed backscattered signals from a sensing medium. Methods of quantitatively sensing optical path length changes along a sensing medium in a distributed manner are also disclosed.

Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such background art is prior art, nor that such background art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field in Australia or worldwide.
All references, including any patents or patent applications, cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.
In the application of disturbance detection for perimeter or infrastructure security, the detection and location (without quantitative measurement) of only a single point of disturbance is often required. U.S. Pat. No. 7,995,197 B2 to Sikora discloses a continuous wave, incoherent light source used for detecting a singular disturbance on an optical fibre, without teaching how to locate the point of disturbance along the fibre. U.S. Pat. No. 8,670,662 B2 to Healey expands upon Sikora's teachings, by suggesting how such a singular disturbance may be located through means of frequency modulation. Both Sikora and Healey, however, rely exclusively on detecting an intensity variation of backscattered light to detect a disturbance, using only one intensity detector which is incapable of directly measuring phase. There is a highly non-linear and non-unique relationship between the size of a disturbance on a fibre and the resulting intensity fluctuation. It is therefore not possible to accurately and unambiguously measure optical path length change (or other physical parameters such as strain) in practical operation. Furthermore, Sikora proposes distinguishing between multiple disturbances using their unique spectral signatures. This requires prior knowledge of disturbances in order to locate multiple disturbances. Thus the methods taught by Sikora and Healey do not provide a means of distributed sensing, for example, measuring multiple optical path length changes within a sensing medium.
Sagnac-based fibre sensing systems, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,486 B1 to Udd and European Patent No. EP1496723 B1 to Vakoc, for example, can operate with broadband or incoherent light sources. However, they rely on bidirectional or counter-propagating optical paths to exploit the Sagnac effect and are not obviously extended to distributed backscattering situations; where access to both ends of the sensing fibre is not provided.
More recently, other applications such as seismic or acoustic wave recording have required advanced system designs to enable quantitative, highly sensitive and distributed measurement of fibre strain changes along a fibre. Applications of this technology have included: seismic profiling at oil and gas fields; micro-seismicity monitoring during hydraulic fracture reservoir stimulation; geotechnical ground surveys; and fluid flow measurement. The advancements in technology to enable these applications has resulted in higher cost and complexity of the systems being used.
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), also known as distributed vibration sensing, is a method of using Rayleigh backscattering from an optically transparent medium, typically an optical fibre, to measure small changes in the physical properties of an optical fibre along the entire length of the fibre in a distributed manner.
In general, using an optical fibre (with or without the protection of a cable jacket) as a distributed sensor can replace many point sensors. As a result, it can be the most cost effective, and weight and space efficient sensor system available, as it only requires one fibre capable of sending, receiving and sensing the signal from the same fibre and only one monitor is adequate to display the local changes in temperature, stress, vibration and acoustic energy. In addition, optical fibres are well adapted to operating in harsh environments, high temperatures and are immune from damage or noise induced by electromagnetic interference. This considerable light weight advantage makes distributed sensors based on distributed light scattering in optical fibre amongst the most versatile monitoring option even in comparison to point fibre sensors, especially for monitoring of long linear assets, such as pipelines, wells, railways, roads, conveyors, bridges, tunnels, buildings and fences.
Known DAS systems work by coupling highly coherent (narrow-band) laser energy pulses into optical fibre and analysing Rayleigh backscatter that results from microscopic imperfections and inhomogeneities in the optical fibre. Light pulses, as they travel from the input along the fiber to the far (distal) end, reflect off these microscopic imperfections/inhomogeneities. Such interactions cause a small amount of light to backscatter and return to the input end where they are detected and analysed. Acoustic waves, when interacting with the materials that comprise the optical fibre, create elongations in the microscopic structure, as well as small changes in refractive index. These changes affect the backscatter characteristics, becoming detectable events. Using time-domain techniques, event location is precisely determined, providing fully distributed sensing with resolution of 1 meter or less.
DAS differs from conventional distributed strain sensing in that it does not use the non-linear Brillouin backscattering to achieve a measurement. This enables very sensitive, linear and fast distributed measurements. For example, sub-nanometre strain sensitivity, at measurement rates higher than 2 kHz and spatial resolutions shorter than 10 m can be achieved with DAS.
However, all the previous DAS systems suffer from the same disadvantage that the coherence length, and associated phase noise, of the optical source is a major factor in limiting the signal-to-noise of the system and thereby limiting sensitivity. Thus, for DAS over large distances, the optical source used for the system must have a highly narrowband (narrow linewidth), and thus very high coherence length, to permit the forward and backward propagating light to interfere and produce the interference signal used to perform the analysis of the return signal. In some DAS systems, the coherence length can be as high as many 10s of kilometres to enable analysis of the Rayleigh backscattered signal over practical distances. Of course, requiring the source optical signal to satisfy such high coherence length parameters, adds significant complexity and cost to the overall DAS system.
A further disadvantage of existing DAS systems is a limit on the optical power that may be delivered to the sensing medium (e.g. an optical fibre) before non-linear interactions between the forward propagating light and the sensing medium itself, which, can limit the optical power which can propagate beyond 10s or 100s of meters or introduce phase and intensity modulations which corrupt the Rayleigh backscatter signal. A typical non-linear effect in optical fibres is the so-called modulation instability, which can induce a position-dependent signal fading in long-range DAS systems. This fading leads to a complete masking of the interference signal at some positions and therefore to a loss of sensitivity at those positions. Another typical non-linear effect in optical fibres that can be particularly limiting is Brillouin scattering, which can exhibit an appreciable effect resulting in loss of the Rayleigh backward propagating signal at input power levels as little as 100 mW. Since the Rayleigh backscatter is a very weak phenomenon, this directly limits the sensitivity of the system, by limiting the amount of optical power that can be used in the sensing fibre.
The currently employed methods of DAS are based on coherent optical time domain reflectometry (c-OTDR) or coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (c-OFDR). In both these methods, narrowband lasers with a significantly high degree of temporal coherence are used (narrow-band). Depending on the variant of the method, the coherence length can be larger than 10 m, but is often much larger than this and often much larger than 100 km.
Generally, in c-OTDR and c-OFDR, low coherence of the laser impacts directly and negatively on the phase noise of the measurement and therefore severely limits the sensitivity of the system. Furthermore, in many embodiments, particularly those involving heterodyne detection with a local oscillator, a very high degree of coherence is essential to enable a long measurement range, since the coherence length of the laser directly determines the maximum length of the sensing fibre.
On the other hand, high coherence of the laser typically results in higher costs, higher complexity and poor system robustness during transportation or operation in uncontrolled environments. Vibration of the source or system can severely hinder system performance. Furthermore, narrowband/narrow-linewidth and thus, highly coherent, laser sources suffer from lower non-linear thresholds in optical fibre, such as stimulated Brillouin scattering, four-wave mixing and modulation instability, which limit the optical power that can be launched into the fibre. The coherence requirements on the source also make it difficult to modulate the source directly without worsening the coherence. Thus, external modulators are required which adds to the cost and complexity of the system.
Yet another limitation of using nearly monochromatic or coherent light sources for DAS is that the Rayleigh backscatter from an optical fibre exhibits random amplitude variations along the fibre. At locations of relatively low or zero amplitude (known as signal fading), the phase is inaccurately measured or undefinable, respectively. This is a significant source of error in coherent optic al-time-domain-reflectometry (c-OTDR) and coherent optical-frequency-domain-reflectometry c-OFDR systems and negatively impacts system sensitivity. To overcome this limitation, multiple high-coherence laser sources at different frequencies are simultaneously used in a system so that their signals can be combined in a manner to mitigate fading as taught by A. H. Hartog et al. in the paper "The use of multi-frequency acquisition to significantly improve the quality of fibre-optic distributed vibration sensing", Geophysical Prospecting Vol 66, Issue Si, (2017). Multiple high-coherence sources and multiple frequencies introduces significant cost and complexity to DAS systems.
Therefore there is a need for a truly distributed sensing system and methods for querying and detecting multiple optical path length changes in a medium with improved noise rejection capability, increased disturbance location accuracy, improved immunity to vibration, improved robustness, stability and reliability and with minimal system cost and complexity.

Distributed optical sensing systems and methods


Systems and methods for a scalable test model for a cellular communications system having multiple different bandwidth and subcarrier combinations are disclosed. Embodiments of a method performed by a test node and corresponding embodiments of a test node are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a test node comprises generating a test signal for a particular bandwidth and subcarrier spacing combination, the test signal being in accordance with a test model that is scalable for a plurality of different bandwidth and subcarrier spacing combinations. By using the scalable test model, the test model can be flexibly used to test for different bandwidth and subcarrier spacing combinations.

New Radio (NR) has introduced new aspects into mobile communication, one of which is the addition of multiple different Subcarrier Spacings (SCSs) and the addition of new bandwidths at sub 6 gigahertz (GHz) frequencies (FR1) and also at millimeter wave, 28 GHz bands (FR2). The intention of the different SCSs is to provide flexibility for support of new applications such as Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) and Internet of Things (IoT) and to cover the large frequency range from sub-1 GHz up to 100 GHz.
A scaling approach (based on a scaling factor 2N, N=0, 1, 2, . . . ) is considered for deriving SCSs for NR: 15 kilohertz (kHz), 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 KHz, 240 KHz, etc. The numerology-specific time resource durations (slots) can then be determined in milliseconds (ms) based on the SCS: SCS of 2N*15 kHz gives ½N ms. Regarding the slot duration, a small deviation can occur due to the first symbol every 0.5 ms having a slightly larger Cyclic Prefix (CP). Table 1 illustrates example numerologies for NR in terms of SCS, slot duration, symbol duration, CPlength, etc.
TABLE 1Examples of numerologies in NR assuming normal CP lengthNumerology attributeNumerology parameter valuesSubcarrier spacing15 kHz30 kHz60 kHz120 kHz240 kHzSlot500μs250 μs125 μs62.5 μs31.25 μsdurationOFDM 66.67μs33.33 μs16.67 μs8.335 μs4.1675 μssymbol,durationCyclic 4.76μs2.38 μs1.19 μs0.595 μs0.2975 μsprefix,durationOFDM71.43μs35.71 μs17.86 μs8.93 μs4.465 μssymbolincludingcyclicprefix
In addition to different numerologies, NR also supports—depending on numerology—different channel bandwidths. The maximum channel bandwidth is, on one hand, given by Radio Access Network 1 (RAN1) (not more than 3300 active subcarriers) and, on the other hand, given by RAN4 which specifies channel bandwidth for different numerologies. The maximum channel bandwidths are 100 and 400 megahertz (MHz) for FR1 and FR2, respectively.
The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) RAN4 base station specifications comprise two parts, namely, so-called core requirements, which are generic requirements applicable during all operation modes, and conformance requirements, which specify details of specific tests that are performed to demonstrate compliance to the core requirements. The core requirements specification contains a set of so-called Test Models (TMs). For Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), the TMs comprise a detailed description of Long Term Evolution (LTE) physical layer parameterization, including individual channels with parameters and power levels. The standardization of test models means that standardized transmitter signals are available, which enables consistency when testing transmitter requirements. The existing TMs for LTE are individually specified in detail for each LTE bandwidth.
The addition of the flexibility into NR compared to LTE leaves new challenges for conformance testing. In addition, the flexibility in supported bandwidths and SCS would result in an excessive number of permutations. The design of the test must provide enough test coverage for base station performance but also for regulatory bodies all over the world issuing spectrum licenses for operators to deploy NR systems and should handle the challenge with excessive permutations.

Scalable test model for cellular communication system that supports different bandwidth and subcarrier spacing combinations


A system and method for determining a fault condition in a compressor is provided. The current of a motor drive powering the compressor and the outdoor ambient temperature are measured and used to determine if a fault condition or a potential fault condition is present in the compressor. If a fault condition is determined to be present, the compressor can be shutdown to avoid damage to the compressor. If a potential fault condition is determined, remedial action can be taken to attempt to prevent the fault condition from occurring and shutting down the compressor.

The application generally relates to fault detection in a compressor. The application relates more specifically to detecting faults in a compressor based on the measured current of a motor drive and the outdoor ambient temperature.
Many compressors employ numerous protection features to provide for safe and reliable operation of the compressor and the corresponding system, e.g., an air conditioning system or a heat pump system, in which the compressor is incorporated. Some examples of compressor protection features include an internal line break motor or overload protector (to prevent the motor from exceeding predetermined thermal limits during operation), an internal pressure relief valve (to detect excessive discharge pressure), a high pressure switch (to detect a high pressure condition in the compressor), and a low pressure switch (to detect a low pressure condition in the compressor). The incorporation and inclusion of these protection features into a compressor can be very complex and costly to design and implement.
Therefore what is needed is a system and method to determine fault conditions in a compressor without the need for numerous protection devices.

System and method for detecting a fault condition in a compressor


An integrated adjustable die fixture to be used to hold and stabilize large parts from dimensional fluctuation during the heat treating quenching process. The die fixture provides for a pair of interlocking dies each with a plurality of radially positioned interchangeable and configurable part engagement blades to conform and hold the part during quenching. A die fixture support and transport lifting frame selectively engages integrated die fixture and part for transport, positioning and select access to quenching furnace.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to heat treating of large parts such as steel rings and bearing races that require the parts to be heated and then quenched to impart case hardening. Such case hardening typically requires a two step process, gas carburizing and austenitizing. For gas carburizing, a steel part is heated to an elevated uniform temperature in a carbon-rich gas atmosphere. This allows the carbon in the atmosphere to diffuse into a layer at the surface of the part.
During austenitizing (heat treating), a steel part is heated within the austenitizing range 1,455-1,680°, Fahrenheit, in a gas-fired integrated quenching furnace. The heated part is heated to a uniform temperature and then rapidly quenched in a medium, typically oil. This heating and rapid cooling imparts dimensional variations in such large parts and they will become out-of-round and out-of-flat, requiring the need initially to have extra stock in the part to be machined off and extra case depths to ensure sufficient case after machining.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art quenching methods and apparatus can be seen generally in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,048,418; 8,034,258 B2; and EP 1,191,111 A1.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,418 is directed to a ring-forming apparatus and heat treating process wherein flat ring parts are heated, then placed in a die and submerged in a quenching bath to form the ring into its final shape while therewithin.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,285 B2 illustrates quenching methods and devices for quenching a steel ring which includes a corresponding set of quenching dies, a die handling tool, and related methods to lift the corresponding set of quenching dies and die handling apparatus to load and unload the dies into a quenching press.
Finally, Patent EP 1,191,111 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for press tempering wherein a heated part is placed into a pressing device and then cooled with a coolant.

Adjustable die fixture and support system for heating treating process


The disclosure provides a method for improving the storage stability of a moist smokeless tobacco product configured for oral use, for example, a moist snuff tobacco product. The moist smokeless tobacco product includes a tobacco formulation containing a tobacco material. The method includes mixing the tobacco material with one or more antioxidants and one or more preservatives to form the tobacco formulation. The disclosure also provides a moist smokeless tobacco product incorporating a tobacco material and one or more antioxidants and one or more preservatives. Such moist smokeless tobacco products exhibit improved storage stability with respect to one or more characteristics such as nitrite, tobacco specific nitrosamine, organic acid, pH, and moisture content.

Cigarettes, cigars and pipes are popular smoking articles that employ tobacco in various forms. Such smoking articles are used by heating or burning tobacco, and aerosol (e.g., smoke) is inhaled by the smoker. Tobacco also may be enjoyed in a so-called "smokeless" form. Particularly popular smokeless tobacco products are employed by inserting some form of processed tobacco or tobacco-containing formulation into the mouth of the user.
Various types of smokeless tobacco products are known. See for example, the types of smokeless tobacco formulations, ingredients, and processing methodologies set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,917 to Levi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,993 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,269 to Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,599 to Tibbetts; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,907 to Townsend; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 to Sprinkle, III et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,839 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,654 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,040 to Atchley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,601 to Atchley et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,686 to Atchley et al.; US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2004/0020503 to Williams; 2005/0115580 to Quinter et al.; 2006/0191548 to Strickland et al.; 2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 2007/0186941 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 2007/0186942 to Strickland et al.; 2008/0029110 to Dube et al.; 2008/0029116 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0173317 to Robinson et al.; 2008/0196730 to Engstrom et al.; 2008/0209586 to Neilsen et al.; 2008/0305216 to Crawford et al.; 2009/0065013 to Essen et al.; 2009/0293889 to Kumar et al.; 2010/0291245 to Gao et al; and 2011/0139164 to Mua et al.; PCT WO 04/095959 to Arnarp et al. and WO 2010/132444 to Atchley; each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
One type of smokeless tobacco product is referred to as "snuff." Representative types of moist snuff products, commonly referred to as "snus," are manufactured in Europe, particularly in Sweden, by or through companies such as Swedish Match AB, Fiedler & Lundgren AB, Gustavus AB, Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni A/S, and Rocker Production AB. Snus products available in the U.S.A. are marketed under the tradenames CAMEL Snus, CAMEL Orbs, CAMEL Strips and CAMEL Sticks by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; GRIZZLY moist tobacco, KODIAK moist tobacco, LEVI GARRETT loose tobacco and TAYLOR'S PRIDE loose tobacco by American Snuff Company, LLC; KAYAK moist snuff and CHATTANOOGA CHEW chewing tobacco by Swisher International, Inc.; REDMAN chewing tobacco by Pinkerton Tobacco Co. LP; COPENHAGEN moist tobacco, COPENHAGEN Pouches, SKOAL Bandits, SKOAL Pouches, RED SEAL long cut and REVEL Mint Tobacco Packs by U.S.
Smokeless Tobacco Company; and MARLBORO Snus and Taboka by Philip Morris USA. See also, for example, Bryzgalov et al., 1N1800 Life Cycle Assessment, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of General Loose and Portion Snus (2005). In addition, certain quality standards associated with snus manufacture have been assembled as a so-called GothiaTek® standard (see, e.g., https://www.swedishmatch.com/Snus-and-health/GOTHIATEK/GOTHIATEK-standard/and Runquist et al., Harm Reduction Journal 2011, 8:11).
It would be desirable in the art to provide moist smokeless tobacco products intended for oral use which exhibit improved storage stability. Examples of improving storage stability include, generally, suppressing undesirable enzymatic and microbial activity and specifically, improving the flavor profile, retaining moisture, maintaining or enhancing levels of acetate and citrate, and suppressing nitrite and tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) formation. Maintaining or suppressing such characteristics during storage is particularly challenging due to the high moisture content of moist smokeless tobacco products, which may promote undesirable enzymatic and microbial activity leading to product degradation. Accordingly, methods of stabilizing moist smokeless tobacco products are needed.


The present invention relates to a composition for transmuting a radioactive substance into a non-radioactive substance using complex microorganisms and a method for preparing the composition.

A fundamental solution to safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel as high-level radioactive nuclear waste as well as intermediate-level and low-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is a prerequisite for continuous utilization of nuclear power plants as large-scale energy sources. Despite this situation, a satisfactory fundamental solution to the disposal of radioactive waste has not been proposed so far. Long-term storage in safe places is accepted as the only way to dispose of radioactive waste.
However, radioactive waste disposal facilities do not provide a fundamental solution to radioactive waste disposal due to their limited storage capacity. No approach can be considered as a fundamental solution to nuclear waste disposal as long as radioactive substances remain untransmuted while emitting radioactive rays.
A fundamental solution to this situation is required to drastically reduce radioactive waste. For example, techniques for transmuting Cs-137 as a radionuclide into safe, non-radioactive elements Ba-137 or Ba-138 can be considered. However, no satisfactory techniques have yet been put to practical use.
Transmutation of radionuclides is observed mainly in radioactive substances with high atomic number. According to recent studies on cold nuclear fusion, transmutation with very low energy input at room temperature is observed. This phenomenon is not described by current nuclear physics theories. In the academic literature, transmutation is represented by neologisms such as "low energy nuclear reaction (LENR)", "lattice assisted nuclear reaction (LANR)", "condensed matter nuclear science (CMNS)", and "chemically assisted nuclear reaction (CANR)", which are used to distinguish transmutation from conventional nuclear reactions.
In connection with radioactive waste disposal using microorganisms, several techniques have been reported in South Korea. For example, Korean Patent No. 10-1754790 discloses the use of microorganisms for the capture of radioactive substances to prevent groundwater from being contaminated by the diffusion of radioactive substances. The purpose of this technique is to transmute a radioactive substance (cesium ion) into a sparingly water soluble substance (pautovite) to prevent the diffusion of contamination. However, this technique fails to transmute a radioactive substance into a safe element and cannot fundamentally reduce the risk of radioactive contamination.
Thus, successful transmutation of radioactive elements in radioactive waste into safe elements can provide a fundamental solution to radioactive waste disposal.

Composition for converting radioactive substance into non-radioactive substance and a method of preparing the composition


A packaging for a product comprising a container including a first body layer and a second body layer connected at a fold, the first and second body layers capable of collapsing to a first position and expanding to a second position, and one or more of said first and second body layers defining a void, and a cover including a first side and a second side, and the first and second body layers are configured to collapse to the first position between the first and second sides of the cover.

With the growth of eCommerce within the consumer marketplace, there is an increased need for effective and environmentally friendly packaging for shipment of products. At any stage of the shipping process, the contents of a package may become exposed to physical damage caused by factors such as vibration and turbulent movement, pressure exerted on the package, impact sustained by the package, and/or general mishandling. For a packaging to be effective, the packaging should secure the positioning and integrity of contents within the package and withstand pressure and impact on the package. Moreover, the packaging should be easy to open for the consumer and/or effectively display information that may be useful to the consumer. For a packaging to be environmentally friendly, the packaging should be conscious of factors such as recyclability, reducing the usage of excess materials, and a capability for reuse.
Currently available packaging devices and methods usually employ industrially prefabricated boxes in conjunction with other packaging components such as plastic blisters, plastic bubble wrap, polystyrene foam frames and packing peanuts, and paper stuffing. These currently available packaging devices and methods lack rigidity to withstand deformation of the packaging, do not secure the positioning of the contents of the package, do not withstand pressure and impact on the package, make use of materials which are harmful to the environment, and cause frustration to a consumer by being difficult to open and lacking information desired by the consumer.
It is desirable to provide an improved packaging in a manner that fulfills one or more of the needs described above.


A collar-mounted animal training device includes a piezoelectric transducer device (6) attached to a mylar cone acoustic element mounted in a transducer housing (5) configured as a resonant sound port. The piezoelectric transducer is driven by circuitry including a microcontroller (31), a voltage booster circuit (34), and driver circuitry coupled to the booster circuit and producing a boosted drive signal to the piezoelectric device (6). The microcontroller stores data representing a plurality of sequential segments each having a start and stop time and a start and stop frequency. The microcontroller sequentially produces a plurality of output signals having a start and stop times and frequencies.

The invention relates to collar-mounted audible beepers used for dog training, wherein the beepers produce predetermined audible sounds that enable a trainer or hunter to be aware of the location and movement of the dog(s) on which such a beeper is mounted, and more particularly to improvements which increase reliability of collar-mounted beepers and which also enable them to emit realistic natural sounds, such as the sound of a hawk screeching.
One of the assignee""s prior products, the Tritronics BC 12 Beeper Collar 20 shown in FIG. 6, includes a collar 3 supporting a horn 50 attached to a top portion of the collar 3 and a housing 21 attached to the bottom portion of the collar. The horn 50 includes a quarter watt speaker (not shown) and directs the sound upwardly out of the opening 50A, so the emitted sound is directed away from the ears of the dog wearing the collar 3, so as not to distract it. The housing 21 contains the electronic circuitry and batteries which accomplish the operation that provides the beeping operation. The device 20 is a lightweight, battery-powered device designed for use with a dog working in heavy brush or other conditions were in the dog is out of sight or difficult to see. The BC 12 Beeper Collar 20 produces audible beeping sounds which indicate whether a dog is in a xe2x80x9crange/pointxe2x80x9d mode or a xe2x80x9cpointxe2x80x9d mode. In the range/point mode, the beeper unit beeps every five seconds while the dog is moving, and beeps once per second while the dog is stationary. If the beeper unit is set in the point mode, the beeper unit is silent until the dog stops moving, and then beeps once per second. The BC 12 Beeper Collar 20 has the capability of producing two different beeping patterns, to indicate whether the dog wearing it is a first dog or a second dog, by setting the beeper unit 20 to produce a first kind of beeping sound or a second kind of beeping sound, respectively. The Tritronics BC 12 and other prior beeper units include a collar-mounted housing positioned at the back of the dog""s neck, which is counterbalanced by a rather heavy circuit/battery unit attached to the collar beneath the dog""s neck and connected by wires woven through the collar to the speaker in the collar-mounted housing positioned at the back of the dog""s neck. The housing 21 contains the operative electronic circuitry of the beeper unit 20 and the large, heavy batteries required to power of the circuitry and drive the quarter watt speaker. A xe2x80x9chornxe2x80x9d 50 and speaker therein are mounted on top of the housing 21.
The horns of this and other prior beeper units typically have been 2 to 3 inches in height, and often are broken off of the beeper units when the dog runs through heavy brush or the like. The prior collar-mounted beeper units have used speakers, which necessitates the use of high-power circuitry and large batteries, and hence large size and weight of the circuit/battery unit 21 in the need to locate it on the portion of the collar below the dog neck and the need to route wires to the speaker in horn 50. Breakage of the speaker wires has been a problem of the BC12 device.
Another of the assignee""s prior products, the xe2x80x9cTritronics Accessory Beeperxe2x80x9d, is designated by reference numeral 20A in FIG. 7. It differs from the beeper unit 20 shown in FIG. 6 in that the horn 53 in FIG. 7 attached to the top of the housing 52 includes a piezoelectric transducer instead of a speaker, and also includes the circuitry and battery, eliminating the need for the speaker wires mentioned above in the BC12 device. The height of horn 53 is one inch, which is substantially shorter than the horn 50 in FIG. 6. The beeper unit 1A of FIG. 7 can be mounted on an upper portion of a collar 3 which supports a circuit/stimulus unit (not shown) mounted on a lower portion thereof.
Yet another of the assignee""s prior products, it""s UPLAND SPECIAL dog training product, includes a stimulus/receiver unit, a remote transmitter, and a beeper unit similar to the above described Accessory Beeper 20A but having the additional capability of allowing the remote transmitter to remotely turn the beeper unit on and off.
Another prior collar-mounted beeper unit (commercially available from Lovett""s Electronics of St. Brazil, Ind.) produces a hawk screeching sound which is a poor representation of an actual hawk screeching sound. That unit repetitively switches the power to the sound-producing circuit on and off, repetitively charging up internal capacitance and discharging it through the sound-producing circuit in order to produce the hawk screeching sound. (A hawk screeching sound feature is desirable because hawks are predators, and a sufficiently realistic hawk screeching sound tends to cause some game birds to xe2x80x9cfreezexe2x80x9d. This allows a trained hunting dog an opportunity to approach the birds and deliberately flush them out, giving the hunter a good opportunity to aim and shoot. Also, the hawk screeching sound is considered by some to be more pleasant than the beeping sound usually associated with prior collar-mounted beeper units.)
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,432 issued Aug. 16, 1983 to Lunn discloses a beeper unit for use as an aid in locating a hunting dog and providing audible information as to whether the dog is moving or stationary. The electronic circuitry includes mercury switches responsive to movement of the dog so as to cause the beeper unit to produce different audio signals when the dog is moving and when it is stationary.
Thus, there is an unmet need for an improved collar-mounted audible beeper unit which solves the above described problems of the closest prior art devices. There also is a need for a low-cost way of creating realistic sounds including high-frequency components, such as a hawk scream, which does not require a large amount of memory, wherein the high-frequency components are compatible with a piezoelectric transducer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved collar-mounted beeper unit which overcomes the foregoing problems of the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved, realistic-sound-producing algorithm and circuitry for use in an animal training device.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collar-mounted beeper unit which provides a more realistic hawk screeching sound or the like than has been achievable in the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide a device and technique which provides a realistic replication of a pre-recorded sound while avoiding the problems associated with prior wavelength file techniques.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collar-mounted beeper unit and technique which provides a realistic replication of a pre-recorded sound while avoiding the problems associated with harmonic resonance points of the piezoelectric transducer encountered by prior wavelength file techniques.
It is another object of the invention to provide a more reliable, less expensive collar-mounted beeper unit than has been accomplished in the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved collar-mounted beeper unit without using a flyback transformer.
It is another object of the invention to provide a reliable, inexpensive collar-mounted beeper unit which produces sound with the quality of a speaker, but without requiring the power consumption of a speaker and not having the poor sound quality of prior beeper units utilizing piezoelectric sound transducers.
Briefly described, and in accordance with one embodiment thereof, the invention provides a collar-mounted animal training device including a housing (2) supported by a collar (3). A piezoelectric transducer device (6) is attached to the housing (2). The piezoelectric transducer device (6) includes a piezoelectric transducer (6C) and a mylar cone acoustic element (6B) having a base portion connected to the piezoelectric transducer (6C). A transducer housing (5) for enclosing the piezoelectric transducer device (6) includes a hollow cylindrical section (5A) having an upper edge portion supporting an annular peripheral portion (6A) of the mylar cone acoustic element (6A) of the mylar cone acoustic element (6B) and a cover (5B) attached to cover the cylindrical section (5A). The cover has an opening (5C) surrounded by an annular portion 10 which clamps the annular peripheral portion (6A) of the mylar cone acoustic element (6B) between the cover (5B) and the upper edge of the cylindrical section (5A). A circuit (30) enclosed within the housing (2) includes first and second terminals connected to a first terminal (10A) and a second terminal (10B) of the piezoelectric transducer (6C), the circuit (30) being configured to produce drive signals causing the piezoelectric transducer device (6) to emit a predetermined sound. The circuit (30) includes a microcontroller (31), a voltage booster circuit (34), and driver circuitry (35,36), the microcontroller (31) having a control output (33) coupled to a control input of the voltage booster circuit (34). The voltage booster circuit is powered by a battery voltage (VBATT) and operates to produce a boosted battery voltage (VBOOSTED) when the voltage booster circuit (34) is enabled by the control output (33) of the microcontroller (31). The microcontroller (31) also produces an output signal (32) applied as an input to the driver circuitry (35,36) and the driver circuitry produces an output signal applied to a terminal (10A) of the mylar cone piezoelectric device (6). In the described embodiment, the driver circuit (35,36) includes a high side driver circuit (35) receiving the output signal (32) of the microcontroller (31) as an input and producing an output signal referenced to the boosted battery voltage on the terminal (10A) of the mylar cone piezoelectric transducer device (6). The driver circuit (35,36) also includes a low side driver circuit (36) operative in response to the control signal to produce an output on the terminal (10A) of the mylar cone piezoelectric transducer device (6). The microcontroller (31) includes a memory adapted to store data representative of an animal sound and a program configured to produce the control signal (32) so as to cause the mylar cone piezoelectric device (6) to provide a realistic reproduction of the animal sound. In the described embodiment, the program is configured to cause the microcontroller (31) to store data representing the animal sound in the form of a plurality of sequential segments, each segment including at least one start frequency and one corresponding to stop frequency and to store the duration for that segment, and wherein the program is also configured to cause the microcontroller (31) to sequentially produce a plurality of output signals having start frequencies and end frequencies and durations determined by stored data corresponding to that segment corresponding to the plurality of sequential segments.
In another described embodiment, the invention provides a sound producing device including a piezoelectric transducer device (6) attached to a mylar cone acoustic element mounted in a transducer housing (5) configured as a resonant sound port, a microcontroller (31), a voltage booster circuit (34) coupled to the microcontroller, and driver circuitry coupled to the booster circuit and the microcontroller for producing boosted sound signals to the piezoelectric device (6). An algorithm and data are stored in the microcontroller. The data represents a plurality of sequential sound segments each having a start time and stop time and a start frequency and stop frequency such that the microcontroller produces a plurality of sequential output signals as an input to the driver circuit. The sequential output signals each have corresponding start times and stop times and start frequencies and stop frequencies, causing the driver circuit and the piezoelectric transducer device to sequentially generate sounds having the corresponding stored start times, stop times, and frequencies.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a sound producing device in technique wherein an algorithm and data are stored in a memory associated with a processor. The data represents a plurality of sequential sound segments each having a start time and stop time and a start frequency and stop frequency such that the processor produces a plurality of sequential output signals as an input to the driver circuit. The sequential output signals each have corresponding start times and stop times and start frequencies and stop frequencies, causing a sound transducer device to sequentially generate sounds having the corresponding stored start times, stop times, and frequencies during the durations of the various segments, respectively.


A therapeutic pad system (200) is disclosed for the treatment of edema, wherein the pressure applied to the user by the pad encourages the proximal flow of lymph. A fluid is provided to one or more bladder-type pads (220) in the pad through an inlet port (218) at a distal end of the pad, and is expelled from the bladder through an outlet port (220) at the proximal end of the bladder, thereby producing a pressure gradient across the pad. The system includes a flexible and compressible liner (250) filled with a number of small foam pieces (258) that is adapted to be wrapped about the therapeutic pad, and a relatively rugged, outer binder (270) that is securable about the liner (250). An advantage of the present system is that it may be applied in a number of different modes and combinations providing many treatment options.

The lymphatic system includes lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphoid tissues. Lymphatic fluid, or lymph, is collected from the interstitial spaces and is composed of fluids, organic and inorganic materials, and proteins too large for the venous system. In contrast to the closed-loop blood circulatory system, the lymphatic system works generally on a one-way flow principal. The lymph is first collected at the lymph capillaries that, in turn, drain into larger vessels. The movement of the collected lymph is generally from the more distal portions of the body inwardly toward the various lymph nodes and lymphoid tissues. The motive force for the lymph flow is generally associated with contractions of the adjacent muscles and walls of the larger vessels. Foreign matter and bacteria are filtered at various lymph nodes, after which the fluid enters into the venous system, primarily through the thoracic duct. Approximately one to two liters of lymph fluid drain through this duct every day in a healthy individual.
Edema is defined as the accumulation of excess fluid in a body fluid compartment, which is generally apparent as swelling of the affected area. This fluid accumulation can occur in the cells (cellular edema), in intercellular spaces within tissues (interstitial edema), or in potential spaces or cavities within the body. Edema can be caused by a variety of factors, including conditions that affect osmotic pressure, such as hypotonic fluid overload, which allows the movement of water into the intracellular space, or hypoproteinemia, which decreases the concentration of proteins and permits the passage of fluid out of the blood vessels into the tissue spaces. Edema also commonly results from surgery, injury, and other trauma or stress to the body. Vigorous exercise, for example, engaging in competitive sports, can produce stressors in the body, and particularly, in the joints, which result in edema or localized swelling.
Other causes of edema include poor lymphatic drainage (lymphedema); conditions that cause increased capillary pressure, such as excessive retention of salt and water; heart failure; and conditions that increase capillary permeability, such as inflammation. The swelling associated with edema can, in turn, cause pain and impede wound healing. If left untreated, fibrosis (a hardening of the tissue) may further complicate the drainage process.
Causes of lymphedema include aplasia (lack of development) or hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the lymphatic system; inflammatory diseases, such as bacterial infections; malignancies, where the lymphatics or lymph nodes can be blocked by tumor cells; surgical removal of various lymph nodes; radiation therapy; local trauma to a limb; and blockage of lymphatics by various parasites. Various system diseases can cause lymphedema, including myxedema, renal disease (such as nephrosis or nephritis), and collagen diseases.
The lymphatic system is a primary system in the body for removal of the excess fluids that produce the edema or swelling. A healthy lymphatic system is therefore necessary for preventing and reducing edema. As noted above, the body's muscle systems motivate or assist in the motivation of lymph through the body toward the lymph nodes. It is known that externally applied compressive forces—for example, as produced with a compressive wrap or bandage—can also assist the lymphatic system in reducing and/or preventing edema. Such compressive therapies are often combined with the local application of ice or other cooling systems, which have also been found to prevent or reduce swelling. Alternatively, in some situations, heating of the affected area may be beneficial to the treatment of edema.
Treatment modalities known in the art include compression sleeves or stockings, pneumatic compression devices, and manual lymph drainage apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,145; No. 5,906,206; No. 5,916,183; No. 5,918,602; No. 6,196,231; No. 6,254,554; and No. 6,338,723 disclose various designs for compressive sleeves and wraps for the treatment of lymphedema. The devices generally include a plurality of straps used to tighten the sleeve about the limb of the patient. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,145 and No. 6,196,231 (issued to Reid), a partially air-inflated pneumatic bladder is used to adjust the pressure applied by the straps. One of the straps is released and the partially inflated air bladder is inserted underneath the released strap adjacent to the patient's limb. The released strap is then closed and tightened to cause a predetermined increase of pressure to be achieved within the bladder. The strap is then released, the bladder is removed, and the strap is tightened to the same position that existed prior to the bladder being removed. These steps are then sequentially repeated with the remaining straps. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,723 (issued to Carpenter et. al.), indicia are used to adjust the compression applied by the straps. The stretch of the elastic material causes increased separation of the indicia. A system measures the separation of the indicia and converts it to compression, based upon the circumference of the body part. These systems are cumbersome to apply. A further disadvantage is the application of a static pressure to the limb.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,781 and No. 6,315,745 disclose air inflatable/deflatable compression devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,781 (issued to Ferrari), the compression device is used with a source of cyclical fluid pressure to provide alternating inflation and deflation cycles. The garment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,745 is formed through the patterned sealing of the layers of the garment at select locations to form air pockets that can selectively apply points of pressure to the affected area. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,099 (issued to Kellogg), there is disclosed a static reaction system containing a multiplicity of particles that is pressed against the affected area.

Method and device for treatment of edema


An adhesive tape which is to be arranged between a lens and at least one of a plurality of chucks in an edge-machining apparatus comprises an adhesive face for being in contact with the lens. A measurement of an adhesive strength of the adhesive face is 4 gf (0.0392 N) or more when a polyethylene terephthalate plate which has been subjected to a surface treatment with a fluorine-modified silicone parting agent is used as a test plate in an adhesive strength test method based on a 180°-peeling method as defined in JIS Z 0237 “adhesive tape/adhesive sheet test method”. A technique which can be used to edge the lens in which an antifouling layer is formed by using a fluorine-containing silane compound having an excellent antifouling effect is also provided.

In order to suppress reflection of light or increase transmittance of the light, a reflection reducing coating is ordinarily formed on a surface of a lens, such as a spectacle lens. There is a problem in that, at the time of use, a stain derived from adherence of, for example, dirt from a hand, a fingerprint, perspiration, or cosmetic is conspicuous and it is hard to remove the stain. In coping with this problem, in order to prevent the stain from adhering or to facilitate removal of the stain whenever adhered, an antifouling layer has further been provided on a surface of the reflection reducing coating.
With regard to a surface treating agent for providing the antifouling layer on the spectacle lens, a fluorine-containing silane compound which is described in JP-A No. 9-258003 to form the antifouling layer is favorable in terms of the antifouling property. Further, the effect thereof lasts long.
However, the lens which has been subjected to the surface treatment with the fluorine-containing silane compound as described in the above publication has an extremely small friction coefficient compared to that obtained by using a conventional surface treating agent. Therefore, the surface of the lens has such a characteristic as being too slippery. Due to this characteristic, a problem as described below occurs when the lens is subjected to edging. At a retail shop of spectacles, grinding a round spectacle lens to be in a shape in which the lens can be inserted in a spectacle frame, namely, so-called edging has been performed.
In the edging, first, a machining center of the spectacle lens is sucked and held by chucks of an edge-machining apparatus. In another case, the machining center of the spectacle lens is clamped while being applied with pressure from both sides of the lens. In a manner as described above, an edge of the spectacle lens is ground by a grinding stone while the spectacle lens is held by a frictional force. Since the surface of the lens held by the chucks has good slipperiness, when the lens is ground by a grinding stone, the lens slips out of position, due to a grinding pressure of the grinding stone against the chucks, namely, a so-called axial misalignment occurs. This causes a problem in that precise edging can not be performed.
Under these circumstances, the present invention has been achieved and has an object to provide a technique capable of allowing edging a lens on which an antifouling layer has been formed by using a fluorine-containing silane compound excellent in an antifouling effect.

Adhesive tape and edging method using same


This invention relates to a method of reducing the deleterious effects of water production in a subterranean formation by placing an aqueous phase polymer and/or resin, which at a designated set up time, solidifies and blocks water conduits. This invention pertains specifically to a method of placing the polymer and displacing the polymer and/or resin to establish post treatment gas and oil permeability.

(i) Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a method for shutting off or reducing the unwanted production of water from wells in a gas and oil-bearing formation due to flow through paths of least resistance.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
In the operation of wells used in the recovery of gases and associated liquids from subterranean formations unwanted passage of water can severely disrupt or in fact terminate the desired operation of a well. Frequently, a hydrocarbon reservoir contains water, either due to indigenous water or injected water. Water bypassing is often observed since the mobility of the water is usually high and therefore, when a pressure gradient is imposed, water tends to flow more readily than the hydrocarbon phases. The effects of water production are deleterious, as the water must be separated from saleable hydrocarbon products and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. This can result in the well being shut in because of the adverse economics of increased separation and disposal costs of water compared to the declining hydrocarbons as water flow increases. In addition, the produced water can kill the gas flow in the well when the hydrostatic pressure of the water column is greater than the reservoir pressure (which prevents gas or oil flow). Artificial lifting costs to handle the water can add substantially to the cost of production.
These problems are not unique and the solutions have traditionally involved apparatus, methods, and compositions adapted to cover, seal or otherwise plug the openings thereby shutting off or reducing the passage of water. A barrier often is considered for unwanted liquid and gas production mitigation. There are a number of articles and patents describing various techniques which have been used to reduce water production due to coning or bottom water flow. Examples of these are Karp. Et al., Horizontal Barrier for Controlling Water Coning, Journal of Petroleum Technology, Vol. XX, pp. 783-790, 1962, Canadian Patent No. 1,277,936 to Costerton et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,483 issued to Kisman and Russell. These patents and the article discuss specific methods for isolation of bottom water flow. Polymers, such as polyacrylamide and polyphenolic resins, have been used in the past to enter the water conduits in the reservoir, and at a predefined time, setup or solidify to block or substantially impede water flow in the conduits. Since these solutions are aqueous they have a preference for the water conduits because of the low interfacial tension between two aqueous fluids. This can result in the aqueous solutions mixing with the large volumes of water and becoming unduly diluted.
These treatments have been successfully used for plugging high water flow regions but, due to their density, many times these treatments are gravimetrically unstable and are therefore less effective for bottom water control. Some of these previous applications are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,949; U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,043; U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,217; U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,418; U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,465; U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,168 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,861.
Another technique disclosed in U.K. Patent GB 2,062,070A proposed a viscosified polymer which would be emulsified in oil and injected into a gas-producing formation to control bottom water production. This, however, was not successful due to the fact that the inherently high viscosity precluded the polymer from entering into many of the zones in which the water was flowing. Also, polymer gel emulsified in oil and stabilized with surfactants often suffer from phase separation in porous media.

Method for terminating or reducing water flow in a subterranean formation


A bracket assembly for an elevated toilet seat includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket includes an opening, and the second bracket includes a cam that selectively engages the opening. The cam is rotatable between a first position and a second position to engage the first bracket relative to the second bracket.

This disclosure relates generally to a toilet seat, and more particularly to an elevated toilet seat assembly.
Modern bathrooms are equipped with toilets having toilet seats that provide a relatively comfortable surface for individuals to utilize the facilities of the bathroom. Individuals with balance and mobility issues, such as the elderly or persons having temporary or permanent physical impairments, may have difficulty sitting on and raising from a conventional toilet seat. For example, these individuals may lack the muscles required to safely reach the toilet seat, possibly resulting in harm to the individual.
Elevated toilet seats are known that provide a raised surface to allow individuals with physical impairments to reach the toilet seat with less exertion than required with a conventional toilet seat. These elevated toilet seats typically include locking mechanisms for securing the elevated seat relative to the toilet. For example, one known elevated toilet seat includes a knob that is rotatable to engage a hook on the inside of the toilet bowl rim.
Disadvantageously, known elevated toilet seats are difficult to install and remove from the existing toilet. Typically, the tools are required to remove the elevated seat from the toilet. Additionally, elevated toilet seat designs that include rotatable knobs that engage hooks on the interior of the toilet bowl rim may be an intrusion because the knob protrudes into the living space. The components that engage the inside of the toilet bowl rib can be nauseating to clean as these extra surfaces can collect mold, fecal matter, urine and the like.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an elevated toilet seat that is easy to clean, easy to install and remove, and that is installable on existing toilet bowls of various shapes and sizes.


A stereoscopic image projection system including: a beam projector for projecting a left eye image and a right eye image in a side by side format; a stereoscopic image adaptor for alternately projecting the left eye image and the right eye image onto a screen in a time sequence; and a shutter controller for synchronizing a time sequential operation of the stereoscopic image adaptor and opening and closing of right and left shutters of a user shutter glasses.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a stereoscopic image projection system compatible with a 2 dimensional (2D) image projector and having a simple structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, stereoscopic images have been used in various fields, such as information communication, broadcasting, medical services, games, virtual reality, commercials, education, and the military.
Methods of providing a stereoscopic image include a binocular parallax method of providing a 3-dimensional (3D) image by separating a visual field of a left eye image and that of a right eye image of a stereopair so that the left eye and the right eye of a viewer may see different images. The binocular parallax method is easy to realize since two 2D images are used, and is most often used in a stereoscopic image projection system.
Such a stereoscopic image projection system generally includes two beam projectors each having a polarizing filter. The polarizing filters have polarizing axes that cross each other, and accordingly, the two beam projectors project right and left images on a screen. A user independently recognizes the right and left images through polarizing glasses, thereby perceiving a 3D effect. Since two beam projectors are used, a general stereoscopic image projection system not only has a bulky structure, but also has high manufacturing costs. In addition, the stereoscopic image projection system requires a special screen for maintaining polarization.


A bonding material (10) of the present invention includes an amorphous silver film (12).

It is known to integrate a plurality of members by bonding the members together while in contact with each other. For example, in a process of mounting a semiconductor element on a substrate, the semiconductor element and the substrate are bonded together with a bonding material.
Traditionally, solder containing lead is widely used as a bonding material. Meanwhile, studies have been recently made on solder that does not contain lead (lead-free solder) from the viewpoint of environmental protection. However, the lead-free solder generally has a melting point higher than that of the solder containing lead. Therefore, when bonding is performed with the lead-free solder under a high temperature, a bonding target may be damaged by thermal stress or a void may be formed at a solder bonding interface.
Therefore, it is considered using a paste containing metal nanoparticles as a bonding material having a low melting point (for example, Patent Literature 1). Patent Literature 1 discloses a method for bonding a semiconductor chip to an insulating substrate. In the method disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a paste is applied to the insulating substrate, thereafter the semiconductor chip is placed on the paste, and heating is performed. The paste disclosed in Patent Literature 1 contains metal nanoparticles, an organic dispersant, a dispersant scavenger, and a volatile organic component. During heating, gas is generated from the paste by volatilization.

Bonding material, method for producing bonding material, and method for producing bonding structure


An embodiment of a probe card adapted for testing at least one integrated circuit integrated on a corresponding at least one die of a semiconductor material wafer, the probe card including a board adapted for the coupling to a tester apparatus, and a plurality of probes coupled to the said board, wherein the probe card comprises a plurality of replaceable elementary units, each one comprising at least one of said probes for contacting externally-accessible terminals of an integrated circuit under test, the plurality of replaceable elementary units being arranged so as to correspond to an arrangement of at least one die on the semiconductor material wafer containing integrated circuits to be tested.

ICs are typically manufactured many at a time in the form of dies on a semiconductor material wafer. After manufacturing, the semiconductor wafer is diced, so as to obtain a plurality of IC chips.
Before being packaged and shipped to the customers, and installed in various electronic systems, the ICs are tested for assessing their functionality, and in particular for ensuring that they are not defective. In particular, during the test, information regarding global or local physical faults (such as undesired presence of short circuits and break-down events) and more generally the operation of the IC on each die under test, may be detected (for example, by checking the waveform of one or more output signals generated by the IC on each die under test) so that only the dies that meet predetermined requirements proceed to the subsequent manufacturing phases (such as lead bonding, packaging and final testing).
According to a known testing technique, the IC dies are tested before the semiconductor wafer is diced into the individual chips. The test conducted at the wafer level is referred to as "wafer sort" or, as it is sometimes called, EWS (acronym for Electrical Wafer Sort)
For example, in the case of non-volatile semiconductor memory devices (such as Flash memories) the EWS is performed on each die wherein the memory device is formed, in order to verify the correct operation thereof.
For performing the test, a testing apparatus is used comprising a tester, which is coupled to the semiconductor wafer containing the dies to be tested, by means of a probe card, which is used for interfacing the semiconductor wafer to the tester.
The tester is adapted to manage signals that are employed for performing the test. Hereinafter, such signals will be referred as test signals and will be intended to include test stimuli (e.g., commands, addresses of memory locations, data to be written into the memory device) which are generated by the tester and are sent to each die to be tested by the probe card, and test response signals, which are generated by the ICs integrated in each die under test in response to the received test stimuli. The test response signals are sent by the IC integrated in each die under test to the tester, which processes them to derive an indication of the proper or improper operation of the ICs in the dies under test.
Probes are employed for the electrical coupling, through a physical contact, of the probe card with the dies to be tested, necessary for accomplishing the test signal exchange. For this purpose, the probe card consists of a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), which is connected to mechanical probes, which are adapted to physically contact input/output contact pads of each die to be tested.
In particular, each input/output contact pad consists of an enlarged metallization region surrounded and partially overlapped by a passivation layer.
During the testing, the metal contact pad is scrubbed by the mechanical scrubbing action of the probe tip. In such a way, the exchange of the test signals between the tester and the die to be tested may be accomplished.
Several probe card parameters contribute to improve the performance of the testing apparatus. Among the relevant probe card parameters, the planarity takes an important role. The planarity is the vertical distance (i.e., the distance along the Z-axis indicated in FIG. 1) between the highest and lowest probe tips of the probe card. The planarity affects the alignment between the probe tip and the contact pad so that, for example, a poor planarity may cause the scrub mark length and depth to be different from the desired scrub mark length and depth; this may modify the position in the plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis in FIG. 1 as time passes. Another important parameter is the probe alignment accuracy, that is the position of the center of the scrub mark in the plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis with respect to the center of the pad. In detail, scrub marks that are too long, or probe tips contacting the pad near the pad edge, may cause the passivation layer to be broken, while excessively deep scrub marks may damage the pad metallization region to the extent that the pads are then unusable for the testing and also for the normal operation of the IC. Damages to the input/output contact pads may also cause problems in the packaging phase of the die, since the input/output contact pads which are used for the testing are also used for bonding the die to the package.
The probe card parameters vary depending on the type of the probe cards.
Cantilever probe cards usually comprise a ring (for example made of aluminium, special alloys, or ceramic material) to which an epoxy holder is attached. Such epoxy holder is adapted to hold a plurality of testing elements in the form of resilient probes, made of an alloy having good electrical and mechanical properties. In particular, each cantilever probe includes a beam which is attached at only one of its ends to the epoxy holder, and at the other end the beam includes a tip which in use is intended to abut against a contact pad of the die with the IC to be tested.
A drawback of these probe cards is that some of their probe card parameters are unsatisfactory, so that, for example, alignment errors (such as an X-axis error, and/or an Y-axis error and/or a rotational error) between the probes' tips and the contact pads (that is, between wafer and probe card) may take place, with consequent potential problems of passivation layer breakage and with a negative impact on quality.
More specifically, the X-axis error and the Y-axis error represent the misalignment of the probes along the X and the Y directions, respectively, with the contact pads to be contacted. Due to the X-axis and Y-axis errors, the scrub mark on the contact pad may be off-center along the X direction and/or the Y direction.
In particular, during the testing of each die, rows of contact pads placed on opposite sides of the die are often contacted by the probes tips. In case of X-axis and Y-axis errors, all the probes may be misaligned in the same direction (X or Y), causing a displacement of the scrub marks along the X or the Y direction.
When the scrub marks of the contact pads on one side of the die are displaced towards the outer die edge, whereas the scrub marks of the contact pads on the other side of the die are displaced towards the inside of the die, a rotational error exists.
Such errors are emphasized by the fact that the cantilever probes are typically made based on mechanical techniques, so that the probes are different from each other. Such difference may further impair the values of the probe-card mechanical parameters.
In addition, this type of probe card may have some other limitations; for example, they may have a reduced parallel testing capacity: indeed, when several dies have to be tested at the same time, the number of mechanical probes significantly increases, and it may happen that the electrical contacts between the contact pads and the probes are not good and electrical discontinuities may take place.
Moreover, when the contact pads are located close to each other, it may be very difficult to ensure a good physical contact of the mechanical probes with the pads. Such problem may be emphasized when the pads are small in size and/or a large number thereof is present on each die.
In addition, even if only one probe is damaged, it may be necessary to replace the entire epoxy holder, and this negatively contributes to the increase of the overall cost of the test apparatus, and eventually of the ICs.
As an alternative to the cantilever probe cards, other known probe cards include a plurality of vertical (or pseudo-vertical) probes consisting of conductive wires passing through respective holes formed in a probe card head. In detail, the probe card head includes a top guide plate stacked on a bottom guide plate, which are suitably separated by an air gap. Each probe has a tip, which protrudes from the bottom guide plate and is adapted to electrically contact the corresponding contact pad of the die to be tested. A contact interface known as a "space transformer" (that is one of the possible contact interface types) is connected to the top guide plate and is adapted for electrically coupling the probes to the PCB (by means of corresponding wires) so that the exchange of the testing signal between the tester and the die under test may be accomplished.
A drawback of these probe cards is that they may have a poor scrubbing action on the contact pads, which may cause a reduced electric yield. In other words, the probes may not be able to adequately scrub the contact pad surface, that could have a metal oxide layer (and sometimes diffusion residuals) over the contact pad metallization region; the resulting probe scrub mark may not be able to ensure a good electrical contact between probe and pad, and if this happens the testing of the IC functionalities may be impaired.
Moreover, also in this case, when the contact pads are close to each other, it may be difficult to ensure a good physical contact of the probes with the pads. Such problem is emphasized when the pads are small in size and/or a large number thereof is present on each die.
A further drawback is that, similarly to the cantilever probe cards, when a probe breaks, it may be necessary to replace the whole probe head, thereby increasing the overall cost of the test apparatus.
Moreover, also in this case the probes are typically made based on mechanical techniques, so that the probes are different from each other. Such difference may further impair the probe card planarity.
Probe cards are also known which include MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) probes.
The probe cards having MEMS probes include of a multilayer ceramic head to which the MEMS probes are coupled. Each MEMS probe includes a base with contact features (such as a tip) adapted to contact the pad, and a beam, which is attached at on only one end thereof to the multilayer ceramic head and has the other end connected to the base.
Each MEMS probe is obtained by means of lithographic techniques, in particular a trench into a sacrificial substrate is formed (for example, by means of etching processes) and then filled with conductive material (e.g., gold) so as to obtain a base of the MEMS probe adapted for contacting the contact pad. The conductive material is then deposited on a portion of the sacrificial substrate in order to obtain the beam of the MEMS probe. Then, the MEMS probes are bonded to the multilayer ceramic head by means of wire bonds or other techniques and the sacrificial substrate is eliminated (for example, by an etching process). Finally, the multilayer ceramic head is connected to the PCB.
A drawback of MEMS probe cards is that even if only one MEMS probe is damaged, it may be necessary to replace the whole multilayer ceramic head, and this may be very expensive.
Other, different types of cantilever, vertical and MEMS probe cards are also known.

Probe card for testing integrated circuits


This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of addition polymers containing branches upon branches and having a polymerizable olefin end group by a convenient one-pot polymerization of selected vinyl monomers with chain polymerization initiators and a method to provide olefinic end groups by chain termination agents; and polymers produced thereby characterized by branch-on-branch structure and lower inherent viscosity than heretofore possible.

Macromolecular engineering using commodity monomers is becoming a major trend in polymer technology to satisfy the demand for new properties, improved cost effectiveness, ecology and quality. Functional polymers with low molecular weight, low polydispersity, compact, branched structures and terminally-located reactive groups are expected to exhibit superior performance/cost characteristics, by virtue of lower inherent viscosity and higher reactivity vs. conventional linear statistical copolymers.
The terminally-functional branched polymers appear to be ultimate reactive substrates for networks, because the branch points can substitute for a significant portion of expensive reactive groups and provide better distribution of the reactive groups. Polymers having large numbers of short branches below critical molecular weight are unlikely to form any entanglements and should exhibit low inherent viscosity and good flow even in concentrated solutions.
Conventional techniques for synthesizing well-defined branched polymers require expensive multistep processes involving isolation of reactive intermediate macromonomers. The macromonomers have polymerizable end groups, which are usually introduced using functional initiator, terminating or chain transfer agent. Well-defined branched polymers are prepared by the macromonomer homopolymerization or copolymerization with suitable low molecular weight comonomer selected based on known reactivity ratios. These methods have been reviewed and only single-branch polymers from single incorporation of the macromonomers are reported; multiple reincorporation of the growing macromonomers was never attempted, e.g., R. Milkovich, et al., U.S. Pat. No.3,786,116; P. Remp, et al., Advan. Polymer Sci., 58, 1 (1984); J. C. Salamone, ed., Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia, Vol.3 and 4 (1996).
Several linear macromonomers were prepared by end-capping of living anionic polyolefins with unsaturated terminating agents providing polymerizable olefin end-groups, e.g., R. Asami et al., Macromolecules, 16, 628 (1983). Certain macromonomers have been incorporated into simple graft polymers by homo- or copolymerization with branched structure not well-characterized and reincorporation of the macromonomers into more complex structures was not considered.
Dendrimers or hyperbranched polymers are conventionally prepared using expensive, special multifunctional monomers or expensive multistep methods requiring repetitive isolation of the reactive intermediates. Nothing in the prior art discloses synthetic conditions for production of macromonomers or polymers containing branches upon branches.
This invention relates to a general process for the synthesis of polyolefins containing branches upon branches and having polymerizable olefin end groups by a convenient one-pot polymerization of selected vinyl monomers with chain polymerization initiators and a method to provide olefin end groups by chain termination agents. The polymerization is carried out in such a manner that chain termination occurs gradually and each chain termination event terminates that particular polymer chain with polymerizable olefinic functionality. Subsequent reincorporation of the linear polymer chains produced early in the reaction leads to branching of subsequently-formed macromolecules which are terminated with polymerizable olefinic functionality. Subsequent reincorporation of the branched macromolecules leads to subsequently-formed polymer molecules containing branches upon branches which are terminated with polymerizable olefinic functionality. Spontaneous repetition of the process leads to highly branched or hyperbranched dendritic products still retaining polymerizable olefinic termini.
This invention concerns an improved process for the anionic polymerization of at least one vinylic monomer to form a branched polymer comprising contacting, in the presence of an anionic initiator:
(i) one or more anionically polymerizable vinylic monomers having the formula CH2xe2x95x90CYZ, and
(ii) an anionic polymerization chain terminating agent of formula CH2xe2x95x90CZxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94X, wherein:
Q is selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond, xe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94, and xe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94;
Y is selected from the group consisting of R, CO2R, CN, and NR2;
X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, and RSO3;
Z is selected from the group consisting H, R, and CN;
R is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted and substituted alkyl, vinyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl and organosilanyl groups and Rxe2x80x2is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, arylene, aralkylene, alkarylene and organosilanylene groups; the substituents being the same or different and selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, carboxylic ester, hydroxyl, alkoxy and amino; wherein the improvement comprises obtaining higher yields of branched polymer, the polymer having dense branch upon branch architecture and polymerizable vinylic chain termini, employing steps I, III, VI and at least one of II, IV and V:
I. reacting (i) with an anionic initiator in a first step:
II. decreasing the ratio of (i) to anionic initiator toward 1;
III. adding (ii) optionally with some (i) in a second step;
IV. selecting the rate of the (ii) addition, dependent on the (ii) reactivity;
V. increasing the ratio of (ii) to anionic initiator toward 1; and
VI. increasing the conversion of (i), (ii) and olefinic end groups from 70 to 100%.
Based on the disclosure and Examples presented herein, one skilled in the art can select the optimum steps I-VII with minimum experimentation. One skilled in the art will also be able to select the appropriate anionic initiator and chain transfer agent for the monomer(s) being polymerized, by reference to the well-known conditions for anionic polymerization. Optionally, the process includes the step, VII, of converting anionic-growing end groups into non-polymerizable end groups. It is preferred to operate process step V at a ratio of about 0.7 to 1, most preferably from 0.8 to 1. In step IV, the rate of addition will vary in the same direction as reactivity of (ii) so that addition will be relatively slow for less reactive component (ii) and will increase commensurate with increased reactivity of component (ii).
This invention further concerns the product of the above reaction which is composed primarily of a polymer having a branch-upon-branch structure and a polymerizable olefinic end group, having the structure:
Bxe2x80x2=Y, B;
m=1 to 100, preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 10; n =0 to 100, preferably 0 to 50, more preferably 1 to 20; p=0 to 100, preferably 0 to 50, more preferably 1 to 20; and n+m+p greater than 2, preferably 5 to 50, more preferably 5 to 20;
if m greater than 1, then the m insertions are consecutive or not consecutive;
A=anionic initiator moiety selected from the group consisting of R; and
Q, Y, Z are as earlier defined.
More particulray, A=butyl, Z=H, and Y=Ph, Q=C6H4CH2. W is CZxe2x95x90CH2, a composition of claim 10 wherein W is a non-polymerizable moiety, or H.
Branch-upon-branch polymers (BUBP) are superior over straight branch polymers (SBP) in terms of more compact structure, reflected in lower inherent viscosity and better flow properties in melts and solutions for any given molecular weight of polymers. Therefore, BUBPs require less solvents and lower temperature than SBPs for processing.
BUBPs with terminal end groups are superior over SBP substrates by having much larger network fragments, which can be preformed and incorporated into new topology networks. BUBPs allow formation of new types of hybrid networks by combining different BUBPs with a good control on molecular level.
BUBPs allow incorporation of larger numbers of branch points per macromolecule, which are equivalent to curing sites. This improves economy and conversion of reactive coatings by reducing the number of expensive curing sites.
In general, BUBPs offer at least a 10 percent improvement over SBPs of the same molecular weight in such characteristics as lower viscosity, reduced need for solvent, fewer curing sites in reactive substrates for networks and higher conversion of curing sites in final coatings, all of which provide better product stability.
We have discovered a process for the synthesis of polyolefins containing branches upon branches and having polymerizable olefin end groups by a convenient one-pot polymerization of selected vinyl monomers with chain polymerization initiators and a method to provide olefin end groups by chain-termination agents. The polymerization is carried out in such a manner that chain termination occurs gradually and each chain-termination event terminates that particular polymer chain with polymerizable olefinic functionality. The process is shown in Scheme 1.
Subsequent incorporation of the linear polymer chains 1 produced early in the reaction leads to branching of subsequently-formed macromolecules terminated with polymerizable olefinic functionality 2. Subsequent reincorporation of the branched macromolecules 2 leads to polymer molecules containing branches upon branches 3 which are terminated with polymerizable olefinic functionality. Spontaneous repetition of the process leads to highly branched or hyperbranched dendritic products still retaining polymerizable olefinic termini.
The polymers made by the present process are useful in a wide variety of applications including coatings, processing aids in extrusion, cast, blown or spray applications in fiber, film, sheet, composite materials, multilayer coatings, photopolymerizable materials, photoresists, surface active agents, dispersants, adhesives, adhesion promotors, compatibilizers and others. End products taking advantage of available characteristics, particularly low inherent viscosity, can include automotive and architectural coatings having high solids, aqueous- or solvent-based finishes.
In a preferred process, the anionic initiator is selected from alkali metals, radical anions, alkyllithium and other organometallic initiating compounds, ester enolates, functionalized initiators, typical examples of which include: butyl-, methyl-, isopropyl-, phenyl-, vinyl-, allyl-lithiums, cumyl potassium, fluorenyl lithium.
Chain termination agents include p-vinylbenzyl chloride and bromide, p-vinylbenzyl tosylate, allyl chloride and bromide, vinyldimethylchlorosilane, vinyl(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane, p-vinylphenyldimethylchlorosilane, methacryloyl chloride.
Substituents Q and X of the chain terminating agent are chosen to convey the appropriate reactivity in the terminating step and in anionic copolymerization of the desired monomer(s) under polymerization conditions.
The process can be conducted by bulk, solution, suspension or emulsion polymerization using batch or preferably starved feed reactor, which offers better process control.
The treelike dendritic branched polymers are formed by in situ generation and copolymerization of first linear and subsequently increasingly branched macromonomers through the polymerizable olefin group (Scheme 1). The method can be employed in anionic polymerization of styrene initiated by alkyllithiums, where dendritic structures are formed by continuous addition of vinylbenzyl halides and/or vinylchlorosilanes acting as chain terminating/functionalizing/branching agents (Scheme 2). The data are consistent with a mechanism, in which the initially-formed linear macromolecules receive predominantly the vinyl end group through the termination by the vinylbenzylhalide or vinylchlorosilane. The vinyl reactive end group allows the linear macromonomer to participate in analogous subsequent (secondary) copolymerization steps leading eventually to even more branched structures (xe2x80x9cbranch upon branchxe2x80x9d or dendrigrafts).
Polystyrenes with molecular weights in the range 3,000-60,000, polydispersity  less than 2.5 with 5 to 40 branches, each containing 3 to 30 monomer units were prepared, primarily controlled by the initiator/monomer/chain terminating agent ratio, relative addition rates, the reactivity ratios of the macromonomer and (co)monomers.
A chain polymerization is controlled by a chain termination step so as to provide a polymerizable olefin end group (Scheme 1). The branch upon branch structure is build by in situ generation and copolymerization of linear and subsequently increasingly branched macromonomers through the polymerizable olefinic group.
The monomer copolymerizability of CH2xe2x95x90CYZ primarily determined by the steric and electronic properties is well documented in the art. The chain process can involve either one or several different comonomers and is preferably anionic but can also be cationic or radical. Typical monomers include monoolefins, preferably styrene, a-methyl styrene, substituted styrenes, substituted styrenes with protected functional groups, vinyl aromatics, vinylpyridines, conjugated dienes, vinyl silanes, acrylates, methacrylates, acrylonitrile, vinylidene cyanide, alkyl cyanoacrylates, methacrylonitrile, vinyl phenyl sulfoxide, vinyl aldehydes, vinyl ketones and nitroethylenes.
The data are consistent with a mechanism, in which the initially-formed branched macromolecules 2 receive predominantly the olefin end group through the chain termination. See Scheme 1. Having a reactive olefin end group allows 2 to participate in analogous subsequent (secondary) copolymerization steps leading eventually to branch-upon-branch polymers, 3.
Formation of branch-upon-branch structures 3 is indicated by the significant increase (up to 50 xc3x97) in the polymer molecular weight compared to the control experiments where the same monomer/initiator ratios but nonolefin chain terminating agents such as benzyl chloride or methanol are used instead of the p-vinylbenzyl chloride.
In general, vinylsilane terminated macromonomers show much lower reactivities toward homo- and co-polymerizations under the conditions studied, leading to polymers with lower molecular weight and less branched structures.
Branched structures of copolymers 3 are confirmed by very low inherent viscosities, values of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d coefficient in Mark-Houwink equation, [xcex7]=K Ma, falling in the range 0.18-0.66 vs. 0.72 for linear polystyrenes, branching factors approaching 0.4 and the RMS radius less than a half of the linear analog of the same molecular weight in the range 105-106 as measured by GPC with a dual RI/LS detector.


A bearded needle comprises a needle shank whose tip is shaped into a thin shank portion by tapering down the thickness of the needle shank. The thin shank portion has a conical projection portion at the extremity thereof. The conical projection portion has a hooking tip portion to form a hooking portion at the tip of the needle shank. The hooking portion has a substantially U-shaped bottom portion that hooks and holds a thread, and includes sloping surfaces each inclining toward an outer edge of the hooking tip portion. The sloping surfaces each extend from the bottom portion over both the conical projection portion and the hooking tip portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a bearded needle used mainly for Sagara embroidery (looped stitches), and more particularly, to a bearded needle that can attain uniform finishing with stable off-hooking of a thread in Sagara embroidery.
2. Description of the Related Art
As conventional bearded needles, there have been those for a book binding stitcher, a knitting machine, etc. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a bearded needle for a book binding stitcher that has the following configuration. A needle body 1 includes a conical tip 2 formed at a head portion thereof and a tonguelet 4 extending from the conical tip 2 and being bent in a U-shape at a narrow portion 3, wherein a needle eye 5 is formed between the needle body 1 and the tonguelet 4 to form a hooking portion to hook a thread. The width of the needle eye 5 is nearly the same as the width of a thread, but the width of the needle eye 5 is made slightly wider to ensure the smooth sliding of a thread. A thread hooked at the hooking portion is retained to form a U-shape loop, and the width of the U-shape loop can be made narrower by the provision of the narrow portion 3. While friction that is generated when a thread is pulled out is large and the thread could be cut in a case that the width of the U-shape loop is wide, the friction can be reduced by narrowing the width of the U-shape loop (see e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 63-162290).
A conventional bearded needle used in Sagara embroidery is explained referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C. A bearded needle of this type has the following configuration. A needle body 6 includes a needle shank 6a and a hooking portion 7 formed at a tip portion thereof. The hooking portion 7 includes a narrow shank portion 6b formed at the distal end of the needle shank 6a and a conical projection portion 8 provided at a tip of the narrow shank portion 6b. The conical projection portion 8 has a hooking tip portion 9 that points backward to form a needle eye 6c where a thread is hooked. At the hooking tip portion 9, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, thread guiding grooves 6d where a thread S is hanged on are formed on the two sides of the hooking portion 7. Reference character 6b′ denotes the side of the narrow shank portion 6b, and reference character 9′ denotes the side of the hooking tip portion 9. In order to prevent the hooking tip portion 9 of the bearded needle 6 from trapping by hooking a base cloth when the bearded needle 6 is drawn from the base cloth, the width D from the outer end of the needle shank 6a to the end, on the side of the needle eye 6c, of the hooking tip portion 9 needs to be formed wide enough. There are problems that in the case that the width D is narrow, while it is allowed to form the width of the needle eye 6c wide, the hooking tip portion 9 may hook the base cloth and hence roughening of the base cloth may be caused, and that in the case that the width D is wide, the needle eye 6c and the thread guiding grooves 6d become narrow accordingly, and hence off-hooking of a thread becomes instable.
In Sagara embroidery (looped stitches), there are chain stitch and loop stitch. As illustrated in a step sequence (1) to (10) in FIG. 6, the chain stitch has planar stitches formed by loops connected like a chain. In step (1), a thread S is hooked by the hooking portion 7 of the bearded needle 6 and drawn out from a base cloth C, and the bearded needle 6 is elevated to a top dead center. In steps from (2) to (5), after stopping the rotation of a looper T, the bearded needle 6 is lowered to pierce through the base cloth C, and is inserted into a needle insertion hole Ta of the looper T while the looper T is being rotated clockwise, and the thread S is off-hooked from the hooking portion 7 during the lowering process, and the bearded needle 6 is further lowered. In steps from (6) to (10), the thread S is wound around the bearded needle 6 by the clockwise rotation of the looper T, then the thread S is hooked by the hooking portion 7 of the bearded needle 6 by elevating the bearded needle 6, a new loop P is formed by further elevating the bearded needle 6 inside a previously formed loop P to the top dead center, and the thread S hooked by the bearded needle 6 goes through the previously formed loop P by rotating the looper T counterclockwise to an initial position and moving the base cloth C in the direction indicated by an arrow Y, thereby forming the new loop, resulting in chained loops being formed by repeating the same steps.
Loop stitch, which forms steric stitches (towel face stitches) by forming separate standing-up loops one by one, is explained in a step sequence from (1) to (10) in FIG. 7. Step (1) shows a state that a bearded needle 6 has reached a top dead center, a loop P has been formed on a base cloth C, and the base cloth C has been moved. In steps from (2) to (5), the bearded needle 6 is lowered from the top dead center to pierce through the base cloth and to be inserted into a needle insertion hole Ta of the looper T that is stopped, and a thread S is wound around the needle shank of the bearded needle 6 by the clockwise rotation of the looper T during lowering of the bearded needle 6. As illustrated in steps (6) to (10), the thread S is hooked by a hooking portion 7 by elevating the bearded needle 6 during rotating of the looper T clockwise, and a new loop P is formed on the base cloth C by elevating the bearded needle 6 to the top dead center to pierce through the base cloth C. In this step, rotation of the looper T is stopped, and the looper T is then rotated counterclockwise to an initial position, and the loop P1 is off-hooked from the hooking portion 7 by moving the base cloth C in the direction Y indicated by an arrow, resulting in loop stitches being formed by repeating the same steps.
In loop stitch, as is obvious from FIG. 7, if a thread is not off-hooked from a hooking portion of a bearded needle at a constant timing, irregularity in the size and standing angle of loops is caused, and hence clear embroidery patterns cannot be attained. Therefore, in order to realize clearly finished embroideries, off-hooking of the thread from the hooking portion of the bearded needle needs to be done regularly at a constant timing. The off-hooking of a thread from the hooking portion is done, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, at a step where a bearded needle 6 is being lowered after the bearded needle 6 has once reached a top dead center after a thread S is drawn out by a hooking portion 7. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, however, in the conventional art, the tension of the thread S could loosen when the bearded needle 6 is slightly lowered from the top dead center, and thereby the tip portion of the bearded needle 6 could be inserted and pierced between the twists (parts of the thread Sa, Sb) of the stranded thread S. Especially, in loop stitch with a narrow stitching interval, the possibility of the thread S being trapped by the tip portion of the bearded needle 6 is high, and if such a trapping occurs, and the thread is not broken, a poor-finished embroidery in which the stitches of chain stitch are formed on a base cloth is provided.