In accordance with the invention the birefringence induced by compressive strain in silica waveguides on silicon substrates is compensated with a high index patch--such as silicon nitride--placed adjacent the core. The patch is disposed sufficiently close to the core to optically couple with the transmitted optical mode. The patch is preferably wider than the core to intersect the exponential tail of the transmitted optical mode. Such a high index patch preferentially couples TE polarization modes. By choosing an appropriate length for the patch, both strain and bend birefringence can be compensated.

As optical fiber communications channels increasingly replace metal cable and microwave transmission links, integrated optical devices for directly processing optical signals become increasingly important. A particularly useful approach to optical processing is through the use of integrated glass waveguide structures formed on silicon substrates. The basic structure of such devices is described in C. H. Henry et al., "Glass Waveguides on Silicon for Hybrid Optical Packaging", 7 J. Lightwave Technol., pp. 1530-1539(1989). In essence a silicon substrate is provided with a base layer of SiO.sub.2, and a thin core layer of doped silica glass is deposited on the oxide. The core layer can be configured to a desired waveguide structure--typically 5-7 micrometers wide--using standard photolithographic techniques, and a layer of doped silica glass is deposited on the core to act as a top cladding. Depending on the precise configuration of the waveguide, such devices can perform a wide variety of functions such as beam splitting, tapping, multiplexing, demultiplexing and filtering.
One shortcoming of such devices, however, is birefringence induced in the waveguide core by compressive strain. The effect of this birefringence is that different polarization modes of transmitted light are presented with different effective indices of refraction. Specifically, the transverse magnetic mode (TM) encounters a greater index than does the transverse electric (TE) mode.
The dispersive effect is further aggravated by curves in the waveguide. When traversing a curve, optical modes are shifted radially outward. A mode loosely bound to the waveguide core (TM) will experience a greater outward shift than a mode more tightly bound (TE) with the consequence that the loosely bound mode has a greater optical path length and phase.
A number of techniques have been suggested for overcoming the intrinsic birefringence of glass-on-silicon waveguides. One method employs a half-wave plate inserted in the middle of a waveguide grating multiplexer to rotate the polarization by 90.degree.. See H. Takahashi et al., "Polarization-Insensitive Arrayed-Waveguide Multiplexer on Silicon", Opt. Letts., 17 (7), p. 499(1992). This approach leads to excessive loss. Another approach is to deposit on the waveguide a thick layer (six micrometers) of amorphous silicon. But the silicon layer must then be actively trimmed with a high power laser. See M. Kawatchi, et al, "Laser Trimming Adjustment of Waveguide Birefringence In Silica Integrated Optic Ring Resonators", Proc. CLEO '89, Tu J. 17 (April 1989). Yet a third approach is to etch grooves alongside the waveguide to release strain. This approach requires deep grooves on the order of 60 micrometers deep. See M. Kawatchi et al, "Birefringence Control in High-Silica Single-Mode Channel Waveguides in Silicon", Proc. OFC/I00C '87, Tu Q 31 (Jan. 1987). Thus none of the proposals are completely satisfactory. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of compensating for strain-induced birefringence in integrated optical devices.

Polarization compensated integrated optical filters and multiplexers


In a parts assembly system which assembled subsidiary parts with main parts, the main parts are conveyed through a first conveying path to an assembly robot provided along the first conveying path, and the subsidiary parts are supplied through the first conveying path to stockers provided along the first conveying path. In consequence, the travel space of the conveying cart is saved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a parts assembly system provided in an automatic production line for plastic products and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in a production line using an automatic machine, not only assembly of parts but also supplement of parts to each assembly station is automated. Typical techniques for the automation of the parts supplement are automatic guided vehicles (AGV), in which self-propelled conveying carts travel in accordance with a predetermined drive program.
However, the method in accordance with the drive program has a disadvantage that the system becomes complicated as the scale of the line and the number of the conveying carts increase. In this regard, a system has been suggested in which a request for the supplement is made from each assembly station, and the request is received to perform the supplement, without using the drive program (refer to Japanese Patent No. 2978028).
FIG. 9 schematically illustrates this system, which includes a production line 101 where main parts to be assembled are conveyed, a plurality of assembly stations 103 including a stocker 102 of subsidiary parts, and a remain information network 104 which notifies remain information of the stocker 102. On receiving the request for the supplement from each of the assembly stations 103, a control device 105 controls a self-propelled conveying cart 106 which supplies subsidiary parts. In a conveying path 107 of the self-propelled conveying cart 106, a parts placing station 108 for placing parts into the self-propelled conveying cart 106 is provided.
In this parts supply system, when supplement of parts is necessary in the stocker 102, the assembly station 103 issues a parts supplement request to the control device 105 through the remain information network 104. The control device 105 allows the self-propelled conveying cart 106 to travel along the conveying path 107 to supplement the parts in order of requests being received. The supplemented parts are placed into the parts placing station 108 and conveyed to each assembly station.
However, in such a parts supply system, the stocker of the parts supply machine provided in the assembly station necessarily faces the conveying path of the subsidiary parts, and the width of the stocker necessary in the assembly station is different depending on the subsidiary parts. For this reason, if the assembly station is narrow, the subsidiary parts cannot directly be conveyed to the stocker, and it is necessary to manually move the parts in part or prepare a separate conveyor. In addition to the production line, it is necessary to provide the space for the travel of the self-propelled conveying cart across the total length of the production line.


Intervals of the frame portion and the p type guard ring on a cell portion side are made narrower than other parts, and the narrowed part provides a dot line portion. By narrowing the intervals of the frame portion and the p type guard ring on the cell portion side, the electric field concentration is reduced on the cell portion side, and the equipotential line directs to more outer circumferential side. By providing the dot line portions, the difference in the formation areas of the trench per unit area in the cell portion, the connection portion and the guard ring portion is reduced, and the thicknesses of the p type layers formed on the cell portion, the connection portion and the guard ring portion are uniformed. Thereby, when etching-back the p type layer, the p type layer is prevented from remaining as a residue in the guard ring portion.

Conventionally, SiC has attracted attention as a material of power devices that can obtain high electric field breakdown strength. As a power device of SiC, for example, a MOSFET, a Schottky diode and the like have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
A power device made of SiC includes a cell portion in which a power element such as a MOSFET or a Schottky diode is formed and a guard ring portion surrounding the periphery of the cell portion. Between the cell portion and the guard ring portion, a connection portion for connecting these portions is arranged. Then, in the outer peripheral region including the guard ring portion, by hollowing the surface of the semiconductor substrate to form a concave portion, a mesa portion is provided by protruding the connection portion and the cell portion with an island shape in the thickness direction of the substrate.

Silicon carbide semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor


An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates magnetic flux to induce heat in a fixing roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing roller and a pressure roller pressingly contacting the fixing roller. The fixing roller applies heat to the recording sheet. The pressure roller applies pressure to the recording sheet. The heat and pressure fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The magnetic flux generator is disposed to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing roller. The magnetic flux generator is formed in a U-like or loop-like shape, and the fixing roller is placed in a gap or a loop of the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux generator may include a single wire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for image forming, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively fixing a toner image on a recording sheet using induction heating in a small-size fixing unit having a simple structure produced at a low cost.
2. Description of the Related Art
Background image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, include fixing units using an induction heating method. The induction heating method may shorten a time period required for the fixing units to become operable after the fixing units are powered on, and may reduce energy consumption.
One example of the fixing units includes a fixing belt, a support roller, an auxiliary fixing roller, an induction heater, and a pressure roller. The fixing belt is laid across the support roller and the auxiliary fixing roller. The induction heater faces the support roller via the fixing belt. The pressure roller faces the auxiliary fixing roller via the fixing belt. The induction heater includes an exciting coil and a core. The exciting coil is provided along the core and extends in directions parallel to a surface of a recording sheet in conveyance and perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet which is conveyed between the pressure roller and the auxiliary fixing roller.
A high-frequency alternating current is applied to the exciting coil to generate a magnetic field around the exciting coil. The magnetic field induces an eddy current near a surface of the support roller. An electrical resistance of the support roller generates heat. The heat is transferred to the fixing belt from the support roller. The heated fixing belt heats and fixes a toner image on the recording sheet at a position where the pressure roller and the auxiliary fixing roller oppose each other. In this fixing unit, it is possible to increase a surface temperature of the fixing belt to a target fixing temperature in a short time period without consuming much energy.
Another example of the fixing units includes a fixing roller and two exciting coils. The fixing roller includes a hollow cylinder. One of the exciting coils is disposed in an interior of the cylinder. The other exciting coil is disposed above and along an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder. Each of the exciting coils includes a wire wound a plurality of times.
In the above fixing units, however, the induction heater including the exciting coil and the core has a complicated structure. The exciting coil including the wire wound the plurality of times requires a supporting member, and the supporting member has a complicated structure so that it may properly support the exciting coil. Those problems make it difficult to produce a small-size fixing unit at a low cost.

Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effective image fixing using induction heating


A connector includes a socket in which first contacts are provided parallel to an opening edge portion and a plug which has a flat shape capable of fitting in the opening edge portion of the socket. The plug includes second contacts provided parallel to positions corresponding to the first contacts in the plug. A guide portion is provided in either the opening edge portion of the socket or an outer peripheral edge portion of the plug.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, particularly to a connector for electrically connecting printed boards to each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a connector which connects printed boards to each other, a socket 11 fixedly connected to an upper surface of a circuit board A is fitted in a header 12 fixedly connected to a lower surface of another printed board A, and a contact terminal 14 provided in the socket 11 and a contact terminal 16 provided in the header 12 are connected to each other while being in elastic contact with each other (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-203139).
However, in the conventional connector, when the header 12 is positioned and fitted in the socket 11, the connector is not visible because the connector is hidden behind the upper printed board. Therefore, the positioning is not easily performed in the fitting work and a technical skill is required. When the header is forcedly connected to the socket while inaccurately positioned, there arises a problem that a splice of the connector is broken.

PCB connector including plug and socket contacts for easy positioning


A flexible, bendable organic decalcified or partially decalcified bone, cortical or cancellous, adapted for use in augmentation or repair of animal skeletal structures comprising a continuous plate or sheet of natural bone, as well as dermis is described. The thickness, flexibility and tensile strength of the construct is such as to allow it to be shaped and contoured without damage to it. The composition is ultimately remodeled by the body, thus obviating the need for additional surgical intervention. The clinical indications for the use of the invented construct are many, but are particularly prominent in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology. It is particularly useful in the maxillary sinus augmentation. A unique new method, different from previously described methods for the preparation of the disclosed constructs, is described.

Mammalia bone is made up of matrix in which are encased immature cells as well as osteocytes. The organic portion of the matrix is composed of collagen, polymucosaccarides, osseous channels and related compounds and structures. The inorganic portion of the bone which contributes to the characteristic harness of the bone is hydroxyapatite, a form of calcium phosphate.
If the inorganic component is partially or completely removed, the remaining organic bone matrix can be transplanted into an animal and will reform new bone. No adverse effects are typically associated with such transplantation. The rate of reformation and degree of successful outcomes is variable, however, as each bone has its own requirements for healing, immobilization, and bone grafting. Thus there is a need for improved implants.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thin bendable bone plate for bone deficit repair and method of preparation


This invention improves the arithmetic precision even for image data in which each component of one pixel is expressed by 8 bits by fully utilizing the 12-bit data processing performance of an Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG decoding/encoding apparatus, so that image deterioration due to JPEG compression which is observed in an image portion where the gray levels change slowly, i.e., a pseudo edge can be hardly generated, thus improving the image quality. To this end, a header interpreter interprets the header of encoded data to be decoded to determine if the encoded data is that of 8-bit image data per component or that of 12-bit image data per component, and outputs the result to a bit shift unit, rounding processor, and inverse quantizer. Upon reception of a message indicating that the encoded data is that of 8-bit color image data per component, the bit shift unit stores a result obtained by shifting a quantization step of a quantization table stored in the header by 4 bits in the MSB direction in a quantization table storage unit. The inverse quantizer multiplies a decoded value decoded by a Huffman decoder by the quantization step stored in the quantization table storage unit to generate 12-bit DCT coefficients. The DCT coefficients are processed by an IDCT unit to obtain image data, and the image data is rounded to 8 bits again, thus outputting image data as a decoded result.

In JPEG as an international standard encoding scheme of still image data, encoding/decoding processes gof color image data of 8 bits per component and color image data of 12 bits per component are specified as a lossy encoding scheme using discrete cosine transformation (DCT). Encoding of an 8-bit image is classified as a Baseline process, and that of a 12-bit image, including 8-bit image, is classified as an Extended DCT-based process. This is specified in a reference "ITU-T recommendation T.81 (ISO/IEC 10918-1)".
Table B.2 in Section B.2.2. of Annex B of this reference specifies the sizes and values of frame header parameters. Also, the numbers of bits to be encoded/decoded are specified as the second parameter P. Baseline sequential DCT, i.e. the Baseline process is limited to an 8-bit image, and the Extended DCT-based process including Extended sequential DCT and progressive DCT can encode/decode 8- and 12-bit images. The number of encoded bits in image data is described in the frame header parameter, and a decoding process is done based on the parameter upon decoding. Hence, the number of encoded bits is equal to the number of bits of image data after decoding for both of 8- and 12-bit images.
A color image input device used so far generates data with a precision of 8 bits or less per component in terms of technical problems and cost, and JPEG compression normally indicates baseline JPEG that compresses 8-bit data.
In recent years, along with the improvement of the precision of an image input device, a digital camera, scanner, and the like can easily generate image data with a precision exceeding 8 bits. Hence, the necessity of Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG that can compress 12-bit data is increasing accordingly.
A major difference between Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG and baseline JPEG is that the number of bits of input data is increased by 4 bits, and is extended so that a color converter, DCT transformer, and quantizer can process 16-fold values.
In an encoding/decoding apparatus that executes a JPEG encoding/decoding process using a dedicated circuit, it is indispensable to introduce an Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG encoder/decoder that can compress/decompress 12-bit data.
When conventional baseline JPEG encoded data is to be decoded using the introduced Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG encoder/decoder, it is a common practice to extract quantization table information included in a header of JPEG encoded data, to execute an inverse quantization process on the basis of the quantization table, and then to execute an inverse DCT process and color conversion process.
FIG. 10 shows the block arrangement of a general decoding apparatus, and its decoding process will be described below.
Referring to FIG. 10, reference numeral 1101 denotes externally input baseline JPEG encoded data; 1103, a header interpreter; 1105, a quantization table storage unit; 1107, a Huffman decoder; 1109, an inverse quantizer; 1111, an inverse DCT unit; 1113, a color converter; and 1115, decoded color image data of 8 bits per component.
The header interpreter 1103 interprets header information of the baseline JPEG encoded data 1101 to extract quantization table information in the header, and stores a quantization step value in the quantization table information in the quantization table storage unit 1105 intact.
On the other hand, Huffman-encoded codes in the baseline JPEG encoded data 1101 are decoded by the Huffman decoder 1107, and quantization values of decoded DCT coefficients are sent to the inverse quantizer 1109.
The inverse quantizer 1109 multiplies the DCT coefficient quantization values by the quantization step value read out from the quantization table storage unit 1105 to restore the quantization values to DCT coefficients, and sends the DCT coefficients to the inverse DCT unit 1111.
The inverse DCT unit 1111 restores the DCT coefficients to real space data, and transfers the data to the color converter 1113. The color converter 1113 performs conversion from YCbCr as luminance and color difference signals into RGB as three primary colors. This color conversion normally uses following formulas (1) that comply with ITU-R BT.601:R=Y+((Cr−k)×1.4020)G=Y−((Cb−k)×0.3441)−((Cr−k)×0.7139)B=Y+((Cb−k)×1.7718)  (1)
Note that a value k=128 is used in 8-bit data conversion. With the above color conversion, RGB data of 8 bits per color is reclaimed.
Paying attention to an apparatus having an Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG decoding function, when baseline JPEG encoded data is to be decoded, the upper 4 bits in 12 bits are set to be zero, and real data is set in the lower 8 bits upon arithmetic operations. Hence, the processing contents are the same as those in a decoder that supports baseline JPEG, and no problem is basically posed.
However, since the apparatus itself has processing performance of 12-bit data, the following problem is posed in terms of the improvement of arithmetic precision by means of effective use of a decoding processor which is extended in an upper bit direction.
When an encoding/decoding process of 8-bit data is executed using an Extended sequential DCT-based JPEG encoder/decoder which can compress/decompress 12-bit data, the same processing method as in the conventional baseline JPEG cannot effectively use 12-bit arithmetic hardware, and image quality cannot be improved due to the improvement of arithmetic precision. Also, deterioration of image quality due to repetition of decompression and re-compression cannot be suppressed.
On the other hand, a demand for higher image quality is increasing currently, and vendors are beginning to develop devices which can process multi-bit data over 8 bits so as to attain higher image quality of the devices. For example, some products of digital cameras and scanners can easily generate image data with a precision over 8 bits per color component.
When an image input device inputs each color component with a multi-bit precision exceeding 8 bits, and an image output device outputs an image with an 8-bit precision, a bit rounding process is required. When the image output device receives only data with an 8-bit precision, the image input device must convert input data into 8-bit data and output the converted data. In this case, the image input device temporarily converts input multi-bit data into 8-bit data, applies an image compression process to the 8-bit data, and outputs the compressed data to the output device. However, the multi-bit input function of the image input device is not effectively used; it becomes useless in practice.

Image decoding apparatus and its control method


A microphone has a slide member and a push member. The slide member has a slide knob, and a conductive state and a nonconductive state are switched according to operation of the slide knob. The push member holds a switch in the conductive state while a push button is pushed. A mechanism interlocking of the slide member and the push member is provided and interlocks operation of the slide member with the push member by converting movement of the slide member in a sliding direction into movement of the push member in a pushing direction, the slide knob and the push button are separated from each other in the sliding direction.

Conventionally, a handheld type microphone device (hereinafter, the microphone device is simply referred to also as a microphone) has been used for various applications. The conventional common microphone has a slide switch operated for power-on and power-off. The slide switch is provided on a cylindrical surface of a microphone body, and it is slid between a conductive position and a nonconductive position.
In places of education, for example, students may sometimes speak in turns using a microphone. In such a case, power-on and power-off of the microphone are repeated in a short time. However, a microphone with a structure including a conventional slide switch has been inconvenient since independent operation is required for power-on and power-off of the microphone.
In addition, when a microphone is handed over while the microphone is powered on, touch noise is picked up by the microphone and is output from a speaker. In addition, when the microphone is dropped at the time of being handed over, an impact sound is input into the microphone and is output from the speaker.
Patent Literature 1 has proposed a microphone capable of dealing with the above-described problem. A rotary member is provided in a microphone case in Patent Literature 1. The rotary member has a projecting part projecting from a window of the microphone case. A movable piece is provided outside the projecting part. In addition, one end of a pressing piece is provided inside the projecting part, and it is coupled with the movable piece with the projecting part interposed therebetween. An other end of the pressing piece is engaged with a switch lever. The switch lever comes into contact with a pin plunger of a power switch.
In the above-described configuration, the movable piece is slid between an upper position and a lower position. When the movable piece is slid to the upper position, the pressing piece presses the switch lever, and thereby the microphone becomes in a conductive state. When the movable piece is in the lower position, the rotary member rotates, the pressing piece presses the switch lever, and the microphone becomes in the conductive state only while the movable piece is pressed.
According to the above-described conventional technique, when using the microphone for a long time, the conductive state is maintained by sliding the movable piece. In addition, when using the microphone for a short time, the microphone is in the conductive state only while the movable piece is pushed down. Hence, the microphone can be easily operated when using it for a short time.
However, both slide operation and push-down operation are performed to one movable piece in the conventional microphone device. Therefore, a user may unintentionally slide the movable piece while the user holds the movable piece down. For example, when an operator obliquely upwardly pushes the movable piece, the movable piece slides easily while the movable piece is held down. Additionally, when such incorrect operation is performed, the movable piece slides in the conductive state, a rubbing sound of the movable piece with the microphone case is picked up by the microphone as noise, and is output from the speaker. In addition, there is a possibility that the above-described incorrect operation is performed unconsciously. In that case, the microphone is handed over without noticing its conductive state, and touch noise is output. In addition, when the microphone is placed on a desk etc., larger noise is output.
In addition, although it is conceivable to provide a plurality of switches in order to prevent the above-described incorrect operation, a configuration of the microphone becomes complicated.
Here, a background of the present invention has been described by taking up a slide knob and a push button. However, a similar problem may occur in cases other than a combination of these operating members.


Different distances of two or more objects in a scene being captured in a video conference are determined by determining a sharpest of two or more color channels and calculating distances based on the determining of the sharpest of the two or more color channels. At least one of the objects is identified as a foreground object or a background object, or one or more of each, based on the determining of the different distances. The technique involves blurring or otherwise rendering unclear at least one background object or one or more portions of the scene other than the at least one foreground object, or combinations thereof, also based on the determining of distances.

Video conference calls can be made using a wide variety of devices, such as office video conferencing systems, personal computers, and telephone devices including mobile telephones. Thus, video conferencing can be used at many different locations, including company offices, private residences, internet cafés and even on the street. The many possibilities and varied locations for holding video conferences can create a problem since the video conference camera reveals the location of the participant to all those watching or participating in the video conference. For instance, if a video conference call is made from a participant's private place of residence, the participant's privacy may be compromised since the participant's private environment and members of his or her household may be exposed and photographed during the video conference call. It is desired to be able to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of other commercial issues that may inadvertently otherwise appear in the background of a video conference. It is desired to have a technique that ensures that such items will not be revealed or shared during the video conference.
Range measurement is important in several applications, including axial chromatic aberration correction, surveillance means, and safety means. Active methods for calculating the distance between an object and a measuring apparatus are usually based on the measurement of the time required for a reflected electro-magnetic or acoustic wave to reach and be measured by measuring apparatus, e.g., sonar and radar. Active methods of range measurement are detrimentally affected by physical objects present in the medium between the measuring apparatus and the object. Current passive methods use an autofocus mechanism. However, determining the range typically involves varying the focal length by changing lens position, which is not available in camera phones and many other camera-enabled devices.
Digital cameras are usually equipped with iris modules designed to control exposure, which are based on a detection result received from the sensor. Due to size and cost limitations, camera phones usually have fixed apertures and, hence, fixed F numbers. Existing mechanical iris modules are difficult to even incorporate in their simplest form into camera phones due to increased price of optical module, increased form factor since the iris module height is about 1 mm, greater mechanical sensitivity, consumption of electrical power, and complex integration (yield).
Digital cameras are usually equipped with iris modules designed to control exposure, which is based on a detection result received from a sensor. Due to size and cost limitations, camera phones usually have fixed apertures and, hence, fixed F numbers. Mobile phone cameras commonly have apertures that provide F numbers in the range of F/2.4-F/2.8. An advantage of the higher value, F/2.8, is mainly in its image resolution, but a drawback can be low performance under low light conditions. The lower value, F/2.4, compromises depth of focus and image resolution for a faster lens, i.e., better performance under low light conditions. Alternatively, a ND filter may be used to control exposure instead of changing F/#. Several high-end modules address the above-mentioned problems using mechanically adjustable apertures. Incorporating iris modules into camera phones offers a variable F number and achieves multiple advantages, including image quality improvement due to reduced motion blur, improved SNR and improved resolution. In addition, incorporation of iris modules into camera phones can tend to impart a digital still camera like "feel" due to the variable depth of field, i.e. Bokeh effect. Disadvantages of incorporating iris modules into camera phones include the increased price of the optical module, increased form factor due to the iris module height being about 1 mm, greater mechanical sensitivity, consumption of electrical power, and complex integration (yield). It is desired to have a digital iris that enables the user to enjoy the advantages of the mechanical iris without its disadvantages and to experience the "feel" of a digital still camera.

Scene background blurring including range measurement

DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited


A standard schema is used to describe the capabilities of a peripheral device, such as a printer device, in a structured and easily discoverable way. The schema can allow different peripheral device implementations to describe their capabilities in a consistent way to those entities that might query for the capabilities. The schema syntax can allow for direct querying of individual values, as well as for querying whole sections of the schema so that an accurate and complete understanding of the device can be gleaned.

Discovering the capabilities of peripheral devices, such as printers and other devices, that are connected to a computer can be, and typically is largely dependent upon the specific protocol that is used to connect and establish communication between the computer and the particular peripheral device. Capabilities can include such things as device features available for use, feature configuration, associated consumable type and supply and the like. Such protocol dependencies can encumber the capability discovery process because each protocol can have its own distinct dialect that must be used in order to query and receive information from a particular peripheral device. If a computer's particular device driver does not understand the dialect of a particular protocol, then the device driver may not be able to ascertain a full and complete understanding of a device's capabilities. This, in turn, can preclude the user from being exposed to the full suite of services and capabilities offered by a particular peripheral device.
Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved techniques for facilitating discovery of device capabilities.

Schema-facilitated device capability discovery


A system and method for passively tracking the play of gaming devices which allows compulsive gambling to be controlled. Players provide identification information and physical recognition data is acquired. For each player an account file and a file of the image data is stored. When the player plays the device, a camera scans the player and acquires image data which is compared to stored data to identify the player. Optionally, an infrared light source enhances the image data acquired by the camera. The identified player's account file is opened and data from the device representing parameters of play, e.g. amounts wagered, is allocated to the identified player's account file. Doe image data and account files can be stored to allocate parameters for unidentified players. The acquired image data is then used to identify undesirables, such as compulsive players, and control their activity including the automatic disablement of the device.

The possibilities for persons voluntarily and actively identifying themselves in commercial transactions are widely known and commercially available in many forms. Customers identify themselves for the purpose of affecting commercial transactions by means of personal identification numbers (PIN), magnetic cards, smart cards, and various biometric identification techniques. In general, these techniques are used when an individual desires to make his or her presence known by positive identification techniques to enable a desired goal, e.g., entry to a secure location, purchase of merchandise by credit, or obtaining funds from an ATM machine.
In the gaming industry, similar techniques have been used to enable a casino to track play of its players, enabling the casino to monitor frequent play and reward players with "comps" based on level of play. These rewards may be in the form of free room, food, and beverage, as well as free travel, merchandise, and the like. Player tracking systems using biometric identification techniques have been described in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,142,876 and 6,234,900.
Prior commercial customer tracking systems have generally commenced with the customer voluntarily registering at a registration location, and providing his or her name, address, and other identifying information, which may be photographic, an identifying number (such as Social Security number), or biometric information. Thereafter, the commercial establishment can identify the customer each time the customer enters a commercial zone. This is done by the customer voluntarily entering information, such as a credit card, smart card, or PIN number, and providing a confirming identification by matching biometric information with information on file. In some cases, such as set forth in my prior applications, biometric identification may be confirmed by a match with library information without the customer actively entering a PIN number, swiping a card, or otherwise actively identifying himself.
However, certain technological advances have now made it possible to consider the acquisition and maintenance of customer tracking information solely through acquisition of biometric identifying information, without a customer identifying himself to a commercial establishment in any manner whatsoever. First of all, the increasing accuracy of various biometric identification techniques, along with the greatly reduced cost of biometric identification systems, renders these systems more widely useful. In addition, the vastly decreased cost of computer processing power and memory enables the efficient storage of large volumes of information and the search of extremely large databases at extremely low cost. Together, these technological advances permit business establishments to track customers, or identify repeat visits from undesirable persons, without the identified persons having to take any action whatsoever to be tracked. The system can be linked by the establishment to other remote locations operated by the establishment.
According to the invention, a business can obtain identifying physical information on anonymous persons within their business environment. Identification can occur even without the customer knowing it can or did occur. This information can be stored in a file (a "Doe" file) in a central computer system, along with incidents of activity pertinent to those persons when within the business environment. Biometric identifying information is thereafter accumulated from each person entering the environment, and this information is compared with information within the various files in the library. This is done without active entry of any data relating to the customer at the time of the transaction by either the customer or establishment personnel. However, it should be understood that no biometric system is perfect. Therefore, as detailed below, human interaction may be required to resolve conflicts or errors encountered by a specific implemented biometric system.
If a matching identification is found, information with respect to the current commercial activity is entered into the file. If the frequency of matches, or the level of commercial activity, exceeds a predetermined level, management personnel are alerted. This enables management to actively seek to identify the highest and lowest frequency customers, acknowledging their past and/or continued activity with some action or enabling various amounts of reward for various levels of activity as management sees fit.
Information contained in the Doe file can include negative information, as well as helpful information, relating to a customer's activities. For example, the customer can be identified as a thief, or person who has bounced a check, or created a disturbance. In this case, appropriate management personnel, such as security, can be alerted.
The system of the invention is applicable to any commercial activity, such as a retail store identifying repeat customers, an airline frequent flyer, patron of a museum, or casino customer tracking activity. For convenience, the detailed description of the invention will be described with respect to a casino's ability to track customers of its gaming machines. The ability to track customers enables casinos to reward frequent players with comps and other benefits, in an effort to encourage customers to continue to play at their establishment.

Apparatus and method for controlling and preventing compulsive gaming


A manufacturing yield and reliability of a semiconductor device including a power semiconductor element is improved. A plurality of trenches DT extending in an x direction and spaced apart from each other in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction are formed in a substrate having a main crystal surface tilted with respect to a <11-20> direction. Also, a super-junction structure is constituted of a p-type column region PC made of a semiconductor layer embedded in the trench DT and an n-type column region NC made of a part of the substrate between the trenches DT adjacent in the y direction, and an angle error between the extending direction of the trench DT (x direction) and the <11-20> direction is within ±θ. The θ is determined by {arctan {k× (w/h)}}/13 for the trench having a height of h and a width of w. Herein, the k is at least smaller than 2, preferably 0.9 or less, more preferably 0.5 or less, and still more preferably 0.3 or less.

As a background art in this technical field, for example, there are Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-138171 and Ryoji Kosugi et. al., Development of SiC super-junction (SJ) device by deep trench-filling epitaxial growth, Materials Science Forum Vols. 740-742 (2013) pp 785-788.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-138171 describes a semiconductor device in which an n-type charge amount and a p-type charge amount in an n-type column region and a p-type column region constituting a super-junction structure are equalized in a cell region, and a charge balance change region in which the n-type charge amount in the super-junction structure is gradually made larger than the p-type charge amount as going toward an outer circumferential direction of the cell region is provided in a peripheral region.
In addition, Ryoji Kosugi et. al., Development of SiC super-junction (SJ) device by deep trench-filling epitaxial growth, Materials Science Forum Vols. 740-742 (2013) pp 785-788 reports an example in which a trench having a width of 2.7 μm and a depth of 7 μm formed in a 4H—SiC substrate is backfilled with an SiC layer without generating a void on the premise of the manufacture of the super-junction structure.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


An electrical connector 30 has two major components: a frame 32 and a transition element 34. The frame defines an exterior surface 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 72 and a cavity for receiving a plug. Conductive strips 44, 46 cover a portion of the frame exterior surface, and each strip is connected to a contactor within the cavity. Ribs 48, 74 may extend from sidewalls 36, 37, 38, 72 of the frame for mounting on a PWB. A major surface of the PWB may contact the ribs and intersect a rear wall 40. The transition element has spring contactors 52, 58 corresponding to the strips. A stationary segment 54, 60 of each spring contactor is fixed to the PWB, and an opposing free segment 56, 62 contacts a strip when the frame and transition element are assembled in a device. The free segments are biased to maintain contact with the strips.

These teachings relate generally to electrical connectors, and are particularly relevant to DC connectors of portable electronic devices such as mobile telephones and terminals, electronic organizers, music players, cameras, camcorders and portable computers for charging the batteries of those devices.
Portable electronic devices such as those mentioned above have continued to be reduced in size, putting a premium on the physical space within the devices themselves. However, manufacturers generally wish to retain compatibility of accessories (chargers, headsets, etc.) among numerous product models. This allows the same type of accessories to operate with newer more compact models as well as existing products already in use, and it also reduces the need for numerous models of accessories that are each compatible with only select models of a device. This desire for compatibility imposes the need to continue using jacks/electrical connectors that interface with accessories in newer, typically smaller device models that have been used in older models. The continuing trend toward smaller device models imposes a need for architectural flexibility in mounting and arranging those jacks.
Currently, jacks are typically a single-body or unitary design wherein the jack is mounted to a printed wiring or circuit board (PWB) within the device. Leads extend from within a cavity defined by the unitary jack, where a mating complementary plug may be received, through the jack housing. A portion of each lead extends beyond the jack housing, which is then soldered or otherwise fixedly connected to the PWB to complete electrical connectivity with the overall device. Many of the existing jack designs, especially power jacks for re-charging batteries that supply portable power the subject devices, are mounted to a major surface of the PWB. The major surfaces are the two opposed surfaces defining the greatest surface area of the PWB. This design complicates further size reductions of portable electronic devices for two reasons. First, their mounting position above or below the PWB limits placement of the jack within the device to locations where the housing spans the z direction sufficiently. In the convention of the industry, the z direction is normal to the two parallel planes defined by the major surfaces of the PWB and is graphically depicted at FIG. 1. Second, their unitary design imposes high cost in redesigning where the jack may be located along the PWB. Because the leads of the jack are fixed, even small changes to its location along a PWB require redesign of the PWB wiring architecture, and commensurate retooling for manufacture of the new device. These redesign inefficiencies remain even for currently existing jacks that are mounted through or along an edge of the PWB rather than above or below it.
What is needed in the art is a jack that retains compatibility with existing accessories but that allows more flexibility in physically locating and mounting the jack on a PWB or substrate without adding the current redesign inefficiencies. Preferably, such a jack would allow at least minor variations in placement relative to a PWB without the need to reconfigure the PWB itself. Ideally, the jack would also be mountable through a plane defined by a major surface of the PWB, rather than directly on one of those surfaces, to minimize extension in the z-direction.
The foregoing and other problems are overcome, and other advantages are realized, in accordance with the presently preferred embodiments of these teachings.
In accordance with the present invention, an electrical connector for a portable electronic device comprises a frame that defines an exterior surface and an electrically conductive first strip. The first strip is disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the frame. The transition element comprises an electrically conductive first spring contactor, wherein the first spring contactor defines a stationary segment for contact with a substrate and an opposed free segment biased for contact with the first strip.
The present invention also includes a method of connecting an electrical connector to a PWB. The method comprises the steps of first providing a PWB; then fixedly attaching a transition element of the electrical connector to the PWB; and then fixedly attaching a frame of the electrical connector to a substrate so that a strip disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of the frame is in contact with a biased free end of the transition element. The substrate to which the frame is attached may or may not be the PWB to which the transition element is attached.


A system includes a first duplexer that receives samples of a signal transmitted from a first transmit portion of a communication device and outputs a filtered signal based on sampled transmitted signal. A first modulator adjusts the filtered signal based on at least one of a phase, amplitude, and delay of leakage associated with the transmitted signal. The leakage corresponds to leakage from the first transmit portion of the communication device to a first receive portion of the communication device. The first modulator provides a leakage cancellation signal based on the adjusted filtered signal. A first coupler subtracts the leakage cancellation signal from a signal received by the first receive portion of the communication device.

The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may include a single antenna for transmitting and receiving signals, or multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving signals, such as in a multiple in multiple out (MIMO) arrangement. The MIMO arrangement may include full division duplex (FDD) operation.
A single antenna may communicate with a duplexer that allows the antenna to function as both a receiver antenna and a transmitter antenna. For example, the duplexer selectively connects the antenna to a receiver portion of the device and a transmitter portion of the device. Insufficient (e.g., limited) isolation between the receiver portion and the transmitter portion, at the duplexer, allows coupling to occur between adjacent antennas (e.g., between a transmit frequency band and an adjacent receive frequency band). Accordingly, a single transmitter can impair operation of one or more receivers in the device.
For example, transmitter carrier leakage may interfere with operation of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) of the receiver portion, and may cause distortion, saturation, cross modulation, compression, etc. The interference may further lead to stringent receiver linearity (e.g., linearization that prevents transmit noise from being filtered prior to a power amplifier in the receive frequency band). The transmitter may also cause additive interference with the receiver portion, such as added transmitter noise, residual intermodulation products (IMs), spurs, etc. in the receive frequency band. Consequently, the receiver portion may be desensitized and power consumption of various components of the transceiver portion may be increased.
FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show an example system 100 including a single antenna 104 for transmitting and receiving signals. The antenna 104 communicates with a duplexer 108, which is configured to provide communication, via respective ports of the duplexer 108, between a receiver portion 112 and a transmitter portion 116. As shown in a single carrier implementation with no linearization in FIG. 1B, a transmitter signal 120 generates transmitter IMs 124 and transmitter noise 128 (which is filtered by a zero intermediate frequency, or ZIF, reconstruction filter) in a transmit frequency band 132. However, minimal interference with a desired receive signal 136 occurs in a receive frequency band 140.
Conversely, in a multi-carrier implementation as shown in FIG. 1C, transmitter signals 144 and 148 generate transmitter IMs 152 and transmitter noise leakage 156 in both a transmit frequency band 160 and a receive frequency band 164, causing interference with desired receive signals 168 and 172.
FIG. 2 shows another example system 200. The system 200 corresponds to a 2×2 MIMO implementation including a first antenna 204 in communication with a first receiver portion 208 and a first transmitter portion 212 via respective ports of a first duplexer 216, and a second antenna 220 in communication with a second receiver portion 224 and a second transmitter portion 228 via respective ports of a second duplexer 232. Limited isolation (as indicated by the arrows) is present between the first antenna 204 and the second antenna 220). Nonetheless (e.g., by virtue of the distance between the first antenna 204 and the second antenna), this limited isolation may not prevent a transmitter (e.g., the first transmitter portion 212) from desensitizing a receiver (e.g., the second receiver portion 224).
Coupling between antennas (and corresponding transmitter and receiver portions) becomes more complicated in a 4×4 MIMO implementation, as shown in another example system 300 in FIG. 3. The system 300 includes a first antenna 304 in communication with a first receiver portion 308 and a first transmitter portion 312 via respective ports of a first duplexer 316, and a second antenna 320 in communication with a second receiver portion 324 and a second transmitter portion 328 via respective ports of a second duplexer 332. The system 300 further includes a third antenna 336 in communication with a third receiver portion 340 and a third transmitter portion 344 via respective ports of a third duplexer 348, and a fourth antenna 352 in communication with a fourth receiver portion 356 and a fourth transmitter portion 360 via respective ports of a fourth duplexer 364. Limited isolation (as indicated by the arrows) is present between various antennas and corresponding receiver and transmitter portions.
Various systems and methods may be used to isolate the receiver portions from the transmitter portions as shown in FIGS. 1-3. In one example, a passive ceramic or air cavity duplexer having a high transmit antenna attenuation and high transmitter-receiver isolation is used to prevent excessive leakage to the receiver. In another example, an active canceller implements a mixer to down convert an output of a transmitter power amplifier to a lower frequency. An output of the mixer is digitized with an analog to digital converter (ADC). An output of the ADC is equalized to match a delay, amplitude, and phase of the leakage via the duplexer and corresponding antenna. A digital signal processing system extracts a correlation between the transmitter leakage and the digitized power amplifier output to determine equalizer coefficients. A second path may be used to transmit the carrier leakage at the receiver LNA to prevent distortion and/or saturation. In still another example, radio frequency (RF) domain cancellation may be used.


A housing including an inlet conduit and an outlet, carrying a reservoir for collecting filtered liquid. The reservoir is secured within the housing by a lid. A separator assembly is carried by the reservoir and includes a strainer assembly for removing materials from a liquid inflowing from the inlet conduit, an inner container and an outer container. The outer container is covered by a lid having an opening for sealably receiving the inlet conduit. The inner and outer container cooperate to hinder the flow of liquid, giving materials more dense than the fluid time to settle, and materials less dense than the liquid time to rise to and be contained by the lid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to filtering devices.
More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for filtering materials from a liquid.
In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention concerns a filtering device which uses a density gradient principle to filter materials having greater and lesser density from a liquid.
2. The Prior Art
In many situations, filtering a flowing liquid is desirable. Generally, filtering is desirable when a flowing liquid contains or can collect contaminants and foreign materials which may be liquid or solid. These materials may cause problems in some manner if they are allowed to remain in the liquid. There are many types of liquids which may be filtered, but one of the most common is water. Water is used daily by most people, and in many of its applications picks up foreign materials. These materials may cause problems such as blocking conduits, especially when the water is being drained to a septic or sewer system. The materials picked up by water may be solids or liquids, and have greater or lesser density than water. In drains, such as those extending from a kitchen sink or bathroom sink, a large amount of material can be carried by draining water. The material may include solids, such as food particles and hair or liquids such as oils and grease.
Conventional sinks use a bend or trap in which a fluid seal is formed by water collecting in the lower bend. The collected water prevents sewer gasses from passing out through the drain. The purpose of these traps, however, is not to trap or prevent flow through of materials carried by water, and this is, in fact, the result in most cases. Generally draining water will force solids past the trap, since it is directly under the drain in most cases. Once past the trap, material carried by the water may collect on protuberance or be deposited on the sides of the drain conduit. The collection of solids, or contaminating liquids such as oil or grease in the conduit can prevent the free passage of the draining water. Devices have been developed which attempt to limit material entering the drain to small particles. These include basket and strainer devices which are received in the drain opening of a sink. Large solids are prevented from entering the drain, and the basket or strainer is easily removed for cleaning. While successful in removing large solids from water, smaller particles, grease, an oils are not removed from the draining water. These can collect downstream of the trap in the drain system inhibiting the flow of draining liquid and causing clogging.
When a blockage is formed in the conduit downstream of the trap, it is typically removed by using chemical solvents or mechanical devices such as an auger, commonly referred to as a "snake". Chemicals tend to be expensive, very corrosive and detrimental to the environment, while using a "snake" can be an extensive, time consuming procedure as well as labor intensive. Generally, if a mechanical device such as a "snake" is needed to remove a blockage, the services of a plumber is also required to operate it. If the clog is located in a less assessable area, a plumber may need to be called, causing a great deal of inconvenience and cost.
Filtering devices for removing solids from a flowing liquid other than water are also known. Many different liquids are filtered in daily use, and many different filtering devices are used. Generally a filtering device can only be used for a specific application and to filter a specific type of fluid. Devices for filtering some fluids have been widely developed and are extremely diversified. Filtering devices typically consist of a foraminous material through which a liquid is passed. Particles of material are passed through. These filters must typically be changed frequently due to the collection of material filtered from the liquid. While many of these filters work satisfactorily, they may not be cost effective since they have to be changed frequently, and they may prove detrimental to the environment thereby having special disposal requirements. Furthermore, if the liquid contains a large amount of material, the foraminous material around the inlet may become blocked very quickly without giving the liquid a chance to spread through the filter. This prevents uniform flow of liquid through the filter, reducing its efficiency or actually blocking the flow of liquid completely.
An example of such devices are oil filters for filtering oil used in the operation of a vehicle. The oil picks up solids which must be removed to lengthen the useful life of the oil and to prevent damage to the engine. These filters generally consist of a foraminous material through which a liquid is passed. Particles of material are trapped by the foraminous material while the liquid is passed through. These filters must be changed frequently due to the collection of material filtered from the oil. The used filters still contain quantities of oil when changed, and must be disposed of properly to avoid contaminating the environment.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in filtering devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filtering device for filtering flowing liquids.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a filtering device which is simple to install, maintain and use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a filtering device which will filer contaminating liquids from a flowing liquid.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filtering device which may be easily drained and disassembled for cleaning.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which separates out materials which are less dense and materials which are more dense than the liquid being filtered.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which will not clog immediately but will maintain a uniform flow through of fluid.
And a further object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which will substantially eliminate the formation of blockages in fluid conduits, substantially reducing the amount of time and effort expended in maintenance.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which may be used in a variety of applications.
A further object of the present .invention is to provide a filter apparatus which can be used to replace a conventional drain trap.
And yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a filter apparatus which provides a longer lasting fluid seal than a conventional drain trap.
And still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device which increases environmental protection by eliminating the need for using environmentally damaging substances.


A suspension conveyor system for automatically conveying suspended conveyor carriages having a plurality of first rails disposed with their free ends in mutual transverse alignment along at least one transfer lane and at least one second rail disposed parallel with the transfer lane. A pallet travels on the second rail along the transfer lane and has at least one pallet rail, the path of travel of the pallet permitting a free end of the pallet rail to be selectively aligned with a free end of a first rail for the transfer of a conveyor carriage between the rails. A trolley is mounted for movement along the transfer lane independent of the pallet and control apparatus are provided for controlling movement of the trolley. A coupling device automatically couples and uncouples the trolley with the pallet to permit the trolley to travel together with the pallet or independently of it.

The invention relates to a suspension conveyor system.
Known suspension conveyor systems usually include supply storage or buffer zones in which a number of rail sections are mounted parallel to one another with their free ends aligned along a transfer lane. Manually displaceable along the transfer lane is a transfer trolley carrying rail sections also terminating in free ends. The transfer trolley can be positioned opposite the free end of a selected storage rail so that the free ends of the storage rail and of the rails carried by the transfer trolley are brought into linear alignment, permitting conveyor carriages to be transferred from the storage rails onto the transfer trolley and vice versa. However, the operation of a transfer trolley of this type is typically manual.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved suspension conveyor system so as to permit its automated operation.


A disposable pull-on garment includes front and rear waist-encircling regions each having first elasticized zones and a second elasticized zone extending in a waist-encircling direction. Auxiliary elastic members include plural lines of first auxiliary elastic members extending in the waist-encircling direction in the first elasticized zones, and plural lines of second auxiliary elastic members extending in the waist-encircling direction in the second elasticized zones. A tensile stress of the first auxiliary elastic members is greater than that of the second auxiliary elastic members. A tensile stress of the first elasticized zones is greater than that of the second elasticized zone.

This invention relates to a disposable pull-on garment which absorbs and retains excrements.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1995-236650A discloses a disposable pull-on diaper which comprises a liquid pervious top sheet, a liquid impervious back sheet and a liquid absorbent core interposed between those two sheets, with respective longitudinal side edges of front and rear waist-encircling regions being secured to each other to provide a waist-encircling opening and a pair of leg-encircling openings. In the front waist-encircling region, a plurality of waist elastic members extending in a waist-encircling direction are secured in an extended state to an edge portion of the waist-encircling opening. To an edge portion of each leg-encircling opening, a plurality of leg elastic members are secured in an extended state extending in a leg-encircling direction. Also, a plurality of auxiliary elastic members extending in the waist-encircling direction between the longitudinal side edges of the front and rear waist regions are secured in a region between the waist elastic members and the leg-encircling opening edge portions.
Each auxiliary elastic member has an extensible portion and a non-extensible portion. The extensible portion extends from longitudinal side edges of the core positioned over the front and rear waist-encircling regions toward respective longitudinal side edges of the front waist-encircling region. The non-extensible portion traverses the core to extend between opposite longitudinal side edges of the core. The extensible portions of the auxiliary elastic members act to tighten a wearer""s waist so that the diaper while in use is prevented from sliding down from its position. In the non-extensible portions of the auxiliary elastic members, the diaper is not subjected to a tensile stress from the auxiliary elastic members which may otherwise cause the core to contract, so that the core is prevented from puckering.
The diaper disclosed in the above Publication relies solely on the extensible portions of auxiliary elastic members to prevent its downward slide and accordingly requires an increase in tensile stress of the auxiliary elastic members in their extensible portions. The diaper is thus pressed strongly against the wearer""s waist, making the wearer uncomfortable. The non-extensible portions of the auxiliary elastic members do not act to press the core against the wearer""s skin. This increases the possibility of the core being spaced from the wearer""s skin in use, and accordingly adversely affects the excrement-absorbing function of the core.
It is an object of this invention to provide a disposable pull-on garment which, in use, is not pressed locally against a waist region of the wearer and does not adversely affect the function of the core to absorb excrements.
The present invention provides a disposable pull-on garment having a waist-encirclable direction and a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the waist-encirclable direction. The garment comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and backsheet to define front and rear waist-encirclable regions and a crotch region extending between the front and rear waist-encirclable regions. The respective longitudinal side edges of the front and rear waist regions are joined together in the longitudinal direction to define a waist-encirclable opening and a pair of leg-encirclable openings. Waist-encirclable elastic members are attached to respective edge zones of the waist-encirclable opening in the front and rear waist-encirclable regions. There are provided plural lines of auxiliary elastic members, which extend in the waist-encirclable direction and are arranged to be spaced at distances from each other in the longitudinal direction in a region defined between the waist-encirclable elastic members and the leg-encirclable openings in at least one of the front and rear waist-encirclable regions. At least one of the front and rear waist-encirclable regions has first elasticized zones and a second elasticized zone, wherein the second elasticized zone traverses a portion of the core in that region and extends in the waist-encirclable direction between opposite longitudinal side edges of the portion of the core, and wherein the first elasticized zones extend in the waist-encirclable direction outwardly from the longitudinal side edges of the portion of the core, respectively, to the adjacent one of the longitudinal side edges of the associated waist-encirclable region. The auxiliary elastic members include plural lines of first and second auxiliary elastic members, the first auxiliary elastic members being positioned in the first elasticized zones, the second auxiliary elastic members being non-continuous with the first auxiliary elastic members and being positioned in the second elasticized zone. A tensile stress of the first elasticized zone is greater than that of the second elasticized zone.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a tensile stress of the first auxiliary elastic members is greater than that of the second auxiliary elastic members.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the number of the first auxiliary elastic members is larger than that of the second auxiliary elastic members.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each first elasticized zone when extended to its maximum extent exhibits a tensile stress in a range of 0.2-2.0 N/25 mm, and the second elasticized zone when extended to its maximum extent exhibits a tensile stress in a range of 0.1-0.6 N/25 mm.


A guide wire for guiding a medical device within a patient is disclosed. The guide wire includes an elongate core with a flexible body disposed about and secured to a distal core section of the elongate core. A shapeable member extends distally from the distal core section, and the shapeable member preferably includes a nonrectangular, cross-sectional shape including a D-shape, semicircle, a triangle, or the like. In various embodiments, the polygonal shape of the cross-section is defined by a height h and a width b, wherein the moment of inertia of the shapeable member is preferably defined by at least 0.083xc3x97bxc3x97h3.

The present invention relates to the field of advanced medical devices and particularly to intracorporeal devices for performing or aiding in the performance of therapeutic or diagnostic procedures. The intracorporeal devices may be guiding members such as guide wires for advancing intraluminal devices within body lumens. The intracorporeal medical devices include stent delivery catheters, balloon dilatation catheters, atherectomy catheters, electrophysiology catheters and the like.
In a typical percutaneous coronary procedure, a guiding catheter having a preformed distal tip is percutaneously introduced into a patient""s peripheral artery, e.g. femoral or brachial artery, by means of a conventional Seldinger technique and advanced therein until the distal tip of the guiding catheter is seated in the ostium of a desired coronary artery. A guide wire is first advanced by itself through the guiding catheter until the distal tip of the guide wire extends beyond the arterial location where the procedure is to be performed. Then a rapid exchange type catheter, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,273 (Yock) whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference, is mounted onto the proximal portion of the guide wire which extends out of the proximal end of the guiding catheter which is outside of the patient. The catheter is advanced over the guide wire, while the position of the guide wire is fixed, until the operative element on the rapid exchange type catheter is disposed within the arterial location where the procedure is to be performed. After the procedure is performed, the rapid exchange type catheter may be withdrawn from the patient over the guide wire, or the guide wire may be repositioned within the coronary anatomy for an additional procedure. Of course, the procedure may also be performed with an Over The Wire (OTW) type catheter and is not limited to just Rapid Exchange (RX) type catheters.
A guide wire may also be used in conjunction with the delivery of an intracoronary stent. One method and system involves disposing a compressed or otherwise small diameter stent over an expandable member, such as a balloon, at the distal end of a catheter. The physician advances the catheter through the patient""s vascular system over a guide wire until the stent is at the desired location within a blood vessel. The expandable member on the catheter is inflated to expand the stent within the blood vessel. The dilated expandable member is then deflated and the catheter withdrawn, leaving the expanded stent within the blood vessel. Once deployed, the expandable member ensures patency of the blood vessel by holding the passageway open. This latter method and system can be used concurrently with balloon angioplasty or subsequent thereto.
Further details of guide wires and devices associated therewith for various interventional procedures can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,986 (Morrison et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,622 (Samson et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,503 (Abrams); U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,818 (Abrams et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,945 (Hodgson,et al.), whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference.
Conventional guide wires for angioplasty, stent delivery, atherectomy, and other intravascular procedures usually have an elongate core with one or more segments near the distal end thereof that taper distally to smaller cross-sections. A flexible body, such as a helical coil or a tubular body of polymeric material, is typically disposed about and secured to at least part of the distal portion of the core. A shapeable tip, which may be the distal extremity of the core or a separate shapeable ribbon that is secured to the distal extremity of the core, extends through the flexible body and is secured to the distal end of the flexible body by soldering, brazing, or welding; or by use of an adhesive in the case of a polymeric flexible body which forms a rounded distal tip. This rounded, distal or leading tip is highly flexible so that it does not damage or perforate the vessel. The portion behind the distal tip is increasingly stiff to better support a balloon catheter or similar device.
The shapeable member or ribbon of a typical guide wire is a small diameter wire that has been flattened to a relatively constant transverse profile. Flattening of the shapeable member facilitates the shapability of the member. However, a shapeable member having a constant transverse profile or flexibility could be subject to prolapse during use. Prolapse occurs when the shapeable member gets bent back on itself inside a constrained lumen, and is difficult to straighten out with only proximal manipulation.
The present invention is generally directed to a medical device such as a guiding member for performing or aiding in the performance of a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention is directed to a guide wire or similar guiding member for the introduction and advancement of a medical device into a patient for the performance of a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure.
A guiding member embodying features of the present invention generally has a shapeable member, which extends from a distal core section and has a distal portion extending beyond the distal core section with a non-rectangular cross-sectional shape defined by width b and a height h. In one embodiment, the present invention guide wire includes a moment of inertia having a moment of inertia defined by 0.083xc3x97bxc3x97h3. Preferably, the value for the moment of inertia is defined by at least 0.1xc3x97bxc3x97h3.
The guiding member may have an elongate core with a proximal core section and a distal core section, and a flexible body disposed about and secured to at least a portion of the distal core section. The shapeable member has a distal end that is optionally secured to the distal end of the flexible body that terminates in a rounded tip. The portion of the shapeable member having the desired moment of inertia preferably has a cross-sectional shape including a non-rectangular shape, a D-shape, a triangular shape, and the like. Other non-rectangular shapes known in the art having the desired moment of inertia may also be employed.
The shapeable member may be separately formed and then joined to the distal core section in a suitable manner, or it may be formed out of a distal extremity of the core. If separately formed, the elongated shapeable member may be formed as a shaping ribbon that is mounted or attached in a suitable manner to the distal extremity of the distal core section through welding, brazing, soldering, adhesive bonding, mechanical connections, and other known mounting processes. In addition, the discrete shapeable member may by formed from round or flattened wire that is coined, rolled, or otherwise plastically deformed to a desired shape with preferably a non-rectangular cross-sectional shape.
A flexible body may be disposed about the shapeable member, preferably along its entire length and may take the form of a helical coil, polymer jacket, or the like. The distal end of the flexible body is attached to the distal end of the shapeable member and an intermediate portion of the flexible body is preferably secured to the distal core section proximal to the shapeable member. The intermediate portion of the flexible body can optionally be secured to the distal core section including the proximal end of the shapeable member.
The non-rectangular, transverse shape of the elongated shapeable member on the distal part of the guide wire changes the moment of inertia of the shapeable member as compared to one having a rectangular transverse cross-section with the same width and height, thus making the shapeable member with a non-rectangular transverse cross-section more or less flexible, depending on the non-rectangular transverse shape chosen. Furthermore, the non-rectangular transverse shape may provide for a larger or smaller profile for the shapeable member with the same strength characteristics as a shapeable member with a rectangular transverse shape.
In various embodiments, the length of the shapeable member is about, for example, 0.5 cm to about 12 cm, and preferably about 1 cm to about 10 cm. At least 50%, and preferably at least 75%, of the length of the shapeable member is optionally tapered. The taper may be straight or curved, and divergent or convergent. As to the latter, for example, the shapeable member preferably has two pairs of opposing faces that are essentially the mirror image of each other. In one embodiment, the pair of opposing faces converge toward each other while in another embodiment the pair of opposing faces diverge from each other. There may be more than one taper resulting in a shapeable member that is thicker in the middle or thinner in the middle.
Lastly, the geometry of the shapeable member may be modeled mathematically. The specific transverse shapes may be selected in keeping with the principles of the invention to achieve optimum performance for specific usage requirements. These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings.

Guide wire with a non-rectangular shaping member


In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for reconfiguration of a circuit-switched ring network to a packet-switched ring network is provided. The method may include, for each adjacent pair of network elements in a network bridging traffic between the pair of network elements via a second path other than a first circuit switched-based path directly coupling the pair. The method may also include provisioning packet switched-based network interfaces on each of the pair of network elements. The method may additionally include establishing a packet switched-based path directly between the packet switched-based network interfaces. The method may further include switching traffic from the first path to the packet switched-based path.

A communication network may include network elements that route packets through the network. Today, many communications networks are implemented as circuit switched networks, such as Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) networks, for example. In general, SONET may be described as a standardized multiplexing protocol for transferring multiple digital bit streams over optical fiber using lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In addition, communications networks may be implemented as packet switched networks, such as Ethernet networks, as an example. In general, a packet-switched network may be a digital communications network that groups all transmitted data, irrespective of content, type, or structure into suitably-sized blocks, called packets. The network over which packets are transmitted is a shared network which routes each packet independently from all others and allocates transmission resources as needed.
Both circuit switched networks and packet switched networks may be organized in ring topologies. A ring network may be a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for signals through each node—a ring. Data travels from node to node, with each node along the way handling every packet. Optical networks often employ redundancies to maximize performance and availability. In ring networks, such redundancies may include shared ring protection schemes such as bidirectional line switched ring (BLSR). With BLSR, rather than sending redundant copies of packets from ingress to egress, ring nodes adjacent to a failure may reroute traffic in an opposite direction of the ring in response to a failure. For example, if a failure occurs at a first node intermediate to a second node and a third node in which the first node and second node are "counterclockwise" to the third node, third node may reroute traffic intended for the second node in a "clockwise" direction (e.g., via nodes other than the first node).
Some advantages may exist for packet-based ring networks over circuit-switched ring networks. For example, packet-based rings may provide wide-area multipoint connectivity more economically due to their reduced number of links, while also providing ring protection similar to BLSR. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to reconfigure circuit-switched ring networks to packet-based ring networks. However, doing so using traditional approaches may lead to undesired network downtime.

Systems and methods for reconfiguration of a circuit switched ring to a packet switched ring


A flexible system is provided for preventing freight damage during shipment. The system has adjustable and interlocking hinged panels that are attached to the side walls of a shipping enclosure, so that the system can be readily adapted to secure different types and sizes of loads. One embodiment of the invention, provided for use with a freight carrying enclosure that has an internal wall, includes first and second panel segments that each have an edge. A first mounting structure supports the first panel segment for rotation about a vertical axis, between a first position wherein the first panel segment is in perpendicular relationship with the wall, and a second position wherein the first panel segment is in abutting relationship with the wall. A second mounting structure joins the first and second panel segments together along their respective edges, and enables rotation of the second panel between vertical and horizontal orientations. A support structure selectively maintains the second panel segment in its horizontal orientation.

1. Field
The invention disclosed and claimed herein generally pertains to a flexible system for preventing or minimizing damage caused to freight during shipment. More particularly, the invention pertains to a system of such type for avoiding damage caused by unintended movement of goods or products within a truck trailer, cargo container, or other freight carrying enclosure. Even more particularly, the invention pertains to a system of the above type that prevents freight damage during shipment by utilizing highly adjustable compartmentalization components that can be built into the cargo container or enclosure.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is very common for items of freight to be damaged during shipment, as the result of unintended movements such as shifting, tipping or tumbling. Shifting generally refers to the movement of heavy freight due to forces that can damage or impact other freight. Tipping occurs when a large top heavy load falls over because of inadequate securement, and tumbling is the occurrence of stacked freight falling off of other freight, likewise because of inadequate securement. All these types of movement can affect goods being transported in virtually any kind of shipping container or freight carrying enclosure, including without limitation truck trailers, rail cars, ocean containers, and air cargo containers.
In the past, approaches for securing freight to prevent undesired movements have included use of load bars, strapping, and bracing with wood. However, all these methods of securement have distinct disadvantages. Load bars tend to become loose during shipment, and can damage freight by abrasions or other actions. In addition, load bars can be very prone to theft. Strapping is generally limited to or constrained by the type of trailer that is used, and is a manual process that increases loading time. Strapping can also cause damage to freight. Bracing methods are labor intensive and inconsistent, and tend to be used very differently by different shipping companies.
In providing an improved means and method to secure cargo during shipment, it is important to consider the growing importance of the small parcel environment. Shippers in this environment, such as UPS and Fed Ex, must be able to transport goods and parcels of varying sizes to a range of recipients, including both businesses and individuals. Thus, in an improved solution for cargo securement, it would be very desirable to accommodate larger sized parcels, and at the same protect smaller parcels from being crushed or otherwise damaged. Moreover, it would be of great benefit to enable cargo carrying vans and cargo containers of all types to be easily adapted or customized to accommodate widely varying loads, as well as mixes of parcel sizes that are continually changing.

Rotatable partition system for a freight carrying enclosure

International Business Machines Corporation


A cover for a biological sample well tray, comprising a cap for sealing a sample well. The cap comprises a well lens for focusing light into the sample well and collecting light from the sample. In another aspect, the cap comprises an elongate portion configured to permit incoming light to pass into the sample well and out of the sample well. Various other aspects comprise a microcard for biological material, and an apparatus for a plurality of sample well strips. A method for testing a biological sample is also provided.

Biological testing has become an important tool in detecting and monitoring diseases. In the biological testing field, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), ligase chain reactions, antibody binding reactions, oligonucleotide ligations assays, hybridization assays, and other reactions can be used to analyze nucleic acids. In the biological field, cell-surface receptor binding assays, fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assays (FLISA), protein-protein interactions, enzyme assays, apoptosis assays, and other reactions can be used to analyze cells. These reactions have become valuable research tools with applications such as cloning, analysis of genetic expression, DNA sequencing, and drug discovery.
Recent developments in the field have led to an increased demand for biological testing devices. Biological testing devices are now being used in an increasing number of ways. It can be desirable to provide real-time detection capability in order to analyze on-going reactions.
In a real-time detection device, a plurality of lenses can be used to focus light from a light source onto the samples to be tested, and to collect the light emitted by the sample. These lenses can be bulky, taking up a considerable amount of space above the sample well tray. The use of a large number of components can make assembly and alignment of the optical components of the detection apparatus time consuming. Therefore, it can be desirable to have a simple, less complex structure.

Caps for sample wells and microcards for biological materials


A process for producing an antistatic yarn includes the steps of: (a) providing antistatic composite filaments having carbon black dispersed therein; (b) advancing the antistatic composite filaments to a first heating zone at a first advancing speed which ranges from 230 m/min to 330 m/min; (c) drawing the antistatic composite filaments from the first heating zone to a false twist zone at a second advancing speed such that a draw ratio of the second advancing speed to the first advancing speed ranges from 1.5 to 1.75, thereby obtaining false twisted filaments; and (d) heat-setting the false twisted filaments so as to obtain a permanent antistatic crimped yarn.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing an antistatic yarn, more particularly to a process for producing a permanent antistatic crimped yarn that includes carbon black.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many approaches have been proposed to impart an antistatic property to cloth made of a polymeric yarn, such as a polyester yarn. For example, a fiber yarn for making cloth may be imparted with an antistatic property by adding an antistatic agent to the cloth or the yarn thereby to render the cloth slightly conductive or to render the cloth hydrophilic for adsorbing moisture from the air. Such an antistatic property of the cloth may gradually diminish with repeated laundering of the cloth.
On the other hand, a conductive material (such as carbon black, metal, metal oxide, etc.) may be added to the polymeric yarn for making a permanent antistatic yarn. However, the carbon-black containing polymeric yarn may have a relatively low breaking strength, a relatively low breaking elongation, or a relatively low crimp contraction, so that such a permanent antistatic yarn is merely suitable for plain weaving, and is not suitable for making cloth or fabric with the desired bulkiness, hand, and appearance. The application of the permanent antistatic yarn is thus limited.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a commercially available cloth or fabric made from an antistatic yarn. The cloth/yarn as shown has a relatively flat surface, and does not have a crimpy or fluffy appearance.

Process for producing an antistatic yarn


A sports card display stand includes a platform-like base, at least a pair of support posts mounted upright and laterally-spaced apart on the base, a longitudinal groove extending between upper and lower ends of each support post and facing toward one another for slidably receiving an article holder in the form of a flat plastic sleeve containing a sports card or photo between each pair of the posts with opposite longitudinal edges of the sleeve extending within the grooves, and an elongated narrow top cap member having spaced cavities and a longitudinal channel extending between and intersecting with the cavities being recessed in an underside of the top cap member for receiving in a releasable mated relationship the upper ends of the support posts and the upper edge of the flat plastic sleeve in order to removably mount the top cap member onto the upper ends of the support posts. In such arrangement, the top cap member, base and support posts together form a frame which completely encloses the periphery of the flat plastic sleeve containing the sports card or photo. Removal of the top cap member from the posts permits withdrawal and replacement of the flat plastic sleeve containing the sports card or photo from and into the grooves of the posts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to displays and trophies and, more particularly, is concerned with a sports card display stand for storing, displaying and protecting special and rare cards and photos, especially cards and photos of individuals participating in sports.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is common practice for persons to display a wide variety of articles in their homes and offices. With regard to young people participating in sports, typically parents will display photographs of their children while engaged in sports or just wearing the particular sports uniform and maybe holding the bat, ball, glove or club of the particular sport. Additionally, many sports-minded children and adults purchase, collect and trade small cards bearing photos of sports figures. The most favorite or valuable ones may be chosen for display.
Displays and trophies of a wide variety of designs and constructions are known in the prior patent art for displaying cards and photos. Representative examples are the devices disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. issued to Barbieri (2,504,375), Nelson (2,541,600), Timmins (2,968,109), Gossard (3,624,939), Vix (4,019,269), Seeger (4,530,863), Wagner (4,944,968) and Hager (4,979,619), and in prior art U.S. design Pat. Nos. issued to Wasilevich (158,699), Phillips (233,500), Farley (237,933), Long (314,162) and Masterson (317,530).
While these devices may function in accordance with the intentions of their designers and serve the limited purposes for which they were designed, none is perceived by the inventor herein as providing the degree of functionality and ornamentality that is required for a device to be readily acceptable to persons wanting to display their favorite sports cards and photos. As a result, a need still exists for improvements in displays and trophies for these purposes.