Display apparatus (50) comprising a front projection screen (60), at least one projector (54) which is for providing a display on the screen (60) and which is positioned outside an enclosed display volume, the screen (60) being optimised to preferentially set the image distance in different regions when viewed by an observer (58) via a collimating mirror (62).

This invention relates to display apparatus for the presentation of computer graphics or video images.
Display apparatus for aircraft flight simulators is well known. This display apparatus provides a technological base line from which similar display apparatus for more cost sensitive applications such as ground vehicle driving simulators could be built. The ground vehicle driving simulators may be, for example, car and truck simulators. However, the cost of commercial flight simulator display apparatus has in the past been prohibitive for all but the most specialised top range ground vehicle driving simulators. Contradicting this aspect however, is that the requirements for simulation of environments and situations for vehicles can be more demanding than for flight simulators.
Ground vehicle driving simulators fall into two simple categories, namely those used for training and those used for research. Ground vehicle driving simulators used for training are designed to impart some new skill to the driver. Examples could be for base vehicle operation, conversion between vehicle types, emergency services such as police pursuit, and post-injury rehabilitation. Ground vehicle driving simulators used for research may use the driver as part of an experiment or study. The experiment or study could be in vehicle design such for example as vehicle performance and aesthetics. The study could be a human factor study, for example studying the effects of drugs or ageing on drivers. The experiment could even be with regard to road planning, for example with regard to sign and signal design and placement, and road markings.
Generally, justification of manufacturing costs is quite different between training and research. For training, the balance of justification on cost effectiveness alone is very difficult, because today all training is performed successfully in real vehicles, and the cost of a simulator of sufficient fidelity would normally far exceed the cost of the vehicle it simulates. An exception is where the end user is not the general public but rather a specialist user such for example as police, fire or other emergency services, military vehicle users, and users of specialist equipment such as cranes and earth movers. In such cases, the vehicle can be expensive, training may be unacceptable in the real vehicle, and simulation is normally valued for the reason that the simulation can take place in varying environmental conditions such for example as in varying weather conditions and in dangerous situations.
Known display apparatus for ground vehicle driving simulators endeavours to provide a visual display which is known as an out-of-the-window display. There is always a quest for as large a field of view as possible, with as high a resolution as possible for the lowest possible manufacturing cost. With regard to resolution, there seems to be a wide range of opinion as to what is acceptable. One important factor is the visibility of a simulated sign, which with a display resolution of 6 arc-min/olp, would not be legible until it is much closer than the real sign would be. However to specify, for example 3 arc-min/olp everywhere would be cost prohibitive. One pragmatic solution taken has been to artificially magnify the size of signs, such that the signs are legible at the appropriate distances. This tends to give the sign an unnatural appearance. Progressively reducing the sign size to the correct value as it comes into range may help, but this can present a dynamic artifact that detracts from realism. Target projectors as used in some flight simulators could be used to display signs by overlaying or cutting into the main scene. However, the cost of such a solution is likely to be prohibitive and, unless the dynamic correlation is perfect, the signs would give the sensation of floating in the simulated world. Currently known out-of-the-window display solutions have been such that manufacturers of training simulators have built what they could afford, rather than what they would like to build. In doing so, important trade-offs have been related to the ability to complete the training objectives with the display selected. Car and truck simulators have been built with a wide range of different types of out-of-the-window display apparatus. For training usage, they have been mainly confined to four basic types, namely direct-view monitors, front-projected real-image, rear-projected real-image, and rear-projected tilted mirror collimators. Head mounted displays have recently also been used, although mainly in research application environments. These different types of display apparatus will now be considered.
Direct-view monitors are such that graphic monitors are fitted directly on to the simulator cab, around the driver. Whilst this provides the most cost effective and compact type of display apparatus, the extremely short accommodation (or viewing) distance and large gaps between viewable channels do not really result in a high fidelity display. Such direct-view monitors have value where these aspects do not impact on the training requirement, and the relative restrictive cab environment fidelity can be tolerated. This is however not usually the case. Cab fidelity is usually required together with acceptable accommodation, and as continuous a visual field as possible.
Front-projected real-image display apparatus may provide a wrap around display by placing a curved screen around the simulator cab, and front projecting on to the curved screen using cathode ray tube projectors. The cathode ray tube projectors form their images from what is essentially a continuous scanning process, which gives the technology the distinguishing characteristic of xe2x80x9cinfinite addressabilityxe2x80x9d. What this amounts to in practice is that, through the introduction of terms in the electronic scanning sub-system of the projector, the projected image formed can be distorted in a continuous fashion. This ability is particularly useful when projecting on to curved screen surfaces and it has been a key factor in cathode ray tube projection remaining dominant in simulation display apparatus for more than twenty years. In such systems, the projectors must be placed within the screen volume, effectively sharing space with the rest of the simulator. Experience has found that this can be particularly difficult where the cab to be simulated is large and/or where there is a small room size. Various solutions can be made to work and so the benefits of front-projected cathode ray tube systems can be given as continuous image presentation, mature projection technology giving low risk and off-the-shelf availability, high performance digital electronic blending, and good dynamic image presentation. However, drawbacks include the fact that designs tend to be cab-specific and thus require a one-time design for each new simulator. Often the required field-of-view must be compromised, and the cab may require modification to eliminate shadowing.
General comparisons between liquid crystal display and cathode ray tube technologies have previously been made in the field of display apparatus for flight simulation. Liquid crystal display technologies are regarded as being particularly attractive, primarily due to the promise of reduced system maintenance, versatile lens options, and small physical size and weight for a given light output. Until recently, liquid crystal display front-projected display apparatus was not deemed to be acceptable to realise simulation displays of adequate performance. Recently however, improved performance of the projectors, along with new technologies of digital distortion correction and optical blending, have come together to offer a new capability option. This has only previously been recognized for flight simulation application, but it does apply equally to ground vehicle application.
Generally, the cathode ray tube front-projected layout can be replicated using liquid crystal display projectors. At system level, the increased light output now available can be traded to provide a higher image contrast performance, as long as image luminance is sufficient. Also, there is significant benefit from reduced maintenance costs. However, the layout problems are the same. There is a limit to how far off-axis the projectors can be placed, primarily through the wastage of displayable pixels.
Whilst front projection display apparatus suffers a basic drawback of layout difficulty due to shadowing problems, rear projection appears completely to solve this problem. With rear projection, the projectors may be arranged outside the enclosed volume of the display screen. Hence the simulator cab space is not shared by the projectors, which themselves also radiate outwards from the centre of the display apparatus. Thus, no image occlusion occurs and large fields-of-view can relatively easily be achieved, even around large awkwardly shaped truck and bus cabs. An added advantage is that, with proper selection of screen material, overall contrast from the display apparatus can approach that of the basic projector, perhaps giving 25:1 compared to 15:1 for comparable front projection display apparatus.
However, rear projection is not without its drawbacks. Firstly, multiple flat rear projection screen sections are generally used to make up the total field-of-view in a piece by piece fashion. This results in a varying accommodation distance for the observer. Screen joins always represent a discontinuity both because of this segmentation and, more importantly, from the effects of screen gain. Rear projection screens do not diffuse the light as evenly as matt-painted front-projection screens, but instead exhibit a preferential transmittance along the axis of the incident light. The on-axis rays, from the projector through the eye, will be transmitted to the maximum nominal gain of the screen, which is typically around 1.5. The gain represents the luminance that would be achieved referenced to 100% matt white reflected surface, so that a figure of 1.5 would result in a relative luminance of 150%. The rays at the edges of the field-of-view are significantly away from this axis, and the gain lobe shape can illustrate the fraction of light returning to the eye. This manifests itself in the form of large image non-uniformity. If, for example, a single projector were to illuminate a screen section covering 60xc2x0 horizontal by 40xc2x0 vertical, the corner luminance would only provide around 25% of the centre luminance when viewed at the design eye-point. However, the human eye can be surprisingly tolerant to such variations, and rear projected systems of this type can be acceptable for simulation.
It is to be noted that use on a dynamic motion platform is difficult, owing to the large flat screen sections. Cylindrical screens could be used to provide a continuous image surface and the inherently improved self-supporting geometry results in a display screen that is more motion compatible. However, the gain lobe effects are further exaggerated horizontally, limiting individual channel fields of view.
Rear-projected systems are therefore very useful in providing large field-of-view out-of-the-window displays, but they have performance limitations which must be taken into account.
Tilted-mirror collimators have long been established as the mainstay of wide-bodied aircraft simulators but, until recently, they have not been widely used for ground vehicle driving simulators. This is largely because of cost. The primary components of tilted-mirror collimators are as follows:
1. A projection system, typically cathode ray tube based, cross firing above the simulated cab or cockpit.
2. A rear projection screen, typically spherical, placed above and in front of the cab. The projectors form an image on the outer surface of this screen.
3. A collimating mirror, in front of the cab, wrapping around for a large horizontal field-of-view. The most cost effective and common arrangement here is to stretch a polyester film coated in an aluminium reflective surface, over the edges of an evacuated mirror cell. The rear projected image is viewed via this curved mirror.
The relationship between the curvatures of the mirror and the rear projection screen is designed to set the image distance at a much greater value than that of the physical mirror radius, for example 3 meters typically. The image distance is set to a nominal value of 20-30 meters which significantly enhances the subject realism of the scene. This also has great benefit in flight simulation since the pilot and co-pilot are then simultaneously able to perceive correct image geometry for distant objects. However, for a road vehicle simulator, such collimation may actually be a disadvantage. This is because the simulated environment often presents objects that are quite close to the driver, for example when adjacent to another vehicle. If displayed at an image distance of 20 meters, the relative size cues to the driver would be incorrect, especially with head movement.
The main cost components in this type of display are as follows.
1. The projection system which typically uses expensive cathode ray tube projectors, with high quality digital blending.
2. The rear projection system, which requires specialist tooling for the large spherical form factors and precision coating technology.
3. The projector support structures over the cab, which tend to be simulator specific so that standard designs cannot easily be used.
4. To a lesser extent the mirror cell.
Savings may be obtained by use of liquid crystal display projectors or other fixed matrix projectors, which would reduce the cost of supporting structures. Generally, however, other than for specific top range or high volume applications, it may be difficult to justify the cost of this class of display apparatus.
Head mounted display apparatus is finding application in a number of simulation research applications. A generic driver cockpit would allow for re-configuration between vehicle types. Also, a very low total load on the motion base would enable simulation of any ground vehicles with a low cost motion system. Further, a head mounted display allows the driver to look in any direction without limitation from the display device. Such a combination of features is difficult if not impossible to achieve with projected out-of-the-window displays. However, there are two fundamental reasons why head mounted display apparatus has not been widely accepted for ground vehicle driving simulators. The first reason is that in the real world, drivers do not need to wear headgear. The second reason is that the visual performance of head mounted display apparatus to date has not been adequate, especially with regard to transport delay, compensation for head movement, and field-of-view. Furthermore, optical limitations (for example resulting in eye strain or sickness) and discomfort (for example weight, centre of gravity and hygiene) are significant problems.
It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.
The present invention provides a method of producing display apparatus, which method comprises providing an enclosed display volume, providing a curved projection screen for being viewed within the enclosed display volume, providing at least one projector for providing an image on the screen, positioning the said at least one projector outside the enclosed display volume, providing a curved collimating mirror within the enclosed display volume and via which the image is viewed, causing the screen to be of such a shape and/or position that portions of the screen vary in distance from the curved collimating mirror whereby image distance is not constant across the total field-of-view of the display apparatus, and maintaining the shape and/or position of the screen whereby during use the display apparatus has an apparent image distance which, when viewed via the collimating mirror, appears to vary within the total field-of-view of the display apparatus without a user of the display apparatus having to move relative to the screen.
The display apparatus of the present invention may be for simulators such for example as flight simulators and ground vehicle driving simulators. The display apparatus may be used for other simulators if desired. The display apparatus may also be used in non-simulator applications so that the display apparatus may be for visualisation and virtual reality systems where similar display characteristics would be of benefit.
The display apparatus of the present invention may enable ground vehicle driving simulators to be produced with the following advantages.
1. Low cost.
2. Close image distance on the driver""s side.
3. Longer image distance elsewhere.
4. Continuous image of high contrast and luminance.
5. Low maintenance.
6. Light weight.
7. Re-use of the design to eliminate one time costs in the simulator structures.
8. Flexibility to change simulator cabs.
The display apparatus of the present invention may be used to provide a highly integrated motion and display platform with well defined interfaces. This may enable, with little or no specific interface design, a simulator cab to be built into an off-the-shelf platform, in an accelerated time frame and at minimised cost.
The display apparatus may be one in which the screen is of a shape and/or position that gives a short image distance on the driver""s side, and in which this distance increases in straight-ahead and in curb-side directions. The shape of the screen may be spherical, with a relative offset to an axis of the front projection surface being shifted to reduce the image distance on the driver""s side. Alternatively, the shape of the screen may be a complex aspheric shape. Simple shapes like cylinders may also be utilised, although the variation in image distance will be more extreme, especially in the vertical direction.
The projectors are preferably fixed matrix projectors. Examples of fixed matrix projectors are liquid crystal display projectors and digital micromirror device projectors.
The display apparatus may be one in which the projectors are such that they are in groups, with each group having at least two of the projectors. Thus, instead of a single projector at each appropriate location, two or more of the projectors may be stacked, with the spacing between projector locations being reduced. For example, the display apparatus may then comprise twelve of the projectors, in pairs, covering 180xc2x0xc3x9745xc2x0 to give a basic display resolution of approximately 2.7 arc-min/olp from 1280xc3x971024 projectors. Low cost personal computer image generator channels may then provide the content. Alternatively, a smaller number of image generator channels in combination with a pixel sharing system may be used.
If desired, the projectors may be arranged radially outside the screen.
The display apparatus of the present invention may include image generator means for generating images to be displayed on the screen.
The display apparatus may include digital distortion correction means for removing distortion introduced by the optical configuration. The digital distortion correction means may be such that it applies a bi-linear or other digital re-mapping function to the image.
Preferably, the digital distortion correction means is positioned between the image generator and the projectors.
The display apparatus of the present invention may include optical blending means for optically blending overlapping images from the projectors.
The present invention also provides a simulator, a visualisation system or a virtual reality system, when including the display apparatus of the invention.


The present invention provides a polymeric actuator which has excellent flexibility and elongation rate; low temperature dependability of physical properties such as an elastic modulus and high dielectric breakdown strength, and which can drive in a low electric field. The present invention relates to a polymeric actuator, wherein the polymeric dielectric has a storage elastic modulus at 20° C. [E′(20° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz of not more than 0.5 MPa,                a ratio [E′(−20° C.)/E′(20° C.)] of a storage elastic modulus at −20° C. [E′(−20° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz to the [E′(20° C.)] of not more than 5.0, and        a ratio [E′(40° C.)/E′(20° C.)] of a storage elastic modulus at 40° C. [E′(40° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz to the [E′(20° C.)] of not less than 0.5.

A polymeric actuator formed from a polymeric material, as compared with an actuator formed from materials such as a ceramic, a metal and the like, has features that it is lightweight and it has excellent flexibility. From these features, the polymeric actuator is collecting a lot of attention as an actuator, which is applicable to a sensor, an optical switch, a diaphragm, a Braille display, power generation applications such as wave power and heel power, industrial and nursing care robots, medical instruments and the like, and can safely operate if directly contacting with human skin. Various polymeric actuators, which are formed from an ion-exchange membrane, a conductive polymer, a dielectric elastomer, a polymer gel, a hydrogel, a carbon nanotube and the like, have been ever proposed.
However, since the actuator formed from the ion exchange membrane, the conductive polymer or the hydrogel is driven by movement of water or ions, it was difficult to drive the actuator in air. Therefore, a polymeric actuator formed from a dielectric elastomer, which it is unnecessary to use a solvent, was proposed. However, since a drive voltage for a deformation is high, which is several thousand V, in the polymeric actuator using the dielectric elastomer, it is required to further reduce the drive voltage for practical use.
Therefore, a polymeric actuator obtained by using a polyol, which is dielectric or has a substituent having relatively strong dipole moments, as a new polymeric material, for which the polymeric actuator can be driven in air, in elastomers such as a polyurethane elastomer or by adding a high dielectric constant solvent thereto has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Patent Document 1 discloses a polyurethane elastomer actuator, in which the polyol is oriented in the direction of an electric field by applying a DC electric field to a polyurethane elastomer which comprises a dielectric polyol or a polyol containing a substituent having relatively strong dipole moments. However, the polyurethane elastomer actuator has an improved flexibility and can drive in a low electric field by optimizing a molecular weight and the like of materials used, but a temperature dependability of physical properties is not described, and there is a problem that the dielectric breakdown strength is low because of high dielectric constant of the polyol.
Patent Document 2 discloses a high-speed response polyurethane gel actuator, in which dielectric molecules or substituents are oriented in the direction of an electric field and a structure of the gel is anisotropically changed by applying a DC electric field to a polyurethane gel-like material, which is formed by involving a dielectric solvent in a dielectric polyurethane elastomer or a polyurethane elastomer containing a substituent having relatively strong dipole moments. The polyurethane gel actuator has an improved flexibility and can drive in a low electric field by using a high dielectric constant solvent, but there is a problem that the dielectric breakdown strength is low because of using the solvent, which is a low molecular weight component.
Patent Document 3 discloses a dielectric film suitable for a transducer such as an actuator, a sensor and the like, which is formed by crosslinking an elastomer composition comprising an elastomer containing a heteroatom in a molecule and a high dielectric constant liquid compound containing a heteroatom in a molecule, which is compatible with the elastomer. The dielectric film has an improved flexibility and can drive in a low electric field by using a high dielectric constant solvent, but there is a problem that the dielectric breakdown strength is low because of using the solvent, which is a low molecular weight component.
Therefore, a polymeric actuator obtained by using a dielectric elastomer which has low temperature dependability of physical properties such as an elastic modulus and high dielectric breakdown strength, and which can drive in a low electric field is required.


The present disclosure relates to a memory including a memory array with at least two rows of memory cells, a first driver coupled to a control line of the first row of memory cells, and a second driver coupled to a control line of the second row of memory cells. The first driver is made in a first well, the second driver is made in a second well electrically insulated from the first well, and the two rows of memory cells are produced in a memory array well electrically insulated from the first and second wells.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a line decoder for supplying control lines of a memory with positive or negative variable polarity voltages.
Description of the Related Art
Memories produced on CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) semiconductor substrate generally comprise a memory array in which memory cells are arranged in rows and in columns. The rows of memory cells are generally coupled to control lines and the columns of memory cells to bit lines.
Memory cells produced from floating-gate transistors are often erased by Fowler Nordheim effect (tunnel effect), by means of the channel erasing technique. Channel erasing requires a negative erase voltage to be applied to the control lines of the rows of memory cells that must be erased, while the substrate of the floating-gate transistors is taken to a positive voltage.
It may be desirable to simultaneously apply a positive voltage to memory cells not to be erased, to remove or limit the erasing stress of these memory cells. Such an erasing stress causes a slow spurious erasing which can lead to a full erasing of the memory cells not concerned by erasing operations. The erasing stress, if it cannot be avoided, must be managed, and requires providing a cyclical refreshing of the memory cells. This cyclical refreshing makes the structure of the memory significantly more complex and requires in particular executing a refreshing algorithm including a control of the threshold voltages of the floating-gate transistors.
The production of a line decoder capable of supplying a control line with a high value negative voltage while applying a high value positive voltage to other control lines of a memory array, for example −10V on the one hand and +10V on the other hand, comes up against various technological restrictions, in particular the fact that MOS transistors supplying such voltages cannot tolerate voltage differences greater than a breakdown voltage of these transistors, generally between 10V and 11V. It shall be recalled here that there are two types of breakdown in a MOS transistor: the breakdown of the gate oxide of the transistor and the breakdown of the junction PN or NP situated between the drain and the channel region or between the channel region and the source of the transistor. The junction breakdown generally occurs before the breakdown of the gate oxide and corresponds to a reverse-biased diode breakdown. A significant current leakage then occurs through the transistor, which causes the fall of the high erasing voltage supplied by charge pumps, generally of the order of 10V.
As a result, the voltage swing between negative and positive voltages simultaneously supplied by a conventional line decoder must not exceed the breakdown voltage of the transistors which supply these voltages. This technological limitation is found for example in the line decoder described by EP 1 441 360, which comprises terminating elements controlled by variable polarity signals supplied by group and sub-group decoders, and can simultaneously supply negative and positive voltages. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5L of this document, which show the structure of the terminating elements, this decoder does not enable negative and positive voltages having a difference greater than the breakdown voltage of the transistors of the terminating elements to be simultaneously applied to a memory array. Thus, it is seen in Table 2, page 12 of this document, that the voltage swing never exceeds 9V.
Furthermore an architecture of sector-erasable memory array of the type schematically shown on FIG. 1 is known, in which a memory array is made up of several sectors, for example S(a), S(b), S(c), S(d), each implanted in a well electrically insulated from the wells receiving the other sectors. Each sector comprises rows of memory cells (not represented) coupled to control lines CL. The control lines of each sector are coupled to a dedicated line decoder LD(a), LD(b), LD(c), LD(d). Each line decoder is made in a well electrically insulated from the wells receiving the line decoders from other sectors, which forms the substrate of the memory cells. The sectors and their associated line decoders are thus electrically insulated from each other. This type of memory array architecture enables the well of a sector that must be erased to be biased with a positive voltage, while applying a zero voltage to the wells of the sectors not to be erased, such that their memory cells do not undergo any erasing stress. It is not therefore necessary to apply to the control lines of these sectors a negative voltage for neutralizing the erasing stress.
However, this type of memory array architecture divided into physical sectors produced in different wells occupies a semiconductor surface area that is much greater than that of an undivided memory array architecture, wherein all the memory cells are implanted in the same well and are controlled by a line decoder common to the entire memory array.
It could thus be desirable to provide a line decoder enabling lines of an undivided memory array to be simultaneously supplied with negative and positive voltages having a voltage difference greater than a breakdown voltage of transistors supplying these voltages.

Non-volatile memory with a variable polarity line decoder


A friction stir weld tool sleeve is supported by an underlying support pin. The pin material is preferably selected for toughness and fracture characteristics. The pin sleeve preferably has a geometry which employs the use of an interrupted thread, a plurality of flutes and/or eccentric path to provide greater flow through. Paddles have been found to assist in imparting friction and directing plastic metal during the welding process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to friction stir welding pin-tools, and more particularly to pin design and the pin surface geometry which engages a workpiece.
2. Description of Related Art
Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process that uses a non-consumable rotating pin-tool to make linear welds. Typical pin-tools consist of a cylindrical "shoulder" and a smaller diameter protruding "pin". The process is initiated by plunging the rotating pin-tool into a weld joint until the shoulder is in intimate contact with the surface of the work piece. After the pin-tool has reached its final plunge depth a dwell-time is initiated wherein the material surrounding the pin-tool is heated by friction and plastic deformation. Travel is initiated after sufficient dwell-time, and the weld is created by literally stirring plasticized material together under compressive forces generated by the tool shoulder. Finally, the weld is concluded by halting travel and withdrawing the rotating pin-tool from the work piece.
Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new technology but because of its broad applicability in the welding industry (as a replacement for fusion welding processes) it is the focus of significant research and development. The process is still in its infancy and has already been implemented in several production applications in the aerospace, automotive, rail, and trucking industries.
Accordingly, improvements in pin-tool design are believed to be important to provide industry with quality tools so that FSW will be an attractive option for manufacturers and metal workers.
Several patent applications have been filed, and some patents granted on friction stir welding tools. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0011509 shows a probe for friction stir welding having a shank, a shoulder and a pin-tool. No pin sleeves are shown or described in this reference. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0179682 shows a method and apparatus for joining work pieces by friction welding comprising a rotatable shaft which is biased toward a workpiece to plasticize an engaged area of the workpiece. A sleeve element moves toward the workpiece as the shaft is removed in order to push plasticized material back into the workpiece.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0014516 shows a friction stir welding tool comprising a probe including a shank, shoulder and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a super abrasive material, and having a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2001/0004989 shows a friction stir welding tool having a cylindrical body and at least one flash cutter formed integrally to the cylindrical body of the tool.
Other patents and applications showing FSW technology include U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,670 showing an interface preparation for weld joints, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2001/0040179 showing a friction agitation joining apparatus for joining a plurality of abutted members, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,953 showing a method and apparatus for effecting interference fit of two parts by accelerating the part or parts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,317 showing friction welding utilizing a number of differently shaped pin-tools, U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,681 showing a friction stir welding apparatus and method with a fairly typical stir welding tool, U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,992 showing one embodiment having a threaded pin-tool, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,957 showing a method of using friction stir welding to repair weld defects and to help avoid weld defects in intersecting welds, U.S. Pat. No. 206,268 showing a friction stir welding pin-tool with internal flow channels, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,251 showing a method of welding a terminal to a flat flexible cable, U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,273 showing a friction welding apparatus and method showing one or more metal with a spaced apart probes having a crescent shaped cross-section, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,048 showing a pin-tool having threaded exterior surfaces, U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,088 showing pin-tools having a threaded exterior surface, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,430 showing a friction stir weld tool for thick weld joints having four sections of thread tapers, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,391 showing a friction stir welding tool having a unique thread configuration, U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,879 showing a probe having both right-handed and left-handed threads, U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,507 showing an auto-adjustable pin-tool for friction stir welding with what appears to be a traditional pin-tool, U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,507 showing a programmable friction stir welding process with a pin depth sensor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,895 showing a manual adjustable probe tool for friction stir welding, U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,315 showing a friction stir welding machine and method having a threaded pin-tool shown in FIG. 5, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,821 showing a friction welding apparatus which includes a carrier member to receive a component to be friction welded to the workpiece, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,366 showing a friction stir welding tool for welding variable thickness workpieces, U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,475 showing a method and apparatus for controlling downforce during friction stir welding, and finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,544 showing an adjustable pin-tool for friction stir welding.
Foreign patents have also been filed for friction stir weld improvements. FIG. 2D of Great Britain Patent No. GB 2 306 366 shows a probe having a plurality of projections for mixing plasticized material. European Patent Application No. EP 0 810 055 as well as PCT Patent Application WO 02/070186 also show friction stir welding pin-tool.
While many improvements have been initiated, none are believed to satisfactorily address pin-tool strength, durability, wear resistance and stress management.

United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A flexible belt is formed into three segments and has a ring fixed intermediate each of the end sections and the central section. The end sections are buckled to provide a collar. The rings serve as anchors for holding the horse on opposite sides of the neck.

The present invention relates to a horse collar, and more particularly, to an improved collar and restraining device for horses and other large animals.
A need exists for a collar to permit a horse to be temporarily led and/or held so that a single person can easily apply the tack harness or halter on a horse. The need for such a collar is particularly prevalent at horse shows where after the horse is shown or participates in an event, the horse must be rested, during which time, the harness is removed leaving the horse without means by which it can be led or held. A need for the present invention is also necessary when saddling the horse in a barn or stall where the same problem of holding or restraining the horse is felt. The need is particularly apparent where only one person is available to resaddle the horse and the person has difficulty in holding the horse steady as well as in manipulating the harness or tack.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,366 a halter is shown for holding a horse by the head to a hitching post. The halter has strap means fitted about the mouth and eyes of the horse which strap means is looped over the post so that the head lies adjacent to the post. This device has many disadvantages, mainly the horse can be damaged or injured by moving against the post and it interferes with the application of the conventional harness, bit, etc. Accordingly, this device is not suitable in the environment discussed.
Thus, there is still a need for a simple, low cost collar which can be easily applied to the horse and which does not interfere with the freedom of movement of the horse, but with which the horse can be temporarily lead and held.
It is another object to provide a collar which when placed about the horse permits the horse to be restrained between a pair of spaced posts or stanchions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a restraining device for horses and other large animals which does not interfere with the application or removal of a bridle, harness, halter, bit, saddle or other such article worn by such large animals.
The foregoing objects and advantages, together with numerous others will be apparent from the following disclosure.


Wearable apparatus and method of using same for tracking a labeled probe in a subject are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for portable assessment of labeled probes, and in particular labeled probes that are to be followed for extended periods of time.
2. Description of Background
Medical imaging techniques that rely on detection of emissions from tracers originating from within the body of the subject being imaged are widely used for diagnosis of various diseases. Nuclear physics-based molecular imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allow functional imaging of subjects at the molecular level based on the use of radioactive isotopes. For example, SPECT is based on the use of radioisotopes that emit gamma rays and PET is based on the use of radioisotopes that emit positrons, which annihilate to produce gamma rays. In contrast to nuclear imaging techniques, fluorescence based optical imaging techniques do not involve ionizing radiation such as gamma rays. Instead, fluorescence imaging relies on the excitation of fluorophore tracers by a light source that results in the absorption of photons by the fluorophores, and the subsequent detection of photons emitted by the fluorophores as they decay from their excited state. A disadvantage of the various imaging techniques that rely on internal tracers, such as PET, SPECT and fluorescence imaging, is that they rely on the use of large scale and expensive scanners for the detection of emissions from the internal tracers, thereby requiring costly visits to radiology clinics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Assessment of labeled probes in a subject


A reciprocating cutterbar of the type utilizing a pair of counter-reciprocating sickles driven at the opposing outboard ends and overlapping at the inboard ends thereof is disclosed wherein the knife sections are detachably affixed to the respective support bars of these sickles by special threaded fasteners to permit the overlapped knife sections to maintain a close shearing relationship. These special threaded fasteners include a head portion adapted to be countersunk into the body of the knife section below the surface thereof, a threaded portion adapted to be threadably engaged with a nut to effect a clamping load between the knife section and support bar, and an intermediate portion having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration engageable with a corresponding non-circular opening formed in the support bar to restrict rotation thereof when the fastener is engaged therewith. The head portion of the fastener includes a chamfered surface engageable with a ccorresponding chamfered surface surrounding the hole through the knife section to permit the fastener to firmly engage the knife section while being countersunk therein.

Double sickle or split sickle mowing devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,716, issued to Horace G. McCarty, et al on May 4, 1971, have proved to be particularly advantageous on harvesting machines having a relatively wide cutting width, at least in part due to the counter reciprocating masses of the opposing sickles. A relatively recent innovation in the marketing of reciprocating cutterbars has been the utilization of easily removable threaded fasteners to connect the individual sickle sections to the support bar running transversely along the cutterbar, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,803. Prior to the utilization of these threaded fasteners, knife sections were typically riveted to the support bar.
As can be seen in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,716, this split sickle-type of cutterbar provides for an overlap of the individual sickles at the transverse center of the harvesting machine. In this overlap area, the overlapping knife sections move in close proximity to each other and can actually sever crop by shearing against each other, as well as against the knife guards, during their operative movement. This close proximate relationship requires that the fastener, e.g. rivet, not have a head protruding outwardly beyond the surface of the knife sections facing the opposing knife section against which the shearing relationship exists.
A combination of the teachings of the split sickle device taught in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,716 and the teachings of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,803, in which the rivets had been replaced by threaded fasteners, has resulted in double sickle cutterbars having threaded fasteners attaching the knife sections to the respective support bars along the entire width of the cutterbar except in the overlap area where conventional riveting has been utilized because an effective threaded fastener system has not been developed. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a threaded fastener that could be used in conjunction with double sickle cutterbars in the overlap area to gain the advantages associated with the easy removal of knife sections attached to the corresponding support bar by threaded fasteners along the entire length of the cutterbar, thereby providing an improved double sickle cutterbar.


A high-speed carry-lookahead binary adder is disclosed. The binary adder includes multiple rows of carry-lookahead circuits, a half-sum module, and a sum/carry module. A first carry-lookahead circuit row includes multiple eight-bit group generate circuits and multiple eight-bit group propagate circuits. Each of the eight-bit group generate circuits produces a generate signal for a corresponding bit location. Each of the eight-bit group propagate circuits produces a propagate signal for a corresponding bit location. The half-sum module is utilized to generate a half-sum signal. By utilizing the half-sum signal, the generate signals, and the propagate signals, the sum/carry module generates sum signals and a carry signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for data processing in general, and in particular to a binary adder. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a high-speed carry-lookahead binary adder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Binary adders having a carry-lookahead are well known in the art. This type of binary adder is able to add two multiple-bit binary numbers while simultaneously computing a carry signal for each bit.
In order to compute the sum of two multiple-bit binary numbers A and B, a generate signal and a propagate signal are initially produced at each bit location. The equation for a generate signal G(i) is G(i)=A(i)B(i), and the equation for propagate signal P(i) is P(i)=A(i)B(i)+A(i)B(i) or A(i){character pullout}B(i), where i denotes a bit location within the binary umbers having bit 0 as the most significant bit. These generate signals and propagate signals are then utilized to produce a carry signal for each bit. The generalized equation for a carry signal C(i) is C(i)=G(i)+P(i)G(i+1)+P(i)P(i+1)G(i+2)+P(i)P(i+1)P(i+2)G(i+3)+ . . . , etc.
The present disclosure provides an improved binary adder capable of producing group generate signals and group propagate signals with fewer levels of logic than is required by the prior art.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of handling CSG list synchronization for a network in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises associating a version number with a user subscribed CSG identities (IDs) list, wherein the user subscribed CSG IDs list is stored in the network; and sending the version number in a OTA (over-the-air) message or in a NAS (non-access stratum) message when the version number is currently used by the network, wherein the OTA message is intended to update an operator CSG list which is stored in a mobile device.

1. Field of the Invention
The application relates to a method and a related communication device used in a wireless communication system and related communication device, and more particularly, to a method of handling close subscriber group (CSG) list synchronization in a wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A long-term evolution (LTE) system, initiated by the third generation partnership project (3GPP), is now being regarded as a new radio interface and radio network architecture that provides a high data rate, low latency, packet optimization, and improved system capacity and coverage. In the LTE system, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) includes a plurality of evolved Node-Bs (eNBs) and communicates with a plurality of mobile stations, also referred as user equipments (UEs).
In the LTE system, a home base station, sometimes called a femto base station or a pico base station, is considered to be a promising solution for many issues in mobile communication networks, such as coverage, capacity, and cost. The home base station delivers a great user experience in homes, office buildings or schools, at very low cost, using customer's broadband access (e.g. digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable television backhaul). For this application, the home base station usually serves small cellular coverage that has a restricted group of users and only allows access and provides service to the restricted group of users, which can be referred as to a close subscriber group (CSG). Such cells providing the small cellular coverage are referred to as femto-cells, Home Node B (HNB) cells, Home e-Node B (HeNB) cells or, most commonly, CSG cells.
The CSG cell is accessible only for a limited set of UEs (i.e. closed subscriber group). In order to prevent a UE from attempting to register on a CSG cell on which they do not have access, the UE maintains an allowed CSG list, i.e. a list of CSG identities (ids) for which access has been granted to the UE. The CSG id is an identifier broadcast by the CSG cell or cells and used by the UE to facilitate access for authorized members of the associated closed subscriber group. It shall be possible to store the allowed CSG list in the USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) of the UE. When available, the allowed CSG list on the USIM shall be used. It shall be possible for both, an operator and a user, to modify the allowed CSG list. Based on home operator preference, the use of the allowed CSG list may be inhibited. The operator preference dictates if the allowed CSG list in a ME (mobile equipment) shall be used or not. On the other hand, the UE shall maintain an operator controlled list of allowed CSG identities (e.g. operator CSG list). It shall be possible to store the operator CSG list in the USIM of the UE. When available, the operator CSG list on the USIM shall be used. It shall be possible for the operator to modify the operator CSG list.
All the CSG cells sharing the same identity are identifiable as a single group for the purposes of mobility management and charging in a PLMN (public land mobile network). A VPLMN (Visit PLMN) may provide CSG membership to the roaming subscriber without exchanging any CSG specific information with a HPLMN (Home PLMN). The HPLMN shall be able to instruct the UE so that it will not attempt to access CSG cells not contained in the allowed or operator CSG lists while in a VPLMN. The HPLMN shall be able to configure this restriction on a per VPLMN basis.
According to subclause 5.3.2 of section 1 in 3GPP specification TS 22.220 Va.3.0, the operator may inhibit the use of Allowed CSG List based on the operator preference. In this case Manual CSG selection to a CSG ID which is not in the operator CSG list is not possible as a UE can't add this in the Operator CSG List. Hence, when a user subscribed CSG IDs list is not in sync between a UE and a network, then the user will loose the service of subscribed CSG cells which CSG IDs are not in the UE's Operators CSG List due to loss of an OTA (over-the-air) message intended to update the UE's Operator CSG list. The user can't add this CSG ID of these CSG cells to the Operator CSG List through manual CSG ID selection procedure and there is no way to let the network know that the list of CSG IDs in UE's Operator CSG List. This will cause loss of subscribed CSG Cell services to the user for unspecified period of time.
For a manual CSG selection, the user shall be able to request the UE to perform a scan for available CSGs. When such request is received the UE shall perform a scan of available CSGs, their CSG Identities and their HNB Names. In the UE display, the available CSGs shall be represented by their associated HNB Names and PLMN Name(s). According to subclause 5.3.1 of section 1 in 3GPP specification TS 22.220 Va.3.0, a HPLMN can instruct a UE not to access CSG cells not contained in the allowed or operator CSG lists while in a VPLMN. The HPLMN shall be able to configure this restriction on a per VPLMN basis. According 3GPP specification, however, the UE will display all available CSG IDs at that location during manual CSG selection procedure. The user can select the CSG ID which is not in its Allowed CSG List or Operator CSG List. The UE will then try to access this CSG cell by initiating Registration Procedure which is not desired by the HPLMN in some VPLMN as per requirement described above. So, displaying CSG IDs not belonging to Allowed CSG List or Operator CSG List to user in manual selection will defeat the requirement.

Method of handling close subscriber group list synchronization


A semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises, on a first semiconductor chip, a first circuit element region in which a first electrode group is arranged along an outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip in such a manner as to surround a second semiconductor chip, a second electrode group is arranged along the outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip in such a manner as to surround the first electrode group, and the first semiconductor chip is surrounded by the first electrode group, and a second circuit element region which surrounds the first electrode group and is surrounded by the second electrode group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple chip package (MCP) type semiconductor device in which a plurality of semiconductor chips are mounted in one package.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional MCP type semiconductor device, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1, a second semiconductor chip is mounted on a first semiconductor chip. On the first semiconductor chip, first electrodes and second electrodes are formed, and on the second semiconductor chip, third electrodes are formed.
The plurality of first electrodes are provided along an outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip, and the plurality of the second electrodes are arranged between the outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip and the first electrodes and along the outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip.
Furthermore, the first electrodes and the third electrodes are electrically connected to each other by wires, and the second electrodes are electrically connected by wires to leads which are electrically connected to an external board etc.
The first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip are sealed with a resin.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-267488
In a semiconductor device described in Patent Document 1, wires for electrically connecting first electrodes and third electrodes to each other are positioned above a first semiconductor chip, and hence circuit elements formed on the first semiconductor chip are subject to an influence of noise generated from the wires, with the result that the reliability of the semiconductor device is liable to deteriorate.
Especially in a case where circuit elements easily subject to an influence of noise such as analog circuit elements are arranged as the circuit elements formed on the first semiconductor chip which is positioned directly below the wires where they may be easily subject to noise influence, the circuit elements on the first semiconductor chip are liable to be subject to the noise influence significantly.


A cryogenic gate valve having a body with a full passage formed therein. A gate has opposed faces at an acute angle with a recess formed in one face of the gate. The recess receives a sealing means that is comprised of a sealing ring having a base flange and an annular flange, and a rigid securing disk having a peripheral flange. The annular flange on the sealing ring has multiple concentric sealing ribs. The interface surface between the disk and the sealing ring extends at a taper angle to the face of the gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to top entry valves and pertains, more particularly, to an improved sealing arrangement for these types of valves.
2. Background Discussion
High performance valves, particularly those used at cryogenic temperatures require carefully fabricated gates and seats to assure proper closure of the valve without the likelihood of leakage. Because of the stringent requirements for such high performance valves, it is often necessary to have easy access to the gate and seats of the valve for repairs and other modifications. In this regard, refer to my previously granted U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,122, granted Oct. 7, 1969 for an illustration of a top entry valve that provides good accessibility to the valve components.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved top entry valve.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved entry valve that may be constructed with an insulating cryogenic jacket for encapsulating the valve in a manner which permits access to the valve components without removal of the valve from the line. In such a construction the gate of the top entry valve is removable without destroying the jacket or without removing the body of the valve from the line.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved top entry valve with an improved valve seat construction.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved top entry gate valve particularly for cryogenic purposes and in which at least formed angular cross-sectioned deformable sealing member is carried by the gate and is adapted to engage a rigid seat in the valve.


The exposure device includes a polarizing plate and an illumination diaphragm. The polarizing plate is located in an optical path between a light source and a photomask, serving as a polarizing unit that polarizes an illuminating light from the light source in the first and the second direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The illumination diaphragm is a so-called quadruple illumination diaphragm, which includes four openings. The first opening and the second opening are located on a straight line running parallel to a third direction perpendicular to the optical axis and passing the center point of the illumination diaphragm, across the center point from each other. Likewise, the third opening and the fourth opening are located on a straight line running parallel to a fourth direction perpendicular to the optical axis and passing the center point, across the center point from each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an exposure device and a method of exposure.
2. Related Art
For transferring by exposure a fine pattern such as a semiconductor IC pattern to a photosensitive substrate (such as a wafer) on which a resist is applied, it is a common procedure to interpose a projection optical system between a photomask and the wafer, so as to project the image of the mask pattern on the wafer surface.
The ongoing micronization of the design rule has motivated further development of methods for actively controlling a polarization status of the illuminating light or a shape of the opening of the illumination diaphragm. It is known today, for example as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. H05-109601, that resolution with respect to a repeating one-dimensional pattern such as a line-and-space pattern can be effectively upgraded by a combination of (1) a deformed illumination diaphragm that shields a portion of the illuminating light close to the optical axis, thus to transmit only a portion of the illuminating light distant from the optical axis, and (2) a so-called linear polarization of controlling the polarization direction (electric field vector) so as to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the repeating pattern.
In addition, for improving the resolution with respect to a repeating one-dimensional pattern drawn in two directions, namely transversely and vertically, not only the pattern in one specific direction, for example Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. H07-201723 proposes a combination of (1) a quadruple diaphragm that only transmits the illuminating light in two directions distant from the optical axis, and (2) linear polarization in two directions. The polarization can be caused by various methods, out of which a typical method is placing a polarizing plate immediately anterior to the illumination diaphragm, and disposing a wavelength plate where appropriate, thus to change the polarization direction.


A system and method are disclosed which may include receiving an activation request from a first subscriber device at a communication convergence platform; identifying a service provider associated the first subscriber device; composing a service activation request compatible with a communication protocol for the identified service provider; and transmitting the service activation request from the platform to the identified service provider.

Various types of digital devices including communication devices require activation using a dedicated server for the subject device to become operational. Wireless devices figure prominently among the devices requiring various forms of activation using computer server equipment.
The emerging device market is expected to grow significantly in near future. As wireless market penetration increases across the world, the availability of new devices provides the opportunity for all markets to grow at more accelerated rates. For emerging markets, this will help drive even faster adoption of wireless services as entire lines of new wireless-communication enabled devices, from laptops to cameras, become available. For more mature markets, defined as those markets that will reach 100% wireless-voice-service saturation by about 2015, the emerging devices market is expected to experience continued strong growth.
Smart phones and mobile navigation industry devices are among the devices experiencing rapid growth. Growth in sales of smart phones as well as the emergence of vendor-driven application stores and marketplaces, are changing the dynamics of the mobile communication industry. In the navigation space, the integration of GPS into smart phones has accelerated. As more and more consumer (mass market) electronic devices are developed, they will become more mobile, and the transmission and receipt of information will become prominent features for the marketing of such devices.
Some emerging product features include cameras with SIM cards, and the ability to download electronic books vie e-Book readers. Even household appliances, like refrigerators and hot water heaters, are becoming wireless-enabled. The communication industry is experiencing a period of major advances in device and user interface design, which will lead to rapid changes in mobile user behavior and the services consumers demand when on the move resulting in an increased need for automated activation applications.
The product growth discussed above will drive significant device activation request volume in the coming years. Initially, notebook computers with wireless cards and Smart phones are likely to dominate among new wireless devices. However, later on, the adoption of more advanced consumer electronic wireless devices with embedded connectivity, telematics, and devices combining computing capabilities, telephone connectivity, and gaming will become more prevalent and drive even stronger growth as the industry progresses.
The above-discussed growth in wireless connectivity will require a correspondingly large amount of activation and device management capacity. However, existing approaches to activating new mobile devices impose significant obstacles to efficiently and rapidly activating new devices. First, existing activation procedures are complex and time consuming, thereby imposing significant inconvenience and expenditure of time in activating new devices. Second, currently, activation and registration of new devices is usually conducted at retail outlets by service personnel affiliated with a particular communications service provider. The above approaches pose obstacles to efficiently integrating the ever expanding array of mobile devices into wireless communication networks. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for activating and managing new mobile devices.

System and method for intermediating between subscriber devices and communication service providers


An earphone device includes a case main body, a sound conduit, and an ear tip. The sound conduit is formed in a substantially tubular shape and protrudes from the case main body. The sound conduit has a flange disposed at the end on the opposite side from the case main body, and a first restrictor disposed between the flange and the case main body. The ear tip has a ring part formed of a resilient material and configured to be engaged to the sound conduit. The ear tip is configured to be in a first state in which movement in the direction of removal from the sound conduit is restricted by the flange, and is configured to be in a second state in which movement in the direction of removal from the sound conduit is restricted by the first restrictor.

Insertion-type earphone devices that are used in a state in which a part is inserted into the outer ear canal of the user have come into widespread use in recent years (see Patent Literature 1 and 2, for example). This type of earphone device has a sound generator that generates sound by receiving the input of electrical signals, a case main body that houses the sound generator, a sound conduit that sticks out from the case main body, and an ear tip. The ear tip is formed from a resilient material (such as soft rubber) and can be attached to the sound conduit. When the user uses the earphone device, the ear tip is attached to the sound conduit, and the sound conduit is inserted into the outer ear canal of the user in a state of being covered by the ear tip. Sound generated by the sound generator is transmitted through a hole formed in the sound conduit, and is emitted from the distal end of the ear tip of the earphone device.
With the earphone devices disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and 2, the ear tip is fixed to the sound conduit by being fitted into the sound conduit.
The insertion type of earphone device discussed above is used in a state in which the ear tip is disposed so as to block off the outer ear canal of the user. This reduces the effect of external noise and helps to improve sound quality. The ear tip also functions as a cushioning member, which prevents the sound conduit from coming into contact with the outer ear canal of the user.
Meanwhile, there is also a known earphone device that takes into account the great variety of shapes and sizes in the outer ear canal of users. For instance, a plurality of ear tips of different size and design may be provided as accessory parts to an earphone device so that the user can replace the ear tip to match personal preference or the size of the outer ear canal.    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2005-191663    Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-189468

Earphone device and earphone device main body


An apparatus and method is disclosed for filling successive pouches which are interconnected in a continuous web by a tubular top portion. Material is dispensed into the pouches by an elongated filling pipe and a mass flow meter monitors the amount of material dispensed through the filling pipe. The rate at which the web is conveyed along the filling pipe is controlled in response to the measured mass flow of the material whereby the amount of material dispensed into each pouch is accurately controlled.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensing a fluent material to pouches and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for continuously filling successive pouches with an accurately measured mass of material whereby filled pouches are produced having a minimum amount of variation in weight.
The present invention further relates to filling and sealing a series of pouches or bags formed of plastic or other material, such as plastic foil laminates, on a continuous basis, and it has particular relation to machines and methods of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,813,845, 4,021,283, 4,171,604 and 4,893,453, which patents are co-owned by Weikert.
In the apparatus disclosed in the above-noted patents, a tube of material is first divided into a series of contiguous bags or pouches sealed from each other along their adjacent sides but interconnected through a continuous tubular portion which initially forms a common top for all of the bags or pouches. The tubular portion of this web is drawn along an elongated filling pipe having discharge ports at one end from which material is poured into each successive bag, with this processing line being tilted upwardly so that excess material in one bag will spill over into the adjacent following bag. After each bag is filled, it is sealed across the top and severed from the tubular portion as a separate, filled and sealed package. One problem associated with this filling system results from residual product coating the inner upper sides of the pouches as product flows from one pouch to a following pouch, which can interfere with a proper seal being formed at the top of the pouches.
While the apparatus and methods disclosed in the above-noted patents have proven successful for their intended purpose of successively filling pouches under aseptic conditions, the prior art apparatus and methods rely largely upon the physical characteristics of the pouches being filled and/or controlled opening and closing of dispensing ports, as well as the speed of the pouches as they are conveyed along the filling pipe, in order to ensure that a consistent mass or weight of material is packaged within each of the pouches. For example, the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,453 includes a shuttle plate to control filling through two apertures. The shuttle plate is actuated by an air cylinder operating under control of an electrosolenoid, and actuation occurs in response to a photocell sensor sensing the separation between pouches. However, the pouches are flexible such that a certain amount of deviation occurs in the sensed spacing between pouches, and operation of the shuttle plate based solely on the sensing of the pouches has therefore resulted in variations in the uniformity of the pouch content weight.
Consequently, there is a need for a packaging apparatus and method whereby a fluent material may be aseptically packaged in successive pouches and wherein there is very little variation in the mass or weight from pouch to pouch.

Aseptic packaging apparatus and method including a control system for accurately dispensing material


A carrying device for attachment to a vehicle includes a carrying section configured to receive the full diameter and at least more than half of the length of a golf bag, an opening at its upper extremity configured to allow the golf bag to enter the carrying section, and a plurality of sidewall openings configured to visually expose the golf bag through the sidewall openings more than to visually enclose the golf bag through the carrying section. The first vehicle coupler is configured to be coupled to a vehicle and includes a first receiver having a first substantially rectangular cuboidal cavity and a second receiver having a second substantially rectangular cuboidal cavity. A first connector couples the carrying section to the first vehicle coupler through the first substantially rectangular cuboidal cavity. A second connector couples the carrying section to the second vehicle coupler through the second substantially rectangular cuboidal cavity.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of this document relate generally to carrying devices for attachment to vehicles. More specific implementations involve carrying devices for attachment to motorcycles.
2. Background Art
A carrying device configured for attachment to a vehicle generally includes an enclosure or container configured to receive one or more items for transportation purposes. To attach or couple the carrying device to the vehicle, one or more attachment mechanisms are generally included. Carrying devices may be configured for coupling to various portions of a vehicle. Some carrying devices have been configured for placement on top of a vehicle. Other carrying devices have been configured with wheels and incorporated into a standalone unit such as to be towed behind a vehicle. Carrying devices may be used to effectively increase the storage capacity of a vehicle or to allow a user to carry items that may not otherwise be carried with the vehicle alone.


Disclosed is a towel rack for use during a tennis or other sports event. In one example, the towel rack includes a support for supporting a towel, and at least one display panel for displaying a message. In a disclosed method, a message is displayed during the sports event, and the towel is placed on the support such that the message is unobstructed by the towel.

During organized or professional tennis matches, a tennis player uses a towel between most points. Typically, as the player returns to court after the changeover, a ball boy is handed the towel by the player at the far end of the court. The ball boy, in the absence of a dedicated or specified structure, randomly places it somewhere, retrieves the towel when signaled by the player between points, hands it to the player for use, receives it back, where the ball boy again arbitrarily places the towel at a spot at the back of the court, either on some backdrop, a sponsor display, a line umpire chair, a display clock (such as Rolex), or even on the court surface itself, as but a few examples.
The ball boy typically stands in readiness, however, at a location away from the placement of the towel. To retrieve the towel for the player, the ball boy must first run to the line umpire chair before heading to the players, which results in lost time. The ball boy must also return to the ready position outside the playing area as quickly as possible, and therefore has less time to properly place a towel on the chair.
The ball boy is typically also instructed to spread out the towel before handing it to the player, shortening the time the player will need to dry himself off. This may require some delay in handing the towel to the player, as the towel is seldom placed such that it is neatly spread out between points. Even during the same match, at each end of the court, the towel may be in different locations and, as the ball boys are typically rotated, the towel will further be found randomly in more than one spot. In this case, the player will not immediately know which ball boy to signal when the towel is desired, resulting at times in delay between points. The placement of the towel on a line umpire chair also requires the ball boy to maneuver around the line umpire who stands right in front of the chair. The chair may further sit within a closed box, further adding a degree of awkwardness in placing the towel neatly on the chair.
In terms of appearance, a sweat drenched towel in full view of television viewers, often in close ups and lying in rumpled disarray in any of the aforementioned locations, is not aesthetically pleasing and reduces the attractiveness of tennis as a global sport.
Most professional tennis tournaments are played outdoors. Some, such as the Australian Open during summer months, can reach on court temperatures exceeding 40° C. (104° F.). During changeovers, many players require shading from the sun and ice packs, so severe is the effect of the heat. Profuse sweating is a typical result. Heat affected players may take more time between points in order to recover, causing stoppage and delays in play and increasing match length. As climate change continues unabated, these problems pose more of a danger to players' health.
Furthermore, the placement of a towel on a chair results in the line umpires sitting on a chair which had a sweat soaked towel laying upon it, and further results in the players wiping their faces with a towel which was lying on a chair which line umpires sit on during changeovers. In hot weather, this is especially unhygienic.
Finally, as throwing a towel upon a chair or back drop, where it lies in rumpled disarray during play, is not aesthetically pleasing to both live spectators and television viewers, the solution to this problem presents unique advertising opportunities to sponsors and tennis tournaments, as described in the instant application.


A holding device includes: a plate-shaped member having a first surface approximately orthogonal to a first direction; heat generating resistors and temperature measuring resistors disposed in respective segments formed by virtually dividing at least part of the plate-shaped member, the segments being arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first direction; and an electricity supply section that forms electricity supply paths for the heat generating resistors and the temperature measuring resistors. The holding device holds an object on the first surface of the plate-shaped member. The position of the temperature measuring resistors in the first direction differs from the position of the heat generating resistors in the first direction. A specific temperature measuring resistor that is at least one of the temperature measuring resistors includes a plurality of resistor elements disposed at different positions in the first direction and connected to one another in series.

For example, an electrostatic chuck is used as a holding device for holding a wafer during manufacturing of a semiconductor. The electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic plate and a chuck electrode disposed inside the ceramic plate and utilizes electrostatic attraction generated when a voltage is applied to the chuck electrode to thereby attract and hold the wafer on a surface of the ceramic plate (the surface is hereinafter referred to as an "attracting surface").
When the temperature distribution in the wafer held on the attracting surface of the electrostatic chuck is nonuniform, the precision of processing (film deposition, etching, etc.) performed on the wafer may decrease. Therefore, the electrostatic chuck needs to have the ability to make the temperature distribution in the wafer as uniform as possible. For this reason, for example, a heat generating resistor is disposed inside the ceramic plate. When a voltage is applied to the heat generating resistor, the heat generating resistor generates heat. The ceramic plate is thereby heated, and the wafer held on the attracting surface of the ceramic plate is also heated. By controlling the voltage applied to the heat generating resistor based on the temperature measured by a temperature sensor (such as thermocouple) disposed inside the ceramic plate, the temperature of the attracting surface of the ceramic plate (i.e., the temperature of the wafer) is controlled.
One structure used to further improve the uniformity of the temperature distribution in the wafer includes a ceramic plate partially or entirely divided into a plurality of virtual regions (hereinafter referred to as "segments") and heat generating resistors disposed in their respective segments. With this structure, by individually controlling the voltages applied to the heat generating resistors disposed in the segments of the ceramic plate, the temperatures of the segments can be controlled individually, so that the uniformity of the temperature distribution on the attracting surface of the ceramic plate (i.e., the uniformity of the temperature distribution in the wafer) can be further improved.
In the structure in which the ceramic plate is virtually divided into the plurality of segments, it is difficult to provide temperature sensors for the respective segments. One known technique to address this issue is to provide temperature measuring resistors different from the heat generating resistors for the respective segments of the ceramic plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The resistance value of each temperature measuring resistor changes as the temperature changes. Therefore, by measuring the resistance values of the temperature measuring resistors, the temperatures of the segments in which the temperature measuring resistors are disposed can be measured.


An optical amplifier may comprise a first gain stage and a second gain stage. Each of the first and second gain stages may comprise a laser pump and an active fiber. A liquid crystal device may be coupled between an output of the first gain stage and an input of the second gain stage. A control unit may be coupled to the first and second gain stages, liquid crystal device and configured to control the first and second gain stages, and the liquid crystal device to provide a switchable gain. Light may pass through the first and second gain stages and be amplified by the first and second gain stages. The light amplified by the first gain stage may pass through the liquid crystal device and may be filtered by the liquid crystal device.

Optical amplifiers have been used extensively for transmission of optical signals in communication systems. Doped fiber amplifiers (DFAs) are optical amplifiers that use a doped optical fiber as a gain medium to amplify an optical signal. The signal to be amplified and a pump laser are multiplexed into the doped fiber, and the signal is amplified through interaction with the doping ions. The most common example is the Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA), in which the core of a silica fiber is doped with trivalent erbium ions and can be efficiently pumped with a laser.
A lot of technological improvements have been made since the first EDFA was produced in the 1980s. Some components, however, are still required in each EDFA. For example, a Gain Equalizer filter is required to equalize channels. In addition, because the gain profile of the doped fiber is not equal for all frequency regions, a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) is required to implement a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA). A side effect of the VGA is that there is only one gain point where the Noise Figure (NF) is optimized. Lower gain values have degraded NFs. For higher gains, the amplifier shows a "tilted" spectrum.

Optical amplifiers with liquid crystal device


A process for painting a design onto a clothing item to create wearable art utilizes a draw-through-pattern graphics system. When creating wearable art on a clothing item such as a shirt, a backing board is placed within the shirt so as to underlie the shirt fabric to which the design will be applied. A bracket is placed over the shirt and engages a peripheral portion of the backing board in a manner causing the shirt fabric to be stretched over the backing board and to clamp a portion of the shirt between the bracket and the backing board. A screen pattern bearing a printed outline pattern thereon is removably placed in register within the bracket. Fabric markers or fine-tipped fabric paint bottles are utilized to apply a fabric paint or like substance through the screen pattern onto the underlying portion of the shirt to re-create the printed pattern. The screen pattern may be removed from the bracket to check on progress of creation of the wearable art, and replaced without any misalignment between the printed pattern and the previously painted portions of the wearable art design. When completed, the graphics system is disassembled and removed from the shirt.

This invention relates generally to handicrafts. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for applying a design to a substrate, and a related draw-through-pattern graphics system.
One of the most popular craft categories is that of "wearable art". Wearable art includes a wide variety of designs applied to items of clothing. In addition to mass-produced wearable art clothing items, there are a number of handicrafts kits on the market which permit crafters to create their own wearable art on virtually any type of clothing item. For example, handicrafts kits are available for applying sequins and like items to a layer of fabric, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,422.
One of the most popular types of wearable art involves painted designs applied to T-shirts, sweats, jackets and other clothing items. Typically, an iron-on outlined design is applied to the clothing item, and then a fabric paint or fabric marker is utilized to fill-in the outline. Although this process appears, at first, to be simple, iron-on transfer units can be difficult to get completely transferred. Moreover, loose clothing fabric can be difficult to paint or mark unless it is stretched properly over a flat surface. Although fabric painting is very popular, another drawback is the mess. Fabric paints are messy and permanent. One must be very careful when applying fabric paint to a garment, being careful not to smudge it.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a portable draw-through-pattern graphics system, and a related method for applying a design to a substrate, which is inexpensive, easy to use, and provides good, reproducible results. Such a graphics system should permit children to make their own wearable art, and minimize the possibility of ruining an item of clothing by the misapplication of the fabric paint or marker. Moreover, such a graphics system should be relatively compact and portable, and include components which are reusable. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.


The present invention provides a steel plate cooling method, in controlled cooling of thick-gauge steel plate, which uniformly cools steel plate over its entire length and eliminates plate warping, that is, a method of conveying and cooling the top and bottom surfaces of steel plate in a high temperature state after hot rolling while constraining the high temperature rolled steel plate by a plurality of sets or top and bottom draining rolls, wherein cooling nozzles having a large number of nozzle openings and individually or simultaneously spraying the two fluids of air and water are used to cool the steel plate, the cooling method of steel plate characterized by giving a stable pattern by driving out air trying to invade the path of flow reaching the front end of the cooling apparatus when the water which is fed is low in amount or low in pressure. Further, the apparatus for working this method is a steel plate cooling apparatus comprised of an outside header having an air feed system, a plurality of air spray nozzles arranged at the air spray surface of this header, an inside header having a cooling water feed system, and a plurality of cooling water spray nozzles arranged at a cooling water spray surface of this header.

In recent years, the requirements on the quality of ferrous metal materials such as the precision of plate thickness, material quality, surface grade, etc. have become increasingly severe. In particular, in the case of production of thick-gauge steel plate, a cooling control process using on-line control aimed at reduction of the alloy ingredients, streamlining of the heat treatment process, etc. has been employed. This cooling control process using on-line control cools the thick-gauge steel plate, which is in a high temperature state after hot rolling, immediately or ten or so seconds later by a predetermined cooling rate until a predetermined cooling stop temperature so as to reduce the content of expensive alloy ingredients and still obtain the desired strength, toughness, and rigidity. Usually, in this process, the amount of cooling water and the water cooling time are adjusted to control the cooling rate and the cooling stop temperature respectively.
As the apparatuses used for the above controlled cooling, in general the slit jet cooling method and multi mist jet cooling method are employed, but there are the problems of a narrow effective cooling area, maintenance of a slit clearance in the plate width direction of several millimeters at all times, the location of use, etc. Aerated water cooling nozzles with broad ranges of control of the amounts of water are being extensively employed, but for stable and uniform cooling of steel plate, a high density nozzle arrangement is desirable, but this nozzle configuration and the increased complexity make a box type cooling apparatus necessary. This box type cooling apparatus has the advantage of use of nozzles of a type directly feeding water or air to a plurality of nozzles from a water or air header and therefore a simple structure. As the nozzle configuration of this box type cooling apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication (A) No. 63-111208, there is proposed a cooling apparatus comprised of outside and inside headers having respectively independent cooling water feed systems wherein the outside header is provided with a large number of bell mouth nozzles having constricted parts of predetermined angles at the cooling water spray surface and the inside header is provided with a large number of nozzles having tapered curved front ends so as to generate ring shaped impact flows and, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication (A) No. 1-135108, there is proposed a method of obtaining an excellent cooling performance even under conditions where the pressure of a directly impacting flow and the pressure of a tapered slanted flow are the same by making the orifice size at a discharge port of a bell mouth nozzle simultaneously spraying a directly impacting flow and a slanted flow smaller than the orifice size of a direct impact flow introduction port and tapering the introduction port of the slanted flow.

Controlled cooling apparatus and cooling method of steel plate


An improved, load bearing, modular design container structure assembled from thermoformed FRTP sandwich panels in which is utilized the unique core-skin edge configuration of the present invention in consideration of improved load bearing performance, improved useful load volume, reduced manufacturing costs, structural weight savings, impact and damage tolerance and repair and replace issues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thermoforming of sandwich panels comprised of fiber reinforced thermoplastic (FRTP) skins and low-density core of a thermoplastic material, thermoformed articles made therefrom, and more particularly an assembled container structure comprised of the thermoformed FRTP sandwich panels and attachment hardware.
2. Reference to Prior Art
Container structures such as those used for land, sea and air transport of goods having multi-piece metallic constructions are known. These structures make use of monocoque designs wherein relatively thin gage sheets forming a shell are mechanically fastened to angle, hat-section, doublers or similar stiffening elements. The monocoque shell structure formed is thus load bearing through the stiffening elements. Such structures are heavy due to their basic metallic construction, the use of robust stiffening elements, and the presence of mechanical fasteners required to assemble the shell and stiffeners. As the stiffening elements of a monocoque design are typically located on the interior of the shell structure, the stiffening elements of the design limit the useful volume of the container and interfere with internal loading of such containers as do the mechanical fasteners which protrude into the container volume.
These metallic structures are also susceptible to short lifecycles due to physical damage from mis-handling and their inherent lack of damage tolerance. Additionally, corrosion damage from their exposure to a harsh environment including fluctuating temperature extremes, water, ice, oils, solvents, and salt shortens their useful life cycle. Often an entire container is replaced where only stiffening elements or shell elements are damaged rather than performing a limited repair on the damaged element due to the load-bearing capacity of the individual elements.
Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) are a non-metallic, composite material of a first, reinforcing element such as fiberglass, carbon, aramid fiber or woven form thereof which is encapsulated and bound within a second, matrix element such as a cured or hardened plastic of polyester, epoxy or other resin. Structures made from FRP's benefit from the composite synergy of the two, or more, constituent elements namely higher specific strength to weight ratios of FRP over conventional metallic structures such as aluminum or steel and are thus lighter in weight. Generally, when compared to their conventional metal counterparts, FRP's show better corrosion resistance, improved impact and damage tolerance, and lower piece/part count due to the increased complexity of designs possible with FRP's. For these and other benefits, FRP's have been integrated into aerospace, automotive, recreational, and industrial applications as direct replacement for metal structures. One such example is the use of polyester-fiberglass FRP in the marine industry for ship hulls, bulkheads, and decks. A second example is the use of carbon-epoxy FRP in aerospace applications such as aircraft fuselage and flight control structures.
A first type of FRP materials incorporates a single or multiple layer of FRP material consolidated or pressed into a sheet or panel often referred to as a laminate. While exhibiting increased strength to weight performance over metallic structures, replacing metallic structures with FRP laminates has met with mixed results. The nature of their multi-constituent fiber and matrix-binder form invites separation of the constituents at the interface of fiber and matrix-binder under concentrated, high stress conditions, particularly at attachment points and impact damage from handling or adverse environment conditions. Although generally more damage tolerant than metallic structures, FRP structures do not have well defined, time-proven means of repairing local damage to insure structural integrity of the whole. The FRP laminate construction often incorporates monocoque design utilizing shell, stiffening elements, and fasteners. Thus weight and damage repair/replace issues minimize the benefits of 100% FRP.
A second type of FRP materials incorporates a sandwich construction wherein a low density core material of foam or cellular construction is sealed at its surfaces by thin layers of FRP laminate material or skins. One such core material is honeycomb, a nodal arrangement of thin walled, parallel cells comprised of aluminum, coated paper, polymeric or other material. Sandwich structure FRP's exhibit superior stiffness and high strength to weight ratios compared even to solid panels of FRP. However, like FRP laminate materials, repair of localized damage to sandwich structure to insure structural integrity of the whole is more art than science. Also, honeycomb core of aluminum or coated paper is susceptible to moisture ingression, which causes corrosion, weight increase and/or sacrifices structural integrity and performance.
The low density foam or honeycomb core also presents serious issues in mechanically attaching the FRP sandwich panel to another structure. Such core materials do not resist bearing or pull-out load well and fail under such conditions if un-reinforced. Thus, local reinforcement of the attachment area or special fastener inserts adding weight, special manufacturing steps and interposing dissimilar materials is necessitated. The dissimilar materials raises CTE and bond integrity issues of concern to the structure. Hence, manufacturing the FRP sandwich structure often requires design specific sculpting or forming of the core in consideration of panel edge core-crush as well as appropriate configuration for mechanical attachment to the sandwich panel.
The integration of FRP laminate panels and FRP sandwich panels into applications where metallic structures are replaced has met with mixed success. While light weight, stiff structures with reduced part count can be achieved, these FRP structures have their own shortcomings including: limited design configurations and reduced weight savings, particularly on (mechanical) attachment to other components; design specific, low rate manufacturing techniques for a given configuration and desired performance requirements; damage tolerance issues from stress, physical impact and environmental exposures. As with monocoque design metallic structures, the use of FRP panel and FRP sandwich panel materials in monocoque container structures often results in replacing an entire structure where only a component has been damaged or its structural integrity suspect.

Modular container assembled from fiber reinforced thermoplastic sandwich panels