POTS splitter devices are provided which are externally mounted with respect to digital subscriber loop access multiplexers and remote terminal and central office equipment racks. A cable having in-line sockets for receiving a combination POTS splitter and surge protection device provides POTS-only signals from a customer""s premises to channel banks. The cable is connected to a protection panel configured so as not to consume equipment rack space. A multiport enclosure is provided with a multiport POTS splitter and surge plugs to transmit POTS signals from plural telephone lines to line termination equipment, and at least xDSL signals to a DSLAM via a cable. A multiport POTS splitter enclosure is also provided with connectors for externally mounted surge plugs. A protection panel is provided with integrated POTS splitters, xDSL filters and surge plugs to support plural telephone lines.

The invention relates to POTS splitter devices that are mounted externally to digital subscriber loop access multiplexers in remote terminal and central office equipment racks.
Providing high rate digital transmissions over the local subscriber loops of telephone companies is advantageous since the infrastructure for such local subscriber loops is currently in existence. High-rate digital subscriber loop (DSL) data services have been implemented using transmission technologies such as asynchronous DSL (ADSL), synchronous DSL (SDSL), high-speed DSL (HDSL), and very high-speed DSL (VDSL), which are generally referred to as xDSL.
High-speed digital transmissions available via xDSL share the same DSL with analog telephony (i.e., plain old telephone service (POTS)). POTS and xDSL are transmitted on the same analog telephone lines using frequency division multiplexing. For example, POTS transmissions generally occur in a frequency range 12 of 0 Hertz (Hz) to 4 kiloHertz (kHz). xDSL transmissions use higher frequencies such as 20 kHz to 1.1 MegaHertz (MHz). With reference to FIG. 1, xDSL frequencies 14 use higher frequency bands that do not overlap with the analog voice or POTS frequency range. This allows for the use of high-pass filters (HPFs) and low-pass filters (LPFs) to separate the POTS and xDSL signals at both ends of the DSL transmission line. Separate frequency bands can also be allocated for upstream xDSL transmissions toward the network (e.g., a central office (CO) or local exchange (LE)) and downstream xDSL transmissions toward customer premises. Thus, xDSL permits data transfer on existing telephone lines in both directions simultaneously, and does not interfere with analog telephone transmissions.
To provide DSLs to customer premises, customer premises xDSL equipment is needed, as well as POTS equipment for voice calls. As shown in FIG. 2, telephone company equipment (e.g., a remote terminal (RT) or CO) which accommodates xDSL data transmissions is also needed. The customer premises 18 can comprise, for example, a network interface device (NID) 20 connected to an analog telephone line 22. The NID 20 comprises a LPF or POTS splitter 24 that filters high frequency xDSL signals and passes low frequency POTS signals to POTS equipment such as telephones 26. xDSL modems use a HPF to attenuate POTS signals to recover the data signals in the higher frequency bands.
With reference to FIG. 3, the RT or CO 30 receives signals from and provides signals to the telephone line 22 which can have POTS signaling, as well as xDSL data transmissions. The RT or CO 30 generally comprises channel banks (CBs) 32 or other voice termination equipment for processing voice calls, and a DSL access multiplexer 34 hereinafter referred to as a DLSAM for processing xDSL transmissions. Different types of DSLAMs include, but are not limited to, a central office DSLAM, a remote DSLAM and remote ADSL multiplexers.
The RT 30 is generally contained in a cabinet containing the RT termination equipment (e.g., channel banks), an auxiliary power source and protection devices to protect telephony devices against unwanted voltage and current. The cabinet is located remotely with respect to the CO. The CO comprises termination and switching equipment, much of which is mounted in equipment racks. The amount of rack space available for accommodating equipment such as DSLAM to provide new services is limited and must be used efficiently.
With continued reference to FIG. 3, DSLAMs 34 are typically provided with circuitry 38 for passing POTS signals to voice call processing circuits such as CBs 32, and for passing xDSL data to xDSL processing circuits. A LPF can be used to filter xDSL data signals from incoming telephone lines and pass POTS-only signals to the channel bank or telephone. HPFs are provided on-site at the customer premises and at the CO or RT to filter out POTS signals and pass only the xDSL signals to the appropriate processing circuits. In existing systems, POTS splitters are used in the on-site NID 20 and in a DSLAM or POTS splitter rack at a CO or RT to filter POTS signals.
The processing of POTS and xDSL signals at an RT or CO will now be described in further detail with respect to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an exemplary DSLAM 34 located within an RT or CO 30. The RT or CO 30 is provided with a protection panel 40 comprising at least one surge plug 42. A telephone line 22 from a subscriber""s premises 18 comprises POTS and xDSL signaling. The telephone line 22 enters the RT or CO 30 and through the protection panel 40 to an xDSL modem circuit 44. A POTS filter 46 (e.g., a high pass filter) can pass the xDSL transmission to the xDSL modem circuit 44 for processing. The xDSL modem converts the signal to data packets or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells which are forwarded to a data switch, router or multiplexer. The line 48 from the protection panel 40 also provides the POTS and xDSL signaling from the subscriber""s premises to POTS-only circuits. A POTS splitter 38 passes the POTS signals which are then sent through the protection panel, as indicated by the line 50 to a CB 32.
Existing DSLAMs 34 incorporating internal POTS splitters 38 have several disadvantages and therefore present a number of drawbacks to implementing xDSL transmissions in subscriber loops. POTS splitters are generally passive devices comprising an inductive coil. The coil is generally large with respect to printed circuit board (PCB) area on which the POTS splitter and other POTS circuitry is provided. Optimization of PCB area is important to minimize the volume or space within the chassis of the termination equipment enclosing the PCB.
The size of the chassis of a DSLAM 34 or RAM is a concern of vendors for telecommunications equipment since their customers (e.g., telephone service providers) have a limited amount of rack space at their COs and in their RTs, as stated previously. In other words, the larger the profile of the DSLAM chassis, for example, the more rack space that is required at the CO or RT to accommodate DSL service using that vendor""s DSLAM, and the more likely that the smaller DSLAMs of competing vendors will be chosen. For example, a POTS splitter can require on the order of 2.5 cubic inches of PCB area. Reducing size of the coil in the POTS splitter is not a desirable option since the effectiveness of a POTS splitter can be compromised. A high inductance with a high quality or Q factor is desirable for a coil in a POTS splitter.
In addition to consuming valuable space within a DSLAM 34, internal POTS splitters 30 are problematic because the filtering of high frequency signals (e.g., xDSL signals) inside a DSLAM can present electromagnetic interference problems with xDSL circuitry 44 in close proximity to the POTS splitters 38. Also, POTS signals routed through the DLSAM 34 are lightning-exposed. Thus, POTS splitters require large clearances, in addition to the PCB area and DSLAM internal volume taken by virtue of their size. POTS splitters therefore preclude the use of fine-pitch front panel connectors to reduce the consumption of front panel space (e.g., the face plate of the DSLAM when rack mounted) and PCB area. Accordingly, a need exists for DSL equipment such as a DSLAM or RAM that economizes space at an RT and CO.
An existing central office POTS splitter that is externally mounted with respect to a DSLAM is commercially available. The POTS splitter is provided with other POTS splitters in a rack mountable chassis. A chassis that supports as many as 72 tip and ring pairs is on the order of nine inches high and therefore consumes considerable rack space. Thus, a need exists for POTS splitters that are externally mounted with respect to both the DSLAM and the racks in an RT or CO.
In addition to the size and space considerations of using internal or external, rack-mounted, POTS splitters, existing DSLAMs 34 are characterized by other drawbacks. For example, lightning trace clearances also consume significant PCB routing resources and require large-pitch, board-to-board PCB connectors. In addition, tip and ring lines routed through a DSLAM are individually fused using lightning-tolerant fuses to prevent surges from causing hazardous conditions within the DSLAM, resulting in two large fuses per port within the DSLAM. Thus, a need exists for a DSLAM which reduces the space and routing resources consumed by protection devices such as fuses and PCB routing and connectors having lightning trace clearance.
Another problem is presented when servicing existing DSLAM. To service a DSLAM, the xDSL cable is disconnected from the DSLAM (e.g., from the DSLAM connector 52, resulting in the interruption of POTS connections (e.g., line 54 in FIG. 4). In addition, the DSLAM connector 52 transports twice as many signals than is necessary. In other words, the connector 52 carries POTS and xDSL tip/ring pairs from the customer premises (e.g., from line 48), and POTS-only tip and ring signals routed to the CB (e.g., via line 50). A need exists for a DSLAM configuration that reduces the DSLAM connector ports consumed by POTS-only signals to increase the number of xDSL ports that can be terminated at a DSLAM in a given amount of rack space.
In accordance with the present invention, a system for externally mounting POTS splitters with respect to a DSLAM and to RT and CO equipment racks is provided which overcomes the deficiencies of existing DSLAMs and realizes a number of advantages.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the POTS splitters are provided, along with protection devices, to in-line sockets of a cable connecting both the telephone line from customer premises and the DSLAM to a protection panel mounted in the RT cabinet or proximally to a CO rack. Thus, the POTS splitters are arranged so as not to consume rack space.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a number of cables are terminated into an enclosure having multiple ports for respective cables. A multiport POTS splitter is provided, as well as a corresponding number of surge plugs for the respective ports. A single xDSL-only port is provided in the enclosure for a cable extending from the enclosure to a DSLAM.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an enclosure is provided with multiple ports for connection to telephone lines from subscribers"" premises. A surge plug is externally mounted to the enclosure for each port, and a multiport POTS splitter is provided internally. A single xDSL-only cable extends from the enclosure to a DSLAM.
In accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, an integrated protection panel is provided which comprises a plurality of modules for connecting to respective customer premises. Each module comprises a surge protector and a POTS splitter, as well as ports for connecting to the telephone line from the customer premises, a POTS-only line to the channel bank and a line to the DSLAM.

System for providing pots splitters externally with respect to digital subscriber loop access multiplexers and remote terminal and central office equipment racks


The present invention is a device facilitating both rapid and efficient assembly of handmade pizzas. The invention consists of a ring placed within a pan over a pizza shell thereby restricting toppings to the central region of a pizza. In one embodiment, the circular ring has a solid structure. In preferred embodiments, the circular ring is hollowed thereby reducing weight and facilitating space efficient stacking of two or more rings. Exemplary sectional structures include square, rectangle, trapezoid, and trapezoid-like shapes. In yet other embodiments, one or more grips are provided facilitating placement and removal of ring from pan.

None.
None.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a topping template for the assembly of handmade pizzas. Specifically, the invention is a ring-shaped device placed over pizza dough within a pan prior to the application of toppings. The invention limits toppings to the center of a pizza.
2. Background
The assembly of ingredients, namely toppings and dough, to form a complete pizza is a labor-intensive activity having a direct impact on product cost. For example, handmade pan pizzas are assembled by placing dough within a pan and thereafter manually depositing sauces, cheeses, vegetables, meats, and other toppings onto the dough. The assembler manually separates toppings from the outer edge of crust and pizza pan to avoid scorching of toppings during baking and to provide a clearly defined crust. This operation alone is both tedious and time intensive.
The related arts have sought to reduce assembly time via devices and methods for the mechanical shaping of dough, the mechanical application of cheese, and the automated assembly of pizzas or components thereof.
For example, Ansari, U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,760 issued May 5, 1992, describes and claims an apparatus mechanizing separation and distribution of cheese onto a pizza shell. The apparatus includes separator screen and cheese dispenser within a tube. The apparatus is centered over pizza shell and mechanically operated by the assembler.
In another example, Moshier, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,899 issued Sep. 14, 1993, describes and claims an apparatus for the automated assembly of a solid, toppings disk placed within an uncooked dough shell immediately prior to baking. The invention includes a conveyor means for transporting a plurality of forming surfaces, a depositing means for applying cheese and other toppings onto said forming surfaces, and a fusing means to form cheese/topping disks. A plurality of templates are provided along a conveyor means to direct toppings dispensed from a hopper onto a forming surface traveling along a second conveyor means below each template. The template described by Moshier facilitates the assembly of circular topping disks separate and apart from an uncooked pizza shell.
The complexity and cost of the related arts frustrate the effective exploitation of such devices by small, independent pizza makers or by workers assembling pizzas manually. Furthermore, many inventions are not compatible with traditional, pizza-making methods developed by multi-generational pizza makers. A consequence of the related arts is homogenization of the final product and loss of distinctive flavors and appearance.
What is required is a simple, lightweight, durable, cost-efficient and self-centering device facilitating the time efficient assembly of toppings onto a handmade pan pizza. What is required is a device preventing contact between toppings and pan during assembly thereby avoiding damage to toppings during baking and enabling a worker to more quickly assemble a pizza. What is required is a mechanically simple device that produces a more visually appealing final product.
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, lightweight, durable, and self-centering device facilitating the time-efficient assembly of toppings onto the dough of a handmade pan pizza.
Another object of the present invention is a device that prevents contact between toppings and pan during assembly.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically simple device producing a more visually appealing pizza.
The present invention is comprised of a ring-shaped element. The outer diameter of the invention is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of a typical pizza pan thereby facilitating the centered placement of ring within pan over an uncooked shell and preventing toppings from inadvertently accumulating between pan and ring. The inner diameter of the device is sufficiently large to allow for the deposition of toppings across a majority of the shell. Ring thickness insures one end of the device is either flush with or extends above the pan. Contact between invention and dough within a pan prevents accumulation of liquid and solid toppings along the crust portion of the final product.
Various shapes are possible along the cross section of the ring structure. In one embodiment, the ring structure is composed of a solid mass. In preferred embodiments, the ring structure is hollowed thereby reducing weight and facilitating the space-efficient stacking of two or more rings. Exemplary section structures include but are not limited to square, rectangle, and other trapezoid shapes. Preferred embodiments are four-sided wherein the end closest to assembler is angled downward towards the pizza shell thereby directing toppings onto the dough. In yet other embodiments, one or more grips are provided facilitating placement of ring over pizza shell within a pan. The invention is composed of a polymer, corrosion resistant metal, or metal with non-stick surface.
Several advantages are offered by the present invention. The invention reduces assembly time for a typical 12-inch pan pizza by 20 to 30 seconds. The invention provides for the more efficient use of toppings without adversely affecting appearance of the final product. The invention provides a more visually appealing product by insuring a toppings-free crust surrounded by a circular area of toppings.

Topping template for handmade pan pizzas


A guiding apparatus includes a hanger line that continuously conveys hangers that are suspended from the hanger line at predetermined intervals and a guide unit installed in the line and driven in synchronization with the line while holding at least one of the objects, thereby maintaining the attitude of the object and guiding the attitude maintained object along the line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a guiding apparatus that maintains the attitude of suspended objects such as hangers conveyed by a hanger line to hang and convey, for example, car stabilizers.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-161616 discloses a work feeding apparatus and a work feeding method that feed works to a hanger line. This related art employs a robot having a hand for holding and three-dimensionally moving a work, a robot controller for controlling the robot, an image taking unit for photographing an image of a hanger conveyed through the hanger line, and a real-time computer for providing the robot controller with a track of the robot's hand.
According to the image of the hanger, the robot controller detects the position and attitude of a hook of the hanger, and according to the detection, feedback-controls the robot so that the robot's hand holding the work may follow the hook of the hanger and hang the work on the hook of the hanger.
The related art conveys a plurality of hangers through the hanger line and safely and surely hangs works on the hooks of the hangers without stopping the hanger line, without regard to the orientation of each hook, and without employing other special facilities. In feeding works to the hanger line, the related art is able to feed works to the hangers independent of manpower and improve the operating speed of the hanger line.
The related art, however, has a problem in steadying the attitude of a hanger suspended from the hanger line when the hanger receives a work on the hook thereof, and therefore, has a limit on correctly hanging a work on a hook of a hanger conveyed through a hanger line.
This problem widely exists in convey lines that convey suspended objects similar to the hangers and subject the objects to some operation that requires the attitude of each object to be stable.

Guiding apparatus that maintains attitude of suspended object during conveyance


To provide a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus facilitating attachment and detachment thereof. The wrist mounting type electronic apparatus is constituted by a main body bent substantially in an L-like shape and straps comprising a hard material. An inserting portion is provided at a front end of the strap on one side and is inserted into an inserted portion of the pivotable strap on other side. The inserted portion is penetrated with a bar member which is engaged with a small diameter hole of the inserting portion. Thereby, the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can be mounted to the wrist. A hinge of the strap is provided with a coil spring and a state of opening the strap relative to a cabinet of the main body is maintained so far as the strap is not engaged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge assembly and to wrist mounting-type electronic apparatus mounted on the wrist and utilizing the hinge assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 18 is a constitution view showing a mounting member of a conventional wrist mounting type electronic apparatus 110. According to the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus 110, timepiece, computer, communication apparatus or the like is constituted by an electronic circuit to thereby downsize the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus to be able to be mounted on the wrist. Such a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus 110 is constituted by a main body 111 for executing a function provided thereby and a mounting member 112 for mounting the electronic apparatus on the wrist.
The mounting member 112 shown in the drawing is pivoted centering on a hinge 113 having a coupling portion coupled with the main body 111, thereby enabling mounting and dismounting on and from the wrist. An end portion of the mounting member 112 on a side opposed to the hinge 113, is provided with an engaging portion 114 for maintaining a state of being mounted onto the wrist. The engaging portion 114 is of a type of inserting a sheet metal member 116 substantially in a shape of check mark the width of which can be changed by elastic deformation, into an insertion slot 115 having a narrow opening.
The sheet metal member 116 substantially in the shape of the check mark, is formed by a shape in which a front end thereof is bent to fold in an acute angle and when the sheet metal member 116 is pressed to the insertion slot 115, the sheet metal member 116 is elastically deformed to contract to the width of the opening by following walls of the opening of the insertion slot 115. The sheet metal member 116 substantially in the shape of the check mark, is reduced in the width by the elastic deformation and passes through the insertion slot 115. After passing therethrough, the sheet metal member 116 elastically recovers to the original width in a space at inside of the insertion slot 115 and is prevented from being drawn therefrom. The space is provided with an attachment and detachment window 117 communicating with outside and when the sheet metal member 116 in the shape of the check mark is pressed from outside of the attachment and detachment window 117 to constitute a width the same as that of the width of the opening, the mounting member is drawn again from the insertion slot 115.
However, according to the conventional wrist mounting type electronic apparatus, opening and closing operation is carried out by utilizing a self weight thereof and accordingly, there poses a problem that the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus is difficult to open unless the position of the hinge is not pertinent. In this case, the mounting member must be opened and closed by a human hand and attached and detached to and from the wrist, which is inconvenient. Further, the mounting member is provided with a property that when the mounting member is mounted to the wrist or the like, the opened mounting member is fluctuated and accordingly, the mounting member is difficult to mount thereon.
Hence, the invention has been carried out in view of the above described and it is an object thereof to provide a hinge assembly and a wrist mounting-type electronic apparatus utilizing the hinge assembly and which can attach and detach a mounting member by a simple operation and is not fluctuated even in an opened state thereof.
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a strap formed of a hard material, a hinge attached to a coupling portion of the strap and a cabinet of a main body and urged by a spring in a direction of opening the strap relative to the cabinet of the main body, a push button provided at the cabinet and engaging means engaged in a state of mounting the strap onto a wrist and disengaged by the push button.
The wrist mounting type electronic apparatus is constituted by the main body and the strap. According to the invention, there is provided the engaging means for mounting the strap of the hard material around the wrist. The engaging means may be constituted by insertion engagement for inserting a shaft into a hole by utilizing a difference in a thickness of the shaft, recess and projection engagement for making a groove catch a biting piece, or latch engagement for fixing a pivotal movement portion by a latch. Further, a position of providing the engaging means may be disposed at an end portion of the cabinet of the main body or the coupling portion of the straps. The push button provided at the cabinet of the main body is provided such that the engaging means is disengaged by pressing the push button. Further, a number of providing the push button is not limited to one. With regard to connection of the push button with the engaging means, the insertion can mechanically be disengaged, the biting to the groove can be disengaged or the latch can be disengaged in accordance with the engaging means. When the engaging means is disengaged, the strap is opened by the hinge urged by the spring and the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can promptly be disengaged from the wrist.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a first strap having an inserting portion at a front end thereof and rotatably supported by a main body, a second strap having an inserted portion inserted by the inserting portion at a front end thereof and rotatably supported by the main body, and a button for fixing the inserting portion to the inserted portion and releasing the inserted portion from the inserting portion. By providing the button for fixing and releasing the inserting portion and the inserted portion, the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can easily be attached and detached to and from the wrist.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus, further comprising a spring for urging at least one of the first strap and the second strap in an opening direction. By urging the strap by the spring, the strap can easily be disengaged from the wrist.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus, wherein the inserting portion includes a groove provided on an inner side of an outer configuration thereof and a hole larger than the groove at a terminal end of the groove, and the inserted portion is provided with the button having a shaft in a taper shape and the shaft is coaxial with a center of the hole. By engaging the hole of the inserting portion and the shaft of the button, when the button is pushed, a portion of the shaft having a shaft diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole is moved from the hole, the inserting portion and the inserted portion are released and therefore, the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can easily be disengaged from the wrist.
Further, next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus characterized in comprising a strap coupled to a hinge urged by a spring in an opening direction, an inserting portion constituting a flat portion provided at an edge portion of the strap on a side opposed to the hinge, having a small diameter hole and having a groove communicating with the small diameter hole from the edge portion by a width smaller than the small diameter, an inserted portion provided at a cabinet and having a slot portion slightly higher than the inserting portion, and a rod member extended from a push button attached to the inserted portion, having a shape connecting a shaft A having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the hole and a shaft B having a diameter smaller than a width of the groove by a taper a diameter of which is reduced toward a side of the push button and held by a spring to expose the shaft A and the taper portion to the slot when the push button is not pressed and expose the shaft B to the engaging slot when the push button is pressed.
The spring for urging the strap in the opening direction may be constituted by providing one end of a coil spring to a side of the cabinet and other end thereof to the strap or end portions of a leaf spring may be constituted similarly. Thereby, so far as the strap is not engaged, the strap maintains an opened state relative to the cabinet of the main body. The groove provided at the flat portion of the inserting portion passes the bar member having the diameter smaller than the width of the groove. After passing therethrough, the diameter of the bar member is increased and therefore the bar member is prevented from reversely returning from the groove. At this occasion, the bar member stays in the small diameter hole communicating with the groove.
The inserting portion is inserted into the slot portion of the inserted portion to which the bar member extended from the push button is exposed. When the push button is not pressed, the bar member is held by the spring such that the shaft A and the taper portion are exposed to the slot. Further, when the push button is pressed, the bar member exposes the shaft B to the slot. When the inserting portion inserted into the slot is brought into contact with the taper portion, the inserting portion pushes down the bar member and exposes the shaft B and makes the shaft B pass through the groove. After passing therethrough, the bar member is pushed back by the spring, the shaft A is fitted to the small diameter hole and the inserting portion is prevented from drawing from the slot portion easily.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus, wherein the inserted portion is provided at a strap D coupled to an end portion of a main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus via a hinge on a side opposed to the strap C. According to the invention, the inserting portion of the strap is engaged with the inserted portion similar to the above-described. According to the invention, the straps C and D are provided on both sides of the main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus via hinges. Further, the inserted portion is provided at the strap D and accordingly, the straps are engaged with each other. When the engagement is disengaged, there can be constituted a state in which the straps C and D are opened on the both sides of the main body.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus, wherein one face E forming the hinge is combined with a flat face and a curved face and other face F is provided with a press pin straightly moved by a spring for pressing the face E. When the face E constituting a face of a counter side of the hinge is the curved face, the press pin provided at the face F and moving straightly, is not caught thereby, makes pivotal movement smooth and also prevents play. Further, when the face E is the flat face, the strap coupled to the hinge at the angle is difficult to rotate. Thereby, the strap settles excellently at a convenient position.
Further, next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a strap coupled to a hinge urged by a spring in an opening direction, a latch urged to an opening side by a spring at an inner portion of a hole A provided at one hinge piece constituting the hinge, a hole B provided at a hinge piece opposed to the hole A for fitting the latch, and a push out bar integral with a push button projected to a surface of a cabinet, movable upwardly and downwardly from a vicinity of a bottom of the hole B to an opening portion thereof and held at the vicinity of the bottom by a spring when the push button is not pressed.
The spring for urging the strap in an opening direction may be provided with one end of a coil spring at a side of the cabinet and other end at the strap or end portions of a leaf spring may be constituted similarly. Thereby, so far as the strap is not engaged, the strap maintains an opened state relative to the cabinet of the main body. The hinge is constituted by constituting a pivotal movement pair by the two hinge pieces. When the latch urged to the opening side of the hole A is fitted to the hole B, the strap is fixed. The push out bar serves to push out the latch fitted into the hole B. When the latch is pushed out from the hole B, the strap is made pivotable and is brought into an opened state relative to the main body of the cabinet by being urged by the spring. Further, a number of the strap coupled by the hinge may be one or may be two.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a strap coupled to a hinge urged by a spring in an opening direction and having a structure of sliding a shaft portion and a cover portion covering the shaft portion in pivotal movement thereof, a groove provided at a portion of the shaft portion, and a bite bar provided in a shape of a seesaw at a window portion communicating a surface of the cover portion and the shaft portion with a pin as a fulcrum, urged by a spring in a direction in which a projection bites the groove and disengaged from biting the groove by pushing an end portion thereof on a side opposed to the projection.
The hinge according to the invention is provided with a structure in which the two hinge pieces are pivoted relative to each other. There is used recess and projection fitting or a combination of the shaft portion and the cover portion covering the shaft portion in the pivoting structure. A window portion is provided at the surface of the cover portion and the shaft portion is exposed there from. The bite bar is provided at the window portion and the projection is urged by the spring in the direction of biting the groove of the shaft portion. Therefore, when there is not the groove at the shaft portion, the projection does not bite the groove and the hinge is pivoted freely. When the strap is pivoted and an angle of exposing the groove to the window portion is constituted, the projection of the bite bar bites the groove and pivotal movement of the strap is fixed.
When the end portion on the side opposed to the projection of the bite bar is pushed, since the bite bar is provided in the shape of the seesaw with the pin as the fulcrum, the projection is disengaged from the groove and the strap is pivoted freely. The strap is urged by the spring and therefore, when the strap is pivoted freely, the strap maintains an opened state relative to the main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus. Further, the window portion provided with the bite bar may be disposed at the cabinet of the main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus or may be disposed at the strap portion.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a strap coupled to a hinge urged by a spring in an opening direction, a latch provided at an inner hole of a projected portion constituting the hinge by being urged by a spring in a direction of jumping out in an axial direction from a side face of the inner hole, pivoted along with the projected portion by being bound in pivotal movement thereof by a combination with a shape of the inner hole and provided with a shape of a side face constituting a same direction only by a single angle with a recessed side of the hinge as a reference in a pivotal movement range of the strap, a latch receive bound in pivotal movement thereof by a combination with a shape of an inner hole provided at the recessed portion of the hinge and provided with a shape of a side face fitted to the latch when the projected portion constitutes the single angle, and a push button a shaft integral therewith of which penetrates the latch receive, pushing the fitted latch to return to the inner hole of the projected portion by being pushed and projected to prevent from disengaging and dropping from a side face of the recessed portion.
The latch is provided at the inner hole of the projected portion constituting the hinge. The inner hole is not constituted by a simple cavity of a cylinder but formed with a groove or a projection. By forming a groove or a projection in conformity therewith also at the latch, the latch is bound in pivotal movement thereof and pivoted along with the projected portion. Further, the latch is urged by the spring in the direction of jumping out in the axial direction from the side face of the inner hole. Meanwhile, similar to the latch, the latch receive is bound in pivotal movement thereof by the combination with the shape of the inner hole provided at the recessed portion of the hinge. The latch is provided with the shape of the side face constituting the same direction only by the single angle with a recessed side of the hinge as reference in a pivotal movement range of the strap.
Therefore, the shape of the side face of the latch receive is determined such that the latch is fitted therewith at a desired angle. Further, when the fitting is carried out, the strap is fixed at the angle. The shaft integral with the push button serves to push back the latch fitted by pressing the push button to the inner hole of the projected portion. When the latch is recessed to the inner hole, the hinge per se is urged in the opening direction by the spring and therefore, the strap coupled by the hinge is brought into the opened state relative to the cabinet of the main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus. The push button may be provided with a flange to prevent from disengaging and dropping from the side face of the recessed portion or the shaft may be locked by the latch receive by a ring lock.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus wherein the latch is provided with a two face width portion at one end portion of a cylindrical shaft thereof and inscribed with a straight line groove at an end portion thereof on an opposed side and the latch receive is provided with a two face width portion fitted to the straight line groove, integrated with a key and engaged with an inner face of the inner hole of the recessed portion.
When the two face width portion is provided at the one end portion of the cylindrical shaft and the inner hole is provided with the shape capable of fitting the two face width portion, the latch is pivoted along with the projected portion of the hinge. The strap of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus can serve by pivotal movement equal to or smaller than 120 degrees. Therefore, in the pivotal movement range of the strap or the hinge, the straight line groove inscribed at the end portion of the latch is provided with the shape constituting the same direction only by the single angle with the recessed side of the hinge as the reference. (The same direction is constituted only after rotating by 180 degrees.)
The latch receive is provided with the two face width portion fitted to the straight line groove. By the fitting, the latch jumps out from the inner hole. The latch receive is integrated with the key and engaged with the inner face of the inner hole of the recessed portion and therefore, the fitted latch is also bound in the pivotal movement and is fixed. When the latch is fixed, the hinge brought into the fitted state by the two face width portion is also fixed.
Next, according to the invention, there is provided a wrist mounting type electronic apparatus comprising a motor attached to an inner portion of a cabinet of a main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus and having a shaft connected to a piece of a hinge coupled with the main body of the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus and a strap, hinge fixing means for fixing the hinge at a desired angle, and a push button for releasing a fixed state by the hinge fixing means and serving also as a switch of the motor.
The push button constitutes the switch of the motor and therefore, the motor is rotated by pressing the push button. The hinge fixing means is realized by recess and projection engagement for making a groove catch a biting piece, latch engagement for fixing a pivotal movement portion by a latch, or engagement for locking teeth of a gear attached to the shaft of the motor. The push button disengages the engagement and rotates the motor. When the motor is rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the hinge via the shaft to thereby rotate the strap. Thereby, the wrist mounting type electronic apparatus is attached and detached to and from the wrist.

Hinge assembly and wrist mounting-type electronic apparatus utilizing hinge assembly


Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a circuit of a printed circuit board using a dry film resist in forming a circuit pattern on a copper overlaid laminate as a normal printed circuit board, in which a modification of the manufacturing process can enhance the resolution and fine weldability of the resist to realize a fine structure of the circuit pattern. The method includes: laminating the dry film resist on the top surface of the printed circuit board; exposing the dry film resist to ultraviolet (UV) radiations using a photomask in which a desired circuit pattern is formed; annealing the resulting material of the previous step with infrared (IR) radiations; and removing unexposed areas of the resist by development.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a printed circuit board using a dry film resist and, more particularly, to a manufacturing method of a printed circuit board using a dry film resist in forming a circuit pattern on a copper overlaid laminate as a normal printed circuit board, in which a modification of the manufacturing process can enhance the resolution and fine weldability of the resist to realize a minimization of the circuit pattern.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a dry film resist (hereinafter, referred to as xe2x80x9cDFRxe2x80x9d) is used in forming a circuit pattern on a printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as xe2x80x9cPCBxe2x80x9d). The manufacturing method of a PCB using a DFR is schematically shown in FIG. 1.
To form a copper overlaid laminate as a substrate of the, PCB, a pretreatment is performed, in step 10. The pretreatment comprises an outer layer processing step that sequentially includes drilling, deburing and facade, and an inner layer processing step including counter etching or acid rinsing.
Following, the pretreatment, a DFR is laminated on a copper layer of the copper overlaid laminate to form a circuit pattern on the copper overlaid laminate, in step 20. In this lamination step, use is made of a laminator to peel a protective film of the DFR and laminate a resist layer of the DFR on the surface of the copper layer. Typically, lamination is performed under conditions: the lamination rate 0.5 to 3.5 m/min, the temperature 100 to 130xc2x0 C., the pressure of a heating roller 10 to 90 psi.
Subsequent to the lamination, the PCB is kept for over 15 minutes to stabilize the substrate, in step 30, and the resist layer of the DFR is subjected to exposure using a photomask in which a desired circuit pattern is formed, in step 40. During the exposure, the UV ray irradiated on the photomask causes a photoinitiator contained in the exposed area of the resist to activate polymerization in the resist. The oxygen in the resist is consumed to polymerize active monomers and cause crosslinking and then polymerization with a large amount of monomers. Contrarily, the crosslinking hardly occurs in the unexposed area of the resist.
Subsequently, development is performed to eliminate the unexposed areas of the resist, in step 50. In the development step, an aqueous solution containing 0.8 to 1.2 wt. % of potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate is used as a developing agent for an alkaline-developed DFR. Meanwhile, the unexposed areas of the resist are washed away due to saponification of the carboxylic acids of the binder contained in the developing agent, remaining the cured resist on the surface of the copper layer.
Inner and outer layer processing steps are performed to form a circuit pattern, in step 60. The inner layer processing step includes corrosion and stripping to form a circuit pattern on the substrate, and the outer layer processing step includes etching and solder stripping after plating and tending to form a defined circuit pattern.
When patterning a circuit on the PCB using a DFR, the circuit pattern thus formed may have a line width of 0.1 mm as possible. With the recent tendency of electronic equipment, including miniaturization, light-weight, high performance and high reliability, there is a keen need for densification, high performance and high precision of the PCB used in the electronic equipment as well as a method for reducing the line width of the circuit pattern. Hence, the resolution and fine weldability of the DFR are also required.
To improve the resolution and fine weldability of the DFR, the inventors of this patent have contrived a so-called post-exposure heating process that includes an annealing step between exposure of the resist and elimination of the unexposed areas of the resist, which process has been applied (Korean Patent Application No. 98-14380) and granted (Korean Patent No. 271216).
Now, the post-exposure heating process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
First, a substrate is subjected to a pretreatment in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 1, in step 10. Following the pretreatment, a DFR is laminated on the top surface of the substrate, in step 20, and kept for a while, in step 30. The DFR is then exposed to the UV radiation with a photomask to form a desired circuit pattern, in step 40.
Subsequently, the resulting material is annealed, in step 45. The annealing is performed with a heating roller or a hot air oven, which is known to the skilled in the art. The annealing with a heating roller is performed under conditions that satisfy at least one of the following requirements: using 1 to 3 heating rollers, the temperature of the heating roller 80 to 160xc2x0 C., the driving rate of the heating roller 0.2 to 5.0 m/min, and the pressure of the heating roller 10 to 90 psi. The annealing with a hot air oven is performed at the oven temperature 80 to 200xc2x0 C. for 5 to 600 seconds.
Although the post-exposure heating process for improving resolution and fine weldability of the resist may enhance the fundamental properties of the dry film, the use of a hot air oven deteriorates workability and productivity and that of a heating roller requires a strict control of the process because the contamination of the heating roller with foreign materials may increase fixing-related defectives.
In an attempt to solve the problems with the post-exposure heating process, the inventors of this invention found out that the use of an infrared (IR) drying zone instead of a heating roller or a hot air oven can reduce fixing-related defectives caused by foreign materials during the process and improve the efficiency of production as well as achieve defined objects of the annealing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing fixing-related defectives caused by foreign materials and improving the efficiency of production in performing an annealing step subsequent to exposure in the manufacture of a printed circuit board (PCB) or lead frames using a dry film resist (DFR).
It is another object of the present invention to demonstrate the effect of using a DFR having a predetermined thickness in performing an annealing step subsequent to a so-called post-exposure heating process using a rolling roll, a hot air oven or an IR drying zone.
To achieve the objects of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of a PCB and a lead frame using a DFR that includes pretreatment, lamination, keeping, exposure and development, wherein the manufacturing method further includes a heat drying step performed with an IR drying zone for 5 to 600 seconds between the exposure of the resist and the removal of unexposed areas of the resist.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of a PCB that includes an annealing step between a step of exposing the resist having a thickness in the following range and a step of moving unexposed areas of the resist:
5xcexcmxe2x89xa6txe2x89xa6100xcexcm
where t represents the thickness of a resist layer between base and cover films of the DFR, provided that 20 xcexcmxe2x89xa6txe2x89xa630 xcexcm is excluded.
Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.
The procedures are performed in the same manner as the conventional manufacturing method that includes pretreatment (step 10), lamination (step 20), keeping (step 30) and exposure (step 40). Subsequently, heat drying is performed with an IR drying zone (step 45xe2x80x2).
The heat drying is performed with the IR drying zone 30 to 300 cm long at a temperature of 30 to 150xc2x0 C. for 5 to 600 seconds, under which conditions heat curing of the resist hardly occurs.
The heat drying conditions may be summarized as follows:
30 cmxe2x89xa6Lxe2x89xa6300 cm, 30xc2x0 C.xe2x89xa6Txe2x89xa6150xc2x0 C., and 5 sec.xe2x89xa6txe2x89xa6600 sec.
where L is the length of the IR drying zone, T the temperature of the drying zone, t the detention time of the IR drying zone.
Under conditions beyond the above range, the resist is not sufficiently annealed as to have enhanced fine weldability and resolution. Also, excessive annealing may lea cause heat curing of the unexposed areas of the resist and hence insufficient development and stripping on the resist during the subsequent development and stripping steps.
The subsequent steps are development (step 50) and inner/outer layer processing (step 60).
The annealing with an IR drying zone in the continuous manufacturing process of a PCB solves the problem of fixing-related defectives that may increase in the annealing step using a heating roller due to contamination of the heating roller as shown in FIG. 2. Such an annealing step with an IR drying zone also increases the drying efficiency than the annealing with a hot air oven, thus reducing the annealing time with a high efficiency and enhancing the properties of the circuit pattern, such as sensitivity, resolution and fine weldability.
On the other hand, the present invention further includes annealing using a heating roller or a hot air oven in a defined thickness range of the resist as well as the above-mentioned annealing using an IR drying zone.
The annealing using a heating roller is performed under conditions that satisfy at least one of the following requirements: using 1 to 3 heating rolls, the temperature of the heating roller 80 to 160xc2x0 C., the driving rate of the heating roller 0.2 to 5.0 m/min, and the pressure of the heating roller 10 to 90 psi. The annealing with a hot air oven is performed at an oven temperature of 80 to 200xc2x0 C. for 5 to 600 seconds.
The effect of annealing on the DFR is dependent on the thickness of the resist layer of the DFR. That is, the annealing on a thin film or a thick film remarkably enhances the fundamental properties of the DFR, such as independent thinning, resolution and follow-up ability.
Preferably, the resist layer of the DFR has a thickness of about 5 to 100 xcexcm, excluding the thickness range of 20 to 30 xcexcm.
The so-called xe2x80x9cthin DFR (Dry Film Resist)xe2x80x9d has a resist layer of which the thickness is equal to or greater than 5 xcexcm and less than 20 xcexcm. The DFR having a resist layer that is greater than 30 xcexcm and less than or equal to 100 xcexcm in thickness is called xe2x80x9cthick DFRxe2x80x9d.
The annealing remarkably enhances the fundamental properties of a thin or thick DFR, such as resolution or fine weldability, and especially increases the follow-up ability of the DFR, which contributes to an increase in the production yield.
Following the annealing step, development and inner/outer layer processing are performed.

Manufacturing method of printed circuit board using dry film resist


An active exhaust muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, having a housing through which a pipe system passes, the pipe system designed to be permeable for airborne sound in a first space, having an antisound generator which is arranged in a second space and antisound acting upon a third space through a wall opening during operation, the wall opening being provided in a partition that separates the second space from the third space, whereby airborne sound is transmitted from the first space to the third space through a sound outlet. To increase the lifetime of the antisound generator and thus the exhaust muffler, a labyrinth is provided in the third space, blocking a direct path between the sound outlet and the wall opening, and providing at least one indirect bypass for the propagation of airborne sound between the sound outlet and the wall opening.

Such an exhaust muffler is known from EP 1 055 804 B1, for example, and has a housing through which a pipe passes. This pipe is designed so that it is permeable for airborne sound in a first space due to the fact that it has a perforated pipe section in the first space. In addition, the known exhaust muffler has an antisound generator in the form of a loudspeaker arranged in a second space. During operation of the exhaust muffler, the antisound generator generates antisound to act on a third space through a wall opening. Said wall opening is provided in a partition separating the second space from the third space. In addition, the first space communicates with the third space through a sound outlet for transmission of airborne sound.
Additional active exhaust mufflers are described in EP 0 373 188 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,137, U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,874, U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,556, U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,856, U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,165, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,857, EP 0 674 097 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,020, U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,106, EP 0 916 817 and DE 197 51 596.
During operation of such an active exhaust muffler, the airborne sound to be suppressed is output from the pipe in the first space and is introduced through the sound outlet into the third space. At the same time, antisound, i.e., sound with a reciprocal pressure level characteristic in comparison with that of the sound to be absorbed, is generated and supplied to the third space with the help of the loudspeaker. Then in the third space there is a mutual extinction of sound and antisound, thus characterizing an active exhaust muffler of the present type.
In theory, effective noise suppression can be achieved with the help of such an active exhaust muffler. In practice, however, serious problems occur because of the high temperatures prevailing in the exhaust and because the loudspeakers available in the past have not had a long enough lifetime at such high operating temperatures. Furthermore, the loudspeakers required in active exhaust mufflers must be very powerful to be able to respond appropriately to the extremely high sound pressure levels prevailing in the exhaust and to be able to achieve the desired noise suppression effect. However, a high power level leads to a high additional heat production in the loudspeaker.


The present invention relates to a toothbrush including a flexible extension which is attached to the outside of a brush head for perfectly cleaning the back teeth and minimizing scratches on the periodontal tissue surface and oral cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved toothbrush which is effective in cleaning the back teeth and for brushing the teeth with the least amount of scratching on the periodontal tissue surface of the oral cavity.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally speaking, toothbrushes are manufactured by implanting the bristle bases in a stick-shape or hexahedral upper portion as is known in the art. Currently, several types of toothbrushes disclose in relation to efficiency in brushing the teeth by making the ends of these bristle bases constant or by transforming the handle and the bristle base implanting portion. However, these toothbrushes cannot effectively minimize scratches on the periodontal tissue surface and oral cavity. Also, these toothbrushes cannot perfectly clean the inner surface of the teeth such as back teeth.


A layered yarn package is formed of continuous filament yarn wads wherein the yarn alternates between compacted and extended lengths by axially compacting the yarn into a length, segmenting the length into alternating extended and compacted lengths, then arranging the compacted lengths in a common axial direction one next to the other to form a layer. The segmenting is accomplished by jetting pressurized fluid onto the continuous filament yarn wads in a programmed manner.

This invention relates to an apparatus and process for packaging yarn into a layered package from a continuous filament formed into a compact wad and, more particularly, it relates to an apparatus and process for segmenting the wad into distinct segments.
The above-noted application Ser. No. 07/121,059 which is incorporated herein by reference discloses that certain yarns can be processed by forming an axially compact continuous wad of multifilament yarn which can be essentially retained in the wad form when packaged. During the packaging step, particularly for a package that is formed of layers of wads connected to adjacent layers with an extended length pulled from the wads, it is desired to form a structure of an axially compacted length of yarn (wad) connected by an extended length of yarn to another compacted length. The extended length is pulled from the compacted lengths and remains connected to the compacted lengths, the extended and compacted lengths forming a continuous length of yarn.
When using a blade to segment the wad into distinct segments as taught in U.S. Ser. No. 07/121,059, there is a possibility that damage may occur to the strands forming the wad because of the nature of the wad formation which does not enable a clean separation of the wad into segments as will be described in more detail later.

Apparatus and process for pneumatic segmenting of compacted fiber wads for continuous package layer formation


A terminal unit has a terminal unit body, a first terminal connector located adjacent a first opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a first conductor passing through the first opening, and a second terminal connector located adjacent a second opening in the terminal unit body for connection of a second conductor passing through the second opening. The first terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a first link connection point, and the second terminal connector conductor terminates internally of the terminal unit at a second link connection point. The first and second link connection points are accessible via a link opening in the terminal unit body and a removable link comprising a link conductor and a link handle is removably insertable into the link opening. With the removable link inserted a normal orientation, the link conductor electrically connects the first link connection point and the second link connection point to electrically connect the first terminal connector to the second terminal connector. The link handle comprises an insulator which projects from the opening when the link conductor is inserted in normal orientation to electrically connect the first link connection point and the second link connection point, such that the link handle enables gripping of the link for removal without touching the link conductor.

Terminal connectors for power and signal wiring to industrial equipment come in many forms and provide a multitude of functions. One particular style of connector that has become popular particularly for wiring in environments subject to vibration employs a 'screw-less type terminal with direct pressure' (as defined in Annex D of IEC 60947_1:2004. "Low-voltage switch gear and control gear Part 1: general Rules and referred to herein as "screw-less type terminals". Such terminals are often used to make permanent wiring connections to industrial equipment. Screw-less type terminals generally include a strong spring that maintains pressure on a conductor clamp in which the terminated conductor is securely retained. Screw-less type terminals may be "tool-less" or may require a tool such as a "hex" or "Allen" key or screwdriver to compress the spring, removing pressure from the conductor clamp and allowing insertion of a conductor into the terminal. Tool-less type terminals will often include a lever incorporated into the terminal body to compress the spring removing pressure on the conductor clamp.
In industrial situations it is sometimes necessary to disconnect a circuit while maintenance is performed on a piece of equipment. Sometimes switches are provided for the purpose of isolating equipment but there is always the possibility that a switch may be switched on while a worker is working on the connected circuit. This is often addresses by tagging the switch with a danger tag indicating that the circuit is being worked on. Switches may also be lockable but this is a more expensive solution which may not be justified where maintenance is infrequent.
Terminals may also be provided with test points that permit the insertion of a probe or plug for voltage measurement or, link with the link removed, a current meter may be connected in series. Removal of the link may also be used as a means of isolating the circuit for maintenance, but leaves the circuit prone to reconnection without warning if someone replaces the link.
Prior art disconnect terminals typically use a circular pin as the connection link. The pin fits into a small circular hole which is similar in size to a 4 mm test socket which is quite dangerous. If the circular pin is removed, it exposes the hole which is the same size as 4 mm test points located on either side of the link (i.e. 3×4 mm holes in a row). Therefore if the link is removed and a technician is working on the circuit, a second technician could in error insert a test lead plug into the centre hole by mistake and expose his workmate to supply voltage.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a third-party system that allows parents or authorized guardians to continually grant permissions to several websites and online services and provides a one-time-authentication process of the parent-child relationship. Through this system, the need to re-authenticate the parent-child relationship or for each online company to build their own authentication system and COPPA record keeping mechanisms can be reduced or eliminated. In addition, the embodiments provided herein may afford a service for managing COPPA compliance that is relatively easy for online companies to integrate into their online services and websites.

One of the hardest problems for online companies is verifying the age of their users. In the past, there really has been no good technological way to determine the age of a user accessing an online company's website or online services.
This problem has become particularly acute with the passage of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Action (COPPA) (15 U.S.C. §§6501-6506) which prohibits online companies from storing information about users under the age of thirteen without their parent's or legal guardian's permission. In order to comply with COPPA, many online companies query each of their users for their date of birth and, if the response indicates that the user is under thirteen, then prohibiting that user from accessing or using the company's website or online service.
Such authentication procedures can create problems. For example, circumventing or spoofing these kinds of systems is rather trivial. All a user has to do is enter a false date of birth that indicates that the user is older than thirteen in order to access the website. Another common problem is that most online companies do not have a mechanism to allow for storing of information about a under-thirteen child if the child's parent grants (or wants to grant) them permission to store information about the child and still being in compliance with COPPA.

System and method to facilitate compliance with COPPA for website registration


A method and apparatus for providing a SATA host with access to multiple SATA drives is disclosed. The apparatus may include: an emulated port multiplier for presenting at least one logical drive to the SATA host; a mapping module for maintaining a mapping between the at least one logical drive and a plurality of physical SATA drives, wherein the plurality of physical SATA drives reside in a SAS topology; and a SATA/STP bridge for providing an interface between the SATA host and the SAS topology, the SATA/STP bridge configured to function as a SATA target to communicate with the SATA host and to function as a STP initiator to communicate with the plurality of physical SATA drives in the SAS topology.

Serial AT Attachment (SATA) is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives. Currently if a SATA host needs to access multiple SATA drives, it is done through a port multiplier which has a limitation of sixteen physical SATA drives and this is the maximum number of physical SATA drives which can be accessed by a legacy port multiplier aware SATA host. On the other hand, addressing schemes such as 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (LBA) with 512 byte sector size is 144 PiB (pebibyte). Since the maximum available size for a physical SATA drive is far less in capacity than 144 PiB, a large number of physical SATA drives may need to be group together. However, there is no efficient mechanism available to group the multiple physical SATA drives into one logical SATA drive which can be seen by the SATA host through a port multiplier.
Therein lies the need to provide a method and system to enable access of large number of SATA drives in a SAS topology to SATA hosts/initiators without the aforementioned shortcomings.

SATA data appliance for providing SATA hosts with access to a configurable number of SATA drives residing in a SAS topology

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A structure is designed with an external terminal (100) and a reference terminal (102). A first transistor (106) is formed on a substrate. The first transistor has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the reference terminal. A second transistor (118) has a current path coupled between the external terminal and the substrate. A third transistor (120) has a current path coupled between the substrate and the reference terminal.

Present complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and bipolar-CMOS (BiCMOS) circuits employ electrostatic discharge protection (ESD) circuits to protect against electrostatic discharge due to ordinary human and machine handling. This electrostatic discharge occurs when the semiconductor circuit contacts an object that is charged to a substantially different electrostatic potential of typically several thousand volts. The contact produces a short-duration, high-current transient in the semiconductor circuit. This high current transient may damage the semiconductor circuit through joule heating. Furthermore, high voltage developed across internal components of the semiconductor circuit may damage MOS transistor gate oxide.
Sensitivity of the semiconductor circuit is determined by various test methods. A typical circuit used to determine sensitivity of the semiconductor circuit to human handling includes a capacitor and resistor that emulate a human body resistor-capacitor (RC) time constant. The capacitor is preferably 100 pF, and the resistor is preferably 1500Ω, thereby providing a 150-nanosecond time constant. A semiconductor device is connected to the test circuit at a predetermined external terminal for a selected test pin combination. In operation, the capacitor is initially charged to a predetermined stress voltage and discharged through the resistor and the semiconductor device. This predetermined stress voltage preferably includes both positive and negative stress voltages with respect to a reference pin or terminal. A post stress current-voltage measurement determines whether the semiconductor device is damaged. Although this test effectively emulates electrostatic discharge from a human body, it fails to comprehend other common forms of electrostatic discharge.
A charged-device ESD test is another common test method for testing semiconductor device sensitivity. This method is typically used to determine sensitivity of the semiconductor circuit to ESD under automated manufacturing conditions. The test circuit includes a stress voltage supply connected in series with a current limiting resistor. The semiconductor device forms a capacitor above a ground plane that is typically 1-2 pF. A low impedance conductor forms a discharge path having an RC time constant typically two orders of magnitude less than a human body model ESD tester. In operation, the semiconductor device is initially charged with respect to the ground plane to a predetermined stress voltage. The semiconductor device is then discharged at a selected terminal through the low impedance conductor. This connection produces a high-voltage, high-current discharge in which a magnitude of the initial voltage across the semiconductor device approaches that of the initial stress voltage.
A particular protection circuit design problem arises when protection circuits are connected to an external terminal that receives both positive and negative voltages with respect to a reference terminal such as VSS during normal circuit operation. Many analog and mixed signal circuits must accommodate such positive and negative signal voltage swings. These signal voltage swings will turn on conventional transistors during normal circuit operation. These positive and negative voltage swings, therefore, preclude a use of many conventional protection circuit devices. Furthermore, the protection circuits of analog and mixed signal circuits must conduct current in a low impedance state in response to an external ESD pulse. They must also remain in a high impedance state during normal circuit operation, and they must protect against positive and negative ESD pulses outside of normal operating parameters as well.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is a dual silicon-controlled-rectifier (SCR) circuit of the prior art. This dual SCR circuit includes SCR circuits 406 and 408 connected between external terminal or bond pad 400 and reference terminal 410. The SCR circuits are arranged in parallel with opposite polarities. Thus, SCR 406 has an anode connected to external terminal 400 and a cathode connected to reference terminal 410 to conduct in response to positive ESD pulses at external terminal 400. SCR 408 has a cathode connected to external terminal 400 and an anode connected to reference terminal 410 to conduct in response to negative ESD pulses at external terminal 400. These circuits offer limited flexibility in adjustment of trigger voltage thresholds. They are typically activated by a PN junction avalanche threshold voltage in response to a relatively high voltage ESD pulse. This high voltage ESD pulse may damage thin oxide devices in protected circuit 404 prior to activating either SCR. These circuits have a further disadvantage that two of them are required for bi-directional operation in response to both polarities of ESD stress.


The present invention relates to a carrier substrate (30) comprising signal vias (41) for electrically interconnecting components (10, 31) arranged on opposing sides of the carrier substrate (30). The carrier substrate (30) further comprises: at least one cavity (20) embedded in the carrier substrate (30) having at least one chamber wick part (24) and a working fluid, and wherein the at least one cavity (20) at least partially encompass the signal vias (41). The present invention also relates to an electronic assembly and an apparatus for wireless communication comprising the carrier substrate (30).

In a 5G mm wave system, an antenna array can comprise say 64 elements in an 8×8 matrix, each antenna element with a size of 3.5×3.5 to 6×6 mm, targeting frequencies between 24 and 40 GHz.
Many different mounting and cooling options exist with different characteristics. Typically, the antenna is placed on one side of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), also known as antenna carrier board, radiating in one in direction from one side of the PCB. This side cannot easily be used for cooling. A Front-End Power Amplifier (FE PA) is ideally placed close to the antenna element for lowest Insertion Loss (IL), meaning higher efficiency. Between the FE PA and antenna element, a channel filter is usually inserted. The filter can be integrated in the antenna, be a separate component/structure, or as a strip line in the PCB.
Below is a brief description of different mounting options of the FE PA in relation to the antenna element on the antenna carrier board (not extensive described but resulting in one layer of heat generating electronic components.                The antenna elements of the antenna array can be mounted as a component or integrated as part of the antenna carrier board with FE PA mounted on the opposite side of the antenna array area. This solution is close to optimal from a IL point of view due to the short distance between the antenna element and the FE PA. The drawback is it typically requires cooling from the top-side of the FE-PA to an attached cooling device. FE PA is usually a QFN cooling down device, even if other solution exists (flip-chip cooling up). All FE-PA in the array area means a significant hotspot and good heat-spreading/conduction is mandatory for the cooling system. The FE PA components are typically attached to a heatsink with a gap-pad solution to handle the mechanical tolerances, with an impairment for the cooling performance.        The antenna array elements can be mounted as a component or integrated as part of the antenna carrier board with FE PA mounted outside the antenna array area for cooling reasons. This is typically the case for Quad Flat No-leads (QFN) packaged FE PA, where cooling is obtained through thermal vias in the antenna carrier board for cooling from the opposite side. The drawback is higher insertion loss due to the distance between antenna element and FE PA. The advantage is less signal congestion and a possibility to fit filter solutions.        The antenna elements of the antenna array can be mounted as a component stacked on the FE PA component on the same side of the antenna carrier PCB. The IL is low, but a significant hot-spot is generated, which requires cooling by thermal vias in the carrier PCB with an attached cooling heat spreader. This usually prevents functions on the opposite side of the antenna array, which would hinder cooling of the FE electronics. Massive thermal vias can also cause signal routing difficulties to/from the FE electronics.
Below, two types of standard cooling solutions are described.                QFN based FE-PA (the most common FE-PA package with cooling down) need to be place on the side of the antenna array either causing larger insertion loss if placed outside the antenna area or creating a signal congestion if stacked under the antenna with cooling vias to the opposite heat-sink side.        Flip-Chip (FC) based package can be mounted on the opposite side of the antenna array, but still causing a significant hot spot, not allowing other electronics in this area. The FC approach has a larger mechanical tolerance to the heat-sink and typically needs a gap-pad on a small hot-spot area with impairment in the thermal performance.
No simple solution exists to mount and use heat generating components on both sides of the antenna carrier board/PCB due to the heat generation.
Thus, there is a need for an improved cooling solution for heat generating components.

Carrier substrate, an electronic assembly and an apparatus for wireless communication


An oil control valve includes a housing having a control port and a drain port, a first seat with a first penetration hole forming a first chamber, a second seat with a second penetration hole forming a second chamber communicated with the control port, the second seat with the housing forming a third chamber communicating with the drain port, a first check valve within the first chamber selectively closing the first penetration hole, a second check valve within the third chamber selectively closing the second penetration hole, and a third penetration hole, a control portion selectively opening the first check valve and simultaneously closing the second check valve or selectively closing the first check valve and simultaneously opening the second check valve and an orifice connecting the first chamber with the second chamber.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an oil control valve and a variable valve lift system provided with the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil control valve of which an orifice is integrally formed therein and a variable valve lift system provided with the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, for constructing a hydraulic pressure type variable valve lift apparatus, there are required constituent elements such as a variable valve lift apparatus for controlling valve lift, an oil control valve supplying hydraulic pressure to hydraulic lines, an orifice reducing hydraulic pressure supplied from an hydraulic pump and so on.
A general orifice has a structure for absorbing transmitted wave transmitted from low pressure hydraulic line and lowers hydraulic pressure supplied from an engine oil pump to reach certain level for a variable valve lift apparatus to realize low valve.
However, a general variable valve lift system requires the orifice, an oil control valve, a variable valve lift apparatus, a plurality of oil line connecting those elements, and thus engine layout is complicated.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Oil control valve and variable valve lift system provided with the same


A system and method are disclosed for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play. A load boundary associated with a game environment is identified. A position of a character in the game environment is then monitored. Instructions corresponding to a next game environment are loaded into a memory when the character crosses the load boundary, such that game play is not interrupted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electronic entertainment devices and relates more particularly to a system and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play.
2. Description of the Background Art
A virtual world represented by game software often includes more than one environment or level of game play. A character, controllable by the user, typically begins the game in one environment or level, and then progresses to other, often more challenging, environments or levels. Typically there is a pause in game play while the game transitions from one environment to another. The game screen may momentarily be blank or a "loading" screen may appear while the new environment or level is loaded from the game disc to the game system's memory. Loading times vary by game, but games with complex environments and characters may require significant loading times. Whether the loading time is short or significant, the flow of game play is interrupted.
In order to prevent the blank or loading screen from being displayed to a user, hallway or transition rooms may be presented to the user while software associated with a new game environment is loaded. Typically, hallway and transition rooms are areas of low detail that a character traverses to move between areas of high detail. When the user's character is in the area of low detail, the areas of high detail on either side of the hallway or the transition room are not shown to the user. Although this avoids displaying a blank or loading screen to the user, it is obvious to the user that the user is merely awaiting the new environment until real game play can continue.
Use of blank or loading screens, as well as traditional hallways or transition rooms makes obvious to the user that the user is suspended from actual game play pending the availability of the new environment. This interruption in game play spoils the realism of the game and alerts the user to a pause in game play.

System and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play


The present invention provides a nonwoven substrate comprising a fibrous web defining a surface; and a layer of a benefit agent wherein said benefit agent is selected from an additive composition, an enhancement component and combinations thereof; wherein said benefit agent is frothed and bonded to the fibrous web surface through a creping process. Additionally, the present invention provides for a method of creping a nonwoven substrate and also provides for a nonwoven substrate comprising an adhesive film of an aqueous, frothed, benefit agent.

Absorbent nonwoven products such as paper towels, tissues, diapers, and other similar products are designed to have desired levels of bulk, softness and strength. For example, in some tissue products, softness is enhanced by a topical additive composition such as a softening agent to the outer surface(s) of a tissue web. Such additive composition may be a bonding agent that is topically applied to a substrate, such as a nonwoven, alone or in combination with creping operations. Creping may be part of a nonwoven manufacturing process wherein tissue is adhered to the hot surface of a rotating dryer drum by an additive composition. The dried tissue and additive composition are together scraped off the dryer drum via a doctor blade assembly. Creping adds bulk to tissue base sheets which in turn, increases softness as determined by hand feel. Other properties are affected as well, such as strength, flexibility, crepe folds and the like. Typically, additive compositions may be sprayed onto the dryer drum of a Yankee dryer. However, the spraying process has low chemical mass efficiency levels (40% to 70%) due to waste of the additive composition caused by a boundary layer of air near the dryer's surface and relatively high dryer temperatures. By necessity, the applicator is typically about 4 inches (101.6 mm) away from the dryer surface. Due to the high rotational speed of the dryer, the boundary layer of air near the dryer surface is pulled along creating a pressure barrier that inhibits spray particles from reaching the dryer surface.
Further, modifying any additives to include additional solid particles and short fibers that improve the overall softness of a substrate is somewhat limited. Many additional particles that can enhance the final hand feel of a substrate require mixing into the dispersion that is sprayed onto the dryer. Because many of these particles are larger than the spray nozzles, clogging of the nozzles is an issue that prevents the additive dispersion from being properly applied onto the dryer surface. Thus, a need exists for a method of applying an additive composition alone or in combination with enhanced softening particles to a dryer surface and eventually a substrate in order to provide a substrate that has improved softness.

Method of making substrates comprising frothed benefit agents


A bandpass enhancement filter has a pass-band that tracks changes in spatial frequency due to the use of a zooming process upon a digital image signal. The primary pass-band of the enhancement filter is derived from a combination of a plurality of secondary bandpass filter sections, each having a different frequency response and each responsive to a gain adjustment. A control signal reflecting a particular zoom ratio is used in the adjustment of the gain applied to the filter sections, thereby proportioning the output of each filter section so that the combined output tracks the zooming process.

The invention has particular relevance to an electronic imaging system in which the input images are either stationary images or time-varying sequences of images, and in which the output images are subject to a static or dynamic digital zoom. The static zoom effects size changes in a stationary image, and the dynamic zoom effects continuing size changes, often on a frame-to-frame basis in a video environment, on a time-varying sequence of images. The zooming process, which may be implemented in a spatial interpolator, such as described in copending Ser. No. 817,204, "Digital Image Interpolation System for Zoom and Pan Effects" by Keith R. Hailey (filed Jan. 6, 1992 in the name of the same assignee as the present invention), may be required for spatial standards conversion, or for image magnification within a given spatial standard.
The effect of zooming upon sampled image data must be carefully considered in order to avoid the problem of aliasing. As known to those skilled in this art, an image can be characterized by a two-dimensional parameter known as spatial frequency. According to the Nyquist sampling theorem, in order not to lose information contained in a signal, the signal must be sampled at a sampling frequency (f.sub.s) that is equal to at least twice the bandwidth of the signal. The actual bandwidth is ordinarily established by prefiltering the analog signal before it is sampled, so that the bared edge of the signal does not exceed the upper frequency limit, which is called the Nyquist frequency, required for sampling.
In further considering the effect of zooming, it should be intuitive that, if the image is compressed, the lines appear to the viewer to become closer together, and the spatial frequency of the image is thus increased. This has the ancillary effect of increasing the upper band edge of the image's spatial frequencies. If the upper band edge now exceeds the Nyquist frequency, information is lost and aliasing results. This is handled in the prior art by inserting, before compression, a variable bandwidth digital filter that is responsive to a scaling factor representative of the degree of compression to accordingly band-limit the digital signal, and thereby to avoid any aliasing that might result from subsequent compression (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,760,605; 4,805,129; and 4,660,081). If the image is enlarged, so that lines appear to the viewer to become further apart, the upper spatial frequency of the image is decreased and the upper band limit is accordingly decreased. According to the prior art (e.g., the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,081) this is not a problem, and the variable bandwidth filters are simply disabled to provide an essentially straight through signal path.
Unlike straightforward band limiting filters, which provide a low pass function, the provision of image, or sharpness, enhancement requires digital filters having a maximum magnitude at a spatial frequency related to the output Nyquist frequency of the system. Such filters are typically one-dimensional or two-dimensional Finite Impulse Response (FIR) bandpass filters that are programmed in a variety of conventional ways to multiply a sequence of input image samples by a set of coefficients, and to provide the sum thereof as the output of the filter. The coefficients, which provide a bandpass characteristic, are generated in a conventional manner, such as an optimized frequency sampling design technique found in Theory and Application of Digital Processing, by L. R. Rabiner and B. Gold, Prentice-Hall: 1975, pp. 105-123. Another useful technique for generating a generalized bandpass filter is described in "Optical flow using spatio-temporal filters", by D. J. Heeger, International Journal of Computer Vision, 1988, pp. 279-302. The latter filter is referred to as the Gabor filter.
Enhancement is most commonly performed on an image signal after any spatial interpolation, or zooming, is done that might affect the bandwidth of the system, and after the system is accordingly band-limited to prevent aliasing, or otherwise reconverted to the original band of frequencies present before zooming. This allows one set of filters to be designed for the various spatial frequencies that are to be enhanced. However, because of signal-to-noise considerations, it is generally most beneficial to do enhancement on luminance information; likewise it is most effective to do spatial interpolation on full band color signals, rather than separately on the luminance and color/chroma information in the signal. Consequently, in applications where separate luminance and color signals are generated, it is desirable to do enhancement on the luminance signal before the luminance and color signals are processed into full band signals for spatial interpolation, that is, before zooming. Since the process of zooming affects the pass-band of the image signal spectrum, and consequently the spectrum must be band-limited to prevent aliasing, a situation arises wherein a fixed set of enhancement filters will affect different spatial frequencies as the degree of zoom is changed. For example, a bandpass enhancement filter designed to pass high band spatial frequencies without zoom will affect frequencies above the band edge after the image spectrum is compressed and band-limited. This will produce the effect of gradually diminishing enhancement as the degree of zoom is reduced, until the "enhanced spectrum" is entirely outside the band, and thus unnoticeable.
While the maximum magnitude of an enhancement filter may be correctly positioned within the Nyquist pass-band by a number of effective methods (described above), the problem remains that the enhancement filters may not be properly positioned at band edge after zooming. The aforementioned Gabor filter suggests the usefulness of a tunable peak frequency. Applying such teaching to the problem of zooming leads to several additional problems. The Gabor filter can be viewed as a sine wave multiplied by a Gaussian window in the spatial domain. The width of the filter is determined by the window, and the peak frequency by the sine waves. In order to define the peak frequency of a Gabor filter, it is necessary for the Gaussian window to envelope a significant number of sine wave cycles at the required frequency. This has two implications which become progressively more serious as the peak amplitude decreases in spatial frequency. First, the number of taps in the filter becomes unrealistic to implement in hardware. Secondly, because the width of Gaussian windows in the spatial and frequency domains are inversely proportional to each other, a Gabor filter designed to peak at low frequencies will, by definition, have a very narrow pass-band; this may not be appropriate for the application. As a result, the problem of frequency positioning of enhancement filters prior to zooming has not been effectively dealt with.

Method and apparatus for enhancing sharpness of a sequence of images subject to continuous zoom


A bag (86) of medical wastes is inserted into a chamber (12) that contains a grinder (20). A package (48) is placed unopened in the chamber with the medical wastes. A selected volume of a dilutant such as water is added to the chamber (40, 42). The chamber is closed and the grinder operated for a selected duration. The grinder grinds the packaging, disposing of the packaging and permitting contained dry reagents (56, 58) such as acetylsalicylic acid and perborate to react with the dilutant, forming a peracetic acid solution or permitting a sterilant concentrate (70) to form an anti-microbial solution with the dilutant. The grinder continues to grind the packaging and the medical wastes into fine particulates forming a slurry with the peracetic acid solution. The continued operation of the grinder assures that the anti-microbial solution contacts all surfaces of the waste. In this manner, the medical wastes are microbially decontaminated. A color indicator (60, 78) is included with the packaging to provide a color indication as to whether the anti-microbial reaction is complete. For example, a Gentian Violet may be provided which fades to white to indicate completion of the decontamination process. Once decontaminated, the slurry is removed from the chamber and disposed of as non-contaminated waste materials. Optionally, fragrances and deodorants may be included in the package.

The present invention relates to the decontamination arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with the sterilizing or disinfecting of medical wastes and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention will also find application in connection with the disposal of any products having potentially harmful microorganisms.
Microbial decontamination connotes the removal of hazardous or unwanted bacteria, mold spores, and other pathogenic life forms. Disinfection connotes the absence of pathogenic life forms. Sterilization connotes the absence of all life forms, whether pathogenic or not.
Heretofore, medical waste such as used syringes, petri dishes and culture media, vials, and other equipment which has come in contact with substances which might potentially carry pathogenic organisms have been subject to elaborate and expensive waste disposal procedures. Traditionally, these wastes were incinerated at sufficiently high temperatures that the pathogenic organisms were killed. However, incinerators tend to be a source of air pollution and are being closed.
Other medical wastes are sterilized in a steam autoclave. Autoclave sterilization is a relatively time consuming and expensive procedure, particularly for waste materials.
Another technique for disposing of medical wastes is to grind the wastes with water into a slurry. Bound iodine solutions are commonly added to presumably kill pathogenic organisms. However, one of the problems with this system is providing assurance that the pathogenic organisms are killed.
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved system for decontaminating medical waste is provided.