Disclosed is an apparatus for illuminating a sample. In one embodiment, this apparatus includes a laser for outputting an incident laser beam towards a sample and a first diffractive element having a plurality of diffraction pattern portions. The first diffractive element is movable so that each of its diffraction pattern portions can be selectively positioned in the incident beam's path and the diffraction pattern portions of the first diffractive element are designed to cause the incident beam to have different spatial illumination profiles at a pupil plane of the incident beam while reducing effects caused by the incident beam's coherence. The apparatus further includes an illumination profile element configured to spatially distribute light at an illumination plane of the incident beam and a plurality of illumination optical elements for directing the incident beam towards the sample.

Generally, the industry of semiconductor manufacturing involves highly complex techniques for fabricating integrating circuits using semiconductor materials. Due to the large scale of circuit integration and the decreasing size of semiconductor devices, decreasingly small defects, such as a particle, can cause the devices to fail. Defect inspection is therefore critical to maintain quality control. Since the inspection methods are an integral and significant part of the manufacturing process, the semiconductor industry is constantly seeking more accurate and efficient testing methods.
Various inspection systems are used within the semiconductor industry to detect defects on a semiconductor device or wafer. One type of inspection tool is an optical inspection system. In optical inspection systems, one or more radiation beams are directed towards the semiconductor wafer or photomask and a reflected and/or scattered beam is then detected. The detected beam is used to then generate a detected electrical signal or an image, and such signal or image is then analyzed to determine whether defects are present on the wafer.
Lasers are used as light sources in many inspection systems to measure defects on photomasks or wafers. Lasers provide light with high intensity to provide ample sample illumination and can provide a collimated beam of light that can be directed easily through lenses and toward the sample. Additionally, laser sources with a short wavelength may be advantageously used for examining relatively small feature sizes.
One of the downsides, however, of using lasers is that the high spatial and temporal coherence of laser light can cause constructive and destructive interference patterns when viewing images of the sample being inspected. The images can be obscured by interference effects such as the edge ringing evident in a coherent image, which can hide detail near any edges in the image, or by speckle, which appears as a nonuniform illumination of the object being imaged. Comprehensive discussions about interference effects such as edge ringing and speckle phenomena can be found in "Fourier Optics", by J. W. Goodman, McGraw-Hill, and "Statistical Optics", also by J. W. Goodman, Wiley-Interscience.
These deleterious image effects can be improved by reducing the spatial coherence of the laser light that is used to illuminate the object being imaged. One conventional technique of providing partially incoherent laser light involves the use of a rotating diffuser. A rotating diffuser typically consists of a rotating ground-glass screen that is introduced into the path of the laser beam before it reaches the object being imaged. The rotating diffuser introduces random phase variations into the incident laser beam, thereby introducing spatial incoherence to the beam. As the diffuser rotates, a detector can collect images of the object from independent views or perspectives. The detector, in turn, can integrate or add the independent inspection views to effectively synthesize a uniform illumination of the object being imaged that is relatively free of speckle.
In certain applications, it is frequently required that the inspection system have configurable illumination and imaging designs. The illumination and imaging configuration will be set to optimize the capture of different characteristics of defects or defect types. That is, different illumination and imaging configurations are more suitable for different types of defect inspections. Two broad categories of inspection configurations include bright field and dark field inspection. In general, the illumination and collection beam profiles are adjusted to achieve different inspection modes. In other words, different portions or angles of the incident or collection beam are blocked or transmitted.
For a dark field inspection, a portion of the illumination beam profile is typically blocked so that only a portion of the available illumination, for example a ring of illumination, is passed through to the wafer. A corresponding portion of the collection beam profile is then blocked so that only scattered light is collected. That is, blocked portions of the illumination beam correspond to unblocked portions of the collection beam, while unblocked portions of the illumination beam correspond to blocked portions of the collection beam. Both the illumination and the collection adjustments implement binary masks. That is, portions of the beam are totally blocked by the mask, while other portions of the beam pass unimpeded through the mask. Other types of illumination profiles include annular, dipole, and quadrapole illumination profiles. In general, specific illumination profiles are used to enhance or optimize the imaging quality of specific types of features. By way of examples, a quadrapole illumination profile may be used to image a field of contacts, while a dipole profile may be used to image a vertical line.
Unfortunately, a rotating diffuser typically produces a scattered pattern that has a Gaussian or non-uniform shape at the system pupil. For instance, the intensity may be significantly greater at the pupil center than at the pupil edges. Consequently, it would be difficult to implement various illumination profiles with a rotating diffuser, as opposed to a flatter illumination profile. Additionally, when blocking any of the center portion of the Gaussian shaped profile, a significant amount of light is unused. Thus, this type of arrangement does not efficiently utilize the light.
There is a need for improved and light-efficient mechanisms that provide varying illumination patterns in an incident beam directed at a sample, while reducing effects caused by coherence, such as speckle effect, in the incident beam.

Variable illuminator and speckle buster apparatus


The present invention relates to an isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, onto which is grafted a functional monomer.

The present invention relates to an isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, onto which is grafted a functionalised monomer, and also to a composition comprising such a polymer. The invention also relates to a multilayer structure, at least one of the layers of which comprises isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis in its composition.
The isotactic polypropylene obtained-by metallocene catalysis and grafted with a functionalised monomer may form part of the composition of a coextrusion binder. The coextrusion binder comprises isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, grafted and then optionally diluted in at least one polyolefin (C1) and/or in at least one polymer of elastomeric nature (D).
These coextrusion binders are useful, for example, for manufacturing multilayer materials for wrapping. Mention may be made of materials comprising a polyamide (PA) film and a polypropylene (PP) film, the polypropylene film possibly being laminated over the polyamide film or coextruded with the polyamide. The coextrusion binder is arranged between the polypropylene film and the polyamide film for good adhesion of the two films. These multilayer materials may be, for example:
three-layer structures of the type such as, for example, PP/binder/EVOH in which EVOH denotes a copolymer of ethylene and of vinyl alcohol, or an ethylene/partially or totally saponified vinyl acetate copolymer, the binder layer being sandwiched between an EVOH layer and a PP layer, or
five-layer structures of the type such as, for example, PP/binder/EVOH/binder/PP, in which the EVOH layer is sandwiched between two layers of binders, each of them being sandwiched between the EVOH layer and a PP layer.
The grafted polymer according to the invention may also be useful as a compatibilizer, for example in blends of polyamide and polypropylene or in blends of polypropylene and glass fibres.
Polypropylene is described in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th edition, Vol. 17, pages 784-819, John Wiley and Sons, 1996. Almost all of the polypropylene sold consists essentially of isotactic polypropylene obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis, possibly containing a small amount of atactic polypropylene.
Extensive prior art exists describing grafted polypropylene, but this is always isotactic polypropylene obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis, abbreviated as zniPP in the text hereinbelow.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,149 describes wrappings closed with caps consisting of an aluminium foil, a binder layer and a polypropylene layer. The binder layer of the cap consists of various polymers grafted with acrylic acid or maleic anhydride, and the polymers may be chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene and of vinyl acetate and copolymers of ethylene and of methyl acrylate.
Documents DE 19 535 915 A and EP 689 505 describe a grafted polypropylene block copolymer for adhesively binding polypropylene films to metal sheets.
Document EP 658 139 describes structures similar to those described above, but the binder is a grafted random polypropylene copolymer comprising from 1 to 10% comonomer, the Mw/Mn ratio being between 2 and 10 and the MFI (melt flow index) is between 1 and 20/10 min (at 230xc2x0 C. under 2.16 kg).
The free-radical grafting of functionalised monomers onto the polyolefins is performed either in the melt or in solution using free-radical initiators, for instance peroxides, or in the solid state by irradiation. Under the action of the radicals, side reactions take place at the same time as the grafting reaction. They lead to an increase in the molecular mass in the case where the polymer to be grafted is polyethylene, or to a decrease in the molecular mass in the case where it is polypropylene. If the amount of free radicals required for the grafting reaction is large, the change in the molecular mass of the polyolefin leads to a large change in its melt viscosity. This grafting generally takes place in an extruder. The viscosity of the grafted polyethylene is then so high that it can no longer be extruded, whereas the viscosity of the grafted polypropylene is so low that it cannot be extruded either. These phenomena make it necessary to reduce the amount of reactive functions that may be incorporated into the polyolefin by free-radical grafting of functional monomers.
In the case of mixtures of virtually equivalent amounts of polyethylene and of polypropylene to be grafted by free-radical grafting with large amounts of functionalised monomers, as is the case in document EP 802 207, the increase in the molecular mass of the grafted polyethylene is compensated for by the decrease in the molecular mass of the grafted polypropylene.
It has now been found that a functionalised monomer can be grafted in large amount onto isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis (miPP) and that the melt flow index of the grafted miPP obtained is lower than in the case of the grafted isotactic polypropylene obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis (zniPP), thus making the grafted miPP or compositions comprising it easier to extrude.
Furthermore, it has been found that grafted miPP is advantageous in terms of application compared with the polypropylenes obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis during its use in coextrusion binders.
One subject of the invention is a composition comprising:
10% to 100% by weight of isotactic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer obtained by metallocene catalysis (miPP);
0% to 90% by weight of polyethylene (A) homopolymer or copolymer;
0% to 90% by weight of polymer (B) chosen from isotactic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis (B1), poly-(1-butene) homopolymer or copolymer (B2), polystyrene homopolymer or copolymer (B3), a blend of (B1) and (B2), a blend of (B1) and (B3), a blend of (B2) and (B3) and a blend of (B1), (B2) and (B3); the percentages being based on the total weight of the isotactic polymer (miPP) and any polymer (A) and polymer (B); and,
the said polymer or polymers being grafted with a functional monomer.
According to one embodiment of the composition, the functionalised monomer is unsaturated and non-aromatic. The term xe2x80x9cfunctionalised monomerxe2x80x9d means a monomer comprising at least one chemical function.
According to one embodiment of the composition, the functionalised monomer is taken from the group comprising alkoxysilanes, carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, acid chlorides, isocyanates, oxazolines, epoxides, amines and hydroxides.
According to one embodiment of the composition, the functionalised monomer is maleic anhydride.
According to one embodiment of the composition, at least one comonomer of polyethylene (A) copolymer is chosen from xcex1-olefins containing from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids, vinyl esters of saturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated epoxides, alicyclic glycidyl esters and ethers, unsaturated carboxylic acids, salts thereof, anhydrides thereof and dienes.
According to one embodiment of the composition, the polyethylene (A) is chosen from LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, VLDPE, PE obtained by metallocene catalysis, EPR and EPDM elastomers and blends thereof, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate/maleic anhydride copolymers and ethylene/vinyl acetate/maleic anhydride copolymers.
According to one embodiment of the composition, it is diluted in a polyolefin (C1) and/or a polymer of elastomeric nature (D).
According to one embodiment of the composition, the amount of polyolefin (C1) and/or of polymer of elastomeric nature (D) is advantageously from 20 to 1000 and preferably from 30 to 500 parts by weight per 10 parts of grafted isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis.
According to one embodiment of the composition, the proportions of polyolefin (C1) and of polymer of elastomeric nature (D) are such that the ratio (D)/(C1) is between 0 and 1 and more particularly between 0 and 0.5.
According to one embodiment of the composition, it is included in a coextrusion binder.
A subject of the invention is also a multilayer structure comprising a layer (L) comprising a composition as described above and, directly attached to the said layer (L), a layer (E):
which is polar, nitrogenous or oxygenated, such as a layer of polyamide resin, of ethylene/saponified vinyl acetate (EVOH) copolymer or of polyester; or
of a mineral oxide deposited on a polymer such as PE, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or EVOH; or
which is metallic or metalloplastic.
According to one embodiment of the structure, it comprises a polyolefin-based layer (F) directly attached to the layer (L), the layer (L) thus being sandwiched between the said layer (F) and the layer (E).
The composition based on isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis (miPP) optionally comprises a polymer (A) denoting a polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer and/or a polymer (B) chosen from isotactic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer (B1), poly-1-butene homopolymer or copolymer (B2), polystyrene homopolymer or copolymer (B3), a blend of (B1) and (B2), a blend of (B2) and (B3), a blend of (B1) and (B3) and a blend of (B1), (B2) and (B3). This means that a blend is grafted which comprises either miPP without polymer (A) and without polymer (B), or miPP and polymer (A), or miPP and polymer (B), or alternatively miPP, polymer (A) and polymer (B). Advantageously, the proportion of polymers (A) and/or (B) represents less than 40% by weight of the combination of the miPP and the polymer (A) and/or the polymer (B).
The isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, abbreviated hereinbelow as miPP, and the systems for synthesizing it are known and described in the following references from the Applicant: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,214,949; 5,968,854; EP 856 525; U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,502; EP 849 286; EP 802 206; U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,092; EP 581 754.
The isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis (miPP) is, according to the above references, a polymer comprising from 0% to 10% by weight of a comonomer or a blend of comonomers chosen from ethylene, butene, isobutylene and 4-methylpentene.
As regards the polymer (A), it is chosen from polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers.
Comonomers that may be mentioned include:
xcex1-olefins, advantageously those containing from 3 to 30 carbon atoms. Examples of xcex1-olefins containing from 3 to 30 carbon atoms as possible comonomers comprise propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicocene, 1-dococene, 1-tetracocene, 1-hexacocene, 1-octacocene and 1-triacontene. These xcex1-olefins may be used alone or as a blend of two or more than two.
esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as, for example, alkyl (meth)acrylates, the alkyls possibly containing up to 24 carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl acrylates or methacrylates are especially methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.
vinyl esters of saturated carboxylic acids such as, for example, vinyl acetate or propionate.
unsaturated epoxides. Examples of unsaturated epoxides are, especially: aliphatic glycidyl esters and ethers such as allyl glycidyl ether, vinyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl maleate and itaconate, glycidyl acrylate and methacrylate, and alicyclic glycidyl esters and ethers such as 2-cyclo-hexene-1-glycidyl ether, cyclohexene-4,5-diglycidyl carboxylate, cyclohexene-4-glycidyl carboxylate, 5-norbornene-2-methyl-2-glycidyl carboxylate and endocis-bicyclo[2.2.1]-5-heptene-2,3-diglycidyl dicarboxylate.
unsaturated carboxylic acids, salts thereof and anhydrides thereof. Examples of anhydrides of unsaturated dicarboxylic acid are especially maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, citraconic anhydride and tetrahydrophthalic anhydride.
dienes such as, for example, 1,4-hexadiene.
The polymer (A) may comprise several comonomers.
Advantageously, the polymer (A), which may be a blend of several polymers, comprises at least 50 mol % and preferably 75 mol % of ethylene. The density of (A) may be between 0.86 and 0.98 g/cm3. The MFI (viscosity index at 190xc2x0 C., under 2.16 kg) is advantageously between 1 and 1000 g/10 min.
Examples of polymers (A) that may be mentioned include:
low density polyethylene (LDPE)
high density polyethylene (HDPE)
linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)
very low density polyethylene (VLDPE)
the polyethylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, i.e. the polymers obtained by copolymerization of ethylene and of xcex1-olefin such as propylene, butene, hexene or octene in the presence of a single-site catalyst generally consisting of one zirconium or titanium atom and of two cyclic alkyl molecules linked to the metal. More specifically, metallocene catalysts are usually composed of two cyclopentadiene rings linked to the metal. These catalysts are frequently used with aluminoxanes as co-catalysts or activators, preferably methylaluminoxane (MAO). Hafnium may also be used as the metal to which the cyclopentadiene is attached. Other metallocenes may include transition metals from Groups IV A, V A and VI A. Metals of the lanthanide series may also be used.
EPR (ethylene-propylene-rubber) elastomers;
EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene) elastomers;
blends of polyethylene with an EPR or an EPDM;
ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers possibly containing up to 60% by weight of alkyl (meth)acrylate and preferably from 2% to 40%;
ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate/maleic anhydride copolymers obtained by copolymerization of the three monomers, the proportions of alkyl (meth)acrylate being those of the above copolymers, the amount of maleic anhydride being from 0% to 10% and preferably from 0.2% to 6% by weight.
ethylene/vinyl acetate/maleic anhydride copolymers obtained by copolymerization of the three monomers, the proportions of vinyl acetate being the same as those of the alkyl (meth)acrylate in the above copolymers and the proportions of MAH being the same as those of the above copolymers.
As regards the polymer (B1), this is an isotactic polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer obtained by Ziegler-Natta catalysis (zniPP). Comonomers that may be mentioned include:
xcex1-olefins, advantageously those containing from 3 to 30 carbon atoms. Examples of such xcex1-olefins are the same as for (A) except for the replacement of propylene with ethylene in the list,
dienes.
The polymer (B1) may also be a copolymer containing polypropylene blocks.
Examples of polymers (B1) that may be mentioned include:
polypropylene
blends of polypropylene and of EPDM or EPR.
Advantageously, the polymer (B1) which may be a blend of several polymers, comprises at least 50 mol % and preferably 75 mol % of propylene.
As regards the polymer (B2), it is chosen from poly(1-butene) and copolymers of 1-butene with ethylene and another xcex1-olefin containing from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, except for the propylene (B1) already mentioned.
As regards the polymer (B3), it is chosen from polystyrene and styrene copolymers. Among the copolymers, examples that may be mentioned are dienes containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
As regards the functionalised monomer, it is unsaturated and non-aromatic. Examples that may be mentioned include alkoxysilanes, carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, acid chlorides, isocyanates, oxazolines, epoxides, amines and hydroxides.
Among the alkoxysilanes bearing an unsaturation, mention may be made of:
vinyltrialkoxysilanes CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94Si (OR)3;
allyltrialkoxysilanes CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Si (OR)3;
(meth)acryloxyalkyltrialkoxysilanes (or (meth)acrylsilanes)
CH2xe2x95x90CR1xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Yxe2x80x94Si(OR)3 in which: R is an alkyl containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an alkoxy xe2x80x94R2OR3 in which R2 and R3 are alkyls containing not more than 5 carbon atoms for the combination R2 and R3; R1 is a hydrogen or a methyl; Y is an alkylene containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
Vinylsilanes such as trimethoxyvinylsilane, triethyloxyvinylsilane, tripropoxyvinylsilane, tributoxyvinylsilane, tripentoxyvinylsilane or tris(xcex2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane, allylsilanes such as trimethoxyallylsilane, triethoxyallylsilane, tripropoxyallylsilane, tributoxyallylsilane or tripentoxyallylsilane, acrylsilanes such as acryloxymethyltrimethoxysilane, methacryloxymethyl-methoxysilane, acryloxyethyltrimethoxysilane, methacryloxymethylmethoxysilane, acryloxyethyltrimethoxysilane, methacryloxyethyl-trimethoxysilane, acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, acryloxybutyl-trimethoxysilane, methacryloxybutylmethoxysilane, acryloxyethyltriethoxysilane, methacryloxyethyl-triethoxysilane, methacryloxyethyltripropoxysilane, acryloxypropyltributoxysilane or methacryloxypropyl-tripentoxysilane are used, for example.
It is also possible to use blends of these products. The following are preferably used:
vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMO) CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(OCH3)3;
vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEO) CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(OCH2CH3)3;
vinyltrimethoxyethoxysilane (VTMOEO) CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(OCH2OCH2CH3)3; and
(3-(methacryloxy)propyl)trimethoxysilane CH2xe2x95x90C(CH3)xe2x80x94C(O)Oxe2x80x94(CH2)3xe2x80x94Si(OCH3)3.
Examples of unsaturated carboxylic acids are those containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and itaconic acid. The functional derivatives of these acids comprise, for example, anhydrides, ester derivatives, amide derivatives, imide derivatives and metal salts (such as alkali metal salts) of unsaturated carboxylic acids.
Unsaturated dicarboxylic acids containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms and functional derivatives thereof, particularly anhydrides thereof, are grafting monomers that are particularly preferred.
These grafting monomers comprise, for example, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, allylsuccinic acid, cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, 4-methylcyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, x-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, allylsuccinic anhydride, cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, 4-methylenecyclohex-4-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride and x-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2-dicarboxylic anhydride.
Examples of other grafting monomers comprise C1-C8 alkyl esters or glycidyl ester derivatives of unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, monoethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, monomethyl fumarate, dimethyl fumarate, monomethyl itaconate and diethyl itaconate; amide derivatives of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, maleic monoamide, maleic diamide, maleic N-monoethylamide, maleic N,N-diethylamide, maleic N-monobutylamide, maleic N,N-dibutylamide, fumaric monoamide, fumaric diamide, fumaric N-monoethylamide, fumaric N,N-diethylamide, fumaric N-monobutylamide and fumaric N,N-dibutylamide; imide derivatives of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as maleimide, N-butylmaleimide and N-phenylmaleimide; and metal salts of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as sodium acrylate, sodium methacrylate, potassium acrylate and potassium methacrylate.
Various known processes may be used to graft the miPP composition optionally comprising (A) and/or (B) with a grafting monomer.
For example, the grafting may be performed by heating this composition to a high temperature, about 150xc2x0 C. to about 300xc2x0 C., in the presence or absence of a solvent with or without free-radical initiator.
Suitable solvents that may be used in this reaction are benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene and cumene, inter alia.
Suitable free-radical initiators that may be used comprise t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide-, di-t-butyl peroxide, t-butylcumyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 1,3-bis(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, acetyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, isobutyryl peroxide, bis(3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl) peroxide and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide.
The miPP and optionally (A) and/or (B) may be dry-premixed or melt-premixed and then melt-grafted or solution-grafted in a solvent. They may also be added separately in a device for placing in contact and blending (for example an extruder) with the grafting monomer and the free-radical initiator. The usual devices of the thermoplastics industry for mixing and blending may be used.
The amount of grafting monomer may be chosen in a suitable manner, but it is preferably from 0.01% to 10% and preferentially from 0.1% to 5% relative to the weight of the grafted composition of miPP optionally comprising the polymer (A) and/or the polymer (B). The amount of grafted monomer is determined by assaying the succinic functions by FTIR spectroscopy.
The invention also relates to a composition comprising miPP grafted and then optionally diluted in at least one polyolefin (C1) and/or in at least one polymer of elastomeric nature (D).
The polyolefin (C1) may be chosen from the polymers (A), (B) and miPP.
The polymer (D) is a polymer of elastomeric nature, that is to say that it may be:
(i) an elastomer within the meaning of ASTM D412, meaning that it may be stretched at ambient temperature to twice its width, maintained in this state for 5 minutes and then returned to within 10% of its initial length when it is released; or
(ii) a polymer not having exactly the above characteristics, but which may be stretched and returned substantially to its initial length.
Advantageously, the MFI of (D) is between 0.1 and 50 g/10 min.
Examples of polymers (D) that may be mentioned include:
EPR (ethylene-propylene-rubber) and EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene);
polyethylenes obtained by metallocene catalysis, with a density of less than 0.910 g/cm3;
polyethylenes of VLDPE type (very low density PE);
styrene elastomers such as SBR (styrene-butadiene-rubber), styrene/butadiene/styrene (SBS) block copolymers, styrene/ethylene/butene/styrene (SEBS) block copolymers and styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS) block copolymers;
copolymers of ethylene and of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid ester (already defined above for (A));
copolymers of ethylene and of at least one vinyl ester of a saturated carboxylic acid (already defined above for (A)).
The amount of (C1) and/or (D) is advantageously from 20 to 1000 and preferably 60 to 500 parts (by weight) per 10 parts of grafted miPP. Advantageously, (C1) and (D) are used. The preferred proportions are such that (D)/(C1) is between 0 and 1 and more particularly between 0 and 0.5.
The composition according to the invention may be manufactured by the usual means of thermoplastics by melt-blending the various constituents in BUSS twin-screw extruders, blenders or roll mills.
This composition may comprise various additives such as antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, antistatic agents, pigments, colorants, nucleating agents, fillers, glidants, lubricants, flame retardants and anti-blocking agents.
As regards the multilayer structure according to the invention, it comprises a layer (L) comprising the composition according to the invention and, directly attached thereto, a layer (E) that may be a layer (i) of oxygenated or nitrogenous polar resin, (ii) of a mineral oxide deposited on a polymer such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (-PET) or ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer or (iii) a metallic or metalloplastic layer.
Examples of polar resins that are preferred in the layer (E) are polyamide resins, an ethylene/saponified vinyl acetate or EVOH copolymer, and polyesters.
More specifically, these polar resins comprise long-chain synthetic polyamides containing amide-group structural units in the main chain, such as PA-6, PA-6,6, PA-6,10, PA-11 and PA-12; an ethylene/saponified vinyl acetate copolymer with a degree of saponification of about 90 to 100 mol %, obtained by saponifying an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer with an ethylene content from about 15 mol % to about 60 mol %; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthenate and blends of these polar resins.
The mineral oxide layer may be, for example, silica, deposited on a layer of PE, PET or EVOH. In this case, the structure according to the invention thus comprises, successively: a binder layer comprising the composition according to the invention attached to a layer of SiO2 (or SiOx), which is itself deposited on a layer of PE, PET or EVOH.
The metallic layer may be, for example, a film or a sheet of a metal such as aluminium, iron, copper, tin or nickel, or an alloy containing at least one of these metals as major constituent. The thickness of the film or sheet is, for example, from about 0.01 to about 0.2 mm. It is common practice to degrease the surface of the metallic layer before coating it with the binder comprising the composition according to the invention. This layer (E) may also be a metalloplastic layer such as, for example, an aluminium-coated PET sheet.
It would not constitute a departure from the context of the invention if the above structure was combined with other layers.
The invention also relates to the structure described above combined, on the side remaining free of the binder layer (L), with a polyolefin-based layer (F), the binder layer thus allowing the layers (E) and (F) to adhere together. The structure defined herein is of the form layer (F)/layer (L)/layer (E). The polyolefin of the layer (F) may be chosen from the polymers (A) and (B) described above.
These structures are useful for making wrappings, for example rigid hollow bodies such as flasks, bottles, flexible bags or multilayer films.
The structures according to the invention are, for example, of the form below with the binder comprising the composition according to the invention:
layer (F)/layer (L)/layer (E)/layer (L)/layer (F): PE/binder/EVOH/binder/PE or PP/binder/EVOH/binder/PP
layer (F)/layer (L)/layer (E): PE/binder/EVOH or PE/binder/PA or PP/binder/PA.
These structures and these wrappings may be manufactured by coextrusion, lamination, extrusion blow-moulding and coating.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
In the foregoing and in the following examples, all temperatures are set forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius and, all parts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise indicated.

Grafted isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis

Abstract: The invention also relates to a composition which may form part of the composition of a coextrusion binder. This composition according to the invention comprises isotactic polypropylene obtained by metallocene catalysis, grafted and then optionally diluted with at least one polyolefin (C1) and/or in at least one polymer of elastomeric nature (D).

Abstract: The invention also relates to a multilayer structure comprising a layer (L) comprising the above binder, and, directly attached thereto, a layer (E):

Abstract: which is polar, nitrogenous or oxygenated, such as a layer of polyamide resin, of ethylene/saponified vinyl acetate copolymer (EVOH) or of polyester; or

Abstract: of a mineral oxide deposited on a polymer such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or EVOH; or

Abstract: which is metallic or metalloplastic.


An analysis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry performs registration between first ultrasound image data obtained at a first phase by an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and first medical image data obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus other than the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and performs registration between the first ultrasound image data and second ultrasound image data obtained at a second phase different from the first phase by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, to generate second medical image data registered with the second ultrasound image data; and combines the second ultrasound image data and the second medical image data to generate a single image, thereby performing registration between ultrasound image data by the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and medical image data by the medical image diagnostic apparatus.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus scan can observe the motion and function of tissues in real time and dynamically and can track lesions and display stereoscopic changes without being limited by their imaging stratification. Moreover, ultrasound devices have the advantages that they are easy to move, cause less damage to patients, and are low cost. However, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is sometimes less advantageous to other medical image diagnostic apparatuses in terms of resolution and sharpness and the like.
On the other hand, an example of a medical image diagnostic apparatus other than the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus). Using an MRI, it is possible to realistically display the anatomical structures and clearly display both diseased tissues and normal tissues and to obtain high contrast resolution of soft tissues. However, medical image diagnostic apparatus such as a CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus and an MRI apparatus is expensive, complicated in imaging, and have a long scan period, making it difficult for physicians to observe organs or biological tissues of the examined subject in real time.
In this regard, by registering an ultrasound image and an image obtained from other medical image diagnostic apparatus, such as a CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus and the like, it becomes possible to generate a combined image making full use of each of the images.

Analysis apparatus, ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and analysis method


A method for analysing cigarette smoking, which includes equipping a smoker with a portable assembly including a cigarette holder equipped with a detector to detect smoking-related parameters and a processor connected to the detectors. The processing module includes memory with date/time recording of the detected parameters and transfer devices for transferring data related to these parameters. A smoking test is performed during which the smoker equipped with the assembly smokes cigarettes with the cigarette holder over a period of time. Real-time detection is performed by the detectors and the results are stored so as to obtain a smoking profile specific to the smoker over the time period. The above data is then transferred to a processing center including a smoking machine, and the smoking machine is controlled using the transferred data so as to obtain the mechanical reproduction (duplication) of smoking in accordance with the smoking profile.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns a method and device for analysing cigarette smoking.
2. Description of the prior art
As a general rule, it is known that, for cigarette comparison, smoking machines have been developed which operate under standardized smoking conditions (puffs of bell-shaped profile having a volume of 35 ml and lasting 2 seconds with a pause of 60 seconds between each puff).
With the advent of low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes, cigarette manufacturers have sought to investigate the behaviour of smokers in relation to the product they smoke.
Apparatus has therefore been produced with which it is possible to store in memory the manner in which smoker smoke their cigarettes. Cigarette holders have consequently been developed equipped with means for measuring puff rate and draw and with sensors detecting the contact of the cigarette holder with the smoker's lips.
Up until now, cigarettes holders were permanently connected to an electronic processing module of a fixed laboratory installation designed to determine and process a certain number of parameters, such as:                puff volume,        puff duration,        inter-puff interval,        average puff rate,        number of puffs/cigarette,        total exhaled volume,        average volume/puff,        total puff duration,        mean duration/puff,        total inter-puff interval,        mean inter-puff interval.
The disadvantage of solutions of this type is that smokers who take part in tests using this kind of installation are not in their usual environment, and are not able to go about their usual occupations. Therefore, at the time of these tests, their behaviour is different from their usual behaviour.
This disadvantage is reproduced when the parameters determined by the processing module are used to establish a smoking profile using instantaneous puff rate and draw values for example, with a view to reproducing this smoking on a smoking machine piloted by the electronic module (for example a single port smoking machine piloted by a stepping motor). This machine then substitutes for the smoker to reproduce mechanically the smoking of one or more cigarettes in accordance with the previously recorded smoking profile, to analyse yields under such conditions.
In addition, in either case this solution has the disadvantage of compelling the smokers to travel in order to come and smoke in a laboratory. Also, on account of the relatively high cost of this equipment, laboratories generally only have one such item of equipment.

Method and device for analyzing cigarette smoking

Societe Nationale d'Exploitation Industrielle des, Tabecs et Allumettes


A synchronous separation circuit used in a television video circuit for generating a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal from a composite synchronizing signal has: a unit for generating a clock signal used as a reference signal and having a frequency higher than the frequency of the horizontal synchronizing signal; a unit for counting the clock signal from a front edge of a pulse contained in the composite synchronizing signal; a unit for obtaining a horizontal synchronous separation and for determining a counting term and outputting the horizontal synchronizing signal after the counting unit counts from the front edge of the horizontal synchronizing signal to a predetermined number; and a unit for obtaining a vertical synchronous separation and for latching the composite synchronizing signal based on an output of the counting unit, separate the vertical synchronizing signal from the composite synchronizing signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of a synchronous separation circuit used in a television video circuit, more particularly, it relates to a synchronous separation circuit enabling the separation of a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal from a composite synchronizing signal, based on a digital signal processing technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a raster scanning method is widely employed in the television video circuit, and in this method, an image is separated by a plurality of scanning lines and each of the scanning lines is processed in a time-series. As is well known, there are two types of raster scanning methods; a non-interlace scanning type and an interlace scanning type, and in both types, the synchronizing signal must be used for scanning the image as a reference signal. Note, a horizontal synchronizing signal is used as the scanning reference signal for the horizontal direction and a vertical synchronizing signal is used as the scanning reference signal for the vertical direction.
The synchronous separation circuit is usually located after a video amplification stage in the television video circuit, and is used for separating the composite synchronizing signal from a composite video signal, and for further separating the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal from the composite synchronizing signal.
The horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are input to a deflection circuit having horizontal deflection and vertical deflection circuits, and the output of the deflection circuit is sent to horizontal and vertical deflection coils.
Conventionally, a differentiating circuit is provided for obtaining the horizontal synchronizing signal and an integrating circuit is provided for obtaining the vertical synchronizing signal from the composite synchronizing signal. These differentiating and integrating circuits are usually constituted by resistors and capacitors, and the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals are obtained from the composite synchronizing signal through the resistors and capacitors based on an analogue signal processing technique. Namely, the differentiating circuit is a high-pass filter and the integrating circuit is a low-pass filter.
Problems occur, however, in the analogue signal processing techniques used in these circuits, as explained in detail hereinafter.


A printed circuit or printed wire board has a resistor network thereon, wired through conductors that are arranged so that individual circuit paths for different resistor combinations pass onto one of a plurality of peripheral tabs on the printed circuit board. The tabs are joined to the main portion of the circuit board through a frangible connection which permits breaking off the tabs. The main circuit into which the board is to be connected is tested to determine the needed circuit characteristics, and all but one of the tabs on the board are removed to provide the required circuit connections for matching the printed wire board circuit to the main circuit. The breakaway tabs permit selecting a particular circuit impedance so that the board is matched to the main circuit in which it is connected. The board is primarily used for compensation of a communications network where the loop loss of a telephone system is set to the right value.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a compensation circuit used for providing a selected output impedance and which is mounted on a board having breakaway tabs so that selected tabs can be removed for quickly and accurately selecting circuit connections for adjusting an output value of the impedance.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
In the prior art, after testing communication loops for obtaining the proper loop loss, compensating for such loss has required making individual connections to the selected impedance. Manual connections are needed to obtain the correct output compensation impedance from a circuit board containing a variable impedance, such a multi-tap resistor.

Printed circuit board switching system for resistor network


A packaged semiconductor device includes a package substrate, a semiconductor die on the package substrate, an encapsulant over the semiconductor die and package substrate, and a heat spreader having a pedestal portion and an outer portion surrounding the pedestal portion. The encapsulant includes an opening within a perimeter of the semiconductor die. The bottom surface of the pedestal portion of the heat spreader faces the top surface of the semiconductor die, wherein a first portion of the opening and at least a portion of the encapsulant is between the bottom surface of the pedestal portion and the semiconductor die.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor device packaging, and more specifically, to a semiconductor device assembly having a heat spreader.
2. Related Art
Heat is generated by an integrated circuit (IC) die during operation. If inadequately removed, the heat generated by the die may cause the device to fail or to perform erratically. As such, heat spreaders are often incorporated into semiconductor packages to improve the thermal performance of the IC.

Semiconductor device assembly having a heat spreader


This invention relates to a device for peritoneal dialysis with a means for the regular discharge and reuptake of dialysate, which comprises a conduit with a catheter, wherein a measurement bag is present, in which dialysate can be introduced, wherein first means are provided, with which the static pressure in the conduit between catheter and measurement bag can be determined, and second means are provided, by means of which the dialysate volume flow can be introduced into the measurement bag for a certain period. In accordance with the invention, third means are present, by means of which the volume of the dialysate introduced into the measurement bag can be determined, and furthermore fourth means are present, by which the catheter resistance substantially can be calculated from the values determined by the first to third means.

Peritoneal dialysis is a variant of artificial hemodialysis, where the abdominal membrane (peritoneum) of the patient, which is well supplied with blood, is used as an endogenous filter membrane. Via a catheter, dialysate is introduced into the abdominal cavity. According to the principle of osmosis, urinary constituents are removed from the blood and enter the abdominal cavity. After a few hours, the dialysate with the urinary constituents is discharged from the abdominal cavity.
In principle, different possibilities exist for performing the peritoneal dialysis. In continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the patients themselves replace the dialysate about four to five times a day. In automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), a device, the so-called cycler, performs the automatic bag replacement during the night, so that the patient still is independent during the day.
In automated peritoneal dialysis in which the abdominal cavity is filled by means of the aforementioned cycler, a volume control usually is performed to ensure that no more than a maximum filling volume is administered to the patient. In an average adult, this maximum filling volume for instance is 3500 ml. Usually, standardized values are used for the filling volume, as the effort for an experimental determination of the patient-specific filling volume should be avoided.
In peritoneal dialysis, an access to the abdominal cavity of the patient is provided. Typically, this access is provided by the so-called patient catheter, through which the exchange of fluid is effected. One end of this catheter opens into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and on the other side—outside the patient—a patient connector is provided, which offers a possibility for coupling to a tube system. In the course of time, the catheter can be clogged by deposits, so that its function can be restricted.
To ensure an unrestricted function, the catheter resistance presently is performed manually by the attending physician. A characteristic for the catheter resistance is calculated from the time required for the discharge of a certain volume flow of fluid.


A fork extension and retraction system for use with stockpickers automatically extends and retracts hydraulically extendable forks of a stockpicker when the load handler carrying the forks has moved to its extended position on the load side of the vehicle, and it also automatically retracts the forks if they have drifted from a home position before performing other fork related activities. Switches in the fork carriage assembly sense when the extendable forks are in the home position and near the home position. Other switches sense when the load handler assembly has reached its extreme positions on either side of the operator's platform. Still other switches are used to slow the traverse movement of the load handler assembly as it approaches its extreme positions, thus to cushion the shock of the load handler stopping. A control circuit senses the condition of these switches and controls the operation of both the load handle and the fork extension hydraulic system.

This invention relates to fork lift trucks and particularly to an improved apparatus for automatically extending the forks of a turret stockpicker.
A typical turret stockpicker includes a power unit for propelling the vehicle down a aisle and for providing the power necessary to operate auxiliary functions such as the raising, lowering and extending of the forks. A mast on the power unit supports an operator's platform which may be raised and lowered along with the forks. The operator's platform usually includes various handles to control such as steering, braking, and movement of the forks. A load handler assembly is carried by the operator's platform and is movable transversely across the face of the platform between a home position, where any load carried by the forks is centered, and an extended limit position on the load side of the vehicle where the forks extend beyond the sides of the vehicle. A fork carriage assembly is mounted on and is vertically moveable relative to the load handler. The fork carriage assembly may be pivoted on the load handler assembly so that the forks may be pointed either to the right or to the left relative to the vehicle.
This arrangement permits the operator to place the forks at a convenient height where articles picked from shelves on the aisle may be placed. On the other hand, the operator may wish to move a box or pallet onto the fork, and in this case, the load handler assembly is moved across the face of the operator's platform toward the load, and when it reaches its extended position, the forks themselves are extended and placed under the load, the forks raised to pick up the load, and the forks are then returned to their home position and the load handler assembly is itself is moved back to its home position, thereby to center the load relative to the vehicle.
In prior art stockpickers, the operator must first move the load handler assembly from its home position to the load side of the vehicle with one control handle and then, in a separate action, extend the forks using a separate control device. Further, stockpickers typically do not include mechanical means for holding the forks in the home position so that they might drift out of the home position as the vehicle is moving down the aisle, and any movement of the fork carriage assemble with the forks out of the home position could inadvertently cause damage.

Extend and retract control for fork lifts


A method is provided for the production of 2,2-diorgano-1-indanones, e.g., 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone, by reacting an alcohol which is the corresponding (diorganosubstitutedmethyl)phenyl(or substitutedphenyl)carbinol, e.g., 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanol, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst, e.g., hydrogen fluoride, with any substituents on the phenyl group of the alcohol being hydroxy or organo. The foregoing reaction is preferably integrated with the preparation of the feed alcohol by reducing the corresponding (diorganosubstitutedmethyl)phenyl(or substitutedphenyl)ketone, e.g., isobutyrophenone, with a reducing agent containing available hydrogen, e.g., sodium borohydride, or with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new method for the production of certain 2,2-diorgano-1-indanones. Various indanones of this class such as 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone and 2,2-diethyl-1-indanone are valuable intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals. For example, 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone is used in the synthesis of the antiallergic agent 4-(6'-chloro-2',2'-dimethylinden-1'-ylidene)-1-methylpiperidine, the anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic 2,2-dimethylindane-5-acetic acid, and other bioactive compounds such as coumarins.
2. Description of Related Art
The following information is disclosed in accordance with the terms of 37 CFR 1.56, 1.97 and 1.98.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,131, issued Aug. 28, 1979 to Payne, discloses the preparation of 2,2-dialkyl-1-indanones by the cyclization of the corresponding 2,2-dialkyl-3-phenyl (or substituted phenyl) propionic acid in the presence of a mineral acid, or alternatively, the cyclization of an acid chloride of such acid with a Friedel-Crafts catalyst, e.g. aluminum chloride. Specifically disclosed is the preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone by the cyclization of .alpha.,.alpha.-dimethyldihydrocinnamic acid using polyphosphoric acid as catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,895 issued May 28, 1968 to Bruson et al. discloses the preparation of .beta.-disubstituted-.alpha.-indanones such as 2,2-dimethylindanone by reacting any of certain halogenated aliphatic ethers with carbon monoxide and an aromatic compound, e.g., benzene, in the presence of aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide. A similar process is disclosed by these patentees in Bruson et al., J. Org. Chem., 32, 3356-3362 (1967), wherein a halogenated hydrocarbon such as neophyl chloride or 2-chloro-2-methyl-3-phenylpropane is reacted with benzene and carbon monoxide in the presence of aluminum chloride to yield a .beta.-disubstituted-.alpha.-indanone such as 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone.
Japanese Patent No. 74/10949 granted Mar. 13, 1974 to Kobayashi et al. (C. A. 82:125165g), describes the reaction of a 1,2-epoxide such as isobutylene oxide, carbon monoxide, and benzene in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst such as aluminum chloride to yield an indanone such as 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone.
Warrick et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 84, 4095-4100 (1962) discloses the cyclization of 2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with anhydrous HF to produce 2,2-dimethyl-1-indanone.
Japanese Kokai Patent No. SHO 55 [1980]-27147, published Feb. 27, 1980, discloses the formation of aryl-substituted carboxylic acids, e.g., ibuprofen, by reacting an aryl-substituted alcohol, e.g., 1-(4'-isobutylphenyl)ethanol (IBPE), with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride catalyst. Also disclosed generally is the synthesis of aryl-substituted alcohols by reducing the corresponding ketones.
Czech Patent No. CS 219,752 of Sept. 15, 1985, (C. A. 104:109233v), discloses a process of making ibuprofen from isobutylbenzene including the step of reducing 4-isobutylacetophenone (IBAP) to IBPE using lithium aluminum hydride as reductant.
D. Nightingale et al., J. Org. Chem., 14, 1089-1093 (1949), teach at page 1090 the hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones, including n-butyrophenone, 4-methyl-n-butyrophenone, and 2,4-dimethyl-n-butyrophenone, to produce the corresponding carbinol.

Method for producing 1-indanone derivatives


Techniques are presented in which a new information element signaling priority of a management entity is included in a setup (e.g., S1-Setup) response or configuration update message sent by a management entity to a base station entity. The base station entity interprets this priority information along with the relative capacity information in an appropriate way to load-distribute the traffic/calls to highly preferable management entity instances (at a local site) when they are available, and switchover/failover to lower preference management entity instances (at a remote site) when there is a local site outage/failure or insufficient capacity in a geo-resilient pooled network.

In a wireless mobile core network, an S1-Flex mechanism is used to provide for network redundancy and load sharing of traffic across network elements in the core network. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) and the Serving Gateway (SGW) create a pool of MMEs and SGWs, allowing each base station (also called eNodeB—eNB) to be connected to multiple MMEs and SGWs in a pool. The S1-Flex architecture ensures functionality and flexibility with no single point of failure.

Optimizing management entity selection resiliency for geo-redundancy and load balancing in mobile core network


In an image forming apparatus including a digital image processing device, an overlay memory stores predetermined image data. The image data stored in the overlay memory is read at a predetermined timing in a predetermined cycle and composite data is made from the image data and image data outputted from a line memory. Since the image data stored in the overlay memory is read at the predetermined timing in the predetermined cycle, various kinds of overlaid image which may include a space-magnified image can be made by arbitrarily selecting the timing and cycle for reading.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a digital image processing device and, more particularly, to a digital copying machine, a laser printer, a digital facsimile, a copying machine having an analog device and digital device in combination, etc.
Conventionally, some digital copying machines are capable of overlay-copying. For example, in a well-known overlay function, a part of a first original is read so as to have a memory, such as a RAM, store it, and the stored data is read from the memory as image data in copying a second original, so that the second original can be copied with the image data overlaid.
In some apparatus, specific image data, for example, specific word data such as "SECRET" is stored in a memory in advance, so that an original can be copied with the image data overlaid through an overlay function.
In using an overlay function in a conventional digital copying machine and the like, it is not possible for image data of a first original, which is read from a memory, to be magnified so that the image data is overlaid on a second original and it is also not possible for the image data of the first original to be space-magnified so that it is overlaid on the second original. Herein, "space-magnifying" means resolving image data not successively into units of predetermined, dots and magnifying the image data by spacing the dot units outward with respect to one another.


An apparatus for supporting a person at a preselected height on a stanchion has a floor member and a frame member that attaches to the floor member. A seat hingingly attaches and selectively locks to the floor member. A support member, having a piercing member, attaches to the floor member. A sound reducing means is located in the support member. An attachment device connects to the floor member. An adjustable tightening means adjustably attaches to the attachment device at one end and attaches the frame member at the other end to adjustably tighten the attachment device. A gripping means attaches to the frame member to reduce sliding of the apparatus down the tree.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable tree stand to enable hunters and other observers, such as photographers, to place themselves in a position to observe animals before the game scents or sees them.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hunters and wildlife photographers have used various devices to unobtrusively observe wildlife. Platform stands located in trees serve this purpose fairly well. Over the years, several stands have been developed. These stands have varied in construction. A sought-after feature is ease of placement at the desired location and portability. Previous patents have tried to approach these goals in various manners.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,217 to J. J. Manes on Mar. 30, 1989 for a Tree Stand with Improved Locking Means describes a two-part stand having, for one part, a sliding bar to facilitate use of the stand on different size trees and, for a second part, a climbing aid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,942 to R. E. Bradley on Jul. 24, 1990 for a Wedging Tree Stand shows a tree engaging, spring-loaded, v-shaped bar having a position biased pin lock that allows the stand to be pushed away from the tree for removal or adjustment when the pin is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,063 to R. E. Bradley on Mar. 05, 1991 for a Collapsible and Adjustable Tree Stand describes a two-part stand. The upper part is for the user to sit upon and the lower part is for placement of the feet. Each part has a threadingly adjustable device to raise or lower the seat or floor of the upper and lower part, respectively. Both parts adjust to the girth of the tree by selectively placing bolts in one of several bolt holes.
The present invention more easily adjusts to accommodate different girth trees, reduces the chance of the stand slipping from the selected position and transports much easier than the related art thus reducing apprehension and wear and tear on the user.


Provided is a quality inspection apparatus including: gripper units provided to each delivery chain, each gripper unit configured to hold an end portion of a sheet; an arc-shaped track portion provided in a part of a movement track of the gripper units and formed by the movement track; an inspection unit installed at an opposite side of the arc-shaped track portion from an arc center of the arc-shaped track portion; and a vacuum cylinder installed at the same side of the arc-shaped track portion as the arc center. In the apparatus, while running along the arc-shaped track portion, the sheet is inspected by the inspection unit under a guidance of the vacuum cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a quality inspection apparatus for a sheet-shaped matter such as a sheet printed by an intaglio printing press.
2. Description of the Related Art
As for an intaglio printing press used to print bank notes, securities, and the like, it is a generally known practice that an inspection unit or the like provided upstream of a delivery point inspects the quality of printed matters printed by a printing apparatus (printing unit) immediately before the printed matters are delivered to a delivery apparatus (delivery unit).
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a sheet-fed rotary printing press including: gripper beams which are guided by chains, and which support grippers; and a gripper beam track which is arranged to be doubled in an upper-lower direction and which allows the gripper beams to make round trips therein. In this sheet-fed rotary printing press, a suction box having a flat suction surface facing the upper-side movement track is installed above the upper-side movement track of the grippers, whereas an optical/electronic camera system for printing quality control is installed right below the suction box and under the lower-side movement track of the grippers.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses a sheet conveyance apparatus including: a vacuum-type sheet guiding element; at least one gripper system which grips the front edge of a sheet; and an inspection system which includes an optical scan system and the like. The sheet guiding element has a sheet guiding surface. The sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element extends approaching a conveyance plane surface of the gripper system in a conveyance direction. The sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element is curved into an arc with a radius Ra in the conveyance direction. A travelling path in the conveyance direction of the front edge of the sheet clamped by the gripper system is curved into an arc with a radius Rg. The two arcs cross each other at one point. The inspection system is installed to face the sheet guiding surface.

Quality inspection apparatus for sheet-shaped matter


An electronic device for providing health information or assistance includes an input configured to receive at least one type of signal selected from sound signals, verbal signals, non-verbal signals, and combinations thereof, a communication module configured to send information related to the at least one user and his/her environment to a remote device, including the sound signals, non-verbal signals, and verbal signals, the remote device being configured to analyze a condition of the at least one user and communicate condition signals to the electronic device, a processing module configured to receive the condition signals and to cause the electronic device to engage in a passive monitoring mode or an active engagement and monitoring mode, the active engagement and monitoring mode including, but not limited to, verbal communication with the at least one user, and an output configured to engage the at least one user in verbal communication.

The present disclosure relates, generally, to systems and methods for providing a virtual health assistant. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to improved systems and methods for providing a virtual health assistant that can adaptively monitor a person, for example, a patient being monitored for medical reasons.
One exemplary target population who may benefit from the disclosed system and methods is the elderly population (i.e., individuals aged 65 and over). The population aged 65 and over is the fastest growing in the US. It is expected to enlarge from 50 million in 2016 to 56 million by 2020 and 73 million by 2030. More than a million new caregivers are required to support this population in the next eight years. Although home-based primary elderly care has shown promise as a cost saving measure in pilot programs, caregivers need technological solutions that would enable them to prioritize visits in order to enhance efficiency and free up bandwidth to do more.

Virtual health assistant for promotion of well-being and independent living


A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a superconducting magnet assembly with a superconducting field coil for generating a stationary uniform main magnetic field. A gradient system includes a gradient coil for generating gradient magnetic fields and a gradient amplifier which is connectable to the gradient coil for driving the gradient coil. A switch assembly is adapted for galvanically coupling the superconducting field coil to the gradient amplifier. In this way, it is possible for energizing and discharging a superconducting magnet of an MRI system in an easy and cost-efficient way.

Superconducting magnets of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems need to be energized and discharged, respectively. Typically, the superconducting coil of the superconducting magnet of a typical MRI system is a closed loop and gets energized or discharged, respectively, by a magnet persistent mode switch (MPCS) which is made of the same material as the superconducting field coil. The MPCS is part of the same closed loop with the superconducting field coil. The MPCS becomes normal when it is warmed up above the critical temperature. When the temperature of the MPCS is under the critical temperature the magnet can run in persistent mode. When the temperature of the MPCS is above the critical temperature the wire is normal and has a reasonably high resistance. Because the superconducting coil has a huge self-inductance the current will decrease according to an exponential curve with a long time. The energize and discharge procedures cause dissipation in the magnet. Typically, a ramp voltage of 5 V and high currents of 480 A are used. For energizing the superconducting magnet this power needs to be delivered by a magnet power supply, and for discharging the superconducting magnet typically a set of diodes is used to create the discharge voltage. This power supply and discharge diodes might be delivered with the MRI system or might be provided as a service tool which, in both cases, means that the tools for the energize and discharge procedures means additional effort and costs.

Energizing and discharging a superconducting magnet of an MRI system


The functionalities of one or more of a mobility management entity (MME), serving gateway (SGW), and packet data network gateway (PGW) can be provided in a single device on the network. In the access gateway different functional elements are implemented as services and they can be configured on the same device. For example, the SGW and PGW can be configured on the same device. When user equipment UE connects from a home network, it is possible for the MME to choose the same SGW and PGW. This combined SGW and PGW can implement a single session for the UE, thereby capable of providing a savings in resources, allowing additional capacity, and allowing reduced latency and increased throughput because fewer hops are made on the network. This session acts as a SGW on the ingress side and a PGW on the egress side of the access gateway.

Wireless networks are networks that can use both wires and radio waves to carry information from one node in the network to one or more receiving nodes in the network. Cellular telephony is characterized by the use of radio cells that provide radio coverage for a set geographic area, with multiple cells arranged to provide contiguous radio coverage.
The first generation (1G) of wireless telephone technology were analog mobile phones. As technology progressed, a second generation (2G) of wireless service was introduced. The main difference between 1G systems and 2G systems was that radio signals being modulated in 2G were digital. Second generation technologies were primarily based into time division multiplexed access (TDMA) and code division multiplexed access (CDMA). Networks that were upgraded to handle higher-speed data transfer are referred to as 2.5G and 3G networks. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) respectively developed GSM/UMTS and cdmaOne/CDMA2000 technologies. The next evolution is 4G technology, which is based on long term evolution-system architecture evolution (LTE-SAE).
Wireless communication systems and networks are used in connection with many applications, including, for example, satellite communications systems, portable digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, and mobile nodes (e.g., cellular telephones). One significant benefit that users of such applications obtain is the ability to connect to a network (e.g., the Internet) as long as the user is within range of such a wireless communication system.
Current wireless communication systems use either, or a combination of, circuit switching and packet switching in order to provide mobile data services to a mobile node. Generally speaking, with circuit-based approaches, wireless data is carried by a dedicated (and uninterrupted) connection between the sender and recipient of data using a physical switching path. Once the direct connection is set-up, it is maintained for as long as the sender and receiver have data to exchange. The establishment of such a direct and dedicated switching path results in a fixed share of network resources being tied up until the connection is closed. When the physical connection between the sender and the receiver is no longer desired, it is torn-down and the network resources are allocated to other users as necessary.
Packet-based approaches, on the other hand, do not permanently assign transmission resources to a given call, and do not require the set-up and tear-down of physical connections between a sender and receiver of data. In general, a data flow in packet-based approaches is "packetized." That is, the data is divided into separate segments of information, and each segment receives "header" information that may provide, for example, source information, destination information, information regarding the number of bits in the packet, priority information, and security information. The packets are then routed to a destination independently, based on the header information. The data flow may include a number of packets or a single packet.

Combined gateway for network communications


An in-vehicle white line recognition apparatus is disclosed. Form an image captured by a camera, the apparatus extracts multiple white line candidates including a first white line candidate and a second white line candidate. The apparatus calculates a certainty factor of each white line candidate, the certainty factor indicating a degree of certainty that the each white line candidate represents the white line. When the first and second white line candidates are within a predetermined range and when a ratio of contrast of the first white line candidate to that of the second white line candidate is less than a predetermined value, the apparatus decreases the certainty factor of the first white line candidate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle white line recognition apparatus that recognizes a white line on a road for drive assistance.
2. Description of Related Art
An in-vehicle white line apparatus recognizes a white line on a road and is used in a lane departure warning apparatus to assist a driver in driving a vehicle (see Patent Document 1).
The lane departure warning apparatus includes an on-board camera for capturing an image of surroundings of the vehicle, an image processing unit for performing processing on the image, and a warning generation unit for generating a warning. The image processing unit detects or estimates a white line from the image captured by the on-board camera. The warning generation unit calculates a distance from the vehicle to a left side white line and a distance from the vehicle to a right side white line. When one of the distances is less than or equal to a threshold, i.e., when the vehicle approaches within the threshold from one of the distances, the warning generation unit gives a warning to a driver of the vehicle. In the following, the vehicle equipped with the lane departure warning apparatus is also called a subject vehicle.
A largest problem with the lane departure warning apparatus may be white line wrong detection caused by various noises. Noise sources include, for example, a dirty mark on a road surface, a paint on a road, a light reflected from a puddle etc. on a road surface, a shadow of the subject vehicle, a shadow of a vehicle in rear of the subject'vehicle, and the like.
Various techniques or methods to suppress theses noises and extract only a true white line have been proposed. For example, a method may include extracting white line candidates from an image captured by an on-board camera by using an image recognition technique, calculating certainty factors of respective white line candidates, and selecting a white line candidate having a largest certainty factor. In Patent Document 1, a certainty factor is calculated from brightness contrast between a white line candidate and its surroundings etc.
Patent Document 1: JP-2005-18148A
According to the method of calculating the certainty factor only from, the brightness contrast between a white line candidate and its surroundings, however, it is difficult to eliminate a possibility of wrong detection of an erased line trace (i.e., an white line that has been erased while a visible trace is being left) and the like in some cases. This will be more specifically described below.
Although a typical ratio of contrast between a white line and a road surface is approximately 400%, the ratio of contrast can be approximately 150% in some places. For this reason, when the ratio of contrast is not less than 150%, the certainty factor of the white line candidate is increased. However, a ratio of contrast between the erased line trace and the road surface can be approximately 160% in some cases. If the certainty factor of the erased line trace is increased, then the erased line trace is misidentified as a white line.

In-vehicle white line recognition apparatus


Disclosed is an electronic device which includes an audio processing block for voice recognition in a low-power mode. The electronic device includes a digital microphone that receives a voice signal from a user and converts the received voice signal into a PDM signal, and a DMIC interface circuit. The DMIC interface circuit includes a PDM-PCM converting block that converts the PDM signal into a PCM signal, a maxscale gain tuning block that tunes a maxscale gain of the PCM signal received from the PDM-PCM converting block based on a distance information indicating a physical distance between the user and the electronic device acquired in advance of the converting of the PDM signal, and an anti-aliasing block that performs filtering for acquiring voice data of a target frequency band associated with a PCM signal output from the maxscale gain tuning block.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to an electronic device, and more particularly, relate to an electronic device including a digital microphone interface circuit for voice recognition in a low-power mode.
As artificial intelligence-related technologies develop, nowadays, there is a trend in which an artificial intelligence function is mounted in an electronic device such as a smartphone. For example, the artificial intelligence function includes voice recognition using artificial intelligence, image processing using artificial intelligence, etc. Among the above functions, voice recognition may be utilized in various forms, for example, in the form of a command triggering a specific function of an electronic device, a command waking up the electronic device in a sleep state, etc.
In the case where the electronic device is in a normal mode or a high performance mode, voice recognition is performed by using most data of a voice signal; however, in the case where the electronic device is in a low-power mode or a sleep mode, data to be used in the voice recognition are limited due to a power consumption issue. Accordingly, to make a voice recognition rate high, it is important to select voice data of an appropriate sound pressure level.
However, after a voice signal is received from the user through a microphone, a voice signal is distorted upon changing a gain of a voice signal later based on a result of checking a gain of the voice signal, thereby causing a decrease of a voice recognition rate in a low-power mode.

Digital microphone interface circuit for voice recognition and including the same


This application discloses a grant-free transmission method, a network device, and a terminal device. The method includes: detecting, by a network device, a pilot sequence used by a terminal device for uplink transmission; determining, by the network device, a pilot sequence index of the pilot sequence based on the pilot sequence and a correspondence between the pilot sequence and the pilot sequence index; and sending, by the network device, information about a feedback result of the uplink transmission to the terminal device based on the pilot sequence index.

In a typical wireless communications network (for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE)), selection of uplink shared data channels is based on a scheduling/grant mechanism and completely controlled by a base station (BS). A complete data transmission process usually includes four steps: a scheduling request, a scheduling grant, data transmission, and transmission feedback. In this mechanism, user equipment (UE) first sends an uplink scheduling request to the BS; after receiving the request, the BS sends an uplink grant to the UE to notify the UE of an uplink transmission resource allocated to the UE; and then the UE performs data transmission on the granted uplink transmission resource accordingly.
Large-scale user access is one of typical application scenarios of a next-generation communications network. During massive user access, if the foregoing scheduling/grant mechanism is still used, huge signaling transmission overheads and BS resource allocation scheduling pressure are caused, and a significant transmission delay is also caused. In view of this, the next-generation communications network uses a grant-free transmission mode to support massive user access.
In a grant-free transmission mode, a base station does not schedule a transmission resource for user equipment. When a plurality of user equipments needs to simultaneously transmit data, the user equipments usually perform data transmission on a preconfigured common time-frequency resource in a contention-based manner. A grant-free transmission process may be simplified into two steps: data transmission and transmission feedback, thereby reducing signaling overheads and a transmission delay. In the grant-free transmission mode, the base station knows neither identification information of the user equipment nor information about a time-frequency resource occupied by the user equipment during data transmission. Therefore, the base station cannot perform feedback on the data transmission of the user equipment by using the feedback manner in the prior art. However, if a user identity is directly fed back to user equipment whose data is successfully decoded, to indicate that transmission succeeds, resource utilization efficiency may be reduced due to excessive bits occupied by the user identity.
Therefore, how to efficiently use radio transmission resources to perform feedback on grant-free transmission of user equipment is a problem that urgently needs to be resolved.

Grant-free transmission method, network device, and terminal device


This disclosure relates a method within a network node and a corresponding network node for determining input information for creation of a data traffic clustering model. The method comprises obtaining data descriptors of data flows, wherein the data descriptors describe data of the data flows, and obtaining flow information of the data flows. In addition, the method comprises determining clustering model input information based on the obtained data descriptors and the obtained flow information. One exemplary advantage of the present disclosure is that it allows traffic clustering based solely on packet header information, making the present disclosure appropriate for handling encrypted traffic.

An in-depth understanding of data profiles of Internet traffic is a challenging task for researchers, and is a requirement for most Internet Service Providers (ISPs). By applying Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to Internet data traffic, in-depth information of said Internet data traffic is gained. This information is valuable in the quest for profiling networked applications by, for instance, ISPs. Having this information, ISPs may then apply differentiated charging policies, traffic shaping, and offer differentiated quality of service guarantees to selected users or applications.
Critical network services may rely on the inspection of the payload of data packets. Since payload inspection of data is time consuming, payload inspection may not be well suited for real-time data flows.
Looking at structured information found in packet headers provides a fast alternative to payload inspection, and may be well suited for certain use cases, for instance real-time data flows.
Clustering of data within machine learning may be considered to comprise two phases, one training phase and one testing phase.
FIG. 1, schematically presents a known training phase of a clustering method within machine learning. The training phase determines one or more clustering methods based on known data traffic (e.g., labeled data traffic).
The input of the training phase of FIG. 1 is labeled data traffic 102, and the output of said training phase is clustering models 110. The labeled data traffic 102 typically comprises data traffic of known categories, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), to mention two examples only. At 104 descriptors of said data are calculated. Examples of descriptors of said data are average payload size of a data flow and a measure of the distribution of the payload size, such as the deviation of payload size.
From said data descriptors 106, a model creation is then performed at 108, whereby the clustering models 110 are obtained.
These models have thus been calculated to be able to identify the category of data that is input to the training phase of the data clustering. Subsequently, in the testing phase these models will be tested by using unlabeled data traffic.
FIG. 2 schematically presents a known testing phase of a clustering method within machine learning. Input to this testing phase is thus unlabeled data traffic 202, that is, data traffic of unknown categories. Output of this testing phase is models having the best fitting to the unlabeled data traffic. The best fitting models will provide a reliable description of the unlabeled data traffic.
At 204 data flows are identified and data descriptors 206 of said flows calculated. Based on said data descriptors 206 and by using available models 208 as obtained from the training phase and loaded into the testing phase, each model is evaluated 210, whereby fitting models 212 may be obtained. Evaluation of each tested method may comprise determination of values of fitting parameters, as a measure of the degree of how well each tested model fits the un-labeled input data traffic.
For instance, the fitting parameters may comprise five fitting parameters that have been determined as exactly as possible along with a confidence interval.
In the field of data clustering or data classification, a huge number of publications are presented. Most publications relate to algorithms that are applied on a flow level, and relatively few relate to algorithms that are applied on a packet level.
"Real-time classification for encrypted traffic", in SEA, 2010, pp. 373-385, Bar-Yanai, R., et al. presents a hybrid clustering method for applications clustered in overlapping clusters by using a k-means measure and a k-nearest neighbor measure.
State-of-the-art model creation methods that operate during data traffic clustering often rely on data clusters that are determined within said method.
Feature reduction algorithms are also known. These are however solely focused on gaining more information.
Although a number of methods have been published, they suffer from different limitations and/or drawbacks.
There is hence a need to overcome said limitations and/or drawbacks of known methods.

Method and arrangement for data clustering


A clutch device has at least a multiplicity of clutch discs which are in frictional contact with one another, and a control unit which controls the clutch device. The clutch device is calibrated repeatedly during an operating time of the clutch device. A first calibration is performed at a first point in time. A second calibration is performed at a second point following the first calibration. The first point in time and the second point in time are within a first operating time of the clutch device and occur within a first time interval. At least a third calibration is performed in a subsequent second operating time at a third point in time. At least the second calibration is performed within a second interval of the third point in time. The first and second intervals are determined by the control unit based on a mileage of a vehicle or an energy input into the clutch device. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.

In the case of locking differentials used in motor vehicles (here as a clutch device) an actual transferred torque can be (only) estimated when requesting the transmission of a target torque via the clutch device. The estimate is based on a characteristic curve that contains the kiss point and thus describes the characteristics of the clutch device. The so called "kiss point" can be referred to as a gripping point; a state of the clutch device or of the clutch plates together forming the frictional contact (a clutch of the clutch device), in which a torque is just transferred from a drive shaft via the clutch plates to an output shaft. This characteristic can be determined on a test bench based on a representative clutch device taking into account temperature and coefficients of friction and can be stored in a control unit. During an operating time of the clutch device installed in a motor vehicle, the clutch plates wear and the coefficient of friction changes. As a result, the characteristic curve shifts and the actual torque, which is actually transmitted, deviates from the target torque. To counteract this, a (post-flow) calibration is performed either after a specified mileage or after a specified energy input. The calibration compensates the wear and raises the kiss point (or compensates for the difference in the distance that the plates have to move to reach the kiss point) in order to (substantially) compensate the deviation between the target torque and the actual torque.
There is a constant need to improve the operation of clutch devices and, in particular, to ensure a high degree of matching between the actual torque and the target torque at all times during the operating time of a clutch device.


A cooking pot lid holder with a vertically disposed bore angularly mounting therein a plurality of bearing members in stacked relation. Each bearing member mounts, at right angles thereto, an independently movable arm. On the outer end of each arm is a pot lid knob-engaging double spring member, specifically including an arcuate first spring portion and an arcuate second spring portion facing the first spring portion. Pot lids are retained in the spring members in an upside down fashion so as to minimize dripping of condensation when so held.

When pot lids are removed from a cooking pot during or just after cooking, a hot pad is usually employed to engage the lid and to remove the same from the pot. It is the usual practice to then lay the hot pot lid aside on the stove or nearest kitchen counter top or table or other pots or pans. Often, the condensation of vapors developed during cooking and adhering to the cooking pot lid result in condensation on the lid lower surface which often drips onto the kitchen counter or table or pots or pans or sometimes on the floor. Also, the lids so haphazardly set aside were not readily available for use or reuse during cooking.


An electronic component mounting apparatus includes an electronic component supply device for supplying an electronic component, a head including a head main body and a head camera unit, and a control device. The head main body includes nozzles, a nozzle drive unit for driving the nozzles and a head support body for supporting the nozzles and the nozzle drive unit. The head camera unit is fixed to the head support body and has head cameras corresponding to the nozzles respectively for photographing electronic components. The head drives the nozzles to hold the electronic components, transfers the electronic components from the electronic component supply device to the substrate and mounts the electronic components onto the substrate. The control device synthesizes images photographed by the head cameras to generate an image with fields of the head cameras connected together, and determines a process based on the synthesized image synthesized.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to apparatus and method for mounting an electronic component onto a substrate.
Related Art
An electronic component mounting apparatus repeats an operation to hold an electronic component using a nozzle provided on a head and mount it onto a mounting point provided at a substrate to thereby mount electronic components onto the substrate. Some of this type electronic component mounting apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing an area to be checked in order to check and observe the state of the substrate and the state of electronic components to be mounted. For example, JP-U-3165153 discloses a camera used to check whether a bad mark provided on the substrate is present or absent. Also, JP-B-4201711 discloses multiple cameras which are arranged directed from different directions toward electronic components mounting positions and are used to photograph images before and behind electronic components mounting points.

Electronic component mounting apparatus and electronic component mounting method