A linear fixture for suspension from an overhead structure has a light weight and has electrical connectors capable of making easy plug electrical connections for power and network connection communications. The linear fixture is an elongated housing having a bottom wall, an elongated housing top wall and an elongated slot extending longitudinally along the elongated housing top wall. The housing is manufactured from an extrusion of aluminum thereby reducing the weight of the housing. The housing includes two or more housing supports having bottom and top surface portions respectively, conforming in shape to the housing bottom top walls. The bottom of top portions of the supports are adapted to engage or slide fit into the bottom and top walls so as to mate with the walls and provide support to the elongated housing bottom and top walls. The housing supports act to provide additional structural support for the top and bottom walls of the linear housing. The housing supports maintain the housing bottom and top walls in fixed relationship from each other. The housing supports are further adapted to be suspended from the overhead structure so as to support through the housing supports the elongated linear housing from the overhead structure. Preferably, the housing support comprises a one-piece plastic material, which reduces the weight of the fixture. The housing supports are adapted to receiving in mating relation an electrical plug whose terminals face outwardly for quick electrical connection with adjoining fixtures or a power source.

The present invention relates to suspended linear structures, and, in particular, lighting fixtures.
Modular suspended linear fixtures are typically assembled in place by connecting and mounting individual modules. Typical linear fixtures are suspended from an overhead structure and include linear fluorescent lighting systems. Such lighting fixtures may radiate light upwardly against the ceiling or downwardly towards the work area. Imprecise interfitting of such modular lighting systems results in an unsightly and unprofessional appearance and spaces between the completed assembly through which light radiates or leaks when switched on.
Typically these assemblies are suspended at heights of 7 ft. or more from the floor. Mounted and joining prior art structures entail cumbersome, and sometimes dangerous procedures. Hence the weight of these structures is an important consideration in mounting these structures from an overhead structure.
The present invention is directed to a linear fixture for suspension from an overhead structure. In particular the present invention relates to a lighting fixture which is relatively lightweight in one aspect of the present invention and is provided with electrical connectors capable of making easy electrical connections in another aspect of the present invention.
The linear fixture of the present invention comprises an elongated housing having a bottom wall, an elongated housing top wall and an elongated slot extending longitudinally along the elongated housing top wall. The housing preferably is manufactured from an extrusion of aluminum thereby reducing the weight of the housing. The housing includes two or more housing supports having bottom and top surface portions respectively conforming in shape to the housing bottom top walls. The bottom of top surface portions of the supports are adapted to engage or slide fit into the bottom and top walls so as to mate with the walls and provide support to the elongated housing bottom and top walls. The housing supports maintain the housing bottom and top walls in fixed relationship from each other. The housing supports are further adapted to be suspended from the overhead structure so as to support, through the housing supports, the elongated linear housing from the overhead structure. Preferably, the housing support comprises a one-piece plastic material made from injection moldings that reduces the weight of the fixtures.
It should be understood that the housing supports are typically provided at each of the end portions of the elongated linear housing. However, if further support is required, then a housing support may be provided along the fixture intermediate of the ends of the fixture. In accordance with the present invention, each end portion of the housing has a peripheral edge and the supports are mounted at each end portion. The supports have a peripheral flange that overlaps and abuts against the peripheral edge to thereby limit placement of the supports into the housing and preclude leakage of light from the ends of the fixture. The peripheral flange of the support preferably has of flush outward facing surface that is adapted to abut with other supports carried by other adjoining linear fixtures.
The supports may further include a raised bridge surface extending across the elongated slot so as to provide a uniform continuous surface across the end portions of the elongated housing top wall adjacent the opposing end portions.
In preferred construction, the elongated housing bottom and top walls have a cross-sectional shape in the form of an eyelet. The elongated housing bottom walls and top walls meet at the corners of the eyelet. The slot extends along the entire length of the elongated top housing wall dividing the top wall into two spaced apart housing top wall portions.
It is also envisaged that the supports have a socket, or first connector recess, and an electrical power plug connector seated in the socket. The electrical power plug connector has an outwardly facing plug end facing outwardly of the housing for connection with power source and the electrical power plug connector has an inwardly facing end from which wires extend from the support into the housing. It is further envisaged that the supports have additional sockets and second electrical control connectors seated in the additional sockets. The second control connectors have a second plug connector facing outwardly of the housing and control signal wiring extending from the support into linear housing.
It is further envisaged that the first connector recess or socket conforms to the shape of the first electrical plug connector so that the first electrical power connector is seated in at least partially mating relationship with the first connector recess. In a preferred aspect of the present invention of the first connector recess has at least one pair of opposing support walls which engage a first plug connector to seat the first plug connector in the first connector recess. The first connector recess further includes a pair of opposing converging cantilever walls, each extending rearwardly from a respective one of the pair of opposing support walls, to clamp against the first plug connector. The cantilever walls have an unsupported end portion having in-turned hook members adapted to engage the first electrical plug connector and limit travel of the first electrical plug connector into and through the first connector recess. The supports may further comprise at least one-second connector recess extending therethrough. A second electrical control pug connector is seated in the second connector recess. The second connector plug has a front face having connection terminals facing outward of the housing for connection with the control source. The second connector plug has a rear face with the electrical control wiring extending therefrom and into the housing.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a linear fixture is provided for suspension from an overhead structure. The fixture comprises an elongated linear housing having at least an elongated housing bottom wall, an elongated housing top wall, and an elongated slot longitudinally extending along the elongated housing top wall. The fixture comprises a plurality of housing supports mounted within the linear housing having bottom and top surface portions respectively conforming in shape to the housing bottom and top walls. The bottom and top surface portions of the supports respectively engage in mating slide fit relationship the housing bottom and top walls to support the elongated housing bottom and top walls in fixed spaced relation to each other. The supports are adapted for suspension from an overhead structure to support the elongated linear housing from the overhead structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a linear fixture provides suspension from an overhead structure where the fixture comprises an elongated linear housing having at least an elongated bottom wall and opposing first and second end portions. The fixture comprises first and second supports mounted respectively to first and second end portions of the housing. The first and second supports are adapted for suspension from an overhead structure to support the elongated linear housing from the overhead structure. Each of the first and second supports has a first connector recess extending therethrough. The fixture comprises a first electrical power plug connector seated in the first connector recess. The first plug connector has a front face having connection terminals facing outwardly of the housing for connection with a power source, and the first plug connector has a rear face with electrical wiring extending from the first plug connector through the support and into the linear housing.


The present invention concerns a method for diagnosing a melanoma in a mammal comprising the detection of the overexpression of RACK-1 protein in a melanocyte cell of said mammal, and the deduction of the presence of a melanoma from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein. The invention is also directed to a method for determining the tumoral status of a melanocyte cell of a mammal, comprising the detection of overexpression of RACK-1 protein in the melanocyte cell, and the deduction of the tumoral state of said cell from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor developing by transformation of melanocytes, the cells which produce the pigment melanin that colors skin, hair, and eyes and is heavily concentrated in most moles. The majority of melanomas, therefore, are black or brown. However, melanomas occasionally stop producing pigment. When that happens, the melanomas may no longer be dark, but are skin-colored, pink, red or purple.
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Its incidence and mortality rates in fair-skinned populations increase worldwide. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, there will be around 60 000 new cases of melanoma in the United States.
Everyone is susceptible to develop a melanoma, but depending on several factors, the risk can be increased, inter alia sun exposure, number of moles on the skin, skin type and genetic background. Indeed, both UVA and UVB rays can induce skin cancer, including melanoma. The presence of the two types of moles, normal moles and atypical moles, known as dysplastic naevi, are indicative of an increased risk of melanoma. Regarding the genetic predisposition, it is known that about 10% of the patients diagnosed with melanoma have a family member with a history of melanoma.
Primary melanomas are likely to produce metastases, indicative of the spread of cancer from its primary site to other places in the body. Cancer cells can break away from a primary tumor, penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and grow in a distant focus (metastasize) in normal tissues elsewhere in the body.
Presence of metastases carries a severe prognosis due to ineffective response to treatments.
Regarding diagnosis, moles that are irregular in color or shape are suspicious of a malignant or a premalignant melanoma. Following a visual examination and a dermatologic exam, a biopsy of the suspicious mole may also be made. If it is malignant, the mole and an area around it need excision to avoid expansion and spread.
Clinical and histopathological criteria are useful as indicators for patients presenting primary melanoma. However it is widely admitted that precise diagnostic and prognostic markers would be beneficial for a number of patients.
Early and reliable diagnosis of a melanoma is thus of outmost importance.
Melanomas are also frequently observed on horses, where they are the most common skin tumors in adult horses. Melanomas have been shown to occur more commonly in Arabian, Lipizzaner, and Percheron breeds, as these breeds have a high incidence of gray horses and melanomas are mostly found in gray horses. These melanomas are generally found around the lips, eyes, ears, salivary glands, anus, penis, and vulva. Most melanomas in gray horses are benign slow-growing tumors that rarely metastasize or spread to other organs. However, the tumor can spread to other organs, especially in non-gray horses. Generally, these tumors do not cause a problem other than with urination, defecation, or breeding. However, they can invade local tissue and can cause lameness as well as neurological problems by invading the central nervous system.
Melanomas can also be observed on dogs. Although found primarily on the skin, in the dog, they can also be found in the oral cavity. Early diagnosis of melanomas can lead to more successful attempts at removal and identification of the grade or stage of cancer. Even the benign forms of cutaneous tumors can be locally invasive. Melanomas can metastasize (spread) to any area of the body especially the lymph nodes and lungs and present very challenging and dangerous prospects for the dog. Cats are also susceptible to melanoma tumors, however in a lesser extent than dogs.
Diagnosis of melanoma is thus also problematic from a veterinary point of view.
The diagnosis of melanoma requires experience, as early stages may look identical to harmless moles or not have any color at all.
If a melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable. But if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal.
There is thus a need for new tools allowing early and reliable diagnosis of melanoma.
Moreover, understanding the molecular bases of melanoma progression could help developing more effective treatments. Mechanisms of melanocyte transformation are thus widely studied.

Upregulation of RACK-1 in melanoma and its use as a marker

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique


A method includes, in a non-volatile memory that includes multiple memory blocks, defining a redundancy zone that includes at least an old parity block, a new parity block and multiple active blocks of which one block is defined as an open block. Data is stored in the redundancy zone and the stored data is protected, such that new input data is stored in the open block, redundancy information for the active blocks including the open block is stored in the new parity block, and the redundancy information for the active blocks excluding the open block is stored in the old parity block. Upon filling the open block and the new parity block, an alternative block is assigned to serve as the open block and the new parity block is assigned to serve as the old parity block.

Some data storage systems apply redundant storage schemes, such as Redundant Array for Inexpensive Disks (RAID) schemes, in solid state non-volatile memory. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,579, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a device employing a redundant array of solid state memory devices, whereby RAID technology architecture is combined with solid state memory devices.
As another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0053308, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a storage device consisting of multiple solid state memory devices and a memory controller. The memory devices are configured as a redundant array, such as a RAID memory array. The memory controller performs data encryption to provide secured access to the array.

Redundancy schemes for non-volatile memory using parity zones having new and old parity blocks


In an exposure apparatus having a plurality of substrate stages moving between a plurality of stations, errors due to the combination of the stage and a position measuring unit, such as Abbe error and errors due to the surface configuration of a reflection mirror, are precisely corrected to reduce the position error of the substrate stage. The exposure apparatus includes a control device having a storage unit and a correction unit. The storage unit stores the correction information established every combination of the plurality of substrate stages and a plurality of position measuring units, and the correction unit corrects the result measured by the plurality of position measuring units on the basis of the correction information corresponding to the combination of the substrate stages and the position measuring units among pieces of correction information stored in the storage unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus having a plurality of substrate stages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photo-lithographic process for manufacturing semiconductor devices, an exposure apparatus is incorporated for transferring a reticle fine pattern onto a wafer having a photosensitive material coated thereon. An exposure apparatus in the related art includes one wafer stage so that the processes of carrying-in the wafer, alignment measurement, exposure, and carrying-out the wafer are performed in series.
However, for further improving a throughput, a twin-stage exposure apparatus including two wafer stages has been recently adopted. The twin-stage exposure apparatus includes two stations of measurement and exposure. Such a twin-stage exposure apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-323404, for example.
The position measurement of the wafer stage relative to the station needs a high accuracy so that the position is measured with a high-resolution laser interferometer and a reflection mirror as a target of its laser light. Each station includes the laser interferometer mounted thereon that can measure the posture of the wafer stage. The value measured by the laser interferometer may include Abbe errors due to the straightness of the laser light axis and measurement errors due to the surface configuration of the reflection mirror. These measurement errors result in the position measurement errors of the wafer stage, thus deteriorating apparatus functions.
In order to reduce such position measurement errors of the wafer stage measured by the interferometer, a correction factor and a table obtained from exposure results in advance are referred to correct the measured value. Such a technique correcting the position measurement errors of the wafer stage is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-59704, for example. However, the exposure apparatus shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-59704 includes one wafer stage along with one station, so that the factor and the table are uniquely determined.
In the twin-stage exposure apparatus, two wafer stages reciprocate between two stations. That is, there are four combinations of the stage and the station. Thus, if the correction factor is employed, which has been uniquely established for the position measurement errors of the wafer stage in a case of one wafer stage along with one station, the residual correction error is generated, causing the positional displacement of the wafer stage. Consequently, if the position is displaced along XY-directions, overlapping errors are generated, if along Z-direction, focus errors are generated.


The present invention provides an assembly for controlling the rotational movement of a die wheel in packaging machinery and includes a first component operationally interconnected to both the die wheel and camshaft, and a second component physically connected to both the first component and the framework of the packaging machine wherein the second component is detachably mounted to the framework.

Packaging machinery for packaging food products such as cheese and meat, particularly, processed meat, such as bacon, are known in the art. In general, packaging machinery which are cam-operated are designed such that the rotating camshaft imparts rotational, horizontal and/or vertical motion to various camshaft components, i.e., cams, gears, sprockets and the like. These camshaft components, in turn, drive the various mechanical operations needed to produce a packaged food product.
One type of cam-operated food packaging machine is a rotary die wheel packaging machine. Rotary die wheel packaging machines are designed to automatically perform multiple packaging operations around a central rotating die wheel. In this machine, package forming/sealing, food loading and package dispensing operations are synchronized with and take place around a central rotating die wheel to make the finished packaged food product. In operation, a first packaging film is loaded into forming/sealing die cavities located on the central rotating die wheel. Each forming/sealing die cavity includes a peripheral edge called a die bead where hermetic seals are formed around the package. After the film is received, a film tucker assembly forces the film under film clamps where film is secured to the die, where it is then heated to a predetermined temperature to soften the film. A vacuum is applied from the backside of the die cavity facing the softened film and the film is thermoformed into the shape of the die cavity. As the die wheel advances, a food item is transferred from a loading station onto a second packaging film. The food item is then carried into the die cavity where it is sandwiched between the first and second packaging films. Next, the outer peripheral edges which extend beyond the food item are joined together during a first heat sealing operation. The seal that is formed extends around the outer peripheral edges of the die cavity or die bead and includes at least one aperture or unsealed area between the first and second packaging films. As the die wheel advances further, a chamber comes in contact with the die where the atmosphere surrounding the food item and between the packaging films is evacuated through the aperture. A second heat sealing operation is then performed to close the aperture and hermetically seal the food item within. Finally, the film between the die cavities is cut and a product picking station removes each individual package from the die wheel.
In general, rotary die wheel packaging machines are designed so that, during normal operation, the die wheel rotates is one direction, i.e., clockwise or counter-clockwise, so that each packaging operation may be synchronized to the forward direction of rotation of the die wheel. However, when power is removed to these machines, particularly after an emergency shut-down, the die wheel may respond by moving for short distances in the opposite direction. This can result in damage to mechanical components and assemblies operationally interconnected to the die wheel. For example, if the die wheel rotates backwards, the film tucker can damage the die beads by scratching or marring the surface of the die bead. A damaged die bead surface will not allow hermetic seals to be formed in the food package and, therefore, adversely affect the quality of the finished package.

Rotational control assembly in packaging machines


A pressure gauge adapted for use in measuring the pressure of a thixotropic fluid subject to aggregation stagnation in which aggregation of the fluid is prevented by controlling stagnation of a magnetic coating liquid in the vicinity of a pressure sensor, and product quality is improved by removing air mixed into the liquid. An outlet is formed at the vertex of a conical holder. An inlet is formed in the conical surface of the holder at a location offset from the center of the cone defining the holder, which is contained in the outlet. A pressure indicator is mounted in the opening portion in the plane of the cone defining the holder.

The present invention relates to a pressure gauge, and more particularly to a pressure gauge adapted for use in measuring the pressure of a thixotropic fluid subject to aggregation stagnation, such as a liquid (magnetic liquid) in which magnetic material is in solution.
Many types of pressure gauges are known. In one of the known pressure gauges, a diaphragm is provided at the pressure introducing portion of the gauge. The amount of deformation of the diaphragm when it is elastically deformed by pressure is used for determining the pressure of the gas or liquid to be measured.
An example of a diaphragm-type pressure gauge is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this pressure gauge, a T-pipe 11 having an inlet A, an outlet B, and a conduit 12 for introducing liquid to a diaphragm acting as a pressure sensor 13 of a pressure indicator 2 is inserted into a pressure gauging portion of a pipe 14. The pressure indicator 2 is attached to the conduit 12. Assuming that the fluid flows through the pipe 14 from the left side to the right side in the figure, the fluid first flows from the inlet A into the T-pipe 11, and is divided into two routes, one destined for the conduit 12 with the pressure indicator 2 attached thereto and the other destined for the outlet B.
As a result, the fluid fills the conduit 12 to push the diaphragm of the pressure indicator 2, thereby to indicate a pressure.
The pressure gauging system which introduces the fluid to the pressure sensor 13 requires space for introducing the fluid, i.e., the conduit 12 of the T-pipe in the pressure gauge of FIG. 4. In the vicinity of the portion where the conduit branches from the pipe, there is little flow of the fluid filling the space due to disturbances caused by the flow of the fluid in the pipe. The fluid flow gradually diminishes away from the branch portion. Since here is little flow, stagnation occurs in the vicinity of the diaphragm.
This phenomenon becomes remarkable as the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the pipe increases, thereby more significantly impeding the fluid flow. This phenomenon does not cause much of a problem when the fluid is gas, water, or a solution of low concentration. However, magnetic fluids containing a mixture of a magnetic substance, chemical destaticizer, lubricant, binder and the like have a high viscosity and poor fluidity, and hence have a strong tendency to stagnate in the vicinity of the diaphragm. The magnetic liquid generally has thixotropic properties. When it is flowing, a magnetic liquid retains a sol-like fluidity due to the shearing force applied to the fluid due to the flow. However, when such a solution stagnates, its consistency becomes gel-like, so that aggregation occurs.
As the aggregation progresses, the diaphragm of the pressure sensor 13 fails to perform its function. A pressure measured under this condition is not correct, so that accurate pressure control in the magnetic material coating process is impossible. Further, the aggregated matter retained in the stagnation region tends to mix with the magnetic liquid as an impurity, so that control of the the magnetic liquid concentration is impossible. Moreover, air that has been carried in together with the magnetic liquid is left in the stagnation region. A disturbance causes air held in the stagnation region to rush into the pipe. The air, together with the aggregated matter, is transported to the coating head. The result is unwanted streaks, bubbles, and the like in the final product.
To manufacture another type of product, the magnetic liquid in the pipe must be replaced by another magnetic liquid. In this case, a fresh magnetic liquid is supplied to the pipe after the inside of the pipe is cleansed by feedinq detergent into the pipe. In the cleaning process, the cleaning fluid tends to collect in the stagnation region, so that insufficient cleaning of the inside of the pipe is obtained. In this respect, the cleaning work is inefficient. As described above, in the pressure gauge for gauging a pressure by introducing the fluid into a pressure sensor of the diaphragm, the conduit 12 forms a stagnation region of the fluid. This stagnation region causes the mixing of the aggregation and air into the magnetic fluid. Reduction of the volume of the fluid introducing portion that defines the stagnation region can be done to control the mixing of the aggregation and air into the magnetic fluid.
A pressure gauge based on the reduction of the volume of the stagnation region is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 2-9847, for example. In such a pressure gauge, the fluid path is flush with the opening portion where the diaphragm is mounted, and a pressure gauge mounting seat is used, omitting the conduit 12. Further, a restricting portion is provided which restricts the fluid flow gradually from the diaphragm mounting opening portion toward the bottom corresponding to the fluid path. Provision of the restricting portion succeeds in reducing the volume of the space for introducing the fluid present between the diaphragm and the fluid path.
As regards the mounting seat, the space from the fluid path to the diaphragm increases toward the circumferential end of the diaphragm. The fluid flows more slowly in this space than in the vicinity of the fluid path, and hence the fluid is likely to linger in this space. Accordingly, the above pressure gauge also suffers from the above-stated problem. That is, the aggregation of the fluid interrupts the normal operation of the pressure sensor 13 by the diaphragm, impairing the exact gauging of the fluid pressure and precise pressure control in the magnet fluid coating process.
Further, the aggregated matter is mixed into the magnetic liquid as an impurity, making it difficult to control the concentration of the magnetic liquid. Air is also mixed into the liquid. The air, together with the aggregated matter, is transported to the coating head, causing streaks and bubbles in the final product, and hence deterioration of the product quality. In cleaning the inside of the pipe, the cleaning fluid will not flow properly, providing insufficient cleaning. This results in inefficient cleaning work.
In this type of the pressure gauge, a planar diaphragm is mounted in the fluid path (normally tubular) even under the possibly reduced volume in the pressure measuring location, and an empty space essentially exists between the fluid path and the diaphragm. The space provides a stagnation region for the fluid.


The invention relates to a protector for cap visors consisting of a flexible sheet of soil resistant or washable material having ends and lateral sides which is folded over the visor periphery and the material includes fastening cords attached to clips which are releasably affixed to the edges of the visor adjacent the cap headband. The protective device covers the majority of the visor and by the use of colors, decorations or advertising the protector ascetically adds to the cap appearance.

Lightweight caps are very popular for casual wear, and such caps usually include adjustable headbands, a crown and a prominent visor. Advertising or other indicia is often imprinted, embossed or otherwise applied to the front of the cap crown above the visor.
As such caps are frequently worn during work conditions when the wearer's hands are soiled the grasping of the visor to remove or adjust the cap results in the visor rapidly becoming soiled and unattractive. Previously, this problem has not been succesfully resolved.
It is an object of the invention to provide an economical cap visor protector formed of a soil resistant or washable material which may be readily applied to existing visored caps without requiring unusual skills.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a protector for visored caps which adds to the aesthetic appearance of the cap and visor as the visor protection may be formed of leather, felt or a wide variety of materials of any color.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cap visor protector which may be economically manufactured, is capable of having indicia or advertising located thereon, and is readily adjustable and usable with a wide variety of visor shapes, dimensions and configurations.
In the practice of the invention the cap visor protector consists of a sheet of a soil resistant material, such as vinyl or other synthetic composition having a smooth surface from which soil may be readily wiped and which does not attract or retain soil or the material may be of a washable fabric easily cleaned by washing.
The protector material includes ends and lateral sides which intersect the ends, and in the preferred embodiment the protector is formed of a flexible fabric having hemmed ends wherein a loop is defined at the ends extending the length thereof. Such loops and hems may be formed by sewing.
A cord extends through the hem loops and is of greater length than the associated ends as to extend therefrom, and preferably, the cord is in the form of a continuous loop so as to extend through both end loops wherein surplus of accessible cord material extends from the lateral sides of the sheet material. A clip is affixed to the accessible portions of the cord on each lateral side of the protective material of a configuration and operation permitting the clip to be readily attached to the edge of the visor t be protected.
The protective material is placed upon the front periphery of the cap visor and is folded thereover so that substantially one half of the material lies adjacent the upper surface of the visor while the other half of the protective material is disposed adjacent the visor underside. The fastening cords will be disposed both above and below the visor, and the clips will be attached to the visor lateral regions and the cords are of such length as to be under slight tension assuring close proximity of the protective material and its associated visor upper or lower surfaces.
Assembled to the cap in the above described manner the visor protector covers much of the visor without adding significant bulk thereto and protects the visor from soil marks due to handling of the visor by the wearer. The configuration of the protective material is such as to readily adapt to a wide variety of visor configurations, and no special skills are required to install the visor protector upon a cap.


A Web client/Web server computer system providing a methodology for embedding a context-sensitive Web portal in a computer application operating on the Web client is described. A special key tag type is defined to be monitored by the application, so that the server may control the application, where the special key tag type includes an embedded tag specifying hypertext navigation and includes auxiliary information. The server publishes to the application a Web page having at least one of the special key tags, so that the Web page is displayed at the application. In response to a user request for invoking a particular hypertext link of the published Web page, the application traps the request before the request is processed by the embedded browser. The application may determine whether the invoked hypertext link comprises a special key tag. If the hypertext link does not comprise a special key tag, the application simply passes the hypertext link to the embedded browser for processing. Otherwise, if the hypertext link does comprise a special key tag, the application processes the special key tag in accordance with the auxiliary information, and thereafter passes the embedded tag of the special key tag to the embedded browser for processing. In this manner, the present invention affords a means by which a Web server may and control a parent process (application) directly, thereby allowing an application developer to invoke functionality of the host application, particularly when such functionality would be difficult to emulate through Web pages.

The present invention relates generally to computers and, more particularly, to system and methods for facilitating delivery of user-relevant information to desktop application software.
The first personal computers were largely stand-alone units with no direct connection to other computers or computer networks. Data exchanges between computers were mainly accomplished by exchanging magnetic or optical media such as floppy disks. Over time, more and more computers were connected to each other using Local Area Networks or "LANs." In both cases, maintaining security and controlling what information a user of a personal computer can access was relatively simple because the overall computing environment was limited and clearly defined.
With the ever-increasing popularity of the Internet, particularly the World Wide Web ("Web") portion of the Internet, however, more and more personal computers are connected to larger networks. Providing access to vast stores of information, the Internet is typically accessed by users through Web "browsers" (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™ or Netscape Navigator™) or other "Internet applications." Browsers and other Internet applications include the ability to access a URL (Universal Resource Locator) or "Web" site. The explosive growth of the Internet had a dramatic effect on the LANs of many businesses and other organizations. More and more employees need direct access through their corporate LAN to the Internet in order to facilitate research, competitive analysis, communication between branch offices, and send e-mail, to name just a few.
Each URL is used to specify the location of a file held on a remote machine and is composed of several distinct components. For example, the URL of http://host/file.html includes three distinct components. The first component, http, specifies the protocol (here, "HTTP" or HyperText Transport Protocol) that is to be used to access the target file. Other access protocols can be specified by a URL. For example, the URL of ftp://ftp.starfish.com/pub/docs/samples specifies access to files via "FTP" (File Transfer Protocol). This specifies a link for accessing the file directory docs/samples on the machine ftp.starfish.com.
The second component, host, indicates the name of the remote machine; this can be expressed as either a symbol name (e.g., starfish.com) or a numeric IP (Internet Protocol) address such as 18.104.22.168. The final component, file.html, provides the path name of the target file—that is, the file which the hypertext link is to be made. The file is referenced relative to the base directory in which Web pages are held; the location of this directory is specified by the person who has set up the Web server (i.e., "Webmaster").
The majority of content available on the Internet is represented in "HTML" documents which, in turn, are read or accessed by Web browsers. In particular, the HTML or Hypertext Markup Language is an ASCII text-based, script-like language used to create the documents for the World Wide Web. Although most browsers will display any document that is written in plain text, HTML documents afford several advantages. In particular, HTML documents may include rich formatting and graphics, as well as hypertext links or "hyperlinks" to other documents.
Markup languages, such as HTML, are used to describe the structure of the document. HTML is used to mark various elements in a document, including headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and the like. To achieve this, an HTML document includes formatting commands or "tags" embedded within the text of the document which serve as commands to a browser. Here, HTML tags mark the elements of a file for browsers. Elements can contain plain text, other elements, or both. The browser reading the document interprets these markup tags or commands to help format the document for subsequent display to a user. The browser thus displays the document with regard to features that the viewer selects either explicitly or implicitly. Factors affecting the layout and presentation include, for instance, the markup tags used, the physical page width available, and the fonts used to display the text.
The design of HTML tags is relatively simple. Individual HTML tags begin with a < ("less than") character and end with a > ("greater than") character, such as <title> which serves to identify text which follows as the title of a document. HTML tags are not case-sensitive (with the exception of HTML escape sequences) and are often used in symmetric pairs, with the final tag indicated by the inclusion of a / (slash) character. For instance, the <title> tag represents a beginning tag which would be paired with a </title> ending tag. These paired commands would thus be applied to the text contained within the beginning and ending commands, such as <title> My Sample Title </title>. The <B> tag, on the other hand, informs browsers that the text which follows is to be in bold type. This bolding is turned off by the inverse markup tag </B>. In contrast to these paired or "container" tags, separator tags are used unpaired. For example, the command <br> is employed by itself to insert a line break. Browsers generally ignore extra spaces and new lines between words and markup tags when reading the document. In other words, "white space" characters, such as tabs, spaces, and new line characters, are generally ignored in HTML. Leaving a blank line in one's document, for instance, generally does not create a blank line when the document is displayed in a browser, unless one uses the "preformatted" HTML tag (<pre> and </pre>). Finally, not all tags are supported by all Web browsers. If a browser does not support a tag, it (usually) just ignores it.
Since the advent of the Internet, most companies have established a primary goal of maintaining a close one-to-one relationship with their customers through use of a company Web site—that is, a place on the Web where customers can ask questions about the company's products, read news pertaining to those products (e.g., new features/updates), or even shop for accessories for the company's products. Typically, in order to get one's customers attention, a company would expand a fair amount of effort trying to convince its customers to come to its Web site or company "portal." The approach is problematic, however.
Just as there are only so many (manageable) channels on a television, there is, similarly, a limited number of places that people will think to go on the Internet. The large, well-known Web sites—the "Yahoos" and the "Excites" of the online world—have substantial brand-name recognition and are, therefore, often the default portals (e.g., "home" page) set by users in their browsers. These are places that people will think of to go. Trying to get customers to change their "home" pages to a product-specific Web site is a particularly difficult problem, however. Users would instead prefer to have their browsers go to a more-generic site as a home page. Despite the challenges posed by this problem, there exists great interest in finding a way to bring a company's portal to the desktop of its customers.

System and method for embedding a context-sensitive web portal in a computer application


A gallium nitride-based HEMT device, comprising a channel layer formed of an InGaN alloy. Such device may comprise an AlGaN/InGaN heterostructure, e.g., in a structure including a GaN layer, an InGaN layer over the GaN layer, and a (doped or undoped) AlGaN layer over the InGaN layer. Alternatively, the HEMT device of the invention may be fabricated as a device which does not comprise any aluminum-containing layer, e.g., a GaN/InGaN HEMT device or an InGaN/InGaN HEMT device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices and method of making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
GaN based materials have physical and electronic properties that make them attractive for high temperature, high power and high frequency devices. Wide bandgap semiconductors (GaN and SiC) have inherently lower thermal carrier generation rates and higher breakdown fields compared to Si and GaAs, as shown in Table 1 below.
GaN has additional advantages including a high ( greater than 800 cm2/Vs) electron mobility and a high ( greater than 107 cm/sec) electron velocity. Furthermore, high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) which offer higher mobilities, better charge confinement and higher breakdown voltages can be fabricated in the AlGaN/GaN materials system. Room temperature radio frequency (8-10 GHz) output powers on the order of 6-8 W/mm are theoretically possible in the AlGaN/GaN materials system and power densities as high as 6.8 W/mm have recently been reported (S. T. Sheppard, et al., 56th Device Research Conference, Charlottesville, Va., Jun. 22-24, 1998).
While promising output powers have been reported in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs, materials-related issues continue to limit device performance. Persistent photoconductivity (PPC) and drain I-V collapse have been reported in AlGaN alloys (M. D. McCluskey, N. M. Johnson, C. G Van De Walle, D. P. Bour, M. Kneissl and W. Walukiewicz, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 521 (1998), p. 531) and AlGaN/GaN heterostructures (J. Z. Li, J. Y. Lin, H. X. Jiang, M. A. Khan and Q. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 82 (1997) 1227). These effects arise from carrier trapping and generation from deep levels in the material and can lead to poor high frequency performance, decreased drain currents and reduced output powers in a HEMT. PPC and current collapse in GaAs-based HEMTs have been attributed to defect-donor complexes (DX centers) in AlxGa1xe2x88x92xAs when x greater than 0.20. Evidence for oxygen DX-centers in Al-rich AlxGa1xe2x88x92xN (x greater than 0.27) has recently been reported (M. D. McCluskey, et al., ibid.). High Al content AlGaN layers (x greater than 0.20) are commonly used to achieve high sheet densities in AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures via piezoelectric-induced doping as shown by the data in FIG. 1, which is a plot of sheet density as a function of percent aluminum composition in undoped 23 nanometer AlGaN/GaN heterostructures.
In order to further improve the performance of III-V nitride HEMTs, methods must be identified to reduce or eliminate the deleterious effects of deep level defects that result from the use of high Al composition layers.
The present invention relates in one aspect thereof to a gallium nitride-based HEMT device, comprising a channel layer formed of an InGaN alloy.
Such device may comprise an AlGaN/InGaN heterostructure, e.g., in a structure including a GaN layer, an InGaN layer over the GaN layer, and an AlGaN layer over the InGaN layer. The AlGaN layer may be doped or undoped, as necessary or desired in a given end use application of the HEMT.
Alternatively, the HEMT device of the invention may be fabricated as a device which does not comprise any aluminum-containing layer, e.g., a GaN/InGaN HEMT device or an InGaN/InGaN HEMT device.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of fabricating a GaN-based HEMT device, comprising forming a channel layer for the device of an InGaN alloy.
Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

Indium gallium nitride channel high electron mobility transistors, and method of making the same


Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to shaping a waveform of a reference signal used by a driver of a touch sensor to limit electromagnetic emissions (EME) emitted by a touch sensor during a sensing operation. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to a DAC referenced touch sensor driver and controlling an amount of EME emitted at a touch sensor using shapes of reference signals used by a touch detector to detect touches at the touch sensor. Some disclosed embodiments relate, generally, to compensating for effects of foreign noise at a touch sensor. And more specifically, to changing a shape of a reference signal based on a change to a sampling rate made to compensate for foreign noise.

A typical touch interface system may incorporate touch sensors (e.g., capacitive sensors and/or resistive sensors, without limitation) that respond to an object in close proximity to, or physical contact with, a contact sensitive surface of a touch interface system. Such responses may be captured and interpreted to infer information about the contact, including a location of an object relative to the touch interface system.
Touchpads used with personal computers, including laptop computers and keyboards for tablets, often incorporate or operate in conjunction with a touch interface system. Displays often include touch screens that incorporate elements (typically at least a touch sensor) of a touch interface system to enable a user to interact with a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or computer applications. Examples of devices that incorporate a touch display include portable media players, televisions, smart phones, tablet computers, personal computers, and wearables such as smart watches, just to name a few. Further, control panels for automobiles, appliances (e.g., an oven, refrigerator or laundry machine) security systems, automatic teller machines (ATMs), residential environmental control systems, and industrial equipment may incorporate touch interface systems with displays and housings, including to enable buttons, sliders, wheels, and other touch elements.
While touch sensors emit electromagnetic emissions (EME), such as electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation, traditionally, designers of touch sensors have been primarily concerned with minimizing a touch sensor's susceptibility to EME from nearby devices. Touch sensors were in the past used in environments where EME limits were very forgiving. However, limits apply to touch sensors based on their function and the environment in which they are installed. The inventors of this disclosure appreciate that to meet the strict EME limits of new applications for touch sensors such as automotive applications, techniques and systems are needed to test, calibrate, and operate touch sensors.

Digital-to-analog controller-referenced touch sensing system, and related systems, methods, and devices


Media data files stored in a first computing device are transcoded for transferring to a second, portable computing device. The device parameters of the second computing device are determined by determining the type of the second computing device, and selecting one from a plurality of sets of predetermined, pre-stored device parameters for different types of second computing devices, based on the type of the second computing device. A selected media data file is transcoded in accordance with the determined device parameters of the second computing device, regardless of whether the second computing device is connected to the first computing device. When the second computing device is connected to the first computing device, the transcoded media data file is transferred from the first computing device to the second computing device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transcoding media data files, and more specifically, to transcoding media data files stored on a host computing device for use in a portable computing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional portable computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other types of handheld computing devices are designed to operate in conjunction with a host computing device such as a desktop computer or laptop computer. The portable computing device is sometimes used to carry documents originally stored on the host computing device so that the user can access the document using the portable computing device while he is away from the host computing device. For example, a user of the portable computing device may want to transfer a media file, such as a video file (e.g., MPEG file) or an audio file (e.g., mp3 file) stored on the host computing device to the portable computing device, so that user may watch the video or listen to music while the user is away from the host computing device.
An issue that arises when such media files are transferred from the host computing device to the portable computing device is that the device parameters of the portable computing device, such as the display size, depth of color, type of graphics engine, size of memory, audio characteristics, processor speed, and the like, may be different from the device parameters of the host computing device. Simply copying the media files from the host computing device to the portable computing device may not work, because the device parameters of the portable computing device may not be compatible with the characteristics of the original media file formatted for and stored in the host computing device.
Another issue arises when the portable computing device is disconnected from the host computing device in the middle of the transcoding process. Conventional data management software managing the transcoding process simply stops the transcoding process if the portable computing device is disconnected from the host computing device in the middle of the transcoding process. Thus, the conventional transcoding process has to be restarted all over again from the beginning if the portable computing device is reconnected to the host computing device.
Therefore, there is a need for transcoding media files to be compatible with the device parameters of the portable computing device when the media files are transferred from the host computing device to the portable computing device. There is also a need for a transcoding process that obviates restarting the transcoding process all over again from the beginning if the portable computing device is disconnected from the host computing device in the middle of the transcoding process and is then reconnected.

Transcoding media files in a host computing device for use in a portable computing device


A method of analysing the dynamic behavior of fracture networks in a seismic volume is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of seismic time lapse vintages of the same geological volume; identifying and parameterising fractures within fracture networks of each vintage; determining one or more distributions of fracture parameters for the fracture networks of each vintage; and identifying changes to the fracture networks by comparing corresponding distributions across the vintages.

The characterisation of fractures in reservoir formations can be important for understanding and predicting the behaviour of reservoirs. For example, fractures intersecting drilled wells may assist the flow of hydrocarbons from the reservoir and so increase production. Conversely, fractures may allow water to flow into wells and so decrease production.
Fractures at distances from drilled wells can also influence flow patterns at the wells. Furthermore, at distances from wells, generally only indirect seismic measurements of fractures are available, and so any information that can be extracted from seismic data can be of great value.
WO 2008/086352 describes a methodology for mapping fracture networks from seismic data using fracture enhancement attributes and fracture extraction methods.
For example, borehole data can be used to determine modes of fracture, and in particular whether fracture clusters or networks would be detectable in surface seismic data. It can also provide information on fracture network inclination (i.e. average inclination of the fractures in a network relative to the horizontal) and strike azimuth (i.e. average direction of intersection of the fractures in a network relative to the horizontal).
Discontinuity extraction software (DES), for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,342, may then be utilised to extract 3D volumes of fracture networks from surface seismic data.
Extracted fracture networks may further be parameterised in terms of the strength of their seismic response, and on their length, height and width.
Lacking from such known methodologies for mapping fracture networks, however, is characterisation of the dynamic behaviour of fracture networks.


A method of forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer includes forming a semiconductor layer of amorphous silicon on a substrate, forming a plurality of spot seeds in the semiconductor layer by irradiating a first laser beam through a crystallization mask, each of the plurality of spot seeds being equally spaced from one another and each having equal area, and forming a polycrystalline silicon layer along an entire surface of the substrate by irradiating a second laser beam onto the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a semiconductor layer, and more particularly, to a method of crystallizing amorphous silicon for a flat panel display device and a thin film transistor fabricated using a method of crystallizing amorphous silicon.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Presently, flat panel display (FPD) devices are being developed having high portability and low power consumption. Among various types of FPD devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are commonly used as monitors for notebook and desktop computers because of their ability to display high resolution images, wide ranges of different colors, and moving images.
In general, an LCD device includes a color filter substrate and an array substrate separated from each other by a liquid crystal layer, wherein the color filter substrate and the array substrate include a common electrode and a pixel electrode, respectively. When a voltage is supplied to the common electrode and the pixel electrode, an electric field is generated that affects orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer due to optical anisotropy within the liquid crystal layer. Consequently, light transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal layer become modulated and images are displayed by the LCD device.
The array substrate includes thin film transistors (TFTs) that function as switching elements. Since amorphous silicon may be formed on low-cost glass substrates at low temperatures, amorphous silicon is commonly used for active layers in the TFTs of an LCD device. In addition, since a driving circuit is required to drive the amorphous TFT (a-TFT), the driving circuit includes a plurality of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) elements having single crystalline silicon layers. Large-scale integration (LSI) circuits using single crystalline silicon layers are commonly connected to array substrates using amorphous silicon layers via connection systems, such as tape automated bonding (TAB). However, since the costs of fabricating the driving circuits are relatively high, costs of LCD devices using the driving circuits is also relatively high.
Currently, LCD devices are being developed to include TFTs using polycrystalline silicon as the active layer (poly-TFTs). Accordingly, driving circuits of the LCD devices incorporating poly-TFTs can be formed on the same substrate as the TFTs formed within pixel regions. Thus, additional processes for connecting the TFTs of the pixel regions with the driving circuits may be eliminated, thereby material costs for the driving circuits are reduced and the process of fabricating the LCD devices is simplified. In addition, since polycrystalline silicon has a field effect mobility greater than a field effect mobility of amorphous silicon, the LCD device incorporating the poly-TFTs has a faster response time and increased resistance to adverse effects due to heat and light.
Polycrystalline silicon may be deposited directly, or may be formed by crystallizing amorphous silicon deposited through a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method or by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method. Methods of crystallizing amorphous silicon may be classified into a solid phase crystallization (SPC) method, a metal induced crystallization (MIC) method, an excimer laser annealing (ELA) method, and a sequential lateral solidification (SLS) method. Among these various different methods of crystallizing amorphous silicon, an ELA method using ultraviolet (UV) light produced by an excimer laser is commonly used. In the ELA method, since a layer of amorphous silicon is annealed for a short time period, a substrate is not deteriorated even under a melting temperature of silicon. Accordingly, a polycrystalline silicon layer of excellent crystallinity is obtained by annealing an amorphous silicon layer with an excimer laser.
An ELA method includes melting a layer of amorphous silicon and instantaneous solidification when a laser beam of an excimer laser is irradiated onto the melted amorphous silicon. FIG. 1 is a graph showing a relationship between grain size and laser energy density from an excimer laser annealing method according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, an amorphous silicon layer having a thickness of about 500 Å shows that melting depth and crystallinity are determined by the energy density of the laser beam.
In FIG. 1, as an energy density of a laser beam increases, a melting depth from a top surface to an interface between liquid and solid states of the amorphous silicon increases and an amount of melted silicon also increases, wherein the amorphous silicon layer completely melts over a critical energy density "EC." The melting amorphous silicon layer is re-crystallized and converted into a polycrystalline silicon layer. Accordingly, crystallinity of the polycrystalline silicon layer depends on a state of melting the amorphous silicon layer.
A range of an energy density of the laser beam irradiated onto the amorphous silicon layer may be classified into three different regimes according to a state of melting the amorphous silicon layer: a partial melting (PM) regime; a nearly complete melting (NCM) regime; and a complete melting (CM) regime. In the PM regime, only an upper portion of the amorphous silicon layer melts. Accordingly, while the melting upper portion is re-crystallized, a grain vertically grows using the lower portion of the amorphous silicon layer as a seed. As a result, although grain size variation according to an energy density is small, grain size is also small within the PM regime. In the NCM regime, most of the amorphous silicon layer melts, to an interface of the amorphous silicon and the substrate, and a polycrystalline silicon layer is produced having a grain size of about 1000 Å to about 6000 Å. Specifically, as the energy density approaches the critical energy density "EC," grain size sharply increases. In the CM regime, all of the amorphous silicon layer melts and grain size is small due to homogeneous nucleation. Since a grain size of the polycrystalline silicon layer is largest within the NCM regime, energy density in the NCM regime is selected to crystallize the amorphous silicon layer.
FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic cross sectional views of an amorphous silicon crystallization process according to the related art. In FIG. 2A, most of a semiconductor layer 13 of amorphous silicon melts to an interface 14 between the semiconductor layer 13 and a substrate 10 immediately after a laser beam is irradiated within a completely melting regime. For example, the semiconductor layer 13 may include a melting portion 16 and non-melting portions 15 of amorphous silicon having first, second, third, and fourth sizes g1, g2, g3, and g4, and the non-melting portions 15. may be separated by first, second, and third distances d1, d2, and to d3.
In FIG. 2B, grains 17a grow using the non-melting portions 15 as seeds while the melting portion 16 is solidified.
In FIG. 2C, the grains 17b and 17c continue growing, thereby solidifying the whole semiconductor layer 13 to have final grains 17 of polycrystalline silicon. Since the positions of the non-melting portions 15 are randomly disposed, the final grains are randomly disposed and are not controllable.
However, within the NCM regime, grain size variation is large due to an energy density of the laser beam. Moreover, when a laser beam corresponding to the CM regime is irradiated, grain size is abruptly reduced. Thus, since grain size greatly varies even with small changes of the energy density, the ELA process has a narrow process window for achieving optimum results, wherein the process window is a process error margin where deterioration does not occur. As the process window becomes narrower, production yield decreases and production costs increase.
An excimer laser using source gases, such as xenon chloride (XeCl), having a wavelength of 308 nm does not irradiate a laser beam having an exact energy density. For example, when an energy density of 260 mJ/cm2 is set for the laser beam, the excimer laser cannot irradiate a laser beam having an exact energy density of 260 mJ/cm2 due to an inherent error of the excimer laser apparatus. Accordingly, grain size and distances between the grains are not uniform in the layer of polycrystalline silicon. Consequently, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, since positions and grain sizes g1, g2, g3, and g4 of the non-melting portions 15 of amorphous silicon and distances d1, d2, and d3 between the non-melting portions 15 are not controllable due to the narrow process window, the final grain sizes of the polycrystalline layer 13 are not uniform. Thus, the non-uniformity of the grain sizes deteriorates operational characteristics of a TFT using the polycrystalline layer 13.

Method of forming polycrystalline semiconductor layer and thin film transistor using the same


A charged-particle beam instrument is offered which can cancel out deflection aberrations arising from a first deflector or oblique incidence on the surface of a workpiece without (i) increasing the electrode length, (ii) reducing the inside diameter of the electrode, or (iii) increasing the deflection voltage too much. The instrument has an electron source for producing an electron beam, a demagnifying lens for condensing the beam, an objective lens for focusing the condensed beam onto the surface of the workpiece, the first deflector located behind the demagnifying lens, and a second deflector located ahead of the demagnifying lens. The first deflector determines the beam position on the surface of the workpiece. The second deflector cancels out deflection aberrations arising from the first deflector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged-particle beam instrument having a plurality of deflectors cooperating to cancel out their mutual deflection aberrations or oblique incidence.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, electron beam lithographic systems have become indispensable for manufacture of semiconductor devices.
FIG. 1 schematically shows one example of such an electron beam lithographic system. The system has an electron source 1 (such as a crossover point in an electron gun, an aperture irradiated with an electron beam and used to shape the cross section of the beam, or an image of the crossover point or the shaping aperture), a demagnifying lens 2 for forming an image of the electron source, and an objective lens 3 for focusing the image formed by the demagnifying lens 2 onto a workpiece 5 placed on a stage 4.
A deflector 6 is used such that an electron beam hits a position on the workpiece based on data about a pattern delineation position (hereinafter may be referred to as the pattern delineation position data). That is, the deflector 6 determines the position of the image formed on the workpiece 5. The stage 4 is driven by a stage-driving mechanism 7.
A controller 8 sends a deflection signal corresponding to the pattern delineation position data to the deflector 6 via a D/A converter 9 and via an amplifier 10. The controller 8 also sends a stage-driving signal to the stage-driving mechanism 7 via a D/A converter 12.
A blanking mechanism 13 is composed of a blanking deflector 14 and a blanking plate 15, and acts to blank the electron beam coming from the electron source 1 in response to a blanking signal based on pattern delineation time data sent in from the controller 8. For simplicity of illustration, only one deflector 6 is shown. In practice, there are deflectors for deflections in the X- and Y-directions, respectively. Similarly, there are stages 4 for motions in the X- and Y-directions, respectively.
In the lithographic system of the construction described above, when an actual semiconductor pattern is delineated, the electron beam from the electron source 1 is focused onto the workpiece 5 by the demagnifying lens 2 and objective lens 3. Under this condition, the beam is deflected by the deflector 6 according to the deflection signal based on the pattern position data from the controller 8 to write a desired pattern at a desired location on the workpiece 5.
When the electron beam is deflected by the deflector, deflection aberrations, such as deflection comatic aberration and deflection chromatic aberration, are produced. Furthermore, in such electron beam deflection, there is the problem of oblique incidence on the surface of the workpiece. A known method of suppressing such deflection aberrations and/or oblique incidence consists of mounting an additional deflector and canceling out deflection aberrations in the mutual deflectors and/or oblique incidence (see, for example, JP 59083336).
Even with the electron beam lithographic system shown in FIG. 1, in a case where the electron beam is deflected by the deflector 6, deflection aberrations and oblique incidence take place in the same way as in the foregoing case. This deteriorates the accuracy of deflection and lithography. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a second deflector 16 is disposed between the demagnifying lens 2 and the first deflector 6 on the electron beam path. The deflectors are cooperated to cancel out the deflection aberrations created by the mutual deflectors and/or oblique incidence. That is, the controller 8 applies a deflection voltage for canceling the aberration in the first deflector 6 and/or oblique incidence to the second deflector 16 via a D/A converter 17 and amplifier 18.
As the aberrations and/or oblique incidence is corrected in this way, the position on the workpiece 5 irradiated by the electron beam varies. Therefore, the deflection voltages to the first deflector 6 and second deflector 16 are determined such that the irradiated position (beam position) remains unchanged.
When the deflection aberrations due to the mutual deflectors are canceled out by cooperation of the first deflector 6 and second deflector 16 as described above, the deflection aberrations are equal in magnitude but opposite in sense (sign). Therefore, where the deflection aberration produced by the first deflector 6 is larger, it is necessary to increase the deflection aberration produced by the second deflector 16 accordingly.
For example, if the deflection range of the electron beam covered by the first deflector 6 is increased to enhance the throughput of the pattern delineation, the deflection aberration increases accordingly. Therefore, the deflection aberration produced by the second deflector 16 must be increased accordingly. The same principle applies to the case where the oblique incidence is canceled out.
If the center position of deflection is not varied, the magnitude of deflection aberration produced by a deflector is determined by the deflection angle. That is, the magnitude depends on the length (electrode length) of the electrode forming the deflector taken along the center axis, electrode-electrode distance (inside diameter of the electrode assuming that the deflector is made of a cylindrical electrode), and the voltage (deflection voltage) applied to the electrode. Accordingly, the deflection aberration is increased by (1) increasing the length of the electrode, (2) reducing the inside diameter of the electrode, (3) increasing the deflection voltage, or (4) using a combination of them.
However, in the optical system shown in FIG. 1, it is difficult to increase the electrode length of the second deflector 16 because of spatial restrictions. Furthermore, if the inside diameter of the electrode of the second deflector 16 is reduced, the inner surface of the electrode is brought accordingly closer to the optical axis of the electron beam. Consequently, the problem that deposition of contaminants arises from scattering electrons tends to be produced more easily. Also, charging effects tend to be produced more frequently.
In addition, in order to improve the throughput, higher-speed operation is necessary. For this purpose, the deflection voltage should be lowered. From this viewpoint, increasing the deflection voltage of the second deflector 16 greatly will result in a detrimental effect.


Novel nucleic acid molecules encoding a pre-fusion RSV F protein or immunologically active part thereof are described, and the pre-fusion RSV F protein contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. Use of the nucleic acid molecules, or vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules, as a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also described.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious childhood pathogen of the respiratory tract which is believed to be responsible for ˜200,000 childhood deaths annually. In children younger than 2 years, RSV accounts for approximately 50% of the hospitalizations due to respiratory infections, with a peak of hospitalization occurring at 2-4 months of age. It has been reported that almost all children will have experienced infection with RSV by the age of two, and repeated infection during life is attributed to low natural immunity. In the elderly, the RSV disease burden is similar to those caused by non-pandemic influenza A infections. A vaccine against RSV is currently not available, but is desired due to the high disease burden.
RSV is a paramyxovirus, belonging to the subfamily of pneumovirinae. Its genome encodes for various proteins, including the membrane proteins known as RSV Glycoprotein (G) and RSV fusion (F) protein which are the major antigenic targets for neutralizing antibodies.
Unlike the RSV G protein, the F protein is conserved between RSV strains; which makes it an attractive vaccine candidate able to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies. The F protein is a transmembrane protein and it is incorporated in the virion membrane from cellular membrane during virus budding. The RSV F protein facilitates infection by fusing the viral and host-cell membranes. In the process of fusion, the F protein refolds irreversibly from a labile pre-fusion conformation to a stable post-fusion conformation. The protein precursor, F0, requires cleavage during intracellular maturation by a furin-like protease. There are two furin sites, cleavage of which results in removal of a p27 peptide and formation of two domains: an N-terminal F2 domain and a C-terminal F1 domain (FIG. 1). The F2 and F1 domains are connected by two cystine bridges. Antibodies against the fusion protein can prevent virus uptake in the cell and thus have a neutralizing effect. Besides being a target for neutralizing antibodies, RSV F contains cytotoxic T cell epitopes (Pemberton et al, 1987, J. Gen. Virol. 68: 2177-2182).
Despite 50 years of research, there is still no licensed vaccine against RSV. One major obstacle to the vaccine development is the legacy of vaccine-enhanced disease in a clinical trial in the 1960s with a formalin-inactivated (FI) RSV vaccine. FI-RSV vaccinated children were not protected against natural infection and infected children experienced more severe illness than non-vaccinated children, including two deaths. This phenomenon is referred to as 'enhanced disease'.
Since the trial with the FI-RSV vaccine, various approaches to generate an RSV vaccine have been pursued. Attempts include classical live attenuated cold passaged or temperature sensitive mutant strains of RSV, (chimeric) protein subunit vaccines, peptide vaccines and RSV proteins expressed from recombinant viral vectors, including adenoviral vectors. Although some of these vaccines showed promising pre-clinical data, no vaccine has been licensed for human use due to safety concerns or lack of efficacy.
Therefore, a need remains for efficient vaccines and methods of vaccinating against RSV, in particular vaccines that do not lead to enhanced disease. The present invention aims at providing such vaccines and methods for vaccinating against RSV in a safe and efficacious manner.


A compact lightweight flexible disposable game carrying sled comprises a flexible high density polyethylene sheet configured to receive game thereon and be dragged along the ground during transport of the game. A plurality of sets of holes defining lines are in spaced locations along the sheet. A plurality of tie down lines are included, with each tie down line weaving through one set of holes to couple the line to the flexible sheet. The tie down lines are configured to completely encircle the game to secure the game to the sheet. A plurality of intersecting uniform material thickness fold lines extend across the sheet, allowing the sheet to be folded to form a compact structure for storage and for transport when not in use and unfolded when the game carrying sled is to be used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hunters accessories namely to a compact, lightweight, flexible disposable game carrying sled to assist hunters in transporting game from generally remote hunting locations.
2. Background Information
Game hunting is a popular recreational activity and it is the larger game animals, such as deer, antelope, moose, elk, bear, sheep, goats and the like, that receive the most attention from hunters (and of these popular game, deer represent, by far, the most popular game). These larger game animals often reside in remote areas. Hunters often travel by foot into wilderness areas to hunt big game. When the animals have been killed, there is a need to pull the animals out of these wilderness areas because many of these areas are inaccessible to vehicles, although ATVs are used to reach places which cars and trucks cannot. Trail-less areas cannot be easily reached even by ATVs. Further, select areas may be "protected" by government regulation or by property owner's requirement that will restrict or prohibit ATV access. In such situations, the harvested game is generally dressed out, or eviscerated, in the field (i.e., "field dressed"), and then towed to a road (or access area) where a vehicle may be brought in order to transport the carcass out of the area.
Transporting the game to the road, however, after it is killed and field dressed is often a major undertaking. Once the quarry is taken, there is the task of transporting the carcass back to a point that is accessible with a vehicle of some type. Often the hunter must move the quarry across rough terrain to bring it to an access point. Due to the size and weight of the medium and large game which is often hunted, and the rugged terrain over which it may be necessary to tow the harvested game, a single person may find it extremely difficult to tow an animal along the ground. Without assistance, dragging a game such as a deer presents a large amount of physical stress to the body, sometimes resulting in heart attack and death. Furthermore, the harvested animal will become dirty, battered, and torn as it is towed along. Rocks and other rough objects may tear or otherwise damage the skin.
There have been a number of devices, herein classified as Game Carriers to assist hunters in this transporting of the game and reduce the physical stress associated with transporting harvested game. The first broad category within the meaning of this patent application is a motorized self-propelled game cart, the most common example of which is an ATV with a game carrying attachment which carries both the hunter and the game. A motorized game cart need not accommodate the hunter and may be a self propelled cart. An example of such a non-passenger type motorized game cart is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,825, which is incorporated herein by reference, entitled "game sled" that uses a winch to power the game carrier and pull the game carrier over the terrain.
The second class of Game Carriers to assist hunters in the transporting of game is a game cart, namely a wheeled frame that the hunter can use to transport the game out of the remote location. Representative examples of game carts are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,260,864; 6,516,919; 5,887,676; 5,492,196; 5,433,291; 5,295,556; 4,321,982; and 3,282,375, which are incorporated herein by reference.
A third class of game carriers that can be used for midsize game (that has been long popular in Hollywood movie depictions of indigenous or primitive cultures) is a two person shouldered beam upon which the game is slung. Representative examples of this very old game carrier genre are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,497 and U.S. Patent Publication Number 2009-0233535.
This two person shouldered beam game carrier also called a sling type litter or pole litter, although the term "litter" often has the connotation of human cargo, namely wounded transport. This is similar to a kago (M) which is a Japanese type of sedan chair, suspended by a single crossbeam, carried by two men, usually used to transport one person at a time.
A fourth class of Game Carriers within the meaning of this application is a game drag, which is namely a rope or harness system that is attached to the game and with which the hunters can pull the game. The most common type of game drag is simply a length of rope that the hunter can fasten to the game in a variety of attachment techniques. Representative examples of game drags are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,889,882; 6,755,454; 6,457,763; 6,129,399; 6,089,636; 5,848,816; 5,145,224; 5,029,921; 4,431,121; 3,346,154; 3,077,292; 3,038,644 and 2,592,771 which are incorporated herein by reference.
A final class of Game Carriers within the meaning of this application is a game carrying sled (also called a game skid or "game sled" as noted in the '825 patent discussed above which is classified above as a "motorized game cart" as it is a self-propelled game carrying sled). This is the grouping of Game Carriers in which the present invention is classified, and is generally a device upon which the game is supported and the sled is pulled along the ground. A game drag can be used with a game carrying sled with the game drag attached to the sled or the game. Consequently some game sleds incorporate a game drag into the system.
A very old form or game carrying sled, or general pack sled, is called a travois. A travois is a form of sled made by fastening two long poles together over the back of a horse or dog (or ATV or human), then building a platform near where they drag to support game or any cargo.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,456, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a game carrying sled including a flexible panel of slippery material fitted with a game drag included with both shoulder straps and hand straps used to drag game from a hunting area. A similar portable game carrying sled with a flexible sheet with a rope handle game drag is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,808, which is incorporated herein by reference.
A portable sled for transporting injured persons or animals is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,393 and is formed of a rolled plastic sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,427 shows a game carrying sled that includes a fixed frame sled with hold down straps and game drag pulling straps affixed to the front of the sled for pulling an animal secured to the sled. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,283,068; 4,335,891 and 3,222,080 disclose hard frame game carrying sleds for transporting game animals (or injured individuals).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,823, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a game carrying sled with a flexible sheet or body that is wrapped around an animal carcass to allow the carcass to slip over the terrain with minimal friction when the game dragged head first.
An ornamental design for a game carrying sled is disclosed in the 1993 U.S. Design Pat. No. D334,093 showing a rigid sled structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,698, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a collapsible game carrying sled which includes a rigid peripheral frame with a flexible sheet secured there over.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,547,024, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a game carrying sled which includes a polymer sheet formed with eyelets to permit the attachment of straps to fix the carcass to the top surface of the sheet. The polymer sheet is configured to be rolled for storage in a quiver and wherein in use the quiver is placed at the front edge of the sheet to stiffen and round the front edge so as to form a toboggan and game drag attachment point.
The above described rigid or frame sled structures are rather large and add to the overall cost of the device and to the bulk which must be carried into hunting areas by the hunters. The relatively high cost, excess weight, and bulky nature is believed to minimize the commercial success and consumer acceptance of these solutions.
Even the flexible game carrying sled structures disclosed above are difficult to carry into the remote areas in spite of the fact that they may be rolled up into a cylindrical package as shown with the '024 patent design. The '823 design represents a more flexible design than much of the prior art, but even this design is difficult to form into a compact lightweight structure that hunters are willing to carry with them into the woods. Furthermore none of these designs can be manufactured sufficiently inexpensively to effectively form a disposable game carrying sled.
There remains a need in the art to develop a compact, light weight disposable game carrying sled.

Compact lightweight flexible disposable game carrying sled


A new Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0003’ particularly distinguished by the large sized corymbs with medium red-purple colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, vigorous and upright habit with strong branches, and tolerates hot, summer conditions.

The present invention comprises a new Pentas, botanically known as Pentas lanceolata, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'PEZZ0003'.
'PEZZ0003' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar 'PEZZ0003' has large sized inflorescences with medium red-purple colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, vigorous and upright habit with strong branches, and tolerates hot, summer conditions.
'PEZZ0003' originates from a hybrid cross made in a breeding program in October 2007 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as '206-4' with cherry colored flowers.
The male parent of 'PEZZ0003' was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as '209-2' with slightly lighter lavender flower color when compared to 'PEZZ0003'. The resultant seed was sown in May 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.
'PEZZ0003' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in September 2008 in Gilroy, Calif.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'PEZZ0003' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in September 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.


Disclosed are a system, apparatus, and method for in-situ creation of planar natural feature targets. In one embodiment, a planar target is initialized from a single first reference image one or more subsequent images are processed. In one embodiment, the planar target is tracked in six degrees of freedom upon the processing of the one or more subsequent images and a second reference image is selected from the processed one or more subsequent images. In one embodiment, upon selecting the second reference image the planar target is refined to a more accurate planar target.

Camera sensor data or images can be used as input to build a 3D map of an environment. In an augmented reality (AR) system, virtual objects can be inserted into a device display, the virtual objects interacting with or replacing real/physical world objects. An AR system can include input from a camera sensor to record real world objects as images or video, and display an AR view on the device display.
AR systems can implement a tracking system to estimate a user's position and orientation (pose) relative to a reference. Traditional tracking systems are limited by the type of reference tracked as well as by initialization procedures used to begin tracking. For example, in traditional tracking systems, a previously acquired reference or an artificial marker may be used to initialize tracking of a 3-Dimensional (3D) model of an environment. Otherwise, without the previously known reference, objects may appear at the wrong location or float around the map of the environment.
A tracking system utilizing a single camera may also rely upon initializing a 3D map from two subsequent reference images captured by the single camera. Creating a 3D map using traditional techniques based on the two reference images is only possible if the camera motion between the two reference images is appropriate, and also maintains enough overlap between the scenes in both images.
Traditional tracking implementations may also rely on direct user input to select the two reference images or may provide an additional visual target to record 6 degrees of freedom (6 DoF) camera motion before a 3D map can be initialized.
For example, some tracking methods require the user to perform a specific unintuitive motion sequence without visual feedback so that 3D reconstruction methods can be used to find a real plane of the target.
As a result of the above limitations of traditional methods of tracking technologies the current augmented reality user experience can feel unnatural. Moreover, most users are unlikely to know or understand the motions necessary for traditional tracking initialization using two reference images. Typical users are also frequently confused as to why they should have to perform the specific motions before an augmented reality system can display tracking updates for a scene.
Accordingly, improved user-friendly 3D environment initialization and tracking are desired.

In situ creation of planar natural feature targets


A method for low power communication links between wireless devices is described. The method includes establishing, by a first wireless device, a first magnetic communication link to a source wireless device through a human body. The method also includes establishing, by a second wireless device, a second magnetic communication link to the source wireless device through the human body. The method also includes receiving, by the first wireless device via the first magnetic communication link and the second wireless device via the second magnetic communication link, communications from the source wireless device through the human body.

Advances in electronic technology have reduced the cost of increasingly complex and useful wireless devices. Cost reduction and consumer demand have proliferated the use of wireless devices to the point that they are relied upon to function in everyday life. As the use of wireless devices has expanded, so has the demand for new and improved features of wireless devices. More specifically, wireless devices that perform new functions, or that perform functions faster, more efficiently or more reliably are often sought after.
To meet consumer demand, wireless devices need to operate very efficiently when it comes to the use of battery power. For example, many wireless devices are becoming increasingly smaller but require much more sustained battery operating times even with smaller battery sizes. The specific wireless communication technology that a wireless device uses to communicate to other wireless devices can have a significant impact on its battery life. For example, magnetic communication is a type of wireless communication technology that can allow wireless devices to operate at lower power levels. In order to increase battery savings on wireless devices, there is a need to provide a way for low power communication links between wireless devices.

Low power communication links between wireless devices


In an engine oil filter system in which: a filter-attachment base is joined to one side surface of an engine; and an oil filter which filters lubricating oil supplied to the engine from an oil pump is attached to the filter-attachment base, an oil cooler for cooling down the lubricating oil transferred between the engine and the oil filter is formed integrally with the filter-attachment base. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an inexpensive engine oil filter system which includes an oil cooler constituted by utilizing a filter-attachment base, and which thus eliminates the need to modify an oil filter and also the need to form, on an engine, an attachment portion to which the oil cooler is exclusively attached.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine oil filter system comprising: a filter-attachment base joined to one side surface of an engine; and an oil filter attached to the filter-attachment base, the oil filter filtering lubricating oil supplied to the engine from an oil pump, and, especially, relates to an oil filter system with an oil cooler.
2. Description of the Related Art
An engine oil filter system including an oil filter attached to a side surface of an engine with a filter-attachment base interposed therebetween has already been known as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-270691.
In addition, the following two techniques have been known that each provide an engine with an oil cooler for cooling down lubricating oil: a technique that integrates an oil cooler in an oil filter (refer to Published Japanese Translation No. 2004-513283 of PCT/US2001/045617); and a technique that separately attaches an oil cooler to an engine.
The technique that integrates an oil cooler in an oil filter requires a considerable modification of the structure, which is complex, of the oil filter itself, in turn leading to a significant increase in the manufacturing cost by necessity. On the other hand, the technique that separately attaches an oil cooler to an engine requires that an attachment portion to which an oil cooler is exclusively attached be formed on an engine, and thus is very limited in terms of layout.


A fall protection harness that includes: an adjustable belt having a front, a back, a first side and a second side; a tie-in point; a first weight supporting loop having a first front section connected to the front of the belt and a first back section connected to the back of the belt; a second weight supporting loop having a second front section connected to the front of the belt and a second back section connected to the back of the belt; a first lateral member extending between the first front section and the first back section; and a second lateral member extending between the second front section and the second back section. The weight supporting loops and the lateral members define openings that are adapted to encircle a wearer's legs, and the back sections are adapted to support the wearer's lower back and/or buttocks.

The present invention relates to a fall protection harness, and more particularly a fall protection harness which supports various portions of a wearer's body.
Individuals engaged in rigorous activities such as climbing, rescue activities, or construction typically employ equipment or systems to prevent accidental falls. One such system commonly used is a fall protection harness worn by the individual. The harness is typically connected to a rope which is then secured to a structure in a manner well known in the art. Since fall protection harnesses are worn during strenuous physical activities, it is important that the harness not unduly restrict a user's motion.
A sit harness is one common type of fall protection harness. Sit harnesses typically include a belt worn around a user's waist and leg loops which encircle the user's upper legs. The leg loops are typically attached at the front and back to the front and back of the belt by webbing. For some harnesses, the back of the leg loops are often unattached. It is known to provide thin members between the back of the leg loops and the back of the belt. Such members are provided to position the leg loops on the proper portion of the wearer's legs and are not relied upon to support the wearer's weight. Accordingly, sit harness of the prior art only support a wearer at the waist and thighs. No support is provided for the wearer's buttocks. This can lead to discomfort especially in situations where a wearer is relying on the harness to support his or her weight for extended periods of time, such as during rock climbing.
Sit harnesses of the prior art which use thin webbing to attach the leg loops to the belt are prone to tangling during nonuse, as the straps and leg loops become intertwined. This is especially the case when more than one harness is stored together. The straps supporting the leg loops are typically removable from the belt or leg loops, therefore, in addition to untangling the harness, a wearer may have to reassemble straps that have come loose before putting on the harness. These types of harnesses are also typically difficult to put on since the leg loops, which are held to the belt by only thin straps, have to be properly held in positioned when the legs are inserted.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a fall protection harness, which provides support over a significant portion of a user's body without restricting movement. It is also desirable to provide a fall protection harness that is easy to put on and comfortable to wear when suspending the wearer or when the user is in an unsuspended position.