A handheld apparatus including (a) a motorized hand-piece including a mechanical rotatable coupling shaft which is caused to rotate so that it imparts a rotating motion to the coupling shaft; (b) an interface cup member which includes a body with an exterior surface having hook and loop fasteners thereon and a lower surface with an interface opening which is affixed to the coupling member of the mechanical rotatable shaft; and (c) the hand-piece individually retaining a multiplicity of different interchangeable components which are used for different purposes, each different component affixed on one surface to the hook and loop fasteners of the interface cup and which rotate when the motorized hand piece is energized and causes the interface cup to rotate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of cosmetic cleaning machines which are used to gently perform dermabrasion on facial skin, apply makeup and clean pores in the skin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The following 11 prior art patent and published patent applications are the closest prior art to the present invention:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,695 issued to Sanjay Aiyar on Dec. 5, 1995 for "Motorized Brush" (hereafter the "Aiyar Patent");
2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,289 issued to Linda S. Herbert on Jun. 11, 2002 for "Skin Cleaning Device" (hereafter the "Herbert Patent");
3. U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,983 issued to Roger G. Ignon on Oct. 7, 2003 for "Apparatus and Method for Skin/Surface Abrasion" (hereafter the "Ignon Patent");
4. U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,953 issued to Fu-Chung Ko on Jan. 3, 2006 for "Dual-Functional Massage Bar Used In Bath" (hereafter the "Ko Patent");
5. United States Published Patent Application No. 2007/0066919 to Jean-Louis Gueret on Mar. 22, 2007 for "Massage Device And Method" (hereafter the "Gueret Published Patent Application");
6. U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,981 issued to Gabriel Bernaz on May 6, 2008 for "Device for Dermabrasion" (hereafter the "Bernaz Patent");
7. U.S. Pat. No. 7,384,405 issued to Dean L. Rhoades on Jun. 10, 2008 for "Oxygenating Cosmetic Instrument Having Various Numbers of Heads" (hereafter the "'405 Rhoades Patent");
8. U.S. Pat. No. 7,572,238 issued to Dean L. Rhoades on Aug. 11, 2009 for "Handheld Sonic Microdermabrasion Porous Applicator" (hereafter the "'238 Rhoades Patent");
9. United States Published Patent Application No. 2011/0270274 to Raymond J. Hull, Jr. on Nov. 3, 2011 for "Handheld, Personal Skin Care Systems With Detachable Skin Care Elements" (hereafter the "Hull Published Patent Application");
10. U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,465 issued to Nicolas Duru Apr. 17, 2012 for "Applicator and a Kit Including Such An Applicator" (hereafter the "Duru Patent");
11. United States Published Patent Application No. 2012/0233798 to Gerald K. Brewer et al. and assigned to Pacific Bioscience Laboratories, Inc. on Sep. 20, 2012 for "Brushhead For Electric Skin Brush Appliance" (hereafter the "Brewer Published Patent Application").
The Aiyar Patent discloses a motorized brush which imparts vibrational motion to a scrubbing brush head. The brush includes a water-tight housing, in which a small electric motor is mounted. The motor includes an eccentric weight mounted to its drive shaft. In use, the motor is energized, causing the eccentric weight to be rotated. The eccentric weight vibrates the brush head without rotating it. This vibrational motion provides an effective scrubbing action without the necessity for complex sealing mechanisms connecting the brush head to the motor shaft.
The Herbert Patent discloses a skin cleaning device for removing dirt, oils and dead skin. The skin cleaning device includes a housing having a first end and a second end. The first end has a cavity extending therein. A motor is positioned in the housing and is located generally adjacent to the second end. A shaft is mechanically coupled to the motor and extends through the second end of the housing. The motor is adapted for rotating the shaft. The shaft has a free end defining a female coupler. A power supply is operationally coupled to the motor. A disc has a first side and a second side. The first side has a convex shape. A male coupler is integrally attached to the second side and is generally centrally located on the second side of the disc. The male coupler is removably insertable into the female coupler for releasably attaching the disc to the shaft. A plurality of cleaning pads each has a peripheral edge. An elastic member is attached to and extends around the peripheral edge such that each of the pads forms a sock positionable over the first side of the disc. The motor rotates the disc such that the pads may be used for cleaning skin of the user.
The Ignon Patent discloses a dermabrasion hand-piece adapted for use to abrade the skin of a patient which includes a housing extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. Portions of the housing define a hole at the distal end with an abrasion element disposed in the housing in proximity to the hole. The housing is adapted for connection to a vacuum source to pull a portion of the skin through the hole and to move the skin portion into contact with the abrasion element. Movement of the abrader relative to the skin abrades tissue from the skin portion extending through the hole. The abrader can be provided in the form of a roller or blade moveable relative to the housing to abrade the skin. The abrasion element can be selected from a series of elements each having different abrasion characteristics and can be mounted in either the cap or the base of the housing.
The attachment mechanisms are retained by suction.
The Ko Patent discloses a dual-functional massage bar used in a bath which includes a main body which is combined by a pair of corresponding halves having a plurality of balls disposed spaced apart on one side, a piece of first Velcro® attached to the other side opposite to the balls for engaging a piece of sponge which has a piece of second Velcro on its underside engaged with the piece of the first Velcro®, an externally threaded tubular adapter on the rear end of the main body in which is a motor and a vibrator, a tube having internal threads screwed onto the tubular adapter with a pair sealing rings engaged therein between, a pair of batteries disposed into the tube and the adapter and biased by a spring and three switch buttons spacedly disposed on the front side of the main body and protected by a piece of thin membrane. The piece of sponge may be replaced by a brush and/or a piece of cloth.
The Gueret Published Patent Application deals with a massage member and Paragraphs 0055 through 0062 state the following:                "The membrane 4 may be secured in various ways to the handle 2, and the frame 3 may be overmolded onto the membrane, for example, or vice versa. In exemplary embodiments, the membrane 4 may be secured to the frame 3 by heat-sealing or by adhesive, or may be held thereon by a holding part, as described below.
It is also possible for the massage member 4 to be mounted removably, thereby making it possible, for example, for the user to clean the massage member 4 more easily, or to select the massage member 4 as a function of the treatment to be performed.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the massage member 4 may be configured in such a manner as to be fastened in an interchangeable manner on the handle 2, by snap-fastening on the frame 3, for example. At the periphery, the massage member 4 may include a bead 9 that may be configured to snap-fasten in an annular groove 10 formed on an inside surface of the frame 3.
By including a massage member 4 that may be removably-fastenable, the user may use a single handle 2 and a plurality of massage members 4 including different characteristics, the user being able to select the massage member 4 that may be suitable for a particular region of the body or of the face, and/or that may be suitable for a type of treatment to be performed, for example, stimulating blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, dermabrasion, or applying a composition.
For example, the massage members 4 associated with the handle 2 may include portions in relief 7 that are different.
FIG. 7 illustrates the possibility of the handle 2 including a removable frame 3. The massage member 4 may then be capable of being connected in a non-removable manner to the frame 3.
The user may thus replace a frame 3 provided with a massage member 4 with another frame 3 provided with a different massage member.
For example, the frame 3 may be fastened in a removable manner on the body 11 of the handle by co-operating portions in relief 12 and 13."
The Bernaz Patent discloses the concept of having removable abrasive pieces as disclosed in Column 2 Lines 49 through 58 which read as follows: Advantageously, the abrasive surface is carried on a removable piece of rigid or flexible material on the oscillating support. Thus, the device can include several interchangeable pieces each with a different abrasive surface and/or of a different size. For example, one can have several interchangeable pieces having an identical abrasive surface, but with different lengths adapted to skin treatment on different parts of the body, and/or several interchangeable pieces with different abrasive surfaces designed to produce a more or less pronounced microabrasion."
The '405 Rhoades Patent discloses an apparatus including a handle capable of manipulation by a human hand, and one or more head portions to mate to various types of treatment attachments, which may be moved over an area of skin and/or body part by a motion generator moving the head portions, and/or by a user manipulating the handle. Various suitable attachments include applicator attachments having abrasive surfaces, oxygenating attachments having pores through which oxygen may travel, brush attachments for cleaning and polishing, thermal attachments for heating and cooling, and light radiating attachments. The motion generator may move the attachments by vibrating, spinning, oscillating, or propagating sonic waves through the head portions. Thus, attachments may be attached and removed from the head portions to treating skin and/or body parts by abrasion, cleaning, polishing, lighting, or oxygenation. Moreover, during treatment abrasive composition, cleaning solution, and/or polishing solution may be applied to the skin and/or body part.
The '238 Rhoades Patent again is a handheld sonic microdermabrasion porous applicator. It discloses a composition including a base and a plurality of abrasive particles. An apparatus including a head, and an applicator coupled to the head, the applicator having dimensions suitable for contacting localized areas of human skin. A method including applying a composition to an area of human skin, the composition comprising a base and a plurality of abrasive particles, and manipulating the composition over the area of human skin with a handle-operated instrument.
The Hull Published Patent Application discloses in Paragraphs 28 through 31 the following:                "Referring again to FIG. 1, the skin care element holder 200 is a substantially circular plate 202 having a diameter between about 20 mm and about 60 mm. It has a first surface 204 arranged and configured for coupling to the skin care element 100, a second surface 206, opposite the first surface, and an outer peripheral edge 208. The second surface is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The second surface 206 has a plurality of engagement arms 210 extending from the second surface 206 in a direction away from the first surface, at least one of said engagement arms comprising a snap-fit projection 212 for engagement with recesses in an associated receptacle. At least one spacer leg 214 extends from the second surface 206 in a direction away from the first surface 204 to support the plate 202 when fitted into an associated receptacle. This spacer leg 214 also adds strength to the skin care element holder 200 to help resist damage, especially when the system is mishandled and/or dropped. The plate 202 also has at least one key 216 extending from the second surface 204 in a direction away from the first surface that is arranged and configured to fit into a notch in an associated receptacle. The second surface 206 may also have one or more optional centering flange(s) 218 to improve the fit of the skin care element holder 200 in the receptacle 12. Like the spacer leg(s), this centering flange 218 also adds strength to the skin care element holder 200 to help resist damage. Alternatively, the functions of the spacer leg(s) and the centering flange(s) may be combined into one or more separate structures spaced about the second surface 206.        The engagement arms 210 provide a snap-fit engagement with recesses in an associated receptacle to hold the plate 202 in place during use. Preferably, there are three engagement arms 210, each having a snap-fit projection 212 extending outwardly from the center of the substantially circular plate 202. Alternatively, one or two of the three engagement arms 210 have a flange to fit into a recess associated with a mating receptacle, and the remaining engagement arm(s) have a snap-fit projection. Thus, much like a battery compartment door, one or more flanges fit into a recess in a receptacle, and an opposite engagement arm has a snap fit project to secure the plate in place for use. Preferably, the three engagement arms 210 are substantially evenly spaced around the substantially circular plate 202, such as about 120.degree. around the plate 202. In addition, the engagement arms 210 are disposed proximate, but spaced inward from the outer peripheral edge 208. This permits the second surface 206 of the plate 202 to be positioned above a rim of a receptacle of a handheld body.        Preferably, the at least one spacer leg 214 engages with a surface in an associated receptacle to support the therein. This reduces the likelihood of significant relative motion between the plate 202 and the associated receptacle that may cause an audibly perceptive rattle during use. In addition, the at least one key 216 extending from the second surface 204 of the plate 202 can engage a notch in an associated receptacle. This key 216 can cooperate with the engagement arms 210 to prevent significant relative rotational motion between the plate 202 and receptacle 12 during use.        Preferably, the outer peripheral edge 208 of the substantially circular plate 202 is the outer circumference of a circle of constant radius from the center of the plate. In this embodiment, the plate 202 is truly circular. Alternatively, the outer peripheral edge 208 is defined by a geometrical surface having a variable radius from the center of the plate; however, the maximum radius and minimum radius have a difference of less than about 3 mm, and more preferably of less than about 2 mm. This generally circular form of the plate improves the safety of the system for a rotating or oscillating skin care system. In yet another alternative form, the outer peripheral edge 208 may have a resilient material 220 (as shown in FIG. 3B) disposed thereon to cushion any irregularities in the peripheral edge 208."
The Duru Patent discloses: an applicator for applying a composition to the human body, the applicator comprising: a support that is configured to be mounted in removable manner on an appliance that enables movement to be transmitted to said support; a reservoir that is secured to the support and that contains the composition, the reservoir being defined, at least in part, by at least one closure element; an applicator element that is secured to the support at least during use; and an opener element that is suitable for acting on the closure element in order to put the reservoir and the applicator element into communication.
The Brewer Published Patent Application discloses the brushhead which is used in a power skin brush appliance which includes a drive system having a single drive member. The brushhead includes a base assembly mountable to the drive system with an optional outer annular fixed portion and an inner portion which in operation oscillates back and forth at a selected sonic frequency through a selected angle in response to action of the drive system. Mounted on the outer portion is a first group of filament tufts. Mounted on the oscillating portion are three concentric groups of filament tufts. Each oscillating group of filament tufts includes two annular rings of filament tufts. The filament tufts in the oscillating filament tuft groups have a selected physical characteristic which in one embodiment is diameter, which differs between the respective oscillating filament tuft groups sufficiently to produce a differential stiffness between the filaments thereof to in turn produce an out of phase motion of the tips of the filaments between the three oscillating filament tuft groups.

Rotating handheld motorized hand-piece including combination interchangeable microdermabrasion brush head, interchangeable heads having a latex sponge, and hook and loop fasteners to removably retain cleaning pads


This disclosure provides a display substrate, a production method thereof, and a display apparatus. The display substrate comprises: a display area; and a pad area outside the display area. The pad area comprises at least one pad. The pad comprises: a metal layer, which comprises a first metal sublayer and a second metal sublayer laminated on the first metal sublayer, wherein a corrosion resistance of the second metal sublayer is stronger than that of the first metal sublayer; and a conductive material layer, which covers a side surface of the metal layer.

A pad used for a display apparatus comprises a metal sublayer with a relatively weak corrosion resistance, which is revealed at an edge of the pad, and the revealed metal sublayer may be damaged and thereby the pad and the display apparatus are impaired when an electrode etching process is subjected to an electrode in a display area.
In order to prevent the occurrence of the problem described above, the edge of the pad is typically covered with a pixel defining layer material such as polyimide or poly(methyl methacrylate). However, since the pixel defining layer is typically thick, the pixel defining layer covering the pad area is required to be thinned in order not to influence the quality of welding. This thinning is required to be performed by using a half-tone mask, then depositing a conductive material layer, and etching the conductive material layer, and thus the cost increases and the process becomes complex.

Display substrate, production method thereof, and display apparatus

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method for leveling a jacked vehicle may involve: (a) sensing a pitch angle of the vehicle; (b) sensing a roll angle of the vehicle; (c) producing a pitch reference value that is related to the sensed pitch angle of the vehicle; (d) producing a roll reference value that is related to the sensed roll angle of the vehicle; (e) extending a vehicle jack that affects at least the pitch angle of the vehicle at a speed that is related to the pitch reference value; (f) extending a vehicle jack that affects at least the roll angle of the vehicle at a speed that is related to the roll reference value; and (g) repeating (a)-(f) until the sum of the pitch and roll angles falls below a predetermined angle.

Numerous kinds of vehicles having retractable jacks for stabilization and/or lifting are known in the art and are used in a wide range of applications. Typically, the stabilizing jacks are hydraulically operated and are moveable between retracted and extended positions. When in the retracted position, the stabilizing jacks are out of the way and allow the vehicle to move about without interference from the jacks. When in the extended position, the stabilizing jacks contact the ground and support at least a portion, if not the entirety, of the vehicle. In certain applications, the jacks may be used merely to stabilize the vehicle, whereas in other applications, the jacks my lift all or a portion of the vehicle to level the vehicle or otherwise position the vehicle in a desired attitude.
While such stabilizing jack systems may be manually controlled, many jack systems are partially- or fully-automated, and use a jack deployment system to automatically extend or deploy the jacks until they provide the desired degree of lift or stabilization. In such an application, the jack deployment system may utilize one or more tilt sensors to detect or sense the tilt angle or attitude of the vehicle. The jack deployment system extends the various vehicle jacks until the tilt sensors indicate that the vehicle has been leveled or has otherwise reached the desired attitude.
Unfortunately, however, such jack deployment systems are not without their drawbacks. For example, one problem that can arise relates to the sensitivity of the tilt sensors used to sense the attitude or tilt angle of the vehicle. If the sensors are too sensitive compared with the ability of the jack deployment system to position the vehicle within a certain tolerance, the system may have difficulty achieving the desired tilt or attitude set point. The system may "hunt" excessively in an attempt to achieve the attitude set point. While this problem can be overcome by re-calibrating the tilt sensors (i.e., to change the scaling factors), such re-calibration reduces the resolution of the sensors, thereby reducing the leveling accuracy of the system. Indeed, in systems involving such re-calibrated sensors, it is not unusual for the actual leveling accuracy to be many times lower than the design accuracy. For example, a system designed to level within 0.1 degree may actually only level to within 0.4 degree.
Another solution is to filter the output of the tilt sensor to smooth-out the signal. Unfortunately, however, such filtering may cause the jack deployment system to over- or under-shoot the desired attitude set point. If this occurs, the jack deployment system may repeatedly tilt the vehicle back and forth in an attempt to achieve the desired attitude set point. Besides increasing the amount of time required for the system to achieve the desired attitude, such back and forth vehicle motion can impose excessive stress on the vehicle. Even worse, if the system is not properly damped, there is a danger that the back and forth motion will cause the vehicle to enter a harmonic vibration state. Such harmonic vibrations are of particular concern if the vehicle is provided large, mast-like structures, such as a drill derrick.
In addition to the structural problems caused by such repeated back and forth vehicle motion, such motion can result in excessive settling of the vehicle on the supporting ground, which can further increase the difficulty in achieving the desired attitude set point. Indeed, in some cases the overall system hysteresis caused by jack settling can make it impossible for the jack deployment system to ever achieve the desired attitude set point.
Still other problems may stem from the particular speed at which the jacks are extended. For example, a fast jack extension speed increases the likelihood that the jack deployment system will overshoot the desired set point. As described above, such overshooting of the desire set point may lead to excessive back and forth vehicle motion, increased vehicle stress, the danger of inducing harmonic vibrations, and settling hysteresis, all of which are deleterious. Moreover, fast jack extension speeds may require rapid cycling of the jack actuators as the vehicle nears the desired attitude set point. Such rapid cycling can impose excessive stresses on the jacks and may also induce harmonic vibrations in the vehicle structure.
On the other hand, if the jack extension speed is too slow, the system may require an excessive period of time to achieve the desired attitude set point, particularly if the initial vehicle attitude departs significantly from the desired attitude set point. In addition, undershooting the desired set point may also result in undesirable back and forth vehicle motion as the jack extension system attempts to reach the desired attitude set point.

Dynamic jack reference control system and method for extending vehicle jacks


A process for producing a ceramic product using sludge ashes comprises the steps of (i) mixing at least ashes obtained by burning a sludge which has been obtained by the treatment of sewage and a plastic ceramic raw material to prepare a first body, (ii) mixing at least a plastic ceramic raw material and a fusible material to prepare a second body, (iii) supplying the first and second bodies into a matrix of a molding machine such that the first and second bodies form a lower, larger layer and an upper, smaller layer which covers the lower layer, respectively, (iv) molding the whole of the first and second bodies into an object with a desired shape, and (v) firing the molding to produce a two-layer ceramic product.

Although sludge, or a sediment deposited during the treatment of sewage, is sometimes used as a compost, its most frequent use is for land reclamation. Since sludge contains heavy metals and emits an offensive odor and may be decomposed, especially in large cities it is burned and the sludge ashes are used for land reclamation. In addition, recently the sludge ashes came to be used as one of the materials of an earthen pipe or of a tile or as lightweight aggregate.
However, the physical properties of the sludge ashes as used in a ceramic product largely depend upon several factors, including the season when the ceramic product is produced and the method by which the sewage was treated. The sludge ashes thus may more or less determine the qualities of the ceramic product, especially its color, mechanical strength and dimensions. Therefore, for example, to produce ceramic products with substantially the same qualities using ashes obtained by burning sludges which have been obtained by different methods of sewage treatment, suitable materials must be added to the ashes in advance so that the ashes will have substantially the same physical properties when the ashes are in the ceramic products. It takes much time and trouble. Also, a ceramic product containing sludge ashes has not met needs for a wide variety of product colors since Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 contained in the sludge ashes only gives the product a red brown color or a blackish brown color.

Process for producing a ceramic product using sludge ashes


A broadband light source with a sufficiently long coherence length is impinged on the optical cavity. The broadband laser light reflects from the first and second surfaces of the cavity. The two light beams, either reflected or transmitted, are phase shifted from one another by an amount proportional to the optical path length of the cavity and inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light (4πnd/λ) The two light beams interfere with each other and form a modulated light beam that has a spectrum approximately like the laser's broadband spectrum multiplied by a cosine with a frequency 4πnd/λ. The modulated light beam is coupled to a spectrometer that measures the intensity of the light as a function of wavelength over a range of wavelengths. The Fourier transform of the spectrum contains a peak that is related to the OPL and is located at 2*n*d where n*d is the OPL.

An optical cavity may be any region bounded by two or more reflective interfaces that are aligned to provide multiple reflections of light waves. Optical cavities have been monitored or measured using a single wavelength illumination source such as a helium/neon (HeNe) laser. A change in the cavity size is detected by observing the change in reflected or transmitted intensity at the single wavelength. Monitoring a single wavelength reflected intensity requires a much larger signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) than a broadband technique. In certain applications, the cavity is filled with a fluid that is designed to have an index of refraction as close as possible to that of the bounding surfaces, making the reflectivity very small. In such cases, the S/N will be small and thus may not be sufficient to use a single wavelength technique. In a single wavelength system, there is not a one-to-one correspondence between the measured intensity to the optical path length; in other words, a measured intensity may correspond to any number of optical path lengths. Therefore, a single-wavelengh system cannot determine the absolute value of the optical path length, it can only detect changes. The change in optical path length as measured by a single-wavelengh system is sufficient for some servo applications where the path length is to be held constant; however, this allows the possibility of mode-hopping where the servo unintentionally and undesirably locks onto a different spectral mode.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method for measuring or monitoring an optical cavity path length with an output that provides the absolute value of the optical path length, has better S/N tolerance, is free of mode-hopping limitations, and offers near real time operation.

Broadband cavity spectrometer apparatus and method for determining the path length of an optical structure

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting YAP1 expression, which may be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a cancer associated with YAP1.

Yes-associated protein (YAP1) is a transcriptional coactivator that is frequently activated in multiple human cancer types due to alterations in the tumor suppressive 'Hippo' pathway or its amplification. YAP1 is the downstream regulator of the Hippo pathway and promotes tumor growth through both tumor autonomous and immune-regulatory mechanisms. An active Hippo pathway is tumor suppresive and phosphorylates YAP1, resulting in its inactivation. When the Hippo pathway is inactive, YAP1 is dephosphorylated and translocated into the nucleus where it promotes expression of multiple genes.


An insulating film material, which contains a polycarbosilane compound expressed by the following structural formula 1:

A demand for multilayer semiconductor elements has recently increased following the increase in the degree of integration of semiconductor integrated circuits and the rise of element density. Because spacing between wirings further decreases as the degree of integration of semiconductor integrated circuits grows, wiring delay caused by the increase in capacitance between the wirings becomes a problem. Here, the wiring delay (T) is represented by the following formula: T∝CR and is, therefore, affected by a wiring resistance (R) and a capacitance (C) between wirings. The relationship between a dielectric constant (∈) and the capacitance (C) between wirings is represented by the following formula C=∈0∈r·S/d, where S is an electrode surface area of an electrode, ∈0 is a dielectric constant of vacuum, ∈r is a dielectric constant of an insulating film, and d is a distance between wirings. Although the capacitance (C) between wirings can be decreased by reducing the wiring thickness and decreasing the electrode surface area, the decrease in wiring thickness causes additional increase in wiring resistance (R), thereby making it impossible to attain a high speed. Therefore, decreasing the dielectric constant of the insulating film is an effective means for reducing the wiring delay (T) and increasing speed.
There is a trend to decrease a spacing between metal wirings in semiconductor devices having a multilayer wiring structure. Accordingly, the impedance of metal wiring determined by electrostatic inductance increases, and the increase in delay of response speed and power consumption causes concerns. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the specific permittivity of interlayer insulating film provided between a semiconductor substrate and a metal wiring or between metal wirings as much as possible.
Inorganic materials such as silicon dioxide (SiO2), silicon nitride (SiN), and phosphosilicate glass (PSG), and organic polymer materials such as polyimides have been used as conventional materials for insulating films.
However, a dielectric constant of CVD-SiO2 films that are widely used in semiconductor devices is as high as about 4. Further, a SiOF film that has been studied as a CVD film with a low dielectric constant has a dielectric constant of about 3.3 to about 3.5, but it has high hygroscopicity and the dielectric constant thereof increases with time.
It has recently been suggested to add an organic resin or the like that is evaporated or decomposed on heating to a material for forming a film with a low dielectric constant and to obtain a porous film in which pores are formed by heating during deposition. Because porous films have pores, a dielectric constant lower than that in the conventional configurations can be realized, but the problem that is presently associated with this approach is that the pore size is as large as 10 nm or more and where a porosity (pore presence ratio) is increased with the object of further decreasing the dielectric constant, moisture absorption causes increase in dielectric constant and decrease in film strength.
At present, a film is formed by applying a chemical solution so as to reduce a film density for the purpose of lowing the dielectric constant of the film, and as the chemical solution, those using a silicon compound have been known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-127152). However, in the case where the silicon compound, especially polycarbosilane compound is used, there is a problem such that formation of a film is difficult. This is because the structure of the polycarbosilane compound is expressed by the following formula: (—Si—R-)n-, where R is an organic group containing at least one C, and has a similar structure to that of a hydrocarbon material in view of the environment for bonding, and thus the crosslinking does not progress. Therefore, it has been found that the obtained film is insufficient in terms of the strength thereof to serve as an insulating film used for a semiconductor device.

Insulating film material, multilayer wiring board and production method thereof, and semiconductor device and production method thereof

Abstract: where R1 may be the same or different to each other in the unit repeated “n” times, and each represents C1-4 hydrocarbon or aromatic hydrocarbon; R2 may be the same or different to each other in the unit repeated “n” times, and each represents C1-4 hydrocarbon or aromatic hydrocarbon; n is an integer of 5 to 5,000.


The present invention relates to a water drain system of an oil reserve tank, which comprises: an oil reserve tank; an oil and water separator for separating the drained water coming from the oil reserve tank; a drain pipe extended from the oil reserve tank to the oil and water separator, the drain pipe having a vertical part to form a step; and a water detection sensor installed in the vertical part.

Oil reserve tanks store oil used for various types of engines, industries, etc. When water or particulate contaminants are mixed in oil, the impure oil is likely to cause malfunctioning of machines.
Moreover, when oil containing water is supplied to an engine, the water in the oil corrodes parts of the engine, causing fatal damage to the engine, leading to start failure or abrupt stopping of the engine.
To this end, a conventional water removal system for removing water from oil is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 is Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-34400 titled "Drain Detector for Oil Reserve Tank".
The drain detector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a level sensor that is installed on the bottom of an oil reserve tank and a display unit that is electrically connected to the level sensor. The display unit is installed outside the oil reserve tank.
According to the conventional drain detector, when drain water gravitates toward the bottom of the oil reserve tank and reaches a level at which the level sensor is mounted, the level sensor detects the level of the drain water and sends a signal to the display unit. In this way, the drain detector issues a warning.
When an operator recognizes this warning, the operator opens a valve on a drain pipe to discharge the drain water outside the oil reserve tank.
The drain detector disclosed in Patent Document 1 features the arrangement in which the level sensor is mounted on the inside bottom of the oil reserve tank. However, since the level sensor is not fixed in place on the bottom of the oil reserve tank, sometimes the level sensor cannot accurately detect the level of the drain water. In this case, the level of the drain water cannot be reliably measured.
In addition, since the level sensor is submerged in oil in which water or contaminants are mixed, the level sensor is highly likely to be contaminated. The contaminated level sensor cannot be replaced or cleaned until the oil is completely discharged outside the oil reserve tank.
For this reason, there is the demand for solving this problem.


A headlamp for an automobile includes a lamp body, a light source, a reflector, and an aiming mechanism. The aiming mechanism includes a screw insertion hole and an aiming screw operable to move the reflector by pivoting the aiming screw. The aiming screw includes a supported portion supported by the screw insertion hole, a male screw portion forward from the supported portion, and a pivotal movement operating force transmitted portion rearward from the supported portion. A front end side of the supported portion includes an elastic locking portion operable to pass through the screw insertion hole by being deformed elastically to an inner side in a radial direction, and a rear end side of the supported portion is integrally formed with an elastic rib brought into press contact with a peripheral edge portion on a rear end side of the screw insertion hole to fixedly position the aiming screw.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a headlamp for an automobile of a reflector movable type in which a reflector mounted with a light source is inclinably supported by a lamp body by an aiming mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a headlamp for an automobile in which the aiming mechanism may include an aiming screw rotatably supported by a screw insertion hole.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown by FIG. 19, according to a conventional headlamp for an automobile of this kind, a reflector 2, integrally mounted with a light source, is supported by an aiming mechanism. In a conventional headlamp, the aiming mechanism is constituted by a ball and socket joint (not illustrated) constituting an aiming fulcrum, and two nut members (nut member screwed to aiming screw 4 is designated by notation 5) respectively screwed to two aiming screws (one aiming screw is designated by notation 4). With this configuration, the reflector is made extractable and retractable in an axial direction, on a front face side of a lamp body 1.
More specifically, the aiming screw 4 is rotatably supported by a screw insertion hole 1a and a screw portion 4a of the aiming screw 4 extended to a front side of the lamp body 1, and screwed with the nut member 5 attached to the reflector 2. By pivoting the aiming screw 4, the nut member 5 is extracted and retracted along the aiming screw 4, and the reflector 2 is inclined around an inclining axis connecting the ball and socket joint and the nut member screwed to other aiming screw to thereby enable adjustment of an optical axis of the lamp.
The aiming screw 4 is made of metal, and a rear end portion thereof is integrally formed with a crowned gear 7 so that aiming screw 4 can be operated to pivot by using a driver D. Further, the aiming screw 4 inserted into the screw insertion hole 1a from a rear side of the lamp body 1, is elastically supported and fixedly positioned in a front and rear direction by a push-on fix 8 made of metal.
Additionally, the screw insertion hole 1a, for rotatably supporting the aiming screw 4, is interposed with an O-ring 9 to thereby waterproof a rotational support portion of the aiming screw 4.
However, according to the above-described conventional technology, it is necessary to provide the O-ring 9 for ensuring waterproofing at the rotational support portion of the aiming screw 4. Also, the push-on fix 8 for positioning the aiming screw 4 in the front and rear direction is required. These two components help to increase the number of parts of the aiming mechanism, therefore, the assembly of the headlamp becomes more difficult. Particularly, interposing the push-on fix 8 at a predetermined position of the aiming screw 4 is considerably laborious because the pinching force by the push-on fix 8 is very strong.
Hence, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-114014, as shown by FIGS. 20 and 21, the applicant proposed a structure in which a screw insertion hole 102 is constituted by a cylindrical member 100 formed at a lamp body 1A and having vertical slits 104 at a front end side of the cylindrical member 100 to form locking portions 106 at the front end side of the cylindrical member 100. These locking portions 106 deform elastically when the aiming screw is inserted into the screw insertion hole 102 from a rear side of the lamp body 1A. That is, the aiming screw pushes to expand the locking portions 106 on the front end side of the cylindrical portion to an outer side in the radial direction, wherein a supported portion of the aiming screw is contained in the screw insertion hole and the aiming screw can simply be positioned fixedly to the screw insertion hole 102.
However, although the aiming screw can simply be positioned fixedly to the screw insertion hole 102, when the aiming screw is inserted into the screw insertion hole 102, a considerable pressing force is needed to push, and thereby widen, the comparatively thick locking portions 106 on the front end side of the cylindrical portion. As such, more time is required to mount the aiming screw, and also, a pressing machine having sufficient pressing force is needed for inserting the aiming screw.
Further, although the cylindrical portion 100 is integrally formed with the lamp body 1A, since the shape of the front end side of the cylindrical portion 100 (shape of locking portion 106) is complicated, forming dies to make this structure is also complicated due to the difficulty in machining of the forming faces of the dies. This also leads to increased time and cost for manufacturing the dies.
The present invention has been carried out in view of the above-described problems of the conventional technology and it is an object of the invention to provide a headlamp for an automobile of a reflector movable type wherein the mounting of an aiming screw into a screw insertion hole is performed smoothly and simply without using a push-on fix or requiring the use of complicated dies.
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a reflector moveable type headlamp for an automobile which comprises:
a lamp body;
a light source;
a reflector positioned to reflect light originating from the light source; and
an aiming mechanism interposed between the lamp body and the reflector and operable to inclinably support and move the reflector relative to the lamp body;
wherein the aiming mechanism includes:
a screw insertion hole including a cylindrical portion; and
an aiming screw operable to move the reflector by pivoting the aiming screw, the aiming screw including a supported portion supported by the screw insertion hole, a male screw portion forward from the supported portion, and a pivotal movement operating force transmitted portion rearward from the supported portion,
wherein a front end side of the supported portion includes an elastic locking portion operable to pass through the screw insertion hole by being deformed elastically to an inner side in a radius direction and engage with a peripheral edge portion on a front end side of the screw insertion hole to prevent the aiming screw from drawing in a rear direction, and a rear end side of the supported portion is integrally formed with an elastic rib brought into press contact with a peripheral edge portion on a rear end side of the screw insertion hole to fixedly position the aiming screw.
Accordingly, when the aiming screw is pushed into the screw insertion hole from a rear face side of the lamp body, the elastic locking portion on the front end side of the supported portion of the aiming screw is pushed by the peripheral edge portion on the rear end side of the screw insertion hole and an inner peripheral face of the hole to elastically deform to contract to the inner side in the radial direction and slide in the screw insertion hole.
Further, when the supported portion of the aiming screw is pushed into the screw insertion hole by a force equal to or larger than a spring force which the elastic rib receives from the peripheral edge portion of the rear end side of the screw insertion hole, and when the elastic locking portion passes through the screw insertion hole, the elastic locking portion recovers to an outer side in the radial direction and engages with a peripheral edge portion on the front end side of the screw insertion hole to thereby prevent the aiming screw from drawing in the rear direction. Also, the elastic rib on the rear end side of the supported portion is brought into a press contact state with the peripheral edge portion on the rear end side of the screw insertion hole to thereby fixedly position the aiming screw to the screw insertion hole in an axial direction.
Whereas according to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-114014 (refer to FIGS. 20, 21), when the aiming screw is inserted into the screw insertion hole, a large aiming screw pushing force is required for pushing the comparatively thick-walled locking portion on the front end side of the cylindrical portion to expand and elastically deform to the outer side of the radius direction. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the elastic locking portion formed at the supported portion of the aiming screw is easy to elastically deform to the inner side in the radial direction and accordingly, the aiming screw pushing force may be small. That is, a section modulus of a cross face of the elastic locking portion formed on the side of the aiming screw is smaller than a section modulus of a cross face of the elastic locking portion formed at the cylindrical portion in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-114014. As such, the elastic locking portion formed at the supported portion is made to deform elastically within the screw insertion hole.
Further, in the present invention, either of the elastic rib or the lamp body (cylindrical portion) may be made of synthetic resin and at a sliding contact portion between the elastic rib and the peripheral edge portion of the screw insertion hole, the elastic rib and the lamp body are ensured to slide and not hamper pivotal movement of the aiming screw. Also, the elastic rib made of synthetic resin is less deteriorated by water than a conventional O-ring made of rubber.
Finally, the screw insertion hole constituted by the cylindrical portion of the present invention is simpler in configuration than the cylindrical portion in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-114014 and therefore, forming dies and shaping the forming face are also simplified.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the reflector movable type headlamp for an automobile, wherein the elastic locking portions include locking pieces in the shape of a tongue piece provided at a plurality of locations at equal intervals in a peripheral direction of the supported portion and extended in a rear direction.
Therefore, in operation, a plurality of the locking pieces in the shape of the tongue piece are uniformly deformed to the inner side and the supported portion is smoothly inserted into the screw insertion hole.
Further, the plurality of locking pieces in the shape of the tongue piece are uniformly brought into press contact with positions of the peripheral edge portions on the front end side of the screw insertion hole at equal intervals in the peripheral direction to thereby guarantee smooth pivotal movement of the aiming screw.
In addition, particularly, when the elastic locking portions are constituted by a pair of the opposed locking pieces in the shape of the tongue piece, divided dies having a parting line crossing outer side faces of the locking pieces in the shape of the tongue piece in the vertical direction may be used to form the supported portion, and thereby facilitate forming the supported portion.
Further, the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece can be formed to be in an L-like shape in a vertical section thereof and made thick-walled toward a front end side of a horizontal extended portion thereof.
When constituted in this way (when the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece is formed to be thick-walled toward the front end side of the horizontal extended portion), in inserting the aiming screw (supported portion) into the screw insertion hole, the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece, an inserted side of which is converging, is brought into contact with the peripheral edge portion of the screw insertion hole to thereby elastically deform to the inner side in the radial direction and can therefore invade smoothly inside of the screw insertion hole. Further, since the front end portion of the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece is thick-walled, an area of the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece engaging with the front end face of the cylindrical portion is large and accordingly, the locking piece in the shape of the tongue piece becomes difficult to detach from the front end face of the cylindrical portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the elastic rib may be formed in a skirt-like shape.
In operation, the skirt-like elastic rib is uniformly brought into press contact with a total periphery of the peripheral edge portion on the rear end side of the screw insertion hole to thereby support the aiming screw without play and also hamper or prevent water from invading the screw insertion hole.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the pivotal movement operating force transmitted portion may be constituted by a crowned gear directing teeth thereof in the front direction, the screw insertion hole may be constituted by the cylindrical portion penetrating the lamp body in the front and rear direction and extended in the front and rear direction, and an outer peripheral face of a rear extended portion of the cylindrical portion may be provided with a tool positioning contact portion for positioning a front end portion of a tool used to pivot the crowned gear.
In operation, by prolonging a length of the screw insertion hole in the front and rear direction, the aiming screw can be held without play and waterproof performance at a rotational support portion of the aiming screw is also promoted.
Further, when a front end portion of the tool, such as driver arranged along the lamp body, is brought into contact with the tool positioning contact portion for pivoting the aiming screw, teeth of the tool may be held in mesh with teeth of the crowned gear portion to thereby facilitate and ensure pivotal operation of the aiming screw.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an outer peripheral face of the supported portion may be integrally formed with an elastic waterproof rib in a ring-like shape brought into sliding contact with an inner peripheral face of the screw insertion hole.
In operation, the elastic waterproof rib in the ring-like shape formed at the supported portion of the aiming screw and brought into sliding contact with the inner peripheral face of the screw insertion hole, is held by the inner peripheral face of the screw insertion hole in a press contact state to thereby waterproof or provide a seal at the rotational support portion of the aiming screw.
Further, the waterproof rib may be made of synthetic resin and provided with elasticity and flexibility and accordingly, elastically deformed when the supported portion of the aiming screw is inserted into the cylindrical portion (screw insertion hole). This configuration does not hamper integration of the aiming screw into the screw insertion hole and the sliding contact portion between the elastic waterproof rib and the inner peripheral face of the screw insertion hole does not hamper pivotal movement of the aiming screw.
Further, a waterproof rib made of synthetic resin is less deteriorated by water than an O-ring made of rubber.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, both the entire aiming screw or the cylindrical portion may be integrally formed with synthetic resin. In operation, for example, since the entire aiming screw is formed by synthetic resin, it is light-weighted.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the aiming screw is screwed with a nut member constituting an aiming mechanism constituent member mounted to the reflector and the nut member is carried by a nut sliding guide formed integrally with the lamp body and extended in parallel with the aiming screw.
In operation, the nut member constituting an aiming point is carried by the nut sliding guide integrally formed with the lamp body and therefore, weight of the reflector is not operated to the screw insertion hole constituting the rotational supporting portion of the aiming screw.

Headlamp for automobile with aiming screw having locking portion


Methods and apparatus for control of data and content protection mechanisms across a network using a download delivery paradigm. In one embodiment, conditional access (CA), digital rights management (DRM), and trusted domain (TD) security policies are delivered, configured and enforced with respect to consumer premises equipment (CPE) within a cable television network. A trusted domain is established within the user's premises within which content access, distribution, and reproduction can be controlled remotely by the network operator. The content may be distributed to secure or non-secure “output” domains consistent with the security policies enforced by secure CA, DRM, and TD clients running within the trusted domain. Legacy and retail CPE models are also supported. A network security architecture comprising an authentication proxy (AP), provisioning system (MPS), and conditional access system (CAS) is also disclosed, which can interface with a trusted authority (TA) for cryptographic element management and CPE/user device authentication.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of content and/or data delivery over a network. More particularly, the present invention is related to apparatus and methods for distributing programming content, media, data and other information services according to downloadable conditional access (CA), trusted domain (TD) and/or digital rights management (DRM) schemes.
2. Description of Related Technology
Recent advances in digital information processing have made a wide range of services and functions available for delivery to consumers at their premises for very reasonable prices or subscription fees. These services and functions include digital programming (movies, etc.), digital video-on-demand (VOD), personal video recorder (PVR), Internet Protocol television (IPTV), digital media playback and recording, as well high-speed Internet access and IP-based telephony (e.g., VoIP). Other services available to network users include access to and recording of digital music (e.g., MP3 files), as well local area networking (including wire-line and wireless local area networks) for distributing these services throughout the user's premises, and beyond.
Currently, many of these services are provided and delivered to the user via a wide variety of different equipment environments including, inter alia, cable modems, WiFi hubs, Ethernet hubs, gateways, switches and routers, computers, servers, cable set-top boxes, PSTNs, cellular telephones/smartphones, PDAs, and portable digital music devices such as the Apple iPod™. Additionally, the services associated with such technology are typically provided by multiple vendors including e.g., a cable service provider (e.g., MSO), cellular service provider (CSP), wireless service provider (WSP), VoIP service provider, music download service, Internet service provider (ISP), PSTN telephone service, etc.
The myriad of services, equipment and providers can easily create confusion and economic inefficiency for someone using many of these services on a regular basis. In particular, a user may have to pay for each service or equipment separately, thus eliminating any economies of scale based on integration. Additionally, the equipment or services may not interoperate with one another, thus reducing the overall utility provided to the user, and increasing their frustration level. These problems are particularly acute when the number of different services utilized (and hence number of service providers) is high.
Some improvements in digital service integration have been made over time. For example, cable system subscribers (such as those of the Assignee hereof) can now access VOD, PVR, PPV and broadcast services simultaneously, as well a Internet access via cable modem, and even digital telephony (e.g., VoIP). However, these functions are still substantially disparate in terms of their hardware and software environments (i.e., the user must have a cable modem, set-top box, VoIP telephony unit, PC, etc.), and "cross-over" between the environments (e.g., moving content or data from one environment to the other) is quite limited.
Moreover, the movement of content delivered by these services within the user's premises (or even outside) is substantially frustrated, largely due to concerns relating to protection of valuable (e.g., copyrighted) content and surreptitious reproduction and distribution. Such unauthorized reproduction and distribution not only detracts from the network operator's revenue and commercial viability, but also that of the content source (e.g., movie studio, recording studio/artist, etc.).
Moreover, the lack of a comprehensive and effective scheme for control of content within the user domain effectively precludes content providers from releasing new content over cable or satellite networks contemporaneous with its availability over retail or rental outlets, due in large part to unauthorized access, reproduction and distribution concerns. Stated simply, new release content availability over cable typically lags that of rental/retail, due primarily to the lack of an effective control mechanism for the content once it is delivered to the user domain.
A number of existing technologies have heretofore been employed by network operators in order to attempt to frustrate surreptitious access, copying and distribution of valuable content. These approaches are now described.
Conditional Access
Conditional access (CA) technologies are typically incorporated into content-based networks, such technologies including the digital encoding of various types of data including audio and video programming and music. Conditional access can generally be defined as the control of when and how a user may view and use the associated programming or information. Different types of conditional access may be desirable in a network delivery system in order to, e.g., accommodate improvements in the technology over time, as well as different conditional access attributes such as security and category of programming or user access level.
A variety of traditional methods of conditional access exist including, e.g., "Powerkey", NDS, and DigiCipher. A generalized conditional access model is also provided by the well-known DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) Specification TS 101 197 V1.2.1 (02/02), DVB SimulCrypt; Part 1: "Head-end architecture and synchronization", and TS 103 197 V1.2.1 (02/02): "Head-end Implementation of SimulCrypt", each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These can be implemented using, for example, the so-called "CableCard" plug-in security module access technology (also known as a "a point-of-deployment (POD) module"). See, e.g., the CableCard-Host interface specification, which defines the interface between a digital cable receiver or STB (Host device) and the CableCard device provided by the MSO/cable operator. CableCard was developed to satisfy certain security requirements to allow retail availability of host devices, e.g., set-top boxes, digital cable ready televisions, DVRs, personal computers (PCs), integrated digital televisions, etc., for receiving cable services. The CableCard, comprising a PCMCIA device, can be inserted into a host device, allowing a viewer to receive cable systems' secure digital video services, e.g., pay per view TV, electronic program guides, premium subscription channels, etc.
Specifically, the CableCard contains conditional access functionality, as well as the capability of converting messages to a common format. Thus, the CableCard provides a cable operator with a secure device at the subscriber premises, and acts as a translator so that the host device needs to understand a single protocol, regardless of the type of the network to which it is connected.
For example, with the CableCards provided by cable operators, host devices which comply with OpenCable specifications, e.g., the an OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP), may be sold in retail outlets. (For details on such a platform, one may refer, e.g., to: "OpenCable Application Platform Specification," OCAP 2.0 Profile, OC-SP-OCAP2.0-I01-020419, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Apr. 19, 2002, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.) The OCAP allows applications to be built to a common middleware layer for deployment on host devices interoperable across cable systems in North America. (For details on the functional requirements of one such host device, one may refer, e.g., to: "OpenCable™ Host Device Core Functional Requirements," OC-SP-HOSR-CFR-I13-030707, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., Jul. 7, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.) With a common interface to the CableCard, a host can be moved from one place to another, provided that the user of the host device contact his/her new cable operator to obtain a new CableCard. (For details on such an interface, one may refer, e.g., to: "OpenCable™ HOST-POD Interface Specification," OC-SP-HOSTPOD-IF-I13-030707, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. Jul. 7, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.) To provision a new CableCard and host device, an initialization and authorization process needs to be performed while the host device, with the CableCard inserted therein, is connected to the cable network. The initialization and authorization process begins with the user's providing an ID(s) of the CableCard and/or the host device (e.g., serial number(s)) to the cable operator. The cable operator looks up in a database a MAC address of the CableCard which typically is hard-coded in the CableCard, and is associated with the CableCard ID. During the authorization process, the cable operator may, for example, assign an IP address to the CableCard for its identification in the cable network. The cable operator may also collect from the host device data concerning the make, model, and ID of the host device (e.g., its serial number). The cable operator may associate the CableCard's MAC address (and/or IP address) with the user information, e.g., his/her name, address, etc. for billing purposes.
Encryption
In many content-based networks (e.g., cable television systems), the client device or consumer premises equipment (CPE) receives, through the cable TV network, programming content which may be encrypted, e.g., in accordance with the Data Encryption Standard (DES) technique or Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), to secure its delivery.
DES is a well-known symmetrical cipher that utilizes a single key for both encryption and decryption of messages. Because the DES algorithm is publicly known, learning the DES key would allow an encrypted message to be read by anyone. As such, both the message sender and receiver must keep the DES key a secret from others. A DES key typically is a sequence of eight bytes, each containing eight bits. To enhance the DES integrity, the DES algorithm may be applied successive times. With this approach, the DES algorithm enciphers and deciphers data, e.g., three times in sequence, using different keys, resulting in a so-called triple DES (3DES) technique.
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), also known as Rijndael, is a block cipher adopted as an encryption standard by many entities including the U.S. government. It is used worldwide, as is the case with its predecessor, DES. AES was adopted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and was codified as US FIPS PUB 197 in November 2001.
AES has a fixed block size of 128 bits and a key size of 128, 192 or 256 bits. The key is expanded using the well-known Rijndael key schedule. Most of AES calculations are performed in a special finite field. AES typically operates on a 4×4 array of bytes, termed the state. For encryption, each cycle or round of AES (except the last round) consists of four stages or operations: (i) AddRoundKey, wherein each byte of the state is combined with the round key, and each round key is derived from the cipher key by using the key schedule; (ii) SubBytes, wherein a non-linear substitution is performed such that each byte is replaced with another according to a lookup table; (iii) ShiftRows, wherein a transposition step is performed such that each row of the state is shifted cyclically a given number of steps; and (iv) MixColumns, wherein a mixing operation which operates on the columns of the state is performed, thereby combining the four bytes in each column using a function (e.g., linear transformation). The final round of the algorithm replaces the MixColumns stage with another instance of the AddRoundKey step.
AES provides a much higher level of encryption than DES or 3DES, and hence is increasingly being integrated into applications where strong protection is desired, including the delivery of content over cable or other content-based networks.
In contrast to the DES or AES techniques, a public key encryption technique, e.g., an RSA technique (named for its developers, Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman), uses two different keys. A first key, referred to as a private key, is kept secret by a user. The other key, referred to as a public key, is available to anyone wishing to communicate with the user in a confidential manner. The two keys uniquely match each other, collectively referred to as a "public \-private key pair." However, the private key cannot be easily derived from the public key. A party wishing to send a message to the user may utilize the public key to encrypt a message before transmitting it. The user then utilizes the private key to decrypt the message. Conversely, the private key may be used to encrypt a message, in which case the message can subsequently be decrypted with the public key. For example, the keys for the RSA algorithm are mathematically generated, in part, by combining prime numbers. The security of the RSA algorithm, and the like, depends on the use of very large numbers for its keys, which typically are 512 bits long or longer.
"Trusted Domains"
Another related approach for content protection comprises the creation and enforcement of a "trusted domain" or TD. Specifically, such a "trusted domain" (TD) comprises an area (physically or virtually) within which programming or other content is protected from unauthorized access, distribution and copying. For example, in a cable network, a trusted domain may include not only the network portion where programming content traditionally is secured by, and within total control of, a cable operator (including, e.g., the headend, HFC delivery network, etc.,) but also user devices or customer premises equipment (CPE) at subscribers' premises which are capable of receiving and securely storing programming content. Using the trusted domain approach, the network operator can guarantee certain subscriber access, distribution, and usage policy enforcement with respect to content held within the domain. For example, a digital representation of a movie held within an operator's TD (e.g., on a hard drive of a user device) cannot be distributed over the Internet, wireless network, etc. in viewable form, and cannot become a source for duplication of multiple viewable copies.
One exemplary approach of implementing a trusted domain, described in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/006,404 filed Dec. 7, 2004, entitled "Technique For Securely Communicating And Storing Programming Material In A Trusted Domain", issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,312,267 on Nov. 13, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, comprises using two cryptographic elements (e.g., encryption keys), associated with a user and his/her client device(s), respectively, that control access to content stored in the client device(s) within the domain. For example, the content stored in the client device may be encrypted using a private or secret key in accordance with the DES or AES algorithms. When the encrypted content is transported from the client device to another device within the domain associated with the same user (or other common parameter or feature), the second device needs the cryptographic element (e.g., the secret key) to decrypt the encrypted content. To that end, the second device also receives from the source device an encrypted version of this secret key. The latter is generated by encrypting the secret key using a second and distinct cryptographic element (e.g., a public key in accordance with a public key algorithm) associated with the subscriber. The second device provides the encrypted version of the secret key to a remote apparatus, e.g., in a headend, where the secret key is recovered based on at least the encrypted version of the secret key and data relating to that user or client device. The second device then receives from the head-end another encrypted version of the secret key, which is generated by encrypting the recovered secret key using a third cryptographic element (e.g., a public key in accordance with a public key algorithm) associated with the second device. Based on at least this second encrypted version of the secret key, the secret key can be recovered in the second device to decrypt the encrypted content.
The trusted domain is preserved with respect to the stored content so long as the content remains encrypted and continues to be managed under the above-described key management methodology, regardless of which device stores the content. Once the content itself is decrypted, e.g., by a conditional access (CA) mechanism when data is sent from the SDVR CPE to a television monitor for display, the decrypted content is no longer within the trusted domain.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Steganograhy
Another approach used to control the distribution and use of protected content within a content-based network is to employ so-called digital rights management (DRM). For example, Media rights management systems such as the Microsoft Windows® Media Digital Rights Manager (DRM), may be used as well. The Windows® Media Player Version 9 comprises audio and video codecs, the Windows Media Encoder, Windows Media Server, Windows Media Software Development Kit (SDK), Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology, and an extensibility model that allows integration into third-party solutions.
According to one such DRM approach, a digital media or content file is encrypted and locked with a "license key." The license key is stored in a license file or other data structure which is distributed separately from the media or content. A user can obtain the encrypted media file by, e.g., downloading it from a web site, purchasing it on a physical media, etc. To play the digital media file, the user must first acquire the license file including the license key for that media file. The user acquires the license key by accessing a pre-delivered license (which includes license terms or policies). Alternatively, when the user plays the file for the first time, a procedure is invoked for retrieving the license via a network connection or other delivery mode (e.g., the Internet). After obtaining the license with the license key, the user is able to access the media file according to the rules or rights specified in the license policies.
Another approach to DRM (see, e.g., the RealNetworks "Helix" Platform and Community approach) comprises encrypting a content file (typically performed by the system operator) to create a secured content file, thereby requiring a cryptographic key to access the content in the file. The key is included within a retailer's database, and the secured content file is distributed to users by, e.g., Internet connection or offline distribution of CDs. The retailer itself sets usage rules and policies for licensing the content. A user contacts the retailer's web server, such as via a trusted software client, in order to obtain a license to access the encrypted content. The retailer's web server requests certain rights from the operator's license server, the latter which creates a license containing the key for the requested content file. This license is given to the retailer (e.g. via the web server), which delivers the license to the trusted client of the user. The trusted client retrieves the content file, and uses the received key to access the content.
Related to DRM is the practice of steganography. Steganography is the art and science of including hidden data in such a way that no one apart from the intended recipient or sender knows of the existence of the data; this is in contrast to cryptography, where the existence of the data itself is not disguised, but the content is obscured. For example, digital steganographic data may included within the recorded data/content, such as digital watermarking data. For example, Digimarc®, SysCoP™, EIKONAmark™, and other similar commercially available watermarking approaches can be used for this purpose. While this approach does not per se prevent or control content access or distribution, it is often an effective post facto method of identification and determining the origin of media (e.g., where it was copied from), and hence knowledge of its presence can act as a significant deterrent to surreptitious reproduction and distribution.
Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
More recently, emerging technologies have focused on so-called "downloadable" conditional access systems (DCAS), which are intended to be implemented in next-generation two-way, cable-ready digital TV sets, set-top boxes and/or other related devices. This "download" approach would enable cable operators to download conditional access software directly to TV sets, set-top boxes and other digital entertainment devices in the subscribers' premises, and would be especially suited to interactive services such as VOD, PVR, etc. This would also obviate the physical CableCard form factor.
With the so-called FCC "navigation order" (Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("FNPRM"), FCC 00-341, adopted Sep. 14, 2000; released Sep. 18, 2000, CS Docket #97-80) relating to, inter alia, the adoption of unidirectional plug and play, cable system operators are also required to support digital cable-ready devices on their systems. Downloadable conditional access (CA) functionality is one proposed conditional access technology that also meets this requirement. In addition to the requirements imposed by FCC 03-225, it is also desirable to support bi-directional cable-ready devices on its systems, as well as "separable security" functionality (i.e., the CA functionality is physically, or at least logically) separable from the host device. Ideally, such enhanced functionality would also allow both basic bi-directional functions (so-called single-stream devices) as well as the use of more advanced multi-stream devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs). It is also desirable to allow download-enabled devices to participate (ad hoc or otherwise) in the operator's trusted domain (TD).
In recent years, numerous systems for providing interconnectivity among devices in a premises (e.g., home, enterprise, university, etc.) have been developed, allowing premises networks to include DSTBs, personal computers, cellphones, PDA devices, etc. Because of the increasing popularity of premises networking and the demand for seamless interconnectivity between heterogeneous hardware/software environments (e.g., "plug and play"), there is a growing need for a strategy that enables a user to perform authorized transfer of protected content, e.g., transferring content from their cable system CPE to other devices in a premises network, or even outside of the network, and at the same time prevent unauthorized distribution and reproduction of the protected content. The foregoing CA, DRM, steganographic, and trusted domain technologies, while providing some degree of protection, simply do not support such control and protection within the increasingly complex user domain.
Specifically, these techniques do not support cryptographic key management and distribution systems that operate with both legacy or new CA systems, and are not under direct network operator (e.g., MSO) control.
Moreover, such existing techniques often cannot be smoothly integrated with retail (third party) devices, and are typically quite platform specific. They are often also specific to the content delivery mode (i.e., VOD, broadcast, broadcast-switched, and other content delivery paradigms).
These techniques also typically will not support seamless transition between independent implementations of CA, trusted domain, and DRM security features and policies, and are not standardized to any significant degree. For example, conditional access (CA) paradigms currently in use are not generally extensible beyond the user's CPE. So, the user would be prohibited from transferring streamed or downloaded content to their WiFi enabled laptop or PC, since proper conditional access support does not exist in these devices.
Prior art conditional access (CA) systems such as the Scientific Atlanta "Powerkey" approach described above have no authentication entity or "proxy" that can authenticate CPE or other connected devices in anticipation of providing download services, no video (media) provisioning system, and hence by nature are highly localized. Generally speaking, any "trusted domains" that might be established are not extendable beyond the CPE 106 on the client side of the delivery network.
Thus, improved apparatus and methods for distributing digital services to and within a user premises are needed. Such improved apparatus and services would ideally provide users with a number of diverse digital services in a more integrated and unified fashion, and allow for substantially unrestricted cross-over between different hardware and software environments.
These apparatus and methods would also allow for remote, centralized management, configuration, and control of content access, distribution and reproduction within the user domain, as well as extension of the conditional access, trusted domain, and DRM environments outside of merely the user's set-top box or other such consumer premises equipment (CPE).
Moreover, such apparatus and methods would ideally support cryptographic key management and distribution systems that operate with both legacy or new CA systems, under direct network operator (e.g., MSO) control, as well as allowing for integration with retail (third party) devices via, e.g., downloadable components and cryptographic elements sent directly via the operator's network.
Such improved apparatus and methods would also ideally be delivery-mode agnostic; i.e., they would be compatible with VOD, broadcast, broadcast-switched, and other content delivery paradigms, and would further allow for an interoperable architecture with components from different network, secure component, and CPE vendors, in effect standardizing many aspects of content control within the user domain.

Downloadable security and protection methods and apparatus


An x-ray fluorescence technique for detecting the level of arsenic in a sample of water or body fluid. Arsenic and lead are expected to fluoresce in a first energy band and lead is expected to also fluoresce separately in a second energy band. An excitation path directs x-rays toward the sample; a first detection path detects x-ray fluorescence of the first energy band from the sample; and a second detection path detects x-ray fluorescence of the second energy band from the sample. The level of arsenic can be obtained by analyzing the x-ray fluorescence from both detection paths, and using a constant which relates the level of lead in the second energy band to the level of lead in the first energy band. The excitation path and each detection path may each include a monochromating optic to transmit the desired x-ray energy band, e.g., a doubly curved optic.

Arsenic is known to be associated with both cancer and non-cancer health problems. This has recently been the focus of public attention due to the almost epidemic health problems of millions of people in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, caused by As-contaminated groundwater (Kinniburgh, D. G. and Smedley, P. L., "Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh, Vol. 2: Final Report," BGS Technical Report WC/00/19, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, 2001; http://bgs.ac.uk/arsenic/bangladesh/reports.htm; Kinniburgh, D. G., Smedley, P. L., Davies, J., Milne, C. J., Gaus, I., Trafford, J. M., Burden, S., Ihtishamul Huq, S. M., Ahmad, N., and Ahmak, K. N., "The scale and causes of the groundwater arsenic problem in Bangladesh," in Arsenic in Ground Water, Welch and Stollenwerk, eds, Kluwer, Boston, 2003 p 211—incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). Chronic exposure to As via drinking water causes skin, lung, bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer (National Research Council 1999; "Arsenic in Drinking Water" Washington, D.C., National Academy Press—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Recent evidence suggests that increased chronic exposure to As might also be associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.
To protect people against the effects of long-term exposure to As, the World Health Organization has set a provisional guideline concentration for drinking water of 10 ug/L (ppb) (WHO, "Guidelines for drinking water quality" 2nd Ed, Volume I Recommendations: World Health Organization, 1993, p 188—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The US EPA has proposed lowering the maximum contaminant level for As in drinking water from 50 ug/L to 10 ug/L (ppb). High concentrations of As tend to be found more in ground water than in surface water. Since more groundwater sources are used for public drinking water supplies or private wells, the As contamination in drinking water has become a serious worldwide issue. Ground water with a serious contaminant level of As can be found in many countries, including Bangladesh, Western India, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and the United States (Matschullat, J., "Arsenic in the geosphere—a review", Sci. Total, Environ., 249, 297-312, 2000—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
In the United States, half the population relies on ground water for drinking. There are many areas with a widespread high As concentration in ground water (Welch, A. H., Helsel, D. R., Focazio, M. J., and Watkins, S. A., "Arsenic in ground water supplies of the United States", in Chappell, W. R., Abernathy, C. O. and Calderon, R. L., eds., Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1999, p. 416, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Arsenic concentrations up to 12 ppm (12,000 ppb) have been measured in ground water from a sandstone aquifer in the Fox River Valley in eastern Wisconsin. About 21% of private water supply wells in Outagamie and Winnebago counties in Wisconsin exceed 10 ppb and 4% of the wells exceed 50 ppb. In southeastern Michigan, about 70% of ground water samples taken from more than 100 wells, have an arsenic content of more than 10 ppb, with measured levels up to 220 ppb. In the Albuquerque Basin of central new Mexico, where more than 700,000 residents rely almost exclusively on ground water for drinking water supplies, the arsenic concentration in ground water underlying the basin has been detected in excess of 600 ppb, and concentrations exceeding 20 ppb are present across larger areas (Welch, A. H., Westjohn, D. B., Helsel, D. R., and Wanty, R. B., "Arsenic in ground water of the United States: Occurrence and geochemistry", Ground Water, 38 (no. 4), 589-604, 2000—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
Reliable measurement of metal traces at the few ppb level is a challenging task. There are primarily two categories of methods for ultra-trace analysis; namely atomic absorption/emission spectroscopy (AAS, or AES) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) based methods. In the AAS methods, a small sample (uL level) is placed into a high temperature graphite furnace where it is heated to the gas phase in the presence of a carrier gas. The attenuation of light of selected wavelengths is then measured to determine the amount of As. This is a very sensitive method and the detection limits are in the sub ppb range. However, the dynamic range of the technique is limited to 1-50 ppb and high concentration samples need to be diluted. Other disadvantages of AAS include high power consumption (˜6 kW) and requirement of inert ambient gas for the furnace. ICP based methods, including atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are powerful ultra-trace elemental analysis methods. The detection limit can go down to the part per trillion (ppt) range and these techniques have a very large dynamic range. However, ICP based methods are even more sophisticated than AAS methods. They require high vacuum, high power (˜6 kW), and plasma gas. Due to their degree of sophistication and requirement of extensive facilities, AAS and ICP methods are laboratory based methods and have great difficulty being used for field or on-line applications.
Other trace analysis techniques include electrochemical methods, such as potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA). These methods are based on electrochemical processes between electrodes and electrolyte solutions. In PSA measurements a reference is needed, as well as sophisticated sample preparation. They typically show poor reproducibility and are sensitive to the detailed chemical makeup of the sample. Consequently, electrochemical methods are not extensively used for laboratory analysis. Repeatability and reproducibility of these methods are major issues and make them difficult for field and on-line applications.

Portable and on-line arsenic analyzer for drinking water


A chucking device of the present invention includes an annular elastic member sandwiched between an upper and a lower member. A rod is slidable up and down in a bore formed in the upper and lower members and is partly positioned in the elastic member. The rod presses the elastic member radially outward when raised or lowered, thereby causing the chucking device to chuck a hollow, cylindrical base. The elastic member contacts the inner periphery of the base over a minimum of area and surely, closely contacts it for thereby implementing desirable sealing. The chucking device can therefore form a uniform film on the outer periphery of the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chucking device for chucking a work implemented as a hollow, cylindrical member.
2. Description of the Background Art
A chucking device including an elastic member that inflates when filled with compressed air or compressed liquid is conventional. Assume that the chucking device is applied to the production of a photoconductive element for electrophotography. Then, the chucking device chucks the hollow, cylindrical base of the photoconductive element with the elastic member being inflated and pressing itself against the inner periphery of the base. The chucking device then dips the base in a coating liquid to thereby uniformly coat the former with the latter. To insure high-quality images free from irregular density and background contamination, it is necessary to prevent compressed air inside the elastic member from leaking to a space in the lower portion or the upper portion of the base. It is also necessary to cause the elastic member to closely contact the inner periphery of the base for thereby surely sealing the inside of the base.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-4034, for example, teaches a chucking device including a rubber sack. The rubber sack is inserted into a hollow, cylindrical base and then inflated by compressed air, contacting substantially the entire inner periphery of the base except for the bottom opening of the base. Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-38964 discloses a chucking device including an upper and a lower pressing member having tapered surfaces facing each other. The upper and lower pressing members crush an annular elastic member and thereby cause the elastic member to press itself against the inner periphery of a hollow, cylindrical base.
The chucking device taught in the above Laid-Open Publication No. 4-4034 has some problems left unsolved, as will be described hereinafter. The rubber sack is expected to press itself against substantially the entire inner periphery of a hollow, cylindrical base. Therefore, a long period of time is necessary to check whether or not the rubber sack is defective, making maintenance inefficient. During usual, dip coating process (e.g., continuous coating of a first pallet to a tenth pallet), the rubber sack whose thermal conductivity is low covers substantial the area of the inner periphery of the base except for the bottom opening. Therefore, when the base is lifted out of the coating liquid, the coating liquid evaporates and takes heat from the base and film formed thereon. This heat is accumulated in the rubber sack with the result that the surface temperature of the base sequentially decreases from the first pallet to the tenth pallet, causing the temperature of the coating liquid to drop. Consequently, the viscosity of the coating liquid and therefore the thickness of the film increases. That is, the cooling of the chucking device itself brings about this problem.
The chucking device taught in Publication No. 7-38964 is free from the cooling problem because it contacts the inner periphery of the base over a minimum of area. However, the chucking device crushes the annular elastic member and therefore accelerates the deterioration of the elastic member, i.e., limits the life of the elastic member. Moreover, the upper and lower pressing members are pressed against the elastic member by springs, causing the elastic member to deform. This, however, cannot surely cause the elastic member to closely contact the inner periphery of the base.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a chucking device minimizing an area over which an annular elastic member contacts the inner periphery of a hollow, cylindrical base and causing the elastic member to surely contact the above inner periphery and insure sealing, thereby insuring uniform film thickness.
A chucking device of the present invention includes an annular elastic member sandwiched between an upper and a lower member. A rod is slidable up and down in a bore formed in the upper and lower members and is partly positioned in the elastic member. The rod presses the elastic member radially outward when raised or lowered, thereby causing the chucking device to chuck a hollow, cylindrical base. The elastic member contacts the inner periphery of the base over a minimum of area and surely, closely contacts it for thereby implementing desirable sealing. The chucking device can therefore form a uniform film on the outer periphery of the base.


Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for enhancing an immune response to a solid tumor in a subject. In some embodiments, a method comprises: (a) administering to the subject a hypoxia-activated bioreductive agent (HABA); (b) inducing hypoxia by (i) administering a hypoxia-inducing agent to the subject or (ii) embolizing one or more blood vessels supplying the solid tumor; and (c) administering an immune checkpoint inhibitor prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to step (b) in an amount effective to enhance an immune response to the solid tumor, as compared to an immune response in the absence of the immune checkpoint inhibitor. Kits for use in the disclosed methods are also provided.

Although some patients have been shown to exhibit immunity toward cancer based on the detection of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, these T cells appeared to be shielded from the tumor without conferring much if any therapeutic or protective benefit. Some explain the discrepancy with the theory that tumors evolve various mechanisms to avoid immune attack. For a normal immune reaction to occur, APCs uptake tumor-derived antigens and present them to T cells after processing to prime the T cells to develop cytotoxicity against the tumor cells that carry the antigen. The interaction between APCs and T cells is regulated by various ligand-receptor interactions, including the T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes tumor-associated antigen and forms a complex with MHC molecules, and co-activator CD28. CTLA4 functions as a negative regulator of T cells, and CD40 functions as a positive regulator for APCs. PD-1 is another negative regulator of cytotoxic T cells, and serves as an immune checkpoint. Tumor cells can express a PD-1 ligand, called PD-L1, which activates PD-1 and thus suppresses anti-tumor activity of the T cells. Tumors may also recruit regulatory T cells, which can suppress cytotoxic T cell activity to protect tumor from immune attack. Efforts have been made to manipulate immune signaling responses for treating cancer, but response rates and effects on progress-free survival leave much room for improvement. Moreover, relying too heavily on compounds that dampen immune suppression could tip the balance of the immune system toward autoimmune disorders. For example, the observed adverse effects of nivolumab and pembrolizumab include various immune-related hepatitis, pneumonitis, hypophysitis, colitis and others, indicating that further enhancement of general immunity may carry potential risks.

Compositions and methods for immune-mediated cancer therapy


A belt cradle cloth roll support apparatus for a cloth spreading machine including a pair of first and second endless belt members defining a V-shaped trough and trained about a plurality of rollers, including an adjustment mechanism for moving one of the belt members toward and away from the other belt member in order to decrease the angle of the V-shaped trough in order to better contain and control smaller diameter cloth rolls which have diminished in size as they are unwound while supported on the V-shaped belt cradle.

This invention relates to a cloth feeding apparatus for a cloth spreading machine, and more particularly to a belt cradle roll support for a cloth spreading machine.
Various types of cloth feed apparatus have been utilized in the past for supporting and feeding a web of cloth from a cloth roll on a cloth spreading machine, in which the cloth roll is supported upon a cradle of cloth rollers or cloth feed belt, such as illustrated in the following U.S. patents:
______________________________________ 1,265,452 Isaacs May 7, 1918 2,118,556 Haberstump et al May 24, 1938 2,276,479 Gilbert Mar. 17, 1942 2,291,351 Scoles et al July 28, 1942 3,394,897 Martin Sr. July 30, 1968 3,412,950 Martin Sr. Nov. 26, 1968 3,468,529 Martin Sr. et al Sept. 23, 1969 3,591,166 Ebisu July 6, 1971 3,627,301 Benson et al Dec. 14, 1971 3,782,649 Frederick et al Jan. 1, 1974 4,519,595 Adachi May 28, 1985 4,676,494 Smith et al June 30, 1987 ______________________________________
Although not related to cloth spreading machines, U.S. Pat. No. 2,122,674, issued to Wardle on Jul. 5, 1938, discloses a pair of pivotal roller-supporting cradle adapted to support a large coil of metal strip or metal sheet material.
The above Isaacs patent discloses various types of cloth roll supporting cradle rollers. FIG. 3 of Isaacs discloses a pair of frames supporting a plurality of parallel transverse rollers in a V-shape and adapted to be pivotally adjusted about a common pivot axis, and which may be lowered to a horizontal position in order to load and unload the cloth roll.
Harberstump et al, Gilbert and Smith et al disclose V-shaped belt cradles for supporting cloth rolls in a cloth spreading machine.
The prior Smith et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,494 discloses a V-shaped belt-types cradle support for a cloth roll including a pair of intermediate cloth support rolls, all in relatively fixed positions relative to each other.
It has been found that a belt-type cradle cloth roll support, as disclosed in the Smith et al patent, operates quite satisfactorily as long as the cloth roll is large, and in its initial unwinding stages. However, as the web is unwound from the cloth roll, the roll substantially diminishes in diameter until it becomes quite small. As the roll becomes smaller, it also becomes lighter in weight. When a small roll is supported upon a relatively shallow V-shaped belt trough, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the Smith et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,494, the frictional forces between the cloth roll and the moving feed belts is reduced, and the small roll tends to become displaced in the feed direction, and tends to roll to and fro in the feed direction upon the feed belts. Such movement of the cloth roll creates variations in the tension in the cloth web as it is being spread, and consequently produces excessive tension, slack, wrinkling and/or disalignment of the fabric webs. The wrinkling and disalignment is especially emphasized in thin fabrics, as well as stretchy fabrics, such as knitwear.

Variable belt cradle roll support for cloth spreading machine