The present disclosure generally relates to a ceramic core comprising predominantly mullite, which is derived from a precursor comprising alumina particles and siloxane binders. Free silica is present in the ceramic body, but is largely unavailable for reaction with metal alloys used in investment casting. Methods of making cast metal articles are also disclosed.

Investment casting often utilizes cores to produce internal channels inside cast metals. A molten metal or alloy is poured into a mold containing a core. After the metal solidifies, the core is removed to leave behind the internal channels. The architecture of the internal channels is determined by the features of the core.
Cores formed through injection molding and other conventional processes can produce simple hollow channel architectures. However in some applications, such as cast blades for gas turbines, more complex channel geometries are desirable due to their improved blade performance, where air is blown through the hollow channels of the cast blade for cooling. Improved blade cooling performance can take the form of reduced cooling air flow, which allows for increased utilization of air for combustion and thus increases engine thrust. Higher blade cooling performance allows for an increase in combustor operating temperature and improved thermodynamic efficiency, resulting in better specific fuel consumption, while still maintaining turbine blade component temperatures within an acceptable range for durability. Especially useful channel geometries for turbine blade cooling circuits are described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,524, U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,441, U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,381, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,748 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,889. A major limitation to commercial implementation of these representative cooling circuits in turbine blades is the inability to produce the necessary ceramic cores as 1-piece articles by conventional molding techniques. Examination of the cooling circuit geometries of interest shows that there exists no single parting line allowing the construction of separable mold halves to enable removal of a molded part without destroying part of the formed structure. Accordingly, production of cores to produce such sophisticated cooling circuits requires elaborate multi-step processes where the geometry is broken up into several moldable sections, each with its own separate mold tooling. The individual molded sections are then assembled after molding and firing, with a concomitant reduction in core yield for precision investment casting, due to the loss of registry between the parts. The multi-piece process is also much more expensive due to the capital cost of multiple mold tools, the hand work needed for core finishing and assembly, and the further reduction in net casting yield, due to the poorer dimensional tolerances and mechanical stability during casting of the multi-piece core assembly.
One way to produce cores with both simple and complex channel architectures is with disposable core dies (DCD) described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,487,819. The core is formed by injecting a slurry containing ceramic particles and an organic binder into a disposable core die. The slurry is then cured and then fired to produce a solidified ceramic core. The disposable core die can be removed before or during or after the core firing process, for instance by a chemical, thermal or mechanical process.
Ceramic core materials used in the investment casting industry are often made predominately of silica (SiO2). Silica is a commonly used core material in investment casting because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion, high-temperature dimensional stability, and its ease of removal from the casting. Articles made by investment casting are cast metal or metal alloys. In some instances, this metal may react with the conventional silica-based ceramic core. Therefore, the use of silica-containing core materials for casting of reactive metals is known to be problematic, as silica may react with certain metals during the casting process.
Yttrium addition to an alloy is one approach for improving the oxidation resistance of nickel-based superalloys at the service temperature of turbine airfoils. However, yttrium can react with silica during casting, leading to depletion of the yttrium in the alloy and introducing components into the alloy that debit the mechanical properties. This is a major limitation in using silica cores for the casting of these (reactive) nickel-based superalloys.
Alumina and yttria materials have been used in casting to reduce or eliminate this reactivity problem. Alumina, for instance, is less reactive than silica. However, alumina is harder to process than silica materials with respect to higher temperatures required for processing. This introduces problems with dimensional tolerances because of the higher coefficient of thermal expansion relative to silica. Alumina cores can also require more extreme leaching conditions for their removal after casting because of their lower solubility and/or leach rates. These constraints apply equally to ceramic cores formed through conventional methods such as injection molding, as well as those formed by the DCD process.
Alumina core compositions of the prior art useful for casting reactive alloys, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,187 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,871 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,837, are known, and consist of alumina and other ceramic additives in a thermoplastic organic polymer binder. The polymer binders are solids at room temperature, and must be mixed at elevated temperatures in the molten state. These compositions are subsequently used in high pressure resin-transfer molding processes, which must also occur at elevated temperatures. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,187 employs an ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer and wax mixture that is mixed and molded from 80-125° C. and at 200-1500 psig pressure. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,409,871 and 5,580,837 disclose a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic binder-ceramic powder mixture which must be compatibilized by mixing and injecting at 200° C., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,537. This mixture has a comparatively low viscosity from 5 to 300 Pa-sec, but relies on being heated to this high temperature in order to achieve this viscosity and maintain mixture homogeneity during use. It is not only more costly to run either such process with the energy expenditure to maintain the core mixture and injection process equipment at a temperature greatly elevated above the ambient, but both are also incompatible with the use of fugitive organic polymeric core dies that lose their rigidity above about 60° C. None of these cases teach the formation or use of a low-reactivity or non-reactive core compositions with properties compatible with the DCD process, which are ideally conducted at or about ambient room temperature and at pressures <100 psig.
While the use of Y2O3 coatings on the opposing side of the metal in shells has been practiced for Y-containing reactive alloys, there does not appear to be any well-practiced art for pure Y2O3 cores. Further, yttria is not an ideal material for a non-reactive core. The cost of the rare earth oxide versus alumina or silica is much higher (>10×). Yttria has lower core strength due to the lower bulk modulus as compared to alumina. Yttria also shows poor leaching in conventional pressurized autoclaves with strong aqueous caustic solutions. Additionally, yttria shows a high thermal expansion, with a CTE of 7 ppm (as does alumina).
Bochiechio (US 2014/0182809) teaches the use of mullite- and metallic-containing cores for investment casting. US 2014/0182809 is focused on the use of these compositions to closely match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ceramic material to a refractory metal component, and does not teach the casting of reactive alloys with these compositions. To the contrary, its allowance of up to 60 wt % silica indicates to one of ordinary skill in the art that the castings of reactive alloys are not envisioned. The present disclosure uses cores that are suitable for casting of reactive alloys, in stark contrast to Bochiechio.
Therefore, there is a need for a low reactivity material system compatible with DCD processing for producing cores that can generate cast articles with complex internal channel architectures made using reactive metals and alloys.

Compositions for cores used in investment casting


A filter precleaner for precleaning an unfiltered gaseous mixture. A coalescing filter includes a filter media for filtering a gas, a nozzle assembly for precleaning an unfiltered gaseous mixture, and a lower endplate. The nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle plate positioned upstream of the filter media. The lower endplate is positioned at a lower end of the filter media beneath the first nozzle plate. The lower endplate allows liquid to drain through the lower endplate. The unfiltered gaseous mixture impacts the lower endplate such that liquid from the unfiltered gaseous mixture flows through the lower endplate and gas from the unfiltered gaseous mixture flows through the filter media.

Gas filters, such as coalescing gas filters, may include a filter element that the unfiltered fluid may flow through for filtration. However, particularly in with gas filtration, any liquid in the unfiltered air or gaseous mixture (e.g., aerosol) may be directed with the gas into the filter media. This excess liquid may decrease the life and overall efficiency of the filter media.


A pre-crash sensing system (10) for a source vehicle (50) having a source vehicle length and a source vehicle width that is coupled to a countermeasure system (30) is described. The system includes an object sensor (17) having a radar sensor (18) generating an object distance signal and an object relative velocity signal, and a vision system (20) generating an object classification signal. A controller (12) is coupled to the object sensor for activating the countermeasure system (30) based on the object distance, relative velocity and the object classification signal.

The present invention relates to pre-crash sensing systems for automotive vehicles, and more particularly, to pre-crash sensing systems having countermeasures operated in response to the length and width of a detected vehicle.
Auto manufacturers are investigating radar, lidar, and vision-based pre-crash sensing systems to improve occupant safety. Current vehicles typically employ accelerometers that measure vehicle body decelerations in the event of a crash. In response to accelerometers, airbags or other safety devices are deployed.
In certain crash situations it would be desirable to provide information before forces actually act upon the vehicle when a collision is unavoidable. Such information may include the position of a target vehicle relative to a source vehicle.
Remote sensing systems using radar are used in adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance and collision warning applications. These systems have characteristic requirements for false alarms. Generally, the remote sensing system reliability requirements for pre-crash sensing for automotive safety related systems are more stringent than those for comfort and convenience features, such as, adaptive cruise control. The reliability requirements even for safety related features vary significantly, depending upon the safety countermeasure under consideration. For example, tolerance towards undesirable activations may be higher for activating motorized belt pre-tensioners than for functions such as vehicle suspension height adjustments. Non-reversible safety countermeasures, including airbags, require extremely reliable sensing systems for pre-crash activation.
To meet wide-angle coverage requirements for pre-crash sensing purposes, multiple pulsed radar based sensing systems are being investigated for automotive applications. Multiple, pulsed radar sensor based systems with a wide field of coverage are available. Triangulation techniques with individual radar range measurements are used with multiple pulsed radar systems for object position estimation.
Threat assessment concepts based on the width and path of the host vehicle, and tracked objects are also available. These concepts do not properly account for the dimensions of the host and target vehicles. They also do not address the issue of impact situation classification. For example, they do not separate between those potential collisions in which the front of the host vehicle is involved, and those in which the sides of the host vehicle are involved.
The length and width of the host and target vehicles are important in deciding whether the accident is going to happen or whether it is going to be a near miss situation. Also, for countermeasure deployment decisions, such as nose-dipping, it is necessary to know if the front or sides of the host vehicle will be involved in the accidents.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a reliable method for determining the position of a target vehicle. It would also be desirable to provide a system that takes into consideration the size of the object including the length of the object in the activation of a countermeasure.
The present invention provides an improved pre-crash sensing system that reduces false activations and activates a countermeasure in response to the size of the object detected.
In one aspect of the invention, a pre-crash sensing system for a source vehicle (sometimes also referred to as the host vehicle) having a source vehicle length and a source vehicle width that is coupled to a countermeasure system is described. The system includes an object sensor for generating an object distance signal, object relative velocity signal and an object classification signal. A controller is coupled to the object sensor for activating the countermeasure system in response to the object distance, relative velocity and the object classification signal.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for an automotive vehicle having a countermeasure system, said method comprises: determining an object distance, an object relative velocity and an object classification with an object sensor; determining an object length and object width corresponding to the object classification; and activating the countermeasure system in response to the object length and object width and the object distance and relative velocity.
One advantage of the invention is that the length and width of the sensed object may be taken into consideration. This is extremely useful if the object is another automotive vehicle such as a sport utility, car or truck. By knowing the size of the vehicle, different countermeasures and different countermeasure activation modes may be chosen.
Another advantage of the invention is that unintentional, inadvertent or unnecessary activations of countermeasure devices are minimized.

Method for determining a danger zone for a pre-crash sensing system in a vehicle having a countermeasure system


Described herein is a method and apparatus for the detection of signals in an area of interest. Three sensor channels are provided for sensing radiated emissions in an area of interest, each channel having a sensor and a processor, the three channels sensing radiated emissions in the very low frequency band, the high/very high frequency band, and the ultra high frequency band respectively. The first and third sensor channels provide input signals to the processor in the second sensor channel so that accumulated signal data can be processed to produce an input signal for a comparator. The comparator compares the input signal with data stored in a database to indicate presence of equipment having known modes of operation.

The present invention relates to the detection of signals and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with the detection and characterisation of signals relating to the operation of types of equipment using spectral analysis.
In "EMI-Debugging of Complex Systems using different time, modulation, STFFT and Frequency Domain Signal Analysis Techniques" by Zhe Li and David Pommerenke of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Missouri—Rolla, Rolla, MO65409, USA, the application of signal analysis techniques for identifying radiated emission sources is discussed.
In particular, signal analysis techniques that span the time domain via the intermediate modulation and short-term fast Fourier transform (STFFT) domain to the frequency domain are disclosed which provide spectral analysis of equipment of interest, for example, switched power supplies.
In "A New Solution for Signal Intelligence" by James Pierson and Joseph Kovacs of National Instruments, spectrum monitoring and signal intelligence is used to collect and analyse data from communications or other electronic sources to provide data relating to a particular area of interest. Apparatus is disclosed that allows a user to monitor multiple frequency ranges simultaneously by logging data for real-time evaluation and later processing. Processed data can then be compared with stored data to classify the detected signal(s).
In each of the cases discussed above, only spectral analysis of the detected signal(s) is carried out and there is no determination of the modulation on the frequency peaks within the generated spectrum. Information relating to the modulation of the signals at the frequency peaks provides data that is unique to particular modes of operation of types of the equipment being monitored.


A communications system and method for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with multiple antennas. A first communications device enables a first antenna configuration in accordance with a first pre-determined rule. A second communications device activates a second antenna configuration in accordance with a second predetermined rule. First and second messages are exchanged between the first and second communications devices. The first message includes the power management profile of the first communications device and the second message includes information pertinent to a power management profile of the second communications device, and signal integrity information determined by the second communications device from the received first message. The first communications device enables a third antenna configuration in accordance with the first pre-determined rule and the second communications device activates a fourth antenna in accordance with the second pre-determined rule configuration after the first and second messages have been exchanged.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and system for managing transmitting power of communications devices, and more particularly to a method and system for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with a plurality of antennas.
2. Description of the Related Art
A communications system operating at a millimeter wave (mmWave) band has a number of advantages. For example, the mmWave band is cleaner than the commonly used ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) bands because there is less interference. An mmWave channel is capable of supporting high throughput, of up to several gigabits per second. Signals transmitted at the mmWave band can be made highly directional with the proper antenna design; therefore communications devices operating at the mmWave band often employ directional antennas for efficiency and application reasons. Because the communications devices operating at the mmWave band generally employ multiple antennas, by determining proper antenna configurations in a beamforming training procedure, desired radiation patterns, such as a point to point radiation pattern, may be obtained.
However, one disadvantage in the mmWave band communications system is that the power consumption is generally high. Especially, when there is large amount of antennas equipped within the communications devices operating at the mmWave band communications system. Therefore, a method and system for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with a plurality of antennas is required.

Method and system for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with a plurality of antennas


A pen-type input device and method for sending positional input to a host device, in which a first switch, located on the pen's tip is provided to input character strokes in a character input mode and move a mouse cursor in a mouse mode, a second switch is provided to perform a mouse left-click operation in the mouse mode, and a third switch is provided to switch an input mode of the pen-type input device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a pen-type input device and an input method using the same, more particularly to a pen-type input device for performing both a character input function and a mouse function, and an input method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pen-type input device, which performs tracking using an optical sensor and a relative coordinate system usually operates in a character input mode and a mouse input mode. When it is in character input mode, it will record tracking information both when the pen moves on a surface (e.g., a mouse pad) and when it moves above the surface. Without such tracking, character input may not be correctly performed.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show how to input (enter) characters using a general pen-type input device. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, after each stroke of a character is input, the pen should be lifted up and moved to a start point of the next stroke to input the next stroke, as shown in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1B shows the character input results that may be obtained when the pen-type input device does not recognize the tracking information of the pen while the pen moves above the surface (the mouse pad), in character input mode. If movements of the pen cannot be sensed while the pen is lifted up from the surface and moved, the next stroke starts at the last point of the previous stroke, causing character input error.
In the character input mode, the pen-type input device acquires input information by turning on a switch from the beginning to the end of each stroke while the pen is moved in contact with the surface. Afterwards, it should stop acquiring information by turning off a switch after completion of the current stroke and wait for the next stroke. However, even in this case, location information of the pen should be continuously measured to exactly perform character input by aligning the next stroke with the current stroke.
Mouse mode, in which a mouse function is implemented, is different from the character input mode. Generally, a user holds a mouse, against the surface of the mouse pad. If the mouse is placed on an edge of the mouse pad, the user lifts up the mouse and moves it to the center of the mouse pad to use it again. When the mouse is lifted up and moved in this way, the cursor or mouse pointer on the display does not move correspondingly. This allows the user to use the mouse with his arm placed in a comfortable position.
Problems may occur when a pen-type input device provides both a mouse function and a character input function. In a character input mode, even when the pen is lifted up from the surface of the mouse pad and moved, the location information is recognized and consequently moves the cursor. However, in mouse mode, the cursor is not moved when the pen is lifted up from the surface and moved. Therefore, in the case of character input, the pen's location information is recognized to move the cursor even when the pen is lifted up from the surface and moved. When a character input mode pen is used for a mouse operation, the mouse cursor is moved even when the pen (or mouse) is lifted up from the surface and moved, so the user may not use the mouse in a comfortable position. In contrast, when using a mouse mode pen for character input, the mouse cursor is not moved when the pen is lifted up from the surface and moved, thus it is not possible to exactly draw characters using the pen as shown in FIG. 1B.
In the conventional pen-type input device like the pen mouse, the character input and the mouse functions are not separated. Because of the above contradictory situation, the conventional pen-type input device may not smoothly perform both functions.
In the conventional pen mouse, if the pen is lifted up from the surface by a certain distance or more, the cursor position is not tracked, and in the character input mode or the mouse mode, if the pen tip is pressed with a predetermined force, with the pen mouse in contact with the surface of the mouse pad, a switch is operated to perform a mouse left-click function.
Because tracking is not performed when the pen is lifted up from the surface a user having the habit of lifting up the pen to some height during inter-stroke, inter-character and inter-word movements in writing text, may fail in the character input operation as shown in FIG. 1B. In this case, the user needs to practice writing characters without excessively lifting up the pen. In addition, to activate the switch during character input, the user must inconveniently press the pen with predetermined force.
Meanwhile, for a pen in mouse mode, when the user moves the pen mouse on the surface he must carefully handle the pen mouse so that the switch mounted on the pen tip does not operate. Therefore, if the hardware is configured to operate even though the pen contacts the surface with less force, ensuring easy character input in the character input mode causes normal mouse operation to become more difficult. That is, in the conventional pen-type input device, if the operation height characteristic and the sensitivity of the pen tip switch are improved to increase performance of the character input operation, the mouse operation becomes significantly more difficult.

Pen type input device and method for character input and mouse functions


A mounting portion of a battery is provided with a bracket that is placed to face a front face of the battery. A wire harness is placed forward of the battery in a vehicle and is displaced to one side of the bracket in a vehicle width direction, and a terminal that is connected to the wire harness is connected to an electrode. A guiding portion extends from an upper end portion of the bracket to a side portion of the bracket on one side in the vehicle width direction, and the wire harness can be slid along the guiding portion when the wire harness contacts the guiding portion from above. Accordingly, the wire harness is guided by the guiding portion to a position in a routed state in the vehicle width direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery mounting structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a battery mounting structure, a battery is mounted on a vehicle and fixed on a floor panel side. In such a structure, for example, while a battery support and the like restrict a displacement of the battery in a vehicle width direction, a vertical wall that is provided in a front side of a battery mounting portion is placed to face a front face of the battery (see JP 2002-187507 A, for example). The vertical wall is provided to protect the battery from a rear wheel house and the like that are placed forward of the battery during a frontal collision of the vehicle.
However, if a routing position of a wire harness in the above structure is in a front side of the battery, the wire harness interferes with the vertical wall when a terminal that is connected to the wire harness is being connected to an electrode of the battery. Accordingly, an improvement can be made for a connecting procedure.


A reliable, long-lived soldered electrical connection is made to a ceramic substrate having a thick-film metallization thereon, over which is deposited a joint-structure-stabilizing thin-film metallization. The thin-film metallization is a multilayered structure having an adhesion layer overlying and in contact with the thick-film metallization, a readily wettable base-metal layer overlying and in contact with the adhesion layer, and an oxidation-prevention layer overlying and in contact with the base-metal layer. An electrical conductor is soldered to the thin-film metallization of the ceramic substrate. The electrical conductor may be a bonding pad of a flip chip having a solder bump thereon.

This invention relates to the fabrication of a structure having a reliable, long-lived soldered electrical connection to a metallized ceramic substrate and, more particularly, to the fabrication of a structure with a flip chip electrically and structurally connected to the metallized ceramic substrate.
In one common architecture, a microelectronic chip is fabricated with large numbers of interconnected microelectronic circuits thereon. The microelectronic chip has input and output terminals of the microelectronic circuits on an external surface of the microelectronic chip. One form of the terminals is solder bumps which protrude above the external surface of the microelectronic chip.
A number of the microelectronic chips and other electronic devices may be supported on a ceramic substrate with metallized interconnections on the surface of the substrate. The metallization on the substrate provides interconnection between the microelectronic chips and also serves as a structural support for the fragile microelectronic chips. The substrate is typically made of a single-layer of ceramic material with the electrically conductive metallization traces on its surface, or multiple layers of ceramic material with electrically conductive traces on the various levels of the ceramic structure and vertical interconnects between the levels.
The microelectronic chip is attached to the substrate by affixing the solder bumps to the appropriate locations on the conductive traces of the substrate. The affixing is accomplished by fluxing the solder bumps and the traces, contacting the solder bumps to the metallization traces in an oven which heats the solder to a temperature above its liquidus temperature to cause it to reflow, and then cooling the assembly to below the solidus temperature allowing proper solidification of the solder, forming a conductive interconnect. The flux is thereafter removed. The solder joint between the solder bumps and the metallization on the substrate in this xe2x80x9cflip chipxe2x80x9d design serves both as the structural attachment and the electrical attachment of the microelectronic chip to the substrate.
The removal of the flux is a time-consuming task that adds to the product cost. The inventors have also recognized that the use of the flux may have adverse effects on the microelectronic chip itself. For example, where the microelectronic chip is based on silicon (Si) or gallium arsenide (GaAs) technology, the flux may contaminate the sensitive microcircuits. The flux residue may also result in environmental contamination. The inventors have recognized a need for a joining approach that overcomes these problems that arise from the use of flux-based solder joining of microelectronic chips to substrates. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.
The present invention provides a method for forming a soldered connection, and a metallized ceramic substrate that may be used in the method. The approach is particularly useful for forming solder joint electrical and structural connections between flip chips and metallized ceramic substrates, but it may be used more widely. The soldering method achieves the solder joining without the use of a flux and without a substantial modification to the composition of the solder.
In accordance with the invention, a method of forming a soldered electrical connection comprises the steps of providing a ceramic substrate having a thick-film metallization thereon, and depositing a joint-stabilizing, thin-film metallization overlying the thick-film metallization. The thin-film metallization comprises an adhesion layer overlying and in contact with the thick-film metallization, a readily wettable base-metal layer overlying and in contact with the adhesion layer, and an oxidation-prevention layer overlying and in contact with the base-metal layer. The method further includes providing an electrical conductor, and soldering the electrical conductor to the thin-film metallization of the ceramic substrate.
In a preferred application the electrical conductor is a bonding pad of a flip chip having a solder bump thereon. The step of soldering includes the steps of placing the bonding pad having the solder bump thereon in contact with the thin-film metallization, and heating the solder bump to a temperature greater than its liquidus temperature.
The adhesion layer is preferably a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium-tungsten, and chromium, and preferably has a thickness of from about 25 nanometers to about 100 nanometers. The base-metal layer is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, and alloys thereof, and preferably has a thickness of from about 0.15 micrometers to about 5 micrometers, most preferably from about 0.75 micrometers to about 3 micrometers. The oxidation-prevention layer is a metal selected from the group consisting of gold and silver, and has a preferred thickness of from about 70 nanometers to about 600 nanometers, most preferably from about 100 nanometers to about 200 nanometers. The thick-film metallization comprises a precious metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and combinations thereof.
The adhesion layer of the thin-film metallization ensures the adhesion of the overlying base-metal layer to the underlying thick-film metallization. Consequently, it is made relatively thin. The base-metal layer serves three functions. It is the layer to which the soldering is accomplished, it acts as an electrical conductor in the final assembly, and it also prevents diffusion of the underlying thick-film metallization into the liquid solder during the soldering step and into the solid solder during post-soldering processes and subsequent mission operations. Such diffusion would otherwise tend to convert the solder to a low-melting solid and reduce its creep-fatigue resistance. Maintaining good creep-fatigue resistance is an important consideration where the solder serves the structural function of attaching the flip chip to the metallized ceramic, and where the solder must retain its structural integrity through thermal strain cycles during post-soldering assembly processes and mission operation. The oxidation-prevention layer prevents oxidation of the structure during storage. Such oxidation, if it were to occur, would prevent soldering or would require fluxing of the metallization prior to soldering, which in turn would require cleanup of the flux after soldering is complete. The oxidation-prevention layer prevents such oxidation and allows subsequent good wetting during soldering without the use of a flux. The oxidation-prevention layer dissolves into the liquid solder during the soldering operation, and it is therefore made as thin as possible consistent with the need to achieve durable full coverage of the surface of the base-metal layer. Each of the layers of the thin-film metallization thus performs an important function in the thin-film metallization in cooperation with the other layers.
The present invention achieves high reliability of the soldered structure through a high resistance to chemical and mechanical, and therefore electrical, degradation of solder bump joints during subsequent assembly and in service operational environments.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is not, however, limited to this preferred embodiment.

Method of forming a soldered electrical connection


An analytic method uses a labeled antigen, labeled antibody, tracer, etc. in which a radio isotope, fluorescent dye, luminescent dye, enzyme, etc. is bonded to an antibody or an antigen bonded to a protein as an object of analysis for performing an assay of a trace amount of a substance such as a hormone, tumor marker, infective pathogen marker, infective antibody, etc., for blood, serum, plasma, or body fluid as a sample or specimen. The analysis is enabled at high sensitivity, with less generation of noises and at low background. When an assay is performed based on the antigen-antibody reaction for a sample in an analytic method by fluorometry or luminometry, detection or measurement of non-specific fluorescence or luminescence such as interference light is eliminated or removed effectively irrespective of the property of the sample or the level of the concentration of substances contained in the sample.

In a trace substance assay of hormone, tumor marker, infectious pathogen marker, infective pathogen antibody, etc. for blood, serum, plasma, or body flood as a sample or a specimen, there has generally been used a method of qualitatively or quantitatively detecting proteins, etc. in the sample or the specimen by bonding based on antigen-antibody bonding reaction on every analysis items of proteins. The antibody or the antigen bonding to a protein as an object of analysis in this case is bonded with a radioactive isotope, fluorescent dye, luminescent dye, enzyme, rare earth complex, metal ion, etc. and referred to as a labeled antigen, a labeled antibody, or a tracer.
Similarly, for the assay of DNA or RNA, for example, of a pathogen, a drug metabolizing marker, etc. in the sample or the specimen, a DNA chain or an RNA chain complementary to the DNA or RNA of an object of analysis is hybridized to detect the object of analysis. In this instance, the complementary DNA chain or RNA chain is labeled directly or indirectly with a fluorescent substance or a luminescent substance.
Immunoassay is a specific measuring method of a biological substance on the basis that an antigen and an antibody bonded thereto form antigen-antibody bonding. The method includes a solution precipitation reaction method, a carrier agglutination reaction method, and a labeled antibody method based on the principle of measurement. The solution precipitation reaction method is a method of optically measuring and determining agglutinates formed by the antigen-antibody bonding in a solution, for which immuno turbidimetry, immuno nephelometry, etc. are known. The carrier agglutination reaction method is a method of subjecting a carrier such as an antibody-immobilized latex and a sample solution (antigen) to antigen-antibody bonding and measuring and determining the resultant agglutinates of the carrier optically or imagewis. The carrier agglutination reaction method measures apparent particle diameter or decrease or increase in the transmission light by latex turbidimetry, a latex nephelometry, particle counting, image processing, etc. The labeled antibody method is a method of using an antibody labeled with various labeling substances to subject the same to antigen-antibody bonding, and measuring only the ingredient reacted with the labeled antibody. The labeled antibody methods known include radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, fluorescent immunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, electroluminescent immunoassay, etc. based on the labeling substances.
Problems pointed out for the immunoassay are to be set forth below.
1. Effect by heterophil antibody: In the system where a monochronal antibody is used as the antibody, when HAMA (human anti-mouse antibody) is present in the sample, it crosslinks a labeled antibody and an immobilized antibody, resulting in false-positive.
2. Non-specific reaction with blocking agent, etc.: A blocking agent or a protective protein contained in a reagent reacts with substances in the sample, resulting in false-positive.
3. Non-specific reaction with labeled enzyme: When a substance bonding to a labeled enzyme is present in the sample, background increases.
4. Prozone phenomenon or high dose huck: When the concentration of an antigen is higher than a measurement range or when the concentration of a labeled antibody greatly exceeds the measurement range, false-negative occurs. In an antigen excessive region, an antigen-antibody complex becomes soluble to sometimes show an abnormally low value.5. Effect of hemolysis: When hemolysis in the sample is intense, this results in influence on the color formation upon judgment to make the judgment difficult.6. When faces and urine are used as the sample: Fresh samples are used. Samples containing intense turbid urea or blood cells are not suitable.7. Effect due to the property of sample: When the viscosity of the sample, particularly, the concentration of protein (M protein, cryoglobulin positive sample) is high, the reaction rate is low and false-negative occurs. Test is performed again by using a diluted sample. Non-specific scattering sometimes occurs due to the presence of milky serum or immuno complex.8. False-positive and false-negative due to crossed reaction: They are observed in a system in which a recombinant antigen is used. Further, false-positive is shown by crossed reaction in FSH, TSH, and LH.9. Effect of drugs used (atropine, caffeine, acetoamidephenol, acetylsalicylic acid, ascorbic acid, etc.): False-positive is shown due to the effect of drugs in a urine hCG measuring system.10. Inter-reagent difference of measuring sensitivity: In some cases, while the reaction shows negative for a predetermined judging time, positive reaction develops with lapse of time.
Long time has been elapsed since Berson and Yalow completed radio immunoassay by labeling radioactive isotopes to antigens or antibodies. This is used still at present as a useful method in view of the good sensitivity and high specificity. Meanwhile, development and improvement have been made for enzyme immunoassay, fluorescent immunoassay, luminescent immunoassay, etc.
The enzyme immunoassay is a method of labeling an enzyme, instead of the radioactive isotope, to an antigen or an antibody, which enables measurement at high sensitivity in view of the high catalytic activity of the enzyme to a substrate.
A time-resolved fluorometry of pulsatively irradiating a final product of antigen-antibody reaction with exciting light and, after lapse of a time in which fluorescence generated from a reaction vessel, etc. is quenched, measuring the fluorescence of the substance has been developed. In recent years, europium complexes or samarium complexes having relatively long fluorescence quenching time or not requiring sensitizer have been developed and the method has become more effective.
In the luminescent immunoassay, a method of labeling isoluminol or acridinium ester and measuring the amount of luminescence is provided, and measuring systems according to following combinations are established: a combination of peroxidase and luminol using a substrate capable of luminescent reaction while using an enzyme as the labeling substance, or a combination of a substrate such as AMPPD that emits light when a phosphoric acid group is dissociated and an alkali phosphatase, or a combination of using luciferase as a labeling substance and using luciferin as a substrate.
In labeled antigen, labeled antibody, labeled DNA, labeled RNA, tracer, etc., while a single fluorescent substance or luminescent substance is bonded to a material to be labeled, it has been attempted to bond many fluorescent substances or luminescent substances to a material to be labeled for the purpose of increasing the amount of fluorescence or luminescence. A plurality of fluorescent substances or luminescent substances are formed as a complex, as a complex with bovine serum albumin, streptavidin or like other protein, or bonded to the surface of a fine particle, and they are bonded as a labeling material to the material to be labeled. For the fine particle, particles of gelatin, latex, or polystyrene having a diameter of about 2 micrometer (μm) are generally used, serving as a carrier for the fluorescent substance or the luminescent substance. In recent years, finer particles of about 100 nanometer (nm) diameter have also been developed. Further, for the bonding or immobilization of the fluorescent substance or the luminescent substance to the carrier, the fine particles and the fluorescent substance or the luminescent substance are often mixed in a buffer solution and bonded by electric bonding.
The reaction surface as a site for the antigen-antibody reaction or gene detection method generally comprises a flat plate or particle of a plastic or glass material, and magnetic particle incorporating iron oxide is also used. Further, filter, woven fiber, multi-layered paper, porous film, etc. are sometimes used for increasing the surface area for immobilization.
When individual bodies having the reaction surface are particles, they are put into a reaction vessel and mixed with a sample or a specimen or a reagent, and cells, microtiter plates, etc. made of transparent mineral ores such as quartz or artificial stone thereof, glass, or compounds such as polycarbonate material, polystyrene material, and polyvinyl material are used as the vessel.
A method of measuring items in immuno serum assay for clinical inspection often includes a method of detecting an antigen-antibody reaction by using an antibody or an antigen having a fluorescent substance or a luminescent substance as a labeled substance by utilizing the reaction. In this case, the antigen-antibody reaction is detected also even if the fluorescent substance or the luminescent substance such as a dye, fluorescent dye, or phosphorescent dye is labeled directly to the antibody or the antigen. However, when labeled antibody or antigen is prepared by bonding a plurality of substances to a labeling carrier thereby forming a complex of a fluorescent substance or a luminescent substance and a carrier and binding the same to an antigen or antibody, the number of the fluorescent substance or the labeled body bonding to one molecule of the antigen or the antibody can be increased to generate more intense signals. When proteins such as bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet hemocyanine, particles of plastics, for example, of polystyrene and polypropylene, ferrite, silica, gelatin and other polymerization products, or chained carbon compounds such as polyvinyl alcohol are used, they correspond to the labeling carrier.
Alternatively, a plurality of fluorescent substances or luminescent substances can be sealed in liposomes, lipid films, or hollow plastic materials thereby capable of amplifying signals. In this case, the liposomes, lipid films, or hollow plastic materials correspond to the carrier.
The carrier is formed as a complex with the fluorescent substance or the luminescent substance and used as a labeling material. The labeling material sometimes forms a macro agglutinate block during preservation. Further, the thermal stability lowers remarkably by the formation of the complex, and the material also tends to be adsorbed easily to a reaction vessel or the reaction material for immobilization to result in increase of non-specific background. In the same manner, due to the property of the carrier and the labeling substance and, further, the ingredients contained in the solution, extinction or quenching occurs that reduces color formation, luminescence or fluorescence of a substance. Further, when the antigen or the antibody is labeled, since the molecule of the labeled material is large, the antigen-antibody reaction is remarkably lowered.
In the antigen-antibody reaction by fluorometry or luminometry, the fluorescent substance, the luminescent substance, or the enzyme bonded to the labeled antibody or the labeled antigen is not bonded to the antibody or the antigen in 1:1 relation but a plurality of molecules of the fluorescent substance, the luminescent substance, or the enzyme are generally bonded to one molecule of the antibody or the antigen. It is intended to takeout signals under amplification.
The fluorescent substance, the luminescent substance, or the enzyme is bonded in plurality to other protein or support, and the protein or the support is used as the carrier for the fluorescent substance, etc. It is important that the carrier satisfy the following requirements.
1. Preferably, the carrier has a large surface area while the molecular weight is low and has a specific gravity about equal to that of a buffer to be used.
2. Preferably, the carrier tends to immobilize the fluorescent substance, etc. and does not lower the fluorescence or the luminescence of the fluorescent substance, etc.
3. Preferably, the carrier less adsorbs to a reaction vessel or other particles after labeling of the fluorescent substance, etc. to the carrier.
4. Preferably, the carrier is fine and has such a size not to optically interrupt excitation light and, in the same manner, does not hinder the detection of the fluorescence or the luminescence at a photomultiplier or the like. If an object shorter than a wavelength is present, the carrier does not interrupt the light. When the carrier is shorter than the wavelength of the light to be used, the light transmits the carrier without decay when it does not transmits the carrier. Further, light is not scattered by the carrier and generation of noises is minimized.
5. Preferably, the carrier is colorless and transparent and does not hinder the transmission of excitation light. Preferably, the carrier does not generate non-specific fluorescence or luminescence by the irradiation with the excitation light.
6. Preferably, the carrier has high hydrophilicity and high dispersibility. In the same manner, it preferably maintains high hydrophilicity and dispersibility easily after labeling the fluorescent substance, etc.
A homogeneous measuring method (homogeneous assay) is a method as a method in which measurement is always performed in a solution state. As measurement at high sensitivity has been demanded, however, a method of reacting an antigen and an antibody, separating a free labeled antibody (or antigen) not participating in the reaction by a cleaning operation (B/F separation) and then measuring the antigen-antibody complex, that is, a heterogeneous measuring method (heterogeneous assay) has been utilized generally. At present, a homogeneous assay at high sensitivity has become possible by developing a combination of a fluorescent dye and its quencher (quenching dye), or an FRET method of detecting the fluorescence of a second substance due to excitation by energy transfer from a first fluorescent substance to the second fluorescent substance, an LOCI method of applying oxygen channeling, a gold particle method of measuring different color formation due to approaching and agglutination of colloidal gold particles, etc.
Patent document 1 shows a method of disposing first metal particles and second metal particles on a substrate at a distance not causing interaction with each other, supplying the second metal particles having the first metal particles and a first substance bonded to the first metal particles and bonded to a second substance to the substrate, bonding the first metal particles and the second metal particles by way of the bonding between the first substance and the second substance, causing interaction to each other, and observing the bonding between the first substance and the second substance. Patent document 2 shows a method of quantitatively determining the amount of a specimen to be detected by measuring the fluorescence intensity based on the antigen-antibody reaction between a detected specimen-dye complex of a specimen to be detected (antigen) bonded with a not-fluorescent dye and an antibody to the detected specimen-dye complex which recognizes both of the specimen to be detected and the dye as epitopes, and the detected specimen-dye complex and the antibody.
Any of the methods is far from practical use for measuring a specific reaction while realizing high sensitivity and a further development is necessary, since it is necessary to provide special metal particle, substrate, dye, and antibody that recognizes two epitopes, and special techniques are required in the preparation of the system.


A dimensioning system includes: an emitter assembly to project a planar light beam into a scan volume; first and second image sensors to capture images of overlapping first and second portions of the scan volume; and a controller configured to: in response to an object travelling through the scan volume, for a successive pair of intervals defined by an operational frequency: at a first interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the first image sensor to capture a first image of a top and a first side of the object; at a second interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the second image sensor to capture a second image of the top and a second side of the object; and generate a three-dimensional image from the first and second images.

Systems for dimensioning objects in motion can include cameras to capture a series images of the object in order to dimension the object. However, the orientation of the object, as well as the speed of travel of the object, may reduce the accuracy of such dimensioning.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Interleaved image capture for dimensioning system


A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate with an inclined through hole extending between its two major surfaces in a peripheral part of the substrate, providing an electrical interconnection between the two surfaces. The opening of the inclined through hole on the first major surface, on which electronic components are formed, is closer to the edge of the substrate than is the opening on the second major surface. Reliability is therefore enhanced because cracks forming at the edge of the second major surface are less likely to propagate to the through hole. An electrically conductive path in the through hole is formable by spraying conductive material onto its inner wall, using an ink-jet system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and its fabrication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices having a substrate with through holes extending between the upper and lower surfaces to provide electrical connections therebetween have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publications No. 2003-318178 (pp. 1 to 5, FIGS. 1 to 8) and No. 2003-347502 (pp. 1 to 7, FIGS. 1 to 9).
The technology disclosed in the first of these Publications tapers the through holes in the depth direction. Consequently, if the through holes extend from the upper surface of the semiconductor device, where its functional components are formed, to the lower surface, the comparatively large openings on the upper surface reduce the space available for forming components. The circuit designer is therefore forced to use a semiconductor substrate with a comparatively large die size, making the semiconductor device comparatively expensive. If the through holes extend from the lower surface to the upper surface this problem can be avoided, but then the comparatively large openings of the holes on the lower surface come uncomfortably close to the edges of the lower surface, where cracks can easily form. If a crack propagates inward from an edge of the lower surface to a nearby through hole, the reliability of the through hole is impaired.
The technology disclosed in the second of the above Publications places the through holes in the peripheral areas of the semiconductor device, and angles the holes in a direction parallel to the adjacent edge of the device. There is consequently the same problem of proximity of the holes to the edges of the device on its lower surface and impaired reliability due to crack propagation from those edges to the through holes.

Semiconductor device with inclined through holes


A cistern assembly for a flush toilet includes a cistern housing including a cistern lid and a cistern base, a cistern member pivotally attached within the cistern housing, and an actuator to pivot the cistern member relative to the cistern housing to discharge the stored water. The cistern member has a base wall that forms a chamber to store the water and a passageway to discharge the water from the chamber, the passageway has an internal inlet and a cistern outlet and is shaped to siphon water through the passageway. The actuator tilts the cistern member to actuate discharge of water through the passageway so that when the cistern member is pivoted and the passageway is moved below the water level of the stored water of the chamber, water is drawn through the passageway to the cistern outlet until air within the chamber enters the passageway preventing further water from being drawn into the passageway.

A flush toilet system operates by the rapid passage of water from the cistern to the toilet bowl and then into to the underground sewer pipes. Water is stored in the cistern. Water is released from the cistern with the actuating of the flushing mechanism. Water passes through a cistern outlet into the bowl. When the water has drained from the cistern, the outlet valve reseals about the outlet and water from the mains water supply refills the cistern.
The outlet valve is usually a rubber or plastic gasket. Wearing of the cistern outlet valve prevents effective sealing of the outlet. Dirt in the water or scale deposits from chemically hard water can also obstruct the proper sealing of the cistern outlet valve. Often the amount of water that leaks through the cistern outlet valve as a result of ineffective sealing is very small and the leakage problem goes unnoticed. Even if a small trickle is noticed running down the inside of the toilet bowl, a person often does not bother replacing the seal because the trickle appears minimal. As the leakage problem causes no inconveniences to a person and the replacement of the cistern outlet valve itself is troublesome, there is little incentive to fix the leakage problem. Over a prolonged period, however, a significant volume of water escapes into the toilet bowl and is lost into the sewerage system. The loss of water from the cistern through an ineffective cistern outlet valve can be financially and economically significant particularly in times of drought.


There is provided an image processing apparatus including: an input image acquisition unit for obtaining an input image generated by taking an image of a real space; an image recognition unit for recognizing, when a first user-input representing a start of manipulation is detected, a manipulator used for manipulating a virtual object, wherein the manipulator appears in the input image; a calculation unit for calculating, according to a result of the recognition of the manipulator provided by the image recognition unit, a position on a screen of a display device at which the virtual object is to be displayed; a display control unit for displaying the virtual object at the position of the screen of the display device calculated by the calculation unit; and a communication unit for transmitting, when the first user-input is detected, a first notification signal for notifying the start of manipulation to another apparatus displaying the same virtual object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and an image processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, a technique called MR (Mixed Reality) has been developed to provide a user with an environment in which real world and virtual world are mixed. AR (Augmented Reality), which is an example of MR, provides a user with an image obtained by imaging a real space and augmented with virtual object images or additional information. In the MR, some interfaces are often arranged in the real world in order to allow a user to interact with virtual world or virtual objects. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-247602 describes an MR system for providing an air hockey game in which multiple users hit a virtual puck with each other by manipulating control boxes, i.e., physical objects in real world.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and image processing system


An intake manifold assembly is disclosed that utilizes a barrel valve apparatus comprised of segments and connectors. The barrel valve apparatus and its housing component can be tapered and flexible. A protrusion such as a draft can be used to seal the performance of the barrel valve apparatus without a seal. Openings in the barrel valve apparatus can possess an integrated bellmouth shape.

The invention relates generally to intake systems and methods. More specifically, the invention is a variable intake system and method (collectively the "system").
Many different types of vehicles use an air intake manifold to direct an air or air-fuel mixture to the engine in such a manner as to enhance the torque generated by the engine. Examples of powered vehicles using air intake manifolds can include but are not limited to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, scooters, go-carts, riding mowers, mobile construction equipment, and other transportation mechanisms powered by an engine (collectively "vehicles"). In addition to transportation applications, air intake manifolds can also be used in the context of powered equipment that does not relate to transportation. Examples of devices utilizing an intake manifold can include but are not limited to lawn mowers, chain saws, forklifts, portable power generators, and other types of powered equipment (collectively "equipment"). The performance of any internal combustion engine can be optimized for improved torque, power, fuel economy or emissions though optimization of the air intake manifold.
There are a wide variety of different embodiments of air intake manifolds. There are also a wide variety of operating environments in which intake manifolds are used. The attributes of the intake manifold can have a significant impact on the efficiency, operation, performance, cost, and other metrics of the engine.
The system can be more fully understood upon reading the summary that is discussed briefly below.


A battery powered do-it-yourself (DIY) swimming pool sensor and alarm unit that is removably mounted in a floating assembly. The sensor monitors movement in the pool and around the pool deck and provides remote video alerts to designated cell phones as well as a localized audible and visual alarm when motion is detected. It has an above waterline camera and a below waterline camera that provides a video feed for further remote investigation. It utilizes a float stabilizing means to ensure the floating assembly is not capsized by large waves or wind. It cannot be defeated because of its floating location, and can be simply installed and set up by the average homeowner. Optionally, it has sensors that monitor the pool water's chemistry and provides the results to an owner's cell phone or to a remote chemical dispensing unit located at the pool.

5,100,000 or approximately 4.2% of all American homes have swimming pools. This is much higher for hotels with 36% having indoor swimming pools and 43% having outdoor swimming pools.
Of concern to all pool owners is the knowledge that when they or a lifeguard are not present, the pool is safe and more importantly, there is no chance that there will be an inadvertent pool accident resulting in death or disability.
The standard for pool security is a 6 foot high fence with a lockable gate as well as a set of warning poster. The problem is that these are, at best, just non-notifying barriers. Once defeated or bypassed their security and safety benefits end.
What is needed is a pool safety and security system that takes proactive measures of notification when the potential for accidents has risen beyond a threshold value. There are remote camera systems at some of the finer establishments but these are expensive to purchase, install, maintain and monitor. These systems can also be defeated because they are generally located in arms reach about the pool deck. There is no inexpensive, do-it-yourself pool and security system that keeps the owners abreast of the status in or about the pool, or allows remote checking.
Henceforth, a safety and security alarm capable of providing notification that the status has change in or around a swimming pool would fulfill a long felt need in the pool industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this. Thus, a more informative swimming pool status notification solution is provided by the embodiments set forth below.


In a method of controlling burrowing animals, a slurry of a natural soil component and water is generated. The slurry is pumped into a tunnel and den system dug by the burrowing animal until the tunnel and den system is filled by the slurry. An apparatus for controlling burrowing animals includes a first tank that contains water. A second tank contains a natural soil component. A water pump pumps water from the water tank into the second tank. A plurality of nozzles receives water from the water pump and sprays water from the water tank into the bottom portion of the second tank, so as to generate a slurry of a natural soil component and water. A slurry pump is configured to pump the slurry. A slurry hose is configured to delivery the slurry from the slurry pump into a tunnel and den system dug by a burrowing animal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for controlling burrowing animals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Burrowing animals, such as gophers, ground squirrels and the like, live underground in tunnels. Burrows made by such animals can cause substantial harm to landowners. For example, when a horse steps in a hole made by a burrowing animal, it can break its ankle In many cases, the burrows are unsightly and interfere with human activity. For example, burrows on golf courses detract from the aesthetics of the course and can cause damage to golf carts. Burrowing animals also cause substantial damage to crops and farm structures.
Depending on the type of burrowing rodent, an individual burrow can be 5 to 30 feet or more in length. Burrow sizes may range from 1 to 18 cubic feet. Some are short tunnels, but others have many branches and often with two or more openings to the above ground surface. The tunnels are interconnected and lead to small and very large dens. The rodents construct nests of finely shredded grass or other materials in these underground dens. The dens are located on off shoot globular chambers slightly above and to one side of the main runway and tucked back in the burrow. The nests are a safe haven to the rodents
Most burrowing animals are rodents that reproduce at a high rate. Most such rodents have several litters each year and each litter produces numerous offspring. The gestation period of ground squirrels is 25 to 30 days and the normal litter is between 1 and 15. Also, ground squirrels may live five years or more in the wild.
The ground squirrel feeds chiefly on green herbage and the damage to truck crops, grain, nuts, or fruit crops from such animals each year is extensive. Ground squirrels significantly reduce the amount of green forage available to livestock. Most visible damage occurs when squirrels feed on the tender young sprouts of garden plants, grains of all types, landscape bushes, the fruit & nut tree roots of almonds, apples, apricots, peaches, pistachios, plumbs, oranges, tomatoes, walnuts and grape vineyard plant roots. Young orchards are damaged by the rodents gnawing on the bark of the young trees. Vegetables and field crops such as sugar beets, alfalfa, and cotton are eaten at the seedling stage. Rodents leave excrement and urine as they move through the fields and orchards contaminating the crops and creating a health concern to consumers. Burrowing Rodents also carry fleas, lice and diseases which are transferred to domestic animals and can spread throughout a property infecting humans as well. In addition to gnawing on young tree bark the burrowing rodent chew on plastic sprinkler heads and irrigation lines.
One of the most common methods for controlling burrowing animals is to poison them. Anticoagulants and other poisons used in bait stations, spot baiting and broadcast baiting requires repeated treatments However, such poisons have many disadvantages. For example, they are slow acting poisons, often requiring 5 to 15 days to take effect. During that time many ranch animals, family pets and unintended wild life can consume the poisoned rodent, slowly killing the animal that eats it. Use of toxic chemicals is unacceptable to any type of organic gardening. The Toxic Chemicals used in rodent Poisons are dangerous to the people and their families who store, use and handle them. Poison used to control burrowing rodents contaminates our ground water. Also, Poison bait will be ingested by other wild life and domestic animals causing death. Rodents killed with poison do not necessarily die in their burrows and their carcasses are often eaten by other wildlife such as eagles, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, fox, ranch or farm animals and domestic family pets.
Traps are also used to control rodents. However, many states require a trapping license to trap animals. It is also unlawful to transport and release many rodents without a permit, as doing so introduces such rodents to other environments.
Current methods of controlling burrowing animals include: poisoning, trapping, flooding, explosives and explosive gases. Poisoning burrowing animals is disadvantageous for several reasons including: poisoned rodents that die above ground are often eaten by birds, which become poisoned by eating the rodents; poisons set out for rodents might be consumed by other animals, such as pets; poisons harm the environment; and, even though a rodent is killed by a poison, its burrow still remains and can be re-inhabited by other rodents at a later date. Trapping prolongs the animals suffering, and there is a potential of trapping the wrong animal. Also, borrowing rodents avoid traps as a result of having seen trappe fellow rodents. Flooding does not work because other burrowing rodents will re-inhabit borrows as soon as the water is absorbed by the ground. Explosives and explosive gases are inherently dangerous to humans; often these explosives and gases ignite the surrounding grasses and fields causing the potential for deadly fire damage to property and animals in the area. Another problem with explosives is that they require highly trained people to handle such hazardous and flammable materials.
Therefore, there is a need for controlling burrowing animals that prevents reinhabitation of burrows by other animals.

Method and apparatus for controlling burrowing animals


A method for displaying a view of a target comprises establishing a network including a plurality of display devices, requesting by a first display device in the network having an obstructed view of the target, at least one of position and orientation data from one or more remaining display devices in the network each having a different view of the target than the obstructed view, selecting a remaining display device as a view provider to provide the different view of the target to the first display device, requesting the different view of the target from the selected view provider; providing the different view of the target to the first display device, and displaying the different view of the target via the first display device.

When people attend an event, such as a play, sporting event or a concert, they want to be in a good position to see and enjoy the program. Often, however, their view is completely or partially blocked by objects or other people who are in front of them and/or in their line of sight.
Typically, in order to get a better view, one moves their head and/or body, and/or stands up from their seat. Such movement may, in turn, block the view of people who are behind the individual attempting to secure the better view. In some cases, an event attendee may be constantly shifting their position during a program in an effort to see, and not enjoy the show.

Wearable computing eyeglasses that provide unobstructed views

International Business Machines Corporation


A corn head divider lift assist linkage comprises two members and a spring pivotally coupled together, wherein one of the two members is pivotally coupled to a row crop divider and another of the two members is pivotally coupled to a bracket that is fixed at the rear of two adjacent row units.

Cornheads are harvesting heads mounted on the front of agricultural combines. Cornheads pull down adjacent rows of corn plants and snap the ears of corn of the plants.
To do this, the rows of corn plants must be guided into narrow gaps in row units that extend across the width of the cornhead. This guidance is provided by lightweight plastic dividers, also known as points and covers, the term "points" referring to the forward portion of the divider, and the term "covers" referring to the rear portion of the divider that covers most of the workings of the row units. These dividers are pointed on their forward ends and direct the corn plants either to the left or right, and directly into the crop-receiving gaps of each row unit.
These dividers not only guide the rows of corn plants into the proper openings in the row units, they also cover substantially the entire row unit to keep plant stalks and other materials from falling into and jamming the row units.
In order to maintain the row units, the operator must lift the dividers out of the way. The dividers are typically hinged about a laterally extending and horizontal axis at the rear of the dividers to pivot upward and uncover the row units.
In a first prior art design (FIG. 1) a stick is used to prop the dividers in a raised position. The stick extends upward and rearward from a cross-member attached to adjacent row units to a central portion of the row unit. There are drawbacks. This arrangement requires that the stick be stowed somewhere when the divider is lowered into its operating position. In addition, the operator is required to lift the divider by hand, with no assistance. Furthermore, the cross-member between adjacent row units prevents the operator from working on the sides of each row unit.
in another prior art design, a gas shock or extendible spring is used in place of the stick. This advantageously provided spring assistance to lift the cover. There are drawbacks: it still requires the cross-member. Furthermore, when the divider is in its lowered, operating position, the highly tensioned spring is compressed between the steel cross-member and the divider, commonly made of plastic. The spring presses on the plastic when the divider is closed, causing the plastic to tear and therefore the arrangement requires the addition of an additional strut or stiffener that extends from the center of the plastic divider where the spring is attached to the rear of the divider. In this way the load is better distributed over a larger surface area of the plastic divider.
In another prior art design rather than providing a cross-member fixed to and extending between adjacent row units at the front of the row units, the arrangement provides a forwardly extending beam that is cantilevered forward from a cross-member located at the rear of the row units. This forwardly extending beam supports the lower, forward end of a gas shock or spring. The upper end of the spring is attached to a tubular frame member that supports the plastic divider. This design contains the spring tension when dosed within the metal members and does not communicate it to the plastic. However it still requires a member extending forward into the gap between each pair of two adjacent row units. As in the previous example, the forward end of the compression spring is stationary and coupled to the frame.
What is needed, therefore, is a cornhead divider lift assist linkage in which the compression spring does not have a forward end that is stationary and fixed between the row units when the divider is raised. What is also needed is a cornhead divider lift assist linkage that does not apply significant pressure to the plastic divider when the divider is in its lowered operating position. It is an object of this invention to provide such a device in the independent claims of the present application. Further advantages are provided by each of the dependent claims.


Semiconductor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary fabrication method involves forming a pair of gate structures having a dielectric region disposed between a first gate structure of the pair and a second gate structure of the pair, and forming a voided region in the dielectric region between the first gate structure and the second gate structure. The first and second gate structures each include a first gate electrode material, wherein the method continues by removing the first gate electrode material to provide second and third voided regions corresponding to the gate structures and forming a second gate electrode material in the first voided region, the second voided region, and the third voided region.

Transistors, such as metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), are the core building block of the vast majority of semiconductor devices. Decreasing transistors size, and thus increasing transistor density, has traditionally been a high priority in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. At the same time, it is desirable to accurately and precisely fabricate transistors and other semiconductor devices with physical features having their intended physical dimensions, to thereby achieve semiconductor devices having their intended performance characteristics and improve yield. However, as device geometries decrease, the physical limitations of existing fabrication processes may result in device features that deviate from their intended physical dimensions, which, in turn, may lead to failures at wafer test and/or reduce yield.


The present application discloses a display panel manufacturing device and a cleaning method. The display panel manufacturing device includes: a machine table, a working pipeline, a gas supply means and a liquid supply means; a detection means is provided on the machine table; a first automatic valve is provided on a gas supply pipeline; and a second automatic valve is provided on a liquid supply pipeline.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present application and may not constitute prior art.
Along with the development and progress of science and technology, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) has become a mainstream display product and is widely applied because of hot points such as a thin body, power saving and low radiation. It is known by an inventor that most LCDs are backlight type LCDs and each LCD includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module. A working principle of the liquid crystal panel is to place liquid crystal molecules into two parallel glass substrates and apply a drive voltage onto the two glass substrates to control rotation directions of the liquid crystal molecules, thereby refracting light rays of the backlight module to generate a pattern.
Among them, a Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) has gradually dominated the display field till now because of properties such as low power consumption, excellent pattern quality and high production yield. Likewise, the TFT-LCD includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module; the liquid crystal panel includes a Color Filter Substrate (CF-Substrate), a Thin Film Transistor Substrate (TFT Substrate) and a mask; and a transparent conductive thin film is respectively provided at opposite insides of the CF substrate and the TFT substrate.
During an LCD manufacturing process, a discharge port or an air outlet of some pipeline on a manufacturing device is easily attached by a drug liquid to crystallize and then the discharge port or the air outlet is blocked. As a result, the stability of a display panel manufacture procedure is seriously affected, the yield of a display panel is reduced and at last the cost is increased.

Display panel manufacturing device and cleaning method

CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY., LTD.


A safe nursing system that monitors movement of a patient on a bed includes a control unit and an image capturing unit disposed in a position from which an image including a side of a top surface of the bed can be captured. The control unit obtains image data captured by the image capturing unit; specifies feature points in an image of the patient in the obtained image data, and calculates a value of a predetermined index of the feature points used to determine a predetermined movement in the patient; sets a predetermined condition to determine the predetermined movement based on a region of the bed in the obtained image data; determines the predetermined movement based on the calculated value and the set predetermined condition; and outputs information indicating that the patient has performed the predetermined movement under the condition that the predetermined movement has been determined to have been performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to safe nursing systems and methods for controlling safe nursing systems, and particularly relates to safe nursing systems and methods for controlling safe nursing systems that monitor the movement of a patient on a bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, an apparatus such as a biological information monitor has been used to measure vital signs such as blood pressure, body temperature, a cardiograph, arterial oxygen saturation, and breathing rate in order to monitor the biological state of a patient in a hospital, a household, or the like. When the measurement has returned an abnormal value, the apparatus or a remote central management apparatus to which the apparatus is connected visually and auditorily alerts a doctor or a nurse.
However, a situation such as where the patient has fallen out of his or her bed cannot be completely prevented simply by checking vital signs.
The following is an example of a sensor serving as a safe nursing system for preventing such falls from a bed. For example, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, or a beam sensor is an example of a sensor that does not come into contact with the patient. On the other hand, a floor-based foot sensor or a mat sensor placed under a sheet is an example of a sensor that comes into contact with the patient. A clip sensor is an example of a sensor affixed to the patient.
Such safe nursing systems can, within the sensing range of the sensors, mechanically convert the movement of the patient, such as whether or not the patient is on his or her bed, into simplified patterns and notify a caregiver (a nurse) thereof.
However, such safe nursing systems have had problems in that finer movements of the patient (coughing, rolling over, and so on) cannot be recognized, notifications are made without determining that the patient has moved, notifications are made after the patient has moved (for example, after the patient has fallen out of his or her bed), and so on.
In response to such problems, a rising monitoring method and apparatus has been proposed as a safe nursing system. This method and apparatus set a monitoring region for determining whether a subject (also called a "patient" hereinafter) has risen from his or her bed, use a camera to capture an image of a space from the side of the bed that includes the monitoring region, and determine that the subject is exhibiting rising behavior in the case where the size of a subject image region that fits within the monitoring region in the captured image has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value (see JP 2006-175082A).
However, with the method and apparatus according to JP 2006-175082A, the images are captured from the side, and there is a problem in that errors have increased due to nurses entering the captured image. Furthermore, depending on the installation location, the camera has also interfered with the nurses' work.
In addition, because the image is captured from the side, there is a problem in that it is difficult to detect the patient moving toward a side of the bed, which is an indication that the patient will fall out of the bed. Furthermore, there is a problem that in the case where the patient does not enter the monitoring region, such as in a case where the patient does not rise and instead rolls to the side and falls out of the bed, the patient's movement cannot be detected at all.
In addition, because rising behavior is determined based on the size of the patient's image region, there is a problem in that errors will occur in the determination results depending on the manner in which the patient rises (rising behavior and how far the patient's body enters the monitoring region), differences in body shape among patients, and so on.

Safe nursing system and method for controlling safe nursing system


A voltage controlled oscillator runs at full speed to generate an output frequency dependent on temperature and process variation. First and second clock signals are generated from the oscillator signal, while third and fourth clock signals are developed in response to an input clock signal. The number of clock signals occurring during a first state of the third clock signal are counted for providing a plurality of output signals also indicative of the temperature and process variation. The plurality of output signals compensate an input signal for the temperature and process variation for providing an output signal.

The present invention relates in general to integrated circuit design and, more particularly, to sensing process and temperature variation in an integrated circuit (IC) and providing compensation therefor.
A common problem facing circuit designers is variation in operating characteristics of the IC as a function of temperature and process conditions and power supply levels. An IC may operate much faster, say 320 MHz, under best case conditions with low temperature and a high power supply potential. Under worst case conditions with high temperature and a low power supply potential, the IC may achieve only 100 MHz. The manufacturing process also has a direct effect on the ultimate performance of the IC. For example, process variation may effect device gate length, junction depth and gate oxide thickness which make the response unpredictable. The sizing of individual transistors and relative switching thresholds is also dependent upon process and temperature.
The uncertainty in performance hampers accurate calculation of setup and hold times in critical signal paths of the overall circuit design. Furthermore, with an unknown operating environment it is difficult to determine switching thresholds of the input and output buffers which are necessary to interface with external logic families.
Hence, a need exists to compensate an IC for temperature, process and power supply variation and bring a level of certainty to IC design.

Circuit and method of sensing process and temperature variation in an integrated circuit


Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for tracking freight. Embodiments include a tracking device for a trailer containing a load. The tracking device includes a support member, a connector, a housing and a GPS tracker configured to track the location of the load. The connector securely attaches to a container on the trailer and attaches to a seal such that the container cannot be opened without breaking the seal. The support member stabilizes the housing and protects the tracking device during transit of the load. A tracking system may implement to monitor, gather information and report on the tracking device and the load.

GPS systems and mobile tracking applications are used to track freight in the transportation industry. Many existing systems, however, are prone to error for various reasons. Common problems include: durability and operability under adverse conditions; functionality in directly tracking a container containing cargo; and security. Regarding durability and operability, existing systems have typically not included housings capable of withstanding the swaying, bumps, wind, weather and other adverse conditions often encountered during truck transport. Regarding functionality, existing systems may provide incorrect information as to location of the actual load being transported because they are connected to the tractor and/or driver and are not connected to the actual container housing the cargo. Indeed, it is not uncommon for existing systems to be hardwired to freight hauling tractors and/or linked to a driver's cell phone. Regarding security, existing systems may be tampered with and are typically not integrated with existing security systems for the container housing the cargo.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, apparatus and systems for tracking freight


A continuous ratchet drive for a fluid-operated wrench or the like comprises a support, a ratchet gear mounted on the support means turnably about a first pivot axis and having a plurality of ratchet teeth, a lever pivotable about a second pivot axis extending laterally from and parallel to the first pivot axis under the action of a drive, and two pawl elements pivotally connected with the lever means in pivot points which are spaced from the second pivot axis, the pawl elements being formed so that during pivoting of the lever in one direction one of the pawl elements engages with the teeth of the ratchet gear and turns the ratchet gear in one direction, while during pivoting the lever in an opposite direction the other of the pawl elements engages with the teeth of the ratchet gear and turns the ratchet gear in the same direction, each of the pawl elements including a supporting member having one end which is pivotally connected with the lever in a respective one of the pivot points and another end, and a pawl member which is pivotally connected with the other end of the supporting member and engages with the teeth of the ratchet gear during respective pivoting of the lever.

The present invention relates to ratchet drives, in particular for fluid operated wrenches and the like.
Continuous ratchet drives are known in the art. One of the known drives includes a ratchet gear and a pivoting lever arm which turns the ratchet gear during the advance stroke of a cylinder-piston unit, and also during the return stroke of the same. It has been found that since the tip of a pawl connected with the lever arm and engaging with the ratchet tooth moves relative to the ratchet tooth during a power stroke, a considerable friction is created and the ratchet teeth deteriorate with consistent use.
One of the solutions to eliminate this movement is proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,829. However, this tool has a very complicated construction and is expensive to manufacture since it requires many parts.