A support apparatus for musical instruments, including a mounting frame, a guide assembly, a support assembly and an instrument retention assembly, the support assembly being coupled to the instrument retention assembly and retractable into the mounting frame, which may be mounted within a component slot of a component mounting rack.

The present invention relates to a support for an object, and more particularly to a support apparatus for musical instruments, the apparatus mounted in a slot of an electronic component mounting rack.
Professional musicians use component mounting racks, in which various electronic musical devices, such as amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, equalizers, mixers, and the like, are mounted. The racks have recesses or "slots", one atop another, into which the electronic devices are inserted. Manufactures of such electronic devices often conform the exterior dimensions of their products to the dimensions of the slots of the component mounting racks.
Professional musicians also utilize musical instrument supports or "stands", which are placed on the stage to hold one instrument while another is in use. Previous devices for supporting musical instruments have been free standing mechanisms, unconnected with a component mounting rack. Such devices for guitars have typically provided an upper member against which the neck of a guitar rests, and a lower member on which the body of the guitar rests. However, these free-standing instrument supports lack any restraints which would prevent the instrument from toppling on impact. Further, the stands themselves often rest on relatively small bases, and are therefore unstable and susceptible to being knocked over by a slight impact. Typically there is a great deal of movement during a musical performance, particularly if the music is of the "rock" variety. Thus, guitars and other instruments are at risk of being toppled. Such mishaps can be quite costly, if an expensive professional instrument is damaged.
Additionally, since previous musical instrument stands were free-standing devices, a great deal of effort and money had to be expended in repeatedly moving them. Movers or road managers had to pack them at one location, move them to the site of a concert, set them up at the concert location, and then separately re-pack them for transport to the location of the next concert.
The present invention is a musical instrument stand adapted to be mounted into a component mounting rack, which may be folded completely into the rack for ease of moving. The stand includes a self-locking object retention means, which prevents the instrument from falling if impacted.


A method and system for searching a wide area network that enables users to find the information they seek more quickly and more easily than prior art search engines are disclosed. Aspects of this disclosure include a process for making use of a user's prior search queries for query definition; a process for similarly making use of prior search queries by other users; a process for expanding and clarifying the meaning of queries; a process for including paid and other preferred results in an overall query result; and a process for using user evaluation data from previous search query results to identify results that should be included or removed from a current result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to locating and organizing information on a wide area computer network such as the Internet, and more particularly, to a method and system for performing a user-specified search of information on the Internet, and for creating search result pages.
2. Description of the Related Art
The amount and variety of information accessible on the Internet, and in particular, through the World Wide Web, is now extremely vast and continues to grow very rapidly. At the same time, as the Internet grows in popularity, quickly locating useful and accurate information on the Internet is becoming both more important and more difficult.
Various methods, such as employed by search engines and Internet directories, have been developed to help Internet users locate information. Search engines and Internet directories are typically accessible through Web sites. Some Web sites provide access to multiple search engines, or to combinations of search engines and directories. Although they operate differently, search engines and directories all deliver their information in a similar format i.e., as a list of URL's for selected websites (commonly called "hits"), organized by category and/or by search query. Typically, each hit is presented as a hyperlink on a HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML) results page produced by the search engine or directory. Such results pages may list other information about each hit, such as the Web site Meta Tags, and rank the hits using a variety of ranking algorithms.
Search engines are capable of locating information from a large set of Web pages, but frequently at the cost of making it more difficult to locate the most relevant information. A typical search engine utilizes a database containing an enormous, frequently updated index of Web pages. The database is maintained and updated using an automated or semi-automated process relying on a variety of indexing, searching, and ranking algorithms. The operation of various search algorithms are known, and it is not uncommon for Web page authors to deliberately design pages in a manner that boosts the likelihood of being selected by a search engine as highly relevant to a particular topic, when the actual information content of the page pertaining to the topic is poor or even completely irrelevant. Also, many Web pages that are not deliberately designed to be selected by a searching algorithm are nonetheless selected inappropriately for other reasons. For example, a search for a word having multiple meanings will retrieve results for all of the meanings, although results for only a single meaning are usually desired. Perhaps even more frequently, pages with many of the query keywords nonetheless have little useful information. Thus, because of the enormous size of the search engines' databases, and the limitations of the algorithms employed by them, search engines often provide a large quantity of useless or irrelevant information. It is often very time-consuming for a user to evaluate and discard the many useless results that are returned.
In contrast, Internet directories are typically maintained and updated mostly by human operators. Such operators are employed by the operator of the directory for this purpose. This approach frequently permits a user to locate a relevant Web site more quickly than using a search engine, but it has the drawback of greatly limiting the scope of the search. Because of the enormous size of the Internet and frequent changes in its information content, it would be far too costly to employ a staff large enough to organize any substantial portion of Internet Web pages into a directory. And, even if such an effort were economically feasible, it is quite likely that any resulting directory would be so large that it would be difficult and time-consuming to navigate. Thus, Internet directories allow a user to locate information more quickly, but only if the information is located on a very limited set of Web pages.
Thus, there exists a need for a method and system for searching a wide area network, that overcomes the limitations of prior art search engines and directories as summarized above.

Method and system for searching a wide area network


Disclosed is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having phase transition material incorporated into one or more components and an associated method. The MOSFET can comprise an asymmetric gate electrode having a phase transition material section (e.g., a chromium or titanium-doped vanadium dioxide (VO2) section) above the drain-side of the channel region. Additionally or alternatively, the MOSFET can comprise source and drain contact landing pads comprising different phase transition materials (e.g., un-doped VO2 and chromium or titanium-doped VO2, respectively). In any case, the phase transition material(s) are pre-selected so as to be insulative when the MOSFET is in the OFF state and the voltage difference between the drain region and the source region (VDS) is high in order to minimize leakage current and so as to be conductive when the MOSFET is in the ON state and VDS is high in order to maintain drive current.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments disclosed herein are related to metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and, more particularly, to a MOSFET structure having phase transition material incorporated into one or more components in order to minimize leakage current, such as Gate-Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL), when the MOSFET is in its OFF state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), Gate-Induced Drain Leakage (GIDL) often places a lower bound on leakage and/or gate dielectric thickness for low-power designs. GIDL refers to the high electric field and, particularly, the band-to-hand tunneling that occurs at the channel region to drain region interface overlapped by the gate structure, when the MOSFET is in an OFF state and when the drain region is close to the power-supply voltage such that the voltage difference between the drain region and the source region (VDS) is relatively high. To minimize GIDL, MOSFETs are often designed such that the gate structure does not or only minimally overlaps the interface and/or with a relatively thick gate dielectric layer. However, both solutions tend to lower drive current, thereby result in reduced circuit speed when the MOSFET is in the ON state. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a MOSFET structure and method of forming the structure that avoids or at least minimizes leakage current, such as GIDL, when the MOSFET is in the OFF state, without compromising the drive current required to maintain a desired circuit speed, when the MOSFET is in the ON state.

Field effect transistor having phase transition material incorporated into one or more components for reduced leakage current

International Business Machines Corporation


An array antenna (20) that avoids the generation of grating lobes or second order beams is formed of a two-dimensional array of radiating elements (40) disposed in parallel rows (22) and parallel columns (24), each of the radiating elements being formed as slotted apertures within a top broad wall (28) of a waveguide (26). The width of the broad wall is many times greater than the height of a sidewall (32, 34) of the waveguide, the waveguide having a rectangular cross section. A wave launcher (46) connected to a first end of the waveguide launches a higher-order mode of electromagnetic wave wherein the order of the mode is equal to the number of columns of the radiating elements. A set of vanes (48, 48A) upstanding from a bottom wall (30) of the waveguide extend partway towards the top wall to provide values of inductance and capacitance which resonate at the resonant frequency to inhibit reflection of the electromagnetic wave from individual ones of the vanes. Each vane extends in a plane perpendicular to the sidewalls, individual planes of the vanes bisecting slots (40) of the radiating elements, the slots being arranged parallel to the sidewalls. In each column, the locations of vanes are staggered from side to side so as to offset a path of propagation of the wave in the vicinity of the radiating element to reverse a sense of coupling of electromagnetic power from the wave to the radiating element. This produces a uniform phase front from radiations from all of the radiating elements.

This invention relates to a line array of colinear slot radiators and, more particularly, to an array of plural parallel columns of slot radiators with excitation and phasing of electromagnetic waves controlled by a set of fin-shaped vanes upstanding from a common broad wall of a waveguide or cavity.
An array of slot radiators disposed in a staggered line along a wall of a waveguide is employed frequently to generate a beam of electromagnetic power. As a typical example of an array antenna composed of slot radiators, the antenna comprises a waveguide of rectangular cross section wherein the width of a broad wall is double the height of a narrow wall, and wherein the slots are formed through one of the broad walls. Antennas are constructed also of a plurality of these slotted waveguides arranged side-by-side to provide a two-dimensional array of slot radiators arranged in rows and columns. To facilitate description of the antenna, a column of slot radiators is considered to be oriented in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the direction of propagation of electromagnetic power in the waveguides, and a row of slot radiators is considered to be transverse to the direction of propagation in the waveguides. An antenna composed of a single waveguide generates a fan beam while an antenna composed of a plurality of the waveguides arranged side by side produces a beam having well-defined directivity in both the plane parallel to the columns and the orthogonal plane parallel to the rows.
Antennas employing slot radiators may have slots which are angled relative to a center line of the broad wall of the waveguide, or may have slots which are arranged parallel to the center line of the broad wall of the waveguide but offset from said center line alternately on one side and the other side. In order to attain a desired linear polarization, and a desired illumination function of the radiating aperture of the entire antenna, the configuration of the antenna of primary interest herein is to be configured with all of the slots being parallel to each other and arranged colinearly in parallel columns. The colinearity eliminates unwanted grating lobes or second order beams.
A cophasal relationship among the radiations from the various slot radiators is employed for generating a broadside beam directed perpendicularly to a plane containing the plurality of waveguides. Herein, the antenna comprising the two-dimensional array of rows and columns of radiators is of primary interest. One method of obtaining the cophasal relationship is to position the slot radiators with a spacing of one guide wavelength. However, such a spacing is sufficiently large to introduce grating lobes to the directivity pattern of the antenna and, accordingly, it is preferred frequently to employ a smaller spacing, typically one half of the guide wavelength, between successive ones of the slot radiators.
However, the spacing of one half guide wavelength introduces a problem because a wave propagating along the waveguide undergoes a phase shift of 180 degrees during propagation through a distance of one-half guide wavelength. Therefore, the requirement of a cophasal relationship is contradicted by the desire to space the radiators at a distance of one-half guide wavelength. Typically, a cophasal result is obtained, despite the half guide wavelength spacing, by alternating the direction of the slot positioning used to achieve slot coupling to the energy in the waveguide.
Also, to facilitate manufacture of the antenna, and to reduce the overall weight of the antenna, it would be preferable to construct the antenna of a single waveguide having broad walls of sufficient width to form multiple columns of slot radiators within a single broad wall. This would eliminate the need for constructing multiple individual waveguides. However, such a constriction of multiple columns of slot radiators within a single broad wall introduces a further problem, namely, that consecutive slot radiators within any row of the array would be excited with radiation which differs in phase by 180 degrees. Thus, the cophasal relationship would not be attained.


A method and system for suppression of ground returns in a vertical profile radar display. The method includes receiving radar returns each comprising a plurality of range bins collated to a vertical profile radar display. The received range bins are analyzed to locate ground returns. A plurality of range bins are selected based upon the located ground returns. The radar returns are modified based upon the selected range bins.

This invention relates generally to radar displays and, more specifically, to vertical profile displays.
Analog radars can be configured to generate a vertical profile along any given radial. The operational difference between the standard weather radar and the vertical profile weather radar is the additional ability to scan the antenna up and down, generally about thirty degrees above and below the aircraft horizontal centerline to generate the vertical profile.
The vertical profile feature generates the vertical profile by direct means, i.e. scanning the vertical characteristics of the weather cell. The vertical profile augments the normal azimuth scan aiding the operator in developing a three-dimensioned mental image of the observed weather cell.
Vertical profile radars generally rely upon the skill of the operator interpreting the displayed return to discriminate between ground returns and weather. Ground returns generally appear to the operator or other viewer as a cross-section of a flashlight-like beam across the vertical profile. As the radar beam is scanned over the ground, the solid returns characterized by a mirror image above and below the ground level providing reflectivity equal to the beam width and power level. As the altitude and range increase, the ground returns will decay in much the same way as they increased from where the beam first intersected the ground. The problem is that where weather is present, it is often difficult to distinguish a line between ground and weather returns. One radar manufacturer, Bendix, makes the point in their owners manual for the model RDS 82VP: xe2x80x9cThe best time to begin using Vertical Profile is on a nice sunny day when the operator work load will allow time to experiment with the new feature . . . If you have completed the above operations on a sunny day as suggested, you have experienced the simple operation of Vertical Profile and observed a very unimpressive display of ground paint . . . The understanding of this very basic presentation is an important key in interpreting low level weather.xe2x80x9d
The principal problem is that vertical profile radar requires skill and judgment to properly interpret the low level weather. As the operator of an airplane will often have a number of instruments competing for the operator""s attention, requiring such skill and judgment in the course of operation of the airplane is not prudent. There exists an unmet need for vertical profile weather radar that suppresses returns from the ground.
The present invention includes a method and a system for suppressing or coloring the display of ground returns in a vertical profile radar.
In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a processor locates a ground level based either upon a database of vertical terrain elevation data or upon discerning a known characteristic ground return within a collated set of radar returns representing a vertical profile display.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, once the ground level is located, the processor selectively suppresses or colors returns from radar range bins at the located ground level.
As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a method for suppression of ground returns in a vertical profile radar display. The method includes receiving radar returns each comprising a plurality of range bins collated to a vertical profile radar display. The received range bins are analyzed to locate ground returns. A plurality of range bins are selected based upon the located ground returns. The radar returns are modified based upon the selected range bins.

Ground elimination technique in vertical profile radar displays


A typical liquid crystal lens includes liquid crystal sandwiched between transparent substrates, which are patterned with ring electrodes. Applying a voltage across the electrodes causes the liquid crystal molecules to rotate, changing their apparent refractive index and the lens's focal length. The ring electrodes are separated by gaps and get narrower toward the lens's periphery. If the ring electrodes are too narrower, their cannot switch the liquid crystal well. To address this problem, an inventive liquid crystal lens includes a substrate with a stepped surface that defines concentric liquid crystal regions with thicknesses that increase with lens radius. Each region is switched by a different set of ring electrodes, which may be on, under, or opposite the stepped surface. Within each region, the ring electrodes get narrower farther from the lens's center. But the ring electrodes' widths also increase with liquid crystal thickness, offsetting the decrease in width that degrades lens performance.

One type of liquid crystal lens is comprised of liquid crystal sealed between opposing faces of two transparent substrates. The lens includes transparent electrodes and alignment layers on the opposing faces of the transparent substrates. The alignment layers align the liquid crystal with respect to the substrates. One of the transparent electrodes may be patterned, e.g., in the shape of rings or pixels. The other transparent electrode may be unpatterned and acts as a ground plane.
Applying a voltage to the patterned electrodes creates an electric field across the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal molecules, which are anisotropic, align themselves with the electric field, changing the local refractive index. Applying a voltage gradient to the patterned electrodes creates a gradient electric field, with each electrode producing a different electric field than its neighbor. Because the electric field influences the index of refraction of the liquid crystal, the gradient electric field results in a gradient of change in index of refraction in the liquid crystal, which can in turn produce an optical lensing effect. The patterned electrodes may be circular, linear, elliptical, or almost any other shape desired for the refractive index gradient produced in the liquid crystal and the corresponding changes to the wave front transmitted through the lens.
Circular ring electrodes are common in liquid crystal lenses. These ring electrodes are typically formed lithographically from a layer of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) that is between 5 nm and 200 nm thick. The ITO layer is deposited on a first transparent substrate, such as fused silica glass, that can survive the vacuums, temperatures, and handling of a lithography process. The patterned electrodes are coated with a layer of insulation, such as SiO2 or SU-8 photoresist. This insulating layer covers the ring electrodes and fills gaps between adjacent ring electrodes, electrically isolating the ring electrodes from each other.
Buss lines connect the ring electrodes to a voltage supply. These buss lines are thin traces of a conductive material, such as nickel, that is deposited on the insulation layer and patterned lithographically. Each buss line connects to a corresponding ring electrode through a via hole formed in the insulating layer. A lens with a small number of electrodes (e.g., 20 or fewer) may have one buss line per electrode. In a lens with a larger number of electrodes (e.g., hundreds of electrodes), each buss line may connect to subset of electrodes, which are connected to each other via resistive bridges. (For more on resistive bridges, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 10,599,006 to Van Heugten et al., which is entitled "Electro-Active Lenses with Raised Resistive Bridges" and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.)
The ring electrodes, buss lines, and insulating layer are coated with an alignment layer, such as the SUNEVER® line of polyimide resin chemicals made by the Nissan Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. The lens's other transparent substrate may be coated with an unpatterned ITO layer that serves as a ground plane and an alignment layer. Liquid crystal material, such as Merck MLC-2140 liquid crystal, is sealed between the coated surfaces of the transparent substrates to form the lens.
In liquid crystal lenses with ring electrodes, the ring electrodes become progressively narrower farther from the center of the lens, while the gaps between neighboring ring electrodes are all about the same width. A problem with this approach is that the total electric field amplitude decreases with lens radius because there is no electric field generated above the gaps between ring electrodes. As a result, beyond a certain distance, for example, at a radius of 10 mm in a typical lens, the ring electrodes become too narrow to generate an effective total electric field: the ratio of the width of the electrode to the width of the gaps between adjacent electrodes becomes too small to generate an effective total electric field at the lens's periphery.
For example, if an electrode is 100 μm wide and the gaps on either side of that electrode are 3 μm wide, about 3% of the electric field acting upon the liquid crystal at that point is disrupted, causing a relatively small undesired optical effect. As the lens becomes larger, the gap remains consistent, but the electrodes become narrower, causing the ratio of electrode width to gap width to decrease. At the point in the lens where the electrode width is 30 μm and the gap width is still 3 μm, the gap width is 10% of the electrode width, disrupting approximately 10% of the electric field. A disruption of 3% may be tolerable, but a disruption of 10% (and a resulting lens degradation of that amount) may not be. This disruption limits the diameter of the liquid crystal lens, the number of ring electrodes, and/or the minimum ring electrode width.
One way of increasing the lens diameter before the electrode-width-to-gap-width ratio becomes too small is to increase the thickness of the liquid crystal. As the liquid crystal layer thickness increases, so does the electric field used to switch the liquid crystal material, and so do the widths of the electrode rings used to generate the electric field. In essence, every dimension of the lens is scaled up except the gap width, which is typically set by the spatial resolution of the lithography used to pattern the electrodes. Unfortunately, increasing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer causes the lens to switch more slowly (i.e., the lens's switching speed decreases), which is undesirable, limiting the usefulness of this solution.

Multi-depth liquid crystal electrode layer lens


A therapeutic face mask comprises a face-engaging portion and a single connector having a mask-engaging end and a single treatment-receiving end which has a single attachment mounting for detachably sealingly receiving a treatment attachment, such as an oxygen reservoir bag or a nebulizer. A one-way inhalation valve in the connector permits fluid flow from the treatment-receiving end to the mask-engaging end during inhalation and inhibits fluid flow in the other direction. The mask also includes a valve-governed exhalation port and an anti-asphyxia valve assembly configured to permit fluid flow from ambient to the face-engaging portion during inhalation only when inspiratory effort during inhalation exceeds fluid flow to the treatment-receiving end of the connector. Also provided is an oxygen reservoir bag having a neck shaped for removable coupling to a mating connector of a therapeutic face mask. An oxygen reservoir bag may have a metered-dose inhaler port defined in its neck.

There are various medical conditions which require a patient to be supplied with oxygen, either as pure oxygen or mixed with ambient air in a required ratio. It may also be necessary to supply medication to a patient's mouth without removing the face mask. Further, it may also be necessary to filter ambient air supplied to the patient, for example if the ambient air is likely to contain a virus or bacteria which may be harmful to the patient. It may also be necessary to filter air being exhaled by the patient before it is released to the atmosphere, for example if the patient has a medical condition which may result in a virus or bacteria being exhaled and likely to harm a person nearby.
Generally speaking, in the prior art various different types of masks have been used to address some of the above issues.
Where a patient is to be supplied with pure oxygen, or oxygen mixed with ambient air in a high oxygen/air ratio, a first type of mask is used, as shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, the prior art oxygen therapy face mask 10A comprises a face-engaging portion 12A made from a flexible material, a flexible, airtight bag member 36A permanently secured to the face-engaging portion 12A (i.e. the bag member 36A is not meant to be separated from the face-engaging portion 12A). More particularly, the bag member 36A is permanently secured by tape 15A to a neck 14A, which in turn is securely snap fit in a tubular member 16A extending from and integrally formed as part of the face-engaging portion 12A, and is non-removable (i.e. the neck 14A is not intended to be withdrawn from the tubular member 16A and the snap-fit assembly strongly resists removal). A tube attachment member 18A for coupling with a tube (not shown) from an oxygen or oxygen/air source (not shown) extends laterally from the neck 14A and is in fluid communication therewith, and hence is also in fluid communication with the face-engaging portion 12A and the bag member 36A. Fluid communication between the neck 14A and the face-engaging portion 12A is governed by a one-way valve (the location of which is denoted by 20A) carried by the neck 14A, which permits fluid to flow from the neck 14A into the face-engaging portion 12A, but which substantially inhibits fluid flow from the face-engaging portion 12A into the neck 14A. The face-engaging portion 12A includes exhalation ports 22A each comprising a plurality of apertures 23A, which may include diaphragms 24A so that the exhalation ports 22A are one-way valves which inhibit the ingress of ambient air, or may consist solely of the exhalation apertures 23A. In operation, oxygen or an oxygen/air mix is supplied from a tube connected to a pressurized source of oxygen (or oxygen/air mixture), and passes through the tube attachment member 18A into the neck 14A. If the patient is exhaling, the one-way valve at 20A will be closed, and oxygen (or oxygen/air mixture) is forced to travel into the bag member 36A, which inflates. When the patient inhales, a vacuum is created within the face-engaging portion 12A, which draws oxygen (or an oxygen/air mix) from the bag member 36A and/or the tube attachment member 18A through the neck 14A and the one-way valve 20A into the face-engaging portion 12A. When the patient exhales, the one-way valve 20A inhibits the exhaled air from passing into the neck 14A, so the exhaled air escapes through the exhalation ports 22A.
One problem associated with the type of oxygen therapy face mask shown in FIG. 1A where the exhalation ports 22A are one-way valves is that, in the event that the oxygen or oxygen/air supply into the tube attachment member 18A ceases (e.g. because the tank is empty), there is a risk that the patent may suffocate. While known anti-asphyxiation valves may be used to address this issue, this adds cost to the mask, and may have other drawbacks depending on the type of anti-asphyxiation valve used. In practice, this has led to medical staff disabling at least one of the one-way valves governing the exhalation ports 22A, as has been shown in FIG. 1A. While this post-manufacturing modification assists in preventing asphyxiation, it also allows the patient to breathe ambient air instead of the desired oxygen or oxygen/air mix. In addition, this type of mask does not support the periodic administration of inhaled medication.
A second type of mask, shown in FIG. 1B, is used to provide patients with oxygen support in lower concentrations (relative to the amount of oxygen with which the oxygen therapy face mask 10A shown in FIG. 1A is used). This second type of oxygen therapy face mask is shown generally at 10B, and comprises a face-engaging portion 12B, and a neck 14B secured (e.g. by a snap-fit) to the face-engaging portion 12B in fluid communication therewith, with no intervening valve. The neck 14B is securely snap-fit in a tubular member 16B extending from, and integrally formed as part of, the face-engaging portion 12B, and is non-removable (i.e. the neck 14B is not intended to be withdrawn from the tubular member 16B and the snap-fit assembly strongly resists removal). The neck 14B terminates in a tube attachment member 18B in fluid communication with the neck 14B. A plurality of air inlet apertures 21B are defined in the neck 14B, typically arranged about the base of the tube attachment member 18B, and additional exhalation ports 22B, each comprising a plurality of exhalation apertures 23B, are disposed in the sides of the face-engaging portion 12B. The exhalation ports 22A may consist solely of the exhalation apertures 23A, or may include diaphragm members (not shown) so that the exhalation ports 22B operate as one-way valves to inhibit the ingress of ambient air. In operation, where the exhalation ports 22B operate as one-way valves, a patient would inhale ambient air through the air inlet apertures 21B, and oxygen or an oxygen/air mix received from a tube (not shown) attached to the tube attachment member 18B. When the patient exhales, the exhaled air leaves the face-engaging portion primarily through the exhalation apertures 22B, as well as through the air inlet apertures 21B. Where the exhalation apertures 22B consist solely of the exhalation apertures 23B, both inhaled and exhaled air will pass through both the exhalation apertures 23B and the air inlet apertures 21B. Thus, omission or removal of the one-way valves from the exhalation apertures 23B assists in preventing asphyxiation in the event of cessation of oxygen (or oxygen/air mixture) supply from the tube (not shown) to the tube attachment member 18B ceases where the air inlet apertures 22B (which are intended to supplement the flow from the tube) are not large enough to provide enough air for respiration. As with the first type of oxygen therapy mask 10A, this second type of oxygen therapy mask 10B does not support the periodic administration of inhaled medication.
A third type of mask, which is used to support the administration of inhaled medication, is shown in FIG. 1C. The medication administration mask shown in FIG. 1C is denoted generally by the reference numeral 10C, and includes a face-engaging portion 12C and a neck 14C in fluid communication with the face-engaging portion 12C, with no intervening valve. The neck 14C is securely snap-fit in a tubular member 16C extending from, and integrally formed as part of, the face-engaging portion 12C, and is non-removable (i.e. the neck 14C is not intended to be withdrawn from the tubular member 16C and the snap-fit assembly strongly resists removal). The neck 14C is adapted to removably receive a nebulizer 80C, by way of a tubular member 88C extending from the cap 84C of the nebulizer. Specifically, the tubular member 88C is friction fit inside the neck 14C. The nebulizer 80C includes a medication cup 82C which contains a volume of liquid medication and is connected by a tube attachment member (not shown) to a tube 86C coupled to a source of air pressure which cooperates with the internal structure 90C of the nebulizer 80C to atomize the liquid medication for inhalation. The patient can then inhale the medication through the neck 14C. Two large exhalation apertures 23C permit the patient to inhale ambient air, and permit exhaled air to escape the face-engaging portion 12C of the mask. These exhalation apertures also permit the atomized medication to escape into the ambient atmosphere, which is potentially wasteful of expensive medications. In addition, the exhalation apertures also result in undesirable exposure of the health care workers (and others in the immediate environment) to the atomized medication.
A further problem arises when a patient requires more than one type of treatment, such as pure oxygen (or oxygen mixed with ambient air in a high oxygen/ambient air ratio) and inhaled medication, or lower concentrations of oxygen as well as inhaled medication. In such situations, it is necessary to replace the oxygen supply mask, such as the mask 10A or 10B, with a medication supply mask, such as the medication supply mask 10C, in order to administer the medication, and then replace the medication supply mask with the oxygen supply mask. This undermines one of the purposes or benefits of using a mask, namely the isolation of the patient from the ambient atmosphere.


An eyeglass assembly that enables eyeglasses to be worn more comfortably when lifted above the eyes and onto the head. The eyeglasses have a frame with a bridge. Two pad arms may extend from the frame under the bridge. Two nose pads are provided at attach to the frames either directly or with the pad arms. Each of the nose pads contains a nose contact surface. Two complex pad structures are provided that either replace or attach to the nose pads. Each of the complex pad structures has a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface lays parallel over the nose contact surface of the nose pad. The second contact surface is oriented to be generally perpendicular to the first contact surface. When the set of eyeglasses are lifted above the eyes, the second contact surface can directly rest against the wearer's head without causing discomfort.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to the structure of eyeglass frames and the structure of nose pads for eyeglass frames. The present invention also relates to items that act in conjunction with nose pads to secure eyeglass frames to a wearer's head.
2. Prior Art Description
Eyeglasses have been in existence for hundreds of years. Traditionally, eyeglasses include a frame that supports two lenses. The eyeglass frame is held on a person's head using temple elements and nose pads. The temple elements pass along the side of the head and hook around the tops of the wearer's ears. This prevents the eyeglass frames from falling forward. The nose pads support the frames on the nose so that the frames are properly positioned in front of the wearer's eyes. The nose pads also cushion the contact between the eyeglass frames and the bridge of the wearer's nose so that the eyeglass frames do not cause discomfort. The nose pads work in conjunction with the temple elements to help prevent the eyeglass frames from moving side-to-side or sliding down the wearer's nose.
Since the primary purpose of nose pads on eyeglass frames is to contact the nose, nose pads typically have large contact surfaces that are angled to match the angle of the wearer's nose. The nose pads, therefore, disperse the weight of the eyeglasses on the bridge of the nose and make the eyeglasses more comfortable to wear. The nose pads are commonly mounted to wire pad arms that enable the angle of the nose pads to be altered slightly to match the anatomical features of different noses. Other types of nose pads are formed directly onto the frame of the eyeglasses and do not utilize wire pad arms. Regardless, the purpose of the nose pad is to increase the area upon which the eyeglasses rest upon the nose, thereby making the eyeglasses more comfortable to wear.
As many wearers of eyeglasses will profess, eyeglasses are often flipped up onto the top of the head while still being worn. This manipulation temporarily moves the eyeglasses away from the user's eyes. This manipulation is commonly performed with sunglasses when a person walks indoors, or with eyeglasses for farsightedness when a person wants to read. When eyeglasses are turned up onto the head, the notepads serve no useful purpose. The temple elements of the eyeglasses may still engage the ears, but more often they are separated from the ears so that much or all of the friction about the ear is lost. Rather, the eyeglasses are primarily held on the head by friction with the wearer's hair and/or by being balanced about the crown of the wearer's head. Such positioning is highly precarious. Consequently, the eyeglasses commonly fall forward onto the nose of the wearer or off the head whenever the wearer tilts his/her head forward. The tendency of the eyeglass to slip from the head increases as the contact point along the eyeglasses come into contact with sweat of the skin and the natural oils that coat the skin and hair.
In the prior art, there are many eyeglass frame designs that are designed to enable eyeglass lenses to "flip up" out of a person's line of light. However, such systems typically use hinges either in the temple elements of the eyeglasses or at the lens mounts. A problem associated with such hinge-based prior art eyeglass frames is that specialized frames must be used. The hinge elements cannot be added to existing sets of eyeglasses without replacing major structural elements of the eyeglasses.
In the prior art, it will be understood that the ability to keep a set of eyeglasses propped up on a person's head can be enhanced by the use of a tether that pulls the eyeglass frames against the head. The more a set of eyeglasses are pulled against a person's head, the more friction exists and the less likely it will be that the eyeglasses will slip. Tethers designed to retain eyeglasses are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,177 to Chisolm, entitled Eyeglass Retainer, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,961 to Weil, entitled Means For Supporting Spectacles.
A problem associated with the use of tethers is that tethers pull the structure of a set of eyeglasses against the head. The eyeglasses contact the head at hard points along the eyeglass frames. This can cause discomfort to a person wearing the eyeglasses in a raised position.
A need therefore exists in the art for a system that enables a set of eyeglasses to be flipped up above the eyes in a manner that is highly stable, yet requires no specialized frames or significant modifications to existing frames. A need also exists for a system that can be provided with a tether, wherein the tether does not bias the eyeglasses against a user's head in an uncomfortable manner. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Contact pad arrangement for eyeglass frames


The object of the invention included in the present application is to automatically prevent the deterioration of the image even when the image quality of the projected image is deteriorated due to the replacement of the light source or the like. The following light beam scanning image projection apparatus is one means for achieving the object. In the light beam scanning image projection apparatus including a plurality of light sources which emit the light beams of respectively different wavelengths, a driving section which modulates the intensity of each light beam in accordance with the image signal, the light axis alignment means which aligns the light axes of each light beam, and scanning means which scans the light beams, the light axis alignment means includes: a plurality of optical elements; and an adjusting section which adjusts at least one of a position and a gradient of at least one of the optical elements, and the light beam scanning image projection apparatus further includes: detecting means which detects a shift between a spot center of each light beam and a center reference point; and position correction means which controls the adjusting section based on a detection result in the detecting means to adjust at least one of the position and the gradient of at least one of the optical elements of the light axis alignment means, thereby aligning the light axes of each light beam.

The image display apparatus used as a monitor of TV and computer at home and in a public space has been increasing in size with the quality improvement of the image to be displayed. On the other hand, with the diversification of the delivery format of the display information, the portability and the low power consumption have been also demanded. In particular, with the development of the infrastructure for the wired and wireless network in the background, the mobile information terminal with a display has become widespread.
As a display capable of displaying a large image with a small device, for example, a projector display has been known (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below).
The Patent Document 1 mentioned above discloses a laser display apparatus comprising: three types of laser light sources which emit red, green and blue laser lights; a spatial light modulator by which the laser lights are light-modulated in accordance with an image signal; image forming means which projects an image formed by the light modulation on a screen to form a color image; and an optical lens system.
Furthermore, the Patent Document 2 mentioned above discloses a micro projector in which light beams that have received image signals are reflected by a mirror from light sources of plural wavelengths and the direction of the mirror is scanned to display an image.
Incidentally, the light source does not always emit an ideal beam. For example, in the light source of a single wavelength or plural wavelengths, the light intensity fluctuates with time to produce a noise and the position of the peak wavelength and the spectrum width fluctuate, so that the range of the displayable color varies.
In the disclosure of the Patent Document 2 mentioned above, in order to form the pixel that displays an image while correcting the foregoing fluctuation of the display image, lights of light sources are irradiated to a certain surface, the light obtained by the interaction there is detected, and the optical output of the light sources is controlled while removing the influence of the characteristic fluctuation of the light sources.
Note that the prior art documents relating to the invention of the present application are shown below.

Light beam scanning image projection apparatus


Systems and methods to process program wish list data are provided. A system includes a media receiver adapted to receive media content from a media distribution system and a recording module responsive to the media receiver. The system also includes a program guide module to receive a published program guide identifying media content available to be distributed via the media distribution system. The system further includes a wish list module to generate wish list data including identifying information associated with at least one program. The at least one program is not listed in the published program guide when the wish list data is generated. The system also includes a reporting module to report information related to the wish list data to a remote network element.

Personal media recorders, such as digital video recorders (DVRs) may be popular partly because they allow users to view programs they would not otherwise be able to see, for example, due to schedule conflicts. Many personal media recorders allow users to schedule recording of particular programs using an electronic program guide. However, if a user desires to record a program that is not available in the electronic program guide, the user's options may be limited. For example, the user may have to search the electronic program guide periodically to determine whether the desired program is available.

Systems and methods of processing programming wish list data


Methods and systems for controlling concentration profiles of deposited films using machine learning are provided. Data associated with a target concentration profile for a film to be deposited on a surface of a substrate during a deposition process for the substrate is provided as input to a trained machine learning model. One or more outputs of the trained machine learning model are obtained. Process recipe data identifying one or more sets of deposition process settings is determined from the one or more outputs. For each set of deposition process setting, an indication of a level of confidence that a respective set of deposition process settings corresponds to the target concentration profile for the film to be deposited on the substrate is also determined. In response to an identification of the respective set of deposition process settings with a level of confidence that satisfies a level of confidence criterion, one or more operations of the deposition process are performed in accordance with the respective set of deposition process settings.

Processing electronic devices at a manufacturing system can include producing intricately patterned material layers on a surface of a substrate. The manufacturing system can deposit a film on the surface of the substrate and can perform an etch process to form the intricate pattern in the deposited film. The type of materials and the concentration of each material in the deposited film can affect the performance of the etch process (e.g., the speed of the etch process, the accuracy of the etch process, etc.). As electronic devices become more detailed and complex, an operator of the manufacturing system can seek to adjust or enhance the material characteristics of a deposited film in order to produce an etched substrate that satisfies particular device specifications. However, it can be difficult for the operator to identify the appropriate manufacturing steps or settings that will result in an electronic device that satisfies device specifications.

Controlling concentration profiles for deposited films using machine learning


Provided is a method of laying empty pipes on the seabed, which method includes arranging a plurality of empty pipes in a bundle; arranging a bundle-strengthening element in a cavity defined by the pipes of the bundle; binding the bundle; and lowering the bundle to the seabed.

An offshore facility such as a wind turbine (mounted on an offshore support structure) requires a transmission link to an on-shore connection point and/or to other offshore facilities such as other wind turbines of a wind farm, a wind farm substation, etc.
Cable connections to/from such off-shore installations can be installed by conventional means, e.g. by simply laying a sub-sea cable on the seabed. A sub-sea cable may optionally be ploughed into the seabed. Sub-sea cables may be installed using horizontal directional drilling. Another approach comprises a step of first arranging empty flexible (plastic) tubes or pipes on the seabed. In this approach, transmission cables are then pushed or pulled through the empty pipes as described in EP3086424A1.
Since cable installation off-shore is quite labour-intensive and costly, it is advantageous to install as many cables as possible during the same operation. However, placing three or more empty pipes together before lowering them to the seabed or underneath the seabed (ploughing or using horizontal directional drilling), gives rise to some problems. For instance, the individual pipes tend to be flattened out, making it difficult to load them with transmission cables, or making them unsuitable for the transport of fluid such as oil or gas. Flattened pipes generally pose a problem for any equipment that is used for such tasks.
Furthermore, since the process of laying cables is quite expensive, normally the wind turbines of a wind park are connected to an off-shore substation or "collector point". An export cable is then used to connect the offshore substation to an on-shore facility. However, the need for an off-shore substation adds significantly to the overall costs of a wind farm.

Method of laying a pipe bundle on the seabed


A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.

This invention relates generally to water remediation systems.
There is a well recognized need to clean-up contaminants that exist in ground and surface water. In particular, there is one type of contamination problem which widely exists, that is, the contamination of surface waters or subsurface waters which find their way to the surface such as, for example, in a contaminated spring. Such surface waters may be contaminated with various constituents including volatile hydrocarbons, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons including trichloroethene (TCE), tetrachloroethene (PCE).

Coated microbubbles for treating an aquifer or soil formations


The present invention relates to stretchable interconnects which can be made in various geometric configurations, depending on the intended application. The stretchable interconnects can be formed of an electrically conducting film or an elastomer material to provide elastic properties in which the interconnects can be reversibly stretched in order to stretch and relax the elastomer material to its original configuration. Alternatively, stretchable interconnects can be formed of an electrically conducting film or a plastic material to provide stretching of the material to a stretched position and retaining the stretched configuration. The stretchable interconnect can be formed of a flat 2-dimensional conductive film covering an elastomeric or plastic substrate. When this structure is stretched in one or two dimensions, it retains electrical conduction in both dimensions. Alternatively, the stretchable and/or elastic interconnects can be formed of a film or stripe that is formed on an elastomeric or plastic substrate such that it is buckled randomly, or organized in waves with long-range periodicity. The buckling or waves can be induced by various techniques, including: release of built-in stress of the conductive film or conductive stripe; pre-stretching the substrate prior to the fabrication of the conductive film or conductive stripe; and patterning of the surface of the substrate prior to the fabrication of the metal film. The stretchable interconnect can be formed of a plurality of conductive films or conductive stripes embedded between a plurality of layers of a substrate formed of an elastomer or plastic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stretchable interconnects providing electrical connection in which conductive films or stripes are formed on or embedded within deformable substrates and the substrates may be pre-stretched before fabrication of the conductive film or stripe.
2. Related Art
A number of electronic circuits require low resistance connections between parts that are mechanically separate and/or can move against each other. Examples include: large-area electronics that can be bent or 3-D deformed; printed wire boards with creases along which they can be folded to achieve high density; and integrated circuits that move against their packages under the influence of thermal expansion. Typically, when such movement occurs the electrical contacts between interconnects and circuits are subjected to mechanical stress. If this stress results in mechanical debonding, the circuit also fails electrically.
Photolithographically patterned stretchable interconnects for electrically connecting electronic devices which are supported for movement relative to one another have been described. U.S. Patent Application No. 2002-0294701 describes a stretchable interconnect formed of a coiled conductor. The coiled conductor is formed by photolithography. In this technique, a negative or positive resist (photoresist) is coated onto an exposed surface of a material. The resist is irradiated in a predetermined pattern, and irradiated (positive resist) or nonirradiated (negative resist) portions of the resist are removed from the surface to produce a predetermined resist pattern on the surface. This can be followed by one or more procedures such as etching, plating, and the like. The coiled conductor is formed of a metal or alloy having a stress gradient extending through the thickness of the conductor. The interconnects become stretchable when a supporting substrate is removed from the interconnect.
Formation of ordered structures in thin films of metals supported on an elastomeric polymer have been described in Bowden, N. et al., Nature, 393, 146 (1998). The ordered structures were spontaneously generated by buckling of thin metal films owing to thermal contraction of an underlying substrate. Films from the vapor phase are deposited on a thermally expanded polymer of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS). Subsequent cooling of the polymer creates compressive stress in the metal film that is relieved by buckling with a uniform wavelength of 20-50 micrometers. The waves can be controlled and oriented by relief structures in the surface of the polymer to provide intricate ordered patterns. It is described that the patterning process may find applications in optical devices.
Inherent flexibility of thin-film electronics can be used in a variety of applications. One approach to making flexible and deformable structures is to use polymer substrates. The flexibility of the polymer substrate offers application opportunities that utilize curved and/or deformable surfaces. Retina-shaped photosensor arrays described in Hsu, P. et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 81, 1723-5 (2002), electro-active polymer actuators described in Pelrine, R. et al., Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, edited by Y. Bar-Cohen, SPIE Proc. 4329, Bellingham, WA, (2001) pp. 334-349, or stretchable sensitive skin described in Lumelsky, V. J. et al. IEEE Sensors journal 1, 41 (2001) are electronic systems that combine electronic functions with the flexibility of plastic substrates.
Dielectric elastomer actuators with smart metallic electrodes made of silver were described in Benslimane et al., Smart Structures and Materials 2002, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, edited by Y. Bar-Cohen, 150 Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 4695 (2002). An elastomer film is spin coat on a mold for forming a corrugated quasisinusoidal profile. Thin metal films are deposited on the corrugated surfaces of the elastomer film. Since the elastomer conserves volume when it is deferred, the electrically-induced stress in the film thickness direction is converted to stress in the direction of actuation. The corrugation depth-to-period ratio is optimized in order to obtain elongation of about 33% before the metal electrode breaks.
An electrode for a bending-electrostrictive polyurethane actuator was described in Watanabe, M. et al., J. Appl. Phys. 92, 4631 (2002). The wrinkled electrode was prepared by in situ deposition of polypyrrole onto a polyurethane elastomer film that was being uniaxially drawn. After the deposition, the film was released from the drawing to make the electrode wrinkle. The bending actuator of the polyurethane film with the wrinkled electrode was improved compared to an unwrinkled one. Polypyrrole is an organic conductor, with an electrical conductivity much lower than that of typical interconnect metals, e.g., gold or aluminum. Accordingly, organic conductors have a greatly restricted applicability compared to metallic conductors.
It is desirable to provide an improved stretchable and elastic electrical interconnect of thin metal films which can be used to provide electrical connection in applications such as thin-film electronics and conformable integrated circuits.


A variable reluctance electric power system which comprises an alternator and a motor having a rotor with longitudinal lobes and no windings, commutators, slip rings, magnets, or laminations. The alternator and the motor have stators which have conventional windings and laminations and a rotor which is polarized using a static field winding which surrounds but does not touch the rotor. The alternator and the motor may be coupled with current from the alternator driving the motor and solid state power devices controlling the frequency of the current to insure that the current from the alternator is always synchronized with the motor rotor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electric power systems and more specifically to a variable reluctance electric power system which may be used as an alternator, a motor, or in combination.
2. Background Information
In the United States and throughout the world, millions of people use electric motors and alternators on a daily basis. Conventional motors and alternators have a variety of configurations, but ordinarily consist of a metal case (usually steel), a stator which is secured inside the case, and a rotor which turns on bearings mounted at the ends of the case. There are other electric motor configurations, but a great majority have this configuration. A stator usually includes a series of laminations with interior windings, usually of copper wire. The laminations are insulated from each other, are stacked, and are configured so as to hold the stator windings within the interior of the stator. Rotors have many configurations, but often have windings, laminations, magnets, commutators, or slip rings.
Electric motors may be either alternating current (a-c) or direct current (d-c) motors. In a-c motors, the stator can be wound with either single or multiple phase windings. The most common a-c motors are three phase with the windings interspersed and displaced 120 electrical degrees from each other. The basic design of the most common a-c motor in use today, the induction motor, has been known since the late 1800's and it is still considered by many to be the most economical to build for any given horsepower. In spite of its popularity, the induction motor has several serious drawbacks including: its starting torque is very low, it requires six to eight times its rated full load current to start, and speed control is difficult and requires considerable auxiliary equipment to be accomplished effectively. In addition, induction motors most often have a rotor generally consisting of stacked laminations in which several generally shorted aluminum windings are embedded.
Common d-c motors are more desirable for many applications than a-c induction motors, because they have a much higher starting torque and do not require the high starting current. However, the rotor in these d-c motors must have windings, commutation bars, and brushes to conduct the rotor current. This rotor configuration makes them expensive to manufacture, expensive to maintain, and limits the speed at which the rotor can turn and keep the windings safely embedded. Some d-c rotors have embedded magnets which reduces or eliminates some of these problems, but there is some degradation of performance.
For a variety of well established reasons, standard electric power operates at a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz. Because of their necessary configurations, the fastest conventional alternators can run for generating conventional electric power is 3,600 rpm at 60 Hz and 3,000 rpm for 50 Hz. If a device such as a modern turbine which may easily operate a speeds of around 50,000 rpm's are used to power such alternators, the speed must be mechanically reduced to either 3,600 rpm or 3,000 rpm to function properly. Furthermore, the operating speed of the turbine must be rigidly controlled for proper operation.
The variable reluctance electric power system of the instant invention solves a number of problems common to conventional motors and alternators and may be constructed either in a motor configuration or an alternator configuration. The rotor of the instant invention is solid and does not include windings, brushes, commutators, slip rings, laminations, or embedded magnets such as in more conventional a-c or d-c motors. For lower speed applications, the rotor may have the configuration of a hollow squirrel cage. A high speed drive device such as a turbine may be used without the necessity of using mechanical speed reduction in the alternator configuration. Even though the motor configuration is, basically, an a-c motor, it does not require the high start up current of a conventional a-c motor. Further the instant invention provides high starting torque. That is, the instant invention provides the benefits of both conventional a-c and d-c motors without having their inherent drawbacks.
The ideal variable reluctance electric power system should operate with a solid rotor having no windings, brushes, commutators, slip rings, laminations, or embedded magnets. The ideal variable reluctance electric power system may also provide for a rotor having a hollow, squirrel cage type configuration for lower speed operation, also without the need for windings, brushes, commutators, slip rings, laminations, or embedded magnets. The ideal variable reluctance electric power system in the alternator configuration should provide for the use of a high speed power source such as a turbine without the need for mechanical speed reduction. The ideal variable reluctance electric power system in the motor configuration should eliminate the high startup current requirement of conventional a-c electric motors. The ideal variable reluctance electric power system in the motor configuration should also provide high starting torque. The ideal variable reluctance electric power system should also be simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to operate and maintain.

Variable reluctance electric power system


Embodiments relate generally to a sampling device adapted for sampling of biological materials from a subject and methods of use or manufacture of such devices, as well as diagnostic methods employing such devices and kits including such devices. The sampling device may comprise: an outer tube; an elongate insertion member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is distal of the second end, the insertion member being received in and sized to be movable through the outer tube; a coupling portion disposed at the first end of the insertion member; and a sampling portion coupled to the coupling portion and configured to collect the biological materials. The coupling portion is separable from the insertion member.

Early prenatal diagnosis to detect fetal genetic disorders is desirable for both expectant mothers and physicians to make informed decisions. Until recently, non-invasive screening to identify an individual's risk for fetal aneuploidy (predominantly trisomy 21) relied on either maternal serum analytes and/or ultrasonography at gestational weeks 10 to 13 or 16 to 18 weeks (or at both points) with detection rates of 70-96% and a false positive rate of ˜5%, depending on the screening method employed. A positive screening result requires a subsequent invasive procedure (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS)) for confirmatory definitive diagnosis, which carries a small, but significant risk of miscarriage and the results are rarely available before 13 weeks of pregnancy because of the time required for cell culture and analysis.
During the past two decades, many laboratories around the world have attempted to develop a non-invasive prenatal test for the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities using rare fetal cells present in the maternal circulation. Reliably isolating sufficient fetal cells from maternal blood for genetic testing has proven difficult due to their rarity (one fetal cell per 105-108 nucleated maternal cells or 1-10 fetal cells per ml of maternal blood), the inefficiency of cell sorting techniques using fetal-cell specific markers, variable levels of maternal contamination, the tendency for fetal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to disintegrate during chromosome extraction and their persistence in the maternal circulation from previous pregnancies. This approach has been abandoned by most groups for the above mentioned reasons.
It was not until 1997 that researchers discovered the existence of cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in the maternal circulation which presented a new possible target for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). CffDNA in the maternal circulation is theorized to be derived from placental cells undergoing apoptosis (fetal DNA is cleaved into small 150-200 base pair fragments) and can be detected reliably after the seventh week of gestation. Current prenatal screening programs have now incorporated cffDNA analysis as part of prenatal management for sex determination of sex linked disorders and Rhesus D incompatibility. More recently, cffDNA has been used for aneuploidy testing (Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, and sex chromosome aneuploidies), paternity testing and for the prediction of many pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. However, further research in this area has been hindered by the low concentration of circulatory fetal DNA in the maternal circulation (accounting for 10% of all cell free DNA at 11-13 weeks gestation (interquartile range 7.8-13%), the interference of excessive amounts of maternal DNA in the plasma sample, and the influence of maternal weight on fetal fraction (decreases from 11.7% at 60 kg to 3.9% at 160 kg). If the fetal fraction is below 4%, non-invasive prenatal testing is currently unable to provide a result for aneuploidy testing.
In light of this, and given that cffDNA in the maternal circulation are believed to be derived from apoptotic trophoblast cells it is hypothesized that transcervical samples may provide an alternative and perhaps superior source of both cffDNA and/or fetal cells to samples derived from maternal circulation. Unlike maternal blood in which multiple circulating fetal cell types exist, fetal cells in the transcervical samples are all of placental origin and are overwhelmingly trophoblasts.
It was long assumed that the cervical canal contained trophoblasts of fetal origin. The early embryo is covered with chorion levae, but later in the gestation the chorionic surface is smooth. However, it was not until 1971 that the presence of fetal cells in the endocervix was confirmed by identification of Y-chromosome bearing cells in midcervical mucus samples collected with a cotton swab. Subsequent reports assumed that these fetal cells were shed from the regressing chorionic villous into the lower uterine pole. In this scenario, it is most likely to occur between 7 and 13 weeks gestation, before fusion of the deciduas basalis and parietalis. Desquamated trophoblasts are believed first to accumulate behind the cervical mucus at the level of the internal opening section and then become ensconced in the cervical mucus.
These biologic events thus define the window of opportunity for endocervical sampling to be of use for prenatal diagnoses, although several studies have demonstrated trophoblast recovery as early as 5 weeks gestation.
Efforts to extract trophoblasts were first made in the 1970's. Rhine et al. (1977) described "antenatal cell extractors" that flush the endocervical canal with sterile saline to recover fetal cells. After culture, fetal metaphases from recovered cells were detected in approximately 50% of cases. However, other investigators reported negative results, leading to overall skepticism concerning clinical application. In hindsight, inability to detect fetal cells probably also reflected deficiencies in the clinicians' techniques in obtaining the endocervical specimen, as well as poor sensitivity of methods used to confirm the presence of fetal cells.
Interest was rekindled in the 1990's, several groups since have attempted to isolate fetal cells/DNA from transcervical samples using various sampling techniques including cotton swabs, cytology brushes, aspiration of mucus, and lavage of the endocervical canal or intrauterine cavity with reported detection rates of 24%-96%. Again, however, interest waned in most centres because analysis was difficult. The presumptive fetal cells embedded in mucus were not readily amenable to fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). More recently, molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for micromanipulated cell clumps of trophoblastic origin were demonstrated to have utility for transcervical samples.
Most transcervical specimens contain a variety of maternally derived cells (leukocytes, macrophages, squamous epithelia, columnar epithelia, and endocervical cells) as well as different fetal-derived cells (extravillous cytotrophoblasts, intravillous cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts) and free fetal/maternal nuclei. The frequency of each fetal cell type is variable and seemingly dependent on the collection method and gestational age.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more shortcomings or disadvantages associated with prior systems for obtaining biological samples, or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or a group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other elements, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Device and method for obtaining a biological sample


A structure includes a metal pad over a semiconductor substrate, a passivation layer having a portion over the metal pad, and a first polyimide layer over the passivation layer, wherein the first polyimide layer has a first thickness and a first Young's modulus. A post-passivation interconnect (PPI) includes a first portion over the first polyimide layer, and a second portion extending into the passivation layer and the first polyimide layer. The PPI is electrically coupled to the metal pad. A second polyimide layer is over the PPI. The second polyimide layer has a second thickness and a second Young's modulus. At least one of a thickness ratio and a Young's modulus ratio is greater than 1.0, wherein the thickness ratio is the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness, and the Young's modulus ratio is the ratio of the second Young's modulus to the first Young's modulus.

In the formation of a wafer-level chip scale packages (WLCSP), integrated circuit devices such as transistors are first formed at the surface of a semiconductor substrate in a wafer. An interconnect structure is then formed over the integrated circuit devices. A metal pad is formed over, and is electrically coupled to, the interconnect structure. A passivation layer and a first polyimide layer are formed on the metal pad, with the metal pad exposed through the openings in the passivation layer and the first polyimide layer.
Post-passivation interconnect (PPI) is then formed, followed by the formation of a second polyimide layer over the PPI. An under-bump metallurgy (UBM) is formed extending into an opening in the second polyimide layer, wherein the UBM is electrically connected to the PPI. A solder ball is then placed over the UBM and reflowed.
The WLCSP may be bonded to printed circuit boards (PCBs) directly. Conventionally, the WLCSP dies that were directly bonded to the PCBs were small dies. Accordingly, the stresses applied on the solder balls that bond the dies to the respective PCBs were relatively small. Recently, increasingly larger dies need to be bonded to PCBs. The stresses occurring to the solder balls thus become increasingly greater, and the methods for reducing the stresses are needed. However, underfill is avoided to be used in the WLCSP to protect the solder balls. The reason is that if the underfill is applied, the bonding between the dies and the PCBs is not re-workable, and the dies can no longer be removed from the respective PCBs if the dies are defective. As a result, if the underfill is applied, the defective dies cannot be replaced with good dies once bonded, and the entire packages fail.

Wafer level chip scale package with reduced stress on solder balls

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method of preparing amorphous copolymers of ethylene and at least one norbornene (NB)-type comonomer is disclosed. These polymers may be random or alternating depending on the choice of catalyst and/or the relative ratio of the monomers used. This method comprises polymerizing said monomers in a diluent or in bulk in the presence of a neutral nickel catalyst which may be represented by the formula ##STR1##. wherein Y may be a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl chain, X may be oxygen or sulfur, E may be phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, oxygen or nitrogen, R and R' independently each is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, L is a ligand containing a heteroatom P, N or O or L and R together with L may form part of a chelating structure in which case L is an ethylenic double bond.

This invention is directed to a method of copolymerizing ethylene with cycloolefin monomers, often referred to as norbornene-type, or NB-type. More specifically, the method employs neutral nickel catalysts and the polymers obtained by the method of this invention are amorphous addition copolymers which may be random or alternating in character.
Addition copolymers of ethylene and norbornene-type monomers are well known and can be prepared using a variety of catalysts disclosed in the prior art. This general type of copolymers can be prepared using free radical catalysts disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,897 (Reding et al.); titanium tetrachloride and diethylaluminum chloride as disclosed in East German Patents 109,224 and 222,317 (VEB Leuna); or a variety of vanadium compounds, usually in combination with organoaluminum compounds, as disclosed in European Patent Application No. 156464 (Kajiura et al.). The copolymers obtained with these catalysts are random copolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,856 issued to Minchak et al. (B.F.Goodrich) discloses preparing generally alternating copolymers by the use of vanadium catalysts which are soluble in the norbornene-type monomer and a co-catalyst which may be any alkyl aluminum halide or alkylalkoxy aluminum halide. European Patent Application No. 0 504 418 Al (Matsumoto et al.) discloses copolymerization of said monomers in the presence of catalysts such as transition metal compounds, including nickel compounds, and a compound which forms an ionic complex with the transition metal compound or a catalyst comprising said two compounds and an organoaluminum compound. More recently, metallocene catalysts were used to prepare copolymers of cycloolefins and .alpha.-olefins as disclosed in EP 283,164 (1987) issued to Mitsui Petrochemicals and EP 407,870 (1989), EP 485,893 (1990) and EP 503,422 (1991) issued to Hoechst AG. Most recently PCT published application WO96/23010 discloses processes of polymerizing ethylene, .alpha.-olefins and/or selected cyclic olefins which are catalyzed by selected transition metal compounds, including nickel complexes of diimine ligands, and sometimes also a cocatalyst. This disclosure provides, however, that when norbornene or a substituted norbornene is used, no other olefin can be present.

Method for the preparation of copolymers of ethylene/norbornene-type monomers with nickel catalysts

A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis


A coded system for radio-frequency communication (RFC); the system comprising at least one base station (20) and a plurality of mobile devices (10); the base station and mobile devices are individually provided with running time information synchronized inter se; the mobile device is adapted for transmitting an identifying signal to the base station device; the base station is adapted for receiving the signal; wherein the signal further comprises a preamble including a miming-time-dependent code generated according to a predetermined algorithm (220); the base station is adapted for comparing the code with a reference code generated by the base station according to the algorithm (260), authorizing the RFC in response to coincidence of the running-time-dependent codes generated by the base station and the mobile (270).

The RFC used in Asset Visibility and Control enables a user to remotely control assets of interest. For instant, radio-frequency identification (RFID), Real Time Locating System (RTLS), machine-to-machine (M2M), smart agent networks can be referred.
RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID mobile devices or transponders. A RFID mobile device is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. Some mobile devices can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.
Most RFID mobile devices contain at least two parts. One is an integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a RF-signal, and other specialized functions. The second part is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.
RTLS is used to track and identify the location of objects in real time using simple, inexpensive nodes (badges/mobile devices) attached to or embedded in objects and devices (readers) that receive the wireless signals from these mobile devices to determine their locations. RTLS typically refers to systems that provide passive (automatic) collection of location information.
M2M refers to data communications between machines. The key pieces of a typical M2M system include: (a) a device or group of devices capable of replying to requests for data contained within those devices or capable of transmitting data contained within those devices autonomously; (b) a communications link to connect the device or group of devices to a computer server or another device; (c) a software agent, process, or interface by which the data can be analyzed, reported, and/or acted upon; (d) software intelligence.
Most often, M2M systems are task-specific. It means that an M2M system is purpose-built for just one specific device, or a very restricted class of devices in an industry. This is one of the indicators of the M2M market still being in its infancy, as a unified intercommunication standard has yet to evolve.
A replay attack is a form of network attack in which a valid data transmission is maliciously or fraudulently repeated or delayed. This is carried out either by the originator or by an adversary who intercepts the data and retransmits it, possibly as part of a masquerade attack by IP packet substitution (such as stream cipher attack).
A breach of security in which information is stored without authorization and then retransmitted to trick the receiver into unauthorized operations such as false identification or authentication or a duplicate transaction. For example, messages from an authorized user who is logging onto a network may be captured by an attacker and resent (replayed) the next day. Even though the messages may be encrypted, and the attacker may not know what the actual keys and passwords are, the retransmission of valid logon messages is sufficient to gain access to the network.
An attacker can also generate (mimic) a data transition gaining a fraudulent access. A signal (or a sequence thereof) of predetermined carrier frequency, amplitude and frequency modulations can be mimicked.
Also known as a "man-in-the-middle attack," a replay attack can be prevented using strong digital signatures that include time stamps and inclusion of unique information from the previous transaction such as the value of a constantly incremented sequence number.
A timestamp is a sequence of characters, denoting the date and/or time at which a certain event occurred. This data is usually presented in a consistent format, allowing for easy comparison of two different records and tracking progress over time; the practice of recording timestamps in a consistent manner along with the actual data is called timestamping.
Timestamps are typically used for logging events, in which case each event in a log is marked with a timestamp. In file-systems, timestamp may mean the stored date/time of creation or modification of a file.
US Application 2007030469 ('469) discloses a system and method for providing secure oneway transmissions in a vehicle wireless communications system. The system and method rely on a clock signal to assure that the vehicle and server receive proper messages. The vehicle and the server will periodically synchronize their internal clocks to a global clock signal. The server will add its local time to the body of a message including a vehicle identification number and a function code. According to '469, the server will then encrypt the message and transmit it to the vehicle. The vehicle will decrypt the message and compare the transmitted vehicle identification number with its identification number. If the identification numbers match, the vehicle will then see if the time in the message is within a predefined window of the vehicle time. If the transmitted time is within the predefined window of the vehicle time, the vehicle will accept the message and perform the function.
As said above, the unauthorized person is able to breach security and to gain an access to information by means of replaying or mimicking to trick the receiver into unauthorized operations such as false identification or authentication or a duplicate transaction. Providing measures preventing the unauthorized persons from breaching RFC security is hence an unmet long-felt need.

Coded system for radio frequency communication


A hybrid heating system and method including: (a) a heat pump water heating system; (b) a conventional heating system including a conventional heater having a surface heat exchanger, and a primary circulation arrangement fluidly communicating with the surface exchanger, the primary circulation arrangement adapted to effect an exchange of heat between the surface heat exchanger and a flow of liquid to produce a heated flow of liquid; (c) a plurality of sensors associated with the heat exchange system; (d) an input arrangement adapted to provide cost data pertaining to a first power cost for supplying power to the heat pump system, and to cost information pertaining to a second power cost for operating the conventional system, and (e) a processor including a memory storing criteria specifying when to operate the heat pump water heating system, and when to operate the conventional heating system.

The present invention relates to hybrid heating systems.
Consumer demand for electricity is generally not uniform over the course of a 24-hour period. Electric companies thus find that during peak hours the demand for electricity approaches, or may even exceed, the electricity generating capacity of the company. On the other hand, during hours when the demand for electricity is very low, for example, during part of the night, a significant portion of the electricity generating capacity is not utilized. Electric companies thus search for schemes to induce consumers to transfer some of their electricity consumption from the peak hours of demand to the off-peak hours. For example, many electric companies have instituted a pricing scheme wherein the cost of electricity to the consumer is highest during the period of peak demand and is significantly lower during the hours of low demand. Such a pricing scheme is sometimes known as a "time-of-use" pricing scheme.
Systems that generate hot water and/or steam for bathing, ambient heating and other uses may use electricity or fossil fuels as the energy source. In contrast to heating by electricity, the cost of water heating by fossil fuel burning may remain substantially constant over any 24-hour period. Therefore, in a time-of-use pricing scheme for electricity use, water heating by electricity during peak hours may be more expensive than heating by burning a fossil fuel. On the other hand, water heating by electricity during off-peak hours may be cheaper than heating by burning fossil fuels.
The present inventors have recognized a need for improved hybrid heating systems, and methods of operating such systems.


Described herein are techniques for beamforming a wireless signal to a harvesting device. In an example, a method to increase available energy to a harvesting device is performed by a WiFi transmitting device. The WiFi transmitting device determines a preferred wireless path to the harvesting device using input from a proxy device. The WiFi transmitting device then beamforms a WiFi signal to the harvesting device along the preferred wireless path.

Wireless energy harvesting technology can be used to harvest energy from a radio frequency signal, such as an IEEE 802.11 WiFi signal. This harvested energy can be stored in a battery and can be used to power a device. However, it can be challenging to harvest enough energy from such a signal to fully power a device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An optical recording system in which the optical head is operated in physical contact with the surface of the optical recording medium during system operation at a selected operating speed. The optical head includes one or more optical elements mounted on a substrate which is in physical, sliding contact with the recording medium. The substrate is fabricated from a crystalline material which has a non-linear load versus friction characteristic in the negative load region. When the head is in sliding contact with the recording medium surface, a restoring force is generated which maintains the optical head in physical contact with the recording medium overcoming any lifting forces generated by the moving air layer adjacent the recording medium surface. This allows the head to be operated with a negative external load applied. Utilizing the optical head having the objective lens mounted on the substrate in close proximity to the recording medium surface allows high density recording to be achieved without the requirement of an electro-mechanical servo system to provide beam focusing for the system.

The present invention relates generally to optical disk storage systems and, more particularly, to an optical disk storage system in which the optical transducer is mounted in a slider in contact with the storage medium at an operating speed which utilizes the tribo-attractive effect to minimize wear.
In magnetic storage systems, an information bit is stored by focusing a magnetic field to a small volume on the disk to align the magnetic domains in that volume to a desired orientation. In optical storage systems, an information bit is stored by focusing a laser beam onto a small spot on the optical disk to heat the medium and thus effect a physical change in the medium material at that spot. In the case of magneto-optic storage systems, the heat generated by the laser beam causes the magnetic domains at the spot location to be aligned with an applied magnetic field. In all moving disk storage systems, the demand for increased storage capacity is presently being met by increasing the areal bit density on the storage disk.
In magnetic disk storage systems, increase of areal bit density requires the reduction of three basic parameters, the magnetic write transducer (head) gap length, the thickness of the magnetic storage media and tile head to disk separation. Given a specified gap length and media thickness, the smaller the head-disk separation, i.e., tile lower the head flying height, is, the smaller the bit cell size which can be achieved is. The limit of lower flying height is contact recording, in which the slider is in physical contact with the rotating magnetic disk, i.e., the slider is sliding or rubbing continuously on the disk surface and the read/write transducer is as close as the edge of the slider can be to the disk surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,091 to Brezoczky et al, assigned to the instant assignee, discloses a magnetic contact recording system comprising a magnetic read/write head mounted on a slider which is in physical contact with the rotating storage medium. A tribo-attractive force is generated between the moving disk surface and the slider which counteracts the lifting force generated by the moving air layer adjacent the disk surface and which allows contact recording and reading of data without excessive wear to either the magnetic head and slider or the recording medium.
In an optical storage system, a laser beam is projected onto the optical storage medium (optical disk) and focused to a small spot on the disk surface through an optical transducer or head. In prior art optical systems, the optical head is maintained well above the medium surface and the beam spot size is defined by the laser light wavelength (.lambda.) and conventional optics. It has been generally believed that the diffraction limit in air of about .lambda./1.5 is the fundamental lower bound in resolution for any optical image recording. Thus, the primary means of increasing areal bit density in an optical or magneto-optical system has traditionally been to utilize laser beams of shorter wavelength. The beam output of injection lasers presently in use have wavelengths on the order of 1 micrometer (.mu.m). New lasers, use of second or higher order harmonics and frequency multipliers are currently being explored. However, considerable difficulty is being encountered and the likelihood of development of new lasers having suitable characteristics in the near future is low. On the other hand, there has been steady improvement in the reliability and power capabilities of the currently used conventional semiconductor lasers which is likely to continue due to their wide use.
To achieve high density optical recording at or near the diffraction limit utilizing conventional semiconductor lasers it is necessary to very tightly focus the laser beam. This requires high numerical aperture objective lens which means that the lens must be maintained very precisely at the focal distance from the optical medium. Typically, focus is accomplished by an electro-mechanical servo system which maintains the optical head at the required distance from the medium thus adding to the mass and size of the optical head. Alternatively, in systems which do not physically adjust the distance of the head from the medium, relatively complex focusing systems elsewhere in the system are required to compensate for the varying head height.

Tribo-attractive contact slider for an optical read/write system

International Business Machines Corporation