A vehicle restraint system has a vision-based occupant classification system for control of airbag deployment during a crash scenario. The classification system utilizes two imaging sensors which together create a stream of paired images received and stored by an occupant classification controller. A computer program product of the controller utilizes the paired images to extract disparity/range features and stereo-vision differential edge density features. Moreover, the controller extracts wavelet features from one of the two paired images. All three features or maps are classified amongst preferably seven classifications by algorithms of the computer program product producing class confidence data fed to a sensor fusion engine of the controller for processing and output of an airbag control signal input into a restraint controller of the vehicle restraint system.

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, has recognized that earlier generation airbag systems designed to enhance safety and vehicle seat belt restraint systems can potentially cause injury during a crash scenario especially when the occupants are not properly situated within the vehicle and/or restrained by a seat belt. As such, the NHTSA allowed automotive manufacturers the option to reduce the inflation power or aggressiveness of the first generation airbags to lessen the likelihood of an airbag related injury. These less powerful airbags are typically known as "de-powered" airbags and have been in most vehicles since 1997.
As an added precaution, the NHTSA required manufacturers to introduce an "advanced frontal airbag" which is designed to meet the needs of the occupant in a variety of specific crash scenarios. The advanced airbag systems automatically determine if and with what level of power the driver frontal airbag and the passenger frontal airbag will inflate. The appropriate level of power is generally based upon sensor inputs that can typically detect: 1) occupant size, 2) seat position, 3) seat belt use of the occupant, and 4) crash severity. Advance frontal airbags were generally designed to reduce the risk of airbag induced injury to children and adults of small stature. All passenger cars and light trucks produced after Sep. 1, 2006 in the United States are required to have the advanced frontal airbag system.
Various occupant-detection devices are known to communicate with a controller of the advanced frontal airbag system requiring the system to take appropriate action(s) (i.e. disabling the airbag in a crash). A weight-based occupant-detection system is one such device that utilizes a bladder installed in a passenger-side seat that senses weight distribution in the seat. A microcontroller in the device uses an algorithm to analyze the weight distribution and determine if the occupant may be injured by the airbag. Unfortunately, the weight-based devices are generally not designed to detect if an occupant is out of position. Yet further, such devices are not capable of differentiating between an empty seat with an inanimate object and a seat with a child. Consequently, during a crash scenario, a passenger frontal airbag could actuate without need.
Visual or imaging based systems are known that measure various features of at least one image, establish confidence levels and fuse the features together to compute an "occupant type" which in-turn is used to, for instance, enable or disable a vehicle airbag. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0204384 A1, published Oct. 30, 2003 and incorporated herein in its entirety. Such features include an edge density taken from a single image, a wavelet feature taken from a single image, and a disparity feature that requires "stereo" images from two independent cameras. A sub-classifier of each feature independently assigns a confidence value to each one of five occupant classifications known to be: rear-facing infant seat; front-facing infant seat; adult; out of position adult; and empty seat. The fifteen class confidences are then input into a fusion classifier that is trained to intelligently combine the confidences to form a final airbag enable/disable decision.
Unfortunately, the five classification system is limited and does not include other categories such as "a child inside of an at-risk-zone" or "a child outside of an at-risk-zone" which could further refine airbag safety. Moreover, known software algorithms used to classify the three known features are likely to become confused between categories if required to handle the additional two classifications. Furthermore, additional classifications will increase the size of the neural network making training of the network more difficult. Therefore, more efficient and more effective features and methods to fulfill the seven-category-classification task are desired.

Vision-based occupant classification method and system for controlling airbag deployment in a vehicle restraint system


Provided are an apparatus, system and method for facilitating a video call between a first caller and a second caller, the apparatus including: an image sensor which captures an image of the first caller; a display which displays an image of the second caller; a microphone which captures audio input by the first caller; a speaker which plays audio input by the second caller; a detector which is operable to determine a location of the first caller; and a controller which controls the detector to determine the location as corresponding to an original location, wherein if the first caller changes from the original location to a new location, the controller controls the detector to determine the location as being the new location and controls the microphone to readjust based on the determined new location of the first caller.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses, systems and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a video call, and more particularly, to a video call based on a location of a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video conferencing has become a popular method of communication between users. As used herein, the terms video conference and video conferencing are synonymous with a video call and video calling, respectively. Video conferencing includes both audio and video components. That is, a video call between parties provides for audio and video communications between users. In terms of hardware, a user simply needs a display device, a speaker (or speakers), an image sensor and a microphone (or microphones), in order to simultaneously conduct a video call with one or more parties. The display device itself can be any type of display, including but not limited to a television (TV), a computer monitor, etc. Further note that the image sensor may include more than one image sensing device.
In order to facilitate such a video call, the display device is used to show one or more parties to the call. For example, in a video conference between two people, the image of each party is captured by their respective image sensors, and the display device on each party's side shows an image of the other party, or alternatively, shows images for both the caller and the called party. Similarly, each party to the call speaks into their respective microphones, whereupon the respective speakers play the conversation so that each party can hear the audio portion of the call.
However, a problem exists if any party to a video call moves from an original location to another location. For example, a party to a call may move away from the location where the image sensor, microphone and speakers are positioned. In such a case, the capturing and playing of the video and the audio becomes problematic. Consequently, there is a need for an improved way of facilitating a video call.

Apparatus, system and method for video call


A multiple reciprocating pump such as a triple diaphragm or piston pump has a drive shaft (28), a plurality of reciprocating rods (48a, 48b, 48c) arranged in parallel with one another at one side of the drive shaft (28) and capable of reciprocating in accordance with rotation of the drive shaft (28); Displaceable members (56a, 56b, 56c) such as diaphragms or pistons secured to the ends of the reciprocating members (48a, 48b, 48c) and defining wall members of pump chambers (54a, 54b, 54c). The wall members (56a, 56b, 56c) are displaceable in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating members (48a, 48b, 48c) so as to vary the volumes of the pump chambers (54a, 54b, 54c) thereby sucking in and discharging a liquid. The reciprocating members (48a, 48b; 48b, 48c) which are adjacent to each other in the direction of axis of the drive shaft (28) have different lengths. The pump chambers (54a, 54b; 54b, 54c) which are adjacent to each other in the direction of axis of the drive shaft (28) are offset in the direction of axes of the reciprocating members (48a, 48b, 48c).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple reciprocating pump suitable for use in, for example, a powered atomizer for spraying and atomizing a chemical liquid. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a multiple reciprocating pump which can have an increased capacity or displacement without an accompanying increase in size.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multiple piston pumps, suitable for use in powered atomizers for spraying and atomizing chemical liquids or rinsing water are known, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-73885 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-39429. In such a multiple piston pump, a plurality of piston rods of an equal length are arranged in parallel on the same side of a crankshaft and a plurality of pump chambers are arranged in a row on the same side of the crankshaft as the piston rods. The pistons carried by the piston rods reciprocate in the respective pump chambers so as to increase and decrease the volumes of the pump chambers.
In this known multiple piston pump, the cross-sectional areas of the pump chamber and the piston are undesirably limited by the spacing of piston rods and by the thickness of the partition wall between adjacent piston rods. Thus, it is difficult to design the pump with large cross-sectional areas of the pump chamber and the piston respectively. In other words, in order to increase the capacity or displacement of the multiple piston pump by increasing the cross-sectional areas of the piston chamber and the piston, it is necessary to increase the spacing of the pistons, resulting in an increase in the size of the whole piston pump. It would be possible to increase the capacity of the multiple piston pump by increasing the speed of rotation of the crankshaft. In such a case, however, the pistons, cylinders and seals of the pump would be worn down very quickly.


A governor includes a housing, a pulley, a belt, a first flyweight, and second flyweight. The housing defines a housing cavity. The pulley is disposed at least partially within the housing cavity. The belt is in contact with the pulley. The belt is operable to rotate the pulley at a rotational speed. The first and second flyweights are pivotably connected to the pulley, and are biased towards one another. At least a portion of the first and second flyweights are operable to move away from the pulley when the rotational speed of the pulley is increasing toward a predetermined threshold rotational speed. The first and second flyweights are operable to contact the housing, and thereby transmit rotational energy to the housing, when the rotational speed of the pulley is equal to at least the predetermined threshold rotational speed.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to a governor, and more particularly relate to a governor that is operable to aid in controlling the speed of a hoisted object relative to a guide member.
2. Background Information
It is known to provide a governor that is operable to aid in controlling the speed of a hoisted object (e.g., an elevator car, a counterweight) relative to a guide member (e.g., a rail). In some instances, the governor includes one or more rotatable components that are rotated by a tension member (e.g., a rope) that is made at least substantially of one or more metallic materials (e.g., steel). In some instances, the rotatable components are made at least substantially of one or more metallic materials (e.g., steel, cast iron) to aid in reducing the amount of wear experienced by the rotatable components and the tension member as a result of contact there between. The rotatable components and the tension member, being made at least substantially of one or more metallic materials, can cause the governor to have an undesirably high weight, and thus can reduce the overall efficiency of the hoisting system. In some instances, the governor can additionally or alternatively be undesirably large in size. In some instances, the governor can additionally or alternatively be configured such that it lacks the sensitivity necessary to accurately control the speed of the hoisted object when the hoisted object is moving at relatively low speeds relative to the guide member. Aspects of the present invention are directed to these and other problems.

Governor for controlling the speed of a hoisted object relative to a guide member


An apparatus for securely locking an access cover to a housing, the housing defining an interior volume, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached at a point substantially within the interior volume of the housing, the bracket including fastening means inaccessible from the exterior of the housing once the access cover is mounted to the housing, the access cover comprising a member disposed thereon having a bore therein defining a longitudinal extent, the longitudinal extent of the bore being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the access cover, the bore of the member adapted to receive a lock having locking means thereon, the lock further being received in a bore of the bracket in alignment with the bore of the member once the access cover is mounted to the housing, the locking means being received on a side of the bracket opposite the member. The apparatus is especially adapted for protecting the housings containing electrical connections for electrical utility meters.

The present invention relates to a locking security device, and in particular, to a security device for protecting utility meters, and even more particularly, for protecting the electrical connections contained in a housing leading to an electrical utility meter.
In the past, electric utility meters have been mounted in metal housings, such that the meter is mounted either in a separate housing or attached to another housing in which electrical connections, often including switches and circuit protection components, are disposed. Electrical utilities have had the problem that unscrupulous persons have often pried open the locked exteriors of these housings in order to circumvent operation of the electrical meter by suitably placing short circuit connections to by-pass the electrical meter.
An example of a prior art arrangement for preventing tampering with electrical meters is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,319 to Haus, Jr. et al. In this patent, a heavy locking cylinder is attached to the metal housing containing the electrical meter or wiring for the electrical meter. The locking cylinder is bolted to the metal housing and contains a machined hole therethrough for receipt of a lock. The locking cylinder is further received in an exterior mounted rectangular body having two-cylindrical intersecting bores, one for receiving the locking cylinder extending through a hole in the housing and the other for receiving a cylindrical lock member which is removable with a key. The locking cylinder which mounts through an opening in the housing is received in one bore of the rectangular body, such that when the cylinder lock is received in the other bore, the cylinder lock passes through or intersects the opening in the locking cylinder. The key for removing the cylinder lock and the cylinder lock itself disclosed in the '319 patent are also disclosed in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,155,232 and 4,040,279.
The locking device disclosed in the '319 patent has met with wide acceptance by utility companies for securing electrical meters. The device of the '319 patent, however, has serious disadvantages. First, the device of the '319 patent requires that relatively large holes be cut, drilled, or punched into the housing holding the electrical meter or the connections to the electrical meter. Secondly, because of the time-consuming requirement for drilling, boring or punching holes in the housing, typically only one such lock is utilized on a particular housing. As a result, the housings still can be pried open at portions of the box disposed at a distance from the location of the locking device, i.e., at a corner of the box removed from the location of the locking device. Furthermore, the device of the '319 patent, in addition to being defeatable and relatively expensive and time-consuming to mount on the housing, is also relatively expensive, since it is for the most part exposed, and thus must be made of heavy gauge materials.


A toy doll may include a body supported by a skeletal structure including one or more joint assemblies. A joint assembly may include a pivot block further including a pivot stop, and a joint member rotatably coupled to the pivot block, the joint member further including a stop protrusion configured to engage the pivot stop upon rotation of the joint member in a predetermined direction, wherein engagement of the pivot stop prevents further rotation of the joint member in a predetermined direction, wherein the joint member is moveable through a predetermined range of motion transverse to the plane of rotation of the joint member, and wherein movement of the joint member transverse to the plane of rotation allows the stop protrusion to bypass the pivot stop.

Toy dolls are popular among children. A toy doll that simulates walking increases the play value of such a toy doll. Examples of various walking toy dolls are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,526,456; 3,386,201; and 3,837,114. Examples of toy walking dolls with legs configured to provide skid resistance with respect to a support surface are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,780 and 6,004,185. The disclosures of the aforementioned references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Assisted walking dolls and joint assemblies for use with same


A delay amount variable circuit (8) adapted to change a delay amount according to a ZQ calibration result is inserted in a path of a DQ replica system. The delay amount of the path of the DQ replica system is variable and is adjusted so as to make constant a timing skew difference between a DQ buffer system and the DQ replica system. The ZQ calibration result changes depending on variations in temperature, voltage, and manufacture. Therefore, by obtaining the delay amount corresponding to these variations, there are obtained a DLL circuit with high accuracy that can make the skew difference constant, and a semiconductor device incorporating such a DLL circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device and, in particular, relates to a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit using a result of ZQ calibration adapted for adjusting the impedance of an output circuit and to a semiconductor device incorporating such a DLL circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent electronic systems have been speeded up in operation, wherein the data transfer rate between semiconductor devices forming the system has been highly increased. Further, also in each of the semiconductor devices, high-speed data transfer operation is required. Accordingly, a clock synchronization system synchronous with a clock signal (hereinafter also referred to simply as a "clock") is employed inside the semiconductor device. For example, there is a synchronous dynamic random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as a "SDRAM") as a semiconductor memory device. Further, a DDR (Double Data Rate)-SDRAM, a DDR2-SDRAM, and a DDR3-SDRAM each synchronous with the leading and trailing edges of a clock have been developed as advanced SDRAMs.
For synchronization with an external clock, these advanced SDRAMs each employ a DLL circuit to thereby synchronize the timing between an internal clock and the external clock. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a conventional DLL circuit. Since a DQ buffer used in the DLL circuit has a terminating element on the outside thereof, the amplitude of DQ buffer output is suppressed to a small value as shown in FIG. 1B. On the other hand, since a DQ replica has no terminating element, a DQ replica output (RCLK) exhibits its full amplitude as shown in FIG. 1C.
Inclinations and delay amounts (tPD) of these outputs change due to variations in temperature, voltage, and process, and delay times Δt1 and Δt2 of these outputs differ from each other due to a difference in amplitude therebetween. A delay line of the DLL circuit operates so as to synchronize the output of the DQ replica with an external clock CK. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a difference between Δt1 and Δt2 is, as it is, observed as a skew between the output of the DQ buffer and the external clock.
In the conventional SDRAM, there is no function of measuring changes in delay amount caused by variations in temperature, voltage, and threshold voltage (Vth) of MOS transistors and feeding them back. Therefore, it is difficult to perform control that can absorb those variations. That is, there has been a problem that variations in delay amount of the DQ buffer system and delay amount of the DQ replica system caused by variations in temperature, voltage, and Vth of MOS transistors become skews as they are and thus the DLL circuit cannot achieve high-speed operation.
With respect to such a DLL circuit, there is Prior Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. Hei 11-086545). With respect to a calibration circuit for adjusting the impedance of an output circuit, there is Prior Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2004-032070) or Prior Document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2004-145709). Further, with respect to a memory system, there is Prior Document 4 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-159999).
Prior Document 1 discloses a DLL circuit that detects a phase difference between an output circuit system and a dummy output circuit system to thereby eliminate a phase difference between clocks. Prior Document 2 discloses a calibration circuit that comprises fine-adjustment buffers connected in parallel, compares between a potential at a connection point and a reference potential, operates a counter in response to a comparison result, and adjusts the impedance of an output circuit according to a signal from the counter.
Prior Document 3 discloses a calibration circuit that adjusts the impedance of an output circuit according to a control signal from the exterior. Prior Document 4 discloses a memory system in which the lengths of data transmission lines are measured by monitoring reflected waves obtained when corresponding memory chips output data onto the data transmission lines, respectively, and, based on the measurement results, a system controller determines a setup time and a hold time per memory chip.
However, in the conventional DLL circuit, there is no function of measuring variations in temperature, voltage, and Vth of MOS transistors and feeding them back. Therefore, there remains the problem that variations in delay amount of the output system and delay amount of the replica system caused by variations in temperature, voltage, and Vth of MOS transistors become skews as they are and thus the high-speed operation cannot be achieved. Further, also in the conventional calibration circuits and memory system, no improvement scheme for these skews is proposed and thus there still remains the problem.
As described above, in the DLL circuit, there is no function of measuring variations in temperature, voltage, and Vth of MOS transistors and feeding them back. Therefore, there is the problem that variations in delay amount of the DQ buffer system path and delay amount of the DQ replica system path caused by variations in temperature, voltage, and Vth of MOS transistors become skews as they are and thus the high-speed operation cannot be achieved.

DLL circuit feeding back ZQ calibration result, and semiconductor device incorporating the same


The invention provides for the use of a texture modifying agent added to nutritionally enhanced pasta dough, such as pasta dough with high levels of protein, so that a pasta product can be produced with a quality similar to that of conventional pasta. The texture modifying agent, which preferably includes an enzyme, permits the nutritionally enhanced pasta dough to be extruded in conventional pasta manufacturing equipment and to form a pasta product with a texture similar to typical semolina-based pasta.

The nutritional quality of pasta, and often its taste and texture, generally depend upon the flour used to form the pasta. For instance, pasta made with whole grain flours, such as whole wheat pasta, is nutrient-rich because it contains bran and germ. However, the whole grain flour pasta generally does not have the textural characteristics desired by the consumer and its dough is difficult to process into the desired pasta shapes. Pasta formulas containing large amounts of protein, such as 20 percent or more, make the pasta dough hard to extrude and produces a product exhibiting rubbery characteristics or an extremely firm texture.
Most pasta, as a result, is made with durum wheat, which is hard wheat with increased levels of highly functional protein (gluten). Typically flours used to produce pasta have about 10 to about 13 percent protein. Durum wheat is desired for pasta because it makes dough that sticks together well and holds its shape, which are features preferred for pasta manufacture. More importantly, the durum wheat flour also produces pasta having a textural characteristic desired by the consumers—a firm, yet chewy pasta generally characterized as "al dente." Most high quality pasta is made with durum wheat semolina, which is a more coarsely ground wheat flour. However, in these flours, the germ and bran have been removed and, therefore, the fiber and nutritional values are generally lower than the whole grain flours.
In today's weight- and health-conscience society, high protein and low carbohydrate foods are often desired as part of a modified diet that may result in weight loss. As a result, attempts have been made to modify traditional foods with higher levels of protein and lower levels of carbohydrates to satisfy this consumer demand. However, such food reformulation is often difficult because, while the reformulated food may have higher levels of protein and lower levels of carbohydrates, it may not have the mouthfeel or organoleptic properties of conventional food. To achieve consumer acceptance of the nutritionally enhanced products, it is preferred to achieve textural, mouthfeel, and organoleptic properties similar to the conventional foods they are replacing.
Formulating nutritionally enhanced pasta, such as high-protein and low-carbohydrate pasta, is no exception. Increasing the protein levels in pasta, either through fortification with other sources of protein (i.e., soy protein, wheat gluten, or dairy proteins) or by using higher protein flours, is wrought with difficulties. Prior attempts at producing a high protein, low carbohydrate pasta through the selection of specific ingredients generally produces pasta that exhibits chewy and rubbery mouthfeel characteristics, which are not typically desired by the consumer.
Moreover, high levels of highly functional protein (i.e., levels greater than about 13 percent in the raw materials) in pasta dough are also difficult to process. Protein sources such as gluten, wheat protein isolates, and soy protein isolates, when used to manufacture pasta dough, would fall in this difficult-to-process category. For instance, such high levels of protein in pasta dough are often more difficult to extrude, particularly at very high levels of incorporation, such as levels greater than about 18 to about 20 percent protein in the dough. During pasta manufacture, gluten in pasta dough absorbs water and swells to form a cross-linked network, which is typically referred to as gluten development. However, higher levels of gluten in pasta dough absorb higher levels of water that can result in a rapid and extensive gluten development to form pasta dough that is highly elastic, and which has a tendency to exhibit a property called "balling" during processing. Highly elastic pasta dough is very difficult to process using extruders. For instance, very elastic dough obtained through strong protein-protein interactions will result in high press pressures and will be hard to process. Moreover, the dough will also have a tendency to ball or adhere to the paddles or other surfaces of the mixer. Furthermore, if the material has a strong tendency to ball, such material will not feed properly from the blender into the press, causing intermittent flow with associated defective product or creating extremely high pressures at the press with problems in process control.
On the other hand, fortifying pasta dough with other low functionality proteins or using alternative flours to increase the protein levels in the pasta also does not form a satisfactory product. For example, pasta dough has previously been processed with dairy or whey proteins and/or corn, rice, or soy flour to achieve high protein pasta. However, these protein sources generally have poor network forming characteristics and, therefore, do not create desirable pasta. Levels of these low functionality proteins, especially above about 5 percent, typically form dough that does not produce the desired texture of a semolina product because of poor ability to create a strong protein network.
Accordingly, there is a desire for nutritionally enhanced pasta with increased protein levels that can be processed through traditional pasta manufacturing equipment that also exhibits textural, mouthfeel, and organoleptic properties of conventional pasta.


Fully and uniformly silicided gate conductors are produced by deeply “perforating” silicide gate conductors with sub-lithographic, sub-critical dimension, nanometer-scale openings. A silicide-forming metal (e.g. cobalt, tungsten, etc.) is then deposited, polysilicon gates, covering them and filling the perforations. An anneal step converts the polysilicon to silicide. Because of the deep perforations, the surface area of polysilicon in contact with the silicide-forming metal is greatly increased over conventional silicidation techniques, causing the polysilicon gate to be fully converted to a uniform silicide composition. A self-assembling diblock copolymer is used to form a regular sub-lithographic nanometer-scale pattern that is used as an etching “template” for forming the perforations.

As designs of complex integrated semiconductor devices have evolved, there has been constant demand for greater function, increased performance and decreased power consumption in a single device. In order to meet these demands, designers have found ways to shrink transistor geometries, reduce parasitic effects and leakages, and increase speeds. Each time a specific technology reaches its limits of performance, designers come up with new technologies and design strategies to permit a whole new generation of smaller, denser, more efficient semiconductor devices. This pattern of continual evolution in semiconductor device design has continued essentially unabated for nearly four decades and shows no signs of stopping.
At present, critical dimensions in semiconductor fabrication processes have been reduced into the deep sub-micron range. Downscaling of certain critical dimensions, (e.g., gate length of a MOS transistor), however, has a cost: the degradation of related device characteristics. Often this degradation is significant enough that the advantages obtained by decreasing feature sizes may be offset. By way of example: as the thickness of gate dielectrics has been reduced (now well under 20 angstroms in thickness), one result has been increased gate leakage currents and increased diffusion of dopants from polysilicon gate structures (often referred to as the "poly depletion effect"). Alternatives to doped polysilicon, such as metals and silicides, are now being used in gate structures to mitigate the poly depletion effect and control the leakage current, and thus to ensure electrical performance in highly integrated CMOS devices.
Silicides are alloys of silicon and metals. In modern semiconductor processing, it has become increasingly common to use silicides as conductor materials in silicon device manufacturing. Silicides of titanium (e.g., TiSi2), cobalt (CoSi2), nickel (NiSi2) and various other metals have been employed successfully as conductor materials. When used in this manner, silicides combine the advantages of metals and polysilicon (also known as poly-Si, or just "poly"), exhibiting very low resistivity—significantly lower than poly-Si—and little or no electromigration.
Silicides are formed by means of an anneal (sintering) process known as "silicidation" that results in the formation of a metal-Si alloy (silicide) to act as a conductor or electrode. For example, Ti can be deposited on Si and annealed in an RTA (rapid thermal annealing) process to form TiSi2. The silicide formation process begins at the interface between the Si and the deposited metal and "grows" outward from there. Any unconverted metal can then be removed by selective etching.
A self-aligning variant of the silicidation process, called "salicidation" or "salicide process" (terms formed by merging the letters "S" and "A" for "Self-Aligning" with the words "silicidation" and "silicide", respectively), is a process in which silicide conductors are formed only in those areas in which deposited metal (which after annealing becomes a metal component of the silicide) is in direct contact with silicon.
A silicide gate is typically formed by salicidation, in which a doped polysilicon gate is covered with a layer of silicide-forming metal (e.g. Co) and then converted to a metal silicide (by silicidation). A silicide gate conductor provides better device performance than a conventional polysilicon gate due to reduced gate dopant depletion, but the best overall performance is achieved only when the gate is fully and uniformly silicided. While many processes claim to produce "fully-silicided" gate conductors, their reliance on the "gradient" nature of silicide formation tends to produce non-uniform silicide composition in the gate (due to non-uniform conversion of gate polysilicon to silicide). It is generally difficult to convert polysilicon in the gate uniformly and completely into silicide because of long diffusion path and compressive stress due to volume expansion associated with the silicidation process. When polysilicon is not fully and uniformly converted to silicide, device performance is degraded and device-to-device parameter variation is increased due to device-to-device variations in the gate silicide composition.
Another issue (generally unrelated to gate silicidation) produced by continued downscaling of critical dimensions into the deep sub-micron range is that conventional lithographic patterning techniques are pushed beyond their minimum feature size limitations. It has become necessary to consider techniques for sub-lithographic feature patterning on semiconductor wafers (i.e., patterning feature sizes smaller than can be accomplished using convention lithographic techniques).
The current state of the art (and future CMOS technology) requires sub-50 nm metal conductors for connecting the CMOS devices, such as field effect transistors (FETs), to the back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring. However, the currently available 0.93 numerical aperture (NA) lithographic tools can only resolve lithographic patterns with openings of 100 nm in diameter or greater. Future generations of 1.2 NA lithographic tools are expected to produce lithographic patterns with openings as small as 70 nm to 80 nm in diameter, but not nearly small enough to produce the desired 50 nm diameter. Without a means of producing the smaller, desired opening, maximum potential circuit density cannot be achieved. This is only one example of how conventional lithographic tools are at or beyond their limits in trying to produce certain desired semiconductor features, pointing to a need for sub-lithographic feature patterning.
Due to the challenges involved in fabricating nanostructures (nanometer-scale structures), new techniques and materials are constantly being sought to make nanofabrication (fabrication of nanostructures) easier, cheaper and more versatile. Thin films of materials called block copolymers show tremendous potential in this regard because they self-assemble into ordered, chemically distinct (i.e., micro-phase separated) domains with dimensions in the range of 10 to 40 nm. Block copolymer films can be used as templates (i.e., resists) for building nanostructures in semiconductor, optical and magnetic media materials, with sub-lithographic line-widths, margins and tolerances, and line-edge characteristics that are dictated by thermodynamics rather than standard resist processing.
The phenomenon of self-assembly is not unknown in nature. Some easily recognizable examples of self-assembly range from snowflakes to seashells to sand dunes, all of which form some type of regular or ordered patterns in response to specific external conditions. Self-assembling block copolymers behave in much the same way, but producing repeating patterns at nanometer scale dimensions.
Block copolymers are made up of blocks of different polymerized monomers. For example, PS-b-PMMA is short for polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) and is made by first polymerizing styrene, and then subsequently polymerizing MMA. This polymer is a "diblock copolymer" because it contains two different chemical blocks. Triblocks, tetrablocks, pentablocks, etc., can also be made. Diblock copolymers are made using "living polymerization" techniques, such as atom transfer free radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), living cationic or living anionic polymerizations. Block copolymers are especially interesting in the present context because of their ability to "microphase separate" to form periodic nanostructures under the right thermodynamic conditions.
FIG. 1A is a plan view of a prior art structure 100 including a regular, patterned planar array of nanometer-scale vertical columns 104 of a first polymer formed within and surrounded on all sides by a planar layer of a second polymer 102. This regular patterned array is formed by self-assembly of a diblock copolymer comprising a mixture of the first and second copolymers, in this case polystyrene (columns 104) and PMMA (surrounding field 102).
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the prior art structure 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1A. The regular, patterned array of structures comprising nanometer-scale vertical polystyrene columns 104 and the surrounding planar field of PMMA 102 are formed on a surface of a substrate material 106. This substrate 106 can be a semiconductor wafer in process, an optical material or a magnetic media material.
Despite the usefulness of block copolymers for forming nanostructures on semiconductor wafers, they have not been shown to be particularly useful for present for patterning CMOS devices. Generally speaking, CMOS technology requires precise placement and registration of individual structural units in order to successfully form metal lines and vias in the wiring layers. The large, ordered arrays of nanometer-scale structures formed by self-assembling block copolymers may be regular, but their spatial frequency is dependent upon copolymer composition and for all practical purposes, their spatial "phase" is not predictable. As a result, the patterns produced by these self-assembling block copolymers lack the precise and predictable alignment and registration required to produce structures useful for lines and vias in CMOS technology.

Fully and uniformly silicided gate structure and method for forming same

International Business Machines Corporation


An improved fold and wrap package providing containment of a catamenial pad prior to its use and for conveniently disposing of a soiled catamenial pad. The fold and wrap package comprises a wrapper comprising a single strip of material having a flap panel, a central panel, and an end panel; and preferably a tape tab for securing the wrapper in a disposal configuration to provide convenient disposal of a soiled catamenial pad wrapped in the wrapper. The fold and wrap package is initially configured to have a pouch and a flap. The pouch is formed by folding the end panel back upon the central panel and frangibly bonding the end panel to the central panel at the longitudinal edges so that the end panel may be easily peeled away from the central panel to provide convenient disposal of a soiled catamenial pad. The pouch is designed so that an unused catamenial pad may be disposed within the pouch with the flap being positioned over the mouth of the pouch and frangibly bonded to the pouch to securely close the pouch prior to use.

Catamenial pads used to collect vaginal discharges are well known in the art. An important feature of such catamenial pads is they are "sanitary" in that they should not be soiled or contaminated prior to use. This is a particular problem for "away from home" use of catamenial pads. A woman carries the catamenial pads in her purse, briefcase, or pocket until they are ready to be used. Thus, there is the issue of protecting the catamenial pad until it is needed.
In order to protect catamenial pads and provide the convenience of away from home usage, individually packaged catamenial pads have been developed. Individually packaged catamenial pads are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,567 issued to Srinivasan, et al. on Aug. 10, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,675 issued to Taylor, et al. on Apr. 17, 1990; European Patent Application Publication No. 0 357 000 Al published in the name of Umesh on Mar. 7, 1990; and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,146 issued Dec. 3, 1985, to Swanson. The Swanson patent discloses a tri-folded wrapper which packages a catamenial pad, covers adhesive on the outwardly oriented face of the catamenial pad, and may be used for disposing of the used catamenial pad.
Another issue with away from home use of catamenial pads is the ability to neatly and discretely dispose of a soiled catamenial pad. Often a woman may have to wrap the catamenial pad in tissue and carry the soiled pad to a proper waste receptacle or back to the home. In order to provide more convenient disposal of soiled catamenial pads, packaging has been developed which allows the soiled catamenial pad to be wrapped in the package which entire system (package and pad) is then thrown away.
Discarding soiled catamenial pads enveloped in its packaging is disclosed, for example, in International Publication WO89/02729 published Aug. 6, 1989 in the name of Pigneul; U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,047 issued Aug. 26, 1986 to Mattingly; and U.S. Pat. 4,556,146 issued Dec. 3, 1985, to Swanson.
One type of packaging developed for such uses is the so called "fold and wrap" package. The fold and wrap package has a pouch into which an unused catamenial pad is folded and placed. A flap covers the mouth of the pouch to protect the unused catamenial pad. The wearer opens the flap and removes the unused catamenial pad. A soiled catamenial pad may then be rolled up, placed into the pouch, and the flap repositioned over the mouth of the pouch for disposal of both the package and the soiled catamenial pad.
However, this type of "fold and wrap" package has several drawbacks. First, the soiled catamenial pad needs to be tightly folded or wrapped prior to insertion into the pouch in order that it will fit into the pouch. This may cause fluid to leak out of the pad onto the wearer. It is also difficult to insert the soiled catamenial pad into the pouch because the adhesive used to attach the pad to the undergarment sticks to the pouch. Further, the initial flap seal provided on the pouch may not reseal to hold the flap in place over the mouth of the pouch. During transport, the flap may open allowing the soiled catamenial pad to fall out of the pouch or fluid to leak out to the surrounding environment.
Thus, there is a need to provide an improved fold and wrap package that provides convenient and "secure" disposal of a soiled catamenial pad.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fold and wrap package for catamenial pads that is easy for the user to open and remove an unused catamenial pad, and provides convenient and secure disposal of a soiled catamenial pad.

Fold and wrap package for catamenial pads providing convenient disposal


As a memory usage optimization, a compiler identifies coroutines whose activation frames can be allocated on a caller's stack instead of allocating the frame on the heap. For example, when the compiler determines that a coroutine C's life cannot extend beyond the life of the routine R that first calls the coroutine C, the compiler generates code to allocate the activation frame for C on the stack of R, instead of generating code to allocate C's frame from heap memory. In some cases, as another optimization, code for coroutine C is also inlined with code for the routine R that calls C. Coroutine activation frame content variations and layout variations are also described.

In computing, a coroutine can be viewed as a generalized routine entity which supports suspend and resume operations in addition to the invoke and return operations that are typically supported by routines. That is, a coroutine can be invoked (a.k.a. called) and upon completion can return a value to the caller, and in this sense operates like other kinds of routine entities (e.g., functions, procedures). In addition, however, a coroutine can suspend execution, pass control to another piece of code (possibly yielding a value as well), and later resume execution at the point of suspension. Some coroutines have multiple suspension points. Some are re-entrant, i.e., they may be called again (creating another instance) prior to completion of an earlier call. Coroutines can be used when implementing cooperative tasks, exceptions, event loops, iterators, continuations, infinite lists and pipes, for example.


The present disclosure relates to a hydroxyapatite obtained from porous wood, having high compressive strength and dimensions suitable for clinical applications. The porous wood has a porosity of between about 60% and about 95%, said porosity being measured after subjecting the wood to a step of pyrolysis, and is selected from among rattan, pine, abachi, balsa, sipo, oak, rosewood, kempas and walnut wood. The hydroxyapatite may be substituted with one or more ions such as magnesium, strontium, silicon, titanium, carbonate, potassium, sodium, silver, gallium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, europium, gadolinium. Also disclosed is a bone substitute comprising hydroxyapatite obtained from porous wood. The bone substitute is utilized for the substitution and regeneration of a bone or a bone portion, preferably for bones subjected to mechanical loads, such as long bones of the leg and arm, preferably the tibia, fibula, femur, humerus and radius. The invention relates also to a process for manufacturing a biomorphic hydroxyapatite scaffold from wood.

Current ceramic processing and engineering are based on a well-established sequence of processes enabling the production of large 3D bodies. More specifically, innovative ceramic phases can be synthesized as powders, where specific features such stoichiometry/ion substitutions, nanosize, and surface activity, are responsible for specific functionalities. The ceramic processing currently used to obtain macroscopic 3D ceramic bodies with adequate shape and porosity implies thermal treatment (sintering) of the synthesized ceramic powders suitably formed into a 3-D body (to consolidate the body). All these steps are needed to obtain 3D ceramics with adequate physicochemical and mechanical properties, most of which are degraded during the above-mentioned ceramic process (particularly the sintering treatment). The serious limitations in the development of functional ceramic material, associated with the current ceramic process, impede further progress in the field. Nowadays, with the evolution of modern society, technological products are assuming a steadily increasing role in the life and productivity of people, so that there is a strong need for smart tools able to provide solutions to complex and personalized demands, in various fields of application, e.g. health, environment, energy. Therefore, there is a wide consensus that new approaches are needed for the repeatable and massive production of macroscopic devices with complex structural organization at the macro-scale but, at the same time with a complex structure defined at the nanoscale, and even at the crystal scale. Such macro and nano-structures are relevant to induce non-trivial, but smart functional effects.
With respect to the above-mentioned issues regarding ceramic materials, a paradigmatic change is required in order to develop large highly active ceramics with complex micro and macro-structures.
Bone scaffolds, with particular focus to the regeneration of large, load-bearing bone defects, can be taken as a representative example since they should be porous 3-D ceramics with high bioactivity, in order to be able to be colonized by cells and ultimately regenerated as large bone defects. Indeed, no adequate solutions have been found to date to solve this clinical need.
For many decades, hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) has been recognized as the prime material for bone scaffolding, as it closely resembles the composition of bone mineral and has demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. However, the biomimicry of hydroxyapatite is related to its nanosize and the presence of multiple ions, partially replacing calcium and phosphate in the apatite lattice, which are the source of the biological activity of the bone during new tissue formation, remodeling and resorption.
The application of the sintering treatment to hydroxyapatite scaffolds activates surface and bulk reactions at the interface between adjacent hydroxyapatite grains that yield crystal ordering, with expulsion of foreign ions from the apatite lattice, and grain coalescence up to several micrometers, with reduction of specific surface, hydrophilicity and affinity with proteins and cells.
The extensive grain coalescence activated by the sintering process yields consolidation of the whole hydroxyapatite body through reduction of the intergranular porosity and, in turn, of the overall volume. This also generates residual stresses which are among the main sources of structural defects in the ceramic materials. Indeed, the accommodation of residual stresses in ceramic materials is difficult due to their high rigidity (compared to metals and polymers), and is among the most significant factors impairing the mechanical performance of ceramic materials, particularly in the case of large pieces characterized by complex shapes and porous structures, where volume variations following heating/cooling cycles easily provoke critical structural damage.
For the above reasons, the classical ceramic synthesis process does not allow ceramic materials, in particular hydroxyapatites having a biomimetic composition and structure, high bioactivity and resorbability, to be manufactured. This is especially true when large porous 3D ceramics are synthesized for the regeneration of critical size bone defects (i.e. ≥2 cm).
Biomimetic composition and structure are of pivotal relevance for inducing the regenerative cascade in vivo that can uniquely determine and promote regeneration of large, load-bearing bone parts such as the long bones of the limbs. These phenomena, which are closely inter-related and must occur in synergy to activate and sustain the regeneration of bone with all its functions, are: i) fast osteogenesis, osteoconduction and osteointegration; ii) extensive blood vessel formation; iii) ability of progressive bio-resorption.
Fast osteogenesis and osteoconduction enable extensive bone formation and penetration into the scaffold, thus resulting in tight bone/scaffold interface and optimal osteointegration. To achieve these effects, bone-like chemical composition as well as wide open and interconnected porosity are required, so that besides extensive penetration of new bone tissue, a simultaneous formation of a vascular network assisting the formation and maturation of the new bone can be achieved. Incomplete colonization of the scaffold may result in the formation of voids, fibrous tissues or necrotic areas, and will reduce the overall strength and biomechanical performance of the bone/scaffold construct.
Within times compatible with new bone formation, the scaffold should be progressively resorbed, to achieve optimal regeneration of the bone following damage or disease. All the 3D bone scaffolds developed so far are based on sintered calcium phosphates that are crystalline materials hampering osteoclast activity, compared to nanocrystalline, nanosized, ion-substituted apatite; therefore, even though porous bone hydroxyapatite scaffolds can be well integrated into the surrounding bone by surface adhesion, the lack of bio-resorption does not allow the complete remodeling process, i.e. replacement of the scaffold with the new bone. This results in incomplete recovery of the functional ability of the diseased bone, particularly in the case of very long, load-bearing, bone segments.
Particularly in the case of long, load-bearing bones, the scaffold must also exhibit adequate mechanical performance, while maintaining wide open macro-porosity, which is a challenge considering that these features are normally inversely related (i.e. the higher the porosity, the lower the mechanical resistance) and that a high porosity extent is required to provide adequate scaffold colonization and osteointegration. This is one of the most relevant factors limiting the application of current scaffolds in the regeneration of extensive portions of long, load-bearing bones. In this respect, scaffolds with hierarchically-organized porous structures can exhibit superior mechanical performance compared to materials with similar, but randomly organized porosity. In this respect, only scaffolds with such an organized structure can efficiently activate mechano-transduction processes at the cell level, thus triggering regeneration of mature, organized and mechanically-competent bone.
The proposed innovation is based on a paradigmatic change from the classical ceramic synthesis process to a new fashion of reactive sintering that enables the generation of ceramic phases with defined chemical composition, organized into a large 3D body with complex morphology, hierarchical structure and, at the same time, optimized mechanical performance, starting from hierarchically organized natural structures. In this respect biomorphic transformation is the fulcrum of this innovative approach that can be applied to hierarchically organized natural structures (e.g. woods, plants, exoskeletons).
Biomorphic transformation of ligneous structures to bone-mimicking ceramics was successfully attempted using woods with porous structures such as pinewood and rattan, and denser woods such as red oak and sipo, as templates for reproducing the structure and mechanical performance of spongy and cortical bone, respectively.
The use of wood in the formation of biomimetic hydroxyapatite scaffolds was reported by Anna Tampieri et al. in the Journal of Material Chemistry, 2009, 19, 4973-4980. In this publication, Tampieri et al. describe the process of converting 1 cm long pieces (therefore a small piece, not adequate for regeneration of critical size defects) of rattan wood and pine wood into hydroxyapatite. The process involved pyrolysis of the wood specimens at a temperature of 1000° C. using a slow heating rate, followed by carburization wherein the carbon template was transformed into calcium carbide. Carburization was achieved by either liquid phase infiltration or vapour phase infiltration. Vapour infiltration was performed at temperatures higher than the boiling point of calcium (1484° C.). The carburization process involved initial heating the pyrolised wood to 800° C., followed by heating to 1100° C. and finally to 1650° C. for 3 hours. It was necessary to heat the pyrolised wood to this temperature for 3 hours to ensure that the reaction went to completion. Following carburization, the three dimensional calcium carbide scaffold was oxidized to transform the calcium carbide to calcium oxide, while preserving the morphology of the native wood. After oxidation, the three dimensional calcium oxide scaffold was carbonated to transform the calcium oxide scaffold into calcium carbonate scaffold. High pressure values (2.2 MPa) were employed to allow the penetration of CO2 across the forming CaCO3 scale, up to the core of the CaO structure. Finally, a phosphatization step was carried out to transform the calcium carbonate scaffold into hydroxyapatite scaffold with hierarchically organized anisotropic morphology resembling that of the native wood. During this step, the wood-derived CaCO3 templates were soaked in an aqueous solution of KH2PO4 at a temperature of 200° C., under a pressure of 1.2 MPa for 24 hours.
The process described above yielded hydroxyapatite ceramic scaffolds with the hierarchically organized anisotropic morphology of native wood.
The compressive strength of the scaffold derived from pinewood, measured in the longitudinal direction ranged between 2.5 and 4 MPa, and in the transversal direction, ranged between 0.5 and 1 MPa. Therefore only scaffolds of limited dimension, typically of less than 1 cm, are obtainable by said process. The low values of compression strength, also in association with a size s 1 cm, make these scaffolds not relevant for bone regeneration, particularly in the case of load-bearing bones. In fact, it is accepted that, to be critical, a bone defect should have a length of 2-3 times the diameter of the affected bone. Hence, scaffold of 1 cm in size cannot be considered as useful in this respect.
The phosphatization step mentioned above in the conversion of wood to hydroxyapatite, was reported in more detail by Ruffini et al. in Chemical Engineering Journal 217 (2013) 150-158. In this publication, cylindrical templates of rattan-derived calcium carbonate having diameters of 8 mm and lengths of 10 mm were used as starting materials. The phosphatization process was carried out using aqueous solutions of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonia.
Patent application WO 2012/063201 published on 18 May 2012, describes a bone substitute comprising a core, based on hydroxyapatite, obtained from at least one porous wood, and a shell based on hydroxyapatite or silicon carbide obtained from at least one wood having a lower porosity than the at least one wood of the core. The shell was prepared in a hollow cylindrical shape suitable for accommodating the core, which could be prepared as a solid cylinder that is inserted into the cavity of the shell. The process for obtaining the bone substitute from wood is also described in the application. The first step is pyrolysis of a native wood such as rattan or pine, by heating it to a temperature of between 800 and 2000° C. From this process, a carbon material is obtained. In the second step, the carbon material is transformed into calcium carbide at a temperature of between 1500 to 1700° C. Next, the calcium carbide is oxidized at a temperature between 900 and 1000° C. In order to convert the calcium oxide material to calcium carbonate, carbonation is performed in an autoclave at a temperature of 400° C. with a CO2 pressure of 2.2 MPa for 24 hours. The calcium carbonate material is then transformed into hydroxyapatite partially substituted with carbonate by phosphatization. The resulting hydroxyapatite scaffolds derived from rattan, have a compressive strength of between 4 and 5 MPa in the longitudinal direction, and a compressive strength of 1 MPa in the transversal direction.
Although the publications mentioned above describe the successful transformation of wood such as rattan and pine into hydroxyapatite, while fairly reproducing the three-dimensional morphology of the wood, scaffolds exhibiting features adequate for regeneration of long segments of load-bearing bone could not be obtained.
Indeed all of the mentioned publications refer to hydroxyapatite scaffolds obtained from wood, having small dimensions (i.e. a volume of less than 1 cm3) that cannot have real clinical applications, particularly for the regeneration of large, load-bearing bone parts. The processes described in the prior art are not suitable for manufacturing hydroxyapatite scaffolds having dimensions that are convenient for clinical applications, such as for the regeneration of critical size load-bearing bone defects where large scaffolds, i.e. with size at least equal to 2 cm, are needed.
Thus there remains a need in the art for a biomorphic scaffold, in particular a porous 3D scaffold, with a biomimetic chemical composition that exhibits adequate mechanical performance, a morphology that is favorable to cell colonization and vascular growth and, at the same time, which has dimensions that are suitable for clinical applications.
Such a biomorphic scaffold would be particularly suitable for bone regeneration, in particular for implantation in load-bearing bone defects, such as long bones of the limbs (e.g. femur, tibia, humerus, fibula, radius), but also for the substitution and regeneration of spine bones (e.g. vertebral bodies, intervertebral disc), cranial bone-parts or maxillofacial bone-parts.
The present disclosure meets the above needs by providing a biomorphic scaffold, preferably a hydroxyapatite scaffold particularly suitable for bone substitution and regeneration, in particular for substitution and regeneration of long load-bearing bones.
The present disclosure meets the above needs also by providing a process for the manufacturing of a biomorphic scaffold, preferably a 3D biomorphic scaffold. In particular, the biomorphic scaffold is a hydroxyapatite scaffold.

Large 3D porous scaffolds made of active hydroxyapatite obtained by biomorphic transformation of natural structures and process for obtaining them


The present invention is directed to a debris catching and removing apparatus and method. For example, bar screens or grids for collecting and removing trash or debris from storm, waste water, or sewage systems, and mounting systems and methods therefore are provided. These apparatus and method may provide a long-lasting, light-weight, and low-cost debris screen screening solutions for removing trash or debris from, for example, storm, waste water, or sewage systems. The invention may be particularly applicable to small lift stations that use submersible pumps or surface mounted pumps that suction waste water from a wet well.

Water management, and particularly storm water or waste water in its nature is dirty and it does carry loads of biological waste, but also inherently carries lots of inorganic waste in the form of plastics, fibers and other foreign objects that unfortunately on occasion enter the system, by, for example, being flushed down the toilet. These objects are not bio-degradable and must at one time or another be separated from the water and/or waste stream prior to pumping and/or biological treatment. Many times these items end up in, for example, lift stations that serve a vital function in the water management collection system.
Lift stations are typically low spots in a water management or waste water collection system. These stations "lift" the water or waste water back to a higher elevation to, for example, a manhole, to continue on its journey to the point of disposition (such as a waste treatment facility) or may be piped directly to the water facility. Most have two or more pumps, some surface mounted, most submerged directly in the waste water. Very large lift stations, generally those that have flows greater than 100,000 gallons a day, have, for example, an automated mechanical, motor-driven bar screens built prior to the entry of the station designed to continuously and automatically remove debris from the waste stream without human intervention except for system repairs and/or preventative maintenance on the system. These pumps are typically very expensive and require designated and significant additional room in the lift station to allow placement of such a device usually in small compounds, e.g., a small fenced in area. They also require a power source and a great deal of maintenance and/or repair.
If there is no such screen to remove foreign objects from the water stream, then the foreign objects are often pulled into the volutes or intakes of these pumps and may be passed through, but are also just as likely to become lodged in the impeller of the pump disabling it or breaking it or the motor driving the pump. These failures and blockages may result in an overflow of the station, and worst, of raw, untreated waste water, in the case of waste water or sewer system(s). The pumps may be broken and unable to be placed back in service once the item is physically dislodged. These sudden stoppages of the pump can stress the electrical motor enough that it fails due to, for example, high amperage overload. Even if the motor has overload protection these stoppages over time may weaken the overloads until they themselves fail. Ultimately these blockages resulting from foreign objects cause the loss of the pump impellor and/or motor, and they must be completely replaced.
The cost for repair and/or replacements are far-ranging because of variation in factors such as size, capacity, availability, application, and/or accessibility. Pumps in small commercial, industrial and municipal lift stations can cost from $1,000-$10,000 each. This is why larger stations, which consequently cost more, may decide to build motor driven, automated mechanical bar screening systems prior to the station. They are there to protect the pumps.
However, there have not been any bar screen type devices designed to be relatively simple, inexpensive, lightweight, long-lasting, and retractable, moveable, or removable allowing for a cost-effective and practical method for removing solid objects such as inorganic debris in a water disposal, accumulation, or treatment system. For example, no practical bar screen device has been designed prior to the present invention to effectively protect small lift stations from pump failure. At times operators and/or maintenance personnel have attempt to kluge together or fabricate on-site some type of inorganic debris catch device, that sometimes included a handle, to stop some of this debris. However, these devices always invariably fail due to poor design and function. Often, the inorganic debris catch design tends to stop too much debris, and tend to act as a dam eventually catching everything that comes out of the pipe(s) and becoming so overwhelmed by material that they break, fail, or fall into the station due to poor fastening or structural strength, thus buckling under the weight. The operator or maintenance person abandons or disposes of these devices eventually, resigning themselves to accepting the previous status quo. As a professional in this field for over 20 years I have experienced and seen this frustration time and time again, these problems were the nexus of this invention. This invention uniquely finds the perfect solution in form and function. This uniqueness is in the light weight removable/retractable design. The bar screen is superior to any style of inorganic debris catch device design because, for example, the bars allow for water to flow free through the bars and allow small items such as paper and biological debris. Other designs previously tried tend to encumber waste or water with smaller debris, stopping it as soon as it enters the baskets. The bar screen however allow for the continual flow of water to push smaller debris through the bars or down the length of the bars to accommodate biologically debris passing through while catching debris not appropriate to pass through a pump. This invention is the first to use the design and function of a bar screen and design it for installation and purpose inside the lift station to provide outstanding safe guards for the pump station, and do in a lightweight compact efficient way directly in the station without expensive alterations, automation, or mechanical equipment.
Although pump manufacturers have designed some pumps with grinders integrated in their housing to cut and grind up the foreign material, these "grinder" pumps work only so well and eventually fall prey to the same issues that normal solid handling pumps do. Nothing as of yet has been designed to remove the debris in these small systems until the creation of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for removing debris from water management systems


Disclosed are methods and compositions to genetically modify substantially intact cells having cosmetic function to enhance the cosmetic appearance in mammals so as to enhance and/or maintain a biochemical and/or physiological process that has a positive effect on cosmetic appearance. The methods and compositions may provide cosmetic benefits such as reduced skin sagging, increased skin thickness, reduced wrinkles, increased skin thickness and collagen content, increased skin tone and elasticity, increased skin hydration, and improved skin texture and color.

1. Field of the Invention
Compositions and methods for cosmetic genetic modification of cells that have cosmetic function are provided. Compositions and methods are also provided for determining, using various animal models, whether expression and/or levels of skin proteins and other biomolecules such as collagen, elastin, extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans, growth factors has a cosmetic rejuvenation effect on the skin, and for evaluating the cosmetic genetic modification of substantially intact cells having a cosmetic function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Expression and/or levels of skin proteins and other biomolecules such as collagen, elastin, extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans, growth factors, endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and/or DNA repair enzymes, may decline substantially with age, to produce undesirable changes in cosmetic appearance. For example, fibroblast and kertinocyte responsiveness to growth factor stimulation may decline with age. In contrast, certain proteins may increase to produce undesirable changes in skin and other cells having cosmetic function. For example, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein may increase in skin cells; as MMP-1 accelerates collagen breakdown, the build-up of MMP-1 can be detrimental to the skin.
Age-related changes may include sagging, thinning, or wrinkling of the skin. There are topical compositions that are formulated to improve the appearance of skin, but generally, such formulations require frequent and multiple applications (i.e., once or twice daily year round). Alternatively, invasive intervention (e.g., plastic surgery, laser resurfacing, and injection procedures) may help to reduce sagging and wrinkling of the skin. Still, many individuals are reluctant to undergo a surgical procedure for a non-therapeutic (i.e., cosmetic) reason. Thus, there is a need for cosmetic compositions and methods that offer a more permanent solution than many skin creams can offer, but that do not require plastic surgery or other types of invasive intervention.
Genetic therapy can provide a targeted approach for the improvement, treatment and maintenance of cells having cosmetic function. For example, certain genes appear to be involved in skin tissue maintenance and repair. Numerous growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (e.g., TGF-beta), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and PDGF may be involved in wound healing (see e.g., Grazul-Bilska et al., Drugs of Today, 2003, 39:787-800; S. Werner and R. Grose; Physiol. Rev., 83:835-870, 2003). For example, a mixture of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL-8, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor (TGB-beta) and matrix proteins may be used to improve wound healing (reviewed in Jimenez and Jimenez, Am. J. Surgery, 2004, 187:56S-64S). Also, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) may be used to increase muscle hypertrophy (Barton-Davis et al., Acta Physiol. Scand., 1999, 167:301-305). Thus, improving the production and function of specific proteins by molecular targeting of the genome of cells involved in cosmetic function may provide a means to improve the longevity and health of such cells.

Compositions and methods for genetic modification of cells having cosmetic function to enhance cosmetic appearance


A carpet and carpet tile resistant to the growth of Gram negative, Gram positive and fungal organisms which contains a polymeric non-plasticized PVC tuftlock precoat, fusion bonding adhesive, or secondary backing which has incorporated in it a phosphoric acid ester or its salt of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are alkyl, oxyalkyl, polyoxyalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl groups of C.sub.1 to C.sub.24, and one of R or R' can be H; X is a Group I metal ion, Group II metal ion, transition metal ion, or NY.sub.1 Y.sub.2 Y.sub.3 Y.sub.4, where Y.sub.1-4 are hydrogen, a hydrocarbon of C.sub.1 to C.sub.24, or a hydroxyalkyl group of C.sub.1 to C.sub.24 ; and there is at least one free hydroxyl group; and when X is NY.sub.1 Y.sub.2 Y.sub.3 Y.sub.4 or a Group I metal ion, n is 1, when X is a Group II metal ion, n is 2; and when X is a transition metal, n is equal to the valence of the metal.

This invention is in the field of carpet manufacture, and in particular relates to carpet and carpet tile prepared with a biocidal tuftlock precoat or fusion bonding adhesive.
Bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae and other microorganisms are always present in our environment. Such microorganisms are frequently an essential part of ecological systems, industrial processes, and healthy human and animal bodily functions, such as digestion. In other instances, however, microorganisms are highly undesirable as a cause of illness, odors, and damage or destruction of a wide variety of materials.
The species and numbers of microorganisms present in the environment are dependent on the nutrients and the moisture available for growth, as well as on the humidity and temperature. Nutrients for microorganisms generally abound in the normal environment.
A particularly good environment for the growth of microorganisms is found in carpet and carpet tile. Bacteria and fungi are deposited on the carpet through the everyday traffic of people and animals, food and beverages spilled on the carpet, and animal and infant waste. Further, airborne microorganisms carried in from outside or carried through the heating or cooling system can accumulate on carpet. Soil and moisture in carpet provide nutrients for the growth of the microbes. Moreover, certain bacteria are capable of remaining viable in a dormant state on carpet for long periods of time until they are provided adequate sustenance.
Organic materials used in the construction of carpet and carpet tile can be a source of nutrition for certain microorganisms. Carpet fibers are typically made from polyamides, such as nylon and wool, or from polyester, which are biodegradable. Tuftlock precoat or fusion bonding adhesives typically contain organic polymers in combination with fillers and other additives. Microbial digestion of these organic materials can result in the deterioration as well as the discoloration of the carpet over time. Further, the unhealthy accumulation of bacterial or fungal growth can create a foul odor.
It has proved difficult, however, to develop a microbiocidal composition that is effective in controlling the growth of the wide variety of unwanted microorganisms and is, at the same time, safe for use around human beings and animals. Another difficulty is the extreme variability of response of various microorganisms to conventional microbiocidal agents. Even within bacteria, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria respond differently to antibiotics. Further, antibiotics that are effective against procaryotic organisms are usually ineffective against eucaryotic microorganisms such as fungi and yeasts.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 047,561 entitled "Microbiocidal Composition and Method of Preparation" filed Apr. 27, 1987, by Robert H. McIntosh disclosed a broad spectrum, safe, biocidal composition having the following general formula: ##STR2## wherein R and R' are an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group, one of R or R' can be H, X is a Group I metal ion, Group II metal ion, transition metal ion, or an organic ion such as an ammonium ion, and there is at least one free hydroxyl group. The biocide can be effectively incorporated into a large variety of substrates, such as detergents, coatings, plastics, wood and wood products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,289 to McIntosh discloses a carpet which contains a dialkylalkoxyammonium dialkylphosphate in the backing coat of the carpet as a sanitizing agent against Gram Negative, Gram Positive and fungal organisms.
Antimicrobial agents now being marketed for use in carpet fibers include Dow Corning.TM. 5700 Antimicrobial Agent for textile fibers and OBPA (10,10-oxybisphenozarsine), marketed by Morton Thiokol, Inc. Dow Corning.TM. 5700 Antimicrobial Agent, marketed under the tradename SYLGARD, is a silicone quaternary amine of the general formula [CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.17 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.3 Si(OCH3).sub.3 ].sup.+ Cl.sup.-. It is applied to the carpet fiber and is activated in the presence of moisture. It does not kill microorganisms in the absence of moisture. Further, it is only active against Gram positive organisms. OBPA is highly toxic.
In addition to hygenic aspects of carpet construction, consideration must also be given to carpet durability and manufacturing versatility. The type of adhesive used for the tuftlock precoat or fusion bonding adhesive is important to these considerations.
The most widely used method of manufacture of fusion bonded carpet presently involves the use of a nonlatex PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastisol formulation as the bonding adhesive. Typically, PVC plastisol is dispensed over a support layer to form an adhesive layer that penetrates into the support layer. The adhesive layer is then contacted with pile forming yarn. The PVC plastisol is cured, creating a product in which the yarn fibers are secured in the PVC layer and thereby bonded to the support layer. Increased strength may be obtained by bonding a secondary backing to the support layer.
Alternatively, pile yarn can be woven or tufted through a primary backing. The yarn is then adhered to the backing with a tuftlock precoat. This type of carpet, in which the yarn is mechanically as well as adhesively attached to the backing, is generally termed "woven" or "tufted" carpet. PVC plastisol formulations are commonly used as the polymeric base material in the tuftlock adhesive precoats.
In order to make a durable carpet in which the support layer does not peel away from the secondary backing, the adhesive which has permeated into the support layer must contact and bond with the material forming or adhering the secondary backing. The use of a nonlatex plasticized PVC as the yarn locking adhesive limits the variety of backing structures that may be applied to the carpet. This is true because nonlatex PVC plastisol does not bond strongly to common carpet backing materials such as bitumen, EVA (ethylene-vinylacetate), APP (atactic polypropylene), hot melts, urethanes, and SBR (styrene-butadiene). Furthermore, PVC plastisol is relatively expensive.
A carpet and carpet tile is needed for industry and the home that is not only resistant to the attack and growth of microorganisms, but that can be made with a variety of secondary adhesives and backings compatible with its assorted uses.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide carpet and carpet tile which is resistant to the growth of Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, and fungi.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide carpet and carpet tile which maintains its resistance to microbial growth after cleaning or processing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide carpet and carpet tile which is rendered resistant to microbial growth without substantially adding to the cost of the product.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method to prepare antimicrobial carpet and carpet tile.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a carpet and carpet tile which has a yarn locking adhesive which is compatible with a wide variety of adhesives and secondary backings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carpet which is durable and economical.


A method is provided for transferring at least a first personal setting of a first vehicle to a second vehicle, especially for a driver, who changes the vehicle. To transfer the vehicle settings that are known to the driver as true to the original as possible from a first vehicle to a second vehicle, thus without falsifying the subjective impression, first personalization data indicating the personal first setting is exported from the first vehicle in the original form or in a modified form in a first step and is imported into the second vehicle in a second step. The second personalization data are formed based on the imported data; and a personal setting is carried out with the second personalization data in the second vehicle, wherein the model and/or the accessories of the first and second vehicle may be identical or different.

The invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for transferring at least a first personal setting of a first vehicle to a second vehicle, in particular for a driver, who changes vehicles.
The prior art discloses a method for securing personalization data with an external diagnostic device in the workshop. The diagnostic device reads the data from the controller of a vehicle and then imports this data into a newly installed controller or into the controller provided with updated software. A conversion of the data does not take place.
A transfer or porting of data to different vehicles is neither possible nor provided. Two controllers are "different," when they do not exhibit the same amount of personalization data (i.e., a plurality of different setting options); or the controllers interpret the same data differently. As a rule, controllers with, for example, different parts numbers may be regarded as different. Moreover, there are also no confidentiality or security measures against an improper exchange of data. The current security relies on the fact that access by arbitrary persons to the vehicle and to the diagnostic device is not possible.
The porting of data between vehicles of different series is also neither provided nor possible in the known state of the art.
The object of the invention consists particularly of providing a method, by which the vehicle settings known to the driver from a first vehicle are transferred as true to the original as possible to a second vehicle.
This problem is solved by providing a method for transferring at least a first personal setting of a first vehicle to a second vehicle, in particular for a driver, who changes vehicles. The first personalization data indicating the personal first setting is exported from the first vehicle in the original form or in a modified form in a first step. And, the first personalization data is imported into the second vehicle in a second step. The second personalization data is formed based on the imported data. A personal setting is carried out with the second personalization data in the second vehicle, whereby the model and/or the accessories of the first and second vehicle are identical or different. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
According to a first important aspect of the invention, first personalization data indicating the personal first setting are exported from the first vehicle in the original form, or in a modified form, in a first step. In a second step, the data are imported into a second vehicle; and second personalization data are formed based on the imported data; and a personal setting is carried out in the second vehicle.
This has the advantage that the model and/or the accessories of the first and the second vehicle are identical, but may also be different.
The term personalization data includes the data for settings in the vehicle that may be made by or for a person using this vehicle. Some examples are data relating to the seat adjustment, the radio volume level, the navigation destination lists, and settings of alarm systems and unlocking, as well as current CKM (car key memory). In addition, personalization data may also include rules, which are used for setting the settings or for influencing the vehicle functions (active data). An example is a rule that formalizes so as to be machine readable that the vehicle switches on the low beam headlights as soon as the vehicle speed exceeds 100 km/h. Furthermore, personalization data may also include programs that can be executed in the vehicle, e.g., in the form of machine-independent Java byte code. Even personal services implemented in software, such as an automatic seat adjustment function, fall within the scope of personalization data.
One advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the first personalization data are converted into a vehicle-independent data format. The personal settings are carried out in the second vehicle with the aid of the data in the vehicle-independent data format.
Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the first personalization data are exported from the first vehicle in a form that permits the model of the first vehicle to be recognized. With the aid of these data, the personal settings are carried out in the second vehicle.
Each of the two alternatives makes it possible in an advantageous, flexible manner to match the data indicating the setting in the source vehicle (or rather in the first vehicle) with data that triggers in the destination vehicle a setting that is as true to the original as possible or when changing vehicles matches a setting that the driver or the passengers generally expect.
As an alternative or in addition to the above, another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the personalization data, which are exported from the first vehicle in the original form or in a modified form, and/or the first personalization data, which are converted into a vehicle-independent data format, and/or the first personalization data, which exhibit a form that permits the model of the first vehicle to be recognized, are encoded and/or signed. Preferably, the encoding and signature are implemented with the public-key method.
These measures can ensure both the confidentiality of the personalization data and their authenticity. Confidential personalization data may include, for example, names, telephone numbers and addresses from a contacts database (telephone or address software application).
As an alternative or in addition to the above, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the first personalization data are retrieved from at least a first controller of the first vehicle and/or from a first central database, provided in the first vehicle, prior to their export. The second personalization data, which have been formed based on the first personalization data, are fed or will be fed to at least a second controller of the second vehicle and/or a second central database provided in the second vehicle.
Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the second personalization data are formed from the first personalization data with the use of a table, a matrix, or another allocation specification, in particular a table, which takes into account the vehicle models, which may or may not be different.
Another embodiment of the invention provides that the first personalization data are combined with other personalization data into one group and then jointly encoded and/or signed.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Transfer of at least one personal setting of a vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A capacitor has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the electrode layers. At least one of the electrode layers of this capacitor has an Al porous body, and an electrode body held in this Al porous body to polarize the electrolyte. The oxygen content in the surface of the Al porous body is 3.1% by mass or less. The matter that the oxygen content in the surface of the Al porous body is 3.1% by mass or less is equal to the matter that a high-resistance oxide film is hardly formed on the surface of the Al porous body. Thus, this Al porous body makes it possible to make the current collector area of the electrode layer large so that the capacitor can be improved in capacity.

Recently, attention has been paid to electric double layer capacitors since the capacitors, out of various capacitors, have a large capacity. For example, any capacitor is widely used as a memory backup for electrical equipment. In recent years, in this use manner, the use of an electric double layer capacitor has been promoted. Furthermore, the use thereof is expected for automobiles, such as hybrid cars and fueled vehicles.
Electric double layer capacitors are classified into button-shaped, cylindrical, rectangular, and other types, and capacitors of various types are known. The button-shaped capacitor is produced, for example, by preparing a pair of polarizable electrodes in each of which an activated carbon electrode is set on a current collector, arranging a separator therebetween to form an electric double layer capacitor element, packing the element together with an electrolyte into a metallic case, and sealing up the case with an opening-sealing material and a gasket for insulating the two from each other. The cylindrical capacitor is produced by stacking such paired polarizable electrodes and a separator onto each other, winding the workpiece to form an electric double layer capacitor element, impregnating this element with an electrolytic solution, packing the element into an Al case, and sealing up the case with an opening-sealing material. About the rectangular capacitor also, the basic structure thereof is similar to that of the button-shaped or cylindrical capacitor.
The electric double layer capacitors used for memory backups, automobiles and others are desired to be made higher in capacity and others. In other words, the capacitors are desired to be made higher in capacity per unit volume, and lower in internal resistance. For this purpose, various suggestions are made about a current collector that constitutes each of their electrodes. As the current collector, known are, for example, a current collector using a foil-piece, network-form, or punched metal of Al, stainless steel or some other metal (Patent Literature 1), a current collector wherein a mat made of a stainless steel fiber is electrically welded to a stainless steel foil piece (Patent Literature 2), a current collector using a porous body having a lath plate structure made of at least one metal of tantalum, Al and titanium (Patent Literature 3), and other current collectors.

Capacitor, and method for producing the same


A shaft-seal device for high-temperature fluid including a seal case (2) formed as a metallic cylindrical structure of a single unit and comprised of a main body portion (2a, 2b, 2c), first and second holding portions (2d, 2e), first and second partition portions (2f, 2h), a channel formation portion (2g) forming a minute annular channel (27) with the outer circumference surface of a rotary shaft (1), and an o-ring holding portion (2i). The seal case is installed in an apparatus housing (8) with first and second o-rings (2m, 2n) in between. The intra-seal case region (A1), in which sealing rings (31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52) of mechanical seals (3, 4, 5) are provided, and the high-temperature fluid region, which is an intra-apparatus housing region (A), are partitioned by a cooling chamber (28) into and from which coolant (82) is supplied and discharged via feed/discharge coolant paths (80, 81).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shaft-seal device for high-temperature fluid used in rotating machines (for example, a steam compressor, a compressor, a blower, a pump, or a stirrer that is used in a nuclear power generation system, among others) that deals with high-temperature fluid such as high-temperature steam and boiler water.
2. Description of the Related Art
In this type of shaft-seal device, as a sealing means, a mechanical seal is used, in which the sealing performance is provided by the relative rotation effect of the sealing end-faces that are the facing end-faces of a rotational sealing ring fixed to a rotary shaft, and a stationary sealing ring held to a seal case with an O-ring interposed so as to be movable in the axial direction. Normally, to prevent heat damage of the mechanical seal components, it is devised so that the components, such as the sealing ring, are cooled by setting up a water jacket or a flushing path in the seal case (for example, see Patent Documents 1-3).    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2001-349443    [Patent Document 2] WO 2008/132958    [Patent Document 3] WO 2008/142945
However, the reality is that the mechanical seal members, to which the high-temperature fluid that is the sealed fluid comes in contact directly, cannot be cooled sufficiently by the cooling means described above, causing various troubles. Such mechanical seals members include an O-ring used as a sealing ring serving as a secondary seal between the seal case and the stationary sealing ring, and an O-ring for the case, interposed between the seal case and the housings of the rotating apparatus installed to this seal case. For example, when high-temperature fluid comes in contact with an O-ring used as a sealing ring, there is a danger that the O-ring deteriorates even if it is constituted of a heat resistance material such as fluorocarbon resin, the secondary seal function and the suppleness of the stationary scaling ring deteriorate, and the mechanical seal function decreases and becomes lost.

Shaft-seal device for high-temperature fluid


A diagnostic test strip vial has a container, a lid, and a plurality of diagnostic test strips. The container has a generally annular wall terminating at a base and at an open mouth. The lid has a top and a lifting tray connected to the top by a connector that is sufficiently long that the distance between the top and the lifting tray is at least as long as the length of a diagnostic test strip and sufficiently short that the top may engage the open mouth of the container to close the vial when the lifting tray is engaged with the inner side of the annular wall of the container. The test strips are disposed on the lifting tray which is sized to slidably engage the inner side of the annular wall of the container.

Test strips for medical diagnostic purposes are typically supplied and carried in vials from which they are removed as required by a user, for example, when a diagnostic test is to be carried out. Typical types of test strips include those used for measuring analyte concentrations, such as glucose, in a human fluid, such as blood. Test strip vials should be user-friendly and inexpensive to make.