A cleaning tool for a floor cleaning appliance is provided, including a main body carrying a cleaning cover which is subject to wear, and including a signal transmitter which provides a wireless signal in dependence upon the degree of wear of the cleaning cover. To be able to detect in a cost-effective manner when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached, the signal transmitter is of rigid construction and fixed to a movable carrying part, the carrying part being held on the main body and being movable from a normal position to an evasive position against a restoring force, the carrying part protruding further from the main body in the normal position than in the evasive position, and the carrying part and/or the signal transmitter contacting the floor surface to be cleaned when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached.

The invention relates to a cleaning tool for a floor cleaning appliance, comprising a main body carrying a cleaning cover which is subject to wear, and comprising a signal transmitter which provides a wireless signal in dependence upon the degree of wear of the cleaning cover.
Floor cleaning appliances, for example, sweeping machines, scrubbing machines or floor polishing machines, comprise a cleaning tool with a main body carrying a cleaning cover. The cleaning cover may, for example, be configured in the form of a bristle cover, a polishing disk or a cleaning pad and is subject to increasing wear during use of the cleaning tool. When a maximum admissible degree of wear is reached, the cleaning tool should be replaced as, otherwise, there is a risk of the floor surface to be cleaned being damaged and, in addition, of the achievable cleaning result being inadequate. The wear of the cleaning cover is often visually monitored by the user. However, in many cases, this involves difficulties as the cleaning tool is often installed in a housing of the floor cleaning appliance and, therefore, cannot be readily seen by the user from the outside.
To detect the degree of wear of a disk brush, it is proposed in WO 97/08984 A1 that the disk brush be mounted on a vertically displaceable linkage, the position of which can be detected by a potentiometer. With increasing wear of the disk brush, it becomes displaced further and further downwards in the direction towards the floor surface to be cleaned. This displacement is detected by the potentiometer and forms a measure of the degree of wear of the disk brush. If the disk brush is replaced, it is necessary to calibrate the position of the new disk brush in order to thereby ensure that the signal of the potentiometer corresponds to the actual degree of wear of the new disk brush.
In DE 10 2009 018 121 A1 it is proposed that a wear value be stored in a memory element of the cleaning tool, the wear value corresponding to the degree of wear of the cleaning tool at the time the wear value is stored, and that this wear value be repeatedly updated.
In DE 10 2007 050 351 A1, it is proposed that the degree of wear of the cleaning cover be detected by means of a sensor element which is arranged together with a transponder on a flexible foil printed circuit. The foil printed circuit protrudes together with the sensor element located thereon from the main body of the cleaning tool and, like the cleaning cover, wears away during use of the cleaning tool. When a maximum degree of wear is reached, the sensor element is destroyed, and, as a result, the wireless signal provided by the transponder, which can be detected by an associated reader, changes.
The provision of a flexible foil printed circuit having arranged thereon a sensor element which is destroyed when a maximum degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached, makes it possible to detect when the maximum degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached. However, the arrangement of the sensor element and the transponder on the foil printed circuit involves not inconsiderable costs.
The object of the present invention is to further develop a cleaning tool of the generic kind in such a way that wear of the cleaning cover can be detected in a cost-effective manner.

Cleaning tool for a floor cleaning appliance


Within a method for forming a spacer layer from a second layer formed of a second material laminated upon a first layer formed of a first material, in turn formed over a topographic feature, there is employed a three step etch method. The three step etch method employs: (1) a first etch method having a first enhanced etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material; (2) a second etch method having a second substantially neutral etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material; and (3) a third etch method having a third enhanced etch selectivity for the first material with respect to the second material. In accord with the three step etch method, the spacer layer is fabricated with enhanced dimensional control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for fabricating spacer layers within microelectronic fabrications. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for fabricating, with enhanced dimensional control, spacer layers within microelectronic fabrications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microelectronic fabrications are formed from microelectronic substrates over which are formed patterned microelectronic conductor layers which are separated by microelectronic dielectric layers.
As microelectronic fabrication integration levels have increased and patterned microelectronic conductor layer dimensions have decreased, it has become increasingly more common in the art of microelectronic fabrication to form adjoining sidewalls of patterned microelectronic conductor layers within microelectronic fabrications microelectronic spacer layers formed of dielectric materials. Microelectronic spacer layers are desirable in the art of microelectronic fabrication formed adjoining sidewalls of patterned microelectronic conductor layers within microelectronic fabrications insofar as microelectronic spacer layers assist in: (1) providing for adequate separation of adjoining or adjacent microelectronic conductor layers and microelectronic conductor regions within microelectronic fabrications (such as when microelectronic spacer layers are formed adjoining sidewalls of gate electrode microelectronic conductor layers within field effect transistor (FET) devices within semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrications to separate the same from source/drain microelectronic conductor regions within field effect transistor (FET) devices formed within the semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrications); or (2) providing for reduced defects, such as void defects, when forming dielectric layers interposed between patterned microelectronic conductor layers within microelectronic fabrications, including but not limited to semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrications.
While microelectronic spacer layers are thus desirable in the art of microelectronic fabrication and often essential in the art of microelectronic fabrication, microelectronic spacer layers are nonetheless not entirely without problems in the art of microelectronic fabrication.
In that regard, it is often difficult in the art of microelectronic fabrication to fabricate within microelectronic fabrications microelectronic spacer layers with enhanced dimensional control.
It is thus desirable in the art of microelectronic fabrication to fabricate within microelectronic fabrications microelectronic spacer layers with enhanced dimensional control.
It is towards the foregoing object that the present invention is directed.
Various microelectronic spacer layers having desirable properties, and methods for fabrication thereof, have been disclosed in the art of microelectronic fabrication.
Included among the microelectronic spacer layers and methods for fabrication thereof, but not limiting among the microelectronic spacer layers and methods for fabrication thereof, are microelectronic spacer layers and methods for fabrication thereof disclosed within: (1) Chen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,965 (a multi-step conformal microelectronic dielectric spacer material layer formation method which provides, upon anisotropic etching of a series of conformal dielectric spacer material layers formed employing the method, a microelectronic dielectric spacer layer with enhanced dimensional control); (2) Gardner et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,721 (a multi-step microelectronic dielectric spacer layer fabrication method which provides horizontally laminated microelectronic dielectric spacer layers with diminished linewidth); (3) Hause et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,863 (a microelectronic dielectric spacer layer, and method for fabrication thereof, having a reentrant cross-sectional profile to provide for enhanced isolation of field effect transistor (FET) device gate electrode and source/drain region structures separated by the microelectronic dielectric spacer layer); and (4) Lam et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,961 (a two-step multiple step etch method for forming within a microelectronic fabrication a microelectronic spacer layer with a square shape having enhanced isolation properties).
The disclosures of each of the foregoing references are incorporated herein fully by reference.
Desirable in the art of microelectronic fabrication are additional methods for fabricating within microelectronic fabrications microelectronic spacer layers with enhanced dimensional control.
It is towards the foregoing object that the present invention is directed.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a spacer layer within a microelectronic fabrication.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a method in accord with the first object of the present invention, wherein the spacer layer is fabricated with enhanced dimensional control.
In accord with the objects of the present invention, there is provided by the present invention a method for fabricating a spacer layer within a microelectronic fabrication.
To practice the method of the present invention, there is first provided a substrate having formed thereover a topographic feature. There is then formed over the substrate including the topographic feature a first layer of a first material having formed thereupon a second layer of a second material. There is then etched, while employing a first etch method having a first enhanced etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material, the second layer to form therefrom a second spacer layer formed upon the first layer. There is then etched, while employing a second etch method having a second substantially neutral etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material, the second spacer layer and first layer to form therefrom an etched second spacer layer formed upon a partially etched first layer. Finally, there is then etched, while employing a third etch method having a third enhanced etch selectivity for the first material with respect to the second material, the partially etched first layer to form a first spacer layer having formed thereupon the etched second spacer layer.
The present invention provides a method for fabricating a spacer layer within a microelectronic fabrication, wherein the spacer layer is fabricated with enhanced dimensional control.
The present invention realizes the foregoing object by employing when fabricating a spacer layer within a microelectronic fabrication a three step multi-step etch method for forming the spacer layer within the microelectronic fabrication from a second layer formed of a second material laminated to a first layer formed of a first material in turn formed over a topographic feature further in turn formed over a substrate employed within the microelectronic fabrication. Within the three step multi-step etch method there is employed sequentially: (1) a first etch method having a first enhanced etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material; (2) a second etch method having a second substantially neutral etch selectivity for the second material with respect to the first material; and (3) a third etch method having a third enhanced etch selectivity for the first material with respect to the second material.

Multiple etch method for fabricating spacer layers

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd


Of the many methods provided herein, one method comprises: providing at least one fracture in a subterranean formation that comprises tight gas, a shale, a clay, and/or a coal bed; providing a plasticity modification fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid and an alkaline embrittlement modification agent; placing the plasticity modification fluid into the fracture in the subterranean formation; and embrittling at least one fracture face of the fracture to form an embrittled fracture face.

The present invention relates to methods of treating a subterranean formation, and, at least in some embodiments, to methods of strengthening fractures in subterranean formations having low inherent permeability that comprise tight gas, shales, clays, and/or coal beds.
Subterranean formations comprising tight gas, shales, clays, and/or coal beds generally have a low permeability. As used herein, the term "tight gas" refers to gas found in sedimentary rock that is cemented together so that flow rates are relatively very low. As used herein, the term "shale" refers to a sedimentary rock formed from the consolidation of fine clay and silt materials into laminated, thin bedding planes. As used herein, the term "clay" refers to a rock that may be comprised of, inter alia, one or more types of clay, including, but not limited to kaolinite, montmorillonite/smectite, illite, chlorite, and any mixture thereof. The clay content of the formations may be a single species of a clay mineral or several species, including the mixed-layer types of clay. As used herein, "coal bed" refers to a rock formation that may be comprised of, inter alia, one or more types of coal, including, but not limited to, peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, anthracite, and graphite. Traditionally, these unconventional formations have been viewed as having non-productive rock by the petroleum industry because they are "tight" and have low permeability. Also, they require specialized drilling and completion technologies. Recently, however, there have been a number of significant natural gas discoveries in such formations, which in this economic climate, have warranted production.
Fractures are the primary conduit for the production of oil and gas. In these applications, most of the effective porosity may be limited to the fracture network within the formation, but some gas may have also been trapped in the formation matrix, the various layers of rock, or in the bedding planes. To make these types of formations economical, fracturing/stimulation treatments often are advisable to connect the natural microfractures in the formation as well as create new fractures. Creating or enhancing the conductivity of the formation should increase the production of gas from the formation. In other words, the more surface area that can be exposed within the formation through fracturing the formation, the better the economics and efficiency will be on a given well.
Fracturing such formations is typically accomplished by using linear or crosslinked gels or fresh or salt water fluids comprising a friction reduction additive. These water type fracturing treatments are often referred to as "slick water fracs." In such treatments, often the primary objective is to create or connect a complex fracture network, sometimes called a dendritic network, so hydrocarbons may be transported from the reservoir to the well bore in economic quantities.
Problematic in these fractures and fracture networks is the closure/healing of these fractures and or partial or complete proppant embedment resulting from increased closure stress due to high draw down pressures during production as well as potential softening of the formation after exposure to the treatment fluids. Many shales and/or clays are reactive with fresh water, resulting in ion exchange and absorption of aqueous fluids leading to embrittlement of the rock in the formation. The term "embrittlement" and its derivatives as used herein refers to a process by which the properties of a material are changed through a chemical interaction such that a material that originally behaves in a ductile or plastic manner is transformed to a material that behaves in a more brittle manner. Additionally, such degradation may substantially decrease the stability of fractures in the formation, which may cause a decrease in the productivity of the well.
This degradation also leads to proppant embedment. Proppant embedment is believed to cause a reduction in fracture width and conductivity, and may be caused by a compression failure within the fracture. Unlike in well-consolidated formations, proppant embedment in these types of tight formations can be as high as several proppant-grain diameters, e.g., in weakly consolidated sandstones. FIG. 1 illustrates the proppant embedment phenomena. FIG. 2 is a computer screen image illustrating the phenomena. Proppant embedment can reduce fracture width from about 10% to about 60% or more, for example almost 100%, when there is a very low concentration of proppant in the fracture, with subsequent reduction in productivity from oil and gas wells. FIG. 3 illustrates a fracture having near 100% embedment. When this occurs, the pathway for hydrocarbons to the well bore may become obstructed, and production may be impaired.
Clays can swell, disperse, disintegrate or otherwise become disrupted in the presence of foreign aqueous fluids. The swelling or dispersion of clays can significantly reduce the permeability of a formation. The use of salts as formation control additives has not eliminated formation damage as a result of permeability reduction, but can reduce or minimize such damage. A clay which swells is not limited to expanding lattice-type clays but includes all those clays which can increase in bulk volume with or without dispersing, degrading, or otherwise becoming disrupted, when placed in contact with foreign aqueous solutions such as water, and certain brines. Certain clays can also disperse, degrade, or otherwise become disrupted without swelling in the presence of foreign aqueous solutions such as water, certain brines, and emulsions containing water or certain brines. Some clays, in the presence of foreign aqueous solutions, will expand and be disrupted to the extent that they become unconsolidated and produce particles which migrate into a borehole. Formations which consist largely of clay upon absorbing water in a confined space can develop pressures on the order of several thousands of pounds per square inch.
The clay materials defined above occur as minute, plate-like, tube-like and/or fiber-like particles having an extremely large surface area as compared to an equivalent quantity of a granular material such as sand. This combination of small size and large surface area results in a high surface energy with attendant unusual surface properties and extreme affinity for surface-active agents. The structure of some of these clays, for example, montmorillonite, can be pictured as a stack of sheet-like three-layer lattice units which are weakly bonded to each other and which are expanded in the "c" crystallographic direction by water or other substances which can penetrate between the sheets and separate them.
Moreover, the fine aggregate that composes shales and/or clays can pose problems if exposed to high stresses. For example, under high stress, shale can mechanically fail, resulting in the generation of fine clay materials that can be highly mobile in produced fluids. In situations where there is high pore pressure and very little permeability, when the system is exposed to a low pressure environment, the surrounding formation can almost fluidize solid. For example, it is believed that shale, when exposed to high stress and pore pressure conditions, can transform from a solid into a semi-liquid material causing it to intrude into a proppant pack. This can result in shale intrusion, well bore sloughing and large quantities of solids production, plugging screens or filling separators on the surface.
In some formations, the bonding between bedding plane layers may be weaker than the bonding between particles in a given layer. In such formations, the bedding plane may represent a weakness susceptible to mechanical failure or separation. To combat these problems, brines are often used that contain high ion concentration so that ion exchange will not occur and the reactivity of the shales and/or clays will be reduced. In extreme cases, oil-based fluids may be used to avoid exposing the shales and/or clays to aqueous fluids.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for strengthening fractures in subterranean formations


Container holder and filling device for filling containers with a filling product, for the open jet filling of containers with a beverage in a beverage filling plant. The container holder comprises: a holding portion which is set up for the receiving and holding of a container; a main carrier which is attachable to the filling device; and a compensation carrier which is adjustable in a compensation direction relative to the main carrier and to which the holding portion is attached.

In open jet filling the container to be filled is positioned below a filling member which then introduces the liquid filling product substantially vertically downward into the container mouth. In this case, the container mouth does not abut sealingly against the filling member but is spaced from it by a certain vertical distance so that the air displaced by the filling product is able to escape into the surrounding area.
If open jet filling is carried out in a rotary machine where the container and the associated filling member move along a circular trajectory during the filling process, the filling jet is deflected to a greater or lesser extent in dependence on the centrifugal force acting thereon. The transport speed of the containers cannot be arbitrarily increased for this reason, for, from a certain speed, the deflection of the filling jet is so great that said filling jet no longer contacts the container mouth reliably. In other words, the output performance of a rotary machine is not just restricted by the rate of flow of the filling members but also, or even predominantly, by the centrifugal forces acting on the filling jet.
A possible solution to the problem consists in increasing the output performance of the rotary machine as a result of designing the same overall in a larger manner, i.e. provided with a larger pitch circle and additional filling members. However, this results in higher costs both in the procurement and during the operation of the facility. Maintenance expenditure is increased as is the required adjustment or installation space.
DE 10 2011 016 760 A1 proposes moving the filling member and the container to be filled relatively to one another for compensation of the deflection of the filling jet such that the filling jet enters the container through the container opening in a substantially central manner.
A disadvantage of compensating for the deflection of the filling jet as a result of a relative adjustment of the container carrier and of the filling member consists in that either the container carriers or the filling members of the facility have to be redesigned in a not inconsiderable manner in order to be displaceable or tiltable relative to one another without impairing their functionality. If the compensation is performed as a result of adjusting the filling members, it must be ensured that the filling behaviour is not modified as a result. If, on the other hand, the compensation is performed by repositioning the container carriers, it must be ensured that the containers can continue to be securely gripped, held and transferred to subsequent stations. Retrofitting existing rotary machines is consequently not easily possible.


A blood cells removal module including a casing having an inlet into which a blood flow before blood cells removal flows, and an outlet in which a blood flow after blood cells removal is discharged, an adsorbent for blood cells removal of short fiber shape accommodated in the casing, a mesh being provided inside the inlet and the outlet, respectively, and holding the adsorbent for blood cells removal in the casing, wherein a length of the adsorbent for blood cells removal is within a range from 1 to 60% of the internal diameter of the casing.

In recent years, white blood cell adsorption devices have started to be used widely as treatment devices for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). White blood cell adsorption devices use the principles of adsorption and filtration to directly remove the white blood cells, which can cause inflammation, from the blood, and have been shown to have a therapeutic effect. The main advantage of medical treatments using a white blood cells adsorption device is that, unlike treatments using drugs, side-effects are minimal. For the white blood cell adsorption devices in current use, methods that employ a carrier having a specified surface roughness and methods that employ a filter composed of ultra-fine polymer fibers have been proposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a carrier for adsorbing granulocytes that has an irregular surface for which the center line average roughness Ra is within a range from 0.2 μm to 100 μm and the average spacing Sm between irregularities is within a range from 5 μm to 200 μm.
Further, Patent Document 2 proposes a method of producing porous beads in which at least two polymers each having a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 but having different coagulation values are dissolved in a solvent that exhibits favorable compatibility with each polymer, and the resulting polymer solution is then added dropwise to a coagulant containing a non-solvent, thereby causing coagulation and producing porous beads.
Moreover, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique in which by aligning the fibers of an organic polymer with a high degree of regularity, namely in a substantially parallel arrangement, and then passing blood between these fibers, the white blood cells can be captured on the surface of the fibers while those problems that have proven difficult to prevent using filters formed from nonwoven fabrics or the like, such as the destruction of blood cells and the coagulation of the blood, can be overcome.
These methods have been proposed for removing mainly the white blood cells such as granulocytes and lymphocytes from the blood of patients suffering from cancer or immune system abnormalities. However, recent research has made it clear that particularly in the case of inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune disease, it is not only the white blood cells, but also the platelets within the blood, that act as inflammatory cells.

Adsorbent for the removal of blood cells


Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, having two operational modes which are (i) an edge strobe mode in which the test apparatus judges acceptability of a value of an output signal from the device under test at sequentially designated reference timings, based on expected value information, and (ii) a multi-strobe mode in which the test apparatus judges the acceptability of values of the output signal at a plurality of strobes for each reference timing, based on expected value information, the plurality of strobes being generated based on the reference timing, and comprising a conversion control section that converts an expected value pattern supplied thereto into expected value information to be used in the edge strobe mode or into expected value information to be used in the multi-strobe mode, depending on which of the edge strobe mode and the multi-strobe mode is selected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a test apparatus and a test method. In particular, the present invention relates to a test apparatus and a test method for testing a device under test such as a semiconductor circuit, and to a method for manufacturing an electronic device using this test method.
2. Related Art
A known test apparatus for testing a device under test such as a semiconductor circuit judges acceptability and rank of the device under test based on whether timing information of a signal under measurement output by the device under test matches expected timing conditions. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-293808 discloses a test apparatus that detects a logic value of each bit of the signal under measurement according to a strobe signal synchronized with the bit rate of the signal under measurement (referred to hereinafter as an "edge strobe"), and compares the detected logic pattern to an expected value pattern.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-125573 discloses a test apparatus that generates a plurality of strobe signals in series (referred to hereinafter as a "multi-strobe") in each cycle of the signal under measurement to detect the edge positions of the signal under measurement. In this case, the test apparatus judges the acceptability of the device under test based on whether the edge position is within a prescribed range, for example.
In order to perform various tests on the device under test, the test apparatus desirably has the two functions described above. However, the expected values, control information, and the like to be used when performing a test with the edge strobe are different from the expected values, control information, and the like to be used when performing a test with the multi-strobe. Generally, the expected values and the like used for testing are stored in a memory in advance. Therefore, when the test apparatus is provided with the two functions described above, a memory and control system is provided for each function, thereby increasing the cost and power consumption of the test apparatus.

Test apparatus, test method and manufacturing method


Transparent redundancy may be achieved at a MPLS-MPLS hierarchical boundary or a BMA-MPLS hierarchical boundary by utilizing local repair mechanisms extant in each domain to select automatically the same boundary network devices as the primary and secondary boundary network devices. In the MPLS domain, two LERs advertise the ability to forward traffic to a phantom LER and map all traffic originated into that domain as having been on a path originating at the phantom LER. This will cause the LERs to appear as being one hop away from the phantom LER, causing MPLS to assume the real LERs are part of a LSP terminating at the phantom LER. MPLS local repair will thus establish one of the LERs as the primary LER and the other LER as the secondary LER. In an Ethernet domain, each boundary network device is treated analogously to a router in the VRRP scheme for routers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for achieving transparent redundancy at a hierarchical boundary in a communication network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data communication networks may include various computers, servers, nodes, routers, switches, hubs, proxies, and other devices coupled to and configured to pass data to one another. These devices will be referred to herein as "network devices." Data is communicated through the data communication network by passing data packets (or data cells or segments) between the network devices by utilizing one or more communication links. A particular packet may be handled by multiple network devices and cross multiple communication links as it travels between its source and its destination over the network.
The various network devices on the communications network communicate with each other using predefined sets of rules, referred to herein as protocols. Different protocols are used to govern different aspects of the communication, such as how signals should be formed for transmission between network devices, various aspects of what the data packets should look like, and how packets should be handled by the network devices. A group of network devices communicating via a given protocol or instantiation of a protocol will be referred to herein as a "domain." Depending on how the network has been set up, a given packet of data may pass through multiple domains as it makes its way through the communications network. The interface between domains will be referred to herein as a hierarchical boundary in the communication network. A network device sitting on a hierarchical boundary will be referred to as a boundary network device.
Two protocols of particular interest herein are Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Broadcast Multiple Access (BMA) protocols, such as Ethernet. MPLS is a protocol that is designed to set up paths through a packet network by applying labels to packets on a particular flow. When packets enter a MPLS-based network, Label Edge Routers (LERs) give them a label (identifier). Packets are classified into groups known as forwarding equivalence classes (FECs) which are packets that will get a common treatment by the MPLS network. The FEC may be expressed as forwarding rules derived from the routing table entry (i.e., destination, bandwidth, delay, and other metrics), and may also refer to the IP header field (source IP address), Layer 4 socket number information, differentiated service field, etc. The FEC is mapped to a corresponding LSP which instantiates the correct handling by the network. It is locally instantiated as a label "binding" on a particular interface. Once this classification into FECs is complete and the FEC to LSP binding obtained, the payload packets are forwarded on the corresponding Labeled Switch Paths (LSPs). With these LSPs, network operators can divert and route traffic based on data-stream type and Internet-access customer.
A BMA protocol such as Ethernet, by contrast, specifies that a network device is to send a packet to any nodes on the network in the domain without discriminating as to whether the adjacent nodes need to receive the packet. Within a shared Ethernet subnet, all network elements will receive broadcast traffic, and the receiver uses the embedded addressing (known as media access control or MAC addresses) to determine whether to accept or discard the packet.
Within the OSI networking model, Ethernet is considered to be a link layer protocol. Most proponents of MPLS do not consider MPLS as a unique layer within this model, however it is useful to similarly consider it as a link layer protocol as it implements a unique forwarding plane. As described in greater detail in IETF RFC 3032, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, Ethernet may carry MPLS via the use of encapsulation/overlay techniques. Likewise, as described in greater detail in http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-martini-12circuit-encap-mpls-04.txt, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, MPLS may carry Ethernet. Further, MPLS implements arbitrary hierarchy, that is to say that MPLS protocol data units (PDUs) can carry MPLS PDUs whereby layers recursively stack. This introduces a number of challenges in creating a highly reliable network, as hierarchical boundaries are normally single points of failure in the network, and an arbitrary number of hierarchical boundaries may be traversed by a given end-to-end path across the network.
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate several examples of networks in which a hierarchical boundary 10 exists between two domains. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a provider edge network device 16 sits at the hierarchical boundary 10 between a broadcast domain 12 and a MPLS domain 14. In this example, customer traffic on a customer's local area network (not shown) is transmitted from a customer edge network device 18 through the broadcast domain 12 to the provider edge network device 16. The provider edge network device 16 aggregates traffic from various customers and packages it for transmission over the network forming the MPLS domain 14.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, a core provider edge network device (Core PE 20) sits at a hierarchical boundary 10 between the broadcast domain 12 and the MPLS domain 14. In this example, customer traffic on a customer's local area network (not shown) is transmitted from the customer edge network device 18 to an edge provider edge network device (Edge PE 22). The Edge PE network device 22 aggregates customer traffic and sends it over the network forming the broadcast domain 12 to the Core PE network device 20. The Core PE network device 20 then transmits the incoming traffic, as necessary, over the network forming the MPLS domain 14.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, a boundary network device 24 sits at the hierarchical boundary 10 between MPLS domain A (14A) and MPLS domain B (14B). Hierarchical boundaries of this nature are typically formed where multiple layers of MPLS labels are applied to a given traffic flow, for example, where a second MPLS label is attached to packets in an existing MPLS flow for transmission across another network or another part of the network. Many other network topographies may be envisioned employing hierarchical boundaries between a broadcast domain and a MPLS domain, or between multiple MPLS domains, and the invention, as described below, is not limited to these few examples of hierarchical boundaries in communications networks.
As data networks have grown in complexity and speed, the network devices used in those networks have likewise increased in complexity and speed. Unfortunately, this complexity provides manifest opportunities for the network to fail. To increase reliability of the network, networks are designed such that in the event of a failure of a network device or link, an alternate network device or link may be used until a repair can be made to the failed element. This notion will be referred to herein as "redundancy." Where the repair works around the failure by selecting an alternate network device or link, the repair will be referred to as a local repair. Where the repair establishes an entirely new end-to-end path through the domain, the repair will be referred to as global repair.
As services offered over networks become increasingly complex, for example layer 2 and layer 3 virtual private networks (VPNs) are deployed, and virtual private LAN segment (VPLS) services are made available, redundancy becomes increasingly important, and also increasingly difficult. Specifically, the redundant network devices must share information as to the types of tunnels, etc. that are being set up to provide these services, so that in the event of failure of one network device another network device can continue to offer these specialized services. Ethernet networks have mechanisms to permit redundant domain interconnect (e.g. VRRP). MPLS provides for both path repair and segment repair mechanisms (known as global and local repair respectively) Global repair mechanisms will not be further considered as use of hierarchy simply results in bandwidth explosion. For local repair, additional backup paths are set up to circumvent any point of failure between the path egress and ingress, with the ingress and egress being points of failure. So if there are 'n' points of failure, there will be 'n' backup paths.
Unfortunately, to date there has been no satisfactory way to extend the local repair mechanisms to provide transparent redundancy at a hierarchical boundary. Specifically, since the local repair mechanisms specify an alternate path around the broken network device or link, any attempt at repairing a boundary network device would necessarily result in traffic crossing the hierarchical boundary at a different point. Since there is no convenient or established way of coordinating this with the second domain, boundary network devices represent a single point of failure on the network.

Method and apparatus for achieving transparent redundancy at a hierarchical boundary


Embodiments described herein provide a process and method running on a computer for creating an augmented image. According to an embodiment, a graphical user interface gathers data that is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties from a first image. Photographic properties are provided to a user for obtaining a second image containing a fiducial mark. The second image is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties. The first image and the second image are programmatically analyzed and processed to produce an augmented image.

When a two dimensional first image of one or more physical objects is superimposed on a two dimensional second image of a locale to form a two dimensional third image, the third image is an augmented image. For said third image to be a photorealistic augmented image, when the content of the first image appears to be situated in the third image in a manner that replicates the appearance of a hypothetical fourth image, where said hypothetical fourth image is of a physical scene comprised of all of the physical objects pictured in the first image and all of the physical objects pictured in the second image, with all the objects in the third image and hypothetical fourth image appearing to be positioned in an identical fashion. A plurality of first images may be used to augment a plurality of second images to form a plurality of third images. Each said photorealistic third image has only one corresponding said hypothetical fourth image.
In commercial use of photorealistic image augmentation, said first image is often of one or more objects and said second image is often of a locale. Said augmented third image is then used to evaluate the utility, functionality, aesthetics, or appearance of the object or objects of the first image within the locale of the second image or of the utility, functionality, aesthetics, or appearance of the locale of the second image when containing the object or objects of the first image.
The photorealistic quality of an augmented image depends on how well the photographic properties of said first image match the photographic properties of said second image. Photographic properties include: viewpoint, placement, resolution and scale, lighting and white balance, camera orientation, and the camera's optics.
The viewpoint defines the position and orientation of a camera relative to the subject matter of an image. A requirement for photorealistic image augmentation is that the first image's viewpoint matches the second image's viewpoint.
Digital cameras have an electronic sensor that converts an optical image formed by a camera's optics into an array of pixels to form a digital image which can be stored as an electronic file and manipulated by a computer. In the array of pixels, each pixel has a value that designates a chromaticity, for color images, or a monochrome intensity, for gray scale images. The density of the electronic sensor's array in conjunction with the size of the optical image determines the digital image's resolution and the digital image's scale relative to the physical dimensions of the object. A digital image's resolution, and hence also scale, can be altered by software programs running on a computer. Photorealistic image augmentation depends on the accuracy with which the first image's resolution and image scale matches the second image's resolution and scale at the physical position within the hypothetical fourth image that is occupied by the object of said first image.
Lighting influences the colorimetric appearance of an image as well as the distribution of highlights and shadows within a scene. A camera's white balance setting is used to normalize the colorimetric effects produced by a light source's spectral properties. Post exposure, image editing software can be used to adjust an image's colorimetric properties to approximate the effect of a camera's white balance adjustment. The distribution of shadows in an image is determined by the location of the light source(s) relative to the physical objects in the scene. Photorealistic image augmentation depends on the accuracy with which the first image's light source's(s') properties and camera's white balance settings match the second image's light source's(s') properties and camera's white balance settings.
Photorealistic image augmentation depends on the accuracy with which the first image's vanishing points match the second image's vanishing points.
Skew, pitch, yaw, and rotation differences between the camera orientation used to obtain the first image and the camera orientation used to obtain the second image, will adversely affect the photorealistic appearance of the augmented third image and cause the third image to deviate from the hypothetical fourth image.
In many instances in which photorealistic image augmentation is of commercial value, the first image and the second image are not acquired: by the same person, with the same camera equipment, with the same camera settings, or under the same lighting conditions. Thus, to achieve photorealistic image augmentation, methods are needed to either quantify the salient photographic parameters of the preexisting first image and use said photographic parameters to define the acquisition of the second image or quantify the salient photographic parameters of the preexisting second image and use said photographic parameters to define the acquisition of the first image. Or, to use said photographic parameters to use computer means to adjust the properties of said first image or said second image, after the acquisition of the picture, such that the salient properties are made to more closely match.
Three dimensional computer aided design (3DCAD) models of physical objects are called avatars. Avatars used in conjunction with 3DCAD software running on a computer provide a means of envisioning objects and the arrangement of objects within a specified space. The creation of avatars is time consuming and requires specialized computational tools, and may not portray the object or the setting in a photorealistic fashion. Attempts to blend 3DCAD models with two dimensional photographs of environments in order to reduce the time and skill associated with building 3DCAD environments within which avatars are viewed have limitations. Thus, there is need for an alternative means for readily augmenting an image of a space with an image of an object.
There is also a derived need for bridging the gap between two dimensional photography and three dimensional virtual modeling so that two dimensional views of 3DCAD objects can be used to augment two dimensional images of physical space and photographs of physical objects can be merged into 3DCAD views.
Accordingly, means are needed for quantitatively matching the photographic properties of a predetermined image to the photographic properties of a newly acquired image.


Systems and methods for establishing and maintaining a shared browsing experience are disclosed. A method for establishing a shared browsing experience includes an inviter computer communicating to an invitee computer, via an online messenger communication path, an invitation to establish a co-browsing experience. The invitee computer communicates to the inviter computer, via the first communication path, an acceptance of the invitation. A co-browsing communication path is then established between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to the shared browsing experience is then communicated between the inviter and invitee computers via the co-browsing communication path.

The Internet is a worldwide computer network via which computer systems communicate using the well-defined Internet Protocol (IP). Computers that are connected directly to the Internet each have a unique Internet address. Typically, each computer is assigned a unique IP address so that no two machines have the same IP address. To simplify Internet addressing, the Domain Name System (DNS) allows users to access Internet resources with a simpler alphanumeric naming system. An Internet Domain name includes a series of alphanumeric names separated by periods. To further define the addresses of resources on the Internet, the Universal Resource Locator system was created. A Universal Resource Locator (URL) is a descriptor that specifically defines a type of Internet resource and its location. Resources on the Internet are uniquely addressable by their URL.
Typically, a user navigates the Internet using a browser residing on the user's computer. The browser is an operating system component or application program that allows the user to retrieve documents from the World Wide Web (or simply "the Web") using simple point-and-click commands. Typical browsers allow for multimedia presentation of stored data including text images, sound clips, and video clips. This allows the user to connect to different Web sites on the Internet.
The Web is a collection of files or "Web pages" that include text, graphics, and other forms of content. Typically, a Web page is connected by hyper-links to other Web pages. Using a mouse to click on a hyper-link initiates a process that locates and retrieves the linked Web page, regardless of the physical location of that page.
The Web uses the client-server model to communicate information between client computers and server computers. The terms "client" and "server" are used to refer to a computer's general role as a requester of data (the client) or provider of data (the server). In the Web environment, browsers reside in clients and Web pages reside in servers. Clients and servers communicate with one another using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A browser opens a connection to a server and initiates a request for a Web page. The server delivers the requested Web page, typically in the form of a text document coded in a standard Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.
To access an initial Web page, the user enters the URL for a Web document into the browser, or selects the URL from a list of "favorites" (which is typically stored on the client's hard drive). The browser then sends an HTTP request to the server that has the Web document corresponding to the URL, and the Web server responds to the HTTP request by sending the requested HTTP object to the client.
One application, known as a "customizable home page," permits users, upon the request of a server, to make certain choices. When a user who has done so contacts that server at a later date, the server assembles information for downloading to the user in accordance with the previously selected choices. The server delivers a Web page with a response header that creates an ID field located in a file on the client computer (this file is known as the "client ID" or "cookie" file) to include information about the user's preferences. When the user later returns to a specified URL, on the same server, the cookie with the previously-set preference information is transmitted in the HTTP request header to the server, which can then return a Web page that is assembled according to the user-specific information.
Network based communication services that track a plurality of online co-user accounts and provide communication pathways to interconnect two or more such online co-user accounts are also well known. Examples of such network based communication services include electronic mail ("email") and online messaging services such as instant message services. Such communication services can maintain lists of user accounts, and even track current status information about the user accounts, such as whether the accounts are active (i.e., the user is currently online).
Online messaging services, for example, typically provide and maintain user definable online co-user lists, which are more commonly referred to as "contacts" lists. A number of companies operate host systems that include online message services that alert users when other pre-specified co-users (i.e., other users of the online message service that have been previously specified by the user as a contact) are online (i.e., concurrently accessing the online messaging service). Such online co-users can typically use the online messaging service to send "instant messages" to one another via a communication path that the online messaging service provides.
There are certain situations in which a user of a client computer would benefit from being able to navigate the Web together with one or more online co-users, or "contacts." Each of the co-users would benefit from being able to share the other's browsing experience, such that, when either user navigates to a Web site, the other would follow along automatically. Hence, there is a need in the art for systems and methods for enabling a plurality of online co-users to establish and share a common browsing experience.

Systems and methods for shared browsing among a plurality of online co-users


The present invention relates to a method for producing fiber-reinforced composite materials, in which a multiplicity of continuous filaments or woven fabric is impregnated optionally together with reinforcing materials, comprising caprolactam and other starting materials for polyamide 6 or other starting materials for copolymers of caprolactam, passed through at temperatures of 70 to 100° C., and anionically polymerized at temperatures of 100 to 190° C., and optionally repolymerized at temperatures of 90 to 170° C.

EP-A-56 703 and EP-A-579 047 have already disclosed components and granules, respectively, made from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, and their production by pultrusion, in which a strand of fibers is wetted with a melted polymer.
DE-A-10 2007 031 467 discloses a method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite by passing a multiplicity of continuous filaments through a bath comprising caprolactam and other starting materials for polyamide 6 and wetting them, introducing the wetted continuous filaments into an oven, in which caprolactam is polymerized anionically at 230° C. to form polyamide 6 adhering to the continuous filaments.
Disadvantages of the method cited above are that the fiber wetting is unsatisfactory and the level of residual monomers and oligomers is high.

Method for producing fiber-reinforced composite materials from polyamide 6 and copolyamides made of polyamide 6 and polyamide 12


A method is disclosed that alters a communication mode in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes: if the mobile communication terminal receives a connection signal for an external device, determining whether the communication mode is set to a bidirectional mode; if the communication mode is not a bidirectional mode, determining whether the communication mode is set to a unidirectional mode; and if the communication mode is a unidirectional mode, paging with the external device. The mobile communication terminal can reduce its power consumption and thus extends its remaining run time.

With the development of mobile communication terminals, data communication technology using wireless communication units is enhanced. In order to perform wireless communication, the mobile communication terminal receives a request signal transmitted from an external device (for example, a mobile communication network for wireless communication or an external Bluetooth device for Bluetooth communication) at certain intervals. The interval may be set at various time periods (e.g., 1.28 sec, 2.56 sec, etc.). The mobile communication terminal performs a page scan to receive the request signal from the external device.
When the mobile communication terminal has performed the page scan and a communication mode is set, the mobile communication terminal consumes more power when the communication mode is in a set state than when the communication mode is not set. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal has a disadvantage in that its run time is shortened.

Method for altering communication mode and mobile communication terminal using the same


The invention relates to a wing with an extension in the wingspan direction, in the wing chord direction and in the wing thickness direction for use in an aircraft, with a retractable wing end piece. A mechanical lever system is here used, which can execute a pivoting motion of a wing end piece comprising both a rotational component and a translational component. The lever kinematics here comprises two lever arrangements, for which a respective two hinged devices are provided.

Such wings with retractable wing end pieces are known, and used, for example, in wings of aircraft transported on aircraft carriers. In order to ensure that the aircraft require as little space as possible while parking the aircraft, during so-called hangaring, the wing tips are folded up, thereby reducing the extension of the aircraft in its wingspan direction. The known systems here comprise simple flap mechanisms, for example which fold up via hinges around a single rotational axis of the wing end piece relative to the main wing in a folding motion, i.e., can be retracted. When used in an aircraft during flight, the wing end piece is folded out along this single rotational axis via the hinge in the folding motion, and brought into its flight position. Both folding processes are usually performed manually or with mechanical aids by the ground personnel, and are usually followed by a locking process after the wing end pieces have been folded out. Locking is necessary to ensure safe flight operations, in particular to prevent unintentional retraction of the wing end pieces during flight.
The disadvantage to the known systems lies precisely in the simple configuration of the folding mechanism, which requires that the folding motion be performed manually. The outlay for automating such a folding mechanism is very high, since retraction takes place over a relatively long path of the wing end piece. At least during the folding process, this yields extremely unfavorable leverage ratios, the negotiation of which necessitates that a high level of force be applied by an actuator. As a consequence, a complicated, and hence expensive, actuator would be required on the one hand, along with a reinforced configuration of the folding kinematics on the other. Aside from the higher manufacturing costs, this leads to a higher weight of the components, and hence to a lower efficiency in aircraft operation.
However, it may be advantageous or even necessary in special situational applications for the folding motion to take place automatically. In particular for both retraction and extension of the wing end piece to be performed automatically. For example, this holds true when the aim is to land large aircraft, in particular aircraft with large wingspan dimensions for load transports or intercontinental connections, at relatively small airports. While large aircraft can also land at relatively small airports depending on the length of the landing strip, small airports are often limited with respect to the maximum wingspan of the aircraft maneuvering thereupon. In addition to the widths and thickness of taxiways on the maneuvering area, attention must also be focused on the parking positions, in particular on the so-called fingers of an airport terminal. Therefore, it would basically be helpful to use foldable wing end pieces, but only in a configuration ensuring that the wing end pieces are folded out immediately as the aircraft exits the landing strip after landing, or only after it reaches the runway just before takeoff, so that the full wingspan is only established on the takeoff and landing strip.


A surgical stapling instrument for use with an end effector that has an anvil that is movable relative to a staple cartridge supported in the end effector. The end effector is supported by an elongated shaft that extends from a handle assembly. The staple cartridge has a plurality of unformed staples therein that are formed when the anvil is moved into forming contact therewith. Movement of the anvil is controlled by a firing trigger on a handle assembly. The amount of staple formation achieved is dependent upon the degree to which the firing trigger has been actuated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in various embodiments, to surgical cutting and stapling instruments and staple cartridges therefor that are designed to cut and staple tissue.
2. Background
Endoscopic surgical instruments are often preferred over traditional open surgical devices since a smaller incision tends to reduce the post-operative recovery time and complications. Consequently, significant development has gone into a range of endoscopic surgical instruments that are suitable for precise placement of a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through a cannula of a trocar. These distal end effectors engage the tissue in a number of ways to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic effect (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, staplers, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.).
In many endoscopic surgical applications, it is desirable to employ end effectors that are only as large as necessary to complete a particular surgical procedure. Smaller end effectors provide better visualization of the surgical site. Smaller end effectors also allow for better access and manipulation in tight spaces. Designers of such end effectors face many challenges when trying to develop small end effectors. The ability to manufacture small end effectors and, more particularly, small endocutters that are designed to cut and staple tissue is hampered by the magnitude of the actuation forces that are generally required to form lines of staples and cut tissue. Such actuation forces can also vary with the thickness and composition of the tissue being treated. For example, larger actuation forces are commonly required to cut and staple thick tissues. Whereas, the magnitude of the actuation forces required to cut and staple thinner tissues in general are smaller. Thus, many existing endocutters typically employ robust anvil closure systems and staple driving systems that are configured to accommodate a specific range of tissue thicknesses. Such devices, however, are often not well-suited for treating thinner tissues.
Prior endocutter devices also generally cut the tissue as the staples are driven and formed in the tissue on each side of the cut. While such devices are very effective for those procedures that require the tissue to be cut and fastened, they do not provide the surgeon with the option of installing fasteners without cutting tissue. Likewise, while various forms of articulating endocutters have been developed to improve access, the components generally employed in such devices must be substantial enough to accommodate structures that can generate and transmit sufficient firing and closure forces to the end effector from the handle of the device. Thus, such end effectors are often too large to effectively access tight spaces in the body.
Accordingly, there is a need for surgical cutting and stapling instruments and staple cartridge arrangements that address many of the challenges discussed above.
The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate some of the shortcomings present in the field of the invention at the time, and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

Surgical stapling instrument with a variable staple forming system


The present invention is an apparatus for inserting a golf tee with a head having an underside, and a shaft extending from the underside of the head into the ground. The apparatus comprises a one-piece body member having a first end defining a threaded opening and a second end having a chamber and a shaped notch in communication with the chamber. The chamber of the one-piece body member has a circumferentially enclosed portion for containing and supporting the head of the tee as it slides to the screw member during insertion. The notch is adapted for receiving the head of the tee within the chamber. The shaped notch has a support surface upon which the underside of the head of the tee freely rests, a bottom opposing the support surface and a slot extending between the support surface and the bottom through which the shank of the golf tee extends from the chamber with the tee held in the chamber only by the underside of the head. There is also a screw member having a threaded shaft with a face.

During a round of playing the game of golf, a golfer inserts a tee into the ground a number of times. The purpose of the tee is to support a golf ball at a desired height appropriate for driving the ball with a selected golf club.
Most conventionally, a tee is inserted into the ground manually. The golfer estimates by feel what height is attained when the tee is pressed into the ground. Because of this unscientific and inexact procedure, variations in height of the tee above ground are inherent, resulting in unpredictable variations in the character of the drive of a golf ball struck by a golf club. It is still more difficult for the golfer to accurately set the heights of tees corresponding to different golf clubs. All of these uncertainties are further compounded if the golfer is relatively less experienced or, as is often the case, does not actually know what should be the optimum tee height for a given club.
Setting a tee at the proper height is also made difficult because the density or hardness of the ground may vary. Sometimes, a mere difference in pressure required to insert a tee into the ground will result in different judgments by the golfer of whether the tee has been set at the proper height. Under extreme conditions, the ground may be so hard that insertion of the tee is almost impossible and sometimes a tee is intentionally broken to facilitate setting it low to the ground.
Because of one or more of the foregoing problems, various devices have been provided for use in setting a tee. These devices are typically inconvenient or cumbersome to use or are expensive or involve several components. U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,848 requires the threading of a disk within a body member. This device requires a screwdriver and typically the setting is rarely adjusted. Further, this device cannot remove the tee from the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,727 describes a tee setter which is non-adjustable and thus cannot vary the insertion depth of the tee. U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,883 describe a tee setter having notches which allow the tee to be inserted to several predetermined depths. This device has limited adjustment and cannot be used to remove the tee from the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,719 describes an adjustable tee setting having spring elements which hold the head of the tee. This device is unnecessarily complicated and cannot remove the tee once it is inserted into the ground.

Apparatus and method for setting a golf tee


A dashboard of a vehicle has a structure that includes at least one first element and at least one second element, and a skin covering at least part of the first element and the second element. The structure and the skin together define an outer surface of the dashboard. The first element and the second element are able to be moved relative to one another, with the movement causing a deformation of the outer surface of the dashboard.

Trim elements with a deformable outer surface are known. Such trim elements for example make it possible to modify the position of a support surface, such as an armrest, protruding from the outer surface, or to modify the appearance of the outer surface based on specific uses of the vehicle.
Such a modification of the shape of the outer surface may be obtained by arranging inflatable elements below the outer surface and commanding the inflation of these elements to create a raised zone across from an inflated element.
Such a pneumatic system is, however, not satisfactory for several reasons.
It is, in fact, difficult to obtain the desired rigidity of the outer surface across from an inflated element, which makes the system relatively unsuitable for forming a support surface. Furthermore, the feel of the outer surface is not satisfactory, since it is not uniform over the entire outer surface, the latter being rigid in the non-inflated zones and less rigid across from an inflated element.

Trim element comprising a deformable outer surface and associated vehicle


A system and method of the present invention emulates electronic input devices such as a steering wheel, a mouse, a joystick, a navigation bar, a scroll wheel, and a pressure-sensitive button. The method comprises swiping a finger on a swipe sensor, calculating a difference between a first position of the finger on the swipe sensor and a second position on the swipe sensor, and translating the difference into a plurality of sets of signals. Each set of signals is used to emulate the signals generated by one of the electronic input devices. The method thus uses a single swipe sensor to emulate multiple electronic input devices. In a preferred embodiment, the system is used to control a display on a portable electronic device is coupled to or forms part of the portable electronic device.

The emergence of portable electronic computing platforms allows functions and services to be enjoyed wherever necessary. Palmtop computers, Personal Digital Assistants, mobile telephones, portable game consoles, biometric/health monitors, and digital cameras are some everyday examples of portable electronic computing platforms. The desire for portability has driven these computing platforms to become smaller and thus have a longer battery life.
It is difficult to efficiently collect user input on these ever-smaller devices. Portable electronic computing platforms need these user inputs for multiple purposes including, but not limited to, navigation: moving a cursor or a pointer to a certain location on a display; selection: choosing, or not choosing, an item or an action; and orientation: changing direction with or without visual feedback.
Prior art systems have borrowed concepts for user input from much larger personal computers. Micro joysticks, navigation bars, scroll wheels, touch pads, steering wheels and buttons have all been adopted, with limited success, in today's portable electronic computing platforms. All of these devices consume substantial amounts of valuable surface real estate on a portable device. Mechanical devices such as joysticks, navigation bars and scroll wheels can wear out and become unreliable. Because they are physically designed for a single task, they typically do not provide functions of other navigation devices. Their sizes and required movements often preclude optimal ergonomic placement on portable computing platforms. Moreover, these smaller versions of their popular personal computer counterparts usually do not offer accurate or high-resolution position information, since the movement information they sense is too coarsely grained.
A finger image sensor detects and measures features (e.g., valleys, ridges, and minutiae) on the surface of a finger through capacitive, thermal, optical, or other sensing technologies. Most commercially available finger image sensors fall into two categories: (1) full-size placement sensors and (2) typically smaller so-called swipe sensors. Placement sensors have an active sensing surface that is large enough to accommodate most of the interesting part of a finger at the same time. Generally, they are rectangular in shape with a sensing surface area of at least 100 mm2. The finger is held stationary while being imaged on the full-placement sensor.
The other type of finger image sensor, called a swipe sensor, is characterized by a strip-like imaging area that is fully sized in one direction (typically in length) but abbreviated in the other (typically width). An example is the Atrua Wings ATW100 sensor, as described by Andrade in US Patent Application 20030016849 and PCT patent application WO 02/095349. A finger is swiped across the sensor until all parts of it are imaged, analogous to how a feedthrough paper document scanner operates. A sequence of slices or frames of the finger image is captured and processed to construct a composite image of the finger.
Several prior art devices use a touchpad for authenticating a user and moving a cursor on a display device. A touchpad, which operates similarly to a finger image sensor, does not provide enough image resolution or capability to distinguish ridges and valleys on the fingerprint. Instead, the touchpad perceives a finger as a blob and tracks the blob location to determine movement. Therefore, a touchpad cannot follow miniscule movements, nor can it feasibly detect rotational movement.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0054695A1, titled "Configurable Multi-Function Touchpad Device," to Bjorn et al. discloses a touchpad that can be configured to authenticate a user or to control a cursor. The touchpad attempts to enhance the function of a touchpad to include fingerprint capability. It merely absorbs the hardware of a capacitive finger image sensor into the much-larger size touchpad to achieve cost-savings. It does not disclose using the finger image data for navigation control. Undoubtedly, its large size still precludes the touchpad from being used in most portable electronic computing platforms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,087, titled "Capacitive Semiconductor User Input Device," to Kramer discloses a system that uses a fingerprint sensor to control a cursor on the display screen of a computer. The system controls the position of a pointer on a display according to detected motion of the ridges and pores of the fingerprint.
The system has a number of limitations. It uses image-based correlation algorithms and, unlike a system using a swipe sensor, requires fingerprint images with multiple ridges, typical for capacitive placement sensors. To detect a motion parallel to the direction of a ridge, the system requires the sensor to detect pores, a requirement restricting its use to high-resolution sensors of at least 500 dpi. The system detects changes in ridge width to sense changes of finger pressure. However, ridge width measurement requires a very high-resolution sensor to provide low-resolution of changes of finger pressure. The algorithm is unique to emulating a mouse and is not suitable for emulating other types of input devices, such as a joystick or a steering wheel, where screen movements are not always proportional to finger movements. For example, a joystick requires a returning to home position when there is no input and a steering wheel requires rotational movement. The system is unique to capacitive sensors where inverted amplifiers are associated with every sensor cell.

System and method for a miniature user input device


Method for securing a foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane. The method can include penetrating the moisture barrier membrane with one end of a stake, sealing a breach in the moisture barrier membrane around a periphery of the stake caused by the penetrating step; and removing a portion of the stake extending above the moisture barrier membrane. A sealing member can be disposed on the stake at a location along an axial length of the stake.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate generally to the field of building construction and more particularly to construction methods for concrete forms.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plastic membranes are commonly used in the construction industry to prevent moisture penetration through floors. The membranes are typically formed of polyethylene or other damp proof materials. Another advantage of such membranes is that they can help prevent intrusion into a construction by insects, such as subterranean termites. A poured, reinforced, crack-free concrete foundation hinders the passage of termites. However, most slabs have some minor cracks in them are created as a result of movements induced by stress, drying shrinkage or temperature variations. In this regard, studies have shown that termites can pass through a crack as small as 1.4 mm and will even widen existing cracks, depending on the relative strength of the concrete. Accordingly, a plastic membrane can help prevent the intrusion of termites in the event that any cracks should occur.
A typical construction will involve the placement of the membrane over a compacted soil surface where a concrete foundation or pad is to be poured. In preparation for pouring a foundation, concrete forms are placed at various locations around the perimeter of the pad and anywhere else they are needed. The forms are generally positioned on top of the moisture barrier membrane and held in place using long stakes that are driven through the membrane and into the soil. The concrete is then poured on top of the moisture barrier and within the confined area defined by the concrete forms. Finally, the stakes are removed as the concrete begins to set.
The foregoing approach has been used for many years with good results, but it is not without its drawbacks. For example, the moisture barrier's effectiveness can be seriously compromised by the existence of any punctures or tears that allow moisture or insects direct access to the concrete. Even if great care is used to lay the membrane, punctures inevitably result when the stakes are driven into the soil to hold the concrete forms in place. This is a serious problem as it allows for the intrusion of moisture and insects behind the moisture barrier. Despite the obvious flaws in this approach, it continues to be used extensively in the construction trade because there has been no satisfactory alternative approach available.

Break-away concrete form stake with self-sealing feature


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods for fabricating components, for example, 3D decorative items. In an embodiment, a method including positioning a spoil board on a worktable of a computer numeric control (CNC) machine; operating the CNC machine in a first mode to create an outline in the spoil board; positioning a first workpiece on the spoil board and over at least a portion of the outline; and operating the CNC machine in a second mode to cut into a portion of the first workpiece.

In the construction of building structures and the manufacture of accessories and furniture for such structures, it often is required or desirable to provide various decorative items, such as moldings, rails and the like, having a variety of configurations. Generally, such items have been required in limited or multiple quantities, and have required the use of craftsmen of various skills. Typically, such items have been produced manually by skilled craftsmen in comparatively limited numbers or produced with machinery by skilled personnel in larger numbers. In either scenario, production has been limited and/or costly. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides methods of producing a variety of decorative building and furniture items in either limited or large quantities, expediently and economically, by person of limited technical background and skill.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of producing decorative items of various configurations for use with building structures and/or furniture.
A still further object of the disclosure is to provide a method of producing a variety of decorative elements of various configurations and in a variety of numbers by the use of a programmable machine (e.g. a computer numeric control ("CNC") machine).

Method of forming three-dimensional decorative items


Semiconductor imaging devices with integrated holographic optical element for beam focusing and color separation.

This application relates to holographic optical elements, and more particularly, to color filter arrays and microlens arrays formed from holographic optical elements for use in radiation sensor arrays.
Semiconductor radiation sensors can be fabricated on a common semiconductor substrate to form a sensing array. Each radiation sensor is responsive to radiation to produce an output that is a measurement of the amount of received radiation. An input optical device, such as a lens array or an optical filter array, may be placed in the input optical path of the input radiation to control or manipulate the input radiation in order for the input radiation to be properly received by the sensor pixels of the sensing array.
This application includes designs and techniques for using holographic optical elements to form an optical mask layer for modifying input radiation to a sensor array. Each holographic optical element is spatially associated with a sensor pixel of the sensor array and may be formed on top of a sensor or buried in the pixel layers of each sensor. The holographic optical elements may be optically reflective, absorptive, refractive, or diffractive in nature when interacting with input radiation.
In one implementation, holographic optical elements of the optical mask layer are designed as micro lenses to respectively focus input radiation into their respective sensors. In another implementation, holographic optical elements of the optical mask layer are designed as a color filter array where each holographic optical element filters different spectral bands of received radiation for a color sensing array. For example, each holographic optical element may be an optical grating that separates input radiation into different beams at different wavelengths to different directions. The grating patterns are designed to direct the beams at different wavelengths to different adjacent sensors to produce color images.

Color filter array and microlens array having holographic optical elements


A novel information processor that can be easily operated is provided. In addition, a novel information processor that is less likely to be operated incorrectly is provided. The conceived information processor includes an arithmetic device including an arithmetic unit and a storage unit that stores a program to be executed by the arithmetic unit and an input/output device including an input unit that can supply an operation instruction and a bend sensor that can supply bend data. The program makes the arithmetic device execute different types of processing in accordance with the combination of the supplied operation instruction and bend data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, the present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. In particular, the present invention relates to, for example, a human interface, a semiconductor device, a display device, a light-emitting device, a power storage device, a driving method thereof, or a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to, for example, a method and a program for processing and displaying image data, and a device including a recording medium in which the program is recorded. In particular, the present invention relates to, for example, a method for processing and displaying image data by which an image including information processed by an information processor provided with a display portion is displayed, a program for displaying an image including information processed by an information processor provided with a display portion, and an information processor including a recording medium in which the program is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
The social infrastructures relating to means for transmitting information have advanced. This has made it possible to acquire, process, and send out many pieces and various kinds of information with the use of an information processor not only at home or office but also at other visiting places.
With this being the situation, portable information processors are under active development.
For example, portable information processors are often used outdoors, and force might be accidentally applied by dropping to the information processors and display devices included in them. As an example of a display device that is not easily broken, a display device having high adhesiveness between a structure body by which a light-emitting layer is divided and a second electrode layer is known (Patent Document 1).

Information processor for processing and displaying image data on a bendable display unit

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An irrigation system includes a central pivot and a series of mobile towers connected to the central pivot and to one another by support structure. Each mobile tower has wheels and a motor for driving at least one of the wheels. A control system for maintaining alignment of the mobile towers includes a location-determining component for determining a position or orientation of each of the mobile towers and a computing device operable to detect mis-alignment of the mobile towers based on the position or orientation of each of the mobile towers, determine a control sequence to re-align the mobile towers, and send commands to at least one of the motors for implementing the control sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to agricultural irrigation systems. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and systems for aligning irrigation systems.
2. Background
Agricultural irrigation systems such as central pivot irrigation machines are commonly used to irrigate crops. A central pivot irrigation machine typically includes, among other things, a central pivot communicating with a pressurized water supply and a series of spans formed from mobile support towers connected to the central pivot and to one another by truss-type framework sections. The mobile support towers are supported on wheels that are driven by a motor on each tower. A water distribution conduit is supported by the framework sections and a number of sprinkler heads, spray guns, drop nozzles, or other fluid-emitting devices are spaced along the length of the conduit.
The mobile support towers and central pivot must stay aligned to prevent damage to the joints between the spans. Most known irrigation systems have mechanical mechanisms for maintaining the alignment of the spans. For example, one such mechanism includes a mechanical linkage at each span joint that operates a micro switch on its respective drive motor to turn the drive motor on and off and thus keep the span in alignment with the next span.

Methods and systems for aligning irrigation systems


An adjustment subassembly for a steering column assembly including a telescope plate (40) adapted to be secured to a column tube (20) of the steering column assembly; a locking pin (70) having one or more features (78) at one end that are adapted to engage with the telescope plate (40); a preload plate (50) adapted to receive at least a portion of the locking pin (70) at an opposing end of the locking pin (70); and a user operating device (34) for causing engagement and disengagement of the locking pin (70) and the telescope plate (40) through contact with the preload plate (50).

During a vehicle collision, there are commonly two impacts. In a primary impact, the vehicle impacts another object. In a secondary impact, a vehicle occupant impacts a component of the vehicle. For example, a vehicle operator sometimes impacts the steering wheel due to inertia. In order to help try to protect drivers from such secondary impacts, it has become common practice to use an impact-absorbing type steering column. A collapsible steering column system is an example of an impact-absorbing type steering column.
The structure of an impact-absorbing type steering column apparatus is such that when the driver suffers a secondary impact, the impact energy acts on the steering column in the frontward direction of the vehicle. The steering column may detach from one or more fixation points with the vehicle body and move forward (e.g., in a collapse stroke), so that the impact energy is absorbed in the course of the collapse stroke. An external collapsing column assembly is an example of a system in which the entire column will translate relative to its fixation points. An internal collapsing column assembly typically will be fixed at one or more fixation points near one of the ends of the assembly within the vehicle. During a collapse stroke from a secondary impact, components of the assembly will longitudinally collapse (e.g., generally within the volume it occupies within the vehicle in normal operation; that is, generally within its "footprint" in the vehicle), but generally will not collapse beyond a certain distance relative to a predetermined fixation point. An internal collapsing system thus has a stroke, but may remain fixed to the vehicle at the one or more fixation points.
For many applications, steering column assemblies incorporate one or both of a tilt or telescopic function. For these applications, it is common to employ levers for manual performance of such functions by a vehicle user. By way of example, in what is known as a "manual rake and reach" steering column assembly, the assembly will have both a tilt ("rake") and a telescopic ("reach") function, with a lever provided for a vehicle user to manually release for affording rake and reach adjustment to a selected position, and then to re-engage for fixing the steering column in the selected position.
Current assemblies require the use of several multi-plates. These multi-plates are expensive, take up significant space within the assembly, or both. Attachment of the multi-plates requires a complex and heavy structure to allow them to break away in a secondary impact. Also, the specific strength capacity of the multi-plates may be lower than desired.
Notwithstanding efforts to improve collapsible steering column assemblies, (e.g., internally collapsible steering column assemblies), there remains a need for alternative assemblies, particularly those which are easily adjustable in a tilt direction, telescoping direction, or both. There remains a need for easier assembly of these assemblies in a vehicle, reduction in weight, reduction of space of elements, ease of breakaway, or a combination thereof. There also remains a need for an assembly with components in which during an impact such as a secondary impact, one or both of a user operating device (e.g., a lever) and a steering wheel (if employed) may be translated forward and away from a vehicle user.
The following U.S. patent documents may be related to the present teachings; U.S. Publication Nos. 2008/0236325; 2008/0111363; 2009/0174177; 2010/0300238; 2010/0032933; and 2015/0096404; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,047,096; 9,428,213; and 9,415,795; all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Published U.S. Application No. 2013/0233117 also may have teachings related to the present teachings and is incorporated by reference herein.

Steering column telescope positive lock and breakaway device


An implantable cardiac electrode for use in defibrillation. The electrode comprises a plurality of layers of porous conductive screens and backed by an insulation layer. When implanted on or about the heart surface, body fluids can flow through the screens thus increasing the effective surface area of contact. Each individual layer of mesh can be microscopically textured to create indentations on the layer for further increasing the surface area of each screen, and thus, the surface area of body fluid contact. Also disclosed is an electrode without an insulative backing facing away from the heart.

This invention relates to an electrode for medical applications, particularly an implantable defibrillation electrode.
Electrodes implanted in the body for electrical defibrillation are well known. More specifically, electrodes implanted on or about the heart have been used to reverse (i.e., defibrillate or cardiovert) certain life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias by applying electrical energy to the heart via these electrodes to return the heart to normal sinus rhythm. The amount of energy delivered to the heart during defibrillation (or cardioversion) depends on the placement of the electrodes on the heart and the ability of the electrode to distribute the energy applied as input to the electrodes through the heart. This energy is called the defibrillation or cardioversion energy.
In defibrillation, two opposing electrodes are typically implanted on or about the heart to create an electric field across and through the heart. This field eliminates the sporadic electrical impulses present throughout the heart that characterize fibrillation. Factors that determine the shape and strength of the field in the heart, and the efficiency with which the field is generated, are the shape of the electrodes, the amount of reactive surface area of the electrodes, the placements of the electrodes and the selection of the electrode materials. All of these factors have the effect of reducing the electrode interface impedance allowing the transfer of more energy to the heart tissue between the electrodes. All implantable devices have a finite amount of energy available making it imperative that discharge is delivered as efficiently as possible. This is particularly important when dealing with high energy (10-15 Joule) defibrillation shocks.
There have been attempts to develop desirable field shapes and discharge energies by the use of two electrodes in patch form placed in the region of the heart. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. to Heilman et al. (4,030,509 and 4,291,707) and European Patent Application No. 0,280,564 to Ideker. Although such two patch electrode arrangements are effective, the electrodes may become so large or be placed so closely together that there is a danger of an electrical short-circuit or low impedance shunt developing between the two electrodes. Once that short develops, no effective electric field is generated and defibrillation cannot occur.
U.S. Pat. No. to Enger (4,011,861) discloses an implantable electrode having conductive porous layers formed into particular electrode shapes. The Enger device is described for use as a heart sensor or stimulator and comprises a disc of conductive porous material attached to a layer of inner non-absorbable conductive porous material. This porous structure is said to allow intermeshing with the tissue and permit ingress of blood vessels without the production of a fibrous tissue in-growth interface. Moreover, it is stated that body electrolytes can fill the interstices of the porous layer to contact the electrically conductive source of the electrode.
U.S. Pat. No. to Cannon (3,981,309) discloses a stimulating pacing electrode of a cylindrical shape formed of a conductive porous material such as platinum dust. The patent contends that the resulting multiplicity of interstices provides a large surface area to reduce polarization losses and to facilitate small electrode dimensions for increasing the stimulation current density. Both the Enger and Cannon electrode designs are for use in pacemaker systems, not in higher energy defibrillation systems.
Other implantable electrodes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. to DeHaan et al. (4,649,937) and Hirshorn et al. (4,407,302). The DeHann et al. patent discloses an implantable electrode tip member having a plurality of grooves etched in the bullet shaped distal end. The patent purports that an enlarged surface area is created on a relatively small tip to ensure sufficient current flow into the organ tissue. The Hirshorn et al. patent discloses a cardiac pacemaker electrode tip structure having its external surface roughened by abrading with a jet of glass beads projected under pressure. This etching is stated to increase the microsurface area of the tip resulting in a decrease of the sensing impedance and an increase in the pacing impedance of the electrode. As a result, less current drain on the pacemaker power source is said to occur increase the life span of the pacemaker. While both patents describe methods to increase surface area, neither discusses the use of the increased surface area for direct blood/tissue contact in a defibrillation environment.
Further porous structures of implantable electrodes are discussed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Hirshorn et al. (4,408,604) and MacGregor (4,281,669). The MacGregor patent discloses a pacemaker electrode having a distal tip end formed of porous material to permit the formation of a smooth adherent tissue coating without the formation of blood clots. This electrode is said to achieve very high current density at several points on the surface while exerting a low energy drain from the battery. The Hirshorn et al. patent discloses a similar porous pacemaker electrode tip member which enables tissue to grow into the apertures to facilitate attachment to a body organ. In addition, it is stated in the patent that this structure provides a large microsurface area resulting in a low sensing impedance to improve sensing capability. Neither the Hirshorn et al. device nor the MacGregor device uses the porous structure to increase the surface contact area or to allow body fluids to enter the electrode. Also, neither of these electrodes are described as for use in implantable defibrillation systems.
U.S. Pat. Nos. to Mund et al. (4,603,704) and Parsonnet et al. (3,476,116) disclose pacemaker electrodes having means to provide direct blood contact with the electrical conductor of the electrode. The Mund et al. device comprises an elongated electrically conductive carrier material surrounded by porous layers. This porous system is said to provide a high double layer capacitance to keep the energy consumption low. The Parsonnet et al. device comprises a small container completely enclosed except for a small hole. Platinum foil is placed inside the container and connected to a pulse generator. The container is filled with saline solution or blood and placed in the body with the hole facing the heart surface. The patent states that all of the current on the foil must pass through the hole at a very high density with a substantial reduction of polarization effects. Both of these designs require intricate constructions and also are not applicable to defibrillation techniques.
Other attempts to lower pacing threshold energies through the use of drug elution are described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Stokes (4,506,680 and 4,577,642) and White (4,360,031).