Interchangeable Jewelry System for creating custom jewelry assemblies (20, 20xe2x80x2, and 20xe2x80x3). Custom assemblies of one or more interchangeable jewelry segments (22). Interchangeable jewelry segments can contain male (38) and/or female (44) interchangeable mechanisms and/or body connector assemblies (60, 60xe2x80x2, and/or 60xe2x80x3) for attaching to the body or to items which attach to the body.

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This invention relates to the jewelry industry, specifically jewelry that employs the use of interchangeable jewelry segments and the mechanisms which allow those segments to be interchanged.
The adornment of various parts of the body with jewelry is a concept that predates recorded history. In modern times, most jewelry designs include some sort of gemstone set in a mounting, and possibly associated with some sort of aesthetic design element (e.g. engraving, finish, etc.). The mounting, the gemstone, the aesthetic design, and the functional components (e.g. additional material to attach item to the body, etc.) are typically fashioned in such a way that they form a single static unit. That is, the gemstone is permanently set in the mounting, and the mounting is permanently attached to the rest of the piece (e.g. attached to a necklace chain or an earring post). This provides the jewelry wearer with one look for every item purchased. Thus, there is a need for a jewelry system which will allow for a more economic and personalized jewelry experience where one purchase can provide many looks.
Various enhancements to this static jewelry style have been proposed in the prior art. Many of the designs in the prior art focus on the exchange of the gemstone itself, and therefore modify the mechanical design of the mounting by adding some grasping mechanism to hold and release the gemstone. Generally speaking, this means that the jewelry user is manipulating loose gemstones, many of which are small and/or not colored (e.g. diamonds) and are therefore difficult to see and hold. Thus, this kind of design increases the likelihood that an expensive gemstone can be lost. Other prior art does focus on the interchangeability of larger sections of the jewelry piece, such as the mounting and the stone together in one unit. However, it is difficult to devise a mechanism which provides the interchangeability without affecting the aesthetic nature of the jewelry. Since jewelry is a fashion item, the look of the piece is very important, and any additional lines, creases, cracks, gaps, hinges, or clasping mechanisms, etc., which are visually present and/or obtrusive to the observer will detract significantly from the desirability, and thus the marketability, of the design.
Other designs, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,408, Gill (2000), attempt to change the look by adding moveable or changeable accessories. These designs, however, do not change the true nature of the jewelry, but rather seek only to adorn a static unit further. U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,104 (1999), Green, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,737 (2000), Domagala, both illustrate designs which create a more dynamic earring. Green""s design employs a cylindrical earring in which attachments are added via a threaded screw mechanism. While unique, this design is very limited to static types of jewelry (i.e. where the jewelry attachments can""t move with some independence from the base). Additionally, relying on screws to maintain the attachment leaves one vulnerable to either the screw becoming loose through movement and vibration, or requiring so much torque to tighten that the design is compromised. Domagala presents a design which is limited to vertical-type attachments via a sliding projection design. This limits the total number of attachments, creates a static design, and does not provide much mechanical stability.
Previous attempts have been made to create designs that provide more flexibility to the jewelry buyer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,351, Zeleny (2001), is an example of a design which resorts to clip mechanisms to hold both the center stone in its mount and an ornamental attachment to the side. The center stone can be taken out of the clips that hold it, which creates a dangerously unstable mounting, in which the center stone may inadvertently fall out. Prior art that focuses solely on the interchangeability of the center stone is much more reliable in this respect, but lacks the interchangeability of other jewelry sections and exhibits the detractions described above. The ornamental attachment in Zeleny is held by a curved arm mechanism which slips over the metal cage holding the gemstone. While perhaps unique in mechanical design, this does not provide for much stability or rigidity in a piece which could easily fall out.
The lack of a successful design for interchangeable jewelry which is both functional and aesthetically pleasing is made clear by research into the commercial jewelry market. To the applicant""s knowledge, there are virtually no jewelry designs of this type being actively marketed and sold. This is because the jewelry user will not buy a piece that sacrifices look for function.
Lacking in all of the prior art is a jewelry concept that allows the jewelry user to mix and match segments of jewelry into any number of custom assemblies that conceal the attachment mechanisms sufficiently to maintain aesthetic appeal. Prior art focuses on the exchange of gemstones within a mounting, or on the addition of an extra ornament. Thus the need still exists for a system of interchangeable jewelry which the jewelry wearer will find flexible in final assembly, while retaining the visual appeal that is so important in this fashion conscious industry. This invention addresses those needs.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present Patent Application of Laura J. Rose for xe2x80x9cInterchangeable Jewelry Systemxe2x80x9d are:
(a) to provide a system of jewelry with interchangeable segments which provides the most flexibility for creating personalized custom jewelry assemblies (i.e. maximizes number of possible combinations);
(b) to provide an interchangeable mechanism which allows for jewelry segments to be interchanged across jewelry styles (e.g. earring, bracelet, pendant, etc.);
(c) to provide a system of interchangeability which minimizes the aesthetic impact of the interchangeable mechanism (i.e. hidden from ordinary view);
(d) to provide an interchangeable system which is easy for an average person to use;
(e) to provide a jewelry system which is highly flexible in the types of final combinations that can be created;
(f) to provide an interchangeable mechanism which exhibits mechanical integrity and minimizes the stress on weight-bearing components of the design;
(g) to provide an interchangeable mechanism which is both durable and yet easy to replace should it somehow be broken;
(h) to provide all of the above advantages with an interchangeable mechanism that is easy to manufacture, so that cost savings can be passed to the consumer.
Further objects and advantages include:
1) the ability to interchange stone colors without resorting to complex and difficult to use gemstone grasping mechanisms;
2) the ability of the jewelry user to wear a piece created through this interchangeability design without the negative visual impact created by obtrusive hinges, clasps, creases, etc.;
3) the ability to create jewelry pieces unlimited in the total number of possible segments;
4) an interchangeable design which does not rely on a user""s guess as to the tightness of the contact (e.g. screw/thread mechanism)xe2x80x94a successful closure can be felt/heard.
A significant object and advantage that should be elaborated upon is the unobtrusive nature of the interchangeable design, and particularly the substantial concealment of the connecting mechanisms. Most jewelry which contains gemstones leaves the back of the stone uncovered. That is, the gemstone is mounted with prongs holding it from the sides, or with a bezel, in which metal is surrounding the girdle of the gemstone. In both cases, and in most other mountings, the xe2x80x9cbacksidexe2x80x9d, or pavilion, of the gemstone is left exposed. This is due to the nature of the light/gemstone interaction which creates visual appeal. If an object were to intrude into or cover portions in the area behind the gemstone, it would lessen the visual appeal of the gemstone, and thus the marketing appeal of the interchangeable design. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings
The interchangeable nature of the jewelry detailed in this Patent Application of Laura J. Rose for xe2x80x9cInterchangeable Jewelry Systemxe2x80x9d allows the jewelry wearer to create, from a set of interchangeable jewelry segments, a unique custom jewelry assembly which can be coordinated to the user""s desires (general taste, outfit being worn, color coordination, event attended, etc.). The segmenting of the jewelry sections and the design of the interchangeable mechanism affords the user this flexibility while providing ease of use in a durable and affordable manner. In accordance with the present invention, the following definitions are made:
(1) Custom Jewelry Assemblyxe2x80x94User-assembled custom design consisting of one or more interchangeable jewelry segments, at least one of which is an interchangeable jewelry base.
(2) Interchangeable Jewelry Segmentxe2x80x94The segment of jewelry that contains the interchangeable mechanism(s), and optional gemstone(s) and/or aesthetic design component(s). One or more interchangeable jewelry segments may be daisy-chained together.
(3) Interchangeable Jewelry Basexe2x80x94The interchangeable jewelry segment that connects either directly to the human body (e.g. an earring post to go through an earlobe, etc.), or indirectly to a piece that further connects to the human body (e.g. a connection to a necklace chain to go around the neck, etc.) An interchangeable jewelry base is a specific kind (subset) of interchangeable jewelry segment.
(4) Interchangeable Mechanismxe2x80x94The mechanism in accordance with the present invention which consists of:
(a) A female mechanismxe2x80x94The preferred embodiment of said female mechanism is comprised of a latch assembly attached to a hinge and a button which the latch assembly can close onto; when closed, the latch assembly covers a slot into which the male mechanism fits.
(b) A male mechanismxe2x80x94the preferred embodiment of said male mechanism is comprised of a projection with attached projection obstacle which fit and interlock into the female mechanism.
The male mechanism from one interchangeable jewelry segment connects into the female mechanism in another interchangeable jewelry segment, thus interlocking the two jewelry segments.


There is provided a solid-state image sensor including (a) a plurality of first charge transfer sections each for vertically transferring electric charges, formed on a surface of a semiconductor layer, (b) a second charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges, formed adjacent to one ends of the first charge transfer sections, the second charge transfer section including a charge barrier region and a charge accumulating region, (c) a first potential barrier section located adjacent to the second charge transfer section, (d) an excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent to the first potential barrier section, and (e) a plurality of second potential barrier sections located in the first potential barrier section, the second potential barrier section being spaced away from adjacent ones. The solid-state image sensor makes it possible to prevent signal charges from leaking into the excessive charge exhausting section, which ensures enhancement in a charge transfer efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a solid-state image sensor, and more particularly to a solid-state image sensor including an excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent to a charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough.
2. Description of the Related Art
A solid-state image sensor has been conventionally used as an input device of a video-tape recorder (VTR) equipped with a camera. However, with recent need of the greater number of pixels, a solid-state image sensor has begun to be used as an input device for an electronic still camera in which optical data is converted into electric signals in place of development of a film, and the electric signals are stored in a memory to thereby make a hard copy, or the electric signals are displayed as images on a monitor screen.
Since such a solid-state image sensor as mentioned above includes a light-electricity transfer section, and charge transfer sections for vertically and horizontally transferring signal charges accumulated in the light-electricity transfer section, there might be accumulated electric charges produced by light-electricity conversion having been carried out in an unnecessary period of time, and unnecessary signal charges such as electric charges caused by a current produced at an interface between silicon and an oxide film, as well as signal charges constituting necessary image signals.
When a solid-state image sensor is used as an input device of a video-tape recorder equipped with a camera, such unnecessary signal charges are settled down to a stable level after signal charges corresponding to a couple of screens have been displayed. Hence, there is caused no serious problem.
On the other hand, when a solid-state image sensor is used as an input device of an electronic still camera, such unnecessary signal charges as mentioned above are combined with signal charges constituting image signals, causing a problem of degradation in quality of images.
In addition, if there is applied a trigger by means of a shutter button when it took much time to remove such unnecessary signal charges, there would be caused time delay until a shutter is actually open or closed from the time of application of a trigger, which might lose shutter chance.
Hence, when a solid-state image sensor is to be used as an input device of an electronic still camera, it is necessary to instantaneously remove unnecessary signal charges existing in both light-electricity transfer sections and charge transfer sections at the same time when a trigger is applied by means of a shutter, unlike when a solid-state image sensor is used as an input device of a video-tape recorder equipped with a camera.
There has been suggested many attempts for removing such unnecessary signal charges.
For instance, one of such attempts is suggested in the article xe2x80x9cCCD Image Sensor having Vertical Overflow Structurexe2x80x9d by Ishihara et al. in Television Institute Brochure, Vol. 37, No. 10, October 1983, pp. 782(16)-787(21). According to the article, unnecessary charges existing in light-electricity transfer sections are removed by carrying out blooming control and formation of a vertical overflow drain structure. In the blooming control, there is formed a pxe2x88x92 semiconductor region just below an n-type semiconductor region constituting a light-electricity transfer region, and a reverse-bias voltage is applied to an n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate to thereby transfer excessive charges to the n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate. By forming the vertical overflow drain structure, it is possible to make the n-type semiconductor region depleted, and drive all signal charges into the n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate.
Since the charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges can operate at a high rate, unnecessary charges existing in the charge transfer section are removed into a reset drain located adjacent to the horizontal charge transfer section, in an ordinary operation.
On the other hand, it is necessary to transfer unnecessary charges by a distance corresponding to at least a couple of screens in order to remove the unnecessary charges existing in charge transfer sections for vertically transferring electric charges.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-256429 has suggested a method of removing such unnecessary charges existing in charge transfer sections for vertically transferring electric charges. In the suggested method, an excessive charge exhausting section is formed adjacent to the charge transfer sections. Unnecessary charges existing in the charge transfer sections are forwardly transferred, and removed into the excessive charge exhausting section.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a solid-state image sensor suggested in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-256429. The illustrated solid-state image sensor is comprised of light-electricity transfer sections 1 arranged in a plurality of lines, a plurality of first charge transfer sections 2 for vertically transferring electric charges, located adjacent to each of the light-electricity transfer sections 1, a second charge transfer section 3 for horizontally transferring electric charges, extending at one ends of both the light-electricity transfer sections 1 and the first charge transfer sections 2, an output circuit 4 electrically connected to the second charge transfer section 3, a potential barrier section 5 located adjacent to the second charge transfer section 3, an excessive charge exhausting section 6 located adjacent to the potential barrier section 5, and an n++ semiconductor region 7 located at one end of the excessive charge exhausting section 6 and electrically connected to a power source voltage VDD.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the region encircled with a broken line A in FIG. 1, that is, the region located adjacent to the second charge transfer section 3 and including the potential barrier section 5 and the excessive charge exhausting section 6.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the region is comprised of a first charge transfer channel 11 for vertically transferring electric charges therethrough, second charge transfer sections 12 for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough, located adjacent to the first charge transfer channel 11 and including a charge accumulating region 13 and a charge barrier region 14, a potential barrier section 15 located adjacent to the second charge transfer sections 12, an excessive charge exhausting section 16 located adjacent to the potential barrier section 15, a semiconductor region 17 acting as a device isolation region and having a first electrical conductivity, first charge transfer electrodes 19 for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough, each composed of a first layer of polysilicon, second charge transfer electrodes 20 for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough, each composed of a second layer of polysilicon, and a final charge transfer electrode 21 for vertically transferring electric charges.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIxe2x80x94III in FIG. 2, and shows potential of each region at the cross-section. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVxe2x80x94IV in FIG. 2, and shows potential of each region at the cross-section.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the solid-state image sensor is comprised of an n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate 31 having an impurity concentration of about 2.0E14 cmxe2x88x923, a p-type well layer 32 formed at a surface of the n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate 31 and having an impurity concentration of about 1.0E16 cmxe2x88x923, an nxe2x88x92 type semiconductor region 33 constituting a buried channel of the charge accumulating region 13 of the first and second charge transfer sections 2 and 3, and having an impurity concentration of about 1.3E17 cmxe2x88x923, an nxe2x88x92 type semiconductor region 34 constituting a buried channel of the charge barrier region 14 of the first and second charge transfer sections 2 and 3, and having an impurity concentration of about 1.0E17 cmxe2x88x923, an n+ semiconductor region 36 constituting the excessive charge exhausting region 16, and having an impurity concentration of about 1.0E18 cmxe2x88x923, a p++ semiconductor region 39 constituting the device isolation region, and having an impurity concentration of about 1.0E18 cmxe2x88x923, the first charge transfer electrodes 19 for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough, each composed of a first layer 40 of polysilicon, the second charge transfer electrodes 20 for horizontally transferring electric charges therethrough, each composed of a second layer 41 of polysilicon, an insulating layer 42 for electrically isolating the first layer 40 of polysilicon and the second layer 41 of polysilicon with each other, and the final charge transfer electrode 21 for vertically transferring electric charges.
A power source voltage VDD of about 15V is applied to the n+ semiconductor region 36 constituting the excessive charge exhausting section 16 through the n++ semiconductor region 7 formed at one end of the excessive charge exhausting region 6 and having an impurity concentration of about 1.0E20 cmxe2x88x923.
Hereinbelow is explained an operation of the solid-state image sensor having the above-mentioned structure.
As mentioned earlier, removal of unnecessary charges existing in the light-electricity transfer sections 1 is carried out by forming a pxe2x88x92 semiconductor region just below the n-type semiconductor region constituting the light-electricity transfer regions 1 and applying a reverse-bias voltage of about 15V which is greater than the power source voltage VDD, to the n3xe2x88x92 semiconductor substrate 31. By application of the reverse-bias voltage to the semiconductor substrate 31, the n-type semiconductor region constituting the light-electricity transfer regions 1 are made depleted, and thus, signal charges are all removed into the semiconductor substrate 31.
Unnecessary charges existing in the first charge transfer sections 2 are transferred to the second charge transfer section 3, for instance, by application of four-phase clock pulses. In application of the four-phase clock pulses, a high level voltage VH is applied to a terminal "PHgr"H1 and a low level voltage VL is applied to a terminal "PHgr"H2 in the first and second charge transfer electrodes 19 and 20.
Thus, a potential of the first charge transfer section 2 is made deeper than a potential xcfx86VH established at a junction of the first and second charge transfer sections 2 and 3 so that excessive charges which cannot be accumulated in the charge accumulating region 13 of the second charge transfer region 3 are returned back to the first charge transfer sections 2. As a result, unnecessary charges existing in the first charge transfer sections 2 move over a potential xcfx86B (xcfx86B=xcfx86HB) of the potential barrier section 5 having the same potential as that of the charge barrier region 14, and are absorbed into the n+ semiconductor region 36 constituting the excessive charge exhausting section 6.
Thereafter, unnecessary charges residual in the second charge transfer section 3 are absorbed into an n++ semiconductor region formed at one end of the second charge transfer section 3 and constituting a reset drain, by means of two-phase clock pulses, in an ordinary operation of the second charge transfer section 3.
Then, signal charges accumulated in the light-electricity transfer sections 1 in an amount in accordance with light incident thereto in a certain period of time are read out into the associated first charge transfer section 2, and transferred to the second charge transfer section 3 through the first charge transfer section 2 by every horizontal line. Then, the signal charges are horizontally transferred through the second charge transfer section 3, and output through the output circuit 4.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional solid-state image sensors, a potential of the semiconductor region constituting the potential barrier region 5 located adjacent to the charge barrier region 14 is modulated by a potential applied to the semiconductor region constituting the excessive charge exhausting region 6, as shown with a broken line B in FIG. 4.
As a result, the above-mentioned conventional solid-state image sensors are accompanied with a problem that when signal charges are transferred from the terminal "PHgr"H1 to the terminal "PHgr"H2, that is, in a direction from xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d and from xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d in FIG. 2, a part of the signal charges leaks into the semiconductor region constituting the excessive charge exhausting section 16, which causes degradation in a charge transfer efficiency.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-137249 has suggested a solid-state image sensor including a semiconductor substrate having a first electrical conductivity, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of lower electrodes formed on the insulating film, and a plurality of upper electrodes formed above the lower electrodes in electrical isolation with each other and arranged in a direction crossing across a direction in which the lower electrodes are arranged. A gap defined within the lower and upper electrodes acts as a light-receiving section or a window through which light is incident. The semiconductor substrate is formed with a channel stopper region along one of the lower and upper electrodes. The channel stopper region is heavily doped with an impurity having the same electrical conductivity as that of the semiconductor substrate. The channel stopper region includes an overflow drain formed in zigzag fashion and having an electrical conductivity opposite to that of the channel stopper region. One of the lower and upper electrodes is used as an overflow control gate.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-19480 has suggested a solid-state image sensor of vertical overflow drain type, in which a light-receiving section comprised of an n+ diffusion region is formed on a lightly doped p-type epitaxial layer which is formed on an n+ substrate, and a control gate is formed for controlling potential barrier between the n+ diffusion region and the p-type epitaxial layer. Signal charges are accumulated in or swept out of the light-receiving section by controlling both a voltage to be applied to the control gate and a voltage to be applied to the n+ substrate and the p-type epitaxial layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-156859 has suggested a solid-state image sensor comprising (a) a first transfer channel including a unit cell comprising a doped well layer having a second electrical conductivity and formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first electrical conductivity, a signal accumulating layer which temporarily accumulates signal charges generated by light-electricity conversion of incident light, a reading-out channel which reads out signal charges accumulated in the signal accumulating layer, and means for sweeping out excessive charges accumulated in the charge accumulating layer, said unit cell being arranged on a two-dimensional plane with a barrier layer sandwiched therebetween, said first transfer channel transferring charges having been read out from the reading-out channel, in a single first direction, and (b) a second transfer channel which transfers charges having been transferred from the first transfer channel, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The barrier layer and means for applying a certain voltage to the doped well layer are electrically connected to each other through a low-resistive element.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-157479 has suggested a method of driving a solid-state image sensor comprised of (a) a plurality of light-electricity conversion sections which generates signal charges by light-electricity conversion of incident light, and includes charge accumulating layers for accumulating the thus generated signal charges, (b) first means for reading out signal charges accumulated in the light-electricity conversion sections, and (c) second means for sweeping out excessive charges produced in the light-electricity conversion sections. In the method, a pulse width which defines a period of time for reading out charges, the pulse being applied to the first means, is varied in accordance with an intensity of incident light, and a barrier potential of the second means is set lower than a barrier potential of the first means.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-228747 has suggested a solid-state image sensor of frame transfer type, in which an opening window is formed between an upper layer gate electrode and a lower layer gate electrode of a picture taking section, and a portion of an opening region located below the opening window, closer to an overflow drain region, is formed to contain an impurity at a higher concentration than other portions.
However, such a problem as mentioned above remains unsolved even in the above-mentioned Publications.
In view of the above-mentioned problem in the conventional solid-state image sensors, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-state image sensor having such a horizontal overflow drain as mentioned above, which is capable of preventing signal charges from leaking into an excessive charge exhausting region, and hence, enhancing a charge transfer efficiency.
There is provided a solid-state image sensor including (a) a plurality of first charge transfer sections each for vertically transferring electric charges, formed on a surface of a semiconductor layer, (b) a second charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges, formed adjacent to one ends of the first charge transfer sections, the second charge transfer section including a charge barrier region and a charge accumulating region, (c) a first potential barrier section located adjacent to the second charge transfer section, (d) an excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent to the first potential barrier section, and (e) a plurality of second potential barrier sections located in the first potential barrier section, the second potential barrier sections being spaced away from adjacent ones.
It is preferable that each of the second potential barrier sections is composed of a semiconductor region having a first electrical conductivity, and the first potential barrier section is composed of a semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections have the same electrical conductivity as that of the semiconductor layer.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections have a higher impurity-concentration than that of the semiconductor layer.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections have the same electrical conductivity as that of the first potential barrier section.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections have a lower impurity-concentration than that of the first potential barrier section.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections have the same composition as that of a device isolation region which electrically isolates a region from adjacent regions, and is formed in a step in which the device isolation region is also formed.
It is preferable that the solid-state image sensor further includes a plurality of charge transfer electrodes each for horizontally transferring electric charges, located adjacent to the charge barrier region, the charge transfer electrodes being formed extending on the second potential barrier sections.
It is preferable that the second potential barrier sections are spaced away from adjacent ones by about 1 xcexcm.
It is preferable that the charge transfer electrodes extend on both the first potential barrier region and the excessive charge exhausting section with an insulating film sandwiched therebetween.
It is preferable that the charge transfer electrodes are of two-layer electrode and two-phase drive system or single-layer electrode and two-phase drive system.
There is further provided a solid-state image sensor including (a) a plurality of first charge transfer sections each for vertically transferring electric charges, formed on a surface of a semiconductor layer having a first electrical conductivity, each of the first charge transfer sections being formed of a semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity, (b) a second charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges, formed adjacent to one ends of the first charge transfer sections, the second charge transfer section including a charge barrier region formed of a second semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and a charge accumulating region formed of a third semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and having a higher impurity-concentration than that of the second semiconductor region, (c) a first potential barrier section located adjacent to the second charge transfer section and formed of a fourth semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity, (d) an excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent to the first potential barrier section and formed of a fifth semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and having a higher impurity-concentration than that of the first semiconductor region, and (e) a plurality of second potential barrier sections located in the fourth semiconductor region and formed of a semiconductor region having a first electrical conductivity, the second potential barrier sections being spaced away from adjacent ones.
It is preferable that the second semiconductor region is the same as the fourth semiconductor region.
There is further provided a solid-state image sensor including (a) a plurality of first charge transfer sections each for vertically transferring electric charges, formed on a surface of a semiconductor layer having a first electrical conductivity, each of the first charge transfer sections being formed of a semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity, (b) a second charge transfer section for horizontally transferring electric charges, formed adjacent to one ends of the first charge transfer sections, the second charge transfer section including a charge barrier region formed of a second semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and a charge accumulating region formed of a third semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and having a higher impurity-concentration than that of the second semiconductor region, (c) a first potential barrier section located adjacent to the second charge transfer section and formed of a fourth semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity, (d) an excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent to the first potential barrier section and formed of a fifth semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and having a higher impurity-concentration than that of the first semiconductor region, and (e) a plurality of second potential barrier sections located in the fourth semiconductor region and formed of a sixth semiconductor region having a second electrical conductivity and having a lower impurity-concentration than that of the fourth semiconductor region, the second potential barrier sections being spaced away from adjacent ones.
The advantages obtained by the aforementioned present invention will be described hereinbelow.
In the solid-state image sensor in accordance with the present invention, the p+ semiconductor region, the p++ semiconductor region or the n2xe2x88x92 semiconductor region constituting the second potential barrier sections is formed in the nxe2x88x92 semiconductor region constituting the potential barrier section located adjacent to the charge barrier region. Hence, it is possible to prevent a potential of the potential barrier section from being influenced by a potential applied to the n+ semiconductor region constituting the excessive charge exhausting section located adjacent tot he potential barrier section. As a result, when signal charges are transferred from the terminal "PHgr"H1 to the terminal "PHgr"H2, that is, in a direction from xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d and from xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9, it is possible to prevent a part of the signal charges from leaking into the n+ semiconductor region constituting the excessive charge exhausting section, which ensures enhancement in a charge transfer efficiency.
In addition, as mentioned later in the second embodiment, if the p++ semiconductor region constituting the second potential barrier sections are formed concurrently with the device isolation regions, as a part of the device isolation regions, it would be possible to reduce the number of fabrication steps.
The above and other objects and advantageous features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the drawings.


A shock absorbing safety net includes diamond mesh netting which is attached to a perimeter rope. In one embodiment, groups of diamond points or peripheral diamond mesh arrays are alternately lashed and laced to the perimeter rope. The laced diamond meshes are disposed in the vicinity of snap hooks employed to attach the safety net to the support cable or mounting frame.

This invention relates generally to safety nets which are employed to catch a falling object or person. More.,particularly, the present invention relates generally to safety nets which are employed to catch a falling person without imparting serious injury to the person.
Safety nets have long been employed to minimize the risk of serious injury or death from accidental falling at construction sites and other hazardous structures. The safety nets are typically mounted below the areas from which an accidental fall may potentially occur. Such safety nets are commonly required at construction sites to protect the construction workers as well as the general public.
While conventional safety nets have prevented a number of accidental deaths and very serious injuries, it is well established that injuries and even serious injuries may nevertheless result from an accidental fall into a safety net. The ability of a safety net to catch a falling object or person without injury is a direct function of the ability of the safety net to absorb the energy of the falling object or person. As a general proposition, the greater the effective distance of deceleration imparted by the safety net, the less effective force of resistance or stress is exerted by the net against the falling object or person. The likelihood of injury resulting from a fall is inversely proportional to the characteristic force of resistance of the safety net.
The ability of a safety net to absorb a load is a function of the composite materials of the safety net as well as the net configuration and the mounting configuration of the safety net. The ability of the net to deform upon impact is also important in attaining favorable shock absorbing characteristics for the net.


An insulated exhaust pipe comprising inner and outer spaced corrugated metallic tubes separated by refractory fiber isulation. Strips of higher density refractory fiber insulation hold the low density insulation in place during operation and prevent degradation of the fiber by vibration. The pipe is made by rolling the inner tube over a layer of insulation, including strips, to which adhesive has been applied. The insulated tube is then inserted into the outer tube, rotating the insulated tube so that the corrugations of the outer tube do not damage the insulation. Specific structure for carrying out these method steps is disclosed.

Catalytic converters are conventionally included in the exhaust system of automotive vehicles to reduce the level of pollutants discharged to the air. While it is generally believed that the catalytic converters used today perform satisfactorily once their light-off temperature is reached, a pollution problem exists during the light-off period. For example, it has been determined that 90% of the pollutants exhausted to the atmosphere from an exhaust system which includes a catalytic converter are formed during the light-off period. As used herein, the light-off temperature is the temperature at which a catalytic converter catalyzes the reaction that takes place in the converter with the exhaust gases. The catalytic light-off period is the time required for the catalytic converter to reach its light-off temperature.
If the heat of the exhaust gases, which can reach temperatures as high as 1800.degree. F. in turbo-charged automobiles, can be retained for a longer period of time than in conventional exhaust systems, the time required for the light-off temperature to be reached will be reduced. This would then reduce the duration of high pollution, and in turn reduce the amount of pollutants released to the atmosphere.
Attempts have been made in the past to develop insulated exhaust systems. Double exhaust pipes have been suggested, comprising spaced inner and outer pipes. Although this reduces the amount of heat loss, it is not enough to appreciably retain heat at the level required for optimum catalytic converter operation.
Another suggestion is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,430, issued to Pallo et al. In that patent a double pipe system comprised of inner and outer corrugated metal tubes is disclosed. In addition, the use of insulation between the inner and outer tubes is suggested. Various types of insulation materials capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1600.degree. F. are suggested in the patent. At the temperature requirements of modern automobiles and catalytic converters, however, refractory fiber insulation is the most practical choice of insulation to be used.
Although refractory fiber is capable of resisting the high temperatures to which it would be exposed and of providing the necessary degree of insulation, it is a very fragile material. When used in an insulated exhaust system such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,430 it was found that the physical stresses to which it was exposed during use caused it to be reduced to small dust-like particles. In this condition it was no longer able to provide satisfactory insulation. Obviously, if refractory fibers are to be used in an insulated exhaust system they must be be capable of resisting degradation.
Moreover, a manufacturing process must be found to efficiently produce a length of double pipe which has refractory fiber insulation in the space between the pipes. This problem was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,430, but the proposed solution was not found to be practical. It was suggested to form a first relatively small tube of spirally wound corrugated metal and to spirally wind a layer of refractory fiber felt onto the tube. To encase the insulated tube in another larger tube, it was suggested to spirally wind a second corrugated metal tube directly over the insulated tube. This method is too difficult to regulate and the required machinery to carry it out would be too complicated and expensive. Excessive pressure on the felt as it is being wound about the corrugated tube tends to tear the felt, and it is difficult to precisely wind the felt so as to avoid overlaps and gaps between windings. Further, maximum efficiency in producing the outer corrugated tube cannot be attained by winding adjacent corrugated strips about a previously formed insulated pipe while at the same time forming seams from the adjacent edges of the strips.
A much simpler and more reliable method of manufacture is needed for the commercial production of an insulated exhaust pipe.

Insulated exhaust pipe and manufacture thereof


A medical implantable lead of the type being adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body and attached with a distal end to an organ inside the body, has a helix of a helical wire in the distal end which is adapted to be screwed into the organ. In addition to the first helix, the lead also has a second helix of a helical wire, the second helix having the same diameter, the same pitch and being intertwined with the helical wire of the first helix and which, upon rotation of the first helix, will be rotated and screwed into the tissue. The first helix is electrically non-conductive whereas the second helix is electrically conductive. In a method for attaching a medical implantable lead to an organ inside a human or animal body, such a medical lead is employed and fixed to tissue in vivo.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a medical implantable lead of the type being adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body and attached with a distal end to an organ inside the body, and having a helix of a helical wire in the distal end which is adapted to be screwed into the organ, wherein the lead, in addition to the first helix, also comprises a second helix of a helical wire, the second helix having the same pitch and being intertwined with the helical wire of the first helix and which, upon rotation of the first helix, will be rotated and screwed into the tissue.
The invention also relates to a method for attaching a medical implantable lead to an organ inside a human or animal body, by screwing a helix of a helical wire into the tissue of the organ.
The invention is primarily adapted for attaching the tip of a cardiac electrode into cardiac tissue for connecting e.g. a pacemaker or defibrillator to a heart. However, the invention is also applicable for attaching other types of electrodes to arbitrary organs in a human or animal body. Accordingly, everywhere in the following description and claims where reference is made to attachment of an electrical lead to a heart, it is to be understood that it may concern also other types of organs where applicable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of cardiac stimulation devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, have one or more electrode leads connected at one end, commonly called the proximal end, to the implanted stimulator housing, and having an opposite end, commonly called the distal end, which is implanted so as to interact with cardiac tissue. The attachment of the distal end of a cardiac lead to the cardiac tissue is commonly referred to as fixing the lead, or lead fixation.
Typically, the cardiac lead carries an electrode at or near the distal end thereof, and this electrode, by fixing the electrode lead to the cardiac tissue, must be placed in good electrical contact with the cardiac tissue. The distal end of the cardiac lead also must be reliably mechanically affixed to the cardiac tissue, so that beating of the heart, and other physical movements of the subject, will not cause dislodgement of the lead.
Many types of lead fixation techniques and structures are known, one of the most common being to configure the tip electrode of the electrode lead to be in the form of a helix or corkscrew, which is then screwed into the cardiac tissue during the implantation procedure.
An example of such a lead with a helical configuration is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,550. As in the arrangement described in this patent, the helical electrode during implantation is commonly retracted inside of a protective covering or header, and upon reaching the implantation site at the cardiac tissue, the helix is actively caused to protrude from the covering and is screwed into the cardiac tissue.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0073972 discloses a catheter assembly for implanting a helical fixation device into the myocardium. The catheter assembly has a fixation wire in the form of a helix that is securely fastened to the distal end of the catheter. A drug delivery coil or helix is nested inside the flights (turns) of the fixation helix, but the catheter prevents proximal rotation of the drug delivery coil. When the surgeon screws the fixation coil into the heart wall, the drug delivery helix is driven along with the fixation helix, but when the surgeon unscrews the fixation helix from the heart wall, the drug delivery helix remains in place in the cardiac tissue. The catheter also has a centrally located hollow straight needle that extends through the central axis of the two helices, and is used for penetrating the myocardium when the helices are screwed into the myocardium. The two helices have the same pitch and helix diameter, so as to permit the drug delivery coil to be nested within the fixation helix with a sliding fit.
From U.S. Pat. No. 7,212,870 a helical fixation device is known that has two helices having the same length, diameter and pitch, which are formed of helical wires and are intertwined with each other such that the wires are displaced 180° in relation to each other. The fixation device is adapted to function as a bipolar electrode, wherein one helix will be a cathode whereas the other an anode. One disadvantage with a fixation device like this is that the impedance between each helix and the tissue will be small. A small impedance will lead to increased energy consumption and hence more frequent replacement of the implanted electronic devices due to discharged batteries. In some applications measures may have to be taken to avoid this problem, such as partly insulating of the helices as is disclosed in the document, which will lead to increased costs for manufacturing.
In order to reduce the size of implantable electrode leads, and to reduce the lead impedance, there is a trend to form the fixation helix from thinner wire than in the past, as well as to reduce the outer diameter of the fixation helix. This trend has resulted in side-effects, such as high acute capture thresholds and poor mechanical fixation of the distal end of the lead. It will also lead to an increased risk that the thin wire helix may easily start to rotate in the myocardium behind the endocardium at the surface of the heart wall if the helix is over-rotated. This will tear the myocardium around the helix, which will cause unnecessarily injury to the heart, which causes poor connection, electrically as well as mechanically, and increased capture threshold between the helix and the tissue.

Medical implantable lead and a method for attaching the same


The circular platform of a rotary bottle labeler comprises a plurality of pedestals (2) ranged around its periphery, rotatable about respective vertical axes; each pedestal shaft is connected to a stepping motor (1) and rotated through a given angle calculated by a microprocessor, this in turn in receipt of the output signal from a pulse generator (21) which is driven by the platform and serves to establish the angular position of the pedestals in relation to the axis of the platform. Pulses emitted by the generator are received and counted by the microprocessor, which is programmed to pilot rotation of the stepping motor, hence of the pedestal, in such a way that the bottle above is moved into a prescribed angular position in readiness to receive its label.

The present invention relates to rotary type bottle labeling machinery, and concerns a device for rotation of the pedestals by which single bottles, or containers generally, are supported during the labeling operations.
High production labeling machines are embodied in most instances as a rotating platform or carrousel, the periphery of which affords a plurality of stands, or pedestals, on which the containers for labeling are positioned.
In the course of its rotation, the platform passes in front of one or more labeling stations at which labels taken from a magazine are spread with glue and transferred singly to the bottles.
The pedestals, to which the bottles are transferred by star wheel conveying devices of conventional type, are capable of rotation about their own axes for the reason that with several types of container (for example champagne bottles), the label has to be aligned with a previously positioned capsule a foil seal over the cap and upper neck portion of the bottle). More exactly, the label has to be applied to the container in a predetermined position with respect to another part or mark, for example the capsule in the case of a champagne bottle.
The prior art embraces two methods of aligning a bottle with the label it is to receive: in a first, the bottles, rotating about their own axes, are aligned at the moment of their passage through the star wheel that conveys them onto the carrousel; in this instance, alignment is brought about by means of a system of photocells and clutch or caliper means that cause rotational movement of the bottles to cease on arrival at a given angular position. The drawback with this system is that the passage from the star wheel device to the labeling pedestal occurs without the bottle being held or clamped, the result of which is that it remains free to rotate about its own axis, and alignment cannot therefore be guaranteed.
The second method mentioned is one of aligning the bottle directly on the pedestal. To this purpose, use is made of cam-operated brake-clutch devices mounted beneath the pedestal, which operate on the cam controlling rotation.
More exactly, the cam is permanently driven by the clutch, whereas the brake is applied only when triggered by a photocell that verifies alignment. Neither do these brake-clutch clamp devices ensure faultless alignment, particularly where different types of bottles are being handled, given that rotational inertia forces vary with the change in weight and shape of the bottle.
A further drawback is that cam or maltese cross indexing devices with brake-clutch controls of this type are unable to attain high positioning rates, with the result that the output of the labeling machine tends to be limited.
Yet another drawback of such systems is that the cam controlling rotation of the bottle remains good for one type of bottle only; thus, a change in the shape of bottle handled, or in the position of the label on the bottle, signifies a change of cam. To increase production, using prior art alignment methods, it becomes necessary to construct machines with the significantly large carrousel platforms, hence with larger proportions overall; even so, the cam problem remains unsolved, and power requirement is increased.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, and in particular, to embody a compact labeling machine that is also universal, i.e. capable of faultlessly aligning and labeling any type of bottle without any need to change the pedestral rotation cams.
A further object of the invention is to enable changeover from one type of bottle to another without any replacement of mechanical parts, but simply by reprogramming a data processing circuit.

Device for rotation of the pedestals supporting bottles, or containers in general, in rotary labeling machines


A controller (1) converts physical movement in eight directions of motion into electrical signals. The controller (1) has two opposed handles (2a, 2b) connected together using a gimbal (150) having a telescoping device (200) that is rotatable relative to the gimbal (150). The telescoping device (200) has an inner member (18) that is biased in either telescoping direction using one spring. The inner member (18) can be locked along either of the telescoping directions using a locking device (26). The gimbal (150) has four sensors sensing movement of one handle (2a) relative to the other handle (2b).

A joypad is a prior art game controller commonly used in video games. The joypad uses two thumb sticks to manipulate the position and spatial view of a gamer during video gaming. Thus the joypad's accuracy may be determined by thumb dexterity. The thumbs sticks may be difficult and cumbersome to use for someone new to controlling a physical device or a computer-simulated device requiring navigation.
Many new gamers or experienced gamers may find themselves not knowing their location or may loose control of their screen position during game play. The use of thumbs may provide accurate positioning after great amounts of practice to locate a moving target or coordinate. Misuse of the thumb control may cause simulator sickness or motion sickness thus causing headaches or tunnel vision. This may be caused by the improper control of the thumb sticks not coordinating with brain activity.
International Patent publication number WO2005103869 discloses a game controller with two handles connected by a ball joint.


A device and a method for determining a reference level for automatic gain control of a radio frequency signal to be received, particularly having a varying strength, in which method frames of a logical general packet control channel are received, as well as frames which have been transmitted with a predetermined transmission power level and by using a predetermined way of controlling the transmission power level. In the invention, said reference level is determined on the basis of at least one frame of a received radio block, or on the basis of at least one preceding frame, or on the basis of both of these, wherein the reference level is corrected on the basis of the signal strength measured during their reception.

A wireless communication system generally refers to a communication system which makes a wireless data transmission connection possible between a wireless communication device (MS, mobile station) and stationary parts of the system, when the user of the wireless communication device moves within the operating range of the system. A typical system is a public land mobile network PLMN. A majority of wireless communication systems belongs to so-called second-generation mobile communication systems, of which an example to be mentioned is the widely known circuit switched GSM mobile communication system (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications). The present invention is particularly suitable for mobile communication systems under development. As an example of such a communication system, in this description, the GPRS system (General Packet Radio Service) will be used, which is presently under development. It is obvious that the invention can also be applied in other systems which are based on packet systems, such as the GPRS system, or which utilize it (UMTS, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System).
In modern general mobile communication networks based on a cellular system, the system consists, in a known way, of several mobile stations (MS) applying the system, such as mobile phones, and a stationary base station subsystem (BSS). This base station subsystem normally consists of several base transceiver stations (BTS) distributed over a geographical area, and each base station serves a cell which consists of at least a part of this geographical area.
For example, in the GSM system, communication between communication devices, such as a mobile station and a base station, is carried on logical radio channels. A packet switched system based on the GSM system, the GSM GPRS system, makes communication more efficient, since the same logical radio channel can be used by several different mobile subscribers. Data is transmitted only when necessary, and the logical radio channel is not reserved for communication between one mobile station and the base station only. In the system, there is a so-called virtual data transmission connection between the mobile station and the GPRS system. The operating environment of the system is known as such and is widely defined in the ETSI standards, wherein a more detailed description will not be necessary. For using GPRS services, the MS will first log in the network (GPRS attach). The login forms a logical link between the wireless communication device and the serving GPRS support node SGSN.
The trouble-proof operation of the communication network and the efficient utilization of the available resources are only possible, if, for example, in the transmissions by the base stations, the power levels used are as optimal as possible. In addition to this, demands are continuously set for the power consumption of the mobile station itself.
The basic idea of the GPRS system is to apply packet switched resource allocation, wherein resources, e.g. a logical radio channel, are allocated when there is a need to transmit and receive data and information. Thus, the use of available resources can be optimized to be as efficient as possible when compared with e.g. circuit switched GSM technology. The GPRS is designed to support applications which utilize discontinuous data transmission containing, intermittently, even large quantities of data. In the GPRS system, the allocation of channels is flexible, and 1 to 8 time slots of a channel, or 1 to 8 physical channels, can be allocated for each wireless communication device within the scope of a TDMA frame. The term TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) refers to the allocation of a radio frequency channel into successive time slots on the time level, known as such. The same resources can be allocated to several active mobile stations. U communication (uplink, i.e. communication from the mobile station to the base station) and D communication (downlink, i.e. communication from the base station to the mobile station) can be separately allocated for different users. In each time slot, an information packet with a definite duration is transmitted as a radio frequency burst consisting of a set of modulated bits. The time slots are primarily used as control channels (CCH) and traffic channels (TCH). The traffic channels are primarily used for the transmission of speech and data, and the control channels are used for signalling between the BTS and the MS. One logical control channel is the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel), which is used for broadcasting detailed information related to the communication network or the cell.
The most significant difference between the GPRS system and the circuit switched GSM system is the packet-based communication. A physical channel, the so-called packet data channel PDCH, is allocated for packet communication in the GPRS system based on a cellular system. The logical channels contained by the PDCH channel (e.g. PCCCH, Packet Common Control Channel) are collected in a frame structure (Multiframe) consisting of repeatedly transmitted 52 TDMA frames (20) which are divided (PCDH/F, Full rate PDCH channel) further into 12 successive blocks (radio blocks), each comprising four frames (TDMA FRAME) as well as four extra frames (IDLE FRAME). The blocks 10 are indicated by blocks B0 to B11, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the idle frames are also indicated with the reference X. In D communication, these can be used for signalling. The PCCCH channel is used, for example, for calling the MS (PPCH, Packet Paging Channel). In the circuit switched GSM system, the CCCH channel (Common Control Channel) corresponds to this channel. However, the block of the CCCH channel and the preceding block are transmitted on the same power level. Also the BCCH blocks are transmitted on the same channel.
The blocks 10 are further divided into parts, for example headers and control blocks, which contain for example TFI identification. For multiple access in D communication, the TFI identification (Temporary Flow Identifier) is used in the data header to indicate the blocks addressed to a specific given mobile station MS. According to the GPRS system, all the communication devices MS, which are waiting for data transmitted to them on the channel jointly allocated for them, receive all the blocks, interpret the received information and the TFI identification, and select the blocks addressed to them. In the GPRS system, the mobile stations must be continuously ready for packet communication (TBF, Temporary Block Flow), wherein they must quickly shift from a so-called idle mode to a so-called packet transfer mode.
One known technology used in mobile stations for controlling the gain of the receiver is the so-called AGC method (Automatic Gain Control), which has the function of monitoring the effects caused by the mobility and the environment of the MS, for example, on the radio wave in connection with multipath propagation. These include, for example, reflections, frequency dependent drop-outs and attenuations, as well as various slow and fast changes. The signal levels are also changed as a result of BTS power control in D communication. In the invention, in turn, the operation of the AGC is based on monitoring the Rx levels of the received signal, when the MS is in the idle mode and listening to the PCCCH channel. The MS must be capable of monitoring changes in the received downlink signal in order to be able to interpret the information of the block, for example the TFI data, so that the MS can determine whether the block is addressed to it for reception. The aim is to set the gain level of the received analog RF signal before the AD (analog-to-digital) conversion and on a reference level suitable for input in the receiver of the MS. The dynamic range of the receiver (reception window) is typically defined to be restricted above (15 dB) and below (20 dB) a specific reference level. The difference in the power levels between the frames can be as great as 30 dB. Conventionally, in the design of a receiver operating in the GSM system, it has been possible to assume that the signal source, i.e. the base station, is stable on the CCCH channel. Thus, the only function has been to predict the effects of ambient factors.
According to the rules of the ETSI/3GPP specification of the GPRS system, constant power control is used for D communication on PDCH channels, which are used, for example, as PBCCH and PCCCH control channels. Power control refers, for example, to the transmission power level used by the BTS for transmitting a radio signal to the MS. The power level can be lower on the PCCCH than on the BCCH channel (Broadcast Control Channel), the difference (Pb) being indicated on the PBCCH channel. Thus, different frequencies must be allocated for the PCCCH and for the BCCH, because the BCCH frequency always has a constant power level. In the blocks of the other PCDH channels, it is possible to use power control in D communication. The power level is always the same during the bursts (4 bursts) of a single radio block.
In a known manner, two different control modes are used for the power control of the PDCH blocks: Mode A and Mode B. In Mode A, the variation in the output power of the BTS is limited, and the set upper limit must not be exceeded. In Mode B, the total range of variation in the output power is in use, but the power level of the time slot preceding the block must not exceed the power level of the block by more than 10 dB. The power level of the block is changed by a predetermined nominal value (2 dB) at intervals of a maximum of 13 frames (about 60 ms).
In the idle mode according to the circuit switched GSM system of prior art, the AGC can be made on the basis of the signal of the time slot preceding the CCCH block right before the beginning of the CCCH block, because the signal is constant at the whole frequency of the CCCH. Due to the idle mode and the power control in the GPRS system, there is no constant signal available, but the transmission power of the preceding block can be different, because the BTS of the communication network is not expected to use a constant transmission power level. If AGC of the GSM system were used, the receiving window would be incorrectly set. For this reason, the reception of the PCCCH channel would not be successful, which would mean that it would not be possible to answer incoming calls, and packet data transmission would fail.
To be more specific, it should also be mentioned that on the PCCCH channel, only the time slot allocated for this logical channel is transmitted on a constant power level (e.g. TS1). A PBCCH channel can also be present in the time slot in question or in another time slot. For the CCCH channel, in turn, the whole frequency (eight time slots, TS0-TS 7) is transmitted at a constant power level (circuit switched GSM). The logical BCCH channel is always in the same time slot as the CCCH channel (e.g. TS0). In the circuit switched GSM system, time slot TS7 of the preceding radio block is listened to before receiving the blocks of the CCCH channel, because the whole frequency is transmitted at a constant power level. On the basis of this, it has been possible to determine an RSSI estimate for the AGC. According to the invention, and in the packet switched system, in turn, TS1 of the frame of the preceding radio block is listened to, for example frame s1, because other power levels cannot be relied on in the same way as in the circuit switched GSM system.

Determination of a reference value for automatic gain control of a receiver on a general packet control channel


A method is disclosed for performing key agreement to establish a shared key between correspondents and for generating a digital signature. The method comprises performing one of key agreement or signature generation, and using information generated in said one of key agreement or signature generation in the other of said key agreement or said signature generation. By doing this, computations and/or bandwidth can be saved.

A cryptographic system is a computer system that uses cryptography, typically to secure or authenticate data communication between a pair of computing devices connected to one another through a data communication link in the system. Each computing device has a cryptographic unit with the processing capacity to implement one or more cryptographic protocols used to secure or authenticate the data communication. The cryptographic protocols typically perform arithmetic operations on the bit strings representing parameters, messages, or data in the protocols to produce a bit string representing the output from the protocol.
Cryptographic systems can be broadly divided into two categories: systems that employ symmetric-key schemes, and systems that employ asymmetric or public key schemes. In symmetric-key schemes, the correspondents first agree upon a key that is both secret and authentic. Each correspondent then uses this shared secret key to perform operations such as encryption, decryption, and/or data integrity and data origin authentication.
Symmetric-key schemes have relatively high efficiency; however, they suffer from the key distribution problem, that is, the problem of securely distributing the secret key to each entity. A further drawback of symmetric-key schemes is that such schemes generally cannot use digital signatures to provide non-repudiation services. Since the symmetric key is shared among two or more correspondents, when one correspondent uses the key to sign a message, the signature will not be unique because another correspondent possessing the shared secret key could also generate the same signature. In a symmetric-key scheme, with at least two correspondents, A and B, correspondent B would never be able to prove that correspondent A signed a message, and not he. Accordingly, a third party C could not be convinced that B did not sign the message, especially if it was in any way in B's interest to have done so. This is because B shares the symmetric key with A, and therefore B can do anything with the key that A can do. In particular, A can repudiate such signatures, with the claim that B signed, and B would not be able to refute A's assertion.
Public key schemes, on the other hand, eliminate the above-described problem by allowing the use of elegant digital signature schemes that provide non-repudiation services. Public key schemes also eliminate the key distribution problem. In a public key scheme, each correspondent utilizes a private key and a public key related to the private key by a mathematical function. The mathematical function presents a "difficult" mathematical problem to ensure that a private key of a correspondent cannot be obtained from the corresponding public key. An example of one such problem is the discrete logarithm problem over a finite field, which is used as the basis for public key systems that can implement signature algorithms such as the digital signature algorithm (DSA) and key agreement schemes such as the Diffie-Hellman scheme or the Menezes-Qu-Vanstone (MQV) scheme. A particularly robust and efficient system makes use of points on an elliptic curve defined over a finite field. Such systems, referred to as elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) systems, offer high levels of security at faster computation time than other systems.
The reason public key schemes allow for elegant digital signature algorithms that provide non-repudiation services is because each correspondent has a unique private key that only he knows, and therefore each correspondent can use his private key to generate a unique signature that binds himself to a message. A third party can then use the correspondent's corresponding public key to verify that the signed message did indeed originate from that correspondent. An example of such a signature scheme used in an elliptic curve cryptographic system is referred to as the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA).
Public key schemes also avoid the key distribution problem because secret keys are not shared between correspondents and so no distribution of shared secret keys is necessary.
Therefore, public key schemes are advantageous because of the above-discussed properties. However, the drawback of public key schemes is that they are generally not as efficient at performing encryption or decryption operations, or at performing some data integrity operations. Therefore, many current cryptographic systems combine and exploit the strengths of both symmetric key schemes and public key schemes. An example of such a system is one that utilizes key agreement. Correspondent A possesses long-term or static private/public key pair (a, QA) and correspondent B possesses static private/public key pair (b, QB). These static private and public keys are then used in generating a shared symmetric key k to use for each communication session. A and B each calculate the shared key k based on public static and public ephemeral keys it receives from the other party, as well as based on private static and private ephemeral keys it generates itself.
Key agreement schemes are well known in the art. An example of a well-known key agreement scheme is the Menezes-Qu-Vanstone (MQV) scheme, which adapted for an elliptic curve cryptographic systems is known as Elliptic Curve Menezes-Qu-Vanstone (ECMQV) key agreement. Key agreement schemes such as ECMQV are a useful way of distributing (i.e. sharing) secret keys.
In some situations, key agreement participants may require non-repudiation services or vice versa. However, the number of operations required to perform both key agreement and digital signatures can prove to be costly in certain computationally constrained environments. Also, transmitting a signature across a communication channel requires bandwidth, as the signature components must be transmitted to the recipient to allow for verification.

Digital signature and key agreement schemes


In an illuminating method for nuclear magnetic resonance inspection, the progress of inspection is visually informed to a patient so that the patient can easily and surely keep himself or herself at rest during a scanning period, thereby improving accuracy of the inspection and allowing the patient to feel more at ease. Control signals indicating the progress of inspection are supplied from a control circuit to an illumination control circuit. The illumination control circuit changes, based on the control signals, the intensity, color, etc. of light emitted from a magnet cavity illuminating panel in accordance with the progress of inspection. It is thus possible to visually inform the patient of the progress of inspection, improve accuracy of the inspection, and illuminate a magnetic field generating space for suppressing a feeling of uneasiness felt by the patient.

The present invention relates to an illuminating method and apparatus in nuclear magnetic resonance inspection, and more particularly to an illuminating method and apparatus in nuclear magnetic resonance inspection in which a density distribution and a relaxation time of particular nuclei (e.g., a hydrogen nucleus and a phosphorus nucleus) of individual tissues in a living body are measured by utilizing a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon without invasion to obtain information for medical diagnosis.
Heretofore, X-ray CTs and ultrasonographs have widely been used as apparatuses for inspecting the internal structure of the human body in a non-destructive manner. In recent years, by utilizing a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon, it has become possible to obtain substantial medical diagnosis information that could not be provided by X-ray CTs and ultrasonographs.
For identifying signals from an object to be inspected (or a patient) separately for each of individual parts, an inspection apparatus utilizing a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon employs a method of applying a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency magnetic field so as to make frequency and phase changes of the resulting resonance signal correspond to position information.
One most commonly used example of such a method is known as a spin-echo method. FIG. 13 shows a scanning sequence of the spin-echo method. In FIG. 13, a radio frequency magnetic field 45 and a gradient magnetic field 46 for slicing are applied to determine a particular slice plane, and a phase encode gradient magnetic field 47 and a frequency encode gradient magnetic field 48 are applied to obtain two-dimensional information in the slice plane, thereby measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance signal 49. To obtain one image, it is necessary to change a value of the phase encode gradient magnetic field 47 and repeat such a change 128 or 256 times. A repetition period 50 for this is generally set to a value in the range of about 0.3 second to about 3 seconds, and is an important parameter for a capability of tissue identification in view of a relaxation time of nuclear spins in the body tissues. Taking into account a signal time averaging scheme intended to improve the S/N ratio of the signal a train of scanning time values are distributed over a wide range from about 38 seconds to 20 minutes. Depending on the case, because inspection is conducted while shifting the slice plane or using a plurality of parameters, an inspection time for one patient may exceed one hour. If the patient moves during the inspection time an inconsistency occurs in position information of the image data and image artifacts appear on the reproduced image. As a result, a diagnosis capability may remarkably be lowered, or the positional relationship between images may be not clear.
When inspection is conducted using a nuclear magnetic resonance inspection apparatus, uniformity of a static magnetic field is required to be on the order of about 10 ppm so that image distortion will not be detrimental to diagnosis. While a superconducting magnet built up by solenoid coils can be used to achieve a static magnetic field with such a uniformity, it has a length almost twice its inner diameter and hence has a narrow, long tubular shape. This means that the patient is transported into a narrow, long inspection space within the superconducting magnet when inspected. Accordingly, there is a concern that the patient may feel uneasy in the closed and dark environment when transported into the inspection space under inspection. If the patient moves during inspection upon feeling uneasy, image artifacts appear and a diagnosis capability is remarkably lowered, as mentioned above.
Therefore, movements of the patient under inspection have conventionally been suppressed by not only fixing the patient's body by straps on the like so that locations to be inspected will not move during the long inspection time, but also by indicating the remaining scanning time to the patient to suppress a feeling of uneasiness felt by the patient.
As disclosed in JP-A-145643, it is known in the prior art to use optical fibers serving as light conductors to illuminate the inspection space with an even intensity of illumination and comfortable color light to make the patient free from anxiety. The above reference further suggests that to inform the patient of a period of time in which he or she must be at rest, the illumination may be turned on only for such a period of time, or that the illumination may be blinked as a sign for indicating the start of scanning.
Further, JP-A-3-47234 and JP-A-3-29638 disclose nuclear magnetic resonance inspection apparatuses which correspond to the prior art described above.

Illuminating method and apparatus in nuclear magnetic resonance inspection


A chemical mixing chamber for use in the plating industry is disclosed. The device is particularly useful in the mixing of long chain molecule polymers with water, to break up the polymer in order to provide greater surface area. This is advantageous in mixing the polymer material with solutions of metal acid residue, as the resulting greater surface area of the polymer provides for better electrostatic attraction to the ions in solution. The present invention provides for the efficient breakup of the polymer material, in a device having no moving parts. The water inlet and water-polymer outlet are coaxial, thus providing for ease of installation in a line. The device may be constructed of standard parts and components, and may be formed of various materials (PVC plastic,, stainless steel, iron or other metal pipe,, etc.) as required for the particular environment, and may be used as a mixing chamber for various types of fluids or liquids in various industries and environments.

In our increasingly crowded world, it has become more and more critical to proceed with caution in terms of potentially environmentally hazardous materials. This is particularly true in the plating industry, where many, if not most, of the metals and chemicals used are potential health hazards. Moreover, it has become increasingly costly to simply dispose of such materials, when in at least some cases they may be recycled to salvage at least some of the costly metals and chemicals. In the plating industry, it is necessary to remove metallic acid waste residue from other solutions: this is commonly done by means of a long chain molecular structure "neat" polymer (i.e., a polymer material providing an electrostatic attraction to metallic ions in solution).
In order to achieve maximum efficiency, the relatively viscous polymer must be thinned in some manner, in order to provide a maximum polymer surface area for the attraction of the metallic ions. Water is often used for this purpose. However, heretofore the water-polymer mixing devices have been relatively complex, costly, and have had less than perfect reliability, resulting in down time for the process and relatively costly repairs.
The need arises for a water--polymer mixing chamber which may be installed in line between a water inlet and a mixed polymer outlet line. The device must provide for thorough mixing of the two substances, and must resist chemical or other deterioration. For utmost simplicity and reliability, the device must include no moving parts, and must be relatively economical to purchase, install, use, maintain, and replace. Finally, the device must be adaptable for use in the mixing of other fluids than water and polymer.


A cable connector for receiving a cable includes a substantially tubular connector body having a central bore extending therethrough, a forward end, and a cable receiving end. A gland nut is coupled to the cable receiving end of the connector body, wherein the gland nut is axially movable from a first position relative to the connector body to a second position relative to the connector body. A substantially tubular bushing element is secured between the gland nut and the connector body, wherein the bushing element comprises a tubular body for receiving the cable therethrough. The tubular body of the bushing element includes a flexible portion and a semi-rigid portion, wherein the flexible portion comprises a first hardness to seal the flexible portion to the cable and the semi-rigid portion comprises a second hardness to securely fix the cable relative to the bushing element.

Electrical connectors or fittings have long been used to terminate and connect a variety of cables that carry electrical power or communications-related signals. Such connectors may include strain relief elements for securing the cables and protecting the cable from failures due to abrasion or bending of the cable, pulling-out of the cable, or other similar problems.


Electronic network security by establishing a network topology, including multiple devices, where the network includes a command and control layer and a transport layer, where the command and control layer is changeable by the transport layer and vice versa. All phases of an intrusion attempt are monitored to anticipate an intrusion, prevent an intrusion, and remedy a successful intrusion. An assessment of the threat is made in multiple dimensions. The topology of the network may be changed in accordance with the threat assessment. In addition, computer traffic in the network and from the intrusion source may be modified or stopped to guard against an intrusion, prevent an intrusion, and remedy a successful intrusion. The command and control layer is changeable by the transport layer and vice versa.

Initially, relatively powerful computers were constructed as unique mainframes operated by larger corporations on isolated networks. Then, computers with modest amounts of computing power were made available to individuals as stand-alone personal computers. The computing power of personal computers and the applications for which they could be used were increased by networking them with other computers throughout the world using ancillary devices (e.g., servers, routers, links, switches, hubs, etc.). An arrangement into which computer and ancillary devices are configured is called a topology. There are many different types of topologies (e.g., bus, ring, star, tree, mesh, etc.).
Computers and networking devices were initially designed using mostly unique hardware, where software was mainly used to program applications that could operate, or "run," on the hardware. With the creation of virtual machines (i.e., software that emulates an operating system) and software-defined networking (i.e., software that emulates a network element such as a router), the control of a computer network may now be achieved mostly in software that runs on generic hardware. The benefits of such a network is ease of modification and improvement while avoiding a large investment in new unique hardware. However, with advantages often comes disadvantages.
Networking over a public network is less secure than an isolated network due to the accessibility of a network by a hacker (i.e., a person who improperly gains access to a computer network or information to cause some type of harm such as acquiring proprietary information, revealing proprietary information, erasing valuable information, modifying valuable information, etc.). Typically, a hacker inserts software ("malicious code" or "malware") into a computer network to not only provide incorrect data but to influence, or take control of, the command and control structure of the network.
Prior art intrusion detection systems monitor computer networks or systems for attempts to load malware onto a computer or violations of network security policies. Examples of malware include computer viruses, ransomware, worms, Trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious browser helper objects, and rogue security software. Three types of malware detection methods are currently being used: signature-based methods, anomaly-based methods, and protocol analysis methods.
Signature-based detection methods search for a bit pattern, or signature, that is known to be associated with malware. A shortcoming of such a method is that it is backward-looking. That is, a signature cannot be used to detect malware until after the malware has been used against a computer, the malware is manually identified as such, the malware is analyzed to determine a signature that may be used to electronically identify the malware, and an intrusion detection system is updated to be able to search for the signature. Until these activities are completed, the malware cannot be identified by a signature-based intrusion detection system. An intrusion attempt made before a signature is identified for it is commonly referred to as a "zero-day attack." It may take much time, if ever, to complete these tasks. Another shortcoming is that these activities must be done for each instance of malware. So, the amount of signature that should be searched approaches the amount of malware ever created.
Anomaly-based detection methods determine the average condition of malware-free computer traffic and search for sufficient deviations from the average. A shortcoming of such a method is that an average of computer traffic is a fiction that may not represent malware-free, or benign, computer traffic. Another shortcoming is that once the average is known, malware may be designed to avoid detection by use of the average.
Protocol-analysis-based detection methods determine profiles of perceived benign computer activity and search for sufficient deviations from the profiles. A shortcoming of such a method is that a profile of perceived benign computer activity is a fiction that may not represent benign computer traffic. Another shortcoming is that once the profiles are known, malware may be designed to avoid detection by use of the protocols.
Prior art intrusion detection systems have a very narrow view into intrusion attempts and are either backward-looking or use a fiction about average computer network traffic or benign computer activity. Therefore, there is a need for a computer security device and method that not only takes a wider view of intrusion detection but also addresses the issue of malware that has successfully avoided detection and is operating on a computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,097, entitled "ASSOCIATING NOTIFICATIONS OF THE STATUS OF A DATA NETWORK BY USE OF A TOPOLOGY EDITOR," discloses a user-controlled interface (i.e., a topology editor) to establish functional relationships (i.e. a topology) between devices on a data network. U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,097 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 7,697,420, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEVERAGING NETWORK TOPOLOGY FOR ENHANCED SECURITY," discloses a device for and method of establishing a variable communication path between a source node and a destination node, where the path is selected randomly to prevent any single node from participating in a sufficient number of transmission path so that a complete data packet or a series of data packets may not be intercepted from the node by an unintended recipient. U.S. Pat. No. 7,697,420 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,355, entitled "TOPOLOGY-AWARE ATTACK MITIGATION," discloses a device for and method of determining the topology of a network and deploying an intrusion prevention system in one or more of the devices in the network. U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,355 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110103394, entitled "NETWORK TOPOLOGY CONCEALMENT USING ADDRESS PERMUTAION," discloses a method of obfuscating a source IP address of a packet to be transmitted to conceal the location of the device that transmitted the packet. U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110103394 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110119390, entitled "SELECTIVELY RE-MAPPING A NETWORK TOPOLOGY," discloses a device for and method of selectively re-mapping a network topology based on information in a user profile. U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110119390 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110270972, entitled "VIRTUAL TOPOLOGY ADAPTATIONFOR RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION IN TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS," discloses a device for and a method of virtual topology adaptation for resource optimization. U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 20110270972 is incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention.

Device for and method of computer intrusion anticipation, detection, and remediation

The United States of America, as represented by the Director, National Security Agency


A fashionable hair pin having a series of running flash lights which comprises a curved body made of transparent or translucent material and having a channel grooved in an inner sidewall thereof for engaging a bulb belt having a plurality of flash bulbs of different colors controlled by an integrated circuit through a contact switch which is actuated to turn on or turn off the flash bulbs by means of a lip member formed in the curved body and a snap ring adapted to be engaged in the channel and positioned over the belt for holding the belt in place.

This invention relates to a hair pin and more particularly relates to a hair pin having a series of running flash lights.
A series of fashionable ornaments which are currently named as Disco Ornaments is designed and produced for teen-agers or even adults that facilitates creation of strong feeling or delightful atmosphere in a group activity such as dancing party. Those ornaments include necklace, emblem ring, bangle, coiffure, earring, brooch and so on. It is found that an ornament having sparkling or flash lights can promote said feeling or atmosphere in a dark field such as dancing hall.

No. 25, Sublane 99, Lane 274, Cong-Cheng S. Rd., Yung-Kang Shiang


A vacuum chuck (34) for holding thin sheet material, particularly during high-temperature manufacturing processes, and an apparatus (10) for forming a substantially uniform coating of a substance on a thin sheet material. The vacuum chuck includes a chuck body (36) having a gas-permeable support surface (38) for supporting the thin sheet material to define a vacuum chamber (49) having an inlet (54), a valve member (56) for controlling fluid flow through the vacuum chamber inlet, and a locking shim (58) for holding the valve member in the vacuum chamber inlet. The locking shim is responsive to the vacuum chamber inlet being coupled to a vacuum source for permitting the valve member to partially withdraw from the vacuum chamber inlet, to permit drawing of a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, supporting the thin sheet material on the gas-permeable support surface in a substantially flat position, and is responsive to the vacuum chamber inlet being removed from the vacuum source for inserting the valve member more fully into the vacuum chamber inlet, to seal the vacuum chamber and retain the vacuum therein, holding the thin sheet material on the gas-permeable support surface. One vacuum is attained, temperature excursions during the deposition process will cause the locking shim to press against the valve member with more force. Assuring a sound vacuum through the entire process. The manufacturing apparatus includes a conveyor (12) on which the vacuum chuck is conveyed, with the thin sheet material held thereon, and a source (60) of coating substance.

The present invention pertains to a vacuum chuck for holding thin sheet material such as a glass substrate, and to an apparatus for forming a substantially uniform coating of a substance on a thin sheet material such as a glass substrate.
Thin substrates are used to manufacture numerous items and often require high-temperature processing during the manufacturing. By way of example, thin glass solar cell wafers are utilized for satellite power supply applications and frequently are formed by coating one or more substances on the glass substrates in a high-temperature processing zone. For example, an amorphous silicon coating might be formed on a 3 to 5 mil thick glass wafer in a chemical vapor deposition process at a high temperature. The coating must be uniform over the surface of the wafer, or the resulting coated glass wafer is not usable for its intended purpose.
Present processing techniques for forming a coating on thin substrates include conveying the substrates slowly through a series of processing zones, with significantly different temperatures in each zone. By way of example, the series of processing zones may have a total length in the order of ten feet and may be divided by baffles into three or more zones, with the first zone being heated to a temperature in the order of 200.degree. C. the second zone heated to a temperature in the order of about 600.degree. C. and the third zone heated to a temperature in the order of about 200.degree. C. In some processes a different substance is coated on the substrates in each zone, while in other processes a substance is coated on the substrates in only a single one of the zones. The substrates might be conveyed through these zones at speeds as slow as one foot per minute or slower. Each substrate might have a length of about 12 inches or longer. Consequently, as a substrate moves from one zone to the next, for a significant period of time a portion of the substrate is in the higher temperature zone, while the remainder of the substrate is in the lower temperature zone. During this time a significant temperature gradient exists over the length of the substrate. This temperature gradient can result in the thin substrate warping. During the deposition of substances onto the substrate, such warping can cause non-uniform layer growth across the substrate. The resulting coated substrate is unsatisfactory due to this non-uniform coating.
Vacuum chucks with rubber valves have been used in some room temperatures processing techniques. However, the rubber valves are not able to withstand the high temperatures and corrosive atmospheres encountered in chemical vapor deposition as utilized in many manufacturing processes.

Vacuum chuck for holding thin sheet material