A method and apparatus for skinning while protecting the hide and carcass of game animals while the game animal may be held in a horizontal position at ground level. The apparatus includes a head harness for connection of the head of the game animal to a stationary object. Also included is a skin remover which is attachable to the skin of the animal just below a neck incision and is also attachable to a vehicle bumper. A wrap-around game bag locatable beneath the game during the skinning process ensures that dirt and debris are kept away from the game during the skinning process. The method of skinning includes attaching the head of the game to a stationary object, attaching the skin remover to a vehicle and then applying force with the vehicle to the skin of the animal while the animal remains attached to the stationary object. Just before the skinning occurs and when tension is maximized, the bag is located in its open orientation beneath the game animal. Once the skin is removed the head harness is removed from the head of the animal and the wrap-around game bag is closed around the thus skinned game animal.

When a large animal, such as a deer, is shot and killed by a hunter in the wild, the hunter is then left with the job of skinning and carrying home the animal. It is desirable to skin the animal in a way which does no damage to the head and antlers of the animal in that a hunter often desires to mount this portion of the animal. Also, it is desirable for the hunter to place the body of the animal in a bag after the skin of the animal has been removed so that dirt and other contaminants associated with the animal's fur are effectively separated away from the portion of the animal which is useful as meat.
It is well known in the art that through the judicious placing of incisions through the skin of the large game animal, the skin of the animal can be relatively easily removed by merely peeling the skin of the animal off of the carcass. Various patents have been awarded for devices which more easily facilitate this skinning process.
However, all of these devices are designed for use in a substantially similar way. That is, first the animal is suspended from a tree limb so that the animal is elevated above the ground. Then a cable is attached to the skin of the animal behind the neck. Upon applying tension to the cable, as with a vehicle, the skin is peeled away from the animal. At the outset of the peeling process the animal is hanging substantially vertically and the point of cable connection is high on the animal with an opposite end of the cable a considerable distance away attached to a vehicle. Thus, the peeling force is substantially perpendicular to a dorsal surface of the animal. As the peeling occurs, the point of cable connection moves down the animal causing the animal to pivot toward the vehicle. When the peeling is nearly complete, the peeling force is substantially parallel to the animal.
The animal is suspended from a tree so that once the skin is removed, the animal will not be contaminated by dirt or other debris lying on the ground. While this provides a clean and relatively simple method for skinning a large game animal, it is not always possible to string the large game animal up into a tree. In some outdoor environments, no trees are readily available having the characteristics desired for elevating the large game animal above the ground. In other circumstances, the animal which has been killed is so large that the hunter is unable to suspend the animal in a tree. In these circumstances the prior art devices are not capable of effectively performing the skinning function desired.
Furthermore, the prior art method utilizes a peeling force angle which migrates slowly from being perpendicular to the dorsal surface to being parallel to the dorsal surface. While perpendicular forces are useful to initiate the peeling process, horizontal peeling forces are preferable in that they diminish the possibility that the skin will tear.
The applicant's invention addresses these problems by providing a skinning and protection device which is useable in a horizontal position at ground level. The applicant's method results both in substantial time savings and also makes the skinning process possible in environments and with game which the other prior art devices and methods are incapable of so doing. In additional to time savings, the applicant's horizontal skinning method eliminates the possibility that the animal may fall from its suspended position in a tree and possibly damage its head and antlers. Also, the applicant's method and apparatus provide a peeling force which is initially perpendicular to the dorsal surface but quickly pivots to provide a parallel peeling force.
The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant's acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any conceivable combination the nexus of the instant invention as disclosed in greater detail hereinafter and as particularly claimed.
______________________________________ INVENTOR U.S. PAT. NO. ISSUE DATE ______________________________________ Bintliff 1,290,056 January 7, 1919 DeMoss 2,494,138 January 10, 1950 Scherba 2,497,325 February 14, 1950 Weiss, et al. 2,518,651 August 15, 1950 Jones, et al. 3,209,395 October 5, 1965 Anderson 3,674,188 July 4, 1972 Hockley, et al. 3,763,907 October 9, 1973 Carrington, et al. 3,871,084 March 18, 1975 Ochylski 4,011,630 March 15, 1977 Slater 4,296,788 October 27, 1981 Boggs 4,301,920 November 24, 1981 Engel 4,317,257 March 2, 1982 Engel 4,529,240 July 16, 1985 ______________________________________
The patent to Carrington is of interest in that it teaches a deer skinning apparatus and method which uses a cable attached to the skin of the animal which pulls the skin of the animal off of the animal as does the device described by this application. However, the applicant's invention is distinguishable from Carrington's device in that Carrington requires suspension of the animal from a support such as a tree limb high enough above the ground to elevate the animal above the ground.
The patent to Engel ('257) teaches the use of an animal carrying and skinning device which utilizes a similar skinning method to that disclosed by Carrington. The applicant's method and device are distinguishable from Engel in that the animal is not suspended from the limb of a tree, but rather may be connected to any stationary object. Also, means are provided in the applicant's invention to ensure that damage to the animal, antlers and tearing of the skin is avoided.
The remainder of this prior art cited but not specifically distinguished from the applicant's invention share only limited similarities to the requirements of the applicant's invention and diverge even more starkly from the applicant's invention than do those patents specifically distinguished. Accordingly, applicant's invention exhibits a skinning method and device which is new, useful and not made obvious by the known prior art.

Horizontal skinning and protection apparatus


The invention relates to a particular structure of high-frequency antenna, which comprises a support element (1) provided with a cylindrical coil conductor which forms a helix (2). On the support element (1) there is formed, for example by means of a conductive coating, the electrical parts of the antenna, such as the attachment points (3b) for the helix and for other parts, such as feeder lines (4), radiators (5) or impedance matching devices. By varying the number and size of the helices (2), the number and form of the feeder lines (4) and radiators (5) and the quality of any impedance matching devices, it is possible without difficulty to obtain a very wide choice of different antenna structures. The feeder lines and radiators extend, at least in part, within the helix.

The helix is a cylindrical coil conductor, such as employed in high-frequency electronics in, among other things, resonator and antenna structures, in particular in portable radio appliances, such as mobile telephones.
Antennae in which use is made of a helical antenna supported on a support plate inside the helix have been proposed in GB Patent Application No 2 280 789. The publication in question contains a proposal for a structure where strip areas which consist of a conducting material and which constitute a helix antenna are formed on the surface of a dielectric substrate. The conducting areas are, for example, created on one side only of the substrate, which substrate is bent into the form of a cylinder, thus producing a helical antenna. Another method is to produce, on both sides of the substrate, conductor strips which are joined to conductor strips on the opposite side, so that a helical antenna element is obtained. The publication also contains a proposal for the connection of a whip antenna to a helix antenna with a separate connecting means through which the whip component may move. U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,747 proposes a helix antenna where the helix is placed around a support member which in cross section has the shape of a cross. The helix and support member are against a reflector on which a strip line is formed for antenna feed.
In both of the cases described above, the support member inside the helix is intended to retain and support the helical form, only the helical component being a radiator. The problem with such a solution is that other possible components of the antenna, such as the transmission line or the whip antenna, have to be connected to the helix by other means and have to be attached to the support structure of the antenna by other means.
An antenna formed from conductor patterns on the surface of a dielectric substrate has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,799. This patent proposes a dipole antenna, which is formed with the aid of conductor strips which are created on the surface of the substrate. The antenna in the patent in question has no helical component whatsoever. The problem with this type of solution lies in its large size. By using a helix it is possible to restrict the physical dimensions of an antenna designed for a particular wavelength range.
The combination of a dielectric plate and a helix is also employed in the helix-comb filter produced by LK Products Oy, which is described in Finnish Patent No. 78198. The patent also proposes a resonator structure, in which there is a cylindrical coil conductor forming the helix-resonator, which conductor is supported on a plate situated inside it and made from an insulating material. On the insulation plate, strip lines are used to form an electrical circuit to which the helix resonator is connected. This patent does not, however, concern use of the structure as an antenna, since in the design of resonator structures it is desirable to eliminate radiation to the environment.
EP application No. 590 534 describes the use of a helix in combination with a dipole antenna pattern formed on a dielectric plate. The application describes an antenna which can be retracted into a housing, whereby conductive patterns on the dielectric plate form both a sliding contact and an antenna pattern. The application does not, however, present a structure which could easily be used in mass production for producing many different types of antennas.

Combined structure of a helical antenna and a dielectric plate


A method of eliciting customer preferences includes establishing a computer-enabled facility accessible to the target audience of participants, determining features to collect bets on, determining which participants may register, determining a betting period, determining betting rules, determining how to decide winners and prizes, registering the participants participation using the website, instructing the participants about procedures of abetting game and list of possible product features, betting, by the participants, on the product features the participants think will be preferred by the general public, determining whether an end of the betting period has been reached, determining, at the end of the betting period, average bets for each of the product features, predicting average customer preferences based on the average bets, determining a score of each participant who made bets, determining which of the participants has a best score, and using resulting preference information for production planning.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the elicitation of customer preferences. More particularly, the present invention is related to a method and structure for eliciting true and accurate customer preferences using a web-enabled betting game.
2. Description of the Related Art
The traditional methods used in marketing to elicit customer preferences are surveys, whether on-line or otherwise, conjoint analysis, focus groups, or statistical sales data analysis.
A research team at MIT/UCLA has conducted controlled experiments with students using an on-line double auction procedure to predict customer preferences for new product features (concepts). They compared these predictions to those obtained by traditional methods, such as conjoint analysis, and found consistencies.
Double auction procedures have been tested for other kinds of predictions in corporate interest. For example, Eli Lilly's research division tested such procedures to predict the success of newly developed drugs, where participants were Lilly employees in some trials and external customers in other trials. Hewlett Packard (HP) tested double auction procedures with their executives for revenue forecasting. HP has also used a betting game for revenue forecasting with their executives. However, their bets are not made on a public opinion or preference but on actual sales data. Double auction procedures are also used for the IOWA Election Markets and the Hollywood Exchange Markets.
It is typical that practitioners pay subjects a participation fee to participate in studies employing the traditional methods (i.e., those traditional methods mentioned above) to achieve a desired level of participation. A known difficulty of these methods centers in maintaining participant interest. That is, once the participants appear for study, they typically want it to end as quickly as possible. The participants have no real incentive to provide good quality answers.
In addition to the incentive hazard, all of the participants must be paid to participate. This set a minimum expense on such studies that is a function of how many participants are needed, the inconvenience of traveling to/from or otherwise joining the study, and the expected duration of the study. Typically, the participants are at least aware of the other participants (how many others there are, their attitude toward the proceeding, some non-verbal influences in reaction to inquiries, etc.) Obviously, this awareness can bias responses. While it is possible to mitigate or eliminate these biases and influences through careful isolation of participants, such effort typically entails substantial additional costs.
Last, in such in-person or other study formats, participants are usually willing to devote only so much time and attention questions at hand. Consequently, there is usually a kind of consideration bias. Consider the case where a telemarketer surveys a study participant for their preferences regarding a new model car. The respondent will give typically a quick reaction to preference questions—certainly more impetuous than if they were actually buying the car in question and spending their own money on the features offered. In that survey setting, they typically have no expectation of actually getting the car. They may have an expectation of receiving a gift of some kind—but typically not the product and features that are the subject of the survey.

Customer preference elicitation based on a web-enabled betting game

International Business Machines Corporation


A connector main body of a connector accommodates a contact unit, a power cut-off unit that has an electric conductor unit, and open and close a power feeding path between an electrically driven vehicle and an electric power apparatus by bringing into contact or opening electric conductor unit, and an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality that occurs on power feeding path, or receives an abnormality signal from outside, an abnormality transmission unit that, when abnormality detection unit detects abnormality or receives abnormality signal, mechanically opens electric conductor unit, and a handle that mechanically brings into contact or opens electric conductor unit in a state in which abnormality detection unit does not detect abnormality and does not receive abnormality signal. Abnormality detection unit detects at least one of a short-circuit current and an overload current that occur on power feeding path as abnormality.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Relented Art
Conventionally, a charging cable is provided to charge a battery that is mounted on an electrically driven vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV) and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) (see JP 2010-110055A, for example). This charging cable includes a power supply plug that detachably connects to an electrical outlet of a commercial power supply, and a vehicle connector that detachably connects to the electrically driven vehicle and supplies a charging current to the battery of the electrically driven vehicle, and the power supply plug and the vehicle connector are connected by an electrical cable. Moreover, a control box is provided partway along the electrical cable, and inside the control box, an open-close circuit that opens and closes an electric path between the power supply plug and the vehicle connector and a control circuit that stops supply of the commercial power supply by opening the electric path through the open-close circuit when an abnormality is detected during charging are accommodated.
With this charging cable, the battery is charged by the electric power supplied from the commercial power supply, by connecting the power supply plug to the electrical outlet and connecting the vehicle connector to the electrically driven vehicle. Moreover, with this charging cable, if an abnormality occurs (such as a temperature increase of the power supply plug, or an electric leakage, for example) during battery charging, the control circuit detects the abnormality and opens the electric path through the open-close circuit and stops charging of the battery. Accordingly, circuit protection can be provided when an abnormality occurs.
However, with the charging cable of JP 2010-110055A described above, since the control box is provided in the middle of the electric cable, the control box can hamper storage of the electric cable. Note that, although a charging cable that does not include a control box has been conventionally provided, this charging cable does not include the function of detecting abnormalities that occur on an electric path, and in order to include the function to detect abnormality, the control box needs to be provided in the middle of the electric cable.
Moreover, a conventional control apparatus functions to stop supply of the commercial power supply, and does not have a protection function against electric power originating from an electric storage device (EV) when an abnormality occurs in the wiring between the connector with the electric storage device and the control box. If a short-circuit abnormality occurs in the above region, there is no protection against the short-circuit current caused by electric power of the electrically driven vehicle (electric storage device), and if an electric leakage abnormality occurs in the above region, protection is not available against the electric leakage of electric power from the electrically driven vehicle (electric storage device), even though the connection is open in the control box.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A docking and electrical interface for physically supporting and electrically interconnecting a personal communication device, such as a mobile cellular telephone, and a master electronic system, such as the electronic system of an automobile. Utilizing the interface allows an operator to selectively control the personal communication device using the master controls for the master electronic system, removing the need to access and manipulate the controls of the personal communication device.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical interfaces, and in particular, to a docking and electrical interface between a portable mobile cellular telephone and a master electronics system.
2. Description of Related Art
The size of personal use radio frequency (RF) transceivers, such as cellular telephones, continues to decrease. As such decreases occur, the size of certain human interface components (e.g., digital readouts and keypads) reaches a point where operation of such components becomes difficult, thus requiring increasing care and attention by an operator to read information displayed on the display and/or to accurately manipulate the keys and controls of the telephone. Such decreases in size accordingly approach a lower limit defined by the size of those certain components in relation to size limitations imposed by an operator's fingers and eyes.
Compounding the problem associated with operation of a cellular telephone or the like including smaller human interface components is that such devices are increasingly used in situations where it is undesirable and difficult to devote the increased attention required to operate the device. One prime example of such a situation is the use of a mobile cellular telephone during the operation of an automobile. Diverting attention away from the operation of the automobile to operate the telephone is undesirable. Having to divert additional attention away from the operation of an automobile due to the inclusion of smaller interactive human interface components, such as displays and keypads, only compounds the problem. Thus, there is an increasing tension between the continued reduction of size of personal use transceivers, such as mobile cellular telephones, and the operation of such devices in certain situations.
Previous attempts have been made to remedy the tension described above. For example, larger, separate keypads and display units for telephones have been developed to address the problem. These components are typically mounted in the general area intended for the telephone's use (e.g., inside an automobile). While simultaneously allowing the telephone to be reduced in size and providing appropriately sized interactive components, this type of prior art device suffers from several disadvantages.
First, it has been found that the separate display components are difficult to read and awkward to operate in an automobile. Additionally, the use of such separate components requires that the user divert his or her attention from operation of the automobile to properly operate the telephone. Finally, the addition of separate components and equipment to the standard equipment of an automobile is typically not desired for various aesthetic reasons. Such human interface components are included in addition to the human interface components of the master electronics system of the automobile. There would be an advantage if personal use RF transceivers, such as mobile cellular telephones, could operate and be controlled through a master electronic system, such as the standard equipment electronics found in an automobile.

Docking and electrical interface for personal use communication devices


A wireless traffic control system and method for wirelessly communicating information using traffic control signs are provided. The method includes wirelessly transmitting at least one of traffic control information and vehicle information from a traffic control sign and wirelessly receiving the information transmitted from the traffic control sign by at least one other traffic control sign.

This invention relates generally to traffic control systems, and more particularly, to traffic control systems providing wireless communication of information between a plurality of traffic control signs.
Drivers traversing roadways in their vehicles are provided with many different traffic control signs having traffic control information, such as, for example, sign-directed cautions, alerts and information. This traffic control information is typically provided along and above the roadway to control traffic, as well as display other useful information (e.g., next rest area). For example, sign-related information may include information on permanent signs relating to speed limits, dangerous intersections, sharp turns, construction zones, railroad crossings, school zones, stop signs, detours, merges, etc. Additionally, and for example, sign-related information may include manually-held signs alerting drivers of construction, lane changes, accidents, detours, etc. Further, sign-related information may be provided on vehicles, such as, for example, a stop sign on a school bus, a slow vehicle sign on slow moving vehicles and a wide load sign on larger vehicles. This sign-related information is intended to control traffic, prevent accidents and provide drivers with useful information.
The size, shape, color, and positioning of traffic control signs to provide sign-related information is typically selected to maximize visibility by drivers. However, external factors may affect the effectiveness of providing this information to drivers. For example, elderly drivers may not see or process the information on a traffic control sign as readily as younger drivers. Further, sleepiness and/or driver fatigue may result in a loss of attention to the information provided on traffic control signs. In other instances, environmental factors may affect the effectiveness of providing this information. For example, hilly terrain or outgrowth of plants and trees may obscure traffic control signs from a driver, thereby resulting in the information on the sign never being seen by a driver or seen too late. Weather conditions also may obscure traffic control signs and, for example, limit the distance from which a driver can view the information on a sign.
Additionally, depending on the driver and vehicle, the placement or positioning of traffic control signs may not provide drivers with enough warning regarding an upcoming condition (e.g., sharp curve or lane closed ahead) to allow the driver to properly react to the information posted on the traffic control sign. Also, the spacing between traffic control signs may not allow for proper response by a driver, for example, if the traffic control signs are too close together or too far apart. Further, there is typically no means to provide information to a driver if the driver, for example, does not see a traffic control sign (e.g., driver fails to see a sharp curve sign) and passes the sign. Also, there is typically no means to provide information to a driver relating to a traffic control sign based on upcoming conditions (e.g., work zone ahead posted on a traffic sign with a stopped vehicle in the work zone). Many traffic control signs include permanent posted information that provide only static information without the ability to provide updated information to the driver.
Thus, the effectiveness of traffic control signs to provide information to drivers is often reduced by factors or circumstances such as the placement or positioning of the signs, driver incompetence, driver age, indifference or inattention, roadway limitations or impairments and/or weather conditions. Reduction or limitation of the ability to view these signs, as well as improper positioning of these signs, decreases the effectiveness of the signs and may increase the likelihood of accidents or other undesirable or unintended consequences. Further, many signs do not provide adequate notice regarding upcoming conditions because of the permanent nature of the signs.


A hospital bed, patient/nurse call system, and a hospital network are provided. Communication is provided over a packet based communication network.

The present invention relates to a hospital bed and network communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bed in a patient/nurse call system in a hospital network with voice communication implemented over message packets via a packet based communication network.
Almost every hospital wing or ward has a patient/nurse call system that includes an audio network to allow a patient in a hospital room to contact and speak with a nurse or staff member at a nurse station. Typically, the patient may activate a "call" signal by depressing a button on a small housing connected via hardwire to a unit mounted to the headwall of the patient room. This small housing is generally referred to as a pillow speaker, or pillow unit. The headwall unit usually has another wall-mounted call button for easy operation by a nurse. Other input mechanisms may include emergency call buttons, code blue buttons, or bathroom call buttons. Additionally, the audio network of these call systems may be used for audio monitoring of a hospital room from the nurse station during an extreme emergency, such as a code "blue" status.
Hospitals also include emergency signaling devices for notifying hospital personnel of other types of emergency conditions, such as smoke detectors or a fire alarm. Typically, these devices generate audio signals to convey audible alarms over a hospital intercom system, which may or may to be interconnected with the patient room audio network. Some hospitals also use bed monitoring devices with bed sensors that indicate bed conditions such as "brakes on," mattress firmness (for inflatable mattresses), or incontinence.
Historically, the duplicity of call and information systems in hospitals has complicated the organization, maintenance and effective dissemination of all of the useful information that is generated. If these systems cannot be operated in a simple, user-friendly manner, they can add to the stress level of nurses and staff. As a result, their jobs are made more difficult, rather than made easier. Additionally, use of multiple call and information systems in a hospital adds to the costs of health care, due to costs associated with purchase, installation and maintenance of the various components of these multiple systems, along with training personnel how to use the system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,561,412, 5,699,038, and 5,838,223, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose integration of call and information systems through a private branch exchange ("PBX") voice/data switching system that establishes audio links and data distribution between a master station and other stations. The disclosed communications networks are basically telephone networks that provide synchronous, full duplex, voice and data communications. Additionally, non-voice information signals from emergency signaling devices, bed monitoring devices, locating and tracking transmitters, and/or various other pieces of equipment are converted to digital data and transmitted through the PBX to the distant end over a low-speed channel.
Although PBX based systems provide several advantages over historical approaches, there are still needs to reduce equipment and maintenance costs, to increase expandability and versatility, and to increase the effective bandwidth of patient/nurse call systems in hospital networks.
The present invention fulfills the above needs, among others, by providing a system and method for a hospital bed, a patient/nurse call, and a hospital network using voice and data over packet implementation.
In one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a patient/nurse call system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted to be carried by hospital personnel, each transmitter being configured to periodically transmit an identification signal unique to that transmitter, a plurality of patient locations, each of the plurality of patient locations being associated with a patient and including a receiver configured to receive the identification signals from the plurality of transmitters, and a master station remote from the patient locations, the master station being configured to receive signals from the receivers to indicate locations of the hospital personnel. The system also comprises a packet based communication network, and a plurality of first audio stations coupled to the packet based communication network. A first audio station is located at each patient location and is identified by a unique address. Each first audio station includes a first processor, a first microphone, a first speaker, and a first converter configured to receive audio signals from the first microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network. The first converter also is configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the first speaker. The system further comprises a second audio station located at the master station and coupled to the packet based communication network. The second audio station is identified by a unique address and includes a second processor, a second microphone, a second speaker, and a second converter configured to receive audio signals from the second microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network. The second converter also is configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the second speaker, thereby permitting audio communication between personnel located at the first and second audio stations.
In an illustrated embodiment, a server is coupled to the packet based communication network. The server is configured to instruct the plurality of first audio stations to send the packet based data stream to and receive the packet based data stream from the second audio station. The server is further configured to instruct the second audio station to send the packet based data stream to and receive the packet based data stream from the first audio stations.
In another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a patient/nurse call system comprises a packet based communication network, a plurality of transmitters, each of the transmitters being configured to be carried by a hospital caregiver and to periodically transmit an identification signal that identifies the transmitters and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the identification signals and generate identification data corresponding thereto. The receivers are configured to convert the identification data into a packet based data stream and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network. The system also includes a first audio station coupled to the packet based communication network and being identified by a unique address. The first audio station includes a first processor, a first microphone, a first speaker, and a first converter configured to receive audio signals from the first microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network. The first converter also is configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the first speaker. The system further includes a second audio station coupled to the packet based communication network and being identified by a unique address. The second audio station includes a second processor, a second microphone, a second speaker, and a second converter configured to receive audio signals from the second microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network. The second converter also is configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the second speaker. The system still further includes a server coupled to the receivers, the first audio station, and the second audio station via the packet based communication network. The server is configured to instruct the first audio station and the second audio station regarding at least one of establishing an audio connection and terminating an audio connection based at least in part on the identification data, thereby permitting audio communication between personnel located at the first and second audio stations.
In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver is further configured to generate location data based at least in part on the identification signals, and the server is further configured to instruct the first audio station and the second audio station regarding at least one of establishing an audio connection and terminating an audio connection based at least in part on the location data.
In yet another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a method for patient and nurse communication over a hospital network comprises the steps of receiving at least one of an identification signal from a transmitter carried by a hospital caregiver, a bed status signal, a chair call signal, a shower status signal, and a remote code signal, generating non-voice data corresponding to the received signal, and generating voice data. The method also includes sending a first notification packet from a first address into a packet network, sending a first request packet from a second address into the packet network in response to the first notification packet, transporting the non-voice data in packets between the first address and the second address in response to the first notification packet and the first request packet, and transporting the voice data in packets between the first address and the second address in response to the first notification packet and the first request packet.
In a further illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus comprises a patient support, and a computer coupled to the patient support. The computer provides an audio station on the patient support configured to communicate with a packet based communication network. A display coupled to the computer. A data device is also coupled to the computer. The data device includes at least one of a psychological monitor, a treatment device, and a therapy device, the computer being configured to receive data from the data device, convert the data received from the data device to a packet based data stream, and transmit the packet based data stream to the packet based communication network.
In an illustrated embodiment, a plurality of data devices are coupled to the computer including an input device to input data and instructions concerning the patient, and a sensing device including at least one of a heart rate sensor, a respiratory rate sensor, a neurological monitoring sensor, and a temperature sensor. Also in illustrated embodiments, the data device includes at least one of a vital signs monitor, an IV pump, a ventilator, a defibrillator, and a compression boot. In illustrated embodiments, the patient support is a hospital bed or a patient assist cart.
Additional features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Healthcare computer system with intra-room network


A photoprint mounting platen facilitates presentation of a photoprint to an imaging station of photoprint imaging scanner, in a secure protected condition. The configuration of the platen is such that it allows a plurality of photoprint platens to be arranged in a stacked configuration and fed one at the time to a platen imaging station, and then fed from the platen imaging station to a take up location. In a first embodiment the platen has a generally flat mounting surface upon which a photoprint is attachable, and first and second end edges and first and second side edges. One or more regions are located adjacent to the mounting surface area for storing machine readable photoprint parameter information. The platen further includes a plurality of side rail elements extending above the first surface by a height greater than the thickness of a photoprint, so that multiple platens may be stacked together without a photoprint contacting an adjacent platen. In a second embodiment the platen comprises a substrate having a generally flat mounting surface upon which the photoprint is to be placed, the substrate having first and second end edges and first and second side edges. First and second side rail elements adjoin the respective first and second side edges of the substrate and adjoin a transparent cover plate which is arranged to overlie the mounting surface of the substrate and thereby retain a photoprint between itself and the substrate. Ends of the side rail elements have sloped contours to facilitate interleaving of multiple platens together in a stack.

Recent improvements in their spatial and data resolution capabilities have made digital color image processing systems attractive for a number of photoprocessing (e.g. photo-finishing) applications. In still color image photography, for example, once an image (such as that captured on color photographic film or a high resolution color digital camera) has been digitized and stored in an attendant data base, it is readily optimized for reproduction by means of photofinishing image processing software. Such image processing systems also provide for the storage and retrieval of high resolution digitized color still images for application to a variety of reproduction devices. This not only enables the photofinisher to optimize the quality of a color image print, but allows the images on a processed roll of film to be stored in digital format on a compact disc (CD), which may then be delivered to the customer for playback by a CD player and display on a television set.
One such apparatus is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 582,305, filed Sep. 14, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,455, issued Jun. 8, 1993 entitled "Multiresolution Digital Imagery Photofinishing System, by S. Kristy, assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is herein incorporated. As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, such a digitizing apparatus may employ a high resolution opto-electronic film scanner 12, the output of which is coupled to a host digitized image processor (host computer) 14. Scanner 12 typically contains a very high resolution sensor pixel array (a 3072.times.2048 pixel matrix) capable of generating high spatial density-representative output signals which, when converted into digital format, yield `digitized` photographic image files from which high quality color prints may be obtained. Scanner 12 is arranged to be optically coupled with a photographic recording medium, such as a consumer-supplied 35 mm color film strip 16. Film strip 16 contains a plurality (e.g. a set of twenty- four or thirty-six) 36 mm.times.24 mm color image frames. For each scanned image frame, high resolution scanner 12 outputs digitally encoded data, representative of the opto-electronic response of its high resolution imaging sensor pixel array, onto which a respective photographic image frame of film strip 16 is projected by the scanner's input lens system.
This digitally encoded data, or `digitized` image, is supplied in the form of an imaging pixel array- representative bit map, resolved to a prescribed code width (e.g. eight bits per color per pixel), to a host processor 14. Host processor 14 contains an image encoding and storage operator through which each high resolution digitized image file is stored, preferably in a multiresolution, hierarchical format, in order to facilitate retrieval of the digitized images for reproduction by a variety of devices the resolution of which may vary from device to device, such as a low/moderate NTSC television monitor or a very high resolution, digitally driven, color thermal printer. The spatial parameters of each of the hierarchical image files into which an original 2K pixel.times.3K pixel digitized image file is encoded and stored are chosen to facilitate the implementation and incorporation of a low cost, reduced complexity frame store/data retrieval architecture into a variety of reproduction devices, thereby providing for rapid call-up and output (display or print out) of one or more selected images.
In addition to using such improved photofinishing equipment to process current day images, such as capturing original color images in digital format by way of a high resolution digitizing color camera, or scanning a roll of color negative film, there is also the demand for using such digital image processing capability to convert `old` photographs, such as dated photoprints that have been `kept in a shoebox`, into digital format for CD storage, thereby allowing a customer to store and catalog the images on such prints for subsequent television viewing.
To meet this need, co-pending application Ser. No. 762,323, filed Sep. 16, 1991, entitled "Dual Imaging Station Scanner", assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is herein incorporated, describes a digitizing scanner apparatus which has the ability to automatically digitize a plurality of photoprint images which the customer brings to the photofinisher in a loosely arrayed pile or mounted in a photo-album binder, thereby allowing a photofinisher to rapidly process any number of pictures supplied by the customer, irrespective of the condition or form in which the photoprints are supplied.
More particularly, FIGS. 2 and 3 diagrammatically show such a dual imaging station photoprint scanner 10 as comprising a housing or cabinet 11 having an upper or topside placement/album imaging station 13 and a lower, magazine-fed platen imaging station 15. Upper imaging station 13 comprises a transparent (e.g. glass) plate 21 upon which a sheet of photographic recording material, such as a photoprint, 23 may be placed in a face-down position. Adjacent to top plate 21, the cabinet has a sloped support surface 25, thereby providing, in cooperation with the top plate, a broad area surface for supporting a large item, such as a photo album (shown diagrammatically in broken lines 27 in its open, face-down condition), so that a page of the photo album may be easily placed in direct imaging-abutment with top plate 21. A first imaging station illuminator 29 utilizing four cylindrical fluorescent lamps arranged in a rectangular configuration and directed to illuminate photoalbum 27, is located beneath top plate 21.
A lower portion of cabinet 21 retains a platen feed mechanism 30, which is operative to withdraw and translate a photographic print support platen from a first supply magazine 32 to platen imaging station 15, and then feed the platen from the platen imaging station to a second take up storage magazine 34. For this purpose, platen feed mechanism comprises a first set of controllably driven pinch rollers 41 located between magazine 32 and platen imaging station 15, and a second set of controllably driven pinch rollers 43 located between platen imaging station 15 and magazine 34. A controllably stepped drive motor 45 is coupled to rollers 41 and 43 by means of a conventional puller/drive belt arrangement, not shown, and is controllably driven by a system microcontroller to rotate the pinch rollers and thereby sequentially extract a platen from a bottom slot 33 of supply magazine 32, translate an extracted platen to imaging station 15 and then translate the platen from imaging station 15 to a lower entry slot 35 of take up storage magazine 34. A second image station illuminator 36, also utilizing four cylindrical fluorescent lamps arranged in a rectangular configuration and directed to illuminate imaging station 15, is located above imaging station 15.
A multi-directional image projection mechanism 50 is supported within housing 11 between upper and lower imaging stations 13 and 15, respectively, and is operable to selectively project one of an image recorded on a sheet of photographic recording material 23 that has been placed face down on top plate 21, is mounted in a photo album 27 that has been placed face down on top plate 21, or an image on a photoprint that has been secured to a platen, shown diagrammatically at 40, fed by platen feed mechanism 30 to lower imaging station 15.
Scanner 10 also contains an opto-electronic conversion device 60 supported within housing 11 at an image projection plane 62 of multi-directional image projection mechanism 50. A digital imagery data recording mechanism 64 is coupled to photo-responsive conversion device 60, and is operative to record, on a digital data storage medium, such as a compact disc, a digitized image that has been projected on the photo-responsive conversion device by the multi-directional image projection mechanism.
Multi-directional image projection mechanism 50 comprises an adjustable image magnification device, such as an adjustable focal length, adjustable focus, zoom lens 52, which is operative to controllably vary the size of the image projected onto the photo-responsive conversion device. The image projection mechanism also includes a first, controllably rotatable mirror 54 disposed between top plate 21 and platen imaging station 15, and a second, fixed mirror 56 disposed in a projection path 58 between rotatable mirror 54 and photo conversion device 60.

Photoprint retaining platen for digitizing image scanner


The present invention provides a receiving folder with self-arrangement comprising a top cover and a bottom case. A capacity space is positioned between the top cover and the bottom case. A pair of first sidewalls of the top cover have first inclined edges, clamping units are formed on the first sidewalls. A pair of second sidewalls of the bottom case have second inclined edges. Inner of the bottom case has an elastic unit which end part extending upward to contact inner of the top cover. The back end of the bottom case has at least one plate. Wherein the first inclined edges are opposite to the second inclined edges, thus the first sidewalls are engaged with the second sidewalls.

In today's commerce environment, with a variety of cards, everyone has at least one wallet which is regarded to fashion accessories. There are many kinds of wallets in the market, with folders in ladder type arrangement, to conform requirement of consumers, such as credit cards, driving license, ID, visa cards, and so on. However, prior wallets can solve problem of cards, but prior wallets have more folders resulting in increasing volume entirely, thereby causing inconvenience.
On the other hand, a variety of card holders may store business cards or other cards only, not mentioned to banknotes, coins and receipts. Additionally, users must search desired cards by thumbing through entire card holders themselves.
RFID refers to Radio Frequency IDentification. It typically applies to a technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. RFID system is well knows in many field, such as purchasing objects, taking bus and library. RFID cards have substituted for magnetic stripe cards, gradually, to reduce trading time and improve convenience. However, hacker may hack privacy of RFID cards through simple improper wireless identifiers, because RFID cards is contactless. In prior art, most of wallets and card holders are made of soft materials which cannot resist radio wave of improper wireless identifiers, therefore, the data of RFID cards may be hacked.
In prior art, increasing number of folders to conform requirements of the consumers will increase the volume of the entire wallet, due to one folder only stores one card. Furthermore, prior wallet is lack of novelty, theft proof and water-resistant effect.
In order to solve the problem of the conventional arts, there is a need and focus in the related industry to provide a receiving folder, with self-arrangement, theft proof and water resistant, not only for arranging a plurality of cards, but also for storing other objects, such as coins, keys, memory cards, and so on.


An image recognition method comprises the steps of: a) examining as to how much input image parts resemble a predetermined figure comprising a plurality of elements, and giving a first score on each image part as to how much it resembles to the element of the predetermined figure, and giving a second score on the image parts as to much a positional relationship therebetween resembles that of the elements of the predetermined figure; and b) determining as to whether or not the input image parts coincide the predetermined figure by using the first and second scores together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recognition scheme, and, in particular, to an image recognition scheme by which a specific pattern image can be recognized/identified/detected highly precisely.
2. Description of the Related Art
Concerning a color image recognition method, for example, Japanese laid-open patent application No. 8-263662 discloses a method in which, not an entire input color image is processed uniformly, but only a sad. Patterns image which is formed in accordance with a predetermined rule is attempted to be recognized highly precisely.
According to this art, mark extraction is made by using a window for scanning 'binary image data' (in which each pixel has a value of either one of two values, for example, 0 and 1, or white and black) or through Hough transformation. However, determination as to whether or not a target image part corresponds to a predetermined mark (pattern image) to be recognized/detected may be difficult in case where a relevant image part has become unclear, i.e., a relevant figure is faint, or crushed due to some reason.


A proximal end of a lead body carries a connector assembly. A first electrical conductor within the lead body electrically connects a tip electrode to a first electrical contact on the connector assembly. A collar electrode is carried by a distal end portion of the lead body. A second electrical conductor within the lead body electrically connects the collar electrode to a second electrical contact on the connector assembly. A ring electrode, carried by the distal end portion of the lead body, is disposed proximally of the collar electrode in spaced-apart relationship thereto and is connected through a switching device to a node point along the first conductor. The switching device has a first state permitting an electrical current to be conducted between the ring electrode and the node point and a second state in which the ring electrode is electrically isolated from the node point. Preferably, the switching device comprises a diode.

Cardiac pacemaker lead systems fulfill two functions. The first function is to provide an electrical conduit by which a pacemaker output pulse is delivered to stimulate the local tissue adjacent to the distal tip of the lead. The second function is to sense local, intrinsic cardiac electrical activity that takes place adjacent to the distal tip of the lead.
The advantages of providing pacing therapies to both the right and left heart chambers are well established. For example, in four chamber pacing systems, four pacing leads, typically bipolar leads, are positioned for both pacing and sensing of the respective heart chambers. To provide right side pacing and sensing, leads are implanted directly in the right atrium and/or right ventricle. To provide left side stimulation and sensing, leads are transvenously implanted in the coronary sinus region, for example, in a vein such as the great vein, the left posterior ventricular (LPV) vein, or other coronary veins, proximate the left ventricle of the heart. Such placement avoids the risks associated with implanting a lead directly within the left ventricle which can increase the potential for the formation of blood clots which may become dislodged and then carried to the brain where even a small embolism could cause a stroke.
One of the problems with cardiac pacing and sensing systems is their inability to suppress far-field electrical signals. These signals are generated by depolarizations of body tissue in areas remote from the local sensing site and are manifested as propagated voltage potential wavefronts carried to and incident upon the local sensing site. A far-field signal may comprise the intrinsic signal originating from the chamber of the heart opposite the one in which a lead electrode is located. For example, for a lead electrode implanted in the right atrium, the ventricular R-wave comprises a far-field signal whose amplitude can easily swamp the smaller P-wave signal sought to be sensed thereby making difficult the discrimination of a P-wave from the higher energy QRS complex (sometimes referred to as the R-wave).
The sensing electrode(s) detect(s) the voltages of these far-field signals and interpret them as depolarization events taking place in the local tissue when such polarizations are above the threshold sensing voltage of the system. When far-field signal voltages greater than the threshold voltage are applied to the sensed signal processing circuitry of the pulse generator or pacemaker, activation of certain pacing schemes or therapies can be erroneously triggered.
With the development of programmable, universal stimulation/sensing systems, that is, three- and four-chamber combination pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillators, accurate sensing of cardiac signals has become even more critical, and the management, suppression and/or elimination of far-field signals is vitally important to allow appropriate device algorithms to function without being confused by the undesirable far-field signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,119 discloses a tripolar atrial pacing and sensing lead comprising a passive tip electrode and a pair of spaced-apart ring electrodes. The distal ring electrode, that is, the ring electrode positioned intermediate the tip electrode and the more proximal of the pair of ring electrodes, is at all times connected to one of the two input terminals of a sense amplifier. A multiplexer at the proximal end of the lead selectively connects the remaining electrodes to a pulse generator and to the sense amplifier. Thus, during pacing the tip electrode and the proximal ring electrode are connected to the pulse generator. During sensing, the multiplexer connects the parallel combination of the tip electrode and the proximal ring electrode to the other sense amplifier input. The placement of this tripolar lead in the right atrium is said to reduce both cross-sensing, that is, the sensing of far-field signals originating in the ventricle as well as polarization potentials which would otherwise mask the evoked response. The '119 patent requires an electrical conductor extending the entire length of the lead body for each of the electrodes and does not deal with active fixation leads, that is, those incorporating an extendable/retractable helical screw-in fixation element.
U.S. Patent Application Publication US2002/0123784A1 discloses a tripolar pacing and sensing lead including three electrodes separated by interelectrode spacings that are said to maximize both sensing and pacing activities. The electrode pair comprising a passive tip electrode and a first ring electrode provides local sensing capabilities within either the atrium or the ventricle, while the electrode pair comprising the tip electrode and a second ring electrode provides pacing capabilities. Far-field artifacts are indicated to be virtually eliminated by minimizing the distance between the two sensing electrodes to provide a tightly spaced dipole that will detect the wave front passing the electrodes without susceptibility to far-field signals. Like U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,119, the tripolar electrode arrangement of publication US2002/0123784A1 requires a separate electrical conductor running the length of the lead for each electrode and is not directed to active fixation leads.
It is also recognized that in bipolar pacing and sensing leads comprising a fixed collar electrode at the tip of the lead and a fixation element in the form of a helical screw electrode extendable and retractable relative to the lead tip, the distance between the collar electrode and the electrically active portion of the helical screw electrode should be minimized to suppress responsiveness to far-field signals. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,201, which is herein incorporated by reference, disclosing a partially uninsulated, electrically active helical fixation element paired with a collar electrode to provide a closely spaced dipole. Because of the development of necrotic tissue about the helical fixation element and the resulting higher pacing thresholds, a ring electrode disposed proximally of the collar electrode is often included to ensure capture. However, the added ring electrode has required an additional electrical conductor within the lead body, tending to undesirably increase the diameter of the lead.

Cardiac pacing/sensing lead providing far-field signal rejection


A data display system (10) and a patent map forming system (20) give evaluation values obtained by a predetermined evaluation axis or an arbitrarily set evaluation value in cooperation with each other, and forms a map sheet (MS) on the basis of the evaluation values. The data display system (10) acquires a first-class identification code such as a publication number from a basic data sheet (DS) obtained by listing bibliographical information or the like of a patent input by a spreadsheet software (22) from an input file, and an identification code conversion unit converts (12) the first-class identification code into a second-class identification code. A patent data server (SV) is directly accessed by the second-class identification code to read an abstract, a representative drawing, all documents, drawings, and the like, serving as detailed data, thereby displaying these data on a display (DP).

The present invention relates to a system for forming a classification map by the values of specific items of a plurality of records having a plurality of items and, more particularly, to a data map forming system and a data map forming method for forming a data map in the form of a matrix depending on the respective values of two specific items and, further more particularly, to a display system for exactly displaying a specific items of specific data on the data map or a specific item of specific data on a basic data sheet.
In a earlier technique, a spreadsheet software (e.g., 'Excel' available from Microsoft Corporation) installed in a personal computer is used to form a list (file in a list format) by a plurality of records having a plurality of items, so that the characteristics or the like of the records are analyzed.
As a list for performing such a synthesis, for example, a list of bibliographical items of a plurality of patent records searched and extracted from a database of unexamined patent publications supplied from a memory medium such as a CD-ROM under predetermined conditions is known. The plurality of patent records are rearranged by items such as filing dates, international patent classifications, applicants, and the like of the bibliographical items, and statistics are compiled with respect to the patent records. The patent records are used to examine a technical trend of other companies.

Data map forming system and method of forming a data map based on evaluation values


The present invention relates to a method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device. Upon formation of a device isolation film, a space of a lower polysilicon layer for a floating gate is defined, a bird""s beak is formed on an internal surface of a trench by subsequent well sacrificial oxidization process and well oxidization process and an upper polysilicon layer for a floating gate is then formed, so that the space of the floating gate is formed. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the cost since a mask process is not required compared to an existing stepper method and the process cost since a planarization process using chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) is not required compared to the self-aligned floating mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device, and more particularly to, a method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device capable of securing a space of the floating gate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a method of manufacturing a flash memory device usually includes forming a device isolation film and then forming a polysilicon layer for a floating gate. The floating gate is formed by first etching the polysilicon layer for the floating gate, defining a gate electrode and then performing a self-aligned etch (SAE) process to form the polysilicon layer for the floating gate below a gate electrode. Recently, a method of forming the floating gate using a stepper mode and a method of forming the floating gate using a self-aligned floating gate mode have been widely employed in order to secure a space of the polysilicon layer for the floating gate.
The method using the stepper mode is one by which the polysilicon layer for the floating gate is deposited and a space is then defined through a mask process, wherein the polysilicon layer for the floating gate is defined as a bar type. At this time, the most import factor lies in how the space between neighboring polysilicon layers for the floating gates are defined to be narrow. This method has an advantage that the space between the polysilicon layers for the floating gates can be surely defined. This method, however, requires the mask process. Further, this method requires an expensive stepper as the design rule is reduced. Due to this, there is a problem that the cost of the flash memory device is increased.
Meanwhile, the method using the self-aligned floating gate mode is one by which the polysilicon layer for the floating gate is defined by a wet dip and poly chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process without using the mask process. This method has an advantage that it does not require the stepper since the mask process is not performed. In this method, however, variation in the space may be hard depending on the wet dip time. Further, the process cost is increased since a poly CMP process is required. In addition, as an overlay between the polysilicon layer for the floating gate and a field oxide (FOX) film is determined by the wet dip, a hard moat is generated. A portion where the moat is generated, into which a channel ion is not injected, adversely affects an operation of a subsequent flash memory device.
In particular, in the method using the self-aligned floating gate mode, an erase operation of the flash memory device is problematic due to generation of the moat. If the coupling ratio is reduced, more higher bias is required upon a 0 erase operation. This increases the size of the capacitor in the flash memory device, thus causing the chip size to increase. In this connection, when all the flash memory devices are designed, it is important to secure the coupling ratio by maximum.
At this time, the capacitor of the flash memory device includes a capacitor (Cg) between the floating gate and the control gate, an overlay capacitor (Cd) between the floating gate and the drain junction region, an overlay capacitor (Cs) between the floating gate and the source junction region, a FOX capacitor (Cb) between the floating gate and the semiconductor substrate, and a free charge capacitor (Cf). The total capacitor (Ct) of the above capacitors can be expressed as the following mathematical equation 1.
Ct=Cg+Cd+Cs+Cb+Ctxe2x80x83xe2x80x83[Equation 1]
Further, the gate-coupling ratio (kg) can be expressed as the following equation 2.
kg=Cg/Ctxe2x80x83xe2x80x83[Equation 2]
The reason why the gate-coupling ratio is important upon the erase operation, is that the voltage (Vg) applied to the control gate is expressed as the floating gate voltage (Vfg) defined as the following equation 3.
Vfg=kgxc3x97Vgxe2x80x83xe2x80x83[Equation 3]
F-N (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling is determined by the difference in the voltage between the control gate and the semiconductor substrate. Actually, F-N tunneling depends on a bias applied to the floating gate. Further, factors affecting the gate-coupling ratio include the thickness of the dielectric film having an oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) structure and the area of the dielectric film surrounding the semiconductor substrate and the floating gate. The capacitor of the dielectric film is very important compared to other capacitors.
The present invention is contrived to solve the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device, capable of reducing the cost with no use of a mask process compared to an existing stepper method and reducing the process cost with no use of a planarization process using a chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) compared to a self-aligned floating mode, in such a way that upon formation of a device isolation film, a space of a lower polysilicon layer for a floating gate is defined, a bird""s beak is formed on an internal surface of a trench by means of subsequent well sacrificial oxidization process and well oxidization process and an upper polysilicon layer for a floating gate is then formed, so that the space of the floating gate is formed.
In order to accomplish the above object, a method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device according to the present invention, is characterized in that it comprises the steps of forming a tunnel oxide film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a lower polysilicon layer on the tunnel oxide film; forming a pad oxide film and a pad nitride film on lower polysilicon layer; forming a trench on the semiconductor substrate; forming an oxide film on the entire structure to bury the trench and then performing a planarization process; performing a first etch process to remove the pad nitride film and the pad oxide film and simultaneously to over-etch the oxide film; and forming an upper polysilicon layer on the entire structure and performing a second etch process to form a floating gate.

Method of forming a floating gate in a flash memory device


A fishing lure has a lure body and a chamber open to an interior of the lure body. An intake extends from the outside of the lure body to the chamber at a first end of the chamber. A discharge extends from the outside of the lure body to the chamber at a second end of the chamber. A plunger sealingly engages a circumference of the chamber and is connected to a stem. The stem is adjustable between a first, a second and a third position located on a tongue extending from the lure and results in the plunger being displaced within the chamber. The plunger acts to draw ballast within the intake and to discharge air through the discharge opening to adjust the operating depth of the lure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fishing lures and, more particularly, to a fishing lure with built-in means for adjusting the running depth of the lure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fishing lures are well known in the art. Such lures can imitate the shape of minnows or other small fish. Some of these lures include means for adjusting the depth at which the lure operates. Traditionally, weights and the like have been attached to lures in an attempt to position them at a depth most conducive to catching fish.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,191, issued to Spivey, teaches a fishing lure with adjustable buoyancy control. Spivey has a hollow portion open to the bottom of the lure and includes a weight that is shifted by the user to make the lure a floating or a diving lure. The lip portion of Spivey is adjusted to control the depth of the dive.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,754, issued to Lawlor, teaches a fish lure with a body divided into front and rear hollow sections. The front and rear sections are separated by a disk element. The front section can be ballasted by adding water between the disk and the front wall. The other or both sections may receive inserts to attract game fish.
The shortcoming of the prior art patents is that they do not teach an effective means for adjusting the running depth of the fishing lure which is self-contained within the lure body and which does not require disassembly of the lure to alter the adjustment.


A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display according to an exemplary embodiment includes: forming a thin film transistor panel; forming a deposition mask on the thin film transistor panel by a photolithography process; obliquely spraying an organic material to the deposition mask from a linear deposition source to form an organic emission layer on the thin film transistor panel; and removing the deposition mask by using an adhering film, wherein the deposition mask includes a plurality of deposition walls configured to block the organic material sprayed at an angle that is less than a blocking angle. Accordingly, the deposition mask is formed by the photolithography process such that alignment of the deposition mask is straightforward when manufacturing the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display of a large size.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes organic light emitting diodes each including two electrodes and an organic emission layer disposed therebetween, and electrons injected from one electrode and holes injected from the other electrode are combined in the organic emission layer such that excitons are formed, and light is emitted by the energy generated from the excitons.
To form the organic emission layer, an organic material is deposited on a thin film transistor panel, and to achieve this, a deposition source filled with the organic material is heated to evaporate the organic material. Then, the evaporated organic material is sprayed over the thin film transistor panel. In this case, to deposit the evaporated and sprayed organic material in a pixel area, a deposition mask is used. The deposition mask includes an opening for transmitting the organic material and a blocking portion made of a metal for blocking the organic material.
However, as the size of the organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is increased, it is difficult to align the deposition mask made of the metal with the thin film transistor panel. To solve this problem, a method of obliquely spraying the organic material to the deposition mask from the deposition source has been developed. However, in this case, to compensate for a parallax, a distance between the deposition source and the thin film transistor panel is more than several times the size of the thin film transistor panel. When the size of the thin film transistor panel is several meters or larger, it is difficult to realize this deposition method.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology, and it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method thereof


A vapor solenoid valve is connected so as to lead to a canister. A vapor line connecting port and a purge line connecting port are connected to a vapor line and a purge line, respectively. When switched on and in an open position, the vapor solenoid valve connects a canister connecting port, the vapor line connecting port and the purge connecting port to each other, and thus allows a fuel evaporative gas to flow out of and into a canister or allows air to flow from an air filter. When switched off and in a CLOSED position, the vapor solenoid valve closes the canister connecting port and connects only the vapor line connecting port and the purge line connecting port to each other, and thus inhibits the fuel evaporative gas from flowing out of and into the canister.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an evaporative emission control device, and more specifically, to absorption control of a fuel evaporative gas escaping from a closed fuel tank by using a canister.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional technology of preventing a fuel evaporative gas evaporated within a fuel tank from escaping into atmosphere provides a canister connected to a fuel tank, and a fuel tank shutoff valve (sealing valve) that is controlled to close the fuel tank except during fuel supply, which is interposed in a path connecting the fuel tank to the canister, opens the sealing valve during fuel supply to cause the fuel evaporative gas to flow out towards the canister, and thus absorbs the fuel evaporative gas by using the canister.
However, if external temperature rises while the fuel tank is being closed by the sealing valve, fuel in the fuel tank is evaporated, and the pressure in the fuel tank is increased and turned into high pressure.
In the above situation, to prevent the evaporative gas from escaping into atmosphere along with fuel supply, when a fuel supply operation is detected, the sealing valve is opened, and a fuel supply port is inhibited from being opened until the pressure in the fuel tank is sufficiently reduced.
However, the reduction of the pressure in the fuel tank is a long process, which means that it takes a long time before fuel supply starts.
Given this factor, there has been developed a technology in which, if the pressure in the fuel tank is increased during the operation of the engine and the purge process, the sealing valve is opened to release the fuel evaporative gas in the fuel tank into the intake passage of the engine without absorbing the fuel evaporative gas in the canister, thereby reducing the pressure in the fuel tank (Japanese Patent No. 4110932).
The evaporative fuel processor described in the above publication conducts an opening/closing control on a purge vacuum switching valve (purge control valve) for opening/closing a connecting passage that introduces the fuel evaporative gas into the intake passage and the sealing valve at the same time during the operation of the engine in order to reduce the pressure in the fuel tank. In this manner, the purge control valve and the closing valve operate in consort. The fuel evaporative gas that is released into the intake passage of the engine through the connecting passage passes through the canister, so that the fuel evaporative gas is partially absorbed by the canister. This generates the possibility that the amount of the fuel evaporative gas that the canister is capable of absorbing during fuel supply is decreased.
To solve this problem, the canister is disposed in the connecting passage extending between the sealing valve and the purge control valve with a canister shutoff valve (vapor solenoid valve) interposed in the connecting passage. If the pressure in the fuel tank during engine operation is increased and has to be reduced, the vapor solenoid valve is closed, and the sealing valve and the purge control valve are alternately opened. This way, the fuel evaporative gas is prevented from being absorbed by the canister while the fuel evaporative gas in the fuel tank is being released into the intake passage. Some evaporative fuel processors close the purge control valve and open the sealing valve and the purge control valve during fuel supply, to thereby absorb the fuel evaporative gas in the fuel tank by using the canister.
However, if the sealing valve and the purge control valve are alternately opened and closed during engine operation, negative pressure is generated in the connecting passage due to the intake negative pressure of the engine. In addition, the pressure in the fuel tank is positive as the result of fuel evaporation, so that there causes a great pressure difference between in front of and behind the sealing valve. If the sealing valve is opened to release the pressure in the fuel tank under the above situation, there is the possibility that the fuel in the fuel tank is sucked out into the connecting passage due to the great pressure difference or that a valve located in a fuel cutoff valve for preventing a fuel leakage from the fuel tank, which is disposed inside the fuel tank, is attached to the connecting passage. Such fuel suction into the connecting passage incurs a malfunction in engine operation, and may cause a pressure rise in the fuel tank, leading to damage to the fuel tank.

MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA


A vehicle braking system includes (a) a rotary machine that functions at least as an electricity generator and that is capable of generating braking torque based on regenerative torque, (b) a first braking control apparatus that electrically controls the braking torque of a mechanical brake that is provided for a wheel, and (c) a second braking control apparatus that replaces one of the braking torque provided by the rotary machine and the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake with another one of the braking torque provided by the rotary machine and the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake while maintaining a target braking torque, the second braking control apparatus correcting the braking torque provided by the rotary machine so that the deviation lessens, if the braking torque of a vehicle has deviation from the target braking torque at time of replacement transition.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle braking system and, more particularly, to improvement of a replacement control of replacing one of the braking torque provided by a rotary machine and the braking torque provided by a mechanical brake with the other one.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a known braking control apparatus for a vehicle which includes (a) a rotary machine that functions at least as an electricity generator and that generates braking torque based on regenerative torque, (b) and an electric brake control apparatus that electrically controls the braking torque of a mechanical brake that is provided for a wheel of the vehicle, wherein (c) one of the braking torque provided by the rotary machine and the braking torque provided by the mechanical brakes are replaced with the other one while a target braking torque is maintained. An example of this type of braking control apparatus is an apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-276655 (JP 2007-276655 A) which is equipped with a hydraulic brake as a mechanical brake. When the vehicle speed becomes less than or equal to a predetermined speed immediately before the vehicle stops, the vehicle braking control apparatus linearly lowers the braking torque provided by the rotary machine according to decline in the vehicle speed and, at the same time, linearly raises the braking torque provided by the hydraulic brake.
However, in general, the response of the mechanical brake is lower than the response of the braking torque based on the regenerative control of the rotary machine. This difference in response sometimes results in a replacement shock in which the braking torque of the entire vehicle instantaneously declines. FIG. 6 shows a case where the braking torque provided by the rotary machine (hereinafter, referred to as "MG torque") is replaced with the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake (hereinafter, referred to as "ECB torque") in the range of vehicle speed of Vb to Va during deceleration of the vehicle during which the demanded braking torque T1 (hereinafter, referred to as "target braking torque") demanded by a driver's brake operation is substantially constant. While the ECB torque command value is linearly increased corresponding to the MG torque, the actual ECB torque changes as shown by a two-dot chain line due to response lag. As a result, the combined torque obtained by combining the MG torque and the ECB torque (which corresponds to the braking torque of the vehicle) instantaneously drops as shown by a dotted line to cause a shock. The response lag of the ECB torque depends on, for example, the oil temperature of the hydraulic oil, variations in the manufacturing precisions of various valves, etc. Therefore, the response lag of the ECB torque is not always same, so that it is difficult to achieve adaptation of the combined torque even if the changing of the MG torque is delayed by taking the response lag of the ECB torque into account.
Although in JP 2007-276655 A, the operation speed of an electric oil pump that produces the oil pressure of the hydraulic brake is raised prior to the replacement control, so that a sufficient amount of oil is secured from the commencement of the replacement control. However, this publication does not take into account the response lag due to flow resistance at all, leaving room for improvement.
Furthermore, although in JP 2007-276655 A, the braking torque provided by the rotary machine is replaced with the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake, there also is possibility of replacement shock resulting from the response lag of the mechanical brake in the case where the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake is replaced with the braking torque provided by the rotary machine.


An integrated circuit card including one or more integrated circuit elements interacts with a lever extending into a card-receiving receptacle in electronic apparatus for verifying correct insertion and opening a sliding shutter in the card. The integrated circuit elements are enclosed in a case having an opening for exposing a contact pattern that connects the integrated circuit elements to the electronic apparatus. The shutter is biased toward a closed position in which a forward surface covers the contact area. An inclined chamfer on a forward section of the case interacts with the lever to limit insertion to only one orientation of the case. By providing a tab on the rear of the shutter that extends from the case on the same side as the chamfer, the lever initially verifies correct insertion and subsequently engages the tab to drive the shutter to an open position exposing the contact pattern to the electronic apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a removable integrated circuit card that is inserted into electronic apparatus in order to connect with integrated circuit elements within the card.
2. Description Relative to the Prior Art
An integrated circuit card encloses one or more integrated circuit elements mounted on a substrate and connected to an electrical contact pattern toward one end of the card. A shutter is provided to cover and protect the contact pattern when the card is removed from an electrical connector in the electronic apparatus and to expose the contact pattern for electrical connection when the card is inserted into the connector. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a card configuration that prevents wrong-way insertion and consequential damage to the card and/or its contact pattern.
It is known to combine the operation of one-way insertion and shutter opening by means of one member located in the electrical connector that receives the card. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,925 the connector includes a pair of opening pins that enter holes in a forward area of the card, thereby contacting the shutter and urging the shutter open. The pins (and the holes therewith) may be unsymmetrically positioned with respect to the card to prevent wrong-way insertion. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,793, shutter-opening ridges formed in the connector are keyed to grooves in the card to prevent a wrong-way insertion. However, in each case, the card must be fully, or almost fully, inserted before wrong-way insertion can be detected because the shutter opening pins or the grooves act upon the forward-most area of the card. This is a problem with respect to a typical situation because the user, upon encountering some reluctance toward the end of a card's travel, might be inclined to jam the card further into the apparatus. This is of particular concern since a wrong-way obstruction might easily be mistaken for the force that must be overcome in order to initiate travel of the shutter. It is consequently desirable to provide a wrong-way warning earlier in the card's travel so that there is no mistaking its meaning.
An early-warning provision is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,139 in connection with a loading apparatus for a floppy disk. The cartridge has an oblique edge at a forward corner which pushes a rearwardly-located slide pin out of the way when correctly inserted. When the cartridge is inserted on the wrong side, a square corner of the cartridge collides with the pin and prevents further advance. Shutter opening is handled by a separate mechanism. On the other hand, having the wrong-way detection mechanism also open the shutter (as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,695,925 and 4,780,793) helps to reduce parts and complexity. By separating the functions, that is, by enabling wrong-way detection well before shutter opening, completely separate members would appear to be necessary.

Integrated circuit card and electronic apparatus for use therewith


A portable electronic device used for monitoring and alerting about the presence of an object includes an enclosure having a portability mechanism and an electronic circuit having a motion detection sensor, a bipolar junction transistor, an alert generator, a Bluetooth® module and a power source coupled to the motion detection sensor, the bipolar junction transistor, the alert generator and the Bluetooth® module. The motion detection sensor is configured to detect movement of the object across an area in front of the sensor and generate a timed output signal. The bipolar junction transistor is communicatively coupled to the motion detection sensor and configured to activate a control signal in response to the timed output signal. The alert generator and the Bluetooth® module are communicatively coupled to the bipolar junction transistor and configured to produce an alert and a Bluetooth® signal respectively in response to the control signal.

A variety of objects are present in the way of people walking and moving in everyday life. People busy with their everyday lives are often not attentive to these objects present in their way. As a result, these objects pose risk of accidents that can often lead to serious injuries. As an example, busy people are often inattentive to rungs or steps of a stepping structure such as a ladder, especially while climbing down. This results in missteps or falls after landing that can cause serious injuries. As another example, bikers are often unsure if a moving object or pedestrian is moving into their path and injure themselves in the event of a collision. This can also lead to serious injuries. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a low-cost portable electronic device for monitoring and alerting about the presence of an object to prevent occurrences of injuries.

Portable electronic device for monitoring and alerting about the presence of an object


Provided are shavers that are particularly applicable to shaving a user's head, but that may be utilized for shaving any part of the body. More specifically, a shaver according to the present invention has one or more of the following elements: a wheel or other rolling device on the same side of the shaver as the razor blade or other shaving component, an adjustable finger hook for accommodating fingers of different sizes, and an attached stand for supporting the razor blade or other shaving component when the shaver is set down.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to shaving apparatuses, and particularly applies to shavers for shaving a user's head.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of different shaving devices are available. The vast majority of such shaving devices primarily are designed for shaving a man's face or for shaving a woman's legs. In fact, a single design often has been used for both purposes. By far, the most common such multi-purpose designed utilizes a substantially straight handle that curves into a head portion, where the razor blade is mounted.
However, other designs also are available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D426,918 ("Razor Having Finger Retainer," the '918 patent), U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,421 ("Multi-Use Razor," the '421 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,877 ("Versatile Finger Retained Razor," the '877 patent), issued to the present inventor, describe and illustrate a different design that utilizes a shorter body and a hook, either open or closed (e.g., a ring), for engaging one's finger along the top surface of the shaver to assist in manipulating the shaver. The foregoing patents are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth herein in full.
The shaver designs disclosed in the foregoing patents have particular applicability to, and are particularly well-suited to, shaving one's head. However, the present inventor has discovered that additional improvements can be made to provide better results and to facilitate use of these and other shavers.


Systems and methods are provided for facilitating data object extraction from unstructured documents. Unstructured documents may include data in an unorganized format, such as raw text. The system may use natural language processing to determine characteristics of the terms used in the unstructured document. The system may prompt a user to select terms from the document corresponding in characteristics to properties of a data object being generated. The user may select terms from the document and the system may generate a data object according to the selected terms.

Under some approaches, a platform for analyzing various data may be deployed. The data-analysis platform may support an object-based data modeling framework. Data provided in an unstructured format, such as a free-form text-based document, cannot be analyzed via object-based data modeling platforms without having some form of organization applied. Document tagging may assist in classifying an unstructured document into an object format, but conventional approaches have significant drawbacks. Automated metadata tagging is typically very noisy and requires significant manual review to produce useful results. Manual tagging is laborious and frequently error-filled. Users may not fully grasp the data object structure underlying the tagging scheme. Users may struggle with the interface mechanisms of tagging. Users may be unable to satisfy complex object ontologies through manual tagging.
These and other drawbacks exist with some data management systems.

Systems and methods for facilitating data object extraction from unstructured documents