A system for monitored additive manufacturing of an object, comprising a manufacturing unit], designed for additive manufacturing of the object based on metal-containing manufacturing material in a manufacturing volume, wherein the object is built up by repeated layer-by-layer provision of the manufacturing material in defined quantity and accurately-positioned forming of the provided manufacturing material. The system moreover comprises an optical checking unit having at least one projector and two cameras and a control and processing unit. The manufacturing volume comprises an optical transmission region, the projector and cameras—are arranged outside the manufacturing volume in a fixed position relationship and are aligned in such a way that respective optical axes extend through a respective transmission region, by means of the projector, a projection can be generated on a manufacturing area and at least a common part of the manufacturing area on which the projection can be overlaid can be captured.

In many technical areas of application, the requirement exists of measuring objects at high accuracy or with respect to the composition thereof. This applies in particular to the manufacturing industry, for which the measurement and checking of surfaces of workpieces has a high level of significance, in particular also for the purposes of quality control.
Coordinate measuring machines, for example, which enable a precise measurement of the geometry of an object surface, typically at micrometer accuracy, are used for such applications. Objects to be measured can be engine blocks, transmissions, and tools, for example. Known coordinate measuring machines measure the surface by establishing a mechanical contact and scanning the surface. Examples thereof are gantry measuring machines as described, for example, in DE 43 25 337 or DE 43 25 347. Another system is based on the use of an articulated arm, the measuring sensor of which, which is arranged at the end of the multipart arm, can be moved along the surface. Generic articulated arms are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,582 or EP 1 474 650.
Coordinate surface measurement permits the establishment of geometric deviations on the workpiece from corresponding target values. A high-accuracy specification for manufacturing precision can thus be made with respect thereto. It can thus be established whether shape and dimensioning of the produced part lie within a specified tolerance and the component is to be considered to be a discard or a good part.
In particular, the geometrical consideration of the object surface naturally and typically leaves the condition of the object in its body interior out of consideration. Items of information with respect to possible material flaws or material fractures remain inaccessible.
However, such object properties, which no longer solely relate to the geometry of the workpiece, are gaining further significance due to the refinement of specific manufacturing methods. Apart from traditional manufacturing methods such as milling, grinding, polishing, welding, or soldering, in particular additive manufacturing or 3D printing are to be mentioned here. Up to now tolerances with respect to the material removal have stood in the foreground as variables to be considered for cutting material processing, but the relevant parameters in the case of additive manufacturing are typically different.
Additive manufacturing, often also referred to as 3D printing, differs from the known classical cutting technologies in that the manufacturing material is predominantly not successively removed, but rather the object to be formed is built up layer-by-layer. For example, material layer is applied over material layer and the respective layers are partially solidified, for example, by local melting or sintering, and converted into a final material state. The starting material can be provided in loose powder or viscous form for this purpose.
To monitor such a production process, Bin Zhang et al propose, in "In situ surface topography of laser powder bed fusion using fringe projection", Additive Manufacturing, 12 (2016), pages 100-107, coupling a projector together with a camera to a manufacturing chamber in such a way that triangulation data with respect to the production area can be generated and thus sintered metal plies can each be metrologically captured.
A similar approach is followed by William S. Land II et al. in "In-Situ Metrology System for Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Process" Procedia Manufacturing, Volume 1, 2015, pages 393-403.
Due to the layer-by-layer buildup of workpieces in additive manufacturing, further critical manufacturing properties result in addition to the classic maintenance of geometric manufacturing tolerances. Internal object properties are entering the foreground increasingly for this purpose. In other words, this means that for additive manufacturing it has to be ensured in particular that the material condition in the body interior corresponds to a target specification, i.e., solidification also takes place in the interior as desired in accordance with the respective manufacturing method. Moreover, undesired material tensions, cracks, or air inclusions are to be avoided in a finished object.
In addition, with the above manufacturing methods, real-time monitoring (in-process) of the manufacturing process can often already be desired to be able to establish possible deviations already during the manufacturing.
Present standard measuring devices such as a coordinate measuring machine are not equipped sufficiently extensively or designed suitably for the detection of such effects. Superficial deviations such as cracks or deformations can be detected thereby, however, possible flaws in the body interior are regularly not measurable. Moreover, a measurement during the manufacturing, i.e., typically on a material which has not yet reached the final material state, cannot be carried out reliably.

Additive manufacturing having optical process monitoring


An improved binder attachment having a frame and an article, such as a calculator, mounted thereto. The frame includes a center portion and two arm portions. A slot engaging element is mounted to each arm portion so as to define an opening therebetween. The article is received in the opening and has a top edge surface and a bottom edge surface, each defining a slot for receiving the slot engaging elements. When the frame is attached to the binder, the article is permitted to slide along the slot engaging elements such that the article may be placed in adjacent face-up locations.

The present invention relates to attachments for notebook binders, and more particularly, to attachments for supporting and holding articles such as calculators or other electronic devices, to-do lists and checklists, self-stick removable notes, and the like, that are used to supplement, or are used in conjunction with, information written on the pages of the binder.
For optimal convenience and accessibility, such attachments should be firmly and securely affixed to the binder in a manner that renders the article usable on either side of the binder center or alongside the binder. Generally, simple attachments now in use, such as plastic page markers, dividers or rulers can be placed where needed within a binder by opening the binder rings and passing the rings through corresponding holes near the edge of the attachment. However, if an article were to be supported by an appropriately sized but simple attachment similar to those currently available, such an attachment would hold it in only one position in which the holes for engaging the binder rings would always be on a predetermined side of the article. This arrangement would be satisfactory only if the written information being accessed were consistently found on one side of the rings.
In other words, if the information being accessed were found on the front of each page attached to the binder rings through holes at the left margin, the calculator or other article to be used in conjunction with this information should be located on the opposite panel, attached to the binder rings by holes or detents near its right edge. Conversely, if the information being accessed were found on a page attached to the rings by holes in its right margin, for accessibility and ease of use the article should be mounted on the opposite panel, attached to the binder rings by holes or detents near its left edge.
In most situations, however, written information is found on both sides of the binder rings. Thus, an attachment of the above-mentioned type is not conveniently usable with all of the information. This drawback limits severely the utility of most binder attachments currently available. Even if the article is to be accessed concurrently with information found on the opposite side of the rings, but spread over a number of different pages, the panel must be repeatedly dismounted and remounted on the rings of the binder if it is to be accessible concurrently with that information. This also is cumbersome and clearly undesirable. Moreover, on occasion it may be beneficial to use the article independently of information contained within the binder while the binder is closed, but without detaching it from the binder. This is clearly impossible when the article is secured to a panel mounted on the rings of the binder.
The above drawbacks limit the utility of most currently available devices for attaching articles such as electronic calculators, other electronic processors or other devices to ring binders. It should, therefore, be appreciated that there is a need for an improved binder attachment which would reliably secure such articles to a binder, be conveniently usable in conjunction with, as well as independently of, information contained within the binder, and be readily accessible inside, outside or alongside the binder. The present invention fulfills that need.


According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element is disclosed. The element includes a lower electrode, a stacked body provided on the lower electrode and including a first magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is under the tunnel barrier layer, the second magnetic layer is on the tunnel barrier layer. The first magnetic layer includes a first region and a second region outside the first region to surround the first region. The second region includes an element in the first region and other element being different from the element.

In recent years, a semiconductor memory utilizing a resistance variable element as a memory element, such as a PRAM (phase-change random access memory) or an MRAM (magnetic random access memory), has been attracting attention and being developed. The MRAM is a device which performs a memory operation by storing "1" or "0" information in a memory cell by using a magnetoresistive effect, and has features of nonvolatility, high-speed operation, high integration and high reliability.
One of magnetoresistive effect elements is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element including a three-layer multilayer structure of a storage layer having a variable magnetization direction, an insulation film as a tunnel barrier, and a reference layer which maintains a predetermined magnetization direction.
The resistance of the MTJ element varies depending on the magnetization directions of the storage layer and the reference layer, it takes a minimum value when the magnetization directions are parallel, and takes a maximum value when the magnetization directions are antiparallel, and information is stored by associating the parallel state and antiparallel state with binary information "0" and binary information "1", respectively.
The writing of information into the MTJ element involves a magnetic-field write scheme in which only the magnetization direction in the storage layer is reversed by a current magnetic field that is generated when a current flowing is flowed through a write line, and a write (spin injection write) scheme using spin angular momentum movement in which the magnetization direction in the storage layer is reversed by passing a spin polarization current through the MTJ element itself.
In the former scheme, when the element size is reduced, the coercivity of a magnetic body constituting the storage layer increases and the write current tends to increase, and thus it is difficult to achieve both the miniaturization and low electric current.
On the other hand, in the latter scheme (spin injection write scheme), spin polarized electron to be injected into the MTJ element decreases with the decrease of the volume of the magnetic layer constituting the storage layer, so that it is expected that both the miniaturization and low electric current may be easily achieved.

Magnetoresistive element and method of manufacturing the same


A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, and a mechanical position informing structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within an adjustable position range of the bicycle seatpost assembly. The mechanical position informing structure is configured to inform a user that at least one of the first and second cylinders reaches a reference position. The reference position is defined between a maximum-length position and a minimum-length position of the adjustable position range.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bicycle seatpost assembly.
Discussion of the Background
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been recently redesigned is a bicycle seatpost assembly.


A gear arrangement includes a first section having a first plurality of teeth and at least a portion of the first section is made of a compliant material. There is also a second section having a second plurality of teeth. The second section is made of a stiff material. The first section is arranged axially adjacent to the second section and each of the first plurality of teeth has a tooth flank that changes axially across the tooth flank. A method for manufacturing a gear arrangement includes fabricating a first gear, which includes a first plurality of teeth, and a bearing from a compliant material. The method also includes mounting a second gear, which includes a second plurality of teeth, to the bearing, aligning the first plurality of teeth with the second plurality of teeth, and coupling the first gear with the second gear.

This disclosure relates to the delashing of gear assemblies.
Gear assemblies typically comprise a drivable gear (e.g., a first spur gear) engaged by a pinion (e.g., a second spur gear). Due to the manufacturing process, there are always some imperfections in the manufacturing of the teeth of the gears. Because of these imperfections, a clearance is maintained between the teeth of the driveable gear and the teeth of the pinion when the two gears are engaged. This clearance, which is also known as backlash, permits relative motion between the drivable gear and the pinion. If the clearance were not maintained, load bearing gears would not be able to operate because the meshing of the teeth between the gears would become so tight (due to the imperfections) that, even absent any deflection of the teeth, the gears would bind and cause the gear assembly to jam. In a gear system with any degree of backlash, in many applications, an audible noise is produced by the movement of the teeth of one gear through applicable backlash and into contact with the teeth of the other gear. Backlash also results in lost motion when one gear is turned through the backlash with no transmission of motion or torque to a second gear.
In the design and manufacture of compact, bi-rotational gearboxes, a first spur gear is engaged with a second spur gear. Both gears are typically fabricated from metal and are configured such that the teeth of the first spur gear are aligned with spaces defined by the teeth of the second spur gear. The teeth of the first spur gear are usually aligned with spaces defined by the teeth of the second spur gear such that clearance exists in the meshing of the teeth of each gear. Furthermore, because of the high stiffness of the metallic teeth, the surfaces of the flanks, and the need to maintain the clearance, one flank surface of each tooth of the pinion engages one flank surface of each tooth of the driven gear to result in single flank contact. Systems using single flank contact typically employ a contact area uniformly distributed across the surfaces of the engaged flanks. The uniformly distributed contact area, in conjunction with the clearance between the engaged teeth, is a factor that contributes to the audible noise produced during the driving of the first spur gear by the second spur gear. In addition, there is also audible noise during periods when the rotational direction of the first spur gear is reversed to reverse the direction of rotation of the second spur gear.
Such noise, although not indicative of a defect in the gear assembly, generally proves to be undesirable, especially when the gear assembly is located within or in communication with the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. In addition, there is also vibrational feedback that may occur from the driven portion back to the driving portion. This vibrational feedback can set up a resonance in the steering system. Thus, because of the backlash in the gear assembly, there can be a resonance or rattle felt by the driver at the hand wheel.
The reduction of backlash and the minimization of noise have been achieved in worm gear assemblies. In such assemblies, the worm gear is made completely of a polymer element. Such an arrangement in the worm gear assembly is preferable due to the complexity of the gear and also because the load is not as high as with the spur gear assembly. Thus, when a gear is made completely of a compliant material, such as the worm gear, those gears are limited as to the amount of load that the gear can handle. It is desirable for spur gear assemblies to carry higher loads than is usually carried by worm gears and thus, it may not be desirable to have a spur gear made completely from a compliant material.
The reduction of backlash and the minimization of noise have been achieved in the related art of instrument gearing. In that type of gearing, backlash has been minimized through the use of split gears, which typically comprise two gear halves mounted side-by-side and wherein each gear half includes a plurality of teeth. A spring is positioned between each gear half to bias each gear half in opposing rotational directions. The opposing rotational directions cause flank surface contact to be maintained between a tooth on one of the gear halves and a tooth of a gear with which the split gear is in contact while simultaneously causing flank surface contact to be maintained between the aligned tooth on the other of the gear halves and an opposing flank surface of the tooth of the gear with which the split gear is in contact.
Such a structure allows for double flank surface contact to be maintained between successive teeth in a gear set, which reduces or eliminates backlash in the gear set, thereby minimizing noise and lost motion. However, because of the deflection of the spring, both the contact force and the size of the contact area maintained by the teeth of the split gear on the successive teeth of the gear with which the split gear is in contact remain constant regardless of the load imposed on the gear set. The force and contact area size cause the contact pressure to vary, which thereby causes frictional forces to be experienced by the gear flank surfaces as the load varies. Such frictional forces in turn cause a constant degradation of performance within the gear set. Moreover, such instrument gearing is generally used to indicate a position of one element with respect to another; however, instrument gearing cannot bear a significant load.
In addition, instrument gearing usually operates only in one direction and thus, instrument gearing generally does not have a problem with position feedback. Position feedback occurs when a system that operates in both a first and second direction and compliant in the first direction than in the second direction. This position feedback poses a problem with the electronics because the electronics do not like to be biased in that way.
In addition, gears generally also require some sort of bearing or bearing surface on which to rotate. Components that serve more than one function should be employed whenever possible in the interests of compactness and simplicity.


A methodology is disclosed that enables the delay stages of an analog delay locked loop (DLL) or phase locked loop (PLL) to be programmed according to the operating condition, which may depend on the frequency of the input reference clock. The resulting optimized delay stages allow for a broad frequency range of operation, fast locking time over a wide range of input clock frequencies, and a lower current consumption at high clock frequencies. Better performance is achieved by allowing the number of analog delay stages active during a given operation to be flexibly set. The deactivation or turning off of unused delay stages conserves power at higher frequencies. The high frequency range of operation is increased by using a flexible number of delay stages for various input clock frequencies. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to memory systems and, more particularly, to an analog delay locked loop (DLL) or phase locked loop (PLL) with delay stage interweaving.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Most digital logic implemented on integrated circuits is clocked synchronous sequential logic. In electronic devices such as synchronous dynamic random access memory circuits (SDRAMs), microprocessors, digital signal processors, etc., the processing, storage, and retrieval of information is coordinated or synchronized with a clock signal. The speed and stability of the clock signal determines to a large extent the data rate at which a circuit can function. Many high speed integrated circuit devices, such as SDRAMs, microprocessors, etc., rely upon clock signals to control the flow of commands, data, addresses, etc., into, through and out of the devices.
In SDRAMs or other semiconductor memory devices, it is desirable to have the data output from the memory synchronized with the system clock that also serves a microprocessor. Delay-locked loops (DLLs) are synchronous circuits used in SDRAMs to synchronize an external clock (e.g., the system clock serving the microprocessor) and an internal clock (e.g., the clock used internally within the SDRAM to perform data read/write operations on various memory cells) with each other. Typically, a DLL is a feedback circuit that operates to feed back a phase difference-related signal to control a delay line, until the timing of one clock signal (e.g., the system clock) is advanced or delayed until its rising edge is coincident or has a fixed time delay relationship (or "locked") with the rising edge of a second clock signal (e.g., the memory's internal clock).
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram showing a memory chip or memory device 12. The memory chip 12 may be part of a DIMM (dual in-line memory module) or a PCB (printed circuit board) containing many such memory chips (not shown in FIG. 1). The memory chip 12 may include a plurality of pins 14 located outside of chip 12 for electrically connecting the chip 12 to other system devices. Some of those pins 14 may constitute memory address pins or address bus 17, data pins or data bus 18, and control pins or control bus 19. It is evident that each of the reference numerals 17-19 designates more than one pin in the corresponding bus. Further, it is understood that the schematic in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. That is, the pin arrangement or configuration in a typical memory chip may not be in the form shown in FIG. 1.
A processor or memory controller (not shown) may communicate with the chip 12 and perform memory read/write operations. The processor and the memory chip 12 may communicate using address signals on the address lines or address bus 17, data signals on the data lines or data bus 18, and control signals (e.g., a row address strobe (RAS) signal, a column address strobe (CAS) signal, etc. (not shown)) on the control lines or control bus 19. The "width" (i.e., number of pins) of address, data and control buses may differ from one memory configuration to another.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that memory chip 12 of FIG. 1 is simplified to illustrate one embodiment of a memory chip and is not intended to be a detailed illustration of all of the features of a typical memory chip. Numerous peripheral devices or circuits may be typically provided along with the memory chip 12 for writing data to and reading data from the memory cells 20. However, these peripheral devices or circuits are not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity.
The memory chip 12 may include a plurality of memory cells 20 generally arranged in rows and columns to store data in rows and columns. Each memory cell 20 may store a bit of data. A row decode circuit 22 and a column decode circuit 24 may select the rows and columns in the memory cells 20 in response to decoding an address, provided on the address bus 17. Data to/from the memory cells 20 is then transferred over the data bus 18 via sense amplifiers and a data output path (not shown). A memory controller (not shown) may provide relevant control signals (not shown) on the control bus 19 to control data communication to and from the memory chip 12 via an I/O (input/output) unit 26. The I/O unit 26 may include a number of data output buffers (not shown) to receive the data bits from the memory cells 20 and provide those data bits or data signals to the corresponding data lines in the data bus 18. The I/O unit 26 may further include a clock synchronization unit or delay locked loop (DLL) 28 to synchronize the external system clock (e.g., the clock used by the memory controller (not shown) to clock address, data and control signals between the memory chip 12 and the controller) with the internal clock used by the memory 12 to perform data write/read operations on the memory cells 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the DLL 28 is an analog DLL, which is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.
The memory controller (not shown) may determine the modes of operation of memory chip 12. Some examples of the input signals or control signals (not shown in FIG. 1) on the control bus 19 include an External Clock signal, a Chip Select signal, a Row Access Strobe signal, a Column Access Strobe signal, a Write Enable signal, etc. The memory chip 12 communicates to other devices connected thereto via the pins 14 on the chip 12. These pins, as mentioned before, may be connected to appropriate address, data and control lines to carry out data transfer (i.e., data transmission and reception) operations.
FIG. 2 depicts a simplified block diagram of the analog delay-locked loop (DLL) 28 shown in FIG. 1. The analog DLL 28 is a 4-phase DLL, generating the Ph0, Ph90, Ph180, and Ph270 signals at its output 33. On the other hand, a 2-phase analog DLL would generate, for example, a Ph0 and a Ph180 signals only. The DLL 28 receives a reference clock (ClkREF) 46 as an input and generates a set of output clock signals (Ph0, Ph90, Ph180, Ph270, Ph360) at the output 33 of a voltage controlled delay line (VCDL) 32. The Ph0 and Ph360 signals are, in turn, fed back into a phase detector 30 whose operation is discussed below. In the discussion herein, the notation "Ph0" is used to refer to a clock signal that is substantially in phase with the reference clock 46, whereas the "Ph360" signal is substantially 360° out of phase with ClkREF 46. Similarly, the Ph90 clock signal is substantially 90° out of phase with ClkREF 46, the Ph180 clock is substantially 180° out of phase with ClkREF 46, and Ph270 clock is substantially 270° out of phase with the reference clock 46. It is noted that the reference clock 46 is interchangeably referred to herein as "ClkREF", "ClkREF signal", "Ref clock signal", "Ref clock" or "system clock"; whereas each of the various output clocks (Ph0, Ph90, Ph180, etc.) is individually referred to herein as a "phase signal" and collectively as "phase signals." The reference clock 46 is typically the external system clock serving the microprocessor (or memory controller) (both not shown) or a delayed/buffered version of the external system clock.
One or more of the output phase signals Ph0, Ph90, etc., or signals derived from them, may be used as "internal clock(s)" by the SDRAM 12 to perform data read/write operations on memory cells 20 and to transfer the data out of the SDRAM to the data requesting device (e.g., a microprocessor (not shown)). As can be seen from FIG. 2, the phase signals are generated using delay lines (not shown) in the VCDL 32, which introduces a specific delay into the input Ref clock 46 to obtain the "lock" condition—i.e., to obtain specific output clocks or phase signals (Ph0, Ph90, etc.) having a predetermined phase relationship with the input reference clock 46. The phase detector (PD) 30 compares the relative timing of the Ph0 and Ph360 phase signals (both of which relate to the reference clock 46 in a determined manner) to generate one of a pair of direction signals—the UP signal 34 or the DN (down) signal 35—depending on the phase difference between the Ph0 and Ph360 signals. The direction signal outputs are fed to a charge pump 36, which generates a control voltage signal Vctrl 38 whose value at a given instant in time depends on the inputs received from the phase detector 30. Thus, the voltage level of the control voltage Vctrl 38 is representative of the phase difference between the Ph0 and Ph360 phase signals and, hence, between the ClkREF signal 46 and its 360° delayed version. The control voltage signal 38 is fed to a bias generator 40, which generates a pair of bias voltage outputs or bias signals—a PMOS (p-channel metal oxide semiconductor) bias voltage VBP 42 and an NMOS (n-channel MOS) bias voltage VBN 43—based on the voltage level of the input Vctrl signal 38. For example, in one embodiment, the PMOS bias voltage VBP may be substantially equal to or may vary directly with Vctrl, the control input to the bias generator. In that case, when the value of Vctrl goes high, the value of VBP goes high whereas the value of VBN goes low. And, when the value of Vctrl goes low, the value of VBP also goes low proportionately whereas the value of VBN goes high.
The bias voltages are applied to the VCDL unit 32 to control the delay imparted therein to the reference clock 46 input thereto. In one embodiment, when VBP goes high and VBN goes low, the delay imparted by VCDL 32 increases; whereas, when VBP goes low and VBN goes high, the delay decreases. Although a single output line 33 is illustrated in FIG. 2, the VCDL 32 may have separate output lines (not shown) to output each of the phase signals Ph0, Ph90, etc., individually. It is noted here that additional constructional details or circuit details (of individual circuit units, e.g., the charge pump 36 or the bias generator 40) for the analog DLL 28 in FIG. 2 is not provided herein for the sake of brevity and also because such details are known to one skilled in the art.
As noted before, the analog DLL 28 in FIG. 2 is a 4-phase DLL, which may be employed when the external or system clock 46 has a frequency (e.g., 800 MHz) that substantially differs from the frequency (e.g., 400 MHz) of the memory's internal clock (not shown). On the other hand, if the internal and external frequencies are almost equal (e.g., both equal to 800 MHz), then a 2-phase DLL (generating only Ph0 and Ph180 outputs) may suffice as is known in the art.
It is observed that the frequency range of operation of the DLL 28 (i.e., the available range of delay) is dependent on the range of Vctrl 38, the gain of various circuit elements in the DLL 28, the number of various VCDL stages constituting the VCDL unit 32, and the PVT (process, voltage, temperature) variations during circuit fabrication and at run time. Generally, if too many VCDL stages (not shown) are used for low frequency operation, the analog DLL 28 requires a lot of current at high frequency because some of those delay stages in VCDL 32 may be unnecessarily kept turned ON during high frequency operation. At high reference clock frequencies, it may not be preferable to increase the number of VCDL stages because that may also increase the corresponding overall delay. However, on the other hand, if less than optimum number of VCDL stages are employed, the VCDL may not properly function at low input clock frequencies. For example, if delay at each VCDL stage (not shown) is in the range of 300-700 ps (picoseconds) (a range of delay is available because of the voltage-controlled nature of the VCDL operation), then four (4) VCDL stages may be needed to obtain a delay range of 1.2 ns-2.8 ns for a low frequency operation. However, with the same number (4) of VCDL stages, it may not be possible to obtain a delay range of 1 ns-4 ns which may be needed to accommodate a higher reference clock frequency (e.g., a frequency having a clock period tCK=1 ns). On the other hand, if the number of VCDL stages are reduced to three (3) to obtain the delay range of 0.9 ns-2.1 ns (so as to accommodate the minimum clock period tCK of 1 ns), then the reduced number of delay stages would fail to accommodate lower clock frequencies having periods in the range of 2.1 ns-2.8 ns.
It is noted here that the discussion presented hereinabove equally applies to an analog phase-locked loop (PLL) that may be used in place of the analog DLL 28 in the memory chip 12 as is known in the art. The PLL implementation may include a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) instead of the VCDL 32 for the DLL version. However, the VCDL and VCO may be generally considered as voltage-controlled frequency monitoring units. Because of substantial similarity in the construction and operation of an analog PLL and an analog DLL, only the DLL implementation is discussed herein. However, it is evident that the entire DLL-related discussion presented herein equally applies to a PLL-based embodiment, of course with suitable PLL-specific modifications as may be apparent to one skilled in the art.


The present invention relates generally to paving equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paving material density indicator which has a selectively shaped sensor to control at least one of the depth, area, sensitivity and shape of a density determination. The effect on sensor capacitance is measured using a constant current source and is used to determine density of the paving material. The invention is also a method for determining density of paving material and a set of sensors for density determination.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to paving equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paving material density indicator and method for determining density of paving material by providing a sensor with a shape and size configured to have an electrical field with at least one of a controlled depth of penetration, controlled area, controlled shape, and controlled volume.
2. Related Art
During paving, paving material is usually laid at about 75% of acceptable compaction. However, during subsequent compaction it is highly advantageous to assure that the paving material is compacted to as close to total acceptable compaction as possible. Attaining total acceptable compaction assures the lack of variations in the material, such as air voids, that can create potential defects in the paving material. Unfortunately, the level of compaction is not readily apparent to the naked eye. In order to address this problem, measurement of dielectric properties of paving material is known to be very useful for determining material density, a key indicator of compaction level.
However, due to pavement laying machines used today becoming more adept at laying thinner pavement lifts, it has become necessary to have a reliable and convenient density determining device capable of measurement at differing depths, areas, shapes, and volumes of the pavement. Additionally, it has become necessary to have a density determining device which is faster than those available. Heretofore, no adequate paving material sensor capable of addressing the above problems has been devised. Accordingly, the present invention addresses a long felt need in the art.
One pavement density indicator device is that of Blackwell, U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,905. Blackwell's device measures dielectric properties of the asphalt which is representative o the change in density in the asphalt. The device of Blackwell has many disadvantages. For example, in order to obtain a reading, the Blackwell device must be moved at extremely slow speeds across the material being tested and, accordingly, requires an extended time period to provide a determination. The Blackwell device, due to its excessive weight, also requires a large sled frame (contact area) to be dragged across the pavement surface. Another disadvantage is limited adjustability of the depth of measurement of the device caused by the given set of electrodes only being able to vary the depth of measurement by changing the height of the electrodes.
In another apparatus, a nuclear source is used to determine density of pavement material. This device has a variety of obvious drawbacks. For instance, the device requires a licensed operator and a radiation shield (e.g., a lead enclosure). Furthermore, the device is non-adjustable for area and depth, time consuming in use, and heavy. The device is also very expensive.
Another disadvantage of the related art devices lies in their inability to adjust depth of measuring for variations in depth of pavement (e.g., when a new layer of pavement, called a lift, has been laid). When the related art devices are used to determine the density of a new layer of pavement, the measurement may go beyond the layer of new pavement and into the material below, hence, providing an inaccurate density indication. Similarly, the related art devices may not sense far enough into the new layer, e.g., where a dip has been filled, to assure a constant compaction level within the pavement lift.
Another disadvantage of the related art is their inability to vary the shape and area of the sensing area. Altering the shape and area of the sensor is advantageous for determining the density in particular pavement attributes, e.g., dips, joints odd shaped patches, etc.
Other devices, such as that of Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,331, incorporated herein by reference, have been used to detect the presence and dimensions of an object. However, Harris is incapable of detecting the density of the object. Furthermore, the Harris device requires that the sensor head remain as small as possible, a disadvantage to unlimited size and shape measurement.

Paving material density indicator and method using capacitance


A card processor which can substantially reliably prevent magnetic data recorded in a magnetic card and can remarkably enhance security. In the card processor, two radiation sources radiate disturbing magnetic fields outside of an insertion slot. A disturbing magnetic field radiated from one radiation source and a disturbing magnetic field radiated from the other radiation source have different frequencies and intensities. Accordingly, even when a differential head is located at such a position as to be influenced by the disturbing magnetic fields, it is substantially impossible to attain such balance adjustment as to eliminate the influences of the disturbing magnetic fields.

The present invention relates to a card processor for reading magnetic data recorded in a magnetic card and to data processing device built in the card processor.
Conventionally, a card processor for reading magnetic data recorded in a magnetic card is used in such a transaction processing machine as an ATM (Automatic teller machine), CD (Card Dispenser), or CAT (Credit Authorization Terminal). In such a transaction processing machine, the card processor performs data processing operation on money drawing/depositing or credit transaction with use of data read out from a magnetic card. The card processor is used not only in the aforementioned transaction processing machine but also in an entering/leaving room management system for limiting users who enter or leave an area or room as a management target. That is, the card processor is used in various types of machines and systems.
Such crimes that illegally read magnetic data recorded in a magnetic card therefrom and illegally transact using a faked card having the stole magnetic data recorded therein, are recently increasing. In the stealing of the magnetic data, in general, a device called a skimming device is used. From the security viewpoint, the skimming device will be explained herein not in detail but merely briefly. The skimming device, which has a magnetic head for reading out magnetic data recorded in a magnetic card therefrom, is illegally mounted on the front side of a magnetic-card insertion slot in the card processor. In the skimming device, an opening is provided to communicate with the card insertion slot of the card processor. In the card processor having the skimming device mounted therein, a user (an authorized user for the magnetic card) inserts the card into the opening of the skimming device. Accordingly, the magnetic card is inserted from the card insertion slot through the skimming device into the interior of the card processor. The skimming device then illegally reads (steals) magnetic data recorded in the magnetic card therefrom. Even when the magnetic card inserted in the device is returned to the user, the magnetic card is again passed through the skimming device. Thus even at this time, the skimming device can illegally reads the magnetic data recorded in the magnetic card therefrom.
Since the user, who inserted the magnetic card in the card processor, does not know the fact that the skimming device is illegally mounted, the user also does not know the fact that the magnetic data was illegally read or stolen.
An example of the card processors having an arrangement for preventing the aforementioned skimming device from stealing magnetic data is shown in JP-A-2001-67524. In the card processor shown in JP-A-2001-67524 is arranged so that a disturbing magnetic field generator having an iron core wound thereon by a coil is provided in the vicinity of a magnetic card insertion slot to generate a magnetic field (disturbing magnetic field) outside of the insertion slot. The disturbing magnetic field is generated in a range where a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card inserted in the insertion slot passes. Accordingly, even when the skimming device is mounted on the front side of the insertion slot, a read-out signal read out from the magnetic card by the skimming device is superimposed on noise caused by the disturbing magnetic field. As a result, the stealing of the magnetic data by the skimming device can be prevented.

Magnetic card processor with improved fraud resistance


Provided are a fingerprint sensor and a fabrication method thereof. The fingerprint sensor includes: a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor structure which is formed on a substrate that is doped with a first type dopant; an insulating layer which is formed on the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor structure; a lower electrode which is formed in a central portion of the insulating layer; a piezoelectric region which is formed on the lower electrode; an upper electrode which is formed on the piezoelectric layer; and a fingerprint contact layer which is formed to cover a portion of an upper surface of the insulating layer on which the lower electrode has not been formed, the lower electrode, the piezoelectric region, and the upper electrode.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-81724, filed on Nov. 18, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensor and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to a fingerprint sensor adopting a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure on which a piezoelectric region for generating ultrasonic waves is formed, so as to be fabricated using a simple process and to authenticate a fingerprint at a high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, goods were purchased through off-line direct trades by cash payments. However, economic and social advances have changed this way of trade into today's transactions by credit cards, off-line e-money, or the like. This gives rise to a social problem of security management of personal information. Thus, a process of inputting identifications (IDs) and passwords is not sufficient to secure personal information.
Accordingly, personal information must be reliably secured. Also, in order to provide portable or personal information at any place, a specific signal must be sensed and deciphered to establish a user's identity in-situ. A security system generally adopts a personal authentication method using biometric technology, i.e., fingerprint sensing technology. A fingerprint sensing system includes a fingerprint scanner, i.e., a fingerprint sensor, and a signal processing algorithm. The fingerprint sensing system must have a high sensing rate and a low error rate to obtain a high-quality image of a fingerprint. A high-performance fingerprint sensor is necessary for this high-quality image of the fingerprint.
A fingerprint sensor is generally classified as an optical type sensor, a capacitive type sensor, an ultrasonic type sensor, and the like. The optical type of fingerprint sensor is convenient to use but is relatively high-priced, sensitive to the dry or moist state of the fingerprint part of a finger to cause inexact fingerprint sensing, and may sense a false fingerprint as a true fingerprint. The capacitive type fingerprint sensor is lower priced than the optical type fingerprint sensor, compact, and highly stable but sensitive to the dry or moist state of the fingerprint part of the finger. In contrast, the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensor can obtain reliable sensing results regardless of the state of the fingerprint part of the finger.
An ultrasonic type fingerprint sensing system generally follows a fingerprint authentication process shown in FIG. 1A. First, the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensing system senses a fingerprint using a fingerprint sensor, extracts a characteristic portion from the sensed fingerprint, and stores the characteristic portion in a database (DB) to be used to distinguish the fingerprint from different types of fingerprints. Thereafter, the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensing system compares a characteristic portion of a fingerprint obtained during fingerprint authentication with the characteristic portion of the fingerprint stored in the DB to authenticate the obtained fingerprint.
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic type fingerprint sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,533. In the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensor of FIG. 1B, an ultrasonic transducer 140, a mirror 156, a motor 160, an actuator 154, and a signal processor (not shown) are separately fabricated and then put together. Thus, the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensor adopts a separately fabricated probe 102, which scans a fingerprint, and thus is costly and not easily applied to portable terminals. Also, the ultrasonic type fingerprint sensor obtains an image of a fingerprint using a scan method, resulting in slow fingerprint authentication.

Fingerprint sensor and fabrication method thereof


Methods and apparatus for providing transapical access to a heart chamber for performing an intra cardiac procedure are described. The apparatus include a helical needle driver, a dilator, a straight access needle, and optionally a guidewire. After entering the heart chamber with the straight access needle, the helical needle driver is used to place a helical suture within the myocardium. After removing the needle driver, the dilator is advanced through the pre-placed helical suture, dilating both a passage and the circumscribing suture. After performing procedure, the pre-placed suture may be closed by proximally retracting an external end of the suture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing transapical access to a heart chamber to facilitate performing various procedures within the heart chamber, such as heart valve replacement, valve repair, atrial septum repair, aneurysmectomy, and the like.
Heart valve replacement and repair on beating hearts are typically performed via a transvascular or a transapical approach. Of particular interest to the present invention, transapical access is typically established via an intercostal incision and placement of a relatively large cannula to provide access to the apex of the heart. Conventional surgical tools are then used through the cannula to form an incision into the heart to allow passage of the interventional tools used for the heart valve replacement, repair, or other procedure. Frequently, a purse string suture is pre-placed at the site of the incision to facilitate closure after the procedure is complete.
The need to use conventional surgical tools for making the incision through the apical region into the heart chamber requires that a relatively large access port be placed through the intercostal space, typically between the fourth and fifth ribs. The incision is typically 4 or 5 cm in length, and such incisions in the abdomen are very painful to the patient.
For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved apparatus and methods for both accessing a heart for transapical penetration and for closing the penetration after the related procedure has been completed. Such apparatus and methods would preferably require a smaller intercostal incision than has often been necessary in the past, and in particular, it would be desirable if the incision were below 5 cm, preferably below 4 cm, and still more preferably below 3 cm, or less. Methods and apparatus should further provide for both simplified access and closure protocols, should present minimum risk to the patient, be economical, and be relatively uncomplicated for use by the physician. At least some of these objectives will be met by the inventions described below.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Patent Publ. Nos. 2011/0015728; 2011/0004235; and 2009/0287183 describe devices for transapically accessing a heart chamber for performing valve replacement and other procedures. U.S. Patent Publ. No 2010/0268253 describes a self-closing structure that can be disposed about a transapical access site. U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,541, describes a helical needle for performing vertical suturing in tissues including cardiac and live tissue. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,758,595; 7,637,918; 5,545,148; and 5,356,424; and U.S. Patent Publ. Nos. 2009/275960; 2008/275473; 2006/253127; and 2006/212048 describe other suturing devices with helical needles.

Method and apparatus for transapical access and closure


The present disclosure includes methods and systems for monitoring thread starvation. A number of embodiments include determining an amount of time a thread is not runnable, determining an amount of CPU consumption time for the thread, and determining an amount of thread starvation time based on the amount of time the thread is not runnable and the amount of CPU consumption time for the thread.

Applications can use multiple threads to handle the workload on a server. There can be hundreds or thousands of active threads on a server, which can attempt to use more central processing unit (CPU) resources than are available to operate at a given time. When a thread is runnable, but not able to be run, thread starvation occurs. Thread starvation can occur when a thread is temporarily incapable of making progress due to a temporary lack of necessary resources, such as CPU resources, for example.

Monitoring thread starvation using stack trace sampling and based on a total elapsed time

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The problem of obtaining a multi-touch input sequence for use in user authentication is solved by determining, at a plurality of time instances, a mapping from an unordered set of at least four touch points to a an ordered set of at least four fingertips, wherein for at least one of the plurality of time instances, the mapping from the unordered set of at least four touch points to the ordered set of at least four fingertips is subject to a constraint that the ordered set of at least four touch points defines a simple polygon.

§1 Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns authenticating a user. More specifically, the present invention concerns authenticating a user using input from a multi-touch device.
§2 Background Information
With the growing popularity of mobile computing devices and their use for activities such as banking and other transactions that require security, protecting user credentials on mobile devices is becoming increasingly important.
Current applications typically maintain the privacy of users' sensitive data by authenticating a user each time they login. Most mobile devices today use traditional text-based password schemes to authenticate a user. Unfortunately however, users have been known to choose weak passwords. (See, e.g., Jain, A., Ross, A., and Pankanti, S., "Biometrics: A Tool for Information Security," IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, Vol. 1, pp. 125-143 (June 2006), incorporated herein by reference.) This is especially true with touch devices, which are extremely popular. One study has shown that the speed of typing on flash glass, which is used in touch devices, is 31% slower than typing on a physical keyboard. (See, e.g., Findlater, L., Wobbrock, J. O., and Wigdor, D., "Typing on Flat Glass: Examining Ten-Finger Expert Typing Patterns on Touch Surfaces," Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '11, ACM (New York, N.Y., USA, 2011), pp. 2453-2462, incorporated herein by reference.) Some believe that this has led to users using shorter passwords on touch devices to shorten their log-in time.
More generally, text passwords have been known to impose a cognitive burden on users that results in selection of weak passwords. (See, e.g., Wiedenbeck, S., Waters, J., Birget, J.-C., Brodskiy, A., and Memon, N., "Passpoints: Design and Longitudinal Evaluation of a Graphical Password System," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, No. 1-2, pp. 102-127 (2005), and Denning, T., Bowers, K., van Dijk, M., and Juels, A., "Exploring Implicit Memory for Painless Password Recovery," Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '11, ACM (New York, N.Y., USA, 2011), pp. 2615-2618, both incorporated herein by reference.) To tackle this problem, in 1996, Blonder first proposed graphical passwords based on a memory study (See Calkins, M. W., "Short Studies in Memory and in Association from the Wellesly College Psychological Laboratory" Psychological Review, Vol. 5(5), pp. 2453-2462 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, September 1998), incorporated herein by reference.) that showed human memory for visual words is stronger than for pronounced words. Blonder's graphical passwords were later improved by Passpoints (See, e.g., Wiedenbeck, S., Waters, J., Birget, J.-C., Brodskiy, A., and Memon, N., "Passpoints: Design and Longitudinal Evaluation of a Graphical Password System," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, No. 1-2, pp. 102-127 (2005).) and Cue Click Points (See, e.g., Chiasson, S., van Oorschot, P., and Biddle, R., "Graphical Password Authentication Using Cued Click Points," Computer Security ESORICS 2007, Vol. 4734 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer Berlin/Heidelberg (2007), incorporated herein by reference.). Passfaces is another example of a visual memory based authentication scheme where users are asked to repeatedly pick faces out of those presented. (See, e.g., http://www.passfaces.com/pfphelp/logon.htm, incorporated herein by reference.) Draw-a-Secret is a graphical password that is a simple secret picture drawn on a grid. (See, e.g., Dunphy, P., and Yan, J., "Do Background Images improve 'Draw a Secret' Graphical Passwords?," Proceedings of the 14th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, CCS '07, pp. 36-47 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2007), incorporated herein by reference.) In 2010, a touch-screen authentication scheme, similar to Passpoints, which required users to sequentially tap on pre-selected images to input their password was proposed. (See, e.g., Jonathan Citty, D. R. H., "Tapi: Touch-Screen Authentication Using Partitioned Images," ELON UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL REPORT 2010-1, pp. 1-6 (2010), incorporated herein by reference.)
Unfortunately however, the foregoing graphical password schemes are susceptible to a "shoulder surfing attack" (where an unauthorized user observes entry of the pattern by the authorized user), since they can be potentially observed by an attacker. (See, e.g., Kim, D., Dunphy, P., Briggs, P., Hook, J., Nicholson, J., Nicholson, J., and Olivier, P., "Multi-touch Authentication on Tabletops," Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '10, ACM, pp. 1093-1102 (New York, N.Y., USA, 2010), incorporated herein by reference.)
Touch and multi-touch technologies enable new authentication techniques other than text passwords. One example is the touch-based password scheme called "Pattern Lock" implemented in the Android OS. (See, e.g., Shabtai, A., Fledel, Y., Kanonov, U., Elovici, Y., Dolev, S., and Glezer, C., "Google Android: A Comprehensive Security Assessment," IEEE Security Privacy, No. 2 in 8, pp. 35-44 (March-April 2010), incorporated herein by reference.) With Pattern Lock, the password is a pattern or sequence of dots connected by lines drawn by a user to gain access to the system. However, Pattern Lock has some disadvantages. First, passwords created using Pattern Lock generally have low entropy. (See, e.g. http://beust.com/weblog2/archives/000497.html, incorporated herein by reference.) Second, a pattern sketched by a user's finger in Pattern Lock has been shown to be vulnerable to disclosure based on the traces left on the touch screen by finger oils. (See, e.g., http://techcrunch.com/2008/10/12/androids-login-is-cool-but-is-it-secure/, incorporated herein by reference.) Third, Pattern Lock does not protect against so-called "shoulder surfing" attacks since these pattern-based passwords generally do not contain biometric information specific to the authorized user. (See, e.g., [Kim, D., Dunphy, P., Briggs, P., Hook, J., Nicholson, J., Nicholson, J., and Olivier, P., "Multi-touch Authentication on Tabletops," Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '10, pp. 1093-1102 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2010), and Wiedenbeck, S., Waters, J., Birget, J.-C., Brodskiy, A., and Memon, N., "Passpoints: Design and Longitudinal Evaluation of a Graphical Password System," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, No. 1-2, pp. 102-127 (2005), both incorporated herein by reference.) Finally, Pattern Lock does not exploit the full capabilities of the newer multi-touch interfaces emerging in tablets and touch pads where a user can use multiple fingertips to interact with the device. (See, e.g., Wang, F., and Ren, X., "Empirical Evaluation for Finger Input Properties in Multi-Touch Interaction," Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '09, pp. 1063-1072 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2009), incorporated herein by reference.)
Many alternative approaches have been proposed to tackle the problem of shoulder surfing attacks. For example, in 2004, a PIN-based challenge-response approach was proposed. (See, e.g., Roth, V., Richter, K., and Freidinger, R., "A Pin-Entry Method Resilient Against Shoulder Surfing," Proceedings of the 11th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, CCS '04, pp. 236-245 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2004), incorporated herein by reference.) Under this example approach, to enter one digit, the user repeatedly chooses the color of the focus digit shown on the screen (either black or white). In another example, a graphical challenge response scheme was proposed. (See, e.g., Wiedenbeck, S., Waters, J., Sobrado, L., and Birget, J.-C., "Design and Evaluation of a Shoulder-Surfing Resistant Graphical Password Scheme," Proceedings of the Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces, AVI '06, pp. 177-184 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2006), incorporated herein by reference.) In this other example, given a convex hull generated by the preselected icons, the user clicks on any icon that appears inside that convex hull and the process is repeated multiple times. Recently, a pressure-based authentication scheme was proposed to reduce the visibility of the secret to an attacker. (See, e.g., Kim, D., Dunphy, P., Briggs, P., Hook, J., Nicholson, J., Nicholson, J., and Olivier, P., "Multi-Touch Authentication on Tabletops," Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI '10, pp. 1093-1102 (ACM, New York, N.Y., USA, 2010), incorporated herein by reference.) The idea behind this pressure-based authentication scheme is to confuse or "blind" an attacker by placing fingertips simultaneously in different zones. The user then communicates with the device by increasing the pressure on the fingertip located in a specific zone to select an object.
Yet, another approach to counter shoulder surfing is to avoid relying completely on a shared secret (i.e., a knowledge-based scheme or "what you know" scheme). In addition, a behavior component ("what you are") is used to supplement the shared secret. One way to achieve this is by using biometric technology. In a biometric authentication system, a personal trait is used to verify (or help verify) a user. To increase the level of security, biometrics can be combined with any other authentication scheme to get a multi-factor authentication. Biometric traits that have been studied for authentication include physiological ones such as retina, iris, fingerprint, face, vein and palm, and behavioral ones such as dynamic signatures, voice, keystroke, and gait. However, using such biometric traits may have drawbacks. More specifically, some require special hardware, some are not robust to external environment changes, some are prone to high error rates and some need long training sessions. Also physiological traits are intrusive from a privacy point of view and they may be impossible to change. For example, a user may be uncomfortable giving an iris scan to Amazon.com because once they do, they cannot change it.
Multi-touch user authentication is also described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010-0225443 (referred to as "the '443 publication" and incorporated herein by reference). Some example authentication methods described in the '443 publication involve multi-touch gestures. Such techniques could be improved if a reliable and efficient method for maintaining a set of ordered fingertip touches is used.
Given the increasing prevalence of devices including multi-touch technology, it would be useful to provide a new user authentication system that does not have the limitations of text passwords and Pattern Lock-like mechanisms as described above. Further, if a multi-touch authentication system is to be used, such a multi-touch authentication system should ideally be secure (e.g. providing a sufficiently large entropy, less susceptible to shoulder surfing, etc.), yet enjoyable (or at least easy to use) for the end user. It would be useful if such a multi-touch authentication system captured biometric traits (e.g., derived from hand geometry and/or hand movement) of the user. Finally, if a multi-touch authentication system is to be used, it would be useful to use a reliable and efficient method for maintaining a set of ordered fingertip touches.

Biometric-rich gestures for authentication on multi-touch devices

Polytechnic Institute of New York University


An apparatus and method for fastening together spacecraft panels includes the use of fastener pairs, one of which has preformed therein an aperture which is larger in diameter than the body of a tolerance takeup piece which is to pass therethrough. A washer which takes up the clearance is adhesively fastened to one of the fastener halves, and allowed to cure while the panels are in their desired position. Thus, a high-tolerance mating pair can be finalized in position at a late state in fabrication, without undesirable drilling or reaming. In a first particular embodiment, a flat washer, having an inside diameter which closely fits the corresponding bolt, is adhesively fastened over the preformed oversize aperture of a fitting. In another embodiment, the washer has an inside diameter which loosely fits the body of the bolt, but also includes a flange or dependent portion which extends through the joint, and which closely fits the inside diameter of the corresponding aperture in the other half of the fastener arrangement. In a yet further embodiment, the washer includes a two-step flange which takes up both axial and lateral tolerances.

This invention relates to spacecraft fabricated from panels, and more particularly to fasteners and fastening methods which reduce the weight and cost of panel assembly.
The basic structural members of spacecraft currently include support panels in the form of relatively high-strength face sheets, spaced apart by a low-density core. As an example, such a panel might include a pair of parallel, spaced-apart aluminum sheets, with an aluminum honeycomb bonded therebetween. Such a panel exhibits high strength for its weight, and has advantageous thermal and electrical conduction characteristics. Other materials may be desirable, as for example the face sheets may be made from carbon-fiber reinforced resin.
Electrical and mechanical components and subassemblies are mounted on various panels of the spacecraft. Because of the high reliability required of a spacecraft, many tests are performed on the individual components, and on the subassemblies, at various stages of the manufacture. As part of assembly of a spacecraft, it is often necessary to fasten such a panel to another panel, either at the edges or at locations away from an edge. It might be possible to adhesively bond together the various panels of the spacecraft. However, adhesively bonded panels could not be disassembled for test or for access to other components for test. Consequently, removable fasteners are ordinarily used for holding together spacecraft panels,
FIG. 1a illustrates a pair of panels 2, 4, and a portion of the housing 5 of a piece of electrical equipment mounted on panel 2, together with a prior art fastening technique. In FIG. 1a, panel 2 is formed from face sheets 6a and 6b, separated by a low-density core of honeycomb material 6c. Panel 4 includes face sheets 8a, 8b, and a similar honeycomb core 8c. Panels 2 and 4 are fastened together by a plurality of fastening arrangements 10.sup.1, 10.sup.2, 10.sup.3, 10.sup.4. . . as illustrated in FIG. 1d, only one of which, designated generally as 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1a. Fastening arrangement 10 includes a first clevis 10a, a second clevis 10b, and a bolt 24. Clevis 10a is associated with panel 2, and includes a furcated portion 12', 12" and a connecting body portion Portions 12' and 12" of clevis 10a straddle portions of the face sheets of panel 2, and are adhesively fastened thereto. Clevis 10b is associated with panel 4, and includes a furcated portion 14', 14" which straddles across, and is adhesively fastened to a portion of face sheets 8a and 8b. Clevis 10b includes a flat body portion 16, which has a close-fitting clearance hole 24 for the body portion 27 of bolt 24, and which is fitted with a threaded captivated floating nut fastener 40, described below in conjunction with FIG. 1c. Body 18 of clevis 10a holds furcated portions 12', 12" in mutually parallel relationship, and supports a flat base or bracket 20 which defines an aperture 22.
Bolt 24 of FIG. 1a includes a head portion 26 and a threaded end portion 28, with a body portion 27 lying therebetween. Bolt 24 extends through aperture 22 in clevis 10b, and its threaded end 28 screws into a floating nut 46, described below is conjunction with FIG. 1c. When bolt 24 is tightened into its nut, the head 26 of bolt 24 bears against a portion of bracket 20, and the adjoining faces of bracket 20 and the body portion of clevis 10b abut along a plane 32, visible in the cross-section of FIG. 1b.
A floating nut assembly designated 40 is fastened behind aperture 24 in FIG. 1a. The nut 48 must float, so that any slight misalignment between the nut and aperture 24 may be taken up during assembly. FIG. 1c is a perspective view of floating nut assembly 40. As illustrated, floating nut assembly 40 includes a base portion with bent-over lugs 48, which captivate a one-piece nut portion including a base portion 44 and a projecting threaded portion 46. The piece represented by base 44 and threaded portion 46 is free to move slightly relative to base 42. The floating nuts have locking features (deformed threads) which prevent loosening of the bolt, but which allow for repeated disassembly and reassembly.
During assembly, the panels are clamped in their desired relative positions, which are illustrated in FIG. 1d. If the clevises have not already been placed in position, they are so placed and adhesively fastened. If holes 22 in clevis 10a and 24 in clevis 10b have been preformed in the clevises before assembly, it is likely that the holes 22, 24 in fastener pairs will not properly align, unless some cutting or adjustment is made during the clevis adhesive fastening process. When there are many such fasteners associated with a pair of panels, it may be possible to adjust one or two fasteners so that holes 22 and 24 are coaxial, but the remainder are unlikely to align exactly.
In order to avoid the cost of hand-crafting the connection of each clevis to its associated panel, aperture 22 may be predefined in bracket 20 of clevis 10a with a diameter greater than the body diameter of bolt 24. The oversize of aperture 22 must be sufficient to accommodate the maximum expected tolerance error, to avoid the necessity for a reaming operation to enlarge the aperture. Reaming is undesirable, because the panel assembly normally takes place after equipment, such as the equipment represented by housing portion 5 of FIG. 1a, has been fastened to the panels and tested. A reaming operation generates chips and debris which could lodge within electronic components, or on surfaces to which further devices are to be fastened or which are intended for relative motion, thereby creating the possibility of electrical short circuits, mechanical interference, or both.
FIG. 1b is a cross-section of the assembled joint of FIG. 1a. Elements of FIG. 1b corresponding to those of FIG. 1a are designated by like reference numerals. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, the edges of aperture 22 do not bear against the body of bolt 24. The edges of aperture 24, however, do bear against the body of bolt 24. In order to prevent relative motion between the panels at fastener arrangement 10, bolt 24 is tightened into floating nut 46 sufficiently so that, in the presence of shear forces, friction between flat body portions 16 and 20 prevents motion. In FIG. 1b, the shear forces are represented by arrows 30. A useful rule of thumb for materials of the type used in spacecraft is that the normal forces holding together fastener halves 10a and 10b at an interface surface 32 must be about three times the expected shear force. Therefore, in order to withstand a shear force of, for example, 800 pounds force (1 bf), the normal force exerted by screw 24 must be on the order of 2400 lbs. In a particular such application, it is expected that, even using high-strength titanium fasteners, 1/4-inch bolts are required so as not to exceed their tensile limits. The relatively large number of bolts of such relatively large size represents a significant weight on the spacecraft. Also, the relatively large normal forces required, as described above, mandates a thicker cross-section for bracket 20 and body 16 of clevises 10a and 10b, respectively, all of which undesirably adds weight to the spacecraft.
FIG. 2a illustrates a prior-art arrangement for connecting the edge of a panel to a location away from the edge of a second panel. Elements of FIGS. 2c and 2b corresponding to those of FIGS. 1a and 1b are designated by like reference numerals. In FIGS. 2a and 2b, clevis 10b and panel 4 are identical to those of FIGS. 1a and 1b. Panel 2, however, is fitted with a "well" fastener designated generally as 50, which is in the general form of a cup, including a projecting lip 52, a body portion 54, and a bottom portion 56 defining an oversize aperture 22. The depth of body 54 is selected so the well fastener bottom is flush with the reverse side (not visible in FIG. 2a) of panel 2 when projecting lip 52 is flush with face sheet 6a of panel 2. The correspondence of well fastener 50 to clevis 10a is clear, and its cross-section is very similar to that of FIG. 1b. The arrangement of FIG. 2a suffers from the same problems as those of the edge fastener of FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c.
If aperture 22 could be made to closely fit about the body of bolt 24 in FIGS. 1a or 2a, shear forces could be carried in a "body bound" fashion from the edges of aperture 22 directly to the body of bolt 24, and thence directly to the edges of hole 24. With such an arrangement, shear forces would be coupled directly from one clevis to the other clevis through the body of bolt 24, and motion would be prevented without reliance upon friction at the junction. As a result, large normal forces would not be required, the tensile stresses in the bolt could be reduced, and smaller bolts could therefore be used, together with a reduction in the cross-sectional dimensions of the associated portions of the clevises. An overall weight reduction would result. Such body bound construction is known in industries such as the aircraft industries. The body bound construction is accomplished in the aircraft industry by, with the structures being clamped in their desired positions, drilling apertures, corresponding to apertures 22 and 24, simultaneously. This results in lightweight, accurate fabrication, but at the expense of "crafting" each fastener, and also at the cost of undesirably producing debris and chips at a late stage in fabrication. Improved fastening methods are desired.

Spacecraft assembly with misalignment tolerant fasteners


Managing a meeting can include analyzing, using a processor, dialog of the meeting to detect a closing indicator in response to determining that a scheduled end time of a meeting currently in progress is approaching. In the event that the closing indicator is not detected within the dialog, determining, using the processor, availability of an attendee of the meeting to continue in the meeting beyond the scheduled end time. A notification of the scheduled end time of the meeting can be provided, using the processor, in response to determining that the attendee of the meeting is not available to continue in the meeting beyond the scheduled end time.

This disclosure relates to meeting systems and, more particularly, to managing scheduled meetings and the closing of scheduled meetings.
Different types of meetings such as conference calls, Web-based meetings, virtual meetings, etc., are often scheduled using electronic calendar systems. The meetings have definitive start times and end times. In many cases, the meetings run longer than scheduled. While some attendees may be able to continue in the meeting beyond the scheduled end time, other attendees may not due to scheduling conflicts.
A number of awkward situations and potentially negative consequences may arise from a meeting overrun. In one example, the meeting organizer may need to interrupt the discussion to ask whether each attendee is able to continue in the meeting beyond the scheduled end time or to schedule a follow-up meeting. These sorts of interruptions may derail the meeting discussion, may waste time, and may constrain the flow of ideas for the remaining meeting time.
In another example, an attendee may be forced to interrupt the current speaker to notify the other attendees of that individual's need to leave the meeting. In some cases, one may need permission from another attendee, e.g., a supervisor, in order to leave the meeting. Some attendees may consider interrupting in this manner and/or leaving the meeting to be rude behavior or an annoyance that could jeopardize relationships among the meeting attendees.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to remotely disable an input device included within a client computer system coupled to the server utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a message to the client computer system to disable the input device. In response to a receipt of the message, a network adapter included within the client computer system disables the input device by prohibiting a data stream output from the input device from being received by an input/output controller included within the client computer system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to data processing systems and, in particular, to a data processing system and method including a server and client computer systems coupled together utilizing a network. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a data processing system and method including a server and client computer systems coupled together utilizing a network for permitting the server to remotely disable a client computer system""s input device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computer systems are well known in the art. They have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today""s modern society. Personal computers (PCs) may be defined as a desktop, floor standing, or portable microcomputer that includes a system unit having a central processing unit (CPU) and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, including random access memory (RAM) and basic input/output system read only memory (BIOS ROM), a system monitor, a keyboard, one or more flexible diskette drives, a CD-ROM drive, a fixed disk storage drive (also known as a xe2x80x9chard drivexe2x80x9d), a pointing device such as a mouse, and an optional network interface adapter. One of the distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of a motherboard or system planar to electrically connect these components together. Examples of such personal computer systems are IBM""s PC 300 series, Aptiva series, and Intellistation series.
With PCs being increasingly connected into networks to allow transfers of data among computers to occur, more operations such as maintenance, updating of applications, and data collections are occurring over the network. Computer networks are also becoming essential to their users. It is desirable to minimize loss of productivity by increasing availability of network resources.
Remote management of client computer systems is becoming a part of both large and medium networks. Remote management provides tremendous cost of ownership advantages and provides better quality of service for a client. However, expanding the role of remotely managed computer systems also increases the complexity of managing the computer systems on the network.
Therefore a need exists for a data processing system and method for permitting a server computer system to remotely disable a client computer system""s keyboard.
A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to remotely disable an input device included within a client computer system coupled to the server utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a message to the client computer system to disable the input device. In response to a receipt of the message, a network adapter included within the client computer system disables the input device by prohibiting a data stream output from the input device from being received by an input/output controller included within the client computer system.
The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Data processing system and method for permitting a server to remotely disable a client computer system""s input device

International Business Machines Corporation


A manual transmission for a motor vehicle with a front transverse drive, has a wheel set which consists of a transmission input shaft and at least two transmission output shafts, both engaged via a gearwheel with the spur wheel of an axle differential. A-rotationally fixed connection of the loose wheels and/or gearshift wheels provided on the two transmission output shafts with the coupling units assigned to them is provided by gearshift forks displaceably arranged on the shift axles and selectable and operable via at least one gearshift lever shaft. For bearing and/or accommodation of the gearshift axles and the gearshift lever shaft, a common bearing unit is provided. The bearing unit is arranged between the wheel set (transmission input shaft, transmission output shaft) and the central opening in the axial differential.

The present invention relates to a manual transmission for a motor vehicle with a front transverse drive.
In for example, EP 1 067 312 B1 or EP 0 046 373 A1, manual transmission designs are shown having two idler shafts with ratchet wheel pairings that are shiftable accordingly. Each of the two transmission output shafts of a so-called three-shaft transmission is engaged with the gearwheel of an axle differential via a spur gearing. Such transmission designs are used with vehicles with a front transverse drive because they are short and compact due to the use of three transmission shafts. The shift gearwheels provided on both transmission output shafts are shifted as needed via locking synchronizers in a rotationally fixed connection to the transmission output shafts. This requires gearshift forks that act on the gearshift sleeves of the synchronizing units and are mounted on corresponding shift axles. In the case of a non-automatic manual transmission, gearshift lever shafts are necessary for selecting and operating the gearshift forks.

Manual gearbox for a motor vehicle with a front transverse drive

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


There is provided a movement detection method of a mobile node in a DSMIP6 environment. The movement detection method includes performing neighbor unreachability detection in a network to which a mobile node moves, confirming network movement detection and simultaneously performing IPv4 address allocation when the neighbor unreachability detection fails, performing router discovery at the same time as the IPv4 address allocation, recognizing the movement detection into the IPv4 network when the IPv4 address allocation succeeds, and recognizing the movement detection into the IPv6 network when the router discovery and the IPv6 router discovery succeed. Therefore, the movement detection method can be useful to continuously perform operations as defined in a DSMIP6 specification so as to confirm whether the network to which the mobile node moves is an IPv6 network or an IPv4 network and detect movement to the confirmed network, and to perform a binding update in time.

Generally, MIP6 is a technique for backing up its movement in an internet protocol version 6 (hereinafter, referred to as IPv6) network. The IPv6 is a next version of the internet protocol version 4 (hereinafter, referred to as IPv4) that has been used for an internet transfer protocol, and its normalization has been nearly completed by the internet engineering task force (IETF).
However, the IPv4 has been used in the internet addressing system since it is not completely changed into the IPv6. The change of the IPv4 into IPv6 network does not occur in a moment, and therefore the internet networks are in a mixed state where the IPv4 and IPv6 networks are used together.
Accordingly, an MIP6 standardization has been under way by an MIP6 working group (MIP6 WG) of the IETF by proposing a protocol dual stack MIP6 (hereinafter, referred to as DSMIP6) in order to operate the MIP6 in an environment in which the IPv4 network and the IPv6 network are used in a mixed state. Due to the characteristics of the DSMIP6, the MIP6 mobile node easily moves to different networks or the same network. In this case, a method for detecting movement of an MIP 6 mobile node is necessarily required for performing a binding update (BU) procedure according to the network movement.
However, it is recommended from a DSMIP6 specification to see a separate literature (DNAv4; Detecting Network Attachment in IPv4, RFC4436) for the movement to an IPv6-IPv4 network, but the RFC4436 literature discloses only the movement to an IPv4 network. Therefore, it is difficult to detect the movement of mobile nodes from the IPv6 network to the IPv4 network using the DSMIP6 specification.

Network movement detection method in mobile node of DSMIP6 environment

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A system and method for generating hypochlorous acid, the system comprising an electrolysis cell, a first fluid line configured to direct a first salt solution to a cathode chamber of the electrolysis cell, and a second fluid line configured to direct a second salt solution to an anode chamber of the electrolysis cell, where the second salt solution has a greater salt concentration than the first salt solution.

The present disclosure relates cleaning and sanitizing systems, and in particular, to systems for generating hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with electrolysis reactions.
Electrolysis cells are used in a variety of different applications for changing one or more characteristics of a fluid. For example, electrolysis cells have been used in cleaning/sanitizing applications, medical industries, and semiconductor manufacturing processes. Electrolysis cells have also been used in a variety of other applications and have had different configurations. For cleaning/sanitizing applications, electrolysis cells are used to create anolyte liquids and catholyte liquid. Anolyte liquids have known sanitizing properties, and catholyte liquids have known cleaning properties.

Generator and method for forming hypochlorous acid


A compound represented by Formula 1 below:(R1)a—CB—[Ar]n—CB—(R2)b  <Formula 1>                wherein CB denotes carborane, Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, and a detailed description of R1, R2, a, b, and n is provided in the detailed description. An organic light-emitting diode including an organic layer including the compound has high luminous efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carborane compound, an organic light-emitting diode including the same, and a flat display device including the organic light-emitting diode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are self-emitting devices, have advantages such as a wide viewing angle, excellent contrast, quick response, high brightness, and excellent driving voltage characteristics, and can provide multicolored images.
A general OLED has a structure including a substrate, and an anode, a hole transport layer (HTL), an emission layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and a cathode which are sequentially stacked on the substrate. In this regard, the HTL, the EML, and the ETL are organic layers formed of organic compounds.
An operating principle of an OLED having the above-described structure is as follows. When a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, holes injected from the anode move to the EML via the HTL, and electrons injected from the cathode move to the EML via the ETL. The holes and electrons recombine in the EML to generate excitons. When the excitons drop from an excited state to a ground state, light is emitted.
Excitons generated by current excitation are divided into two types: singlet exciton and triplet exciton. The singlet exciton and the triplet exciton are formed at a ratio of 1 to 3 according to spin statistics theorem. In general, singlet excitons contribute to light emission in fluorescent materials, and triplet excitons contribute to light emission in phosphorescent materials. 25% of singlet exciton generation restricts the luminous efficiency of a fluorescent material.
In a case where triplet excitons contribute to luminescence, when a possibility of intersystem crossing (ISC) from a singlet state to a triplet state is high, luminous efficiency may be enhanced. Organometallic compounds including iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), or the like have relatively high luminous efficiency because intersystem crossing occurs therein by heavy atomic effect.
However, there is a need to develop other materials with high luminous efficiency except for phosphorescent organometallic compounds.

Carborane compound, organic light-emitting diode including the same and flat display device including organic light-emitting diode

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do

KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A reduced wind resistance haulage vehicle apparatus includes an undercarriage portion which supports a motor/transmission. Driven wheel assemblies are connected to the undercarriage portion and are powered by the motor/transmission. A cab portion is supported by the an undercarriage portion for controlling the motor/transmission. Steering wheel assemblies are supported by the undercarriage portion for steering by a driver seated in the cab portion. A haulage portion is supported by the undercarriage portion. More specifically, the haulage portion includes haulage compartment side walls. Haulage compartment front doors and rear doors are connected to the haulage compartment side walls. When the haulage portion is empty, the front doors and the rear doors are opened, and air flow can flow through the haulage portion when the vehicle is driven along a road surface. As a result, the air resistance of the vehicle is significantly reduced, and the vehicle saves in energy demand and in fuel consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to haulage vehicles, and, more particularly, to haulage vehicles especially adapted for reducing air resistance when an empty vehicle is driven.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the art that when a vehicle is driven, air resistance is an important factor in causing excess fuel to be consumed, even if the haulage vehicle is empty. To reduce this effect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to the reduction of air resistance in haulage vehicles, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 926,971, 5,782,521, and 6,685,256.
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 926,971 discloses a railroad car that include front air intake tubes, a front to rear air conveyor duct, and rear air output tubes. Passage of air through the front air intake tubes, the front to rear air conveyor duct, and the rear air output tubes reduces air resistance when compared to a solid front that has no air intake tubes. The volume of the front air intake tubes, the front to rear air conveyor duct, and the rear air output tubes is relatively low compared to the volume of the haulage compartment inside the railroad car. Greater reduction in air resistance could be achieved if the volume of the haulage compartment could be used for air flow, provided that the haulage compartment is empty. In this respect, it would be desirable is a haulage vehicle were provided that permitted air flow through the haulage compartment when the haulage compartment is empty.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,521 discloses a tractor trailer that has a retractable overhead front door and a retractable overhead rear door. When the both the front and rear doors are open, air can flow through the haulage compartment of the tractor trailer to reduce air resistance. A tractor trailer, however, must be pulled by a motorized tractor, and the presence of the motorized tractor can block the opening to the front door. In this respect, it would be desirable if a haulage vehicle were provided that includes all of a driver's cab, a motor, and a haulage compartment that are integrated into a single vehicle so that front doors of a haulage compartment are not blocked by a motorized tractor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,256 discloses a trailer drag reduction system which includes an air intake opening, an air conveyor, and an outlet opening, all outside the interior of a trailer. Just as with U.S. Pat. No. 926,971, this trailer drag reduction system does not permit air to flow through the haulage compartment when the haulage compartment is empty.
Still other features would be desirable in a reduced wind resistance haulage vehicle apparatus. For example, in a conventional motorized tractor, the motor is located relatively close to the cab in which the driver sits. As a result, the driver experiences noise and vibration from the motor. In contrast, with an integrated haulage vehicle, in which the cab, the motor, and the haulage compartment are integrated, the motor can be located under the haulage compartment, at a considerable distance from the cab in which the driver sits, thereby reducing motor noise and vibration experienced by the driver.
In addition, it is well known that for a heavy load, more wheels and tires are needed to carry a heavy load in a haulage compartment than when the haulage compartment is empty. Nevertheless, a haulage vehicle comes with a fixed number of wheels and tires. Wheels and tires that roll along a road surface generate a substantial amount of kinetic resistance and require fuel consumption whether or not the haulage compartment is full or empty. However, to reduce fuel consumption for an empty haulage compartment, it would be desirable if some wheels and tires could be elevated above the road surface, so that they do not roll along the road surface when the haulage compartment is empty.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use channels in haulage vehicles for air flow to reduce air resistance, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a reduced wind resistance haulage vehicle apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) permits air flow through the haulage compartment when the haulage compartment is empty; (2) provides a haulage vehicle that includes all of a driver's cab, a motor, and a haulage compartment that are integrated into a single vehicle; (3) provides that the motor can be located under the haulage compartment, at a considerable distance from the cab in which the driver sits, thereby reducing motor noise and vibration experienced by the driver; and (4) permits some wheels and tires to be elevated above the road surface, so that they do not roll along the road surface when the haulage compartment is empty. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique reduced wind resistance haulage vehicle apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

Reduced wind resistant haulage vehicle apparatus


A steam cleaning accessory for use with a steam generator comprises a flexible sheath having a first side wall, a second side wall and a base there between. At least one steam conduit has at least one steam outlet. The at least one steam conduit is arranged to be in fluid communication with the steam generator. At least one flexible thermal insulation layer is mounted between the first and second side walls. The steam conduit is mounted on a first side of the base and the flexible thermal insulation layer is mounted on a second side of the base. A restraint is coupled to the flexible sheath and arranged to receive a user's hand.

In recent times steam cleaning has become desirable in the domestic environment. A known steam cleaner is shown in EP2494901 which has a boiler for generating steam and a cleaning head for directing the steam to a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning head is designed to engage a floor surface. The size of the steam cleaner and the construction of the cleaning head means that it is difficult to clean surfaces other than the floor.