The invention is an improved Offset Head Ratchet Wrench. It allows the user to remove or interchange different size ratchet heads or tools quickly with the push of a button attached at the head of the activating shaft. This shaft can activate in three stages if it is operating an offset wrench. The activating shaft is attached to an E shaped structure, which is made up of an activating shaft, locking pin and pivot pin, all three being attached to a central plate. Stage one is when the activating shaft is in a partially depressed position. The locking pin releases the ratchet head for rotation only. Stage two is when the activating shaft is fully depressed, it releases the pivot pin, allowing the ratchet head to be easily and quickly removed or exchanged for another type of tool with a similarly designed head.

The present invention relates to a standard wrench, a socket wrench, and Offset Head Ratchet Wrenches. This allows the user to quickly remove the wrench head from the handle, enabling the user to use the head of the wrench as a palm wrench. In addition, the user can quickly change the size or type of head necessary to complete the task at hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,076 issued to Benny R. Barnes included the ability to remove the head of the ratchet from the handle. This invention suffers from the disadvantage that the user would have to completely unscrew the pivot pin to remove the ratchet head and then reinsert the screw in the pivot hole to reinstall the new ratchet head. This requires a two-hand operation and loose parts that may drop during the exchange. Also, the possibility of crossing threads exist, and could cause damage to the threaded area in the wrench, rendering the tool useless. It also, requires substantially more time and effort for this complete exchange process.
The invention is an improved ratchet wrench with a quick release mechanism that enables the user to quickly remove or exchange the ratchet head for a different size ratchet head or type of wrench head with a similar connecting design. This different type of head can be an open-end wrench or a box style wrench for example. In a preferred embodiment the mechanism can be an E shaped structure having an activating shaft which passes through the handle, a locking pin, which selectively engages some of the plurality of holes located in the neck of the rotating head and a pivot pin that connects the handle to the wrench head. In a preferred embodiment the activating shaft has a button on it, when this button is depressed partially, it rests against a ball nose spring plunger pin that is perpendicularly aligned with the activating shaft. (one or more ball nose plungers, or some other type of device to allow or cause hesitation on the activation shaft) When additional pressure is applied to the button on the top of the activating shaft, this will cause the spring loaded ball on the ball nose spring plunger to depress, allowing the activating shaft to be fully depressed by moving beyond the ball nose spring plunger pin. When the activating shaft is partially depressed with the tip resting against the spring loaded ball of the ball nose spring plunger pin, it allows the locking pin to release the ratchet head""s neck in order to change the angle by rotation, while still maintaining a solid connection between the handle and the ratchet wrench head with the pivot pin. This happens because the pivot pin is of greater length and remains in the locking position, which is when both the handle and the neck of the wrench head are connected. When the activating shaft is totally depressed it disengages the pivot pin thoroughly allowing the wrench head to be removed or exchanged. Another mechanism that can be used, but not limited to, that will also prohibit the pressure spring release activating shaft from totally depressing when pressure is applied, is a pin positioned perpendicularly and slightly offset to the activating shaft. In this application the activating shaft will have a cut out at a specific location. The wider part of the release pin will act as a seat for the activating shaft. This will only allow partial depression. The spring release pin also will have a cut out on one end of its shaft. When this release pin is pressed inward this will allow the cut out of the spring release pin to align itself with the activating shaft. When aligned with the cut out, the activating shaft is able to be fully depressed. When activating shaft is fully depressed it causes the pivot pin to be thoroughly disengaged from the flange. This allows the user with only one hand operation to easily remove or exchange the wrench head with another head size or style of similar flange design. When this quick release invention is used in a conventional straight wrench or ratchet wrench, another E shaped structure can be implemented, later identified in drawings as E2 or #50. However, this structure will have two pins of equal length, both disengaging at the same time, allowing the wrench head to be exchanged or removed quickly with the push of a one stage button on the top of the activating shaft. In this application a straight activating shaft can be used since there will be only one pressure point required for release only.

Quick disconnect offset head ratchet wrench


The invention is a process for making high molecular weight polymers of monoalkenyl arene monomers comprising:. 1) copolymerizing vinylbenzocyclobutene with the monoalkenyl arene monomer through the vinyl moiety; PA0 2) submitting the thus formed copolymer to conditions sufficient to open the side rings of the benzocyclobutene moieties;. wherein the amount of vinylbenzocyclobutene in the copolymer is such that the polymer formed by step 2) does not reach a gel point. Such copolymers allow the building of molecular weight after the initial polymerization.

A process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,990 wherein a living polymer of the alkenyl type is end-capped with an arylcyclobutene monomer end-capping agent. Secondary polymerization of the polymer can then be induced by heating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,485 discloses a polymeric composition produced by the reaction of, for example, styrene in a free radical polymerization reaction which is initiated by a cyclobutarene peroxide, wherein the cyclobutarene fragments are incorporated into the polystyrene polymer. A further polymeric product can be produced from the polymeric composition of the free radical polymerization by ring opening polymerization of the cyclobutarene moiety to produce branched, crosslinked or a mixture of branched and crosslinked polymers. The use of this technique requires the synthesis and use of the cyclobutarene peroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,260 discloses polymeric compositions comprising in polymerized form, a monomer containing a polymerizable arylcyclobutene moiety, and a polymerizable unsaturated alkyl moiety; wherein the monomer is polymerized by subjecting it to conditions sufficient to polymerize the unsaturated alkyl moiety. A related disclosure in U.S. Ser. No. 872,334 exemplifies copolymers of vinylbenzocyclobutene and styrene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,394 discloses a solid random copolymer comprising from about 99.99 to about 80 mole percent of a monoalkenyl arene monomer and from about 0.01 to about 20 mole percent, based on total moles of incorporated monoalkenyl arene monomer and olefinic benzocyclobutene monomers, an olefinic benzocyclobutene of the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is hydrogen or CH.sub.3 and R.sub.2 is (CH.sub.2).sub.n where n is 0 to 6. Copolymers of vinylbenzocyclobutene and styrene are exemplified.
EP Publication 0425814 discloses syndiotactic homopolymers of an arylcyclobutene functional monomer and syndiotactic copolymers of an arylcyclobutene functional monomer and a vinylaromatic monomer are prepared by polymerizing the monomers in the presence of a catalytic amount of a suitable coordination catalyst such as the reaction product of polymethylaluminoxane and a transition metal compound. Copolymers of styrene and 3-vinylbenzocyclobutene exemplified are insoluble in o-dichlorobenzene after the side rings of the arylcyclobutene are opened and crosslinked.
High molecular weight polystyrene has improved creep resistance, elasticity, higher heat distortion, lower permanent set, higher flexural, and impact strengths. This improves its utility for molding objects which require impact resistance and the ability to bend without breaking. High molecular weight polystyrene is generally accepted to be polystyrene with a molecular weight of above 300,000.
One may increase the molecular weight of a polystyrene by the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,394 and 4,724,260. When the copolymers of vinylbenzocyclobutene and styrene taught therein are heated the side rings of the benzocyclobutenes open and react with each other. This increases the polystyrene molecular weight. However the levels of benzocyclobutene taught convert the polymers to thermosets. That is they crosslink at such a density that their melt viscosity at normal process temperature levels is too high to be useful. They also become insoluble in solvents and may even gel in the polymerization reactor.
The gel point or gel state is described in the Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering; Wiley Interscience, 1990, pp. 430-2, which is incorporated herein by reference. The gel point describes a critical point in the polymerization from a monomer to a fully cured polymer. The liquid polymer before the gel point is called a sol because it is soluble in good solvents. The solid polymer beyond the gel point is called a gel. It is not completely soluble, even in a good solvent. However low molecular weight fractions (sol fraction) may still be extractable.
Preferably the gel point is defined as that point wherein one part of polymer will not completely dissolve after contact with one hundred parts of methylene chloride at 25.degree. C. for fifteen minutes.
One may increase the molecular weight of a polystyrene made in a given reaction by lowering the polymerization temperature. The polymer has more desirable properties but the amount of polystyrene made in a given reactor is reduced because of longer polymerization times required at lower temperatures.
It would be desirable to increase the molecular weight of a alkenyl arene polymer such as polystyrene without forming a thermoset or gels and without reducing the capacity of the polystyrene polymerization reactor.
While arylcyclobutene and cyclobutarene are both used to represent the same moiety the term cyclobutarene is more correct since the `cyclobutene` side ring is saturated. Both terms are commonly used by the artisan and understood to have the same meaning.

Method for increasing the molecular weight of thermoplastic polymers of monoalkenyl arenes


A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains wireless communications circuitry. The handheld electronic device may have a housing and a display. The display may be attached to the housing using a conductive bezel. The handheld electronic device may have one or more antennas for supporting wireless communications. A ground plane in the handheld electronic device may serve as ground for one or more of the antennas. The ground plane and bezel may define an opening. A rectangular slot antenna or other suitable slot antenna may be formed from or within the opening. One or more antenna resonating elements may be formed above the slot. An electrical switch that bridges the slot may be used to modify the perimeter of the slot so as to tune the communications bands of the handheld electronic device.

This invention relates generally to wireless communications circuitry, and more particularly, to wireless communications circuitry for handheld electronic devices with conductive bezels.
Handheld electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of handheld devices include handheld computers, cellular telephones, media players, and hybrid devices that include the functionality of multiple devices of this type.
Due in part to their mobile nature, handheld electronic devices are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. Handheld electronic devices may use wireless communications to communicate with wireless base stations. For example, cellular telephones may communicate using cellular telephone bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz (e.g., the main Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM cellular telephone bands). Handheld electronic devices may also use other types of communications links. For example, handheld electronic devices may communicate using the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) band at 2.4 GHz and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz. Communications are also possible in data service bands such as the 3G data communications band at 2170 MHz band (commonly referred to as UMTS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System).
To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to reduce the size of components that are used in these devices. For example, manufacturers have made attempts to miniaturize the antennas used in handheld electronic devices.
A typical antenna may be fabricated by patterning a metal layer on a circuit board substrate or may be formed from a sheet of thin metal using a foil stamping process. Many devices use planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs). Planar inverted-F antennas are formed by locating a planar resonating element above a ground plane. These techniques can be used to produce antennas that fit within the tight confines of a compact handheld device. With conventional handheld electronic devices, however, design compromises are made to accommodate compact antennas. These design compromises may include, for example, compromises related to antenna height above the ground plane, antenna efficiency, and antenna bandwidth. Moreover, constraints are often placed on the amount of metal that can be used in a handheld device and on the location of metal parts. These constraints can adversely affect device operation and device appearance.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved antennas for handheld electronic devices.

Antennas for handheld electronic devices


A self-diagnostic circuit comprises a plurality logic of circuits to be diagnosed and a plurality of first and second storage circuits provided for the logic circuits respectively. The first storage circuits have outputs which indicate whether or not the corresponding logic circuits are being diagnosed. The second storage circuits stored results of diagnoses of the corresponding logic circuits. The first and second storage circuits and logic circuits have a sequential diagnostic operation mode in which logic circuits are sequentially diagnosed according to a diagnosis starting signal, and a scan operation mode in which a specific one among the logic circuits is selected and diagnosed. The scan operation mode is realized during the supply of the diagnosis starting signal and by supplying selection signals that select the specific one among the logic circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a self-diagnostic circuit for diagnosing logic circuit blocks of a VLSI, and particularly to a self diagnostic circuit that can select a particular one of the logic circuit blocks in order to diagnose the quality of the block.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is generally known to incorporate a diagnostic circuit in a VLSI (very large scale integrated circuit) to self-diagnose logic circuit blocks of the VLSI with a simple signal input externally to the diagnostic circuit. As VLSIs become more integrated, complicated and functionally diverse, a self-diagnostic system that can diagnose such a VLSI more easily is required.
Generally, a self-diagnostic system for diagnosing a logic circuit is based on signature analysis. An output register of a circuit block to be diagnosed forms a linear feedback shift register (LFSR). A test pattern generator generates test patterns, which are applied to the circuit block to be diagnosed. Outputs of the circuit block are sequentially applied to the LFSR. This operation is called "signature compression." After the completion of a predetermined diagnostic sequence, the contents (signature of diagnosis) of the LFSR are compared with predetermined values to automatically diagnose the quality of the circuit block.
There are various forms for judging a result of self-diagnosis. For example, as described in the above, a VLSI chip incorporating a self-diagnostic circuit may have a comparison circuit that compares a result of self-diagnosis with a predetermined value. A self-diagnostic result based on the comparison is represented with a simple quality signal that is outputted to an upper level controller or externally of the VLSI chip.
Since it is not always necessary to implement the predetermined value on the chip, the self-diagnostic result may be stored in a register that is readable externally of the chip. Then, the quality judgment is carried out under higher level control such as machine language instruction program control, or with the use of an LSI tester.
The register for storing the self-diagnostic result may be a register different from output registers of the circuit blocks that have been self diagnosed, or the output registers of the circuit blocks that constitute an LFSR at the time of self-diagnosis may themselves be used as means for storing the diagnostic result. The reason for this is because the contents (signature) of the LFSR represent histories of patterns applied in the self-diagnosis. Therefore, it is common to use the output registers of the circuit blocks to be diagnosed as the means for storing the diagnostic result.
FIG. 1b is a block diagram showing a self-diagnostic circuit according to the prior art. The prior art self-diagnostic circuit comprises circuit blocks 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 to be diagnosed, flip-flops (FFs) 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3 each of which has an output which indicates whether or not the diagnosis is being carried out, flip-flops (FFs) 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3 for storing diagnosis resultant data, OR gates 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3, and an AND gate 5.
In FIG. 1b, a reset signal R is inputted through an input line l.sub.1, and a start signal ST is inputted through an input line l.sub.2. End signals EN.sub.1, EN.sub.2 and EN.sub.3 are outputted through output lines l.sub.3, l.sub.4 and l.sub.5. "GOOD" resultant signals are outputted through lines l.sub.6, l.sub.7 and l.sub.8. A self-diagnosis "GOOD" resultant signal G is outputted through a line l.sub.9.
Each of the FFs 2-1 to 2-3 and 3-1 to 3-3 is a D-type FF as shown in FIG. 2a. According to a clock signal CLK, the FF latches "GOOD" resultant signals (G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3) provided through a terminal A. Further, according to the clock signal CLK, the FF outputs the latched start signal ST, end signals EN.sub.1, EN.sub.2, and "GOOD" resultant signals (G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3) through a terminal B. The clock signal CLK is not shown in FIG. 1b.
To carry out the self-diagnosis in the arrangement of FIG. 1b, the reset signal R (=1) is input to the blocks 1-1 to 1-3 through the line l.sub.1 to initialize the circuit as a whole. Then, the FFs 2-1 to 2-3 and 3-1 to 3 3 are all reset. AT the same time, input registers, output registers, counters, etc., that are incorporated in the circuit blocks 1-1 to 1-3 but not shown in the figure are reset.
After that, the reset signal R is returned to 0. The start signal ST (=1) is input through the line l.sub.2 so that the diagnosis may be started for the circuit block 1-1. A terminal B of the FF 2-1 outputs the signal 1 to self-diagnose the circuit block 1-1 according to a signature analyzing method, etc.
After the completion of the diagnosis of the circuit block 1-1, the block 1-1 outputs the end signal EN.sub.1 and "GOOD" resultant signal G.sub.1. Here, "G.sub.1 =1" represents "GOOD" while "G.sub.1 =0" represents "NO GOOD." The same applies to the signals G.sub.2 and G.sub.3. Then, the resultant signal G.sub.1 is latched by the FF 3-1, and the end signal EN.sub.1 resets the FF 2-1 and starts the self-diagnosis of the circuit block 1-2.
In this way, the circuit blocks 1-1 to 1-3 are sequentially diagnosed. The "GOOD" resultant signals G.sub.1, G.sub.2 and G.sub.3 are sequentially latched by the FFs 3-1 to 3-3. Unless the reset signal R is inputted, the statuses of the FFs 3-1 to 3-3 are kept as they are. The contents of the FFs 3-1 to 3-3 are input to the AND gate 5.
The self-diagnosis end signal EN.sub.3 of the circuit block 1-3 will be an overall self-diagnosis end signal. This end signal EN 3 and an overall "GOOD" resultant signal G (G.sub.1 G.sub.2 G.sub.3 ) are sent to an upper level control block (not shown) in the VLSI to complete the self-diagnostic operation.
The upper level control block judges that all the circuit blocks that have been self diagnosed are normal if G=1 (i.e., G.sub.1 =1, G.sub.2 =1 and G.sub.3 =1), while the upper level control block judges that some of the circuit blocks are faulty if G=0.
There are many forms of self-diagnosis other than the conventional example mentioned in the above. For example, an output register of a certain circuit block to be self-diagnosed may commonly be used as an input register of the next circuit block to be diagnosed. If there are many (N pieces) circuit blocks to be self diagnosed, it is not necessary to provide a diagnosis execution indicating flip-flop (FF) for each of the N circuit blocks. Instead, it is possible to decode outputs of about log.sub.2 N numbers of FFs to indicate the execution of diagnosis. It is also possible to use only one FF to indicate the parallel execution of self-diagnoses of a plurality of circuit blocks. These superficial variations are not essential to the present invention, and the present invention is applicable to these variations.
According to the conventional self-diagnostic system described above, the circuit blocks are sequentially diagnosed. Namely, they are diagnosed in a go-or-no-go way. Accordingly, the conventional system is not appropriate for analyzing the quality of complicated logic circuits and not sufficient to carry out a complicated self-diagnosis.
In addition, the conventional diagnostic system cannot directly select a specific one among the circuit blocks but it will sequentially diagnose all the circuit blocks including the specific one.
As VLSIs become further integrated, complicated and functionally diverse, the self-diagnostic sequence is unavoidably complicated and expanded. Therefore, if the diagnostic sequence is disturbed in a certain block, diagnoses of the following blocks may be hindered to cause a serious problem.

Self-diagnostic circuit for logic circuit block


An information management apparatus 50 according to the present invention comprises: a database 30d for storing information relevant to a printer 40 therein; output request reception means 20a for receiving an output request transmitted from a portable terminal 14; inquiry signal transmission means 20a for transmitting an inquiry signal on the printer 40 being an output destination to the portable terminal 14; communication means for receiving image data transmitted from the portable terminal 14; recognition means 30b for recognizing the identification information of the printer 40 by analyzing the image data transmitted in response to the inquiry signal; retrieval means 30c for retrieving the information relevant to the printer 40 from the data base 30d on the basis of the acquired recognition information; and printing means 20c for outputting the information to the printer 40 on the basis of the information relevant to the printer 40 retrieved by the retrieval means 30c.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information output apparatus, an information output system, a portable terminal for use in the information output system, and information outputting method, in which an object and the information of the same are connected with each other on a three-dimensional space to achieve an output service for information of the object with the aid of a virtual drag and drop operation.
2. Related Background Art
Many systems for realizing services for outputting information have been proposed until now. Since these services are often provided generally in relation to an object, it is desired to provide a system for providing information associated with the object.
Hereupon, there are known a variety of techniques to instruct to have a predetermined processing applied on certain data on a computer. A technique called "drag and drop" is known as one of these techniques. In the technique "drag and drop", data to be processed is dragged and dropped on an icon for signifying a predetermined processing, whereby the predetermined processing is executed on the predetermined data. Herein, the drag means "selecting and moving" executed using chiefly a pointing device such as a mouse. The drop means the release of the selection of data having been selected using a mouse, which is realized in many cases by releasing a button of the mouse generally.
For example, when a certain file is desired to be printed, a mouse cursor is moved onto an icon indicative of the file, and a mouse button is depressed to "select" the file, and further the mouse is moved as it is to achieve the "drag" operation. The file is moreover moved onto an icon indicative of a printer, and then the mouse button is released to achieve the drop operation. With such a processing, a service, "print" is provided for the "file".
Reference 1 discloses a technique wherein a three-dimensional icon is moved onto a virtual space on a computer with the drag and drop operation, and the three-dimensional icon is displayed on the virtual space. Reference 2 discloses a technique wherein a three-dimensional object is moved onto a virtual space on a computer with the drag and drop operation. With this technique, a plurality of users share the virtual space on the computer.    [Reference 1] Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. H11-053581    [Reference 2] Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 2002-049934

Information management apparatus, information output system, portable terminal, and information outputting method


The container for packing hollow endoprostheses (8) comprises two germ-proof wrappings (1, 2). In accordance with the invention the inner wrapping (1) consists of a water-tight wall (10, 11) and various connection points (40, 50, 60). At least two of the connection points (40) are provided as access into the cavity of the prosthesis (8) and one is provided as an outlet (50) for liquids for treating the prosthesis. The outer wrapping (2) comprises through-pieces (42, 52, 62), which are associated with the connection points of the inner wrapping. The two wrappings are permeable to gas at least some regions. In accordance with the invention the container has a second application apart from its protective function: for example, in the case of a hybrid prosthesis for vascular replacement, to perform the charging of the prosthesis with the patient's own endothelial cells in the container.

The invention relates to a container having two germproof wrappings for packaging a hollow endoprosthesis, in particular a hybrid prosthesis, which consists of an artificial, alloplastic component and from living endogenous cells, cell structures or tissue parts from the patient. Such prostheses are, for example, tubular support structures made from plastic, which are charged with the patient's own endothelial cells and are used as vascular replacements (see, for example, EP Patent Specification 0 320 441=P.6146). Another example are endoprostheses, which are provided as organ replacements and which form support structures for living cells and/or other body parts, these prostheses being hollow but not necessarily tubular and comprising in addition a spongiform or reticular support structure in its cavity, for example, (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,489 (Naughton et al.) or German Offenlegungsschrift 39 36 568 (Schmidt).
When implants are inserted into human or animal bodies, sterility has to be guaranteed at all times. Germs which contaminate the implant can only be reached by the body's own defense system with difficulty or not at all and therefore can not be controlled either. Any site of infection which develops would unavoidably result in a repeat operation.
The requirements for the packaging protecting the implant vary depending on the retention site and the retention time. Temporary implants, which are used in the body's natural cavities or ducts, are mainly protected by just a single germproof wrapping. Implants which internally come into contact with human tissue, for example prostheses for tissue replacement, are normally protected from contamination by two germ barriers: by a primary packaging or product packaging and by a secondary packaging or protective packaging. Thanks to this double protection after the removal of the outer wrapping (protective packaging) the inner wrapping (product packaging), which is sterile on all sides, can be used without reservation in the sterile operating area.

Container for the packaging of a hollow endoprosthesis


A memory system (10) is disclosed including a memory array (14), decoder circuit (16), and sensing circuit (17). The memory array includes a plurality of two-port CMOS memory cells (42) arranged in columns and rows that are selectively addressed by the decoder circuit. The bipolar sensing circuit responds to data stored in an addressed memory cell in the following manner. A column decoder (28) in the decoder circuit provides information to a source select multiplexer (30) and a column read access port (18) to selectively couple information stored in the memory cell to an output stage (20). At the output stage a comparison is made between the stored data and a reference voltage provided by a threshold circuit (38) to produce an output indicating the sensed level. The memory cells are preferably asymmetrically designed for hysteretic operation. The resultant bipolar/CMOS memory system advantageously combines the attributes of high density, high speed, and low power consumption.

Memory systems are universally employed in digital processing systems for several purposes. For example, the memory system may store program instructions that control the operation of a central processing unit (CPU) included in the digital processing system. In addition, the memory system typically stores information that is received and processed by the CPU.
Memory systems are classified, in part, by the way in which information is provided to, and retrieved from, the system. For example, memory systems are often described as providing random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or programmable read-only memory (PROM). RAM is so named because information can either be written into or read out of various sections of the memory at random. ROM contains information that is typically input by the manufacturer of the memory system and is designed only to be read. The information stored in PROM is also designed primarily to be read from the memory but can also be written into by a process that is more complex and slower than the conventional writing process in RAM.
A conventional memory system coupled to a CPU includes a number of components. In that regard, data storage is accomplished by a plurality of memory cells arranged into a memory array. Each memory cell is designed to store a single binary digit, or bit, of data in the form of a voltage having one of two levels. These levels are conventionally designated "logic one" and "logic zero".
Memory cells are classified in several different ways. For example, memory cells may be either dynamic or static. A dynamic memory cell is a relatively simple device, typically including a single capacitive element that stores the bit of data. The disadvantage with dynamic memory cells is that they retain information for only a limited time. Thus, the bit of data must be periodically reapplied to the memory cell if the information is to be retained.
Static memory cells are more complex than dynamic cells and typically include a plurality of semiconducting elements. These elements cooperatively retain data applied to the cell for extended intervals without being refreshed. As a result, the increased memory cell complexity allows simpler support circuits to be employed.
The memory cells are arranged into a plurality of columns and rows that define the memory array, with each cell corresponding to a different location in the array. Information is written into and read from particular locations in the array by the CPU, in cooperation with the remaining components of the memory system. These components include a write circuit and a read or sensing circuit.
Of the two, the write circuit is simpler. More particularly, the write circuit includes a decoder that transfers data from the CPU to the memory cell. This typically involves enabling the cells in the row of the array in which the select memory cell is located. Then data is applied to the column in which the select memory cell is located. Because the select memory cell is the only one enabled in that column, it receives and stores the data. No additional processing of the data is generally required.
In contrast, the sensing circuit is more complex. Like the write circuit, a sensing circuit must include a decoder for selectively coupling the CPU to particular locations in the array. In addition, the sensing circuit must be designed to properly interpret the information stored in a given memory cell. In that regard, most memory cells store information as low-level electrical signals. As a result, this information can be easily misinterpreted if subject to noise or compared to loosely toleranced reference signals. The low-level signals stored in memory are also likely inadequate to operate downstream circuits. As a result, the sensing circuit must ensure that the information is sufficiently amplified for proper interpretation when received at the CPU.
Conventional sensing circuits are commonly either of differential or single-ended construction. Differential sensing circuits include a pair of lines coupled to the memory cells. One line is identified as a "read bit line" (RBL), while the other line is its complement, identified as a "not read bit line" (RBL).
As noted previously, memory cells typically store information in the form of relatively low-level electrical signals, which are particularly susceptible to misinterpretation caused by noise. The differential comparison of complementary outputs reduces the impact of noise, by doubling the signal range available, and effectively makes the circuit self-referencing. As a tradeoff, however, differential arrangements are relatively complex and consume precious space in integrated circuit designs.
Single-ended sensing circuits, as their name suggests, have a single read bit line (RBL) coupled to a given memory cell. Thus, integrated circuit space is conserved. Because single-ended sensing circuits may not be self-referencing, however, some reference mechanism must be provided to improve noise immunity, thereby increasing circuit complexity.
These various components of memory systems can be produced by a number of semiconductor technologies. For example, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors have been employed in the design of memory arrays. MOS devices typically require relatively little semiconductor space and dissipate little power in an integrated circuit and are thus useful in forming memories by large-scale integration techniques. CMOS devices have also been used in sensing circuits. Because CMOS transistors are not generally drivable at high current levels, however, they are not particularly well suited for that application.
Bipolar transistors have also been used for memory arrays and sensing circuits. In contrast to MOS devices, bipolar transistors consume a relatively large amount of space and power in an integrated circuit. Where a large memory capacity is required, this constraint may be unacceptable, precluding the use of bipolar devices in the memory array. Because a comparatively small number of devices are employed in the sensing circuit, however, the high drivability of bipolar transistors makes them well suited for that application.
While a number of memory cells and sensing circuits have been developed in the past, it remains desirable to develop an arrangement that consumes less circuit space and power, more reliably interprets data, and allows data to be accessed more rapidly.

Memory system including CMOS memory cells and bipolar sensing circuit


Disclosed is an algorithm for applying a morphological operation to an image. In one embodiment, the morphological operation is iteratively applied to a focal pixel of the image and to another pixel of the image. The other pixel is located at an offset with respect to the focal pixel. The offset is based on an operation count. In another embodiment, the algorithm includes performing a morphological operation on an image using a convex structuring element. A work structuring element having dimensions corresponding to the outer-most dimensions of the convex structuring element is iteratively applied to the image. The dimensions of the work structuring element are then adjusted to correspond to the remaining outer dimensions of the convex structuring element not yet covered by the previous work structuring element. The applying and adjusting steps are repeated until a predetermined number of morphological operations have been performed.

The present invention relates generally to image processing, and more particularly to optimizing computation of morphology operations in both binary and grayscale applications.
Mathematical morphology is used in a variety of digital image processing applications, such as computer vision and medical imaging applications (e.g., for segmentation and skeletonization tasks). For example, medical personnel may perform a Computed Tomography (CT) scan on a patient. A CT scan uses x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angles around the human body and then processes the data to show a cross-section of the body tissues and organs. The image can then be analyzed by methods using morphological operators to highlight specific areas so that radiologists (or other medical personnel) can more easily diagnose problems associated with the patient such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
This type of image analysis occurs by applying morphological operators (also referred to as structuring elements (SE)) to the image. SEs of different scales can be used as during a step in performing airway or vessel segmentation. Skeletonization methods depend on repeated applications of morphological operators to compute the medial axis of given objects.
To apply a structuring element to an input image, the structuring element is traversed along the input image and an operation is performed. The fundamental morphology operations are dilation and erosion. Binary dilation is performed by computing the logical OR of the neighborhood defined by the structuring element (also referred to as a filter kernel) with respect to each pixel/voxel of the input image and assigning that value to the center of the operator. Binary erosion is performed by computing the logical AND operation of the neighborhood defined by the structuring element with respect to each pixel/voxel of the input image. In the case of gray level images, the logical OR/AND is replaced by the MAX/MIN operator to produce gray level dilation/erosion. The logical AND/OR operators along with the MAX/MIN operators are collectively referred to as comparison operators.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a 3×3 square structuring element 100 being applied to an input image 104. The operation being performed is a binary dilation, which is performed by computing the logical OR of the neighborhood defined by the structuring element 100 with respect to each pixel of the input image 104. To perform the dilation, the center pixel 108 of the SE 100 is positioned at each pixel of the input image 104 and the SE 100 takes the place of the input image pixel when the OR operator is non-zero. To put it differently, the structuring element 100 specifies which pixels of the input image 104 to OR together. Thus, the dilation operator results in an output image 112 that contains more non-zero pixels than the input image 104. The shaded pixels 116 represent the pixels that have been added as a result of the operation while the white pixels 118 are from the original input image 104. The image 112 is surrounded by pixels 120 that are "off"—that have a zero binary value and are not part of the image (i.e., pixels that are "on").
FIG. 1 also shows an example of the same square SE 100 being applied to the same input image 104 under binary erosion. As described, binary erosion uses a logical AND operation between the structuring element 100 and the input image 104. The output image 120 contains less "on" pixels relative to the input image 104. In this example, all that is left is a single pixel since there is only one location within the input image where the operator is encompassed by the image, leading to a true value for the AND operation. The image 120 is surrounded by pixels 124 that are off (i.e., have a zero binary value).
The direct application of these morphology operations is computationally intensive. In particular, the computation time needed by a computer is directly proportional to the number and type of computational operations performed, which in turn is proportional to the product of SE and image sizes. In order to have results in a timely fashion, an efficient algorithm is necessary. Otherwise, one is limited in the size of the SE or input image.
There are several algorithms that may be used to perform a morphological operation. The simplest approach is the brute force algorithm. The brute force algorithm examines all pixels/voxels within the SE per pixel computed. The results are stored onto a different image. The computation time of the brute force algorithm depends on the "digital mass" of the structuring element. The digital mass refers to the number of pixels within specified confines in the context of a two-dimensional (i.e., 2-D) geometry (i.e., its discrete area) or the number of voxels within a specified three-dimensional (i.e., 3-D) geometry (i.e., its discrete volume). Thus, in the brute force algorithm, each output pixel requires a number of operations that is equal to the digital mass of the structuring element minus one (the center pixel). Specifically, as the square structuring element 100 has a length and width of three pixels, the number of operations (also referred to below as ops) needed to obtain each pixel of the output image 112, 120 using this structuring element 100 is the area of the square structuring element 100 minus one (i.e., 8 ops). Moreover, if larger and larger structuring elements are used to obtain different output images, the amount of computational time increases exponentially. For example, as the diameter (side length) of a square structuring element increases linearly, the computation time increases proportional to the square of its diameter. For a cube, the computation time increases by the cube of its side as the side-length of the cube increases linearly.
Another technique to perform morphological operations is the factorization algorithm (e.g., homotopic decomposition). The factorization algorithm uses "fundamental" structuring elements. These fundamental structuring elements are used to "break down" larger structuring elements. Hence, instead of applying one large SE to an image, a series of fundamental SEs are used instead. The final outcome is the same, but the computational is reduced since the number of operations necessary for smaller SEs is less than that for one single large SE. For example, suppose a structuring element is a radius 2 cube. Under the brute force algorithm, 53−1=124 ops are needed per output image voxel. Using the factorization algorithm, however, (33−1)*2=52 ops per output image voxel are needed. With factorization, the computational expense is proportional to the discrete diameter of the cube that bounds the considered structuring element rather than its digital mass. Thus, the factorization algorithm provides significant computational savings with respect to the brute force technique.
The factorization algorithm also, however, has a major pitfall—the shape of larger structuring elements that the algorithm can be used on without approximation is severely limited and bounded by the fundamental structuring elements used. For example, a two dimensional digitized circle structuring element or a three dimensional sphere structuring element are the shapes often used to perform medical image processing due to the structure of the human body (e.g., the airway). The factorization algorithm, however, typically cannot be used on a circular or spherical structuring element without excessive complexity because of the shape of the possible fundamental structuring elements relative to the shape of a digitized circle or sphere. Hence, for practical purposes, the best possible outcome is an approximation of a circle or sphere.
As a result, there remains a need to reduce computational time, especially for circles and spheres, when performing morphological operators without constraining the shape of a structuring element.

Method and apparatus for efficient computation of morphology operations


The present invention relates to a method for providing a measuring probe (1, 1a, 2) for a probe microscopic examination of a sample in a probe microscope, in particular a scanning probe microscope, in which the measuring probe (1), which has a probe base (1a) and a probe extension (2) formed thereon, is held on a carrier device and the measuring probe (1) is processed before or after a measurement by detaching a section of the probe extension (2). The invention further relates to an arrangement having a probe microscope for the probe microscopic examination of a sample, in particular a scanning probe microscope.

One measuring and analytical technique in probe microscopy is scanning probe microscopy (SPM), in which a measuring probe is made to scan over a sample of measuring medium to be examined and a topography of the sample is determined by way of an gap-dependent interaction between the measuring probe and the sample. It is also possible to obtain material constants or other information on the sample. Well-known examples of this technique are the atomic force microscope (AFM) and the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Other examples include, in particular, the scanning near field microscope (SNOM) and the scanning photone force microscope (SPhM).
In gap spectroscopy for measuring the gap-dependent interaction between the measuring probe and the sample, the measuring probe is displaced relative to the surface of the sample, for example in a vertical direction to the sample surface, and the interaction between the measuring probe and the sample is measured. Alternatively the sample may also be moved. It is also possible to provide for a relative movement between the measuring probe and the sample, in which both the measuring probe and the sample are moved. In scanning probe microscopy this gap spectroscopy for measuring the interaction between the measuring probe and the sample is used, for example, to measure forces between molecules, one molecule bonding to the measuring probe and another molecule to the sample. This is also referred to as force spectroscopy.
A component in which a base part—also known as a chip—and a thin measuring probe extension, which is also referred to as a cantilever, are formed, is generally used as measuring probe. The cantilever may be of bar-shaped design, for example, or may form a triangle with two side arms. The end of the cantilever remote from the base part (chip) may have an additional tip. In addition there are also embodiments having a plurality of extensions to the base part—so-called multi-cantilevers. Cantilevers may be composed not only primarily of silicon or silicon nitride with and without metallization, but also of plastics or polymers, such as SU-8, for example. In common usage no distinction is generally made between chip and cantilever, the entire unit instead being referred to as a cantilever. Without limiting the universality of the invention, in the following explanations reference will be made to a measuring probe. The statements will apply analogously to other forms of measuring probes in probe microscopy.
The use of both untreated and pre-treated cantilevers is known in gap spectroscopy. Using a pre-treated cantilever it is possible, in particular, to analyze specific bonds. The standard practice is to bond molecules to the measuring probe embodied as a cantilever, which together with the bonded molecule(s) then form a receptor-ligand system, for example. Also known is the practice of bonding whole cells or micro-particles to a measuring probe in the form of a cantilever and bringing this system into interaction with a sample, such as a biomaterial, for example, or with other cells. Both the coating of a pre-treated cantilever and the objects such as cells or micro-particles adhering to it will hereinafter be referred to as the probe substance.
In the probe microscopic examination the probe substance may alter and sometimes age due to contact with the sample. This may affect both the actual coating and also the state of the cells, for example in respect of the metabolism, the physiology and the activation. Furthermore it will become important, in the further use of probe microscopy in cell biology and biomedical research, to further examine the probe substance which was in contact with the sample. It would be particularly advantageous, in the handling of biological samples, if these could be used further in a germ-free or sterile and gentle manner. At present the cantilever must be removed after the measurement. To do this, the system must be taken out of the sample vessel with the surrounding fluid. This procedure in particular carries the risk that 1) the objects that have adhered are torn off by the surface tensions, 2) contamination will occur during removal of the cantilever and 3) damage to the objects will occur due to the increased time taken.
The prior art discloses how living cells as a measuring probe can be applied to an individual cantilever (cf., for example, Taubenberger A. et al.: Revealing early steps of α2β1 integrin-mediated adhesions to collagen type I using single-cell force spectroscopy, Molecular Biology of the Cell (2007) 18, 1634-1644). Here a cantilever is modified biochemically with Concavalin A, for example, so that the cell is strongly bonded to its surface once the cantilever has been brought into direct contact with the cell for a specific contact waiting time. The cell is then firmly bonded. Very large forces (typically >5 nN) are required in order to detach this cell again. Furthermore, after detaching the cell the surface is so modified that no further cell can be reattached.

Method for providing a probe for a probe-microscopic analysis of a test sample in a probe microscope and arrangement with a probe microscope


There is disclosed a method for customer signature management. A customer's signature may be captured by means of a signature capture panel. The capture signature may be stored in one or more data files with a date and time tag.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to electronic capture of customer signatures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems that capture customer signatures in digital form are widely used in business in a variety of applications, including recording credit/debit card transactions and documenting package delivery. There are other applications where a business may want to retain a copy of a customer's signature.
Customers participating in a recreational or other activity that has some level of risk may be required to sign a consent and liability waiver form. Examples of activities that may require such a liability waiver include skiing, scuba diving, sky diving, parasailing, and others. Other types of businesses, including medical practices, also have customers sign consent and waiver forms. There may be other situations where businesses need to retain a customer signature along with a date and time stamp.


The invention relates to a self-adhesive spindle-shaped button disk (1) and to the use thereof enabling disk-shaped information carriers to be secured in a detachable manner. The inventive disk is easy to produce and astonishingly simply to use. In is simplest embodiment it consists of two layers. One layer (13) is an adhesive layer and the other layer (12) causes a compact disk (6) to be clamped with a center hole (7). The spindle-shaped button disk (1) has a plurality of applications and can be used in particular to secure compact disks in a detachable manner on a relatively flat surface.

The present invention relates to a self-adhesive button disk and to the use thereof, said button disk serving the purpose of securing disk-shaped information carriers on a suitable surface in a detachable manner, in particular so-called compact disks (CD""s) on vertical surfaces.
Self-adhesive disk-shaped devices that are to be glued or secured on a plane surface are well-known in the prior art. The known devices for attachment to a flat surface in order to secure with such devices any desired types of object on a wall are generally constructed in such a way that they can be attached only to surfaces having a certain type of surface structure. Such a surface either has to be smooth, so that a suction cup generates a defined vacuum by which the device is retained. Another known possibility for securing certain objects in a detachable manner are offered in the form of the so-called velcro closures, in conjunction with which a very defined surface needs to be available as well in order to offer support for the device.
It is perceived as a drawback of the known devices for securing any type of desired object in a detachable manner that the actual holding device, on which the objects are fastened, require relatively much expenditure, and that such holding devices can be employed only in a predetermined position in which they can be used, such as, for example, on vertical surfaces.
Not known are devices for securing disk-shaped information carriers in a detachable way that can be secured with adhesive on any desired type of surface, and which are not depending on a defined direction of use.
Therefore, the problem of the present invention is to make available a device by which disk-shaped information carriers can be secured in an effortless way on a surface in a detachable manner, whereby the device as defined by the invention is favorable in terms of cost, and, furthermore, it can be manufactured in a simple way.
Said problem is solved according to the invention with the features of the independent main claims.
The invention consists of a self-adhesive button disk for detachably securing disk-shaped information carriers on flat surfaces, preferably compact disks (CD""s) with a center breakthrough. The invention is characterized by a flat part whose diameter (D1) of the circle enclosing the corners of the part has a predetermined size. The self-adhesive button disk is primarily to be used for securing compact disks with a handle in a detachable manner on any desired surface without paying too much attention to the fastening process.
The self-adhesive button disk advantageously has a part whose form is any desired polygonal train, whereby a quadrangle or a circle is to be preferably selected.
Furthermore, it is advantageous to produce the button disk as defined by the invention from at least two layers, whereof one layer is an adhesive layer and the other layer consists of a yielding material. In this connection, the adhesive layer can be distributed in a continuous or discontinuous way on the surface intended for it. If an adhesive is employed for the adhesive layer, it is also advantageous if an adhesive is used that will not leave any traces of adhesive on the suitable surface after the button disk has been detached from it.
The second layer is formed in an advantageous manner from a so-called moss rubber, which is relatively soft on the one hand, and develops a clamping effect on the center breakthrough of the disk-shaped information carrier on the other.
Another advantageous embodiment of the second layer can be seen in the fact that said layer is produced from cardboard, and that the adhesive layer is directly joined with the cardboard. It is important for the present invention in any case that the second layer consists of yielding material. The yielding material can be advantageously realized by assembling lamella-like plastic components in the form of a circle, so that such components are elastically engaged with the center breakthrough of the compact disk. In the event that the disk-shaped information carrier is a normal compact disk, the diameter D1 amounts to D1=15 mm+0.1 to 0.3 mm, whereby the added measure is dependent on the material, i.e. the added measure is greater with soft material than with as harder material.
It is advantageous and essential to the invention that the total height (H) of the self-adhesive button disk amounts to about 1.5 to 3 mm. Because of such a flat design, the self-adhesive button disk as defined by the invention has a wide application spectrum, e.g. for packaging cases for CD""s.
Such packaging cases are known in the prior art. The known packaging cases are manufactured from a foldable material such as, for example cardboard, as a rule. The layout of the packaging case has either been punched out already in this connection, or it is prepunched on any desired sheet, so that the layout of the packaging case has to be cut out and it is subsequently folded together. With such relatively simple and favorably priced packaging cases for disk-shaped information carriers, in particular for CD""s, it is perceived as disadvantageous that the disk-shaped information carriers are not safely secured in the packaging case, so that they either slip out or are scratched due to minor movements.
The method for producing the packaging case as defined by the invention, which is preferably made of cardboard, for packaging disk-shaped information carriers, preferably compact disks in such a way that they cannot shift around, comprises the following steps of the method:
Configuration of the entire printed image on the video screen of a computer;
insertion of a defined pretreated sheet of a standardized size, on which the layout of the packaging case having a recess at least on one side of the packaging case has been prepunched;
imprinting of the pretreated standardized sheet with the printed image configured in the computer by means of a printer;
separation of the layout from the prepunched sheet;
folding the packaging case to be produced together; and
gluing of at least one flat button disk having a defined diameter, preferably 15 mm+0.1 to 0.3 mm to the side opposing the recess in the at least one side.
It is perceived as being an important advantage of such an embodiment of an otherwise known packaging case for CD""s that provision is made according to the invention for a device for fixing the disk-shaped information carrier that can be produced at favorable cost and with simple means. The device as defined by the invention for securing the position advantageously consists of a flat button disk made of a yielding material such as, for example moss rubber, with an adhesive layer being applied to one side of said button disk. Said adhesive layer basically secures the position-securing device on any smooth surface without any problems.
Furthermore, it is advantageous to make provision on at least one side of the packaging case as defined by the invention for a center recess that is disposed at about the level of the central hole of the disk-shaped information carrier. In the exemplified embodiment, the side opposing said side should not have a recess because the device securing the position is glued on with exactly said side. The position-securing device advantageously has a thickness of about 1.5 to 3 mm, so that it substantially assumes the thickness of a normal disk-shaped information carrier.
A further advantageous embodiment of the packaging case as defined by the invention has to be seen in the fact that both sides of the packaging case have a center recess, and that a loose insert or a loose sheet is placed between the two sides, said loose insert or loose sheet being provided with a position-securing device on both sides in the prescribed sites of the recesses located in the sides of the packaging case. This makes it possible to safely store two disk-shaped information carriers in a simple packaging case without having to fear that the compact disks might constantly shift back and forth or may even drop out.
Advantageously, the upper and lower edges of the packaging case are reinforced by folding over at least one side strip, whereby at least one edge is advantageously provided with a recess that permits easy removal of the disk-shaped information carrier.
According to another exemplified embodiment of the present invention, the layout of the packaging case is designed in three parts, whereby the two outer parts each have a center recess and the center part receives a position-securing device on each of its two sides, such device securing a compact disk on each side in a detachable manner.
According to another exemplified embodiment, strips are arranged in said embodiment in a crossed form, such crossed strips each being subdivided in such a way that five part sections are produced that have at least one position-securing device.
Further features essential to the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Self-adhesive spindle-shaped button disk and the use thereof


A method is disclosed for recovering a metal from a metal containing material by autoclaving with an autoclave which includes an agitator that includes a first inlet for a recycled oxygen-containing gas, a second inlet for a fresh oxygen-containing gas, an impeller having a plurality of outlets to recirculate or introduce the oxygen-containing gases into the slurry and a set of mixing blades located below the outlets to radially disperse gas bubbles substantially uniformly throughout the slurry. The outlets for the gas can be located in an intermediate set of blades for thorough dispersion of the gas bubbles in the slurry.

To oxidize sulfide sulfur and thereby permit solubilization of metals compounded with the sulfide sulfur, base metal ores and concentrates, and refractory gold ores and Concentrates are commonly treated by pressure oxidation. Pressure oxidation is typically performed by passing a feed slurry of a metal-containing material through a sealed autoclave (operating at superatmospheric pressure) having multiple compartments. To provide for oxidation of the sulfide sulfur in the slurry, oxygen is typically fed continuously to the autoclave by means of a sparge tube located below the impeller. Commonly a large portion of the oxygen reacts with the sulfide sulfur, but there is a smaller significant portion that is vented from the autoclave and may be considered not effectively utilized.
In designing an autoclave, there are a number of considerations. By way of example, the autoclave should permit reaction of as much of the oxygen as possible with sulfide sulfur. If the oxygen is inefficiently reacted with the sulfide sulfur, the autoclave can have higher oxygen plant capital and operating costs. The autoclave should provide as short a residence time as possible for a given volume of slurry while realizing a high rate of recovery for the metal. Finally, the autoclave should vent inert gases that build up in the autoclave above the slurry to prevent rupturing of the autoclave from high pressure gas. Some oxygen gas is inevitably vented along with these inert gases. Other processes, which rely on efficient and effective gas/liquid transfer of oxygen and which are commonly carried out in autoclaves, include catalytic chemistry reactions, such as the conversion of ferrous to ferric ions, reoxidation of NO by oxygen, and cuprous amine conversion to cupric amine.

Autoclave having an agitator with an aerating impeller for high oxygen transfer rate to metal-containing slurries and method of use


The invention relates to an improved beehive cover which dramatically enhances the production of larger quantities of honey. The improved cover improves air circulation within and around the honeycomb area thereby increasing the moisture evaporation rate in the hive and accordingly increases the rate at which nectar is changed into a concentrated form.

The present invention relates to an improvement in beehive structures and particularly an improved outer top cover.
It is known in the art of beekeeping that many problems are encountered throughout the year and that some of these problems relate directly to temperatures within the hive. Accordingly, one critical factor is the amount of air which circulates in the hive since this is the only thing controlling moisture content within the hive.
Traditionally, the bees will create air circulation themselves through a process called fanning. Likewise, past attempts have been made at designing beehive structures that would help regulate ventilation of a hive during summer months in order to keep the hive relatively cool and at the same time to prevent undesirable condensation and collection of moisture within the hive during winter months. Examples of such prior known structures are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. Diehnelt, 2,498,880, Hageman 2,522,511, and Wahl 2,709,820. In each of these patents circulation of air within the hive is desired in order to provide sufficient ventilation for the hive to keep down undesirable collections of moisture therein but is not so great as would materially reduce the temperature within the hive. Thus, while these prior art devices want some degree of ventilation they do not want a lot.
One of the principal objects of the present invention, unlike these prior art devices, is to substantially increase air circulation within the beehive by the use of solar energy. Another primary object of the present invention is to substantially increase the quantity of honey that is producible per hive by hastening the process through which nectar, collected by the bees, is changed from a solution containing about 50% sugar to its concentrated condition where it constitutes substantially 85% sugar.
In order for a significant amount of evaporation to occur within the hive to cause a faster change in concentrations, there must be sufficient air circulation around the open honeycombs in which the nectar is initially placed by the bees. In most hives even those that have covers which allow for a certain amount of air circulation, circulation within the hive is created by thousands of bees positioned throughout the hive which fan their wings and thus produce circulation within and around the honeycomb structure. The fanning process is a 24 hour process during the primary honey period and quite naturally consumes a considerable amount of energy of the hive. It has been found that during this primary honey-flowing period, in certain high humidity climates, two of every three pounds of honey produced in the hive is consumed as a food source by the bees engaged in the fanning or evaporation process. Likewise, the bees engaged in fanning are not available to leave the hive to join in the nectar-gathering process.


A compact, open geometry U-shaped magnet formed by parallel iron slabs and a flux return is activated by a coil which surrounds the flux return. The inner surfaces of the iron slabs and an outer surface of the coil are substantially contiguous. The field homogeneity within the compact, open geometry U-shaped magnet is improved by controlling the reluctance of a secondary flux flow circuit extending away from the pair of parallel iron slabs. The geometry of the compact, open geometry U-shaped magnet also provides for utilization of an automatic active shimming system.

The advent of the use of magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") in the practice of medicine gave a whole new dimension to non-invasive diagnostics. The accuracy of non-invasive diagnostics is directly related to the accuracy of the image produced by MRI. And the accuracy of the image produced by MRI is directly related to the field homogeneity produced in the imaging region of the magnet which is the heart of an MRI device. Inhomogeneities higher than 0.1ppm within the magnetic field produced by the magnet in an MRI device can provide distortion in the images produced. Such distortion may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis which, in the worst case, can lead to improper medical treatment.
The larger the volume of flux lines with high homogeneity produced by the magnet in an MRI device, the more useful the magnet is for MRI, as larger portions of the human body can be imaged with greater accuracy. Consequently, a need exists to provide magnets for use in MRI devices that provide imaging regions with high homogeneity which can accommodate larger and larger portions of the human body.
In addition to producing large imaging regions with high homogeneity, there is also a need associated with magnets used in MRI devices to provide improved access to the patient once the patient has been placed within the imaging region. Improved patient access facilitates interventional surgery or biopsies by medical personnel and the use of life-support equipment, if needed, while the patient is within the MRI device. Improved patient access also facilitates unrestricted access to both the head of the patient to administer anesthesia, or to the groin of the patient for the insertion of a catheter. It has also been found that improved patient access assists in reducing patient apprehension from the sensation of claustrophobia common among patients placed in tubular MRI magnets.
A need also exists to minimize the size and weight of magnets used in MRI devices. Such magnets must be of a size and weight that will allow for their installation in existing operating rooms without any extensive or undue modifications to existing construction.
There is finally a need in MRI devices that the magnet be of a size which facilitates installation in a variety of different positions or alternatively rotation or translation to a variety of different positions under hydraulic or mechanical control. Such translational or rotational capability will allow the magnet to accommodate the wide range of patient positions which accompany a broad spectrum of surgical procedures or imaging requirements.

Compact, open geometry U-shaped magnet for magnetic resonance imaging


A method and apparatus for selectively applying a print material onto a substrate for the synthesis of an array of oligonucleotides at selected regions of a substrate. The print material includes a barrier material, a monomer sequence, a nucleoside, a deprotection agent, a carrier material, among other materials. The method and apparatus also relies upon standard DMT based chemistry, and a vapor phase deprotection agent such as solid TCA and the like.

The present invention relates to the synthesis and placement of materials at known locations. In particular, one embodiment of the invention provides a method and associated apparatus for the selective application of an array of oligonucleotides on a substrate by way of standard dimethoxytrityl (DMT) based chemistry. The invention may be applied in the field of preparation of an oligomer, a peptide, a nucleic acid, an oligosaccharide, a phospholipid, a polymer, or a drug congener preparation, especially to create sources of chemical diversity for use in screening for biological activity.
Industry utilizes or has proposed various techniques to synthesize arrays of oligonucleotides. One such technique is the use of small rubber tubes as reaction chambers to make up a single dimensional array by the sequential addition of reagents. This technique has advantages by the use of standard DMT based chemistry. However, a limitation with resolution often exists with such technique. Typically the smallest cell size is about 1 millimeter in dimension. This method also does not enable the synthesis of a sufficiently large number of polymer sequences for effective economical screening. A further limitation is an inability to form an array of, for example, oligonucleotides at selected regions of a substrate.
Other representative techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854 and WO93/09668 which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. Such techniques are finding wide use and are considered pioneering in the industry. In some applications, however, it is desirable to have alternative techniques and chemistries for synthesis of compound libraries.
It would be desirable to have a method and apparatus for making high density arrays of oligonucleotides using DMT-based chemistry and other suitable oligonucleotide synthesis chemistries, as is a method and apparatus for conventional phosphoramidite-based synthesis of a spatially defined array of oligomers (e.g., polynucleotides, polypeptides, oligosaccharides, and the like) each having a substantially predetermined sequence of residues (i.e., polymerized monomer units).

Printing molecular library arrays using deprotection agents solely in the vapor phase


A method of separating two layers of material from one another in such a way that the two separated layers of material are essentially fully preserved. An interface between the two layers of material at which the layers of material are to be separated, or a region in the vicinity of the interface, is exposed to electromagnetic radiation through one of the two layers of material. The electromagnetic radiation is absorbed at the interface or in the region in the vicinity of the interface and the absorbed radiation energy induces a decomposition of material at the interface.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of semiconductor manufacture. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of producing a light-emitting diode.
The term material layers is intended here to mean both layers of a single material and layer sequences or layer structures of different materials.
The production of products from semiconductors, for example electronic and optoelectronic components, typically requires a plurality of process steps, including the processes needed for growing semiconductor crystals and semiconductor layers, and for selective local removal and structuring of the layers. Many components consist in part of layer sequences of non-identical semiconductor materials, which are epitaxially grown in monocrystalline form on a substrate.
As the process steps for structuring semiconductor layers or for separating two semiconductor layers from one another, etching processes are customarily used which erode the semiconductor layers starting from the semiconductor surface. Such processes often take place very slowly and require corrosive chemicals. Further, not every known semiconductor material system has an etching process which allows corresponding layers to be structured with tolerable outlay.
In particular, the semiconductor materials indium nitride, gallium nitride and aluminum nitride (InN, GaN and AlN) and mixed crystals or alloys thereof, which will be referred to together in the text below as "group III nitrides", are very difficult to etch chemically. No reliable wet chemical etching process is currently available for this material system. It is therefore necessary to use the technically very elaborate process of reactive ion etching (dry etching). However, this process allows only relatively low etching rates and requires poisonous and toxic gases (for example boron trichloride). Because etching processes act on the surface, it is usually necessary to control the rate and duration of the etching accurately in order to reach the desired depth.
Further, for some semiconductor materials, for example and in particular for group III nitrides, bulk crystals of them or of lattice-matched semiconductor materials cannot be produced, or can be produced only with great technical outlay. Substrates for growing such semiconductor layers are therefore only of very limited availability. For this reason it is common practice, in order to grow these semiconductor layers, as a replacement to use substrates of other materials which have properties unsatisfactory for subsequent process steps or for the operation of the component. For the growth of group III nitride layers, these are, for example, sapphire or silicon carbide substrates.
These "replacement" substrates entail problems such as unsuitable atomic lattice spacings and different coefficients of thermal expansion, which have detrimental effects on the material quality of the semiconductor layers grown on them. Further, some process steps such as the known cleavage of semiconductor layers in order to produce resonator mirrors of laser diodes in GaAs, are difficult or even impossible with these substrates.
In order to overcome these problems, various processes alternative to etching have to date been proposed for separating semiconductor layers or other layers from one another or from a problematic substrate.
In E. Yablonovitch et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 2222 (1987), U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,931, Thomas J. Gmitter and E. Yablonovitch, Jul. 11, 1989, it has been proposed to implement AlAs sacrificial layers in the GaAs/AlAs material system during the production process, which can then be dissolved using wet chemical means. This makes it possible to separate layers or structures from the substrate. However, because of the low lateral etching rate, this process is very time-consuming. For group III nitrides, furthermore, there exists no wet chemical etchant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,636 describes a process for removing metal films from a substrate. There, the metal film is heated by light. An organic sacrificial layer between the substrate and the metal film is vaporized by the heat delivered and allows the metal layer to be removed. These organic intermediate layers cannot be employed, in particular, in the epitaxial growth of group III nitrides.
A comparable process has been described for removing silicon dioxide layers from gallium arsenide in Y.-F. Lu, Y. Aoyagi, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 34, L1669 (1995). There, as well, an organic intermediate layer is heated by light absorption and the SiO2 layer is lifted off.
Y.-F. Lu et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 33, L324 (1994) further discloses the separation of SiO2 strips from a GaAs layer using an excimer laser.
German patent DE 35 08 469 C2 describes a process for structuring layer sequences applied to a transparent substrate, in which the layers to be structured are exposed to laser radiation locally through a transparent substrate, and this laser radiation is absorbed in the layer to be structured.
Further, so-called laser ablation has been applied to many material systems in order to remove material. In this process, however, the surface is always destructively eroded and separation in two parts that can be used further is not possible.
Specifically for group III nitrides, Leonard and Bedair, Appl. Phys. Lett. 68, 794 (1996) describe the etching of GaN with a laser pulse under HCl gas and attribute it to a photochemical reaction involving hydrochloric acid.
Morimoto, J. Electrochem. Soc. 121, 1383 (1974) and Groh et al., physica status solidi (a) 26, 353 (1974) describe the thermally activated decomposition of GaN.
In Kelly et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 69 (12), Sept. 16, 1996, p .1749-51 it is shown that group III nitrides can be laser-induced to undergo thermally activated composition. However, that process likewise involves a process that acts on the surface of the semiconductor layer and, in particular, leads to the destruction of the surface.

Method of producing a light-emitting diode


A multilayer insulation material is provided. The insulation material preferably includes a plurality of substantially air-impermeable material layers joined together, with at least one space being provided between a pair of adjacent material layers thereof. At least one layer of a foam material and/or aerogel material can be interposed between a pair of adjacent material layers. At least one reflective layer can be provided for inhibiting radiative heat transfer across the insulation material. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a construction panel is provided, having a structural panel portion having predetermined material properties for performing a predetermined function, and a plurality of substantially air-impermeable material layers joined to the structural panel portion, at least one space being provided between a pair of adjacent material layers thereof.

Most buildings enclose space which must be heated and cooled for occupancy. Depending on the location of the structure on Earth and the season, the building's envelope maintains a temperature differential between the inside and the outside. The ability of the envelope to reduce the flow of heat into or out of the volume is called its thermal resistance. The greater the thermal resistance a portion of the envelope has, the less energy is required to maintain that temperature differential. In the building industry, resistance to conductive thermal loss is measured in the unit "R" ("R-value"). It is the inverse of the unit of thermal conductivity, often represented by the unit "I" (or alternatively "U" or "U-value").
People are depleting natural resources at an ever-increasing rate. The scientific community is working on ways of harnessing power from "renewable" resources in nature (e.g., solar energy, wind energy, biofuels, tidal currents). Until methods are developed which fully utilize these sources, and implementation of such energy generation is wide-spread, most energy requirements must be satisfied via fossil fuel or nuclear technology.
In order to gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels for the conditioning of living space, various agencies promulgating construction requirements for new construction are continually increasing the insulation requirements ("R" values) for the building envelope. These requirements are approaching a point where typical framing materials, from which structures are usually constructed, will not be large enough in dimension to contain the increased thicknesses of insulation—typically inexpensive thermal insulation made of fiberglass blankets or loose-packed cellulose, for example. The next round of mandated insulation requirements may require the use of metal framing instead of wood, in order to provide thicker wall cavities and roof framing to accommodate thicker insulation. Construction professionals who are accustomed to designing and building wood structures would be greatly disadvantaged by such changes, and the economic impact of such changes on many tens of thousands of people will likely not be insubstantial.
Some alternative options for increasing the R-value of building envelopes may include use of varieties of foam insulating materials. However, such materials are substantially more expensive than fiberglass blankets or cellulose. Moreover, most, if not all foam insulation materials are made directly from petrochemicals, a depletable resource. Fiberglass is made from silicon, which is available in great abundance.
Further, the number of existing buildings in the world far outweighs the number of buildings that will be built in the near future The majority of such buildings were constructed prior to the development of more recent energy-conserving standards for building envelope performance. Indeed, most residential and other types of structures were constructed prior to any mandated thermal efficiency requirements whatsoever. Even structures that were built after the institution of thermal efficiency requirements were not built to today's efficiency standards. Effectively retrofitting existing buildings with traditional insulating materials is usually a costly endeavor.
Moreover, the absorption of moisture by fiberglass and cellulose insulation materials from interior or exterior sources has the effect of reducing the effective "R" values of the insulation, as compared with R-values of the same material when dry. That is, the addition of moisture can increase the thermal conductivity of an insulating material. If sufficiently severe, this phenomenon can even result in an R value that is less than air (i.e., a situation worse than no insulation at all). It is likely, therefore, that the insulation of structures currently insulated with fibrous insulation have not completely maintained their thermal efficiency.
There is, therefore, a need for construction materials and methods of construction and installation thereof, for improving the thermal resistance of existing structures as well as increasing the overall thermal resistance of new construction. The present disclosure addresses these needs.

Multi-layer building insulation and wallboard sheet with multi-layer insulation


Provision of an abnormality detection and suppression system for a valve apparatus, which is capable of detecting abnormal states such as leakage through valve seats or a gland/packing assembly and coping with the abnormality while ensuring protection for the valve apparatus by controlling a driving unit for a valve stem on the basis of information as detected, by means of a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor and a strain sensor are disposed internally of a valve stem 4 at a portion thereof which lies outside of a valve casing of the valve apparatus. When vibration of the valve stem brought abut by leakage through valve seats is detected by the vibration sensor in a fully closed state of the valve apparatus, a valve body thereof is driven further in the valve closing direction by a driving unit 13 controlled by a control unit, both being disposed externally of the valve casing, until the leakage and thus the vibrations disappear while monitoring simultaneously a load applied to the stem by the strain sensor. On the other hand, when a temperature change of the stem is detected by the temperature sensor in the fully open state of the valve apparatus, the control unit decides that the temperature change is due to leakage through a gland/packing assembly 12 of the valve apparatus to thereby control the driving unit so that the stem is driven to move the valve body in the valve opening direction while monitoring simultaneously a load applied to the stem until the change in the temperature is canceled out.

As the method known heretofore for diagnosing a valve apparatus as to occurrence of abnormality, there may be mentioned a method according to which a current and/or voltage of an electric power required for driving a stem coupled directly to a valve body (also referred to as the valve element) of the valve apparatus is measured upon a routine inspection thereof for thereby detecting a load acting on the stem, wherein existence of abnormality in the valve as well as in a stem driving unit is detected by making use of load information obtained in this way.
As a typical example of such abnormality, there may be mentioned fluid leakage through valve seats (also referred to as the inter-seat leakage). In that case, occurrence or existence of the inter-seat leakage is determined on the basis of vibration as detected. To this end, such an arrangement has heretofore been adopted in which a vibration sensor is mounted on the stem at the top end thereof for detecting vibration due to fluid flow through a valve body interlocked to the stem. Alternatively, the vibration sensor may be disposed in physical contact with an outer wall of the valve casing.
However, the conventional method mentioned above is disadvantageous in that because a great distance usually intervenes between the vibration sensor and the valve seats which constitute a source of vibration or because the measurement of the vibration is performed rather indirectly at a location deviated considerably from the vibration source, not only is great difficulty encountered in detecting the vibration with desired accuracy but also utility for practical applications is very poor because of incapability of making available other information than that of leakage, providing thus no remarkable contribution to enhancement of operation performance of the valve apparatus.
Besides, because the vibration sensor is not mounted integrally with the stem, it is impossible to calibrate the vibration sensor at the time of fabrication of the stem. Consequently, every time vibration is detected and necessity for identifying the cause for the vibration arises, the plant or an associated part thereof has to be once shut down to apply a reference vibration to the valve apparatus for calibrating the vibration sensor in order to decide what is indicated by the vibration detected by the vibration sensor.
Further, it is observed that the existing system includes no means for obtaining various information through the medium of temperature of a fluid being processed. Furthermore, since the temperature sensor is not permanently installed, problems arise in respect to the calibration and the processing of the signal delivered from the temperature sensor as in the case of the vibration sensor. It should further be added that although the information can be evaluated individually, synthetic evaluation is rendered impractical or impossible.
Under the circumstances, there exists a great demand for an abnormality detection apparatus or system which is capable of not only detecting leakages through the valve seats and the gland/packing assembly but also processing the information as obtained to thereby control the driving unit on the basis of the information as processed without need for shutting down the plant operation for evaluation of the information so that leakage can be coped with the valve apparatus by itself without resorting to other measures or external facilities.

Abnormality detection/suppression system for a valve apparatus


The flame retardancy of flexible polyurethane foams is increased by incorporation into the foam forming reactants of a low molecular weight, high primary hydroxyl trifunctional polyether polyol having a hydroxyl number between 300 and 500 and a primary hydroxyl content greater than 50 percent.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention pertains to flexible polyurethane foams and polyol compositions suitable for their preparation. More particularly, the subject invention pertains to the preparation of polyurethane foams having higher resistance to burning through incorporation of a minor quantity of a low molecular weight, high primary hydroxyl content polyether polyol into the polyol component of the polyurethane reactants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polyurethane flexible foams are well established commercial products having uses in seat cushions; carpet underlay; mattresses; automobile dashboards, arm rests, head rests; and like applications. An important consideration when employing polyurethane or other polymeric foams is the ability of such foams to resist ignition, or once ignited, to be self-extinguishing when the ignition heat source is removed. This is especially important when the foam is to be used within confined spaces such as homes, buildings, hospitals, airplanes, trains, and cars, for example.
Attempts to decrease the flammability of polyurethane foams have taken many paths. Halogenated flame retardants such as the halogenated alkyl phosphates and perhalogenated hydrocarbons such as decabromodiphenyloxide have been added to foam formulations. Unfortunately, such flame retardants are relatively expensive; pose environmental problems, particularly with regard to potential spills and disposal of scrap or used foam products; may alter foam properties in an unacceptable manner; and finally, provide only a limited amount of improvement with regard to flammability.
Foams filled with large amounts of nitrogenous substances have been proposed. Addition of large amounts of urea has been found to decrease the flammability of polyurethane foams, however the foam physical properties are far less than ideal. Moreover, the urea in largest part does not react with the foam-forming ingredients, and being soluble, can leach out of the foam during use, not only increasing flammability, but also rendering the foam unsuitable for many applications. Melamine has been added to polyurethane foams, and foams containing from 30 to 55 parts by weight melamine have proven to be highly flame retardant. However, melamine also reduces foam physical properties, as well as resulting in a "heavy" foam product. Furthermore, unless crushed or ground to exceptionally fine particle sizes, melamine/polyol dispersions are unstable, the melamine sedimenting out upon storage. Lower amounts of melamine, i.e. 5 weight percent, do not cause substantial loss of foam physical properties and may even decrease the compression set of flexible foams. However, this low level does not provide sufficient flame retardancy for many applications.
The use of graphite or combinations of graphite and melamine has also been proposed, however the foams and their processing share many of the same defects associated with melamine filled foams discussed previously, Other solid flame retardants such as aluminum oxide, alumina trihydrate, antimony compounds, and the like have also been proposed. Such flame retardants are expensive, and result in very "heavy" foams not having optimal physical properties.
The use of acrylonitrile/styrene graft polymer polyol dispersions has resulted in polyurethane foams with improved physical properties together with a minor decrease in flammability. Use of such dispersions, and also dispersions of polyisocyanate addition products, in conjunction with melamine has been commercialized. Again, however, at low melamine levels flame retardancy is not adequate for many applications.
It would be desirable to enable preparation of polyurethane foams displaying decreased flammability and increased self extinguishing properties without recourse to the use of solid fillers such as those described previously. It would further be desirable to further decrease the flammability of foams prepared with such fillers or decrease the amount of filler for a given level of flame retardancy. It is further desirable to achieve the above results without recourse to expensive foam raw materials and without developing problems with respect to foam formulation and/or processing.

Polyurethane foams of increased flame retardancy


A system and method for dynamically validating uplink messages during flight are provided. The system comprises at least one processing unit in an aircraft, and at least one communication device in the aircraft that is operatively connected to the processing unit. The communication device is configured to receive uplink messages from a ground air traffic control (ATC) center, and transmit downlink messages to the ground ATC center. The system also includes a human machine interface (HMI) in the aircraft that is operatively connected to the processing unit. The HMI is configured to receive input from a user and display information to the user. One or more data sources that provide dynamic information are in operative communication with the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine whether an ATC uplink message is acceptable based on analysis of the dynamic information from the one or more data sources.

During the course of a flight, a pilot receives many uplinked messages from an air traffic controller depending on different parameters and conditions. The controller basically sends any required data to the aircraft to fly in a safer zone. For example, the controller can ask the pilot to fly the aircraft at a particular altitude, speed, heading, or the like. Such constraints defined by the controller are uplinked through datalink communications, and are then inserted or loaded into the active flight plan in the aircraft.
When an air traffic control (ATC) uplink message is sent to an aircraft, the uplink message is statically validated (format, range of values, etc.) and may be loaded automatically when received or after acceptance by the pilot, depending on the aircraft system architecture. In some cases, loading can include a flight plan system static validation such as by a flight management system (FMS). After the uplink message is accepted, an acknowledgement indicating acceptance is sent to the controller. As the pilot can load an uplink message at any point after acceptance, any elapsed time can change the conditions applicable to the uplink message.

Validating air traffic control messages during the course of flight