A monitoring device monitors signaling information on data links of a telecommunication network. The monitoring device also monitors user traffic on voice links of the telecommunication network. From the signaling information and user traffic a measure of user perception quality is derived.

The present invention relates to the monitoring of a telecommunication network, and more particularly to a monitoring device and method for determining post dial delay actually perceived by a user.
The quality of service (QoS) provided by a telephone network depends upon a number of factors, among which major roles are played by availability, reliability and call clarity. The availability is related to the actual possibility of gaining access to a service once a request has been forwarded, and to the time it takes to complete such an operation. The reliability from a general point of view refers to the customer expectation of maintaining access to the service as long as needed without interruptions. The call clarity is mainly associated with the intelligibility of the information delivered by the network, i.e., the speech quality for telephone networks.
Assessing QoS is a fundamental task for network operators to promptly highlight malfunctions and to detect possible anomalies in order to avoid customer dissatisfaction, and to verify Service Level Agreement (SLA) conformance. In the evolving telecommunication scenario more and more often traditional local networks are remotely interconnected by means of long distance third party carriers. These carriers may offer cost effective solutions at a reasonably high QoS by exploiting emerging communication technologies. Moreover modern international networks have evolved from point-to-point networks interconnecting different countries to more complex networks with multiple routes between countries. As a consequence the choice of the best route is made on a comparative basis as a trade-off between QoS and costs.
Network operators show therefore an increasing interest in dedicated instrumentation able to appropriately monitor network performance. In-Service Nonintrusive Measurement Devices (INMDs) are suitable for assessing QoS basically by monitoring the signaling associated with calls in progress. Amongst the parameters that an INMD may evaluate by monitoring the signaling, such as the Answer Seizure Ratio (ASR), the Rejected Calls Ratio (RCR) and the Incomplete Calls Ratio (ICR), the Post Dial Delay (PDD) covers a very important role where there is need for comparing different routes to the same destination or to assess the performance of the current route being used.
PDD is defined as the time interval between the end of user or terminal equipment dialing and the reception of an appropriate network message. Such a delay, associated with connection establishment, impacts primarily on customer satisfaction since it is directly perceived by the user. Also it impacts on the costs incurred by the local operators when routing their traffic through long distance carriers since the calls are invoiced as soon as connection establishment is required.
Traditional measurement systems provide estimates of PDD by observing the signaling messages within the data channel of the network, and a typical approach is illustrated in FIG. 1. A first estimate may be easily obtained by calculating the time interval between the seizure and the first network response in the backward direction, as shown in FIG. 2. In some circumstances such an estimate may be acceptable since it fixes a lower boundary, but only partial information is gained about the actual network behavior. Another estimate of PDD may be obtained by calculating the time interval between the seizure and the receipt of answer supervision. However as seen from FIG. 2 such an interval, even if it provides an upper boundary for PDD, is strictly dependent on the customer behavior and therefore is not suitable as an absolute measure.
What is desired is a more effective measurement of PDD that is suitable as an absolute measure of telecommunication network performance.
Accordingly the present invention provides a monitor device and method for determining an absolute measure of telecommunication network performance. Signaling information on a data channel of the telecommunication network is monitored to detect the end of dialing, resetting a post dial delay (PDD) counter at that point. Then an associated voice channel of the telecommunication network is monitored until a useful signal is detected, such as a ringing tone. At that time the PDD counter is stopped and the contents reflect the absolute PDD for the call. Statistical analysis of PDD over multiple samples provides a measure of telecommunication network performance for Service Level Agreement (SLA) conformance.
The objects, advantages and other novel features of the present invention are apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended claims and attached drawing.

Monitoring device and method for monitoring a telecommunication network


Disclosed are mitomycin derivatives of formula (I): ##STR1## where W represents halogen; X represents methoxy, amino or ethylenimino; Y represents hydrogen or methyl; Z represents hydrogen or methyl; and one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents carbamoyloxymethyl, and the other represents hydrogen. The derivatives are usable as an antitumor and antibacterial agent.

Mitomycins are known as antibiotics having, in general, antibacterial and antitumor activities. Among known mitomycin derivatives, are those where one hydrogen in the methyl group at the 6-position is substituted by alkoxy or alkylthio, which derivatives are illustrated in JP-A-167282/90, and represented by the following formula: ##STR2## in which W' represents alkoxy or alkylthio.
The term "JP-A" as referred to herein means "Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application".

Halogen substituted mitomycin derivatives


Halogenated diarylacetylenes, e.g., diarylacetylenes having at least one halo substituent in one aryl ring and an amine in the opposing aryl ring, can inhibit the proliferation of LS174T colon cancer cells through the inhibition of c-myc and induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor-1 (i.e., p21(Wif1/Cip1)). Such compounds are useful as antineoplastic agents.

A family of fluorinated N,N-dialkylaminostilbene analogs (FIDAS agents) that inhibit the expression of Wnt target genes, such as c-myc, and repress colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo was recently described. See, e.g., J Med Chem 2011: 54:1288-1297; ACS Chem Biol 2013: 8(4):796-803; U.S. Pat. No. 8,664,276.
In addition, certain diarylacetylenes are known for certain medicinal uses. See, e.g., WO2012149049; WO2012149048; WO2010092043; WO2009038759; WO2008073350; and WO2001029011. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 8,716,355 to Tsai discloses hydroxylated tolans and related compounds in the treatment of cancer and Hadfield et al disclose preparation and evaluation of diarylalkynes as antitumor agents. Hadfield et al, Synthetic Communications 1998: 28(8):1421-1431. However, there is an ongoing need for additional compounds that can be used to treat cancer and other ailments.

Halogenated diarylacetylenes and methods of treating cancer

University of Kentucky Research Foundation


Systems, devices, and methods include generating, for at least one search term of a query, a first expanded set of search terms based on at least one related term of the at least one search term obtained from a knowledge base, generating a second expanded set of search terms by applying a statistical model to the search terms of the first expanded set based on terms included in an electronic document corpus stored in an electronic data storage, and generating a third expanded set of search terms based on search terms in the first and second expanded sets. For each search term of the third expanded set, a term score is determined based on occurrence of the search term in the electronic document. The term scores are combined to create a document score for the electronic document.

Conventional electronic searches of documents includes well-known limitations that impact speed, reliability, consumption of computing resources, and so forth. Keyword searches are a conventional mechanism for electronic search. A user enters a search term and a computing system checks various documents for that search term. However, studies have shown that searches performed using manually chosen keywords may retrieve only twenty-five percent of the relevant document population.

System and method for query expansion using knowledge base and statistical methods in electronic search


A paper towel includes: (a) a cellulosic towel web; and (b) a lotion emulsion disposed on the towel web. The lotion emulsion is substantially liquid at room temperature and includes a polar emollient and a non-polar emollient as well as a surfactant composition comprising a nonionic surfactant; wherein the emollients and surfactant composition are selected such that the lotion emulsion is immobilized on the towel web in a semi-solid or solid state and the lotion emulsion is capable of forming an aqueous gel upon contact with water. Preferably, the lotion emulsion is a waterless micro-emulsion which is also capable of forming an aqueous micro-emulsion with water.

Adequate skin care is a simple and effective means for maintaining not only healthy skin but overall health as well. Damaged skin fails to protect against toxic, irritating substances and germs in the environment. Cleaning, moisturizing, and nourishing skin is accordingly extremely important; indeed, the literature is replete with cleansing and moisturizing lotions for restoring and maintaining the skin's healthy state. Skin care is particularly important for food service employees and health care workers who must wash their hands frequently.
Cellulosic substrates coated with lotions are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,426 to Krzysik et al., is directed towards a lotion formula that can be applied to a tissue, which transfers the lotion to the user's skin in order to reduce irritation and redness. The lotion composition of '426 is solid at room temperature and is applied to substrates by rotogravure printing process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,763 to Luu et al., as well is directed towards a lotion formula that has to be melted prior to its application to a substrate for skin care treatment. The lotion composition of '763 is melted by the heat produced by the hands of a user of the cellulosic substrate to enable the lotion's transfer to the user's skin. Another lotion treated substrate is described in U.S. application Ser. No.10/483,633 (Publication No. US 2005/0031847), where two separate and distinct phases, lipid and aqueous, are applied to a substrate to facilitate cleansing of skin. Further, there is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,632 to Rowe et al., a cleaning wipe treated with a composition containing detergent, which is leached out upon contact with water. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,345 to Warner et al.
There are also known lotions containing anti-microbial and pH balancing agents to protect and condition skin. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,682 to Klofta et al. is directed towards a tissue treated with anhydrous skin lotion, which is semi-solid at room temperature, containing antimicrobial components in addition to hydrophilic solvents and surfactants. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,700 to Luu et al., which is directed towards a substrate treated with a lotion, which is solid at room temperature and contains a skin pH balancing compound for maintaining a proper skin acid mantle. Other lotions containing antimicrobial agents include U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/608,661 (Publication No. US 2004/0039353), which is directed towards wet wipes containing a Yucca species extract as an antimicrobial agent; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/851,273 (Publication No. US 2002/0031486), which is directed towards an antimicrobial cleansing composition, containing little or no volatile alcohol, that may be used alone or in combination with lotions and a like; U.S. patent Application Ser. No. 09/738,365 (Publication No. US 2002/0002124), which is directed towards an antimicrobial cleansing compositions that has a pH of from about 2 to about 5.5.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,505 to Kaiser et al which is directed towards an antimicrobial lotion for topical use in a form of oil-in-water emulsion; additionally, similar subject matter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,423 to Beerse et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,943 to Beerse et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,259 to Beerse et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,368 to Beerse et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,763 to Beerse et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,695 to Beerse et al. as well.
Lotions that are solid or semi-solid at room temperature and require melting prior to application to substrates, also referred to as "hot" lotions, have numerous drawbacks. For one, semi-solid or solid lotions require cumbersome and costly heating systems such as melting tanks and heated equipment to deliver the lotion to the substrate. Additionally, cleaning of build-up and solidification of lotion on the conveyer roll of the production line during and after the application process is another cumbersome and costly procedure incurred in connection with so called "hot" lotions. Incorporation of water-based additives in such lotions is difficult, due to phase separation and lack of uniform distribution of the additive in the lotion, either before or after application onto the product substrate. Further, "hot" lotions have a tendency to become stiff when excess lotion is used, and the final products tend to leave smears when used.
It has been found in accordance with the present invention that an emulsion lotion can be applied to paper towel at room temperature and immobilized on the towel surface. The emulsion composition is selected such that it forms an aqueous gel lotion when mixed with water, which gel is readily transferred to a user's skin when the product is used.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The disclosed method comprises applying a transparent coating composition to a plastics substrate, the composition comprising

WO 09/049,000 has already disclosed a method of the type specified above, that uses radiation-curable coating compositions which, in addition to >10% to <40% by weight of nanoparticles (B), based on the total weight of the film-forming constituents (A) and (C), comprise 10% to 60% by weight of at least one binder (A) and 40% to 90% by weight of at least one reactive diluent (C), the sum of the weight fractions of the film-forming constituents (A) and (C) being in each case 100% by weight. The resulting coatings feature good abrasion resistance and very good optical properties, i.e., a low haze value for the unexposed coating of less than 1. These qualities are assured by WO 09/049,000 by using urethane (meth)acrylates having two double bonds per molecule as binder (A) and high-functionality reactive diluents having preferably 3 to 6 double bonds per molecule as reactive diluent (C). If, in contrast, hexafunctional urethane (meth)acrylates and difunctional reactive diluents, such as hexanediol diacrylate, or only trifunctional and pentafunctional reactive diluents, are used, then the very low haze values required are not attained.
Moreover, EP-B-1 704 189 discloses radiation-curable coating compositions for coating plastics substrates, more particularly polycarbonate substrates, said compositions, in addition to nanoparticles (B), comprising at least two different polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-functional compounds, more particularly a mixture of a hexafunctional urethane acrylate and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of butanediol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and pentaerythritolyl triacrylate. This combination of two different polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-functional compounds enhances the abrasion resistance of the resulting cured coating by comparison with cured coatings based only in each case on one polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-functional compound. That specification, however, does not give any information on the optical properties of the resulting coatings or on the effect of the film-forming components on the optical properties.
Also known, furthermore, from the conference report "RadTech 2000" of Apr. 9-12, 2000, Baltimore, pages 822-831, radiation-curable coating compositions for coating plastics substrates, more particularly polycarbonate substrates, said compositions, in addition to nanoparticles (B), comprising at least two different polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-functional compounds, more particularly a mixture of a hexafunctional urethane acrylate and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hexanediol diacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate.
Disclosed, furthermore, by U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,451 are radiation-curable coating compositions, intended more particularly for the coating of spectacle lenses, that comprise (a) 20% to 80% of a first aliphatic urethane acrylate, more particularly a urethane acrylate having on average 2 double bonds per molecule, (b) 5% to 50% of a compound having one acrylate group per molecule, (c) (i) 2% to 30% of a second aliphatic urethane acrylate, more particularly a urethane acrylate having on average 6 double bonds per molecule, or (ii) 2% to 25% of a polyfunctional acrylate compound, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), and (d) 1% to 30% of nanoparticles.
EP-B-668 330 describes radiation-curable coating compositions intended for the coating of polycarbonate substrates and comprising 20% to 75% by weight of at least one substantially hydroxyl-free and isocyanate-group-free aliphatic urethane acrylate (A) based on low-viscosity polyisocyanates containing isocyanurate groups, 5% to 80% by weight of a low-viscosity acrylic ester component (C), composed to an extent of at least 80% by weight of a bis-functional acrylic ester component and to an extent of up to 20% by weight of another acrylic ester component, and 0% to 80% by weight of a solvent or solvent mixture, the weight percentage figures for components (A), (C), and (LM) (solvent) being based in each case on the total weight of components (A), (C), and (LM). That specification, however, does not describe the addition of nanoparticles to the coating materials. Nor does it provide any information on the optical properties of the resulting coatings or on the effect of the film-forming components on the is optical properties.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,205 discloses radiation-curable coating compositions which comprise at least two different polyfunctional (meth)acrylate-functional compounds, more particularly a mixture of hexanediol diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and the hydrolysis product of silyl-functional acrylates and colloidal silicon dioxide. The use of urethane (meth)acrylates in the coating compositions, however, is not described.
The problem on which the present invention is based, then, was that of providing a method of coating plastics substrates, more particularly casings of electronic appliances, which endows the resulting coated substrates with a combination of very high scratch resistance with very high transparency and low gray haze (haze values for the unexposed coating of less than 1, preferably less than 0.8, in each case as determined using the BYK-Gardner Haze-gard plus C4725 instrument).
Furthermore, the coating compositions, following application to the plastics substrates, more particularly to polymethyl methacrylates, polycarbonates and/or blends of polycarbonate and other plastics, ought not to lead to any incipient swelling of the substrates.
Moreover, the coating compositions ought to result in cured coatings having very good adhesion (more particularly as determined using tape pull-off in accordance with ASTM D 3359 and ISO 2409) on plastics, more particularly on polymethyl methacrylates, polycarbonates and/or blends of polycarbonate and other plastics.
Lastly, the cured coatings ought to exhibit a high level of resistance on impact deformation (impact test) as determined in a method based on the standard DIN EN ISO 6272-1 DE.

Plastic substrates having a scratch-resistant coating, in particular housings of electronic devices, having high transparency, method for the production thereof, and use thereof

Abstract: 30% to 60% by weight of a nanoparticles (B), 15% to 40% by weight, of urethane (meth)acrylates (A1) having 3 to 5 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, 0% to less than 10% by weight of urethane (meth)acrylates (A2) having more than 5 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, 0% to less than 10% by weight of urethane (meth)acrylates (A3) having less than 3 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, 55% to 80% by weight of compounds (C1) having 4 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, 0% to 15% by weight of compounds (C2) having 2 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, and 0% to 15% by weight of compounds (C3) having 3 (meth)/acrylate groups per molecule, the sum of the weight fractions of film-forming components (A1), (A2), (A3), (C1), (C2), and (C3) being in each case 100% by weight.


Digital pictures may be encoded and decoded in a way that optimizes parallelization. Selected sections of a digital picture in a first list are encoded independently of encoding any of their neighbor sections. Sections in a second list located to the right of corresponding sections in the first list are encoded using at most the section to their immediate left. Sections in a third list located to the right of a corresponding section in the second list and immediately below a corresponding section in the first list are encoded using at most the sections to the immediate left, immediately above and immediately to its above-right. All other sections of the picture may be encoded in a normal manner.

Video encoding and decoding involves several processes that can be parallelized and be effectively implemented on multi-processors and a graphics processing unit (GPU). Motion estimation and Transform/Scaling are examples of processes that have no dependencies on neighboring blocks, making it highly suitable for implementing on the GPU. Other processes such as intra-prediction and deblocking, however, have dependencies on neighboring blocks.
For H.264 intra-prediction, there are nine luma prediction modes for the 4×4 block size and four modes for 16×16 block size. Each 4×4 block has 16 luma or chroma samples and each 16×16 block has 256 luma samples. A luma sample represents the monochrome signal and a chroma sample represents one of the two color difference signals related to the primary colors. For the 4×4 luma intra-prediction, depending on the mode, a macroblock may predict from the following neighbors as shown in FIG. 1A:                Above-Left Macroblock        Above Macroblock        Above-Right Macroblock        Left Macroblock
Having dependencies on neighbors restricts the number of macroblocks that can be processed in parallel. It also necessitates synchronization points that ensure that macroblocks are not processed before their neighbors are ready. The number of macroblocks that are processed between the synchronization steps is not constant, and it takes several synchronization steps before peak parallelism is reached in terms of macroblock processing rate. It is difficult to parallelize intra-prediction for a decoder. In particular, efficient parallelization is not currently possible if there is only one slice per frame, which may happen if the encoder does not create bitstreams tailored to maximize the performance of the decoder. These issues are not eliminated even when decoding multiple slices with a GPU. Due to these issues, processes such as intra-prediction cannot make full use of a GPU's processing capability. It is within this context that aspects of the present disclosure arise.

Parallel intra-prediction encoding/decoding process utilizing PIPCM and/or PIDC for selected sections


An inflation system includes a bladder incorporated into an article of outdoor gear or apparel. The bladder is incorporated into the article of outdoor gear and apparel so as to provide insulation to a user. The inflation system includes a gas canister that includes a reservoir of dry gas. A valve mechanism allows the dry gas to be used to selectively inflate and deflate the bladder to provide a desired amount of insulation.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of thermal insulation materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to portable gas reservoirs and valve mechanism for connecting and/or filling a gas filled thermal insulation material.
2. The Relevant Technology
Thermal insulators have long been important for human survival and comfort in cold climates. The primary function of any thermal insulator is to reduce heat loss (i.e., heat transfer) from a heat source to a cold sink. There are three forms of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation.
Heat loss through convective mixing of gases is caused by the tendency of a gas to form a rotational mixing pattern between a warmed (i.e., less dense) region and a cooler (i.e., more dense) region. In a convection cycle, warmed gas is constantly being exchanged for cooler gas. One of the primary ways in which thermal insulators work is through suppressing convection by trapping or confining a volume of a gas within the insulative material. For example, one of the reasons that a fiber-filled parka feels warm is that the air near the wearer's skin is warmed by body heat and the fibers act to prevent or at least slow convective mixing of the warmed layer of the air with the cold air outside.
Conduction involves heat flow through a material from hot to cold in the form of direct interaction of atoms and molecules. For example, the phenomenon of conduction is one of the reasons why a thin layer of insulation does not insulate as well as a thicker layer.
Radiation involves direct net energy transfer between surfaces at different temperatures in the form of infrared radiation. Radiation is suppressed by using materials that reflect infrared radiation. For example, the glass surface of a vacuum flask is coated with silver to reflect radiation and prevent heat loss through the vacuum region.
Different thermal insulators prevent heat loss through convection, conduction, and radiation in different ways. For example, fiber-based thermal insulators like polyester fiber fill or fiberglass insulation utilize fairly low conductivity fibers in a stack or batt with a volume of air trapped or confined amongst the fibers. Furthermore, conduction is reduced by the random orientation of the fibers across the stack or batt, and radiative heat loss is somewhat reduced because the radiation is scattered as it passes through the fibers.
Another example class of thermal insulators includes closed cell structures, such as foams or microspheres. Closed cell structures are generally comprised of a polymer matrix with many small, mostly closed cavities. As with fiber-based insulations, these insulators conserve heat by trapping a volume of air in and amongst the cells. In fact, convection is effectively eliminated inside the small, closed cells. Furthermore, conduction is reduced by using low conductivity materials, and radiation is low because the cells are typically very small and there is little temperature difference between cavity walls and hence low driving force for radiative heat transfer.
Essentially all thermal insulators present a tradeoff between insulative value (i.e., prevention of convection, conduction, and radiation), bulk, and cost. For example, because of the bulkiness of fiber- or foam-based insulation, achieving a sufficient degree of insulation for a given set of conditions can be difficult without also making the article too bulky for practical use. It should also be appreciated that adding additional fiber- or foam-based insulation inevitably adds weight. Such insulative materials are also static in that the amount of insulative material cannot be changed or adjusted as the user's needs change. For example, if a person is wearing a fiber filled parka or sleeping in a fiber filled sleeping bag, the amount of insulation cannot be increased or decreased as environmental or activity conditions change.
In addition, many typical insulative materials produce toxic and/or environmentally damaging byproducts in the process of manufacture. For example, the manufacturing process for many thermal insulators such as polyester fibers or foams produces CFCs and/or greenhouse gases. Many typical thermal insulators also continue to outgas toxic chemicals long after their manufacture. For example, fiberglass insulation is typically manufactured with formaldehyde compounds that continue to outgas long after the insulation is placed in a wall or other structure. And many typical insulators, such as fiberglass or polyester fiber fill, produce loose fibers that can be harmful if they are inhaled.

Systems and methods for inflating an article of outdoor gear or apparel using a dry gas


Devices, systems and methods that generate and test network traffic are disclosed. The exemplary method may include transmitting one or more requests to generate network testing traffic to one or more endpoints, generating network testing traffic from one or more endpoints, and collecting network testing traffic data. Additional aspects of the method may also include transmitting one or more requests to receive network testing traffic to one or more endpoints and receiving network testing traffic by one or more endpoints that received the request to receive network traffic. The devices, systems and methods may provide additional security measures, operational controls and other aspects as discussed later herein.

Telephone networks can work on a variety of platforms and transmit information using a variety of protocols. A telephone network, for example, can send voice information with a traditional circuit-based protocol on a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or it can send voice information in discrete digital packets using an internet protocol termed "Voice over IP" (VoIP).
As VoIP has becomes more widely used, the line between traditional telephony and computer systems has become less defined. Many companies now use their local area networks (LANs) to transmit telephone signals between users on the network. The computer networks may be local area networks such as those contained within a single building, campus area networks, which may extend between several buildings, or may be a global or wide area network such as the Internet. One benefit of using a VoIP system to transmit telephone signals is the savings associated with not having to install and maintain a separate telephone system.
A general VoIP system may include two or more endpoints and a server. The endpoints allow a user to receive and transmit digital packets associated with audio signals of the user. The server helps direct and coordinate transmitting the digital packets to their correct endpoint. The server may also track network parameters to avoid network congestion and optimize use of network components.
In a network using Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), the server may measure a parameter based on the reception of calls generated based on an amount of generated traffic. Since the server's physical location may prevent the server from generating call attempts that realistically model endpoints generating the calls, the network administrator may use a SIP call generator. The SIP call generator may be connected to the network during testing. The SIP call generator sends and receives SIP calls producing network testing traffic and measuring network testing traffic data. The network testing traffic data is analyzed to determine points of congestion in the network and load capacity of the network. The network testing traffic produced by the SIP call generator may not realistically model the actual traffic of the network. Since the network testing traffic is generated from a single physical point on the network (the physical location of the call generator) the network testing traffic may not realistically simulate actual network traffic. In addition, the call generators may need to be redistributed to different physical points on the network to model additional network traffic conditions.
Accordingly, an efficient and effective method is needed for generating and testing network traffic conditions. In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a system that can generate network testing traffic that realistically models actual network traffic. It is also desirable to provide a system that may be efficiently implemented and modified to model a variety of network testing traffic conditions.

Systems and methods for testing a network


A vehicle seat latch with a take-up mechanism for use in securing a removable bench seat to a vehicle. The bench seat being supported on laterally spaced pedestals which are engageable with support shafts in the floor structure of a vehicle. The rearward end of the pedestals include an elongated U-shaped slot for engagement with the support shaft, the slots are elongated to accommodate variations in the vertical height of the support shafts in the vehicle floor. The latch take-up mechanism includes a take-up hook which is rotatable underneath the support shaft to engage the lower surface of the support shaft to prevent the bench seat from rocking forward during rapid deceleration of the vehicle.

This invention relates to floor latches for mounting removable bench seats to a motor vehicle and in particular to a floor latch having a take-up mechanism to prevent rocking of the seat when mounted in a vehicle.
Modern passenger carrying vans and other multi-purpose passenger vehicles are frequently equipped with bench seats which are removable to permit varied uses of the vehicle. With one or more bench seats installed, the vehicles can be used to carry a number of occupants or the bench seats may be removed to enable the vehicle to transport large objects such as furniture, building materials, etc.
Present motor vehicle safety standards require vehicle bench seats to be equipped with seat belt systems. In the event of a vehicle impact, extreme loads are transferred from the seat belts to the seat structure, and the seat may be further subjected to loads due to occupants or objects striking the seat. As an occupant protection measure, it is desirable to maintain the bench seat securely fastened to the vehicle structure during a collision. Accordingly, the fastening system used to attach the bench seat to the vehicle floor must be capable of transmitting high force loadings. While other fasteners can be used to mount a bench seat to the vehicle floor, most manufactures offer mechanisms which are designed to enable rapid removal and replacement of the seat without requiring the use of tools.
Conventional motor vehicle bench seats have a pair of laterally spaced supporting pedestals. In order to provide acceptable securement of the seat, it is necessary for each of the pedestals to be anchored to the vehicle floor. If the seat is to be easily removable, a latching mechanism is required for each of the pedestals.
One mechanism for attaching the seat to the vehicle floor structure utilizes a pair of longitudinally spaced support shafts for attaching each pedestal. Each pair of support shafts are mounted to the floor in a position extending laterally relative to the vehicle. The pedestal includes at its lower front end, a horizontally directed U-shaped slot which is opened forwardly to enable the pedestal to be mounted on the shaft by positioning the pedestal slot around the support shaft.
The rearward lower edge of the pedestal includes a latch mechanism to secure the pedestal to the rearward support shaft. After the front end of the pedestal is positioned on the front support shaft, the bench seat is rotated about the forward support shaft to lower the rear of the pedestal onto the rearward support shaft. The latch mechanism includes one or more hooks which rotate underneath the rearward support shaft to secure the seat pedestal to the rearward support shaft.
Due to manufacturing tolerances of the vehicle body, the rearward support shafts on opposite sides of the vehicle are not always positioned at the same vertical height. In order to accommodate this variation in the vertical position of the support shafts, the pedestal, at the point of engagement with the rear support shaft, has an inverted elongated U-shaped slot into which the support shaft is positioned. The latch hook is rotated beneath the shaft, closing the slot to entrap the support shaft in the slot between the seat and the latch hook. The slot enables each pedestal to be secured to the respective rearward support shaft and allow for variation in the shaft vertical position. As a result of the elongated U-slot, there may be a gap between the latch hook and the support shaft. A gap between the shaft and the latch hook will enable the bench seat to rock forward, especially during rapid stopping of the vehicle. This rocking motion and the noise produced by the rocking can be an annoyance to the vehicle occupants.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a floor latch with a take-up mechanism to eliminate or reduce the length of the U-slot after the seat is installed to eliminate the rocking motion of a bench seat.
To eliminate the rocking motion during vehicle stopping, the latch of the present invention includes a take-up mechanism employing a hook which pivots about the same pivot point as the latch hook. The take-up hook has a surface which engages the lower side of the support shaft opposite the seat as the take-up hook is rotated to a position beneath the support shaft. The take-up hook is shaped so as to close the gap beneath the support shaft as the take-up hook is rotated beneath the shaft. Once the take-up hook engages the support shaft, the hook rotation is stopped. The take-up hook is held in this position by a spring. With take-up mechanism engaging the bottom side of the support shaft, the bench seat will not rock forward during vehicle breaking.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the following drawings.

Vehicle seat latch with take-up mechanism


One aspect is a circuit for tuning a resonance frequency of an electrically small antenna and directly exciting the electrically small antenna. The circuit includes a first source configured for providing a constant voltage. The circuit also includes an antenna and a switched capacitor configured for being alternatively alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna. Another aspect is a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal using an antenna without using a variable voltage source to excite the antenna. The transmitter includes a first source configured for providing a constant voltage. The transmitter further includes an antenna and a switched capacitor configured for being alternately coupled to the first source to be charged thereby and to the antenna for exciting the antenna and for tuning a resonance frequency of the antenna.

Spark-gap transmitters are known as the oldest transmitters and date from the 1880s. Illustrated in FIG. 14 is a conventional spark-gap transmitter 1400 comprising an induction coil 1450 having a primary coil and a secondary coil. The transmitter 1400 further comprises a spark gap 1420 connected in parallel with the secondary coil of the induction coil 1450. The transmitter 1400 further comprises a tuning coil 1460 connected to one or more Leyden jars 1410 in series. The tuning coil 1460 and the one or more Leyden jars 1410 are together connected in parallel with the spark gap 1420. The secondary coil of the induction coil 1450 and the one or more Leyden jars 1410 together form an LC resonator. The tuning coil 1480 is connected to group 1470 and to an antenna 1480.
The tuning circuit 1400 further comprises a telegraph key 1430 and one or more batteries 1440 connected in series. The telegraph key 1430 and the one or more batteries 1440 are together connected in parallel with the primary coil of the induction coil 1450. The telegraph key 1430 selectively couples and decouples the batteries 1440 from the primary coil of the induction coil 1450 to provide an instantaneous high-voltage pulse to the spark gap 1420. When a spark takes place across a narrow gap of the spark gap 1420, the spark energy will be released in the form of heat and electromagnetic radiation to transmit a wireless signal. The signal may be encoded with Morse code.
Illustrated in FIG. 15 is a conventional receiver 1500 comprising a head telephone receiver 1510, a crystal detector 1520, a variable condenser, and a two slider tuning coil 1560 comprising a coil, a first slider, and a second slider. The coil of the two slider tuning coil 1560 is connected to an antenna 1580. The first slider is connected to ground 1570, and the second slider is connected to one port of the variable condenser 1530. The other port of the variable condenser 1530 is connected to one port of the crystal detector 1520. The other port of the crystal detector 1520 is connected to the group 1570. The head telephone receiver 1510 is connected in parallel with the crystal detector 1520. The receiver 1500 receives the Morse code signal transmitted by the transmitter 1400.

Transmitter for transmitting a high-rate data transmission through direct excitation

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A back guard is provided for protecting the back against impact. The back guard is worn by a wearer over the back. The guard comprises interlocking members. Each of the members is curved to conform to the spine. In particular, a recess is provided for the spinous process to prevent impact thereto during a collision.

In order to understand the design of a safety system based on a medical model, an understanding of human anatomy and the mechanisms of injury thereto is necessary.
Referring to FIG. 1, a lateral side elevation view of human spine 10 is shown. The spine is a flexible and flexious column made up of a series of bones called vertebrae. Each person typically has 33 vertebrae. These are broken up into five types according to position. They are: cervical, dorsal ("thoracic"), lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. There are typically 7 cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), 12 thoracic vertebrae (D1-D12), five lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5), five sacral vertebrae, and four coccygeal vertebrae. As is known, in adulthood, the sacral and coccygeal regions generally unite to form two bones, namely, the sacrum 1 and coccyx 2. The other vertebrae generally stay separate.
Each vertebra consists of two essential parts, namely, an anterior solid segment ("body") and a posterior segment ("arch"). The arch is formed of two pedicle and two laminae, which support seven processes, namely, four articular, two transverse and one spinous.
Referring to FIG. 2, a top elevation view of seventh cervical vertebra C7 is shown. As can be seen, laminae 3 are two broad plates of bone which complete a neural arch by fusing together. Laminae 3 enclose and define spinal foramen 5. Spinal foramen 5 serves for protection of the spinal cord. Spinous process 4 projects backward from the junction of laminae 3, and serves for attachment of muscles and ligaments. The distinctive character of seventh cervical vertebra C7 is the existence of a long and prominent spinous process 4. For this reason, seventh cervical vertebrae C7 is often referred to as "vertebrae prominent."
Referring to FIG. 3, a lateral elevation view of thoracic vertebra 30 is shown. As can be seen, each lamina 3 is broad, thick and imbricated. For thoracic vertebra 30, spinal foramen 5 is small and of a circular form (not shown). Spinous process 4 for thoracic vertebrae are long, triangular on transverse section, directed obliquely downward and terminate in a tubercular extremity.
Referring to FIG. 4, a top elevation view of lumbar vertebra 40 is shown. As can be seen, each lamina 3 is broad and short, and spinal foramen 5 is triangular. Spinous process 4 is thick and broad.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, spinous processes 4 is prominent, especially from seventh cervical vertebra C7 down to fifth lumbar vertebra L5. In referring to the "back", it should be understood that any and all thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are included, as well as, seventh cervical vertebra C7.
Because spinous process 4 has very little tissue between it and the exterior surface of skin of the back, its prominent extension often acts as a pile for driving into the back causing fracturing, compression or dislocation of vertebra. If a vertebra is displaced, it may pinch to sever the spinal cord.
Numerous types of injury may occur to the back. With regard to the present invention, there are several types of back injuries of which the mechanics and biomechanics will be examined.
The mechanisms of injury to the back may be thought of in three basic ways: compression, flexion-extension, and direct trauma.
Compression occurs when a load is applied in-line with the vertebral column. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a force 16 applied in-line to spine 10 will cause compression injury. Injury to vertebrae of spine 10 depends on the relative position of the spine during impact. If spine 10 is bent in flexion, as shown in FIG. 23, the load is mostly carried by the vertebral body (e.g., body 17 as shown in FIGS. 2-4). As a result, a compression fracture 201 occurs as shown in FIG. 23. Because the vertebral ligaments remain in tact, damage to spinal cord 10 with resulting nerve injury is rare. An exception to this rarity occurs when the impact results in extrusion of the vertebral discs into the spinal canal. In that case, spinal cord compression occurs and nerve damage is typical.
If spine 10 is bent, as shown in FIG. 24, compressing load 16 is carried by facets 202 and spinous processes 4. In the case where the spine is bent and extended, disruption of the ligaments is more .likely to result. This produces an unstable situation leading to spinal cord 10 compression and resulting nerve damage. In addition, if vertebral body 17 is crushed, its posterior part is more likely to be affected causing fracture 203. Fragments from fracture 203 are likely to enter the spinal canal. These fragments often cause compression of the spinal cord resulting in nerve damage.
The second type of mechanism of injury to the back is due to flexion-extension. Flexion-extension injuries, as shown in FIG. 25, often are a result of automobile accidents. This is because the occupant is restrained by a seat belt. A traction force 18 applied along spinal column 10 causes posterior ligaments 204 to be stretched. Traction force 18 also may cause parts of the vertebral arch to fracture and separate 205, as shown in FIG. 26. Besides spinal cord damage due to stretching, the spinal cord may also be damaged due to misalignment of vertebrae 20, as shown in FIG. 27. Misalignment 206 causes fracturing of vertebrae, as well as, spinal cord damage.
Injury from extension alone, as shown in FIG. 28, are uncommon. The main reason is the anterior vertebral ligaments 210 are strong. The combined structure of facets 202 and spinous process 4 resists rotation. Thus, the combination of ligament strength and rotation resistance prevents many injuries. However, when extension is combined with compression or direct impact, devastating injury may result. Typically, the vertebral arch and ligaments fail, causing the spinal cord to be directly impacted. Bleeding in the spinal cord typically results. As the spinal cord is contained within the spinal foreman 5, swelling results in cord compression. The result in lack of blood flow due to swelling causes nerve damage.
The third mechanism of injury to the back is direct trauma. Forces applied directly and transverse to the vertebral column may have two important consequences: first intervertebral ligaments, as well as the entire vertebrae itself, may fail allowing lateral displacement and cord compression or shearing; and second, failure of the vertebral arch and spinal cord impact resulting in bleeding into the spinal cord causes swelling in a confined space resulting in interruption of blood flow to the nerves and resulting in damage.
Motorcyclists are typically most vulnerable to compression, extension and direct impact injuries. Flexion and traction injuries are not as often encountered, as with automobile occupants, because a motorcyclist's lower body is not restrained by a seat belt.
While compression forces are difficult to prevent without a rigid structure between the skull and pelvis, their impact may be diminished by preventing extension, so that the load is carried by the anterior part of the vertebral bodies.
Extension should also be limited or prevented because, if the spinal column is in an extended position, direct transverse forces are more likely to cause damage to the spinal cord.
The impact of direct transverse forces may be diminished by spreading the load over a larger area and by directing it away from the spinous process.
Referring to FIG. 5, a top broken out cross section view of the back is shown. Many anatomical details have been omitted in order to avoid confusion. As shown, vertebra 20 comprises two lamina 3, spinous process 4 and spinal foramen 5. Disposed in spinal foramen 5 is spinal cord 6. As shown, ribs 13 and muscles 12 are covered by skin 11.
A first biomechanism of injury to the back is shown in FIG. 6. The injury is caused by impact to the back, and in particular, spinous process 4. Because spinous process 4 protrudes so significantly, it is a likely target for receiving a force of impact to the back, as shown by reference as force 14. Moreover, because there is so little tissue protecting tip 8 of spinous process 4, there is little protection against direct impact to spinous process 4.
As shown in FIG. 6, impact to spinous process 4 often causes vertebra 20 to break at each lamina 3. It is common for lamina 3 to break as shown during severe impact to spinous process 4. This causes spinous process 4 to be pushed into spinal cord 6.
Because spinal cord 6 is contained within a solid bony compartment, spinal foramen 5, it is compressed when spinous process 4 is pushed into spinal cord 6. Thus, the blood supply to the nerves inside spinal cord 6 is typically cut-off. This results in further injury to the individual. Unfortunately, much of this type of injury is permanent. Not only may the blood supply be cut-off, tissue and nerve damage may occur due to the impact on spinal 6 cord from spinous process 4.
In a second biomechanism of injury to the back, laminae 3 does not break, but rather the arch breaks at locations 303, namely, where the arch attaches to body 17 of vertebra 20. In this type of injury, the spinal cord is often compressed, as the arch is pushed down against body 17 causing compression of vertebra 20.
A third biomechanism of injury to the back is shown in FIG. 7. As shown, force 15 is supplied laterally against the back and, in particular, spinous process 4. This causes each lamina 3 to break. The break and pressure exerted by force 15 causes spinous process 4 to be pushed against spinal cord 6. Again, as spinal cord 6 has no where to go due to its containment within spinal foramen 5, damage to nerves and tissue of spinal cord 6 may occur, as well as, cut-off of blood supply.
To protect the back against injury, devices have been devised. In fact, most groups that organize motorcycle races require back guards. Presently, two types of back guard are typically employed.
A first type of back guard 23 is shown in FIG. 8. Back guard 23 comprises pad 21 and attach thereto plastic sheet 22. Pad 21 is typically made of foam or cloth, or a combination of both. While back guard 23 does provide some protection, it is not contoured for the spine. Therefore, no relief is provided for spinous process 4. During impact to the back, forces are still directly transferred to spinous process 4, albeit through back guard 23. Thus, little of the force of impact is transmitted to surrounding tissue and anatomical structures. Damage to the surrounding tissue and anatomical structures is typically less severe.
Also, sheet 22 is made of a flexible material. This is to allow normal flexing of a wearer's spine. Flexible materials tend to distort and deform under loading. Thus, forces are not dispersed, as much as would be desired, away from spine 10.
Moreover, due to the flexible nature of plastic sheet 22, an impact to the side of the back may also be transmitted to vertebral process 4. Thus, for example, force 24 may be transmitted along plastic sheet 22 down and up against vertebral process 4. Had sheet 22 been omitted, transmission of force 24 to vertebral process 4 may not have occurred. Rather, force 24 would be direct against muscle tissue 12 and ribs 13, which damage thereto is typically less severe. Thus, back guard 23 may cause injury, which may not have occurred with omission of back guard 23.
A second type of back guard is shown in FIGS. 9-11.
In FIG. 9, back guard 25 comprises plastic sheet 22 and pad 21. However, plastic sheet 22 of back guard 25 is contoured to provide cavity 27. Cavity 27 has a maximum height of approximately 1 cm and an opening width of approximately 8 cm.
A top elevation view of back guard 25 is shown in FIG. 10. As shown, back guard 25 comprises straps 26 attached to pad 21. Also attached to pad 21 are a plurality of plastic sheets 22. Plastic sheets 22 are typically attached to pad 21 by rivets. Plastic sheets 22 are over laid as to form a series for protecting the back. As shown by dash line 31, the tail portion 32 (shown in FIG. 11) of plastic sheet 22 fits in cavity 27 as provided by contour 33, as shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 11 shows the underside of plastic sheet 22, absent rivets. As shown, plastic sheet 22 has contour 33 for providing cavity 27. Additionally, tail 32 is used for under laying with another plastic sheet 22.
Unfortunately, because tail 32 is located in cavity 27, the amount of relief for spinous process 4 is reduced. At some locations in cavity 27, no relief is provided due to over laying of plastic sheets 22. In fact, at some locations within cavity 27 where plastic sheets have been over laid, no relief in either the vertical or horizontal direction is provided for spinous process 4. Thus, the same problems associated with back guard 23 are also present with back guard 25. Moreover, any amount of relief provided by cavity 27 is insufficient to protect spinous process 4 from severe impact.
Another problem with back guard 25 is illustrated in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, if spine 10 is bent in a backward direction 41, then back guard 25 will also flex in backward direction 41. Because back guard 25 is not interlocked, but over laid, there is no mechanism to prevent tail 32 from articulating into spine 10 when being flexed in backward direction 41, as shown with reference to a portion of back guard 25 in FIG. 12. Tail 32 may be pushed up against spinous process 4 causing some of the injuries described above. Thus, the force of impact may be directed to a small area on spine 10, namely, focusing force to edge 34 and against spine 10. Moreover, force from tail 32 against spinous process 4 may cause: spinous process 4 to break-off from vertebra 20, vertebral displacement of vertebra 20, or fracture of vertebra 20. An injury which may not have occurred with the omission of back guard 25. Additionally, because plastic sheets 22 of back guard 25 are not interlocked, there is no mechanism for preventing hyperextension of spine 10.


A thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification of crystalline material, to be mounted at one end of a furnace, and to allow a mould containing the material in molten form to pass through, has at least one clamped layer of interconnected flexible strips of refractory material. Each such layer has an ordered construction, for example, with the strips being interwoven, or knitted; and has one or more slits therein. At least substantially the whole of each slit is inclined at a significant angle to the strips, so that the strips do not become detached or worn in use, but the layer is capable of resiliently engaging the sides of, for example, an irregularly shaped mould. A slit may be provided between two separate, but adjacent, pieces of the layer.

This invention relates to a thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in the directional solidification of crystalline material, in particular, to obtain high strength articles of metal alloys.
In one general form for such apparatus a furnace, in which molten material is poured into a mould to cast the required article, is mounted vertically above means for rapidly cooling the molten material in the mould. The means for rapidly cooling the molten material may have one of several different constructions. In general, such means comprises a chill plate on which the mould is mounted, and the arrangement associated with the plate is so that heat can be extracted therefrom, and hence also from the mould, at a high rate. The chill plate is movable, in a controlled manner in a vertical direction, and drive means for the plate is provided. The drive means initially causes the mould to be located in the furnace; and then causes the mould to be withdrawn from the furnace, so that the molten material then in the mould is solidified.
It is required for the production of high strength articles by directional solidification that the molten material in the mould should start to solidify at the chill plate. Further, the arrangement is to be so that a sharply defined interface between the solidified and molten material is obtained; and that this interface moves in the required direction of crystallisation of the material. For the general form of apparatus referred to above, this direction of interface movement is opposite to the vertical direction of relative movement of the chill plate and filled mould away from the furnace. The speed of movement of the chill plate can have any desired value; but it is required that heat is removed from the chill plate as quickly as possible; and that the rate of heat supplied to the parts of the mould displaced from the furnace by radiation from the furnace, is as small as possible. In order that the latter criterion is obtained it is known to provide a thermal radiation baffle of a refractory material mounted at the lower end of the furnace, and through which baffle the filled mould is withdrawn. The empty mould is also required to pass through the baffle in the reverse direction.
Many different constructions for such a thermal radiation baffle are known. For example, it is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,977 to provide a layer of shell mould material; with an overlying layer of graphite fibres, this fibre layer having a random construction to comprise a felt; and there being a permanent aperture for the passage of the mould through the centre of the baffle. The two layers are secured together, with the inner periphery of the apertured felt layer extending beyond the corresponding inner periphery of the other layer, substantially into contact with the mould. The felt is flexible to a degree, and the mould may move freely past the edge of the felt layer, this edge being capable of deforming to some extent if necessary, and if contacted by the mould.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and advantageous construction for a thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification.

Thermal radiation baffle for apparatus for use in directional solidification


An ultrasonic Doppler flow phantom is described which is formed of tissue-mimicking material containing a plurality of fluid flow paths through which fluid is pumped. The fluid flow paths are made of tubing and each extends over a different portion of the depth of the phantom and at a different angle. Each path is individually accessible by a probe located on the simulated skin surface at the top of the phantom, enabling the performance of the probe to be evaluated over a wide range of depths from shallow to very deep and over several flow angles.

This invention relates to test equipment for ultrasonic diagnostic imaging systems and, in particular, to Doppler flow phantoms for measuring and testing colorflow and Doppler sensitivity.
Phantoms are devices which are in widespread use to evaluate and calibrate to performance of ultrasound systems. A phantom is a box-like device containing tissue-mimicking material. Tissue-mimicking materials are substances which have an acoustic response which is closely matched to that of the human body. Generally such a material is strongly water based such as a gelatinous material, into which is mixed particles or other materials which simulate the acoustic scattering effect of the body. Phantoms usually contain objects of know size and dimensions at various depths in the phantom. These objects, such as small balls, fluid-filled balloons and pockets of fluids, provide specular an other characteristic targets which are sharply imaged when the ultrasound system is properly focused, or simulate pathology such as cysts and tumors that test the ability of the ultrasound system to detect or visualize such targets.
A particular type of phantom which is used to test and evaluate Doppler ultrasound capabilities is the flow phantom. A flow phantom generally consists of tissue-mimicking material with tubing passing therethrough. A liquid is pumped through the tubing to simulate a vessel with blood flowing through it. A Doppler probe is pressed into contact with the top surface of the tissue-mimicking material which simulates the skin surface, and an effort is made to image the flowing liquid or measure its velocity. In this way the flow phantom enables the Doppler capabilities of an ultrasound system to be evaluated and measured.
When Doppler ultrasound first came into use it was predominately used to measure flow in shallow (superficial) vessels such as the carotid artery, as the capability was ineffective or unreliable at deeper depths in the body. But as Doppler ultrasound system performance and sensitivity have improved over the years it has become possible to perform Doppler imaging and make Doppler measurements at ever-increasing depths in the body. Consequently there is now a need for phantoms to provide the ability to test the performance of Doppler imaging and measurement at greater depths. But a phantom simulating a greater depth must necessarily be larger and bulkier than previous phantoms. This is undesirable, as phantoms should be highly portable so they can be easily transported to the sites of different ultrasound systems where they are used. There exists a need for an ultrasound phantom to be compact, yet still enable the evaluation of ultrasound system performance at substantial imaging and measurement depths.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a flow phantom is provided having multiple fluid paths, each of which is designed to provide Doppler performance evaluation at a different range of depths or angle of incidence. The combination of the multiple paths provides the ability to measure Doppler sensitivity and performance over a significant range of depths without requiring a significantly larger phantom than those currently in use.


Removable shutter apparatus for a deposition or etching apparatus including a shuttering mechanism disposed within a processing chamber and adapted to carry a shutter plate between a retracted position and an extended position wherein it is engaged by a lifting assembly and moved into position closing the normal plating aperture as if it were a substrate to be processed. When a new product substrate is presented for processing, the lifting assembly will lower the shutter plate back onto the shuttering mechanism and it will be moved to its retracted position out of the way of the normal handling and processing operation. Because the shutter plate is geometrically similar to the product substrate and is handled by the same lift assembly, the same robotic shuttling mechanism used to transport product substrates into and out of the chamber may be used to periodically remove and replace a used shutter plate with a new plate without shutting down the system. An important advantage of the present invention is that the shutter closes, and thus "shadows", exactly the same processing aperture closed by the substrate during its processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to substrate surface processing apparatus and more particularly to a removable shutter mechanism for use in closing the substrate exposure aperture of a semiconductor processing or other deposition or etching process chamber.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is a common practice in the semiconductor processing industry to plate the surface of a semiconductor wafer with a metal or metal oxide using a sputtering technique wherein a wafer is disposed in an evacuated chamber and a metallic material is electrically removed from an anode and plated onto the wafer surface.
Wafers are normally shuttled in and out of the processing chamber by a robotic mechanism. The conventional practice is to either interrupt the plating process each time a wafer is inserted or removed from the processing chamber, or in the case where the sputtering operation is continuous, to provide a shuttering mechanism of some type for covering the opening normally occupied by the wafer.
In the first case, the primary disadvantage relates to the reduced throughput of the system, as time must be allowed for ramping up and ramping down the plating operation.
Apparatus for implementing the second case is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing and includes an evacuable chamber formed by a housing 10 and closure 12, the lower surface of the closure being formed by a metallic plate 14 which serves as the system anode. Also depicted is a source of material to be sputtered onto a wafer 16 shown supported above a heating plate 17 by a lift assembly 18 including four upstanding fingers 19. The system cathode is formed by a bowl 20 having a central aperture 22 formed therein. Resting within the bottom of bowl 20 is an annular clamping mechanism 24 having a lip 26 formed about an inner annulus thereof and adapted to be engaged by the perimeter of wafer 16 as it is raised by lift assembly 18 into the plating position shown by the dashed lines 16'. The heating plate 17 is movable between the lower position shown by the solid lines and an upper position immediately beneath wafer 16' as depicted by the dashed lines 19'.
In order to close the plating aperture 22 during the removal and replacement of wafer 16, a shutter 32, normally positioned to the side, is moved into the position shown by the dashed lines 32' so as to block the path of the plating ions. Since plating material will build up on the surfaces of both shutter 32, cathode 20 and clamping ring 24, shutter 32 must be positioned above these elements a sufficient distance to prevent contact therewith. Accordingly, in order to be effective the shutter 32 must be much larger than a wafer. This means that the inner peripheral surface portion of the clamping mechanism covered by the shutter can not be reconditioned during the time that the shutter is in position. Accordingly, the chamber must be periodically opened to allow access to the clamp.
Furthermore, where a reactive gas is introduced into the chamber to react with the metal ions and form metal oxides, the oxides that plate onto the shutter will be somewhat brittle and unless removed will crack and flake off causing contamination of the chamber. Accordingly, a particular shutter can only be used for a limited time after which the chamber must be opened to allow its replacement. This of course limits the efficiency of the apparatus and affects the reliability of the system.
Similar apparatus is used to implement etching and other deposition processes and is subject to the same or similar disadvantages pointed out above.

Removable shutter apparatus for a semiconductor process chamber


Provided are web-offset lithographic ink compositions that contain an alkyl thioether surfactant, an alkoxylated modified rosin, or a combination thereof. The ink compositions can be oil-based inks or water-based inks that can be radiation-curable. The resulting ink compositions can be used in web-offset lithographic printing to substantially reduce or eliminate the ink feedback and ink build-up that occurs during printing. Also provided are methods for reducing or eliminating ink feedback and build-up during lithographic printing processes.

Lithography is a planographic printing process that utilizes printing plates having the image and non-image areas in the same plane. An offset lithographic printing press typically includes a plate cylinder carrying one or more printing plates. An inker applies ink to the printing plate utilizing one or more form rollers. The ink film on the form roller contacts the image areas on the printing plate, transferring the ink from the form roller to the printing plate. The inked image on the plate is then transferred to a blanket cylinder which transfers the image to the material to be printed, such as paper. The process is referred to as offset lithography because the printing plate does not print directly onto paper, but is first "offset" onto a rubber blanket (offset blanket) before forming a reproduction of the image on the material.
Chemical treatments are used to create areas of different surface energy on the printing plate such that the ink adheres to some areas and not others. The printing (image) areas are typically hydrophobic and ink receptive, while the non-printing areas are typically hydrophilic and water receptive. To achieve this effect, the plate can be damped with a water-based fountain solution (dampening solution) before it is inked. The fountain solution can be stored in a container and delivered to the printing plate by one or more chrome (dampening) rollers. The fountain solution typically forms a film on the water receptive areas of the plate, but forms tiny droplets on the water repellent areas. When a form roller is passed over the damped plate, it is unable to ink the non-printing areas covered by the film, but is able to push aside the droplets on the water repellent areas, coating those areas with ink.
During the printing process, the plate must be continuously treated with the fountain solution in order to maintain the thin film, thus maintaining the hydrophilic character of the non-image areas. The thin film of fountain solution prevents subsequent applications of ink from covering non-image areas of the plate. However, there is a tendency for ink to build up on the dampening roller and adhere to non-image areas of the printing plate surface when printing is carried out with repeated interruptions. This is referred to as "scumming" or "ink feedback" and results in the undesirable formation of spots and rings on the printed material.
Ink feedback (i.e., tinting) and excessive ink build-up (i.e., scumming) on the dampening rollers are common problems of high-speed web-offset lithographic printing. In many instances, printing presses experience several color changes in a single day, which can increase the amount of tinting and scumming. In such instances, the chrome rollers and printing plate must be cleansed thoroughly so that they will maintain the ability to be receptive to water and to reject ink. The passive (hydrophilic) chrome rollers are provided to improve "damping" control by minimizing tinting and scumming, but are not perfect in this regard. Good printing will result only if tinting and scumming are prevented.
Tinting and scumming have become more of a challenge since the switch to alcohol-free fountain solutions in conjunction with continuous-roll dampening systems that directly apply fountain solution to the plate without any connection to the ink rolls. The dampening roller can pick up ink from the plate and transfer the ink back to the metering roll via porous and ink-sensitive chrome rolls within the metering system. With no path back to the inker, the emulsified ink continues to build-up. While methods exist for preventing the accumulation of ink on the rollers, many of those methods are expensive, inconvenient and can increase printing time. To that end, a solution is desired that will prevent or at least alleviate tinting and scumming problems.
Because fountain solutions are water-based, there are many commercially available fountain solutions containing water-soluble additives, such as surfactants and rosins. However, the presence of additives in the fountain solution can be detrimental to the printing process. Since the fountain solution is continuously applied during the printing process, the actual amount of additive cannot be controlled, which can lead to defects in the printed materials. Alternatively, the additive can be incorporated into the ink composition rather than the fountain solution. Typically, inks used in the printing industry are oil-based inks, and the additives that are incorporated into the inks are oil-soluble additives (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,749, where the additive is a surfactant such as lecithin or an alkylpolyglucoside). Even though the amount of additive can be controlled when added to the ink composition, printing problems still can arise. However, oil-based inks containing water-soluble additives such as alkyl thioether surfactants or highly alkoxylated rosins have not been disclosed in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,926 discloses a formulation used to keep the rollers and printing plates clean and fresh so as to prevent ink from sticking to the rollers and printing plates. This is accomplished by using a cleansing solution compatible with fountain solutions used in the printing industry. However, this method requires the printing process to be stopped so that the printing plates and rollers can be wiped with a clean cloth before printing is resumed.
In an attempt to eliminate ink feedback and build-up, fountain solutions incorporating water-soluble additives, such as surfactants, have been developed. The additives provide important wetting and emulsification properties and are also used to replace alcohols in the fountain solution, which are flammable, toxic and irritating. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,240,615; 5,607,816; and 4,854,969; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0083865 disclose fountain solutions that incorporate surfactants. The surfactants not only facilitate the dispersion of the hydrophobic imaging compositions in the fountain solution, but also reduce ink feedback and build-up.
Dampening systems with novel parts designed for reducing the amount of ink feedback have been developed to address the problem of ink feedback and build-up. U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,764 discloses a dampening system used for applying fluid to the plate cylinder of printing presses. This system includes a dampening form roller, a dampening fluid transfer roller, and a conventional metering mechanism for metering the dampening fluid. The system reduces the amount of ink feedback by ensuring that the speed of the roller carrying the dampening fluid is lower than the speed of the plate cylinder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,174 also describes a dampening system that reduces the amount of ink feedback and build-up. The system is a keyless inking system that employs a subtractive roller system that contacts the form rollers and removes excess ink and fountain solution from the form roller after printing. Utilizing these systems requires obtaining novel parts and equipment, which must then be interconnected to the lithographic press.
A need therefore exists for a non-mechanical means for reducing the problems associated with web-offset lithographic printing, such as reducing or eliminating ink feedback and excessive ink build-up that occur on non-printing plates during the lithographic printing process. Another need exists for an ink composition that eliminates ink feedback and build-up during the offset lithographic printing process, thus resulting in good and efficient printing.

Additives to litho inks to eliminate ink feedback


A turbine type, jacketed propeller which has a venturi jacket formed around and with the propeller. The propeller blades are shaped in conjunction with the jacket so as to load the blades with more water and keep the water on the blades to help maintain pressure for propulsion.

This invention relates to water propulsion devices and more particularly to enclosed shield marine propellers of one unit construction for augmenting propeller thrust and/or guarding the propeller against underwater obstruction.
It is the common practice to propel watercraft by means of the reaction obtained by the engagement of propeller blades with water. Conventional propeller blades depend on the angular blade action on the water to propel the watercraft. While forward movement of the watercraft is obtained in this manner, forward force efficiency is low. The radial movement of the blades about the longitudinal shaft causes water to be thrown off centrifugally. The centrifugal effect means that force is being exerted radially, thereby reducing forward, longitudinal force. The force intended for forward propulsion is wasted by the blades radially and tangentially agitating the surrounding water which in turn causes cavitation.
Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure caused by the axial movement of the blades. Specifically, it is an aeration phenomena which causes the blades to lose their "grip" on the water. Cavitation is a result of the propeller blades spinning so fast that the water pressure against the blades decreases so as to actually make the water boil. As the bubbles of water collapse on the surface of the blades the metal blades can be eaten away, and this is in fact a frequent cause of structural damage to propellers. Forward propulsion is lost because thrust is directly proportional to the blades "gripping" efficiency.
Many serious accidents have occurred to persons water skiing or swimming in the vicinity of the exposed propellers of water craft. Furthermore, the waves created by the exposed propeller's radial water churning, are hazardous to nearby light craft, such as sail boats, canoes, and the like. Exposed propellers are also at risk from rocks and such lying in shallow water, which cause breakage of shear pins or damage to the propeller itself.
Although shrouded propellers have commonly been used for vessels in order to improve thrust, most involve fitting a ring nozzle around a propeller and use bulky bolt-on devices which usually only provide marginal improvements in thrust. The propeller blades of these type devices are not usually connected directly to the shroud. The shroud is commonly bolted to the out drive and is static with respect to propeller movement. The space between the rotating propeller blades outer radial edges and interior of the static shroud prevents good water flow and creates water friction. A common result of this arrangement is "burnt" ends of the propeller blades.
Although basket-like guards have been used for years by boaters in bayous and swamps to keep weeds and grass from fouling props, few is any safety propeller guards are currently being marketed. Those guards which are available, typically plastic cylinders with metal mountings, could reduce boat speeds by as much as twenty-five to thirty percent.


The invention relates to a liquid resin composition for electronic components which is used in sealing of electronic components, comprising a liquid epoxy resin, a curing agent containing a liquid aromatic amine, and an inorganic filler, and further comprising at least one member selected from a hardening accelerator, silicone polymer particles, and a nonionic surfactant. There is thereby provided a liquid resin composition for electronic components, which is excellent in fluidity in narrow gaps, is free of void generation, is excellent in adhesiveness and low-stress characteristic and is excellent in fillet formation, as well as an electronic component device having high reliability (moisture resistance, thermal shock resistance), which is sealed therewith.

Conventionally, resin sealing has prevailed in the field of element sealing for electronic component devices such as transistors, IC etc., from the viewpoint of productivity, costs, etc., and epoxy resin compositions are widely used. This is because the epoxy resin is well-balanced in characteristics such as workability, formability, electrical characteristics, moisture resistance, heat resistance, mechanical characteristics, adhesiveness to an insert material, etc. In semiconductor devices having bare chips mounted thereon, such as COB (Chip on Board), COG (Chip on Glass), TCP (Tape Carrier Package) etc., liquid resin compositions for electronic components are widely used as sealing materials. In a semiconductor device (flip chip) having a semiconductor element bump-bonded directly onto a wiring substrate having ceramics, a glass/epoxy resin, a glass/imide resin, a polyimide film or the like as a substrate, a liquid resin composition for electronic components is used as an underfill material for filling a gap between the bump-bonded semiconductor element and the wiring substrate. Such a liquid resin composition for electronic components plays an important role in protecting electronic components from temperature and moisture and mechanical external force.
For providing a sealing epoxy resin composition excellent in moisture-resistant adhesion and low stress characteristic and an electronic component device having high reliability (moisture resistance, thermal shock resistance) provided with a component sealed therewith, there are disclosed a sealing epoxy resin composition comprising (A) a liquid epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent containing a liquid aromatic amine, (C) rubber particles and (D) an inorganic filler, and an electronic component device comprising an element sealed with the sealing epoxy resin composition (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-270976).

Sealant for electronics of epoxy resin, aromatic amine, accelerator and inorganic filler


Planarizing machines for chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic substrate assemblies are disclosed. The planarizing machines for processing microelectronic substrate assemblies generally include a table, a pad support assembly either positioned on or in the table, and a planarizing medium coupled to the pad support assembly. The pad support assembly includes a fluid container and an elastic membrane coupled to the fluid container. The fluid container generally is a basin that is either a separate component that is attached to the table, or a depression in the table itself. The fluid container can also be a bladder attached to the table. The fluid chamber is filled with support fluid to support the elastic membrane over the fluid chamber.

Mechanical and chemical-mechanical planarizing processes (collectively "CMP") are used in the manufacturing of microelectronic devices for forming a flat surface on semiconductor wafers, field emission displays (FEDs) and many other types of microelectronic substrate assemblies. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a planarizing machine 10 with a platen or table 20, a carrier assembly 30, a polishing pad 40, and a planarizing fluid 44 on the polishing pad 40. The planarizing machine 10 may also have an under-pad 25 attached to an upper surface 22 of the platen 20 for supporting the polishing pad 40. In many planarizing machines, a drive assembly 26 rotates (arrow A) and/or reciprocates (arrow B) the platen 20 to move the polishing pad 40 during planarization.
The carrier assembly 30 controls and protects a substrate 12 during planarization. The carrier assembly 30 typically has a substrate holder 32 with a backing pad 34 that holds the substrate 12 via suction, and a drive assembly 36 of the carrier assembly 30 typically rotates and/or translates the substrate holder 32 (arrows C and D, respectively). The substrate holder 32, however, may be a weighted, free-floating disk (not shown) that slides over the polishing pad 40.
The combination of the polishing pad 40 and the planarizing fluid 44 generally define a planarizing environment that mechanically and/or chemically-mechanically removes material from the surface of the substrate 12. The polishing pad 40 may be a conventional polishing pad composed of a polymeric material (e.g., polyurethane) without abrasive particles, or it may be an abrasive polishing pad with abrasive particles fixedly bonded to a suspension material. In a typical application, the planarizing fluid 44 may be a CMP slurry with abrasive particles and chemicals for use with a conventional nonabrasive polishing pad. In other applications, the planarizing fluid 44 may be a chemical solution without abrasive particles for use with an abrasive polishing pad.
To planarize the substrate 12 with the planarizing machine 10, the carrier assembly 30 presses the substrate 12 against a planarizing surface 42 of the polishing pad 40 in the presence of the planarizing fluid 44. The platen 20 and/or the substrate holder 32 then move relative to one another to translate the substrate 12 across the planarizing surface 42. As a result, the abrasive particles and/or the chemicals in the planarizing medium remove material from the surface of the substrate 12.
CMP processing is particularly useful in fabricating FEDs, which are one type of flat panel display in use or proposed for use in computers, television sets, camcorder viewfinders, and a variety of other applications. FEDs have a base plate with a generally planar emitter substrate juxtaposed to a faceplate. FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a conventional FED base plate 120 with a glass substrate 122, an emitter layer 130, and a number of emitters 132 formed on the emitter layer 130. An insulator layer 140 made from a dielectric material is disposed on the emitter layer 130, and an extraction grid 150 made from polysilicon or a metal is disposed on the insulator layer 140. A number of cavities 142 extend through the insulator layer 140, and a number of holes 152 extend through the extraction grid 150. The cavities 142 and the holes 152 are aligned with the emitters 132 to open the emitters 132 to the faceplate (not shown).
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the emitters 132 are grouped into discrete emitter sets 133 in which the bases of the emitters 132 in each set are commonly connected. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the emitter sets 133 are configured into columns (e.g., C1–C2) in which the individual emitter sets 133 in each column are commonly connected by a high-speed column interconnect 170. Additionally, each emitter set 133 is proximate to a grid structure super adjacent to the emitters that is configured into rows (e.g., R1–R3) in which the individual grid structures are commonly connected in each row by a high-speed row interconnect 160. The row interconnects 160 are generally formed on top of the extraction grid 150, and the column interconnects 170 are formed under the extraction grid 150 on top of the emitter layer 130. It will be appreciated that the column and row assignments were chosen for illustrative purposes.
One concern in manufacturing FEDs is that emitters in the center of the base plate may be damaged during CMP processing because FED base plates generally have a significant curvature or bow that makes it difficult to uniformly remove material from the base plates. In a typical process for fabricating the base plate 120 shown in FIG. 2, a number of conformal layers are initially deposited over the emitters 132, and then the substrate assembly is planarized. For example, a conformal dielectric layer is initially deposited over the emitter layer 130 and the emitters 132 to provide material for the insulator layer 140. A conformal polysilicon or amorphous silicon layer is then deposited on the insulator layer 140 to provide material for the extraction grid 150, and a conformal metal layer is deposited over the grid layer to provide material for the row interconnects 160. The internal stresses in the insulator layer 140 and the extraction grid layer 150 generally cause the base plate 120 to have a convex "bow" so that the center of the base plate 120 has a downward curvature when it is mounted to the substrate holder of the planarizing machine.
After all of the conformal layers are deposited, the base plate sub-assembly 120 is planarized by CMP processing to form a planar surface at an elevation just above the tips of the emitters 132. CMP processing, however, may remove much more material from the center of the base plate 120 than the perimeter regions because the FED base plate 120 may have a downward curvature in the substrate carrier. As a result, CMP processing may either severely damage the extraction grid and the emitter sets at the center of FED base plates, or it may not remove enough material to expose the extraction grid and the emitter sets at the perimeter regions. The failure to accurately form the emitter sets and the extraction grid across the whole surface of the FED base plate will cause black or gray spots on the resulting FED face plate where pixels are not illuminated. Thus, CMP processing can destroy a whole FED even though only a small fraction of the extraction grid and emitter sets are inoperable.
Another manufacturing concern of CMP processing is that there is a significant drive to fabricate semiconductor devices on large wafers to increase the yield of IC-device fabrication, and to develop large FEDs that can be used in computers, televisions and other large scale applications. The destruction of IC-devices or emitter sets during CMP processing, however, is particularly problematic for applications using twelve-inch diameter or larger substrates because the film stresses exacerbate bowing in larger substrates. For example, because the bow in a base plate with a sixteen-inch diagonal measurement is generally about 150 μm and the emitters have a height of only about 1.0–2.0 μm, CMP processing can easily damage or destroy a large number of emitters at the center of the substrate. It will be appreciated that similar results occur to IC-devices in the center of twelve-inch diameter substrates. Thus, CMP processes are currently impeding progress in cost-effectively manufacturing large FEDs or semiconductor devices on large microelectronic substrates.

Microelectronic substrate assembly planarizing machines and methods of mechanical and chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic substrate assemblies


The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can improve satisfaction with a sound of a reflective speaker. An audio visual (AV) system includes an acoustic control unit that controls an output of an output sound from a reflective speaker on the basis of a reflection position of the output sound. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an AV system using a drive-type projector and a drive-type speaker. Further, the present technology can be applied to, for example, an AV system using a drive-type projector including a reflective speaker.

Conventionally, there is known a reflective speaker that generates a virtual sound source at a reflection position by causing an output sound from a speaker to hit against and be reflected at a wall or the like, to make a user feel as if the sound is output from the virtual sound source (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As the reflective speaker, a super directional speaker having sharp directivity such as an ultrasonic speaker (parametric speaker) is used, for example.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program