A semiconductor element module is adapted to be mounted on a main body by insertion in a predetermined direction. The semiconductor element module includes a substrate having first and second surfaces, one or a plurality of semiconductor elements mounted on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, at least a first row of terminals and a second row of terminals provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, where the first row of terminals and the second row of terminals are located at different positions along the predetermined direction, signal lines provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, connecting arbitrary terminals of the semiconductor elements to predetermined ones of the first row of terminals, and a mechanism, coupled to predetermined terminals of at least one of the first row of terminals and the second row of terminals, for adapting signal levels output from the semiconductor element module depending on whether the first row of terminals or the second row of terminals electrically connect to the main body.

The present invention generally relates to semiconductor element modules, and more particularly to a semiconductor element module which is connected to a main body in which a plurality of signal level systems coexist.
Recently, the power supply voltage standard and the signal level which were standardized in semiconductor elements are changing from the 5 V system to the 3.3 V system due to the processes being employed to make the semiconductor elements. There is a possibility that the 3.3 V system may even change to a system of a lower voltage such as 2.5 V and 1.8 V. In addition, even in the low-voltage system such as the 3.3 V system, there are cases where a plurality of interface levels (signal levels) may coexist, and it is necessary to take measures for such cases in a semiconductor element module when employing a system of switching a plurality of signal levels using the same output circuit.
Conventionally, a memory element module which is an example of the semiconductor element module employs a circuit system such as the transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and the emitter-coupled logic (ECL). In addition, while the trend is for the power supply voltage standard and the signal level of the semiconductor element to change to the lower voltage, there are the case where different power supply voltages coexist and the case where a plurality of interface levels coexist in the low voltage system.
In the case where the different power supply voltages coexist, the TTL and ECL may coexist, but a measure such as providing an erroneous insertion preventing mechanism in relation to a printed circuit board and a connector is taken.
On the other hand, in a signal system having a plurality of interface levels, a module of elements which conform to the interface levels is produced for each printed circuit board because there does not exist an element which conforms to a plurality of interface levels.
In the low-voltage system, in addition to the low-voltage-TTL (hereinafter simply referred to as LV-TTL) which uses the low voltage as it is with the threshold levels of the 5 V system, there is for example a proposal to employ the terminated LV-TTL (hereinafter simply referred to as T-LVTTL) which makes the signal transfer with a smaller amplitude and at a higher speed. The threshold level of the 5 V system regards a voltage of 2.0 V or greater as a high level and a voltage of 0.8 V or less as a low level.
According to the T-LVTTL, an intermediate point of LV-TTL push-pull transistors in the 3.3 V system, for example, is coupled to a power supply of 1.5 V via a resistor having a resistance of 50 .OMEGA.. The threshold levels are set to 1.5 V.+-.0.2 V, so that it is possible to realize a high-speed transfer with a small amplitude. In other words, the threshold levels are set so that a voltage of 1.7 V of greater is regarded as a high level and a voltage of 1.3 V or less is regarded as a low level.
Therefore, there are cases where a plurality of interface levels exist, such as the case where the LV-TTL and the T-LVTTL coexist. In such cases, if an element which can conform to the plurality of interface levels by switching to different signal level systems is mounted on a module, there is a problem in that it is necessary to modify a signal arrangement of the module or, to set a control signal for the switching every time the switching is made.


Peptide fragments of certain apolipoproteins have been found to be both immunogenic and capable of eliciting antibodies with highly apolipoprotein-specific immunoreactivity. These antibodies, in labeled and unlabeled form, as well as the labeled synthetic peptide fragments, are useful in the production of immunodiagnostic procedures and kits for quantitating type-specific apolipoproteins. Both competitive assays and immunometric assays are disclosed.

Lipoproteins are aggregates of lipids and protein which circulate in the blood and are the means by which lipids are transported within the body. The lipid portions of these aggregates consist essentially of cholesterol and triglyceride. Serum lipoproteins are classified according to their density. These classes include very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), also known as pre-beta lipoproteins; low density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as beta-lipoproteins; and high density lipoproteins (HDL), also known as alpha-lipoproteins. A fourth class of lipoproteins is chylomicron (CHYLO), stable droplets containing 86% triglyceride fat, 3% cholesterol, 9% phospholipids, and 2% protein. Chylomicrons are found in the intestinal lymphatics and blood during and after meals, and are the form in which absorbed long-chain fats and cholesterol are transported from the intestine.
One of the functions of lipoproteins is to carry water insoluble substances, such as cholesterol and cholesterol esters, for eventual cellular utilization. While all cells require cholesterol for growth, excess accumulation of cholesterol by cells is known to lead to certain diseases, including atherosclerosis. It is now known that the amount of total serum cholesterol can be correlated with the incidence of atherosclerosis. However, since all lipoprotein classes contain varying amounts of cholesterol, total serum cholesterol determination is a complex average of the amount that each lipoprotein class contributes to the total lipoprotein population of the serum.
Recent studies have implicated LDL as the class of lipoproteins responsible for the accumulation of cholesterol in cells, whereas HDL has been shown to be important in the removal of excess cholesterol from cells. Additionally, the correlation of atherosclerosis and the levels of LDL cholesterol is much higher than a similar correlation between atherosclerosis and total serum cholesterol levels. Conversely, there seems to be a negative correlation of atherosclerosis and HDL cholesterol levels. See Goffman, J. W. et al , Circulation, 2: 161-178 (1950); Barr, D. P. et al., Am. J. Med., 11: 480-493 (1951); Nikkala, E., Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Supplement, 5: 1-101 (1952); Jencks, W. P. et al., J. Clin. Invest., 35: 980-990 (1956), and Miller, G. J. et al., Lancet, 1(7897): 16-19 (1975).
Thus, because the various classes of lipoproteins contain cholesterol and triglyceride in different proportions, determination of only total cholesterol and total triglyceride is not sufficient to differentiate abnormal lipoprotein patterns. Recognition of this fact has led investigators to various procedures designed to determine concentrations of specific lipoproteins rather than just lipids. U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,416 to Sears describes a method for determining the level of LDL cholesterol in blood plasma, the LDL cholesterol being separated from other soluble cholesterol fractions by selectively agglutinating LDL with a plant lectin, followed by detection of the amount of cholesterol associated with the agglutinated LDL.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,467 to Golias describes an electrophoresis method for determining the concentration of HDL free cholesterols in body fluids and simultaneously determining the concentration of VLDL and LDL free cholesterols in the fluid sample. The method includes applying a direct current across the fluid medium, applying a developing substrate to the electrophoresed lipoproteins, and quantitatively determining the concentration of each lipoprotein free cholesterol. The method of Golias purports to be an improvement over the prior art in that direct and simultaneous measurement of each lipoprotein free cholesterol fraction is achieved without precipitation of each fraction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,963 to Heuck describes a method for determining lipids in blood serum wherein the VLDL, CHYLO, and HDL are extracted from the serum with a polycation, followed by measuring the lipid content of the LDL in the serum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,993 to Sanders describes a method for isolating HDL from LDL in human serum, followed by quantitative determination of HDL cholesterol. LDLs are precipitated from the serum without the addition of metal ions to the sample. The precipitating reagent lowers the pH of the human serum approximately to the isoelectric point of the LDL through the use of an organic buffer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,188 to Bentzen describes a separation method wherein LDL and HDL are separated on a microcolumn containing a support which has a sulphated polysaccharide covalently bound thereto. Elution with a first pH buffered solution collects the LDL; elution with a second pH buffered solution collects the HDL. Subsequently, LDL/HDL ratios can be determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,285 to Teipel discloses a single-sample method for determining concentrations of individual lipoprotein classes and lipids in blood by turbidimetric measurement. The ionic strength of the mixture is raised in steps to cause progressive dissolution of each class of complex from that of the highest density lipoprotein to the lowest density lipoprotein. Measurement of the turbidity due to the insoluble complexes present at each step allows the concentration of each lipoprotein class and lipid in the blood sample to be calculated.
Recent epidemiological studies on cardiovascular illness have shown the advantage of determining not only the global amount of serum lipoproteins and distinction according to the group to which these lipoproteins belong, but also, within these groups, according to the type of apolipoprotein (ALP) present, and especially the amount of each ALP present. Apolipoprotein is the protein moiety which binds the lipid moiety to form the holoprotein. At present, a number of types and subtypes of ALP have been identified.
Apolipoprotein A (Apo-A) includes subtypes A.sub.1 and A.sub.2. Apo-A.sub.1 is the major apolipoprotein of HDL and is thought to occupy a surface position on HDL particles, surrounding a neutral lipid core. It is also known that Apo-A.sub.1 activates lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase, the cholesterol-esterifying enzyme of plasma involved in the production of mature circulating HDL. As mentioned above, there is an inverse correlation between plasma HDL levels and development of coronary artery heart disease. See also, Heiss, G. et al., Circulation, 62:Suppl. IV, 116 (1980).
The second most abundant apolipoprotein of HDL is Apo-A.sub.2. It has been reported that Apo-A.sub.1 binds less total HDL lipid than does Apo-A.sub.2 ; however, in an interaction between these apolipoproteins, Apo-A.sub.2 increases the binding capacity of Apo-A.sub.1. Morrisett et al., "Lipoproteins: Structure and Function," Annual Review of Biochemistry, 44: 183, 196-198 (1975).
Highly purified LDL has been shown to contain a single molecule of a very large protein, apolipoprotein B (Apo-B), having a molecular weight estimated to be 250,000 to 500,000 daltons. See Smith, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 247: 3376 (1984) and Milne, R. W. and Marcel, I. L., FEBS Lett., 146: 97 (1982). LDL plays a key role in the transport of cholesterol to the peripheral tissues where it is bound to cellular receptors and ingested by an endocytosis process. LDL is also known to play an important role in the pathological uptake and deposition of cholesterol, with very high concentrations of LDL implicated as the causative agent of some forms of human atherosclerosis. Additionally, moderate elevations of LDL over long periods of time may be an important factor in the development of most human atherosclerosis. See Goffman et al., Science, 111: 166 (1951); Goldstein et al., Metabolism, 26: 1257 (1977). Apo-B is known to play a number of important roles in triglyceride and cholesterol transport and is required for the formation and secretion of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from human liver. It is the only protein always found on LDL and contains a site complementary to, and recognized by, the LDL receptor. There is also evidence demonstrating that the presence of a certain allele of pig Apo-B correlates strongly with lipid deposition and plaque formation in pig artery. See Rapacz et al., Exp. and Mol. Path., 27: 429 (1977).
Apolipoprotein C (Apo-C) includes subtypes Apo-Cl, Apo-C.sub.2, and Apo-C.sub.3. Apo-C has been shown to be part of the protein moiety of plasma lipoproteins (Eisenberg, S. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 254: 12603 (1979)). Apo-C, which makes up 40-80% of the total protein of CHYLO and VLDL, is present in plasma HDL, and plays an important role in the regulation of the activity of the enzyme system lipoprotein lipase. Recently, a relationship between the extent of VLDL triglyceride hydrolysis and the content of Apo-C in the lipoprotein has been established, with Apo-C molecules being transferred from VLDL to HDL following abrupt triglyceride hydrolysis, and returning to VLDL when newly secreted particles enter the circulation. Similar observations have been reported during clearance and induction of alimentary chylomicronemia.
One apolipoprotein particularly central to the removal or uptake process for circulating cholesterol-laden lipoproteins is apolipoprotein E (Apo-E). See Mahley, R. W., Med. Clin. North. Amer., 66: 375 (1982). An important function of Apo-E is its mediation of cellular uptake of lipoproteins through specific surface receptors. See Mahley, R. W., Klin. Wochenscher., 61: 225 (1983). Apo-E is known to bind to the low density lipoprotein receptor of fibroblast and various peripheral cells, thereby affecting intracellular cholesterol metabolism. It also binds specifically to a hepatic plasma membrane receptor, the Apo-E receptor, and functions as a prime determinant in chylomicron remnant clearance.
Apolipoprotein E (Apo-E) includes three major iso forms, Apo-E.sub.2, Apo-E.sub.3, and Apo-E.sub.4. Amino acid sequence analysis has demonstrated that the three iso forms differ in their primary structure. Variant forms of Apo-E.sub.2 have been described, with all forms of Apo-E.sub.2 demonstrating reduced LDL receptor binding activity and reduced Apo-E receptor binding activity. Further, these abnormal forms of Apo-E.sub.2 are associated with the genetic abnormality type III hyperlipoproteinemia, which appears to be partly due to the defective clearance of cholesterol-rich remnant lipoproteins (Weisgraber, H. K. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 258: 12341 (1983)). This evidence suggests that Apo-E performs a critical role in cholesterol and lipid metabolism as well.
Based on the recently recognized evidence relating to the interaction of various cellular receptors and ALPs in mediating removal of cholesterol-containing lipoproteins from circulation, efforts have mounted to develop specific assays for ALPs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,217 to Holmquist et al. describes a process for the determination of serum lipoproteins by an immunoenzymatic method. Apolipoprotein antibodies are fixed on a support. Serum sample is added, in combination with enzyme-labeled specific apolipoprotein. Elimination of all reagent not fixed on the support, followed by measurement of the enzymatic activity bound to the support, produces an indirect determination of the amount of specific apolipoproteins present in the sample being analyzed in a competitive assay. Thus, the assay requires "type-specific" antibody and specific labeled antigen (apolipoprotein) and a competitive assay system. The "type-specific" antibody is produced by immunizing rabbits with purified apolipoprotein obtained by serum lipoprotein fractions separated by ultracentrifugation on a density gradient. Unfortunately, ultracentrifugation is somewhat deficient with regard to obtaining highly pure apolipoprotein fractions. Accordingly, the "type-specificity" of the resulting antibodies produced by rabbit immunization is deficient as well. Thus, a need has continued to exist for a highly accurate, truly type-specific assay for apolipoproteins and high specificity antibodies for the same.

Peptide fragments of human apolipoprotein, type-specific antibodies and methods of use


A device for detecting and indicating the presence of corrosive fluids in a specified volume, as in the insulating blanket surrounding the pipes in a heavy water plant, is disclosed. The device includes a housing containing a primary indicator such as a bobbin with a long, brightly colored ribbon wrapped therearound, and a secondary indicator. A compression spring abuts the secondary indicator and is held in compression by a corrodable link anchored at one end to the housing and at the other end to the secondary indicator. The link is exposed to the volume being monitored and if there is a corrosive fluid present the fluid will corrode the link until it breaks. The spring force is released to act on the secondary indicator to project the primary indicator from the housing. The ribbon unwinds from the bobbin to provide a visual indication of the presence of the corrosive fluid. The device of the present invention is reliable and inexpensive and can be readily produced in various and adjustable sizes to accommodate many applications.

In the manufacture of heavy water, i.e. deuterium, the heavy water is extracted from natural water through an exchange with hydrogen sulfide. In a large production facility for the manufacture of heavy water a tremendous collection of pipes and their necessary flanged connections is involved. In fact, in a typical heavy water plant there are over 10,000 flanged connections. In the Canadian environment, two inches or so of insulation is placed over all the piping and their flanges to prevent heat loss. In the event of a leak at a flanged connection, hydrogen sulfide and water will be released to the interior of the insulation where they may combine with oxygen in the air to form both sulfuric and sulfurous acids. Such a combination is highly corrosive and can attack the tie bolts holding the flanges together to the point where an explosive separation could occur, releasing large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. This is of course of great concern to the heavy water industry. Needless to say there are other industries which generate corrosive gases or liquids, the leakage of which is detrimental to the safety of personnel and equipment. It therefore becomes necessary to be able to detect and indicate the presence of corrosive fluids as early as possible so that corrective measures, if required may be carried out.

Nova Scotia Research Foundation Corporation


A linear tire and wheel assembly comprising a hub having spaced flanges on which are mounted an inner tube surrounded by a jacket over which a tire casing is mounted so that inflation of the inner tube results in the formation of a tire mounted on said hub. The jacket is made of flexible material which takes a predetermined shape when enlarged by the inflation of the inner tube. Air under pressure is supplied through one of the flanges.

This invention relates to a wheel and tire assembly and more particularly to a pneumatic wheel and tire assembly capable of virtually unlimited widths without the requirement of the integrated bead.
The pneumatic tire commonly in use today as seen on automobiles, trucks, bicycles and other vehicles is mounted on a rim. A bead, usually of metal, is encapsulated within the rubber or similar material along the exposed edge to make contact with the metal rim, with or without a tube. The bead is required to insure among other things that the tire remains on the rim during service, which sometimes can be rough. In addition, the tire usually incorporates layers of material, which can be rayon, a metal mesh, or other type of fabric to provide for adequate support for the rubber or other material making up the tire and to prevent tearing, ripping or shredding during usage. Furthermore, all of the preceding must be accomplished with a high degree of precision and with close tolerances to provide proper sealing.
The necessity to meet such construction requirements makes the ordinary tire a complex and expensive product to manufacture and consequently tires tend to be very expensive in the marketplace. In addition, these same requirements impose practical limitations on the size and load capacity of tires made according to the presently common tire design as described above. In certain situations, as for example, for loads of in the order of a million pounds or more, rather than increase the diameter to unmanageable proportions, the width of the tire can be increased to accomodate such a load. Under these conditions, the manufacture of such tires using technology now available render the cost and complexity prohibitive.
A variety of tire and wheel assembly designs are shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,903,575, 1,966,397, 2,113,031, 2,435,186, 2,628,652, 3,645,315, and 4,732,198. None of the preceding patents shows or suggests the present invention.


A scabbard for mounting a long gun, includes: a one-piece, rigid cover having an enclosed bottom end, an open top end, and two generally parallel sides separated by a back; a padded, protective lining attached to the rigid cover; an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the scabbard; a detachable strap attached to a top open end of the device for closely holding the gun barrel, and a barrier across an open front of the scabbard for holding in the gun butt. The scabbard preferably has a padlock for locking down the gun barrel. The scabbard may have a locking hinged lid mechanism instead of a strap and barrier. The scabbard can be mounted vertically, horizontally or diagonally, preferably in or on a vehicle. A method for making the scabbard is also included.

1. Technical Field
The present device is a device for mounting and protecting a long gun, more particularly a mountable, hard-shell gun scabbard with a safety lock.
2. Background Information
With the rash of recent abuses of guns, it has become of paramount importance for legitimate gun owners to have a secure mount for their gun when it is being transported to hunting sites, gun shows, target practice, etc. Various gun racks and other gun mounting devices, gun gloves, gun boots, and gun cabinets, cases and cages are known. Some of these devices are said to be capable of being mounted inside a vehicle in, for example, the passenger compartment, or overhead on the inside roof of the vehicle. In particular, various racks have been invented for carrying long guns on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Presently available gun mounting racks and cases do not fulfill a present need for a lightweight, easy-to-mount, secure gun mount for carrying a gun, which protects the gun and on-lookers, yet allows the owner to quickly mount and then remove the gun. Given the high cost of many shotguns, a gun case suitable for protecting the owner's investment is needed. The device of the present invention combines the advantages of: a soft gun glove or carrying case by protecting the gun finish from marring; a gun boot by allowing easy access to the gun and mounting on or in a vehicle; and a hard-cover carrying case by protecting the gun from impact. The gun scabbard of the present invention is lightweight, versatile, and easily mounted in or on a vehicle. This device can, if desired, be easily detached from the vehicle and reattached to a wall or brackets in a garage or closet, for example, for storage.
The device of the present invention provides both soft and hard cover-type protection in one unit. Here, the scabbard is itself the mounting device; there is no need for enclosing the gun first in a soft scabbard, and then in a mounting device. The soft interior of this scabbard protects the gun's finish from mars and absorbs shock, and its aluminum shell helps to protect the gun inside from hard bumps and accidental discharges. When the gun is mounted in the scabbard, the trigger is placed against the enclosed back side of the scabbard to conceal and protect it. Of course, all guns should be unloaded prior to mounting, but human error unfortunately must be guarded against. Although a long gun mounted in the present device is easy for the owner to access, it can be locked into the device to help prevent access by others. The scabbard of the present invention can be mounted in a vertical position (preferred), e.g., behind the passenger seat, or in a horizontal or diagonal position, e.g. on an all-terrain vehicle.


An image apparatus may be configured to calculate a depth of an object relative to the image apparatus. The image apparatus may include an image sensor that may capture a plurality of images of the object. Depth calculation may include calculating a binocular disparity using the plurality of images, measuring a local temperature value from at least one temperature sensor, correcting a focal length of at least a portion of the image apparatus according to the measured local temperature value, and calculating a depth of the object using the binocular disparity and the corrected focal length. The corrected focal length may be determined based on a focal length variation value. The focal length variation value may be determined based on performing contrast autofocus on one or more captured images and the local temperature value.

The present disclosure relates to image apparatuses and object depth calculation using object images captured by image apparatuses.
An image sensor is configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal. With the recent advance in the computer industry and the communication industry, a demand for image sensors with improved performance is increasing in applications such as digital cameras, camcorders, personal communication systems (PCS's), game consoles, security cameras, medical microcameras, and robots. As the demand for such image sensors is increasing, a multi-layer image sensor including multiple layers is being developed as a next generation image sensor in order to obtain more pixel information, for example, more color information.
In some cases, image apparatuses may be used to capture multiple optical images of an object. A distance between the object and image sensors of image apparatuses may be determined based on binocular disparity between separate images captured by different image sensors in an image apparatus.

Image apparatus and method for calculating depth based on temperature-corrected focal length


An active control containment system for defending an operator against biohazardous materials for use in medical, forensic and embalming procedures. The containment system has the advantage of being structurally simple, light weight and easily cleaned and maintained. The containment system includes a vaulted cover which together with an autopsy table forms a compartment within which the biohazardous material is contained. The autopsy table has a plurality of apertures through which a down-draft keeps the compartment at negative pressure as compared to the treatment room. An air intake is provided in the cover and an opening through which the operator can access the biohazardous material through the cover. Access doors are provided along the bottom of the cover for manipulation or transfer of materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active control containment system for enclosure of biohazardous materials for use in medical, forensic and embalming procedures. The containment system is distinct from existing passive control measures consisting of personal protective equipment. The containment system can be used on biohazardous materials of human or animal origin which are living or dead at the time of examination.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Autopsy tables used in hospitals typically have a downdrain system consisting of a discontinuous or perforated surface and an internal down-draft ventilation system for collecting blood and body fluids and drawing air-borne bacteria and aerosolized particles away from the operator. Even with the best of systems, however, some resistant, air-borne bacteria and aerosolized particles escape into the autopsy room, some of which will pass through an ordinary surgical mask. A hospital autopsy room also typically has a positive-pressure type ventilation system with air entering the room from the ceiling and leaving though vents in the walls, near floor level. With this form of ventilation, the air moves downwards past the operator at the table. This not only reduces smell but also helps to sweep away any infective vapors or particles. Sometimes the conditioned air is supplied from an overhead canopy. This arrangement increases the air flow past the operator but may cause undesirable turbulence around the operator's face which may increase (rather than decrease) the chance that the operator will inhale dangerous bacteria or aerosolized particles during performance of an autopsy.
Steps are also taken to protect the operator against being splashed with blood or other body fluids in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) "Universal Precautions". Typical wear includes a lightweight shirt and trousers, such as those used by surgeons, an operating gown, waterproof apron, surgical cap and surgical or examining gloves. Non-slip, full length rubber boots are recommended together with protective goggles as acquisition of infection through the eye is possible because of the vulnerable nature of its membranes.
There are frequently spectators at an autopsy such as other doctors, medical students, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, etc. Because blood and other body fluids may be splashed on the floor and because of the aerosolized fluids and particles coming from the corpse, the spectators should be gowned, masked, booted and gloved also, all of which adds to the cost of conducting an autopsy. On the other hand, if they are improperly outfitted and are allowed unauthorized entry into the room wearing their everyday shoes, for example, they may carry blood and infected material out with them.
In general, the equipment used by morticians is not as sophisticated as that used in autopsies, increasing the likelihood that funeral workers will be exposed to biohazardous materials in the performance of their duties. For example, tables used by most morticians have no air exhaust system and there is often no plumbing assembly for collecting blood and body fluids or for disposing of embalming fluids. The majority of embalming fluids contain 10% formalin as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde (a formaldehyde polymer), or trioxane (another formaldehyde polymer). Formaldehyde is associated with cancers of the lung, nasal and oral cavities. It is highly irritating to the upper respiratory tract and eyes and is a severe skin irritant and sensitizer. Deaths from accidental exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde have been reported and there is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard limiting employee exposure.
To appreciate the extent of a mortician's exposure to formaldehyde, it is necessary to know something about the embalming process. When a body is embalmed, embalming fluid is injected under pressure into the arterial system, and blood is drained from the venous system, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes intermittently. The blood drains as it is carried through the vascular system by the pressure of the injected embalming fluid and by gravity. When done properly, injected fluid will also enter the lymphatic system and ultimately drain into the venous system, the goal being to have the embalming fluid permeate the tissues in order to preserve them. Since the injected embalming fluid follows the path of least resistance, some tissues may not be perfused, resulting in varying degrees of preservation. Techniques such as massage, manipulation of the body parts (lowering the arms, for example), and restriction of drainage are used to avoid such problems.
The number and location of injection sites in non-autopsied bodies depend on the funeral director's technique and the success of initial attempts at arterial injection. Sometimes the entire body can be embalmed through one arterial access site, but often more than one is required. The general approach is for the funeral director to select a primary injection site, perform arterial injection, assess the adequacy of perfusion, and then use secondary sites as needed to ensure perfusion of all body regions. In single-point injection, an artery and vein at one location are used for injection and drainage, respectively. Split injection utilizes an artery at one side and a vein at another side. In restricted cervical injection, both common carotid arteries are used and fluid is injected to the head through both arteries and to the remaining portions of the body through a tube directed downward in the right common carotid artery, with drainage being taken from the right jugular vein. Sectional injection uses a primary site and selected additional sites such as the brachial or radial artery in the arms. Six-point injection utilizes both common carotids, both axillary or brachial arteries in the arms, and both femoral or external iliac arteries in the groin.
After arterial embalming and depending on the mortician's practice, the cadaver is eviscerated through a midline incision and all the internal organs removed and discarded separately. The internal cavity is stuffed with absorbent material and sewed closed. Alternatively, the internal organs may be left in place and a trocar may be used to aspirate liquefied material from the viscera and body cavities. When aspiration is complete, a quart or more of concentrated embalming fluid may be injected through the trocar.
When an autopsy has been performed on the body, other procedures come into play, requiring additional handling of the body by the mortician. For example, when the brain has been removed and there is a freely removable skullcap, embalming of the face requires cannulation of the carotid artery at the side of the neck with clamping of the middle cerebral artery within the inner side of the skull. Embalming fluid will spill onto the table from the cut middle cerebral vein while the face is massaged. When the abdominal cavity is already emptied of internal organs, the abdominal wall and legs can be embalmed by cannulation of the common iliac arteries within the groin while the abdominal wall and legs are massaged. Embalming fluid will spill into the abdominal cavity, from which it is removed with a pump or ladle.
Unlike autopsy rooms, most embalming rooms used by morticians have no positive-pressure type ventilation system. A fan or a standard office air-conditioner merely recirculates the formaldehyde, air-borne bacteria and aerosolized particles within the closed room, possibly recirculating contaminants to adjacent rooms. Funeral home workers, particularly those handling human remains, are therefore at risk of infection and exposure to formaldehyde, OSHA standards (described below) frequently not being met. Some morticians also have the false perception that whatever organisms that caused mortality in the cadaver will become nonviable when their host is dead and fail to observe "Universal Precautions" (described below) regarding protective clothing, etc., further increasing the risk of infection.

Active control containment system for limiting occupational exposure to biohazardous materials


There is provided a soft bubbling bath mat having a mat body of molded flexible material that houses a soft flexible foam pad adapted to fit between an outer edge of the mat body an interior air passageway. The air passageway is adapted at one end to form an inlet port. The inlet port is adapted to receive air to be fed from a compressed air source to the passageway and forced through the passageway and out through a plurality of small apertures in a top surface of the passageway creating a therapeutic bubbling massage effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bubbling bath mat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a soft bubbling bath mat that provides a bubbling massage having a therapeutic aeration effect.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Soft bubbling bath mats are relatively well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,591 to Sandrin describes a soft bath mat capable of providing a bubbling massage. The mat is arranged in a two-channel configuration. A first channel inflates and supports a user and a second channel allows air received from a compressed air source to escape from a plurality of small apertures in its upper surface. The upper surface of the second channel sits vertically lower than the upper surface of the first channel. This arrangement enables a user to be supported by the first channel without blocking the air escaping from the second channel. The drawback of this type of bath mat is the time and effort required to use the device (i.e. inflate prior to use and deflate after use).
Efforts have been made to improve the efficiency in using a bath mat similar to that described above. For example, it is known to provide a soft bubbling bath mat that, rather than using the two-channel configuration described above, uses a plurality of flexible rectangular pads arranged so as to support a user and not inhibit the air escaping from the upper surface of the mat. The drawback of this arrangement is that the flexible pads can and do create localized pressure points that often result in an unpleasant effect on a user.
None of the above provide a soft bubbling bath mat that not only improves the therapeutic aeration effect, but also improves comfort without creating localized pressure point. In addition, the present invention provides for a compact, and efficiently manageable bath mat that is easily transported and/or stored.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a soft bubbling bath mat that uses a flexible soft support padding to improve comfort and better distribute a user""s weight over the surface of the mat.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a soft bubbling bath mat having a molded air channel configured to improve air distribution and ultimately the overall therapeutic aeration effect.
It is still an other object of the present invention to provide such a soft bubbling bath mat having at least one support tube located in an air channel that functions to improve airflow and maintain uniform air pressure throughout the air channel.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a soft bubbling bath mat capable of being folded into a compact size for easy handling and storage.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide such a soft bubbling bath mat that, in conjunction with a compressed air source to provide warm air, maintains thermal water temperature.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a soft bubbling bath mat that includes a mat body. Preferably, the mat body has two elongated sheets of molded flexible material secured together by weld lines. These weld lines include a perimetrical or peripheral weld, line or edge along the outer perimeter of the sheets, which forms a cavity for housing a foam pad sandwiched between the two sheets and adapted to fit between the outer perimetrical or peripheral weld line and an interior weld line or edge that forms an interior cavity or air passageway. The air passageway has a plurality of small apertures formed in an upper surface thereof and has a spine and rib configuration. The apertures preferably face upwardly when the mat is placed properly in a tub or basin. The passageway is closed at one end and connected at the other end to a hose that allows air to be fed from a compressed air source to the passageway through an inlet port. The compressed air source may be any suitable device capable of generating compressed air. The inlet port receives one end of the hose. Air is then forced through the passageway and out through the plurality of small apertures in the top surface of the passageway creating a bubbling massage effect. A foam pad is positioned in the mat body to provide a comfortable support surface for the user.


A video cassette shipping container having a base and a lid hingedly connected by a hinge assembly and movable between open and closed positions. A locking mechanism is mounted on the container and includes a pair of flexible flaps which are hingedly connected to the base and lid by reduced thickness living hinges. One flap includes a pair of locking tabs with barbed ends and the other flap includes a pair of slotted housings which are aligned with and received the tabs therein to secure the container in a locked position. The container is opened by pressing inwardly on a thumb pad located adjacent the ends of the flexible flaps. The flaps flex inwardly and the ends thereof deflect outwardly. The flaps are grasped and pulled outwardly and along the front of the container by a user. The reduced thickness living hinges are torn from the container leaving a usual VHS video cassette storage container with latching tabs to frictionally secure the container in the closed position and protect the VHS tape from dirt, debris and damage during everyday use. A concave recess is formed in the front wall of the container to receive the tear-away flaps therein to provide a flat smooth end wall during shipment and to provide an area to facilitate opening of the container after removal of the flaps.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to shipping containers. More particularly, the invention relates to a shipping container for shipping and storing video cassette tapes. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a shipping container having a disposable locking mechanism which secures the video cassette tape within the container for shipment and which is unlocked by tearing the locking mechanism from the container leaving a video storage container which then can be used by the recipient to store the video cassette tape.
2. Background Information
Home shopping and mail order purchasing has become an increasing popular method in the retail industry to both market and sell video cassette tapes and particularly the VHS style tapes. Home shopping channels market and sell various movies and instructional tapes recorded on these VHS tapes which consumers purchase using their telephone and a credit card. The VHS tapes are mailed to the consumer and the consumer's credit card is charged accordingly. Various video clubs market different movie titles to their club members at a price which is lower than most retail stores. The members choose movies they wish to purchase from a catalog listing and the movie clubs mail the selected movies to the club members.
Currently, these VHS video tapes are packaged in a usual video cassette storage container having a latch to frictionally retain the container in a closed position. The storage container and enclosed VHS tape are then packaged in an outer shipping container and mailed to the consumer. The consumer must open the shipping container to determine if the contents of the package is the same as what he or she ordered. Once the shipping container is opened the consumer has access to the video cassette for viewing or copying.
Most mail order retailers offer a 30-day money back guarantee on their videos. One problem retailers have with this method of selling videos is that once the consumer opens the package and views the video, the purchaser has gained the benefit of enjoying the movie and can return the tape for a refund. Further, the VHS tapes may be copied to blank VHS tapes allowing the purchaser to retain a copy of the video returning the original for a refund. Also, this method of shipping VHS tapes is not economical for the retailer in that the extra material required for the second or outer shipping container and the extra weight that the shipping container adds to the package raises the material costs and the shipping expenses, to mail the VHS tape to the consumer. It is desirable to mail order retailers to ship VHS tapes in a single lightweight shipping container with a locking mechanism which prevents tampering of the tape during shipment and allows the consumer to read the title of the enclosed VHS tape and return the unopened shipping container and enclosed tape for a full refund. The shipping container must also provide a usable VHS storage container in which the consumer can store the tape during everyday use.
One such container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,918. This prior art container has a pair of locking tangs formed integrally with the lid and having barbed ends which extend into aligned openings formed in base. The tangs are torn from the container and discarded when the container is opened by a user, providing a frictionally latching container in which the video cassette is stored during everyday use. Although this prior art shipping container is adequate for the purpose for which it was intended, the lid of the prior art container includes a downwardly extending U-shaped wall which overlaps the walls of the base forming an outwardly extending edge or lip which could get caught on other packages during shipment possibly breaking or damaging the container and its contents. Likewise, the locking mechanism extends outwardly from the front wall of the base and also could get caught and possibly torn or ripped from the container during shipping thereof. Once the locking tangs are removed from the container, the container can easily pop open if bumped or dropped during shipment. Also, after removal of the locking tangs by the purchaser, two holes remain in the container through which dust can enter the container interior.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved video cassette shipping container which can be molded as a one-piece member of a high impact lightweight polypropylene, which has a removable and disposable locking mechanism which secures the enclosed objects and is easily removed by tearing a pair of reduced thickness living hinges, which leaves a VHS storage container which can be used to store a VHS tape during everyday use by a consumer, and which has a cavity formed in an outer surface of a front wall which receives the locking mechanism and allows the locking mechanism to sit flush with the front wall of the container preventing the locking mechanism from being caught and damaged on other objects during shipping of the container and providing a sleek attractive design. There is no such video cassette shipping container of which we are aware which accomplishes these results.


Heat sinks and thermal cooling systems are disclosed. The heat sinks and thermal cooling systems include fins, which extend away from a surface of a base of the heat sink, and which are located in a finned region on the surface. The heat sinks and thermal cooling systems also include one or more heat pipes that are positioned and shaped in a way so that a first portion of each heat pipe is in contact with the surface of the base, while at least a second portion of each heat pipe is raised above the surface of the base in into contact with fins in the finned region. Raising the heat pipes away from the surface of the base prevents components in contact with, or adjacent to, the base from being heated by the heat pipes.

Generally, heat sinks are used in a wide variety of applications to diffuse waste heat away from heat-producing components. For example, heat sinks may be used to keep electronic components at or below their maximum rated operating temperatures. Some conventional heat sinks have a base and a finned side. The base may have heat pipes or vapor chambers entirely embedded in the base. The challenge with heat pipes embedded in the base of a heat sink is the heat is able to diffuse out of the heat pipe along its entire length, heating components along the span.
Therefore, devices and systems desired that overcome challenges in the art, some of which are described above.


A method of cryogenically preserving sperm comprising (a) combining sperm to be cryogenically preserved and a composition that comprises (1) a cryoprotectant, comprising one or more tree saps; and (2) an extender medium to produce a sperm/medium combination; and (b) subjecting the combination to conditions that result in cryopreservation of sperm, thereby producing a cryopreserved combination that comprises cryopreserved sperm is disclosed.

In general, the present invention involves the use of tree sap to cryogenically preserve avian and mammalian sperm cells, preferably for use in the poultry industry, birds of prey preservation, and preservation of endangered or threatened avian species. The present invention may also be used in the cattle industry, pig industry, equine industry, and in mammalian veterinary medicine.
Avian spermatozoa have a shape that makes the spermatozoa hard to freeze. The spermatozoa are long and thin and are shaped like a whip. This makes the cells very subject to cryogenic injury because they have a large surface area that can be damaged easily upon freezing or processing. Mammalian sperm will also benefit from the present invention because even though these cells are easier to freeze, they are still subject to damage from the cryogenic processes. (Reference; Avian Semen Cryopreservation: What Are the Biological Challenges? J. A. Long, 2006 Biotechnology and Germplasm Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md. 20705, 2006 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Accepted Sep. 10, 2005)
Currently, avian spermatozoa are frozen using several techniques. One technique uses the addition of a cryoprotectant to a fluid media that suspends and supports the cells. The first step in the procedure is to collect the semen and then add a liquid extender. A semen extender is a liquid diluent which is added to semen to preserve its fertilizing ability. The extender allows the semen to be freighted to the female, rather than requiring the male and female to be near to each other. Special freezing extender also allows cryogenic preservation of sperm ("frozen semen"), which may be transported for use, or used on-site at a later date.
This extender/cell mixture is then placed in a refrigerator to chill the mixture down to a desired temperature that allows the cells to line up the lipid components in their outer cell membrane prior to freezing. This is a form of "cold acclimation" and helps to allow the cells to survive the cryogenic process. The method also reduces the temperature gradient drop that the cells have to go through before they reach the freezing point and reduces the cell damage when being frozen.
Once the cells are chilled/acclimated, the cryoprotectant is added to the extender/cell mix, the mixture is packaged quickly and either flash frozen by quick immersion in the liquid nitrogen, pelletized and flash frozen and then packaged into cryo-vials, or suspended above the liquid nitrogen in the vapors to freeze more slowly before it is immersed in the liquid nitrogen. Both fast and slow freezing can be done based on species requirements. Different cryoprotectants that are added to the mix commonly include DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide), MA (Methyl-Acetamide), and DMA (Dimethyl Acetamide). These chemicals act as intracellular cryoprotectants while the non-cell wall-permeable chemicals act as extracellular cryoprotectants. These are also known to damage the cell wall during cryopreservation and this impairs fertility.
A better and more effective way of preserving avian and mammalian semen is needed in the art.

Use of tree sap to preserve sperm cell lines


A honeycomb structure comprising: a honeycomb structure body that includes a plurality of porous partition walls and intersection parts, and a catalyst layer, wherein the porosity of the partition wall is 20 to 70%, the average pore diameter of the pores in the partition wall is 1 to 60 μm, a plurality of the partition walls includes a notched partition wall having a recessed part in which at least one end is notched, the ratio of the notched partition wall in the partition walls is 1 to 100%, the recessed part of the notched partition wall has a depth of 10 to 200% of the standard length, and the recessed part of the notched partition wall is a part having a width of 33 to 100% of the standard width.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a honeycomb structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a honeycomb structure with an improved NOX purification performance.
Description of the Related Art
Currently, as NOX control of diesel cars and trucks in developed countries, further stringent conditions have been studied. As a catalyst for treating NOX, an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalyst has been generally used, and practically, a honeycomb structure obtained by loading an SCR catalyst (specifically, zeolite or the like) onto a honeycomb-shaped substrate has been known.
As the honeycomb structure described above, those which improve purification performance and the like by setting the sectional shape of cells have been known (see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2015-29938


A system and method for automatic insertion of enhanced personal address book contact data from the telephone. The PAB telephone network-based system includes an application unit to coordinate the addition of new contact data by a user via his telephone, and/or is used in conjunction with his Web-browser or other Internet/Intranet access device. The system includes an ASR recognition server used to assist in adding a new contact to the PAB, and also to match the spoken name gathered with the possible data augmented data as extracted from a system-resident white pages, or other source, such as an external white pages. The system is connected to a telephone network, or group of telephone networks including elements from one or a combination of components of E1, T1 or VoIP apparatus. When at least one name matching the new contact telephone number is found, the system attempts to automatically confirm it or choose between the names based on matching the spoken name and the textual name found using ASR. The appropriate matching name and associated data from the White pages are inserted in the PAB of the user as a new contact entry. The augmented text name of the contact can be used by the ASR subsystem to replace the original training or can be used in addition to the original training.

Telephone answering (TA) applications currently use Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) features, which enable a user to add contacts to a Personal Address Book (PAB) system via a telephone. One problem is that when a user adds a name from the telephone, he cannot assure the accuracy of the spelling of the name, because of the inaccuracy of the ASR application feature of the PAB system for alphabetic interpretation. For example, the user may receive a voicemail message from Joe Phillips, who may be previously unidentified to the user, and who leaves a message requesting a callback (the telephone number was received from a PBX, for example, and saved in addition to the message itself). The user accesses his PAB, and initiates the addition of the new contact based on his speaking both the contact's name and the telephone number that was left as part of the message. For example, Phillips sounds the same as Philips, Fillips and Filips, and therefore the ASR may spell the name incorrectly.
Even a "smart" system may do no better than "guess" at Phillips, the most common member of the homonym group.
A user is typically a subscriber of a service that is available via the telephone. This service typically includes an ASR recognizer and a PAB, and provides for the addition of contacts to the PAB directly over telephone. When the user elects to add a new contact using the telephone he:                speaks the contact's name one or more times; and        enters at least one telephone number to be associated with the name. The number can be added verbally by the user directly, or by Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) keypad entry or from the data saved with the message (as received from the PBX) or the number can be added later from the Internet or some other device.There are two shortcomings for the above process:        the ASR recognition that results from matching with an alphabetic representation of a name can be better than that of contacts added directly from the verbal input; and        by using a directory, e.g. a white pages, the PAB entry can be expanded with a growing variety of useful information (e.g. name spelling, address, e-mail, other telephone numbers, SMS, etc.).
The telephone number that was added in one of the ways described earlier may not be unique to an individual, since there can be many people sharing this telephone number, e.g. a family or a company with one telephone number.
Where no name is provided, only a telephone number, current TA applications can use a directory, such as a white pages directory, based only on the telephone number that was entered. If the telephone number is found in the directory white pages, the application can insert the spelled version of the associated name into the PAB or present it to the user to approve. If many people share a number, there is no provision for differentiation between their names, and worse yet, the spelled name might not fit the contact. Where the number is for a corporation, for example, the spelled name might be that of the company as opposed to being that of the contact (the subscriber wants to have the contact's name, although it is a company telephone).
There is, therefore, a need for a PAB application that helps the user verify that the added information from an external source (e.g. a white or yellow pages) matches his contact.

Telephone network-based method and system for automatic insertion of enhanced personal address book contact data


A fold-down handle device for attachment to a first member, such as a panel, to provide a controlled pushing and pulling action on actuation for facilitating insertion and retraction of the first member to a second member, such as a cabinet, the handle device including a handle with a gripping portion, a cam member, a pawl member and a drive pin connecting the pawl member to the handle and extending through a slot provided in the cam member to regulate the movement of the pawl when the handle is lifted from a folded horizontal position to an upright vertical position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of latching devices, and, more particularly, to a handle actuated latch assembly having a foldable handle.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Latch assemblies are relied on in a number of applications for securing items together, such as panel doors, containers, cabinets and compartments, as well as for securing components within a panel or cabinet. For example, a variety of fastening devices are often employed to secure electronic components in a panel or cabinet, or on a circuit board or other unit. The cabinet may have a lockable door to provide access to individual components. Some cabinets or units may include rack assemblies where electronic components are mounted on a rack for insertion and removal thereof. Generally, the components themselves which are installed in a rack or cabinet, may receive a plurality of wires or connectors which are connected thereto. Often, the electronic components must be removed for repair, upgrading or replacement. In some cases, rack components will preferably have a handle or grip for facilitating removal of the component from a cabinet or box or the like. In many cases the handle may be a permanently installed protruding pull member which can be gripped by a user to slide or insert a component into and out of the panel.
In some cases the handles or pulls can also be hinged so that they may fold to conserve space. The more space that is conserved enables a greater number of components to be installed within the cabinet, or, a smaller cabinet to be used.
There exists, however, applications in which hot-plugging of components is routinely performed. Power supplies are a type of component which are installed in a cabinet. For example, in certain applications, power supplies are "hot-swappable", requiring the system to continue to run while the power supplies are being changed. Insertion and retraction of a power supply in such applications generally requires that electrical connectors in the power supply be engaged or disengaged as the power supply is being inserted or retracted, respectively. Often the power supplies can have weights in excess of twenty pounds and therefore require a considerable force to release the power supply from a cabinet or frame, and also, at the same time, to disengage a connector. Furthermore, once the power supply is installed in position within a cabinet, panel or other unit, it is desirable to maintain it in its engaged position, so that it will not become inadvertently disengaged by an unexpected force, vibration, heat or the like.
While latching and fastening devices may be applied to retain components, such as, for example, a power supply, into a panel, it is desirable to use as little space as possible to leave room for other components and to minimize the size of the panel or unit volume. Camming action has been used in latching assemblies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,638 "Fastening Device" issued on Sep. 23, 1997 to Glenn E. Anderson, et al, and assigned to Southco, Inc., the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses a fastening member with a cam mechanism used to withdraw a slide member.
A need exists for a folding down handle which can provide a controlled pushing and pulling action on actuation for retraction and insertion of a member to which the handle is installed.


Some storage library systems use servo motors to control positioning of the hand assembly for removal of an ejected cartridge from a tape drive. This and other methods of positioning the hand assembly may be inaccurate or time consuming, and may inadvertently result in pushing the cartridge too far into the tape drive. The present invention provides a storage library system including a tape drive for receiving, reading and ejecting cartridges, wherein the tape drive has a front face. A locator plate is attached to the front face. The locator plate has a stall limit surface. A robotically-movable hand assembly is operative to retrieve ejected cartridges from the tape drive. The robotically-movable hand assembly includes a stall limit feature protruding therefrom for abutting against the stall limit surface to limit movement of the hand assembly toward the tape drive to properly space the hand assembly with respect to the tape drive for removing cartridges from the tape drive. Additionally, the hand assembly includes a z-limit feature and the locator plate includes a z-locator feature which is engageable with the z-limit feature to properly locate the hand assembly vertically with respect to the tape drive.

Storage library systems are used for storage and retrieval of data stored on cartridges. A storage library system may include multiple tape drives, and a robotically-movable hand assembly including a gripper for grasping and removing ejected cartridges from the various tape drives.
Certain tape drives eject cartridges to specific distances and are sensitive to push-back forces or push-back distances. If the ejected cartridge is pushed back into the tape drive with a certain force or to a certain distance, the tape drive will reload the cartridge. Accordingly, this reloading may occur if a movable hand assembly bumps against an ejected cartridge or pushes the cartridge too far into the tape drive prior to grasping the cartridge for removal. Speed is a critical feature of storage library systems, however, in this situation, a substantial time delay is caused because the cartridge must again be ejected from the tape drive for retrieval of the cartridge.
Bumping of the cartridge by the gripper of the hand assembly may occur if the hand assembly is not in the proper vertical position or not in the proper horizontal position for grasping the cartridge. The hand assembly is typically at the end of a multi-arm structure, therefore tolerance stack-up of the various arms may cause the end of the hand assembly to be out of position.
Some tape drives use mechanical hooks to hold the tape cartridge in the proper position in case the hand assembly bumps against the cartridge or attempts to push the cartridge in too far prior to removal. These mechanical hooks add a certain cost and reliability penalty to the storage library system.
Some prior art systems use servo position controllers to limit the movement of the hand assembly. This substantially slows the performance of the library and requires very narrow manufacturing tolerances between the drive and gripping device in order to operate properly.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an inexpensive and accurate method and apparatus for properly positioning a hand assembly with the respect to a tape drive in order to retrieve an ejected cartridge from a tape drive without forcing the cartridge too far into the tape drive.

Gripper-positioning component for storage library system


A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism, a sensor positioned to determine mail piece movement speed, and a measurement device determines belt movement speed during operation of the pickoff belt mechanism. A vacuum system includes a vacuum pump and a vacuum manifold positioned to apply suction to the mail piece in a direction that tends to hold the mail piece against the belt of the pickoff belt mechanism. A controller is configured to compare the belt movement speed and the mail piece movement speed during operation, and when mail piece movement speed is slower than belt movement speed, indicating slipping of the mail piece relative to the belt of the pickoff belt mechanism, the controller temporarily increases suction force applied to a mail piece being transported by the pickoff belt mechanism.

Pickoff mechanisms have been in use for decades in automated letter sorting machines such as MLOCR and DBCS machines used by the U.S. Postal Service and private presort bureaus, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,109,987 (Daboub) and 6,679,491 (Luebben et al). The feeder section of the machine includes an unloading table where mail for sorting is manually placed edgewise to form a stack. The stack is advanced incrementally towards the pickoff mechanism which functions to feed mail pieces one at a time into a pinch belt conveyor system for sorting.
Known pickoff mechanisms comprise a series of rubber belts wound over a drive roller and a follower roller. The belts engage the endmost mail piece of the stack and rely on friction to pull it sideways off of the stack and into the entry nip of the pinch belt conveyor. Friction is created by the pressure of the mail stack as it advances into contact with the pickoff belts. The stack is carried by a horizontal belt conveyor, and its remote end is supported by a paddle movably mounted on a frame of the feeder. The paddle and belt are synchronized to move the stack forward in increments. This is controlled by a letter present sensor, for example, a mechanical proximity switch using a spring arm which indicates to the feeder controller that the end of the stack is in engagement with the outer face of the pickoff belts.
Some known pickoff designs rely on keeping the stack under pressure against the pickoff belts to create sufficient friction so that the pickoff operation proceeds smoothly at high speed. In practice, mail pieces are not uniform and sometimes slip against the pickoff belts, delaying feeding of the mail piece to the pinch belts. To remedy this, vacuum-assisted pickoff mechanisms were devised wherein suction is applied to the endmost mail piece through holes in the belts. This prevents slipping of mail pieces to a greater extent, but not entirely. The problem becomes more difficult when the incoming mail in the stack includes mail pieces of different sizes and thicknesses, such that some require more frictional force to feed than others. Present pickoff mechanisms have no means of adjusting to compensate for variations in mail piece characteristics. The present invention seeks to remedy this limitation, and in so doing improved performance of the conveyor as a whole by improving throughput.


A method and apparatus for mounting a component, such as a semiconductor die, to a substrate are provided. A z-axis anisotropic adhesive is applied to the substrate and the component is placed on the anisotropic adhesive. During a curing process a cover film is drawn over the component and substrate to maintain the anisotropic adhesive in compression. A conveyorized curing apparatus includes a conveyor belt for moving the substrate through a heated process chamber. The cover film is mounted on an endless belt and is adapted to move at a same speed as the conveyor belt. As the die and substrate are moved through the process chamber, a vacuum plenum draws the cover film over the die and substrate to exert a uniform force on the component.

In the manufacture of microelectronic packages called hybrids, or multi chip modules, unpackaged semiconductor dice are mounted face down on a substrate such as a printed circuit board. This type of mounting is referred to as flip chip mounting because each unpackaged die is flipped circuit side down onto the substrate. With flip chip mounting the bond pads on the die are in direct electrical contact with corresponding contact pads on the substrate.
One method of attaching a flip chip mounted semiconductor die to a substrate employs anisotropic adhesives. An anisotropic adhesive takes the place of conventional solder and socket connections for securing the die to the substrate and also for establishing an electrical pathway.
Anisotropic adhesives are provided in a variety of forms. Anisotropic adhesives are formed such that electrical resistance in one direction through the material will differ from that measured in another direction. Typically high resistance is provided in at least one orthogonal direction (e.g., x-y direction) while low resistance is provided in the remaining orthogonal direction (e.g., z direction). The conductivity in one direction is typically pressure sensitive requiring that the material be compressed in that direction.
One type of conductive anisotropic adhesive is known as a z-axis anisotropic adhesive. Z-axis anisotropic adhesives are filled with conductive particles to a low level such that the particles do not contact each other in the x-y plane. Compression in the z-direction establishes an electrical path. Z-axis anisotropic adhesives are formed as a viscous paste or as a film that is applied and then cured to harden. Both types of z-axis anisotropic adhesives (film or paste) come in a thermoplastic or thermosetting variety. Thermoplastic anisotropic adhesives are heated to soften for use and then cooled for curing. Thermoset anisotropic adhesives require heat curing. Using an anisotropic adhesive, a die can be adhered to a substrate and multiple connections can be made to the bond pads on the die with a single piece of material.
One problem with flip chip mounting using z-axis anisotropic adhesives is that the conductivity of the material is pressure sensitive. Accordingly the anisotropic adhesive must be compressed during the curing process to establish a permanent electrical connection through the material. In the past, compression of the z-axis anisotropic adhesive has been accomplished by maintaining a load on the die during the curing process. This load is typically applied using some type of mechanical tooling fixture.
One problem with this type of arrangement is that mechanical fixtures tend to be complex and expensive. Mechanical fixtures also have a tendency to damage the die or substrate. In addition, the compressive load must be maintained for a relatively long time period, which is required to sufficiently cure the elastomer (e.g., twenty to thirty minutes). For a high volume manufacturing process this type of curing process is unacceptably long. Additionally, if more than one flip chip is to be attached, a sequential process is used in which one chip is attached and cured, followed by attachment and curing of subsequent chips. This sequential process can result in multiple high temperature exposure of some of the chips.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for mounting components to a substrate using anisotropic adhesives. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for flip chip mounting semiconductor dice to a substrate. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for flip chip mounting semiconductor dice that are compatible with high volume manufacturing operations. Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Method and apparatus for mounting a component to a substrate using an anisotropic adhesive, a compressive cover film, and a conveyor


A method for multiplexed optical detection includes: imaging light onto an input face of a first optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber is a multimode optical fiber; inducing coupling among the propagation modes of the light in the first optical fiber; coupling an output face of the first optical fiber to input faces of multiple individual second optical fibers in a multi-fiber bundle, wherein each output face of the individual fibers emits substantially similar light; and detecting one or more properties of one or more fluids, including analytes that may be present, with the light emitted from at least one of the second optical fibers. The second optical fibers can be a part of an optical detector that is part of a high performance liquid chromatography system, which can be located in a substrate.

Optical detection methods are frequently employed in analytical instruments for sensitive and species-specific detection of chemical compounds. Optical detection is particularly well suited for analytical techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC has been used for many years as a means of separating, identifying, purifying and quantifying components of often-complex mixtures. HPLC is an important tool used by biotechnological, biomedical, and biochemical research as well as in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, energy, food, and environmental industries.
Typically, the optical systems associated with HPLC detectors use a series of lenses and mirrors to collect and propagate light from a source through free space to a flow cell. Fluid containing analytes that have been separated by elution through a chromatographic column flows through this cell. Light not absorbed after passing through this cell strikes a light detector containing one or more photosensitive elements.
Propagation of light through free space has certain disadvantages. Specifically, for satisfactory operation, the mechanical stability of each optical component has to be extremely high to ensure the optical path length is faithfully maintained. In addition, beam tubes often have to be used to alleviate the susceptibility to air currents, which can change the local refractive index and slightly bend light rays, contributing uncertainties (noise) in sensitive measurements. Lastly, losses of light intensity occur due to Fresnel reflections at each air-glass interface due to the sudden change in refractive index.
These disadvantages can be largely avoided by propagating light through optical fibers. Using an optical fiber to transmit light has additional advantages. Doing so minimizes the use of optical elements such as collimating lenses and reflectors, particularly when path lengths are extended. Further, optical fibers are flexible, allowing the primary light source to be located in places not feasible if the light were being propagated through free space. Lastly, optical fibers can transmit light with little or no loss of intensity, even over extended distances.
Because the location of the primary light source relative to the optical detector is less important when using optical fiber and because a single primary light source can illuminate multiple optical fibers simultaneously, a single source of light can be directed to a number of optical detectors simultaneously via multiple optical fibers. This will be useful in parallel HPLC systems, which are currently on the verge of introduction to the marketplace and will further increase sample processing speed in analytical instrumentation.
One example of a prior art device where a single primary light source illuminates multiple optical fibers is the Waters Corporation Model 2488 Multichannel Absorbance Detector. According to its Operator's Guide, Waters 2488 Multichannel Absorbance Detector with MassLynx Control, Operator's Guide, 71500248802 Revision A, Waters Corporation, Milford, Mass. (2001), the detector uses a deuterium lamp followed by a combination of mirrors and a grating to select light within a single wavelength band and to focus this light directly onto the input ends of eight optical fibers. The input ends of the eight short optical fibers are arranged in two parallel rows of four, one row offset from the other by half of a fiber diameter for closer packing. The eight fibers transmit the wavelength-selected light that is then focused through respective sample detection cells and onto associated detection photodiodes. This system is a hybrid one, combining optical fibers with a number of free space optical components. There are also a number of other commercially available optical detection systems incorporating optical fibers into their design.
As with many other single wavelength instruments, a beam splitter located between the optical fibers and the deuterium lamp directs some of the single wavelength light into a reference photodiode. This allows the output of the deuterium lamp to be monitored independent of absorption by any sample. In theory, when analyzing data from the sample detection cells, compensation can then be made for any fluctuations in the intensity of the light from the lamp.
Incoherent light sources, such as a deuterium lamp, are often treated theoretically as point sources, i.e. filling no volume. In reality they do have a finite spatial extent and the intensity and spectral distribution of the light emanating from different areas of the incoherent light source volume can vary strongly. For this reason, if no special precautions are taken, the intensity of light delivered to each individual optical fiber in a bundle (as well as the light directed to the reference photodiode) can differ strongly. If the alignment varies in time, even slightly, or there is a power fluctuation causing a change in the intensity of light, the variation will be different from fiber to fiber and from fibers to reference. This means that even slight changes in the relative position of the source and the multi-fiber bundle, or diffraction of the light beam by fluctuating air currents, will cause variations in signal intensity from the individual detectors, and the variations will not be correctable or normalizable.
Furthermore, it is often desirable to analyze a sample using broadband detection, i.e. detecting at a whole range or spectrum of wavelengths simultaneously. The use of mirrors or lenses to collect and focus light onto the input ends of multiple optical fibers can exacerbate the spatial and (if broadband sources are used) chromatic inhomogeneities of the source light distribution, thereby increasing the non-uniformities between the output of each of the individual fibers and the light directed to the reference photodiode. The Waters Corporation Model 2488 uses a grating to select only a single narrow wavelength band. However, if its design were modified to attempt to focus multiple wavelengths of light onto the input ends of the optical fibers the outputs of the individual fibers and light directed to the reference photodiode would be likely to also vary in spectral distribution.
To accurately compensate for the fluctuations in the intensity of the light from the incoherent light source, the light delivered to each optical fiber and the light directed to the reference diode must be substantially similar in intensity and spectral characteristics. "Similar" here refers to strictly proportional relationships between the profiles, both spatial and spectral, of the light delivered to each fiber and to the reference photodiode. It is also important that the proportionality constants relating these profiles remain stable so that they can be determined by calibration between measurements. For example, if one fiber transmits 1000 analog-to-digital-converter (ADC) counts at 254 nm and the other transmits 1100 ADC counts at 254 nm, then if the source lamp fluctuates upward to 1010 ADC counts as transmitted by the first, the second should transmit 1111 ADC counts.
If a broadband light source is used with the goal of broadband detection, the spectral characteristics of the light emanating from different areas of the source volume will also vary and chromatic aberrations will result from variations in the imaging of light of different wavelengths.
Alternatively, if the light source is a laser, the coherence properties of the laser light can cause only a limited number of waveguide propagation modes to be launched within the optical fibers. Because of this, the output is not spatially uniform but exhibits pronounced intensity fluctuations referred to as "speckle."
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method for multiplexed optical detection wherein one light source is coupled to multiple optical fibers in such a way that the output of the optical fibers is substantially insensitive to movement of the fibers and substantially similar and homogeneous in terms of intensity and spectral profiles, and wherein changes in illumination of the multiple optical fibers by the light source results in uniform changes to the output intensity and spectral profiles of each output fiber.

Method for multiplexed optical detection including a multimode optical fiber in which propagation modes are coupled


A power supply for providing a single level dc output voltage, with input power factor correction, from a wide range of ac input voltages commonly available worldwide. The power supply rectifier circuit can be configured as a full wave bridge for high line voltage inputs and as a voltage doubler for low voltage inputs. Output voltage regulation and power factor correction are accomplished by a high frequency boost circuit having two inductors connected in parallel for the low input voltage configuration and in series for the high input voltage configuration. The high frequency switching semiconductor components are connected in a series circuit which limits their voltage requirement to one-half the output voltage.

Various types of electronic equipment including digital computers are frequently used in worldwide environments where readily available input power is different in different countries. For example, in the United States power at 115 volts is readily available and in Europe 230 volts is common. Such equipment must convert the readily available ac power to the constant voltage dc power required by electronic circuits. That function is provided by a rectifier apparatus, often called a power supply, connected between the ac power line and the dc power distribution system supplying the electronic circuits.
To accommodate a factor of two in the range of possible ac input voltage levels and still provide essentially the same dc output voltage level, it has become increasingly common in power supply design to provide a full-wave bridge rectifier for a high voltage input and a voltage-doubler rectifier for a low voltage input, the appropriate configuration selected by a switch. The selected rectifier is often followed by a high-frequency dc to dc converter for providing the desired output voltage levels from input voltage ranges exceeding the aforementioned factor of two.
Another frequently used method of accommodating wide ranges of input voltage is the boost rectifier where energy is stored in an inductor when a switch is closed and the stored energy is transferred through a diode to a capacitor when the switch is opened. By operating the switch at a high frequency relative to the line voltage frequency and with a programmed duty cycle, the dc output voltage supplied to a load can be regulated and in addition the ac line power factor can be corrected as required.
However, in commonly used high frequency boost rectifiers, the inductor has conflicting requirements. First, it must have an inductance value sufficiently large for the highest line voltage when the current requirement is low. Second, it must have current capacity sufficient for the lowest line voltage when the inductance requirement is low. These conflicting requirements result in an inductor that is more expensive and physically larger than that needed for either the high or low line voltage case alone.
It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit configuration that reduces the peak current requirements on inductors used in boost rectifiers.
Also, in conventional boost rectifiers, the output circuit diodes and transistors, which are high speed switching devices, must withstand voltages at least as high as the highest value of the peak ac input voltage. As a consequence, because high voltage devices tend to be slower and to have higher resistance than otherwise equivalent low voltage devices, semiconductor costs or power dissipation (or both) tend to be high.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide an output circuit configuration in which the semiconductor switching devices are exposed to voltages much lower than the output voltage resulting in lower costs and improved performance and reliability.

High power factor boost rectifier apparatus


Hardenable compositions are described comprising at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated isocyanurate monomer and at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated tricyclodecane monomer. In favored embodiments, the compositions further comprise filler and are suitable dental restorations.

Various ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as (meth)acrylate monomers have been employed in hardenable dental compositions.
Certain dental materials comprising isocyanurate monomer have been described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,843; U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,630; U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,413; EP 2 008 636; and US2009/0032989.
Further, certain dental materials comprising tricyclodecane monomers have been described in US 2009/0036565; US 2008/0167399; U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,767; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,827.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dental compositions comprising mixture of isocyanurate monomer and tricyclodecane monomer


One or more embodiments provide a method for processing and an electronic device. The display method of the electronic device can include the operations of, if a damage of a touchscreen sensing a gesture is sensed, confirming a region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. The display method can also include changing the size of an output screen based on the region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. The display method can also include outputting the size-changed output screen to the region in which the damage of the touchscreen does not occur. Other example embodiments are also possible.

With the recent sudden growth of electronic devices, electronic devices making possible wireless voice call and information exchange have become the necessaries of life. In the beginning of supply of the electronic devices, the electronic devices were simply recognized as being portable and making wireless call possible. But, with the development of technologies and the introduction of the wireless Internet, the electronic devices are satisfying user's desires by gradually increasing the scope of use such as a game, a remote controller using short-range communication, and image taking with a digital camera as well as simple telephony, schedule management and the like.
As the electronic devices provide multimedia services as above, information quantitation processed and information quantitation to display are increasing. According to this, attention is being increasingly paid to an electronic device with a touchscreen capable of improving a space utility and increasing the size of a display unit.
The touchscreen refers to an input/output device performing input/output of information in one screen. According to this, if the electronic device uses the touchscreen, the electronic device can increase a display area because removing a separate input device such as a keypad. For example, if the electronic device employs a full touch method in which the touchscreen is applied to the entire screen of the electronic device, the electronic device can increase the size of a screen because using the entire surface of the electronic device as the screen.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a diagram illustrating a general electronic device with a touchscreen.
The electronic device 100 is making use of the touchscreen as a display means and input means.
That is, the electronic device 100 has the touchscreen playing roles of an input unit and a display unit as illustrated in FIG. 1A.
This touchscreen, which can sense a user's gesture, can sense a gesture of drag, tap, flick and the like of an external input means such as a user's finger, an electronic pen or the like.
This electronic device 100 can designate a displayed icon to a position in which a gesture 101 is sensed, and execute an application corresponding to the icon.
In the illustrated drawing, a shadowed icon 103 represents an icon selected by the gesture 101.
If impact is applied to the electronic device 100, the touchscreen is damaged (101) as illustrated in FIG. 1B. If it becomes a situation in which a touch sensor cannot operate as the touchscreen is damaged, the electronic device 100 cannot sense a gesture 120 at a damaged portion of the touchscreen.

Method for displaying and electronic device thereof


A sortation conveyor includes elongated slats, of rectangular configuration, travelling in pairs along an endless path. The conveyor is characterized by unique diverters, and mounting assemblies therefor. The diverters are formed of a durable plastic, with an additive for lubricity. The additional lubricity allows the bearing surfaces of the diverter to slide laterally along the adjacent pair of slats, with reduced friction. A metal I-beam insert strengthens the web of the diverter, while reducing the thickness thereof; the reduced thickness allows the web of the diverter to pass easily between adjacent pairs of slats. The diverter pin has flat sides, in horizontal cross-section, for cooperation with pin guides and switches. Two urethane blocks fill the hollow shell at the upper end of the diverter, and the protruding edges of the blocks are angled to impart a downward force to a package striking same. The sides of the web are angled to lift, and sweep out, debris that may fall into the narrow gap defined between adjacent slats of each pair. The leading edge of the diverter is curved downwardly to prevent thin parcels, such as envelopes, from slipping thereunder. End caps are bolted into engagement with central apertures in each slat of a pair of slats, and the heads of the bolts are received in slots in a side carriage plate. The carriage plate is secured, in turn, to one of the endless drive chains that advances the sortation conveyor along its path of travel. The bolts enable the quick assembly, and disassembly, of the mounting assembly, so that the slats and diverters can be repaired and/or replaced, as needed, with simple manual tools.

Sortation conveyors comprise several elongated conveyor tubes, or slats, travelling in pairs, along an endless path, defined between parallel, longitudinally extending, side frames. A diverter, also known as a slider, is operatively associated with each pair of tubes. The diverter includes an upper portion that extends above the pairs of tubes to contact the articles travelling longitudinally along the apron defined by the cooperating pairs of tubes. The diverter further includes a central shaft that passes between the pair of tubes, an annular bearing, and a depending pin which contacts a diverter track and/or diverter switch to shift the diverter laterally across the article carrying surface defined by the elongated conveyor tubes.
A first endless chain extends longitudinally along the sortation conveyor, and is situated inboard of one side frame, while a second endless chain extends longitudinally along the sortation conveyor, and is situated inboard of the second side frame. Each endless chain passes over a first sprocket at the infeed end of the conveyor, and passes over a second sprocket at the discharge end of the conveyor, thus forming an upper run and a lower run of chain. The conveyor motor drives one, or both, sprockets, and the mounting assembly for each pair of slats is secured to both endless chains.
Sortation conveyors of this general organization are well known in the prior art. Representative sortation conveyors are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,341, granted Dec. 8, 1987, to Thomas C. Yu et al; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,908, granted Aug. 2, 1988, to Harry E. Houghton; and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,510, granted Jul. 7, 1992, to David H. Cotter et al.