Apparatus for gaze tracking an eye utilizing short coherence length interferometry, also known as optical coherence tomography ("OCT"). An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for gaze tracking an eye which includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus; (b) a scanning apparatus for scanning across a predetermined portion of the eye with optical output from the OCT apparatus; (c) an analysis apparatus for analyzing detection signals output from the OCT apparatus to determine a location of a feature of the eye; (d) an illumination apparatus for producing a reflection of radiation from a cornea of the eye (corneal reflex); (e) a detection apparatus for determining a location of the corneal reflex; and (f) the analysis apparatus further includes an apparatus which is responsive to the location of the feature and to the location of the corneal reflex for gaze tracking.

The most commonly used methods in the prior art for gaze tracking an eye (also referred to as measuring or monitoring the fixation direction of the eye) entail: (a) illuminating the eye using one of two methods and (b) acquiring and processing a video image of the illuminated pupil. In the first method of illuminating the eye, known as the "bright-pupil method," a light source is positioned so that it is nearly coaxial with respect to a line between a video camera and the eye. As a result, the pupil appears in the video image to be brightly lit. In the second method of illuminating the eye, known as the "dark-pupil method," the light source is positioned so that it is substantially off-axis with respect to the line between the video camera and the eye. As a result, the pupil appears in the video image to be dark when compared with the iris and other surrounding features. When using either of these two methods of illuminating the eye, another source of light, a point source, is located at a distance that is large when compared with the radius of curvature of the cornea. An image of the point source of light (referred to in the art as a corneal reflex) appears in the video image as a bright spot in the region of the pupil.
As is well known in the art, if the eye rotates, both the corneal reflex and the pupil move, but at different rates, whereas, if the eye merely translates, both the corneal reflex and the pupil move at the same rate. Thus, the relative distance between the corneal reflex and the center of the pupil is a measure of rotation angle or fixation angle of the eye. As a consequence of this, the most commonly used methods in the prior art for gaze tracking of the eye (measuring or monitoring the fixation direction of the eye) entail finding the center of the pupil. Typically, this is done by locating several points on the pupil/iris boundary and using straightforward geometry to determine the center of the pupil.
Since the corneal reflex is extremely bright and small, it is a straightforward matter to locate it. However, problems are frequently encountered in determining the center of the pupil. In the bright-pupil method, difficulties arise if the pupil is small. In such a case, the illuminated pupil will be rather dim and the contrast between the pupil and the iris will be low because the brightness of the pupil varies inversely as the square of the pupil diameter. Further difficulties arise in the bright-pupil method if the eye requires substantial refractive correction. In such a case, the brightness distribution in the pupil will be nonuniform, which nonuniformity creates problems in locating the pupil edges. In the dark-pupil method, difficulties arise if the contrast is low. Such low contrast occurs, for example, if the cornea or the lens act as diffuse scatters due to natural aging of tissues or the presence of cataracts. Further, depending on the wavelength of the illumination and natural pigment variations, the brightness of the iris may be naturally low. In either case, the pupil/iris contrast may be too low to determine the center of the pupil accurately.
A less frequently used method of gaze tracking the eye (monitoring or measuring the fixation direction of the eye) requires imaging features on the fundus of the eye, for example, the papilla (nerve head) or a distinctive pattern of blood vessels. Difficulties arise in this method because of cloudiness of the ocular media.
All of the above-described prior art methods rely on feature discrimination which arises from differential brightness of reflected light. However, these prior art methods make no distinction between reflected light originating from a structure of interest and reflected light originating from all scattering centers anterior to the structure of interest. This ambiguity results in loss of information. Furthermore, information about axial location of scatterers, i.e., depth of scatterers in the eye, is either nonexistent, or at best (using stereo optics) is difficult to extract.
In light of the above, there is a need for a method and apparatus for gaze tracking the eye which overcome the above-described problems in the prior art.

Gaze tracking using optical coherence tomography


A polygon scanner has a lighter rotating shaft on which a polygon mirror is mounted, to prevent a positional deviation of the polygon mirror from the rotating shaft in high speed rotation, in which the rotating shaft is supported through a dynamic pressure air bearing on a fixed shaft, in which the polygon mirror and motor constituent members are mounted on the rotating shaft, and in which the rotating shaft and the polygon mirror are made of respective light weight materials matched with each other in coefficient of thermal expansion, for example of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Further, an anodic oxide film is formed at least on a portion where the rotating shaft could contact with the fixed shaft, and floating means is provided for constantly floating the rotating shaft relative to the fixed shaft upward in an axial direction thereof. A process for producing the polygon scanner comprises making a predetermined masking on a portion where the rotating shaft could contact with the fixed shaft, prior to an anodic oxidation treatment to form an anodic oxide film on the portion, and then performing the anodic oxidation treatment, whereby, during the treatment, forming an anodic oxide film and a pattern of recesses and protrusions for dynamic pressure generation corresponding to a pattern of the masking, which are constituent elements of a dynamic pressure air bearing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polygon scanner and a production process thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A polygon scanner is provided for beam deflection and scan in image forming apparatuses such as laser printers and digital copiers. It is required that the polygon scanner rotate at a high speed to meet a recent demand for higher image forming speed.
The polygon scanner of this type is for example constructed as follows. A plurality of recesses and protrusions for dynamic pressure generation, for example herringbone grooves, are formed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed shaft. A cylindrical rotating shaft covers the fixed shaft with a certain bearing clearance to form a radial dynamic pressure air bearing as will be referred to simply as an air bearing. A polygon mirror or rotary multiple facet mirror is mounted on the rotating shaft. In this arrangement, either a dynamic pressure bearing or a magnetic bearing is employed as a thrust bearing for positioning and supporting the rotating shaft in the axial direction thereof. The fixed shaft and the rotating shaft both are made of stainless steel, and the pattern of recesses and protrusions for dynamic pressure generation is formed for example by etching. Since the polygon mirror is required to be finished at a high accuracy and to be light, aluminum is frequently used for forming the polygon mirror.
There is another type of polygon scanner using a bearing with an enhanced wear and abrasion resistance, which is not a non-contact bearing. In such a case, for example in order to make a difference of hardness between a rotating shaft and a fixed shaft, a suitable heat treatment is effected on either one of the rotating shaft and the fixed shaft, which has a lower hardness than the other so as to prevent seizing and to assure the wear and abrasion resistance. For example, Japanese Patent Laying Open Application No. 53-108461 describes a bearing device, which is not a non-contact bearing, in which a member supporting the rotating shaft is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and in which an anodic oxide film is chemically formed on the member to improve the wear and abrasion resistance.
However, the former example of conventional polygon scanner, that is, the conventional dynamic pressure air bearing type .polygon scanner, has the following problems, because the rotating shaft is made of stainless steel.
(1) Since the rotating shaft (of stainless steel) has a high specific gravity, it is readily affected by vibration from disturbance, which causes the rotating shaft to contact with the fixed shaft made of a similar material so as to result in seizing. Thus, in order to prevent the seizing, the bearing clearance must be set at a high accuracy with an increased bearing stiffness, which requires a very high dimensional accuracy of each shaft, increasing the production cost.
(2) Since a thermal expansion coefficient (coefficient of linear expansion) of the polygon mirror is greatly different from that of the rotating shaft, heat during high speed rotation causes a slight deviation (of about several .mu.m) in a portion where the polygon mirror is mounted on the rotating shaft, which causes a problem of large vibration of the polygon scanner in high speed rotation. Thus, in order to prevent such a defect, the polygon mirror is inspected in assembly process while rotated at a high speed, which results in an increase of production cost.
(3) Since the rotating shaft has slight magnetism, fine dust is easy to attach to the rotating shaft. The fine dust could cause a damage on the bearing, so that a troublesome dust removing operation is necessary. This also increases the production cost.
The latter example of the conventional polygon scanner has the following problem.
(4) Since the polygon scanner is not of non-contact bearing type, it has a limit in speed increase, which cannot meet the recent demand for higher image forming speed.

Polygon scanner and production process thereof


A device for grinding the head of a valve, especially of an internal-combustion engine, has a rigid stand, a structure for supporting the valve stem in terms of rotation that is arranged fixedly and vertically on the stand, a stop for rotational bearing against the valve tail, and a drive mechanism for driving the valve in rotation by the front face. The drive mechanism is arranged vertically below the structure for supporting the valve stem in terms of rotation with a coupling to compensate for any misalignment between the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism and the axis of rotation of the valve stem. A machining station is mounted on the stand having a machining tool mounted thereto in an orientable manner so that the machining axis may be adjusted in relation to the fixed and vertical reference system of the valve stem.

The present invention relates to a device for grinding the head of a valve, especially of an internal-combustion engine.
The present invention is described and explained by reference to the valves of thermal combustion engines, especially internal-combustion engines. It must be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention should not be limited to this technical sector, because many other members having the shape of a valve or described as such have to be machined or ground in order to fit a complementary sealingly closing seat; as an example of another technical sector to which the present invention can apply, that of sealing sluices may be mentioned.
By "grinding" is meant machining by the removal of metal, whether a machining with a cutting tool by the removal of a metal chip or a machining of the milling type by the removal of metal particles. Such machining can be carried out both for finishing, that is to say directly after the manufacture of a valve stem, and for repair or reconditioning, that is to say for shaping the head of a worn valve in terms of profile and dimensions to those of a new or ground valve seat.
By "device" are meant appliances or installations which can range from a lightweight tool of the bench-tool type in a repair workshop to a much heavier machine of the machine-tool type, as used in factories for the series production of thermal engines.
In general terms, and as shown more particularly in FIG. 1, a valve 1 comprises a stem 1a of cylindrical or tubular shape and a head 1b of a shape widened continuously with the stem. This head 1a comprises a front or forward plane face 1g perpendicular to the valve axis and opposite the stem end or tail 1c. The face to be machined or ground is the rear face 1f, for example according to a conical surface 1i, concentric relative to the axis of the valve or axis of the stem 1a.

Device for grinding the head of a valve, especially of an internal-combustion engine

Serdi-Societe d'Etudes de Realisation et de Diffusion Industrielles


Individual magneto-resistive read elements are connected to the pre-amplifier through a multi-conductor transmission line; one side of each magneto-resistive read element is taken to a single common lead which is also received in the read pre-amplifier. Amplification and bias control are performed by the read pre-amplifier. A low-noise input stage amplifier configuration accommodates a shared common lead in a multi-head environment. Means for independently biasing the magneto-resistive read elements are also provided. Feedback loops are employed to regulate the operating points of the input stages, and to set the potential of the common head terminal. Two-dimensional magnetic recording system testability is enhanced by ability to multiplex any head to a single system output.

In devices with a magnetic storage medium, a head slider bearing an array of magneto-resistive read elements reads data from a rotating multi-track magnetic storage medium. A central head reads the central track while other heads are disposed to either side of the central head to read portions of bordering tracks. In the event of track misregistration, the head-array is displaced from its nominal position. Adjacent track interference is sampled and mitigated by multi-dimensional signal-processing algorithms in the read channel, leading to improved error-rate performance relative to a single-reader configuration.
Multiple magneto-resistive read elements in the head slider increase the complexity of the read element circuitry. Each magneto-resistive read element requires two terminals. Consequently, it would be advantageous if an apparatus existed that is suitable for receiving and amplifying the outputs of multiple magneto-resistive read elements sharing a common terminal.

Pre-amplifier input stage for multi-element magneto-resistive heads

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


Disclosed herein is a coil component that includes a base, a metal wire that is wound around the base and contains copper, and a terminal electrode that is provided on the base and contains nickel and tin. The terminal electrode includes a wire connection area to which an end portion of the metal wire is connected and which contains a CuNi alloy or a CuNiSn alloy, and a mounting area which is different from the wire connection area. The wire connection area includes a portion that contains a small amount of tin than the mounting area.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coil component, and particularly to a coil component that includes a metal wire containing copper (Cu) and a terminal electrode containing nickel (Ni) and tin (Sn). Moreover, the present invention relates to a terminal component that is used as a terminal electrode of such a coil component.
Description of Related Art
In recent years, small coil components that can be surface-mounted have been frequently used in various electronic devices. Coil components of this kind include a metal wire that is wound around a base, and an end portion of the metal wire is connected to a terminal electrode.
As the terminal electrode, a terminal fitting that has a tin plating on a nickel plating may be used as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-158777. The nickel plating prevents a base material of the terminal fitting that is made of copper from coming in contact with the tin plating. The tin plating ensures the wettability of solder at the time of mounting.
As a method of bonding a metal wire on the terminal fitting, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-22916, a thermocompression bonding method is widely used. With the thermocompression bonding method, a CuNi alloy may be formed in the wire connection portion when the metal wire is made of copper. As a result, the terminal fitting and the metal wire are firmly bonded together.
However, if the wire connection portion of the terminal fitting contains a large amount of tin, a Cu—Sn alloy can be easily formed. Depending on the component proportion ratio thereof, the alloy may be melted by heat during reflow or any other process, for example. In some cases, the metal wire could drop off from the wire connection portion.
Such a problem would similarly arise not only when the base material of the terminal fitting is made of metal material but also when the base material of the terminal fitting is made of resin. Furthermore, such a problem could similarly arise not only when the terminal fitting is used but also when a terminal electrode that is formed by plating on a surface of a base of a coil component is used.

Coil component and terminal component used therein


An example game controller includes L and R buttons provided in both left and right end portions on an upper surface of a housing and ZL and ZR buttons provided to sides of the L and R buttons closer to a back surface of the game controller. The ZL/ZR button includes a protruding portion protruding in the direction of the back surface of the game controller and the direction of a side surface of the game controller. This makes it possible to increase the area of an upper surface of a key top of the ZL/ZR button and improve the operability of the ZL/ZR button.

Conventionally, there is a game controller for a game operation. For example, there is a game controller in which L and R buttons are provided in left and right end portions on an upper surface of a housing, and ZL and ZR buttons are provided on the back surface side of the housing.
However, there is room for improvement in the operability of an operation button provided on an upper surface of a housing.
Therefore, it is an object of the exemplary embodiment to improve the operability of an operation button provided on an upper surface of a housing.
To achieve the above object, an exemplary embodiment employs the following configurations.
An example of the exemplary embodiment is a game controller. The game controller includes: a holding portion configured to be held by a user; a first button configured to allow the user to operate the first button with a finger of the user while holding the holding portion, the first button having a lower portion and an upper portion that is configured to be contacted by the user's finger, and a second button placed on the upper surface of the main body and configured to allow the user to operate the second button with the same finger of the user that operates the first button, the second button being located closer to a front surface of the main body than the first button. The first button is placed on an upper surface of a main body of the game controller. The upper portion of the first button includes a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the lower portion in a direction of a back surface of the game controller and a direction of a side surface of the game controller.
Based on the above, it is possible to make large a key top of a first button provided on an upper surface of a game controller and make it easy for a user to operate the first button. Thus, it is possible to improve the operability of the first button provided on the upper surface of the game controller.
Further, in another configuration, the protruding portion may be protrude continuously from a back surface side to a side surface side of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, the first button includes a protruding portion that protrudes continuously from a back surface side to a side surface side of the game controller. This makes it easy for the user to operate the first button.
Further, in another configuration, a portion of the protruding portion from the back surface side to the side surface side may have a round shape.
According to the above configuration, a portion of the protruding portion from the back surface side to the side surface side is formed into a round shape. Thus, the finger of the user is likely to fit the protruding portion. This improves the operability.
Further, in another configuration, the protruding portion may be disposed such that an upper surface of the protruding portion forms an integrated surface with an upper surface of a portion of the first button other than the protruding portion.
According to the above configuration, an upper surface of the first button is formed as an integrated surface with a protruding portion and a portion other than the protruding portion. That is, the upper surface of the first button is formed such that there is no difference in level at the boundary between the protruding portion and the portion other than the protruding portion. Thus, there is no discomfort when the user operates the first button.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may be on a side surface side of the game controller. The direction of the side surface in which the protruding portion protrudes may be a direction of a side surface on a side on which the first button is placed in the game controller.
According to the above configuration, for example, in a case where the first button is provided on the right side of the game controller, a protruding portion of the first button protrudes in the right direction. Consequently, for example, even a user having a short finger can operate the first button by placing their finger from the direction of the side surface of the game controller (e.g., the right direction) to the protruding portion of the first button (a portion protruding in the direction of the side surface; e.g., a portion protruding in the right direction).
Further, in another configuration, an end portion of the protruding portion in the direction of the back surface may have a round shape as viewed from a side surface side of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, an end portion of a protruding portion in the direction of a back surface is formed into a round shape. Thus, for example, there is less feeling of discomfort when the user presses an end portion of the first button in the direction of the back surface than in a case where the end portion of the protruding portion in the direction of the back surface is pointed.
Further, in another configuration, an end portion of the first button on a center side of the game controller may have a slope portion.
According to the above configuration, in an end portion of the first button on a center side of the game controller, a slope portion is provided. This makes it possible to make it easy for, for example, a user having a long finger to operate the first button.
Further, in another configuration, an end portion of the first button in the direction of the side surface may have a slope portion, the slope portion including a portion sloping at a first sloping angle and a portion sloping at a second sloping angle greater than the first sloping angle.
According to the above configuration, in an end portion of the first button in the direction of a side surface, a slope portion is provided. Thus, it is easy for the user to operate the first button. For example, a user having a short finger can easily operate the first button by placing the tip of the finger on the slope portion in the end portion of the first button in the direction of the side surface. Further, the slope portion slopes in two steps. Thus, it is possible to reduce discomfort when the user operates the first button as compared with a case where a single slope portion has a steep sloping shape.
Further, in another configuration, the further in the direction of the side surface of the game controller, the further downward the second button may slope.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a second button to a side of the first button closer to a front surface of the game controller. The further in the direction of the side surface of the game controller, the further downward the second button slopes. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously pressing the second button when operating the first button on a back surface side.
Further, in another configuration, an end portion of the second button in the direction of the side surface may have a slope portion, the slope portion including a portion sloping at a first sloping angle and a portion sloping at a second sloping angle greater than the first sloping angle.
According to the above configuration, the further in the direction of the side surface of the game controller, the further downward the second button slopes. Further, in an end portion of the second button in the direction of the side surface, a slope portion including a portion sloping at a first sloping angle and a portion sloping at a second sloping angle greater than the first sloping angle (a slope portion having two steps) is provided. This makes it easy for the user to operate the first button. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously pressing the second button when operating the first button on the back surface side.
Further, in another configuration, the further in the direction of the side surface of the game controller, the smaller a width of an upper surface of the second button.
According to the above configuration, the width of a second button is small on a side surface of the game controller. Thus, when the user operates the first button provided on a back surface side, the finger of the user is less likely to touch the second button. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the second button.
Further, in another configuration, the second button may include a slope portion in an end portion of the second button on a front surface side of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, an end portion, on a front surface side, of a second button provided on a front surface slopes. Thus, it is easy to access the first button and the second button from the front surface of the game controller.
Further, in another configuration, a stationary surface may be disposed between the first button and the second button.
According to the above configuration, a stationary surface (e.g., a division wall) is disposed between the first button and a second button, whereby the user can use the stationary surface as a place to put their finger when the user does not operate the first button and the second button. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the first button and the second button.
Further, in another configuration, a height of an end portion of the stationary surface on the back surface side of the game controller may be smaller than a height of an end portion of the first button on the front surface side of the game controller when the first button is pressed.
According to the above configuration, even when the user presses the first button, an end portion of the stationary surface on a back surface side can be lower than an end portion of the first button on the front surface side. Thus, it is possible to make a finger less likely to be caught between the stationary surface and the first button.
Further, in another configuration, an end portion of the second button on a center side of the game controller may have a slope portion.
According to the above configuration, in an end portion of a second button on a center side of the game controller, a slope portion is provided. Thus, for example, it is possible to make it easy for even a user having a long finger to operate the second button.
Further, in another configuration, the second button may be supported to be pivotable by a second shaft placed on the center side of the game controller and extend from the second shaft in the direction of the side surface of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, a second shaft is located on the center side. Thus, the user can press the second button by pressing a portion closer to a side surface of the game controller than the second shaft.
Further, in another configuration, the game controller further includes an operation section configured to be contacted by the user's finger may be on the front surface of the main body. With respect to a straight line parallel with a direction of pressing the operation section, an end portion of the first button on a front surface side may be lower than an end portion of the second button on a back surface side.
According to the above configuration, at least at the boundary between the first button and a second button, the heights of the first button and the second button are different from each other. Thus, the user can recognize the first button and the second button only by touching the first button and the second button with their finger. Thus, it is possible to prevent erroneous pressing.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may be lower than the second button from the end portion of the first button on the front surface side to an end portion of the first button on the back surface side.
According to the above configuration, the user can recognize the first button and the second button only by touching the first button and the second button with their finger. Thus, it is possible to prevent erroneous pressing.
Further, in another configuration, An end portion of the first button on a center side of the game controller may be located closer to the side surface of the game controller than an end portion of the second button on the center side of the game controller is.
According to the above configuration, a second button is placed closer to the center of the game controller, and the first button is placed closer to a side surface of the game controller. Thus, for example, the user rotates their finger about the base of the finger and thereby can move the finger from the position of the second button to the position of the first button. This makes it possible to make it easy for the user to operate the first button and the second button.
Further, in another configuration, when the game controller is placed on a planar surface with a front surface of the game controller facing up, the game controller may be supported on a back surface of the main body.
According to the above configuration, in a case where the game controller is placed on a planar surface, it is possible to support the load of the game controller on a back surface of a housing. Thus, even if the game controller is placed on a planar surface, it is possible to prevent the first button from being pressed.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may be curved in a direction of an upper surface of the first button such that the closer to a back surface side of the game controller, the greater a curvature of the curve.
According to the above configuration, the first button is gradually warped upward. Thus, it is possible to make it easy for the user to operate the first button.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may be supported to be pivotable by a first shaft extending in a left-right direction of the game controller. The first shaft may be configured to be inserted only from a center side of the game controller in the direction of the side surface of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to extend the first button to an end portion of a side surface of the game controller.
Further, in another configuration, the first shaft may be inserted into a shaft insertion opening placed in an end portion of the game controller on a side surface side of the game controller, and a buffer material may be disposed within the shaft insertion opening.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to firmly fix the first button. Thus, it is possible to prevent rattling.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may include a first detection section configured to detect that the first button is pressed. The second button may include a second detection section configured to detect that the second button is pressed. The first detection section may be located further in the direction of the side surface of the game controller than the second detection section is.
According to the above configuration, a first detection section of the first button is placed on a side surface side of the game controller, and a second detection section of a second button is placed on a center side of the game controller, whereby it is possible to make it easy for the user to operate the first button and the second button.
Further, in another configuration, the first button may include a first detection section configured to detect that the first button is pressed. The first button may be supported to be pivotable by a first shaft extending in a left-right direction of the game controller. The first button, the first detection section, and the first shaft may be integrated.
According to the above configuration, the first button, a first shaft for fixing the first button, and a first detection section are formed in an integrated manner, whereby it is possible to make an error in the manufacture of the first button small. Thus, it is possible to prevent rattling when the user operates the first button.
Further, another example of the exemplary embodiment is a game controller. A game controller includes: a holding portion configured to be held by a user; a first button placed on an upper surface of a main body of the game controller and configured to allow the user to operate the first button with a finger of the user while holding the holding portion, the first button having a lower portion and an upper portion that is configured to be contacted by the user's finger; and a second button placed on the upper surface of the game controller and closer to a front surface of the game controller than the first button is. The upper portion of the first button includes a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the lower portion at least in a direction of a back surface of the game controller. The first button and the second button may be so formed that lengths of the first button and the second button are longer in a first direction extending between opposite side surfaces of the game controller than lengths of the first button and the second button in a second direction extending between the back surface and the front surface of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to make large a key top of a first button provided on an upper surface of a game controller and make it easy for a user to operate the first button. Further, not the lengths in the direction of a back surface of the first button and a second button but the lengths in the direction of a side surface of the first button and the second button are long. Thus, it is possible to smoothly switch an operation between the first button and the second button.
Further, another example of the exemplary embodiment is a game controller. A game controller includes: a holding portion configured to be held by a user; a first button placed on an upper surface of a main body of the game controller and configured to allow the user to operate the first button with a finger of the user while holding the holding portion; and a second button placed on the upper surface of the main body of the game controller and closer to a front surface of the game controller than the first button is. A first end portion of the first button adjacent to a center of the game controller has a first slope portion. A second end portion of the second button adjacent to the center of the game controller has a second slope portion. A third end portion of the second button adjacent to a side surface of the game controller has a third slope portion, the third slope portion including a portion sloping at a first sloping angle and a portion sloping at a second sloping angle greater than the first sloping angle.
According to the above configuration, on an upper surface of a game controller, a first button, a front surface side, and a second button are provided on a back surface side. End portions of the first button and the second button on a center side slope. An end portion of the second button in the direction of a side surface slopes in two steps. Thus, it is easy for even a user having a long finger to operate the first button and the second button. For example, in a case where a user having a long finger operates the first button, the user operates the first button by placing their finger on a first slope portion in the end portion of the first button on the center side. In this case, the finger may hit the end portion of the second button in the direction of the side surface and erroneously press the second button. However, the end portion of the second button in the direction of the side surface slopes. Thus, it is possible to prevent such an erroneous operation.
Further, another example of the exemplary embodiment is a game controller. A game controller includes: a holding portion configured to be held by a user; a first button placed on an upper surface of a main body of the game controller and configured to allow the user to operate the first button with a finger of the user while holding the holding portion, the first button having a lower portion and an upper portion that is configured to be contacted by the user's finger; and a second button placed on the upper surface of the main body of the game controller and closer to a front surface of the game controller than the first button is. A stationary surface is disposed between the first button and the second button such that the first button is separated from the second button by the stationary surface, and the upper surface of the first button includes a protruding portion that protrudes at least in a direction of a side surface of the game controller.
According to the above configuration, a stationary surface is provided between a first button and a second button. Thus, a user can place their finger between the first button and the second button when the user does not operate the first button and the second button. In this case, in the case of a user having a short finger, it may be difficult for the finger to reach the first button. However, the first button includes a protruding portion protruding in the direction of a side surface. Thus, it is easy for even a user having a short finger to operate the first button.
According to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to improve the operability of an operation button provided on an upper surface of a game controller.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Provided is a card insertion and ejection mechanism to be mounted forward of a card reader structured to convey a card so that a longitudinal direction of the card is coincided with a conveying direction of the card, the card insertion and ejection mechanism being capable of preventing skimming and capable of sending into the card reader the card in an orientation capable of being processed by the card reader even when the card is inserted into the card insertion and ejection mechanism in any orientation. A card insertion and ejection mechanism takes in a card to a turning position when the card is inserted into a card insertion port with front and rear sides of the card directed correctly so that a short widthwise direction of the card is coincided with an “X” direction, and controls a card turning and conveying mechanism in a turning direction and at a turning angle based on a result of determination as to an orientation of the inserted card, to turn the card. The card insertion and ejection mechanism does not take in the card when the card is inserted into the card insertion port so that a longitudinal direction of the card is coincided with the “X” direction or when the card is inserted into the card insertion port with the front and rear sides of the card directed oppositely.

Conventionally, a card reader has been widely utilized, which performs reading of magnetic data recorded in a card and recording of magnetic data to the card. In an industry such as a financial institution where a card reader is utilized, illegal acquisition of magnetic data of a card by a fraudulent person who attaches a magnetic head to a card insertion part of a card reader in inserting the card into the card reader, in other words, so-called skimming has conventionally become a large issue. In order to cope with the issue, various methods have been proposed for preventing reading of magnetic data using a magnetic head for skimming (hereinafter, referred to as a "skimming magnetic head") (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1 discloses a card insertion and ejection part to be mounted forward of a card reader. The card insertion and ejection part includes a card conveying mechanism structured to convey a card, and a card rotating mechanism structured to rotate a card. A card which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape is inserted into the card insertion and ejection part so that a short widthwise direction of the card is coincided with an inserting direction of the card. Further, in the card insertion and ejection part, the card which has been inserted so that the short widthwise direction of the card is coincided with the inserting direction of the card is turned in a certain direction at a certain angle by the card rotating mechanism so that a longitudinal direction of the card is coincided with the inserting direction of the card, and then is sent into the card reader by the card conveying mechanism. In the card reader, the card is processed after the card is conveyed so that the longitudinal direction of the card is coincided with the conveying direction of the card.
A card in conformity with the international standard and JIS standard is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In such a card, a magnetic stripe in which magnetic data are recorded is formed along a longitudinal direction of the card. In the card insertion and ejection part described in Patent Literature 1, the card is inserted so that the short widthwise direction of the card is coincided with the inserting direction of the card. Therefore, even if a skimming magnetic head is attached to the card insertion and ejection part, as long as the card insertion and ejection part is mounted forward of the card reader, the skimming magnetic head is incapable of reading magnetic data in inserting the card into the card insertion and ejection part. In other words, it is possible to prevent skimming in such a manner that the card insertion and ejection part described in Patent Literature 1 is mounted forward of a card reader.
Of cards in conformity with the international standard and JIS standard, as shown in, for example, FIG. 11, a card 102 has a rear face 102a on which a magnetic stripe 102b is formed. In the card 102, the magnetic stripe 102b is formed at a predetermined position with one end face 102c in a short widthwise direction of the card 102 as a reference, in the short widthwise direction of the card 102, and a distance between the other end face 102d in the short widthwise direction of the card 102 and the magnetic stripe 102b is considerably longer than a distance between the end face 102c and the magnetic stripe 102b.

Card insertion and ejection mechanism and card processing device


A passive microwave component with constant impedance and electrically adjustable phase length utilizes a microstrip or stripline transmission line geometry incorporating a composite dielectric having both ferroelectric (FE) and ferromagnetic (FM) properties. These properties can be varied with externally applied electric and magnetic fields such that the phase length (or electrical length) of the line can be varied without varying the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. Thus, the component can be electrically tuned without adversely affecting the impedance match. The component can be used in microwave devices such as phase shifters, frequency filters, directional couplers, power dividers and combiners, and impedance-matching networks.

The present invention relates generally to microwave components, and more specifically, to tunable microwave components constructed using composite dielectrics.
Conventional microwave components are typically designed by establishing specific values of the characteristic impedance and the electrical length of transmission line segments within a particular component. Maintaining specific characteristic impedances and electrical lengths is desirable so that a circuit or system can operate within particular design parameters. As a result, circuits are typically designed relative to these values such that a circuit or system can achieve desired performance. To establish specific values of characteristic impedance and electrical length, typical tunable microwave components are often constructed utilizing materials having fixed electric permittivity and magnetic permeability, as permittivity and permeability contribute to the calculation of such values.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, tunable microwave devices have also been fabricated using either tunable magnetic or ferroelectric components. However, using only magnetic or electrical tuning components can result in an impedance mismatch because the characteristic impedance of a transmission line is directly proportional to the square root of the ratio of magnetic permeability to electric permittivity. The mismatch will become apparent when a device that incorporates only magnetic or electrical tuning components, such as a tunable microwave filter, is attempted to be tuned. This impedance mismatch can cause transmission problems and reduced component performance, and reduced performance of the system in which the device is included. Furthermore, the use of other tunable materials, such as ferrite rods, FETs, PIN diodes and varactor diodes (also called veracitors) in constructing frequency agile systems has often lead to undesirable high microwave losses. Many of these devices, while performing their tuning function, highly attenuate the microwave signals or cause excessive radiation of the microwave signals. Additionally, many of the currently used tunable devices cause intermodulation distortion (IMD) when information is modulated onto the microwave carrier signal.
Low-loss, high speed, tunable microwave components are useful in a variety of electrical systems, and may be necessary for the construction of certain systems, such as next generation communication systems. For example, next generation systems require that microwave losses be minimized to achieve suitable signal to noise ratios, and that microwave devices enable switching speeds that are increased over current speeds by one or two orders of magnitude. This is clearly evident in applications involving barium strontium titanate (BST) thin films, which are deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) onto dielectric substrates and are currently being used to develop frequency agile microwave electronics. Nevertheless, the characteristic impedance of these devices suffers a large change when the dielectric constant is reduced by a large factor, such as a factor of four or more. This reduction in the dielectric constant could occur, for example, during the process of tuning the filter.
Therefore, in order to construct next generation systems, high performance, efficient, frequency agile microwave components are needed that have relatively low microwave losses, constant impedance, and high switching speeds, for use in higher speed electronic systems.
The present invention discloses tunable microwave components including a strip line or microstrip transmission line having a composite dielectric constructed with both ferroelectric (FE) and ferromagnetic (FM) materials. The FE and FM properties of these respective materials can be varied with externally applied electric and magnetic fields such that the electrical length (or phase length) of the transmission line can be varied without varying the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. Thus, the component can be electrically tuned to operate at different frequencies without adversely affecting the impedance matching of the circuitry. As a result, a microwave component according to the present invention can be used in a variety of microwave devices, such as phase shifters, frequency filters, directional couplers, power dividers and combiners, impedance matching networks, and the like.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a tunable low-loss microwave component, in communication with a power source producing an applied voltage and an applied current. The tunable component includes at least one ferroelectric (FE) material, wherein the at least one FE material changes electric permittivity with the applied voltage, and at least one ferromagnetic (FM) material, wherein the at least one FM material changes magnetic permeability with the applied current, such that the tunable microwave component is tunable to at least a first frequency when the component is a non-bias state, and tunable to at least a second frequency when the component is in a bias state, and wherein the tunable microwave component has a constant characteristic impedance at the first and second frequencies.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the tunable microwave component has a constant electrical length at the first and second frequencies. According to another aspect of the present invention, the at least one FE material and the at least one FM material can be mixed to create a FE/FM composition having both FE and FM material properties. Furthermore, the FE material can include barium strontium titanate. Additionally, according to the invention, the tunable component can include a first conductor in communication with the power source, wherein voltage and current applied via the first conductor can cause the tunable microwave component to enter the bias state. Moreover, the tunable microwave component can be a microwave transmission line.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a microwave transmission line. The microwave transmission line includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a central conductor disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor. The microwave transmission line also includes a composite, comprising at least one ferroelectric material and at least one ferromagnetic material, wherein the composite substantially surrounds the center conductor, such that the transmission line is tunable to at least a first frequency when the composite is a non-bias state, and tunable to at least a second frequency when the composite is in a bias state, and wherein the microwave transmission line has a constant characteristic impedance at the first and second frequencies.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the composite can include a mixture of the at least one ferroelectric material and the at least one ferromagnetic material. According to another aspect of the invention, the composite can include one block of the at least one ferroelectric material and one block of the at least one ferromagnetic material, and wherein the block of the at least one ferroelectric material is located adjacent the center conductor and adjacent to the first conductor, and wherein the block of the at least one ferromagnetic material is located adjacent the center conductor and adjacent to the second conductor. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the composite can include alternating layers of the at least one ferroelectric material and the at least one ferromagnetic material.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method of creating a tunable, low-loss transmission line having outer conductors and a central conductor. The method includes providing at least one ferromagnetic (FM) material, providing at least one ferroelectric (FE) material, combining the at least one FM material and the at least one FE material to produce a FM/FE composition, surrounding the center conductor with the FM/FE composition, and sandwiching the FM/FE composite and center conductor in between the outer conductors.
According to one aspect of the present invention, combining the at least one FM material and the at least one FE material includes mixing the at least one FM material and the at least one FE material to produce a mixed FM/FE composition. Furthermore, combining the at least one FM material and the at least one FE material can include alternating layers of the at least one FE material and the at least one FM material to produce a layered FM/FE composite. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, combining the at least one FM material and the at least one FE material includes locating a block of the at least one FE material adjacent the center conductor and adjacent one of the outer conductors, and locating a block of the at least one FM material adjacent the center conductor and adjacent one of the other outer conductors.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method of constructing a microstrip circuit. The method includes providing a thick film FM/FE composite, including at least one FM material and at least one FE material, disposing microstrip transmission lines on the thick film FM/FE composite, locating the thick film FM/FE composite directly adjacent a microwave substrate, and providing a ground plane located adjacent the microwave substrate on a side of the microwave substrate located opposite the thick film FM/FE composite.

Tunable microwave components utilizing ferroelectric and ferromagnetic composite dielectrics and methods for making same


There are provided a wireless communication method of configuring a measurement resource and a wireless communication device therefor. The method comprises determining a measurement resource to be disregarded when the number of measurement resources configured in one subframe exceeds the maximum number of measurement resources that a user equipment is able to measure in one subframe, wherein the measurement resource with lower priority is determined to be disregarded, and the measurement resource is not disregarded A times within the duration of N subframes, where A is an integer larger than 1, N corresponds to one plus B*periodicity of the measurement resource, and B is an integer equal to or larger than 1.

In Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) Rel-11, it was agreed to configure measurement resource (MR) to each user equipment (UE) for at least the purpose of deriving Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). A UE may report multiple CQIs. For each CQI, the signal part and interference part may be measured based on different MRs, respectively. To reduce specification effort and keep backward compatibility, the MRs are Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) in Rel-10. The MRs for signal measurement are non-zero-power (NZP) CSI-RS, while the MRs for interference measurement can be zero-power CSI-RS.
It is noted that UE complexity increases with the number of configured MRs. Because UE needs to prepare for possible aperiodic CSI request, UE has to measure all the configured MRs even when some MR(s) does not correspond to any configured CSI reports. Therefore, it is sensible to apply some constraint on MR configurations to limit UE processing requirements.
The most concerned UE complexity is how many MRs can be processed within one subframe. As a consequence, the constraint is to limit/specify the maximum number of MR(s) that can be measured in one subframe.
However, in reality, a network (NW) may be difficult to avoid configuring a certain number of MRs in one subframe for a UE, especially when the NW prefers a flexible Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation, in which MRs corresponding to various CoMP operations need to be configured. Therefore, the actually configured MRs may out-number the maximum MRs that a UE can measure, which is called MR collision in this specification. MR collision cannot be avoided even by elaborate MR allocation in some cases. For example, if joint transmission (JT) among 3 cells (macro/pico/pico) is supported, it is not possible to avoid 3 MRs in one subframe. FIG. 1 shows an example of MR collision. In FIG. 1, the number of actually configured MRs (MR1, MR2, and MR3) in some subframes is 3, while the maximum number of MRs that a UE can measure in one subframe is only 2; therefore, MR collision occurs in some subframes, which are embraced by the ellipses in FIG. 1.
One solution to solve the above problem that actually configured MRs out-number maximum MRs that a UE can measure is to disregard (not measure) all MRs within the subframe. However, this would cause inaccurate CQI and consequently reduce system throughput. The preferred UE behavior is to disregard only the over-numbered MR(s). UE may calculate CQIs related to disregarded MR(s) based on old MRs. Another alternative is to report "out-of-range" CQI in this case and not calculate CQIs. However, this alternative is not preferred because the out-dated MR may be still useful.
Which MR(s) are to be disregarded may be left as UE implementation and not specified. However, in this case, the eNode B (eNB) does not know which CQIs are calculated based on old MR(s). In other words, eNB has no information on which CQI(s) are out of date and could make wrong scheduling decisions. Therefore, it is preferred to specify and/or configure which MR(s) are disregarded at UE side.
The most straightforward way to disregard is based on priority, i.e., the MR with lower priority is disregarded. The priority may be explicitly signaled from eNB, or can be implicitly configured based on the order of MR configuration. However, in this case, the MR with lowest priority is always disregarded. If the collision occurs in all subframes containing the MR with lowest priority, the CQI related to the lowest priority is completely wrong. This is strongly not preferred. FIG. 2 shows an example of disregarding based on priority. In this example, three MRs are configured, in which MR1 has the highest priority (most important), MR2 has middle priority (second important), and MR3 has the lowest priority (least important). It is shown that MR3 is always disregarded in the subframes with collision since it has the lowest priority. Therefore, CQI related to MR3 is completely wrong, which is not acceptable.

Wireless communication method of configuring measurement resource, and wireless communication device therefor


Disclosed is a novel surfactant fluid and an oil recovery method using the fluid for recovering oil from subterranean formations thereof by surfactant waterflooding process. The fluid comprises water and at least one surfactant, preferably including an alkylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate or an alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonate and as an additive for reducing the rigidity of the interfacial film, a silica-polydialkylsiloxane such as a silica-polydimethylsiloxane. Reduction in rididity of the interfacial film occupied by surfactant molecules of which the hydrophobic portion is dissolved in the oil phase and the hydrophilic portion is dissolved in the aqueous phase, improves the effectiveness of the surfactant fluid for recovering oil from subterranean formations.

Petroleum may be recovered from subterranean, petroleum-containing formations by penetrating the formation with one or more wells and pumping or permitting petroleum to flow to the surface through these wells, only if certain conditions exist in the formation. The petroleum must be present in an adequately high concentration in the formation, and there must be sufficient permeability or interconnected flow channels within the formation to permit the flow of fluids therethrough if sufficient pressure is applied to the fluid. When the formation has natural energy present in the form of an underlying active water drive, gas dissolved in the petroleum which can exert pressure to drive the petroleum to the producing well, or a high pressure gas cap above the petroleum-saturated formation, this natural energy is ordinarily utilized to recover petroleum in what is commonly referred to as primary recovery. When this natural energy source is depleted, or in the instance of those formations which do not contain sufficient natural energy within the formation to allow primary recovery, some form of supplemental recovery process or enhanced recovery process must be applied to the formation in order to extract additional petroleum therefrom. Supplemental recovery is sometimes referred to as secondary recovery or tertiary recovery, although in fact it may be primary, secondary or tertiary in sequence of employment.
The most commonly employed form of supplemental recovery is waterflooding, which comprises injecting water into the subterranean, petroleum-containing formation to displace petroleum toward a producing well from which it is recovered to the surface of the earth. While waterflooding is successful and economical, water does not displace petroleum efficiently, and therefore a substantial amount of petroleum remains in the formation after conclusion of waterflooding. This has been well recognized in the literature pertaining to oil recovery methods, and there are many prior art references suggesting incorporating surface active agents or surfactants in the flood water for the purpose of reducing the interfacial tension between the injected water and the formation petroleum, which accomplishes recovery of a greater portion of the residual oil after primary production than is possible with waterflooding.
Petroleum sulfonate and other organic sulfonates, as well as organic sulfates, have been proposed in many prior art references for surfactant waterflooding. While these materials are inexpensive and effective under ideal conditions, they are very sensitive to formation water salinity, and cannot be used alone in formations containing water whose salinity exceeds about 30,000 parts per million total dissolved solids. Alkylpolyethoxy sulfates and alkylarylpolyethoxy sulfates have also been proposed for surfactant waterflooding in other prior art references. While these materials are effective in high salinity environments, they are not stable at temperatures in excess of about 150.degree. F. due to hydrolysis of the sulfate, and so their use is restricted to high salinity, low temperature formations.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,827,497; 3,890,239; and 3,977,471 describe surfactant waterflooding oil recovery processes using alkylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonates or alkylarylpolyalkoxyalkylene sulfonates, and recognize that these surfactants are stable at temperatures as high as 240.degree. F. and tolerant of salinities as high as 220,000 parts per million total dissolved solids.
It is well recognized in the literature that surfactant flooding is effective in mobilizing oil as a result of the drastic reduction in interfacial tension between the oil phase and the aqueous surfactant solution. When an aqueous, surfactant-containing fluid contacts oil in a formation, interfaces are formed of interfacial films occupied by surfactant molecules of which the hydrophobic portion is dissolved in the oil phase and the hydrophilic portion is dissolved in the aqueous phase. The physical properties of the interfacial films play a role in oil mobilization during the course of surfactant waterflooding. If rigid interfacial films are formed, oil mobilization through porous media and banking of oil during surfactant flooding is greatly hindered. Interfacial film rigidity can be determined by measuring the relative film pressure of the crude oil/water interface. It is reported in the literature that crude oils from various reservoirs have different interfacial film pressures. Lowering the interfacial film rigidity of a surfactant system should increase the effectiveness of the surfactant fluid to mobilize oil and thereby should improve the overall tertiary oil recovery efficiency of surfactant flooding.
In view of the foregoing discussion, it can be appreciated that there is a substantial need for an additive for an aqueous surfactant fluid to be employed in surfactant waterflooding oil recovery processes, which effectively reduces the rigidity of the interfacial film, provided the cost of the additive is small compared to the improvement in oil recovery effectiveness resulting from employment thereof.

Surfacant waterflooding oil recovery method


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a wafer for supporting the semiconductor device. An insulation layer is disposed over a top surface of the wafer. The method includes forming a first interconnect structure over the top surface of the wafer with temperatures in excess of 200° C., forming a metal pillar over the wafer in electrical contact with the first interconnect structure, connecting a semiconductor component to the first interconnect structure, and forming encapsulant over the semiconductor component. The encapsulant is etched to expose a portion of the metal pillar. A buffer layer is optionally formed over the encapsulant. The method includes forming a second interconnect structure over the encapsulant in electrical contact with the metal pillar with temperatures below 200° C., and removing a portion of a backside of the wafer opposite the top surface of the wafer.

Semiconductors, or computer chips, are found in virtually every electrical product manufactured today. Chips are used not only in very sophisticated industrial and commercial electronic equipment, but also in many household and consumer items such as televisions, clothes washers and dryers, radios, and telephones. As products become smaller but more functional, there is a need to include more chips in the smaller products to perform the functionality. The reduction in size of cellular telephones is one example of how more and more capabilities are incorporated into smaller and smaller electronic products.
As electronic products become increasingly miniaturized, it is desirable to combine several chips into a single system package. By combining what were previously separate and distinct chips into a single package, manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced. Although preferable, the integration of chips or other circuitry formed using thin film processing techniques on wafers with other chips and packages can present many challenges. For example, today's thin-film manufacturing processes require the use of expensive, specialty substrate materials when forming wafer-level packages. Although a PCB may be used as a substrate, they are relatively delicate and may be damaged by the high temperatures used during thin-film processing. Also, in today's wafer-level package devices, any connected IC chips are generally limited to a 2D layout configuration. As a result, the number of IC chips that can be coupled directly to a substrate is greatly limited in accordance with the geometry of that substrate. Furthermore, because the chips or dies are generally mounted over tape or Copper (Cu) foil, inter-wafer, and intra-wafer registration variation of die mounted on the wafer is significant and negatively impacts system performance.
In many applications, it is desirable to achieve wafer level package integration with one or more semiconductor devices. The interconnect between the semiconductor die has been achieved with through hole conductive vias or through hole plating and redistribution layers (RDL). However, the formation of the interconnect structure, including RDLs, is typically performed on an organic substrate having a low glass transition temperature (Tg). The substrate Tg is typically less than 200° C., which limits processing options for the interconnect structure.

Wafer level die integration and method therefor


An oral airway which is inserted into the pharynx of a patient through the mouth while the patient is undergoing general anesthesia or is undergoing respiratory treatment such as is carried out with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The oral airway includes a curved hollow, tubular longitudinally extending body member. The body member has a distal end portion for insertion into the patient's mouth and pharynx and a proximal end portion for location at the mouth of the patient. The distal end portion of the body member of the oral airway is extended and shaped so as to be operative to seat deep in the patient's hypo-pharynx and surround the patient's epiglottis and glottis, thereby to hold the patient's soft tissue away from the air channel opening of the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a class of medical devices commonly referred to as oral airways which are inserted through a patient's mouth and into the patient's pharynx while the patient is undergoing general anesthesia or is undergoing respiratory treatment such as is carried out with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a perilaryngeal oral airway having a distal end portion which is positioned directly around the patient's epiglottis and larynx thereby to maximize the airflow in the vicinity of the glottis and not obstruct airflow into the patient's glottis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Oral airways were introduced into the practice of anesthesia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation several decades ago for two basic purposes. First, they prevent the patient's biting down on and occlusion of a previously placed oral endotracheal tube. Second, and most important, oral airways help to provide a patient airway that allows mask ventilation to be carried out by the practitioner.
For most patients, mask ventilation is carried out successfully by insertion of an oral airway and by a variety of physical adjustments, such as extension of the patient's neck and elevation of the patient's jaw. However, in some patients, no matter what physical adjustments are made or the particular oral airway which is inserted, mask ventilation cannot be successfully achieved. Such cases are literally life-threatening as hypoxemia and death can quickly ensue if the patient's blood is deprived of oxygen due to a lack of ventilation.
When mask ventilation (even with the use of an oral airway) cannot be carried out, there are multiple mechanisms responsible. Most significantly, soft tissue structures in the hypo-pharynx (the area between where conventional oral airways end and the glottis opens into the trachea) collapse inwardly and obstruct airflow. This collapse occurs from both an antero-posterior direction, as well as from the sides of the hypo-pharynx. Unfortunately, all oral airways which have been introduced into practice to date end bluntly well above the epiglottis (the cartilaginous structure just above the glottis or laryngeal opening) and glottis and thus place patients at risk for significant airway obstruction. Other mechanisms of airway obstruction which occur while using oral airways include the patient having large lips covering the outside opening of the oral airway with subsequent inadequate airflow through the nasal passages (due to the solid posterior wall of the airway limiting passage of air into the airway at the level of the nasopharynx).
Additionally, all oral airways are comprised of a hard plastic material throughout their length with no variation in softness between one end of the oral airway and the opposite end. As a result, the distal end (i.e., the end which first enters the mouth and passes down into the pharynx of the patient) often bruises or otherwise damages soft mucosal surfaces of the patient during insertion or once the oral airway has been seated in place.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,126 (Baildon) discloses an oral airway formed of plastic which includes an air passageway extending longitudinally through the airway. The distal end has a projecting solid anterior portion which serves as an "epiglottis elevator". As such, the oral airway is blunt-shaped in configuration and ends well above the glottis. For this reason, the Baildon oral airway suffers from the problems discussed above in that it fails to provide any structure to prevent the collapse of soft tissue structures in the hypo-pharynx.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,054,135 and 4,067,331 (both to Berman) relate to an intubating pharyngeal airway having a side access for passage of an endotracheal tube. The airway includes a blunt end on the anteriorly extending wall which is designed to fit into the vallecula (area between the epiglottis and tongue). Accordingly, the devices disclosed in both of Berman's patents are similar to the device of Baildon in that they can detrimentally allow soft tissue structures to invaginate inward and thereby occlude the passage of air.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,665 (Moses) discloses an oropharyngeal airway wherein the outer diameter of the body portion progressively increases from the end closest to the mouth to the opposite end thereof so as to relieve any obstruction to the flow of air by the base of the tongue falling back on the posterior pharyngeal wall. However, the airway of Moses likewise suffers from the problems discussed in detail above in that the blunt-shaped end terminates well above the glottis, thereby allowing possible soft tissue obstruction to occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,320 (Augustine) discloses a tracheal intubation guide which similarly seats above the glottis. Moreover, the device of Augustine functions as a guide for placing an endotracheal tube in a "blind" manner and is neither designed for nor could it possibly function to allow mask ventilation to be carried out.
In addition, for some patients it is important to use an airway device which provides a seal within the patient's airway (trachea, oro- or hypopharynx) in order to better allow positive pressure ventilation to be accomplished. Traditionally, this has been achieved by using an endotracheal tube passed between a patient's vocal cords. Recently, in an effort to avoid the deleterious effects of tracheal intubation (e.g., bronchospasm, dental injury, and cardiovascular stimulation), the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been introduced into clinical practice. While providing a seal with which to administer positive pressure ventilation, there are several potential problems when using an LMA. First, the device is easily malpositioned so that ventilation is not possible. Second, by directly covering the glottic aperture, trauma to the glottic structures (arrhytenoid cartilages, vocal cords) can occur. In addition, the cost of this product (over $200) becomes a factor when limitations to reuse occur due to physical damage of the device or accidental loss.
Because of the above limitations of the LMA, a cuffed oro-pharyngeal airway has been introduced into clinical practice. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,063 (Greenberg) describes such a device as an oro-pharyngeal cuff placed over a conventional oral airway. However, this device has several significant limitations which prevent it from functioning adequately. First, the airway suffers from the problems of those previously discussed in that it ends well above the glottis, thereby allowing soft tissue obstruction to impair the flow of oxygen to the lungs. Second, with the cuff placed so far proximally in the oro-pharynx, the device tends to push itself out of the patient's mouth, thereby requiring that the device be secured in place by means of a strap placed around the patient's head. Finally, the cuff is positioned so far proximally in the patient's airway that it often allows leakage of oxygen and anesthetic gases around the cuff, thereby preventing the formation of an air-tight seal. This, of course, makes positive pressure ventilation impossible in those patients.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,756,244, 4,612,927, and 4,825,858 are of background interest with respect to the present invention.


An amorphous magnetic film is produced by irradiating laser beams onto a magnetic metallic target and depositing an evaporated material on a substrate. During or after the evaporation process, the film formed on the substrate is annealed at a temperature lower than a crystallization temperature. The annealing process enables elimination of stresses from the film, thereby improving soft magnetic properties.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of producing an amorphous magnetic film, and more particularly to a method in which a laser beam is irradiated to a magnetic metal target so as to generate an evaporant which is deposited on a substrate so as to form a magnetic film having a composition identical to that of the target.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore magnetism has been widely applied to fields such as data recording and remote controlling. Specifically, magnetic thin films have been very important for improving functions of magnetic recording devices and magnetic sensors, for example. Various attempts and studies have been made in order to improve such magnetic thin films.
Among a variety of magnetic thin films, amorphous magnetic films have been known which demonstrate such excellent properties as a high magnetic permeability, a small coercive force, and a small magnetic anisotropy. Therefore use of the amorphous magnetic films enables acceleration of the data recording and precise detection of magnetism. These films have been considered optimum as a component not only for magnetic recording materials but also for torque sensors and pressure sensors which make use of the magnetism.
Both of the coercive force and magnetic anisotropy strongly depend upon a degree of crystallinity of materials. The higher crystallinity of the materials, the larger the coercive force and magnetic anisotropy. When the amorphous magnetic film has high degree of amorphousness, both of the coercive force and magnetic anisotropy can be decreased. In addition, since the magnetic permeability also depends upon the composition of the magnetic film materials, it is necessary to control the composition of the films accurately.
Such amorphous magnetic films have been produced by methods such as vacuum evaporation and sputtering according to kinds of thin films to be produced.
With the vacuum evaporation method, a thin film is deposited on a substrate by evaporation from a target consisting of a magnetic material, and is heated in a vacuum by a heater, for example. With the sputtering method, plasma of inert gas such as argon is formed in a chamber so as to irradiate plasma particles (ions) to a target, eject atoms or molecules from the surface of the target, and deposit the atoms or molecules on a substrate.
With these methods, an amorphous magnetic film is produced on the surface of the substrate as desired when the target has a predetermined composition and a speed for cooling the thin film on the substrate is determined at a value not to cause crystallization.
Generally the amorphous magnetic films have magnetic permeability, coercive force, magnetic anisotropy, magnetic distortion and so forth which vary with components and composition of the materials. The component and composition of the amorphous magnetic films are determined according to the field of application.
Therefore it is essential to produce an amorphous magnetic film whose component and composition are suitable to demonstrate desired magnetic properties.
When producing amorphous magnetic films by a conventional vacuum evaporation method, it is required to heat and evaporate a plurality of metallic atoms.
In such a case, it is conceivable to use an alloy target and to evaporate metallic atoms in the alloy. Since the metallic atoms composing the alloy have however different vapor pressures, it is very difficult to produce an alloy film having a desired composition. Specifically, when metals composing the alloy are separately heated by multiple-independent sources, composition of an evaporated film can be controlled as desired, but a device therefore becomes large inevitably.
In the vacuum evaporation method, a thin metallic film is deposited by evaporation from a heated target material. Evaporated particles reaching the substrate have a small kinetic energy, taking a considerable time to be cooled to the temperature of the substrate. Therefore, only limited magnetic metals or magnetic alloys can be made amorphous. In addition, the kinetic energy of the particles reaching the substrate is too small to stick the deposited film to the substrate reliably.
Many of existing amorphous magnetic films are usually made of alloys which can become amorphous at a relatively low cooling speed.
With the sputtering method, ions, which are generated by plasma or discharge of gas such as argon, are irradiated onto a target so as to evaporate the target material. This method is not applicable in a high vacuum, being disadvantageous in that impurities in a deposited film cannot be removed sufficiently. Specifically, impurities in the inert gas or the inert gas itself often mix in the deposited film. In such a case, the amorphous magnetic film cannot have the desired composition and cannot maintain the desired magnetic properties.
When producing an amorphous magnetic alloy film, it is required to use an alloy target whose composition is identical to that of a film to be produced. However the amount of atoms to be sputtered by inert gas varies with the atoms. In addition, ratios of the sputtered particles reaching the substrate depend upon the kinds of atoms. Therefore the composition of a deposited thin film sometimes differs from the composition of the target, thereby making it impossible to obtain a film having the desired properties.
With the sputtering method, a kinetic energy of particles to be deposited on the substrate is large compared with that of the vacuum evaporation method, so that the film can stick to the substrate closely. However since a temperature of the substrate is raised by plasma or discharge of the inert gas, a sufficient cooling speed cannot be attained. Only limited magnetic metals or alloys can be made amorphous.
In the foregoing methods, it is required to know the difference of compositions between the target and a film to be produced so as to obtain an amorphous magnetic film of the desired composition.

Method of producing amorphous magnetic film


In an electrical fuse which serves for temperature limitation, which comprises a closed housing (1) and in which a spring mechanism (2,3,4) interrupts an electrical contact as soon as a fuse body (6) serving as a support for the spring mechanism liquefies and relieves the spring mechanism, the fuse body mainly consists of a saturated dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 14 carbon atoms.

The invention relates to an electrical fuse comprising a closed housing, in which a spring mechanism interrupts an electrical contact as soon as a fuse body serving as a support for the spring mechanism and mainly consisting of an organic material liquefies and relieves the spring mechanism.
Such a fuse is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,628.
Essentially there are two kinds of fuses: those of the first kind serve for current limitation and those of the other kind serve for temperature limitation. In the first kind, a fuse body is heated by the electrical current itself so strongly that it melts at a given maximum permissible current intensity and interrupts the electrical contact in an irreversible manner. However, the invention solely relates to the second kind of fuses, in which the interruption of the contact takes place not by the current, but by external heating at a given maximum permissible temperature. Such fuses are increasingly incorporated in electrical apparatus in order to protect them from overheating and to switch them off in an irreversible manner when a given temperature is exceeded. The switching-off temperature is determined by the melting temperature of the fuse body.
In order that an absolutely reliable operation of the fuses can be guaranteed even for long operating times, the following particular requirements have to be imposed on the fuse body as the actual switching element:
Suitable materials must have a melting point associated with the relevant switching-off temperature. In order that the fuses act rapidly, they should operate as far as possible at an accurately defined melting point and not in a melting range. Therefore, the waxes mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,628 are not suitable as material for the fuse body.
Upon melting the fuse bodies have to flow out as as easily and rapidly as possible in order to enable the springs within the fuse to open the contact.
During the whole operating time, the fuse bodies are not only subjected to a given spring stress, but are also subjected to a thermal variation load. They have to be capable of withstanding the spring force at temperatures which from time to time lie just below the relevant melting point. Of course the shape of the fuse bodies (cylinder, hollow cylinder, sphere etc.) and the manufacturing method strongly influence the pressure strength that can be attained. At any rate it has to be ensured that the fuse bodies are capable of withstanding a multiple of the spring stress occuring during operation and do not undergo critical length or shape variations during the required operating time.
For a reliable operation of the fuse bodies, during the manufacture different tolerance limits have to be taken into account. Consequently, materials should not be used which upon heating cause irregular or irreversible length variations and which exhibit, for example, below the operating temperature, a phase variation and a volume variation connected therewith (for example the .alpha.KNO.sub.3 .fwdarw..beta.KNO.sub.3, phase variation at 129.degree. C.).
With respect to the corrosion within the fuses, it should be ensured that the materials used for the fuse bodies are not allowed at any rate to attack the surfaces of the contacts or of the housing. Since the fuses are generally sealed in a vacuum-tight manner during the manufacture, with the use of hygroscopic materials no problems are to be expected during operation, because moisture can be kept remote from the fuses. However, additional measures can become necessary for the production process.
In the relevant fields of use, temperatures may be reached at which already clearly observable vapour pressures of the material of the fuse bodies can occur. This especially applies to most of the alkaline materials. Due to inhomogeneous temperatures of the fuse, mass transports of fuse body materials through the gaseous phase can thus take place and the operation of the electrical contacts can be adversely affected. Therefore, a comparatively low vapour pressure at operating temperatures is of major importance when choosing the materials for the fuse body.
Finally, the materials for the fuse bodies have to be available in the largest possible quantities and at the lowest possible cost and it has to be possible to process them readily by casting or moulding to form stable mouldings.


A loan origination and processing system is described. The system can reside on a server computer that is coupled to a data store storing data related to a borrower. The server computer is further coupled to a brokerage network that comprises a loan officer client, a loan processor client, and a broker manager client. Each brokerage client computer executes a unique interface to the loan origination and processing system.

The mortgage loan industry requires the interfacing of various different parties including borrowers, banks, brokers, and third party service providers. Throughout the loan submission and approval process, a core set of data, the borrower's loan application data, is examined and manipulated by various different people, with each one performing a different task. The advent of on-line services, and especially web-based systems, has led to the development of sophisticated programs, referred to as Loan Origination Software (LOS) systems, which are used by loan brokers to automate the loan application process and fulfillment process.
In a traditional loan application scenario, a borrower approaches a loan broker to find an appropriate loan. The broker takes the application information from the borrower and compiles the customary loan application papers. The loan origination process typically involves many different processing steps that are very detailed and data-specific, including pre-qualifying the borrower, generating loan documents, finding a lender, originating the loan, generating disclosure documents and reports, processing the loan and tracking the loan application through the final stages of underwriting and fulfillment. Various different people within the loan brokerage can be involved in each loan application, such as the loan officer who finds the appropriate loan for the borrower, the loan processor who coordinates the construction and finalization of the loan documents, and the manager who oversees the brokerage business. Each of these parties closely interacts with each other over the course of a loan application process. Each one also interacts with various outside parties, such as banks, financial institutions, underwriters, government sponsored entities, and various third party service providers and settlement service vendors.
Although present LOS systems allow brokers to automate certain processes, such as producing and populating loan forms, and keeping track of an applicant's financial information, typical loan origination software systems do not provide a comprehensive interface between loan officers and the other parties involved in the loan origination process, such as the loan processor and brokerage manager. Most present LOS programs are focused and adapted to perform online form processing tasks, and are not optimized to facilitate connectivity among the parties involved. As such, they are not able to provide true integration and management over the entire loan application and fulfillment process.
In general, present LOS systems are ill suited to the current format of brokerage operations and do not satisfactorily address real user needs. Current LOS systems are largely considered to be basic form generators and not true collaboration tools for processors and loan officers working on same basic set of data. Because most present LOS systems were designed almost exclusively for loan processors, true functionality for loan officers and brokerage managers is typically lacking, thereby providing little or no internal company-collaboration capabilities. Most present LOS systems also provide minimal networking functionality, thus disadvantaging branch offices and remote users, and hampering communication with lenders and service providers. Security is also often an issue with borrower loan data residing in plain data files, and the need to rely on non-secure communication and transmission media, such as fax and e-mail.
What is needed, therefore, is a loan origination software system that provides comprehensive intercommunication among the parties involved in a mortgage loan application, with functional interfaces for each of these parties.
What is further needed is a loan processing system that provides a centralized company database with secure, accurate, and timely data, and automated loan application management.
What is yet further needed is a loan processing system that provides secure, seamless network connectivity with outside parties, such as lenders and settlement service providers.

Loan origination software system for processing mortgage loans over a distributed network


A computer-implemented method, a computer program product and a computer system for installing a first physical element on or in a second physical element are provided. The method comprises receiving, by an augmented reality system, an indication of at least one of the first physical element and the second physical element. The method further comprises loading, by the augmented reality system and using the indication, a model of the second physical element. The method further comprises recognizing, by the augmented reality system, the second physical element based on the model. The method further comprises projecting, by the augmented reality system, an image corresponding to the first physical element on or in the second physical element.

Conventionally, installing a first physical element on or in a second physical element can be a complex and error-prone process. This is particularly the case when the first physical element is smaller or significantly smaller than the second physical element, or the second physical element is a complex device with many components and the first physical element is a small part of the complex device.
For example, the second physical element may be a large device with many holes or recesses in which a first physical element may be placed. Potential installation locations for the first physical element on the second physical element may look substantially similar. Accordingly, it may be difficult for a human user to determine where to install the first physical element on the second physical element.
For example, the second physical element could be an engine, upon which several electrical and mechanical components must be installed. The first physical element could be a wire, to be installed on the second physical element according to a specified path.
In other situations, the second physical element may have a flat surface or the second physical element may be a container. Accordingly, it may be difficult for the user to determine where or how to arrange a first physical element with respect to the second physical element.
Conventionally, an installation method is performed by a trained technician according to complex documents. For example, the documents may specify specific locations for hundreds or even thousands of components each of which must be placed in the correct location and in the appropriate way (e.g. rotated two turns counterclockwise) in order for the device to function properly. Alternatively, the documents may specify a particular way of arranging components within a container, so that a maximum number of components or elements can be placed within the container.
Moreover, it may be difficult for the user to place a first physical element on or in a second physical element, while at the same time consulting documents or a hand-held display indicating where the first physical element should be placed with respect to the second physical element. Accordingly, it may be desirable for the user to be able to keep his hands free. Further, it may be a problem to reduce the time and training required to install a first physical element on or in a second physical element.
In addition, in view of the difficulty and complexity involved in correct installation, particularly when many (first or including the first) physical elements need to be installed in similar locations on another (second) physical element, it may be a problem to improve accuracy of installation.


A low oxygen transmissive film combination having a substrate with a surface having a surface free energy of at least about 35 dynes/cm, a primer coating on one or both sides and an oxygen transmissive inhibiting layer of a poly(vinyl alcohol) and a cross-linking agent with a proportion of catalytically active sulfuric acid.

This invention relates to a flexible, multilayer film having low oxygen transmissive characteristics.
Certain polymeric films employed for the packaging of foods inherently permit the transmission of oxygen from the outside of the film to the inside of a package made up of the film. Oxygen permits rapid deterioration of foods packaged in such a container, therefore, its exclusion or control is desired.
In copending application Ser. No. 07/530,038 filed May 29, 1990 there is described a similar multilayer film having low oxygen transmission characteristics. It is an object of the present invention to further improve upon the ability of such films to exclude oxygen and to improve upon the wet-rubbing resistance of such films.