An ambulatory pump (10) for dispensing a liquid under pressure at a predetermined flow rate includes a housing (12) having first and second end caps (14, 16) positioned on the housing (12) and enclosing the housing (12). Each end cap (14,16) has a port (18,20) formed therein. A pressurizable bladder (22) is carried by the housing (12) for receiving and dispensing the liquid. The bladder (22) is expandable between an unexpanded condition and an expanded condition. The bladder (22) has a free end (30) defining an opening in flow communication with the second end cap port (20) and a fixed end defining an opening in flow communication with the first end cap port (18). A section of flexible tubing (40) is carried by the housing (12) and extends between and is in flow communication with the bladder free end (30) opening and the second end cap port (20). The pump (10) includes a connecting member (32) positioned between the flexible tubing (40) and the bladder (22) that is configured to provide indication of the volume of the pump (10). The connecting member (32) moves longitudinally within the housing (12) to indicate the volume of liquid in the pump (10) as the bladder (22) moves between the expanded and unexpanded conditions. The pump (10) includes an inlet port (20) at the second end cap (16) and a tubing set (50) extending from the first end cap port (18) to dispense the liquid to a patient.

Ambulatory pumps or infusors are well known in the art. Such devices are used for delivering a predetermined quantity of a drug or other medicament to a patient in a preselected time period at a substantially constant fluid flow rate. One known pump includes a tubular, elastomeric, pressurized bladder that contains the liquid to be infused. The bladder is pressurized by the liquid stored therein. The pump includes a housing, a plug fixed in one end of the housing and an aperture that extends through the plug. One end of the bladder is sealingly attached to the plug, with the lumen of the bladder communicating with the aperture of the plug. The pump includes a conduit, such as a tube set connected to the plug aperture that defines a dispensing passageway for transporting the liquid from the bladder to the infusion site for the patient.
A flow regulator is disposed within the dispensing passage way for permitting the liquid to flow from the bladder through the dispensing passageway, to, for example, a patient, at a predetermined rate. The flow regulator or restrictor includes a capillary element.
The pump includes a "floating" or movable cap or indicator affixed to a free end of the bladder. The indicating member floats or moves longitudinally within the housing dependent upon the fill of the bladder. The indicating member includes a passageway, a one-way valve positioned at about the passageway and inlet or fill port through which the bladder is filled. The port and passage are in flow communication with the bladder.
In order to fill the bladder it is necessary to grasp the indicator by pinching or inwardly flexing the sides of the housing and inserting a fill device such as a syringe into the housing. The syringe is then connected to the fill port and the liquid is transferred from the syringe into the bladder. Typically, the syringe to fill port connection includes a threaded portion which forms a tight seal between the syringe and the fill port. As the bladder is filled, the indicating member is allowed to move to accommodate the expanding bladder.
While this known pump works well for its intended purpose, there are a number of drawbacks. First, the exterior of the bladder is essentially open to atmosphere by virtue of the floating characteristics of the indicator. Thus, in the event that the bladder ruptures, the liquid from the bladder will escape into the housing. An end cap positioned on the housing retains the liquid in the housing in the event of bladder rupture. However, the end cap is typically packaged separately from the housing, and, if improperly positioned on the housing, can result in leakage from the housing if the bladder ruptures.
In addition, the "floating" nature of the indicator can at times make it difficult to fill the infusion device because the indicator must be grasped through the housing wall. Because the indicator "floats" the bladder can be twisted as the syringe is threaded onto the inlet port. As will be apparent, twisting the elastomeric bladder can weaken the elastomeric material, thus increasing the opportunity for rupture. In addition, problems have been encountered that, it is believed, are a result of turbulence in the liquid during filling of the pump. Specifically, as the liquid "breaks" through the one-way valve, the flow resistance causes turbulence in the liquid, which, in turn, results in the entrainment of air in the liquid. The entrained air forms microbubbles in the liquid. It has been observed that these microbubbles can accumulate at the capillary in the flow restrictor. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the microbubble accumulation can result in blockage of fluid flow through the capillary.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for an ambulatory pump that fully encloses the infusion bladder, which facilitates filling of the storage bladder and minimizes the opportunity to rupture the bladder. Such a device will be readily used with standard medical apparatus hardware, and will reduce the priming problems and flow restrictions encountered in known pump devices.


A method of making an article includes forming a molten material by melting at least a portion of a mass of a metal and an alloy. The method further includes forming the article by solidifying at least a portion of the molten material within a mold, and contacting the article with plasma during formation of the article. A method for making an article also is disclosed wherein a molten material is formed by melting at least a portion of a mass of one of a metal and an alloy, the molten material is collected within a mold, and at least a portion of the molten material is magnetohydrodynamically stirred within the mold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for treating articles during their formation. Certain embodiments described within the present disclosure more particularly relate to methods and apparatus useful for limiting segregation in and/or for improving the surface quality of an article forming from a molten metal or alloy, as well as to alloys and articles of manufacture made using the methods of the present disclosure.
2. Description of the Invention Background
During alloy production, a consumable electrode may be melted and refined by methods such as vacuum arc remelting (VAR), electroslag remelting (ESR) and electron beam melting (EBM) to form an ingot. During the melting and refining process, a portion of the alloy typically is in the form of a molten pool on the surface of the forming ingot. The molten pool progressively cools and solidifies, forming the ingot. Frequently with VAR, ESR, or EBM, a stationary water-cooled copper mold is used to form the ingot. The mold facilitates the cooling process by transferring heat from the ingot. The typical cooling rate of an ingot formed using a water-cooled mold, however, is relatively slow. The cooling rate of an ingot is dependent on location within the mold and can be represented by a factor termed "local solidification time" (LST). LST is defined as the time taken for the center of an ingot to solidify from the initial molten state. As an example, LST can be approximately 3000 seconds in a conventional cylindrical 20-inch (about 50.8 cm) diameter ingot of Alloy 718 formed by VAR.
Slow cooling during ingot solidification may result in unacceptable alloy segregation. Segregation is a casting defect involving a regional concentration of alloying elements and is commonly expressed as the departure in a particular region of a cast article from an average chemical composition of the article. Segregation can have deleterious effects on an alloy's mechanical properties, such as, for example, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, fatigue limit, and corrosion resistance. Melt-related segregation can take the form of "freckles", which are manifested as dark spots on a macroetched specimen of solidified alloy. Segregation is difficult to remedy by thermomechanical treatment.
VAR, ESR and EBM apparatus typically incorporate "withdrawal" molds. A withdrawal mold commonly includes a translatable base that supports the ingot and moves progressively away from the melting device as the electrode is melted. The ingot surfaces form within a hollow mold that is at a generally fixed position relative to the melting portion of the electrode.
Continuous movement of an ingot through a withdrawal mold of a VAR, ESR, or EBM apparatus can produce surface defects on the ingot. As the ingot forms, the molten alloy pool on the top surface of the ingot forms a meniscus at its interface with the hollow mold. As the molten pool solidifies, the ingot may adhere to the hollow mold. Although not intending to be bound by any theory, it is believed that this adhesion is mechanical in nature. As the mold base of a withdrawal mold translates away from the melting device, the ingot is progressively withdrawn from the hollow mold, and the newly solidified alloy surface is broken away from the mold wall. This may produce surface defects, which can take the form of, for example, tears and cracks on the surface of the ingot. (Analogous surface marks formed during continuous casting are commonly referred to as "witness marks" and are caused by the motion of the mold relative to the casting.) It may be necessary to remove surface defects from an ingot before further processing. Surface defect removal reduces yield, adversely impacting economics, and also lengthens the time necessary to produce a finished ingot.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming ingots of alloys provided by ESR, VAR, EBM and other melting and/or refining techniques wherein the ingots exhibit reduced segregation and/or surface defects relative to ingots of like composition provided by conventional methods. More generally, it would be advantageous to provide a novel method and apparatus for treating articles during their formation from molten material, wherein the quality of the formed article is improved in one or more respects relative to articles formed by conventional methods and apparatus.

Method and apparatus for treating articles during formation


A sprayer can include a sprayer body, a reservoir coupled to the sprayer body, a cleaning fluid reservoir coupled to the sprayer body and a pump assembly arranged within the sprayer body and coupled to the reservoir and the cleaning fluid reservoir. The pump assembly can include a pump barrel that defines a central aperture, a piston arranged within the central aperture, a solenoid coupled to the piston and configured to reciprocate the piston within the central aperture during operation of the sprayer, and a manifold assembly coupled to the pump barrel and including a valve member movable between a first position and a second position. The valve member can fluidly couple the central aperture with the reservoir in the first position and fluidly couple the central aperture with the cleaning fluid reservoir in the second position.

Typically, when changing paint in a paint sprayer, the "wet" components (reservoir, nozzle, etc.) of the paint sprayer are cleaned before different paint is introduced. Cleaning the "wet" components of a paint sprayer can be a cumbersome and difficult task. For example, cleaning the reservoir can expose the sprayer body and pump to the cleaning process. In certain examples where portions of the housing detach with the reservoir, the process to separate the housings can be relatively complex and require two hands to perform.


The subject invention provides antibodies, including polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, that bind to E6 proteins from at least three oncogenic strains of HPV. In general, the antibodies bind to amino acids motifs that are conserved between the E6 proteins of different HPV strains, particularly HPV strains 16 and 18. The subject antibodies may be used to detect HPV E6 protein in a sample, and, accordingly, the antibodies find use in a variety of diagnostic applications, including methods of diagnosing cancer. Kits for performing the subject methods and containing the subject antibodies are also provided.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis in women and is linked to high-risk human papillomavirus infection 99.7% of the time. Currently, 12,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed in US women annually, resulting in 5,000 deaths each year. Furthermore, there are approximately 400,000 cases of cervical cancer and close to 200,000 deaths annually worldwide. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease in the world. Overall, 50-75% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infections at some point in their lives. An estimated 5.5 million people become infected with HPV each year in the US alone, and at least 20 million are currently infected. The more than 100 different isolates of HPV have been broadly subdivided into high-risk and low-risk subtypes based on their association with cervical carcinomas or with benign cervical lesions or dysplasias.
A number of lines of evidence point to HPV infections as the etiological agents of cervical cancers. Multiple studies in the 1980's reported the presence of HPV variants in cervical dysplasias, cancer, and in cell lines derived from cervical cancer. Further research demonstrated that the E6-E7 region of the genome from oncogenic HPV 18 is selectively retained in cervical cancer cells, suggesting that HPV infection could be causative and that continued expression of the E6-E7 region is required for maintenance of the immortalized or cancerous state. Further research demonstrated that the E6-E7 genes from HPV 16 were sufficient to immortalize human keratinocytes in culture. It was also demonstrated that although E6-E7 genes from high risk HPVs could transform cell lines, the E6-E7 regions from low risk, or non-oncogenic variants such as HPV 6 and HPV 11 were unable to transform human keratinocytes. HPV 16 and 18 infection was examined by in situ hybridization and E6 protein expression by immunocytochemistry in 623 cervical tissue samples at various stages of tumor progression and found a significant correlation between histological abnormality and HPV infection.    1. A significant unmet need exists for early and accurate diagnosis of oncogenic HPV infection as well as for treatments directed at the causative HPV infection, preventing the development of cervical cancer by intervening earlier in disease progression. Human papillomaviruses characterized to date are associated with lesions confined to the epithelial layers of skin, or oral, pharyngeal, respiratory, and, most importantly, anogenital mucosae. Specific human papillomavirus types, including HPV 6 and 11, frequently cause benign mucosal lesions, whereas other types such as HPV 16, 18, and a host of other strains, are predominantly found in high-grade lesions and cancer. Individual types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) which infect mucosal surfaces have been implicated as the causative agents for carcinomas of the cervix, breast (Yu et al. (1999) Anticancer Res. 19:55555057-5061; Liu et al. (2001) J. Hum. Virol. 44:329-334), anus, penis, prostate (De Villiers et al. (1989) Virology 171:248:253), larynx and the buccal cavity, tonsils (Snijders et al. (1994) J. Gen. Virol. 75(Pt 10):2769-2775), nasal passage (Trujillo et al. (1996) Virus Genes 12:165-178; Wu et al. (1993) Lancet 341:522-524), skin (Trenfield et al. (1993) Australas. J. Dermatol. 34:71-78), bladder (Baithun et al. (1998) Cancer Surv. 31:17-27), head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas (Braakhuis et al. (2004) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 96:978-980), occasional periungal carcinomas, as well as benign anogenital warts. The identification of particular HPV types is used for identifying patients with premalignant lesions who are at risk of progression to malignancy. Although visible anogenital lesions are present in some persons infected with human papillomavirus, the majority of individuals with HPV genital tract infection do not have clinically apparent disease, but analysis of cytomorphological traits present in cervical smears can be used to detect HPV infection. Papanicolaou tests are a valuable screening tool, but they miss a large proportion of HPV-infected persons due to the unfortunate false positive and false negative test results. In addition, they are not amenable to worldwide testing because interpretation of results requires trained pathologists.    2. HPV infection is also associated with Netherton's syndrome (Weber et al. (2001) Br. J. Dermatol. 144:1044-1049) and epidermolysis verruciformis (Rubaie et al. (1998) Int. J. Dermatol. 37:766-771). HPV can also be transmitted to a fetus by the mother (Smith et al. (2004) Sex. Transm. Dis. 31:57-62; Xu et al. (1998) Chin. Med. Sci. J. 13:29-31; Cason et al. (1998) Intervirology 41:213-218).
The detection and diagnosis of disease is a prerequisite for the treatment of disease. Numerous markers and characteristics of diseases have been identified and many are used for the diagnosis of disease. Many diseases are preceded by, and are characterized by, changes in the state of the affected cells. Changes can include the expression of pathogengenes or proteins in infected cells, changes in the expression patterns of genes or proteins in affected cells, and changes in cell morphology. The detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of diseases can be aided by the accurate assessment of these changes. Inexpensive, rapid, early and accurate detection of pathogens can allow treatment and prevention of diseases that range in effect from discomfort to death.
Literature
Literature of interest includes the following references: Zozulya et al., (Genome Biology 2:0018.1-0018.12, 2001; Mombairts (Annu. Rev. Neurosci 22:487-509, 1999); Raming et al., (Nature 361: 353-356, 1993); Belluscio et al., (Neuron 20: 69-81, 1988); Ronnet et al., (Annu. Rev. Physiol. 64:189-222, 2002); Lu et al., (Traffic 4: 416-533, 2003); Buck (Cell 100:611-618, 2000); Malnic et al., (Cell 96:713-723, 1999); Firestein (Nature 413:211-218, 2001); Zhao et al., (Science 279: 237-242, 1998); Touhara et al., (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 96: 4040-4045, 1999); Sklar et al., (J. Biol. Chem 261:15538-15543, 1986); Dryer et al., (TiPS 20:413-417, 1999); Ivic et al., (J Neurobiol. 50:56-68, 2002); Munger (2002) Front. Biosci. 7:d641-9; Glaunsinger (2000) Oncogene 19:5270-80; Gardiol (1999) Oncogene 18:5487-96; Pim (1999) Oncogene 18:7403-8; Meschede (1998) J. Clin. Microbiol. 36:475-80; Kiyono (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94:11612-6; and Lee (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94:6670-5; Banks (1987) J. Gen. Virol. 68:1351-1359; Fuchs et al., (Hum. Genet. 108:1-13, 2001); and Giovane et al. (1999) Journal of Molecular Recognition 12:141-152 and published U.S. patent applications 20030143679 and 20030105285; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,610,511, 6,492,143, 6,410,249, 6,322,794, 6,344,314, 5,415,995, 5,753,233, 5,876,723, 5,648,459, 6,391,539, 5,665,535 and 4,777,239.

Antibodies for oncogenic strains of HPV and methods of their use


Polyetherimide compositions of formula (1) are described wherein the polyetherimide compositions comprise a polyetherimide comprising a reacted combination of alkali metal salts comprising an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound and an alkali metal salt of a monohydroxy aromatic compound with a bis(halophthalimide), wherein the alkali metal salt of the monohydroxy aromatic compound is included in an amount of more than 0 and less than 5 mole percent, based on the total moles of the alkali metal salts, and the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 43,000 Daltons. The polyetherimide exhibits lower levels of chlorine and chlorine end groups, lower levels of bis(halophthalimide) and bis(phthalimide), and low plate-out during manufacturing.

This disclosure relates to polyetherimides and compositions containing the polyetherimides, as well as their method of manufacture and articles formed from the polyetherimide compositions.
Polyetherimides ("PEIs") are amorphous, transparent, high performance polymers having a glass transition temperature ("Tg") of greater than 180° C. PEIs further have high strength, heat resistance, and modulus, and broad chemical resistance, and so are widely used in applications as diverse as automotive, telecommunication, aerospace, electrical/electronics, transportation, and healthcare.
One process for the manufacture of polyetherimides is by polymerization of alkali metal salts of dihydroxyaromatic compounds, such as bisphenol A disodium salt (BPA.Na2), with a bis(halophthalimide). The molecular weight of the resulting polyetherimide can be controlled in two ways. The first is use of a molar excess of the bis(halophthalimide) relative to the alkali metal salt of the dihydroxy aromatic compound. The second is the preparation of the bis(halophthalic anhydride) in the presence of a monofunctional compound such as phthalic anhydride to form an end-capping agent. The phthalic anhydride reacts with a portion of the organic diamine to form a monohalo-bis(phthalimide). The monohalo-bis(phthalimide) serves as an end-capping agent in the polymerization step by reaction with phenoxide end groups in the growing polymer chains.
However, these approaches can suffer from several drawbacks. Use of excess bis(halophthalimide) leads to high levels of residual unreacted bis(halophthalimide) and to high levels or chlorine end groups after completion of polymerization. Use of a monofunctional reactant such as phthalic anhydride can produce an undesirable by-product, a bis(phthalimide) having no halo functionality, which is formed by imidization of the phthalic anhydride with the organic diamine. The presence of residual bis(halophthalimide), monohalo-bis(phthalimide), and bis(phthalimide) in the polyetherimide can degrade the properties and/or performance of the polyetherimides in some applications.
Thus there remains a need in the art for methods for controlling the molecular weight of polyetherimides, in particular methods that allow the manufacture of higher molecular weight polymers having lower levels of residuals, including residual bis(halophthalimide) and bis(phthalimide). It would be a further advantage if the process resulted in reduced levels of residual chlorine and chlorine end groups. Moreover, if would be a still further advantage if properties such as melt flow, impact strength and the like were not significantly adversely affected compared to prior art polyetherimides.

Polyetherimides, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom


A first vacuum pump (14) is connected to a vacuum chamber (5) by a primary intake line (13) having a first vacuum valve (4) therein. A second vacuum pump (15) is connected to the output of the first vacuum pump (14) by a connecting line (20) having a second vacuum valve (12) therein. A blowout valve (17) is connected to the connecting line (20) between the first pump (14) and the second valve (12). A secondary intake line (19) having therein a third vacuum valve (13) is connected between the vacuum chamber (5) and the intake of the second vacuum pump (15).

The invention pertains to an apparatus for the rapid evacuation of a vacuum chamber by means of a first vacuum pump, preferably a Roots vacuum pump, and an intake line with a first shut-off valve connecting the intake port of this first pump to the vacuum chamber. A second vacuum pump is installed downline of the first pump by means of a connecting line. A bypass line connects the working chamber of the first vacuum pump to the connecting line and brings about a preintake cooling function. A blow-out valve is installed in this connecting line.
For the rapid evacuation of large volumes, pump stands with preintake-cooled Roots vacuum pumps are frequently used. In chambers which are to be evacuated to the pressure range below 200 mbars, multi-stage pump stations have been found useful. It is known that a Roots vacuum pump can be used as the largest pump connected directly to the vacuum chamber and that the following pump stage can be any desired combination of preintake-cooled Roots vacuum pumps and/or other pumps. For the evacuation process, the largest preintake-cooled Roots vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum chamber. Thus a powerful suction capacity is achieved starting right at atmospheric pressure. As a result of this method, the downline (smaller) pumps can no longer transport the quantity of gas conveyed by the first pump once the pressure falls below atmospheric pressure. To prevent the buildup of an undesirable positive pressure in this case, a blow-out valve leading to the outside is usually installed between the first and the second pump stage. Depending on the staging of the selected pumps, a transition pressure is obtained, from which pressure on the blow-out valve is closed, because the fore-pumps are now able to convey the mass flow conveyed by the first stage in the negative pressure range. The fore-pump stand has an effect on the total suction capacity only below the transition pressure. At higher pressures, the fore-pump stand therefore remains unused.

Apparatus for the rapid evacuation of a vacuum chamber

Balzers und Leybold Deutschland Holding AG


A fan assembly and its fan device are provided. The fan device includes a housing, a fan body disposed in the housing, a connector electrically connected with the fan body, and a fixing cover detachably assembled to the housing. The fixing cover includes a connecting structure fitting a type of the connector for positioning the connector on the fixing cover.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipating device and more particularly to a fan assembly and a fan device thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, electric apparatuses would generate heat when operating. If heat cannot be dissipated efficiently, electric apparatuses may malfunction. In serious situations, electric elements of electric apparatuses may be damaged so as to cause property loss. One of the traditional methods for solving thermal problems of electric apparatuses is to install heat dissipating devices in housings of electric apparatuses, such as utilizing fan devices to dissipate heat generated from operating electric apparatuses. For example, one or several fan devices are usually installed in housings of internet servers or desktop computers, so that heat generated from operating electric apparatuses would be dissipated by a force convection generated from fan devices. Therefore, internet servers or desktop computers would work steadily.
Structures of typical heat dissipating fan devices may need different types of connectors according to different electric apparatuses. Electric elements and control circuits in electric apparatuses have to transmit electric power into fan devices by connectors, and connectors may further be signal transmission media between fan devices and electric apparatuses. In one aspect, connectors can transmit electric power into fan devices. In another aspect, operating statuses of fan devices can be controlled or monitored by connectors with signal wires, such as rotation speed or temperature of fan devices.
In practice, a fan device may further include a housing for fixing a connector on the housing, wherein the connector would connect an external electric apparatus conveniently for providing electric power to the fan device. However, different electric apparatuses may have different connectors. As long as electric apparatuses have different connectors, the fan device needs to have different corresponding connectors. As for conventional techniques nowadays, different connectors have to be installed on different corresponding housings of fan devices, so that housings of fan devices often have to be changed according to different types of connectors. In order to fit different types of connectors, manufacturers may produce new molds for manufacturing new housings. As far as manufacturers are concerned, such housings of fan devices would waste a lot of time and manpower.
Furthermore, because many electric apparatuses are located in a server rack, a side or a back portion of the rack may accommodate a lot of fan devices. Therefore, housings of fan devices may be fastened to the server rack with screws directly. In order to save space, fan devices may also be installed tight within the server rack, i.e. all fan devices in contact with each other. When all impellers of fan devices rotate, such arrangement would not only make a lot of vibration noise, but also reduce lifetime of fan devices because of vibrating.
In addition, when an electric apparatus includes a lot of fan devices, users are difficult to judge statuses of every fan device, such as normal operation or stop. Conventional art may utilize light sources fastened on housings for indicating fan devices' operation status, i.e. operating or not. However, manufacturers have to produce larger housings for accommodating light sources or light guide devices, thereby consuming more materials of housings and accommodating space.


A capacitive MEMS microphone element is described which may be used optionally for detecting acoustic signals (microphone mode) or for detecting ultrasound signals in a defined frequency range (ultrasound mode). In the layered structure of the MEMS microphone element, at least two carrier elements for the two electrode sides of a capacitor system are formed one above the other and at a distance from one another for signal detection. At least one of the two carrier elements is sound pressure-sensitive and at least one of the two electrode sides includes at least two electrode segments which are electrically contactable independent of one another, which together with the at least one electrode of the other electrode side form partial capacitances which are independent of one another.

Capacitive MEMS microphone elements of the type discussed here are known from the related art. The microphone structure generally includes a sound pressure-sensitive diaphragm and one fixed acoustically permeable counter-element. These two components of the microphone structure are used as carrier elements for the electrodes of a microphone capacitor system. The sound pressure-related deflections of the diaphragm result in a change in distance between the diaphragm electrode and the counter-electrode on the fixed counter-element and consequently a change in the capacitance of the microphone capacitor system, which may be detected simply as a voltage change. The capacitive MEMS microphone elements known from the related art generally have a flat frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and are accordingly used exclusively for detecting acoustic signals.
An MEMS microphone element including a capacitor system for signal detection is described in WO 2010/119168 A1, one of its electrode sides including multiple electrode segments which are electrically isolated from one another. Together with the electrode or electrodes of the other electrode side, these electrode segments form partial capacitances which are independent from one another. According to WO 2010/119168 A1, these partial capacitances are used for adapting the microphone sensitivity to different signal levels, i.e., sound volume levels, of the acoustic signal. For that purpose, the output signal is formed as a sum of the partial capacitances, the number of added partial capacitances being selected as a function of the particular sound volume level. The lower the sound volume level, the greater is the number of added partial capacitances. Consequently, the number of partial capacitances determines the number of the sound volume ranges which may be differentiated.

Microphone element and device for detecting acoustic and ultrasound signals


A system for integrating a contact center, an agent station, and a customer relation management server for communication includes a network adapter node having port connection to the contact center, the agent station, and the customer relation management server; and one or more dynamic states running on the network adapter mode wherein the one or more states described represent current agent activity and presence attributes according to model. In preferred application the customer relation management server is adapted to deliver data and or services or notification of availability thereof to the agent station based on the current state information for one or more events active or in queue for the agent station.

In the field of telephony communication, there have been many improvements in technology over the years that have contributed to more efficient use of telephone communication within hosted call-center environments. Most of these improvements involve integrating the telephones and switching systems in call centers with computer hardware and software adapted for better routing of telephone calls, faster delivery of telephone calls and associated information, and improved service with regard to client satisfaction. Such computer-enhanced telephony is known in the art as computer-telephony integration (CTI).
There are many ways that CTI enhancement may be done in the art, and the present inventors are knowledgeable in most of these. The present inventors are also knowledgeable about many special architectures and software enhancements that are not in the public domain. In the following background material only that material specifically designated as prior art should be taken to be acknowledged as prior art material by the inventors.
Generally speaking, CTI implementations of various design and purpose are implemented both within individual call-centers and, in some cases, at the telephone network level. For example, processors running CTI software applications may be linked to telephone switches, service control points (SCPs), and network entry points within a public or private telephone network. At the call-center level, CTI processors are typically connected to telephone switches and, in some cases, to similar CTI hardware at the network level, often by a dedicated digital link. CTI processors and other hardware within a call-center are commonly referred to as customer premises equipment (CPE). It is the CTI processor and application software in such centers that provides computer software enhancement to a call center.
In a CTI-enhanced call center, telephones at agent stations are connected to a central telephony switching apparatus, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD) switch or a private branch exchange (PBX). The agent stations may also be equipped with computer terminals such as personal computer/video display unit's (PC/VDU's) so that agents using such stations may have access to stored data and enhanced services and tools as well as being linked to incoming callers by telephone equipment. Such stations may be, and usually are, interconnected through the PC/VDUs by a local area network (LAN). One or more data or transaction servers may also be connected to the LAN that interconnects agent stations. The LAN is, in turn, typically connected to the CTI processor, which is connected to the call switching apparatus of the call center in systems known to the present inventors.
When a call arrives at a call center, whether or not the call has been pre-processed at a service control point (SCP), typically at least the telephone number of the calling line is made available to the receiving switch at the call center by the network provider. This service is available by most networks as caller-ID information in one of several formats such as Automatic Number Identification (ANI). Typically the number called is also available through a service such as Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS). If the call center is computer-enhanced (CTI), the phone number of the calling party may be used, in systems known to the present inventors, as a key to access additional information from a customer information system (CIS) database at a server on the network that connects the agent workstations. In this manner information pertinent to a call may be provided to an agent, often as a screen pop on the agent's PC/VDU.
In recent years, advances in computer technology, telephony equipment, and infrastructure have provided many opportunities for improving telephone service in public-switched and private telephone intelligent networks. Similarly, development of a separate information and data network known as the Internet, together with advances in computer hardware and software have led to a new multimedia telephone system known in the art by several names. In this new system telephone calls are simulated by multimedia computer equipment, and data, such as audio data, is transmitted over data networks as data packets. In this system the broad term used to describe such computer-simulated telephony is Data Network Telephony (DNT).
For purposes of nomenclature and definition, the inventors wish to distinguish clearly between what might be called conventional telephony, which is the telephone service enjoyed by nearly all citizens through local telephone companies and several long-distance telephone network providers, and what has been described herein as computer-simulated telephony or data-network telephony. The conventional systems are referred to herein as Connection-Oriented Switched-Telephony (COST) systems, CTI enhanced or not.
The computer-simulated, or DNT systems are familiar to those who use and understand computers and data-network systems. Perhaps the best example of DNT is telephone service provided over the Internet, which will be referred to herein as Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT), by far the most extensive, but still a subset of DNT.
Both systems use signals transmitted over network links. In fact, connection to data networks for DNT such as IPNT is typically accomplished over local telephone lines, used to reach points in the network such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP), which then connects the user to the Internet backbone. The definitive difference is that COST telephony may be considered to be connection-oriented telephony. In the COST system, calls are placed and connected by a specific dedicated path, and the connection path is maintained over the time of the call. Bandwidth is basically assured. Other calls and data do not share a connected channel path in a COST system. A DNT system, on the other hand, is not dedicated or connection-oriented. That is, data, including audio data, is prepared, sent, and received as data packets over a data-network. The data packets share network links and available bandwidth, and may travel by varied and variable paths.
Recent improvements to available technologies associated with the transmission and reception of data packets during real-time DNT communication have enabled companies to successfully add DNT, principally IPNT, capabilities to existing CTI call centers. Such improvements, as described herein and known to the inventor, include methods for guaranteeing available bandwidth or quality of service (QoS) for a transaction, improved mechanisms for organizing, coding, compressing, and carrying data more efficiently using less bandwidth, and methods and apparatus for intelligently replacing lost data via using voice supplementation methods and enhanced buffering capabilities.
In addition to Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) calls, a DNT center may also share other forms of media with customers accessing the system through their computers. E-mails, Video mails, fax, file share, file transfer, video calls, and so forth are some of the other forms of media, which may be used. This capability of handling varied media leads to the term multimedia communications center. A multimedia communications center may be a combination CTI and DNT center, or may be a DNT center capable of receiving COST calls and converting them to a digital DNT format. The term communication center will replace the term call center hereinafter in this specification when referring to multimedia capabilities.
In typical communication centers, DNT is accomplished by Internet connection and IPNT calls. For this reason, IPNT and the Internet will be used in examples to follow. It should be understood, however, that this usage is exemplary, and not limiting.
In systems known to the inventors, incoming IPNT calls are processed and routed within an IPNT-capable communication center in much the same way as COST calls are routed in a CTI-enhanced call center, using similar or identical routing rules, waiting queues, and so on, aside from the fact that there are two separate networks involved. Communication centers having both CTI and IPNT capability utilize LAN-connected agent-stations with each station having a telephony-switch-connected headset or phone, and a PC connected, in most cases via LAN, to the network carrying the IPNT calls, or to a network-connected server on the LAN. Therefore, in most cases, IPNT calls are routed to the agent's PC while conventional telephony calls are routed to the agent's conventional telephone or headset. Typically separate lines and equipment are implemented for each type of call weather COST or IPNT.
Due in part to added costs associated with additional equipment, lines, and data ports that are needed to add IPNT capability to a CTI-enhanced call-center, developers are currently experimenting with various forms of integration between the older COST system and the newer IPNT system. For example, by enhancing data servers, interactive voice response units (IVR's), agent-connecting networks, and so on, with the capability of conforming to Internet protocol, call data arriving from either network may be integrated requiring less equipment and lines to facilitate processing, storage, and transfer of data. Some such equipment and services are known to the present inventors, which are not in the public domain.
With many new communication products supporting various media types available to businesses and customers, a communication center must add significant application software to accommodate the diversity. For example, e-mail programs typically have differing parameters than do IP applications. IP applications are different regarding protocol than COST calls, and so on. Separate routing systems and/or software components are needed for routing e-mails, IP calls, COST calls, file sharing, etc. Agents must then be trained in the use of a variety of applications supporting the different types of media.
Keeping contact histories, reporting statistics, creating routing rules and the like becomes more complex as newer types of media are added to communication center capability. Additional hardware implementations such as servers, processors, etc. are generally required to aid full multimedia communication and reporting. Therefore, it is desirable that interactions of all multimedia sorts be analyzed, recorded, and routed according to enterprise (business) rules in a manner that provides seamless integration between media types and application types, thereby allowing agents to respond intelligently and efficiently to customer queries and problems.
In a system known to the inventor, full multimedia functionality is supported wherein agents and customers may interact in a seamless manner. Likewise interaction histories of virtually any supported media may be automatically recorded and stored for latter access by agents and in some cases customers (clients) themselves. Such a system, termed a customer-interaction-network-operating system (CINOS) by the inventor, comprises a suite of software enhancements, implemented both at the communication center and at CPE sites that are designed to provide automated and seamless interaction between customers, associates, and agents.
In order to successfully implement and administer the many aspects of a network operating system such as the CINOS system introduced above, a new agent called a knowledge worker has emerged. This is especially true in more state-of-the-art multimedia communication-centers. In a broad sense, a knowledge worker may be any individual that specializes, or is expert in a specific field or fields utilized within the communication center. Knowledge workers may be responsible for such tasks as creating automated scripts, building integrated software applications, tracking and parsing certain history paths in a database for automated reporting, and other relatively complicated functions. Knowledge workers may also be trained agents responsible for sales, service and technical assistance.
A knowledge worker, weather an agent or specialized technician, generally has all of the resource in the way of customer data, interaction data, product data, and multimedia support at his fingertips as long as he or she is operating from a designated PC/VDU or other supported station within the communication center. In some cases, a knowledge worker may have full data access and multimedia support if he is located off-site but is linked to the center by a suitable data-network connection such as from a home office or remote station.
Because a network operating system such as CINOS requires that certain customer or client CPE, including network equipment, be enhanced with software designed to facilitate seamless interaction with the communication center, it is often necessary that knowledge workers be dispatched into the field away from the communication center to aid in such as installation, set-up, and programming of software applications and tools. In some instances this can be a formidable enterprise.
A knowledge worker possesses the kind of skills that are largely indispensable and not shared by the average communication center worker. When a knowledge worker is away from a home-center such as on the road, or at a client location, he is generally limited in data access and interaction is capability with his or her home communication-center data and tools. In some cases this may be a liability to the center. In many cases she/he will be limited to specific data that was carried along, or that may be downloaded from the center to such as a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a Laptop computer. Moreover, a mobile knowledge worker in the field may also be limited in providing service to the home-center by virtue of the same data-access limitations.
In some cases, a knowledge worker at a client site may, after some set-up, programming, and initialization, commandeer a suitable client PC so that she/he may establish free and unfettered access to home-center data and software services. However, such interaction, if not on the be-half of the client, may be deemed by the client as an intrusion at most and an inconvenience at least.
In typical contact centers, which may also include multimedia communication centers, the preponderance of incoming and outgoing interactions are processed by voice (DNT) or Web-based self service interfaces or by communication-center agents located within the domain of the center and managed through a communication center environment. However, many interactions cannot be successfully processed through client self-service interfaces or on-site agents often because of a high level of assistance required. Such interactions require the expertise of a knowledge worker, a knowledge worker being a call-center employee with a more detailed knowledge of the center structure and operations than the typical on-site agent.
Knowledge workers are not required for routine service assistance or other duties that are routinely performed within the domain of the center. As a result, they are typically located off site in a pool or remote to the extent of performing as a home-based or traveling workers. Therefore, standard communication center control systems and procedures cannot be applied to such knowledge workers. Often this problem is due to an absence of a CTI link established between the location of the knowledge worker and the communication center. Off-site knowledge workers are mobile and typically operate using a variety of communication equipment (non-CTI telephone, personal digital assistants [PDAs], wireless Web, etc.) and using applications that are not assimilated in standard or unified array throughout the communication environment. Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide management from the communication center in terms of state control and report accessibility. For example, which of a force of off-site knowledge workers are at any given time able to receive an interaction wherein they are also able to exchange interaction-related data with the center, client or both?
Remote knowledge workers are, from a control and management standpoint, invisible to standard CTI-enabled facilities. Not having the ability to manage these workers causes the ongoing costs associated with doing business from a communication center to rise.
The inventors are familiar with a system taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,163 entitled Methods and Apparatus for Implementing an Outbound Network Call Center referenced in the Cross-Reference to Related Documents section of this specification. That system teaches a method and apparatus for integrating a remote home agent in a call center. In practice, the home agent or knowledge worker must dial a specific enabled telephony switch in the telephone network when an interaction to the agent is detected. This action terminates the incoming interaction to a first station-side port of the telephony switch. A connection is thus maintained between the home agent and the telephony switch until the agent disconnects. In this way, all events that are determined to be destined to the home agent are switched to the established connection. This action provides a continuing connection between the telephony switch and the home agent until the home agent disconnects. Events, such as incoming calls at the center selected to go to the home agent may then be switched to the established connection. The telephony switch functions as a login portal for the agent; however only the agent's media stream is controlled in this case. Interaction-related data and agent status are not considered or addressed.
The inventors are also familiar with a call-center system taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,073 entitled Method and Apparatus for Providing an Interactive Home Agent with Access to Call Center Functionality and Resources also listed in the Cross-Reference section of this specification above. This system supports remote agent stations through a network by establishing a data link between a computer platform at the remote agent station and a CTI-processor connected to a telephony switch at the call center. Events destined to the agent are switched from the call center to a telephone at the agent station while data pertaining to the calls is transferred over the data link to the computer platform at the remote agent station to be displayed. In this system data pertaining to or related to calls is retrieved from a database at the call center. The data can include scripts for an agent at the remote station.
Call center services are supported by cooperation between software at the CTI processor and the computer platform at the remote station. In one embodiment the data link, once established, is kept open while calls continue to be switched to the remote station. In another embodiment after an initial agent log in, dial up is done from the remote station upon detecting calls from the call center by a TAPI compliant device. A reduced log is performed at the CTI processor at the call center to save time. In yet another embodiment, the CTI processor establishes the data connection each time using a modem bank adapted for dialing. The modem bank switches the call from the call center to the remote station. A plurality of remote stations may be thus supported.
The inventor is familiar with yet another system taught in U.S. patent application number 2001/0023448 entitled Method and Apparatus for Data-Linking a Mobile Knowledge Worker to Home Communication-Center Infrastructure also listed in the cross-reference section of this specification. The system is a proxy system enabling a worker remote from a communication center to operate with full access to data and software at the communication center from a light computer device typically unable to operate as a workstation at the communication center. In this system, a proxy server, which may be a LAN-connected server at the communication center, has a two-way data link to the light computer device operated by the remote agent. The proxy executes software, which ascertains the hardware and software characteristics of the light device.
The proxy server accesses communication-center data at direction of the light device, operates communication center software tools, and provides results to the light device over the communication link in a form usable by the light device. This approach suggests a general method for management of remote knowledge workers from within a contact center (CC). In particular, it suggests using a proxy server as a mediator between a contact center environment and a remote agent device. However, it is still limited in terms of further enhancement that might enable more specific techniques and mechanisms.
The inventor is aware of yet another system for managing remote agents of a communication center that includes a primary server connected to the network, the primary server controlling at least one routing point; one or more secondary servers distributed on the network and accessible to the remote agents, the secondary server or servers having data access to agent computing platforms and communication peripherals; and, a software suite distributed in part to the secondary server or servers and distributed in part to one or more agents computing platforms and peripherals, the software suite including protocol for reporting agent status data. This system monitors agents computer platforms and peripherals for activity state through the one or more secondary servers whereupon the one or more secondary servers exchange control messaging and event related data using ISCC protocols with the primary server over the network for intelligent routing purposes.
It has occurred to the inventors that during an interaction between an agent and a customer, it is often desirable to enhance a live transactional process or customer care interaction using accurate information about the accessing customer from a well-established customer care or management system. However, in current art integration attempts between two such different systems have been limited to only a few media channels. Further, these systems often include independently operating components that may cause repeated introductions during customer relation management, or interactive help menus that are not synchronized.
Another challenge of current integrated systems is that often a business customer operates with different areas of a same enterprise, or group of enterprises that may share one or more contact centers. Therefore, CRM data and CC data may include irrelevant information from parts of the enterprise and customer profile that are not related to a particular piece of business being conducted.
What is clearly needed in the art is a method and apparatus for seamlessly integrating a customer relations management system and one or more communication center functionalities relative to a live or pending connection between a customer and a communication center or some current transactional flow or messaging flow in a fashion that enables agent view and status control from a convenient interface such as a desktop. Such a system would enhance customer satisfaction, transactional efficiency, and enterprise profitability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for integrating agent status between a customer relations management system and a multiple channel communications center

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.


A laser-scanning fluoroscopy apparatus includes a laser light source of a plurality of wavelengths; a spectroscopic device for splitting laser beams according to wavelength; a focusing lens for focusing the split laser beams; a wavelength-selecting reflection device which includes a plurality of reflection sections disposed near the focal positions, spaced out at predetermined intervals in a split direction to reflect the laser beams with different wavelengths and a transmission section arranged adjacent to the reflection sections; a diffraction grating for combining the reflected laser beams; a scanning section for two-dimensionally scanning the combined laser beams; an objective optical system for focusing the scanned laser beams onto a tissue; and a photodetector for detecting fluorescence emitted from the tissue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laser-scanning fluoroscopy apparatuses.
2. Description of Related Art
In a fluoroscopy apparatus for emitting excitation light onto a tissue to examine fluorescence generated by the tissue, it is necessary to separate fluorescence from excitation light to detect the fluorescence. A dichroic mirror is normally used in known methods for separating fluorescence from excitation light. However, since the wavelength of excitation light entering the tissue is close to that of fluorescence generated by that excitation light, it is often difficult to design a dichroic mirror that can efficiently separate fluorescence from excitation light.
In order to overcome this difficulty, a method for separating fluorescence from excitation light using a spectroscopic device, such as a prism, is proposed (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,417, PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. Hei-9-502269, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-272275).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,417 discloses a confocal fluorescence microscope apparatus that does not use a dichroic mirror. This confocal fluorescence microscope apparatus includes an aperture for converting light emitted from a light source into a plurality of light strips; a prism; and a mirror for selectively reflecting part of each light strip split by the prism to separate fluorescence returning from a tissue and excitation light by causing the fluorescence to pass through a slit provided at the mirror, thus allowing a photodetector to detect the separated fluorescence.
PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. Hei-9-502269 discloses an apparatus for selectively detecting light with at least two spectral bands in a beam using a prism and a mirror having an aperture. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-272275 discloses an apparatus for selectively detecting at least one spectral region of a beam in the beam path of a confocal scanning microscope using a prism and a triangular mirror.
Although the confocal fluorescence microscope described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,417 can separate fluorescence from excitation light without a dichroic mirror, it cannot detect a plurality of fluorescence beams generated by simultaneously emitting a plurality of excitation light beams. In other words, although the confocal fluorescence microscope described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,417 can change the wavelength of excitation light and the wavelength of fluorescence to be passed through the slit by mirror reflection by moving the mirror in a direction intersecting with the optical axis, it is difficult to simultaneously emit excitation light with a plurality of wavelengths and to simultaneously detect fluorescence with a plurality of wavelengths.
Furthermore, although the apparatuses described in PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. Hei-9-502269 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-272275 can selectively detect light with a plurality of wavelengths, these apparatuses require a plurality of apertures and a plurality of triangular mirrors to be arranged at certain intervals. This is disadvantageous in that the structures become complicated and the sizes of the apparatuses increase. In addition, a plurality of apertures and triangular mirrors need to be adjusted individually, making it difficult to detect light with high accuracy due to this adjustment procedure.


Embodiment described herein are generally directed to a toolbar extension of a web browser that grabs a user's search engine query and suggests a refined search query known to yield better search results. The toolbar recognizes the web page the user is on as being associated with a search engine and retrieves the user's search query. The toolbar interacts with a refinement component on a server, and the refinement component determines a refined search query based on confidence scores assigned to data mined from a data center affiliated with different search engine (one related to the toolbar). The refined search query is returned and displayed in a search field of the toolbar, allowing the user to easily run the refined search on the different search engine.

Web searching has come a long way but can still be very frustrating for Internet users. The ability of a user to navigate to useful information using a modern search engine still largely hinges on the accuracy of the user's search terms. When the search terms yield few results, or results far off base from the user's intent, the user has little recourse than to enter better terms. For all the technological advancements that provide a user access to the glut of information available online, people are stuck with a rudimentary hunt-and-peck approach to find what they want. Modern search engines try desperately to help visitors accurately find information, knowing full well that its effectiveness for finding online content drives traffic to or from the search engine. Increased traffic brings increased advertising revenue, so the underlying search service becomes the lifeblood of a search engine.
Many of today's search engines provide a toolbar that users can download as an extension to a client's web browser. Toolbars are graphical menus of different options and features integrated into a web browser in a seamless manner. Common features include text fields for submitting search engine queries, proactive alerts, access to popular web sites, email capability, and the like. One particular feature that aids the user experience is the ability to copy—or "ghost"—a search query a user enters in the search field for a search engine into a search field on the toolbar. Such a feature can be seen in the Bing® toolbar, developed by the Microsoft Corporation headquartered in Redmond, Wash.


An example method includes dividing the image into blocks of pixels of a predefined size; for each block, selecting one of a plurality of saturation patterns representing a binary value of one or more bits of digital watermark data corresponding to the block; and for each block, embedding the binary value of the one or more bits of corresponding digital watermark data into the block by adjusting the saturation of pixels within the block in accordance with the selected pattern.

Digital image watermarking methods are used to embed information into a digital image. In some cases, the watermark should be visible, for example if it is a copyright notice or the like. In other cases, it is desirable that the watermark is imperceptible to a human observer so that the watermarking method can be used for steganographic purposes.
Traditional digital image watermarking methods add the information to be embedded to the middle frequency coefficients of the discrete cosine transform domain in a greyscale image or to the luminance domain of a colour image.
Applications of imperceptible digital watermarking include copyright protection systems, in which a device analyses a watermark retrieved from the digital signal to be copied before deciding whether the copy should be made depending on the analysis. Another application is source tracing, in which a unique watermark is embedded into a digital signal identifying a point of origin. If a copy is found then the unique watermark can be retrieved from the copy and used to identify the point of origin.

Digital watermarking using saturation patterns

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A truck bed loading platform including a rail mountable on a truck bed. The platform also includes a first and second hingedly connected tray portions. Furthermore, the platform includes means for slidably mounting the first and second tray portions on the rail for sliding movement between first and second positions. The rail includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers. The platform can include an optional handle(s) for facilitating manual sliding of the platform. The platform can also include an optional lock for locking the entire platform in place on a truck bed.

Truck beds are designed to carry cargo. However, the length of truck beds makes it difficult to access cargo stored at the forward end of the truck bed near the cab unless someone climbs into the truck bed.
To address this problem, many cargo trays or extendable frame devices have been designed for mounting in truck beds. Such devices are anchored to the truck bed. A tray is mounted on rails and is slidable relative to the rails from a first position completely overlaying the rails to a second position, usually cantilevered from the tailgate of the truck wherein substantially all of the tray extends from the end of the frame adjacent to the tailgate of the truck.
Since the tray usually extends over substantially the full length of the truck bed, it must be fully extended rearward of the tailgate to access cargo at the forward end of the tray. However, even with the tray fully extended, cargo at the forward end of the tray can only be accessed from the side of the tray adjacent to the tailgate. In addition, heavier cargo on pallets cannot be loaded or unloaded to or from the forward end of the tray since the forklift truck typically used to move such pallets cannot ride over the tray to the forward end of the tray.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a truck bed loading platform which allows easy access to the forward end of the platform, particularly for forklift trucks, to load and unload cargo on the forward end of the platform.


Novel blends have been discovered comprising: (A) a polyamide; (B) a polymer that is miscible with polystrene; and (C) a compatibilizer comprising a copolymer having repeating units derived from an aromatic vinyl compound monomer and repeating units derived from vinylphenol monomers, wherein at least about 50% of said aromatic vinyl compound monomers are styrene monomeric units. The blends show improvements in mechanical properties as compared to similar blends without the compatibilizer.

Polyamides, some of which are commonly referred to as nylons, are known polymers having amide groups in the polymer backbone. Polyamides have achieved great commercial success as used in synthetic fibers and engineering resins, and if not too crystalline, as plastics.
Although polyamides have many desirable characteristics, modification of the properties of the polymer would be useful. Polymer blends offer a route to novel and useful materials having improved properties, such as easier processing, better mechanical properties, chemical or environmental resistance and lower cost, and so on. When two polymers are blended, however, owing to their usual incompatibility, their blend physical properties may be much poorer than those of the individual components. It is desirable and often necessary to add a third constituent, called a compatibilizer, which functions to restore or improve the blend properties. The term compatibilizer is defined to encompass any material that is used to bring together two otherwise incompatible polymers in a blend with improved properties. Compatibilizers can be reactive or non-reactive. There is a continuing need to discover methods to increase the versatility of polyamides. It would be highly desirable to discover polymers and compatibilizers useful for blending polymers with polyamides.


A wafer jig according to an embodiment may be used for a robot having a hand including a light emitting part and a light receiving part. The light receiving part detects detection light emitted from the light emitting part. The wafer jig includes a light source for emitting the notification light toward the light receiving part. The wafer jig outputs information to a hand side by emitting the notification light from the light source to the light receiving part.

Conventionally, a robot system for automatically teaching a conveying position of a semiconductor wafer to a robot arranged in a clean room where the semiconductor wafer (semiconductor substrate) is manufactured, the robot conveying the semiconductor wafer, has been known. The patent document 1 discloses a manipulator of this type of substrate transfer.
Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-137300, hereinafter, PTL 1) discloses this kind of a substrate transport manipulator. The substrate transport manipulator of PTL 1 includes a hand capable of holding a teaching jig and an arm portion for supporting the hand. In the substrate transport manipulator, a teaching jig transmission cable derived from the teaching jig is connected to a connector connection portion provided at the base end portion of the hand and introduced into the arm to be connected to a controller.
In the configuration of PTL 1, a posture of the teaching jig transmission cable is constantly maintained during the teaching. PTL 1 discloses that this can avoid a problem of damage of the jig or a peripheral device by the cable catching in the device.

Wafer jig, robot system, communication method, and robot teaching method


An energy converter for converting kinetic energy from a body of liquid by transverse galloping includes a support, an elongate galloping body extending between a first end and a second end and being of a suitable cross-section for transverse galloping, a substantially horizontal guide arranged outside the body of liquid for guiding the first end of the galloping body, one or more elastic means substantially horizontally arranged and connected between the galloping body and the support, and a generator including a static generator component and a dynamic generator component, and wherein the galloping body is substantially vertically suspended such that the second end of the body extends into the body of liquid, and the dynamic generator component is operationally connected to the galloping body. Further disclosed are energy conversion systems including a plurality of energy converters and methods for energy conversion.

Flow induced vibrations (FIVs) have a high interest in many fields of technology and engineering. The main reason for this is that they can have a dangerous effect on structures. They can potentially generate an unacceptable level of oscillations in a structure, which may put the integrity and/or functionality of the structure at risk. Historically, engineers and scientists have therefore tried to prevent FIVs and/or minimize their effects. However, recently it has been shown that some FIVs can be used to extract energy from the flow.
Examples of the present invention are based on the use of a flow induced vibration phenomenon that is generally called Transverse Galloping (TG). Other Flow Induced Vibrations, such as e.g. the phenomenon of Vortex-Induced Vibrations (VIV) or Flutter, have in the past also been considered for energy conversion and electricity production.
Vortex Induced Vibrations:
When an elastic bluff body is under the action of a steady fluid flow, for high enough Reynolds numbers (higher than 50, say) the flow separates from the body surface generating an unsteady broad wake. Typically, the flow pattern is characterized by two shear layers on each side of the body that are unstable and roll up to form vortices. These vortices are shed to the wake periodically with a frequency proportional to the undisturbed flow speed. There is a flow velocity at which vortex shedding has a frequency close to the body's natural frequency of oscillations and, for low enough values of the mass and mechanical properties, significant oscillations can be induced in the body. When the body is oscillating, a complex interaction between the oscillating body and the flow field around it develops. This non-linear resonance phenomenon is known as Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV). The kinetic energy of the oscillations can theoretically be transformed into electricity through the use of an electrical converter. Examples of energy conversion devices partly or complete based on vortex induced vibrations have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,208,845, WO 2012/066550 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,079.
At least one disadvantage related to energy converters based on vortex induced vibrations is that only in a relatively narrow range of fluid flow speed, resonance occurs. Thus, relatively good energy conversion efficiency can only be reached in a very narrow range of fluid flow speed. Furthermore, the peak amplitude of oscillation (which directly or indirectly drives the electricity production) is inherently limited.
Flutter:
Flutter is a flow induced vibration affecting streamlined flexible bodies. It is a flow induced instability (not a resonance like VIV) and usually involves oscillations in two degrees of freedom, e.g. transverse to the incident flow as well as torsional (pitch). Flutter generally is a high frequency phenomenon of oscillations of relatively small amplitude. E.g. US 2009/0121489 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,986,051 describe energy converters utilizing flutter.
One disadvantage related to energy conversion based on the phenomenon of flutter is that it is a high frequency phenomenon which causes oscillations of small amplitude. This in itself can make electricity production complex. Moreover, the influence of the Reynolds number (which indicates the ratio of inertia forces and viscous forces in the flow) in the oscillations is very significant. This means that relatively good energy conversion efficiency can only be reached for specific flow conditions.
Galloping and Transverse Galloping:
Galloping is a well-known phenomenon in the field of Civil Engineering. It can commonly be observed in high-tension electric transmission lines when the ice accretion on the wires modifies the original substantially circular cross-sections of the transmission lines. A wake caused by a first transmission line may cause a downstream transmission line to start galloping. This phenomenon is commonly called "Wake Galloping".
In slender structures with a relatively low mass, a low damping coefficient, and having a suitable shape or cross-section (such as e.g. rectangular, triangular or an open semi-circular shape (C-shape), or a D-shape) transverse galloping can occur when the velocity of the incident flow exceeds a certain critical value. At flow speeds above this critical value, the stabilizing effect of structural (mechanical) damping is overcome by the destabilizing effect of the fluid force, and a small transverse displacement of the body creates a fluid force in the direction of the motion that tends to increase the amplitude of vibration. Once the instability threshold is exceeded, an oscillatory motion (which is mainly transverse to the flow) develops with increasing amplitude until the energy dissipated per cycle by mechanical damping balances the energy input per cycle from the flow.
Amplitude and frequency of steady oscillations depend on the geometrical and mechanical properties of the body (cross-sectional shape, mass, natural oscillation frequency and mechanical damping) as well as the incident flow velocity. With increasing flow velocity, the amplitude of the oscillations increases keeps on increasing, and at least in theory, there is no upper limit.
One significant advantage of Galloping for energy conversion and electricity production with respect to e.g. Vortex Induced Vibrations, is that the oscillations do not merely occur in a limited range of flow velocity, but instead they occur at any flow speed above the critical flow speed. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the oscillations in Galloping may be relatively large whereas in Vortex Induced Vibrations they may be relatively small. The ratio of amplitude/characteristic length of the galloping body may reach 3 or 5 or 10. The characteristic length of the body may e.g. be the width of the cross-section of the body. For vortex induced vibrations, a maximum possible amplitude may be given for this ratio around 1.
Another relevant aspect is that the flow speed at which transverse galloping occurs depends strongly of the mechanical properties of the galloping body. As a general rule, the lower the mass and mechanical damping are, the lower the critical flow speed is for galloping. For the purpose of energy efficiency, this is a great advantage, because to some extent one can control (e.g. by of the appropriate choice of mechanical properties) the flow speed at which galloping will take place.
Furthermore, Transverse Galloping is much less dependent on Reynolds numbers than other flow induced vibrations herein described. This means that the energy converters based on Transverse Galloping may more easily be increased in scale.
Previous theoretical studies developed by the inventor Barrero-Gil (Barrero-Gil et al. Transverse Energy harvesting from Galloping, Journal of Sound and Vibration 329.14 (2010), 2873-2883) have highlighted that, in principle, it is possible to efficiently transfer energy from a fluid flow to a prism.
JP 2006-226221 discloses energy converters based on transverse galloping. A vibration body is cantilever mounted and electricity generation is based on deformation of piezo electric materials. At least one disadvantage related to this arrangement is that it would be difficult and/or expensive to reach a large scale energy conversion.
Previously, "Hydroelastic Oscillations of square cylinders", Denis N. Bouclin, University of Toronto, 1975, studied the interaction between vortex shedding and galloping type oscillations of square cylinders immersed in a water stream. Bouclin did not recognise the possibilities for energy extraction from a fluid flow using transverse galloping. Rather, the idea behind Bouclin's research was to examine the phenomenon in order to be able to avoid negative effects of transverse galloping. Even if the possibility of energy harvesting had been recognised, the experimental set-up would hardly have been useful for this purpose. In the experiments carried out by Bouclin, an oscillating square cylinder is guided along a guide using air bearings with relatively low mechanical damping coefficient. The square form of the cylinder is also not optimized for transverse galloping. Furthermore, the ratio of densities m*=ρgalloping body/ρfluid would not have been suitable for this purpose either.
The present disclosure relates to various methods and systems for improving energy conversion (and electricity production) based on Transverse Galloping vibrations.

Energy converters and energy conversion systems


An optical system having coherence reduction capabilities includes a light source for generating a first light pulse; an asymmetrical pulse stretcher arranged to receive the first light pulse and to generate multiple light pulses, during a pulse sequence generation period, wherein the asymmetrical pulse stretcher includes multiple optical components which define a loop and a condenser lens is located between the asymmetrical pulse stretcher and an object, for directing the multiple pulses toward an area on the object At least two optical components of the multiple optical components are positioned in an almost symmetrical manner in relation to each other and introduce a coherence-related difference between at least two pulses of the multiple pulses. The pulse sequence generation period does not exceed a response period of a detector.

Current demands for high density and performance associated with ultra large scale integration in semiconductor devices require submicron features, increased transistor and circuit speeds, and improved reliability. Such demands require formation of device features with high precision and uniformity, which in turn necessitates careful process monitoring.
One important process requiring careful inspection is photolithography, wherein masks or "reticles" are used to transfer circuitry patterns to semiconductor wafers. Typically, the reticles are in the form of patterned chrome over a transparent substrate. A series of such reticles are employed to project the patterns onto the wafer in a preset sequence. Each photolithographic reticle includes an intricate set of geometric patterns corresponding to the circuit components to be integrated onto the wafer. The transfer of the reticle pattern onto the photoresist layer is performed conventionally by an optical exposure tool such as a scanner or a stepper, which directs light or other radiation through the reticle to expose the photoresist. The photoresist is thereafter developed to form a photoresist mask, and the underlying poly-silicon insulators or metal layer is selectively etched in accordance with the mask to form features such as lines or gates.
From the above description, it should be appreciated that any defect on the reticle, such as extra or missing chrome, may transfer onto the fabricated wafer in a repeated manner. Thus, any defect on the reticle would drastically reduce the yield of the fabrication line. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to inspect the reticles and detect any defects thereupon. The inspection is generally performed by an optical system, using transmitted, reflected, or both types of illuminations. An example of such a system is the Aera™ series reticle inspection system available from Applied Materials of Santa Clara, Calif.
There are several different known algorithm methods for inspection of reticles. These methods include: "Die to Die" inspection, in which a die is compared to a purportedly identical die on the same reticle; or "Die to Database" inspection, in which data pertaining to a given die is compared to information in a database, which could be the one from which the reticle was generated. Another inspection method involves Die to golden die which is a die chosen as a reference for inspecting wafers. There is also a design rule based inspection, in which the dye has to fulfill some line width and spacing requirements, and feature shapes should fit predefined shapes. Examples of these inspection methods, and relevant apparatus and circuitry for implementing these methods, are described in various U.S. patents, including, inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,805,123; 4,926,489; 5,619,429; and 5,864,394. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Known inspection techniques typically use imaging the objects with a large magnification onto a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The imaging technique requires the object to be illuminated. The brightness of the illuminating source is a key factor in the ability to speed the inspection by reducing the integration time of the camera. As the patterns on wafers get smaller, it becomes necessary to use smaller wavelengths in order to be able to detect the patterns. This is due to the fact that the physical resolution limit depends linearly on the illumination wavelength and due to interference effects which require that the inspection be done at a wavelength similar to the one used in the lithographic process. As the wavelengths get smaller, conventional incoherent light sources like filament lamps or gas discharge lamps do not have enough brightness, and the light sources of choice become short wavelength lasers. The coherence of the laser, together with the roughness and aberrations of the surfaces as well as the patterned object along the light path, creates an artifact known as speckle, which is a noisy pattern over the image of the object.
Speckle causes problems in detection of the surfaces of objects being inspected and causes false alarms because of the non uniformity of the light pattern hitting the detector. Detection accuracy is degraded. Also, images taken of inspected objects are degraded. The problem is an acute one in this type of object inspection, because the power provided by coherent light is essential, among other reasons, as a result of losses stemming from the detection process.
When inspecting objects such as wafers or reticles, the speckle phenomenon can arise, if the spot size used for illumination is not much smaller than an element of a pattern on the wafer. However, in some circumstances, such as oblique illumination (in which the coherent light source is directed to the wafer at an angle), the spot size will be sufficiently large to cause speckle. Reducing the spot size will reduce system throughput and will require working at a wavelength that is smaller and different from the one used for imaging the object for example during the lithographic process. Consequently, as can be appreciated, there is a tradeoff between enduring speckle and optimizing detection sensitivity/throughput. Therefore, it would be desirable to solve the speckle problem, and thus enable the use of an increased spot size, and thus improve throughput.

Method and system for coherence reduction


A flexible toilet paper holder system comprising a coupling assembly formed of a plurality of short links coupled together by pins adjacent to the ends of the links and adapted to allow the coupling assembly to be extended or retracted. Also provided is a rectangular base plate with a hinge that is coupled with an inboard end of the coupling assembly for rotation about a vertical axis. A cylindrical support shaft with a free end supports a stopper to retain a roll of toilet paper on the shaft. The support shaft also has a hinge coupled to the end of the shaft for coupling with an outboard end of the coupling assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible toilet paper holder system and more particularly pertains to supporting a roll of toilet paper in a wide variety of orientations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of toilet paper holders of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, toilet paper holders of known designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of holding a roll of toilet paper by known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,636 to Linick discloses an Extensible Toilet Tissue Roll. U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,425 to Kish discloses a Paper Roll Dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,710 to Pool discloses a Roll Holding Fixture. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 265,700 to Breger et al. discloses a Toilet Paper Dispenser. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,611 to Campbell et al. discloses Aluminum Can Handling Tongs.
In this respect, the flexible toilet paper holder system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting a roll of toilet paper in a wide variety of orientations.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved flexible toilet paper holder system which can be used for supporting a roll of toilet paper in a wide variety of orientations. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An apparatus includes a print chassis supporting a print engine within a chassis structure, and a handle engaged with the print chassis to move both the print chassis and the print engine in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

End of isle office copiers can be expensive to maintain. Typically, maintaining such copiers involves dispatching a service person to the copier's location to perform a major disassembly of components. This leaves room for technician errors in reassembly and increased downtime for a service visit. Accordingly, the ease of servicing and maintaining such copiers has an impact on overall system cost.


An optical coupling and a method of making an optical coupling where the alignment of the optical beam between two optical ports is completed after the optical coupling is assembled or packaged for shipment through the repositioning of a collecting mirror which is interposed to intercept an optical beam from an optical beam transmitter and then reflect the optical beam onto an optical beam receptor without an operator having to move or align either the optical beam transmitter or the optical beam receptor.

Optical coupling devices are known in the art. Coupling devices are used to couple the output of one device to another device so that one can transmit an optical signal from one device to another device. Generally, to ensure that the optical signal can be transmitted from one optical element to another optical element the optical elements must be precisely aligned with each other by carefully positioning either or both of the optical elements so that an optical signal can travel from one of the optical elements to the other optical element or vice versa. As the optical elements, such as optical conductors, have a diameter about equal to the width of a human hair it is time consuming, difficult and costly to precisely align two optical elements during the manufacture of an optical coupling device. In addition, the optical alignment of the optical elements usually requires use of bulky alignment equipment during the manufacturing process of the optical coupling thus adding to the difficulty in the manufacture of an optical coupled device since the aligning equipment must be monitored as well as the position of each of the optical elements to ensure that when the optical coupling is assembled the optical coupling works properly. If, after assembly the optical coupling does not properly transmit the optical signal from one optical element to another optical element it is quite likely that the optical connector will have to be discarded.
The present process comprises a post-packaging alignable optical coupling and a post-packaging optical coupling method wherein the optical elements are assembled and affixed in position in relation to a positionable mirror which has a larger surface area than the optical ports of the optical elements. By aligning the optical elements with a larger mirror it avoids the painstaking precision alignment of each of the optical elements in order to get an optical signal emanating from one optical element to be received by an optical element on another device or vice versa. In addition, the post-packaging alignment of the optical coupled members allows one to produce an optical coupling with a low profile as well as eliminate the need for use of bulky precision optical alignment equipment during the manufacturing process of the optical coupling. A further feature of the invention is, that, if for some reason the optically coupled elements become misaligned during use, such as due to environmental effects, one can on-the-go redirect the optical beam so that the two optical elements are again in optical communication with each other thus avoiding the need to replace an existing optical coupling.


A refillable dispenser for viscous compositions comprises a bottle having walls defining an upper cavity and a lower cavity, a viscous composition refill mechanism configured to allow viscous composition to enter the upper cavity when the refill mechanism is fluidly coupled to a viscous composition source and a viscous composition dispensing mechanism configured to allow viscous composition to be dispensed from the upper cavity to outside the bottle when the dispensing mechanism is actuated. A gasket configured to substantially seal the upper cavity from the lower cavity is provided wherein the gasket is capable of moving towards the upper cavity upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism and moving towards the lower cavity upon entrance of the viscous composition into the upper cavity.

PCT Publ. No. WO2005/101969 describes a refill bottle adapted to repeatedly receive and dispense liquid such as perfume. The refill bottle comprises a bottle having a bottom portion and an upper portion, an opening provided in the upper portion wherein the opening is adapted to be covered, and a refill mechanism provided in the bottom portion. The liquid is received through the refill mechanism from a regular bottle preferably provided with a spraying mechanism and is dispensed through the opening.
The refill bottle described in WO2005/101969 is unsuitable for viscous materials such as pastes, creams and liquid soaps. For example, cream might accumulate in large amounts in areas of the dispenser interior that are inaccessible to dispensing means of the bottle.
Commercially available cream dispensing bottles are not reusable; moreover, they are usually made of hard and thick plastic to endure mechanical abuse such as accidental drops, and are thus a serious environmental liability.
One object is to provide a cream bottle that is refillable; another object is to configure such bottle to allow refilling it in small amounts which are essentially dispensable from the bottle; another object is to configure the bottle so that the cream in the bottle can be substantially emptied out of the bottle by operating a dispensing mechanism.


A pump system including a control system for controlling a variable flow pump for controlling oil flow and oil pressure in a hydraulic circuit in an engine. The system includes a pump member, an actuating member capable of controlling the flow generated by the pump member, and a solenoid valve system including a solenoid valve portion and a pressure regulator valve portion. The solenoid valve system is operably associated with the pump and the pressure regulator valve portion is operably associated with the actuating member for selectively controlling the flow generated by the pump member. An electronic control unit is operably associated with the solenoid valve portion, wherein the electronic control unit is selectively operable to provide an input control signal to the solenoid valve portion for controlling oil flow and oil pressure.

It is desirable to properly lubricate the moving components in an internal combustion engine and provide hydraulic power. Typically, oil pumps used in engines are operably associated with the crankshaft of the engine (e.g., direct driven, chain driven, gear driven and/or the like) and have relatively simple fixed pressure regulation systems. While these systems are generally adequate, there are some disadvantages. For example, there is not much control of the actual discharge pressure relative to the pressure needed by the engine under certain/given operating conditions. By way of a non-limiting example, currently available pump technology typically provides high oil pressure at all engine operating conditions, where a lower oil pressure may be adequate at some of those engine conditions.
In commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,489, the entire specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, a mechanical hydraulic arrangement is shown for providing control of a variable displacement vane pump. This provides for a more optimized control of engine oil pressure. However, it is yet desirable to provide some further control depending on engine needs and/or variables.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method of control and system for control of a variable flow pump (e.g., vane pump) by the use of an engine control unit which actuates a solenoid for directly and/or indirectly controlling the flow rate of a variable flow pump.

Hydraulic pump with variable flow and variable pressure and electric control


A method and apparatus to detect non-cancelled magnetic field produced when current flows through an electric conductor are provided. The sensor includes multiple coils, which allow the sensor to be arbitrarily oriented and attach to the outside of an electrical power cable. Arbitrary orientation provides for easy of field installation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to magnetic field sensors and more specifically the detection of whether a non-shielded multi-conductor power cable is energized.
2. Background of the Invention
A sensor may be used to monitor a power cable to detect whether current is flowing in the cable. The sensor may be connected to an alarm which becomes active when either current flows or alternatively when current ceases to flow. For example, a sensor may be used to activate an LED when current is running through the power cable. Alternatively, a sensor may be used to activate an alarm if current is cut from the power cable.
To monitor current flow through the power cable, power first must be disconnected. With power disconnected, a resistive device may be placed in line with or a toroid placed around an electrical conductor in the cable to sense a current flow or a magnetic field. These monitors must break and/or isolate a single conductor from the power cable in order to monitor current through the power cable.
Therefore, a need exists to monitor a power cable without interrupting electrical flow and without breaking the electrical connection.