A new water activated pop-up sprinkler for allowing for low volume irrigation of lawns and gardens. The inventive device includes a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, a cylindrical side wall therebetween, and a hollow interior. The closed lower end has a tapered pointed end extending downwardly therefrom for penetrating a ground surface. The cylindrical housing has diametrically opposed inlet and outlet connections disposed on the cylindrical side wall downwardly of the open upper end. The connections each have channels extending downwardly within the cylindrical side wall to the closed lower end and meeting centrally within the closed lower end wherein a short channel extending upwardly into communication with the hollow interior. An inner plastic pipe is provided having opposed open ends. A lower open end couples with the short channel of the cylindrical housing. The plastic pipe has a spring disposed therearound. The spring biases the plastic pipe downwardly with respect to the cylindrical housing. A spray nozzle is coupled with an open upper end of the inner plastic pipe. A cap is dimensioned for coupling with the cylindrical housing. The cap has an aperture therethrough dimensioned for receiving the spray nozzle therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sprinkler systems and more particularly pertains to a new water activated pop-up sprinkler for allowing for low volume irrigation of lawns and gardens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of sprinkler systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, sprinkler systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art sprinkler systems include U. S. Pat. No. 4,919,332 to Bailey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,511 to Citron; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 349,152 to Hayes; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,486 to Hunter; U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,481 to Ray et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 294,730 to Karbo.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new water activated pop-up sprinkler. The inventive device includes a cylindrical housing having an open upper end, a closed lower end, a cylindrical side wall therebetween, and a hollow interior. The closed lower end has a tapered pointed end extending downwardly therefrom for penetrating a ground surface. The cylindrical housing has diametrically opposed inlet and outlet connections disposed on the cylindrical side wall downwardly of the open upper end. The connections each have channels extending downwardly within the cylindrical side wall to the closed lower end and meeting centrally within the closed lower end wherein a short channel extending upwardly into communication with the hollow interior. An inner plastic pipe is provided having opposed open ends. A lower open end couples with the short channel of the cylindrical housing. The plastic pipe has a spring disposed therearound. The spring biases the plastic pipe downwardly with respect to the cylindrical housing. A spray nozzle is coupled with an open upper end of the inner plastic pipe. A cap is dimensioned for coupling with the cylindrical housing. The cap has an aperture therethrough dimensioned for receiving the spray nozzle therethrough.
In these respects, the water activated pop-up sprinkler according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing for low volume irrigation of lawns and gardens.


An image projection apparatus comprises a projection unit configured to project an image onto a projection plane, a correction unit configured to correct a range of the image projected by the projection unit, a deformation unit configured to deform the projected range of the image according to a designated correction point, and a control unit configured to optically change the projected range of the image projected by the projection unit according to a designation of an outside of a predetermined range as the correction point.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image projection apparatus and control method thereof.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a distortion correction method of an image projection apparatus, a technique for attaining distortion correction by deforming a projected image according to move instructions of points of four corners from the user is known. However, with this technique, since the points of the four corners cannot be moved outside the projected image, the user has to set the image projection apparatus before distortion correction so that the projected image includes a screen.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4578341 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-121240 disclose the following technique. Initially, before distortion correction, a shooting is performed in a projecting direction by an image capturing unit to recognize a positional relationship between a projected region and projected image. Next, a zoom condition that the outer circumference of the projected image is not located within a screen region and the projected image becomes as small as possible is calculated, a zoom lens is driven to satisfy that condition, and the image is then deformed to attain distortion correction of the projected image.
However, the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 4578341 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-121240 requires the image capturing unit to recognize the projected region before distortion correction, resulting in an increase in cost. Also, when a projected region cannot be specified from a captured image (for example, when an image is projected onto a plain wall), distortion correction cannot be appropriately attained.

Image projection apparatus and control method thereof


A passive heat switch device is disclosed that includes a casing defining a closed channel, as well as a passive thermal actuator and liquid slug positioned inside the closed channel. The closed channel includes a heat conducting region made of a heat conducting material and an insulating region made of an insulating material. The passive thermal actuator is thermally coupled to the heat conducting material of the heat conducting region and extends into the insulating region of the closed channel. The passive thermal actuator deforms when an actuator temperature falls within a switching temperature range. The liquid slug is positioned within the closed channel and contacts at least a portion of the passive thermal actuator and the closed channel and is configured to move along the closed channel between the insulating region and the thermally conductive region in response to deformation of the passive thermal actuator.

Thermal switches are an integral part of thermal management systems for a variety of different applications such as the thermal management of spacecraft, rovers, electric vehicles, buildings, and many other applications. Thermal switches are able to manipulate the flow of thermal energy (heat), between a warm source and a cold sink. Thermal switches may be used to passively control the temperatures of electronics, instrumentation, human facilities on a spacecraft, building interiors, and other systems, structures, and devices by switching between a thermally conductive "ON" configuration corresponding to relatively high thermal conductivity, and a thermally non-conductive "OFF" configuration, corresponding to relatively high thermal insulation, depending on the external temperature or applied thermal loads. For example, environmental temperatures on the moon vary between about −180 and +130° C. during the lunar diurnal cycle, but internal spacecraft temperatures are maintained in a much narrower range (typically near room temperature). Sophisticated thermal management technologies, in particular the advancement of heat switches, are indispensable for a wide variety of applications.
One parameter used to characterize the performance of a heat switch is conductance, or switching ratio (SR), defined herein as the ratio of the switch's thermal conductances C in the thermally conductive (ON) state and thermally non-conductive (OFF) states: SR=Con/Coff. A high switching ratio, a low specific mass, and a small volumetric footprint are typically desirable characteristics of thermal switches.
Existing designs of passive heat switches include phase-change switches, gas-gap switches, and thermo-mechanical switches. Paraffin switches, the most common type of passive heat switch, are robust, scalable, and have achieved switching ratios up to 130:1, but require movement of a metallic structure to close the switch, necessitating complicated support systems to maintain the structural integrity of the switch, resulting in relatively bulky and heavy switch assemblies, with thicknesses of up to 7 cm and masses of up to 660 g. Gas-gap switches have demonstrated switching ratios up to 2500:1 in cryogenic applications, but are not amenable to scaling to different temperature ranges and coverage areas. Thermo-mechanical switches are capable of switching ratios in excess of >2000:1, but many thermo-mechanical switches, like paraffin-based switches, typically require complex and bulky support structures. Other promising technologies such as electrostatic or electrowetting-on-dielectric-based thermal switches have the potential to achieve switching ratios up to 1000:1, but require active actuation.

Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch


An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes a unitary vacuum processing chamber, upper and lower stages confronting each other at upper and lower spaces inside the vacuum processing chamber to bond a first and second substrates, and a first substrate lifting system formed in the lower stage for lifting the second substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display suitable for a large-sized liquid crystal display.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, recent developments in the information communication field have increased demand for various types of displays devices. In response to this demand, various flat panel type displays such as liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electro-luminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) have been developed to replace conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) devices. In particular, LCD devices have been used because of their high resolution, light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. In addition, LCD devices have been implemented in mobile devices such as monitors for notebook computers. Furthermore, LCD devices have been developed for monitors of computer and television to receive and display broadcasting signals.
Accordingly, efforts to improve image quality of LCD devices contrast with the benefits of their high resolution, light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. In order to incorporate LCD devices as a general image display, image quality such as fineness, brightness, large-sized area, for example, must be realized.
A plurality of gate lines are formed along one direction at fixed intervals on the first glass substrate (TFT array substrate), and a plurality of data lines are formed along a second direction perpendicular to one direction of the plurality of gate lines, thereby defining a plurality of pixel regions. Then, a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed in a matrix arrangement at the pixel regions, and a plurality of thin film transistors (TFT) are formed at the pixel regions. Accordingly, the plurality of thin film transistors are switched by signals transmitted along the gate lines and transfer signals transmitted along the data lines to each pixel electrode. In order to prevent light leakage, black matrix films are formed on the second glass substrate (color filter substrate) except at regions of the second glass substrate that correspond to the pixel regions of the first glass substrate.
A process for manufacturing an LCD device using a TFT substrate and a color filter substrate will be described with reference to a manufacturing apparatus according to the related art.
The process for manufacturing an LCD device according to the related art includes steps of forming a sealant pattern on one of a first and second substrate to form an injection inlet, bonding the first and second substrates to each other within a vacuum processing chamber, and injecting liquid crystal material through the injection inlet. In another process of manufacturing an LCD device according to the related art, a liquid crystal dropping method, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-089612 and 11-172903, includes steps of dropping liquid crystal material on a first substrate, arranging a second substrate over the first substrate, and moving the first and second substrates, thereby bonding the first and second substrates to each other. Compared to the liquid crystal injection method, the liquid crystal dropping method is advantageous in that various steps such as, formation of a liquid crystal material injection inlet, injection of the liquid crystal material, and sealing of the injection inlet are unnecessary since the liquid crystal material is predisposed on the first substrate.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show cross sectional views of a substrate bonding device using the liquid crystal dropping method according to the related art. In FIG. 1, the substrate bonding device includes a frame 10, an upper stage 21, a lower stage 22, a sealant dispensor (not shown), a liquid crystal material dispensor 30, a processing chamber includes an upper chamber unit 31 and a lower chamber unit 32, a chamber moving system 40, and a stage moving system 50. The chamber moving system 40 includes a driving motor driven to selectively move the lower chamber unit 32 to a location at which the bonding process is carried out, or to a location at which outflow of the sealant occurs and dropping of the liquid crystal material. The stage moving system 50 includes another driving motor driven to selectively move the upper stage 21 along a vertical direction perpendicular to the upper and lower stages 21 and 22.
A process of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the substrate assembly device according to the prior art follows. First, a second substrate 52 is loaded upon the upper stage 21, and a first substrate 51 is loaded upon the lower stage 22. Then, the lower chamber unit 32 having the lower stage 22 is moved to a processing location by the chamber moving system 40 for sealant dispensing and liquid crystal material dispensing. Subsequently, the lower chamber unit 32 is moved to a processing location for substrate bonding by the chamber moving system 40. Thereafter, the upper and lower chamber units 31 and 32 are assembled together by the chamber moving system 40 to form a vacuum tight seal, and a pressure in the chamber is reduced by a vacuum generating system (not shown).
Then, the upper stage 21 is moved downwardly by the stage moving system 50 at the above-mentioned vacuum state so as to closely fasten the second substrate 52 fixed to the upper stage 21 to the first substrate 51 fixed to the lower stage 22. Further, the process for bonding the respective substrates to each other is carried out through a continuous pressurization, thereby completing the manufacture of the LCD device.
However, the substrate assembly device according to the prior art is problematic. First, the substrate assembly device according the prior art fails to provide a subsidiary system or device for stable loading of the substrate at the lower stage or unloading the bonded substrates from the lower stage, thereby creating a high probability that damage to the substrate(s) may occur during the loading/unloading process. Specifically, the bonded substrates may adhere to an upper surface of the lower stage during the bonding process. Second, when the bonded substrates are unloaded, central or circumferential portions of the bonded substrates will be free of droop. Specifically, considering that the size of LCD devices are increasing to meet demand, preventing droop during unloading of the bonded substrates is extremely important and necessary.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display devices


The illuminating sleeve has at least one fastening tongue which is extended towards its front collar portion, so as to pass through the aperture in the fixed wall to which the illuminating sleeve is fastened.

The present invention relates to illuminating and fastening sleeves for cigar lighters, and the like, especially for motor vehicles, such as described for example in FR-A-2 605 949, to which reference can be made for further detail.
As is known, a cigar lighter (FIG. 1) comprises a heating plug 2 having a movable knob 7 which carries a terminal shroud in which is mounted a heating resistance (not shown), with a lighter body 1 serving as a receptacle for the plug and an illuminating sleeve 3, which surrounds the lighter body 1 and which is arranged to be illuminated by the switch for the light and indicators of the vehicle.
In a manner known per se, the body 1 carries a bimetal strip together with electrical power supply components 5, 6, to set up an electric circuit when the knob 7 of the plug 2 is pushed in.
In this pushed-in position, the terminal shroud of the plug 2 is in engagement with the leaves of the bimetal strip, in a way that enables the heating resistance becomes hot.
Once the resistance reaches the desired temperature, the leaves of the bimetal strip dilate, releasing the shroud and the knob 7, which reverts to its initial position under the action of a return spring (not shown). It only remains to remove the plug 2 so that a cigarette, or a cigar, can be lit.
The body of the illuminating sleeve 3 is provided on its front face with an illuminating collar portion 4 which surrounds the mouth of the lighter body 1.
In a manner known per se, this sleeve carries at its rear end a light source such as an electric bulb 9, which is carried by a housing 10 mounted on the rear end of the sleeve.
The sleeve 3 is made of a material which is conductive to light, and is typically made of a synthetic material such as a plastics material.
By virtue of its collar portion 4 it enables the plug 2 to be located at night, as the sleeve 3 is illuminated by the bulb 9. Apart from this illuminating function, the sleeve 3 also fastens the lighter body 1 to a fixed wall 11 of the vehicle, such as the fascia or a console of the latter.
In this connection, the sleeve 3 has at least one resiliently deformable fastening tongue 13, which is also referred to as a repelling lug. This tongue 3 is wedge-shaped, and has a knurled and inclined front face 14.
Once the sleeve 3 has been fitted in the aperture 15 formed for this purpose in the wall 11, the wall 11 is sandwiched between the collar portion 4 and the inclined front face 14 of the tongue 13.
In a manner known per se, during the fitting of the cigar lighter on the wall 11, the sleeve 3 is first inserted from the front into the aperture 15 in the wall 11, and the lighter body 1 is then introduced into the inside of the sleeve 3.
During the initial fitting of the sleeve 3 on the wall 11, the tongue 13 is retracted by cooperation of its inclined rear face 16 with the edge of the aperture 15.
The sleeve 3 typically has nibs (which are not shown here), which are adapted to cooperate with complementary apertures formed in the lighter body, in the manner disclosed in the above mentioned FR-A-2 605 949.
More precisely, these apertures are formed in a barrel 17, which is typically of metal, of the lighter body 1.
The fitting of the lighter body 1 inside the sleeve 3 is thus carried out by snap-fitting, in which the above mentioned nibs of the sleeve 3 penetrate into the complementary apertures in the barrel 17.
After this snap-fitting, the terminal collar portion 18 which is formed on the barrel 17 at its front end, comes into abutment against the collar portion 4.
In order to dismantle the assembly consisting of the barrel 17 and sleeve 3, a tool is introduced into the inside of the barrel 17, and the nibs of the sleeve 3 are then urged outwardly apart, so that the lighter body 1 can be extracted.
Although it only remains then to extract the sleeve 3, its removal is not so easy.
In this connection, it is necessary, after the body 1 has been extracted in the manner described above, to take hold of the tongue 13 from inside, and to deform it towards the axis of the sleeve 3, while pulling on it in order that the tongue 13 can pass into the aperture 15 and through the latter.

Illuminating and fastening sleeve for a cigar lighter comprising a fastening tongue extension for facilitating easy removal


Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, an engine may be automatically stopped in response to an electric assisted braking threshold level that is adjusted responsive to vehicle speed so that opportunities to automatically stop an engine may be increased, thereby conserving fuel.

A vehicle's engine may be automatically stopped when the vehicle is moving to conserve fuel, but the braking force required to stop and hold the vehicle may be different when the vehicle is moving as compared to when the vehicle is already stopped. For example, a higher braking force may be applied to stop the vehicle at a desired rate when the vehicle is traveling at 30 kilometers per hour and a lower braking force may be applied to reduce the possibility of a vehicle moving when the vehicle already stopped. However, if automatic engine stopping is provided only when the highest levels of braking capacity are present, then the opportunities to automatically stop the engine and reduce engine fuel consumption may be less than may be desired. Consequently, vehicle fuel efficiency may be reduced.
The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned issues and have developed an engine operating method, comprising: automatically stopping an engine via a controller in response to an available electric assisted braking force being greater than a first threshold when a speed of a vehicle is less than a vehicle speed threshold; and automatically stopping the engine via the controller in response to the available electric assisted braking force being greater than a second threshold when the speed of the vehicle is greater than the vehicle speed threshold.
By automatically stopping an engine in response to an available electric assisted braking force being greater than a first threshold when a speed of the vehicle is less than a vehicle speed threshold, and automatically stopping the engine in response to the available electric assisted braking force being greater than a second threshold when the speed of the vehicle is greater than the vehicle threshold speed, it may be possible to provide the technical result of providing a desired level of vehicle braking when the vehicle is moving without having to store large amounts of electrical charge. Further, the engine may be stopped when the vehicle is stopped even though the available electric assisted braking force may be lower since the vehicle may remain stopped even when only a small amount of electric assisted braking force is available.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may adjust an electric assisted braking force threshold based on vehicle operating conditions so that desired braking forces may be available during a wide variety of operating conditions without wasting energy. Thus, the variable electric assisted braking force threshold may optimize braking force for vehicle operating conditions, thereby increasing vehicle fuel efficiency by allowing an engine to stop more frequently. Further, the approach may provide a desirable level of vehicle braking even when the engine is deactivated. In addition, the approach may provide desired levels of vehicle braking whether the engine is stopped at a higher vehicle speed or a lower vehicle speed.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and system for automatically stopping an engine


A surgical milling and guide system for use with hip prosthesis trial components includes a mounting member and a guide member which are spaced apart in adjustable increments. The guide member include a milling assembly which is rotatably and slidably translatable with respect to the mounting member. The system further includes a mounting rod for attachment to a femoral proximal sleeve. Various adjustment options are possible for the device to conform to different size prosthetic components such as the proximal sleeve.

Replacement of joints, such as knees and hips, with prostheses in human beings has become quite common. A typical hip prosthesis includes a femoral portion or component which is implanted in the femur and an acetabular component which is attached to the pelvis. The femoral component includes a head, which rotates in a socket formed in the acetabular component, and a stem portion which resides in the proximal end of the femur.
To prepare a patient to receive a hip prosthesis, a portion of the proximal end of the femur is first removed. To aid the surgeon in properly aligning the prosthesis, trial prosthetic components are first implanted so that the surgeon can test for the proper alignment and orientation of the prosthesis. Typically, after the trial component is properly positioned, the calcar region of the proximal end of the femur is milled or planed. Once the proper size and fit is evaluated using trial components, the trial components are removed and the actual prosthetic components are implanted.
The milling or planing of the calcar region can be an important step in ensuring a proper fit of the femoral component implant. Due to anatomical variations between individuals and different sizes of prosthetic components, the surgeon must take extreme care in preparing the calcar region so that the prosthetic components are properly aligned and oriented.
In some instances, the trial prosthetic components can interfere with the milling or planing of the calcar region. In fact, the milling or planing can even damage portions of the trial prosthetic components, thereby preventing their re-use.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a surgical system which can properly prepare the proximal end of the femur to receive the femoral component of a hip joint prosthesis for a variety of patients.


To provide an environment-compliant image display system, a presentation system, an image processing method, and a program, a colored-light information processing section 140 is used to create XYZ values that take into account a visual environment, based on colored-light information (more precisely, RGB or XYZ tristimulus values) that has been measured by a colored-light sensor 60, and a profile management section 130 is used to correct the input-output profiles of the projector.

When presentations or meetings are held at a plurality of different locations, an important part of achieving effective presentations is to make it possible to reproduce images exactly as the creator of those images intended, whatever the location.
One way of considering how to adjust the view of such images is management of the input-output characteristics of the device to achieve color management in the reproduction of colors, but specific methods for achieving this are not obvious.
When projecting an image with a projector and screen, in particular, it is difficult to reproduce colors in a suitable manner without considering not only ambient light but also the screen type.
Recent advances in increasing resolution of projectors have made color reproducibility important as well.
In addition, projectors have recently become smaller and easier to carry. For that reason, it has become possible to perform presentations at a client's location, by way of example, but it is difficult to adjust colors to match the environment at the client's location and the manual adjustment of colors at the client's location takes too much time.

Image displaying system of environment-adaptive type, presentation system, and image processing method and program


A method for metering ammonia into the exhaust-gas region of an internal combustion engine and a device for implementing the method. The ammonia storage capacity of an SCR catalytic converter situated in the exhaust-gas region of the internal combustion engine is utilized. After the internal combustion engine has been switched off, ammonia is introduced into the exhaust-gas region in front of the SCR catalytic converter. Thus, following a renewed start-up of the internal combustion engine, the ammonia required in the SCR catalytic converter for reducing the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine are already available before an ammonia source is ready for operation. The procedure eliminates the need for a pressure storage of ammonia in the switched-off state of the internal combustion engine.

German Patent Application No. DE 101 39 142 describes an exhaust-gas treatment system of an internal combustion engine, in which an SCR catalytic converter (selective catalytic reduction) is used for reducing the NOx emission, which reduces the nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 to Nitrogen N2 using the reducing agent ammonia. The ammonia is obtained in a hydrolysis catalytic converter from a urea-water solution. The hydrolysis catalytic converter, situated in front of the SCR catalytic converter in the direction of flow, converts the urea contained in the urea-water solution to ammonia and carbon dioxide with the aid of water. To ensure exact metering, there is a provision to ascertain the concentration of the urea-water solution.
German Patent Application No. DE 103 16 184 (not prepublished) describes a method for metering the urea-water solution into the exhaust-gas stream of an internal combustion engine, in which the urea-water solution is carried in at least one component and a measure for the temperature of the component is detected. The measure for the temperature is compared to a temperature threshold value corresponding to the freezing temperature of the urea-water solution. A freezing cycle counter records the number of freezing processes of the urea-water solution, which subject the components to mechanical stress. When a specified counter reading is exceeded, a diagnostic instruction may be given for checking the components. An existing follow-up control, which is active after the internal combustion engine has been switched off, makes it possible to check whether the component is still filled with the urea-water solution even after the internal combustion engine has been switched off.
Prior to being injected into the exhaust-gas region of the internal combustion engine, the ammonia can be obtained in an external ammonia source from ammonium carbamate for example. The preparation of the ammonia either in an external ammonia source or in a hydrolysis catalytic converter requires that a certain temperature range obtains. The operating temperature of a hydrolysis catalytic converter for example lies in a range of 180° C.-250° C. Hence, when the internal combustion engine is put into operation beginning with a cold start, the ammonia required for the reduction reaction in the SCR catalytic converter is generally not yet available. In this operating state there is consequently an increased NOx emission behind the as yet ineffective SCR catalytic converter.
The present invention is based on the objective of providing a method for metering ammonia into the exhaust-gas region of an internal combustion engine as well as a device for implementing the method, which allow for the adherence to an NOx emission that is as low as possible.

Method for metering ammonia into the exhaust-gas region of an internal combustion engine and device for implementing the method


A caching system, having a first instruction cache and second instruction cache, receives an instruction address from an instruction fetch unit. For an address resulting in a cache miss in both first cache and second cache, an instruction associated with the address is retrieved from computer memory and stored with the address in first cache. For an address resulting in a cache miss in second cache and a cache hit in first cache, the instruction associated with the address is retrieved from first cache. If no instruction in second cache matches the retrieved instruction, the retrieved instruction is stored in second cache and associated with the received address; otherwise the matching instruction is associated with the received address. For an address resulting in a cache hit in second cache, the instruction associated with the address is retrieved from second cache. The retrieved instruction is returned to the instruction fetch unit.

A cache memory is usually provided in a computer as a means of improving the processing speed. A cache memory is a memory with high access speed, and temporarily holds (caches) data loaded from the main memory. The processing device (processor) acquires data from the cache memory without accessing the main memory, which has a slower access speed, when the data to be acquired is in the cache memory.
Typically, the cache memory used by a processing device includes an instruction cache for holding program instructions and a data cache for holding data to be processed. The cache memory holds data in units called cache lines. In the case of the instruction cache, the data to be held are sequences of instructions.
However, when looking at the code size of a cache line for executable code of the instruction sequences, the same code sequence is often held multiple times. For example, save instructions in the register during a task switch and in line code are likely to be the same code sequence. As a result, the instruction cache holds the same code sequence multiple times, and a significant amount of redundancy occurs in the cache content. Examples of this issue have been further shown in "Marios Kleanthous et al., "Dynamically Detecting Cache Content Duplication in Instruction Caches", Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, February 2007, TR-07-03" and "Marios Kleanthous et al., "The Duplication of Content in Instruction Caches and its Performance Implications", Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, January 2005, CS-TR-01-2005".

Device for executing program instructions and system for caching instructions

International Business Machines Corporation


A minute semiconductor device having a high driving ability and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor device includes a support substrate, an insulating layer that is formed above the support substrate, a semiconductor layer that is formed above the insulating layer, a channel region that is provided in the semiconductor layer, a source region and a drain region that are formed so as to sandwich the channel region, and a gate electrode that is formed above the channel region via a gate insulating layer. The boundary between the gate insulating layer and the channel region has a wave-like pattern of a gradual slope without any corners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and particularly to a semiconductor device that is applicable to an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) structure, and to a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transistor having a plurality of conductive channels has been known as a minute transistor having a high driving ability. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-298194, a transistor in which a plurality of conductor channels consisting of semiconductors are arranged in a given direction on an insulator is shown. In the transistor, a plurality of semiconductor layers that form conductive channels (channel regions) are arranged at intervals in a given direction. Each of the semiconductor layers has a rectangle cross section. According to the transistor, a double gate structure is obtained by forming a gate electrode at both sides of each semiconductor layer, which is expected to lead to a high driving ability. However, in the transistor, because the cross section of semiconductor layers forming conductive channels is rectangle, there is a tendency that a gate insulator is damaged due to the concentration of electric fields, which is caused by a partly thinned gate insulating layer at its corner. Also, in the transistor, because channel surface directions change at every corner, changes in the characteristics of the gate insulating layer occur. These changes may considerably affect the reliability of the transistor.
The present invention is intended to provide a minute semiconductor device having a high driving ability and a manufacturing method thereof.

Semiconductor device having a wave-like channel region


According to one embodiment, a method has storing, registering and displaying. The storing is storing a plurality of images having at least a first image in storage. The registering is registering first information related to the first image. The displaying is displaying, when the first image corresponds to a second image acquired by a camera, the first information or information related to the first information on a display.

Conventionally, there has been known a technology in which, when a user sends an image to a server where web-based image search is available, the user can acquire relevant information from the server. Here, the relevant information is information relevant to images that are the same as or similar to the image that the user has sent.
The conventional technology described above uses a web-based image search technology. This technology does not change a range of databases to be searched depending on a user who requests the relevant information. Thus, it is difficult, for example, for a user to extract relevant information by referring to only a group that contains images captured (registered) by the user with the conventional technology.

Method, electronic device, and computer program product


An airbag unit includes an airbag, a cover part which covers the airbag, a fitting member which is fitted on a front side of the cover part, and a fastening member which fastens the fitting member on a back side of the cover part. The fastening member includes a first fastening part which is inserted from a side into a first locking part provided on the fitting member, in a state in which the first locking part penetrates the cover part to a back side of the cover part, a second fastening part which is inserted from the side into a second locking part provided on the fitting member, in a state in which the second locking part penetrates the cover part to the back side of the cover part, and a connecting part which connects a base end part of the first fastening part and a base end part of the second fastening part, and external shapes of the first fastening part and the second fastening part are mutually different.

For example, an airbag unit for a driver's seat is mounted on a steering wheel for steering an automobile, and a fitting member, such as an emblem of an automobile company, may be fitted on a front side of a cover part of the airbag unit. Prior art that fastens the emblem on the cover part is known from Patent Document 1, for example.

Airbag unit, fastening structure, and fastening member


Provided is a navigation system and the like capable of improving the utility value of the navigation route in response to a current request in consideration of a user position. In the navigation system of the present invention, when a current request Req(i)(i>1) including a current destination position p2(i) that is the same as a previous destination position p2(i−1), is made from a navigation device 200, a current support route R(i) is searched which has a location point p1(i) that is on a previous support route R(i−1) and distant from the user position p0(i) by a designated distance or more included in the request Req(i), as a starting point.

There has been proposed a technique of searching for a support route by a navigation server for guiding a user of a navigation device to a destination position according to a request from the navigation device, and then searching for a navigation route based on an information according to the search result of the navigation server or reproducing the support route, by the navigation device (refer to Patent Document 1).
A current navigation route for guiding a user to a destination position is generated by combining a first navigation route searched by the navigation device independent of a search result of a navigation server and a second navigation route according to the search result of the navigation server. By doing so, it is aimed to reduce or resolve the effect of a time lag between the navigation device transmitting a request to the navigation server and receiving an information according to the search result of a supporting route from the navigation server (refer to Patent Document 2).

Navigation server, navigation device, and navigation system


An imidazole derivative of the general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, acyl or aralkyl group, X and Y are each an oxygen or sulfur atom, and Z is a substituted alkyl group is prepared by reducing a thienoimidazole carboxylic acid of the general formula (2): ##STR2## in an alcoholic solvent using a palladium catalyst, adding an adsorbent and an ion exchange resin, chelate resin or polymeric flocculating agent to the reaction mixture, and removing the spent catalyst from the reaction mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an industrially advantageous process for preparing an imidazole derivative which is useful as an intermediate for the preparation of biotin (vitamin H).
2. Description of Prior Art
JP-A-61-151194 discloses a process for the preparation of an imidazole derivative of the formula (1): ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, acyl or aralkyl group, X and Y are the same or different and each an oxygen or sulfur atom, and Z is a substituted alkyl group, which comprises catalytically reducing a corresponding precursor in an alcoholic solvent using a palladium catalyst. The palladium catalyst has the superior catalytic activity to other catalysts, while removal of the spent catalyst from the reaction mixture is difficult. Therefore, the above disclosed process removes the spent catalyst from the reaction mixture by replacing the alcoholic solvent with other solvent such as toluene.
However, the above disclosed process is not satisfactory as the industrial process since it requires the troublesome and time consuming procedures for the evaporation of the alcoholic solvent and the addition of the other solvent, and also the number of process steps such as the steps for recovering and recycling the solvents increases because of the use of a plurality of the solvents.

Process for preparing imidazole derivative


An apparatus and method are provided for reproducing replacement data recorded in a spare area of a disc, such as a DVD-RAM. The replacement data is temporarily stored in a memory provided in a disc reading or player apparatus or a RAM provided in a PC connected to the disc reading or player apparatus so that the temporarily stored data can be read without movement of an optical pickup to the spare area during a subsequent data reproducing operation. The replacement data is thereby reproduced along with data recorded in a data area of the disc, in a successive manner. Accordingly, it is possible, for example, to efficiently prevent reproduced pictures from being discontinuously outputted due to a delayed data reading operation caused by a searching operation for the spare area in which the replacement data is recorded.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for reproducing replacement data recorded on a disc.
2. Background of the Related Art
Recently, rewritable discs have been developed, for example, DVD-RAM, which can store a large quantity of high-quality video and audio data. Currently, such discs are widely commercially available.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a related art optical disc recorder system adapted to record data on an above-mentioned DVD-RAM. As shown in FIG. 1, the related art optical disc recorder system 100 includes an optical pickup 11, a video disc recorder (VDR) unit 12, and an encoder 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the DVD-RAM 10 has a lead-in area (LIA), a data area, and a lead-out area (LOA).
Also, an inner spare area (ISA) and an outer spare area (OSA) may be assigned to leading and trailing ends of the data area. In some kinds of DVD-RAMs, spare areas may also be assigned to respective trailing ends of tracks in the data area.
In the optical disc recorder system 100 having the above-mentioned configuration, the VDR unit 12 encodes data, externally inputted thereto, into a signal suitable to be recorded, modulates the signal, and records the modulated signal on the DVD-RAM 10 in the unit of ECC blocks. When the VDR unit 12 detects a defect area in the data area of the DVD-RAM 10 during the recording operation, as shown in FIG. 2, it records the ECC-based data, which would have been recorded in the defect area, in a spare area of the DVD-RAM 10, for example, the ISA, in the form of replacement data.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a related art optical disc player system 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical disc player system 200 includes an optical pickup 21, a video disc player (VDP) unit 22, and a D/A converter 23. When the VDP unit 22 detects a defect area during an operation of reproducing data recorded in the data area of the DVD-RAM 10, it performs sequential operations S10 to S15, as shown in FIG. 4, for searching for the replacement data recorded in a spare area of the DVD-RAM 10, and reproduces the searched data in place of the defect area, as shown in FIG. 4.
Accordingly, when there is a defect area in the data area of the DVD-RAM, it is possible to prevent erroneous data recording and reproducing operations by recording data, corresponding to data recorded on the defect area or to be recorded in the defect area, on a spare area of the DVD-RAM as replacement data, and reproducing the replacement data recorded on the spare area.
However, when the spare areas of the DVD-RAM are searched, as described above, in response to detection of a defect area during reproduction of data recorded in the data area of the DVD-RAM, the data reading operation for the reproduction of the data is delayed for a certain time. For this reason, it is impossible to continuously output reproduced pictures.

Apparatus and method for reproducing replacement data recorded on a disc


A manufacturing method of a spring assembly, assembles an annular plate and a compression coil spring. The method includes forming a protrusion having a tapered portion on the annular plate, and inserting a punch including a first portion having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of a tip end of the tapered portion from the tip end side into the protrusion to expand the tip end of the tapered portion. The expansion of the tip end of the tapered portion involves expanding a base portion of the protrusion, which extends the tapered portion and has a larger inner diameter than that of the tip end of the tapered portion, along a surface of an end turn of the compression coil spring.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a spring assembly, which is used as, for example, a return spring member for a multi-plate clutch piston in a clutch mechanism of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, this kind of spring assembly, although not shown, includes two annular plates and plural compressing springs arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the annual plates and fixed to these annular plates. In actual assembling, end turns of the compression coil springs are set to outer peripheries of protrusions formed on an inside surfaces of each annular plate to face to each other. Then, each protrusion is expanded outwardly by using a punch for caulking, so that the outer peripheries of the protrusions and the inside surfaces of the annular plates retain the end turns of the compression coil springs.
With such a configuration, in the process where one end turn of the compression coil spring is attached to one annular plate, the punch for caulking can be easily caused to approach the protrusion. Thus, the protrusion can be caulked relatively easily. On the other hand, in the process where the other end turn of the compression coil spring is attached to the other annular plate cannot be inserted into an area between the annular plates, easily. In this case, a very difficult and troublesome operation is required.
In order to avoid this, a method has been proposed in which when the one end turn of the compression coil spring is attached to the one annular plate, the protrusion is caulked as before by using an ordinary punch for caulking. On the other hand, when the other end turn of the compression coil spring is attached to the other annular plate, the protrusion is caulked by using a longitudinal-dividing punch and diameter-expanding pin.
Specifically, the longitudinal-dividing punch has an outer diameter, which is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the protrusion. A tip end thereof is divided by defining a division groove to be expandable. The diameter-expanding pin has an outer diameter enough to be inserted into the protrusion of the other annular plate. A sharp tip end thereof is guided into the division groove of the longitudinal-dividing punch, so that the tip end of the longitudinal-dividing punch can be expanded.
While the sharp tip end of the expanding pin is facing the protrusion of the other annular plate to be undergone the caulking operation, the tip end of the longitudinal-dividing punch inserted through the protrusion on the one annular plate, which has already been caulked, is lowered. As a result, the sharp tip end of the expanding pin is guided into the division groove to enlarge the tip end of the longitudinal-dividing punch. Thus, it becomes possible to expand the protrusion outwardly and caulk the protrusion. (see Japanese Patent No. 3288458).
Therefore, in the conventional manufacturing method, the protrusion of the other annular plate can be easily caulked by using the longitudinal-dividing punch and diameter-extending pin. Therefore, the operation of assembling the other annular plate and the compressing coil pin can be improved. However, when the protrusion is caulked, the entire periphery of the protrusion is not uniformly diameter-expanded, but the protrusion is expanded only partially at the tip end of the longitudinal-dividing punch, which is divided by the division grooves. Thus, the retaining force of the compression coil spring on the other annular plate is lowered, so that the compression coil spring might be detached therefrom. Further, since the tip end of the longitudinal-dividing punch itself is divided through the division grooves, the strength of the tip end is low so that the tip end is apt to break or wear.

Spring assembly and method for manufacturing the same


A medical electrical system includes a device including a connector port and an external electrically active surface and an auxiliary lead including a supplemental electrode and a connector end. The external electrically active surface of the device is adapted to receive the auxiliary lead connector end, thereby electrically coupling the supplemental electrode to the device via contact between the connector end and the external surface.

In the field of medical electrical systems, it is often desirable to utilize a minimum number of implanted medical electrical leads, each including as many electrodes and/or physiological sensors as are feasible. It is further desirable to reduce the number of connections between each lead and an implanted device in order to reduce bulk in a subcutaneous pocket where the device resides.
Medical electrical lead connectors and the mating connector ports of devices have been standardized in the industry; examples of standards for cardiac therapy include the IS-1 standard, for low voltage applications, i.e. pacing, and the DF-1 standard, for high-voltage applications, i.e. defibrillation. Other contemplated standards define connections for both high-voltage and low-voltage with a single device connector port and a single lead connector in order to achieve a lower profile system.
Clinical experience has shown that, in some patients, an acceptable defibrillation threshold cannot be reached using two high-voltage electrodes located on a single lead. In other patients, a chronic energy requirement for effective defibrillation may increase due to worsening heart condition or a change in medication. For these patients, it becomes necessary to implant, either at the time of original device implantation or after that time, another defibrillation electrode in order to create an effective vector for the delivery of defibrillation energy.
Furthermore it is contemplated that two low voltage electrodes located on a single lead may not meet the long term therapeutic goals for an implanted system, for example to provide cardiac resynchronization, and that, in these cases, an additional pacing electrode should be added to the system.
For the aforementioned cases, along with others in the broader field of medical electrical systems, it is desirable to provide means for augmenting a medical electrical system without adding an additional device connector port.

Means for augmenting medical electrical systems


An image reading device includes a red light source, a green light source, a blue light source, a white reference plate, a light-amount adjusting section, a photo-detecting section, and a signal processing section. The light-amount adjusting section sets lighting periods of the red, green, and blue light sources for reading in a monochrome mode, based on: lighting periods of the red, green, and blue light sources set for reading in a color mode; and a result of detection performed by the photo-detecting section when the white reference plate is illuminated with the red light, the green light, and the blue light respectively emitted by the red, green, and blue light sources for the respective lighting periods set for reading in the color mode.

The present disclosure relates to image reading devices, image forming apparatuses, and image reading methods.
An image reading device is used as a scanner and also as an image forming apparatus, such as a multi-function peripheral, a copier, and a facsimile machine. An image reading device reads an image of an original document by a photodetector detecting light reflected from the surface of the original document that is illuminated with light emitted by a light source.
Even when the image reading device reads the same original document, the amount of light detected by the photodetector may differ for each reading operation. For example, the amount of light detected by the photodetector may fluctuate depending on changes in the ambient conditions or in the light source, the optical system and/or the photodetector. In view of this, an image reading device typically applies shading correction which uses the result obtained by reading a white reference plate with a predetermined amount of light. Such shading correction reduces the fluctuations in the reading results caused by the changes in the amount of light.
Some image reading devices can read color images in addition to monochrome images. In the case where an image reading device is provided with a red light source, a green light source, and a blue light source, the photodetector can read color images in addition to monochrome images, by detecting red, green, and blue light respectively emitted by the red, green, and blue light sources.
For example, when the photodetector is a monochrome sensor, the red, green, and blue light sources are lighted at different times from one another in the color mode. In the monochrome mode, on the other hand, the red, green, and blue light sources are lighted at the same time to shorten the reading time. In this case, for increasing the dynamic range of the photodetector, the amounts of red, green, and blue light emitted by the red, green, and blue light sources are set separately for the color mode, which is for reading color images, and the monochrome mode, which is for reading monochrome images.
Some image reading devices set the amounts of red, green, and blue light for reading monochrome images by using the amounts of red, green, and blue light set for reading color images. In monochrome reading, some image reading devices increase the amounts of red, green, and blue light by increasing the amount of electric current supplied to each of the red, green, and blue light sources by the same percentage in order to reduce the influence of the decrease in the amount of light emission over time.

Image reading device, image forming apparatus, and image reading method


A process and apparatus for comminuting rubber particles. In this process and apparatus rubber particles at a temperature below the glass transition temperature are introduced into a comminuting device concurrent with the introduction of an inert gas coolant at a temperature below about −75° F. The rubber particles are comminuted in the comminuting device at a rate proportional to the average particle size of the introduced rubber particles to an average size within the range of crumb or powder rubber particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for comminuting particle rubber. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for comminuting a used rubber particle feedstock to produce powder rubber sized particles.
2. Background of the Prior Art
The disposal of used tires and other rubber articles has long been a major environmental concern insofar as the large number of used tires overwhelm waste disposal sites. Furthermore, indiscriminate discarding of tires and other rubber articles create unsightly environmental problems. It is for this reason that processes have been developed to dispose of tires in a manner that not only eliminates them as an environmental problem but provides incentives for commercialization of tire disposal processes.
Independent of the process employed most such processes includes the step of rubber comminution in which rubber particles of relatively large size are reduced to sizes that can be reused in new rubber articles including new vehicle tires. These commercially useful used rubber grades include crumb and powder rubber.
Rubber comminution processes and apparatus must overcome an inherent physical property characteristics of rubber, its high degree of elasticity. Thus, rubber, at ambient conditions, is very difficult to comminute. In order to overcome this difficulty processes and apparatus have been developed to reduce the temperature of the rubber to reduce its elasticity. To obtain fine particle sized rubber it is often required to reduce rubber particles to below its glass transition temperature. At temperatured below the glass transition temperature the rubber becomes a brittle vitreous material.
Although processes and apparatus for comminuting rubber are known in the art wherein the rubber particles are chilled to below the glass transition temperature, problems associated with comminuting rubber are still present in such processes and apparatus. One of the problems associated with comminuting rubber is the temperature rise associated with this activity. Thus, the rubber may be at its glass transition temperature upon entering the comminuting apparatus but, due to frictional forces during comminution, the temperature of the rubber rises above the glass transition temperature resulting in the re-emergence of elastic properties which prevents complete comminuting efficiency.
Another problem associated with processes and apparatus for comminuting rubber in the prior art is the variability of the rubber employed. That is, the rubber particles entering a mill are not homogeneous. Rubber particle lots may vary in average particle size and other physical characteristics requiring variation in comminution to produce a uniform powder rubber particle size.
As stated above, the prior art discloses processes and apparatus for comminuting rubber particles. Among the more pertinent of these disclosures is U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,600. The '600 patent describes a process and apparatus for low temperature comminution of tires in which cryogenic fluids, employed in embrittling rubber particles so that comminution can effectively occur, is recycled. This process produces crumb and powder rubber of sufficiently small particle size useful in the production of new vehicle tires and other rubber products.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,368,240 and 4,863,106 describe processes and apparatus for reducing rubber to fine particle sizes. Although both of these disclosures describe processes for producing fine-sized rubber using cryogenic fluids, neither of these references disclose means for custom designing the particle size range of the product to enhance commercial reliability of those processes.
The disclosure of a grinding means in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/714,782, filed Nov. 17, 2003, assigned to the assignee of the present application, which application is incorporated wherein by reference, discloses a grinding means which overcomes some of the problems associated with the prior art comminution of rubber particles. However, even that grinding means, denoted in the aforementioned application at 20, does not overcome some of the problems associated in the prior art with grinding processes and apparatus.
The above remarks establish the need in the art for a new process and apparatus for comminuting rubber particles to produce commercially viable powder rubber. Such a process and apparatus is necessary to overcome problems associated with rising temperatures in the comminuting processes and apparatus of the prior art and better accommodates production of these products in spite of varying rubber particle size feedstocks.

Process and apparatus for comminuting particle rubber


A method and apparatus for analysis of a sample. The method includes an accessing operation for accessing a region of the sample via a tip of at least one probe mounted on a cantilever. A removing operation removes a sample material from the region that is accessed by the tip of the at least one probe mounted on the cantilever. A sensing operation senses a parameter associated to the removal of the sample material in the removing operation. The accessing, removing, and sensing operations are repeated to facilitate removal of at least one layer of the sample.

The present invention relates to a method for analysis of a sample. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for three-dimensional analysis of a sample. The present invention also extends to an analyzer for analysis of a sample.
With the advent of scanning probe techniques such as the scanning tunneling microscope STM and the atomic force microscope AFM, it has become possible to image a wide variety of samples with a resolution capability on the molecular or atomic scale.
An AFM image of a sample may be collected by mapping the deflection of a cantilever-mounted probe as a function of the x-y position of the tip of the probe on the sample when the tip comes into contact with, or is in close proximity to, the sample whilst being scanned relative thereto. This yields a topographic image of the sample surface. However, should the sample have an undercut region or steep wall, only the height change and not the profile thereof is accessible by the tip so that the image obtained will not depict the true shape of the sample.
The aforementioned problem has been addressed in an article by Wickramasinghe et. al in Applied Physics Letters, Volume 64(19), published 9 May 1994, pages 2498 to 2500, titled, "Method for imaging sidewalls by atomic force microscopy". A two-dimensional (2D) AFM is described in this article specifically designed to image samples with vertical profiles. This design involves: (i) the use of a modified tip, specifically, a cylindrical tip fabricated so as to have lower protrusions giving it a "boot" shape; (ii) vibration of the tip in the vertical Z direction and horizontal X direction, (iii) a two-dimensional scan and servo system, and (iv) a mode of acquisition of data points that is different from what is used for conventional AFM imaging.
The method proposed by Wickramasinghe et. al may be applicable to imaging biological samples such as cells, which, not only have vertical edges, typically, for example, at cell boundaries, but also have irregular surfaces. Even so, this method would only yield the possibility of performing a two-dimensional analysis of the profile of such a sample.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method capable of performing a three-dimensional analysis of a sample, particularly a biological sample, which has the atomic/molecular resolution capability of AFM whilst retaining simplicity of design, i.e. not requiring the use of specialized tips, servo- and scanning systems, for example.

Method for analysis through layer-by-layer sample removal using a cantilever probe


A transfer unit is configured for use with a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The transfer unit receives a partially erected carton from a first station in a tubular form, conveys the carton to a second station, and conveys the carton from the second station to a third station. The transfer unit includes a hub defining a longitudinal hub axis and configured for rotational movement about the hub axis. A plurality of car pairs are mounted to the hub for longitudinal movement along the hub. Each of the car pairs includes first and second cars, each of which has first and second mandrels mounted thereto. The mandrels are configured to receive a partially erected carton. Each mandrel has a mandrel axis and is rotational about its respective axis. The mandrel axes are perpendicular and tangential to the hub axis. A drive longitudinally moving the car pairs along the hub and rotationally moves the mandrels about their respective mandrel axes, about 90 degrees, between an untwisted position and a twisted position.

The present invention is directed to a carton transfer unit. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a carton or package transfer unit for use with a form, fill and seal packaging machine that receives partially erected cartons at one pitch, orientation and spacing, moves the cartons through a reorientation and respacing step for application of a process on the cartons and orients and spaces the cartons for further processing.
Consumers have come to recognize and appreciate resealable closures for containers to store, for example, liquid foodproducts and the like. These resealable closures permit ready access to the product while providing the ability to reseal the container to prolong the life and freshness of the product and to prevent spills after initial opening of the container. Typically, the containers or cartons are formed from a composite of paperboard material having one or more polymer coatings or layers to establish a liquid impervious structure.
In known containers having such closures, the closures, which are formed in a separate process and transported to the packaging process, are conventionally affixed to the containers as part of the overall form, fill and seal operation. Typically, the closures are affixed to the partially erected carton prior to filling the carton with product. One known method for affixing the closure to the carton uses an ultrasonic welding process. In this process, the carton is partially erected and the closure is brought into contact with the carton, overlying an opening in the carton. Subsequently, an anvil is placed against the carton material and an ultrasonic horn is brought into contact with a flange of the closure. The ultrasonic horn is actuated which ultrasonically welds the flange to the carton material.
Another method for affixing closures to cartons uses an induction heating process. In this process, again, an anvil is placed on the carton material and an induction sealing head is brought into contact with the flange. A current is induced in the induction sealing head which, again, results in welding the flange to the carton.
Still another method applying closures to cartons is to directly mold the closure on the carton. Such a method is, for example, disclosed in Lees, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,467,238 and 6,536,187, which patents are commonly assigned with the present application and are incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus and method in the patents to Lees et al., include inserting a carton into a mold station, closing the mold tools on the carton, injecting a polymer into the mold cavity to form the closure, opening the mold tool and removing the carton (with the closure molded thereon) from the mold apparatus.
It has been found that direct molding the closures onto the cartons (as compared to applying/affixing the closures to the cartons) has a number of advantages. First, there is no longer a need for the equipment to store, transport and apply the closures to the cartons. Although the direct molding methods require equipment for carrying out the molding, there is less equipment needed for direct closure molding application. Moreover, and quite importantly, there is no longer a need for closure supply. Eliminating the reliance on the supply of closures is important for a number of reasons. First, there is always the possibility that the supply of closures is interrupted. This, of course, impacts the entire form, fill and seal operation in that operations must cease until closures are available for the cartons.
In addition, in that machine operations may vary based upon product demand, it is desirable to not have to maintain a large quantity of closures on hand (to, for example, satisfy high demand). Moreover, it is easier to maintain a quantity of "raw" polymer or plastic on hand to meet demand. In that the polymer is typically supplied and stored in pellet form, it requires less space and is more readily commercially available than preformed closures.
Nevertheless, there are many form, fill and seal machines presently in use that continue to use conventional closures. Moreover, many parts of these machine use a number of known, "standard" carton pitches and orientations. For example, machines are manufactured for filling cartons having standard 70 mm by 70 mm and 95 mm by 95 mm cross-sections. The cartons, however, are fed onto mandrels in the form, fill and seal machine in different pitches and orientations. Regardless, in order to reduce the costs for providing such direct molded closures, it is desirable to maintain one standardized orientation and format for such a molding apparatus.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that permits use of a standardized molding apparatus with various different form, fill and seal packaging machines. The resulting "common" parts provides considerable economic advantage. Desirably, such an apparatus can be "inserted" into any of a number of standard form, fill and seal machines with minimal changes required to the machine. Most desirably, such an apparatus is used without adversely impacting the overall form, fill and seal machine operation


An electrosurgical pencil includes an adjustable-length suction tube which surrounds a stationary electrode to evacuate smoke and electrosurgical byproducts from a surgical site. An electrode anchor unit is located within the interior of the suction tube to allow relative movement of the suction tube relative to a stationarily-retained electrode, and to receive and connect to different lengths of the electrodes. Adjusting the length of the suction tube relative to the different lengths of the electrode achieves effective evacuation, among other things.

An electrosurgical pencil is a medical instrument which uses an electrode to apply a high-voltage, high-frequency electrical current to tissue to achieve a surgical effect, such as cutting of tissue and/or coagulation of blood oozing from the cut or lacerated tissue. During an electrosurgical procedure, applying the high-voltage, high-frequency electrical current to the tissue produces electrosurgical byproducts, which consist principally of smoke and which also include other debris. Because the smoke and debris may contain small amounts of pathogenic particles, inhalation by the surgical staff is undesirable and may present health concerns for the surgical staff. The smoke may also obstruct the surgeon's view of the surgical site and thus may impede progress in completing the electrosurgical procedure.
Smoke evacuators have been developed to remove the undesirable smoke and electrosurgical byproducts from the surgical site. A smoke evacuator includes a fan which develops a source of low pressure air which is conducted through a suction hose to the surgical site. The airflow created by the low-pressure source evacuates smoke and electrosurgical byproducts from the surgical site into an open end of the suction hose. The electrosurgical byproducts carried by the airflow are passed through a filter, which removes smoke, particulate debris and other electrosurgical byproducts, including odors, before the filtered air is discharged at a location remote from the surgical site but still within the surgical operating room.
While smoke evacuators are generally effective in removing the smoke and electrosurgical byproducts, using a smoke evacuator is accompanied by certain disadvantages. The open end of the suction hose must be maintained at the surgical site where the electrode delivers the high-voltage, high-frequency current to the tissue. A surgical staff person other than the surgeon must usually hold and manipulate the end of the suction hose while the surgeon manipulates the electrosurgical pencil during the medical procedure. In many types of medical procedures, the surgical site is not openly accessible and therefore it is impossible or difficult to place the open end of the suction hose adjacent to the surgical site while the surgeon is manipulating the electrode at the surgical site. Under such circumstances, some smoke or debris may escape evacuation. Placing the end of the suction hose at the surgical site may also obscure or limit the surgeon's view of the surgical site or make it difficult to manipulate the electrode in tight spaces caused by the presence of the end of the suction hose. Lastly, among other things, the suction hose, which extends within the operating room, and the smoke evacuator are additional pieces of equipment which must be dealt with in an already-congested operating room, thereby complicating the surgical procedure.
To avoid many of the physical complications and obstructions associated with a separate suction hose, a suction tube has been attached to the electrosurgical pencil with an open end of the suction tube located adjacent to the electrode. The suction hose from the fan low-pressure air source is connected to the electrosurgical pencil and to the suction tube. In this manner, the open end of the suction tube is always located adjacent to the electrode at the surgical site where the smoke and other electrosurgical byproducts are created. The suction tube is always maneuvered close to the surgical site as a consequence of manipulating the electrosurgical pencil during the procedure. A separate surgical staff person is not required to position the end of the suction hose, because the surgeon inherently maneuvers the end of the suction tube while manipulating the electrosurgical pencil. The suction tube evacuates the electrosurgical byproducts from the surgical site as those byproducts are produced.
Suction tubes have been combined with electrosurgical pencils in at least two different ways. One way involves creating an external clip-on shroud-like structure which connects to a standard electrosurgical pencil. A shroud is located adjacent to the electrode and contains its own flow passageway for evacuating the smoke and other electrosurgical byproducts. The shroud is connected by the suction hose to the low-pressure air source. Connecting the shroud to the electrosurgical pencil changes the size of the pencil and may make the electrosurgical pencil itself more awkward to hold and manipulate by the surgeon. The other way of combining a suction tube with an electrosurgical pencil is to integrate the suction tube as part of the structure of the electrosurgical pencil. In this circumstance, the suction tube is built into a handle or housing of the electrosurgical pencil. The integration of the suction tube with the pencil has the effect of eliminating the more bulky and somewhat awkward aspects of connecting a separate shroud to the electrosurgical pencil, and also eliminates the risk or possibility that the separate shroud will become disconnected from the pencil. However, manufacturing of the electrosurgical pencil is complicated as a result of integrating the suction tube and creating a flow passageway within the housing of the electrosurgical pencil for the evacuated smoke, debris and other electrosurgical byproducts.
One of the consequences of integrating the suction tube with the electrosurgical pencil is that the size of the suction tube may become relatively small. The size of a typical electrosurgical pencil simply will not accommodate a relatively large suction tube. Consequently, to be most effective in evacuating the electrosurgical byproducts, the open end of the suction tube must be positioned as close as possible to the surgical site and the electrode. A closely-located suction tube captures the airborne byproducts almost immediately after formation at the surgical site and before the byproducts can diffuse from the surgical site to an extent that effective evacuation becomes impossible.
One way of integrating the suction tube with the electrosurgical pencil is to position the entire suction tube laterally adjacent to the tip of the electrode. While this configuration is effective in some circumstances, the evacuation area adjacent to the end of the suction tube is laterally displaced from the tip of the electrode, thereby providing a greater opportunity for the electrosurgical byproducts to escape evacuation on the opposite lateral side of the electrode. In addition, having the suction tube extending laterally adjacent to the tip of the electrode may limit the ability of the surgeon to manipulate the electrode in close and confined surgical sites.
Electrosurgical pencils with a laterally positioned suction tube have also been constructed to permit selective extension or retraction of the suction tube. Selective extension or retraction of the suction tube allows the surgeon to position the open end of the suction tube close to the surgical site for more effective evacuation, or allows the end of the suction tube to be retracted from the tip of the electrode if the surgical site is confined or if the suction tube obscures the surgeon's vision of the surgical site. When the end of the suction tube is positioned further away from the tip of the electrode, the evacuation of the airborne electrosurgical byproducts is less effective and the electrosurgical byproducts are more likely to diffuse into the surrounding operating room environment without being captured.
A selectively extendable and retractable suction tube also more readily accommodates the use of different-length electrodes with the electrosurgical pencil. Depending upon the medical procedure or the state of the procedure, the surgeon may require the use of a longer electrode to extend the electrode to a surgical site. A variety of different length electrodes may be used during a single medical procedure, and in such circumstances, the ability to adjust the length and position of the suction tube relative to the tip of the electrode assures more effective evacuation of the electrosurgical byproducts than in those circumstances where the position of the suction tube cannot be adjusted relative to the tip of the electrode.
One way of integrating a somewhat larger suction tube in an electrosurgical pencil is to locate the electrode within the open end of the suction tube. Under such circumstances, the suction tube and the electrode occupy the same space within the electrosurgical pencil. Locating the electrode within the suction tube is relatively easily accomplished if the suction tube is fixed and not selectively extendable and retractable, because the socket or receptacle which receives and connects the electrode is in a fixed position relative to the suction tube. The fixed relative position eliminates the benefits of selective extension and retraction of the suction tube to achieve the most effective evacuation relative to different lengths of the electrode.
Instead of being fixed to the electrosurgical pencil housing, the suction tube may be made selectively extendable and retractable while maintaining the electrode within the open end of the suction tube. In this circumstance the electrode connection socket or receptacle is also fixed at or near the open end of the suction tube. The suction tube can be extended when it is desired to extend the tip of the electrode from the housing of the electrosurgical pencil itself. However, the open end of the suction tube is maintained in fixed relationship to the tip of the electrode, because the electrode moves in conjunction with the suction tube. The open end of the suction tube cannot be adjusted relative to the tip of the electrode to achieve the most effective evacuation. In a particularly confined surgical site, the extension of the suction tube may not be permitted because of space limitations. In such circumstances, a relatively long electrode may be used. Although the longer electrode can be substituted for a shorter electrode, the suction tube cannot be extended relative to the tip of the longer electrode because of the socket or receptacle for the electrode occupies a fixed position relative to the suction tube. The use of a longer electrode greatly diminishes the smoke evacuation efficiency because the tip of the electrode is spaced a greater distance from the open end of the suction tube.
It has been recognized that it would be desirable to locate the electrode within the interior of an extendable and retractable suction tube, to permit selective extension and retraction of the suction tube relative to electrodes of different length. However, retaining the electrode within the center of the suction tube while still permitting the suction tube to extend and retract relative to the stationary electrode is a complex matter.

Integrated smoke evacuation electrosurgical pencil and method


A system uses facial recognition to exclude persons of interest (e.g., “undesirables”) from events and/or venues. Such a system can include a combination of cameras, edge processing devices, and servers that are in communications coupling (e.g., via a network) and that are on premise and/or in the cloud to recognize such persons of interest (POI) and interdict and prevent such POI from entering, traversing, and/or attending (collectively, “entering”) such venues or events.

The Invention relates to digital data processing, digital image analysis, facial recognition, and/or computer-mediated security systems. The invention has application, by way of non-limiting example, in security systems for public events and/or venues.
A problem for police, private security details and others is how to quickly detect persons that are not desirable at sporting events, concerts, or other events and/or at company facilities, military bases or sporting stadiums or other venues. The purpose of such detection is to facilitate protecting other persons, such as fans, employees, etc., and facilities from potential harm from such undesirables. If the number of persons at those events and/or venues is large (e.g., some popular concerts may have 70,000 people who attend), finding a few undesirables can be difficult if not virtually impossible.
An object of the invention is to provide improved systems, apparatus and methods for digital data processing, digital image analysis, facial recognition, and/or computer-mediated security systems. A further objects to provide such systems, apparatus and methods as are suitable for detecting undesirables at public and other events and/or venues.

Entry prevention of persons of interest from venues and events using facial recognition


A method for enhancing the detection of prostate specific antigen in a biological sample comprising (a) extracting mRNA from the sample: (b) contacting the mRNA from step (a) with reverse transcriptase under conditions allowing for the production of cDNA; (c) contacting the cDNA from step (b) with a pair of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction primers capable of specifically hybridizing with DNA encoding prostate specific antigen wherein one such primer is an oligonucleotide of 12 to 30 nucleotides in length and comprises the sequence 5-CACCCATCCTA-3' and wherein the second such primer is an oligonucleotide of 12 to 30 nucleotides in length and comprises the sequence 5'-TCCAGCCACGAC-3'; and wherein at least one of the primers is covalently linked to a modified digoxigenin molecule and under conditions allowing for extension of the primers; and (d) detecting the resulting amplified DNA.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Full citations for these references may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosure of these publications is hereby incorporated by reference into this application to describe more fully the art to which this invention pertains.
Approximately 60% of newly diagnosed patients with prostate cancer will have established metastasis at the time of diagnosis (2). Once the disease has spread to distant rites, the overall prognosis is poor (3,4). Organ-confined prostate cancer should be curative upon removal of the gland, however screening modalities to assess early metastases often fail to identify a significant subset of patients with locally invasive disease (involving penetration of the capsule or seminal vesicle). Recent studies report that up to 40-50% of patients who were thought to have clinically localized disease were found to be understaged subsequent to radical surgery (5,6,7). This failure rate creates a clinical dilemma since operative therapy is not the appropriate treatment modality for these patients. Clearly, development of a more sensitive means to identify patients with micrometastic, locally invasive disease is warranted.
Prostate cancer metastases are more frequently found in the pelvic lymph nodes and on bone and these are sites surveyed most aggressively in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. The involvement of draining lymph nodes in the dissemination of this cancer is expected, given our understanding of solid tumor behavior. The means by which the prostate cancer cells target the bone is debated, but suspected to involve blood vessels to the lower spine, specifically the vertebral venous plexus (8,9). This spread presupposes that prostate cancer cells are shed into the blood stream and implies a role for hematogenous dissemination in prostate cancer progression.
Indeed, a preliminary study showing that prostate cells can be putatively identified in blood specimens of patients with metastatic prostate cancer supports the concept of blood-borne metastasis (10).
This previous study reported that cells synthesizing prostate specific antigen (PSA) were present in the circulating blood of patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) were present in the circulating blood of patients with prostate cancer metastases. Since the expression of this protein is restricted to epithelial cells of the prostate gland, the detection of PSA synthesizing cells in the circulation indicates an unexpected and potentially abnormal situation. Here, we describe our development of an extremely sensitive "enhanced" PCR-based assay that allows us to identify PSA-synthesizing cells even when they are highly diluted in a population of peripheral lymphocytes. When this assay was applied to RNA extracted from peripheral blood cells of prostate cancer patients, it enabled us to distinguish the overwhelming majority of patients with overt metastatic disease as well as patients with locally invasive tumors that were understaged by conventional screening modalities (i.e. digital rectal exam, CT-scan and/or endorectal MRI). The remarkable accuracy of this assay in upstaging patients with apparent clinically localized disease could eliminate a significant number of prostate cancer patients from unnecessary operations and potentially increase the cure rate in patients who are treated by radical prostatectomy. Since this simple assay involves the molecular detection of a prostate-specific gene product, it represents the first reported instance of molecular staging of a solid human tumor.

Method for molecular staging of prostate cancer

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


The integrated circuit chips (5) are mounted on a ferrite support (20). The ferrite support is metallized uniformly (26) on its lower face and bears metallization zones (21, 24) on its other face. To certain of these zones (24) serving as a ground plane, there are attached the integrated circuit chips (5). The other zones (21) act as relays to connect the supply voltages that are applied by means of a linking wire (7') and a thin film decoupling capacitor (10, 11, 12) borne by the chip. The ground zones (24) are connected to the general ground plane (26) by metallized holes (25). The linking wire (7') is positioned so as to face a bared part of the ferrite to prevent any parasitic resonance.

The present invention relates to a device for the mounting of very wide-band microwave monolithic integrated circuits, notably GaAs circuits.
Wide-band microwave monolithic integrated circuits such as GaAs circuits are much used in equipment that has to work in very wide bands, for example of 2 to 20 GHz or more. GaAs circuits improve performance characteristics notably because of the uniformity of the gain obtained, and they enable a diminution of volume and a reduction of the batch production prices. These advantages are further accentuated in very wide passband applications by the use of the distributed amplifiers technique, providing simultaneously for high gain, a very wide band, low reflection coefficients at input and at output, and efficient input/output insulation.
However, these integrated circuits should be provided with circuits for the isolation or decoupling of the supply or bias circuits. Now, these decoupling circuits use capacitors to decouple the supplies used to bias the amplifiers, and the lower the frequencies at which it is sought to work, the greater should be the capacitance value of these capacitors (and hence the greater should be their size). These capacitors therefore take up a great deal of semiconductor surface area, thus preventing as great a reduction in cost and in space requirements as might have been hoped for. In practice, it is not sought to achieve decoupling at frequencies below 5 GHz so as not to excessive penalize the size of these chips and manufacturing output, for the manufacturing output levels of capacitors made in thin layers are not very great.
If it is sought to work at lower frequencies than 5 GHz, in the case of very wide band applications, then a known approach consists in complementing the decoupling with very external capacitors of very high capacitance value made on an attached support bearing the integrated circuits. This support may be a metal support with attached capacitors or a conductive silicon support on which MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) capacitors are made.
A drawback of this approach is, however, the appearance of a resonance due to a capacitor on integrated circuit/linking wire/external capacitor system. It is practically not possible to diminish the resonance frequency for this would imply an excessively high value of capacitance on integrated circuit and a very high inductance of the connecting wire, hence an excessive space requirement and problems of parasitic modes for a long connecting wire.

Device for the mounting of very wide-band microwave integrated circuits