A catheter, such as a balloon dilatation catheter includes an outer tabular shaft having a passageway extending therethrough. A flexible inner tube extending through the passageway is attached at its ends to the shaft to form an annular inflation lumen between the shaft and inner tube and a guidewire lumen extending through the inner tube. A dilatation balloon is mounted on the shaft and is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. Upon aspiration of the inflation lumen and dilatation balloon via an inlet port, the inner tube expands against the outer shaft providing the guidewire lumen with a relatively large cross-sectional area for free movement of the guidewire. Upon injection of an inflation liquid into the inflation lumen, the inner tube collapses about the in-dwelling guidewire creating an inflation lumen having a large cross-sectional area enabling rapid inflation and deflation of the dilatation balloon. In another embodiment another flexible inner tube is provided to define a third intermediate annular lumen which may be pressurized to securely couple the catheter to the guidewire to increase the column strength of the assembly and enhance the pushability of the catheter through a stenosis.

Catheters are commonly used to perform a wide variety of medical procedures within human body lumens. Often, depending on the type of procedure involved, a catheter may desirably be used to perform multiple functions. It is common for such catheters to have multiple lumens, each dedicated to the performance of a particular function. For example, in many types of balloon catheters, it is common for the catheter to have two lumens, one for inflation or deflation of the balloon, and another to provide direct communication from the proximal to the distal end of the catheter, such as to deliver medication, contrast liquid or the like or to withdraw blood or other fluid from the body lumen. By way of further example, one such balloon catheter commonly in use is that employed in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures, in which a balloon dilatation catheter is inserted into a patient's artery for the purpose of enlarging a blood vessel which has become obstructed as a result of arteriosclerosis. Such angioplasty catheters typically are guided through the patient's arterial system to the site of the obstruction (the stenosis) by a guidewire over which the catheter is passed. After the guidewire has been passed through the stenosis, the catheter then is advanced over the guidewire to place the balloon (while in a deflated condition) within the stenosis. Once so placed, the balloon is inflated with an inflation liquid under a high-pressure, sometimes as much as the order of about 20 atmospheres, to forcibly dilate the stenosis and enlarge the lumen in the artery, thereby improving blood flow through the artery. such catheters require two lumens, one for inflation or deflation of the balloon and the other for reception of the guidewire. Typically, the guidewire lumen also may be used to deliver liquids out of the distal end of the catheter or to take blood pressure measurements.
It is a desirable objective of such catheters to maximize the cross-sectional flow area of each of the lumens. For example, it is advantageous to provide a relatively large cross-sectional flow area for the inflation/deflation lumen in order that the time required to inflate and deflate the balloon is kept at a minimum. It also is desirable to maintain a relatively large cross-sectional area for the guidewire lumen to facilitate freedom of movement of the guidewire within the lumen as well as to provide a relatively large fluid flow area for infusion of liquids and for measurement of blood pressure. A significant competing consideration, however, is the importance of maintaining the outer diameter of the catheter as small as possible. Maintaining a small outer diameter for the catheter is important in order to permit the catheter to be advanced into relatively small diameter arteries as well as to facilitate advancement of the deflated balloon of the catheter into the stenosis to be treated. If the diameter of the catheter is too large, it may not be able to reach into a small artery or, even if it can be inserted into the artery, it may not be able to cross the stenosis. As a result, the catheters of the prior art typically have reduced the size of one lumen in order to increase the size of another.
There is a need, therefore, for a catheter configuration in which the cross-sectional area of each of the lumens may be maximized without increasing the outer diameter of the catheter. It is among the general objects of the invention to provide a catheter construction that satisfies that need.

Multilumen catheter with variable cross-section lumens


A proximity sensor module includes a housing; and a proximity sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a sensor plate configured to contact inside of the housing such that substantially no gap exists between the sensor plate and the housing. The housing may be a substantially explosion-proof housing. The housing may include two members coupled by a thread engagement, wherein a sensor plate of the proximity sensor is placed off-center with respect to an axis of rotation for the thread engagement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to communication and control systems for use in monitoring and controlling various systems and equipment in industrial environments.
2. Background Art
At locations where oil and gas are produced, a number of flammable gases may be present, including mixtures of oxygen, methane, ethane, propane, hydrogen sulfide and others. Similar potentially dangerous environmental conditions exist in locations in which petroleum products are being recovered, refined or processed. Likewise, in industrial areas where large quantities of dust are present, such as in grain handling facilities or pulp and paper mills, hazardous environmental conditions may exist. Standardized classifications for the various types of hazardous locations have been adopted and assigned by regulatory agencies according to the nature and type of hazard that is generally present or that may occasionally be present.
Because electrical components, by their nature, may generate heat and sparks sufficient to ignite a flammable gas or other flammable mixture under even normal operating conditions, such components must be carefully selected and installed when used in an area that is classified as hazardous. More specifically, the components must exceed certain minimum standards as to such characteristics as power consumption, operating temperature, current and voltage requirements, and energy storage capabilities. These standards are also established by regulatory authorities and vary depending upon the particular hazardous environment.
Certain electrical devices are intrinsically safe. An intrinsically safe device may be generally described as a device that during normal operation, as well as operation during any fault condition, cannot cause a spark or achieve a temperature sufficient to ignite the gas or other substance that is present and that causes the area to be classified. If a device is not intrinsically safe, other means must be provided to ensure that the device cannot serve as a source of ignition. Typically where a device is not intrinsically safe, it may be made safe by housing it in an explosion-proof enclosure or housing. An explosion-proof housing or enclosure, as that term is used herein, means an enclosure that prevents any spark or explosion within the enclosure from causing the atmosphere outside the housing to ignite.
Although areas that are classified as hazardous are prevalent in many industries, the problems of powering and communicating with electrical devices in hazardous areas are particularly acute in the production, gathering, distribution and transportation of oil and gas. Many of the areas around an oil and gas production site are classified as hazardous, and thus special precautions are required with respect to the electrical communication and power distribution systems. To efficiently and safely control the operation, a system having sensors positioned in a number of locations in the hazardous area is often required. These sensors will transmit needed data to a computer which can process that data and transmit important information to the operator by means of a console or monitor. By viewing the information on the monitor, the operator can then make whatever changes that are appropriate to the system to assure safe and efficient operation.
The monitor is typically required to be very close to the well head and thus is located in a hazardous area. Historically, such consoles have varied with respect to the amount of information displayed and type of indicators used. In the past, when a simple meter or gage provided all the information that was required, the device could sometimes be made intrinsically safe. However, due to the sophistication of today's oil and gas production operations, consoles or monitors usually provide an operator with a tremendous amount of information. Additionally, the console may permit the operator to issue commands or make inquiries through the use of a keyboard or key pad, and may display all the needed information by means of an LCD or other display. These modern consoles or monitors typically have a substantial power requirement that has prevented them from being made intrinsically safe, and often requires that they be housed in an explosion proof enclosure.
In oil and gas production operations, various sensors, consoles and monitors are used in remote areas where running power lines is difficult. Thus, it is often desirable to power such units with solar power or batteries. Because such power sources have limited capacities, it would be advantageous to develop low power consumption components for these units.
Another approach to increasing the working life of a power source is to shut down non-essential units when not in use, and run components only to the extent necessary to perform desired functions (e.g. running a microprocessor at a lower clock speed or turning off a display when not in use). However, this task is made difficult in a hazardous area because methods of regulating power to the system, and configuring operating ranges of components, are limited. For instance, a typical toggle switch cannot be used in such an area, due to its electrical characteristics. Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a power control system that may be used safely in a hazardous area, so that electrical components (e.g., a visual display, microprocessor, or infrared data link) can be regulated to consume minimal power. This avoids unnecessary consumption of power.


The invention describes a stable liquid washing agent or liquid cleaning agent having a yield point and very good dispersing properties. The agents contain anionic and nonionic surfactants as well as inorganic salt, at a specific ratio to one another. The invention also relates to use of the liquid washing agent or liquid cleaning agent, and to a method for manufacturing it.

Suspending solids in liquids in stable fashion is often problematic. Especially when the solids differ from the liquid in terms of density, they tend to sediment or to float.
One method for suspending relative large particles, for example visible capsules, is based on structured surfactant systems. The term "structured surfactant system" refers to aqueous systems that comprise surfactant structures which are larger than usual spherical micelles and whose interaction imparts thixotropic properties to the aqueous medium. These structures can be solid, can form a mesophase, or can be liquid, and can be present in the form of multi-layer spherulites, rods, disks, or flakes, which are dispersed or emulsified discontinuously in the system or form weak network structures.
Three principal types of suspended systems have been utilized in practice, all involving an Lα phase in which double layers of surfactants are arranged with the hydrophobic part of the molecule on the inner side and the hydrophilic part on the outer side of the double layer (or vice versa). The double layers are located side by side, for example in a parallel or concentric arrangement, sometimes separated by aqueous layers. Lα phases can usually be identified by their characteristic texture under a polarization microscope, and/or by X-ray diffraction.
Most surfactants form an Lα phase, at either ambient or slightly higher temperature, when they are mixed with water at certain specific ratios. Lα phases of this kind generally cannot, however, be used as structured suspended systems. Useful quantities of solids cause the systems to no longer be pourable, and smaller quantities of solids tend to sediment. The concentrations at which Lα phases occur are also often appreciably higher than the concentrations usual and/or desired in liquid washing and cleaning agents.
The principal types of structured system that are used in practice are based on dispersed lamellar, spherulitic, and attenuated lamellar phases.
Dispersed lamellar phases are two-phase systems in which the surfactant double layers are arranged as parallel plates in order to form regions made up of Lα phases that are penetrated by an aqueous phase in order to form an opaque, gel-like system.
Spherulitic phases comprise spherical bodies, usually referred to technically as "spherulites," in which surfactant double layers are arranged as concentric shells. The spherulites usually have a diameter in the range from 0.1 to 15 μm and are dispersed in an aqueous phase in the manner of a classic emulsion. The spherulites interact to form a structured system.
Many structured surfactant systems fall between lamellar dispersed and spherulitic. The surfactant systems comprise both structure types. Systems having a more strongly spherulitic character are usually preferred, since they result in lower viscosities.
A third type of structured surfactant system comprises an expanded Lα phase. It differs from the other two types of structured system in that it is substantially a single phase, and from conventional Lα phases in that it has a broader d-spacing.
Structured surfactant systems having dispersed lamellar or spherulitic phases are typically formed by the interaction of surfactants with dissolved electrolyte salts or bases. WO 2007/08510 A1, for example, discloses structured hand dishwashing or scrubbing agents.
Structured surfactant systems of this kind, however, often exhibit no yield points or insufficiently high yield points and/or contain very large amounts of electrolyte. The risk of phase separation also exists with many systems.
An object of the invention is therefore to provide a structured liquid washing or cleaning agent having a yield point, which is also suitable in particular for use in automatic washing machines or dishwashers.
Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Structured liquid detergent or cleaning agent having a flow limit and inorganic salt


A self aligning joint and linkages employing the self aligning joint. The joint includes a stem; a clevis mounted for rotation on one end of the stem and defining a pair of spaced arms; a stud having a circumferential groove proximate one end thereof; a body member positioned between the clevis arms and defining a socket mounting the one end of the stud for rotation about the axis of the stud; and an axle pin mounted at opposite ends in the clevis arm, passing through the body member to mount the body member for angulation about the pin axis, and including an intermediate portion positioned in the stud groove to preclude axial displacement of the stud out of the socket. Also disclosed are linkages including an elongated tubular member, an elongated rod member mounted for rotation in the tubular member and including a free end projecting out of one end of the tubular member, a self aligning joint according to the invention secured to the free end of the rod member, and a further self aligning joint secured to the end of the tubular member remote from the rod member. The self aligning joints in this case are " zero angle" joints providing only two degrees of movement with the third movement being provided in each case by relative rotation between the tubular member and the rod member.

This invention relates to self-aligning joints and to linkages employing self-aligning joints. Examples of linkages employing self-aligning joints include tie rod assemblies, drag link assemblies, torque rod assemblies, control rod assemblies, and many other applications in the automotive, agricultural, and industrial fields.
The most commonly used self-aligning joint is the ball and socket joint commonly called "ball joint." A ball joint generally consists of a mounting stud terminating in a ball and disposed within a socket and stem member such that the stud portion extends through an opening in the socket member which is smaller than the ball diameter. The ball has a slidable swiveling engagement with a conforming bearing surface in the socket. A preloading construction generally completes the joint assembly with the bearing surfaces in preloaded contact.
Three basic motions determine the amount of self-alignment which can be handled by a specific ball joint. The socket and stem member can be rotated freely around the axis of the ball stud, but the angular movement of the socket and stem in the plane of the ball stud axis is limited by interference between the opening in the socket and the ball stud. Excessive angulation can cam the ball through the opening in the socket body or break or bend the ball stud. To minimize the chance of "cam out" or stud breakage, the diameter of the ball stud can be reduced at the point of interference. This is common practice, but it reduces the load and fatigue limits of the ball stud.
The third motion of the ball joint is rotation about the axis of the socket and stem. This movement can create problems. For example, in some steering systems rotation about the socket stem axis due to the design geometry of the steering system is in the order of plus or minus 5.degree., occurring on a lock to lock turn of about 45.degree.. Additionally, the common axle forgings can oscillate as much as plus or minus 25.degree. metal to metal and this oscillation is superimposed on the design geometry oscillation. The resulting combined oscillation moves the socket body back and forth into contact with the ball stud and introduces a sense of lost motion and instability to the driver of the vehicle. Many proposals have been made to eliminate this third movement and create what is known as a "zero angle" ball joint. These proposals, however, are in general complicated and quite expensive.
Another major shortcoming of the ball joint is the difficulty in grease sealing. "Tent" type seals are the least expensive and are commonly used on automotive and agricultural applications. The seal fits snugly on the ball stud at the mounting surface and, upon installation of the joint, the seal is compressed against the exterior bowl of the socket body. The seal surface is a small annular band of contact which "gaps" with the large angular movements and, at best, grease retention is poor. It requires frequent greasing to purge contaminants and remain filled. The other type of seal is the bellows seal fitted and secured around both the ball stud and the bottom of the socket body. Angulation is handled well by the bellows except for large angulations which frequently pinch and rupture the bellows. The bellows is ruptured in many ways and its service life is seldom as long as the joint replacement. Power greasing systems fill so fast that the pressure relief cuts are insufficient and the seal blows off the socket body. At this point there is no effective sealing.
Ball joints are also very dependent on essentially perfect sphericity of the ball. The ball stud forging must be trimmed to eliminate heavy flash around the ball and the ball must then be burnished to obtain some degree of sphericity. At best, the ball is out of round. Under the heavy preloads required in ball stud assemblies, any variations in roundness imprints in plastic bearings resulting in initial lockup or very high breakaway steering torque.


A roofing system, assembly and related methods of manufacture and installation for simulating a metal roof includes a membrane which is installed over a roof deck and aesthetic ribs installed directly on the membrane layer.

Metal roofs have great aesthetic appeal and can yield many years of protection. However, metal roofing systems are known to have leakage issues, particularly when metal is used for complex roofing designs such as changes in roof direction, valleys, wall seams and conduit or vent penetrations. Metal roofing systems are also expensive. There is a need in the art for a product that can provide the look of metal with a superior and durable leak protection at a lower cost.

Composite roof systems and methods of installation


Novel gene deletions and translocations involving chromosome 2 resulting in fusion proteins combining part of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase with part of a secondary protein have now been identified in human solid tumors, e.g. non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Secondary proteins include Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML-4) and TRK-Fusion Gene (TFG). The EML4-ALK fusion protein, which retains ALK tyrosine kinase activity, was confirmed to drive the proliferation and survival of NSCLC characterized by this mutation. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for determining the presence of these mutant polypeptides in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer characterized by the mutant polynucleotides or polypeptides.

Many cancers are characterized by disruptions in cellular signaling pathways that lead to aberrant control of cellular processes, or to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells. These disruptions are often caused by changes in the activity of particular signaling proteins, such as kinases. Among these cancers are solid tumors, like non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). NSCLC is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and accounts for about 87% of all lung cancers. There are about 151,000 new cases of NSCLC in the United States annually, and it is estimated that over 120,000 patients will die annually from the disease in the United States alone. See "Cancer Facts and Figures 2005," American Cancer Society. NSCLC, which comprises three distinct subtypes, is often only detected after it has metastasized, and thus the mortality rate is 75% within two years of diagnosis.
It is known that gene deletions and/or translocations resulting in kinase fusion proteins with aberrant signaling activity can directly lead to certain cancers. For example, it has been directly demonstrated that the BCR-ABL oncoprotein, a tyrosine kinase fusion protein, is the causative agent in human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The BCR-ABL oncoprotein, which is found in at least 90-95% of CML cases, is generated by the translocation of gene sequences from the c-ABL protein tyrosine kinase on chromosome 9 into BCR sequences on chromosome 22, producing the so-called Philadelphia chromosome. See, e.g. Kurzock et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 319: 990-998 (1988). The translocation is also observed in acute lymphocytic leukemia and NSCLC cases.
Gene translocations and deletions leading to mutant or fusion proteins implicated in a variety of other cancers have been described. For example, Falini et al., Blood 99(2): 409-426 (2002), review translocations known to occur in hematological cancers, including the NPM-ALK fusion found in ALCL. To date, only a limited number of gene translocations, deletions, and mutant proteins occurring in lung cancers have been described, including the t(15; 19) translocation involving Notch3. See Dang et al., J. Natl. Can. Instit. 92(16): 1355-1357 (2000). Defects in RNA Binding Protein-6 (EML-4) expression and/or activity have been found in small cell and non-small cell lung carcinomas. See Drabkin et al., Oncogene 8(16): 2589-97 (1999). However, to date, no translocations or deletions in human NSCLC cancer that involve protein kinases have been described.
Defects in ALK kinase expression resulting from the fusion of NPM to ALK in large cell anaplastic lymphoma have been described. See Morris et al., 1994; Shiota et al., 1994. The fusion of ALK to moesin, non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 (Tort et al. 2001), clarthrin heavy chain (Touriol et al., 2000; Bridge et al., 2001), tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) (Lamant et al., 1999), TRK-fused gene (TGF) (Hernandez et al., Am. J. Path. 160(4): 1487-1493 (2002)) and other genes have been described. In particular, the TGF-ALK fusion was reported in non-solid lymphoma, but to date this fusion has not been described in solid tumors. The general role of ALK in cancer has been described. See Pulford et al., J. Cell Physiol. 199(3): 330-358 (2004). However, to date, no defects in EML-4 expression and/or activation have been described.
Identifying mutations in human cancers is highly desirable because it can lead to the development of new therapeutics that target such fusion or mutant proteins, and to new diagnostics for identifying patients that have such gene mutations. For example, BCR-ABL has become a target for the development of therapeutics to treat leukemia. Most recently, Gleevec® (Imatinib mesylate, STI-571), a small molecule inhibitor of the ABL kinase, has been approved for the treatment of CML. This drug is the first of a new class of anti-proliferative agents designed to interfere with the signaling pathways that drive the growth of tumor cells. The development of this drug represents a significant advance over the conventional therapies for CML and ALL, chemotherapy and radiation, which are plagued by well known side-effects and are often of limited effect since they fail to specifically target the underlying causes of the malignancies. Likewise, reagents and methods for specifically detecting BCR-ABL fusion protein in patients, in order to identify patients most likely to respond to targeted inhibitors like Gleevec®, have been described.
Accordingly, there remains a need for the identification of novel gene mutations, such as translocations or deletions, resulting in fusion or mutant proteins implicated in the progression of human cancers, particularly solid tumors, including lung cancers like NSCLC, and the development of new reagents and methods for the study and detection of such fusion proteins. Identification of such fusion proteins will, among other things, desirably enable new methods for selecting patients for targeted therapies, as well as for the screening of new drugs that inhibit such mutant/fusion proteins.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions for detecting mutant anaplastic lymphoma kinase in human lung cancer


Disclosed is a cosmetic mask kit packed in a biodegradable packaging material, wherein the use of the mask kit of the present disclosure can be eco-friendly since the mask kit is designed as a 100% biodegradable product, and the mask kit of the present disclosure can significantly improve the satisfaction of a customer since a mask sheet can implement various feelings of use according to the preference of a user.

In recent years, the use of microplastics for cosmetic contents has been prohibited in the cosmetics industry due to environmental pollution and ecological issues caused by plastics. Hence, there is an increasing demand for the development of techniques that reduce or replace the use of plastic materials frequently used in cosmetic containers and packaging materials, and the development of related techniques is also being actively performed.
Sheet-type masks are typically composed of a cosmetic liquid, a mask sheet, and a pouch for packing the same therein. Most of the sheet-type masks are packed in disposable packaging materials for hygiene, preservability, ease of use, and ease of purchase. Therefore, the sheet-type masks usually cause a large amount of trash compared with typical container-type cosmetic products that are used for one to three months after purchase. Meanwhile, typical cosmetic containers are usually made thick in an injection molding manner and can be replaced with glass materials, and biodegradable materials are more easily applied to the cosmetic containers compared with a film form. In a sheet-type mask pouch, an aluminum material is necessarily used in the center of a packaging material to block the moisture evaporation from a cosmetic liquid and prevent the discoloration by light, and a PET material or the like is attached in a film form on the outer surface of a packaging paper to print aesthetic patterns on external appearance of the packaging paper. In addition, an LLDPE material or the like is laminated on the inner surface of an aluminum layer for the binding (sealing) of the pouch and the protection of a cosmetic. While techniques for eco-friendly materials for cosmetic liquids and sheets that constitute current sheet-type masks have been completely developed, alternate techniques for pouches using biodegradable materials that block the evaporation of cosmetic liquids and the discoloration by light have not yet been developed.

Cosmetic mask kit packed in biodegradable packaging material


A tool is provided for use in installing irrigation barb emitters in irrigation tubing. The tool comprises a cradle member having a cradle handle and a cradle jaw on opposing ends and a barb holder member having a barb holder handle and a barb holder jaw on opposing ends. The cradle member and the barb holder member are arranged in crossed relation. A cradle mounted on the cradle jaw is suitable for receiving a peripheral portion of an irrigation tubing. A barb holder mounted on the barb holder jaw is a hollow cylindrical cavity formed by two opposing barb holder jaw members. The barb holder has an axis aligned with the cradle with the opposing barb holder jaw members forming a slot opening therebetween. The slot opening is sized to allow snap fitting of the hollow cylinder of a barb emitter laterally into the hollow cylindrical cavity. A shoulder is formed by the lower edges of the opposing jaw members and acts against an annular disk shoulder on a barb emitter to force a piercing point on the barb emitter to penetrate irrigation tubing held within the cradle when the cradle jaw and the barb holder jaw are brought together. The barb emitter is released from the barb holder and retained within the irrigation tubing upon movement of the barb holder away from the cradle.

It is common to use plastic tubing to distribute water to various locations for irrigation purposes. In such use, hollow irrigation emitter barbs are mounted as desired on the plastic tubing. Such barbs are hollow allowing the water contained within the tubing to be distributed, or emitted, as desired. Small diameter flexible tubing can be mounted on the barbs to place the water where desired.
Irrigation emitter barbs are generally symmetrical and are provided with sharp piercing points at both ends to penetrate the wall of the tubing. Further, enlarged heads are provided to impede the withdrawal of the barb from the tubing. While irrigation emitter barbs can be installed by hand, the sharp piercing points can cause injury to workers. In fact, the present invention was inspired after applicant viewed the bloodied hands of workers installing a large number of such irrigation emitter barbs.
Various types of installation tools are well known in art. For example, punch tools have been employed which punch the hole in the tubing for the subsequent placement of irrigation emitter barbs. However, installation still requires handling of the sharp piercing points by the installer.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,222,985 entitled "Laboratory Tool" which issued on Sep. 16, 1980 to Greenleaf discloses a ferrule removal tool which utilizes a solid post and slot combination which engages the end, not the periphery, of a tube to remove a ferrule therefrom.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,497,321 entitled "Ear Tag Applicators" which issued on Feb. 5, 1985 to Fearing et al. shows the use of a tapered pin to engage the interior recess of a hard conical spike portion of a two piece animal tag. The spike rests upon a platform of the device.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,522,339 entitled IRRIGATION FITTING WITH INSTALLATION BARB AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION BARB TOOL which issued on Jun. 11, 1985 to Costa discloses an irrigation fitting barb and associated barb insertion tool. However, the Costa tool requires use of the specific Costa fitting to properly function and thus does not function with standard irrigation emitter barbs.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,177,846 entitled INSERTION TOOL which issued on Jan. 12, 1983 to Bryant discloses a hand held tool for inserting fittings or flow control devices into an irrigation line.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,392,616 entitled SELF-PERFORATING DRIP IRRIGATION DEVICE which issued on Jul. 12, 1983 to Olson shows, in FIGS. 10 and 11, a tool for inserting barbs into an irrigation line.
U. S. Pat. No. 1,464,807 entitled DENTAL INSTRUMENT which issued on Aug. 14, 1923 to Clark shows a plier type tool having a punch at the far end and an anvil portion which cooperates with a recess.
U. S. Pat. No. 3,698,419 entitled DEVICES FOR PIERCING TUBES IN CLOSED PRESSURE SYSTEMS which issued on Oct. 17, 1972 to Tura and U. S. Pat. No. 5,398,718 entitled TAP LINE PLIERS which issued on Mar. 21, 1995 to Roinick Sr. are representative of several patents showing plier type tools having a lower jaw which supports a tube and an upper jaw which has a punch.
None of the known prior art disclose the combination set forth herein.

Installation tool for irrigation emitter barbs


Packages of semiconductor devices with non-opaque covers and methods for making the packages. The invention allows an encapsulant to be used with a non-opaque cover. By ensuring the cover is attached to a die in such a way as to expose bonding pads while sealing in the imaging portion of the die, the die can be electrically connected to a substrate and then encapsulated. Since the imaging portion is sealed, the encapsulant cannot get underneath the glass. By ensuring the encapsulant is not filled beyond the glass, encapsulant cannot get over the glass either.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor packaging and more specifically the packaging of semiconductors devices that include optical components.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a wide variety of digital imaging devices that are currently commercially available. The imagers used in these devices typically take the form of an integrated circuit having a charge-coupled devices (CCD) and/or CMOS imagers. CCDs and CMOS imagers are specially made integrated circuits that respond to light. CCDs are used to capture image data in devices such as telescopes, bar code readers, digital still and video cameras and scanners.
Packaging is an important and often costly aspect of the integrated circuit manufacturing process. Historically, a wide variety of techniques have been used to package integrated circuits. In an effort to reduce the costs associated packaging, there have been efforts to handle some of the packaging process steps at the wafer level. That is, before the wafer is diced into individual integrated circuit devices. One wafer level packaging approach that has been used in packaging integrated circuits having optical components is the chip-scale "ShellOP" type packaging technology developed by Shellcase Ltd. of Israel. The ShellOP package is a wafer level packaging technology where substantially all of the packaging process occurs on the IC wafer directly, instead of being a separate process after the wafer is diced.
A cross-sectional view of a typical ShellOP package is shown by way of example in FIG. 1. As seen therein, IC package 100 is an optically active device based on the ShellOP packaging design. The packaging process employs standard wafer processing techniques such as grinding, photolithography, etching, metal deposition, plating, and dicing. Unlike many packaging methods, the Shellcase process requires no lead frames, or wire bonding. The optical package comprises semiconductor bulk 105, which is held in placed in between a top glass plate 110 and a lower glass plate 115 by epoxy 120 and 125, respectively. Inverted external leads 130 are electrically connected to die terminals 135 by trace contacts 140 at junctions 145. Junction 145 is sometimes referred to as a T-junction, and contact 140 as a T-junction contact. External leads 130 are coated with a protective solder-mask 150. Solder-mask 150 is a dielectric material that electrically isolates leads 130 from external contact, and protects the lead surface against corrosion. Contacts 155 are attached to the bottom end of leads 130, and are suitable for printed circuit board (PCB) mounting by known methods. Contacts 155 may be formed by known methods such as solder-balls or plating, and may be suitably shaped for PCB mounted.
Although the ShellOP and other existing packaging processes have proven to be useful, there are continuing efforts to provide even better package designs and packaging processes for integrated circuits having imaging sensors incorporated thereon.

Packaging of a semiconductor device with a non-opaque cover


Provided are a method and apparatus for secure communication between cryptographic systems using a Real Time Clock (RTC). The method and apparatus allow a transmitting cryptographic system to transfer partial RTC data and a receiving cryptographic system to restore entire RTC data, thereby minimizing data to be transferred between the cryptographic systems. The method includes: calculating a largest RTC deviation between a transmitting cryptographic system and a receiving cryptographic system; calculating the smallest number of bits of partial data on an RTC required for restoring entire data on the RTC on the basis of the calculated largest RTC deviation; calculating the partial RTC data on the basis of the calculated smallest number of bits of the partial RTC data; and transferring the calculated partial RTC data to the receiving cryptographic system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for secure communication between cryptographic systems using a Real Time Clock (RTC), and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for secure communication between cryptographic systems allowing a transmitting cryptographic system to transfer partial RTC data and a receiving cryptographic system to restore entire RTC data and thereby minimizing data to be transferred between the cryptographic systems.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As network communication has become a major means for exchanging information, the necessity of securing important information, e.g., private information and a secret code, exchanged in a network has increased. However, networks are vulnerable to cyber attacks, and thus it is necessary to safely transfer important information exchanged in a network using a cryptosystem shared by both sides of communication.
There are typical cryptosystems such as a secret-key cryptosystem and a public-key cryptosystem.
According to the public-key cryptosystem, a key used for encrypting data is different from a key used for decrypting the data. In general, the key used for encryption is referred to as a public key, and the key used for decrypting a ciphertext encrypted using the public key is referred to as a private key. The private key is secured so that a user alone knows it, but the public key is published so that anyone can obtain it. A ciphertext encrypted using a public key can be decrypted using only a private key that makes a pair with the public key.
On the other hand, according to the secret-key cryptosystem, two users performing cryptographic communication share a secret key and perform encryption and decryption using the secret key. Therefore, the same key is used for encrypting and decrypting data.
In the secret-key cryptosystem, a master key is a secret key shared by two users performing secure communication. Here, when encryption and decryption is performed using only one master key, the same ciphertexts are generated from one plaintext. When the same ciphertext are generated, an outsider can find out the secret key. To prevent this, data of a number or bit string used only once, referred to as a "nonce", is used whenever cryptographic communication is performed. Every time cryptographic communication is performed, a new encryption key or decryption key is generated using a master key and a nonce. Here, the generated key is referred to as a session key.
Two users performing secure communication insert a master key and a nonce into a Key Derivation Function (KDF) and use the output value as a session key. By constantly generating and using a new session key, it is possible to generate various ciphertexts from one plaintext.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method for cryptographic communication of a conventional secret-key-based cryptographic system.
Referring to FIG. 1, users A and B performing cryptographic communication share a master key K, and the user A generates a nonce N (step 110). Subsequently, the user A calculates KDF(K, N) using the master key K and the nonce N to generate a session key (step 120). In the next step, the user A encrypts a plaintext using the generated session key to generate a ciphertext (step 130). Then, the user A transfers the nonce N and the generated ciphertext to the user B (step 140). The user B generates the session key KDF(K, N) using the received nonce N and the shared master key K (step 150). Subsequently, the user B decrypts the received ciphertext using the session key (step 160).
To share the same session key, two cryptographic systems need to share the same nonce. To this end, in general, one cryptographic system generates a nonce and transfers it to the other cryptographic system. Here, it is necessary to minimize the size of the transferred nonce in a poor communication environment. However, when the size of a nonce is reduced, a probability of the nonce being reused increases, and the same session key as the previously used session key may be generated. Therefore, a nonce must not be reused.
To prevent a nonce from being reused, a continuously changed value, such as a counter, is used as a nonce. Here, an RTC is frequently used as a counter because it can serve as a common value that can be shared by all systems. However, due to RTC deviation among systems, it is very difficult for all the systems to share the same RTC data.

Method and apparatus for secure communication between cryptographic systems using real time clock

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Apparatus and methods are provided for analyzing surface characteristics of a test object using broadband scanning interferometry. Test objects amenable to these apparatus and methods include but are not limited to semiconductor wafers, semiconductor devices, metallic surfaces, and the like. An interferometry system is used to obtain an interferometry signal and related to data embodied in the signal representative of the test object surface. This signal and/or data is used to construct an n-dimensional function that includes an independent frequency variable and an independent time variable, and/or an n-dimensional function that includes an independent scale variable and an independent time variable, and/or a multi-domain function. These functions are compared with various models to obtain a best match that is then used to characterize the test object surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to interferometric devices and methods for optically analyzing surfaces, for example, such as the surfaces of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor devices, magnetic surfaces, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interferometers are commonly used for testing the shape and topography of surfaces. Good interferometers have height sensitivity in the sub-nanometer range, providing two-dimensional maps in rapid, non-contact operation. A large variety of optical interferometer configurations exist, as well as processing techniques to derive surface topography maps from the measured interferogram intensities.
The fringes of the interferogram are governed by the phase difference between a test beam and a reference beam. The phase of the test beam includes a propagation phase delay and a phase shift on reflection at the surface of a test object or test piece. While the propagation phase is indicative of the test surface height, the phase shift on reflection is affected by the material properties, composition, and surface features of the test piece. Although the variation of the phase shift on reflection is usually considered to be a source of error in the surface topography measurement, additional information about these test object properties carried in the interferograms can be extracted and exploited.
For test surfaces with uniform properties, the phase shift on reflection is constant across the interferogram and only contributes to a constant height offset, like the position alignment of the test piece. It does not affect the surface topography measurement. Examples include a dielectric glass surface, where the phase shift on reflection is pi (π) radians, or an aluminized mirror surface, where the phase shift is different from π but uniform in the interferogram
For non-uniform test surfaces, the phase shift on reflection varies across the interferogram and hence affects the topography measurements. Examples include read-write head surfaces in magnetic hard disks, where part of the test surface is a dielectric and another part is metallic, or a patterned semiconductor wafer surface in the copper chemical-mechanical-polishing ("CMP") process, where part of the test surface consists of metallic copper and other parts consist of dielectric multilayer film stacks on a silicon wafer.
In integrated circuit manufacturing, the semiconductor switches in the wafer material need to be connected by conductive wiring to obtain functioning circuits. This wiring structure is manufactured in layers by depositing a metal overcoat on the insulating layers that are patterned with vias and trenches, and then removing all excess metal material by CMP. Each metal wiring layer can contain several dielectric insulating layers of different materials such that, in general, the top surface includes metal areas and areas with complex multilayer film stacks.
After the CMP process, only the vias and trenches are filled with metal, thus functioning as conductive paths. Currently, tungsten is commonly used for the first metal layer over the silicon, while higher metal layers mainly use copper. The CMP process exhibits material- and geometry-dependent removal rates, leading to difficulties in obtaining an ideally flat top surface for metal and insulator. One main characteristic of the top surface topography is called "dishing," which refers to the surface height difference by which the metal surface is lower than the surrounding insulator. Another characteristic is called "erosion," which refers to the surface height difference by which insulator material interspersed with metal is lower than solid insulator. Another item of interest in the manufacturing process is the film thickness of the dielectric layers as well as of the metal lines. Furthermore, the width, shape, sidewall angle, or in general the micro-structure, of the fine metal lines frequently are of interest.
Currently, the top surface topography of CMP products is measured with tactile stylus tools or atomic-force profilers. The contacting nature of these profilers restricts their usage to special targets in the scribe line between chips. Furthermore, the measurement process is slow because it is inherently a single-point measurement where profiles or two-dimensional maps have to be built up sequentially. The film thickness is measured using spectrophotometers or ellipsometers, which are unable to provide information about the surface topography. The width and shape of fine metal lines, or in general of micro-structures, are measured by atomic-force profilers or scatterometers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,763 to Kim et al. discloses a method for the measurement of surfaces with thin films based on white-light scanning interferometry which extracts a spectral phase distribution from the temporal intensity or time-domain signal by Fourier transform. The spectral phase distribution is then compared with a theoretically generated phase distribution by modeling the measured surface with different properties, such as film thicknesses, refractive indexes, etc. Once the best match is found, the surface properties as well as the surface topography are determined. Difficulties can arise with thinner films using this approach.
The available technology has been limited and in some senses deficient, for example, in that known apparatus and methods are unable to provide fast, non-contact surface topography measurements in the presence of varying phase shifts on reflection. The need also remains for apparatus and methods that can quickly and efficiently measure surface topography as well as surface composition. The term "surface composition" as used herein, broadly construed, means not only the chemical or material composition at the surface or top plane of the object, but other properties and characteristics at or below the surface. It can include, for example, film layers lying at or beneath the surface or top plane of the material, optical properties such as refractive index, surface microstructure, electrical properties such as conductivity or resistivity, and the like.

Method and apparatus for optically analyzing a surface


An interface (12) is disclosed for coupling a peripheral device (18) to the serial port (14) of a computer (16). In one application, the interface allows the serial port to provide the power required by a scanner for operation. To reduce power consumption, the scanner is typically operated in either a reduced-power, nonscanning mode or a higher power scanning mode. The interface may include an energy storage device (36) for storing energy from the serial port when the scanner is operated in the nonscanning mode and providing energy to the scanner when it is operated in the scanning mode. Thus, a scanner that requires more power than the serial port can provide at any one time can be used. The interface also includes a shutdown circuit (46) that prevents the scanner from being operated in conditions that might lead to the erroneous interpretation of data. Further, an input leakage isolation circuit (48) is included to prevent the discharge of the storage device when the scanner is not in use.

A wide variety of peripheral devices have been developed for use with computers. In that regard, many peripheral devices, such as magnetic stripe readers and mice, are used to provide information to a host computer. Other peripheral devices, such as printers and monitors, are used to process the output of the host computer. Nearly all such peripheral devices, however, require some form of power for proper operation.
One particular type of peripheral device of interest is used with a host computer to process bar codes. A bar code is a sequence of alternating bars and spaces that is typically applied to a product or its packaging. The bar code contains information about the product in a form that can be quickly and easily processed by specially designed bar code "readers."
Usually, the widths of the various bars and spaces determine the information "encoded" in the bar code. For example, this approach is widely employed in a format known as the Universal Product Code (UPC). Typically, the bar code identifies the product and further processing is required to associate additional information, such as price and inventory data, with the product.
As noted above, the information contained in a bar code is "decoded" by a bar code reader. Bar code readers perform two basic functions. First, the bar code reader produces an electrical signal having at least one parameter that varies with the width of the bars and spaces in the bar code. Typically, this parameter is the duration of alternating low and high signal intervals associated with the bars and spaces.
The second function of the bar code reader is the decoding of the electrical signal. For example, the durations of the alternating low and high signal intervals are analyzed to determine which characters the signal and, hence, bar code represents.
To accomplish these functions, conventional bar code readers include an optical scanner and a decoder. The scanner includes a light source and photodetector that may, for example, be physically moved across the bar code by an operator. The light source sequentially illuminates the bars and spaces being scanned. The photodetector, in turn, produces an electrical output whose magnitude is proportional to the light reflected. Because the bars generally absorb light, while the spaces generally reflect light, the photodetector output alternates between high and low intervals, with the duration of each interval being a function of the width of the corresponding bar or space scanned.
The decoder typically includes both hardware and software components that cooperatively perform several functions. First, the decoder processes the photodetector output to determine the relative widths of the bars and spaces in the bar code scanned. Then, the decoder uses this coded information, along with the correlations between bar and space widths and character coding for the bar code symbology adopted, to decode the character message encoded into the bar code.
In the preceding discussion, a bar code reader is described as including both a scanner and a decoder. As will be appreciated, however, the decoding operation can be performed either independently of, or on board, the scanner. Thus, for the purposes of this document, the term "scanner" will be understood to encompass devices responsible for scanning, regardless of whether they are also responsible for decoding.
Having briefly reviewed the operation of bar code readers or scanners, one particular aspect of peripheral operation, the supply of peripheral power, will now be considered in greater detail. In that regard, using bar code scanners again for illustrative purposes, the power requirements of such scanners have been met in a variety of different ways.
For example, scanner power is often provided externally. In that regard, when decoding is performed remotely from the scanner, the decoder may include a power source designed specifically to power the decoder and the scanner. This power source may be, for example, a battery or a regulated supply. While the use of external power in this manner reduces the size and weight of the scanner, it requires a specially designed decoder power supply.
As an alternative, a power source, such as a battery, could be included as part of the scanner. The use of a battery, however, has several disadvantages. First, a battery may increase the weight and size of the scanner. In addition, a battery is typically able to operate the scanner for only limited periods before replacement or recharging is required.
A number of techniques have also been suggested for reducing the power requirements of the scanner. In that regard, the power applied to the light source on the scanner may be controlled to minimize power consumption. for example, this may be accomplished by reducing the light source drive level. However, the reduced light levels may not be accurately detected by the photodetector, potentially having an adverse effect on the accuracy of bar code reading. To overcome this limitation, the duty cycle of the light source may instead be controlled. Specifically, the light source can be turned off or operated at a low duty cycle when the scanner is not being used to scan. As a result, the light source's power requirements during that time are reduced.
Even with the scanner's power requirements reduced, however, some power source is still required. Thus, a specially designed external source is needed to provide the requisite power or the scanner's weight and size are increased by the addition of an on-board power source.
As will be appreciated, the power requirements of other peripheral devices have also been met in a variety of ways. As the trend toward portability in the computer field continues, however, a growing emphasis will be placed on the need to power peripherals without increasing the peripherals' weight and without requiring specially designed external sources. In view of these observations, it would be desirable to provide a peripheral interface that allows a conventional peripheral device to be externally powered from another conventional device.


The present application describes a method and system for discovering and authenticating communication devices within a wireless network. According to an embodiment, communication devices exchange public keys using multiple messages each including at least a portion of the public key of the sending device. The devices authenticate the receipt of the public key and establish a shared master key. The shared master key is used to further derive a session key for securing the application data between the communicating devices for a current session.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to security association using authentication and verification of communication devices via public key cryptography in a wireless network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally in wireless networks such as Local Area Network (LAN) or Personal Area Network (PAN), devices communicate using secure means such as encrypted data. In a home network, a user may play videos using a DVD player, camcorder, or the like, and transmit the video to a TV via a wireless network. It is possible that the transmitted video may also be played on a TV in a neighbor's home. Another possibility is that a third party within the communication range of the home network may intercept the transmission, alter it, and re-send the altered data to the user's PC. Similarly, a receiving device such as neighbor's PDA makes sure that it receives data only from an intended sender.
To avoid such interruptions and hacking, the transmitted data is usually encrypted and checked so only the intended receiving device can decrypt and validate the data using a predetermined security protocol. To this end, the communicating devices need to share a session key that is not known to other devices. The section key will then be used to secure the user traffic for the current session. The devices use another shared session key for their data communications in the next session to reduce the chance of the session key being compromised or minimize the damage in case the session key is compromised.
To derive a session key, the two communicating devices need to establish a shared master key first. Good security practice does not use the master key to directly encrypt the user application data. Public key (PK) cryptography allows two devices to establish a shared secret, i.e., a shared master key, in broad light—in the presence of eavesdroppers. That is, PK cryptography is not vulnerable to passive attack. Unfortunately, existing techniques of PK cryptography is subject to active attack. An attacker can impersonate itself as one of the intended communication partners and transmit its public key under the disguise of an intended device, thereby tricking the other device to exchange data with the attacker without the device knowing that its communication is being hijacked by an unwanted third party. This is known as man-in-the-middle attack.
Since PK cryptography provides a friendly use model, especially in a wireless environment, there is a need for a method and system for applying PK cryptography to establish a security association, i.e., to establish a shared master key, between two communicating devices without the setback of man-in-the-middle attack.

System and method for security association between communication devices within a wireless personal and local area network


A thermally insulated substrate, e.g. a system of pipes, is maintained above a selected minimum temperature by means of one or more electrical heaters, preferably elongate self-regulating heaters. Each heater is successively switched on for a heat-up period and then off for a cool-down period. The durations of these periods are successively determined by reference to the ambient air temperature adjacent the substrate at an earlier time, e.g. at the end of the previous cool-down period. The method is particularly useful for temperature-maintenance systems in which a number of heaters are used to heat a complex system of pipes. The durations of the heat-up and cool-down periods for each heater (or for a group of two or more heaters) are separately determined by means of a single microprocessor. The microprocessor (a) is linked to an ambient air temperature sensor; (b) contains in its memory the relevant information about each heater, the pipes which it heats, and the thermal insulation surrounding the pipes; (c) is programmed to calculate the durations of the heat-up and cool-down periods; and (d) is linked to a number of switching means, one for each heater or group of heaters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical heating systems.
2. Introduction to the Invention
Elongate electrical heaters are often used to heat systems of pipes and/or storage vessels which contain liquids and which are thermally insulated. Most such systems fall into two different categories. In the first category, the liquid is water, and the objective is to ensure that the water does not freeze. In typical freeze-protection systems in this category, one or more heaters are controlled by a single thermostat which senses the ambient air temperature and switches the heater(s) on if the ambient air temperature falls below a lower limit temperature, e.g. 40.degree. F., and switches the heater(s) off if the ambient temperature increases to a higher limit temperature. e.g. 43.degree. F. One disadvantage of such systems is that the heater is switched on continuously even though this is not required (except when the ambient temperature is at the lowest value at which the heater can prevent the water from freezing). Another disadvantage is the loss of control if the thermostat fails, which may not be immediately apparent. Another disadvantage is the cost of the thermostat, especially when the current drawn by the heater(s) is large, either in the steady state or when the heater is first switched on.
In the second category of systems, the liquid is not water (e.g. it is an organic liquid or a solution, slurry, suspension, or dispersion in water or an organic liquid) and the objective is to maintain the liquid at a relatively high temperature, e.g. 45.degree. F. or more, as it is moved through the system from one storage vessel or treatment station to another. Such systems are used, for example, in hydrocarbon refineries and food processing plants. In typical temperature-maintenance systems of this type, there are a number of different sectors, and each sector is heated by a different heater. Each heater is controlled by a line-sensing thermostat which senses the temperature at a selected point on one of the pipes heated by that heater. Once the sector has been heated to the maintenance temperature, the heater is switched on and off during successive and alternating heat-up and cool-down periods, and the duration of those periods is controlled by the line-sensing thermostat. The line-sensing thermostat turns the heater on when the sensed temperature falls to a lower limit, and turns the heater off when the sensed temperature reaches an upper limit. Temperature-maintenance systems require very careful design, in particular when the flow pattern may be deliberately changed, thus producing different thermal demands. The system must be divided into sectors which can appropriately be heated by a single heater, and within each sector, the line-sensing thermostat must be placed at the most vulnerable part (i.e. the part most likely to drop below the maintenance temperature in any possible flow pattern within the sector). The most vulnerable part is usually the smallest pipe in the system and/or a pipe in which there may be no liquid flow. In many temperature-maintenance systems, there are more than 5 sectors, each with its own heater, and systems containing more than 20 sectors are by no means unusual. In at least some of the sectors, the heater may be quite short, e.g. less than 20 feet long, and the average circuit length (total length of all the heaters divided by the number of sectors) may be 25-40 feet. These systems suffer from a number of disadvantages, for example the cost of the thermostats, of placing the thermostats at the most vulnerable parts of the respective sectors, and of running appropriate wiring to the thermostats; the loss of control if a thermostat fails (which may not be immediately apparent); the difficulty of replacing a failed thermostat, especially if the most vulnerable part of the sector is not readily accessible; and the need to reposition at least some of the thermostats if the system is changed or a new flow pattern is adopted.


An autodetect circuit for a router system includes an interface to two bidirectional serial links, an input multiplexer circuit coupled to one side of the link interface for receiving input data signals and clock signals, a receiver coupled to the input multiplexer circuit and to a receive FIFO, a state machine coupled to the receiver, a transmitter coupled to the state machine, a transmit FIFO, and to the other side of the link interface for transmitting output data, and a counter coupled to the state machine for controlling the input multiplexer circuit. The autodetect circuit determines which of the two links “A” or “B” is active and available for transmission. The counter is incremented whenever a link reset occurs. When the count reaches a predetermined maximum count value, a port enable signal is toggled from the default “A” link to the “B” link. When one port is enabled, any activity on the other port is ignored.

The present invention is related to a router network for space applications. More particularly, the present invention is related to an autodetect circuit for determining which of two links of a node in the router network is active and available for data transmission.
SpaceWire is the common name associated with the European Cooperate for Space Standardization Specification ECSS-E-50-12A. The use and/or implementation of the autodetect circuit are not specifically mentioned in the standard and are left up to the discretion of the designers and suppliers.
Prior autodetect circuits for servicing two transmission links have been developed for other standards and typically involve the duplication of many of the circuits used for just a single link.
What is desired is an autodetect circuit that can minimize the duplication of logic and simplify the circuit involved in prior art autodetect circuits.

Autodetect feature for a spacewire application


A toilet tissue roll holder has a flanged, generally semi-cylindrical housing and a spindle fixed at one end to a member slideable along one side of the housing. To replace a roll of toilet tissue, the spindle is pulled forward with the slideable member leaving the free end of the spindle exposed for insertion of the tissue roll. The spindle with the new roll is then pushed back into the housing. A detent engages the free end of the spindle to secure the spindle within the housing during normal use.

Conventional toilet tissue roll holders, and especially the type that are partially recessed in the wall, present annoying difficulties when installing a new roll of tissue. Typically, these holders employ spring-loaded spindles having protrusions at both ends for engaging recesses in the side walls of the housing of the holder. The difficulty arises in compressing the spindle while it is within a new tissue roll and positioning it so that the protrusions engage the recesses in the housing when the spindle is released. The small clearances between the tissue roll on the housing oftentimes causes a miss when the spindle is released, with the roll and the spindle springing outward and falling. In the case of spindles formed of hollow telescoping tubes with an inner spring, the problem is increased because on release, the spindle disassembles with spring force into its component parts and must be retrieved.
These difficulties are particularly troublesome to small children or adults with impaired manual dexterity or vision problems.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a toilet tissue roll holder that avoids the problems presented by conventional holders and enables rapid and easy replacement of tissue rolls or rolls of other types of sheet material without the necessity for a separable spring loaded spindle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a holder that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can readily replace existing tissue holders.


A method and compositions are provided for synthesizing polynucleotides wherein the exocyclic amino groups of 5'-O-protected-2'O-alkylsilyl-adenosine phosphoramidite and 5'-O-protected-2'-O-alkylsilylguanosine phosphoramidite monomers are protected with dialkylformamidine. In a preferred embodiment, the ribonucleoside phosphoramidite monomers are activated with ethylthiotetrazole.

The discovery that certain RNAs possess enzymatic activity has led to a search for applications of "ribozymes" ranging from new pharmaceuticals, e.g. Sarver et al., Science, Vol. 247, pp. 1222-1225 (1990), to new tools for molecular biology, e.g. Haseloff et al., Nature, Vol. 334, pp. 585-591 (1988); Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071; and Ellington et al., Nature, Vol. 346, pp. 818-822 (1990). This increased interest in RNA applications has generated a demand for more effective methods of chemically synthesizing RNA polymers. Unfortunately, progress in the chemical synthesis of RNA has not been as rapid as that for the chemical synthesis of DNA, largely because of the constraints imposed by having to protect the extra hydroxyl attached to the 2' carbon of the ribonucleosides, e.g. Van Boom et al., pp. 153-183, in Gait, ed. Oligonucleotide Synthesis: A Practical Approach (IRL Press, Washington, D.C., 1984).
Presently, solid phase approaches provide the most effective means for chemical synthesis of RNA. Such methods proceed by the step-wise addition of protected ribonucleoside phosphoramidite or hydrogen phosphonate monomers to a growing RNA chain attached to a solid phase support, e.g. Scaringe et al., Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 18, pp. 5433-5441 (1990); Wu et al., Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 29, pp. 4249-4252 (1988); Wu et al., Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 17, pp. 3501-3517 (1989); Stawinski et al., Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 16, pp. 9285-9298 (1988). An important advance in solid phase RNA synthesis came with the introduction of alkylsilyl protection groups, e.g. t-butyldimethylsilyl(TBDMS), for the 2'-hydroxyl position, e.g. Ogilvie et al., Can. J. Chem., Vol 57, pp. 2230-2238 (1979). Difficulties still remains, however, because of the lability of the alkylsilyl groups under commonly used base deprotection conditions. Base protection groups, such as benzoyl, isobutyryl, and the like, are removed under relatively harsh basic conditions, e.g. 3:1 ammonium hydroxide-ethanol for 18 h at 55.degree. C. that can lead to the removal of a small but significant fraction of alkylsilyl protection groups, e.g. Wu et al. Nucleic Acids Research (cited above). With the 2'-hydroxyl unprotected, a small but significant fraction of the freshly synthesized RNA chains will be cleaved, resulting in a drop in yield of full length chains. If milder base deprotection conditions are employed, deprotection could be incomplete resulting in a drop in yield of biologically active material because of the interfering base protection groups remaining on the RNA chain.


The present disclosure discloses a desktop display stand base, comprising a fixing device connected to the desktop and a seat body respectively connected to the fixing device and the display stand, wherein a wireless charging device for mobile phones is provided on one side of the seat body, the side of which close to the user; the wireless charging device is hinged to the seat body and can be locked at any angle, and the hinge point is located on the side close to the user. In this way, the user can monitor the information on the mobile phone screen while the phone being charged.

A computer display is considered as an important component of a computer. A desktop display stand is the main device used to support and secure a computer display to a desktop, and it comprises a base and a supporting arm; the base is usually of circular, square or other shapes. With single-functional design, the display stand in the prior art only plays a role of stabilizing and supporting the display. However, more and more office and school products, especially mobile phones and other electronic products are usually placed on the desktop nowadays, resulting in the disorder of the desktop and affecting the efficiency of work and study. In addition, the electronic products such as mobile phones are power-consuming, and need to be connected to another power supply to be charged when running out of battery. As a result, the mobile phones and other electronic products may not be used simultaneously while charging due to the distance between the power supply source and the desktop, meanwhile, additional data lines and power lines may appear on the desktop, which further affect the environment for work and study.

Desktop display stand base and its application to a desktop display stand assembly thereof


Methods and apparatus are provided for manufacturing an analyte detecting device. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a substrate, applying a plurality of layer of materials on said substrate; applying a layer containing at least one mediator; and screen printing a hydrogel on the layer.

1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to analyte detecting devices, and more specifically, coatings for improving glucose measurement.
2. Background Art
Test strips are known in the medical health-care products industry for analyzing analyte levels such as but not limited to, glucose levels in blood. For this type of analysis, a drop of blood is typically obtained by making a small incision in the fingertip, creating a small wound, which generates a small blood droplet on the surface of the skin. A test strip is brought by the user to the blood droplet at the wound and engaged in a manner to bring blood to an analysis site on the test strip. The test strip is then coupled to a metering device which typically uses an electrochemical technique to determine the amount of glucose in the blood.
Early methods of using test strips required a relatively substantial volume of blood to obtain an accurate glucose measurement. This large blood requirement made the monitoring experience a painful one for the user since the user may need to lance deeper than comfortable to obtain sufficient blood generation. Alternatively, if insufficient blood is spontaneously generated, the user may need to "milk" the wound to squeeze enough blood to the skin surface. Neither method is desirable as they take additional user effort and may be painful. The discomfort and inconvenience associated with such lancing events may deter a user from testing their blood glucose levels in a rigorous manner sufficient to control their diabetes.
A further impediment to patient compliance is the amount of time that it takes for a glucose measurement to be completed. Known devices can take a substantial amount of time to arrive at a glucose level. The more time it takes to arrive at a measurement, the less the likely that the user will stay with their testing regime.
Accordingly, improved test strips are desired to increase user compliance and reduce the hurdles associated with analyte measurement.


An apparatus and method for shielding electrical components mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference by reducing the dissipation of heat away from solder joints. In an embodiment of the invention a radio frequency (RF) shield for a printed circuit board comprises a shield for RF shielding a portion of the PCB having electronic components mounted thereon. The shield has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a reduced cross sectional area, for reducing heat conduction between the first and the second portion when the first portion of the shield is inserted into a first plurality of holes in the PCB, for soldering the first portion of the shield to a copper foil of the PCB.

The invention relates to electronic assembly packaging in general, and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for shielding electrical components mounted on a printed circuit board from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference.
The current trend in the electronics industry is to miniaturize components and circuits and to place as many of the components and circuits next to each other as possible to provide quality technical performance in a small package. Any device that conveys electrical signals, such as a wire, a printed circuit board (PCB), an integrated circuit (IC) and the like radiates and is (typically) susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or radio frequency interference (RFI). Electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference effect devices by corrupting or altering the electrical signal that the device conveys. Such corruption of an electrical signal in a device is usually not tolerable. Thus, it is critical that these devices be shielded from each other and other electromagnetic and radio frequency interferences.
In devices such as digital satellite receivers, EMI and RFI shields are made of tinplate sheet metal and are wave soldered directly onto the PCB. It is critical that a continuous solder joint is made between the shield and the ground plane of the PCB, which acts as a shield on the bottom of the circuit board. Because of their relatively large size, the shields have a high thermal capacitance. When the combination of the shield and PCB are processed through a wave solder machine, a large amount of the heat is conducted into the shield and away from the solder joint being formed. As a result, the area to be soldered may not reach optimal temperature for proper soldering. This results in cold solder joints or solder voids wherein gaps are created in the shield""s performance.
One prior art method to overcome the problem is to use pre-heaters inside the wave solder machine to heat the PCB combination before the PCB combination passes through the wave solder machine. However, the correct balance of heat is difficult to control and maintain using this technique.
A second prior art method to overcome the problem is to use multi-layer PCBs having plated slots for insertion of shield tabs. Unfortunately, having plated slots require two additional steps in the PCB manufacturing process and adds considerable cost to the resulting product.
The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by an apparatus and method for shielding electrical components mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference by reducing the dissipation of heat away from the solder joints.
In an embodiment of the invention, a radio frequency (RF) shield for a printed circuit board comprises a shield for RF shielding a portion of the PCB having electronic components mounted thereon. The shield has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a reduced cross sectional area, for reducing heat conduction between the first and the second portion when the first portion of the shield is inserted into a first plurality of apertures in the PCB, for soldering the first portion of the shield to a copper foil of the PCB.
In alternative embodiments of the invention, a plurality of apertures are disposed on the first portion of the RF shield for further reducing the heat conducted between the first and second portion. The holes are arranged linearly within the thickness of the PCB perpendicular portion.
Further embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description contained hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Method and apparatus for providing electromagnetic shielding


The invention comprises a display mounted document holder devised to clamp to a display monitor, having a document platen on either the right side or the left side, or both sides, wherein the document platen can be positioned vertically in a plurality of positions, and wherein the document platen is normally tilted and oriented so as to substantially face the user, but is capable of being tilted in a variety of angles. The document platen may be swung from a position substantially facing a user to a position substantially facing the side of the display monitor to free valuable working space. The document platen is swung by means of a hinge located on the arm which secures the position of the document holder relative to the display monitor. The hinging action is monitored by a locking mechanism which may be operated from either the left or right sides of the display monitor. The document platen also incorporates a copy marker and a copy clamp.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of apparatus for holding documents adjacent to a display such as a computer monitor, a word processor monitor, a classroom TV display or similar device.
2. The Background Art
The recent proliferation of digital computers in modern society has greatly increased the availability of what has become known as "word processing" to large numbers of people. The widespread availability of digital computers has also benefited fields such as business, science, and industry. As the availability of digital computers has increased, so has the number of individuals who are at least somewhat proficient at entering information onto the computers, typically on a conventional "QWERTY" keyboard. Moreover, modern word processing and desktop publishing techniques have greatly increased the productivity of even experienced typists.
Both beginning and experienced typists generally have occasions where information contained in a document must be manually entered on a keyboard or viewed for comparative purposes. Moreover, as the applications of computers has expanded, users such as engineering, medical, financial, and business professionals often must view documents or three-dimensional articles while working at a display. Many such users of displays have heretofore been without a suitable apparatus for holding various papers, books, and other articles while using a display. As used herein, the term "document" is intended to include planar sheets of paper such as handwritten notes, bound sheets of paper such as a book or periodical, bulky three-dimensional objects, or other materials which are visually perceived.
In the case of a typist inputting information on a keyboard, proper typing technique requires that the typist maintain visual contact with the original document, and not with the keyboard or the typist's fingers. In order to facilitate the task of the typist, various devices often referred to as copy holders were introduced.
Copy holders in the past have generally been devices which include a base, often weighted, which are adapted for resting on the work surface (e.g. a table top or counter top) next to a typewriter. Copy holders also have generally included a flat copyboard which supports the original document and a vertical pole which holds the copyboard above the work surface. In this way the original document was held in a position which allowed the typist to more easily view the document and to change visual focus from the typed page to the original document if necessary. While previously available copy holders are an improvement over placing original documents directly on a work surface, their use entails several drawbacks and disadvantages.
Among the disadvantages of many previously available copy holders is the fact that the base of a copy holder occupies space on a work surface, even when not being used, which might be devoted to other items. Moreover, with nearly all displays used with computer systems and word processors, the display is supported a substantial distance above the work surface. Conventional copy holders, however, are designed to hold the original document near the level of a typewriter, i.e.. much lower than the level of a display. Thus, the fatigue, and the number of errors, experienced by a typist may be increased by the extra eye movement and refocusing required when switching between the original document and the text on the display when using many previously available copy holders. This is particularly true when transcribing information contained on the bottom of the original document. Still further, merely increasing the height of the copyboard of a conventional copy holder increases the ungainliness of the device and the likelihood that it will be tipped over.
Another disadvantage of many previously available copy holders is that the holders are not easily moved from an area of use to an area of non-use to free up work space. Usually copy holders are clumsy or bulky such that it takes a significant amount of time and/or energy to move the copy holders into or out of a working position. Copy holders are therefore generally either left in a non-working position and unused, left in a working position occupying valuable work space, or changed between working and nonworking positions, and thus wasting valuable working time, either scenario being counterproductive to efficient working time.
In still another example, a doctor, engineer, or technician may have a drawing, photograph, or print which is to be compared to images provided on the display. Furthermore, bookkeepers and accountants often must compare or enter numbers from a sheet of paper to a computer terminal. Heretofore, such users have not had an apparatus which would readily hold the original adjacent to the display to allow easy simultaneous side by side viewing of both the original document and the image on the display as the image was manipulated or changed.
In view of the foregoing, it would be an advance in the art to provide a document holder which is particularly adapted for use with computer system and word processor displays. It would also be an advance in the art to provide a document holder which holds various types of documents and articles at a position, and in an orientation, which is most efficient for a user viewing a terminal display. It would also be an advance in the art to provide a document holder which does not take up any work surface space and which may hold a variety of objects. It would also be an advancement in the art to provide a document holder which is adaptable for use with a variety of different sized display monitors.


In an electronic device and an operating method of an electronic device, according to various embodiments, the electronic device comprises: a communication module frequency performing communication with an external electronic device; and a security module which monitors a change in data relating to an applet for managing a key used for the authentication of the external electronic device, which manages information relating to the applet, and which stores the applet and an applet identification (AID) list including at least one AID, wherein the security module can be configured to receive, from the external electronic device, a signal for requesting the application identifier (AID) list to be transmitted, transmit the AID list to the external electronic device through the communication module in response to the reception of the requesting signal, receive, from the external electronic device, a signal for requesting information relating to an applet associated with at least one AID selected, from among AIDs included in the AID list, by the external electronic device, and transmit, to the external electronic device, information relating to an applet corresponding to the selected AID. Additional various embodiments are possible.

Technology capable of performing authentication with an external electronic device through a smart key supporting wireless communication is being developed. For example, in the case where an external electronic device is a vehicle, development of technology related to a smart key capable of performing functions provided by a vehicle, such as unlocking a vehicle door, starting an engine of a vehicle, and the like is under way. The smart key is capable of performing an authentication procedure with a vehicle using short-range communication and activating functions of the vehicle, such as unlocking or starting thereof, after the authentication is completed.
Recently, technology has been introduced in order to perform functions provided by a vehicle using a portable terminal such as a smartphone, a wearable device, or the like, which can be held by a user, instead of using a separate smart key for activating the functions of the vehicle.
Recently, vehicle manufacturers have provided a vehicle key to a portable terminal so that the owner or sharers of a vehicle can perform various types of functions such as opening the vehicle door, igniting an engine of the vehicle, and the like using the portable terminal in the same manner as a normal smart key.

Electronic device for managing application relating to key of external electronic device, and operating method of electronic device


A new golf game for practicing one's golf shots. The inventive device includes a game target used in association with a golf club and a game ball. The game target has a playing surface with a plurality of scoring regions provided on the surface. A scoring point value is assigned to each of the scoring region. The game is generally played by each player having a set of turns, each player taking alternating turns hitting a game ball with a golf club from a distance from the playing surface to strike a scoring region on the playing surface. The scoring point value of the scoring region the game ball first strikes is recorded and at the end of the set, the recorded scoring points of are totaled for each player respectively. The winning player is the player with the highest scoring point value total.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf game and more particularly pertains to a new golf game for practicing one's golf shots.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of golf game is known in the prior art. More specifically, golf game 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 golf game include U. S. Pat. No. 5,383,667; U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,026; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 266,010; U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,742; U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,742; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,134.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new golf game. The inventive device includes a game target used in association with a golf club and a game ball. The game target has a playing surface with a plurality of scoring regions provided on the surface. A scoring point value is assigned to each of the scoring region. The game is generally played by each player having a set of turns, each player taking alternating turns hitting a game ball with a golf club from a distance from the playing surface to strike a scoring region on the playing surface. The scoring point value of the scoring region the game ball first strikes is recorded and at the end of the set, the recorded scoring points of are totaled for each player respectively. The winning player is the player with the highest scoring point value total.
In these respects, the golf game 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 practicing one's golf shots.


A power supply circuit produces a supply voltage to be supplied to a microprocessor which is an integrated circuit. A transmission line type noise filter includes a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal and two ground terminals corresponding respectively to the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal. The transmission line type noise filter eliminates a high-frequency component of DC voltage applied to the signal input terminal and outputs it from the signal output terminal. A first power supply line pattern, formed on a printed-circuit board, connects an output terminal of the power supply circuit with the signal input terminal of the transmission line type noise filter. A second power supply line pattern connects the signal output terminal of the transmission line type noise filter with a power supply terminal of the microprocessor. A ground land pattern is connected with an external ground potential through via holes and makes a connection between the two ground terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic circuit that supplies a supply voltage to a microprocessor such as CPU.
2. Description of the Related Art
A predetermined power supply voltage, which is stabilized by a power supply circuit such as a voltage regulator circuit, is supplied to CPUs, graphic processors and the like (hereinafter referred to collectively as "microprocessors"), which are used in personal computers, workstations, game machines and the like.
In the path supplying a power supply voltage to a microprocessor, a decoupling capacitor is provided between the power line and the grounding in order to remove noises occurring in the voltage regulator circuit or prevent the leakage to the outside of high-frequency noises occurring in the microprocessor. Noise removal by a decoupling capacitor is now a very important technology for stable operation of devices outfitted with a microprocessor or for the reduction of EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference).
As a decoupling capacitor, a tantalum capacitor, an electrolytic capacitor or a ceramic capacitor is used generally. And several to several tens of decoupling capacitors, which are used on a printed-circuit board having a microprocessor, tend to occupy a considerable area. Also, the cost of surface-mounting a large number of decoupling capacitors can be significant.
Thus attempts are being made to use transmission line type noise filters instead of decoupling capacitors (See Reference (1) and Reference (2) in the following Related Art List, for instance). Such transmission line type noise filters are distributed constant filters, which are characterized by their capacity to remove noises over an extremely wide band.

Electronic circuit having transmission line type noise filter