The luminous elements of the three colours red, green and blue of a plasma video display have different time responses. Therefore, a coloured trail/edge appears behind and in front of the edges of a moving object. In order to reduce the disturbing character of such coloured trails/edges, correcting the video data for blue and red phosphor elements to compensate for the different time responses discolor them. Then only a discolored trail/edge appears which is less disturbing.

As the old standard TV technology (CRT) has nearly reached its limits, some new display panels (LCD, PDP, OLED, DMD, . . . ) are encountering a growing interest from manufacturers. Indeed, these technologies now make it possible to achieve real flat colour panels with very limited depth.
Referring to the last generation of European TV, a lot of work has been made to improve its picture quality. Consequently, the new technologies have to provide a picture quality as good or better than the standard CRT TV technology. On the one hand, these new technologies give the possibility of flat screens, of attractive thickness, but on the other hand, they generate new kinds of artefacts, which could reduce the picture quality. Most of these artefacts are different as for CRT-TV pictures and so more visible since people are used to seeing old TV artefacts unconsciously.
One of these artefacts is due to the different time responses of the three different luminous materials for the RGB colours used in the panel. This difference generates a coloured trail behind and in front the bright objects moving on a dark background mainly (or the opposite). In case of a plasma display panel (PDP), this artefact is known as "phosphor lag" effect.
FIG. 1 shows a simulation of such a phosphor lag effect on a natural scene with a movement basically in the vertical direction. There is a coloured trail at the edge of the dark background and the white trouser.
On a plasma panel, the red, green and blue luminous elements (also named phosphors while not necessarily having the chemical element P) do not have the same properties because of the chemical properties of each phosphor. In addition the life duration and the brightness are privileged at the expense of behaviour homogeneity. Measurements show that the green phosphor is the slowest, the blue one is the fastest and the red one is mostly in-between. Thus, behind a white object in motion, there is a yellow-green trail, and in front a blue area, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
One known solution from the former patent application FR 0010922 of Thomson multimedia is to compensate the coloured trail while modifying the blue component in the temporal domain.
The phosphor lag problem mainly appears on strong edges of an object in motion, especially on bright to dark transitions or the opposite. In the case of plasma display panels (PDP), the result is a kind of yellowish trail behind each bright to dark transition and a blue area in front of it. This is a result of the difference in the time responses of the phosphors.

Colour defects in a display panel due to different time response of phosphors


Methods and apparatus to control a formation testing operation based on a mudcake leakage are disclosed. A disclosed example method for use with a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore comprises measuring a property of a mudcake layer at a first location in a wellbore, determining a value representative of an estimated leakage through the mudcake layer based on the property, and determining, based on the value, whether to continue a formation testing operation.

A mudcake layer is created during drilling operations by a drilling fluid that is conveyed downhole through a drill string and expelled through ports in a drill bit to lubricate the drill bit during the drilling operations and to carry formation cuttings to the surface. The mudcake layer is formed as the drilling fluid mixes with the formation cuttings and/or other solids, and circulates upwardly through an annular region between the outer surface of the drill string and a borehole wall. This mixture coats the borehole wall to create the mudcake layer. One function of the mudcake layer is to hydraulically isolate a formation from the interior of a borehole. A mudcake layer is often referred to in the industry as a mudcake or filter cake.


A method and apparatus are provided for differentiating cells in an automated particle analyzer, such as for use in hematological analysis, by measuring apparent cell size (or volume), membrane integrity and intracellular complexity ("voltaic fragility"). The cells are suspended in a selected reagent mixture including an electrolytic fluid, such as diluent, and if necessary, one or more membrane-modifying agents are selected and mixed in relative quantities in order to selectively alter the membrane structure (i.e., the membrane integrity) of certain cells and thereby enhance cell discrimination. A predetermined dc voltage is applied across a sensing orifice to thereby create a dc electric field within and around the orifice, and the reagent mixture is passed through the center of the orifice. The magnitude of the change in current flowing through dc electric field is measured in response to the passage of each of a plurality of cells therethrough, and based on the measured change, a signal is generated for each cell which is indicative of the apparent size (or volume), membrane integrity and intracellular complexity of that cell. A visual display, such as an alphanumeric and/or graphical display, is then generated based on the signals facilitating differentiation of the cells.

Automated apparatus and methods for particle analysis, such as hematological analysis, typically pump a sample containing the particles suspended in a dispersion through a particle analyzer which detects differences in electrical, optical, chemical or other characteristics of the particles, and generates signals having characteristics relating to the differences. The signals are in turn transmitted to a processor for determining the parameters of the particle distributions.
Automated hematological analysis typically involves mixing within a cuvette or other mixing vessel a whole blood sample with several reagent-mixture components, such as diluent, and frequently one or more membrane-modifying agents, to create a reagent mixture which facilitates cell discrimination and identification. The reagent mixture is then pumped from the cuvette through the particle analyzer which detects the size and/or "opacity" of the blood cells by electrical and/or optical differences. The blood cells are detected or counted for a period of time sufficient to gather data for analysis, and data points are then stored and analyzed in a processor. The data may then be displayed in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional histogram.
For many years, cell and particle counting and measuring instruments have measured the electrical resistance of cells or other particle suspensions in order to probe their structure and composition and in turn identify and discriminate among the subpopulations within a sample suspension. The early Coulter Counter.TM. instruments, sold by Coulter Electronics, Inc., operated upon the well-known principle of particle and cell measurement whereby a sample suspension is passed through a sensing orifice, a low-level dc voltage is applied across the orifice, and the change in impedance caused by the passage of the particles through the electric field of the orifice is measured to indicate the apparent particle size or volume.
Later developed instruments have provided information relating not only to particle size, but also characteristics due to the composition and nature of the particle material. Accordingly, these instruments have the capability to distinguish between cells of identical size having different intracellular characteristics, or other particles of identical size made of different materials. U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,849 shows one such instrument which generates particle sensing fields within the sensing orifice by means of both a dc current source and a radio frequency ("rf") current source, and in turn generates two or more interrelated output signals from the passage of each particle through the sensing orifice. A typical cell is composed of a thin, non-conducting outer cell membrane surrounding a cytoplasm containing other cell structure, such as a nucleus. Accordingly, the outer cell membrane functions as an insulator with respect to the relatively low level dc field, but is shorted out and is electrically "invisible" at the rf frequency. Thus, while all of the low-level dc current goes around the cell, some of the rf current goes through it. Accordingly, the resistance parameter detected in response to the dc field is the low-frequency conductivity depending only on, and indicative of the relative volume of the cell. The resistance parameter detected in response to the rf field, on the other hand, is the high-frequency conductivity determined by the resistivity of the cell interior as well as the relative volume. In an attempt to analogize the phenomenon to optical analysis, the ease with which the rf current will pass through a particle has been called "electrical transparency" or simply "transparency" of the particle; whereas the ability of the particle to impede the rf current has been called its "opacity".
The '849 patent further recognizes that different types of particles may exhibit the same or substantially the same opacity, and therefore suggests chemical treatment of select particles in order to alter their opacity and thereby facilitate in distinguishing between such particles having the same opacity.
One of the drawbacks of this type of prior art instrument is that it requires both dc and rf current sources, and in turn requires processing and analysis of at least two interrelated signals in order to provide an indication of both cell size and interior cell structure (also referred to as "intracellular complexity"). Accordingly, the additional costs of the rf source and related signal-processing electronics can render these instruments relatively expensive in comparison to those requiring a dc source only.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,368,423 and 4,472,506 to Liburdy show an apparatus and method for determining cell membrane dielectric breakdown in order to establish lymphocyte tumor cell cytotoxicity and the presence of actual tumor cells. Liburdy defines "dielectric breakdown" as occurring at the breakdown or breakpoint voltage whereby the lymphocyte cell membrane has undergone dielectric collapse and cell electrical resistivity has been markedly reduced. Liburdy recognizes that the breakdown voltage is directly related to the fluidity of the cell membrane and that lymphocyte cells which are cytotoxic possess decreased cell membrane fluidity. Liburdy's apparatus and method are therefore directed to determining cell membrane dielectric breakdown in order to establish lymphocyte tumor cell cytotoxicity as well as the presence of tumor cells. Liburdy draws the cells through a port within an electric field exposure tube, and a variable voltage source/amplifier is used to incrementally increase the voltage applied across the port and to the cells passing therethrough. The voltage source is set to stop at select intervals between 0 and 100 volts as the lymphocytes are drawn through the tube, a frequency histogram is acquired at each voltage exposure and stored, and the average voltage pulse height is plotted against the applied voltage to determine the breakdown profile of the lymphocyte cells.
One of the drawbacks of Liburdy's approach is that it is difficult and costly to construct a system that will take repeated and accurate measurements at each of the voltage increments. In addition, the cells are continuously drawn through the orifice and therefore different groups of cells are tested at each voltage increment, thus further increasing the likelihood of obtaining inconsistent and/or inaccurate test results. Because the system is dynamic, the flow conditions may likewise not be the same at each voltage increment, and therefore it is likely that the system will fail to repeatedly subject the different cells to the same test conditions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for particle analysis and cell differentiation, such as hematological analysis, which overcomes the above-described drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art.

Method and apparatus for cell differentiation by measuring apparent cell size, membrane integrity and intracellular complexity


A laser audio-visual unit is provided that includes a laser pattern displaying device having a full-image spectral device therein. The laser pattern displaying device is operated in different control modes, such as automatic, manual or sound control modes, to project various laser patterns to be displayed onto a wall or screen or other objects. The displaying device includes a housing, a fixed plate, a fixed rack and a mounting stand. The full-image spectral device includes a first reflecting mirror connected to a first rotating motor, serving to reflect light rays. On the first rotating motor there is provided a biasing device to provide for adjustment, by way of the varying rpm of the first rotating motor, of an inclination angle of the first reflecting mirror. In addition, there is a second reflecting mirror connected to the second rotating motor, used to reflect the light rays reflected from the first reflecting mirror, and to adjust, by way of the varying rpm of the second rotating motor, the inclination angle of the second reflecting mirror. Further, one or more full-image plates are provided to cause diffraction of the light rays reflected from the second reflecting mirror, to increase the spatial variation of scanned patterns and visual effects. The laser beam projected from the laser head impinges upon the reflecting disc of the operating first motor, and is reflected to the reflecting disc of the operating second motor, and then projected to a wall or other fixture to display various laser patterns that are fixed or repeated again and again.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a type of laser audio-visual equipment, particularly to one which is applicable to two-axle motor rotary mirror reflection system, to upgrade the variation of scanned patterns and visual effects, and to make improvement on such disadvantages of prior arts which patterns could only be projected onto a specified spot and which monotonous variation could not satisfy visual enjoyment.
2. Prior Art
In conventional technology, the two-axle motor rotary mirror reflection system is widely used in bar-code readers, as in the cases of U.S. Pat. No. US515181 and European patent No. UP0412544. A two-axle motor rotary mirror reflection system includes two sets of reflective mirror, each connected to the rotary motor to drive the rotation of the reflective mirror. Meanwhile, each rotary motor is connected to a control circuit to control the rotation of the motor. The light rays coming from the laser light source are reflected through one of its reflective mirrors to become reflected light, then the light rays continue to move forward, then they are reflected at the second reflecting mirror, and finally they become scanned patterns and are projected onto the screen. Such scanned patterns produced from the controlling the motor rotation and the angle of the reflecting mirror are similar to Lissajou pattern, and they would vary with the motor rotation and the angle of the reflecting mirror, and the patterns will vary accordingly. Only trouble is, the variation of such patterns is quite limited and stereotyped.
Referring to FIG. 1 which is the structural view of a prior art of a two-axle motor rotary mirror reflection system. First, a light projecting source 10 is provided, such as a light bulb or a laser source. The light rays projected from the light projecting source 10 are reflected at the first reflecting mirror 11a to produce reflected light, the first reflecting mirror 11a being connected to the first rotating motor 12a, the first rotating motor 12a being electrically connected to the control circuit 13a which serves to control the rotation of the first rotating motor 12a and to drive the first reflecting mirror 11a to rotate. The light rays reflecting from the first reflecting mirror 11a continues to move forward and are reflected at the second reflecting mirror 11b, the second reflecting mirror 11b being connected to the second rotating motor 12b, and the second rotating motor 12b being electrically connected to the control circuit 13b which serves to control the rotation of the second rotating motor 12b, and to drive the second reflecting mirror 11b to rotate. Said device, including the first rotating motor 12a, the first reflecting mirror 11a, the second rotating motor 12b and the second reflecting mirror 11b, constitutes the so-called two-axle motor rotating mirror reflection system, whereby, controlling of the motor rotation and the angle of the reflecting mirror will produce varied scanned patterns similar to Lissajou patterns, such as pattern 15 being projected on the screen 16. Generally, such scanned patterns can only be projected on a specified spot, and its variation is repeated in cycles, so it could not really satisfy our visual enjoyment.
On the other hand, such prior art of two-axle motor rotating mirror reflection system was designed for applications to household or KTV's audio-video recreational purposes. But, such scanned patterns could only have monotonous variations which are repeated again and again, they could not satisfy the visual enjoyment in households or audio-video recreational locations. Therefore, a sound function to control motor rotation has been introduced, in which, as long as there is the existence of sounds, such as music or hand-clapping sounds, it will be able to change motor rotation to enable more variations of the scanned patterns. Though such a method will increase the variations of scanned patterns, such increase is still limited, since the scanned patterns are still repeated and projected onto a specified spot, and it still fails to satisfy the spatial and visual enjoyment that are anticipated in households and audio-video recreational locations.


A tube fixing device has an outer tube, an inner tube, two fixing pins, and a fixing stick. The outer tube has an aligning hole formed through the outer tube. The inner tube is rotatably inserted into the outer tube and has two tapered fixing recesses formed in the inner tube and selectively aligned with the aligning hole. The fixing pins are combined with the inner tube and abut the outer tube at different locations according to the rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube. The fixing stick is retractably combined with the outer tube and has a stick tube and a tapered insertion stick inserted in one of the fixing recesses. The insertion end, the fixing pins and the inner tube selectively form a three-point contact status.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device, and more particularly to a tube fixing device.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional tube fixing device is applied on a folding chair, the household furniture, sports products, or other tube structures to provide a variety of operational statuses.
A folding chair has a chair seat and two chair legs. The chair legs are foldably mounted on a bottom of the chair seat. When the chair legs are unfolded relative to the chair seat, the folding chair is formed as a U-shape.
The tube fixing device is mounted on the bottom of the chair seat and one of the chair legs to selectively fix the position of the corresponding chair leg relative to the chair seat. The tube fixing device has a tube fixing stick and a fixing recess. The tube fixing stick is T-shaped. The fixing recess is formed in the chair seat and the chair leg. The folding chair has two operational statuses. When the chair legs are unfolded relative to the chair seat, the tube fixing stick is inserted in and fixed in the fixing recess. When the chair legs are folded relative to the chair seat, the tube fixing stick is pulled out from the fixing recess, such that the chair legs can be pivoted relative to the chair seat.
However, the tube fixing device lacks an additional fixing unit to fix the tube fixing stick relative to the fixing recess, such that the tube fixing stick is detached from the fixing recess easily. The contact area between the tube fixing stick and the fixing recess is insufficient since an end of the tube fixing stick inserted in the fixing recess and the fixing recess are both round in cross sections. Thus, the end of the tube fixing stick inserted in the fixing recess cannot tightly abut an inner surface defined around the fixing recess. Accordingly, the chair legs may shake relative to the chair seat when in use.


An electrode system for preventing biofouling of a surface either is applied directly onto the surface of an aquatic vehicle or structure, if the surface is non-conducting; or is applied onto an insulating paint layer on the surface, if the surface is conducting; or is embedded in a layer of electrically non-conducting material. The electrode system includes two alternating sets of electrodes in the form of spaced, parallel strips made from any conductive material, preferably a conductive coating, the first set being provided with a number n of parallel electrodes, and the second set being provided with a number n−1 of parallel electrodes, with the positions of the electrodes of the first set alternating with the positions of the electrodes of the second set. The geometry of the electrodes is such that when the voltage is applied, the electric field radiates outwardly parallel to the surface of the structure. All of the electrodes of both sets preferably are of substantially equal length, and the electrodes of each set preferably are of substantially equal width. The electrodes of the first set can be the same width as the electrodes of the second set, or a different width. In a method for preventing biofouling, the electrode system is used to apply a pulsed voltage to a surface.

The prevention of biofouling on the hulls of ships is presently achieved by means of toxic paints. Regulations on the use of these paints, due to the leach rates of pesticide materials into the aquatic environment, will force shipbuilders and ship owners to search for alternative methods for the prevention of fouling. One environmentally friendly alternative is to use electricity. From scientific literature it is known that even small electric fields prevent the growth of aquatic nuisance species on surfaces. This method has previously not been applied to ships due to the belief that biofouling prevention with small electric fields requires the application of a continuous voltage source. Even for small voltages, the energy dissipation would be to high for this system to be affordable for the average ship application. A second factor is that in previous experimental studies, the surface to be protected was one of the two electrodes required to form a circuit. In the case of a ship, it would require a second electrode shell to be placed around the hull of the ship to supply a uniform field distribution. This would require major modifications to the design of the ship.
It is to the solution of these and other problems that the present invention is directed.

Pulsed electric field method and apparatus for preventing biofouling on aquatic surfaces


Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10); and an optical CO2 sensor comprising: first and second light sensors (12, 12′) on said substrate, said second light sensor being spatially separated from the first light sensor; and a layer portion (14) including an organic compound comprising at least one amine or amidine functional group over the first light sensor; wherein said integrated circuit further comprises a signal processor (16) coupled to the first and second light sensor for determining a difference in the respective outputs of the first and second light sensor. An electronic device comprising such a sensor and a method of manufacturing such an IC are also disclosed.

Nowadays, integrated circuits (ICs) may comprise a plethora of sensors, such as gas sensors, relative humidity (RH) sensors, specific analyte detection sensors, and so on. Such sensors may be included in the IC design for a number of reasons.
For instance, a gas sensor may be included in an IC to detect a change in the ambient conditions of a product tagged with the chip such that product quality control can be achieved by monitoring the sensor readings of the chip. This can for instance be used to accurately predict the remaining shelf life of the product, e.g. perishable food stuff. The gas sensor may for instance be adapted to determine changes in the CO2 content of the ambient atmosphere. Alternatively, the gas sensor may be used to detect changes in the gas composition of larger environment such as buildings or may be used in medical application domains, e.g. in breathing apparatuses.
With the ongoing diversification of electronic devices or electronic information gathering such as by RF tags on packaged articles, it is often desirable to include different types of sensors in a single IC. For instance, the detection of other environmental parameters, for instance temperature and humidity such as for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) control in buildings and cars, are particularly desirable in certain application domains. In addition, sensing of analytes of interest, e.g. CO2, may be desirable in such application domains. However, it is difficult to manufacture CO2 sensors having the desired sensitivity in a cost-effective manner. In particular, impedometric CO2 sensors, i.e. sensors based on measuring the change in the impedance of a material based on its exposure to CO2, suffer from relatively poor sensitivity.
Multiple sensor ICs are known per se. However, most solutions are based on a system comprising multiple discrete sensors, which makes the system bulky and rather expensive. Also, the manufacturing process can be rather complex, especially when sensors with high sensitivity are to be included in the design. This negatively impacts on production yield and pushes up the price of the known good products.

Integrated circuit and manufacturing method


A digital direct wireless communication system that permits direct, point-to-point communication (voice or data) between transceivers without the infrastructure associated with traditional cellular systems. The transceivers may communicate with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), with a plurality of fixed base units, a plurality of mobile units and possibly, a plurality of repeaters. The mobile units are operable to communicate point-to-point with other mobile units or other fixed base units. Similarly, the fixed base units are operable to communicate point-to-point with other fixed base units or other mobile units. The system repeaters, if present, are dispersed throughout the communication coverage area for receiving and re-transmitting radio signals from the mobile and fixed base units, if necessary. The mobile and fixed base units may also communicate with remote telephone users through the PSTN. In this mode, a mobile user may contact a remotely located telephone (outside the system) by dialing the number for the remote telephone. The mobile unit will establish communication with a fixed base unit associated with the mobile unit. The fixed base unit detects that the call from the mobile is intended for a telephone located outside the point-to-point communication system; i.e. outside the system. Upon detecting this condition, the fixed base unit provides the switching capabilities to connect the mobile unit to the remote telephone.

In recent years, wireless communication systems have emerged as an important alternative to wireline communications in the United States. These systems offer users the convenience of mobility and personal services, as well as significant cost savings over traditional wireline systems in the installation and relocation of telecommunications equipment. The use of wireless systems is also proliferating in remote areas of the world due to the ease of installation of such systems as compared to wired communications.
One type of wireless communications system, cellular telephone systems, uses radio communications between a plurality of subscriber units with in the wireless system and between subscriber units and the Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN") for calls to or from outside the wireless system.
In cellular systems, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a geographical area is divided into cells covered by the radio system at the base station. The cells are connected via a respective base station (B1-B7) to a Mobile Services Switching Center ("MSC"). The MSC, in turn, is connected to the PSTN. The telephone users (mobile units) communicate with the MSC through the base stations. The MSC switches calls between wireline and mobile subscribers, controls signaling to the mobile stations, compiles billing statistics, and controls the overall operation of the system.
Cellular systems overcome many of the problems associated with traditional wireline communications. These systems, however, still require the installation of expensive infrastructure equipment (i.e., base stations B1-B7, and MSC's) to provide system functionality and the necessary switching capabilities.
Other wireless communications systems overcome the need for expensive infrastructure equipment by using point-to-point radio communications. However, these systems do not provide the extensive switching capabilities provided in cellular and PCS systems. For example, multiple-user radio transceiver communication systems exist in which squelching circuits are used to limit communications between selected radio transceivers within a group of transceivers. In one such system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,358, a first transceiver sends an origination address and a destination address. The transceivers within the broadcast area receive these addresses. When the received destination address corresponds to the address of the second transceiver, the second transceiver turns off its squelch circuit in order to receive the communications from the first transceiver. Any transceiver that receives the radio broadcast and does not have a corresponding destination address leaves its squelch circuit on so that the received signal cannot be heard by the user.
The second transceiver then communicates with the first transceiver by sending its address and the origination address of the first transceiver with a broadcast communication. When the first transceiver receives the broadcast communication with its address, the first transceiver turns off its squelching circuit in order to receive the communications. Thus, two transceivers may establish communications in a broadcast radio communications system. In operation, the system requires that all signaling between transceivers include both the address code of the originating station and the address code of the destination station. However, this system suffers from several disadvantages. For example, because origination and destination addresses must be sent with all communications, the likelihood of coding and transmission errors increases. Therefore, if an origination address is incorrectly received, stored, or retransmitted, the intended transceiver may not receive the communication.
In another system using squelching circuits, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,205, the origination transceiver only transmits the address with the initial message transmission. Once communication is established between two transceivers, a responding transceiver does not send its own address nor does the originating transceiver send its own address again during two-way communications between the two transceivers. Instead, the only address information required to be sent between the transceivers is the destination address of the communications.
These point-to-point radio communication systems, however, do not provide the capabilities associated with traditional wireless systems. In particular, these systems do not permit these transceivers to send and receive calls via the PSTN, maintain billing information, or provide switching capabilities associated with cellular telephone systems.
Thus, a need has arisen for an improved wireless communication system that eliminates the problems of existing systems, while maintaining the convenience of mobility and personal services provided by traditional wireless systems.

Direct wireless communication system and method of operation


A method of operating an electronic device comprises detecting access to private information stored in memory of the electronic device. The detecting is performed by a privacy management module downloadable to the electronic device as object code for execution on the electronic device and the access is performed by a client application program. The method further comprises tracking, using the privacy management module, the private information being accessed by the client application program, and reconfiguring the electronic device, using the privacy management module, to change the access to the private information by the client application program according to at least one privacy access policy stored in the electronic device.

An App is a software application or application program that is downloadable to a mobile device from an App distribution website. Apps are sometimes called Mobile Apps because the receiving or target device is typically a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or netbook. Apps may also be downloaded to a less mobile electronic device such as a laptop computer, desktop computer, or television for execution. Apps may be downloaded to perform a variety of functions such as news harvesting, gaming, finding parking, etc. The distribution website or platform is usually operated by the provider or licensor of the operating system of the mobile device (the mobile OS). The distribution platform from where Apps are obtained by users may be referred to as a cloud in reference to cloud computing which provides processing or storage services using electronic systems located remotely from users. The platform or cloud may include devices for storage that may be accessed by users to obtain Apps.
The Apps are usually in the form of executable code or object code in a machine language executable by the mobile device. The Apps may be made available free to a user with limited service or a user may be required to pay a fee to download an App. Regardless of whether or not a fee is required, most Apps regularly collect or access user information from the mobile electronic device that a user would typically consider private. This private information can include, among other things, an address book stored on the mobile device, photos or other media, e-mail, short message service (SMS) text messages, and location information such as global positioning service (GPS) information. This information can be collected by Apps for the purpose of providing targeted content and advertising to the user.

Cloud based real time app privacy dashboard


According to one exemplary embodiment, a manipulator device includes a base, first and second linear slides, a drive link, a drive member, a driven member and an end effector. The elements of the manipulator device cooperate to constrain the end effector to rotate about a remote center of motion that is displaced from a proximal center of motion as the drive link moves a carriage of the second linear slide along an arcuate path.

Apparatus for guiding medical tools have been shown to be of valuable assistance in various medical procedures, for example, manipulation of surgical tools, manipulation of cameras or sensors, biopsy, etc. An apparatus for guiding a medical tool usually also improves reproducibility compared to free-hand medical procedures, for example, surgical or biopsy procedures.
These apparatus typically have one or more degrees of freedom and may be manually driven in that the one or more degrees of freedom may be equipped with a brake with motive force being provided by a human practitioner, or may be automated in that at least one degree of freedom is driven by a computer controlled actuator.
A medical tool often needs to be oriented about a point in, on, or in proximity to a patient's body. However, having the main body of an apparatus that supports the tool located too proximal to the patient's body may be disadvantageous, since the supporting apparatus may, for example, interfere with the view of or access to the patient by the practitioner. An apparatus which can orient a tool about a remote fulcrum or remote center of motion can avoid such disadvantages.
The use of an apparatus that orients a tool about a remote center of motion is known in robotics as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,323; 5,515,478; 5,630,431; 5,817,084; 5,907,664; 6,047,610; 6,246,200; and 7,021,173.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,323 to Taylor et al. discloses the remote center of motion principle in surgical robots with a first axis of rotation pointing into the remote center of motion, and a second axis materialized by a parallelogram mechanism implemented by two coupled parallel linkages of rigid bars and cylindrical joints. The two axes of the remote center of motion are orthogonal, and the mechanism operated around an upright initial (zero) direction.
Unfortunately, the parallelogram structure of Taylor et al. and other conventional parallelogram mechanisms is bulky, making it difficult to position with respect to a patient's body and in some cases forcing a patient to assume an uncomfortable or unconventional position. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative apparatus for guiding medical tools.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,084 discloses another exemplary linkage that provides a remote center of motion. The disclosed linkage arrangement allows the motors for positioning the insertion axis to be at a distance from the center of motion. However, the first motor is required to move the entire mass of the second motor in the disclosed linkage arrangement. This requires a larger first motor. The second motor sweeps out a volume as it is moved. Both of these shortcomings increase the mass and bulk of the disclosed linkage arrangement.
In certain applications it is desirable to provide a robotic manipulator device having an end effector that can pass through a small opening in a wall. One way this can be done is to introduce the end effector along an insertion axis with the axis constrained to rotate about a point substantially at the point where the insertion axis intersects the wall, which may be termed the center of motion for the insertion axis.
It will be appreciated that the position of the end effector can be expressed in a spherical coordinate system with an origin at the center of motion. The end effector position may be expressed as two angular displacements and a radius, which is the distance from the center of motion to the end effector. Thus the end effector can be positioned at any point within the range of motion of the robotic manipulator while passing through a small opening in a wall.
One application of such a robotic manipulator is the positioning of an end effector for performing surgical procedures. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) provides surgical techniques for operating on a patient through small incisions using a camera and elongate surgical instruments introduced to an internal surgical site, often through trocar sleeves or cannulas. The surgical site often comprises a body cavity, such as the patient's abdomen. The body cavity may optionally be distended using a clear fluid such as an insufflation gas. In robotic minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon manipulates the tissues using end effectors of the elongate surgical instruments by remotely manipulating the instruments while viewing the surgical site on a video monitor. As previously mentioned, it may be impractical to place the motors for positioning the insertion axis in proximity to the center of motion. The robotic manipulator may include linkages to couple the motors for positioning the insertion axis at a distance from the center of motion.
The manipulator devices and methods disclosed herein provide advantages over those of the prior art.

Remote center of motion mechanism and method of use

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A machine tool includes a machine support, a work table positioned on the machine support, a moving device and a feeding device. The moving device is movably mounted on the machine support along a first direction above the work table. The feeding device is slidably positioned on the moving device along a second direction at ninety degrees from the first direction. The feeding device includes a feeding mechanism and a cutter. The feeding mechanism drives the tool holder and the cutter to move back and forth along a third orthogonal direction.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to machine tools, and particularly, to a machine tool which can continuously machine a curved surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacturing field, a cutter of the machine tool is driven to move along X, Y, and Z axis directions by a feeding device of the machine tool, and also driven to rotate in high speed by a main shaft of the machine tool at the same time for machining a curved surface of a workpiece. However, after completing the machining of a first position of the workpiece, the feeding device needs to be driven to lift, and move a certain distance to a second position of the workpiece. This consumes more time, and the machining efficiency is decreased.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.


A region or group of pixels may be textured as a unit, using a range specifier and one or more anchor pixels to define the group. In some embodiments, processing grouped pixels improves efficiency.

This relates generally to graphics processing and, particularly, to the texture unit of a graphics processor.
A graphics processor is a dedicated processor that generally handles processing tasks associated with the display of images. A graphics processor may include a number of specialized function units, including a texture unit. A texture unit performs texture operations including texture decompression and anisotropic filtering.
A texture sampler is a special type of texture unit that optimizes texture filtering and performs texture filtering faster than a general purpose processor.


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided which includes providing a substrate. A material layer is formed over the substrate. A polymer layer is formed over the material layer. A nano-sized feature is self-assembled using a portion of the polymer layer. The substrate is patterned using the nano-sized feature.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. As geometry size continues to be scaled down, it is increasingly more difficult for conventional photolithography processes to pattern IC features. Further, smaller geometry sizes lead to other challenging issues, such as pattern uniformity and feature alignment.
Therefore, while existing methods of fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit devices have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in every aspect.

Self-assembly pattern for semiconductor integrated circuit

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Techniques are disclosed for qualified checkpointing of a data flow model having data flow operators and links connecting the data flow operators. A link of the data flow model is selected based on a set of checkpoint criteria. A checkpoint is generated for the selected link. The checkpoint is selected from different checkpoint types. The generated checkpoint is assigned to the selected link. The data flow model, having at least one link with no assigned checkpoint, is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to data integration. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to data integration on retargetable engines in a networked environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cloud computing environments often include a master computing device and multiple worker computing devices. Work is distributed from the master computing device into the cloud and to the worker computing devices within the cloud. The worker computing devices perform the work and return the results to the master computing device. The master computing device then assembles the results received from the worker computing devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Selective checkpointing of links in a data flow based on a set of predefined criteria

International Business Machines Corporation


An electric motor including a stator with a plurality of coils wound around a ring-shaped iron core, and a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator is provided. The rotor includes a rotor shaft and a yoke. The yoke is provided near its periphery with a plurality of plate-like permanent magnets arranged at equal pitches. Heat generated from the rotor is released through a plurality of air holes formed in the yoke between the rotor shaft and the permanent magnets.

Such a brushless motor is generally comprised of a stator with a plurality of coils wound around an iron core, a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator, and a housing containing the stator and the rotor. The housing is provided with a plurality of air holes so that heat generated from the rotor and the stator is released through the air holes.
A brushless motor having a cylindrical housing closed at its opposite ends with covers formed with air holes, and a rotor provided with a fan, is proposed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-1-110035. This brushless motor will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 15 hereof.
A brushless motor 300 shown in FIG. 15 includes a stator 303 formed by winding coils 302 around an iron core 301, a rotor 307 provided inside the stator 303 and consisting of a yoke 305 mounted on a rotor shaft 304 and a permanent magnet 306 mounted on the periphery of the yoke 305, and a cylindrical housing 308 containing the stator 303 and the rotor 307 together.
Opposite ends of the housing 308 are closed by covers 309, 309. One cover 309 is provided with a plurality of air inlet openings 310, and the other cover 309 is provided with a plurality of air outlet openings 311.
A fan 312 is mounted on the rotor shaft 304 near the air inlet openings 310. The fan 312 is rotated by rotation of the rotor shaft 304, drawing air into the housing 308 through the air inlet openings 310.
Air drawn into the housing 308 cools the heated stator 303, and then is discharged from the air outlet openings 311.
In the above brushless motor 300, however, a central part of the rotor 307 is not directly cooled, causing the problem that heat persists in the central part of the rotor 307.
Also, in the above brushless motor 300, the cooling fan 312 is attached on the rotor shaft 304, thus increasing the moment of inertia of the rotor 307. Therefore, it is required to increase the rigidity of the housing 308 and the covers 309, 309 for supporting the rotor 307, disadvantageously leading to a weight increase of the brushless motor 300.
There is thus a desire for an art which allows heat in a central part of a rotor to be released, and also allows an electric motor to be reduced in weight.


A wide-angle lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is with negative refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the image side. The second lens is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power. The third lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The fourth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The fifth lens is with negative refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the object side.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lens, and more particularly to a wide-angle lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the front group lens of a known wide-angle lens is with negative refractive power and the rear group lens thereof is with positive refractive power to increase the field of view. However, a known wide-angle lens still has problems such as unsatisfactory aberration and image resolution and being susceptible to environmental temperature change. There is room for improvement.


A multiple-charged particle-beam irradiation apparatus includes a shaping aperture array substrate that causes a charged particle beam to pass through a plurality of first apertures to form multi-beams, a plurality of blanking aperture array substrates each provided with a plurality of second apertures, which enable corresponding beams to pass, and including a blanker arranged at each of the second apertures, a movable table on which the blanking aperture array substrates are mounted so as to be spaced apart from each other in a second direction, which is orthogonal to a first direction along an optical axis, and that moves in the second direction to position one of the blanking aperture array substrates on the optical axis, and an alignment mechanism that performs an alignment adjustment between the blanking aperture array substrate on the optical axis and the shaping aperture array substrate.

The circuit line width required for a semiconductor device has been reduced year by year with increases in the density of an LSI (Large-Scale Integration). In order to form a desired circuit pattern on a semiconductor device, a method of transferring a highly-precise original pattern (a mask, or a pattern called "reticle" which is particularly used in a stepper or a scanner) formed on quartz onto a wafer in a reduced size using a reduced projection exposure device is adopted. The highly-precise original pattern is written by an electron beam writing apparatus and a so-called "electron beam lithography technology" is used.
A writing apparatus using multi-beams can irradiate more beams at one time than in a case of performing writing with one electron beam and therefore can greatly improve the throughput. In a multi-beam writing apparatus using a blanking aperture array substrate, which is one mode of multi-beam writing apparatuses, for example, a shaping aperture array substrate including a plurality of apertures provided thereon is mounted on a stage and an alignment adjustment between the shaping aperture array substrate and the blanking aperture array substrate on which a plurality of apertures and a blanker (an electrode pair) for each of the apertures are provided is performed by moving the stage (for example, see Patent Literature 1). In a writing process after the alignment, an electron beam emitted from one electron gun is caused to pass through the shaping aperture array substrate to form multi-beams (a plurality of electron beams), each beam of the formed multi-beams is caused to pass through a corresponding aperture of the blanking aperture array substrate, and whether to perform deflection is individually selected for each beam by a blanker placed at the corresponding aperture. Electron beams deflected by the blankers are shielded and undeflected electron beams are irradiated to a specimen to be used for writing. In order to avoid influences on locational accuracy of electron beams due to collision between electron beams and molecules in the air, irradiation of the electron beams is performed in a state where a vacuum is maintained in the electron lens barrel of the multi-beam writing apparatus.

Multiple-charged particle-beam irradiation apparatus and multiple-charged particle-beam irradiation method


A citrus flavor has at least one of an aroma component and a water soluble citrus extract component. The citrus flavor further includes a stabilizing component. The aroma component is obtained from a low-boiling part of a cold pressed oil. The water soluble citrus extract component is obtained from a cold pressed oil by an extraction using a hydrate alcohol solvent. The stabilizing component includes a mixture of coumarin analogues obtained from a cold pressed oil. The resulting citrus flavor has a high stability.

The present invention relates to a citrus flavor comprising a flavorous component and a stabilizing component. The flavorous component is produced from a cold pressed oil which is prepared from citrus fruits. The stabilizing component comprises coumarin analogues obtained from a cold pressed oil. The flavorous component is preferably an aroma component obtained from the low-boiling fractions of the cold pressed oil or a washed oil obtained by an extraction process of the cold pressed oil. Particularly, the present invention relates to an extremely stable citrus flavor obtained by adding a particular stabilizing component which comprises a mixture of cumarin analogues, obtained by removing oxidation promoting substances existing in high-boiling fractions of the cold pressed oil, and the above aroma component or washed oil.
The present invention also relates to a processed food and drink product having these citrus flavors.
It has been known that organic substances such as oil and fats are denatured by oxygen and heat, deteriorating the qualities inherent to the organic substances. It has been known that a citrus essential oil which is widely adopted as natural flavor is also damaged by heat or the like as well as oxygen in air (e.g., Food Industries, vol. 32, No. 22, pp32-33). In order to decrease such oxidation as greatly as possible, an attempt is made to exploit a well known antioxidant, for example, tocopherol (described in the same reference as above). However, such an attempt has the problem that not only a relatively large amount of alpha-tocopherol must be used, but also the degree of increase in off-flavor components is high and unsatisfactory.
In the meantime, conventional techniques for the preparation of a compound having anti-oxidizing ability by using a citrus as starting material have been developed. For example, it is reported in JP-A-7-138250 that a new coumarin analogue is extracted from citrus as starting material by using a proper alkali or acid. However, this method has a disadvantage that even if such an antioxidant is used, the citrus flavor is stabilized insufficiently and it is difficult to prepare the antioxidant in a large amount. Also, when ascorbic acid is used, there is the case where it causes browning depending upon the type of processed food product.
Flavors are mostly added to and compounded in processed food products to meet recent requirements for the tastes of consumers. However, there is a problem of food flavors, used in the processing of food products, being deteriorated during the production or storage of the processed food product. This deterioration results in a spoiled taste of the processed food product. An attempt to use the aforementioned well-known antioxidant, such as BHT, alpha-tocopherol or ascorbic acid, has been made with the intention of stabilizing these processed food flavors. However, BHT and alpha-tocopherol can prevent the deterioration of the food flavors only insufficiently. Ascorbic acid sometimes causes browning depending on the type of processed food product. Furthermore, there is a fear that BHT occasionally has an adverse effect on the human body.
There is, therefore, a demand for a stabilizing agent for food flavors which prevents the deterioration of the food flavor while not damaging the outward appearance of the processed food product.
The inventors of the present invention have aimed at the development of techniques for improving the stability of citrus flavors since the citrus flavor is widely used as food flavors.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to find techniques for improving the stability of aroma components or water soluble citrus extracts obtained from citrus cold pressed oil.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide a citrus flavor, which is applied to processed food and drink products, having a high stability.
It is a further object of the present invention is to provide a citrus flavor which does not impair the taste and outward appearance of processed food and drink products.
The inventors of the present invention have focused on a cold pressed oil prepared from citrus fruits which have been widely known. This inventors have made earnest studies to prepare citrus flavors which are more stable and found that a fraction obtained by first eluting high-boiling parts of the cold pressed oil, which conventionally has little utility value and are mostly disposed, with a non-polar solvent by using a silica gel column, followed by eluting these parts with a polar solvent has an effect of remarkably improving the stability, while other fractions have no effect of improving the stability but an adverse effect on the stability.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a citrus flavor has at least one of an aroma component and a water soluble citrus extract component. The citrus flavor further includes a stabilizing component. The aroma component is obtained from a low-boiling part of a cold pressed oil. The water soluble citrus extract component is obtained from a cold pressed oil by an extraction using a hydrate alcohol solvent. The stabilizing component includes a mixture of coumarin analogues obtained from a cold pressed oil. The resulting citrus flavor has a high stability.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a citrus flavor having one of an aroma component and a water soluble citrus extract, the aroma component obtained from a low-boiling part of a cold pressed oil, the water soluble citrus extract obtained from a cold pressed oil by an extraction using a hydrate alcohol solvent, and a stabilizing component comprising at least one coumarin analogue obtained from a cold pressed oil.
The above, and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

Citrus flavor having high stability, method of preparation thereof and food and drink product containing said flavor


A substrate processing method includes a phosphoric acid processing step of supplying a phosphoric acid aqueous solution, which contains silicon and has a silicon concentration lower than a saturation concentration, to a front surface of a substrate, a liquid volume reducing step of reducing a volume of the phosphoric acid aqueous solution on the substrate, after the phosphoric acid processing step, and a rinse replacing step of supplying a rinse liquid having a temperature lower than that of the phosphoric acid aqueous solution supplied to the front surface of the substrate in the phosphoric acid processing step to the front surface of the substrate covered with the phosphoric acid aqueous solution at least partially, after the liquid volume reducing step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate processing method for processing a substrate. Substrates to be processed include, for example, semiconductor wafers, liquid crystal display device substrates, plasma display substrates, FED (Field Emission Display) substrates, optical disk substrates, magnetic disk substrates, magneto-optical disk substrates, photomask substrates, ceramic substrates, and photovoltaic cell substrates.
2. Description of Related Art
In a process of manufacturing semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, etching treatment is performed as necessary by supplying a high-temperature phosphoric acid aqueous solution as an etchant onto the front surface of a substrate, having a silicon nitride film (SiN) and a silicon oxide film (SiO2) formed thereon, to selectively etch the silicon nitride film. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-074601 discloses that a phosphoric acid aqueous solution close to the boiling point is supplied to a substrate held by a spin chuck and the phosphoric acid aqueous solution on the substrate is thereafter rinsed off by pure water.
The phosphoric acid aqueous solution that is supplied to the substrate ordinarily contains silicon. If the concentration of silicon is within an appropriate range, the etching selectivity ((etching amount of the silicon nitride film)/(etching amount of the silicon oxide film)) is increased. However, when pure water at room temperature is supplied to the substrate after the high-temperature phosphoric acid aqueous solution has been supplied, the temperature of the phosphoric acid aqueous solution on the substrate decreases and the saturation concentration of silicon decreases. The concentration of silicon in the phosphoric acid aqueous solution thus becomes not less than the saturation concentration and silicon precipitates from the phosphoric acid aqueous solution. Precipitated matter that includes the silicon remains on the upper surface of the substrate, thereby contaminating the substrate.


A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFortySix’ particularly characterized by medium red, sweet fruit, a globose—semi-upright plant habit, and early harvest maturity, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated 'DrisStrawFortySix' and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered in Kent, United Kingdom in June 2010 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent 'DrisStrawThirtyTwo' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,333) and the proprietary male parent 'KGEM 0631-001' (unpatented). A single plant was selected and asexually propagated via tissue culture and vegetative cuttings in Kent, United Kingdom in 2010.
'DrisStrawFortySix' underwent further testing in Kent, United Kingdom from 2010-2014. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFortySix’


A negative electrode for an electrochemical device includes: a negative current collector; a first negative electrode active material layer supported on a first surface of the negative current collector; and a second negative electrode active material layer supported on a second surface of the negative current collector. And capacity C1 per unit mass of the first negative electrode active material layer is greater than capacity C2 per unit mass of the second negative electrode active material layer. As a result, it is possible to provide a negative electrode suited for an electrochemical device having high capacitance, the electrochemical device being manufactured by pre-doping the negative electrode with lithium ions.

Electrochemical devices that store electric energy can be roughly classified into high-capacitance electrochemical devices that perform charging and discharging by a faradaic reaction and high-output electrochemical devices that perform charging and discharging by a non-faradaic reaction. As the high-capacitance electrochemical device, a lithium ion secondary battery is mainstream, and as the high-output electrochemical device, an electric double layer capacitor is typical.
In recent years, an electrochemical device having property intermediate between the lithium ion secondary battery and the electric double layer capacitor also attracts attention. For example, a lithium ion capacitor has a structure in which a positive electrode used for a capacitor and a negative electrode used for a lithium ion secondary battery are combined, and has both property of the former and the latter. In such an electrochemical device, the potential difference between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is increased by decreasing the potential of the negative electrode by preliminarily doping (pre-doping) the negative electrode with lithium ions for ensuring the capacitance.
The pre-doping of lithium ions on the negative electrode is performed, for example, in the following manner. After forming an electrode group by winding the positive electrode and the negative electrode with a separator interposed therebetween, a lithium foil having a sufficient thickness is attached to the outermost circumference of the electrode group. And then the lithium foil and the electrode group are shorted in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. While this method is simple, this method has disadvantages that it is difficult to make lithium ions migrate uniformly all over the negative electrode, and it takes a long time to complete the pre-doping.
Meanwhile, a technique of performing a pre-doping by previously forming an electrode group by winding the negative electrode together with the positive electrode and the separator in the condition that a lithium foil, which is thinly pressed, is disposed on both sides of the negative electrode is also proposed (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-272585).

Electrochemical device, negative electrode used for same, and method for manufacturing electrochemical device

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An assembly device of an image sensor chip is disclosed. A flexible circuit has a die-attached portion, a plurality of bendable portions, and a plurality of bonding portions where the bendable portions extend from the die-attached portion and are connected to the corresponding bonding portions. A plurality of inner leads are formed on the bonding portions. An image sensor chip with bumps is attached to the die-attached portion. The bendable portions are so bent that the bonding portions are located above the image sensor chip. By thermocompression bonding, the inner leads of the flexible circuit are bonded to the bumps on the image sensor chip. In one embodiment, a transparent cover is adhered to the bonding portions and located above a sensing area of the image sensor chip.

Image sensor chips have been widely implemented in everyday lives such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), digital still cameras (DSC), digital video cameras (DV), video phones, video conferences, and so on. It is necessary to packaging image sensor chips prior to surface-mounting. A disclosed image sensor package and its packaging method are revealed in R.O.C. Taiwan patent publication No. 459,355. An image sensor chip is flip-chip bonded to a glass substrate. A plurality of signal input terminals and a plurality of signal output terminals, which are formed on the different surfaces of the glass substrate, are electrically connected to each other by traces on surfaces and sides of the glass substrate. The signal input terminals are electrically connected to the image sensor chip and the signal output terminals to a printed circuit board having an opening. Therefore, the electrical transmission path is from the image sensor chip through the glass substrate to the printed circuit board so that the glass substrate possesses two basic criteria, good optical transparency and double-side electrical transmission. However, it is very difficult to fabricate traces on double layers and sides of the glass substrate. Accordingly, the fabrication cost of the glass substrate is very high. Moreover, the image sensor chip is lack of protection.
Furthermore, another known image sensor chip is revealed in R.O.C. Taiwan patent publication No. 484,237, entitled "An optical device with a tape packaging type". An image sensor package with TCP type includes an image sensor chip, a flexible circuit board, and an encapsulant where the flexible circuit board has a plurality of inner leads and a device hole. The encapsulant accommodates the image sensor chip and has a cavity aligned with the device hole of the flexible circuit board and a sensing area of the image sensor chip. In order to avoid the image sensor chip from the damages of moisture or dusts, a transparent cover is needed to adhere to the sidewall around the cavity. However, the encapsulant is made by molding and its thickness is much greater than the thickness of the flexible circuit board. The sensing area of the image sensor chip is easily contaminated during molding the encapsulant and the total thickness of the image sensor package cannot be reduced.

Image sensor assembly and method for fabricating the same


A leg brace is provided including an upper support for engaging an upper portion of a shin of a user. An intermediate frame includes a plurality of generally vertically oriented rods coupled to the upper support and depending therefrom. Coupled to bottom ends of the rods of the intermediate frame is a lower support for supporting a foot of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to walking devices and more particularly pertains to a new walking brace for allowing a user with a cast to walk without strain.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of walking devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, walking devices 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 walking devices and the like include U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,119; U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,595; U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,016; U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,927; U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,036; and U.S. Pat. Des. 344,589.
In these respects, the walking brace according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user with a cast to walk without strain.


The invention is directed to a motorized cart and a hub gear motor system in which the electric motor of the system is contained within the hub casing of a front wheel of the motorized cart. The hub gear motor system provides the motorized cart with front wheel drive.

The present invention is directed to a motorized cart with a hub gear motor system. The motorized cart has a front wheel and two rear wheels. The front wheel of the motorized cart is driven by the hub gear motor system which comprises an electric reversible motor that is contained within the front wheel.
Motorized carts are commonly used in stores and homes to provide mobility for individuals that are unable to walk or stand for any length of time. Because of their size and large turning radius, these carts can be difficult to maneuver in an area with limited space. Due to such space limitations, most stores and homes are generally unable to accommodate such motorized carts without renovating or rearranging the area in which the carts are to be used.
Most motorized carts for shopping and home use are powered by electric motors mounted on the frame of the cart. A drive train translates the rotational movement of the motor to one or both rear wheels. The drive train adds to the weight of the cart requiring that the amount of power to operate the cart be increased according to the weight added by the drive train thereby increasing the requisite size of the cart.
In addition, having rear wheel drive can reduce the efficiency of the cart's motor since power is lost through the drive train as rotation is transmitted from the motor to the wheel(s) of the cart. Therefore, these motorized carts require at least a 24-volt rechargeable battery system in order to have adequate power to operate the cart properly. Inherent drawbacks exist with 24-volt battery systems. Generally, a 24-volt battery system comprises a pair of 12-volt batteries. Not only is such a system more complex since the batteries are connected in a series, but batteries connected in a series are also difficult to consistently recharge. Typically, one of the batteries in a series will overcharge and the other battery will fail to fully charge. Such a recharging routine is inefficient and can be frustrating for a user. It is not uncommon to improve these systems by providing a separate charger for each battery in the series. This can significantly increase the weight of the cart and increase the cost of manufacturing.
One aspect of the cart's maneuverability can be determined by its turning radius. The smaller the turning radius the more maneuverable is the cart, making it easier to manage in small areas. A cart with rear wheel drive generally has a large turning radius. Because it is pushed by the movement of its rear wheels and continues to move forward throughout the duration of the turn. The cart's turning radius is greater than the length of the cart. As a result, carts having rear wheel drive are difficult and cumbersome to operate.
Another drawback to a cart with rear wheel drive is that the front wheel(s) is subject to skipping or skidding across the floor's surface when cornering the cart. This typically occurs when making a sharp turn into the rear wheel that is powered combined with the front wheel not being aligned with the direction of the cart's movement (i.e., such as when the front wheel is turned to corner the cart). In these instances, the forward movement of the cart overcomes the turning motion of the front wheel and the front wheel is unable to rotate properly to guide the cart, resulting in the wheel skidding or skipping across the surface of the floor.
Therefore, there is a need for a lightweight, motorized cart that is easy to maneuver in small areas and that can operate on a 12-volt battery system with adequate power to transport a passenger and additional items. There is also the need for a motorized cart having front wheel drive with the motor contained within the front wheel.

Motorized cart with hub gear motor system


An earth boring bit has a bit body having a depending bearing pin. A cone has a cavity rotatably mounted on the bearing pin. A seal groove is formed in the cavity of the cone. An elastomeric seal ring is located within the groove and forms a seal between a base of the groove and the bearing pin. The seal ring has two side surfaces, each spaced from one of the side walls of the groove by a clearance. Elastomeric protuberances protrude from each of the side surfaces of the seal ring for non-sealing contact with one of the side walls of the groove.

A rolling cone earth boring bit has a body with a threaded end that attaches to a drill string. The body normally has three depending bearing pins, each supporting a cone rotatably mounted thereon. Each cone has cutting elements on its exterior for disintegrating the earth formation as the bit body is rotated. Each cone has a cavity that slides over one of the bearing pins. A lubricant reservoir supplies lubricant to the spaces between the cone cavity and bearing pin. Normally, the lubricant system also has a pressure compensator for equalizing the lubricant pressure with the pressure of the borehole drilling fluid on the exterior of the bit. A sealing arrangement located near the mouth of each cone seals the lubricant from the borehole fluids.
If the sealing arrangement begins to leak, the bit would soon fail and have to be retrieved. This could occur before the cutting structure on the cone has worn out, thus shortening the life of the bit. Because of the importance of having a durable sealing arrangement, many varieties have been used and proposed over the years. In one type, a seal groove is formed in the cone cavity near the mouth of the cone. The groove has a base and two parallel side walls. An elastomeric seal ring fits within the groove and seals between the base and the bearing pin.
The seal ring may be a type referred to as a high aspect ratio seal ring. A high aspect ratio seal ring has a radial dimension measured from its inner diameter to its outer diameter that is greater than its thickness, measured from one side surface to the other. The seal groove has a depth that is greater than its width. Sealing engagement occurs between the outer diameter of the seal ring and the groove base and between the inner diameter of the seal ring and the bearing pin. The side surfaces of the seal ring do not sealingly engage the side walls of the groove. Normally, the width of the groove is appreciably larger than the width of the seal ring so as to allow the seal ring to thermally expand during use.
A disadvantage of having clearances between the seal ring side surfaces and the groove side walls is that the seal ring may initially become misaligned or skewed relative to the groove. If so, the misalignment may cause a different contact pressure than desired between the seal ring and the seal groove and the bearing pin. The different contact pressure could result in seal failure.


Photoconductive semiconductor material is injected into narrow and closely paced cylindrical channels in an insulating matrix plate to form pixel elements of a high resolution photodetector array. A transparent conductive layer is deposited on one surface of the photoconductor array while light reflecting pads are formed on the elements at the opposite surface. Subsequently, a layer of light modulating material and a transparent conductive layer are deposited on the opposite surface to obtain a high resolution spatial light modulator.

This invention relates generally to photosensing arrays embodied in opto-electronic devices, such as spatial light modulators.
Photoconductor arrays utilized as a charge generating component in optically addressed spatial light modulators have relatively small picture elements or pixels, the size and spacing of which is a factor in determining the final spatial resolution of the light modulator output. Current photodetector arrays feature pixels between approximately 5 and 100 microns in size, spaced apart between 5 and 100 microns. Thus, as explained in a related copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 08/059,766, filed May 11, 1993, (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference), improvement in spatial resolution was heretofore limited by a maximum pixel density of approximately 1,000,000 pins per square centimeter.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to enhance spatial resolution in spatial light modulators or the like by increasing the pixel density of photodetector arrays.

Method of making a photodetector array having high pixel density

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A piezoelectric element of a driving device is arranged on the opposite side of the light source, when an optical pickup device is divided by a plane that includes an optical axis of an objective lens and perpendicularly intersects the axis line of a light flux entering a raising mirror, that has come from the light source, whereby, it is possible to cause optical elements existing between the objective lens and the laser light source to be away from the piezoelectric element, and thereby to avoid an influence of heat even when a gap between members is reduced.

The present invention relates to an optical pickup device, and in particular, to an optical pickup device that is of a thin type and can conduct recording and/or reproducing of information properly for an optical information recording medium.
In recent years, research and development of high density optical disc system that can conduct recording and reproducing of information by using a blue-violet semiconductor laser having a wavelength of about 400 nm is advanced rapidly. As an example, in the case of an optical disc conducting recording and reproducing of information under the specifications of NA 0.85 and light source wavelength 405 nm, namely, in the case of the so-called Blu-ray Disc (BD), information in the amount of 20-30 GB can be recorded on a single face for an optical disc having a diameter of 12 cm that is the same in terms of size as DVD (NA 0.6, light source wavelength 650 nm, memory capacity 4.7 GB), and in the case of an optical disc conducting recording and reproducing of information under the specifications of NA 0.65 and light source wavelength 405 nm, namely, in the case of the so-called HD DVD, information in the amount of 15-20 GB can be recorded on a single face for an optical disc having a diameter of 12 cm. In the present specification, the optical disc of this kind is called "high density DVD" hereafter.
In the meantime, a value of an optical pickup device as a product is not sufficient if an ability of the optical pickup device is only conducting recording and reproducing of information properly for the high density DVD. When considering a reality at present that DVD and CD on which various pieces of information are recorded are on the market, only conducting recording and reproducing of information properly for high density DVD is not sufficient, an arrangement to be capable of conducting recording and reproducing of information properly in the same way also for conventional DVD or CD which has been owned by a user, for example, can enhance a value of an optical pickup device of a compatible type as a product. From the background of this kind, an optical system used for the optical pickup device of a compatible type is required to be of a low cost and to have a simple structure naturally, and to obtain an excellent spot for conducting recording and reproducing for information properly even for any of high density DVD, conventional DVD and CD. Though an optical pickup device capable of conducting recording and/or reproducing of information for DVD and CD on a compatible basis has been put into practical use, further downsizing, a thinner type and a low cost are demanded for the present structure of the optical pickup device. In particular, in the case of a notebook computer, there is an actual condition that a thinner type optical pickup device to be mounted on the notebook computer is desired eagerly, to enhance competitiveness of the product.
In Patent Document 1, there is disclosed an optical pickup device that conducts recording and/or reproducing of information under the state where the spherical aberration is corrected by moving a lens of a collimator optical system in the optical axis direction depending on an optical disc to be used to change an angle of divergence of a light flux passing through the lens. The lens of a collimator optical system of this kind is driven by a driving device that is relatively low in cost and is of a small-sized structure.
A piezoelctric element serving as a power source for an actuator shown in Patent Document 1 has characteristics that an amount of generated heat is small, when compared with other actuators. However, when an optical pickup device is constituted to be extremely thin, the piezoelctric element is occasionally arranged to be close to an optical element for the reason of a space. In such a case, there is a fear that the optical element is affected by heat generated from the piezoelctric element, especially when the optical element is made of resin.                (Patent Document 1) Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-302118

Optical pickup device having an electromechanical conversion element for recording and/ or reproducing information


A handle assembly is provided for a pump jack having a shackle assembly with a rotatable pole-gripping rod for engaging and rolling along a pole surface. The handle assembly includes an extension of the pole-gripping rod, a coil spring disposed on the rod extension, a sleeve disposed around the rod extension and coil spring, and a bar fixed to the sleeve. A crank arm extends transversely of the rod extension which is pivotally connected to the arm at a first pivot location. The bar is pivotally connected to the arm at a second pivot location. The coil spring urges the sleeve into engagement with a locking member on the shackle assembly, such that the sleeve is prevented from rotating and the rod is unable to roll along the surface of the pole. A handle is mounted on the free end of the crank arm. The coil spring is further operative to hold arm in a position in which rotation thereof is blocked by a frame member of the jack, whereby to further prevent the rod from rotating and rolling along the surface of the pole.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to pump jacks for traveling up and down scaffolding poles, and is directed more particularly to a handle assembly which prevents accidental sliding of the pump jack down a pole.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to use pump jacks in scaffolding systems for raising and lowing scaffolding platforms. Typically, a number of pump jack poles are secured in spaced relationship to a building or other edifice to be worked on, and pump jacks are utilized to carry the scaffolding platforms up and down the poles. Scaffolding staging or platforms are extended across support arms provided on the pump jacks. Workers stand on the scaffolding platforms and operate the pump jacks to move the platforms up and down along the pump jack poles.
Each pump jack typically includes a frame with an upper and a lower shackle. A pump arm is pivotally connected to the frame to operate the two shackles alternately. The operation causes the upper shackle to grip the pole permitting the frame to step upward along the pole. Thereafter, the lower shackle grips the pole and the upper shackle steps up to a next position on the pole. In this manner, one of the shackles steps up the pole while the other shackle grips the pole. Pump jacks are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,471, issued Jul. 1, 1986 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,584 issued Sep. 11, 1990.
The upper shackle includes a rod which can be applied engaged with the pole to grip the pole. A crank handle coupled to the rod permits winding and unwinding of the rod. To lower the pump jack, a release lever releases the lower shackle from engagement with the pole. The crank handle is then operated to unwind the rod, thereby rolling the pump jack down the pole. In order to prevent accidental unwinding of the crank handle, the handle may be provided with a safety locking position in which the handle is disposed inwardly of the pump jack frame so as to be retained in place by the pump jack frame, which blocks the handle to prevent accidental unwinding of the rod. A pump jack of the aforedescribed construction has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,824, issued Aug. 7, 1984, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,941 issued Jul. 4, 1990.
One of the most critical concerns when using pump jacks is the safety of the workers standing on the staging supported by the pump jacks. Despite the presence of safety locking handles, which should be positioned inwardly to prevent accidental unwinding, accidental slipping of the pump jack down the pole has occurred when workers have forgotten to move the handle into the safety position. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,824, there is provided a crank handle assembly wherein the handle is movable to a safety locking position in which the handle is held in place by the pump jack pole and thereby prevents accidental unwinding of the rod, and thereby avoids the pump jack accidentally slipping down the pole. The handle is positionable in either of two positions. In a first position, an arm connected to the rod extends downwardly and a handle portion connected to the arm extends inwardly in position to engage the front surface of the pole, to prevent unwinding of the rod. In a second position, the arm extends upwardly and the handle extends outwardly in a cranking position. Thus, to change the handle assembly from the safety (first) position, to the crank (second) position it is necessary that the handle be grasped while locked against the pole, pulled outwardly and then upwardly. To change the handle back to the safety position, the handle must be pulled outwardly, downwardly and inwardly and up against the pole surface. It is deemed beneficial to have available a handle assembly which is more easily and simply movable between safety and crank positions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,941 there is provided a handle assembly having a safety and crank feature substantially as taught by the '824 patent, and, in addition, is provided with an anti-spin feature at the end of the rod opposite from the handle assembly end. The anti-spin feature comprises a rubber disc which can be pressed against an end of the rod by tightening down on an external bolt. While the rubber disc exercises some restraint on rotation of the rod, it is desirable to have a more positive locking means which would operate to stop rotation of the rod, as opposed to merely slowing or damping rotation. It is further desirable to have a locking means which is operative without the necessity of tightening a bolt, an exercise which could be problematic in an emergency situation.
3. Summary of the Invention
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a novel pump jack handle assembly having a safety position in which turning of the handle assembly is blocked by a frame portion of the pump jack.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a novel handle assembly which is spring-biased toward a safety position.
A still further object of the invention is to provide such a handle assembly as may be moved through a short distance in one direction to reach a crank position and which, upon release is adapted to snap back to a safety position.
A still further object of the invention is to provide such a handle assembly having a second safety feature, operable in the aforementioned safety position, which interlocks the rod with a rod mounting to prevent rotation of the rod in the mounting.
Another object is to provide a pump jack with a novel handle assembly for rotating a pole-gripping rod of a shackle assembly, said handle assembly having a locking member that is movable by the handle assembly into interlocking engagement with a portion of the jack, whereby the handle assembly is prevented from rotating said pole-gripping rod.
With the above and other objects in view, as will herewith appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a handle assembly for a pump jack having a shackle including a yoke with opposed side plates rotatably mounting a rod spanning the side plates and engageable with a pump jack pole and for rolling along a surface of the pole during descent of the pump jack along the pole. The handle assembly comprises an extension of the rod extending outwardly from one of the side plates, a free end of the rod extension being spaced from the one side plate. A coil spring is disposed around the rod extension. A sleeve is disposed around the rod extension and around the coil spring, a first end of the sleeve being opposed to the one side plate and a second end of the sleeve facing outwardly from the one side plate. A bar is fixed to the sleeve and extends lengthwise thereof with a free end extending beyond the second end of the sleeve. An arm extends transversely of the rod extension, the rod extension free end being pivotally connected to the arm at a first location proximate a first end of the arm, and the bar free end being pivotally connected to the arm at a second location proximate the first end of the arm and spaced from the first location in a direction toward a free end of the arm. The coil spring urges the arm first end outwardly from the yoke, causing the bar to move inwardly toward the yoke, to urge the sleeve first end toward the yoke. A projection extends outwardly from the one side plate and is engageable by the sleeve first end, the projection and the sleeve first end being configured such that the engagement of the sleeve first end and the projection serves to interlock the sleeve and the projection such that the sleeve is prevented from rotating, and the handle is prevented from rotating, and thereby the rod, such that the rod is fixed and unable to roll along the surface of the pole.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a handle assembly for a pump jack having a shackle including a yoke with opposed side plates rotatably mounting a rod spanning the side plates and engageable with a pump jack pole and for rolling along a surface of the pole during descent of the pump jack along the pole. The handle assembly comprises an extension of the rod extending outwardly from one of the side plates, a free end of the rod extension being spaced from the one side plate. A coil spring is disposed around the rod extension. A sleeve is disposed around the rod extension and around the coil spring, a first end of the sleeve being opposed to the one side plate and a second end of the sleeve facing outwardly from the one side plate. A bar is fixed to the sleeve and extends lengthwise thereof with a free end extending beyond the second end of the sleeve. An arm extends transversely of the rod extension, the rod extension free end being pivotally connected to the arm at a first location proximate a first end of the arm, and the bar free end is pivotally connected to the arm at a second location proximate the first end the arm and spaced from the first location in a direction toward a free end of the arm, and a handle is mounted on the free end of the arm. A spring is operative to pivot the arm about the first and second locations to urge the arm free end, and thereby the handle, in a direction toward the yoke and aligned with a frame member supporting the shackle and which blocks rotational movement of the arm and the handle, and thereby the rod, to further prevent the rod from rolling along the surface of the pole.
In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there is provided a handle assembly for a pump jack having a shackle including a yoke with opposed side plates rotatably mounting a rod spanning the side plates and engageable with a pump jack pole for rolling along a surface of the pole during descent of the pump jack along the pole. The handle assembly comprises an extension of the rod extending outwardly from one of the side plates, a free end of the rod extension being spaced from the one side plate. A coil spring is disposed around the rod extension. A sleeve is disposed around the rod extension and around the coil spring, a first end of the sleeve being opposed to the one side plate and a second end of the sleeve facing outwardly from the one side plate. A bar is fixed to the sleeve and extends lengthwise thereof with a free end extending beyond the second end of the sleeve. An arm extends transversely of the rod extension, the rod extension free end being pivotally connected to the arm at a first location proximate a first end of the arm, and the bar free end being pivotally connected to the arm at a second location proximate the first end of the arm and spaced from the first location in a direction toward a free end of the arm. A handle is mounted on the free end of the arm.
The coil spring urges the arm first end outwardly from the yoke, causing the bar to move inwardly toward the yoke, to urge the sleeve first end toward the yoke. A projection extends outwardly from the one side plate and is engageable by the sleeve first end, the projection and the sleeve first end being configured such that the engagement of the sleeve first end and the projection serves to interlock the sleeve and the projection such that the sleeve is prevented from rotating, and the handle is prevented from rotating, and thereby the rod, such that the rod is fixed and unable to roll along the surface of the pole. The spring is operative to pivot the arm about the first and second locations to urge the arm free end and thereby the handle in a direction toward the yoke and aligned with a frame member supporting the shackle and which blocks rotational movement of the arm and the handle, and thereby the rod, to further prevent the rod from rolling along the surface of the pole.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.