A method providing communication between an MSC and a mobile terminal in a wireless communications system including using the 10 digit MIN identifier for identifying the mobile terminal in all messages requiring a mobile terminal identifier sent from the MSC via a base station to the mobile terminal and using the 15 digit MIN-based IMSI identifier for identifying the mobile terminal in all messages requiring a mobile terminal identifier sent from the mobile terminal via the base station to the MSC. The method can also include deploying the use of 15 digit MIN-based IMSI identifiers in one MSC at a time. The invention also includes a system for providing mobile terminal identification information in a wireless system. The system includes a mobile terminal capable of receiving and responding to messages using a 10 digit MIN for identifying the mobile terminal and sending messages having a MIN-based IMSI identifier for identifying the mobile terminal. The system also includes an MSC capable of receiving and processing messages from the mobile terminal having the MIN-based IMSI identifier and sending messages to the mobile terminal using the 10 digit MIN identifier.

In wireless communications system an identifier is associated with each wireless mobile terminal communicating in the system. The identifier has multiple uses, one use of the identifier is for delivering incoming calls to the wireless mobile terminal, also known as a mobile or a cellular phone. Other uses include, but are not limited to, the registration of the mobile terminal, authentication of the mobile terminal, billing for the mobile terminal, etc. In order to accommodate existing analog and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) mobile terminals, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless communications systems in the United States can use a fixed 10 digit Mobile Identity Number (MIN) as the identifier.
Typically, mobile subscribers have roamed within their country borders. As wireless networks have grown and travel has increased, many subscribers want to take their mobile terminals with them increasing the need to support international roaming. International Roaming can be defined as allowing mobile subscribers to receive services at any international location away from their home system while roaming in a visited country.
To enable international roaming, the identifier in the mobile terminal is used to determine the location of the Home Location Register for the mobile terminal. With the ever increasing number of mobile terminals, 10 digits are not enough to uniquely identify a mobile terminal for use in all wireless communications systems worldwide. Since the 10 digit MIN is not globally unique, it does not allow for international roaming. Country codes have been used to identify the country of origin, however this only results in the reuse of the 10 digit MIN throughout the world further complicating the expansion of wireless communications.
Presently, many wireless communications systems are capable of using up to 15 digits for the mobile terminal identifier in an identification plan known as International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI). Mobile terminals can utilize one or both of two different types of IMSI identifiers as requested by the Mobile Switching Center (MSC).
One IMSI identifier, called MIN-based IMSI, uses a 15 digit identifier consisting of a MIN Escape Code (MEC) as the upper 5 digits and the MIN as the lower 10 digits. For example, every CDMA mobile terminal currently deployed in the United States has an MEC (and MIN) programmed into it. The other IMSI identifier type is called True-IMSI and it does not contain an MEC and thus is distinct from the MIN-based IMSI identifier. Since not all mobile terminals are capable of using a True-IMSI identifier, existing USA wireless communications systems currently utilize only 10 MIN digits as identifiers. In these systems, mobile terminals can use either the 10 digit MIN identifier or the MIN-based IMSI identifier. The MEC is not sent between systems in either case.
As an example, with CDMA systems, in accordance with CDMA air interface standards IS-95 and IS-2000, a wireless communication system can be configured in only one of two distinct ways. One way is for the wireless communication system to require the mobile terminal to send and receive 10 MIN digits as the identifier. The other way is for the mobile terminal to send and receive MIN-based IMSI digits as the identifier. In order to enable mobile terminals to participate in international roaming, it is desirable for wireless systems throughout the world to migrate to using MIN-based IMSI and/or True-IMSI identifiers.
However, a problem exists with using the MIN-based IMSI identifier. Not all mobile terminals are programmed with the correct MEC from the service provider, therefore these mobile terminals cannot be successfully paged using the MIN-based IMSI identifier. There is no network-wide standard mechanism guaranteeing that the mobile terminal would be paged with a MEC matching the MEC that the mobile terminal has been programmed with. This problem has delayed wireless communications systems' migration to the use of MIN-based IMSI identifiers. It is desirable to provide a way to utilize the MIN-based IMSI identifier despite these existing impediments.

System and method of messaging using MIN escape codes


A distance measuring device includes a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal at a distant object, an acoustic signal receiver for receiving a reflected acoustic signal reflected from the distant object, a temperature sensor detecting air temperature, a humidity sensor detecting air humidity, an amplifier amplifying the reflected acoustic signal, a comparator coupled to the amplifier comparing the amplified reflected acoustic signal with a reference and generating a comparator output when the level of the amplified reflected acoustic signal exceeds the reference, a gain controller increasing the gain from transmitting an acoustic signal until the comparator output is generated, a threshold generator providing the reference to the comparator and decreasing the reference at an exponential rate from transmitting the acoustic signal until the comparator output is generated, and a controller determining use of only the air temperature, velocity of the acoustic signal, and distance traveled from transmitting the acoustic signal until the comparator output is generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring distance using acoustic waves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art to determine the distance between a location and an object from the time (t) taken for an acoustic wave generated at the location to be reflected from the object and return to the location. If the velocity (v) of the acoustic wave is known then the distance (s) from the location to the object can be calculated using the equation s=v×t. This equation is idealistic. In practice, propagation of the acoustic wave is effected by temperature and humidity of the air through which it travels. Typically a 10 degrees Celsius (degC) change in temperature results in 2 percent change in velocity which translates into a 2 percent error in distance measurement. Therefore, there is a need to compensate the affects of temperature and humidity.
A device for determining distance using sound waves is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,738, but the device ignores the effects of temperature and humidity on acoustic wave propagation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,726 discloses an ultrasonic distance measuring device that compensates for variation of propagation characteristic of the ultrasonic wave. However, it compensates for the effect of temperature and humidity on the attenuation of wave propagation in the air and not the temperature dependency of sound velocity, which also significantly affects the accuracy of distance measurement.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,717 discloses a distance measuring device in which a charging circuit for a timing capacitor has two temperature dependent diodes. The diodes compensate for the effect of temperature on velocity of the sound wave. However, there would be difficulty in selecting and matching diodes with suitable accuracy. Furthermore, temperature change may not be as simple as a step change, and complicated temperature changes may give an imprecise result of temperature estimation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,592 discloses a distance meter that cancels out the effects of temperature and humidity variations by including a measuring unit and a reference unit having a known distance. However, a practical actualization of the idea in measuring a physical distance up to 20 meters with a portable device is virtually infeasible.

Distance measuring device for acoustically measuring distance


A building structure includes an upper chord element, a lower chord element and web elements extending between the upper chord element and the lower chord element. The upper chord element forms part of an outer surface of a roof for the building structure.

Pre-engineered metal buildings often serve as a cost effective solution for both commercial and residential applications. Traditionally, such buildings or structures employ thin metal panels for both the wall and roofing constructions. The thin metal panels are usually preferable because they can be readily fabricated at relatively low cost. Integrity of these static structures is frequently the most pressing engineering concern. As such, static structures or buildings employing these thin metal panels and spanning more than about 50 feet in width are provided with intermediate support columns or beams dividing the overall span of the structures into discrete sections that can be more soundly supported. While the support columns are preferable for engineering concerns, they are often unsightly and can cause space concerns for consumers (for example, in aircraft hangers).


A cutting device cuts one or more downhole control lines such that the cut ends of the one or more control lines will not interfere with subsequent fishing operations. The cutting device comprises a mandrel, a cutting sleeve and a housing supported on a tubing. Movement of the tubing induces relative motion of the cutting sleeve to cut the one or more control lines.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of cutting tools, particularly to a device and method to cut a control line downhole in a well.
2. Related Art
With the advent of intelligent completions, running multiple control lines downhole along completions equipment is common practice. Unfortunate occurrences sometimes require cutting the downhole tubing to retrieve the completion equipment. In those cases, the control lines can complicate the retrieval operations if the control lines are pulled apart above the tubing cut. Ideally, the control lines are cut below the tubing cut to recover as much of the control lines as possible and leave a clean "fish" downhole.
Prior systems use a "splice sub" in which the control lines are anchored above and below the tubing cutting target length. A tubing cutter such as an Explosive Jet Cutter (EJC) is run to target depth and detonated to cut the tubing. Excess impact from the EJC at least partially cuts the control lines. When the tubing is removed, the control lines, if not completed severed, break at the damaged area, leaving the remaining control line portions in the vicinity of the remaining tubing. The remaining tubing is more easily "fished" if it is clear of control line remnants.

Cutting tool and method of cutting an object in a well


An operational amplifier having a first amplification stage with an input terminal to receive a signal to be amplified, and a first output terminal, and a second amplification stage having a first input terminal connected to the first output terminal, and an output terminal to provide the amplified signal. The first and second amplification stages define, between the input terminal and the output terminal, a signal transfer function having first and second poles. The amplifier further includes a decoupling stage having a further input terminal connected to the first stage input terminal, and a further output terminal connected to the second stage output terminal. The decoupling stage is so arranged as to introduce at least one zero in the operational amplifier transfer function.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure pertains to an amplification electronic device and, more particularly, to an operational amplifier of the transconductance type that includes two amplification stages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to achieve a reduction of power consumption in telecommunications equipment and systems, for example, for wireless applications, there is a tendency to reduce the supply voltage of the electronic circuits that are employed in such systems. Due to the development of improved technological processes, it is now possible for digital and analog circuit systems to operate at a supply voltage of about 1.2 V.
Particularly, for applications relating to time-sampled analog networks operating at frequencies of tens to hundreds MHz, such supply voltage of the circuits imposes to implement and employ specific operational amplifiers that are capable of ensuring suitable performances for the above-mentioned applications, particularly with reference to the frequency response of such amplifiers and to the dynamics of the output signal. At the same time, such amplifiers have to ensure a low current consumption.
An operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) of known type currently employed in circuits of time-sampled analog networks, for example, at the supply voltage of 1.2 V, is the Miller amplifier. Such amplifier includes two amplification stages; therefore, it ensures a suitable voltage gain for most applications.
However, the Miller amplifier is not free from drawbacks. In fact, as it is known, the frequency response of such operational amplifier is determined by the presence of two poles corresponding to high impedance nodes of the same amplifier. Particularly, each pole is associated with a high impedance node relative to each of the amplification stages. In order to ensure the stability of such Miller amplifier, it is known to provide for a compensation capacity between the above-mentioned high impedance nodes. The introduction of such capacity allows obtaining the pole splitting effect, which is known to those skilled in the art, wherein it causes the reduction of the characteristic frequency of one of the poles, or fundamental pole, of the operational, and the increase of the second pole characteristic frequency.
In more detail, as it is known to those skilled in the art, following to compensation, the frequency response of the open loop operational amplifier is characterized by a transition frequency FT, equal to:
      F    T    =            gm      1              2            π                                              C                  C                                                              1                    where CC1 is the compensation capacitance of the amplifier, and gm1 is the transconductance of the transistors of the first amplification stage. The frequency of the second pole F2 is about:
      F    2    ≅                    gm        2                    2                π                                                            C          L                                3      4      where CL is the loading capacitance of the amplifier, and gm2 is the transconductance of the transistors of the second amplification stage.
As it is known, in order to ensure the stability of the Miller amplifier, the condition has to be true that:
                                          F            T                    ≤                      3                                      F              2                                      ⇒                                            gm              2                                      gm              1                                ≥                      4                                                      C                L                                            C                                  C                                                                                1                                                                                (                  1                    a                )
Therefore, the transition frequency FT is limited by the second pole frequency F2.
Since the whole amplifier bandwidth is determined by the open-loop transition frequency of the response, in order to obtain a suitable band, particularly for wireless applications, it is necessary to increase the gm1 and gm2 values and, consequently, also to increase the current consumption.

Operational transconductance amplifier having two amplification stages


A bit for removing damaged screws includes: a shaft portion and a head portion connected to the shaft portion. The head portion includes a tip section, a threaded conical section, and scraping portions extending continuously from the tip section to the threaded conical section. The scraping portions are able to perform continuous and non-stopping scraping operation toward the damaged screw. The scraping portions on the threaded conical section can scrape out a space big enough to allow passage of the threaded conical section, thus reducing resistance when the threaded conical section performs scraping and cutting operation. The threaded conical section can be guided to bite into and unscrew out the damaged screw, right after the scraping operation is performed by the tip section, so that the scraping and unscrewing operation can be performed more smoothly.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool for removing damaged fasteners, and more particularly to a bit for removing damaged screws.
Description of the Prior Art
Screws are widely used fasteners with a driving groove, via which, the screws can be rotated by a screwdriver. However, the driving groove of the screws may be damaged due to many reasons, for example, user's overexertion during rotation, screwdriver doesn't fit the size or shape of the driving groove. Once the driving groove is broken or damaged, the screw can not be rotated by an ordinary screwdriver anymore, and can only be removed by a professional bit which is particularly designed to remove damage screws.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional bit 10 for removing a damaged screw A, wherein the bit 10 includes a head portion 11 and a shaft portion 12. The head portion 11 is sequentially provided with a front end section 111, a shrinking neck section 112 and a reversely threaded section 113. The front end section 111 is provided with two scraping edge 114. The shrinking neck section 112 is located between the front end section 111 and the reversely threaded section 113. The diameter of both ends of the shrinking neck section 112 is smaller than that of the front end section 111 and the diameter of the connection between the reversely threaded section 113 and the shrinking neck section 112, so that the front end section 111, the shrinking neck section 112 and the reversely threaded section 113 define a recess 115. The reversely threaded section 113 is connected to the shaft portion 12, and the thread of the reversely threaded section 113 is a reversely thread with respect to the thread of the damaged screw A, namely the reversely threaded section 113 rotates in a reverse direction with respect to the thread of the damaged screw A. The bit 10 can use the scraping edges 114 to dig into the driving groove A1 of the damaged screw A, then the bit 10 keeps rotating to make the reversely threaded section 113 bite into and unscrew the damaged screw A.
This bit 10 is able to remove the damaged screw A. When the bit 10 rotates, the two scraping edges 114 firstly cut into the damaged driving groove A1 (namely, the scraping edges 114 are mainly responsible for scraping operation), then the reversely threaded section 113 bits into the driving groove A1 which has been scraped, and the reversely threaded section 113 is responsible for screwing into and driving the bit to move forward. Due to the fact that the scrapping edges 114 are separated from the reversely threaded section 113 by the shrinking neck section 112, the two scraping edges 114 only extend to he shrinking neck section 112, and the reversely threaded section 113 is located behind the shrinking neck section 112, the scraping operation performed by the scrapping edges 114 will stop before the shrinking neck section 112, and the cutting operation performed by the reversely threaded section 113 starts only after the shrinking neck section 112. Therefore, the shrinking neck section 112 becomes an idle rotation section or period (during which no scraping operation is performed) when the bit 10 is screwing in the damaged screw A, as a result, the reversely threaded section 113 will bear extremely large resistance.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


The current invention relates to a natural composition for topical application to skin to alleviate post-menstrual symptoms of cramping, backache, and breast tenderness; and for other aches and pains including Rheumatic, muscular and articular pains; and local treatment such as tendinitises, tennis elbow, benign distorsions, arthritis, osteoarthritis, neuralgia, sciatic nerve, lumbago, back pains, migraine, stiff neck, and insect bites. In one embodiment, the composition of the cream or lotion includes active natural ingredients of Carapa procera and Calotropis procera with shea butter and soy oil. In one embodiment the composition includes, by weight percent, 30% to 80% Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter); 10% to 30% Glycine poja (soy); 10% to 30% Carapa procera; 3% to 10% Calotropis procera; and 3% to 10% Menthol.

1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates to a natural composition for topical application to skin to alleviate post-menstrual symptoms of cramping, backache, and breast tenderness.
2. Prior Art
Prior art topical compositions have been used for the treatment of sports injuries and for massage therapy.
There is a need for products and product delivery methods which effectively address PMS discomfort.
The current invention addresses that need, by providing a natural composition which is effective for alleviating post-menstrual symptoms of cramping, backache, and breast tenderness.

Product and composition for alleviating post-menstrual symptoms


This invention relates to a process for the purification of a crude liquid N-vinylpyrrolidone product which comprises (I) product rectification by (a) subjecting said crude product containing at least 0.3 weight % of impurities to a temperature of between about 1.degree. and 5.degree. below the freezing point of said crude liquid to form a vinyl pyrrolidone crystalline phase and a liquid residue phase in a first crystallization step; (b) separating said liquid phase from said crystalline phase; (c) allowing said separated crystalline phase to warm gradually so as to liquify said crystals and (d) subjecting the liquified crystals of vinyl pyrrolidone to between 1 and 3 additional crystallization steps, each carried out by gradually cooling the liquified vinyl pyrrolidone to a temperature above that of the preceding crystallization step up to a temperature of 14.4.degree. C. so as to form additional vinyl pyrrolidone crystalline and liquid residue phases with separation of vinyl pyrrolidone crystals and liquid residue phases and liquification of vinyl pyrrolidone crystals between each additional recrystallization step, recovery of N-vinyl-pyrrolidone product from the final crystallization step and (II) collecting said separated liquid residues from each crystallization step and subjecting them, sequentially, individually or collectively, to fractional crystallization in order to recover additional amounts of purified vinyl pyrrolidone product. The present process is capable of achieving up to 99.999% purity of vinyl pyrrolidone in about 98% recovery.

Homopolymerized vinyl pyrrolidone has many uses in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic arts as well as in the field of copolymerization and crosslinking with various monomers for clarification of beverages. Vinyl pyrrolidone monomer, prepared by reacting acetylene with pyrrolidone or by reaction with ammonia and formaldehyde, results in a product containing from about 8 to about 0.5% impurities which are objectionable for many purposes including beverage clarification or pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. The current process for the preparation of vinyl pyrrolidone involves the vinylation of pyrrolidone with acetylene in the presence of a salt catalyst as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,336. This process achieves a product in about 98 to 99.7% purity after recovery of product by fractional distillation. However, objectionable color and odor forming impurities, as well as polymer forming impurities, such as unreacted pyrrolidone, butene, butyne, butadiene and amine derivatives remain after distillation. These impurities in amounts above 0.5% are considered unsuitable for the above purposes; thus, product distillation is inadequate to meet the high purity requirements demanded in certain fields of application, particularly for the use of vinyl pyrrolidone polymers in medicine as plasma extenders and for cosmetics in hair fixation and other hair and skin treating applications. Requirements for beverage clarifiers are even more stringent, demanding less than a few parts per million of any taste or color altering contaminant.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to produce vinyl pyrrolidone in a purity of from about 99.95% to 100% by an economical and commercially feasible process.
A second object of this invention is to produce vinyl pyrrolidone in a high state of purity by a process which avoids the use of extraneous ionic chemicals as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,817.
These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and disclosure.

Process for the production of pure vinyl pyrrolidone


A system comprising a memory device having a plurality of routines stored therein, a processor configured to execute the plurality of routines stored in the memory device, the plurality of routines comprising: a routine configured to effect, when executed, accessing of patient deviation scores indicative of differences between patient data and reference data representative of a population segment, wherein the patient deviation scores are derived from longitudinal data of the patient data such that the patient deviation scores include a plurality of sets of patient deviation scores, each set indicative of differences between patient data collected at a respective point in time and the reference data; a routine configured to effect, when executed, identifying a trend in the patient deviation scores for at least one clinical parameter; a routine configured to effect, when executed, generating of a report including a visual indication of the trend; and a routine configured to effect, when executed, outputting of the report. The report includes one or more views including Z, T, D, DT, and D feedback on T views, using image and non-image data.

The present disclosure relates generally to detecting and monitoring trends in data and, more particularly in some embodiments, to the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions from patient deviation data. The present invention relates generally to medical diagnosis and, more particularly, to the diagnosis of medical conditions from patient deviation data.
One type of medical condition or disease that is of interest to the medical community is neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Alzheimer's disease currently afflicts tens of millions of people worldwide, and accounts for a majority of dementia cases in patients. Further, there is not, as of yet, any known cure. The economic and social costs associated with Alzheimer's disease are significant, and are increasing over time.
However, NDDs may be challenging to treat and/or study because they are both difficult to detect at an early stage, and hard to quantify in a standardized manner for comparison across different patient populations. In response to these difficulties, investigators have developed methods to determine statistical deviations from normal patient populations. For example, one element of the detection of NDDs is the development of age and tracer segregated normal databases. Comparison to these normals can only happen in a standardized domain, e.g., the Talairach domain or the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) domain. The MNI defines a standard brain by using a large series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on normal controls. The Talairach domain references a brain that is dissected and photographed for the Talairach and Tournoux atlases. In both the Talairach domain and the MNI domain, data must be mapped to the respective standard domain using registration techniques. Current methods that use a variation of the above method include tracers NeuroQ®, Statistical Parametric matching (SPM), 3D-sterotactic surface projections (3D-SSP), and so forth.
Once a comparison has been made, an image representing a statistical deviation of the anatomy is displayed, allowing a viewer to make a diagnosis based on the image. Making such a diagnosis is a very specialized task and is typically performed by highly-trained medical image experts. However, even such experts can only make a subjective call as to the degree of severity of the disease. Due to this inherent subjectivity, the diagnoses tend to be inconsistent and non-standardized.
Additionally, in numerous medical contexts including but not limited to NDD detection, analysis and reporting of results often takes place in separate informational "silos" that are distinct from one another. For instance, PET & MR exams are read and interpreted by an imaging expert, while blood and cerebro-spinal fluid results are read and interpreted by a laboratory physician. Consequently, in many such instances any diagnosis made by the imaging expert or the laboratory physician may be based on only a portion of relevant patient information available.

System and method for integrated quantifiable detection, diagnosis and monitoring of disease using patient related time trend data


In systems and methods, a print server receives an original print job in an originated format that is associated with a user through a network. The print server identifies potentially used printers that can be utilized to print the original print job based on a current physical location of a mobile wireless device associated with the user. The print server converts the original print job from the originated format into printing formats used by the potentially used printers to generate print-ready print jobs. The print server is adapted to send the print-ready print jobs to the potentially used printers through the network when the print-ready print jobs are created. A selected printer of the potentially used printers receives an instruction to print the original print job and the selected printer prints a received one of the print-ready print jobs when the selected printer receives the instruction to print.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to remote printing and to print servers providing print-ready jobs to printers.
Traditionally, printers were physically connected to computerized devices using dedicated printer cables, which required the user to directly man the computer and printer when performing printing operations. More advanced systems utilize print queues that allow a user to upload print jobs from their computer to a print server and utilize a printer that is not directly connected to their computer through a cable, so long as the printer has access to the print server and can download the print job.
Mobile printing takes these concepts a step further and allows the print server to be a virtual machine within a cloud or computer network. This potentially allows the user or another individual to upload an original print job (by email, through websites, etc.) to the print server from any device at any geographic location, including their computer, their mobile wireless device, etc. The user is often supplied an access code that must be provided to the printer in order for the printer to perform the printing, and this access code secures the print job from unauthorized access. With this, no matter where the user finds themselves, so long as they can locate a printer that has a connection to the print server, they can retrieve and print the print job.
More specifically, when performing this type of mobile printing, the user instructs a network-connected printer (either using the printer interface or controlling the printer through an app on their mobile wireless device) to print a previously uploaded print job. In response, the printer makes a request to the print server to generate a print-ready file that the printer can use to print the print job. Note that because different printers operate under different protocols, each different brand or type of printer may require a different print-ready file to print the same original print job. It can take some time for the print server to prepare the print-ready file and for the print-ready file to be downloaded to the printer, and these delays can lead to user dissatisfaction.

Print server providing print-ready jobs to printers in anticipation of user printer selection


A etchant recipe including a mixed gas of one of a CH.sub.x F.sub.y group and CO gas is used to etch a silicon nitride layer by plasma etching so as to form a thin polymer layer to protect a silicon layer under the silicon nitride layer from over-etching. Then a soft etching is performed to remove the thin polymer. The etchant recipe is, for example, used in forming a contact opening on a gate of a MOS transistor, on which a silicon nitride layer is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of removing a silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) material, and more particularly to a method with an etchant recipe to remove a silicon nitride layer within a contact opening on a gate, in which the silicon nitride layer is used as a cap on the gate of a transistor.
2. Description of Related Art
Silicon nitride is a typical dielectric material widely used in semiconductor fabrication because it has a high density and strong hardness. Due its high density, silicon nitride can resist water vapor and alkaline ions, so it is commonly used to form a mask layer in a local oxidation process to pattern out a region such as an active region. It is also used to form a passivation layer to prevent mechanical damage or an oxidation on device elements from occurring. Furthermore, silicon nitride can also be used to form a side-wall and a cap on a gate of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor.
A silicon nitride layer is usually formed by either a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process or a plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) process. The LPCVD process is performed by making use of a reaction between dichlorosilane (SiH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2) gas and ammonium (NH.sub.3) gas to produce silicon nitride vapor, which is then deposited. The required conditions of the reaction environment are a temperature of about 700-800.degree. C. and a pressure of about 0.1-1 torr. Since the temperature needed for LPCVD is too high, the device elements may be damaged. An alternative process is PECVD, which needs a lower temperature of about 250-400.degree. C. because the reaction gas is SiH.sub.4 gas instead of SiH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 gas. The PECVD also produces a lower tensile stress so that it allows a formation of a thicker silicon nitride layer.
Even though silicon nitride can be used to cover device elements such as a cap and a side-wall on the gate of the MOS transistor mentioned above, it makes it difficult to form a contact opening on it by etching through the silicon nitride layer. It is especially difficult to form a contact opening in a peripheral region in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) fabrication process, in which the distance between interconnect lines is as small as about 0.25 microns.
FIGS. 1A-1C are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a conventional fabrication flow of a contact opening on a MOS transistor in a peripheral region of a semiconductor substrate. In FIG. 1A, a,MOS transistor with a gate 102 and two interchangeable source/drain regions 103 are formed in a peripheral region 105 on a semiconductor substrate 100. There is a side-wall 104 on each side of the gate 102 and a cap 106 on the top of the gate 102. Both the side-wall 104 and the cap 106 are made of, for example, silicon nitride. Since formation of a DRAM in a DRAM fabrication region (not shown) needs several depositions of oxide, an oxide layer 108 with a great thickness is accumulatively deposited over the substrate 100 in the peripheral region 105 of the DRAM fabrication region. In FIG. 2B, an etching process is performed to form a trench 114 to expose the cap 106 on the gate 102, in which process the etchant is a mixed plasma gas of C.sub.4 F.sub.8 /CO/Ar/O.sub.2.
In FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, a plasma etching is subsequently performed to etch out the cap 106 within the trench 114 to form a contact opening 112, which exposes the gate 102. The plasma ion gas for this PECVD process is, for example, CF.sub.4, CHF.sub.3, or any other gas containing fluorine.
The conventional method of removing silicon nitride, using a single recipe of fluoric gas as etchant, has a very poor effect. This is because of a poor etching selectivity. During plasma etching, the nitrogen atoms in the cap 106 and the silicon atoms in substrate 100 can form Si--N bonds, which have a strength between that of Si--O bonds and Si--Si bonds. If a single fluoric plasma gas, such as CF.sub.4 or fluoroform CHF.sub.3, is used as the etchant, the etching selectivity is poor. For example, the CHF.sub.3 etchant has an etching selectivity of about 10 or more for silicon oxide to silicon but about 3 to 5 for silicon nitride to silicon, and about 2 to 4 for silicon nitride to silicon oxide. When the contact opening 116 is formed by etching, the opening bottom 116, which is the top of gate 102 and is usually made of polysilicon, is also etched a little. This causes an increase of contact impedance on the gate 102.

Method for removing silicon nitride material


An optical module (100) includes a lens barrel (10), a lens (201), a filter (40), and a groove (105). The lens is engagingly received in the lens barrel. The filter is engagingly received in the lens barrel with an adhesive. The groove is defined in the lens barrel. The groove is adjacent to an outer periphery of the filter to receive the adhesive so as to prevent it from infiltrating into the lens.

Currently, digital camera modules are included as a feature in a wide variety of portable electronic devices and, of course, in stand-alone digital camera units. Most portable electronic devices are becoming progressively more miniaturized over time, and digital camera modules are correspondingly becoming smaller and smaller. Nevertheless, in spite of the small size of a contemporary digital camera module, consumers still demand excellent imaging.
Optical modules used for digital camera modules typically include a barrel, a lens module, a spacer, and a filter. The lens module and the spacer are received in the barrel. The filter is fixedly mounted in the barrel by using, for example, an adhesive, thereby preventing the lens module and the filter from falling out of the barrel. When the adhesive used to adhere the filter to the barrel is dilute, it can seep into the lens module via capillary action, thus impairing imaging quality of the optical module.
Therefore, a new optical module is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.


An apparatus (10) for imparting tension to strands of an endless power transferring member loop (12) encircling a drive sprocket (14) and at least one driven sprocket (16 a, 16b). Two tensioning arms (38a, 18b) are spaced apart and have guided movement relative to at least one fixed pin (26) with a tension driver (5) operably engaged with one of the tensioning arms (18a, 18b) for driving both tensioning arms (18a, 18b) in motion acting through a rotatable, motion transfer body (34) located generally centrally with respect to the endless loop power transferring member (12) for connection to corresponding motion transfer locations (30a, 30b) associated with the pair of tensioning arms (18a, 18b), either directly or indirectly. A link assembly (60) can connect first ends (40a, 40b) to the motion transfer body (34) and second locations (42a, 42b) to corresponding opposite ends of the two spaced apart tensioning arms (38a, 18b).

Chain tensioners in engines are used to control the power transmission chains as the chain travels around a plurality of sprockets. The slack of the chain varies as the temperature in an engine increases and as the chain wears. When a chain wears, the chain elongates and the slack in the chain increases. The increase in slack may cause noise, slippage, or tooth jumping between the chain and the sprocket teeth. If the increase of the slack of the chain is not taken up, by a tensioner for example, in an engine with a chain driven camshaft, the engine may be damaged because the camshaft timing is misaligned by several degrees due to slippage or tooth jumping.
Various configurations for closed loop chain tensioner systems are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,955,621; 6,849,015; 6,358,169; 6,322,470; US Published Application No. 2009/0325750; and US Published Application No. 2009/0325749. While each of these configurations is satisfactory for performing its intended function, several of these configurations provide restricted space and location sites for the tensioner driver. It would be desirable to provide a tensioning system that overcomes these limitations, and that provides additional benefits as described below.

Tensioning mechanism for a continuous belt or chain drive system


An internal part of an airbag is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber by first and second inner panels. Each of outer peripheral edge portions of the inner panels is stitched by a tear seam. Overhanging portions protrude from outer peripheries of each of the first and second inner panels, and each of the overhanging portions is stitched by a seam. The thickness of the airbag is relatively small by a continuum of the first inner panel and the second inner panel until the internal pressure of the first chamber reaches a predetermined pressure. At the predetermined pressure, the tear seam is broken, and each of the first and second inner panels is separated resulting in an increase in the thickness of the airbag. The airbag sufficiently absorbs the impact of the occupant, and does so in a relatively soft manner.

The present invention relates to an airbag and an airbag apparatus for protecting a human body in an emergency of a car crash or the like by means of expansion, and more particularly and preferably relates to the airbag and the airbag apparatus provided in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
In an emergency of a car crash or the like, various kinds of airbag apparatuses, such as that for use in a driver's seat or the like, are employed so as to protect an occupant. The airbag apparatus for use in the driver's seat is provided with an airbag formed by stitching up peripheral portions of a front panel at an occupant side and a rear panel at an opposite side together. An opening for engaging an inflator to receive a tip end side of the inflator is provided at a center of the rear panel. A periphery of the opening is attached to a retainer by means of a bolt, a pin, and a rivet or the like. In the rear panel, a venthole is provided for absorbing an impact caused by the occupant seated on the driver's seat when hitting the airbag, by discharging gas in the airbag.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 1-311930 and 1-81191, an airbag in which an inner panel (called "inside gas bag" in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-311930) is provided in a manner so as to hang across an opening for an inflator in a rear panel, and a front panel, and in which space in the airbag is partitioned into a first chamber at a center and a second chamber surrounding the first chamber, is described. A continuous opening that allows the first chamber to communicate with the second chamber is provided in the inside gasbag. When the inflator is activated, the first chamber is expanded first, and the second chamber is then expanded in a serial manner.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag whose internal portion is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber by means of an inner panel being connected to a front panel of the airbag so that the second chamber of the airbag to be promptly expanded at a time when the airbag is expanded.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the associated drawings.


The present invention is to provide a method for measuring an amount of cholesterol in low density lipoproteins (LDL-cholesterol) in a sample specifically at high accuracy and a reagent used in this method, and the present invention can attain such effect that direct measuring an amount of LDL-cholesterol by widely used automatic analyzers can be conducted by using the invention, which has not been possible after known methods.

The present invention relates to a method and a reagent for measuring an amount of cholesterol in low density lipoproteins (hereinafter abbreviated as LDL) which is present in a living sample such as plasma and serum.
A lipid in plasma comprises mainly cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, etc. and those plasma lipid is combined with apoprotein to form lipoproteins which is circulated in blood. The lipoproteins are classified, according to their density, into high density lipoproteins (HDL), LDL, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons (CM), etc. Among those lipoproteins, HDL has an action of transporting excess cholesterol stored in tissues to a liver, and thus has an action of preventing an arteriosclerosis, and on the other hand, LDL takes role as a main transporter for cholesterol from a liver to tissues and thus increase of LDL is considered as having close relation with arteriosclerosis.
Therefore, cholesterol in LDL (hereinafter abbreviated as LDL-cholesterol) has been considered to be a risk factor of arteriosclerosis and ischemic cardiopathy (coronary disease) and an amount of cholesterol in LDL is an important factor for diagnosis, remedy and prevention of those diseases.
As methods for measuring an amount of LDL-cholesterol, there have been known a precipitation method, an ultra-centrifugation method, an electrophoresis method, a calculation method based on a calculation equation, etc. Among those known methods, a precipitation method, an ultra-centrifugation method and an electrophoresis method require a pre-treating process for separation of LDL from other unnecessary lipoproteins by a precipitation/centrifugation treatment, an ultra-centrifugation treatment or an electrophoresis treatment, and thus they are accompanied with such problems that troublesome handling is required and it is not possible to conduct direct measurement with the use only of automatic analyzers which have widely been used in clinical tests at present.
Further a calculating method for calculating it from the total cholesterol amount, HDL-cholesterol amount and triglyceride amount, which has been known as Friedewald equation, has such problem that accurate measurement of an amount of LDL-cholesterol cannot be achieved when a sample containing triglyceride in an amount 500 mg/dl or more is used.
Recently, various methods have been developed in order to solve such problems as mentioned above in the known methods. For instance, a method disclosed in JP-A7-280812 (Japanese Patent Publication-Kokai-) is one example thereof. Namely, this method comprises agglutinating LDL with the use of an agglutinating agent and/or an antibody, introducing cholesterol in lipoproteins other than LDL into a separate reaction system which is not involved in the desired quantitative reaction, wherein cholesterol in lipoproteins other than LDL is consumed, then dissolving the agglutinated LDL with the use of a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to such extent that quantitative analysis can be conducted, and finally subjecting LDL-cholesterol to quantitative analysis reaction and measuring an absorbance of the reaction solution.
However, this method is accompanied with such problem that it requires 3 or 4 kinds of reagents and thus can be applied only a limited kind of automatic analyzers which can conduct measurement with the use of 3 or 4 kinds of reagents, cannot be applied an automatic analyzers which can conduct only measurement with the use of reagents to the number of two. Further, there is such a problem in this method that reproducibility of measurement is decreased because of using 3 or 4 kinds of reagents.
Additionally, there has been such a method as conducting measurement without troublesome pre-treatment, which is disclosed in JP-A 58-165800 (Japanese Patent Publication-Kokai-). However, in this method, usable concentration range of a cholesterol esterase and a surfactant in the reagent is rather limited, and thus preparation of the reagent requires troublesome procedures, and further measuring conditions such as pH and intervals of measurement time have to be adjusted strictly, and in addition, only kinetic measurement of LDL-cholesterol, namely measurement by rate-assay method, can be conducted, because cholesterol also in HDL is involved in the reaction to some extent. For these reasons, this method is not said as practical.
Under the circumstances mentioned above, the problems to be dissolved by the present invention is to provide a method for measuring an amount of LDL-cholesterol in living samples directly with the use of widely used automatic analyzers without conducting troublesome pre-treatment for separation of LDL from unnecessary lipoproteins other than LDL which has been required in the known methods and also to provide a reagent usable in this method.

Method for measuring an amount of LDL-Cholesterol


An undergarment for separating the testicles from the penis when worn. The inventive device includes a main garment member having a top waist opening, and a pair of spaced apart leg openings. The main garment member has a genital opening located at the front of the main garment member. A cover panel having an outer opening is coupled to the main garment member. The cover panel is positioned on the front of the main garment member such that the cover member covers the genital opening of the main garment member. The cover panel and the front of the main garment member defining a genital space between them. The cover panel also has a pair elongate ducts extending along them with each the duct having opposite upper and lower openings. A testicle pouch having an upper opening and draw string is disposed in the genital space, with each end of the draw string of the testicle pouch extending through one of the ducts of the cover panel from the lower openings of the ducts and out through the upper opening of their associated duct.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to undergarments for males and more particularly pertains to a new undergarment for separating the testicles from the penis when worn.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of undergarments for males is known in the prior art. More specifically, undergarments for males 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 undergarments for males include U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,869; U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,419; U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,630; U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,807; PCT Patent No. WO 96/03895 (Inventor: Nakamura); and PCT Patent No. WO 94/24973.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new undergarment. The inventive device includes a main garment member having a top waist opening, and a pair of spaced apart leg openings. The main garment member has a genital opening located at the front of the main garment member. A cover panel having an outer opening is coupled to the main garment member. The cover panel is positioned on the front of the main garment member such that the cover member covers the genital opening of the main garment member. The cover panel and the front of the main garment member defining a genital space between them. The cover panel also has a pair elongate ducts extending along them with each the duct having opposite upper and lower openings. A testicle pouch having an upper opening and draw string is disposed in the genital space, with each end of the draw string of the testicle pouch extending through one of the ducts of the cover panel from the lower openings of the ducts and out through the upper opening of their associated duct.
In these respects, the undergarment 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 separating the testicles from the penis when worn.

Undergarment with a testicle pouch and genital space


An instrument includes a flexible shaft portion and a hook portion. The flexible shaft portion has a proximal end and a distal end and includes markings along an outer surface of the shaft portion. The hook portion is located at the distal end of the shaft portion. The shaft portion and the hook portion define a lumen that terminates in an opening at the hook portion.

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that has ruptured and is non-repairable is generally replaced arthroscopically by a tissue graft. The tissue graft can be harvested from a portion of a patellar tendon having so called "bone blocks" at each end, and from the semitendonosis and gracilis. Alternatively, the tissue graft can be formed from synthetic materials or from a combination of synthetic and natural materials. The replacement tissue graft is implanted by securing one end of the tissue graft in a socket formed in a passage within the femur, and passing the other end of the graft through a passage formed in the tibia.


A redundant bus bridge system for communicating between a first bus and a second bus includes a first clock generator operative to produce a first clock signal and a second clock generator operative to produce a second clock signal. A first bus bridge, e.g., a first RAID controller, connects the first bus and the second bus and is responsive to the first clock generator and the second clock generator. The first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal. A second bus bridge, e.g., a second RAID controller, connects the first bus and the second bus and is responsive to the first clock generator and the second clock generator. The second bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with a selected one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal. According to aspects of the present invention, the first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with the second clock signal when the second bus bridge is operational, and the first bus bridge is operative to transfer data between the first bus and the second bus in synchronism with the first clock signal when the second bus bridge is non-operational.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data communications systems and methods, and more particularly, to bus bridge systems and methods.
2. Statement of the Problem
High-bandwidth busses are typically used to communicate between hosts and peripherals in applications such as computer networks. The bus interfaces used by hosts and peripherals often take different forms depending on the performance characteristics desired. For example, host devices may communicate via a differential or single-ended Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) or a Fibre Channel (FC) interface, while a peripheral such as a disk array may utilize a SCSI or other bus interface. When hosts and peripherals use disparate bus architectures, bus bridges are often utilized to provide connectivity.
Bus bridges may also be used to increase the capacity of bus systems. Bus specifications often limit, among other things, the length of the bus and the number of devices that may be attached to the bus in order to maintain performance. For example, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus specification commonly employed in personal computer bus applications has detailed rules for round trip propagation delay and capacitive loading which help maintain the integrity of communications at specified bus clock rates. In order to increase the capacity of such a bus, an expanded multi-layer bus structure may be used that includes a plurality of busses connected by high-speed bus bridges. This multi-layer structure can allow an increased number of devices to be interconnected while maintaining bus performance.
Complex computer systems and networks may employ multiple hosts connected to peripherals such as mass storage devices. These devices often are connected to the hosts by multiple busses and bus bridges. Consequently, data stored on these mass storage systems may be temporarily inaccessible due to a bus bridge failure, an event that can incur significant down time costs. In addition, systems that utilize bridges with storage elements, such as caches used in for Redundant Array of Independent Disk (RAID) systems that implement data striping or mirroring across multiple disks or other storage media, may be subject to data loss or corruption if the coherence of the cache is lost due to a bridge failure. Accordingly, it is desirable to increase the reliability of bus bridges to help reduce the likelihood of information loss.

Redundant bus bridge systems and methods using selectively synchronized clock signals


A patient's lesion is localized for the purpose of administering radiation treatment by obtaining a beam shape representation along one or more beam directions of a radiation treatment device. An image corresponding to the lesion is obtained from each beam direction, and the beam shape and image are fixed to a common coordinate system to facilitate alignment.

Radiation-emitting devices are used for the treatment of cancerous tumors within patients. The primary goal of treating cancerous tumors with radiation therapy is the complete eradication of the cancerous cells, while the secondary goal is to avoid, to the maximum possible extent, damaging healthy tissue and organs in the vicinity of the tumor. Typically, a radiation therapy device includes a gantry that can be rotated around a horizontal axis of rotation during the delivery of a therapeutic treatment. A particle linear accelerator ("LINAC") is located within the gantry, and generates a high-energy radiation beam of therapy, such as an electron beam or photon (x-ray) beam. The patient is placed on a treatment table located at the isocenter of the gantry, and the radiation beam is directed towards the tumor or lesion to be treated.
Radiation therapy typically involves a planning stage and a treatment stage. In the planning stage, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner (or similar device) is used to acquire images of a lesion. These images are used to accurately measure the location, size, contour, and number of lesions to be treated in order to establish an isocenter, a dose distribution, and various irradiation parameters in an attempt to irradiate the lesion while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The advent of 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has improved the ability to minimize this damage. 3DCRT and IMRT use multiple, intersecting, shaped radiation beams, each of which geometrically conforms to the shape of a tumor from the view point of the origin of the radiation beam (the "beam's eye view," or "BEV"). Various types of devices are used to conform the shape of the radiation treatment beam to encompass the tumor along the radiation treatment BEV as it traverses the patient's body into the tumor. One such beam-shielding device is the multi-leaf collimator ("MLC").
LINACs with MLCs facilitate delivery to a patient of radiation beams with arbitrary shapes and distributions. The MLC patterns can be defined during planning, and coupled with 3D conformal treatment planning techniques, they allow treatment plans to be more flexible and complex. Such MLC-based 3DCRT plans prescribe radiation field geometries tailored to fit the tumor's shape more accurately than previous, 2D block-shaped plans. As a result, higher doses can be targeted at the tumor, requiring tighter safety margins around the tumor to avoid damaging healthy tissue by exposing it to the higher, deadlier doses.
These capabilities have direct implications for radiotherapy treatment verification methods and, more specifically, on patient position verification because as radio-oncologists' dose irradiation volumes become smaller and more intricately sculpted to conform to the tumor, and the doses prescribed become higher, tumor position verification or tumor localization accuracy requirements become more critical. The result of misalignment, whether due to daily organ displacement (motion) and/or incorrect positioning of the patient on the treatment table, is that the conformal dose of radiation may not be delivered to the correct location within the patient's body. Because of the time constraints imposed during the treatment phase of the process, methods that provide fast, accurate, and reliable lesion alignment and displacement compensation data are of great benefit to a radiation technologist administering treatment.

Verifying lesion characteristics using beam shapes


An image recording medium includes a first electrode layer permeable to a recording electromagnetic wave carrying thereon image information, and a recording photoconductive layer which contains a-Se as a major component and becomes conductive upon exposure to the recording electromagnetic wave which are superposed one on another in this order with an inhibition layer for inhibiting interfacial crystallization of the recording photoconductive layer intervening between the first electrode layer and the recording photoconductive layer. The inhibition layer is formed by coating the surface of the recording photoconductive layer with organic polymer by the use of low boiling point solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image recording medium which stores electric charges generated in a recording photoconductive layer upon exposure to recording electromagnetic waves carrying image information and a method of producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image recording medium having a charge storing portion which stores electric charges, as latent image charges, generated upon exposure to recording electromagnetic waves carrying image information, there has been known a radiation image recording medium (electrostatic recording medium) comprising a photoconductive body such as a selenium plate sensitive to a radiation such as X-rays. The radiation image recording medium is used, for instance, in taking a diagnostic radiation image and is exposed to X-rays passing through an object. Upon exposure to X-rays carrying thereon radiation image information, each part of the radiation image recording medium stores an electric charge according to the amount of X-rays to which the part is exposed, whereby the radiation image recording medium stores, as an electrostatic latent radiation image, the radiation image information carried by the X-rays. The radiation image information can be read out from the radiation image recording medium by causing a laser beam or a line beam to scan the radiation image recording medium. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,468. By the use of the radiation image recording medium, the irradiation dose to the patient can be reduced and at the same time, the diagnostic performance can be improved.
We, this applicant, have proposed, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,268,614 and 6,376,857, a radiation image recording medium which enables high response in reading and efficient takeout of the signal charge to be compatible with each other, a method of and an apparatus for recording a radiation image on the radiation image recording medium, and a method of and an apparatus for reading out a radiation image from the radiation image recording medium.
In the method of recording and reading out a radiation image disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,614, a radiation image recording medium comprising a first electrode layer permeable to recording radiation or light generated by excitation by the recording radiation, a recording photoconductive layer which exhibits conductivity upon exposure to the recording radiation or the light generated by excitation by the recording radiation, a charge transfer layer which behaves like a substantially insulating material to a latent image charge and behaves like a substantially conductive material to a transfer charge in the polarity opposite to the latent image charge, a reading photoconductive layer which exhibits conductivity upon exposure to reading electromagnetic wave and a second electrode layer permeable to the reading light which are superposed one on another in this order is used, and the recording radiation is projected onto the first electrode layer of the radiation image recording medium so that electric charges are stored in a charge storing portion formed in an interface between the recording photoconductive layer and the charge transfer layer in an amount corresponding to the amount of the recording radiation projected onto the first electrode layer, whereby radiation image information is recorded on the radiation recording medium as an electrostatic latent image. Then the reading electromagnetic wave is projected onto the radiation image recording medium to read out the electrostatic latent image, whereby an image signal representing the radiation image information is obtained.
Further, we, this applicant, have proposed a radiation image recording medium in which the second electrode layer is in the form of a stripe electrode formed by a plurality of linear electrodes which are permeable to the reading electromagnetic wave and are arranged like stripes. In this radiation image recording medium, the electrostatic latent image can be intensively stored in the part of the charge storing portion corresponding to each of the linear electrodes of the stripe electrode and accordingly the sharpness of the image can be improved.
When radiation passing through an object is projected onto the first electrode layer of the radiation image recording medium with a DC voltage applied to the radiation image recording medium so that the first and second electrode layers respectively have negative and positive potentials, charged pairs are generated in the recording photoconductive layer in an amount corresponding to the amount of radiation passing through the first electrode layer, and negative charges are stored in the charge storing portion as latent image charges, whereby radiation image information is recorded on the radiation image recording medium as an electrostatic latent image.
When the reading electromagnetic wave is projected onto the second electrode layer of the radiation image recording medium after application of the DC voltage is stopped and the first and second electrode layers are short-circuited to relocate the charges, the reading electromagnetic wave passes through the second electrode layer and impinges upon the reading photoconductive layer to generate charged pairs in the reading photoconductive layer. The positive charges of the charged pairs passes through the charge transfer layer and combine with the negative charges stored in the charge storing portion whereas the negative charges recombine with the positive charge in the second electrode layer, whereby electrical discharges occur. By detecting change of voltage between the first and second electrode layers generated by the electrical discharges as electric current change by a current amplifier or the like, the electrostatic latent image is read.
The aforesaid recording photoconductive layer is often formed of a-Se (amorphous selenium) in that a-Se is high in dark resistance and excellent in response speed. However, the recording photoconductive layer of a-Se is disadvantageous in that in the case where a first electrode layer is formed on the surface of the recording photoconductive layer, interfacial crystallization of amorphous selenium progresses at the interface between the photoconductive layer and the first electrode layer due to contact with heat generated upon deposition of the electrode material and/or contact with the electrode material. Since the interfacial crystallization promotes charge injection from the first electrode layer upon recording of the radiation image information, which generates noise and deteriorates S/N. When transparent oxide film, especially ITO, is used as the material of the electrode layer, interfacial crystallization of amorphous selenium more significantly progresses at the interface between a-Se and the electrode material.
In order to avoid this problem, we, this applicant, have proposed to provide an inhibition layer of organic polymer for inhibiting interfacial crystallization between the first electrode layer and the recording photoconductive layer.
However, this approach is disadvantageous in that when the solvent for the organic polymer is high in boiling point, it becomes difficult to dry the polymer at normal temperatures without heating and the heating can cause interfacial crystallization at the recording photoconductive layer. Further, when the solvent for the organic polymer is large in water content, the water content can promote interfacial crystallization at the recording photoconductive layer. When the polymer is heated to remove the water content of the solvent, interfacial crystallization can be caused at the recording photoconductive layer for the same reason.

Image recording medium and method of producing the same


A system for saving contents of a plurality of registers into a memory. The system has a bit sequence, wherein the value of each individual bit of the bit sequence is set to indicate a modification status of a corresponding register; and control means for saving contents of each of the registers indicated to have been modified at a predetermined address of the memory and for revising the predetermined address. In a preferred implementation, the system saves contents of a plurality of registers into a first area of a memory and for restores contents of the plurality of registers with contents previously saved in a second area of the memory. The system has the first bit sequence as above and control means for saving contents of the first bit sequence, for saving contents of each of the registers indicated to have been modified at a predetermined address of the first area of the memory and for revising the predetermined address, for restoring contents previously saved at a restoring address of the second area of the memory into each of the registers to be restored, for revising the restoring address, and for referring to a second bit sequence saved in the second area of the memory, wherein each bit of the second bit sequence is set to indicate a modification status of corresponding registers at the time when the contents to be restored are saved and each of the registers to be restored are indicated to have been modified.

The present invention relates to a saving and restoring system of a register bank, and particularly to that to be applied for controlling saving and restoring process of contents of registers, which is performed for task-switching of a microprocessor operating with a multi-task OS (Operating System).
Today, multi-programing method is well applied for improving operation efficiency of a microprocessor. In the multi-programing method, a program is divided into a plurality of tasks, namely execution units, among which an appropriate task is selected by the OS and assigned to be executed by the CPU. For the execution assignment, context of the executed task in registers used by the CPU at the moment must be saved in an external memory area and context of the assigned task must be restored into the registers read out from another external memory area where it is saved.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, such conventional saving and restoring process will be described.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of registers of a CPU provided with 32 registers R0 to R31 each having 32 bit-length. The saving and restoring of context in these registers is performed by the CPU according to commands.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a saving and restoring process performed for assigning CPU execution to another task.
Suppose, for simplefication, that there are two tasks, task A and task B, to be executed by the CPU, and the CPU execution is to be assigned from task A to task B. Context of each of the tasks A and B is to be restored into the registers R0 to R31 of FIG. 6 and to be saved in each reserved area in a task control block.
Preparing (at step 701) for switching assignment of the task to be executed, OS obtains (at step 702) address of reserved area for the task A in the task control block. Then, the OS executes register bank save command for saving context of the task A at the obtained address of the task control block. According to the register bank saved command, the CPU stores (at step 703) contents of all of the 32 registers R0 to R31 in the area reserved for the task A of the task control block.
Then, the OS obtains (at step 704) task control block address of the task B, which is written at top of a queue of tasks waiting to be assigned listed in a memory area. The OS executes register bank restore command for restoring context of the task B saved in the task control block, according to which the CPU deploys (at step 705) data saved at the task control address in the registers from R0 to R31.
Thus, the OS exchanges context of the task A with that of the task B.
Another prior art will be described next, which is disclosed in a Japanese patent application laid open as a Provisional Publication No. 211837/'92. In the prior art, OS executes register bank saved command in the same way with the flowchart of FIG. 7, according to which the CPU saves data in the registers from the register R0 in order. However in the prior art, the data saving of each register is performed referring to value of modify bits prepared in another memory area, each of the modify bits representing status of data of each corresponding resister, turned to value `1` when data of the corresponding register is modified.
First, the CPU checks value of modify bit corresponding to the register R0. When value of the modify bit is `1`, the CPU saves contents of the register R0, because they are modified, at an address reserved for the context, incrementing the address for saving contents of the next register R1.
Then, modify bit for the register R1 being checked and found left at value `0`, the CPU performs only the address increment without saving contents of the register R1.
Thus, the CPU continues the process until the register R31, saving contents of concerning register and incrementing the address when corresponding modify bit is at value `1` and only incrementing the address when it is at value `0`.
After that, obtaining task control block address in the same way as at step 704 of FIG. 7, the OS executes register bank restore command for deploying context of the task B into the registers R0 to R31.
According to the register bank restore command, the CPU initializes all the modify bits to value `0` before restoring saved data of the task B into the registers from R0 to R31.
Thus, the OS exchanges context of the task A with that of the task B, in the prior art.
The context transfer inside a microprocessor can be performed at very high speed, but in the multi-task operation, context in the microprocessor should be saved in an external memory area and that of the assigned task should be restored into the resisters from another external memory area at every task switching, by way of an external bus of the microprocessor. As the data transfer through the external bus can not be performed at as high speed as that inside of the microprocessor, operational performance of the microprocessor is inevitably pulled down by the external access through the external bus.
Even in the prior art disclosed in the Provisional Publication No. 211837/'92, wherein at least the same number of address increments and context restorings with the number of the registers are needed, the external accesse results in a large overhead of processing time used by the OS.

System for saving and restoring contents of a plurality of registers


A tensionable member is disclosed for installation on an archery bow as a bowstring or a cable of a compound bow. The tensionable member has an outer tubular component of braided construction and a core of multiple strands. A suitable material is polyethylene fiber for use in both the tubular outer member and the core. End loops are formed on the tensionable member by reversing the ends of same and inserting the ends back into the tubular member. A locking element passes transversely through the reversed and inserted end segment and through the tubular outer member to retain the loop configuration. A modified form of tensionable member includes provision for retention of a sight and includes a sight retainer member having its ends secured within the tubular outer member by locking elements passing therethrough. The locking elements are of a fusible material to facilitate securement.

The present invention concerns bowstrings and cables used in archery bows and crossbows.
With regard to bowstrings little consideration has been to the relationship of drag exerted by air on multi-strand bowstrings and its adverse effect on arrow velocity. Additionally of interest to bow hunters is the noise made by a bowstring when released which noise can result in spooking of game. Known bowstring and cable designs include multiple strands of synthetic material which are wrapped at their end segments to form looped ends for attachment to a bow and at their mid-points for arrow engagement. Accordingly substantial drag is encountered as the strands tend to disperse as disclosed in high speed photographs. Other disadvantages include high cost of manufacture and elongation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,767 is of some interest in that it shows the formation of a loop by reinserting an end segment back into the major segment of the rope. A ferrule with projections, in place on the inserted segment, prevents slippage. U.S. Pat. No. 2,600,395 is of some interest in that it shows the formation of a loop by an end segment which itself is threaded back and forth through a primary portion of a length of braided material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,521 shows a length of tubular sheathing for partial sheathing of a bowstring of multiple strands to protect the strands and aid in uniform tensioning of same. External wrapping secures the sheaths in place after drawing of the strands through the sheathing. No reduction in recoil is mentioned and the un-sheathed segments of the bowstring will still disperse during bowstring release.

Tensionable member for an archery bow and method of construction

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A wall covering comprising plastic molded wall panels and corner moldings each formed with simulated cedar shake shingles. The corner molding shingles are mountable in partially overlying relation to the shingles of adjacent wall panels and a previously mounted corner molding. The corner moldings further each have upper marginal edge regions that are positionable into tight fitting underlying relation to the wall panels in a course immediately above the corner molding for providing a more natural hand cut shake appearance. The corner moldings have mounting latches and hooks which are longitudinally severable to permit mounting on all surfaces that define corners substantially greater than 90°, and the corner moldings preferably are formed with different patterns of simulated shake for further contributing to their natural appearance.

Various synthetic roof and wall coverings are known today, such as those formed of elongated molded thermoplastic wall panels that are nailed or screwed to a wall or roof support surface in horizontal courses or rows in partially overlapping relation to each other so as to provide a substantially water resistant, protective layer over the support surface. Such panels, which usually are identically molded, commonly are formed with one or more rows of simulated building elements, such as shake shingles. Since the panels are identically molded, a panel-to-panel identity can be easily noticed if the panels are not carefully installed. Installation problems particularly occur when installing such synthetic wall and roof coverings about corners of the roof or sidewalls.
Typically, corner moldings are used to join the wall panels at corners of the roof or wall surfaces. In some prior corner moldings, the wall panels must be positioned into abutting relation with a pre-mounted corner molding prior to installation of the wall panel. Such mounting requires precise cutting of the ends of the panels to ensure good installation, which can substantially increase the time and cost of installation. In other known corner moldings in which an end of the wall panel is positionable into a side cavity of the corner molding, unsightly gaps can occur between the corner molding and wall panel by virtue of excessive tolerances. Such gaps also can entrap water and dirt. Moreover, since such corner moldings usually are molded for mounting on wall surfaces that define right angle corners, standard 90° corner moldings typically are not adaptable for use on corner wall surfaces angled substantially greater than 90°, such as corners of bay windows which commonly are angled at 120°.

Roof and wall covering with improved corner construction


An electronic assembly includes a first substrate, at least one first conductive pad and multiple second conductive pads. The first substrate comprises a base layer and at least one conductive circuit layer. The at least one conductive circuit layer is disposed on the base layer. The at least one first conductive pad is disposed on the first substrate. The first conductive pad is electrically insulated from the conductive circuit layer. The first conductive pad includes multiple first holes. The second conductive pads are disposed on the first substrate. The second conductive pads are electrically connected to the conductive circuit layer.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an electronic assembly, and more particularly to an electronic assembly including a substrate with a conductive pad.
2. Related Art
With the rapid improvement of multi-media society, liquid crystal displays (LCD) are generally applied to intermediate or compact portable televisions, video mobile phones, camcorders, laptop computers, desktop display devices, tablet computers or projection televisions.
The LCD comprises a display module. The display module comprises a display panel and a circuit board. The circuit board is connected to the display panel. The circuit board is electrically connected to the display panel by a lapping joint. In detail, multiple conductive pads, disposed on the circuit board, have multiple gold foil layers. Moreover, a conductive film is disposed on the conductive layer, and the circuit board is joined with a flex printed connecting unit of the display through the conductive film. In practical, only a part of the conductive pads, disposed on the circuit board, are electrically connected to a circuit layer of the circuit board. Other conductive pads, which are not electrically connected to the circuit layer, are called dummy pads. However, with the rise of gold prices, the dummy pads with the gold foil layer may increase unnecessary costs.
Therefore, the circuit board without the dummy pads has been designed. However, when the conductive film is adhered on the circuit board, a height difference is formed in the display modules between the area where the dummy pads have been removed and the area with the conductive pads. In this way, the adherence of the conductive film is not secure, which causes defective manufacturing of the circuit board and the flex printed connecting unit.


A receiving pit has a grid covering an uppermost opening through which grain or other material is deposited into the pit. The grid including a series of generally parallel and spaced bars and a dust control device according to this invention includes a number of flights each adapted to be positioned beneath the grid. The dust control device includes a number of generally vertically extending bulkheads each adapted to be positioned beneath the grid and juxtaposed to a free end of one of the flights to thereby inhibit the escape of dust from the receiving pit. Each flight includes a series of blades capable of independently deflecting in response to an amount of material deposited through the grid and onto the blade. The dust control device also includes a release mechanism coupled to each of the flights to manually deflect at least selected blades and allow material remaining atop the blade to fall into the receiving pit.

This invention relates to mechanisms designed to reduce the amount of dust emitted from a receiving pit when grain or other material from a truck or rail car is dumped into the receiving pit.
Receiving pits are commonly used to receive grain or other material dumped from a truck, rail car or other vehicle. These receiving pits typically include a grate which forms a covering over the top opening of the receiving pit. The vehicle is driven onto the grate such that the outlet of the vehicle is positioned over the grate, and the contents of the vehicle are emptied from the vehicle through the outlet. The grain or other material being dumped from the vehicle falls through the grate and into the receiving pit. The failing material tends to generate a large amount of dust as it falls through the grate and into the pit. This dust tends to rush up through the grate and into the atmosphere as the falling grain/material displaces the air and dust within the pit.
Several known devices have been directed at reducing or eliminating the dust exiting the receiving pit. One such mechanism designed to reduce emissions of dust from receiving pits includes a number of vents positioned across the opening at the top of the receiving pit. These mechanisms may include blower fans which suck air and dust from the receiving pit in large quantities and direct the air and dust through a filter. The filter blocks the dust particles from passing into the atmosphere. Such devices prevent a portion of the dust from entering the atmosphere. Known devices tend to be expensive and not to function well when the filters become clogged, at which time the dust tends to progress upwardly through the vents and into the atmosphere. The filters and blower fans have the further disadvantage of requiring an undesirable amount of maintenance.
Also, known devices tend not to function in an acceptable manner when material is dumped into the pit at relatively large flow rates. When grain or other material is dumped from a vehicle through a small outlet door in the vehicle, the flow rate of grain being dumped is relatively low. Since the flow rate is low, the rate at which air is being displaced from the receiving pit by the flow of dumped grain is also relatively low. The blower fans have large enough capacity to suck off the air and dust being displaced by the relatively small inflow of grain. But with relatively large flow rates of grain or other material, the rate at which air and dust are displaced by the inflow of material correspondingly increases, and many prior art blower mechanisms are not large enough to accept such large rates of flow of displaced air and dust. These large flow rates are common, for example, when a vehicle is unloaded by tilting the bed of the vehicle upwardly and opening the entire rear wall or tailgate of the vehicle. Since the outlet of the vehicle is the entire rear wall or tailgate of the vehicle, the flow rate of material from the vehicle is relatively large in comparison to the flow rate through a smaller outlet or opening in a wall of the vehicle.
Another dust reducing mechanism is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,686, hereby incorporated by reference entirely. That invention provides a number of metering units positioned across the opening in the top of the receiving pit. The metering units include louvers that have open and closed positions. The metering units also include a sensor which senses the presence of the grain on the closed louvers. After the sensor senses the presence of grain on the closed louvers, a timer will open the louvers after a predetermined delay. The delay in opening the louvers allows a pile of grain to accumulate on top of the louvers before the louvers open. The quantity of grain on top of the louvers is greater than can pass through the louvers at one time. Therefore, when the louvers are opened, grain will begin falling through the louvers but some of the pile will remain above the louvers. When the louvers are opened via the sensor, enough grain will have accumulated on top of the louvers to establish a choke load in the metering unit that is sufficient to block any air from rising up through the louvers as the choke load of grain passes by the louvers. The quantity of grain passing through the louvers is sufficient to generally fill the entire opening of the louvers, and therefore dust within the receiving pit will be blocked from rising up through the open louvers. This device operates well when the sensor operates properly and the flow rate of grain from a vehicle is relatively low, such as when the grain is dumped from the vehicle through a relatively small outlet.
However, when the sensor malfunctions or the grain is dumped at a relatively large flow rate, such as when the entire tailgate of the vehicle is opened and the bed of the vehicle is tilted up to unload the vehicle, such a device will cause a very large pile of grain to accumulate above the louvers. The metering units only allow grain through the louvers at a certain flow rate. When the flow rate out of the vehicle greatly exceeds the maximum flow rate that can pass through the louvers, a relatively large pile of grain will accumulate on top of the metering units. The vehicle may be emptied at such a quick rate that the resulting pile would be wider than the opening in the top of the receiving pit. This would require manually shoveling or sweeping the grain back on top of the receiving pit. A pit with a large enough opening and with enough metering units to accommodate such high flow rates resulting from dumping a large vehicle with the entire tailgate open is impractical.
Other designs for similar devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,893,399; 6,050,767; 6,156,087; 6,174,121 and 6,471,100, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference entirely.
It is therefore desirable to provide a cost efficient and effective mechanism for reducing the amount of dust emitted from a receiving pit when the grain or other material is being dumped at relatively high flow rates such as when grain is dumped from a vehicle with the entire tailgate open and the vehicle bed tilted up. Further, such a mechanism should reduce emissions of dust during both high and low flow rate modes of operation. Moreover, such a mechanism should be adapted for use with dust reduction mechanisms utilizing metering units as described above.

Receiving pit dust control device and method of use


A vehicle body structure includes a pair of side members (4) extending in a fore and aft direction on either side of a vehicle body, each side member having a hollow structure defining a hollow interior (28), and provided with a vertical outboard wall (27), a bumper beam (3) extending laterally along fore and aft ends of the side members, and curved so as to be convex on a side thereof facing away from the vehicle body, and a pair of extension members (5) each connected to a corresponding end part of the bumper beam and partly received in the hollow interior of the corresponding side member, a pair of cushioning members (72, 91, 101, 111, 123, 131) are each interposed between the corresponding extension member and the vertical outboard wall of the corresponding side member, each cushioning member being deformable in a lateral direction of the vehicle body.

JPH2-40650U discloses a vehicle body rear structure designed to absorb an impact of a rear end crash. This vehicle body rear structure includes a pair of side members extending in the fore and aft direction along either side of the vehicle body, a rear bumper beam extending laterally behind the rear ends of the side members, and a pair of bumper stays fixedly attached to the rear bumper beams and connected to the rear ends of the respective side members. The rear end of each bumper stay is fixedly attached to the rear bumper beam, and the front end of the bumper stay is fitted into the rear end of the corresponding side member having a rectangular hollow cross section. A vertically extending bolt is passed through the rear end of the corresponding side member and the front end of the bumper stay, and mutually abutting parts are provided on the rear end of the side member and the front end of the bumper stay.
At the time of a rear end crash, a laterally central part of the bumper beam is pushed forward so that the central part of the bumper beam bends forward while the lateral ends of the bumper beam bend rearward. This creates a torque to each bumper stay relative to the corresponding side member centered around the bolt while the mutually abutting parts opposes this rotation. If the impact load on the bumper beam is sufficiently great, the mutually abutting parts undergo plastic deformation, and absorb the energy of the impact while permitting the rotation of the bumper stay relative to the side member.
The rear bumper beam may be curved so as to be convex toward the rear for esthetical and structural reasons. In such a case, when a load is applied to the rear bumper beam from the rear, the rear bumper beam tends to deform into a straight linear shape. As a result, the two ends of the bumper beam are displaced in the outboard direction. This causes a shear stress to the bolt that joins each bumper stay to the rear end of the corresponding side member. This requires the strengthening of the bolt and the surrounding structural members, which may complicate the structure, and increase the weight of the vehicle body.