A method for manufacturing a touch panel includes the steps of: forming a first imprint layer; forming a first wire forming groove portion; forming a first wire; forming a spacer layer so that the spacer layer is placed over a surface of the first imprint layer in which the first wire forming groove portion has been formed and overlaps a part of the first wire; forming a second imprint layer so that the spacer layer is sandwiched between the first imprint layer and the second imprint layer; forming a second wire forming groove portion; forming a second wire; and delaminating the spacer layer from the first imprint layer and removing, together with the delaminated portion, a portion of the second imprint layer that overlaps the delaminated portion.

In recent years, electronic apparatuses such as tablet laptop personal computers and portable information terminals have been being mounted with touch panels (touchscreens) for the purpose of enhancing operability and usability. A known example of a method for manufacturing a touch panel is described in PTL 1 listed below. The method for manufacturing a touchscreen described in PTL 1 includes the steps of: preparing a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; cutting a first groove on a side of a first matrix layer that is distant from the substrate, the first matrix layer being formed by applying a gel onto the first surface and solidifying the gel; filling the first groove with an electrical conducting material; cutting a second groove in a second matrix layer formed by applying a gel onto the side of the first matrix layer that is distant from the substrate and solidifying the gel; and forming a second conductive layer by filling the second groove with an electrical conducting material.


A system is provided for allocating resources in a call center. The system identifies a record associated with a resource in the call center. The record includes an attribute associated with the operation of the resource. The system controls the operation of the resource in response to the attribute contained in the record associated with the resource. The record associated with the resource is modified in response to a resource change request. The resource change request may be generated by a host coupled to the call center or by a device contained within the call center. The modified record provides a different set of permitted activities for the associated resource. A particular record may contain multiple attributes associated with the operation of the resource.

A call center is capable of receiving, processing, and transmitting calls, such as telephone calls, and other information. A particular type of call center may be referred to as an automatic call distributor (ACD). A call center typically has multiple agents for answering incoming calls and placing outgoing calls. A call center may also have agents participating in outgoing call campaigns, typically in conjunction with an outbound call management system. Each agent may be assigned to a particular group, such as an inbound group or an outbound group. Agents can also be assigned to a supervisor team, which represents multiple agents that report to the same supervisor.
In certain situations, it is necessary to restrict an agent's activity to answering calls or handling a particular type of call (e.g., answering only incoming calls). For example, during an outbound campaign, the system placing the outbound calls and controlling the rate at which the calls are placed relies on the availability of the agent to handle an answered call. If the system places outbound calls expecting the agent to be available, but the agent instead places their own call to another agent or a supervisor, or has an incoming call connected to them, the outbound system may not have an agent available to handle an answered outbound call. Additionally, if an agent is assigned to handle incoming calls, but instead places a call to another agent or listens to voice mail messages, the number of queued incoming calls may increase, thereby increasing the waiting time experienced by the callers.
In existing call centers, agents can be manually switched from one group to another (e.g., from an inbound group to an outbound group). This switching may be performed by a supervisor using a terminal or other device coupled to the call center. In other systems, a supervisor may instruct particular agents to switch from inbound call processing to outbound call processing, or vice versa. These manual systems for changing an agent's group assignment are tedious and do not guarantee compliance with the request. For example, an agent may switch groups in response to a supervisor instruction. However, after the supervisor has left the room, the agent may switch to a different group, thereby disrupting the expected operation of the call center.
Additionally, existing call centers do not provide an automated system for controlling the operation or activities of call center resources, such as preventing an agent from making a call to another agent or a supervisor during an outbound campaign. As discussed above, such activity can disrupt the outbound call pacing system.
It is therefore desirable to provide a mechanism for efficiently allocating call center resources and automatically controlling resource activities.

Method and apparatus for allocating resources in a call center


A vehicle lighting system includes a plurality of lamps having their own inherent respective light distribution characteristics. The plurality of lamps includes a first lamp to irradiate an area excluding a nearest field area just in front of a vehicle, and a second lamp which irradiates only the nearest field area. The plurality of lamps are operable to be simultaneously or selectively lit, and are operable so that irradiation lights of the lamps are combined so as to obtain a particular light distribution characteristic in accordance with various driving conditions of a vehicle.

The present application claims priority from Japanese patent application no. 2005-323082, filed on Nov. 8, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a lighting system of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, and more particularly to an vehicle lighting system which can obtain a light distribution characteristic effective for safe driving in various driving conditions by selectively lighting a plurality of lamps.
The light distribution characteristics of a headlamp of a motor vehicle sometimes are controlled according to the driving conditions of the motor vehicle so as to secure safe driving. For example, when the vehicle is running with a dipped beam or low beam on, the light irradiated toward the right of the vehicle is shielded in order not to interfere with the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle. Alternatively, when running in rainy weather, the light distribution characteristics of the vehicle's headlamps are controlled to reduce the brightness in a nearest field area just in front of the vehicle so as to prevent light irradiated from the headlamps of the vehicle being reflected on the road surface and interfering with the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle. To implement such control, a shade incorporated in a projector-type lamp which forms a headlamp can be moved to shield or reduce the light emitted from a light source, so as to reduce the brightness in a right-forward area of the vehicle or to reduce the brightness in the nearest field area just in front of the vehicle. In other cases, an independent second shade is provided. By moving this second shade, part of the light is shielded so as to reduce the brightness in a nearest field area just in front of the vehicle.
In the foregoing techniques, part of the light emitted from the light source in the headlamp is shielded or reduced by the shade in order to reduce the brightness in the right front area or the nearest field area just in front of the vehicle. As a result, light that is so shielded or reduced is wasted, and the irradiation efficiency of the headlamp (i.e., the level of brightness in an area irradiated by the headlamp relative to electric power supplied thereto) is reduced. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the lighting system and the amount of consumed power, which reduces the fuel economy of the motor vehicle. In addition, the use of a movable shade that moves in and out of the optical path to change the irradiation area tends to be complex, which increases the production costs of the headlamp.


A method and a system for distributing an encryption key for service protection and content protection in a mobile broadcasting system are provided where a network generates a first encryption key when a broadcasting service is first provided to the terminal, and transmits a long term key message including the generated first encryption key to the terminal. Also, the network generates a second encryption key before the lifetime of a first access value pair expires, and transmits a long term key message including the generated second encryption key to the terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile broadcasting system, and more particularly to a method and a system for distributing a traffic encryption key for a mobile broadcasting service that is applied to a service protection and content protection structure such as a smart card profile in an Open Mobile Alliance Broadcast (OMA BCAST).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the mobile communication market, production of new services through recombination and integration of existing technology has been in continuous demand and communication and broadcasting technology has developed to enable a broadcasting system or a mobile communication system in the related art which provides a broadcasting service through a mobile terminal (hereinafter "terminal") such as a cellular phone, a PDA, and the like. Under the conditions of latent and actual market demands, such as an abrupt increase in user requirements with respect to multimedia services, enterprise strategies that intend to provide new services such as broadcasting services in addition to the existing audio services, and interests of IT enterprises that strengthen the mobile communication business to accommodate the consumer requirements, the fusion of mobile communication services and IT technologies has occupied a position as the big flow of the next-generation mobile communication technology development.
The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), is an application standards group which makes and researches standards for mutual interlocking of individual mobile solutions, and serves to determine diverse application standards for mobile communication games, Internet services, and the like. In particular, the OMA BCAST Working Group of the OMA Working Group has studied technologies for providing broadcasting services using terminals. Hereinafter, a broadcasting system that is discussed in the OMA BCAST Working Group (hereinafter "mobile broadcasting system") will be briefly described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the network configuration of a general mobile broadcasting system. In FIG. 1, a Content Creator (CC) 10 is a BCAST service content provider (hereinafter "content provider"). The BCAST service may be an existing audio/video broadcasting service, file (music file or data file) download system, and the like. A BCAST Service Application (BSA) unit 20 serves to receive a supply of BCAST service data from the content provider CC 10, processes the data in a form suitable to the BCAST network of FIG. 1, and generates the BCAST service data. The BSA unit 20 also serves to generate standardized metadata that is necessary for guiding the mobile broadcasting service. BCAST-1 to BCAST-8 are interfaces among entities.
In FIG. 1, a BCAST Service Distribution/Adaptation (BSD/A) unit 30 serves to set a bearer which will transmit the BCAST service data that is provided from the BSA unit 20, to determine a transmission schedule of the BCAST service, and to generate a mobile broadcasting guide. A BCAST Subscription Management (BSM) unit 40 manages device information on terminals that receive subscription information of subscribers for receiving the BCAST service, BCAST service providing information, and the BCAST service.
In FIG. 1, terminal 50 is a terminal that is capable of receiving the BCAST service and connecting to a cellular network according to the performance of the terminal. Broadcast network 60 is a network that transmits the BCAST service, such as a Digital Video Broadcasting—Handheld (DVB-H), a Third Generation Partnership Project Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (3GPP MBMS), Third Generation Partnership Project 2 Broadcast and Multicast Service (3GPP2 BCMCS), or the like. An interaction network 70 is a network in which the BCAST service is transmitted in a one-to-one manner, or control information and additional information related to the reception of the BCAST service are bidirectionally exchanged, and for example, it may be the existing cellular network.
In general, in the BCAST service, a server that manages the broadcasting service transmits encrypted service data, and a plurality of terminals receives the data. In this case, the plurality of terminals can use the corresponding service by decrypting the encrypted service data provided from the server using a predetermined cryptographic key pre-stored in the terminals. In relation to this, a method of encrypting broadcasting content and services is briefly divided into two sides of service protection and content protection.
On the other hand, the OMA BCAST Source Production Control Parameter (SPCP) smart card profile implements a key management scheme for a mobile broadcasting service. For access provisioning, two kinds of keys, i.e. Long Term Keys (LTKs) and Short Term Keys (STKs) are defined. The LTKs are used to perform conditioning of accesses for the STKs by encrypting the STKs according to the LTKs based on the user service subscription plan. The STKs are used for the actual traffic encryption. Although the LTKs and the STKs should be periodically updated, the lifetime of the LTKs is far longer than the lifetime of the STKs. The LTKs are provided to a user by the BSM, and the STKs are transmitted to a user by the BSD/A unit 30. Such a key management scheme is problematic in that frequent STK updates increase high bandwidth consumption.
Hereinafter, key management in a smart card profile will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a key hierarchy defined in a general smart card profile.
A Subscription Management Key (SMK) 120 is derived as the result of user authentication according to the reception of registered keys 110, and protects the LTK transferred through a Long Term Key Message (LTKM). The LTKs of the smart card profile may include a Service Encryption Key (SEK) 130 and Program Encryption Keys (PEKs). These two kinds of keys have different lifetimes to support different service access scenarios.
The SEK 130 is provided to a user who has subscribed to the service. That is, as successive authentication is performed, content and periodically updated SEKs are continuously provided to the user even without a separate request. This scenario is also called "subscription-based access".
The PEKs 140 are provided to a user whose access to a certain service is limited to a program that has a specified time interval or service unit. In order to obtain access qualifications for the next program or the consequent time interval, a user should make an additional purchase request. The program or the time interval may be related to one or more PEKs. This scenario is called "Pay-Per-View (PPV)-based access".
A Traffic Encryption Key (TEK) 150 is the STK which is carried through a Short Term Key Message (STKM), and encrypted by the SEK. Also, the TEK is carried through the STKM and is encrypted according to the PEK 140. The STKM is authenticated using the PEK 140 that is carried through the STKM and is encrypted according to the SEK 130. The TEKs 150 are frequently updated for security.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the supply flow of SEKs and TEKs under general subscription-based access conditions.
Under the subscription-based access conditions, the lifetime of the SEK (SEK LT) is calculated as n multiplied by the lifetime of the TEK. Before the SEK (SEKy−1) expires, the BSM generates and transmits a new SEKy to a subscribed user in the LTKM in step 210. The SEKy is encrypted according to SMK1 that is shared only between the user and the BSM. After the SEK (SEKy−1) expires, the PEKs which are carried together with TEKx+1 to TEKx+n through the STKM are encrypted by the SEKy. Also, before the SEKy expires, The BSM generates and transmits a new SEKy+1 to a subscribed user in step 220.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the supply flow of SEKs and TEKs under general PPV-based access conditions.
Under the PPV-based access conditions, the lifetime of the PEK (PEK LT) is calculated as m multiplied by the lifetime of the TEK (where, m≦n). Also, in this embodiment, the lifetime of the PEK is PEK LT=0.5*SEK LT. Accordingly, the PEK should be updated more frequently than the SEK, e.g. twice as frequently as the update of the SEK.
If a user issues two purchase requests with respect to the two consequent time intervals which are related to PEKz and PEKZ+1, the BSM transmits the LTKM including the PEKz to a user in step 310 before the TEKx+1 (the first TEK related to PEKz) is used. The PEKz is encrypted according to the SMK2 that is shared only between the user and the BSM. Also, the BSM transmits the LTKM including the PEKz+1 to a user in step 320 before the TEKx+m+1 (the first TEK related to PEKz+1) is used. However, if no further purchase request is issued by the user before the TEKx+n+1 is used, the BSM does not transmit the PEK for the TEKx+n+1 to the user, and thus the user cannot decode the TEKs starting from TEKx+n+1.

Encryption key distribution method in mobile broadcasting system and system for the same


Self-propelled mobile apparatus for aerating water includes a vessel configured for movement across a body of water, and a mechanism contained entirely on the vessel for propelling the vessel across a body of water. A water aerating device is disposed on the vessel for aerating water as the vessel is propelled across a body of water.. A method of aerating a body of water includes placing an entirely self-propelled vessel on a body of water to be aerated, propelling the self-propelled vessel across the body of water, and activating an aeration device disposed on the vessel.

Facultative waste stabilization lagoons are currently the predominant tool for the treatment of wastewater by sanitation and public health professionals. Facultative refers to the ability of the bacteria typically used in sewage treatment/waste stabilization to live under more than one set of environmental conditions. Facultative bacteria are useful as they can tolerate the varying physical and chemical conditions resulting from changes in the bodies of water over time, such as when animal waste or plant matter degrades.
Commercial catfish ponds, constructed for the breeding and production of catfish, and other man-made bodies of water typically follow a design similar to facultative waste stabilization lagoons and thus experience many common problems.
Facultative waste stabilization lagoons utilize aerobic and facultative bacteria to stabilize organic waste materials. An adequate on-going supply of oxygen to the body of water is essential in order for the bacteria to perform the stabilization function. Originally, the designers of facultative waste stabilization lagoons, commercial catfish ponds, and other bodies of water relied on the natural process of algal photosynthesis on and below the surface of the water to supply this essential oxygen.
However, repeated experience has shown that various climatic conditions and other external and internal factors may sometimes inhibit the process of algal photosynthesis to the point that the ongoing supply of oxygen to the body of water is inadequate.
Most commonly, this occurs during the warmer months of the year when an overgrowth of algae can occur on the water surface, resulting in filamentous algae mats on the surface which block the radiation of sunlight into the water. In the absence of such sunlight, photosynthesis cannot take place and thus the production of oxygen below the surface is inhibited.
In severe cases, this set of factors causes a septic condition in the body of water in which the biological system within the body of water becomes anaerobic. This phenomenon can eventually result in the release of offensive odors from the lagoon and in the lagoon's failure to meet regulatory effluent limits on the organic discharge from these facilities.
These septic conditions can also occur during cooler months when limited intervals of sunlight result in an inadequate rate of algal photosynthesis. In the context of commercial catfish ponds, these septic conditions can quickly result in the death of the entire fish population.
In response to these problems, inventors previously have created several types of devices to mechanically and/or chemically aerate facultative waste stabilization lagoons, commercial catfish ponds, and similar bodies of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,107 to Busch discloses a fixed position aerating device which uses a paddlewheel with rotatable paddles to agitate the water near the surface to mix oxygen-rich surface water with oxygen-deficient deep water; however, this device must be moored to the bank of the body of water and hence can only aerate the small area within a narrow radius of the aerator's fixed position. It also does not break up algae masses on the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,148 to Arbisi et al. shows an unmanned mobile pond aerating vessel whose movement and position are controlled by a complex microprocessor and beam transmitting/receiving system. The Arbisi device is powered by an electric motor which necessitates the expense and availability of a three-phase power line or other suitable electric power source in close proximity to the pond. Moreover, the unmanned Arbisi vessel cannot be utilized in a pond until trained personnel have programmed the microprocessor in a manner suitable for the particular pond in question; and the complexity of the electronic circuitry and microprocessor render construction and use of the device expensive. These features likely render actual use of the Arbisi vessel overly complicated and time-consuming. Furthermore, Arbisi discloses no mechanism for dispensing chemical agents into the water which, under certain circumstances, is a necessary complementary means of aeration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,120 to Eberhardt broadly discloses a vessel with laterally adjustable pontoons adapted for dispensing into the water a treatment agent, such as lime, for neutralizing acid rain; however, this device fails to recognize the importance of mechanical aeration and surface agitation in combatting the problems outlined earlier. Specifically, the Eberhardt vessel lacks a paddlewheel or any similar device designed for breaking up algae mats in a manner sufficient to cause the submersion and decomposition of such mats. Eberhardt is also relatively large, complex, and expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,398 to Shuck et al. discloses a sludge-agitating vessel mounted on pontoons. The Shuck device is designed for operation within a defined radius of a separate pumping station and is dependent on controlled air distribution and compression for carrying out its sludge treatment method. The Shuck device is intended specifically for agitating sludge toward a previously constructed pumping station and is unsuitable for portable use in aerating algae-infested lagoons or ponds absent such a pumping station at each required location.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,452 to Strain, Jr. shows a pumping apparatus to be attached to a tractor and backed into a pond to aerate the shallow areas at the edge of the pond. The Strain device is capable of mechanically aerating and destroying algae mats only within a small area radiating from the bank of the body of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,619 to Cherne discloses a liquid aerating rotor assembly which has a front scoop for preventing solid debris located in the surface layer of liquid form coming in contact with an aerating rotor.

Mobile water agitating and aerating apparatus


The present invention relates to hard coating layer and a method for forming the hard coating layer. A method for forming hard coating layer which comprises: washing a substrate; installing the washed substrate in a vacuum equipment, and vacuating the chamber of the vacuum equipment; cleaning the substrate; forming oblique coating layer on the substrate; and forming vertical coating layer, vertically to the substrate, on the oblique coating layer by applying bias-voltage after forming oblique coating layer is provided. According to present invention, hardness of coating layer may be enhanced by forming a oblique coating layer and vertical coating layer on a substrate.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hard coating layer and method for manufacturing the same, more particularly, the present invention relates to hard coating layer which has columnar structure and the hard coating layer is formed by vertically coating a substrate after obliquely coating the substrate.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a method for forming hard coating is a technology that changes the composition of coating layer comprised of such as nitrides, carbides and oxides and that improves mechanical properties of the coating layer by adding heterogeneous materials.
Further, a method for forming nano-sized crystal structure in the coating layer or a method for forming multi-layered coatings that have different compositions and are in nanometer thickness has recently been highlighted.
However, in the above method, there has been a difficulty in coating process and controlling variables in coating process. And though hardness of coating layer is enhanced, the coating layer was easily broken.

Hard coating layer and method for forming the same

RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY


A method and apparatus for filling bulk material, in which an objective filling weight for filling bulk material stored in a storage portion of a filling object is divided to a first stage objective filling weight and a second a second stage objective filling weight. The method consists of setting an opening/closing mechanism provided on the storage portion to a predetermined opening degree and filling the bulk material from the storage portion to the filling object until the first stage objective filling weight is reached, and then activating the opening/closing mechanism so as to close from the predetermined opening degree. A closing travel distance of the opening/closing mechanism in a certain minute time interval, and a filling weight of bulk material are then detected, and based on these detected values, the fluidity of the bulk material in such a minute time interval is calculated. A closing travel distance and a closing travel speed of the opening/closing mechanism in a next minute time interval is then calculated based on the fluidity so as to activate the opening/closing mechanism to close thereby filling the bulk material to the filling object until the objective filling weight is reached.

Examples of related bulk material filling apparatuses have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. (JP-A) 113362/79 (first related art) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. (JP-A) 52001/83 (second related art).
According to the first related art, first the volume of bulk material is measured with a massive filling measure and its weight thereof is measured with a measuring device. Then, the bulk material is poured continuously in a small quantity through a small hole and when the poured amount reaches an objective filling value, the small hole is closed such that the filling operation is completed.
According to the second related art, the weight of a package product in which its filling of bulk material is completed is measured with a weight checker and the tendency in the supply amount thereof from a cup measuring device is controlled. At the same time, a bulk material surface detecting device is provided on the hopper and according to signals output from this detecting device, the amount of bulk material flowing into the hopper is adjusted.
However, the related arts have the following problems.
(1) In the first related art, the small throw-in of the bulk material is conducted using the small holes, thus if the characteristics of powder change, the fluidity thereof is affected. Thus, if the fluidity thereof is deteriorated, the powder falling time is prolonged thereby reducing the filling accuracy.
(2) In the second related art, a result of measured weight of the package product after the filling is completed is fed back to the next filling operation. The flow rate cannot be compensated at real time. Thus, in this second related art as well, if the fluidity of bulk material changes, a high precision filling cannot be conducted.
(3) In both the first and second related arts, when the throw-in is terminated, the amount of bulk material (called falling amount Wh) existing in the air (falling height) from just below the outlet of a storage portion closed by the opening/closing device up to a filling object is considered. It is necessary to control the opening/closing device at a timing in which the filling weight W of bulk material filled in the filling object reaches W=W.sub.0 -Wh (W.sub.0 : objective amount). However, the falling height of bulk material varies depending on the size of a container which is the filling object. Thus, it is necessary to change the closing timing of the opening/closing device for every container size, so that a time required for changing a product type increases.

Method and apparatus for filling bulk material


Compositions of matter and pharmaceutical compositions having protein kinase C-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and other activities are disclosed. The compounds are derived from tricyclic aromatic heterocyclic compounds incorporating indole, indene, benzofuran and benzothiophene structural elements.

Protein kinase C is an enzyme found in nearly all animal tissues and animal cells that have been examined. Its identity is generally established by its ability to phosphorylate proteins when adenosine triphosphate, calcium ions and phospholipid cofactors are present, with greatly reduced activity when these cofactors are absent. Protein kinase C activity is substantially stimulated by certain 1,2-sn-diacylglycerols that bind specifically and stoichiometrically to a recognition site on the enzyme. Stimulation of protein kinase C by these diacylglycerols has been shown to be an important physiological event that mediates the actions of a wide variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other biological control factors such as histamine, vasopressin, alpha-adrenergic agonists, dopamine agonists, muscarinic cholinergic agonists, platelet activating factor, etc. see Y. Nishizuka, Nature 308 693-698 (1984) and Science 225 1365-1370 (1984) for reviews!.
The biological role of protein kinase C is also of great interest because of the discovery that certain very powerful tumor promoting substances activate this enzyme by binding specifically and with very high affinity to the diacylglycerol binding site on the enzyme. In addition to diacylglycerols, there are at present five other known classes of compounds that bind to this site, including diterpenes such as the phorbol esters, indole alkaloids (indolactams) such as the teleocidins, lyngbyatoxin, and indolactam V, polyacetates such as the aplysiatoxins and oscillatoxins, certain derivatives of diaminobenzyl alcohol, and the macrocyclic lactones of the bryostatin class. The phorbol esters have long been known as powerful tumor promoters, the teleocidins, aplysiatoxins and diacylglycerols are now known to have this activity, and it appears likely that additional classes of compounds will be found to have the toxic and tumor promoting activities associated with the capability to bind to the diacylglycerol site of protein kinase C and thus activate the enzyme. Other toxicities of these agents when administered to animals include lung injury and profound changes in blood elements, such as leukopenia and neuropenia.
In addition to potent tumor promoting activity, these six classes of compounds, collectively referred to as the "phorboids", display a vast range of biological activities, as would be expected from the widespread distribution of their target enzyme. Some of these activities, like tumor promotion, indicate the involvement of protein kinase C in important normal or pathological processes in animals. Thus, the phorboids are potent skin inflammatory agents, cause smooth muscle contraction in several tissues, alter immune system function and can be used to cause a variety of other normal or pathological responses. Related disease states such as the development of cancer, the onset and/or maintenance of inflammatory disease, the role of vasoconstriction in hypertension, the role of bronchoconstriction in asthma, the role of cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic synapses in diseases of the central/peripheral nervous systems, may be mediated in vivo by the stimulation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerols, the latter being generated in the cell by pathological agents or conditions.
In analyzing the activity of a pharmaceutical or other bioactive compound, it is useful to consider two properties: the efficacy, defined as the capability to elicit a full or partial biological result, such as complete displacement of a ligand from its receptor site or the complete inhibition of inflammation or edema caused by a standard stimulus; and the potency, defined as that amount or concentration of drug that causes 50% of the full response (often abbreviated as the ED.sub.50). It is frequently the case within a given class of pharmaceutical agents that individual members of the class all have equal efficacy, i.e. they each can generate a full biological effect, but they show differing potencies. Thus, the structural modifications within such a class affect only the amount necessary to achieve a given result, and the modified compounds otherwise have generally the same central biological characteristic. There may also be differences between members of such a class as regards properties other than the central biological characteristic; for example, members of the class might differ in side effects or toxicity.
Well-known pharmaceuticals that have been in extensive use for years or decades show a wide range of optimal therapueutic potencies. Aspirin, for example, is often taken in multi-gram amounts per day for treatment of inflammation or arthritis, and detailed analyses of its mechanism of action in vitro show that a concentration in the millimolar range is required. In contrast, steroid-based topical anti-inflammatory compounds such as fluocinolone acetonide are many thousand-fold more potent, and, beyond this, some oral contraceptive agents are prescribed in daily doses in the micro-gram range. Thus, although high potency is generally advantageous for a pharmaceutical, it is not an absolute requirement.
Several thousand of the high skin-inflammatory and tumor-promoting phorboids have been reported in the literature, including numerous examples on which minor chemical modifications have been made see Evans and Soper, Lloydia 41 193-233 (1978) and references cited therein!. The structures of these phorboids can be compared, and their activities for inflammation and tumor promotion can be analyzed from the perspective of efficacy and potency. The structures of the different classes of phorboids vary quite markedly from one to the other class (see Summary of the Invention for structural comparisons), yet widespread testing of their biological activities has shown that these classes have generally very similar biological properties. In particular, the thousands of known phorboids of the highly potent diterpene, indolactam, and polyacetate classes appear to have, with very minor exceptions, virtually identical efficacies as skin irritants and tumor promoters T. Sugimura, Gann 73 499-507 (1982)!. The exceptions involve a few compounds that have a short duration of irritant activity and/or manifest diminished tumor promoting activity, perhaps due to toxicity or secondary parameters such as differing metabolic destruction rates.
In contrast to the essentially equal efficacies among the vast majority of phorboids, their relative potencies cover a wide range, as measured in inflammation and promotion tests and as measured in numerous other in vivo and in vitro systems. Example compounds can be found in the diterpene, indolactam, and polyacetate classes that have nearly equal, very high potencies. At the same time there are compounds in each of these classes which embody significant structural changes that do not diminish efficacy but do result in potency decreases of 10-fold to 100,000-fold or more see, for example, Driedger and Blumberg, Cancer Res. 37 3257-3265 (1977), Cancer Res. 39 714-719 (1979)!. Thus, all these compounds appear to be capable of achieving generally the same biological results, and merely differ in the amount which must be used to obtain a given result.
In vitro measurements of biochemical properties provide an even more sensitive method for comparing the properties of the various phorboids. For example, using a radioactively labeled phorboid such as .sup.3 H!phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate or .sup.3 H!lyngbyatoxin, one can measure the potency of a test compound as a competitive ligand for the diacylglycerol binding site on protein kinase C. Alternatively, one can measure the ability of a given phorboid to stimulate the protein kinase C-mediated incorporation of radioactive phosphate from .sup.32 P!adenosine triphosphate into a standard acceptor substrate such as histone H1. Tests of this nature reveal a difference in potency between given phorboid agonists of as much as 10,000,000-fold or more Dunn and Blumberg, Cancer Res. 43 4632-4637 (1983), Table 1!.
These basic data regarding the phorboid agonists are an important consideration because they underscore the concept that the structural differences among these previously known phorboids, especially the diterpenes, indolactams, polyacetates, and bryostatins, generally do not affect their efficacies as toxic agonists, and indeed a wide variety of structural changes are tolerated in this regard. Such changes generally alter potency only and do not provide agents with therapeutic utility, since they retain their toxicity.
Some minor changes in phorboid structure are known to result in inactive compounds, such as a stereochemical change from 4-beta to 4-alpha in the phorbol series, and indeed some of the diterpene skeleton structures carry hydroxy groups that must be esterified in order for inflammatory activity to be observed. However, these inactive compounds are quite few in number among the known phorboids, and no therapeutic utility has been demonstrated for them.
The phorbol esters, indolactams, polyacetates, diaminobenzyl alcohols, and bryostatins are generally found in plants, molds, and algae, or are synthetic in origin. Although they are found in many parts of the world, normal human contact with them is thought to be low. In contrast, the diacylglycerols are part of the functioning of virtually every type of animal cell except erythrocytes of some species, and thus the undesirable activation of protein kinase C by the diacylglycerols may have a very widespread role in human diseases.
Thus, new compounds, capable of blocking the activation of protein kinase C by acting as specific pharmacological antagonists of the diacylglycerols, would be valuable agents in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases in animals and humans.
There may be several different forms of protein kinase C each having different biological roles. The stimulation of one form can lead to undesirable results such as inflammation or the development of cancer, while stimulation of another form of the enzyme might produce beneficial effects, such as the abrogation of inflammation or the secretion of useful bioregulatory factors such as hormones and interferons.
Moreover, the exact correspondence between diacylglycerol binding sites and protein kinase C has not been fully explored, and there may be several different such binding sites with differential affinities for diacylglycerols and other phorboids. Indeed there is published evidence for several distinct classes of phorboid binding sites in various tissues and cell types (Dunn and Blumberg, op. cit.). However, in this study, even the ligands showing the clearest differences in affinity for these distinct classes are only selective by a factor of 10-100 in dissociation constant. Thus, other new compounds, capable of selectively activating one useful, but not another, deleterious, diacylglycerol target site, would also be valuable agents for the prevention or treatment of inflammation.
Earlier efforts to use the previously known phorboids themselves or to modify the structures of the known phorboids, have not been successful in producing useful compounds.
It has been known for some time that several of the toxic, inflammatory and tumor-promoting compounds such as phorbol 12-tigliate 13-decanoate, mezerein, lyngbyatoxin and aplysiatoxin have anti-leukemic activity in mouse model tests. However, these compounds are all extremely toxic and are cancer suspect agents, thus eliminating them from consideration as human therapeutic agents.
Ganong et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 83 1184-1188 (1986)! tested a series of diacylglycerols and found no antagonistic activity in that series against the standard agonist 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. It is of particular note that several compounds tested in this work were modified in the hydroxymethyl portion of the diacylglycerol molecule, and these modifications produced only a loss of activity or a weakened activity that was not distinguishable from the agonist activity of 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol itself. These hydroxymethyl-modified compounds were not antagonists in these tests and no utility was found. Similarly, Thielmann and Hecker Forsch. Krebsforsch. Vol. VII, pp. 171-179 (1969), New York: Schattauer! found only a complete loss of biological activity in their study when the hydroxy group of the hydroxymethyl on phorbol 12,13-didecanoate was replaced with hydrogen or chlorine. Schmidt and Hecker H. Lettre and G. Wagner (eds.), Aktuelle Probleme aus dem Gebiet der Cancerologie, Vol. III, 3rd Heidelberg Symposium, pp. 98-108. Berlin: Springer Verlag, 1971.! also found that oxidation of the hydroxymethyl of phorbol 12,13-didecanoate to a carboxylic acid caused complete loss of activity in the assays used.
The hydroxymethyl group of the known phorboids (discussed in more detail in Summary of the Invention) has been thought to be required for biological activity, as detailed by Hecker (Carcinogenesis. Vol. 2, eds. Slaga, Sivak and Boutwell, Raven Press, New York, 1978, pp. 11-48 and references cited therein). Indeed, it is stated therein that the replacement of the 20-hydroxyl in a phorbol ester "results in complete loss of biological activity". In another study, replacement of the hydroxy group of the hydroxymethyl (located at carbon 14) by chlorine or hydrogen in indolactam V gave rise to compounds with agonist activity weaker than but otherwise not distinguished from the agonist activity of the very toxic teleocidin class of tumor promoters Irie et al., Int. J. Cancer 36 485-488 (1985)!. Thus no utility was found.
Schmidt and Hecker (Carcinogenesis, Vol. 7, ed. by E. Hecker et al., Raven Press, New York, 1982, pp. 57-63) studied the abilities of a series of diterpene phorboids to inhibit tumor promotion by the standard phorboid agonist tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). They found that, at low doses, some short-chain ester derivatives of phorbol were able to block the tumor promotion by PMA. However, all of the compounds that were active as antagonists at low doses are also very efficacious skin irritants themselves at higher doses and most of them are also known to have tumor promoting activity. Thus, these short-chain esters still have toxic inflammatory and tumor promoting activity and thus have no therapeutic value. In this publication it was also noted that a phorbol 12-ester, namely phorbol 12-myristate, was without activity as an antagonist of PMA-induced tumor promotion. Thielmann and Hecker (op. cit.) also found phorbol 12-decanoate and phorbol 12-myristate to be inactive in the functional tests used, and stated that the 13-OH must be esterified to obtain active compounds.


A foldable box includes six substantially rectangular plastic sides which are connected to each other by live hinges so that the sides may be folded flat or opened to a substantially hexagonal configuration. A substantially hexagonal plastic bottom is connected to the bottom edge of one of the sides by a live hinge and a substantially hexagonal plastic top is connected to the top edge of one of the sides by a live hinge. An inner flange extends substantially orthogonally from the bottom edges of at least two of the sides other than the one to which the plastic bottom is attached for supporting the plastic bottom when the box is assembled by folding. An outer extending flange is provided on at least two edges of the plastic top to support it when the box is folded closed. A removable substantially hexagonal plastic shelf is preferably provided and inner surfaces of at least two sides are provided with interior flanges to support the shelf. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the box is made from a molded plastic blank which is ultrasonically welded.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to folding boxes. More particularly, the invention relates to a six-sided plastic collapsible box having an integral lid and a removable shelf.
2. State of the Art
A foldable hexagonal box is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,871 to Rudowitz. The box is made from a flat blank which is cut and folded to form a box having six sides and an integral bottom. The bottom is provided with several relatively complex triangular flaps which allow the bottom to be secured to the sides. No top for the box is disclosed.
A hexagonal box designed to contain baked goods is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,304,373 to Palmer. The box is made from three separate pieces: a bottom piece, a top piece, and an annular band. The box is held together by the inherent resiliency of the paperboard from which the pieces are made and the sizing of the annular band which must fit snugly.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,254 to Ullger discloses a folding box similar to that of Rudowitz. However, Ullger's box provides hooked tongues and slots to hold the bottom in place. A separate lid is also disclosed.
Other box and container constructions are disclosed in Carruthers, U.S. Pat. No. 1,995,053, Osberg, U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,089, Blatt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,017 and Heitele, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,288. These boxes are generally difficult to assemble, usually requiring many folds and the insertion of tabs, etc. In addition, once assembled, they are not easily broken down to flat condition for storage and reuse. Further, the known boxes are most often made of degradable material such as paperboard which cannot be cleaned for reuse without damaging the box.

Folding box with removable shelf particularly suited for containing baked goods


A flexible tube occluder has a body portion and a slider portion which act to occlude a tube to prevent unwanted flow of fluid to a patient. The body portion and slider portion are engaged such that slider portion can move relative to body portion. The body portion extends the full range of slider portion's motion and thus the occluder allows for stable occluding and open positions. The slider portion has a slot of varying size which is used to occlude the tube by pressing the tube within the surface of the slot and to allow free flow of fluid through the tube.

The present invention generally relates to occluders for flexible tubing that prevent fluid flow through a portion of tubing. The present invention specifically relates to the selective occluding of an intravenous (IV) tube used to infuse liquid medication to a patient.
Intravenous infusion of medical solutions to patients is well known in the medical profession. Such infusion devices typically use a pump, such as a peristaltic pump, to create a moving zone of occlusion along a portion of an IV tube to administer fluid to a patient. The danger inherent in the use of the IV tube with a pump is that unwanted fluid will flow to the patient. Typically, the times of greatest concern for this danger are during the initial set-up of the IV administration system and at any subsequent time when the IV tube is connected between the fluid source and the patient and the IV tube becomes disengaged from the infusion device for some reason.
Various devices to constrict or occlude flow of liquid through tubes are described in the prior art. Typical devices include manually operated slide clamps. Roller clamps, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,038, are one such example. A slide clamp of typical design is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,848. Both of these clamps are multi-element assemblies and both must be activated independently and separately from any medical device which may be operatively attached to the IV fluid line.
The need to coordinate the operation of a clamp or occluder with an associated medical device, such as a peristaltic pump has been recognized in the prior art as well. U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,691 discloses a safety slide clamp that requires the cooperation of structure between the device and the slide clamp itself. Another prior art slide clamp for an IV tube associated with an IV infusion pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,043. This device includes a peristaltic pump enclosed in a housing with a door and a door mounted handle for operatively engaging and disengaging the slide clamp. The disclosed clamp, however, includes several elements, each of which may require precision machine tolerances. U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,098 (U.S. Ser. No. 08/241,041, filed May 9, 1994) discloses a fluid flow stop which protects against unintended actuation with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism, however, somewhat complicates the user interface by requiring a two-step process. At a minimum, two hands are needed to manually manipulate the locking mechanism.
A product available from Medex Inc., known as the Trilogy.TM. Multichannel Infusion Pump, includes an optional flow clip on the disposable IV administration sets for use with the infusion pump. The flow clamp is a single piece of deformable plastic with two extending members that must be spread apart by the pump to open the tube, similar to a clothespin arrangement. In the relaxed state, the flow clamp occludes all flow of liquid through the tube. This structure is difficult to adapt for manual use, due to the fact that it is more difficult to spread two members apart, rather than pushing them together. In addition, the default to occluding the tube may lead to the permanent deformation of both the clamp and the tube itself.


The coordinate input pen according to the present invention is a coordinate input pen for specifying a current position of the coordinate input pen by emitting an ultrasonic wave, including: an ultrasonic wave oscillating section for oscillating the ultrasonic wave for specifying coordinates of the current position; an ultrasonic wave emitting outlet for emitting, to an outside, the ultrasonic wave oscillated by the ultrasonic wave oscillating section; and an ultrasonic wave propagation route which has a fixed length and extends from the ultrasonic wave oscillating section to the ultrasonic wave emitting outlet and is used to propagate the ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic wave emitting outlet. As a result, it is possible to maintain the output level of the ultrasonic wave oscillated by the ultrasonic wave oscillating section constant regardless of how large a stroke pressure applied on the coordinate input pen is.

As a coordinate input apparatus for use in specifying a position on a screen of a display device or displaying lines such as characters and figures on the display device, various pointing devices such as mouse-type devices, pen-type devices, and track balls have been known.
Recently, pen-type devices (coordinate input pen) using ultrasonic waves have been proposed as pointing devices and have attracted attention. The coordinate input pen based on the ultrasonic wave method oscillates an ultrasonic wave by the coordinate input pen and calculates the position of the coordinate input pen on the basis of a propagation period from a time when an ultrasonic wave is oscillated to a time when a receiver fixed on a pad member (input face) such as a paper receives the ultrasonic wave, thereby inputting the input position of the coordinate input pen and manuscript writing in a computer. The foregoing technique allows manuscript input with ease. Further, this ultrasonic wave method allows input of exact input position of a pen and exact lines of the pen without providing a special board or a paper.
In a coordinate input apparatus adopting the foregoing coordinate input pen using ultrasonic waves, in order to accurately detect an input position of the coordinate input pen, it is necessary to maintain an output level of an ultrasonic wave from the coordinate input pen constant regardless of changes in stroke pressure applied on the coordinate input pen when an input instruction is given to the input face by the coordinate input pen. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 175580/1995 (Tokukaihei 7-175580; published on Jul. 14, 1995) discloses an example structure wherein an output level of an ultrasonic wave as emitted from the coordinate input pen can be maintained constant.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 175580/1995, a pressure sensor provided in the input pen detects a pressure (stroke pressure) applied on the input pen in a direction of the central axis of the frame of the input pen, and an operation control circuit controls a driving voltage control circuit to adjust a driving voltage for driving an oscillating section which oscillates an ultrasonic wave.
To be specific, in the coordinate input pen based on the ultrasonic wave method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 175580/1995, in a case where the driving voltage for driving the oscillating section is constant, when a stroke pressure applied on the input pen is high, an output level of the ultrasonic wave increases. Therefore, the operation control circuit performs control so that the driving voltage drops as the stroke pressure increases.
For example, when the stroke pressure is low, the operation control circuit performs control so that the driving voltage increases. By driving the oscillating section with the increased driving voltage, it is possible to obtain a desired output level of an ultrasonic wave. Further, when the stroke pressure is high, the operation control circuit performs control so that the driving voltage drops. By driving the oscillating section with the dropped driving voltage, it is possible to obtain a desired output level of an ultrasonic wave.
Namely, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 175580/1995, the driving voltage for driving the oscillating section is changed according to a change in the stroke pressure, so that the output level of the ultrasonic wave oscillated by the oscillating section is constant.
The foregoing conventional structure has the following problem. That is, to maintain the output level of the ultrasonic wave oscillated by the oscillating section constant, it is necessary to adjust a driving voltage for driving the oscillating section driving circuit according to changes in the stroke pressure applied on the coordinate input pen, which forces the driving circuit to have a complex structure.

Coordinate input pen and coordinate input apparatus having the same


A film loading device of a camera receiving a film accommodating type cartridge has a cartridge chamber lid turnably supported in a loose state and a positioning shaft having a slidingly supported inclined portion attached to a presser member fixed to the chamber lid. When a cartridge is loaded and the cartridge chamber lid is turned in a closing direction, a fitting portion of the lid is fitted to a cartridge chamber and the positioning shaft is inserted into the positioning hole of the cartridge by being smoothly guided by the inclined surface position thereof and perfectly engaged with the hole. The positioning shaft is securely and smoothly inserted into the loaded cartridge in the film loading device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film loading device for loading and taking-out a film cartridge in which a film is accommodated in a camera using the film cartridge.
2. Related Art Statement
Conventionally, there are cameras using a film cartridge in which a film is accommodated before the cartridge is loaded to the cameras and the film is fed out after the film cartridge is loaded. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-168318 discloses a film loading device for loading and taking out this type of a film cartridge.
In the film loading device, urging means is disposed to a cartridge support member for supporting a film cartridge shaft between it and a fork so as to urge the cartridge in an axial direction, an end of the cartridge shaft is chamfered and the cartridge is supported by causing the semi-spherical or conical support portion of the cartridge support member to be abutted against the chamfered portion and applying an urging force thereto by the urging means.
However, in the film loading device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-168318, since the cartridge is supported by the chamfered portion at the end of the cartridge shaft and is not completely fitted thereto, when a radial force is applied to the cartridge, there is a possibility that the cartridge is dislocated.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-234744 discloses a film loading device having a rotatable cartridge support member for supporting a cartridge which is located at a position confronting the fork of a cartridge chamber through the cartridge. The loaded cartridge is supported by the fork and the cartridge support member. Note, the cartridge support member is supported by the fork and the cartridge support member. Note, the cartridge support member is attached to an openable/closable cartridge chamber lid.
However, in the film loading device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-234744, since the extreme end of the cartridge support member on a cartridge engaging side has an end shape having a predetermined uniform inclining angle, the inclined portion at the end is narrow. Thus, when there is positional dislocation between the cartridge and the cartridge support member, it may be difficult for them to engage with each other. In addition, since the positional accuracy of the cartridge chamber lid to the cartridge chamber is not always good, there may be a case that the positional accuracy of a support shaft which is supported by the cartridge chamber lid to position the cartridge to the cartridge chamber is poor. In such a case, since the spool shaft of the cartridge is inclined, there is a danger that film feed operation is made unstable.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-43812 discloses a film cartridge door opening/closing device arranged such that after a shading cartridge door disposed to the film entrance/exit port of a cartridge, that is, a cartridge shading door is driven by film feed means after a cartridge chamber lid is closed to thereby open a cartridge door. Note, the spool shaft of the cartridge is supported by a spool drive fork and a holding shaft supported by the cartridge chamber lid.
However, the cartridge door opening/closing device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-43812 has a danger that the spool shaft of the cartridge is inclined and film feed operation is made unstable.

Film loading device having cartridge positioning shaft for camera


An electronic faucet including a delivery spout, a valve cartridge, a bonnet nut securing the valve cartridge within the delivery spout, and a handle operably coupled to a valve stem of the valve cartridge. The bonnet nut is illustratively formed of a conductive polymer. A contact spring is supported by the valve stem, wherein an electrically conductive path extends from the faucet handle, the contact spring, the bonnet nut and the delivery spout.

The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic faucet and, more particularly, to a conductive bonnet nut for providing an electrical flow path between a faucet handle and a faucet spout.
Automatic and electronic faucets (hereinafter referred to as electronic faucets), such as those including capacitive control or sensing features, are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in residential households. Exemplary electronic faucets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,395, entitled "Multi-Mode Hands Free Automatic Faucet", U.S. Pat. No. 8,127,782, entitled "Multi-Mode Hands Free Automatic Faucet", U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,579, entitled "Multi-Mode Hands Free Automatic Faucet", U.S. Pat. No. 8,613,419, entitled "Capacitive Coupling Arrangement for a Faucet", U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,564, entitled "Multi-Mode Hands Free Automatic Faucet", U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,105, entitled "Capacitive Sensing Apparatus and Method for Faucets", U.S. Pat. No. 9,243,390, entitled "Capacitive Sensing Faucet including a Conductive Polymer", and U.S. Pat. No. 9,243,756, entitled "Capacitive User Interface", the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention provides for a conductive polymer bonnet nut which allows for electronic faucets to create an electrically conductive path between a handle and a delivery spout while using an inert material. This allows for bonnet nuts formed of a consistent material for use with faucets including spouts formed of a variety of materials. Without this, the bonnet nut material would need to be compatible with the spout material of each different faucet to prevent galvanic corrosion.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic faucet includes a first faucet component formed of an electrically conducted material, a second faucet component formed of an electrically conducted material, and a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the first faucet component. A controller is operably coupled to the capacitive sensor, wherein an outlet signal from the capacitive sensor is supplied to the controller. A mounting nut is threadably coupled to the first faucet component, the mounting nut being formed of an electrically conductive polymer. A contact spring extends between a first end and a second end, the first end being in electrical contact with a mounting nut, and the second end being in electrical contact with the second faucet component. The contact spring is formed of an electrically conductive material. An electrically conducted path extends from the second faucet component, the contact spring, the mounting nut and the first faucet component to the capacitive sensor.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic faucet includes a faucet spout formed of an electrically conductive material, a faucet handle formed of an electrically conductive material, and a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the faucet spout. A controller is operably coupled in the capacitive sensor, wherein an outlet signal from the capacitive sensor is supplied to the controller. A bonnet nut is threadably coupled to the faucet spout, the bonnet nut being formed of an electrically conductive polymer. An electrically conductive member extends between a first end and a second end, the first end in electrical contact with the bonnet nut, and the second end in electrical contact with the faucet handle. A valve cartridge is secured within the faucet spout by the bonnet nut, the valve cartridge including a valve stem operably coupled to the faucet handle. An electrically conductive path extends from the faucet handle, the electrically conductive member, the bonnet nut and the faucet spout to the capacitive sensor.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic faucet includes a faucet spout formed of an electrically conductive material, a faucet handle formed of an electrically conductive material, and a bonnet nut threadably coupled to the faucet spout, the bonnet nut being formed of an electrically conductive polymer. A contact spring extends between a first end and a second end, the first end in electrical contact with the bonnet nut, and the second end in electrical contact with the faucet handle. The contact spring is formed of an electrically conductive material. A valve cartridge is secured within the faucet spout by the bonnet nut, the valve cartridge including a valve stem operably coupled to the faucet handle. An electrically conducted path extends from the faucet handle, the contact spring, the bonnet nut and the faucet spout.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Conductive bonnet nut for an electronic faucet


An image invariant optical speckle capturing device and method. A highly coherent light is used to illuminate a surface and is scattered by the surface, and is captured from the direction with a ±10° from the angle of specular reflection. A light restrictive module is designed to confine the angular field of view of the sensor, when the speckle capturing device has a relative motion with respect to the surface, the speckle only move on the image but the shape and the intensity are almost keep constant, that is favorable for high accuracy optical pattern recognition and positioning.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a device for capturing an image invariant optical speckle formed from interfering diffractive light, more particular, the optical speckle generated by passing scattered light through a small-aperture light restrictive element and the method thereof.
2. Related Art
When two highly coherent light beams overlap in the space and the optical path length difference less than the coherent length, an interference pattern is produced. Optical interference can be classified as constructive interference and destructive interference, where constructive interference produces spots with highly brightness whereas destructive interference results dark spots. Therefore, result of interference will be a spatial pattern with scattered bright and dark spots and is called speckle pattern or speckle image. Interference is related to the wavelength and the optical path length difference. When two light beams overlap in the space and the difference of optical path length between these two beams is odd integer multiple of half wavelength, destructive interference is produced. If the difference of optical path length between these two beams is integer multiple of the wavelength, constructive interference is created. Therefore, the sensitivity of the interference is half of the wavelength. The wavelength of light is fairly short, for example, wavelength range covered by visible light is from 0.4 μm to 0.7 μm. Half wavelength sensitivity is highly accurate and, therefore, interference effect is used extensively in a number of different fields.
When highly coherent light incidents on an optical rough surface, the scattered lights are produced and propagate in arbitrary directions in the space. When these scattered lights overlap in the space with the optical path difference less than the coherent length of the light, stable interference is produced. The result of the interference is an image with scattered bright and dark areas, called optical speckle.
Optical speckle was recognized as noise and considered as a ruining factor for an optical system. While optical speckle was discovered to have relation with the movement, it was used as a kind of sensing technique. Recently, unique of optical speckle was used as sensing technique for movement sensing. An U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,506 B1 (referred as patent 506 thereafter) published in 2003 discloses a one-dimensional displacement sensing in which the optical speckle pattern is captured by a device consists of a coherent light, an optical aperture, and an imaging lens. The favorite size of speckle can be obtained by using an aperture of suitable dimension in patent 506 in order to match the pixel size of the imaging sensor. Patent 506 further emphasized that the aperture has to be placed at the focal point of the imaging lens and, the optical axis of imaging lens and aperture is perpendicular to the surface, such that the height variation in the vertical direction on the surface has little effect on the speckle. Another U.S. patent number 20050024623 (referred as patent 623 thereafter) discloses an optical displacement detection method and device. A highly coherent light source is used to emit a coherent light beam, illuminates a surface and reflected by the surface, the specular reflected light is received by a sensor disposed in the direction of reflection. When the angle of reflected light makes with the surface equals to the angle of incident light makes with the surface, called specular reflection. The sensor receives the specular reflected and the scattered lights simultaneously, the scattered lights interfere with each other and produce a number of speckles on the sensor. By comparing the speckle pattern after the movement and the speckle pattern prior the movement, the direction and the amount of displacement can be determined.
Another related technique is published U.S. patent application WO2004075040 (referred as case 040 thereafter) discloses an optical signal processing method and device, which is used in an optical mouse with digital signal processing. By collecting the speckle movement signals, the relative displacement of the mouse with respect to the surface, on which the scattered light is produced, can be obtained. The mouse comprises electrical signal amplification and shaping modules, direction decision and counting modules, computer interface, a laser light source, and a sensor for receiving the laser speckle image. The speckle image received by the sensor is transferred to electric signal and send to the signal amplification and shaping modules. All of signal analyses described above are related to analyze the counts of bright and dark spots in the speckle image, which is captured by the sensor and, then, transferred to the direction of movement and the amount of displacement. The structure in case 040 is simple. But if the surface is smooth, the speckle size created will be very small, unfavorable for the analysis of bright and dark areas of speckle. Therefore, the resolution capability and sensitivity of the system will be degraded.
The specular reflection is received by the sensor in patent 623 and the received signal is then divided into DC and AC parts. DC part is smooth brightness of the reflected light, AC part is the bright and dark areas of the speckle. When the size of speckle is too small, the AC signal is difficult to recognizing and, therefore, is difficult to analyzing.
The aperture has to be placed at the focal point of the imaging lens in patent 506, which is a telecentric projection system. Although the system is insensitive to the variation of height in the vertical direction, the aperture in this structure has no capability to confine the image capturing area on the surface, however. That means this structure can not confine the angular field of view of sensor to the scattered light from the surface. The structure in patent 506 can be used to control the size of speckle but has limit capability to avoid the variation of speckle during the relative motion between surface and the imaging system.
Therefore, the key factors for accurately and correctly recognize a two-dimensional speckle pattern include adequacy of speckle size, brightness of speckle that is created by constructive interference, signal to noise ratio of the speckle pattern and, most of all, is the speckle in a speckle pattern image invariant. The image invariant optical speckle pattern is the unique one which is favorable for correct navigation and precision positioning and can be extensively used in such devices as laser mouse, finger navigation, intelligence card, three-dimensional finger print identification.

Image invariant optical speckle capturing device and method

Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology


A system, method, and apparatus are provided to deliver integrated call screen list based telephony services for a subscriber having both landline and mobile wireless telephone terminals. Call screen list based services are selectively provided to a landline or mobile wireless telephone terminal for which an incoming call is being received. These services can be coordinated and integrated between the landline and mobile wireless telephone terminals in various telephony topologies. For example, services can be integrated when the landline and mobile wireless telephone terminals are operably connected to separate mobile and landline telecommunications switching infrastructures or to a common integrated landline and wireless telecommunications switch. One or more call screen lists may be used to define integrated call screen list based services for landline and wireless telephone terminals.

The present invention relates to mobile and landline telecommunications services, and more particularly to selectively integrating call screen list based telephony services for subscriber having both mobile wireless and landline telephone terminals.
Originally, telecommunications was supported through traditional landline based telephony technology. To insure consistency between numerous landline telephony systems, well defined standards, protocols, and topologies were developed over time. More recently, wireless telephony as developed as an alternative means of telecommunications. However, wireless telephony evolved with its own separate and distinct standards, protocols, and topologies optimized for the mobile telephony environment. In addition, landline and mobile telecommunications each developed their own separate and distinct networks and switching infrastructures.
Interfaces have been developed between the landline and mobile telephony networks, allowing subscribers of the respective networks to communicate. Initially, special purpose equipment served to interconnect these independent networks. Recently. telecommunications switches Were developed that could interoperatc in both landline and mobile networks. However,duplicate telephony switches and networks are still pervasive. As a result, subscribers of both landline and mobile telephony services are often serviced by different telephony switches and networks depending on whether subscribers are receiving landline or mobile wireless telephony services.
Subscribers must therefore interface separately with landline and mobile telephony networks to activate and configure the respective telephony services provided by each network. Separate activation and configuration of landline and wireless telephony services occurs even with modern integrated landline and wireless telephony switches. While user interfaces are provided to subscribers of the respective networks for configuring telephony services, telephony services provided to subscribers of both landline and mobile telecommunications networks are not delivered in an integrated manner. No coordination exists between the landline and mobile wireless facilities that provide common telephony services. As a result, subscribers to both landline and mobile telephony services can encounter problems obtaining the desired telephony services, particularly with respect to incoming call screening, incoming call acceptance, incoming call rejection, incoming call forwarding, and related telephony services.
In this regard, incoming call screening and incoming call acceptance services are generally defined by a call screen list associated with a particular telephone number. Presently, separate call screen lists are required to define these services for mobile and landline telephony subscribers respectively. Telephony service subscribers must activate, configure, and deactivate these lists individually in each network. For instance, to customize call screen list call blocking services, a customer would first configure an incoming call screen list managed for their mobile telephone by the mobile network through a first user interface provided by that network. Subsequently, if that customer also desired to customize call screening services for their wired home telephone, they would also have to configure an incoming call screen list managed by the landline network for their landline telephone through a different user interface provided by that network.
As a result, subscribers may be inconvenienced by the redundant management and configuration of telephony services for their mobile and landline telephones. Because the interfaces for managing mobile and landline are separate and different, a subscriber may be unable or unwilling to configure call screen list based services as desired. Confusion may result, since a subscriber may lose track of the services to be provided for each respective telephone.
In addition, subscribers could lose calls and messages because their call screening services are not coordinated. For example, a family member whose calls are always accepted by a landline telephone may be unintentionally screened from calling a mobile telephone, if the subscriber forgot to configure the call screen list for their mobile telephone to identify calls from the family member as telephone calls that should always be accepted. Alternatively, subscribers may be contacted by callers to whom they did not wish to speak. For instance, a harassing caller blocked from calling a mobile telephone may be accidentally omitted from the call blocking screen list of a landline telephone. Even if both call screen lists were configured as desired by the subscriber, it is not possible to automatically integrate and coordinate the delivery of services between the mobile and landline telephony systems. For example, it is not practical for a subscriber to configure call blocking or acceptance services to be delivered automatically according to the combination of their mobile and landline call screen lists.
While various call screening and call acceptance services are available for mobile telephony service subscribers and landline telephony service subscribers, a need still exists for improved call screening and call acceptance services. A need to resolve the foregoing problems faced by subscribers of both mobile and landline telephony services also exist. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide additional call screening and call acceptance services to telephony service subscribers.
The present invention provides improved and additional call screen list based services for subscribers of landline and mobile wireless telephone terminals by selectively integrating the various call screen list based services. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided which receives a telephone call intended for a first telephone terminal which may be a mobile or landline telephone terminal, analyzes each call screen list associated with mobile and landline telephone terminals of a subscriber, and provides telephony services to the telephone terminal receiving a telephone call according to the analysis of each call screen list. The method can determine whether the first telephone terminal being called is subscribed to receive call screen list based services. In addition, the method can determine to which call screen list based services the telephone terminal receiving the call is subscribed. The method can either logically associate or logically twin mobile and landline telephone terminals to provide call screen list based services. As such, the method of this embodiment selectively integrates call screen list based services for a subscriber having both mobile and landline telephony services.
The present invention further provides a system for selectively integrating call screen list based telephony services for a subscriber having both mobile and landline telephony services. The system comprises a first telecommunications switch, a memory device, and a telephony service device. The first telecommunications switch receives a telephone call intended for a first telephone terminal of the plurality of mobile and land line telephone terminals of a subscriber. The memory device stores each call screen list associated with the mobile and landline telephone terminals of the subscriber which define the call screen list based telephony services to be provided. Finally, the telephony service device analyzes each call screen list and accordingly provides telephony services to the first telephone terminal of the subscriber based upon the call screen list based services defined for the mobile and landline telephone terminals. Services are provided based upon at least one call screen list defining call screen list based services for at least one telephone terminal of the subscriber. These services are provided irrespective of which type of telephone terminal of the subscriber is the first telephone terminal receiving the incoming telephone call.
In one embodiment, the first telecommunications switch and the telephony service device are disposed within a single integrated telecommunications switch for servicing both mobile and landline telephone terminals. In another embodiment, the telephony service device can be a second telecommunications switch operably connected to the first telecommunications switch. In addition, the system can include a subscriber user interface for managing call screen list based telephony services for mobile and landline telephone terminals.
The present invention further provides an apparatus having a first interface, a memory device, and a computer processor for selectively providing integrated call screen list based telephony services to a subscriber having both mobile and landline telephone terminals. The first interface receives requests to provide call screen list based telephony services to a first telephone terminal of a subscriber receiving an incoming telephone call. The memory device stores each call screen list associated with telephony services to be provided to the mobile and landline telephone terminals of a subscriber. The computer processor executing software accesses and analyzes each call screen list associated with the mobile and landline telephone terminals. Call screen list based services are selectively provided to the first telephone terminal receiving the telephone call according to the analysis of each call screen list.
The present invention further provides an apparatus for selectively requesting integrated call screen list based telephony services for a subscriber having both mobile and landline telephony services. The apparatus comprises a first interface, a second interface, a memory device, and a computer processor. The first interface receives telephone calls intended for a first telephone terminal of the subscriber, while the second interface sends requests for call screen list based telephony services to be provided to the first telephone terminal. The memory device is operably connected to the computer processor and the first and second interfaces. Further, the memory device stores each call screen list associated with call screen list based telephony services provided to the telephone terminals of the subscriber. The computer processor executing software is operably connected to the memory device, and can access and analyze each call screen list. Thus, call screen list based telephony services are provided to the first telephone terminal of the subscriber according to an analysis of each call screen list.
The various embodiments of the present invention provide coordination and selective integration of call screen list based telephony services for the mobile wireless and landline telephone terminals of a subscriber. The inconvenience and unpredictability of managing these services separately for mobile and landline telephone terminals of a subscriber are therefore minimized.

Integrated telecommunications services for mobile and landline telephony service subscriber


An improved watercraft hull providing stability and maneuverability in turns. The hull may include a longitudinal centerline extending from bow to stern, a first and second transverse air channel that are fluidly isolated from the rest of the hull, the first and second air channels separating the hull into a bow planing portion, a middle planing portion, and a stern planing portion, a first plurality of strakes protruding from the bow planing portion, a second plurality of strakes protruding from the middle planing portion, and a third plurality of strakes protruding from the stern portion. The hull may also include a V-shaped keel portion at the bow portion centerline, and a flattened hull portion at the stern portion centerline having a deadrise angle of 0°, the flattened hull portion being disposed between and directly adjacent to two adjacent longitudinal elements of the third plurality of longitudinal elements.

Watercraft such as high-speed powerboats typically include any of a variety of design features to improve speed, directional stability, and maneuverability. High-speed powerboats typically use dynamic lift, referred to as planing, to reduce resistance created by wave generation and to increase speed. Further, such watercraft often incorporate features to improve directional stability and control during operation.
One class of commonly used watercraft hull is the planing hull (for example, as shown in prior art FIGS. 1A and 1B), which is configured to create positive dynamic pressure so that its draft, or vertical distance to which the hull's keel extends below the waterline, decreases as the speed of the watercraft increases. In other words, a portion of the hull loses contact with the water, or lifts out of the water. The degree by which the front or fore portion of a hull lifts out the water is referred to as the trim angle. Dynamic lift reduces the wetted surface of the hull and, therefore, also reduces drag. However, planing hulls generally suffer from a resistance paradox. At speeds from a standstill to a speed about equal to 1.5 times the waterline length of the watercraft ("transition speed"), the watercraft is in "displacement mode," meaning that it has not yet reached planing speed and is displacing water as it moves forward. After reaching the transition speed, the watercraft goes into a "transition mode," in which it is no longer operating in displacement mode or planing mode. Within transition mode, the watercraft has a pronounced bow-up trim. As speed continues to increase, the watercraft moves out of the transition mode and into "planing mode," in which the trim levels out and the bow of the watercraft lowers somewhat (that is, the trim angle decreases). As the trim angle decreases, the resistance increases linearly with the dynamic pressure, which increases exponentially. This results in extremely high power requirements for very small increases in speed when trim angles are less than about 3 degrees.
Stepped planing hulls were developed to overcome this problem (for example, as shown in prior art FIG. 2). Stepped hull designs incorporate transverse discontinuities, or "steps," aft of the watercraft's center of gravity and center of pressure. These steps are generally transverse or substantially transverse (perpendicular to the watercraft's centerline), and break the one large, low-aspect-ratio planing hull into multiple high-aspect-ratio planing surfaces, thereby making the hull more efficient. Further, by providing multiple planing surfaces, the trim angle variation with speed is essentially eliminated, breaking the resistance paradox encountered with non-stepped or prismatic planing hulls. A stepped planing hull may be operated with the least drag and the optimal trim angle under all speeds. This makes the resistance increase more linearly with speed, rather than exponentially, and enables the boat to reach much higher speeds, or operate at higher efficiencies than the non-stepped planing hull.
However, the steps of a stepped hull cause a reduction in the wetted area of the hull at high speeds. Although this is favorable for speed and efficiency, it can adversely affect the directional stability and maneuverability of the watercraft. The more the wetted area of the hull is reduced, the more susceptible the watercraft becomes to yawing or uncontrolled turning at high speeds. In order to reintroduce yaw stability, some stepped hull watercraft include features such as strakes and pads, but these have largely been ineffective.
Other stepped hull watercraft include transverse air channels incorporated into the steps, which introduce air to the stern, thereby making the watercraft faster and more efficient than a non-stepped hull (for example, as shown in prior art FIG. 3). In some stepped hulls, air is sucked into the transverse cavities, from where it flows into the stern portion of the boat, toward the transom. The air beneath the stern also creates lift and reduces friction between the hull and the water. Essentially, a portion of the stern rides on a cushion of air. The reduction in wetted hull surface area and the resulting reduction in friction mean that the watercraft moves more easily in the water, thereby improving efficiency of the craft. However, this also means that the stern portion of the hull becomes "slippery," which can lead to handling, stability, and maneuverability difficulties. Further, although stepped hull designs that incorporate air channels that allow for longitudinal air flow may improve efficiency, the resulting air on the stern channels may introduce air into the water flow at the propeller and thereby reduce propeller performance and decrease propulsive efficiency, thereby offsetting gains in overall efficiency.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved stepped hull design that increases stability and maneuverability of a watercraft, while maintaining propeller performance and propulsive efficiency.


Control lines are secured to a completion string by a wrap wound around the completion string and control lines. The control lines are positioned adjacent to the completion string as it is lowered towards a well, and the wrap is wound helically around the lines and string in an open or closed loop manner. The placement and pitch of the wrap may be regulated, such as based upon the rate of advancement of the string into the well. One or multiple wraps may be used, and successive turns of the one or more wraps may overlap or be spaced from one another.

The invention relates generally to the field of well completions, and more particularly to techniques for providing and securing control lines to completion or production strings during deployment in a well.
Following drilling of oil and gas wells, completion strings are typically placed and cemented into a well for production of fluids from one or more production horizons from which they are raised to the Earth's surface for further processing. In many cases small tubing lines and conduits, electrical wiring and other conductors are associated with the completion string to perform various operations, such as sensing downhole parameters, opening and closing valves, permitting closing in of the well, injection of various chemicals, and so forth. Such lines, conduits and conductors are commonly referred to as "control lines", and one or many may be provided with any particular well.
There are a number of methods known for deploying control lines with tubes and piping lowered into wells. For example, various clamps may be placed over the control lines and at least a part of the piping to anchor the control lines to the outside of the piping. "Slips", "spiders" or some other support device is sometimes used to hole the piping during attachment of the control lines. In one particular arrangement that has proven particularly useful, clamps or straps are applied fasten the control lines to the piping in a space between a rig floor and an entry to the well.
There still exists a need for further refinement in techniques for attachment of control lines to completion strings that may offer alternatives and advantages over known approaches. There is a particular need for techniques that may reduce or eliminate the need for clamps and bands, and reduce the need for operations personnel to place or monitor placement of such devices.

Control line securement method and system