Disclosed is a carbamate adduct prepared by contacting carbon dioxide with an alkanolamine, preferably in a polar medium. The alkanolamine is characterized in that it consists of 1 or 2 ether linkages per molecule. The adduct finds value as a thermally decomposable blowing agent when preparing polyurethane foam and elastomeric products. Integral-skinned polyurethane products prepared in the presence of the carbamate adducts disclosed herein exhibit an enhanced abrasion resistance.

The manufacture of polyurethane polymers often requires the production of a polymer having a reduced density to provide suitability and economic viability for the use in certain applications. Polyurethane polymers of reduced density, also referred to as polyurethane foam, are generally prepared by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyether or polyester polyol in the presence of a physical blowing agent. Traditionally the employed blowing agents have been organic substances such as the fully halogenated or "hard" chlorofluorocarbons as exemplified by trichlorofluoromethane. However the continued use of "hard" chlorofluoroalkanes has been restricted by many governmental agencies in the interest of the environment. As an alternative, "soft" chlorofluoroalkanes distinguished by a hydrogen atom content such as, for example, dichorofluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane or chlorofluoromethane, have been proposed. The blowing efficiency of the mentioned alternative substances is frequently inferior to trichlorofluoromethane, and system solubility problems leading to processing complications are often encountered when preparing polyurethane foam. A more recently proposed alternative is the use of aliphatic or alicyclic alkanes and especially n-pentane, isopentane or cyclopentane. However the use of alkanes can also be accompanied by system solubility problems and additionally a flammability risk, unless appropriate precautions are taken. A yet more recent alternative now proposed in many instances is the use of water. Water is a "chemical" blowing agent and provides for a reduced density of the polyurethane polymer by its exothermic reaction with the polyisocyanate leading to the in situ generation of gaseous carbon dioxide which then confers the reduced density to the polymer. The use of water is associated with formation of a polyurea content in the polyurethane polymer and frequently confers an undesirable hardness and brittleness to the foam requiring compensation by selection of polyol or polyisocyanate. Additionally when intending to prepare an integral-skinned polyurethane product it is well recognized that use of water to generate carbon dioxide generally does not provide for an attractive skin formation.
It is now widely accepted that carbon dioxide is to be the blowing agent of choice meeting many of the customer desires and environmental demands. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an alternative source of carbon dioxide which is able to minimize the recognized deficiencies of water when producing a polyurethane foam, including an integral-skinned product.
Carbon dioxide can also be generated by thermal decomposition of certain inorganic substances such as ammonium carbonate or ammonium hydrogen carbonate. Organic substances can also be a source of carbon dioxide by their thermal decomposition, exemplary of such substances include carbon dioxide complexes of amines. U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,964 discloses the use of a solid substance, obtained by contacting carbon dioxide with a liquid polyfunctional amine, as curing agent when preparing a polyurethane polymer. DE 21 32 102 discloses the preparation of complexes by contacting carbon dioxide with a low molecular weight polyamine. The patent publication FR 2,121,556 discloses the preparation of a complex from ethanolamine with carbon dioxide and use of the adduct when manufacturing a polyurethane polymer. Similarly, the publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,880 discloses the preparation of CFC-free cellular polyurethane polymer in the presence of a complex obtained from an aliphatic aminoalcohol with carbon dioxide. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,645,630 and 4,499,038 disclose use of amine/carbon dioxide adducts in the manufacture of polyurethane polymers wherein the amine has at least 3 aliphatic ether groups per molecule.
To provide a polyurethane polymer with a commercially attractive reduced density it is necessary to use the above mentioned substances in a relatively large amount to generate the required volume of carbon dioxide; this amount becomes significantly greater with increasing molecular weight of the amine. If polyurethane polymer is prepared in the presence of amines of elevated molecular weight this can significantly change and lead to inferior or undesirable physical properties of a resulting polyurethane polymer. To overcome these deficiencies it would be desirable to provide for an amine/carbon dioxide adduct which is able to release a significantly larger volume of carbon dioxide per part by weight of complex. To facilitate handling it would also be desirable to provide for an amine/carbon dioxide adduct which is liquid at ambient temperature. Further it would be desirable if the use of the complex when manufacturing a polyurethane polymer has the ability to improve the physical properties of the resulting polyurethane polymer.

Alkanolamine/carbon dioxide adduct and polyurethane foam therewith


The present invention relates to a system and method for the wireless light sensor input to a security system, wherein the light sensed by the light sensor is used to determine the activation and deactivation state of the security system. The system and method determine a light level threshold value and obtaining a light level value. Further, the obtained light level value is compared to a light level threshold value in order to determine if the present light level value is greater than or less than the light level threshold value, and finally, a signal is transmitted to a remote device in response to the comparison of the light level value.

Currently, security systems have the capability to control appliances and lamps remotely located throughout a property. "Experiment #10" remote command protocols (X-10 for short) are well known protocols for the utilization of power distribution lines for the transmission of command data between electric devices. X-10 was specifically developed as a protocol to provide an electronic, wireless method for the remote control of electronic equipment. The method operates by sending a data message over normal AC main power lines at a specific carrier frequency, whereby a device can be "commanded" to turn "on" or "off." However, devices that utilize X-10 technology cannot perform any other functions and thereby must be used in conjunction with other technological devices in order to provide additionally functionality to a system.
There is a need for a security system that differentiates between day and night in order to effectively activate applications that may be utilized in conjunction with the system for recognizing day and night modes.
The proposed invention will be used to send a signal to the control panel that indicates the presence of light, specifically sunlight. The invention is adjustable, so that the amount of light necessary to trigger the invention is adjustable. The control panel can be programmed to switch on either one or multiple controllers when the absence or presence of sunlight is indicated via the invention, wherein the controllers can utilize X-10 remote command protocols. In a home security environment the present invention, based upon the signals that are transmitted and received by way of the invention, can control a security system. Further, in an industrial or commercial environment, the status of day or night can be utilized by the present invention to activate or deactivate surveillance cameras, area illumination and control illuminated signs among other devices.

Wireless light sensor input to a security system


Systems, methods, and a computer program product are provided which establish application-based telemedicine methods and protocols for providing authorization to an unlicensed or licensed user to perform a cleaning operation on a patient's ear canal. Specifically, once the user determines that a cleaning operation is necessary, an application is provided which allows the user to consolidate relevant information regarding the patient, send the relevant patient information along with a permission request to a licensed medical professional, receive an approved permission request, and perform a cleaning operation on the patient.

Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are generally directed to methods and computer program products for application-based telemedicine, specifically, to web or network-based telemedicine related to performing a cleaning operation of a patient's ear canal.
When a patient begins experiencing some type of hearing loss, the patient may seek out a hearing aid dispenser (HAD) and schedule an appointment to have their hearing tested. The HAD is typically staffed by a hearing instrument specialist (HIS), typically licensed by the state, or a doctor of audiology (AuD). Both the HIS and the AuD are permitted to test for hearing loss and dispense hearing aids. The primary method to determine hearing loss involves administration of a hearing test using an audiometer and a sound booth or quiet room.
Prior to administering the hearing test, the HIS or AuD examines the patient's ear canal using an otoscope to look directly into the patent's ear to determine if there are any anatomical anomalies or anything that appears to obstruct the patient's ear canal. Often, this examination results in an observation of excessive or impacted cerumen (ear wax) within the ear canal. If an excessive build-up of cerumen is detected, it is typically understood that a hearing test cannot be conducted properly, i.e., the results may not be accurate. To conduct a proper hearing test, the excess cerumen needs to be removed.
Typically, removal of the build-up can include manual removal (e.g., using a curette), suction, or irrigation. Regardless of the method employed, various state and federal regulations recommend referring a patient experiencing excessive cerumen build-up to a licensed medical professional, e.g., an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Doctor, for removal. Referral of patients to medical professionals creates a large inconvenience for the patient as well as the HIS/AuD. What could have been addressed in one visit to the HAD, can easily turn into three or more visits (e.g., the initial visit to the HAD, the second visit to the ENT, and the return visit to the HAD for the hearing test to be performed). Furthermore, in the event that the ear canal was not successfully cleaned the hearing test may need to be postponed further for an additional visit to a licensed medical professional for a subsequent cleaning.
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and a computer program product directed to application-based telemedicine methods and protocols for providing authorization to an unlicensed or licensed user to perform a cleaning operation on a patient's ear canal. Specifically, once the user determines that a cleaning operation is necessary, an application is provided which allows the user to consolidate relevant information regarding the patient, send the relevant patient information along with a permission request to a licensed medical professional, receive an approved permission request, and perform a cleaning operation on the patient.
In one example, a method for providing authorization to perform a cleaning operation on a patient is provided, the method including: determining whether an ear canal of the patient requires a cleaning operation; sending, via an application, a permission request to a licensed medical professional, the permission request corresponding with a request for permission to perform a cleaning operation of the patient's ear canal; receiving, via the application, a granted permission request from the licensed medical professional; and performing a cleaning operation of the ear canal of the patient.
In one aspect, performing the cleaning operation of the patient's ear canal includes manually cleaning the patient's ear canal, cleaning the patient's ear canal using suction, or cleaning the patient's ear canal using an irrigation system.
In one aspect, manually cleaning the patient's ear canal comprises using a curette, forceps, or tweezers.
In one aspect, the irrigation system includes a portable applicator arranged to engage with and perform a cleaning operation on the ear canal of the patient, a liquid reservoir arranged to contain a fluid, the liquid reservoir comprising a heater for heating the fluid, and a control unit operatively arranged to control the heater of the liquid reservoir and operatively arranged to control a pump arranged between the liquid reservoir and the portable applicator such that the control unit can dynamically vary a flow rate of the fluid from the portable applicator.
In one aspect, determining whether the patient is eligible for receiving a cleaning operation, where determining eligibility includes whether the patient has experienced trauma. pain in their ear canal, or has previously had surgery related to their ear.
In one aspect, the method further includes obtaining an image from at least one camera, the image including medical information related to the patient, and sending, via the application, the image to the licensed medical professional.
In one aspect, the method further includes receiving, by the licensed medical professional, the permission request and determining, by the licensed medical professional, whether to grant or deny the permission request to perform the cleaning operation of the ear canal of the patient based at least in part on medical information related to the patient.
In one aspect, the licensed medical professional is selected from a plurality of licensed medical professionals in communication with the application.
In one aspect, the selection of the licensed medical professional from the plurality of licensed medical professionals is based on a status indicator provided by the application, or by an algorithm used by the application.
In one aspect, the application is configured to obtain statistical data relating a total number granted permission requests, a total number of denied permission requests, or an average time duration for granting or denying the permission requests.
In one example, a computer program product for obtaining authorization to perform a cleaning operation of a patient's ear canal is provided, the computer program product including a set of non-transitory computer-readable instructions stored on a memory that when executed on a processor are configured to: send a permission request to a licensed medical professional, the permission request corresponding with a request for permission to perform the cleaning operation of the patient's ear canal; and receive a granted permission request from the licensed medical professional; wherein the granted permission request prompts an individual to perform the cleaning operation of the patient's ear canal.
In one aspect, the cleaning operation of the patient's ear canal includes manually cleaning the patient's ear canal, cleaning the patient's ear canal using suction, or cleaning the patient's ear canal using an irrigation system.
In one aspect, manually cleaning the patient's ear canal comprises using a curette, forceps, or tweezers.
In one aspect, the irrigation system includes a portable applicator arranged to engage with and perform a cleaning operation on the ear canal of the patient; a liquid reservoir arranged to contain a fluid, the liquid reservoir comprising a heater for heating the fluid; and a control unit operatively arranged to control the heater of the liquid reservoir and operatively arranged to control a pump arranged between the liquid reservoir and the portable applicator such that the control unit can dynamically vary a flow rate of the fluid from the portable applicator.
In one aspect, the processor is further configured to obtain an image from at least one camera, the image including medical information related to the patient and send the image to the licensed medical professional.
In one aspect, the processor is further configured to: send and receive patient medical data related to determining whether the patient is eligible for receiving the cleaning operation, including whether the patient has experienced trauma, pain in their ear canal, or has previously had surgery related to their ear.
In one aspect, the processor is further configured to establish a connection with a plurality of licensed medical professionals.
In one aspect, the processor is further configured to: receive a user input selecting a licensed medical professional from the plurality of licensed medical professionals.
In one aspect, the selection of the licensed medical professional is selected based on a status indicator, or based on an algorithm.
In one aspect, the processor is further configured to obtain statistical data relating a total number granted permission requests, a total number of denied permission requests, or an average time duration for granting or denying the permission requests.
These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

Methods and computer program product for application-based telemedicine for performing a cleaning operation on the ear canal of a patient


A fiber sensor includes a light source, and an optical fiber having flexibility to guide light emitted from the light source. The optical fiber has at least one light characteristics conversion portion. The fiber sensor also includes a light-receiving unit to receive the light guided by the optical fiber, and an identification unit having a unique shape on an outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber as compared with a round shape. The identification unit is formed to have a shape enabling at least one of an installation position and posture of the light characteristics conversion portion provided on the optical fiber to be identified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fiber sensor for detecting bending of an optical fiber depending on a change in the amount of light (light amount).
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber sensors have been known as devices for detecting bending and twisting of a subject having flexibility. The fiber sensors comprise light sources, optical fibers, and light-receiving units. The optical fibers generally have cylindrical shapes over the whole length.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4005318 discloses a flexible endoscope device that is provided with a bending detection optical fiber comprising a plurality of light characteristics conversion portions (bending detection portions), for example. These light characteristics conversion portions are fine defective portions, such as light absorption portions, and light-guiding loss, portions. The detection optical fiber is arranged at a predetermined position on a surface of a sheet of a flexible band-like member. The bending detection portions are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the band-like member at predetermined intervals, and the same bending detection portions are arranged in parallel with each other.
The light characteristics conversion portions provided to the detection optical fiber have the function of causing a light loss depending on the direction and the degree of bending and twisting of a subject, such as an inserting-part flexible tube of the flexible endoscope. In other words, the direction and the degree of bending are detected depending on a change in the amount of light transmitted in at least one of the light characteristics conversion portions arranged in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, if twisting occurs, the light characteristics conversion portions arranged in parallel with each other cause a difference in the amount of transmitted light, which causes the direction and the degree of twisting to be detected.
According to the aforementioned bending detection optical fibers, it is possible to determine the direction and the degree of bending and twisting of the subject by detecting a change in the amount of transmitted light. The bending detection optical fiber and the light characteristics conversion portions, therefore, need to be accurately arranged at specified positions.


A bracket system for attaching a headboard to a bed foundation. The bracket system includes a foundation bracket affixed to the bed foundation and a slide bracket affixed to the headboard. Each of the brackets is generally U-shaped having a pair of side plates extending outwardly therefrom. The dimensions and spacing of the side plates enables one bracket to interfit or nest within the other bracket. A securing device passes through both the foundation bracket and the slide bracket to secure the brackets together and affix the headboard to the bed foundation. In an alternate embodiment, the foundation brackets have a lower plate and side plates extending upwardly therefrom and are affixed to the head corners of the bed foundation. The slide bracket is affixed to the headboard and then to the directly to the bed foundation through the foundation bracket. In a further embodiment, the foundation bracket is eliminated.

The present invention relates to a means of attaching a bed foundation to a headboard in the assembly of a bed and, more particularly, to a foundation headboard bracket system that provides a versatile, bracket system for firmly affixing a bed foundation to a headboard.
In general, there are a number of differing types of bed frames and constructions used in the assembly and formation of a bed. One typical construction is with the use of a bed frame where there are side rails having cross members that are pivotally affixed at or proximate to the ends of the side rails. During shipment, for convenience, the cross members are in a position parallel to and adjacent to the side rails and, during the assembly of the bed frame, those cross members are pivoted outward from that parallel orientation to a position at about a ninety degree angle with respect to the side rails and the free ends of the opposed cross members are affixed together forming a generally rectangular frame that receives the box spring and a mattress that rests atop of the box spring. That bed frame construction provides support for the box spring generally along the entire sides of the box spring. There are brackets at the head of the bed frame that are used to secure the bed frame to a headboard and the brackets normally have elongated openings to allow some adjustability in affixing the bed frame to the headboard since the standard bed frame and standard headboard have mounting holes that may vary in width and height. In most cases, however, the location of such holes conform to a standard minimum and maximum range for both the width (vertical) and height (horizontal) in order for the slots in the bed frame to align with the holes in the headboard to allow screws to pass therebetween in affixing the bed frame to the headboard.
Another construction of a bed, however, involves the use of a bed foundation. The bed foundation basically replaces the normal box spring and has reinforced sides, generally made of wood 2×4's, such that the bed foundation does not require support along the sides but only at the comers of the bed foundation. As such, there are metal plates in the shape of truncated triangles, that are located beneath each of the four comers of the bed foundation so that legs can be screwed into threaded holes in the metal plates to thereby allow the bed foundation to be basically self-supporting on the four legs. At the front and rear ends of the bed foundation, there are threaded inserts that allow the attaching of adjustment brackets that are used to align and attach the headboard and footboard to the bed foundation to obtain the correct alignment, vertically and horizontally, in the same manner as with the previously described bed frame.
For example, at the front end of the bed foundation, there is normally a pair of vertically spaced apart threaded inserts located proximate to both of the outer edges of the front end of the bed foundation. The adjustment bracket is therefore affixed to the bed foundation by machine screws inserted into the threaded insets with some limited horizontal adjustment and the typical adjustment bracket then also has one or more vertical slots that are used in attaching the headboard to the adjustment bracket by means of bolts that pass through those vertical slots, through the headboard and secured by nuts.
There are certain difficulties, however, in the simple attachment of the headboard to a bed foundation through the use of the flat, adjustment bracket. One of the difficulties lies in the basic construction of the typical adjustment bracket itself which is a relatively weak, flat stamped metal construction and is simply not strong enough to carry out the task of affixing the bed foundation to the headboard, particular where many of the bed foundations are sold with more expensive, heavy, decorative headboards creating consider leverage and joint strain on the adjustment bracket and causing a premature failure of the connection between the bed foundation and the headboard.
In addition there is a difficulty in carrying out the connection between the adjustment bracket and the headboard in that the adjustment bracket is affixed directly to the bed foundation and there is, therefore, very limited access to the side of the adjustment bracket that faces the bed foundation. Thus, that attachment is unlike the attaching of a bed frame to a headboard since the bed frame is normally attached to the headboard prior to the box spring being placed on the bed frame so that there is full access to that to the rear facing headboard bracket on the bed frame for the insertion of bolts or other fastening devices. As such, with a bed foundation type of bed, it is generally quite difficult and cumbersome to thread a bolt through the adjustment bracket and through the headboard holes due to the rather limited space in which to thread the bolts through the adjustment bracket.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved headboard bracket system for affixing a bed foundation to a headboard that facilitates or eases making that connection while providing a strong, rigid affixation therebetween.

Foundation headboard bracket system for bed


A die arrangement has a die cavity. An insert is fed into the die cavity in advance of injection of a molding material into the die cavity after initiation of a die closing drive operation of the die arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insert molding apparatus and an insert molding method using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
An insert molding for molding a product upon placing an insert in a cavity formed in a die arrangement is previously known (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-98323).
At the time of transferring and setting the insert in a cavity defining portion of the opened die arrangement, a human intervention by hands or a separate transferring apparatus other than the molding apparatus is used.
In the case of transferring the insert by the hands or the separate transferring apparatus, the transferring of the insert and the driving of the die arrangement are performed separately. Thus, the production efficiency is relatively low. Furthermore, in the case where the insert is transferred by the human hands or the transferring apparatus, a die closing drive operation for closing the die arrangement needs to be suspended until the end of the transferring of the insert. In order to avoid critical intervention between the human or the transferring apparatus and the die arrangement, the waiting time should be sufficiently lengthened. However, this normally results in a reduced production efficiency. Furthermore, in the case where the insert is transferred by the hands, the labor costs are increased. Also, in the case where the insert is transferred by the transferring apparatus, it is required to construct a system for controlling the operational timing of the transferring apparatus and the operational timing of the molding apparatus. Thus, in any of these cases, the costs are increased.
Additionally, in the case where the insert is set in the die arrangement, which is held in the open state, the setting position of the insert could be deviated at the time of die closing drive operation of the die arrangement after the setting of the insert. This could result in a damage of the die arrangement or a reduction in the product quality.
Also, DE10105526A1 discloses insert molding, in which a composite insert is received in a cavity of a die arrangement of a molding apparatus. Here, the composite insert is made in such a manner that journal portions of a second insert are received in holes of a first insert.
In the above insert molding, the journal portions of the second insert are received in the holes of the first insert. Thus, a human intervention by hands or a separate assembling apparatus other than the molding apparatus is required to insert the journal portions of the second insert into the holes of the first insert. Furthermore, at the time of transferring and setting the assembled composite insert in a cavity defining portion of the opened die arrangement, a human intervention by hands or a separate transferring apparatus other than the molding apparatus is used.
In the case where the assembling and transferring of the composite insert are performed by the human hands, the work time for assembling and transferring the composite insert is additionally required, thereby causing an increase in the labor cost. Furthermore, in the case where the composite insert is transferred by the human hands, a die closing drive operation for closing the die arrangement needs to be suspended until the end of the transferring of the composite insert. In order to avoid critical intervention between the human and the die arrangement, the waiting time should be sufficiently lengthened. However, this normally results in a reduced production efficiency.
Furthermore, when the assembling of the composite insert, the transferring of the composite insert and the insert molding are performed by separate apparatuses, respectively, the composite insert needs to be transferred between the apparatuses. This results in reduced production efficiency. Also, when the transferring of the composite insert between the apparatuses is automated, it will result in an increase in the costs. Furthermore, in the case where the composite insert is transferred by a dedicated transferring apparatus, the die closing drive of operation of the die arrangement needs to be lengthened to avoid any critical intervention between the transferring apparatus and the die arrangement. This normally results in the reduced production efficiency.
Furthermore, in the case where the composite insert is set in the die arrangement, which is held in the open state, the setting position of the composite insert could be deviated at the time of die closing drive operation of the die arrangement after the setting of the composite insert. This could result in a damage of the die arrangement or a reduction in the product quality.

Insert molding apparatus and insert molding method


Provided is a composite material for vehicles capable of substantially preventing the occurrence of wrinkles caused by ease stitching. This composite material for vehicles is a layered product of a skin material and a polyurethane foam sheet. The skin material has a play structure which, when the composite material for vehicles is stitched, allows the skin material to follow deformation caused by the stitching with a smooth state of a surface of the skin material maintained. The skin material is a woven fabric including warp yarns and weft yarns. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns include two or more types of yarns having different total finenesses, and form the play structure.

The present disclosure relates to a composite material for vehicles that a layered product of a skin material and a polyurethane foam sheet.
Skin materials for vehicle seats and the like are required to be durable, and therefore, a material therefor is processed, without being directly used, into various forms, which are used as a composite material. In the case where a woven fabric is used as the s kin material of such a composite material for vehicles, a backing process of applying a resin to the back surface of the woven fabric has been conventionally performed in order to prevent the woven fabric from fraying. However, as increasing attention has been focused on the reduction of impacts on the environment of the earth, it is important to reduce the weight of a vehicle, which directly leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide discharged from the vehicle. There is also a demand for a further reduction in the weight of composite materials for vehicles.
For example, there is a composite material for vehicles that does not require a conventional backing process and therefore has a reduced weight (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-184607). In a composite material for vehicles disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-184607, a polyurethane foam sheet is layered on a woven fabric as a skin material, and therefore, threads of the surface of the woven fabric are substantially prevented from fraying without a backing process, and strength and durability suitable for a composite material for vehicles are achieved.
Incidentally, when a composite material for vehicles is stitched into a three-dimensional shape that fits the shape of a seat, "ease stitching" is used in which stitching is performed while one of two composite materials having different lengths is contracted with the two composite materials put on top of each other. In ease stitching, as the reduction ratio (hereinafter referred to as a "easing ratio") by which the original size of a composite material to be eased is reduced to a size after easing increases, the finished three-dimensional shape is more round, and the skin material of the contracted one of the composite materials is more likely to distort and wrinkle.
Appearance is important in vehicle interior applications. Therefore, composite materials for vehicles are required to have properties that the material can be stitched into a three-dimensional shape by ease stitching having a great easing ratio, and at the same time, is less likely to wrinkle irrespective of easing. However, the composite material for vehicles disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-184607 is mainly aimed at achieving light weight and durability, and the occurrence of wrinkles caused by ease stitching is not therein taken into consideration.


Porous adaptive membrane structures having movable membranes are provided. The structures can be made to change their gas, liquid and/or particulate permeability in response to surrounding environmental conditions. Applications includes protective apparel that is comfortable to wear wherein the level of protection provided is based on conditions in the environment. Hence, the protective apparel is highly breathable and comfortable in a non-hazardous environment but impermeable or only semipermeable in a hazardous environment.

There is a growing need for personal protective apparel that guards against toxic chemical and biological agents. These agents may be                (a) accidentally released in a chemical manufacturing plant, in a scientific or medical laboratory or in a hospital;        (b) released intentionally during wartime by a government to attack the military forces of the opposition; or        (c) released during peacetime by criminal or terrorist organizations with the purpose of creating mayhem, fear and widespread destruction.
For this reason, the United States military and other defense organizations of countries all over the world have sought to provide adequate protection against chemical and biological warfare agents. The need for such protective apparel also extends to police departments, fire departments, emergency responders and health care providers. These organizations are responsible for providing assistance and relief after a catastrophic release of chemical or biological toxins, but they cannot discharge their responsibilities without adequate protection ("Chemical Protective Clothing for Law Enforcement Patrol Officers and Emergency Medical Services when Responding to Terrorism with Chemical Weapons", Arca, V. J. and Marshall, S. M., in report of the Chemical Weapons, Improved Response Program, U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, November 1999).
According to the Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents (D. Hank Ellison, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1st edition, 1999), most chemical warfare toxins are fatal at concentrations as low as 1 part per million (ppm). Hence, to provide adequate protection from chemical warfare agents, a protective suit has to be almost impermeable to such chemicals. It is not difficult to devise structures that are impermeable to toxic chemical vapors and liquids, but such structures are also hot, heavy and uncomfortable to wear. The degree of comfort offered by a protective suit is largely determined by the amount of water vapor that can permeate through the protective fabric. The human body continuously perspires water vapor as a method for controlling body temperature. When a protective fabric hinders the loss of water vapor from the body, the transpirational cooling process is hindered, which leads to personal discomfort. When a protective suit allows little or no loss of water vapor, extreme heat stress or heat stroke can result in a short period of time. Hence, in addition to offering the highest levels of protection against toxic chemicals and liquids, a practical chemical and biological protective suit generally should have relatively high water vapor transmission rates. Desirable protective structure are also light in weight and offer the same high level of protection over a long period of time.
Some currently available protective garments offer the same constant level of protection at all times, but often, protection is only needed when a toxic chemical or biological agent is present in the environment. Further, comfort is typically sacrificed at the expense of protection or vice versa. A garment is needed that provides a variable and controllable permeability.
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/118,961, which is incorporated in its entirety as a part hereof for all purposes, addresses these problems by providing an adaptive membrane structure having two membranes and means to respond to an actuating stimulus (for example, an electrostatic force) that will move one membrane into contact with the other such that the permeability of the structure to gas, vapor, liquid and/or particulates is decreased.
An adaptive membrane structure as described in this reference may, however, be used to protect against extremely toxic agents, such as those encountered in chemical and biological warfare. If the actuating stimulus should fail for some reason to bring the adjacent surfaces of the two membranes together in a manner such that a good quality seal is provided, protection against toxic agents may not be adequate for some conditions. Malfunction of the actuating stimulus, and a poor seal between adjacent membranes as a consequence, could result from a variety of causes such as damage to the membrane structure. Under other circumstances, however, the actuating stimulus could simply be too weak to adequately perform the job of moving adjacent membranes together in a manner such that a good seal between them is obtained.
It is thus desirable in such situations to consider an alternative to the above described adaptive membrane structure wherein the seal between adjacent membranes would not be provided as a result of an actuating stimulus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A printer cartridge assembly includes an inking apparatus for receiving ink from an applicator and transferring the ink to a ribbon from an applicator via an inking pulley and belts. The inking apparatus includes a retainer carriage that is shaped to prevent ribbons from entangling in the apparatus, and drive, trailing and inking pulleys with connecting belts that hold the pulleys to the inking assembly so it can be conveniently handled during assembly. The trailing pulley is snap fitted into a notch in the retainer carriage and the inking pulley is retained in a notch in the retainer carriage by the interference of the trailing pulley with the inking pulley.

Printer ribbon cartridges for high speed printers are typically used with impact printers such as dot matrix printers, which cause extensive and rapid wear of the ribbon. These cartridges typically have an endless ribbon that is continuously inked. The ink is fed by gravity and capillary action from an inkwell or reservoir containing a hard felt mat through a felt wick to a brush that presses against a roller wheel used to advance the ribbon.
It has been found that such prior art printer cartridges are unsatisfactory in that they suffer from inconsistent print quality over the life of the cartridge. The print quality of prior art cartridges often begins to deteriorate after as little as several hours of continuous use, and continues deteriorating over the next several hours until the print becomes unreadable. This deterioration in print quality is attributable to wear of the ribbon, which becomes less capable of absorbing and transmitting ink as it wears. I have invented a solution to this problem as disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,943, issued Oct. 8, 1991, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent application builds upon the solutions disclosed in my prior patent and provides a structure for a printer cartridge that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.


An anion transport membrane is provided enabling efficient anion exchange across the membrane, which could be used in applications like fuel cells, water electrolyzers, or water filtration systems. The structural membrane morphology is based on a hydrophobic polysulfone membrane backbone and co-grafted thereon hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts and anion conducting quaternary ammonium species. This structure defines a bi-continuous morphology with locally phase-separated hydrophobic-hydrophilic domains, and a co-localization of the anion conducting quaternary ammonium species with respect to the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts enabling efficient and continuous ion transport channels for facilitating anion transport.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices designed to convert the high energy density of chemical bonds into electricity. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the most prominent low-temperature fuel cell technology. These devices typically employ a polymer electrolyte membrane with pendant acidic groups as a method of transporting protons between the anode and cathode. However, the high proton concentration in PEM fuel cells creates a corrosive acidic environment in which only platinum group catalysts are stable, severely hindering commercial feasibility.
Anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells, which transport hydroxide ions as opposed to protons, overcome this limitation by nature of an alkaline operating environment in which earth-abundant catalysts, such as nickel and manganese derivatives, exhibit suitable activity and stability. The AEM acts as a semipermeable separator, simultaneously transporting hydroxide anions, while preventing fuel crossover between the anode and the cathode. Slow hydroxide transport leads to significant ohmic losses, while poor fuel separation limits the cell's electrochemical potential. An ideal AEM would therefore be characterized by an efficient, percolating hydroxide transport network supported by a robust, dimensionally stable matrix.
While great strides have been made over the past decade, AEM fuel cells continue to perform unfavorably compared to PEM fuel cells. The lower performance can be partially attributed to the relatively low ionic conductivities of current AEMs, where the typical hydroxide conductivity of reported AEMs is often an order of magnitude lower than the proton conductivity of Nafion, the de facto standard commercial PEM. Thus, despite the cost advantage of AEM fuel cells, their lower performance has limited their commercial viability.
Given the high performance of PEMs, it is no surprise that their structure and chemistry have heavily influenced AEM design. As in PEMs, the general motif for synthesizing AEMs has been to attach pendant ionic salts along a robust hydrophobic polymer backbone. This approach typically manifests as aryl- or benzyl-substituted cations along an aromatic polymer chain. Whereas sulfonate is the pendant counter-anion of choice for PEMs, the pendant counter-cation in AEMs has been more varied with the aim of improving hydroxide conductivity and alkaline stability. Various approaches have involved membranes based on quaternary ammonium, imidazolium, guanidinium, phosphonium, and sulfonium cations, amongst others. Quaternary ammonium based on trimethylamine has been introduced on a variety of different polyaromatic backbones, including polysulfone, poly(phenylene oxide), and poly(etheretherketone). However, in these systems, the close proximity of the pendant cation to the rigid polymer backbone inhibits the formation of strongly segregated hydrophilic-hydrophobic domains. Consequently, these membranes are often characterized by poorly defined water-rich phases, leading to ion transport occurring in highly constricted and tortuous pathways.
The present invention addresses at least some of the current issues with exchange membranes and provides an anion transport membrane with a different morphology enabling efficient anion transport.

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An apparatus includes a computer system which maintains a list of informational products, and accepts input from a user in a user context familiar to the user. The computer system maintains expert information developed by at least one expert, which provides correlation between the user context and informational products in the list. The computer system selects a subset of the products as a function of the user input and the expert information.

There are many applications in which a person seeks to retrieve structured and/or unstructured data or information from databases or documents. However, the person is often unknowledgeable or unfamiliar with retrieval characteristics such as the retrieval source names, context and/or source capabilities. As a result, the person may locate little or none of the available information of interest.
As one specific example, a military officer involved in planning an operation may be seeking certain intelligence information that will facilitate planning of the mission, such as recent aerial photographs, weather information, data regarding the relevant terrain, and so forth. Although the officer will be very familiar with the context and terminology of military operations, he or she may have little or no knowledge regarding the context and terminology used by the intelligence community in storing and classifying the information of interest.
One prior approach to this problem has been the generation of complex templates in structure query language. However, these templates require substantial user training, are difficult to use, and are not readily extensible. A different known approach involves the use of keyword and/or concept based search engines. However, such approaches do not accommodate user specific situation criteria that describe the context of the needed information. Thus, these search engines present problems similar to those involved with structure query language templates, including but not limited to the need for substantial user training.

Method and apparatus for intelligent information retrieval


An inhaler for delivery of a medicament by inhalation is disclosed. The inhaler comprises a dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism being configured to dispense a dose of medicament on actuation. The inhaler further comprises a dose counting mechanism comprising a counter and a translating member. The translating member comprises a pawl. The counter comprises a first count wheel, a second count wheel and an intermediate wheel engaged with the second count wheel and in selective engagement with the first count wheel. When the inhaler is fired to dispense a dose of medicament, the dispensing mechanism moves the translating member in a substantially linear direction. The pawl thus rotates the first count wheel, and as the first count wheel rotates, the intermediate wheel is selectively engaged thereby selectively rotating the second count wheel to count the doses of the inhaler.

Inhalers are commonly used for delivery of a wide range of medicaments. In a dry powder inhaler (DPI) a dose of powdered substance is entrained in an air stream to deliver a dose of medicament through a mouthpiece to a user. In a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) a canister containing medicament in the inhaler is actuated, e.g. by compression, to deliver a metered dose of the medicament through a mouthpiece to a user. The inhaler may be configured to deliver a dose of medicament automatically. For example the inhaler may comprise an actuation mechanism to actuate the canister or to deliver the powdered substance when triggered. The actuation mechanism may be breath actuated, i.e. triggered by inhalation of a user through a mouthpiece. This ensures that a dose of medicament is dispensed whilst the user is inhaling, which is particularly advantageous since dispensing of a dose of medicament is co-ordinated with inhalation of the dose.
A breath-actuated pMDI inhaler is described in WO2008/082359. The inhaler actuation mechanism is operable to compress a canister of medicament to deliver a dose of medicament in response to inhalation by a user. The actuation mechanism comprises a loading mechanism to bias compression of the canister. A trigger mechanism holds the loading mechanism against compression of the canister. When a user inhales through a mouthpiece, the trigger mechanism releases the loading mechanism to compression of the canister to deliver a dose of medicament. A resetting mechanism interacts with a mouthpiece cover such that movement of the cover into a closed position resets the actuation mechanism.
The inhaler of WO2008/082359 Optionally has a registration module responsive to actuation of the inhaler, which can indicate, for example, the number of doses of medicament remaining in the canister. For patient safety, the inhaler must not dispense a dose of without counting the dispensed dose, as this may lead to the patient erroneously believing that there are remaining doses in an empty inhaler. The inhaler must also not decrement the count of the dose counter if a dose is not dispensed, since the patient may erroneously believe that no doses remain in the inhaler and a significant number of doses may be wasted when the inhaler is disposed of prematurely. Furthermore, the dose counter display must be sufficiently clear for a patient to be able to reliably and accurately read the display. For example, if the dose counter displays the number of doses remaining in the inhaler, if there is any ambiguity or lack of clarity with the displayed digits, the patient may believe that there are more doses remaining than is actually the case, which is dangerous for the patient, or may believe that there are fewer doses than actually remain, and may dispose of the inhaler too soon, wasting medicament.


Provided is a DLL circuit that can execute a precise delay synchronization operation without increasing the variable delay time range of a delay line. The DLL circuit comprises a phase comparator (3), a charge pump (6), an LPF (8) and a delay line (9), and operates to match phases of an input signal (CLKIN) and a feedback signal (FBCLK). The phase comparator (3) always outputs a phase comparison result that causes a delay time of the delay line (9) to increase, at the time of initial operation after a reset operation. The LPF (8) outputs a delay adjusting signal (S8) indicating that a delay time due to the delay line (9) becomes the minimum, in executing a reset.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit in which comparison is made between the phase of an input signal and that of a signal obtained by causing the input signal to delay, and then a delay stage is adjusted so that their timings become equal.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventional DLL circuit. As shown in FIG. 15, a phase comparator (PFD) 23 compares the phase of an input signal CLKIN as a reference clock signal and the phase of a feedback signal FBCLK as a real use clock signal, to output an up signal UP and a down signal DWN to a charge pump (CP) 6. A feedback signal FBCLK is a signal which is obtained after an input signal CLKIN propagates a delay line 9 and an internal circuit 17, and therefore, a delay time occurs due to the propagation through the delay line 9 and the internal circuit 17. The internal circuit 17 is an internal circuit of clock processing system, e.g., clock trees.
The CP 6 supplies a current I6 to a low-pass filter (LPF) 28, based on an up signal UP and a down signal DWN, and drains it from the LPF 28. That is, the CP 6 supplies a current I6 when an up signal UP is "H" and drains a current I6 from the LPF 28 when a down signal DWN is "H".
The LPF 28 integrates a current I6 and, based on its result (a potential V1 of a node N1), outputs a delay adjusting signal S28 to the delay line 9. When an external reset signal RST is at "H" level, the LPF 28 outputs a delay adjusting signal S28 indicating that a delay time due to the delay line 9 is minimized, irrespective of a current I6.
The delay line 9 causes an input signal CLKIN to delay a delay time DT9 indicated by a delay adjusting signal S28, to output a delay input signal CLKOUT as a delay reference clock signal. A feedback signal FBCLK that is a signal obtained by causing a delay input signal CLKOUT outputted from the delay line 9 to delay in passing through the internal circuit 17, is used as a clock for controlling the timing of a data latch 18 or the like, and is also fed back to the phase comparator 23.
In this DLL circuit 10, a DLL comprises the phase comparator 23, the CP 6, the LPF 28 and the delay line 9, and a delay time DT9 of the delay line 9 is adjusted so that the phase of an input signal CLKIN matches that of a feedback signal FBCLK. It is therefore possible to latch data DATA in synchronization with the input signal CLKIN, based on a feedback signal FBCLK, regardless of a delay time due to the internal circuit 17.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a phase comparator 23. Such a comparator is for example disclosed in Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers, 94, pp.129-130. As shown in FIG. 16, phase comparison sections 20U, 20D output an up signal UP and a down signal DWN, respectively, based on the phase difference between a signal obtained from a clock input CLK and a signal obtained from a feedback input FB.
In the phase comparison section 20U the clock input CLK receives an input signal CLKIN, the feedback input FB receives a feedback signal FBCLK, and an inhibit input INHB receives a down signal DWN. In the phase comparison section 20D the clock input CLK receives a feedback signal FBCLK, the feedback input FB receives an input signal CLKIN, and an inhibit input INHB receives an up signal UP.
FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing the internal configuration of a phase comparison section 20U (20D). As shown in FIG. 17, an input of an inverter 41 is connected to a clock input CLK. PMOS transistor Ql and NMOS transistors Q2, Q3 are interposed in series from a power supply to a ground level. The gates of PMOS transistor Q1 and the NMOS transistor Q3 are connected in common to an output of the inverter 41.
PMOS transistor Q4 and NMOS transistors Q5, Q6 are interposed in series from a power supply to a ground level. NMOS transistor Q7 is connected in parallel to the NMOS transistor Q5. The gates of the PMOS transistor Q4 and the NMOS transistor Q6 are connected in common to the drain of the PMOS transistor Q1 (the NMOS transistor Q2), the gate of the NMOS transistor Q5 is connected to a feedback input FB, and the gate of the NMOS transistor Q7 is connected to an inhibit input INHB.
In addition, PMOS transistor Q8 and NMOS transistors Q9, Q10 are interposed in series from a power supply to a ground level. The gates of the PMOS transistor Q8 and the NMOS transistor Q10 are connected in common to the drain of the PMOS transistor Q4 (the NMOS transistors Q5, Q7), the gate of the NMOS transistor Q9 is connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor Q1, the drain of the PMOS transistor Q8 (the NMOS transistor Q9) is connected to an input section of an inverter 42 and is also connected to the gate of the NMOS transistor Q2.
A signal obtained from an output of the inverter 42 becomes an up signal UP (a down signal DWN).
FIGS. 18 and 19 are a timing diagram illustrating a phase comparison operation of a phase comparator 23 with the configuration as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. As shown in FIG. 18, when the phase of a feedback signal FBCLK is delayed than that of an input signal CLKIN, an up signal UP of a phase comparison section 20U becomes "H" for a period of time from the rise of the input signal CLKIN to the rise of the feedback signal FBCLK, while a down signal DWN of a phase comparison section 20D becomes "L" at all times.
As a result, the up signal UP and the down signal DWN of the phase comparator 23 cause the phase of the feedback signal FBCLK to advance, so that a delay time DT9 due to the delay line 9 is decreased by a CP 6 and an LPF 28.
Referring to FIG. 19, when the phase of a feedback signal FBCLK is advanced than an input signal CLKIN, a down signal DWN of a phase comparison section 20D becomes "H" during a period of time from the rise of feedback signal FBCLK to the rise of the input signal CLKIN, while an up signal UP of a phase comparison section 20U becomes "L" at all times.
As a result, the up signal UP and the down signal DWN of the phase comparator 23 causes the phase of the feedback signal FBCLK to delay, so that a delay time DT9 due to the delay line 9 is increased by the CP 6 and the LPF 28.
In the conventional DLL circuit, however, a wide variety of phase relations between an input signal CLKIN and a feedback signal FBCLK are determined by a delay time due to the internal circuit 17. Therefore, it is impossible for a phase comparator 23 to judge at the time of initial operation whether a phase should be advanced or delayed.
To obtain a variable delay time range sufficient for synchronization whatever phase relations are present between an input signal CLKIN and a feedback input FB (e.g., at least two times or more of a signal period T of an input signal CLKIN), the delay line 9 of the conventional DLL circuit is required to have a large number of delay stages. This causes an increase in the circuit scale and dissipation power of the DLL circuit.
Lock deviation phenomenon occurred when a delay time due to an internal circuit 17 fluctuates during operation is described by referring to FIG. 20. In conventional DLL circuits, in order to match the phase of an input signal CLKIN with that of a feedback signal FBCLK, the total delay time of a delay time DT17 due to an internal circuit 17 and a delay time DT9 due to a delay line 9 is always arranged to be integral multiples of a period T of an input signal CLKIN. For a narrow variable delay time range of the delay line 9, if the delay time DT17 due to the internal circuit 17 fluctuates gradually because of circumstances, e.g., temperature, it is outside the variable delay time range of the delay line 9 with respect to shifts of more than a certain value, making it impossible to match phases.
As shown in FIG. 20, suppose that the total delay time (DT17+DT9) of a delay time DT17 of the internal circuit 17 and a delay time DT9 of the delay line 9 is in synchronization with kT (k is a natural number) at time t0, but the delay time DT17 of the internal circuit 17 increases with the passage of time.
In this case, since the phase of a feedback signal FBCLK is delayed than that of an input signal CLKIN, a DLL circuit 10 operates to advance the phase, i.e., to decrease the delay time DT9 of the delay line 9. Until time t1, the total delay time, (DT17+DT9)=kT, is given by that an increase in the delay time DT17 is compensated by a decrease in the delay time DT9, thereby it is possible to synchronize the input signal CLKIN with the feedback signal FBCLK
However, if the delay time DT17 is further increased after time t1, it is outside the variable delay time range of the delay line 9 (the region shown by diagonal in FIG. 20). That is, even when the delay time DT9 of the delay line 9 is set to be a minimum delay time .DELTA.DT, it follows that (DT17+DT9)>kT. It is therefore impossible to synchronize the input signal CLKIN with the feedback signal FBCLK by advancing the phase of the feedback signal FBCLK This phenomenon is referred to as lock deviation phenomenon.
To solve lock deviation phenomenon, it is also necessary that the number of delay stages of a delay line 9 is large enough and a variable delay time range is increased considerably. This leads to a large scaled circuit configuration and an increased dissipation power, as stated earlier. Also, the resistance to noise of the delay line 9 may be affected with increasing the number of stages of the delay line 9.


Provided is a method and circuit for detecting cylinder misfire in an internal combustion engine having an ignition system including an ignition device, an ignition coil having a primary and a secondary winding, and a pair of spark plugs having respective gaps. As disclosed, the circuit is operative to separate spark current and ionization current to improve detection of cylinder misfire. The circuit includes power supply means for supplying voltage to the circuit to generate ion current across the spark plug gaps and voltage limiting means for isolating said power supply means from said ignition coil. There is also included negative voltage clamping means in electrical contact with the ignition coil secondary winding for clamping selected negative voltages generated during ignition.

Automotive manufacturers and designers have long understood the relationship between spark plug gap ionization current and engine misfire. Specifically, it is known that the electrical conductivity within a spark plug gap increases following successful ignition due to the ionization of hot combustion gases. Thus, if a voltage on the order of 90 to 400 volts is impressed in the gap following ignition and the ionization current is measured, a high current flow is known to indicate combustion. A low or zero current flow is similarly known to indicate a misfire condition.
To generate the ionization current sought to be measured, prior art detection circuits have utilized an additional power source coupled to the primary and secondary windings of the vehicle ignition system coils. As those skilled in the art will recognize, however, such designs have generally proven unreliable and thus impractical for on-board detection system use because of the presence of high negative voltages which are inherently produced as a result of the spark event. To address this inherent problem, prior art detection systems have further incorporated complicated signal processing components. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,734 issued to Spaude, which discloses a misfire detection system which utilizes capacitance coupling to the spark plug leads. Spaude also discloses high pass filtering which is inherently susceptible to system noise to detect sharp voltage transitions resulting from ionization breakdown. These components, such as disclosed in Spaude and other prior art detection circuits and methods, unfortunately have only slightly improved the already imprecise method of ionization current measurement while adding substantial cost and complexity to the systems on the whole.

Method and apparatus for detecting cylinder misfire in an internal combustion engine


Systems and methods for providing an interface to communicate policy information from a policy server to a policy enforcement point are presented. An external policy server is used to implement and provide various policies to a policy enforcement point for enforcement on subscriber sessions and traffic flows of a mobile subscriber. A policy enforcement point can request instructions from the policy server using an access-request message and receive from the policy server unsolicited instructions with a change-of-authorization message. Policies for application to a subscriber session or traffic flow are included in the message from a policy server to the policy enforcement point. Other messages such as a disconnect message are used to terminate a subscriber session.

Sometimes in networks, such as wireless networks, it is desirable to allocate network resources according to policies or rules. These policies cover resources such as network bandwidth, Quality of Service (QoS), and security (firewalls). As the content delivered to mobile subscribers (e.g., cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), and other handheld devices) becomes more diversified to include Voice over IP (VoIP), streaming media, and multiplayer gaming, these types of content require reliable network connections with fixed parameters. With other types of content, such as email and web surfing, latency and packet loss do not affect the quality of the content delivered as much, and typically the effect is less noticeable. A network with policy-based management uses rules to govern various aspects of the network behavior.
Networks implementing policy-based management typically include a policy decision function and a policy enforcement point. The policy decision function is a resource manager or policy server that is responsible for handling events, making decisions based on those events, and updating the policy enforcement point configuration based on the decisions. The policy enforcement point exists in network nodes such as routers, firewalls, and hosts. The node enforces the policies based on the rule sets received from the policy decision function.

System and method for a policy enforcement point interface


A semiconductor device has a semi-conductor chip 1 having bonding pads 2 thereon, conductive leads 4, each of which comprises an inner lead 41 and an outer lead 42, insulating adhesive tapes 3 by which each of the inner leads 41 of the leads 4 is stuck to the surface 1a of the semiconductor chip 1, bonding wires 6 by which each of the leads 4 is electrically connected to each corresponding bonding pad 2. The semiconductor chip 1, bonding pad 2, adhesive tapes 3, inner leads 41, and bonding wires 6 are molded by a molding resin 5. The boundary of the inner lead 41 and the cuter lead 42 of the lead 4 is bent in S-shape so that there is a step between inner lead 41 and the upper side portion 42a of the outer lead 42 in a certain depth. Then the outer lead 42 protrude out of the molding resin and extend in J-shape. The surface 4a of the upper side portion 42a of the outer lead 42 is higher than the top of the looped bonding wire 6.

This invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to, a semiconductor device having a Lead on Chip structure in which conductive leads are mounted on the surface of a semiconductor chip.
According to the demand of high-density packaging of a mass storage memory like a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a Lead on Chip (LOC) structure, which allows a relatively large-scale semiconductor chip to be stored in a relatively small package, has been adopted.
A conventional semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chap having bonding pads thereon, conductive leads, each of which comprises an inner lead and an outer lead, adhesive tapes by which each of the inner leads of the leads are stuck to the surface of the semiconductor chip, bonding wires by which each of the leads are electrically connected to each corresponding bonding pad, and a molding resin by which the semiconductor chip, the inner leads and other parts are molded. Most part of each outer lead protrudes out of the molding resin, and extends in J-shape from both sides thereof toward the back side thereof. The outer leads are used as electrical terminals for connecting the semiconductor chip to other electrical circuits.
Another type of a semiconductor device having a Chip Scale Package (CSP) has been proposed. Such a CSP type semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip having bonding pads thereon, conductive leads, each of which comprises an inner lead and an outer lead, a cover film stuck to one plane of the semiconductor chip, so that the bonding pads are exposed through the openings of the cover film. The inner leads, which are aligned radially around the bonding pads, are attached to the cover film. Each inner lead is electrically connected to each corresponding bonding pad by bonding wires. Both side planes of the semiconductor chip, a spacing between the back side of the outer leads and the cover film, and other parts are molded by a molding resin, whereas the other plane of the semiconductor chip is not molded. Each lead is bent in S-shape at the boundary of the inner lead and the outer lead, and the outer lead extends, in parallel along the one plane or the semiconductor chip.
In the first mentioned conventional LOC type semiconductor device, however, there is a disadvantage in that since each lead is not designed to have a step between the inner lead and the outer lead, so that a top portion of each looped bonding wire is positioned above the top surface of each lead. Therefore, the bonding wires are more likely to be given an impact from outside. Thereby, resulting in that the alignment of the looped bonding wires is easily influenced by just a slight shock, then a short-circuit or a disconnection of the bonding wire is likely to occur. Therefore, its handling is more difficult.
Another disadvantage of the first mentioned conventional semiconductor device is that stacking semiconductor devices is impossible since each outer lead is not exposed on the surface of the semiconductor device. Therefore, the semiconductor device is not applicable to such multi-stacked structure. Such disadvantage is a common one in the second mentioned proposed semiconductor device, because the surface of the outer lead thereof may come into contact with the exposed plane of underlaid semiconductor chip of another semiconductor device directly, when they are stacked.

Semiconductor device having lead on chip structure


An oil recovery vessel utilizing a hybrid hull wherein the bow portion is a catamaran style hull having an oil collection assembly intermediate the port and starboard hull portions of the bow. The oil recovery vessel further includes an oil collection assembly proximate the bow of the vessel. The oil collection assembly is formed with three walls and a floor and is operable to be moved in an upwards-downwards direction so that the floor may be positioned beneath the waterline of the vessel. The oil collection assembly further includes two rotating drums having perpendicular members protruding therefrom that are above ramp members. The ramp members are connected to transfer assembly containers having therein a transfer blade that is helical in shape. The transfer blade moves the oil into a collection chamber that the transfer blade is hermetically sealed therewith. Pipes connect the transfer assembly containers to separation tanks that separate the oil and water mixture received. A plurality of storage containers are coupled to the separation tanks so as to receive the oil.

Over the last several decades there have been numerous catastrophic events resulting in major oil spills in various parts of the world. Numerous technologies have been employed during the remediation processes that have failed to substantially capture the oil and prevent significant ecological damage. Increased demand has further generated a significant rise deep sea drilling and discovery, which can also lead to minor but often frequent contamination. The increase in the presence of wells offshore will ultimately increase the tonnage of petroleum products transported or handled at sea. This will result in the increased likelihood of future oil spills in relation to these activities. The increased likelihood of oil spills in relation to the aforementioned activities, therefore, creates a need for oil spill recovery equipment that is capable of extracting the oil from the sea environment with greater efficiency and capacity.
For example, current technology commonly used incorporates a barge or other similar style vessel that has deployed therefrom at least one oleophilic belts which function to lift an oil slick from the surface of the sea water to a wringing device that compresses the oil from the belt and transfers into a storage tank on the barge. While this has shown to be successful in calm water, it is not effective in average seas that are often present on the world's oceans. Additionally, the vessels associated with this type of oil recovery system are typically not seaworthy to withstand above average seas. A further limitation is the rate at which this recovery process occurs, which is often very slow resulting in a percentage of the oil sinking beyond a depth at which it can be recovered.
Another example of existing technology for oil spill recovery is the utilization of booms in combination with suction technology. The booms are deployed to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the oil spill and a recovery vessel having suction technology utilizes an intake to draw up the oil floating on the surface of the water. This type of equipment is particularly inefficient in that it intakes a significant volume of sea water and has shown to have problems in choppy water. Furthermore, the intakes of the suction technology are often prone to clog and breakdown with debris entering the suction system.
Accordingly, there is a need for an oil recovery vessel that can facilitate a rapid collection of oil from the surface of the water regardless of the sea conditions and wherein the oil collection does not collect a significant percentage of water in the recovery yield. Additionally, an improved ability to manage potential debris and substantially avoid any issues caused by the presence of the debris and the oil recovery collection is needed.


A server apparatus includes a storage unit to store table data including an IP address and a MAC address of each of information processing apparatuses connected to a network, the IP address and the MAC address being associated with each other in the table data; and a processor to transmit information having one of the IP addresses specified, and to update the table data based on information in a reply for the transmitted information, to determine whether the MAC address being associated with the IP address has been changed since a time-out possibly occurring while receiving or transmitting the information with the information processing apparatus, and to issue a command for freezing the corresponding IP address on use to an IP address assignment apparatus connected to the network if the MAC address has been changed.

Conventionally, a switching hub device has been known that has a function to detect duplication of an IP address, by receiving data at ports to obtain IP addresses of respective devices connected at the ports, and by recording correspondences between the ports and the IP addresses set to the devices connected at the ports.
The switching hub device has a function that obtains an alternative IP address that is not being used for the devices connected at the ports if detecting duplication of an IP address, and assigns the alternative IP address to the port at which the duplication of the IP address is detected. The switching hub device also has a function that if the port having the alternative IP address assigned receives data, the function converts the IP address of the source device that transmits the data to the alternative IP address assigned to the reception port. The switching hub device also has a function that if transmitting data to the port having the alternative IP address, the function converts the destination IP address of transmission data to the IP address corresponding to the transmission port.

Server apparatus, information processing system, address management method of server apparatus


A system for selecting a communication mode for a transmitting node to communicate with a receiving node in a mesh network is provided. For example, a transmitting node can gather mode selection data that describe communication conditions of the transmitting node and the receiving node. Based on the mode selection data, the transmitting node can determine a first white list of modes that can be used by the transmitting node to successfully transmit data packets to the receiving node. The transmitting node also determines a second white list of modes that can be used by the receiving node to send acknowledgment packets successfully to the transmitting node. The transmitting node further identifies overlapped modes between the first and second white lists of modes. The transmitting node can then select one of the overlapped modes for transmitting data packets to the receiving node.

In a network, infrastructure nodes (or simply "nodes"), such as meters, gateways, or routers, constantly communicate with each other to, for example, exchange messages or transmit data. Different nodes, however, have different hardware and software configurations and thus may support different communication modes. In addition, each node may support multiple communication modes. For example, some nodes might be configured to support certain communication modes of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing ("OFDM") while other nodes are configured to support another set of OFDM communication modes. Some nodes might also be configured to support communication modes based on frequency-shift keying (FSK) in addition to OFDM. As such, when transmitting data, a transmitting node needs to select a communication mode among the multiple supported communication modes so that the data can be transmitted to the receiving node reliably and efficiently.

Mode selection for mesh network communication


Disclosed is an efficient biological process for recovering silver and manganese from refractory manganiferous silver ore. The process utilizes manganese reducing Bacillus sp. Specifically exemplified is a novel microbe designated Bacillus MBX 69, or mutants thereol Further, gene(s) encoding the enzyme(s) obtainable from the said bacteria can be used by placing such gene(s) on a suitable vector and transforming a competent host. The transformed host then can be used to recover silver and manganese from refractory manganiferous silver ore.

The recovery of silver from ore is made more difficult by the presence of manganese and other metals in the ore. Such ore is generally referred to as "refractory ore" since at least 80% of the silver is complexed with manganese. Accordingly, the silver mining industry is constantly attempting to discover and develop processes which can be used to recover the desired silver efficiently from other metal components in mined ore.
Chemical processes for recovery of precious metals are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,740,243, 4,752,332, and 4,765,827. None of these patents disclose processes which come close to the recovery efficiency for silver and manganese achieved with the subject invention process.
Biological recovery of silver and manganese from refractory ore has not been very successful to date. For example, Gupta, A., and H. L. Ehrlich in Jour. of Biotechnology (1989) 9:287-304, used a mold, Penicillium, incubated aerobically, without a chelator with the ore. After 5 weeks incubation, he achieved 23.5% solubfflwtion of Mn and 26.5% solubilization of silver. This result is not considered to be an efficient silver or manganese recovery.
There is no known prior art biological process which provides high enough silver recovery yields to be considered an efficient silver or manganese recovery process.
The biological process of the subject invention is the first known process which yields in excess of 90% silver and manganese recovery from refractory manganiferous silver ore. Thus, the subject process can be termed a landmark achievement in the art of mining manganese and silver.

Biological process for enhanced manganese and silver recovery from refractory manganiferous silver ore

Metallurgical and Biological Extraction Systems, Inc.


Disclosed is a nitride semiconductor apparatus including a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer disposed above the substrate, and constituting an electron transit layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer, and constituting an electron supply layer, a nitride semiconductor gate layer disposed on the second nitride semiconductor layer having a ridge portion at at least an area thereof, and containing an acceptor-type impurity, a gate electrode disposed on the ridge portion, a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed opposite to each other, with the ridge portion interposed therebetween, on the second nitride semiconductor layer, and a strip-shaped insulator disposed between the substrate and a surface layer portion of the first nitride semiconductor layer, and extending along a length direction of the ridge portion when viewed in plan.

The present disclosure relates to a nitride semiconductor apparatus formed from a group-III nitride semiconductor, which may hereinafter be simply referred to as "nitride semiconductor," and also to a manufacturing method thereof.
The term "group-III nitride semiconductor" means a semiconductor that uses nitrogen as a group-V element in a group III-V semiconductor. Representative examples include aluminum nitride (AlN), gallium nitride (GaN), and indium nitride (InN). In general, a group-III nitride semiconductor can be represented by AlxInyGa1-x-yN (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 0≤x+y≤1).
High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) using such nitride semiconductors have been proposed. Such an HEMT includes, for example, an electron transit layer formed from GaN, and an electron supply layer formed from AlGaN and epitaxially grown on the electron transit layer. A pair of source and drain electrodes is formed in contact with the electron supply layer, and a gate electrode is disposed between these source and drain electrodes.
Due to polarization caused by a lattice mismatch between GaN and AlGaN, a two-dimensional electron gas is formed in the electron transit layer at a position inward by several Å from an interface between the electron transit layer and the electron supply layer. The source and the drain are connected through the two-dimensional electron gas as a channel. When the two-dimensional electron gas is blocked by applying a control voltage to the gate electrode, the source and the drain are disconnected from each other. With no control voltage applied to the gate electrode, the source and the drain remain conducted with each other so that the HEMT functions as a normally-on type device.
Devices with a nitride semiconductor employed therein have characteristics such as high voltage resistance, high-temperature operation, large current density, high-speed switching and low on-resistance, and their application to power devices is proposed in JP 2017-73506 A. At present, devices of such a concept are manufactured on a mass scale, and are distributed in the market.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-73506 discloses a configuration to achieve a normally-off scheme. A ridge-shaped p-type GaN gate layer (nitride semiconductor gate layer) is stacked on an AlGaN electron supply layer, and a gate electrode is disposed on the p-type GaN gate layer. A channel is lost by a depletion layer spreading from the p-type GaN gate layer.

Nitride semiconductor apparatus and manufacturing method thereof


A campfire grill for cooking over an open fire is described as including a base support assembly with a plurality of legs extending away from an upright member. The upright member is of a predetermined height with a cooking implement support knob slidable along the upright member and lockable in a desired position. Cooking implements are interchangeably attached to the support knob for a cooking activity at the desired height above the campfire. A flange is described between the lower end of the upright member and the legs permitting the cooking implement and the upright member to be turned readily as an additional control over the temperature from the campfire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general, relates to cooking apparatus and, more particularly, to devices for cooking foods about a campfire.
The cooking of food about a campfire is, for many people, the essence of the camping experience. It matters little whether the campfire is located in remote back-country accessible only by foot or is located immediately alongside a motor home. The simple act of cooking foods out of doors about an open fire brings pleasure to many people.
However, as many people discover, it is not as easy to cook food about an open campfire in practice as it appears to their imagination. It is difficult, for example, to control the cooking temperature. Food cooked over a campfire will often cook either too slowly or burn if it is allowed to cook to quickly.
Once certain food items have been properly heated, it is difficult to maintain those food items at an ideal serving temperature while preparing other food items.
It is also inconvenient generally to serve food that has been cooked over a campfire as the bottom of the cooking implements are hot and soot covered. Therefore, while food is being served, it is desirable to be able to leave the cooking implements resting on the same surface used during heating but without continuing to further heat the food.
Certain food items that are cooked over a campfire are best prepared over an open grill surface, such as hot dogs and hamburgers. Certain other food items, such as soups and stews, require a container or pot. Still other food items, such as fried eggs, are best prepared using a griddle type of cooking surface.
Accordingly, there exists today a need for a versatile camp grill that is portable, provides for easy control of the cooking temperature, is able to maintain food at the desired temperature, is able to hold pots, pans, and food items without heating them further, and can accommodate different types of cooking surfaces.
2. Description of Prior Art
Campfire grills are known. For example, the following U.S. patents describe various types of camp and barbecue grills:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,604,884 to Walker, Jul. 29, 1952; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 2,827,846 to Karkling, issued Mar. 25, 1958; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,354 to Claire et al., issued Apr. 11, 1978; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,912 to Burnside, issued Aug. 6, 1985; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,525 to Ruble, issued Nov. 19, 1985; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,608 to Allred et al., issued Aug. 26, 1986; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,753 to Neyman et al, dated Feb. 16, 1988; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,423 to Burns, issued Aug. 15, 1989; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,490 to Nudo et al., issued Dec. 25, 1990; and PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,806, that issued Jun. 2, 1992.
While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences will be described in more detail hereinafter.