In a discharge lamp device, the electric power supplied to a discharge lamp is controlled in order of first to fourth control regions from the start of lighting of the discharge lamp. In the first control region, the lamp current is held constant until the lamp voltage reaches a first voltage value. In the second control region, the lamp current is reduced so as to have a correlation with a first time constant curve for a constant time after the lamp voltage reaches the first voltage value. In the third control region, the lamp current is reduced so as to have a correlation with a second time constant curve after a lapse of the constant time. The second time constant curve differs from the first time constant curve. In the fourth control region, a control value of the electric power supplied to the discharge lamp is free of a function of a lapse of time from the start of lighting of the discharge lamp, but is a function of at least the lamp voltage and the lamp current, and the electric power supplied to the discharge lamp is controlled by that control value. Through such a control, luminous flux is built up in a short time from the start of the lighting and an occurrence of overshoot or undershoot is minimized to a possible extent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discharge lamp device for use in a vehicular headlight arrangement for an automobile, an electric railcar, a ship, an aircraft or the like, or in a general lighting system. The discharge lamp device includes a control circuit for controlling an electric power applied to a discharge lamp, an optical cable coupled at its one end to a light unit with the discharge lamp therein via a coupling arrangement, and a light distribution unit coupled to the other end of the optical cable for achieving a given light distribution.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, a metal halide lamp (discharge lamp) has drawn attention as a light source of the vehicular headlight. In general, it takes time for the discharge lamp to stabilize its luminous flux from the lighting thereof. Thus, for using it as a light source of the vehicular headlight, it is necessary to shorten the time until the luminous flux is stabilized.
For achieving this, a method has been known as disclosed for example in Japanese First (unexamined) Patent Publication No. 6-54521, wherein an excessive lamp current is fed to the discharge lamp just after the lighting so as to shorten the time until the luminous flux is stabilized. Specifically, upon cold starting of the discharge lamp, the lamp current is controlled at a given constant current value greater than a stable-time current value for a given fixed time from the lighting, and then the lamp current is exponentially reduced using a timer circuit so that a stable lighting state is reached.
In this conventional method, however, as shown in FIG. 7, the luminous flux at the start of the lighting may be subjected to overshoot A or undershoot B relative to the luminous flux at the stable time, and further, a build-up characteristic D of the luminous flux may be subjected to dispersion due to dispersion in quality of the individual discharge lamps. Thus, the foregoing conventional method is not preferable for the vehicular headlight.
On the other hand, an optical cable is composed of a clad member and a core member having mutually different refractive indexes and used for transmitting the light by means of the total reflection at an interface between the clad member and the core member due to a difference in refractive index. In recent years, this type of optical cables has been used in various industrial fields, such as, optical communications, optical sensors, decorative displays and various lighting systems of automobiles, optical instruments, medical instruments, outdoor signboards, domestic electrical devices and so forth.
For example, Japanese First (unexamined) Patent Publication No. 61-250902 proposes a light irradiation arrangement, wherein light emitted from a light source is transmitted through an optical cable of the foregoing type to an object (to be irradiated) arranged at a given place such that radiation heat from the light source is not transferred to the object. The optical cable proposed in this publication is arranged such that a fluororesin plastic pipe having a small refractive index is filled therein with liquid-phase glycerin for the total reflection of the light, and glass rods are fitted into the plastic pipe at both opposite ends thereof for sealing.
However, in such an optical cable filled with the liquid such as glycerin, since the plastic pipe is sealed by the glass rods fitted in at the ends thereof, there is raised a problem of leakage of the liquid from between the plastic pipe and each of the glass rods.
On the other hand, another optical cable of the foregoing type has been developed and manufactured, wherein a clad member made of synthetic resin with a small refractive index and a core member made of synthetic resin with a refractive index greater than that of the clad member are formed integral with each other to form a flexible optical cable.
However, if such an optical cable of the synthetic resin is located near a light source, such as a halogen lamp or a high-pressure mercury lamp, there is raised a problem that the optical cable is softened or deformed due to the direct heat or the radiation heat from the light source so as to cause a dislocation of an optical axis. If the dislocation of the optical axis occurs, the utilization efficiency and the transmission efficiency of the light are deteriorated so that the object can not be lightened with the required illuminance.
On the other hand, if a glass rod having a heat cut filter function is disposed at an end portion, near the light source, of such a synthetic resin optical cable, the direct heat or the radiation heat from the light source can be intercepted by the glass rod. However, the light entering the glass rod from the light source leaks to the exterior through the peripheral walls of the glass rod so that the quantity of the incident light into the optical cable is reduced. Thus, the utilization efficiency and the transmission efficiency of the light are lowered so that the object can not be lightened with the required illuminance.
It may also be considered to integrate the optical cable and the glass rod using the clad member of the optical cable. However, this is not practical since the core member and the clad member are formed integral with each other in this type of the synthetic resin optical cable so that a process for removing the core member is required.
On the other hand, Japanese First (unexamined) Patent Publication No. 63-40201 proposes a vehicular headlight arrangement, wherein the desired spreading of a light distribution in left and right directions can be achieved without causing an upper boundary to be ambiguous. Specifically, in this publication, a light distribution pattern forming shade plate is disposed at approximate focal points of condenser lenses forming a condenser lens unit, and a reflecting mirror is provided for producing the reflected light which converges along a line connecting the focal points of the respective condenser lenses. With this arrangement, shading boundaries caused by the light distribution pattern forming shade plate are projected forward through the condenser lens unit so that the light distribution as shown in FIG. 20B can be achieved.
However, in such an arrangement, about a half of the reflected light from the reflecting mirror is intercepted due to the light distribution pattern forming shade plate as shown by hatched lines in FIG. 20A. Thus, there is raised a problem of poor utilization efficiency of the light and thus an occurrence of the insufficient illuminance. Further, for achieving the desired light distribution, the reflecting mirror, the light distribution pattern forming shade plate and the like are required so that the number of the components is increased to render a structure of the vehicular headlight arrangement complicated.

Discharge lamp device having a light distribution compound lens


A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process includes acquiring information in a log regarding an operating state of a plurality of robots; based on the acquired information in the log, calculating a first load in each time slot related to control of the plurality of robots; when there is a first time slot in which the first load is higher than or equal to a first threshold, extracting a robot that performs a first task, from the plurality of robots, in the first time slot; and changing a time slot for operating the extracted robot.

The upper limit to the number of robots that may be registered in each robotic process automation (RPA) server is about 100 to 1000 and depends on the specifications of the server machine. Therefore, many (for example, 1000 or more) of the same robots are not able to be monitored by the same server.
For example, after creating about 100 robots prior to construction of an RPA server and manually operating the robots for a certain time period (for example, about half a year), adding 100 robots may pose an operational obstacle to the management of robots. Examples of the related art are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 7-160615 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-105497.

Storage medium, control apparatus, and control method


A crop harvesting mechanism having a reel assembly with a reel that is rotatably supported at each end by a respective reel support. A reel carrier arm is provided for each of the reel supports and the supports are movable along the reel carrier arm. A horizontal adjustment actuator moves the reel support along the reel carrier arms over an adjustment range. The reel carrier arms are constructed with an upward or downward oriented curve, inside of the adjustment range over which the reel holding devices can be shifted by the actuator. The reel operates below a cutting bar in its forward position and in a position moved further back that is above and behind the cutting bar so that collisions are avoided.

Harvesting mechanisms are used for grain harvesting with self-propelled combines. They usually have a horizontally orientated cutter bar for cutting crop stalks and a transverse conveying auger that feeds the cut crop to the feederhouse of the combine. A pickup reel is located above and in front of the cutter bar to gather the crop to be harvested and to direct crop to the cutter bar and the transverse conveying auger. The pickup reel rotates around a longitudinal axis and is provided with horizontal tine carriers distributed around the longitudinal axis. The tine carriers carry tines that engage the crop stalks.
The reel is usually rotatably mounted on reel supports that are provided on reel carrier arms. The carrier arms are pivotably mounted behind the cutter bar on the frame of the harvesting mechanism and pivot around a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of forward movement. The angle of the reel carrier arm is adjusted by a hydraulic cylinder around the axis, and thus adjusts the height of the reel relative to ground level and the cutter bar. An additional hydraulic cylinder shifts the reel along the reel carrier arm. The position of the reel can thus be varied in the forward and backward direction.
The reel carrier arms are usually straight over their entire length, as shown in the prior art in GB 1 501 639 A, GB 1 574 033 A and WO 03/049532 A. Alternatively, reel carrier arms are provided with bends or angles. Usually the part of the reel carrier arm that cooperates with the reel support is straight, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,711, U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,429, DE 195 08 887 C, and DE 195 29 067 A. Therefore, when the reel is shifted along the reel carrier arm, the reel moves in a straight line. The angle or slope of the reel carrier arm relative to the horizontal depends on the pivoting angle of the reel carrier arm around the horizontal axis.
Additionally, some harvesting mechanisms have a two part intake mechanism. A front bottom part carries the cutter bar and is movable in the forward direction. A rear bottom part is fixed solidly to the harvesting mechanism frame. In order to adapt the harvesting mechanism to a crop such as rapeseed, for example, the front bottom part is moved forward. Problems can arise in adjustment of the reel position because collisions between the reel and cutter bar are possible when the front bottom part is adjusted forward. Specifically collisions happen in the area of the cutter bar if the reel is adjusted forward or is lowered too far.
Thus, precautions are taken to prevent such collisions. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,711 a mechanical coupling is provided between the cutter bar and the reel carrier arm by a lever mechanism that automatically moves the reel carrier arm vertically as a function of the horizontal position of the cutter bar. A similar mechanical coupling between the reel carrier arm and cutter bar which has a radial cam and a guide roller is described in WO 03/049532 A. To prevent collisions of the reel with the cutter bar, DE 195 08 887 C provides an electronic coupling for positioning the cutting bar via a connection to a sensor that controls an actuator.
The known coupling between the position of the cutting bar and the vertical reel position is disadvantageous in that the operator cannot switch to certain reel positions in a manner that is easily known to him because certain reel positions are blocked mechanically or electronically. Furthermore, the above mechanical and electronic components are relatively expensive and are susceptible to fouling and damage.
Potential collisions between the reel and cutter bar also arises in other types of harvesting mechanisms, especially those with conveyor belts that transport the crop back to a transverse conveying auger which then feeds the crop to the feederhouse of a combine, as described in GB 1 501 639 A, GB 1 574 033 A and GB 1 602 067 A. A sufficiently long horizontal adjustment path of the reel is required to be able to move the reel far enough forward to receive laid crop, and also to be able to move the reel far enough backward for rapeseed harvest to press the crop mat under the transverse conveying auger. The reel should operate below the cutting bar in the forward position but not lie on the conveyor belt in the rear position. This problem could be resolved by a mechanical arrangement, similar to the previously described couplings between the position of the cutter bar and the vertical adjustable reel position, which automatically raises the reel arm when it is moved backward. However, this configuration also has the above-described shortcomings.


An elevator car dispatcher having an artificially intelligent supervisor which generates a crowd prediction signal associated with a particular floor, monitors a condition of a first elevator car which has serviced the predetermined floor and controls the remainder of elevator cars assigned to the predetermined floor dependent upon the condition of the first car.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to artificially intelligent elevator systems and, more particularly, to such systems using artificial intelligence for predicting crowds at elevator floors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Arrangements for predicting crowds at predetermined elevators floors and dispatching elevator cars to such floors are known. See, for example, commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,838,384; 4,846,311; 5,022,497; 5,024,295 and 5,035,302 which are all hereby incorporated by reference. The present inventor has developed arrangements for dispatching elevator cars responsive to traffic predictions. See, for example, U.S. patent application No. 07/580,888 filed Sep. 11, 1990 previously incorporated by reference. These various arrangements utilize a plurality of parameters for a predetermined floor to predict (e.g., periodically) a crowd for a particular short time interval. Such parameters include, for example, passenger boarding counts, passenger deboarding counts, hall calls and car calls for that floor. Such parameters are substantially continuously manipulated and stored by suitable programming within a microcomputer to produce both "real time" and "historic" databases which are utilized to predict crowds. The crowd predictions are then utilized by the elevator system to improve service to floors for which a crowd is predicted. The predictions are based on known prediction or forecasting techniques, such as single exponential smoothing and/or linear exponential smoothing discussed in Forecasting Methods and Applications by Spiro Makridakis and Steven C. Wheelwright (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1978) particularly in section 3.6: "Linear Exponential Smoothing." Linear exponential smoothing is based on Brown's one-parameter linear exponential smoothing of the Makridakis and Wheelwright text (see page 61 et seq.) and is represented by the following equation: EQU P(t+m)=2S'(t)-S"(t)+Am/(1-A) {S'(t)-S"(t)}
where EQU S'(t)=AX(t)+(1-A)S'(t-1) EQU S'(0)=X(0) EQU S"(t)=AS'(t)+(1-A)S"(t-1) EQU S"(0)=X(0)
and
P(t+m) is the prediction for "m" intervals now, PA1 S'(t) is a single smoothing value, PA1 S"(t) is a double smoothing value, PA1 A is a weighing factor and is a pure number, for example, two-tenths (0.2), PA1 m is the number of intervals ahead to be predicted, which could be, for example, two intervals, with an exemplary time interval being a one minute time period, PA1 x(o) is an initial value of the parameter being predicted, and PA1 x(t) is an observed value of the parameter being predicted at time t.
Further discussion of these prediction techniques is set forth in the commonly-owned U.S. patents and applications previously incorporated by reference. The crowd predicting and elevator dispatching arrangements discussed above have improved elevator system efficiency, but they have not proven to be entirely satisfactory. Although a crowd is predicted for a short time interval (e.g., several minutes) for a particular or predetermined floor, that crowd may not exist in real time. Dispatching elevator cars to a floor for which a crowd is predicted is inefficient if such crowd does not exist in real time.
Accordingly, the present invention employs an artificially intelligent (AI) supervisor to monitor at least one condition (e.g., load weight) of a first elevator car dispatched to a predetermined floor at which a crowd is predicted and to control the remainder of cars assigned to that floor dependent upon the monitored condition.
It is a principal object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of artificially intelligent elevator systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to employ real time data from one car servicing a particular floor during a short time interval to control the assignment of other cars to that floor during that interval.
Further and still other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Elevator car dispatcher having artificially intelligent supervisor for crowds


An educational game includes a game board with a top side having a plurality of outer spaces forming an outer loop and a plurality of inner spaces forming an inner loop. First and second spinners are coupled to the game board. The first spinner indicates one of the outer spaces. The second spinner indicates one of the inner spaces. A plurality of outer cards is provided and each of the outer spaces has one of the outer cards positioned therein. A plurality of inner cards is provided and each of the inner spaces has one of the inner cards positioned therein. The outer cards include first information indicia and the inner cards include second information indicia. The first and second spinners are spun. The inner and outer cards indicated by the first and second spinners are read to determine if the first and second information indicia thereon match each other.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to educational games and more particularly pertains to a new educational game for teaching a person educational facts in an entertaining and competitive manner.
2. Summary of the Disclosure
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally providing a game board that has a top side and a perimeter edge. A plurality of outer spaces forms an outer loop positioned adjacent to the perimeter edge and a plurality of inner spaces forms an inner loop positioned within the outer loop. A quantity of the outer spaces is equal to a quantity of inner spaces. Point indicia are positioned on each of the outer and inner spaces. A first spinner and a second spinner each rotatably coupled to the game board. The first spinner has an end indicating one of the outer spaces and the second spinner has an end indicating one of the inner spaces. A plurality of outer cards is provided and each of the outer spaces has one of the outer cards positioned therein. The outer cards each have first information indicia thereon being unique to each outer card. A plurality of inner cards is provided and each of the inner spaces has one of the inner cards positioned therein. The inner cards each have second information indicia thereon unique to each inner card and corresponding to the first information indicia on one of the outer cards. The first spinner is spun to indicate one of the outer spaces and the outer card positioned in the outer space indicated is removed to define a removed outer card and an empty outer space. The second spinner is spun to indicate one of the inner spaces and the inner card positioned in the inner space indicated is removed to define a removed inner card and an empty inner space. The first and second information indicia on the removed outer and inner cards are read to determine if the first and second information indicia correspond with each other. A match is declared if a player believes that the first and second information indicia correspond with each other. Points are awarded to a player who correctly declares a match. The points are determined by the point indicia indicated on the empty inner and outer spaces. The game is won by a player who accumulates a preselected number of points.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.


A sealed symmetric multilayered package with integral windows for housing one or more microelectronic devices. The devices can be a semiconductor chip, a CCD chip, a CMOS chip, a VCSEL chip, a laser diode, a MEMS device, or a IMEMS device. The multilayered package can be formed of a low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) or high-temperature cofired ceramic (HTCC) multilayer processes with the windows being simultaneously joined (e.g. cofired) to the package body during LTCC or HTCC processing. The microelectronic devices can be flip-chip bonded and oriented so that the light-sensitive sides are optically accessible through the windows. The result is a compact, low-profile, sealed symmetric package, having integral windows that can be hermetically-sealed.

The present invention relates generally to the field of microelectronics, and more specifically to packaging of microelectronic devices in a package having an integral window.
Many different types of microelectronic devices require a window to provide optical access and protection from the environment. Examples of optically-interactive semiconductor devices include charge-coupled devices (CCD), photo-sensitive cells (photocells), solid-state imaging devices, and UV-light sensitive Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) chips. All of these devices use microelectronic devices that are sensitive to light over a range of wavelengths, including ultraviolet, infrared, and visible. Other types of semiconductor photonic devices emit light, such as laser diodes and Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSELS), which also need to pass light through a protective window.
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and Integrated MEMS (IMEMS) devices (e.g. MEMS devices combined with Integrated Circuit (IC) devices) can also require a window for optical access. Examples of MEMS devices include airbag accelerometers, microengines, microlocks, optical switches, tiltable mirrors, miniature gyroscopes, sensors, and actuators. All of these MEMS devices use active mechanical and/or optical elements. Some examples of active MEMS structures include gears, hinges, levers, slides, tilting mirrors, and optical sensors. These active structures must be free to move or rotate. Optical access through a window is required for MEMS devices that have mirrors and optical elements. Optical access to non-optically active MEMS devices can also be required for inspection, observation, and performance characterization of the moving elements.
Additionally, radiation detectors which detect alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, use xe2x80x9cwindowsxe2x80x9d of varying thickness and materials to either transmit, block, or filter these energetic particles. These devices also have a need for windows that transmit or filter radiation to and from the device, while at the same time providing physical and environmental protection.
The word xe2x80x9ctransparentxe2x80x9d is broadly defined herein to include transmission of radiation (e.g. photons and energetic particles) covering a wide range of wavelengths and energies, not just UV, IR, and visible light. Likewise, the word xe2x80x9cwindowxe2x80x9d is broadly defined herein to include materials other than optically transparent glass, ceramic, or plastic, such as thin sheets,.of metal, which can transmit energetic particles (e.g. alpha, beta, gamma, and light or heavy ions).
There is a continuing need in the semiconductor fabrication industry to reduce costs and improve reliability by reducing the number of fabrication steps, while increasing the density of components. One approach is to shrink the size of packaging. Another is to combine as many steps into one by integrating operations. A good example is the use of cofired multilayer ceramic packages. Unfortunately, adding windows to these packages typically increases the complexity and costs.
Hermetically sealed packages are used to satisfy more demanding environmental requirements, such as for military and space applications. The schematic shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional ceramic package for a MEMS device, a CCD chip, or other optically active microelectronic device. The device or chip is die-attached face-up to a ceramic package and then wirebonded to interconnect inside of the package. Metallized circuit traces carry the electrical signal through the ceramic package to electrical leads mounted outside. A glass window is attached as the last step with a frit glass or solder seal. Examples of conventional ceramic packages include Ceramic Dual In-Line Package (CERDIP), EPROM and Ceramic Flatpack designs.
Although stronger, ceramic packages are typically heavier, bulkier, and more expensive to fabricate than plastic molded packages. Problems with using wirebonding include the fragility of very thin wires; wire sweep detachment and breakage during transfer molding; additional space required to accommodate the arched wire shape and toolpath motion of the wirebond toolhead; and the constraint that the window (or cover lid) be attached after the wirebonding step. Also, attachment of the window as the last step can limit the temperature of bonding the window to the package.
FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a conventional molded plastic (e.g. encapsulated) microelectronic package. The chip is attached to a lead frame, and a polymer dam prevents the plastic encapsulant from flowing onto the light-sensitive area of the chip during plastic transfer molding. The window is generally attached with a polymer adhesive. Problems with this approach include the use of fragile wirebonded interconnections; and plastic encapsulation, which does not provide hermetic sealing against moisture intrusion.
Flip-chip mounting of semiconductor chips is a commonly used alternative to wirebonding. In flip-chip mounting the chip is mounted face-down and then reflow soldered using small solder balls or xe2x80x9cbumpsxe2x80x9d to a substrate having a matching pattern of circuit traces (such as a printed wiring board). All of the solder joints are made simultaneously. Excess spreading of the molten solder ball is prevented by the use of specially-designed bonding pads. Flip-chip mounting has been successfully used in fabricating Multi-Chip Modules (MCM""s), Chip-on-Board, Silicon-on-Silicon, and Ball Grid Array packaging designs.
Flip-chip mounting has many benefits over traditional wirebonding, including increased packaging density, lower lead inductance, shorter circuit traces, thinner package height, no thin wires to break, and simultaneous mechanical die-attach and electrical circuit interconnection. Another advantage is that the chips are naturally self-aligning due to surface tension when using molten solder balls. It is also possible to replace the metallic solder bumps With bumps, or dollops, of an electrically-conductive polymer or epoxy (e.g. silver-filled epoxy). Flip-chip mounting avoids potential problems associated with ultrasonic bonding techniques that can impart stressful vibrations to a fragile (e.g. released) MEMS structure.
Despite the well-known advantages of flip-chip mounting, this technique has not been widely practiced for packaging of MEMS devices, Integrated MEMS (IMEMS), or CCD chips because attaching the chip face-down to a solid, opaque substrate prevents optical access to the optically-active, light-sensitive surface.
The cost of fabricating ceramic packages can be reduced by using cofired ceramic multilayer packages. Multilayer packages are presently used in many product categories, including leadless chip carriers, pin-grid arrays (PGA""s), side-brazed dual-in-line packages (DIP""s), flatpacks, and leaded chip carriers. Depending on the application, 5-40 layers of dielectric layers can be used, each having printed signal traces, ground planes, and power planes. Each signal layer can be connected to adjacent layers above and below by conductive vias passing through the dielectric layers.
Electrically conducting metallized traces, thick-film resistors, and solder-filled vias or Z-interconnects are conventionally made by thick-film metallization techniques, including screen-printing. Multiple layers are printed, vias-created, stacked, collated, and registered. The layers are then joined together (e.g. laminated) by a process of burnout, followed by firing at elevated temperatures. Burnout at 350-600xc2x0 C. first removes the organic binders and plasticizers from the substrate layers and conductor/resistor pastes. After burnout, these parts are fired at much higher temperatures, which sinters and densifies the glass-ceramic substrate to form a dense and rigid insulating structure. Glass-forming constituents in the layers can flow and fill-in voids, corners, etc.
Two different cofired.ceramic systems are conventionally used, depending on the choice of materials: high-temperature cofired ceramic (HTCC), and low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC). HTCC systems typically use alumina substrates; are printed with molybdenum-manganese or tungsten conducting traces; and are fired at high temperatures, from 1300xc2x0 C. to 1800xc2x0 C. LTCC systems use a wide variety of glass-ceramic substrates; are printed with Au, Ag, or Cu metallizations; and are fired at lower temperatures, from 600xc2x0 C. to 1300xc2x0 C. After firing, the semiconductor die is attached to the fired HTCC (or LTCC) body; followed by wirebonding. Finally, the package is lidded and sealed by attaching a metallic, ceramic, or glass cover lid with a braze, a frit glass, or a solder seal, depending on the hierarchy of thermal processing and on performance specifications.
Use of cofired multilayer ceramic structures for semiconductor packages advantageously permits a wide choice of geometrical designs and processing conditions, as compared to previous use of bulk ceramic pieces (which typically had to be cut and ground from solid blocks or bars). Ceramic packages with high-temperature seals are generally stronger and have improved hermeticity, compared to plastic encapsulated packages. It is well known to those skilled in the art that damaging moisture can penetrate polymer-based seals over time. Also, metallized conductive traces are more durable than freestanding wire bond segments, especially when the traces are embedded and protected within a layer of insulating material.
In summary, conventional methods and designs for packaging of light-sensitive microelectronic devices attach the window (or cover lid containing a window) after completing the steps of die attachment and wirebonding of the chip or MEMS device to the package. Many processing steps are used, which can expose the fragile MEMS structures to particulate contamination and mechanical damage during packaging.
What is needed is a packaging process that minimizes the number of times that a MEMS device is handled and exposed to temperature cycles and different environments, which can possibly lead to contamination of the device. This can be accomplished by performing as many of the package fabrication steps as possible before mounting the MEMS device. What is needed, then, is a packaging process that attaches the window to the package before mounting the chip to the package. It is also desired that the window be attached to the package body at a high temperature to provide a strong, hermetic bond between the window and the body. What also is needed is a method where the MEMS device faces away from the cover lid, so that contamination is reduced when the cover lid is attached last.
Electrical interconnections from the chip to the package are needed that are stronger and less fragile than conventional wirebonds. What also is needed is a package having a high degree of strength and hermeticity. In some cases, it is also desired to stack back-to-back multiple chips, of different types (e.g. CMOS, MEMS, etc.) inside of a single, windowed-package.
Use of the phrase xe2x80x9cMEMS devicesxe2x80x9d is broadly defined herein to include xe2x80x9cIMEMSxe2x80x9d devices, unless specifically stated otherwise. The word xe2x80x9cplasticxe2x80x9d is broadly defined herein to include any type of flowable, dielectric composition, including polymer compounds and spin-on glass-polymer compositions. The phrases xe2x80x9creleased MEMS it structuresxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9creleased MEMS elementsxe2x80x9d, and xe2x80x9cactive MEMS elementsxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cactive MEMS structuresxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably to refer to a device having freely-movable structural elements, such as gears, pivots, hinges, sliders, tilting mirrors; and also to exposed active elements such as chemical sensors, flexible membranes, and beams with thin-film strain gauges, which are used in accelerometers and pressure sensors.

Sealed symmetric multilayered microelectronic device package with integral windows


To provide a sliding member that improves seizure resistance by restraining any exposure of the porous layer and improves abrasion resistance and load resistance.

As the sliding member, a sliding material in which Cu—Sn alloy has been bonded to a steel plate has been often used. The previously used Cu—Sn alloy has been Cu—Sn—Pb alloy in which an addition of Pb has allowed an excellent sliding to be maintained.
However, the use of Pb has been limited in various kinds of fields in recent years because Pb has any quality of being noxious to human body and Pb-free material has been proposed in the sliding member. As such Pb-free sliding material, a sliding member in which a resin material has been used has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The previous sliding member using the resin material has had a configuration such that a porous Cu—Sn alloy layer has formed on the steel plate and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the resin material has been impregnated into this porous layer and coated thereon. The porous layer has been so that powders of Cu—Sn alloy have been dispersed on the steel plate and the steel plate on which the powders of Cu—Sn alloy have dispersed has been sintered in a sintering furnace, thereby enabling a porous Cu—Sn alloy layer to be formed on the steel plate.

Abstract: The sliding member 1 constitutes a bearing having a cylindrical shape, an inner circumferential surface of which is a sliding layer 5 with an axis. In the sliding member 1, a porous layer 3 made of alloy material is formed on a surface of a metal base 2 and this porous layer 3 is covered by resin material 4 so that the sliding layer 5 is formed. In the sliding member 1, a particle size of metal powder 30 forming the porous layer 3 is within a range of 15 through 60 μm, preferably, about 25 through 45 μm. Further, in the sliding member 1, a thickness of the porous layer 3 is within a range of 0.06 through 0.1 mm and a thickness of the sliding layer 5 is within a range of 0.08 through 0.16 mm The thickness of the sliding layer 5 is set to be thicker on average than the thickness of the porous layer 3 so that the porous layer 3 is not exposed.


A portable recumbent therapeutic system that can be used for relaxing, exercising and stimulating a user's legs, sacrum, back, arms and other parts of the body, and to do so all at the same time while minimizing the negative effect of a person's own body weight. The therapeutic system utilizes three complementary and interdependent support members while the user is in a horizontal reclined position. Because the three members are complementary and interdependent on each other the user often feels a sensation of weightlessness similar to exercising in water. The user's arms, for example, are able to swing freely as desired which simultaneously changes or affects the movement and utilization of the other two members and vice versa. When listening to music the system can provide the user with perhaps a feeling of dancing on air. The therapeutic system moves in response to the user and requires no power source.

Various therapeutic devices have been developed for rehabilitating individuals with physical injuries or other problems. Such devices are often designed for treating a certain type of injury and thus focus on a particular area of a patient's body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,742, for instance, discloses a rocking device for stretching or relaxing a person's back muscles. A person engages the device with their feet, hips and hands and then rocks, oscillates or rotates his body to stretch or relax the back muscles. Since the feet, hips and hands all engage elements that are restrained or attached at a generally fixed location relative to each other, there is limited relative movement of those body parts as the person uses the device.
Other exercise devices, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,248 to Batscher, permit much greater freedom of movement. The Batscher device, however, appears to be meant for individuals that are sufficiently coordinated and are in relatively good physical condition. Many of the elderly or other people who have difficulty supporting their own weight while exercising might have trouble using the Batscher device.
To reduce the load of a person's body weight, many patients prefer exercising in water. Although this can be effective, swimming pools are often quite expensive, they are not always readily available, and they are typically not portable.
Other therapeutic or relaxation devices require an electrical power source, and such electrical power might not always be readily available. Moreover, electrically powered devices might force users into certain movements without the users having to exert any useful energy of their own.
Consequently there is need for a portable therapeutic system that can exercise or stimulate a person's whole body by producing and enhancing a gentle rebound reaction that can have a wave like reaction throughout the user's body.


A storage node may include a bottom electrode contact layer, a phase change layer connected to the bottom electrode contact layer, and a top electrode layer connected to the phase change layer. The bottom electrode contact layer may protrude toward the phase change layer. A phase change memory device may include a switching device and the storage node. The switching device may be connected to the bottom electrode contact layer. A method of manufacturing the storage node may include forming a via hole in an insulating interlayer, at least partially filling the via hole to form a bottom electrode contact layer, protruding the bottom electrode contact layer from the via hole, and forming a phase change layer that covers the bottom electrode contact layer. A method of manufacturing a phase change memory device may include forming the switching device on a substrate and manufacturing the storage node.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to storage nodes, semiconductor memory devices, methods of manufacturing the storage nodes, and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor memory devices. Example embodiments also relate to storage nodes and phase change memory devices having an increased contact area between a bottom electrode contact layer and a phase change layer and methods of manufacturing the storage nodes and phase change memory devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices typically include a switching device such as a transistor and a storage node electrically connected to the switching device. A phase change memory device is characterized by a phase change layer included in the storage node. A resistance of the phase change layer changes according to a state of the phase change layer (i.e., either a crystalline state or an amorphous state). Data can be recorded using this phenomenon by changing the phase change layer from the crystalline state to the amorphous state, or vice versa. Data can be read by measuring the resistance of the phase change layer.
For example, a phase change material may switch between a crystalline state and an amorphous state with changes in temperature. The crystalline or amorphous state of the phase change material may be reversible. Thus, the phase change material may change from the crystalline state to the amorphous state, or from the amorphous state to the crystalline state. The resistance of the phase change material in the crystalline state, for example, may be lower than the resistance of the phase change material in the amorphous state.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a storage node of a conventional phase change memory device.
Referring to FIG. 1, a via hole 12 is formed in an insulating interlayer 10, and the via hole 12 is filled with a bottom electrode contact layer 14. The bottom electrode contact layer 14 is connected to a transistor (not shown) that is disposed under the storage node.
The bottom electrode contact layer 14 is formed using an electrode material layer to fill in the via hole 12 in the insulating interlayer 10 and then by planarizing a surface of the electrode material layer until a surface of the insulating interlayer 10 is exposed.
A phase change layer 16 covering the bottom electrode contact layer 14 is formed on the insulating interlayer 10. A top electrode 18 is formed on the phase change layer 16, and a top electrode contact layer 20 is formed on the top electrode 18.
In the above-described conventional phase change memory device illustrated in FIG. 1, when writing and reading are repeated, contact between the phase change layer 16 and the bottom electrode contact layer 14 may become poor because the phase change layer 16 and/or the bottom electrode contact layer 14 become exfoliated. Thus, the resistance of the phase change memory device increases and/or the current through the storage node is unstable, which makes it difficult to create state changes in the phase change layer. Accordingly, the writing and/or reading of information may become almost impossible.

Storage nodes, phase change memory devices, and methods of manufacturing the same


A compact muffler for an internal combustion engine provides significant sound attenuation and back pressure reduction. The muffler is fabricated in the form of an elongated rectangular box with the exhaust pipe connected to an inlet in the center of one end, and the tail pipe of the vehicle connected to an outlet through the opposite end. Several wedge-shaped or V-shaped exhaust pulse splitting plates are located within the casing to split and recombine the stream of exhaust pulses passing through the casing. The splitting devices are located in the casing in positions which cause the different split streams of the exhaust pulses to be intercepted at different distances to cause the pulses passing through different parts of the casing to be out of phase with one another. The out-of-phase streams of the split exhaust pulses are recombined to flow out of the outlet.

Many different types of muffler structures have been proposed, and are in use, for reducing the sound of the exhaust gases flowing from internal combustion engines into the atmosphere. Most of such mufflers attempt to provide such sound reduction with a minimum or back pressure to the engine. In actual practice, however, the most widely used mufflers, and even some highly specialized mufflers, tend to create a substantial amount of back pressure on the engine.
Back pressure causes significant reduction in the useful horsepower of an engine. Back pressure is created, typically, when the exhaust pulse from the engine encounters too much resistance (or not enough acceptance) when it is supplied to the muffler. As a consequence, the exhaust pulse tends to bounce or reflect at least a portion of the pulse back to the engine. Since this occurs with every outgoing pulse, reflected waves or standing waves are produced in the muffler. Since standing waves cause higher pressures on the exhaust system, the ability of the engine to exhaust gases completely from the combustion chamber is reduced. This results in reduced horsepower.
Reflected waves, sometimes known as reversion, cause significant horsepower reduction, or detrimental effects on the engine performance, particularly during the overlap period of the valve openings. Higher horsepower engines have a greater amount of valve or cam overlap, and attempts to significantly attenuate the noise from such engines results in large horsepower reduction (from 20% to 40%) directly caused by the back pressure created in the muffler. This horsepower reduction results from reflected pulses traveling back up the exhaust system to force spent gases back into the combustion chamber. When the pulses are strong enough, they can revert back into the intake manifold during the time when both intake and exhaust valves are open (the cam overlap period). When this occurs, the air-fuel mixture supplied through the intake valve is not only the desired new air and fuel, but also includes an unpredictable amount of spent gases. Primarily because of the unpredictable amounts of spent gases which are recirculated back into the intake manifold, proper ignition is difficult, particularly if large concentrations of spent gases surround the sparkplug at the time it is fired.
Also, if an exhaust system is subjected to relatively high back pressures from the muffler system, the combustion chamber cannot be emptied to a pressure less than the back pressure to which it is subjected. This is the reason an engine exhibits a significant loss of efficiency, since the new gases and fuel vapor are drawn into the cylinder on the basis of a vacuum, which starts with the exhaust pressure. The higher this pressure is, the lower the amount of air and fuel mixture which can be drawn into the cylinder for the next firing cycle.
From the above, it is apparent that any muffler attached to an engine to suppress its sound, which also causes the development of back pressure to the engine, is not satisfactory. Baffle-type mufflers have been developed for providing the desired sound attenuation. To minimize the back pressure created by baffle-type mufflers, such mufflers should be made as large as possible, either in length or diameter. This creates another problem, however inasmuch as the bulk and weight of such mufflers is unacceptable in most applications.
Two mufflers, which have been designed in effort to overcome the problems mentioned above by employing concentric cone-like baffles, are disclosed in the patents to McCurdy U.S. Pat. No. 2,214,770 and Burstein U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,534. The sound attenuator devices of both of these patents are of a generally cylindrical shape. In the devices of both patents, cone-line baffles are employed, and are concentrically arranged with the apex of one cone extending at least partially into the flared opening of the next preceding one in the series. In the devices of both patents, the exhaust gases are directed toward the apices of the cones, and then are spaced uniformly around the outer edges. In the device of the McCurdy patent, the gases are exhausted at different stages, or at different intervals along the length of the device. Consequently, this device would not be acceptable for most automotive applications.
In the device shown in the Burstein patent, the baffles are arranged for the purpose of providing or forming three concentric streams of flowing gases moving at different velocities. The problem with this patent, however, is that gases from the main, nearly straight-through path in the device, are tapped off and added to the surrounding concentric streams in a constricted region; so that back pressure relief is not provided. An examination of the structure of McCurdy also reveals constricted areas which are impacted by the exhaust gases, and which inherently produce back pressure.
Three patents to Egan U.S. Pat. No. 1,170,807; Wood U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,534; and Flugger U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,812 are directed to mufflers which split the flow of gases passing through them by means of conically shaped baffles. The purpose is to reduce back pressure from the exhaust pipe, and to provide for splitting and recombination of the gases passing through the devices to produce the desired sound reduction. Although there is a splitting and reconverging of exhaust gases passing through the devices of all three of these patents, the baffles are all symmetrical; so that all of the splitting and recombining of the pulses of exhaust gases passing through the devices is in phase as the gases pass through the baffle arrangement of the mufflers. In addition, the structures of all of these mufflers include various internal traps or back pressure producing discontinuities.
A muffler of the type known as a resonator-type muffler is disclosed in the patent to Moller U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,882. Considerable back pressure is introduced by a muffler of this type, as is readily apparent from an examination of the internal structure employed.
A different approach to an internal baffle configuration is disclosed in the patent to Malmsten U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,689. The muffler of this patent employs a series of generally conical insert baffles located throughout its length. The baffles, however, are oriented with the wide ends of the cones facing in the inlet side of the muffler. The exhaust gases then are restricted to exit through the smaller openings at the apices of each of the cones or near the apices of the cones. Consequently, the potential for the production of considerable back pressure is present in the muffler disclosed in this patent, even though it may be capable of providing sound attenuation.
It is desirable to provide a muffler for internal combustion engines and the like, which is capable of being fabricated in a relatively small size, and which produces improved sound attenuation with minimal back pressure.


A circuit actively monitors and measures the amount of MOS device degradation due to, for example, the hot electron effect, and makes compensatory adjustments to device voltage levels or clock speed to maintain desired levels of functionality and performance. Monitoring can be done separately for NFET and PFET devices to selectively adjust for different degradation rates between the two. In operation, the monitor circuit compares the performance of a stressed device to a reference device, that is, an unstressed device which has not been degraded by the hot-electron effect. The monitor circuit outputs a signal indicating the amount of device degradation. This signal is used to adjust the supply voltage to that device or to the chip or otherwise compensate for the degradation. The monitor circuit can be formed on-chip or off-chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to MOS semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to increasing the useful life of a semiconductor device by monitoring and compensating for degradation due to the hot-electron effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
The "hot-electron" effect is a wear out mechanism that degrades metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor(MOSFET, or simply MOS) device performance as a function of applied voltage over time. Device threshold voltages and drive currents change with time and eventually cause the device to cease functioning within its design parameters. The hot-electron effect limits the usable applied voltage and therefore hampers device performance, and shortens the usable lifetime at a given applied voltage.
As MOS semiconductor devices become smaller and more highly integrated, degradation from the hot-electron effect has a greater impact due to the proportionately larger voltages and, thus larger fields, experienced by the smaller devices. As a result of these larger fields, some channel carriers (holes or electrons) have enough energy to enter the oxide insulating layer near the drain. For example, in p-type MOSFET devices (PFETs), holes may become trapped in the oxide layer resulting in a positive oxide charge near the drain which reduces the capacity of the channel and degrades device performance. Similarly, in n-type MOSFET devices (NFETs), electrons may become trapped in the oxide layer creating interface traps, eventually leading to gate-to-drain short circuits resulting in device failure.
In order to combat the hot-electron effect several solutions have been devised. Relatively simple solutions involve merely seeking to minimize the damage due to the hot-electron effect, such as by limiting the device channel length. More elaborate solutions involve the so-called lightly doped drain (LDD) wherein a lightly doped extension of the drain is inserted between the channel and the drain. The LDD is designed to spread the drain-to-channel voltage drop as evenly as possible in order to reduce any peaks in the field in order to keep the number of energetic carriers, holes or electrons, available to become trapped in the oxide layer to a minimum. However, the LDD solution increases drain resistance and decreases device gain thereby altering device performance.

Hot electron compensation for improved MOS transistor reliability

International Business Machines Corporation


The error concealment technique disclosed herein relates to the use of existing information by the decoder to conceal bitstream errors regardless of what the encoder does. Examples of existing information include, for example, the previous reference frame, macroblock information for the previous reference frames, etc. Another aspect of the system described herein relates to the steps that the encoder can take to enhance the decoder's ability to recover gracefully from a transmission error. Exemplary steps that can be taken by the encoder include intra walk around and sending GOB headers. Although these encoder techniques can provide greatly enhanced results, they are not strictly necessary to the system described herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to video communication and more particularly to a method of detecting and concealing errors in a video bitstream.
2. Description of Related Art
Digitization of video images has become increasingly important. In addition to their use in global communication (e.g., videoconferencing), digitization of video images for digital video recording has also become increasingly common. In each of these applications, video information is transmitted across telecommunication links such as telephone lines, ISDN, DSL, and radio frequencies, or stored on various media devices such as DVDs and SVCDs. In many cases, the transmission and/or storage is susceptible to introducing errors into the video bitstream.
Efficient transmission, reception, and/or storage of video data typically requires encoding and compressing the video data. Several approaches and standards to encoding and compressing source video signals exist. Some standards are designed for a particular application, such as ITU-T Recommendations H.261, H.263, and H.264, which are used extensively in video conferencing applications. Additionally, standards promulgated by the Motion Picture Experts' Group (MPEG-2, MPEG-4) have found widespread application in consumer electronics and other applications. Each of these standards is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In any case, a digital image is comprised of a grid of individual pixels. Typically, the whole image is not processed at one time, but is divided into blocks that are individually processed. Each block comprises a rectangular grid of a predetermined number of luminance or luma pixels (which generally specify the brightness of a pixel) and a predetermined number of chrominance or chroma pixels (which generally specify the color of a pixel). A predetermined number of blocks are combined into a macroblock, which forms the basic unit of processing in most regimes. Although some aspects of this hierarchy of processing units are discussed below, methods and techniques for block-based processing of images for processing are generally known to those skilled in the art, and thus are not repeated here in detail.
The macroblocks of image data may be encoded in a variation of one of two basic techniques. For example, "intra" coding may be used, in which the original macroblock is encoded without reference to historical data, such as a corresponding macroblock from a previous frame. Alternatively, "inter" coding may be used, in which the macroblock of image data is encoded in terms of the differences between the macroblock and a reference macroblock of data, such as a corresponding macroblock from a previous frame. Many variations on these two basic schemes are known to those skilled in the art, and thus are not discussed here in detail. It is generally desirable to select the encoding technique which requires the fewest number of bits to describe the macroblock of data. Intra coding typically requires many more bits to represent the block, and therefore inter coding is generally preferred.
Videoconferencing "calls" are typically placed using one of two technologies. Traditionally circuit switched networks (e.g., ISDN telephone lines) have been used. Typically these calls are placed according to International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Recommendation H.320, "Narrow-Band Visual Telephone Systems And Terminal Equipment." More recently, packet switched networks such as the Internet have become more widely used for videoconferencing. A variety of packet switched multimedia communication protocols exist, one example of which is ITU Recommendation H.323, "Packet-based Multimedia Communications Systems." Each of these recommendations is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Although the description herein is in the context of one of these two protocols, it is noted that the invention is not limited to only these protocols.
Video calls transmitted using either technology are in many cases subject to errors in transmission. Traditionally, when the decoder detects bit stream errors, it has two options. The first option is to freeze the display and request a fast update from the transmitter. The transmitter sends an intra frame upon such a request. The receiver's display remains frozen until the intra frame is received. These seconds of frozen video compromise the user experience. The second option is to request a fast update but continue displaying the frames that had errors. Until the requested intra frame arrives, there are artifacts like bright color blocks, black blocks, or scrambled images, etc. Such artifacts are typically more disruptive to the user experience than a frozen display, so common practice in the videoconferencing arts has been to hide the errors by choosing option one, i.e., freezing the display.
However, neither of the two options recited above is desirable. Therefore, what is needed in the art is an alternative technique of concealing errors in a video transmission that is less disruptive of the user experience. The present invention is therefore generally directed to a method for concealing video errors, reducing or eliminating visual artifacts, and reducing or eliminating the impact of visual disturbance caused by an intra update frame. Although described in terms of videoconferencing systems, the concepts described herein are equally adaptable to any video coding and decoding application.


Nonmaterial deflector-enhanced collector (NDC) is a device in which a nonmaterial, such as electromagnetic (EM) wave, provides a medium in which an obliquely incident nonmaterial (IN) can be intercepted and deflected, so that by proper arrangement, some desired objective can be achieved, such as: deflecting, concentrating, diverging, protecting, receiving, propagating/guiding--by many (fiber-optic-like) deflections--the IN. NDC comprises: a projector of nonmaterial, PON, its projected nonmaterial deflector(s) ND, and (intended) collector or receiver, C or R. The projector projects the ND obliquely towards the incident nonmaterial to be deflected, IN (such as EM radiation) so that this IN is deflected towards an intended receiver--if any is present. It may be necessary to ensure build up of proper optical density gradient, in the vicinity of the ND, to encourage refraction and/or total internal reflection of the IN. Variations include where the receiver could be a solar energy collector, in which case its energy-receiving/collecting potential can be greatly enhanced by making far more solar energy available to it; or the receiver can comprise an optical system such as may be used for further manipulation of the deflected IN, as when NDC is used as SECONDARY SUN SYSTEM (SSS). Further, the system could be designed to deflect the IN more than once, as may be required to trap straying rays in enhanced NDC or SSS, or required in multiple deflections needed for lengthy propagation of the IN--as in communication systems. In one simple design of NDC, an annular concave reflective surface converges some incident solar rays towards annular plano-concave lens which substantially collimates and projects these rays as intensified solar beam --the ND--to condition the air of the atmosphere to intercept and deflect other incident solar rays which are approaching in a direction which is oblique to direction of the ND. NDC of various shapes can be made from straight projectors of nonmaterial.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to means for intercepting, deflecting, concentrating, receiving or collecting "nonmaterials", such as electromagnetic (EM) waves, by using "nonmaterials". More particularly it relates to systems in which "nonmaterial" deflectors are used to make more solar energy available to a receiver such as: solar energy collector, solar cell(s), windows, walls, roofs, other solar thermal systems and optical systems.
The field of the invention thus includes: optics, electromagnetic (EM) waves, (solar) energy, solar energy collector, deflection (e.g. refraction, total internal reflection, reflection), fiber-optics-like guiding of EM waves using EM waves, communication, solar thermal systems.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Heretofore, solar energy collectors have suffered from the serious limitation of having to have rather large material surface area to be able to collect enough solar energy for some applications. Examples of such applications include powering vehicles, power driven equipments, furnaces and even heating of buildings. In many cases the surface area requirement is not only repulsive but is sometimes prohibitive, and could moreover aggravate structural problems especially under high wind conditions. Of course sometimes the required area is simply not available. Imagine providing a motorcycle the amount of collector area which would permit its continuous normal operation. Though this problem did not escape recognition, there has been what seems like a subconscious succumbing to the failings and inconveniences, due probably to subconscious assumption that it is the "nature" of solar energy for which nothing can be done. Efforts to resolve this have mainly involved using some other material objects like heliostats, reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) and lenses to focus solar rays on the collector. Also there have been efforts to depend on removable solar-rechargeable batteries. In a broader context, heretofore interception, deflection, collection, intensification, or concentration of nonmaterials (e.g. EM waves) have been largely dependent on the use of material objects and other unsatisfactory measures. These old systems waste materials, and leave such to be desired in many respects, including: economy, convenience, power, performance/effectiveness, versatility, reliability. These pose very serious problems, especially in the area of solar energy collection. Also there are currently many efforts (worldwide), especially in the USA, to improve use of solar energy. This invention promises great advances in all of above, as well as in other, areas.
NOTE: "Nonmaterial" is something which is somewhat intangible (as opposed to solids and liquids). Examples of "nonmaterial" include: solar radiation, thermal radiation, radiant energies, processed (or manipulated) electromagnetic radiation/waves (such as laser beam, maser beam, intensified solar beam ISB, intensified electromagnetic radiation), other electromagnetic waves, electric field, magnetic field, gaseous/particulate matter. Also some combination of "nonmaterial(s)" which is not substantially in solid or liquid form is a "nonmaterial".
Henceforth I will refer to "nonmaterial" simply as nonmaterial.
The invention is Nonmaterial Deflector-enhanced Collector (NDC). That is, basically, a collector or receiver of nonmaterial enhanced by means which enables deflection of nonmaterial with nonmaterial. Many variations of this exist.


The present disclosure sets forth a motion sensing outdoor security light with the flexibility of being mounted to either a wall structure or to an eave or ceiling structure. An adjustable spherical motion sensor housing may be provided with the rotationally adjustable outdoor security light, allowing easy adjustment of motion detection ranges under different mounting schemes without comprising the aesthetic design of the light. The adjustable spherical motion sensor housing may also provide an enlarged horizontal field of view for better performance.

Motion based security lighting typically includes a motion sensor which is fixed to a luminaire housing. Such design prevents variability for motion detection in some situations. This disclosed security light motion sensor design provides a broader horizontal field of view and enables the sensor to be adjusted after installation to obtain a desired coverage ranges.
Motion or occupancy sensors are designed to save energy by detecting the presence of a moving object in a specific predetermined area of coverage and switching a light source on and off depending upon the presence of the moving object. Specifically, when a moving object is detected within the area of coverage, the light source is turned on. In the alternative, when motion is not detected indicating that the area of coverage is not occupied, the light source is turned off after a predetermined period of time. Motion sensors are thus enabled to reduce electrical energy waste by taking over the functions of a light switch or an electrical outlet. Accordingly, outdoor security light fixtures with motion sensors are available for serving as light sources in a variety of areas, such as passageways, streets, parking lots, and gardens, and are energy-efficient and permit their attached luminaries to have longer lifetimes than conventional ones because they are activated only when an object, such as a person or a motor vehicle, approaches. A popular form of such a light fixture includes a motion sensor that is responsive to infrared radiation emitted by a person or motor vehicle as the person or vehicle moves within the field of view of the device. These devices are generally referred to as passive infrared, or "PIR" motion sensors. These sensors are incorporated into the light fixture housing to trigger the lighting upon detection of the person, motor vehicle, or like heat emitting objects. Typically, the motion sensors detect the presence of those objects in a specific predetermined area defined by preset coordinates.
As each motion sensor has a particular field of view for motion detection, it is important that the field of view of the motion sensors entirely cover the desired area so an object can be detected. Specifically, installation of such motion sensing light fixtures requires forethought regarding the proper mounting and orientation as the motion sensors work best when they are pointed at the desired motion detection areas. However, the coordinates of these areas of interest are often not known at the time the light fixture is installed, and there are also times when these coordinates in addition to other variables need adjustments (e.g., the field of view of the motion sensor at the installation may be too wide or too narrow to fully meet a particular user's needs). Thus, often the motion sensor's orientation has to be changed when environment changes occur that modify the motion pattern of an area such as new constructions, traffic pattern changes, etc.
Most existing motion sensing light fixtures have a fixed and limited field of view, and adjustments for the sensor or sensor housing orientation is usually not allowed. Even if adjustments to function optimally in a particular location is possible for some traditional motion sensing light fixtures, it may not allow easy toolless manual adjustments of the sensor's performance. For example, most existing motion sensors require the use of a tool, such as a screwdriver, to remove an access cover to make adjustments. Sometimes tools are not readily available, and even when these tools are accessible, the adjustment may require disassembly and reassembly of a few parts including the housing of the security light. This type of adjustment is not only cumbersome and awkward, but damage may also occur during disassembly and reassembly. Also, there are times when the aesthetic design of the light fixture may be compromised in order to provide a more favorable orientation scheme for motion detection.

Spherical motion sensor housing for outdoor security light


Morphing techniques are employed to enable a user to locally deform a texture image on a three-dimensional object, and thereby align image features in a texture map with geometric features of the object. An affine transformation can be applied to the texture map to provide a rough fit of the texture image to the geometric model. The transformed texture image is placed on the geometric model and the user designates corresponding features on the texture image and the geometric model. Once the designations have been completed, the texture image is warped into a final, deformed image, which is then mapped onto the three-dimensional object. With this approach, the user can apply pre-existing images to three-dimensional models, without being required to repaint any portion of the image.

The present invention is directed to the computer generation of images, and more particularly to the placement of texture on three-dimensional objects.
In the generation of images on a computer, it is desirable to place texture on three-dimensional objects, to enhance surface detail. For example, to generate an image of a globe, a map of the world can be placed on a sphere. Similarly, it may be desirable to place a two-dimensional image of a person from a scanned photograph onto a three-dimensional model of a human head.
Generally speaking, the placement of texture from a two dimensional image onto a three-dimensional object involves mapping appearance values from the image to corresponding locations on the surface of the object. Typically, the appearance values represent color, although they can also pertain to other visual aspects, for example surface perturbations such as bumps or the like. If the texture image is specifically designed for the object, the mapping of the appearance values can be carried out in a straightforward manner and produce an acceptable result. Where the texture image and the three-dimensional object are created independently of one another, however, a direct mapping from the texture image onto the surface of the object may not result in the desired effect. For example, if a scanned photograph of an animal is mapped onto a three-dimensional model of that animal, the size and/or orientation of the animal in the photograph may not correspond with those of the model. In such a case, the texture image must be revised to fit onto the model.
In one approach to this problem, the texture image is globally manipulated by applying user-designated offsets, rotation and scaling. Examples of this approach are described in Rogers, D., Procedural Elements for Computer Graphics, McGraw Hill Book Co., 1985, Section 5-11, pp. 354-355. The purpose of this global manipulation is to resize and reorient the texture image to provide a good fit with the surface of the model. The manipulated texture image is then applied to the three-dimensional model. This approach does not assure that all of the features in the texture image will be aligned with corresponding features on the three-dimensional model, however. For example, if a texture image of a person's face is manipulated so that, overall, the face fits onto a three-dimensional mask, individual features of the face, such as the eyes or the mouth, may not line up exactly with corresponding features on the mask. In such a case, the user may be required to manually repaint portions of the texture image, until the features match. This painting of the image is carried out in a separate two-dimensional window, rather than on the three-dimensional object itself. As a result, this procedure can be tedious, since the changes that need to be made are not always apparent to the user.
In an alternative approach, texture can be painted directly onto the surface of the three-dimensional object. An example of this approach is described in P. Hanrahan et al, "Direct WYSIWYG Painting and Texturing on 3D Shapes", Computer Graphics, Vol. 24, No. 4, August 1990, pp. 215-223. While this technique is useful, it requires painting skills on the part of the user. Furthermore, it does not facilitate the application of pre-existing textures to a new model.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a technique which allows users to apply previously scanned or painted images to three-dimensional models, without the need to repaint any portion of the image to align particular features in the texture and the model.

Method and system for the placement of texture on three-dimensional objects


Method and arrangement for adjusting nitrogen and oxygen concentrations within regions of an aircraft. The method includes separating nitrogen from ambient air onboard an aircraft thereby establishing a high-concentration nitrogen supply and then dispensing high-concentration nitrogen from the supply to a fire-susceptible, non-habitable region of the aircraft where the high-concentration nitrogen is reservoired thereby decreasing the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion. Oxygen is also separated from the ambient air thereby establishing a high-concentration oxygen supply that is dispensed to an occupant cabin of the aircraft thereby increasing the level of oxygen concentration within the cabin to a level greater than the naturally occurring concentration of oxygen at the experienced internal cabin pressure. When it is determined that reduced oxygen concentration is required in the occupant cabin, the reservoired high-concentration nitrogen is moved into the passenger cabin diluting the oxygen-elevated environment.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to systems and methods for selective control of the balance between nitrogen and oxygen content in the air in habitable and non-habitable areas of pressurized spaces within aircraft. More particularly, the invention relates to systems to alter the balance between oxygen and nitrogen in different areas of aircraft to create zones where the atmospheric composition more properly supports the needs of the zones. The invention accomplishes this zonal composition optimization by directing a higher percentage of the oxygen available in the air entering the aircraft into the habitable areas, while directing a higher percentage of the available nitrogen in the air into the non-habitable areas, especially those areas of greater flammability risk and/or limited access in case of fire.
2. Background Information
The reduced air pressure available in pressurized aircraft cabins results in molecular concentrations of oxygen that are far lower than those for which most passengers are physiologically adapted. This causes reduced levels of blood and tissue oxygenation (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and the initiation of physiological changes related to the body's efforts to compensate and adapt. The resulting physiological stresses include reduced respiratory effectiveness, compensatory increases in heart and respiration rates, increased levels of blood clotting factors, and increased production of red blood cells. These physiological changes result in, or contribute to, a variety of negative impacts, including but not limited to fatigue, reduced mental and physical performance, drowsiness, impaired visual acuity, impaired sleep, and possibly the formation of blood clots. In fact, it is well accepted that visual acuity has begun to fall off as early as 7500 feet, yet commercial airlines are legally permitted to maintain pressures equivalent to 8000 feet within the aircraft. As such, a certain compromise in the flight crew's capabilities have been determined acceptable, though not desirable. The present invention provides methods and systems for reducing, if not obviating, these and other detrimental affects suffered by passengers and flight crew on civilian aircraft.
Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 14.7 psia. The corresponding oxygen pressure (partial-pressure) at sea level is approximately 3.07 psia. When atmospheric pressure is reduced, air expands and the molecular concentration of oxygen and the other gases that make up air are proportionately reduced according to Dalton's Law.
Pressurized aircraft cabins provide air pressures ranging from approximately 10.91 psia (8000 ft equivalent cabin altitude) to 11.78 psia (6000 ft equivalent cabin altitude) when the aircraft are operating at their maximum cruise altitudes. These reduced cabin pressures result in oxygen partial pressures ranging (approximately) from 2.286 to 2.468 psia.
Aircraft pressurization systems maintain cabin pressure levels that allow passenger and crew habitation while the aircraft flies at altitudes far above those at which human beings could otherwise survive. Current pressurization systems maintain cabin air pressures between 74-80% of the standard sea level atmospheric pressure.
As a prophylactic against unexpected low-pressure experiences, and consequently low-oxygen conditions which could adversely affect performance, cockpit crew members are provided with pressure demand oxygen masks for use when the aircraft is unable to maintain adequate pressurization. The sources of direct oxygen may also be used in case smoke fills the cockpit, or under certain other scenarios as required by civil aviation regulations.
Emergency oxygen is provided in the passenger cabin in the form of drop down masks that activate automatically when air pressure in the cabin falls to levels at which passenger safety is at imminent risk. Therapeutic oxygen outlets are sometimes provided for use by passengers who require continuous supplemental oxygen due to medical conditions. Aircraft are also often equipped with portable "walk-around" oxygen bottles for the crew to use during brief periods when their duties require them to leave their seats while the aircraft is experiencing pressurization problems. A common problem of all of these supplemental oxygen delivery systems, however, is that they require tubes connected between an oxygen source and the delivery mask for the user. Such tubes, like other cords in the occupied compartments of an aircraft, have been recognized as hazards, particularly in emergency situations. It can be imagined that in an emergency situation where the environment is already chaotic, the deployment of potentially entangling oxygen delivery tubes and masks, including their elastic securement straps, detrimentally impacts the cabin environment.
As indicated above, conventional wisdom in aircraft design has focused on pressurization with regard to increasing the habitability of aircraft cabins. Traditionally, aircraft are pressured toward a sea-level equivalent; but in actuality, altitude equivalents on the order of 6000 to 8000 feet are actually achieved. Resultantly, a corresponding decrease in oxygen concentration has been accepted. Because these corresponding oxygen concentrations are generally suitable for maintaining perceivable occupant comfort, little attention has been directed toward consequential affects suffered by cabin occupants.
"Perceived comfort" is addressed because most passengers are unaware that certain physiological changes take place responsive to reduced oxygen concentration experienced onboard aircraft, including increased respiratory and heart rates. It is for this reason that many persons are advised not to fly. For instance, persons who have recently undergone surgery which makes them particularly vulnerable to these physiological changes may be advised not to fly. Still further, persons having predispositions to such ailments as heart attacks and strokes are often advised not to fly by their medical caretakers. Elderly persons, and others with unappreciated risk factors for such ailments do fly, but resultantly place themselves at undue risk of suffering a debilitating, or life-threatening incident. It is known that the decreased concentration of oxygen in aircraft have the potential for contributing to these incidents, but as discussed above, aircraft pressurization limitations have been heretofore viewed as a limiting constraint against their remedy.
The focus on pressure is due, at least in part, to the fact that airframes are not designed to accept greater levels of pressurization, which in turn produce greater differential pressures across the fuselage skin. In fact, this limitation associated with the airframe's capabilities to endure greater pressure differentials thereacross has traditionally imposed reduced oxygen levels on passengers because of the heretofore accepted limitation on pressurization. Still further, aircraft operators are resistant to increasing interior pressurization because it significantly increases operating costs and limits aircraft performance.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a syndrome or condition which has recently garnered increased attention with respect to airline travel, poses significant risk to cabin occupants, as well as those businesses that are tied in with the industry. Because the incidence of deep vein thrombosis has caught the eye of the public, the press has capitalized thereupon and dubbed the syndrome as "economy class syndrome." Heretofore, the focus has been on the confining and cramped nature of airline seats, particularly in economy class, and the restrictions that are resultantly imposed upon passenger mobility. Certain studies, however, have indicated that the cramped nature of smaller seats only contribute to the inducement of deep van thrombosis rather than cause it. In fact, those same studies tend to indicate that this malady stems primarily from other conditions experienced during airline travel.
Those factors which are either known or expected to contribute to the inducement of deep vein thrombosis include mobility restrictions which correspondingly reduce blood flow movements thereby placing a person at higher risk for forming blood clots, dehydration caused by the dry interior atmosphere of the aircraft and which can be exacerbated by the diuretic-effects of alcohol, and pressure related aspects. An increased tendency to develop blood clots as a result of conditions on an airliner are the hallmark of this syndrome. One aspect of great importance, but which has attracted less attention, is physiological effects caused by altitude adaptation. When exposed to reduced pressure and a corresponding reduction in oxygen concentration, the body immediately attempts to compensate. This phenomenon is well appreciated at least by athletes who often train at high altitudes to enhance their performance at lower altitudes. It is known that the body adjusts by making certain physical changes. Among others, the concentration of red blood cells is increased thereby improving the capacity for carrying oxygen. For airline passengers, the effect, however, is detrimental. It has been observed that persons who are exposed to the reduced pressure and oxygen levels that are experienced in-flight have a substantially immediate increase in certain clotting factors within their blood. This increase has been measured to vary between three and eight times the level present in persons immediately before flight. Such a high level response is equivalent to that which the body undergoes as a reaction to significant trauma or injury.
A hallmark of the present invention(s) is the previously unappreciated connection between the reduction in oxygen concentration experienced in-flight and the increased blood clotting factors that result and which ultimately impact the incidence of deep vein thrombosis suffered as a result of airline travel.
The invention also addresses fatigue, comfort and physiological stress issues which result from the practical limitations of aircraft pressurization systems, which existing oxygen delivery and control systems are either incapable of addressing or are not suitably configured.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for aircraft cabin atmospheric composition control


A valve control apparatus is provided with a valve, a shaft supporting the valve, an end-gear of an actuator driving the valve. The shaft is press-inserted into the end-gear. A stopper disposed on the shaft regulates a valve operation range. The end-gear can engage with the middle gear of the reduction-gears mechanism even in out of the gear-operation-angle range. When a rotation angle sensor detects a rotation angle of the end-gear in out of the gear-operation-angle range, it is determined that a malfunction occurs in a rotation-force-transmitting path.

Conventionally, a valve control apparatus has a valve which opens/closes an intake passage communicating with a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, a shaft supporting the valve, and an actuator driving the valve in order to control an intake air flow rate. The actuator has an end-gear receiving a driving force from an electric motor (driving source). The end-gear is connected to the shaft, so that the valve and the actuator are connected to each other. Refer to JP-2004-124933A (GB-2393218A) and JP-2009-013934A (US-2009/0007875A1).
FIG. 6 shows a valve control apparatus 100 shown in JP-2004-124933A. An actuator 101 is provided with an end-gear 103 which is made of resin material and receives a driving force from an electric motor (driving source). A shaft 104 made of metallic material is press-inserted into a hole 106 of the end-gear 103, whereby the shaft 104 is connected with the end-gear 103. A rotation of the end-gear 103 is transmitted to the valve 107 through the shaft 104.
A housing 109 has a stopper (not shown) to which a stopper-portion (not shown) of the end-gear 103 confronts so that an operation range of the valve 107 is regulated. That is, the stopper regulates an angular operation range of the end-gear 103 so that the operation range of the valve 107 is restricted. Further, the valve control apparatus 100 is provided with a sensor (not shown) which detects a rotational angle of the end-gear 103, so that a position of the valve 107 is detected.
In this valve control apparatus 100, since the valve 107 is connected to the actuator 101 by press-inserting the shaft 104 into the end-gear 103, its manufacturing cost is relatively low.
However, in this valve control apparatus 100, if a press-inserting portion between the shaft 104 and the end-gear 103 is damaged, the sensor detecting the rotational angle of the end-gear 103 can not detect this malfunction. That is, a malfunction in a driving-force-transmitting path can not be detected.
If the press-inserting portion is broken, it is likely that the rotation of the end-gear 103 is restricted by the stopper and only the shaft 104 may spin free. In such a case, even though the end-gear 103 is restricted by the stopper, the valve 107 rotates over a restricted range. Since the sensor detects only the rotational angle of the end-gear 103, it can not be detected that the valve 107 rotates over the normal range.
In order to detect the above malfunction, it is conceivable that another sensor directly detecting a rotational angle of the shaft 104 is necessary. However, another sensor increases the manufacturing cost.
FIG. 7 shows a valve control apparatus 200 shown in JP-2009-013934A. A sensor 201 directly detects a rotational angle of a shaft 202 so that an opening degree of the valve 203 is detected. If the shaft 202 rotates over a normal rotational range of the valve 203 due to a breakage in a connection portion between a shaft 202 and an end-gear 204, the sensor 201 outputs a detection value which indicates that the rotational angle of the shaft 202 is abnormal. Thus, it can be detected that the valve 203 has a malfunction.
However, in this valve control apparatus 200, a configuration of connecting portion between the valve 203 and the actuator 205 becomes complicated. Further, a gear-holding member 206 for connecting the end-gear 204 to the shaft 202 and a sensor-holding member 208 for holding a magnet 207 on the shaft 202 are necessary, which increase the number of parts and increase the manufacturing cost. Thus, even in the valve control apparatus 200, a malfunction in a connecting portion between the shaft 202 and the end-gear 204 is not detected with low cost.
It is well known that an electric driving apparatus drives a valve, which corresponds to a driven member, by use of a driving force of an electric motor. The electric driving apparatus is applied to a valve control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which adjusts an intake air quantity or an exhaust gas quantity.
The electric driving apparatus is provided with a mechanism which holds a mechanical position of the driven member. For example, in a case that the electric driving apparatus is applied to a tumble-control-valve (TCV) apparatus, a reduction-gears mechanism is provided with a stopper so that the driven member is mechanically held at a full-open position or a full-close position.
In such an electric driving apparatus, when the driven member is mechanically held, the electric current supplied to the electric motor is stepwise increased. For example, when the TCV-apparatus rotates a tumble-control valve toward the full-close position, the electric current supplied to the electric motor varies as shown in FIG. 17. That is, when the electric motor is energized, the electric current is temporarily rapidly increased due to an inrush current, and then the electric current is decreased. When the unheld driven member is mechanically held, the electric current supplied to the electric motor is stepwise increased. When the driven member is not mechanically held, the condition of the driven member is referred to as an unhold condition, hereinafter. Also, when the driven member is mechanically held, the condition of the driven member is referred to as a hold condition, hereinafter.
It has been needed to correctly determines whether the condition of the driven member is normally changed from the unhold condition to the hold condition without respect to the stepwise increase in the electric current.
JP-8-19172A and JP-2005-151766A show an electric circuit configuration in which it is determined that a malfunction occurs when the electric current supplied to the electric motor exceeds a specified threshold. However, in this electric circuit, the change from the unhold condition to the hold condition is not determined as a normal change.
JP-2001-4674A shows an electric circuit configuration in which the supplied electric current is integrated so that an over-current due to a short circuit is distinguished from a normal electric current increase due to the condition change from the unhold condition to the hold condition. However, in this electric circuit, it is likely determined that no malfunction occurs even if a malfunction other than over-current occurs.


A problem is to provide an orthodontic implant device that can be easily prepared, and can extend a range of selection of materials forming an extension arm.

Securement of an anchorage is an important factor for leading treatment to success in orthodontic treatment, and various devices for intramaxillary fixation, extraoral fixation and the like have been used so far for reinforcing the anchorage. However, these devices have had a disadvantage in which the effect depends on a degree of patient cooperation. Then, in recent years, a method of moving teeth by applying a bone as the anchorage (implant anchor) has been devised, and has rapidly spread as a device to be incorporated into part of a multi-bracket system. As the implant anchor, a screw type anchor is inexpensive and simple, and has significantly small surgical stress during implanting, and therefore has been widely used. However, the screw type implant anchor has a limitation on an implanting position, and a problem of fall-off has remained in several cases. In particular, on maxillary buccal side, the implanting position is limited in many cases for the reasons of proximity of tooth roots of adjacent teeth, projection of a maxillary sinus between the tooth roots, narrowness of attached gingival width, and the like. Moreover, even if the implant anchor can be implanted into the alveolar bone between narrow tooth roots, existence thereof limits movement of the teeth in several cases. Further, many problems remain in the implant anchor, such as an increase in a fall-off rate if bone density is low, damage on the tooth root during implanting, and fall-off of the implant anchor caused in association therewith, and burial of the implant anchor head into the gingiva caused by implanting into the free gingival region.
Therefore, proposals have recently been made on an orthodontic implant device in which the screw type implant anchor is implanted into a palate having good bone quality and no limitation on movement of the teeth. For example, the applicant of the present application has developed an orthodontic implant device comprising a pair of anchor members which are fixed in a palate; a bridge member formed in extending so as to link places between the pair of anchor members and fixed to the pair of anchor members; and a connecting member arranged in the bridge member, and provided with a prismatic receiving portion into which a rectangular wire can be inserted, in which part of an extension arm is inserted into the prismatic receiving portion, and is connected thereto (see Patent Literature 1). According to the orthodontic implant device, the extension arm can be stably fixed in the oral cavity without causing rotation by inserting an insertion portion formed of the rectangular wire for the extension arm into the prismatic receiving portion.

Abstract: A solution is the orthodontic implant device having: a pair of anchor members 10 which are fixed to a palate M1; a bridge member 20 arranged so as to link places between the pair of anchor members 10; an arrangement member 30 arranged in the bridge member 20; and an extension arm 40 to move teeth M2. The arrangement member 30 has a fixing portion 31 for fixing the extension arm 40, and a wire-shaped projection portion for arranging the fixing portion 31 in the bridge member 20.