To provide a surfactant which is obtainable by using substantially no alkali metal, has excellent readhesion prevention ability of finely-pulverized particles at the time of cleaning, and is capable of quite efficient and advanced cleaning.

Recently, with advance of fine processing technologies as represented by very-large-scale integrated circuits, trace amounts of impurities which remain on substrates (metal ions, and particles of inorganic materials such as metals and organic materials such as resist resins) have a large influence on performances or yield of devices, therefore the control of impurities has become quite important. In particular, since the particle itself to be cleaned off, becomes more easily adhered on interfaces by further pulverization of particles, establishment of an advanced cleaning technology is now in urgent need.
For this reason, conventionally, for preventing this contamination by particles, a method of reducing adhesion of particles by adding a surfactant to lower the zeta potential on the particle surface has been proposed (Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-05-138142 and Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-06-41770).
However, since the surfactant proposed in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-05-138142 is a nonionic surfactant, the zeta potential on the particle surface cannot be sufficiently lowered, and the readhesion prevention ability thereof is insufficient. Moreover, the surfactant proposed in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-06-41770 is an anionic surfactant, and can improve the readhesion prevention effect to some extent by lowering the zeta potential on the particle surface for sure, but is insufficient in view of the performance. Furthermore, an alkali metal such as sodium ion is used as a counter ion of the anionic surfactant, and thus there were serious problems for causing reliability decrease of devices due to latent flaw or damage of yellowing on the substrate surface caused by alkali metals remaining after cleaning and/or due to diffusion of the alkali metals into the substrate inside, being incapable of using due to heavy foaming at the time of using, or the like.

Abstract: In the present invention, a surfactant which comprises a neutralized salt (AB1) and/or neutralized salt (AB2) is used.

Abstract: Neutralized salt (AB1):

Abstract: a neutralized salt (AB1) which comprises an acidic compound (A1) containing at least each one of an acid group (X1) of an acid having the difference of heat of formation in an acid dissociation reaction (Q1) of 3 to 200 kcal/mol and a hydrophobic group (Y) containing 1 to 36 carbon atoms, and a nitrogen-containing basic compound (B) having the difference of heat of formation in a proton addition reaction of 10 to 152 kcal/mol,

Abstract: wherein (X1) is at least one species selected from a sulfonic acid group, and the like.

Abstract: Neutralized salt (AB2):

Abstract: a neutralized salt (AB2) which comprises a polymer (A2) having at least one acid group (X2) within the molecule, and the nitrogen-containing basic compound (B) having the difference of heat of formation in a proton addition reaction of 10 to 152 kcal/mol.


A method for encoding MPEG compatible video data for subsequent compression comprises detecting a plurality of frames of video data organized as a GOP, generating an encryption key for the GOP, and encrypting the video data using GOP-synchronized substitution, transposition, and rotation transformations that are parameterized by offsets derived from the generated encryption key.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to methods for processing video data, and in particular, to methods for encrypting video data for display on processor-based video systems.
2. Background Art
There is substantial interest in the computer and entertainment industries in incorporating video data into multi-media and related applications for use on processor-based video systems. Potential growth in this area has been enabled by the development of video compression schemes that reduce the bit rates required to display high quality video images and by the development of storage media, such as digital video discs (DVDs), which can accommodate data for an entire movie on a single disc.
Despite these advances in video compression and storage technologies, content providers have been reluctant to make their video works widely available for computer-based applications. This reluctance is attributable to the scant protection current processor-based video systems provide against the unauthorized acquisition and use of video data. For reasons discussed below, available encoding systems first compress and then encrypt video data prior to writing it to storage media. When the video data is subsequently decoded by a processor-based video system, the system must first decrypt and then decompress the video. This ordering of the decryption and decompression steps places video data on the processor system bus in compressed, unencrypted formats. In this state, it is a relatively simple matter to co-opt the video data for unauthorized uses.
The relative ordering of compression and encryption in the encoding process follows from the properties of the compression and encryption transforms conventionally employed. Compression is typically implemented on YUV-formatted video data in accordance with standards promulgated by the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG, group ISO-IEC/JTC1 SC29/WG11) and the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG, ISO/IEC International Standard 10918-1). Hereafter, MPEG is used to refer to MPEG-1 (ISO standard 11172), MPEG-2 (ISO standard 13818ISO), and JPEG compliant processes.
MPEG-compliant compression schemes reduce spatial and temporal redundancy in the video data by application of various lossy data transformations. Because lossy compression eliminates data from the video stream, it is commonly accepted that compressing encrypted data increases the likelihood that key data will be lost, preventing accurate decryption of the video data. It is also commonly accepted that encrypted data cannot be effectively compressed because encryption reduces the data redundancy on which compression methods operate. For these reasons, currently available encoding systems compress video data prior to encrypting it.
With the order of compression and encryption in the encoding process established by the above-considerations, the order of decompression and decryption in the decoding process is established by the non-commutation of the corresponding transformations. In particular, video data that is first compressed and then encrypted during encoding must be first decrypted and then decompressed during decoding. It is this ordering of the decryption and decompression processes that makes unencrypted video data available in both compressed and decompressed formats as it is transferred among the memory, video processor, and video rendering unit of conventional processor-based video systems. The sheer volume of uncompressed video data relative to compressed video data (100 G bytes versus 1.7 G bytes for a typical feature film) makes uncompressed data less useful to unauthorized users, despite its unencrypted state. However, the availability of unencrypted, compressed video data on the system bus severely compromises the ability of content providers to protect the integrity of their video products and control the uses to which it is put.
There is thus a need for video encoding and decoding systems that maintain data in a secure format at all points in the video decoding/display system where it is vulnerable to unauthorized acquisition.

Recoverable cryptographic transformation on YUV data suitable for compressions


A photoacoustic sensor includes a first MEMS device and a second MEMS device. The first MEMS device includes a first MEMS component including an optical emitter, and a first optically transparent cover wafer-bonded to the first MEMS component, wherein the first MEMS component and the first optically transparent cover form a first closed cavity. The second MEMS device includes a second MEMS component including a pressure detector, and a second optically transparent cover wafer-bonded to the second MEMS component, wherein the second MEMS component and the second optically transparent cover form a second closed cavity.

Photoacoustic sensors can detect specific gas species in the ambient air, for example. In particular, harmful or hazardous components in the ambient air can be detected in this case. The correct functioning of such sensors can thus be of extremely high importance in many applications, particularly if the sensors are intended to guarantee the safety of work personnel. Photoacoustic sensors can be constructed from a plurality of components, in particular MEMS devices. Manufacturers of photoacoustic sensors and MEMS devices constantly endeavor to improve their products. In particular, it may be desirable in this case to provide cost-effective photoacoustic sensors having an improved design. Furthermore, it may be desirable to provide improved methods for producing such apparatuses.


Seal means for sealing a bipolar plate to a membrane in a PEM fuel cell stack. The seal includes a thin layer of a cross-linkable silicone composition disposed between the bipolar plate and the membrane. The layer is applied as a liquid to either the plate or the membrane and preferably is polymerized prior to assembly of the stack. A preferred means for applying the composition to the bipolar plate is screen printing. Preferably, the layer has a thickness between 0.001 and 0.005 inch. The resulting fuel cell stack exhibits superior leak resistance. In a currently preferred embodiment, a layer of the silicone composition is provided at interfaces between a membrane and both an anode side and a cathode side of a bipolar plate.

Fuel cell assemblies employing proton exchange membranes are well known. Such assemblies typically comprise a stack of fuel cell modules, each module having an anode and a cathode separated by a catalytic proton exchange membrane (PEM), and the modules in the stack being connected in series electrically to provide a desired voltage output. Gaseous fuel, in the form of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing mixtures such as "reformed" hydrocarbons, flows adjacent to a first side of the membrane, and oxygen, typically in the form of air, flows adjacent to the opposite side of the membrane. Hydrogen is catalytically oxidized at the anode-membrane interface, and the resulting proton, H+, migrates through the membrane to the cathode-membrane interface where it combines with anionic oxygen, O−2, to form water. Protons migrate only in those areas of the fuel cell in which the anode and cathode are directly opposed across the membrane. Electrons flow from the anode through an external circuit to the cathode, doing electrical work in a load in the circuit.
A fuel cell assembly typically comprises a plurality of fuel cell modules connected in series to form a fuel cell stack. For convenience in manufacture, and to provide a more rugged assembly, the anode for one cell and the cathode for an adjacent cell typically are formed as rigid plates and then bonded back-to-back, forming a "bipolar plate", as is well known in the art. A fuel cell assembly thus consists typically of a stack of alternating bipolar plates and proton exchange membranes. At the outer edges of the assembly, the plates and membranes are sealed together to contain the reactant gases and/or coolant within the assembly. Thus, an important aspect of forming a stacked fuel cell assembly is preventing leakage between the membranes and the plates.
One prior art approach has been to mold a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) gasket directly onto the bipolar plates using liquid injection molding techniques. This has proved to be difficult due to the complex shape of the seal and plate geometry, and also the very brittle nature of some composite materials typically used in forming the bipolar plates.
Another prior art approach has been to provide a die-cut or separately-molded gasket on one side of the plates, the membrane thus being sandwiched between the gasket and the adjacent bipolar plate. In some instances, an assembly may leak initially at the interface between the membrane and the non-gasketed plate surface, although the leak may self-seal when the membrane becomes hydrated in use. Initial leakage, however, is unacceptable.
Thus, sealing means on both sides of each bipolar plate is desirable because a membrane is thus sealed on both its sides against sealing material rather than against a bare bipolar plate.
It is a principal object of the present invention to economically and reliably seal a proton exchange membrane against a bipolar plate surface in a fuel cell stack, both initially and during extended operation of the stack.

Silicone seal for bipolar plates in a PEM fuel cell


A method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer is provided. In one aspect, the wafer is coated with a resist and the resist selectively removed forming an uncoated peripheral portion of the wafer. The partially coated wafer is then exposed to an etchant such as RIE to etch the dielectric material not covered by the resist and forming a profiled dielectric layer having a thinner peripheral dielectric portion and a remaining thicker original dielectric central portion. The profiled wafer is then planarized using CMP. The dielectric layer is typically SiO2, PSG, BSP, or BPSG. In another method and apparatus of the invention, a dielectric coated wafer is secured to a rotating turntable and a liquid etchant sprayed at the periphery of the wafer from a distribution conduit to etch and remove dielectric from a circumferential edge of the wafer forming a profiled dielectric layer as above which is then planarized by CMP. In another aspect of the invention, a CMP polished semiconductor wafer having an edge bead is planarized by polishing only the edge bead of the dielectric layer using a special polishing tool or a CMP apparatus to remove the edge bead from the dielectric layer. Planarized semiconductor wafers made using the method and apparatus of the invention are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processing of semiconductor wafers and other electronic substrates such as slices of semiconductor silicon and other articles requiring a planar surface and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer by removing an edge bead of the dielectric formed at the periphery of the semiconductor wafer during polishing of the wafer and/or forming a profiled dielectric layer which when planarized using, e.g., chemical mechanical polishing, forms a planar surface.
2. Description of Related Art
In the manufacture of integrated circuits, wafer surface planarity is of extreme importance. Photolithographic processes are typically pushed close to the limit of resolution and it is essential that the wafer surface be highly planar so that the electromagnetic or other radiation used to create the integrated circuit may be accurately focused in a single level thus resulting in precise imagining over the entire surface of the wafer. Wavy, curved or wedge-shaped semiconductor disks result in lack of definition when, for example, a photosensitive resist is applied to the surface of the disk and exposed.
One of the fabrication steps in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices is to apply a layer of dielectric to the wafer as a dielectric layer or interlayer. The dielectric layer is typically a glass such as SiO2 and doped glasses such as PSG, BSP, BPSG and the like. The dielectric layers are sometimes annealed to reflow the deposited dielectric and planarize the dielectric layer. Unfortunately, this procedure is not sufficient to produce ultra high density integrated circuits and additional steps are typically required to further planarize the surface.
Such a further processing step is the chemical-mechanical planarization process (CMP) which involves pressing a semiconductor wafer or other such electronic component or other substrate against a moving polishing surface that is wetted with a chemical reactive, abrasive slurry. The slurries are usually either basic or acidic and generally contain alumina, silica or other ceramic particles. The polishing surface is typically a planar pad made of a relatively soft, porous (open pored) material such as cast polyurethane. The pad is usually mounted on a rotatable planar platen.
In general, the wafer is secured to a carrier plate (or wafer carrier) by vacuum or by a mounting medium such as an adhesive, with the wafer having a forced load applied thereto through the carrier by a pressure plate so as to press the wafer into frictional contact with a polishing pad mounted on a rotating turntable. The carrier and pressure plate also rotate as a result of either the driving friction from the turn table or rotation drive means directly attached to the pressure plate.
An edge bead or a xe2x80x9clipxe2x80x9d of dielectric typically remains on the face of the wafer after CMP. The edge bead is generally a circumferential ring about 2 to 8 mm in width from the edge of the wafer. The edge bead or lip in general gradually increases in thickness toward the wafer edge to about 1000-3000 xc3x85 thicker than the dielectric in the central portion of the wafer. As noted above, a thicker dielectric area on portions of the wafer surface may lead to electrical problems such as open contacts and the like. The use of a reactive ion etch (RIE) is typically sufficient to open vias in normal thickness dielectric in the middle of the wafer, but if there is not enough over etch, the RIE will not reach the bottom of the thicker dielectric layer in the edge bead. The edge bead can also prevent focusing by lithography tools at the edge of the semiconductor wafer since the raised area will be out of focus with the lithography tool. Basically, elimination of the edge bead to provide a planar semiconductor surface increases the number of acceptable chips which can be made on each wafer.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior. art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method to improve planarity of a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer and other such electronic component workpieces which have been planarized using a chemical mechanical planarization or other such process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the chemical mechanical planarization of the dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer or other electronic workpieces.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming a profiled dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer which when planarized using CMP or other such process forms a planar dielectric surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide flat planar workpieces, including semiconductor wafers, made using the improved method and apparatus of the invention.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description.
The above and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to one of skill in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed, in a first aspect, to a method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer or other workpiece comprising the steps of:
applying a resist to a dielectric coated wafer to coat the wafer with a layer of the resist;
removing the resist from a circumferential peripheral portion of the wafer from which the dielectric material is desired to be removed and leaving the resist on a central portion of the wafer;
exposing the partially resist coated wafer to a dry or wet etchant which etches the dielectric layer not covered by the resist;
etching the partially resist coated wafer for an effective etching time until the desired amount of dielectric material is removed from the circumferential peripheral portion forming a profiled dielectric layer having a thinner dielectric peripheral portion than the remaining central dielectric portion of the wafer;
removing the resist from the central portion of the etched wafer; and
planarizing the profiled dielectric layer by CMP or other polishing or planarization process.
In another aspect of the invention, the dielectric may be a glass such as SiO, PSG, BSG, BPSG and the like. In a preferred aspect, the dielectric layer is SiO2 and the etchant is a reactive ion etch or wet etch.
In an additional aspect of the invention, a method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer is provided comprising the steps of:
securing, to a rotatable turntable, preferably horizontal, a dielectric coated wafer;
rotating the turntable and the dielectric coated wafer;
applying a liquid etchant to a circumferential peripheral portion of the wafer preferably in the form of a spray to remove dielectric material from the circumferential peripheral portion of the wafer;
continuing the spraying until the desired amount of dielectric is removed providing a semiconductor wafer having a profiled dielectric layer wherein the dielectric peripheral portion is thinner than the remaining central dielectric portion of the wafer; and
planarizing the profiled dielectric layer by CMP or other polishing process.
In another aspect of the invention, the method comprises using a spray nozzle providing an etchant spray.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the liquid etchant is applied to the wafer by an apparatus comprising a rotating turntable, preferably horizontal, to rotate a wafer thereon and a distribution conduit preferably containing a spray nozzle which conduit moves back and forth over the area to be etched. It is preferred that the outlet of the distribution conduit be positioned less than about 0.5 inch above the surface of the wafer and preferably adjacent the surface. It is also preferred that the flow rate of the spray be about 1 to 100 ml/min.
In a further aspect of the invention, a semiconductor wafer to be planarized is first polished by a CMP process and then the resulting edge bead removed by etching or by further CMP of the wafer on only the edge bead portion of the wafer. These methods are not preferred with profiling of the dielectric layer (thinner peripheral dielectric edge) before CMP being preferred.
In an additional aspect of the invention, a method for planarization of a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer comprises the steps of:
planarizing the dielectric surface of the wafer by CMP wherein a polishing pad of the apparatus used for the CMP contacts the dielectric layer; and
planarizing the edge bead of the surface of the wafer by polishing the peripheral edge of the surface of the wafer by contacting the peripheral edge of the wafer with the polishing pad of a CMP apparatus so that the peripheral edge of the surface of the wafer contacts the polishing pad.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer comprises the steps of:
planarizing the dielectric surface of the wafer by CMP and forming a wafer having a peripheral edge bead; and
planarizing the peripheral edge of the face of the wafer using a rotating polishing pad having a diameter about the width or less than the width of the edge bead the polishing pad contacting the peripheral edge bead of the surface of the wafer.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide planar workpieces such as semiconductor wafers made using the improved method and apparatus of the invention.

Semiconductor wafer edge bead removal method and tool

International Business Machines Corporation


An airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle includes an airbag made up of front and rear sheets which are generally circular and sewn together at their peripheral portions. When retracted in a central part of a steering wheel, the airbag is folded in a deflated condition along two lines which are parallel and separate from each other and located such that a central opening for an inflator is positioned therebetween. A region of the rear sheet between the two bending lines is coated with a coating material to prevent gas flow therethrough. When retracted in the steering wheel, the airbag has a space which is formed between the coated section of the rear sheet and the front sheet, which is coated at its whole surface with the coating material, so that the space is confined by the coated sections of the front and rear sheets. When gas is ejected from an inflator into the space, the airbag can be effectively developed to ensure inflation of the airbag.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in an airbag arrangement for protecting a vehicle passenger in the event of a serious vehicle collision, and more particularly to an airbag having an inner surface coated with an elastomeric material to prevent gas from penetrating it.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of airbag arrangements for an automotive vehicle have been proposed and put into practical use. A typical arrangement is configured as follows. An airbag is usually folded and retracted in a central part of a steering wheel and covered with a pad. The airbag is arranged burst the pad to open and to thereby protect a vehicle passenger from coming into direct contact with either the steering wheel or a windshield in the event of a serious vehicle collision. The airbag is made up of front and rear generally annular sheets (woven cloths) which are sewn at their peripheral portion to each other. The rear sheet is formed with a central opening for receiving an inflator or gas generator which ejects nitrogen gas. The front and rear sheets are coated at their inner surface with an elastomeric material to prevent the gas from passing therethrough. Accordingly, the airbag can be inflated when the inflator generates the gas. The rear sheet is formed with gas discharge openings through which a part of the gas inside the airbag is discharged so that the airbag serves as a soft cushion, thereby protecting the passenger.
However, difficulties have been encountered in such a conventional airbag arrangement in which it is necessary to particularly reinforce the inner peripheral portion of the rear sheet around each gas discharge opening in order to prevent the rear sheet from tearing from the gas discharge openings when the gas is forcibly discharged through the gas discharge openings. This increases the number of steps in the production process and raises production costs.
In view of the above, it may be proposed to leave an uncoated section (having no coating) at a part of the rear sheet so as to allow a part of the gas inside the airbag to be discharged. However, it is difficult to determine a suitable location for the uncoated section. In other words, if the uncoated section is formed at an unsuitable location, the gas inside the airbag will be excessively discharged so that the airbag cannot be sufficiently inflated, or the discharge of the gas will be insufficient so that the airbag will not serve as a soft cushion.

Airbag arrangement for an automotive vehicle


In a computer system, processing of security-related tasks is delegated to various agent computers. According to various embodiments, a distributed computing service obtains task requests to be performed for the benefit of beneficiary computers, and delegates those tasks to one or more remote agent computers for processing. The delegation is based on a suitability determination as to whether each of the remote agent computers is suitable to perform the processing. Suitability can be based on an evaluation of such parameters as computing capacity and current availability of the remote agent computers against the various tasks to be performed and their corresponding computing resource requirements. This evaluation can be performed according to various embodiments by the agent computers, the distributed computing service, or by a combination thereof.

Currently, anti-virus software companies are faced with the fact that in recent years the growth of the number of security threats exceeds all conceivable bounds. Security threats include a variety of malicious software such as trojans, worms, viruses and other unwanted software, as well as links that lead to web pages with malware and other unwanted software, vulnerabilities in software licensing, etc. The category of unwanted software can also include programs intended to commit financial crimes ("crimeware"), tracking of user actions ("spyware"), blocking data from or performance of a victim's computer ("ransomware").
The number of new, unique, threats is growing exponentially. At the same time, the capabilities of anti-virus companies—both hardware resources and manpower (expert analysts)—are limited by comparison, such that increasing them at the same rate at which the number of threats increases is impossible. One of the reasons for the growth of malicious software is the massive development of the communications infrastructure, particularly the Internet, and the corresponding rapid growth of the number of users. This in turn brings the growth of various services that are offered online: Internet banking, virtual money (such as WebMoney), messaging, blogs, software-as-a-service, and the like. The present generation of so-called computer criminals has evolved from previous generations of vandals and those seeking to make political statements through their activities, to more sophisticated financial criminals who have learned to develop malicious software and organize network attacks to steal funds through theft extortion, or fraud. In recent years, their activity has affected not only the banking sector (e.g., Trojan bankers), but also switched to theft of accounts for popular online games, as well as extortion by programs such as Trojan-Ransom. Their success and growth are attributed to a number of factors: inadequate protection of many online services, the inadequacy or complete absence of laws in some countries relating to offenses occurring on the Internet, and sometimes simple ignorance regarding computer security by computers users.
In computer security applications, the use of conventional threat detection methods such as signature and heuristic analysis, cannot simply scale with the rate of growth of the threats. The constantly increasing number of malicious programs makes development and dissemination of new antiviral records for detecting new malware very difficult. Likewise conventional monitoring of the Internet for newly-created sites which spread malicious software and infect computers cannot scale with the rate of creation of these malicious sites.
All these problems lead to the fact that anti-virus applications can miss malicious software (such as when the malware databases are incomplete or out-of-date), false positives and false negatives (i.e., a trusted application can be incorrectly detected as malware), etc. On the other side of the balance, anti-virus applications that are designed to deal with the huge volume of potential threats tend to put unreasonable burdens on the computing resources of computer systems, which tends to stifle the user experience.
Along with the growth of malicious software, the world of legitimate software is also growing. This presents added challenges of inspecting increasing numbers of programs in order to deem them trusted applications for whitelisting. This, too, results in rapidly-expanding demands on anti-virus applications which cannot be met by simple scaling.
Anti-virus companies have been harnessing the power of their user network to some extent. In a typical example, users are invited to participate in reporting, to the anti-virus company, the results of the detection of malware or analysis of unknown programs carried out by their locally-running systems. These reports are then analyzed, synthesized with similar reports, and incorporated by the anti-virus company into a malware database to be periodically updated and disseminated to all users of their service. In this basic model, the entire network of users gets the benefit of the first user's detection of a new piece of malware. This benefit, however, is delayed by the reporting, review, analysis/synthesis, and database update cycle time between the first user's detection of a piece of malware and the protection against that malware that is eventually disseminated.
A more effective solution is needed to counter the rate of expansion of security threats.

System and method for distributing processing of computer security tasks


A wave generating device including a wave transducer adapted to generate an energy wave, and a beam shaping device defined by revolution of a curve about an axis of revolution, the curve being arranged with respect to the transducer in a plane of the curve so as to focus a wave emanating from the transducer towards the beam shaping device to a focal point lying in the plane, the curve having an axis of symmetry in the plane, wherein the axis of revolution is generally not collinear with the axis of symmetry.

Generation and focusing of energy waves, such as acoustic waves (or shockwaves, the terms being used interchangeably throughout) for purposes of medical treatment such as stone fragmentation or orthopedic treatment are accomplished through a variety of methods. Each method incorporates acoustic wave generation and associated focusing apparatus.
The prior art may be classified according to the geometry of the acoustic wave generation and associated focusing:
a. Point source and ellipsoidal reflector: A point source typically comprises electrohydraulic apparatus. Fast discharges of electrical energy between tips of closely spaced electrodes give rise to a sequence of spherical waves in a propagation liquid. The electrodes are arranged with respect to an ellipsoidal reflector, which has two focal points. The electrical energy is discharged at the first focus, and the waves are focused onto the second focus.
b. Planar source and acoustic lens: A planar source typically comprises electromagnetic apparatus. A thin circular membrane applies pressure to the propagation liquid by being jolted or repelled away from a planar coil. Fast discharges of electrical energy into the coil and the associated rapid changes in the magnetic field induce currents in the membrane, turning it into a magnet with a polarization opposite to that of the coil. The ensuing repulsions of the membrane, which is in close contact with the propagation liquid, generate the acoustic waves. The waves are then focused by a lens to a target located at the focus of the lens.
c. Cylindrical source and parabolic reflector: The cylindrical source generates an acoustic wave that emanates radially outwards from the longitudinal periphery of the cylinder. For example, a coil may be mounted on a cylindrical support and a cylindrical membrane. The coil may be pushed or repelled radially, gives rise to outwardly propagating cylindrical waves. A parabolic reflector focuses the waves into a point on the cylindrical axis of the system.
d. Spherical source: Spherical waves may be generated by an array of piezo-electric transducers or by an electromagnetic approach with a spherical membrane being repulsed inwardly into the propagation liquid. No further focusing is required.
In general, the spatial geometry of a focused wave generation device may be described by a planar geometry (e.g., a section of the device and its associated focal point), and by an axis of revolution used to form the spatial geometry of the device. For example, a partial ellipse with two associated foci provides the required planar geometry: lines emanating from one focus are reflected by the ellipse and converge on the focal point, with equal traveling distance. The spatial geometry of the focused wave generation device is obtained by revolving the planar geometry about the axis of symmetry of the partial ellipse.
Planar geometries of known focused wave generators comprise an axis of symmetry that is collinear with the axis of revolution used to form the spatial geometry of the focused wave generation. Consequently, prior art devices may have circularly symmetric spatial geometries and associated circular waves apertures that are sub-optimal for many applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A metal ring gasket for a threaded union provides a high-pressure, fluid-tight, metal-to-metal seal between subcomponents of a fluid conduit. The metal ring gasket is made of carbon steel or stainless steel depending on a composition of the fluid to be conveyed through the conduit. The metal ring gasket has beveled corners and is received in a beveled annular groove on mating surfaces of the subcomponents of the threaded union. When compressed in the annular groove between the subcomponents, the metal ring gasket creates an energized, high-pressure, fluid-tight seal that is highly resistant to pressure and is capable of maintaining a seal even at elevated temperatures resulting from direct exposure of the fluid conduit to fire.

Threaded unions are used to provide fluid-tight joints in fluid conduits. Threaded unions are held together by a threaded nut that is tightened to a required torque using a wrench or a hammer. In the oil industry, threaded unions are generally constructed using "wing nuts" and are commonly called "hammer unions" or "hammer lug unions". Hammer unions are designed and manufactured in accordance with the specifications stipulated by the American Petroleum Institute in API 6A entitled "Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment". Hammer unions are usually available in a variety of sizes (1″ to 10″) and a variety of pressure ratings (1000 psi to over 20,000 psi).
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a typical prior-art hammer union 10 includes a first subcomponent 12 and a second subcomponent 14. The first subcomponent has an inner lateral surface 13 which abuts an outer lateral surface 15 of the second subcomponent. The first subcomponent has at least one annular groove 16 for receiving an elastomeric O-ring 18. The annular groove is located at an interface of the inner and outer lateral surfaces. The second subcomponent is secured to the first subcomponent by a wing nut 20.
The wing nut 20 has box threads 22 that engage pin threads of the first subcomponent. The wing nut 20 further includes a plurality of lugs 24 that extend radially from a main body of the wing nut 20. The lugs have impact surfaces 25 which may be impact-torqued using a hammer or mallet (not shown) to tighten or loosen the wing nut 20.
The wing nut 20 also has an annular top wall 26 which abuts a radial flange 28 of the second subcomponent. When torque is applied to the wing nut, the annular top wall 26 is forced downwardly on the radial flange 28, thereby locking together the second subcomponent and the first subcomponent.
The hammer union 10 is shown with an elastomeric O-ring 18 having a circular cross-section. In the prior art, the O-rings are made of materials such as rubber, nylon, polyurethane and Teflon™.
Depending on the nature and shape of the first and second subcomponents, a different type of elastomeric seal may be used. For example, lip seals and flat gaskets may be used instead of the O-ring shown in FIG. 1. For sour service wells, the lips seals and O-rings are typically made of nitrile rubber (NBR) and fluroelastomers (FPM). Elastomeric seals may also be energized using stainless steel garter springs to prevent the seal from being damaged by extrusion.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a prior art hammer union manufactured by FMC/Weco that utilizes a lip seal. The hammer union shown in FIG. 2 is very much like the hammer union shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that the high-pressure seal is provided by the lip seal 17, which includes a peripheral lip 19 that is received in a groove 21 at a bottom of a seal seat 23 in the first subcomponent 12. The lip seal 17 is made of a rubber composition, and the hammer union is rated for up to 15,000 psi of fluid pressure.
One substantial disadvantage of prior-art hammer unions is that their elastomeric seals are vulnerable to the extreme temperatures generated by fire. In the event that a fire erupts in the well or at the wellhead, the elastomeric seal in the hammer union may leak or fail completely. This permits hydrocarbons to escape to the atmosphere, which may exacerbate the fire.
To the best of the applicant's knowledge, a prior art hammer union with a metal-to-metal seal for providing a high-pressure, fluid-tight seal has never been designed or manufactured. While metal seals and metallic gaskets are known in the art (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,381 (Boulton) entitled "Seal", U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,792 (Putch et al.) entitled "Well Head Metal Seal", U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,272 (Morrill) entitled "Seal", and U.S. Pat. No. 1,825,962 (Laird) entitled "Gasket") but each of the above describes a seal for a flanged union. While flanged unions are widely used in well trees, they are relatively expensive to construct and time consuming to assemble in the field.
It is well known in the art that there is increasing pressure on the oil industry to produce hydrocarbons at a lower cost. Consequently, an interest has developed in utilizing wellhead equipment that is less expensive to construct and is more quickly assembled than prior art flanged well tree components. Threaded unions provide a good alternative to flanged unions from a cost standpoint because they are faster to assemble and less expensive to construct. However, due to safety concerns related to the lack of a metal-to-metal seal, use of threaded unions for well tree components has not been endorsed.
Therefore, there exists a need for a threaded union with a metal-to-metal seal.


A pull cord device for controlling raising and lowering of a base rail of a window covering includes a locking wheel having a toothed segment turnable between locked and unlocked positions to engage and disengage from a cord spool, respectively, a cord-release controlling member having a cord retaining region to engage a pull cord to be movable along a linear running path when the pull cord is pulled in the unlocked position, a guideway disposed in the locking wheel, and including an angularly extending first route and a looped route, a guided member having a key end disposed in the guideway, and a linkage coupling the controlling member with the locking wheel such that when the controlling member is moved, the locking wheel is turned from the locked position to the unlocked position, and such that, in the unlocked position, the cord retaining region remains unmoved in each of regions in the looped route.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pull cord device and a window covering including the same, more particularly to a pull cord device which employs a cord-release controlling member to control a locking wheel so as to permit or prevent rotation of a cord spool for moving or positioning a base rail relative to a header rail of the window covering.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional "cordless" window covering, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,471 and 6,289,965, generally includes a spring motor to raise or lower slats between header and base rails of the window covering. The spring motor includes a take-up drum, a drive drum, and a coil spring interconnected between the take-up and drive drums, with its biased or relaxed position being wound upon the take-up drum. The coil spring can be of constant or variable force, and cooperates with a friction adjuster to balance the weight of the base rail and accumulated slats on the base rail so as to position the base rail at a desired height. However, since windows have different dimensions, window coverings are required to have different sizes. Hence, the weights of the base rails and slats of different window coverings vary. Consequently, the spring motors mounted on the window coverings are required to have coil springs with different biasing forces, and matching friction adjusters with different frictional forces, thereby rendering mass production of window coverings difficult.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cordless blind disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,154 is shown to include a header rail 1, a base rail 2, a plurality of slats 3, two pull cords 4, a winding member 5, and a positioning member 6. The winding member 5 includes a housing 501, two cord retrieving and winding wheels 502 rotatably mounted in the housing 501, and two coil springs 503 connected to the housing 501 and the respective cord retrieving and winding wheels 502. Each of the cord retrieving and winding wheels 502 has a winding portion 504 for winding the respective pull cord 4, and a toothed retaining portion 505. The positioning member 6 has a retaining body 601 and a plurality of springs 602 abutting against the housing 501 and the retaining body 601. The retaining body 601 has two racks 603 disposed to respectively mesh with the toothed retaining portions 505 of the cord retrieving and winding wheels 502. When the retaining body 601 is pressed to cause the racks 603 to disengage from the toothed retaining portions 505, a further pressing force can initiate the wheels 502 to wind the pull cords 4 by means of the coil springs 503 so as to raise the slats 3. On the contrary, when the base rail 2 is pulled downwardly by hand to lower the slats 3 and is then released, the racks 603 will return to their original position by means of the springs 602 to mesh with the toothed retaining portions 505 so as to stop the rotation of the wheels 502, the base rail 2 is thus positioned at a desired height.
Such a cordless blind has the following drawbacks:
1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the winding and positioning members 5, 6 are located at a central portion of the base rail 2, and since the user usually uses one hand to press the retaining body 601 and press or pull the base rail 2, the wheels 502 are not able to wind the pull cords 4 evenly thereon. Thus, the base rail 2 tends to slant to one side.
2. Since lower ends of the pull cords 4 are wound on the wheels 502, once the base rail 2 slants to one side as shown in FIG. 3, the user has to press the retaining body 601 with one hand, and pull a higher part of the base rail 2 with the other hand. The adjusting operation as such is relatively inconvenient to conduct.

Pull cord device and window covering including the same


A method and apparatus for improving search results is provided. The method works by delineating sections of a document that are not relevant to the main content. The document content is subjected to ranking analysis in entirety. In response to a query results are recalled omitting terms included in the no-recall sections. Terms in the no-recall sections are not used in titles and abstracts of the results. The results are ordered at least in part by the rankings attributed to the identified no-recall sections.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
A search engine is a combination of integrated software components (including data) and an allocation of computational resources, such as memory, a node, and processes on a computer or multiple computers for executing the integrated software components, where the combination of the software and computational resources are dedicated to searching a set of information resources. Search engines generate search results for queries submitted to the search engine. Search engines are widely used on the Internet, the World Wide Web (www, Web, WWW, etc.) and other large internetworks and information resource webs. Often, search engines are publicly accessible as web sites, such as those made available by Yahoo™ and Google™ web pages, which are respectively accessible with the links (http://search.yahoo.com/) and (http://www.google.com/).
The information resources searched by search engines are referred to herein as documents. A document is any unit of information that may be indexed by search engine indexes, which are described below. Often a document is a file which may contain plain or formatted text, inline graphics, and other multimedia data, and hyperlinks to other documents. A document may conform to XML (Extensible Mark-up Language, as promulgated by the World Wide Web Consortium), HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), or other public or private standard (e.g. PDF, Portable Document Format by Adobe™, MS Word by Microsoft™). Documents may be static or dynamically generated.
Search engines use a search engine index (or more than one index), also referred to herein simply as an index, to search for documents. Search engine indexes can be directories, in which content is indexed more or less manually, to reflect human observation. More typically, search engine indexes are created and maintained automatically by processes referred to herein as crawlers. Crawlers explore information over the Internet, essentially continuously, looking for as many documents as they may find at locations to which the crawlers are configured to search. Crawlers may follow links from one document to another, index their content (e.g., semantically, conceptually, etc.) in a search index and summarize them in databases, typically of significant size. It is these indexes and databases that are actually searched in response to a search query.
The search result generated by a search engine comprises a list of documents and may contain summary information about the document. The list of documents may be ordered. To order a list of documents, a search engine may assign a rank to each document in the list. When the list is sorted by rank, a document with a relatively higher rank may be placed closer to the head of the list than a document with a relatively lower rank. A search engine may rank the documents according to relevance to the search query. Relevance is a measure of how closely the subject matter of a document matches a search query's terms. The inclusion of a document within the search engine results generated by a search engine for a search engine query is referred to herein as document recall.
Various nefarious techniques, referred to as search engine spamming, are used to trick search engines into recalling documents and inflating their rank. The techniques generally trick search engine ranking algorithms into recalling and highly ranking documents that contain, for example, sponsored links to a web merchant. The higher ranking increases exposure of such documents to search engine users and can ultimately lead to more revenue for search engine spammers. As a result, some of the most highly ranked results for search engine queries are documents with content that is very irrelevant to the queries and desires of search engine users. Such results are referred to herein as search engine spam.
A typical example of search engine spam is when a user tries to search for the terms "digital camera reviews" and expects to find pages which review various models of digital cameras, detailing performance specifications, sample images and reviewer pros and cons list. Having this expectation when the user clicks on a link for one of the results, the user is instead led to a page that contains nothing but a plethora of keywords and links to other stores where he can buy the camera. This trickery translates to poor user experience and leads to an adverse judgment of search engine performance. Many webmasters may legitimately wish that some content of a page not be indexed by search engines because the content has no relation to the intended focus of the page. A solution that could address this need is to allow a webmaster to designate what sections of the page should not be indexed. However, this opens the door to nefarious techniques for hiding search engine spam. Clearly, there is need for mechanisms that prevent hiding of search engine spam but yet allow webmasters to designate page content that should not be indexed.

Method for improving quality of search results by avoiding indexing sections of pages


A cell array has a word line and a bit line coupled to memory cells, and a redundancy word line and a redundancy bit line coupled to redundancy memory cells. A read unit reads data held in the memory cell. A defect detection input unit receives a defect detection signal from a test apparatus. A dummy defect output unit outputs a dummy defect signal during a predetermined period of time after the defect detection input unit receives the defect detection signal. A data output unit inverts a logic of the read data output from the read unit during an activation of the dummy defect signal. Accordingly, an artificial defect can be generated by the semiconductor memory without changing the test apparatus or a test program. As a result of this, a relief efficiency can be enhanced and a test cost can be reduced.

1. Field
The present embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory has a redundancy circuit in order to relieve defects caused by a lattice defect in a substrate and particles produced in a manufacture process and to improve the yield. A semiconductor memory such as a DRAM has a redundancy word line and a redundancy bit line in addition to a normal word line and bit line. When a defect of a memory cell is detected, a fuse circuit formed on the semiconductor memory is programmed in a test process in order to replace a defective word line or a defective bit line with the redundancy word line or the redundancy bit line. By relieving the defective memory cell using the redundancy circuit, the yield of the semiconductor memory is improved.
For instance, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-7091 and the like disclose a method of making, when the single bit defect is generated due to the insufficiency of operation margin, normal memory cells defective using the LSI tester, until the single bit defect is determined as the bit line defect.


A system for handling a body specimen is described for particular use in the handling of fecal specimen which are to be treated with a stain for enhancing its visibility. The system includes dual optical viewing chambers mounted alongside of each other on a frame with appropriate tubing connecting ports of the viewing chambers to a liquid specimen supply and the satin supply. The stain supply is connected to one of the tubings leading to a viewing chamber so that the drawing action from a pump connected to ports on the other side of the viewing chambers can force an automatic mixing of the staining solution with one of the liquid specimen being drawn into one of the viewing chambers. Controls and techniques for operating the system are described.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,248,480 and 5,393,494 to Greenfield et al. describe an apparatus and method for drawing a fluid sample into a slide assembly for viewing through a microscope. The fluid is drawn from a container by way of a reversible pump. The fluid, such as a urine sample, is drawn in from the container through a glass slide and after viewing purged from the slide by reversing the pump so that it can draw flushing liquid back through the slide into the fluid sample container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,280 describes an automatic stain apparatus for staining biological specimen. A dyeing apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,393. An apparatus wherein a slide is moved to a staining station and then to a buffer station and thence to a rinsing station is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,700.
These prior art techniques, other than the Greenfield patents, for the handling of samples either are too complex or involve physical exposure to the biological specimen being reviewed and are not readily suitable for a safe handling by the operator who evaluates the particular specimen in the slide.

Apparatus and method for handling fluid samples of body materials


In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a method for augmenting the function of a database application begins by inserting one or more hooks at selected locations in a database. One or more programs are then associated with respective hooks to provide the extended functionality for the application. The method then monitors for arrival of data intended for a first selected location in the database. In response to detecting data intended for the first location, data is sent to the program associated with the hook at the first selected location to facilitate the application extension.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to computer applications management and, in particular, a method and system for updating a given computer application, for example, by placing at least one trigger or xe2x80x9chookxe2x80x9d at a selected location in an underlying database for the application. When the selected location is accessed, the hook initiates a separate program or process which expands the capabilities of the underlying computer application.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large enterprise-wide networks provide a significant challenge to administrators. To meet this challenge, the software industry has developed network management tools to handle problems, changes and assets on a network. An example of this type of software is the Tivoli(copyright) Service Desk.
Tivoli(copyright) Service Desk is a comprehensive software application for maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of a corporate service and support operation. The Tivoli(copyright) Service Desk suite consists of three integrated applications that help manage functions that are critical to an organization""s infrastructure. These applications enable the support staff to better understand and manage the complex relationships between user problems, network events, corporate assets, and changes to the IT infrastructure.
An example application in the Service Desk suite is the Tivoli(copyright) Problem Management application. This application automatically tracks, logs, and escalates (to higher levels of support) user interactions and requests. The system includes a sophisticated knowledge engine that enables analysts with different levels of experience to quickly resolve any problem. The application also includes multiple diagnostic technologies that provide online knowledge from a single, integrated knowledge base to ensure consistent, accurate answers.
However, the rapid development pace of technology can render even a flexible and powerful system obsolete. New machines and software are constantly being installed on the network. In addition, there may be legacy support applications that should be integrated to provide a more complete knowledge base. Eventually, something on the network will be installed that was not anticipated when the system management software was written. For example, with simpler technology, a specific series of questions may lead to a specific answer. The Problem Management application is designed to present the necessary questions and, in response to the questions, presents the answer from its knowledge base. However, with more complex technology, the same series of questions may lead to additional questions or the need for the system to gather data from the network. To continue to provide effective support, the application must be modified. In the prior art, modification of the application requires access to the original source code and significant programming resources.
It would be desirable to provide a method for expanding the capabilities of the application without the large investment necessary to rewrite the application. The present invention addresses this need.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to expand the capabilities of a given software application without the need to rewrite the application.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a software application with expanded capabilities that operate in the background and without disrupting the application""s expected behavior.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for expanding the capabilities of an application to respond to the needs of new technology and/or rapid expansion of an enterprise network.
Yet another more specific object of this invention is to extend a shrink-wrapped application, e.g., a database application, to perform functions beyond the scope of those intended by the application developer.
These and other objects are accomplished generally by attaching a configurable, external monitor to the application so that a new function can be delivered that extends the application beyond its original limits yet in a manner transparent to the application.
In an illustrative embodiment, a method for augmenting the function of a database application begins by inserting one or more hooks at selected locations in a database. One or more programs are then associated with respective hooks to provide the extended functionality for the application. The method then monitors for arrival of data intended for a first selected location in the database. In response to detecting data intended for the first location, data is sent to the program associated with the hook at the first selected location to facilitate the application extension.
Another described embodiment of the invention includes a system having an augmented database application comprising: a database application stored in a computer system and that includes one or more hooks at selected locations in a database. One or more programs are associated with respective ones of the hooks to provide the extended application functionality. A listener routine is used to monitor for arrival of data intended for a first selected location in the database. An executor routine is responsive to the detection of data intended for the first location by the listener routine. The executor routine sends the data to the program associated with the hook located at the first selected location.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention as will be described. Accordingly, a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

Method and system for extending the functionality of an application


This invention relates to a free standing lifting device which means that no additional support is required to support the lifting action of the device. The lifting device comprises a lift carriage further comprising at least one lift arm joined to a motor by way of a cable, at least one lift channel having a lift opening for receipt of the lift arm, at least one support arm and at least one support channel having a support opening for receipt of the support arm.

Lifting and storage devices are well known in prior art. Typically when a heavy, large, or bulky item, such as a pallet needs to be moved, a user will use a forklift to move the pallet into its desired location. However, at times there is a need to move a pallet into position and a forklift is not readily available or accessible to a user. Such a circumstance might be in a restaurant kitchen where space is limited and tight to maneuver large objects. Further, if a forklift or other means of movement isn't available a user may struggle to lift an item into place, putting the user into harm's way. As such there is a need, that this invention meets, for a free standing device that can lift and store large bulky items easily in a desired location.


A brake apparatus includes first, second and third solenoid valves (hereinafter SOL1, SOL2 and SOL3) respectively disposed in a first branch pipe, a second branch pipe, and a main pipe connecting a master cylinder and a brake caliper. The brake apparatus also includes first, second and third pressure sensors (hereinafter P1, P2 and P3) respectively disposed between the master cylinder and the SOL3, between the SOL1 and a fluid loss simulator, and between the SOL2 and the hydraulic pressure modulator. The brake apparatus further includes a control unit for detecting output values of P1, P2 and P3. A resolution of P2 is set at a value greater than resolutions of P1 and P3. With SOL1 in an opened state, when detected output value of P2 is less than a predetermined value, the control unit stores output values from the respective pressure sensors as reference values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brake apparatus for a vehicle, and to a method of using the described apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brake apparatus and method in which accuracy of zero-point corrections of multiple pressure sensors, provided in a brake pipe path, is improved.
2. Description of the Background Art
There is a known a hydraulic brake apparatus having the following configuration employed in vehicles such as motorcycles. Specifically, in the known hydraulic brake device, an input side in which hydraulic pressure is generated by a rider performing a brake operation, and an output side in which the hydraulic pressure is applied to a brake caliper so as to brake (to stop rotation of) a wheel, are connected to and disconnected from each other by a solenoid valve.
The Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-193136 discloses a brake apparatus in which a master cylinder which generates hydraulic pressure in conjunction with the operation of a brake lever is connected to a brake caliper which generates a brake force with the hydraulic pressure supplied thereto, by a brake path including a normally-open solenoid valve, and in which a hydraulic modulator which generates hydraulic pressure in an actuator is connected to a brake caliper side by the solenoid valve. The brake apparatus of this type is configured, when a brake operation force is detected by the pressure sensor, to close the normally-open solenoid valve and perform drive control of the hydraulic modulator based on an output value from the pressure sensor so that the brake caliper generates a brake force.
In order to appropriately control such brake devices, multiple sensors are necessary to detect the pressure in a hydraulic pressure passage. In the configuration as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-193136, two input side pressure sensors and one output side pressure sensor are provided.
In the configuration in which the drive control of the brake apparatus is performed based on the output values of the multiple pressure sensors as described in the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-193136, it is preferable to have high resolution pressure sensors on the input side which detects the brake operation force by the rider, in particular. When the high resolution pressure sensors are provided, the accuracy of the brake control can further be improved by performing a correction of adjusting the zero points of the other pressure sensors to that of the high resolution pressure sensor.
However, the pressure sensor tends to decrease in pressure resistance when the resolution is improved, which in turn causes a problem that the high resolution pressure sensor should not be arranged in a place where there is a possibility of an excessive hydraulic pressure being generated. In the configuration described in the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-193136, a structural arrangement to cope with the problem, appropriate steps of the zero-point correction, and the like have not been taken into consideration.
The present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks of existing hydraulic brake apparatus. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to solve the problem of the related art described above, and to provide a brake apparatus for a vehicle in which the accuracy of the zero-point corrections of multiple pressure sensors provided to a brake pipe path can be improved.

Brake apparatus for vehicle, and methods of using same


A tantalum open cell structure is formed by chemical vapor deposition onto a reticulated carbon foam substrate. Tantalum has a long history of use as an implant material, in both bone and soft tissue. This lightweight, strong, porous structure, mimicking the microstructure of natural cancellous bone, acts as a matrix for the incorporation of bone, providing optimal permeability and a high surface area to encourage new bone ingrowth.

The need for a cancellous bone substitute and/or cell and tissue receptive material is significant. For example, cancellous autografts provide a porous framework within which revascularization occurs and against which new bone is layered, and also provide a population of osteoprogenitor cells and a complement of bone growth-inducing factors. Grafting, however, requires surgery to obtain the material, and a viable substitute is desirable. It is here that the concept of artificial biocompatible implants becomes of interest. Extensive studies over the last two decades have shown that to duplicate the success of cancellous grafts, an implant should serve as a porous framework. Indeed, early research demonstrated that an interconnected porous material is tolerated by the body, and encourages new bone growth, better than the same material in solid form.
The replacement of diseased, destroyed, or degenerative bone and tissues consumes time and financial resources from a large segment of the surgical community, in both medicine and dentistry. Clinical and scientific work is directed at facilitating regeneration of tissues in affected patients so that normal biomechanical and physiologic functions can resume. In some patients, full restoration of function with normal tissue is achievable, while in others, prostheses are biologically attached to restore function. The specialty science devoted to the study of substances utilized for implants in medicine and dentistry, biomaterials, is a young field that has taken tremendous strides in the last 20 years. Over the same period, dental implantology has evolved from early attempts by a few enthusiasts to a fully recognized branch of dentistry.
Although indispensable for survival, the body's natural defense mechanisms, by which materials identified as nonself are rejected, have been the nemesis of surgeons using prostheses or implantable devices. It is necessary to minimize the rejection mechanism as much as possible. Certain biomaterials have been identified having apparently limited reactions to the body's defense mechanisms. These materials can be placed on a continuum that extends from relatively chemically reactive to completely nonreactive or passive. Generally, the more nonreactive the material is in vivo, the better the performance that can be expected.
Matching the requisite biomechanical requirements for an implant with the environment of surrounding tissues has been a formidable challenge. Significant progress was made in resolving this problem in the early 1970s, when the importance of porosity was first recognized. Later work showed that certain physical parameters of the porosity affect the type of tissue and the rate of ingrowth. The degree of interconnectivity and the nominal pore size were found to be critical factors in determining the success of an implant. Maximum interconnectivity, or the absence of "dead ends", was found to facilitate ingrowth. These studies showed that pore sizes less than 10 .mu.m prevent ingrowth of cells; pore sizes of 15-50 .mu.m encourage fibrovascular ingrowth; pore sizes to 50-150 .mu.m result in osteoid formation; and pore sizes of greater than 150 .mu.m facilitate the ingrowth of mineralized bone.
Bone ingrowth into the voids of a porous material provides ideal skeletal fixation for the permanent implants used for the replacement of bone segments lost due to any number of reasons, or in total joint prostheses. Biological compatibility, intimate contact with the surrounding bone, and adequate stability during the early period of bone ingrowth have been identified as important requirements, along with proper porosity. The optimal porous material should have good crack resistance, particularly under impact, and a compliance comparable to that of bone. The material should also make the manufacture of implants of precise dimensions easy, and permit the fabrication of either thick or thin coatings on load-bearing cores.
One prerequisite for successful ingrowth is that the implant be placed next to viable bone. In fact, the presence of bone within the implant has become presumptive evidence of osteoconductive properties: that is, the ability of bone to grow into a porous structure when the structure is placed next to bone. Initially, the cells that interface the implant convert to bone, then the front of regenerated bone progresses into the implant. This process is known as osseointegration, meaning the achievement of direct contact between living bone and implant.
The research, development, and manufacture of synthetic porous implants having the physical properties required to promote bone ingrowth have proved to be a major endeavor. Implants with porous surfaces of metallic, ceramic, polymeric, or composite materials have been studied extensively over the last two decades. A significant early advance in this area was made with the development of "replamineform" materials, so termed because they replicate actual life forms. These materials are based on the three-dimensional microstructure of certain marine invertebrates (best represented by corals and echinoids), which is uniform and completely permeable. The replamineform process utilizes the invertebrate microstructure as a template to make porous structures of other materials.
The most commonly used substance for porous biomaterials is calcium hydroxyapatite (HA), which is the largest chemical constituent of bone. Other nonmetallic materials frequently used in porous form for implants include the ceramics tricalcium phosphate (TCP), calcium aluminate, and alumina, carbon; various polymers, including polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyoxymethylene (delrin); and ceramic-reinforced or -coated polymers. Unfortunately, ceramics, while strong, are very brittle and often fracture readily under loading; and polymers, while possessing good ductility, are extremely weak. The very nature of these materials can restrict their clinical dental and orthopedic applications.
Metals, on the other hand, combine high strength and good ductility, making them attractive candidate materials for implants (and effectively the most suitable for load-bearing applications). Many dental and orthopedic implants contain metal, most often titanium or various alloys such as stainless steel or vitallium (cobalt-chromium-molybdenum). Ceramic-coated metals are also used, typically HA or TCP on titanium. Additionally, a large variety of metals are used internally in biomedical components such as wire, tubing, and radiopaque markers.
Many existing metallic biomaterials, however, do not easily lend themselves to fabrication into the porous structures that are most desirable for bone implants. These materials (e.g. stainless steel, cobalt-based alloys) exhibit the necessary properties and biocompatibility as long as only a smooth, bulk shape in a metallurgically perfect state is needed. The machining or other treatment needed to obtain a porous or surface-textured shape for interlocking with skeletal tissue can have a detrimental effect on the properties and biocompatibility, and can even result in material failure. For example, the hexagonal crystal structure of titanium makes it susceptible to cracks and fractures, as has been seen in the case of dental implants. Some porous metallic materials (e.g. flame- or plasma-sprayed titanium, porous sintered powder metallurgy materials) do not match the structure of cancellous bone sufficiently well to ensure successful ingrowth and integration. Also, most metals and alloys currently in use are subject to some degree of corrosion in a biological environment. Finally, the high densities of metals can make them undesirable from a weight standpoint.

Open cell tantalum structures for cancellous bone implants and cell and tissue receptors


An aroma releasing composition has an effervescent agent, an exothermic agent and a volatile agent, the effervescent agent and exothermic agent provided in a ratio sufficient to promote release of the volatile agent, when the composition is placed in water. Such a composition has use, alone, in promoting release of fragrance agents, or in combination with a product, such as a body lotion, shampoo or liquid soap.

Fragrances are used in many products to improve their acceptance by consumers. For example, most personal products such as moisturizers, cleansers, and even household products such as laundry detergents use fragrances to improve their consumer acceptability. There have also been many studies conducted which have speculated that aroma greatly influences human psychology and physiology, and the term "aromatherapy" has been used to describe the beneficial properties which can be achieved using fragrances. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,915, various aromatic compositions or perfumes are discussed in relation to aromatherapy. In the '915, the prolonged release of perfume is accomplished by a pH adjusting tablet to provide a variable release of the perfume.
Volatile materials which are inhaled are included in many medications for treating conditions such as congested sinuses and coughing. For example, menthol and camphor are recognized by the United States FDA as safe and effective for the treatment of these conditions.
Effervescent compositions are known. These compositions generally combine carbonate salts such as sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate with acidic materials such as citric, tartaric, or fumaric acid in a way that carbon dioxide is released when the product is placed in water. These products must be packaged in ways that prevent unintended contact with water so that premature reaction is avoided. Even contact with humidity in the air must be prevented during manufacture and storage as this could detrimentally effect the effervescent properties. These effervescent compositions have been used with compounds such as aspirin or acetaminophen to treat headaches and stomach upset, been added with bleach and surfactants to clean dentures such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,062, and included with fragrance and moisturizers to provide bath salts.
Various compositions are known which have exothermic heats of solution. A number of these are listed in Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 11th edition, in Table 9-6(P9-107). The greater the value of the heat of solution, the more heat is liberated per gram-mole of the substance. Thus, materials with higher heats of solution are able to raise the temperature of a given amount of water higher than compounds with lower heats of solution. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,518, a dentifrice composition is described which provides a warming sensation using an exothermic reaction.
However, there still exists in the art a need for compositions which enhance the ability to promote release of volatile materials when placed in water.

Exothermic effervescent composition for improved fragrance dispersion


The clipper has a cylindrical housing including a handle containing a battery and motor and a head pivotally mounted on the handle. The head carries a stationary blade and a reciprocating blade. Motion is transmitted from the motor to the reciprocating blade through a flexible rod. One end of the rod is connected to a protrusion offset from the axis of a gear connected to the output shaft on the motor. The other end of the arm carries the reciprocating blade. A control button is provided on the head. The control button can be manipulated to disengage the handle, to permit the head to be pivoted relative to the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lightweight, portable electric hair clipper and more particularly to such a hair clipper in which the head section is mounted on the handle section such that it can be pivoted relative to the handle section.
2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Many types of electrically driven hair cutting instruments including stationary blade elements and movable blade elements are known. Those hair cutters can be broadly characterized into those in which the moveable blade elements reciprocate relative to the stationary blade element in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the device, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,222,317, 4,400,875 and 5,611,804, and those in which the moveable blade elements reciprocate in a direction parallel to the axis of the device, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,059,774, 5,165,172 and 6,098,288. This invention relates to a hair clipper in the latter type.
There are also many other types of devices in which reciprocating motion of an element in a direction parallel to the axis of the device is employed. Those devices include electric toothbrushes, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,150, and electric saws with reciprocating blades, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,630,148, 5,940,977 and 6,264,211.
Of the types of devices with pivot heads, where the reciprocating motion is along the axis device, there is U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,172 to Weinrauch, that relating to a hair clipper with a pivot head and U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,977 to Moores, relating a saw blade mounted on a head that is capable of pivoting relative to the handle portion.
Devices in which the head that is capable of pivoting relative to the handle require a drive mechanism that is capable of transmitting motion from the drive motor, located in the handle, to the reciprocating blade elements, located in the head, whether the head is situated in a pivoted or non-pivoted position. Both the Weinrauch hair clipper and the Moores saw incorporate such motion transmission mechanisms.
However, the Weinrauch transmission mechanism employes a multiple gear system that is far too complex and expensive for use in a small, inexpensive hand-held hair clipper of the type involved here. The Moores transmission mechanism requires a rigid transmission arm for transferring the large amount of power necessary for a reciprocating saw to cut through the type of materials for which the saw is intended. Such a transmission mechanism is much too costly and heavy duty for an inexpensive, portable, light weight hair clipper of the type to which the present invention pertains.
It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide a hair clipper with a pivot head that is light in weight, portable, mechanically simple and inexpensive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair clipper with a pivot head that includes a simple power transmission mechanism incorporating a flexible transmission rod.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair clipper with a pivot head that includes a handle section with oppositely directed outstanding bosses and a head section having flexible arms with boss receiving recesses adapted to receive the handle section, with the bosses situated in the recesses.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair clipper with a pivot head having a control button that is actuated to permit the head section to be pivoted relative to the handle section.


Warning apparatus (2) for a motor vehicle (1) having an indicator system (6) for indicating a change of lane comprising at least one signal display (7) arranged in the field of view of the driver and having a sensor system for detecting obstacles in the blind spot (4), wherein the sensor system generates a warning signal in the event of detection of an obstacle, wherein the signal display (7) of the indicator system (6) is connected to the sensor system such that the warning signal is reproduced in visual form via the signal display (7).

Monitoring of the blind spot is an important and difficult task for drivers of a motor vehicle in order to prevent accidents. The blind spot is the area to the side of and behind motor vehicles which the driver cannot be easily see by means of the sideview and rearview mirrors or without significant body movements.
This blind spot area varies in size depending on the number of windows and rearview mirrors and cannot be completely eliminated. One particular problem is the blind angle in the case of trucks, buses and motorcycles since these only have a restricted radius of view due to the size and design. The size of the blind angle is given as 38% in the case of the current status of the legal regulations.
The blind spot prevents or impairs the reactions of the driver to events. This becomes particularly apparent in the case of cycle paths on the right side of the road and turning trucks. In the case of an accident, drivers almost always report that they did not see the cyclist due to the blind angle. It is also impossible to react to errors made by others in the blind angle, as a result of which accidents also occur.
A variety of technical apparatuses have been previously known in order to facilitate or enable monitoring of the blind spot.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,148 discloses a warning apparatus in which the proximity of a second vehicle is detected by means of a camera and corresponding intelligence and is reproduced via a visual or acoustic indication. This system, however, involves dedicated displays such that the driver must train his attention in a particular manner for this purpose. Moreover, the acoustic warning has the disadvantage that it is not equally suitable in all driving situations and in the case of all drivers and cannot indicate the direction in which the detected vehicle lies.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,833 discloses a further warning apparatus in which the turn indicator control of the turn indicator system vibrates after detection of an obstacle or vehicle in the monitored area. This apparatus is, however, relatively complex and can only warn the driver when he leaves his or her hand on the turn indicator control for a sufficiently long time.
EP 1 450 330 A1 discloses a warning apparatus in which, after detection of an obstacle which must, however, be visible in one of the vehicle mirrors, a signal is generated which indicates the corresponding mirror. In this case, the display of the signal is preferably in the mirror itself. The blind spot can only be insufficiently monitored with this apparatus since the identified or detected obstacle must be visible in the mirror. Alternatively, the use of a dedicated display is provided which indicates the direction in which the obstacle lies by means of directional arrows.


Road sign recognition method and system. The method includes performing HSV space color threshold binarization on a single frame image in a road image, obtaining a sign connected region through localization; calculating a length-to-width ratio of the sign connected region to eliminate a false target, calculating a distance from a contour edge to a target center position in the sign connected region, obtaining a target localization region with a circular contour of the sign connected region; intercepting a corresponding grayscale image and calculating an average grayscale value of the grayscale image, performing binarization on the grayscale image in the target localization region, obtaining a binary image of each target localization region; extracting connected regions in the binary images, sorting the connected regions according to coordinates; calculating and determining number or character inside the target localization region by using a neural-network mode recognition algorithm; and calculating confidence.

Video image road sign recognition relies on determining limiting information of a sign on moving of a vehicle. A traditional method is as follows: firstly, a position of the sign is localized by using an image processing method; then, numbers and characters of the sign are segmented; and finally, template matching or a neural network algorithm is used for recognition.
A speed limit sign can be effectively determined by using the traditional method, but a width limit sign and a height limit sign cannot be distinguished. A main reason is that the traditional method only focuses on recognition and determining of numbers and characters in the road sign, and ignores features of the sign.
In the traditional template matching method, a target size needs to be scaled to be equal to a template size, then corresponding pixels are compared and statistics about the corresponding pixels is collected, and a pixel with highest similarity is used an outputted result. Calculation efficiency of this method is low, and a scaling process is easy to cause image distortion. Consequently, the result is greatly influenced.
However, the commonly used neural network algorithm introduces too many features. Consequently, efficiency is affected and the commonly used neural network algorithm is susceptible to noise. A balance between calculation efficiency and calculation accuracy is fully considered through division of nine square grids.

WUHAN JIMU INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


In a mobile terminal in which a communication service is being executed, communication networks can be switched without causing a loss of communication data while maintaining the execution of the communication service. In a server which provides a communication service via communication networks provided in parallel and a mobile terminal which obtains the communication service using one of the communication networks, the mobile terminal activates another communication network in parallel while maintaining execution of the communication service to thereby transmit pieces of information having the same content, generated by copying, through the respective communication networks, and switches the one communication network being used to the other communication network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication service continuation system. In particular, the present invention relates to a communication service continuation system which enables to select and switch communication unit for using communication services corresponding to the situation, and also relates to a communication service continuation method and a program thereof.
2. Related Art
In information and telecommunication services, communication networks are constructed corresponding to the characteristics of terminals and service contents respectively, including fixed-line telephone networks for fixed-line telephones, mobile communication networks (W-CDMA, PDCP, GPRS, etc.) for mobile telephones, and data communication networks (IEEE802.11 for wireless LAN, ADSL, ISDN, etc.) for data communications performed by computers.
In recent years, as computers become smaller and have higher performance, various kinds of terminals are available. Further, as networks become broadband, audio and visual data having large amount of information can be transmitted through data communication networks such as IP.
With such changes in the information technology and the communication technology, boundaries between fixed telephone networks, mobile communication networks and data communication networks become blurred in their structures. Therefore, needs for terminals including various kinds of communication unit increase among general users, so that needs for communication services which can be used beyond the boundaries of communication networks also increase.
In a wireless communication system, a method of preventing loss of communication data at a time of handover in which base stations are switched has been well known generally, an example of which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-153327 (Patent Document 1).
However, the art in Patent Document 1 is limited to performing handover in a mobile communication network, so it cannot be applied as a method for switching a communication network itself to be used.
In the example described above, in the case where communication unit and communication networks are switched while executing a communication service in a mobile terminal including a plurality of communication unit, the communication service being executed must be stopped for a while and a communicating connection must be established with another communication unit to be used. This causes a problem that communication unit cannot be switched while maintaining execution of the communication service.
Further, in the example described above, in the case where a communication unit is switched to another one while maintaining the executing state of the communication service utilizing a communicating connection with the communication unit, a problem that a loss or delay of communication data is unavoidable is caused.
Specifically, if a user of a mobile terminal using a communication service through a mobile telephone network becomes able to connect with a wireless LAN in an office for example on which larger capacity communication can be performed at higher speed, or if a user using a communication service through an optical fiber network on a LAN in the office wants to continuously use the communication service through a mobile telephone network outside the company, it has been practically impossible to switch communication unit while maintaining the execution of the communication service being used because a loss of data mentioned above cannot be avoidable.

Communication service continuation system, communication service continuation method, and program thereof


An aircraft is provided including at least one pilot input and a flight control system n communication with the at least one pilot input. The flight control system is operable in a manual mode and a pointing mode. In the manual mode, a velocity, position, and attitude of the aircraft are controlled manually, and in the pointing mode, at least one of the velocity and position of the aircraft is controlled by the flight control system and at least one of the attitude and heading of the aircraft is controlled manually.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a rotary wing aircraft, and more particularly, to operation of a rotary wing aircraft in a precision pointing mode where the aircraft is aimed at an external reference point, such as a target or point of interest
Coaxial compound rotary wing aircrafts provide a unique expanded flight envelope as a result of having two controllable thrust vectors generated by the main rotor assembly and the propeller. Such rotary wing aircrafts may be manipulated to track an identified target. The precision pointing of the aircraft that occurs during such tracking may be accomplished by manual or coupled manipulation of one or more controls of the aircraft, such as collective, cyclic, yaw pedals, and the propeller for example. The manual operation of these controls, as well as the variation in the operation environments and aircraft performance results in an increased work load for the operators of the aircraft. As a result, precision and mode predictability is reduced.