The present invention is a method, apparatus and process for an improved substrate mounting and processing technique for various substrate treatments comprising cleaning, dicing, sawing, polishing, and planarization, among others.

The present invention relates generally to the field of mounting substrates for processing using any variety of chemical-mechanical treatments including, but not limited to, cleaning, sand blasting, milling, machining, drilling, dicing, sawing, polishing, and planarizing, among others. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatuses for mounting and cooling, cleaning and/or lubricating a substrate during a chemical-mechanical treatment using water ice as an instantaneous adhesive in combination with a near-cryogenic or cryogenic impingement cleaning and/or cooling spray.
The microelectronics industry is constantly seeking improved yields in a wide variety of complicated chemical-physical substrate treatment applications. Continuous efforts are being made to improve both processing quality and throughput. Moreover, global environmental imperatives require decreased reliance on organic solvents for cleaning, liquid coolants for machining, and reduced water usage. These trends are accompanied by continuous efforts to further miniaturize substrate sizes in order to maximize the yield. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to develop cleaner and greener mounting, cooling and cleaning techniques. Before discussing the present invention, it is important to discuss and analyze conventional mounting, cooling and processing techniques used within industry.
Substrate Mounting Techniques
Substrates are currently mounted by several mounting methods. In most cases where only a portion (example: topside of substrate) of the substrate material is to be treated, trouble-free processing using any number of techniques is accomplished if the substrate is mounted stiffly to a base and does not move during the chemical-physical treatment process. Acceptable mounting methods may include a vacuum chuck, magnetic clamp, mechanical vise, electrostatic plate, adhesive tape, among other mounting techniques. Processing through the substrate material or handling very small and complexly shaped substrates, however, is very different and creates both mounting and quality problems during a chemical-physical treatment. For example in dicing, the smaller the dies, the more difficult and critical is the mounting technique used. Almost any cut-through operation will require an optimized mounting technique. The following is a discussion of the different mounting techniques and parameters used in industry for this particular industry chemical-physical treatment.
Tape Mounting
This is the most common mounting method used in dicing microelectronic substrates. It is used mainly because of its easy handling and the fact that it is a mounting media for the dicing process and later on for the die bonding process. The most common tape is a PVC tape 0.003″ (0.076 mm) thick that is available with different adhesive tackiness characteristics. The mounting is carried out either manually or with wafer mounting systems. The mounting goal is to have a good, uniform contact between the substrate and the tape without any air bubbles, dust or dirt particles between the substrate and the tape. The tape is then mounted to a frame of different designs, depending on the saw type. The frame is a stiff handling media for easy handling to the saw, on the saw and outside of the saw to the die bonding process.
Main problems and process optimization when dicing through into tapes:
1) Most tapes are made of soft PVC with a thin layer of adhesive.
The PVC tape by nature is soft and overloads any dicing blade. Blade overloading means blade clogging, and therefore high temperatures that cause material damage mainly at the backside of the substrate.
Wax, Glue and Pitch Mounting
Waxing, gluing or pitch-blocking the substrate to a solid media is, in most cases, superior to tape mounting techniques for the following reasons:
1. Improved clamping characteristics compared to tape mounting. This is a major advantage when processing small substrates.
2. The ability to dice much deeper into the base media results in much better quality mainly on the backside of the substrate.
3. A firm mounting eliminates any die movement—improving the cut quality.
4. Soft or hard base media can be chosen in order to control the blade wear and to act as a cleaning (dressing) media for the blade.
5. Substrates that are not perfectly flat can be mounted with wax or glue. The wax/glue compensates by filling in gaps.
Main disadvantage and points to be optimized:
1. Some waxes have relatively higher melting points which may damage the die components.
2. Handling is the main disadvantage of wax, glue and pitch-block mounting over tape mounting. Hot plates must be used for the wax mounting and organic solvents and other hazardous chemicals to dissolve the wax or glue.
3. Following gross removal using a hot plate, the final cleaning of the dies is also time consuming a major disadvantage over tape mounting and further requires the use of cleaning solvents to remove residual mounting agents.
Mechanical Mounting
Mechanical clamping is preferable on some applications for the following reasons:
1. Easy handling.
2. Fast loading and unloading for high volume production.
3. The geometry of the substrate is such that only specially designed mechanical clamping can actually be used.
The main drawbacks for mechanical mounting techniques are as follows:
1. Difficult to mechanically clamp a very small or complex substrate.
2. Direct mechanical clamping may damage some sensitive substrates.
Substrate Cooling and Lubrication
In many chemical-physical treatments such as drilling, milling, sawing and dicing, among others, coolant and lubrication is typically required for the treatment tool (i.e., blade, drill bit, honing bit, buffing pad). Most often coolant is provided in the form of chilled water, water-oil mixtures or machining oils. For example, cooling the blade and the substrate is a requirement for most dicing applications. The following are the main goals when using a coolant during any dicing application:
1. To cool the blade edge and the substrate material.
2. The coolant acts as a lubricant to minimize friction between the blade and the substrate material.
3. The coolant helps to wash out the powder residue from the dicing process.
In the past, most applications were cooled with a standard cooling nozzle. The idea was to shoot the coolant at the contact point of the blade with the substrate. The pressure, in most cases, was the highest possible on the saw. Today, there are many new types of applications that require unique cooling systems in order to meet special quality control requirements.
Dicing thick substrates of over 100″ (2.5 mm) creates quality problems related to the cooling process. The main problem with thick substrates is cooling the bottom of the cut.
Two options are available to overcome this cooling problem on thick substrates:
1. Adding 2–5% of an organic macromolecule additive to the coolant water lowers the surface tension of the water and helps the coolant to penetrate better to the full depth of the kerf. The coolant also acts as a lubricant, which helps minimize the load during the dicing process. Among the organic additives available are biodegradable solutions or what are called "green" solutions for the environment. The additives can be added as a mist to the coolant line or mixed with the water in a closed loop system.
2. Another way of getting the coolant to the bottom of a deep cut is by using a cooling flange set. This unique design spreads the coolant from the center of the flange to the outer edge of the blade on both sides. The high velocity (spindle r.p.m.) translates into high pressure on the coolant, which is forced to the bottom of the cut.
For some brittle materials that tend to chip during the dicing, a closed coolant system may be used to reduce the water temperature to as low as 10 C. This has been found to reduce chipping.
Ice Mounting
Water ice as a mounting media is attractive since tap water ice has an adhesion strength of approximately 300 psi—more than enough holding power for most chemical-physical treatments. A process and apparatus using water ice as a fixturing technique was commercialized by Audemars Piguet, Clearwater, Fla., in the early 1990's. The Audemar's product was called the Ice-Plate System, which used a recirculating coolant system to either cool down or heat up a topside copper plate. The copper plate was coated with a water film, a substrate was placed onto the film, and the freeze plate was chilled using a cold coolant flowing through the copper plate. Following processing, a thermalant was pumped through the freeze plate to thaw the water ice thereon. It is believed that the commercial machine and process offered had its origins and use primarily in Swiss precision watch assembly operations. Although the commercial device was offered as a mounting technique for holding substrates for a machining operation, the Audemars system did not receive widespread acceptance, and is believed to be no longer offered commercially in the United States. It is believed that the main limitation with the product as it was designed was that it could not be used with many chemical-physical treatments primarily due to heat loads generated by the substrate treatment process, thus causing the substrate to be released from the freezing plate. Other much smaller commercial freezing plates are available in the market from a number of sources. One such source is FerroTec, Nashua, N.H., which offers commercial thermal electric cold plates for use primarily as heat exchangers. Other commercial sources offer small microscope mountable cold plates designed to freeze small samples of tissue for micro-slicing operations with the aid of a microscope. However, these devices are not designed to be used for processing industrial substrates requiring more rigorous treatments as cited herein.
Heretofore, water ice mounting technology has not been effectively applied nor developed adequately to meet the needs of a variety of chemical-physical substrate treatment processes. This technology has not been successfully applied to resolve mounting and treatment operational problems specific to many industrial processes, as cited above with the dicing issues—these being process heat loads, substrate cleanup during processing, substrate cooling during processing, and substrate cleaning and drying following processing.
As such, an improved water ice freezing apparatus and technique for mounting and processing a substrate is extremely attractive for the performance and environmental issues within industry as discussed above. From the above, it is seen that a method and apparatus for fixturing, impingement cleaning, and cooling of precision substrates during dicing, sawing, polishing, cleaning, and planarization, among other surface treatments that provides improved performance and versatility is desired and which overcomes the limitations of conventional technology cited above.

Apparatus process and method for mounting and treating a substrate


A semiconductor device includes a plurality of protrusions formed on a first face of the semiconductor device; first bonding portions formed on upper portions of the plurality of protrusions; second bonding portions formed on side faces of the plurality of protrusions; and third bonding portions formed on the first face between the plurality of protrusions, wherein the semiconductor device is configured to bond to an other semiconductor device through the third from the first bonding portions.

With the advance of semiconductor packaging technology, it has been possible to mount a plurality of integrated circuit chips in a package. By this, a rapid progress has been made in high functionality and high integration of a semiconductor device.
In such a semiconductor device, a protruding electrode (bump), formed of a low melting point metal, bonds semiconductor integrated circuits, or a semiconductor integrated circuit and a package substrate. (For example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication NO. 11-54565)

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor


A modular assembly of components is provided for various aspects of high volume mailing. The modular system of components includes a postage meter, having a base with a driving motor and a head driven by the driving motor and operative to apply selected postage to a piece of mail. The postage meter head can be selectively removed from the postage meter base. The modular systems of components further includes at least one accessory selectively mountable to the postage meter base and capable of being driven thereby. The accessory may include an applicator for applying a closure tab or label to an envelope or sheet of material being driven by the postage meter base. A closure tab applicator may be operative to move a closure tab into a position to be contacted by a sheet of material, such that momentum of the sheet of material causes the closure tab to wrap around and close the folded sheet. An alternate accessory may be a label applicator for applying a label to an envelope or sheet being driven by the postage meter base.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to apparatus employing a postage meter base to drive one or more modular components for applying closure tabs or labels to articles to be mailed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Special purpose machines are available for virtually all tasks associated with mailing. For example, copy machines are available to photostatically copy material to be mailed and to collate the copies. Other special purpose machines are available to fold sheets of paper, while still other special purpose machines are available to insert sheets into envelopes. Special purpose machines are available to apply labels to envelopes or to sheets of paper, while still other special purpose machines are available to apply closure tabs across adjacent edges of a sheet to hold a folded sheet closed for mailing without an envelope.
Special purpose machines for many aspects of mass mailing typically are very expensive. Thus, only large volume mailers, such as banks, insurance companies, stock brokers and the like will own the dedicated machines to facilitate all phases of their mass mailing operations. Smaller businesses that do lower volumes of mailing often retain the services of mailing companies to assist in reproduction, folding, inserting, labeling, applying postage and/or actual mailing. However, mailing companies charge for their services, and thus the use of a mailing company generally imposes a cost penalty on the low to medium volume mailers.
Virtually all businesses own a photostatic copy machine and a postage machine. These universally available pieces of equipment may be suitable for certain parts of a business mailing, and the small business could utilize its own equipment to reproduce material to be mailed and to apply postage. However, other mailing tasks, such as applying labels or closure tabs might require a slow and inefficient manual process that diverts personnel for more productive activities.
Postage meters found in virtually all small businesses include a base and a head. The base includes an electric motor which operates mechanical components in both the base and the head. The mechanical components in the base drive material to be posted through the postage meter. The head typically is entirely mechanical and merely applies postage to the sheet material driven by the base. The head is removable from the base for periodic inspection and maintenance, and for application of postage.
A significant unmet need exists for office equipment that enables a small business to use automated equipment more efficiently for mailing or otherwise distributing material. For example, inexpensive equipment to apply closure tabs and/or labels could enable small businesses to perform significant mailings in-house, without the cost and inconvenience of diverting office personnel from more productive endeavors and without hiring outside mailing services.
In view of the above, it is an object of the subject invention to provide efficient apparatus for applying closure tabs and/or labels to material being mailed.
It is another object of the subject invention to provide apparatus which can be driven by available equipment in most offices for applying closure tabs and/or labels.
It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a modular assembly of office machines using a common drive mechanism with interchangeable heads for performing each of several optional office functions.

Modular apparatus for preparing articles to be mailed


A loudspeaker includes a diaphragm, a magnetic circuit, and a frame. The frame includes an outer peripheral part supporting the diaphragm, a center part supporting the magnetic circuit, and a connection part connecting the center part to the outer peripheral part. The outer peripheral part molded with resin includes an inner wall, an outer wall facing the inner wall, and a reinforcing rib provided between the inner wall and the outer wall.

Recently, in automobile industry, weight reduction for improvement of fuel consumption and resource saving are being strictly required from the viewpoint of global environmental friendliness. Therefore, also in an on-vehicle loudspeaker mounted on a car, market demand for weight reduction and resource saving cannot be avoided. From the above-mentioned background, in loudspeakers mainly used for vehicles, for the purpose of weight reduction and resource saving, a resin frame is becoming mainstream instead of a metal frame that has been frequently used conventionally.
Hereinafter, a conventional loudspeaker frame is described with reference to a drawing. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional loudspeaker frame. Frame 21 is formed of resin by injection-molding.
Frame 21 includes center part 21A, outer peripheral part 21B, and connection parts 21C connecting center part 21A to outer peripheral part 21B. In frame 21, in order to obtain strengths equal to those of metal frames that have been frequently used conventionally, each part has a material thickness necessary for securing a strength.
Examples of information on prior art documents related to the invention of this application include patent literatures 1 and 2.

Loudspeaker, and electronic apparatus and mobile device using the loudspeaker

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The subject invention provides a method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof alone or in combination with 2-amino-6-trifluoromethoxy benzothiazole in amounts effective to treat ALS in the subject.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs when motor neurons degenerate, causing the muscles under their control to atrophy (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Information Page, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Symptoms may include loss of motor control in one's extremities, twitching, cramping and difficulties in speaking, swallowing and breathing. Death usually occurs within 5 years of diagnosis. Neuroprotective treatment of patients suffering from ALS is in its early stages (Ludolph, A. C. et al.). The etiology and pathogenesis of ALS are not known, although a number of hypotheses have been advanced (Physician's Desk Reference, 2002) One hypothesis is that motor neurons, made vulnerable through either genetic predisposition or environmental factors, are injured by glutamate (Id.). There is evidence that mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress plays a role in human sporadic ALS (Ludolph A. C. et al.; Vielhaber S. et al.). In some cases of familial ALS, the enzyme superoxide dismutase has been found to be defective (Physician's Desk Reference, 2002).
Currently, transgenic mice carrying multiple copies of the human G93A mutation are considered to be the best model system for anterior horn cell degenerations such as ALS (Ludolph A. C. et al.; Gurney M. E. et al., Science (1994); Gurney M. E. et al., Ann. Neurol. (1996)). In this model the cell degeneration is caused by a biological factor responsible for the etiology of the disease in some patients. The model is well-characterized on the morphological and functional level and is comparatively robust.
Neuropathological studies of the G93A mice support current ideas stressing that mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress are important pathogenetic factors for anterior horn cell disease since mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization are among the earliest pathologic features observed (Ferrante R. J. et al.; Wong P. C. et al.; Kong J. et al.). There is evidence that this mechanism also plays a role in human sporadic ALS (Ludolph A. C. et al.; Vielhaber S. et al.).
Riluzole, a membrane-stabilizing drug, has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on ALS. Riluzole is a member of the benzothiazole class (Physician's Desk Reference, (2002)). Chemically, riluzole is 2-amino-6-trifluoromethoxy benzothiazole and has a molecular formula of C8H5F3N2OS (Id.). Its structural formula is as follows:

It has a molecular weight of 234.2. Pharmacological properties of riluzole include an inhibitory effect on glutamate release (Id.) mediated by inactivation of voltage-dependent sodium channels and by its ability to interfere with intracellular events that follow transmitter binding at excitatory amino acid receptors.
RILUTEK®, which has been FDA-approved for the treatment of ALS, is a capsule-shaped, white, film-coated tablet for oral administration containing 50 mg of riluzole. The recommended dose for RILUTEK® is 50 mg every 12 hours. (Physician's Desk Reference, (2002), p. 772-775, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.)
Rasagiline has been shown to have certain neuroprotective effects. Rasagiline has the chemical name R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan and its structural formula is:

Rasagiline is believed to reduce oxidative stress by inhibition of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) (Youdim M. B. H. et al.). However, neuroprotection with rasagiline has also been linked to apoptosis, presumably by a bcl-2-like effect on the mitochondrial membrane potential (Maruyama W. et al.). Neuroprotection with rasagiline has been demonstrated in stroke models (Speiser Z. et al.; Eliash S. et al.) and in models of traumatic head injury (Huang W. et al.). However, rasagiline has not been suggested to be effective for the treatment of ALS.
Rasagiline, its salts, preparation and use for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, memory disorders and other neurological disorders have been the subject of numerous patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,387,612, 5,453,446, 5,457,133, 5,668,181, 5,576,353, 5,532,415, 5,599,991, 5,786,390, 5,519,061, 5,891,923, 5,744,500 and 6,316,504, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
The in vivo interactions between two drugs, such as those of the subject invention, are complex. The effects of a drug are related to its absorption, distribution, and elimination. When two drugs are introduced into the body, each drug can affect the absorption, distribution, and elimination of the other and hence, alter the effects of the other. For instance, one drug may inhibit, activate or induce the production of enzymes involved in a metabolic route of elimination of the other drug ("Guidance for Industry"). Thus, when two drugs are administered to treat the same disease, it is unclear whether each will complement the therapeutic activity of the other, have no effect, or interfere with the therapeutic activity of the other.
Not only may the interaction between two drugs affect the intended therapeutic activity of each drug, but the interaction may increase the levels of toxic metabolites ("Guidance for Industry"). The interaction may also heighten or lessen the side effects of each drug.
Additionally, it is difficult to predict when the effects of the interaction between the two drugs will become manifest. For example, metabolic interactions between drugs may become apparent upon the initial administration of the second drug, after the two have reached a steady-state of concentration or even upon discontinuation of one of the drugs ("Guidance for Industry").
Thus, the success of one drug or each drug separately in an in vitro model, an animal model or even in humans may not translate into success of the administration of both drugs in humans.
The present invention presents the unexpected discovery that rasagiline is effective for the treatment of ALS. Also disclosed is that the combination of rasagiline with riluzole is more effective for treating ALS than either drug alone. In particular, the results of rasagiline used in G93A mice alone or in combination with riluzole indicated that oral administration of rasagiline produced a dose-dependent improvement in motor performance and convincingly extended survival in these mice.

Use of rasagiline with or without riluzole to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis


A call coverage arrangement where a covering terminal has, for each covered terminal, a single monitor lamp that not only indicates the overall or collective busy or idle status of the call appearances on the covered terminal but also the collective ringing status. Distinct visual signals are provided at the monitor lamp to indicate either a ringing while idle or a ringing while busy status. This allows all calls to be answered promptly and efficiently by a secretary in a manner which, from a human factors standpoint, is similar to the call coverage provided with key systems.

Telecommunications arrangements for businesses encourage productivity by enabling terminals to originate and terminate multiple calls simultaneously. For example, calls may be offered to a terminal when the user of the terminal is dialing a directory number or is active on another call. This eliminates the need for call waiting service and provides the user flexibility in choosing the call to handle next. In such an arrangement, each terminal has visual indicators, referred to as call appearances, for informing the user about the status of each call. Several, or even all, of the call appearances on a terminal may represent the same directory number. Furthermore, terminals may share call appearances. Calls alerting at a call appearance may be answered at any of the terminals that share the call appearance.
Shared call appearances are often used to provide call coverage. The terminal for a secretary who answers calls for several executives would include call appearances for the secretary's directory number and shared call appearances for the executives' directory numbers. If all the call appearances on the executives' terminals appeared on the secretary's terminal, the secretary could determine whether an executive's terminal was off-hook merely by glancing at the corresponding shared call appearances. However, since each executive's terminal is likely to have multiple call appearances, putting all the call appearances on the secretary's terminal is impractical. Instead, often only one call appearance of the executive's directory number appears on the secretary's terminal. The problem with this is that status information for the other call appearances is not available at the secretary's terminal so the secretary does not know whether the executive's terminal is off-hook. For example, assume a call from an important client arrives for an executive and the secretary answers the call. Meanwhile, the executive is off-hook and busy with a call on a call appearance that is not displayed on the secretary's terminal. The secretary, assuming that the executive is away from the desk, merely takes a message. Although the secretary quickly relays the message to the executive, the executive is unable to reach the client and loses an important business opportunity. In contrast, if the secretary's terminal had displayed information about the executive's other call appearances, the secretary would have recognized that the executive was on the phone and could be interrupted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,717 issued to W. A. Davidson et al. on Oct. 10, 1989, discloses a call coverage arrangement in which coverage personnel are informed of the switch-hook status of covered terminals by way of a single two-part indicator on the covering terminal. The two-part indicator indicates switch-hook status for any one of a number of covered terminals. The first part of the indicator identifies the covered terminal and the second part defines the switch-hook status of the identified terminal. This arrangement does, however, require the use of shared call appearances to allow an incoming call to a covered terminal to ring and then be answered at a covering terminal. Shared call appearances are expensive to implement because of the required use of bridging circuits.
Telephone key systems have long been used to provide call coverage. Although key systems have the disadvantage of requiring additional adjunct equipment as well as many communication lines connected to each telephone, their operation from a human factors standpoint is considered to be highly desirable, particularly by experienced users.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists in the art for a call coverage arrangement which does not require large numbers of call appearances on a covering terminal or that call appearances be shared, bridged, or interconnected, but which allows calls to be answered promptly and efficiently and in a manner similar to the way calls are answered with key systems.

Call coverage arrangement in an ISDN switching system


A flexible printed circuit board includes a flexible printed circuit unit and an electromagnetic shielding structure. The flexible printed circuit unit includes a base layer and a first circuit layer formed on a surface of the base layer. The electromagnetic shielding structure includes a first insulating layer and a copper layer. The first insulating layer is adhered on a surface of the first circuit layer away from the base layer. At least one blind hole is defined in the electromagnetic shielding structure. The copper layer is electrically connected to the first circuit layer by a plating structure filled in the blind hole.

At present, a flexible printed circuit board usually includes an electromagnetic shielding film. The electromagnetic shielding film is adhered on a surface of a cover layer of the flexible printed circuit board and electrically connects a circuit layer of the flexible printed circuit board. The electromagnetic shielding film is configured to provide a electromagnetic shielding to circuit layers of the flexible printed circuit board.

Flexible printed circuit board and method for manufacturing same

FuKui Precison Component (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


A network selection, a random access method, and an apparatus of a Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) are provided. A cell selection method of an MTC terminal of the present disclosure includes receiving a message from a base station forming a cell, determining whether the message includes an MTC supportability indicator, and barring, when the message includes no MTC supportability indicator, scanning a frequency used in communication with the base station during a determined period.

With the rapid advance of communication technology, mobile communication systems have evolved to a 4th Generation (4G) communication systems represented by Long Term Evolution (LTE) standardized 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased since deployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made to develop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5G or pre-5G communication system is also called a 'Beyond 4G Network' or a 'Post LTE System'. The 5G communication system is considered to be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, so as to accomplish higher data rates. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increase the transmission distance, the beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, an analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in 5G communication systems. In addition, in 5G communication systems, development for system network improvement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud Radio Access Networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, moving network, cooperative communication, Coordinated Multi-Points (CoMP), reception-end interference cancellation and the like. In the 5G system, Hybrid FSK and QAM Modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have been developed.
The Internet, which is a human centered connectivity network where humans generate and consume information, is now evolving to the Internet of Things (IoT) where distributed entities, such as things, exchange and process information without human intervention. The Internet of Everything (IoE), which is a combination of the IoT technology and the Big Data processing technology through connection with a cloud server, has emerged. As technology elements, such as "sensing technology", "wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure", "service interface technology", and "Security technology" have been demanded for IoT implementation, a sensor network, a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, Machine Type Communication (MTC), and so forth have been recently researched. Such an IoT environment may provide intelligent Internet technology services that create a new value to human life by collecting and analyzing data generated among connected things. IoT may be applied to a variety of fields including smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected cars, smart grid, health care, smart appliances and advanced medical services through convergence and combination between existing Information Technology (IT) and various industrial applications.
In line with this, various attempts have been made to apply 5G communication systems to IoT networks. For example, technologies such as a sensor network, Machine Type Communication (MTC), and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication may be implemented by beamforming, MIMO, and array antennas. Application of a cloud Radio Access Network (RAN) as the above-described Big Data processing technology may also be considered to be as an example of convergence between the 5G technology and the IoT technology.
The LTE system adopts technologies for supporting various types of User Equipment (UE) including Machine Type Communication (MTC) UE. The MTC UE may be a device, such as an electricity meter and water meter, which is capable of metering consumption of a utility item and reporting the data result automatically and is characterized by low network access priority.
Typically, such an MTC UE configured for the purpose of metering does not need a high data transmission capability and is likely to have low transmit power and be installed in a place such as such as basement and warehouse. There is therefore a need of assorting a UE category requiring coverage expansion function to overcome the low transmit power while operating at a low data rate. For this purpose, new UE category 0 is added in addition to the legacy UE categories in LTE release 12 (the larger the release number, the more recent the version is). The category 0 UE is characterized by the low data rate (e.g., 1 Megabit(s) per second (Mbps)) and may adopt supplementary transmission schemes to secure relatively broad coverage at the low transmit power level. The supplementary transmission schemes may include repetitive transmission scheme.
In order for the network support the supplementary transmission scheme of the UE, the UE has to connect to the evolved Node B (eNB) supporting the corresponding transmission scheme. Also, the UE has to notify the network that the UE is the MTC UE as soon as possible after being connected to the eNB such that the network is capable of recognizing the connection of the MTC UE and applying the supplementary transmission scheme to the MTC UE immediately to maintain a connection stably.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network selection and random access method and apparatus of machine-type communication user equipment in mobile communication system


A suture throw holder and rundown system for running one or more throws formed in two lengths of suture extending from a surgical site down to the surgical site so as to form a knot at the surgical site. The system comprises a support mechanism for releasably supporting a plurality of throws in a predetermined arrangement adjacent a surgical site and a tool for removing throws from the support mechanism and running the throws down the lengths of suture to the surgical site.

In both closed (e.g. arthroscopic) and open surgeries, it is frequently necessary to form a knot at a surgical site using two lengths of suture emanating from the surgical site, wherein the two lengths of suture must be manipulated with respect to one another at a location remote from the surgical site.
With one known procedure, a "taut-line hitch" knot is formed in the loose ends of the suture at a location remote from the surgical site from which the suture ends emanate, and then the knot is run down the suture ends to the surgical site by pulling with a sawing motion on the appropriate suture ends. A significant drawback to this procedure is that as the appropriate suture end is pulled through the tissue in which the suture is implanted so as to run the knot down to the surgical site, the sawing motion imparted to the suture ends causes the latter to tend to cut and abrade the tissue.
An alternative procedure consists of forming a throw in the suture at a location remote from the surgical site from which the suture ends emanate, running the throw down the length of suture to the surgical site, forming a second throw in the suture at a location remote from the surgical site, running that throw down the length of suture to the surgical site so that it sits atop the first throw, and thereafter repeating the foregoing process as many times as necessary so as to form the desired knot at the surgical site. As used herein, a "turn" consists of two ends of suture which are looped over one another one or more times, a "throw" consists of one or more turns, and a "knot" consists of two or more throws laid on top of one another and tightened so as to lock the two strands of suture relative to one another.
Arthrex Arthroscopy Instruments, Inc. of Black Rock, Conn. manufactures several tools for running a suture throw down suture ends to a surgical site from a location remote from the surgical site. One such tool is identified as the Arthrex Arthroscopy Knot Pusher (Model No. AR-1310). This knot pusher comprises an elongate shaft having an end portion which is inclined slightly with respect to the long axis of the shaft. The end portion includes a bore extending therethrough. After a throw is formed in the suture ends at a location remote from the surgical site from which the suture ends emanate, one of the ends is threaded through the bore in the end portion of the knot pusher. Then the tool is run down the length of that suture end, while maintaining appropriate tension on the suture ends, so as to push the throw toward the surgical site. Once the first throw has been run down the suture lengths to the surgical site, another throw may be formed in the suture ends at a location remote from the surgical site and then run down the suture ends to the surgical site so that it sits atop the first throw. This procedure may be repeated as many times as desired so as to form a knot at the surgical site.
Although the Arthrex Arthroscopy Knot Pusher Model No. AR-1310 device functions satisfactorily under many conditions, it tends to suffer from certain problems which limit its usefulness under certain conditions. First, it is sometimes difficult to thread one of the suture ends through the bore in the end portion of the knot pusher. Second, it can be difficult to maintain tension on the suture ends while simultaneously running the throw down the suture ends with the tool. Third, it can take more time than is desired to run a number of throws down the suture ends to the surgical site using the Arthrex knot pusher. Fourth, it tends to be difficult, if not impossible, to run a two turn throw down suture ends using the Arthrex knot pusher.
Arthrex Arthroscopy Instruments, Inc. manufactures another knot pusher tool identified as Model No. AR-1311. This tool comprises an elongate shaft having a rounded front end, and a pair of holes extending in from the sides of the shaft at an angle and terminating at the front end of the shaft. To use the Model No. AR-1311 tool, a throw is formed in the suture ends emanating from the surgical site. Then, each of the free ends of the suture extending away from the throw is threaded into a corresponding respective one of the holes in the front end of the tool and caused to pass out the end of that hole intersecting the side of the tool. Next, the surgeon grasps the suture ends extending out of the holes in the sides of the tool and applies tension to the suture ends: Thereafter, while maintaining this tensioning of the suture ends, the surgeon urges the tool toward the surgical site by pushing against the rear end of the tool, typically with his or her stomach, thereby causing the tool to run the throw down the suture ends to the surgical site. As the throw is run down to the surgical site, successive portions of the suture ends emanating from the surgical site pass through the holes in the rundown tool. Finally, the rundown tool is extracted from the surgical site, whereby the suture ends pass back through, and ultimately are removed from the holes in the rundown tool. Subsequent throws are run down to the surgical site following this procedure.
Although the Arthrex Model No. AR-1311 functions satisfactorily under certain conditions, it tends to suffer from several problems which limit its usefulness under other conditions. First, it is necessary to thread the suture ends through the inclined holes at the front end of the tool for each throw which is to be run down to the surgical site. Such threading can be time consuming and inconvenient. Second, when braided suture is used to tie adjacent pieces of tissue together, knots or throws formed therein tend to come apart more readily than when the knot or throws are formed in monofilament suture. As such, after the Arthrex tool Model No. AR-1311 has been used to run throws down braided suture to a surgical site, during withdrawal of the tool from the surgical site the action of drawing the suture ends back through the holes in the tool tends to cause the throws at the surgical site to loosen. This loosening is undesirable since it makes it difficult to securely suture tissue with the loosened knot. Third, it tends to be difficult for the surgeon to physically coordinate maintaining tension on the suture ends while simultaneously urging the rundown tool toward the surgical site.
Yet another Arthrex rundown tool is illustrated, although not described, on page 7 of a brochure published by Arthrex Arthroscopy Instruments, Inc. entitled "The Arthrex Grasping Stitcher System". This rundown tool comprises an elongate shaft which apparently has a rounded or convex V-shaped front end, and a pair of axially-extending, diametrically opposed grooves which terminate at the front end of the tool. A ring surrounds and engages the front end of the shaft, whereby the grooves are surrounded by the ring.
This Arthrex tool apparently functions substantially identically to the Arthrex tool Model No. AR-1310 described above, except that each of the suture ends is positioned in a respective one of the elongate grooves and is passed underneath the surrounding ring, rather than being threaded in the holes at the front end of the Arthrex tool Model No. AR-1310. In addition to suffering from the problems described above with respect to the Arthrex tool Model No. AR-1310, the Arthrex tool described in the above-referenced brochure tends to apply pressure directly to the suture throw rather than to the portions of suture immediately adjacent the throw. As a result of this application of pressure, the suture throw may tend to bind as it is run down to the surgical site.


A classification mechanism automatically aligns time-sensitive data streams to sequences (schedules), according to information in the packets or other information and classification criteria specified by a human network administrator, a sequence agent, an application program or otherwise. When a packet arrives at a first sequence-aware switch along a path, the packet is aligned to a new or existing sequence. When a new sequence is established, appointments are reserved at sequence-aware switches along the path. The packet is placed in a queue, based on its classification. When the packet reaches the head of the queue, at that queue's appointment time, the switch forwards the packet along the path. If possible, appointments have been reserved at subsequent switches along the packet's path, so the packet can be forwarded through the subsequent switches without delay. Packets that do not match any classification criteria are handled on a best-effort basis.

The present invention relates to transmission and switching of data packets through computer networks, such as scheduled packet switching systems, and more particularly to automatic scheduling of data flows.
So-called "converged" computer networks carry a mixture of traffic types, such as data, telephone (voice) and video. Some of this traffic is time-sensitive, and other of the traffic is not time-sensitive. For example, a converged local area network (LAN) can include a variety of hosts, such as workstations, IP telephones, storage servers, print servers, web servers, telephony servers (PBXs) and other endpoints. The LAN typically includes switches, routers, etc. (collectively "switches"), links between the switches and other network elements that interconnect the workstations, IP telephones, servers, etc. Timely delivery of packets that carry voice information between IP telephones and telephony servers is important to providing high-quality voice signals. Similarly, video and other time-sensitive packets must be delivered without delay. On the other hand, delays are tolerable in the delivery of normal computer data.
Some networks are operated as "real-time network scheduled packet routing systems" (or simply "scheduled networks"), so time-sensitive packets can be delivered without delay or jitter. One such system, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,556,564, essentially reserves recurring time slots ("appointments") at "schedule-aware" switches for each time-sensitive stream of packets (called a "scheduled data flow") between a pair of endpoints. When an application program executing on a host connected to the network wishes to establish a path to another host for delivering a time-sensitive stream of packets, the application sends a request to a "scheduling agent" to establish a scheduled data flow. The path between the hosts (endpoints) includes one or more switches, a respective link between each pair of switches along the path and ingress and egress ports where the links terminate at the switches. The switches forward packets received on the ingress ports to the egress ports. A network can carry many crisscrossed scheduled data flow paths.
Each egress port has an associated schedule, in which individual repeating appointments can be made to reserve the egress port on a periodic basis for a particular scheduled data flow between a particular pair of endpoints. Reserving the egress port also reserves resources (within the switch) that are used to pass data received on an ingress port to the egress port. The scheduling agent makes the appointments (reserves the egress ports of the switches) along the path and coordinates the times of the appointments, such that (to the extent possible) when a packet is expected to be received on an ingress port of a switch, the appropriate egress port on the switch is reserved for the scheduled data flow. Thus, the packet can be forwarded by the switch without queuing the packet within the switch. Non-scheduled traffic that would otherwise be sent out the egress port is held off (queued within the switch), so the non-scheduled traffic does not interfere with the scheduled data flow.
In an ideally scheduled path, all egress ports along the path from one endpoint to the other endpoint are scheduled such that each egress port is reserved at a time that is equal to the reservation time of the immediately preceding egress port along the path, plus propagation time of a packet from the preceding egress port. Thus, a packet can traverse the path, from one endpoint to the other endpoint, without any queuing delay within any switch along the path. Due to the sequential nature of the reservation times along the path, the term "sequence" is used synonymously with "schedule" elsewhere in this disclosure.
During appointment times that are not reserved for any scheduled data flow, and during reserved appointments during which the switch does not receive a packet of the scheduled data flow, the switch routes non-scheduled traffic on a best-effort basis, as in more traditional switches. The switches can detect unused reserved appointments. For example, if the beginning of a packet does not arrive at a switch within a predetermined amount of time after the beginning of an appointment, the switch can conclude that no scheduled packet will be received during that appointment.
Scheduled networks ensure jitter-free delivery of time-sensitive packets while providing traditional best-effort delivery of non-time-sensitive packets. However, only application programs that explicitly request scheduled data flows receive this expedited service. These application programs must, therefore, be written to make these requests. Furthermore, to make application programs potable (i.e. capable of being used with scheduled networks and more traditional networks that do not include scheduling agents and schedule-aware switches), the application programs must be written to ascertain the kind of networks they operate with and make (or not make) requests for scheduled data handling, as appropriate. In addition, the performance of many existing (legacy) application programs would be improved by utilizing scheduled data flows, but these programs lack logic to request such service.
In addition, scheduled networks, and traditional best-effort networks, cannot be heavily utilized for non-time-sensitive traffic, without queuing packets within the switches. Heavy utilization is desirable, in that it is a cost-effective use of network elements. However, the consequential packet queuing consumes resources within many or all of the switches, and it causes delays in the delivery of the packets.
Some network owners would appreciate network elements that can automatically provide scheduled data flows to time-sensitive data streams, without explicit requests to do so from application programs.

Systems and methods for the schedule alignment of packet flow


A connector whose guide sections are hardly damaged by a mating connector even if it is inserted into in a prying manner. A housing is formed with a receiving hole for receiving a plug-side connector, and two guide sections at opposite ends of the receiving hole in a contact arrangement direction, for guiding the plug-side connector in a fitting direction. A shell made of a metal plate is comprised of a first covering section that covers a first outer surface of the housing, substantially parallel to the contact arrangement direction, a second covering section that covers a second outer surface of the housing, substantially parallel to the contact arrangement direction, and two connecting sections that connect the first covering section and the second covering section, and covers opposite ends of a front of the housing. The two connecting sections are each formed with a cutout having a pair of guide surfaces opposed to each other in a direction of thickness of the housing, for guiding the plug-side connector in the fitting direction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector provided with a shell.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector provided with a shell (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-327168, Paragraph numbers [0036], [0046], and [0048]).
An insulator (housing) of the connector has a fitting hole (receiving hole) for receiving a connecting section of a mating connector. Guide sections for guiding the mating connector in a fitting direction are located at opposite ends of the fitting hole 31 of the insulator in a contact arrangement direction.
The shell is formed by pressing a metal plate, and includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a connecting portion connecting these portions.
The shell has a front face formed with a guide surface for guiding the mating connector into the fitting hole. The guide surface is inclined with respect to the fitting direction.
When the mating connector is inserted into the fitting hole of the connector in a manner prying in the direction of thickness thereof (by an operation wobbling the mating connector), the guide surface of the shell is brought into abutment with the mating connector, but an angle formed between the guide surface and the lower surface of the mating connector is small and the guide surface is elastically deformable, which makes it almost impossible to suppress the prying motion of the mating connector. Therefore, there has been a fear that the guide sections are damaged or broken.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


A system and method for determining hierarchical information is described. Aspects include using the Collins model for parsing non-textual information into hierarchical content. The system and process assign labels to lines that indicate how the lines relate to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to computing systems. More particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to a process for parsing hierarchical lists and outlines from received information.
2. Description of Related Art
People record information in a variety of formats. Sometimes the information is recorded in paragraphs. In some cases, paragraphs are recorded in a hierarchical format in an outlined or bulleted form.
Computing systems have attempted to recognize the format in which people record information. This approach has resulted in computer recognition systems that parse information and attempt to reproduce its form for latter use or modification. Current systems do not adequately parse received information as desired. In many cases, the received information is incorrectly-parsed, thereby making a resulting hierarchical form unusable as the form needs to be edited by a user to achieve a desired form.
An improved parsing system and process are needed.


Provided is a magnetic marker detection method with high detection reliability. The magnetic marker detection method for detecting a magnetic marker (10) laid on a road while a vehicle (5) having a plurality of, at least two or more, magnetic sensors attached thereto is travelling includes a gradient generating process of generating a first magnetic gradient, which is a difference between magnetic measurement values of two magnetic sensors and a filter processing process of generating a filter output value by performing filter processing by a high-pass filter as to a change of the first magnetic gradient in a travelling direction of the vehicle. The magnetic marker (10) is detected by an arithmetic operation process regarding the filter output value.

Conventionally, a magnetic marker detection system for vehicles for using a magnetic marker laid on a road for vehicle control has been known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-202478). This magnetic marker detection system is achieved with a combination of a magnetic marker laid on a road and a magnetic marker detection device on a vehicle side including a magnetic sensor. For example, if the magnetic marker laid on the road along a lane can be detected by the vehicle side, various driving supports can be achieved, such as automatic steering control and lane departure warning.

Magnetic marker detection method and magnetic marker detection device


A syntactic structural foam product in flat sheet form or curved three-dimensional form adaptable to such uses as a light weight structural core for composite laminates, is made of a mixture of hollow ceramic microspheres and dry resin powder, of either thermosetting or a high-temperature thermoplastic resin, distributed in the interstices of the mass of microspheres for integration of the mixture into desired form upon heating and cooling. The dry resin powder in an other embodiment of the invention includes unexpanded expandable powder which will expand into microballoons in the confined spaces in which they reside and effect a bonding relation with surrounding particles upon supply of heat to the mixture. The foam product is produced by thoroughly intermixing and depositing the mixture as a layer over a surface having a release agent thereover within a dimension defined region and then supplying heat with or without pressure to the layer at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to effect a melting or softening of the resin powder and thereafter cooling the resin to a hardened condition to integrate the mixture into the product desired after which the product is withdrawn from the forming zone. Reinforcing elements such as glass or carbon fibers can be selectively included in the mixture for predeterminable desired physical and mechanical properties.

Syntactic foam layers and products have been conventionally made by intermixing glass microspheres with a heated liquid binding resin, and at times including reinforcing elements such as fibers. The use of resin in a fluid state heated to effect a cure, however, results in a considerable release of fumes and liquid vapors which can interrupt or destroy the integrity of the material and often must be treated as environmentally objectionable. In contrast heat curing or setting of heated powdered resin in a mixture with microspheres results in little effluent of fumes or liquid vapor. In other words, phenolic resins, for example, during heating to a liquid phase and curing give off vapors in a considerable amount whereas dry phenolic powders during heat curing give off little vapor. In addition, resin in a fluid condition is leas adaptable to providing a syntactic foam microsphere mixture capable of the wide range of light densities, weights and strength properties possible by use of resin powder according to the present invention.
A number of product properties can be imparted to a product by use of a reactive resin in powdered form that cannot be accomplished with resin in a liquid form. For example, the bulk density of powdered resin is much less than the bulk density of solid resin of the same composition or liquid formed of the resin by heating it to a melted condition. An important advantage of using powdered resin mixed with ceramic microspheres to form a syntactic foam layer according to the present invention is that the bulk density of the final product can be the same as that of the initial compacted mixture. During heating of the mixture, the powdered resin is converted to belted droplets which can flow over and join the microspheres of the mixture and may be aided by an, adhesion promoting coating, for example a coupling agent, on the microspheres. The mixture is thus in a sense coalesced into a mast; which upon hardening provides a light weight solid foam layer. The foam layer includes closed voids containing evolved gas and air. The bulk density of syntactic foam material as in the present invention can be half that of a conventional material made from liquid resin with intermixed microspheres. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the problems of high viscosity when many microspheres are added to a liquid resin, and eliminates the process problem of getting microspheres (which tend to float) wetted out and incorporated into a liquid resin.
It has been found that finer powder resins function much more effectively to produce the desired results than coarse powders. When the powders included are too coarse, the melting and dispersion of the material between the microspheres become more difficult and are much less effective in providing a uniformly integrated syntactic foam product.
The mixture can be heated by a number of techniques including induction heating with high frequency energy or conductive heating such as with heated platens on opposite major surfaces of the layer of microspheres and resin powder. During heating of a platen in contact with a layer of intermixed powdered resin and microspheres, a skin layer can be formed at the surfaces of the foam. To prevent the mixture from sticking to such platens a layer of separator material, a material which will not bond or unite with the syntactic foam layer, is provided between each of the platen surfaces and the surfaces of the microsphere mixture.
When it is desired that the density of the product be greater than that attained with the pressureless application of heat, the mixture can be compacted by bringing the heating platens closer together to establish a predetermined thickness. The thickness can be established by placing spacer members of the predetermined desired thickness between the platens which will limit the closeness to which the platens can be moved and thereby establish the desired thickness of the product produced. The spacers can also function to limit the area over which the microsphere-resin powder mixture can spread. In other words, they can be used to confine the area of the mixture, such as in a tray, to establish the predetermined dimensions of the product to be produced.
As described herein the invention is used to form a stratum or core for structural laminate panels, but variations of the mixture of glass microspheres and resin powder can be engineered for a wide range of products as well, such as flooring, ducts, and three dimensional products useable for aircraft, trucks, automobiles, ships, boats, industrial tanks and the like. The desired light weight and strength properties of the foam are attained in part by utilizing microspheres or bubbles, preferably hollow ceramic microspheres such as of glass commercially available in various diameters and wall thicknesses. The microsphere diameters and wall thicknesses are selected to impart specific predeterminable shear and compression strengths as well as desired weights and densities when integrated with the resin intermixed therewith. The powdered resin intermixed with the microspheres or bubbles is of substantially finer dimension than the bubbles thereby enabling thorough distribution of the powder and filling of the interstices between the bubbles.
The term "cured" or "curing" as applied to thermosetting resin herein refers to heat processing to a fluid then to a more stable hardened or set condition, but to facilitate description of the invention also refers herein to hardening of thermoplastic resins to a set condition upon cooling after being heated to a fluid condition according to the concepts of the present invention.
The bubbles of the mass may be of different sizes which permits their close compaction into an intimate mass for strength, while the finer resin powder fills the interstices more readily to effect an inter-bonding of the bubbles and resin. The amount of resin incorporated in the core can be just sufficient to effect the desired inter-bonded relation between components of the mixture, which with a light concentration of the powder in the mixture can result in the cured syntactic layer being porous and permeable. More desirably, however, for most applications the concentration of powder in the mixture is such that the cured integrated mass is substantially impermeable to moisture beside having high shear and compression strengths.
In another embodiment of the invention the resin powder in the mixture can include dry expandable resin powders which will expand into resin microballoons upon supply of heat. A core material formed with such resin microballoons included therein can be additionally strengthened by the interbonding effects of the resin microballoons with the ceramic microspheres in addition to the bonds produced by the expanded resin particles.
The foam mixture can additionally include reinforcing elements such as glass or carbon fibers or fibers of other high strength material. In this regard the fibers may be incorporated in the mixture as individual fibers, as bundles of chopped strands, or as continuous filaments in nonwoven mats or woven fabrics. Other reinforcing elements such as honeycomb structures can also be incorporated in the core material as well.
An object of the invention is to provide a mixture of components for formation of a syntactic foam material capable of being engineered and manufactured economically into products having a wide range of predeterminable structural properties.
Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a basic, easily processed, economically producible, light weight core material capable of providing structural properties in layer form adaptable to use in sandwich structure composites.
A feature of the invention is that the combination of powdered phenolic material and glass microspheres gives off little or no volatiles or fumes during cure.
An additional feature of the invention is that the inclusion of resin powder expandable into resin microspheres can effect a stronger over-all interbonding of the ceramic microspheres and provide a still lower density syntactic core material.
Another important feature is that the mixture can, within a wide range, be pre-engineered for a desired density, shear strength, compression strength, low flammability and low smoke and high moisture resistance while at the same time being capable of production at a low cost.
A further feature is that a syntactic foam core layer for laminar structures can be produced with no reduction in thickness dimension of the layer during heat processing.
Strength and density of the sheet can be modified by appropriate selection of the size and wall thickness of commercially available microspheres and the size and type of powder resin particles. The microspheres can be provided with a coating of a coupling agent such as silane to facilitate their coverage and inter-bonding by the melted resin powder. As pointed out the resin powders are of finer size than the small microspheres and fit in the interstices of the mass of microspheres to effect an inter-bonding upon heating and hardening. As the amount of resin present increases as part of the mixture the greater the weight of the microsphere foam product becomes.
The process of producing the syntactic sheet or core material involves first combining the microspheres and powdered resin. The combination is deposited as a layer on a base having a release agent or commercial release film over its surface to prevent bonding to the final foam product. The base also is provided with boundary means to define the dimensions of the product. The combination is first vibrated for thorough intermixture of the resin powder in the microsphere interstices, and the mixture is then heated to melt the resin particles for inter-bonding with the microspheres. Although pressure is not necessary to effect the inter-bonding of microspheres and resin, pressure can be applied to the mixture as an assist in effecting its compaction when a more dense product is desired. Such compaction of the mixture can be effected by bringing the overlying and underlying heated platens to a preselected spacing for a desired thickness of the layer. The thickness of a given deposited layer as well as its density and mechanical properties of the final product can thus be predetermined.
As indicated, in addition to a mixture of microspheres and resin powder alone providing the base mixture for the product, structural reinforcement elements such as fibers (hollow or solid) or fiber bundles can also be selectively included. Other reinforcements for example can be mats of random reinforcing fibers or reinforcing fiber fabrics, both woven and non-woven, rods, glass flakes and honeycomb structures which in appropriate locations can improve mechanical properties such as shear strength and shear modulus of the sheet product.
Resin in powder form such as can be formed by grinding down solid resin, is selected for its fineness to fill the interstices of the microspheres which can be accomplished more readily than with coarser powders. To provide the binding relation for integration of the mixture, the powders are also selected for their chemical reactivity and heat softenable adhesive affinity for the glass microspheres. They can also be selected for low flame and smoke properties. In this regard, the invention is quite versatile in permitting trial and error establishment of the engineered properties desired.
The resulting syntactic foam product is corrosion resistant, electrically and thermally relatively non-conductive, non-magnetic, electromagnetically transparent, light weight, much less than the weight of steel, has high strength and dimensional stability, and is adaptable to providing a wide range of physical and mechanical properties.
Any of a number of reactive resin powders may be used to provide the specific desired properties including, but not limited to, phenolic resins aforementioned as well as epoxy and epoxy-modified phenolic resin, polyester resin powders, polyurethane, and polyphenylene sulphide. In addition powder resin from waste dust collection devices, such as in a resin manufacturing plant, can be used in the present invention. Disposal of these waste materials is particularly an environmental problem because they are moot frequently reactive powders. The present invention is thus additionally advantageous in that it can frequently eliminate environmental problems by providing a value-added use for waste materials.

Syntactic foam core material for composite structures


A connector for interfacing a circuit resident on a printed circuit board having rows of externally accessible contact pads on a face of the board with a circuit resident on a portable card having rows of externally accessible contact pads on a face of the card has independently biased ball bearing contacts which assure positive, self-cleaning, self-sealing, self-adjusting electrical contact between the circuits.. A flat base has rows of apertures therethrough spaced for alignment with the pads of the board when the base is laminarly juxtaposed on the face of the board. Sinks connect the apertures in rows and the conductive ball bearings are retained in each of the apertures by annular shoulders on the apertures. Strips of elastomer formed of layers of conductive and dielectric materials are snugly seated in each sink with the layers transverse to the rows. The strips bias the ball bearings against the shoulders when the base is laminarly juxtaposed on the face of the board. Feet and bosses on the connector engage with sockets and dimples on the board to rigidly connect the base to the board with the strips in abutment with the rows of pads on the board.. A housing fixed to the base receives, aligns and holds the card in laminar juxtaposition against the ball bearings so that discrete conductive paths are defined by aligned card pads, ball bearings, elastomer layers and board pads.

This invention relates generally to electrical interface devices and more particularly concerns connectors for interfacing circuit boards with portable circuit cards.
Presently known electronic card connectors are generally soldered to the circuit board circuitry with which they are to be associated. These connections are intended to be permanent and, when damaged, require time consuming and expensive repair or replacement. Usually a switch at the card connector edge is triggered by the insertion of the card and any card will activate the system, even if inserted upside down. Their circuits are generally disconnected from the board circuit by use of a separate switch external to the connector. Their contacts are generally arranged in a way that variations or irregularities in the card surface can inhibit positive electrical contact or cause physical damage to the card. They are generally composed of many separate parts, increasing the cost of both manufacture and assembly. And they are susceptible to infiltration by dust, dirt and other undesirable substances which can cause failure in the mechanical and electrical operation of the system.
It is, therefore, among the objects of this invention to provide a card connector that may be readily snapped on or off a circuit board. Another object of this invention is to provide a card connector having an internal switch activated only by proper insertion of a proper card into the connector. It is also an object of this invention to provide a card connector which compensates for variations in the surface or thickness of the card as well as variations in the dimensions of the connector components, be they the result of structural tolerances or temperature related compression-expansion characteristics, to assume positive electrical connection between the card and the connector. Correlatively, it is an object of this invention to provide a card connector in which discrete circuits are completed by independently free moving conductive ball bearings. And, it is an object of this invention to provide a card connector having a small number of components and an integrally molded body. Another object of this invention is to provide a card conductor which minimizes the possibility of damage to a card inserted therein. It is a further object of this invention to provide a card connector that is self-sealing against intrusion of foreign substances in the absence of a card in the connector. Still another object of this invention is to provide a card connector having contacts which are wiped during use to enhance the possibility of repetitively positive electrical connections.


A set of queries, such as a search log, is divided into commercial queries and non-commercial queries. A first set of query communities is determined from the non-commercial queries and a second set is determined from the commercial queries. The query communities are correlated based on the users who submitted the queries and instances where a query from the first set of query communities was followed by a query from the second set to generate a mapping between the first set of query communities and the second set. Later, a non-commercial query is received from a user, and the mapping is used to predict one or more commercial queries that the user is likely to submit in the future based on the non-commercial query. One or more of the commercial queries are presented to the user according to the mapping with search results responsive to the non-commercial query.

Many search engines are configured to recommend products or services to a user based on a query submitted by a user. For example, a user may submit the query "digital camera" to the search engine, and may be presented with links to reviews of digital cameras and/or links to websites where the user may purchase the digital camera. These links may be sponsored and/or non-sponsored.
In the above example, recommending digital cameras to the user based on the query is relatively simple because the commercial intent of the query "digital camera" is apparent based on the query itself. In contrast, for some queries, determining a possible commercial intent from the query may be more difficult. For example, consider the query "Mayan Riviera". The query does not have an immediately recognizable commercial intent like "digital camera", but may instead be related to an information gathering session for the user related to an upcoming vacation. Thus, appropriate product recommendations may be for sun block, beach shoes, sunglasses, or other vacation related items. However, because the commercial intent of the query is not easily discernable based on the terms of the query, the products are not recommended to the user, resulting in potential loss or revenue and a degraded search experience for the user.

Recommending queries according to mapping of query communities


The battery has an electrolyte that includes an organoborate additive and one or more salts in a solvent. The organoborate additive can be present in a concentration less than 0.2 M or less than 0.05 M. A molar ratio of the organoborate additive:one or more salts is in a range of 4:1 to 400:1. In some instances, the solvent includes one or more organic solvents.

A variety of primary batteries employ electrolytes with organic solvents such as diethyl carbonate (DEC) and ethylene carbonate (EC). These batteries are often stored for extended periods of time before use. However, the performance of these batteries often drops after this storage. For instance, the capacity of these batteries often decreases after extended storage. Additionally, the pulsing capability of these batteries can drop after storage. For instance, the voltage drop that occurs during pulsing can increase after storage. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are an example of a device that requires a battery with pulsing capabilities. An ICD uses these pulses to generate defibrillation shocks that are provided to a patient during a defibrillation event. An increased voltage drop can reduce the ability of the ICD to deliver these defibrillation shocks. As a result, there is a need for a battery with improved storage tolerance.

Battery having electrolyte with organoborate additive


In some embodiments, a fire control mechanism comprises a trigger arranged to pivot about an axis and a disconnector arranged to pivot about the axis with respect to the trigger. The disconnector comprises a first stop and a second stop. A distance between the axis and the second stop is greater than a distance between the axis and the first stop. The disconnector comprises a first orientation and a second orientation, and a disconnector spring is arranged to bias the disconnector to the first orientation. The first stop contacts a first interfering surface in the first orientation and the second stop contacts a second interfering surface in the second orientation.

This invention relates to firearm control systems and triggers. Firearms are generally known in the art. The AR platform is known in the art and includes many variations. The AR lower receiver has certain standardized dimensions and can be used with a variety of different gun parts to make a wide range of firearms. Rifles, pistols and pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) can all use an AR lower receiver.
The AR lower receiver is arranged to carry a fire control mechanism that uses standardized dimensions, and many different drop-in trigger systems exist.
Pistol caliber carbines are known to be hard on triggers. When a round is fired, high energy blowback rotates the hammer, disconnector and trigger components and causes the components to contact one another. A common trigger failure is the disconnector spring, which can bottom out and fail due to over compression, especially under high firing rates.
There remains a need for novel trigger designs that are useable in a variety of firearm platforms and are capable of an extended service life. There remains a need for lightweight firearm triggers that do not fail under the operating conditions experienced in an AR pistol caliber carbine firearm.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.


A time conversion device has a body section having a table of time zones printed thereon. A tubular sleeve is provided and fits over the body section. The tubular sleeve has a fixed portion which displays a local 12 hour column and a window which shows the corresponding time zones as printed on the body section. A fastening device is used for rotatably coupling the tubular sleeve to the body section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to time devices and, more specifically, to a time device which is able to easily reference and convert times from different time designations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are currently 25 Integer World Time Zones. These zones range from xe2x88x9212 through 0 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to +12. These time zones may also referred to as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). Each time zone is 15xc2x0 longitude as measured east and west from the Prime Meridian of the world at Greenwich, England. Each time zone is generally designated with a civilian designation. The civilian designation is typically a three letter abbreviation. For example, in the United States, typical designations include Pacific Standard Time (PST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), Central Standard Time (CST), etc. There are also military designations which are based on a 24 hour clock and there are aviation conversion.
When traveling, many people are often confused by the different time zones. This is especially true for travelers on vacation. When traveling from one time zone to another, people are often unsure as to the current time.
Therefore, a need existed to provide an improved time device. The improved time device must be able to provide a convenient, efficient and simple way to reference and convert times from local time (12 hours) and local military time (24 hours) to aviation time (Zulu) and Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved time device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved time device must be able to provide a convenient, efficient and simple way to reference and convert times from local time (12 hours) and local military time (24 hours) to aviation time (Zulu) and Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a time conversion device is disclosed. The time conversion device has a body section having a table of time zones printed thereon. A tubular sleeve is provided and fits over the body section. The tubular sleeve has a fixed portion which displays a local 12 hour column and a window which shows the corresponding time zones as printed on the body section. A fastening device is used for rotatably coupling the tubular sleeve to the body section.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing a time conversion device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a body section having a table of time zones printed thereon; providing a tubular sleeve that fits over the body section wherein the tubular sleeve has a fixed portion which displays a local 12 hour column and a window which shows the corresponding time zones as printed on the body section; and providing a fastening device coupled to the tubular sleeve for rotatably coupling the tubular sleeve to the body section.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Civilianxe2x80x94militaryxe2x80x94aviation time conversion device


A system and method for designing stamping tools that produce parts of desired dimensions. The system and method compensate for post stamping deviations from the desired dimensions in the shape of the tools used to produce the parts. The compensated tools result in nearly ideal parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer simulation and prediction and more specifically to using a computer system and method for compensating dies used in stamping metal parts.
2. Related Art
A major factor in the success of a car company (or any company) is the ability to quickly roll out new models. The lead time required to develop a new car, from the initial designs to production line readiness, has over the years been reduced to approximately three years from well over five years in the recent past. In such a large scale development, there are many parts and processes that must be developed simultaneously in order for a car to be ready for production.
The design and perfection of the tools used for stamping of the metal parts, i.e. the body and chassis of a vehicle, remain the single longest lead time tasks of the entire development process. It requires approximately one year to develop and refine the dies for stamping of the body and chassis. This is largely because making a die that will create parts having the exact dimensions desired is a trial and error process requiring years of experience and craftsmanship. This is especially true with the use of lighter and more elastic materials that are gaining popularity in the quest for more fuel efficient and cleaner burning vehicles. The stamping of aluminum and other high tensile steel increasingly used in the production of vehicles is even more complicated than in the past.
Metal parts stamped in a die are subject to a phenomena known as springback. Springback is an elastic deformation which occurs at the end of a sheet metal stamping process, as the stamped part is removed from the stamping tools. Springback has the effect of changing the part's finished shape so that it no longer matches the shape of the tools. If this shape deviation is large, it can cause difficulty during a subsequent assembly process, or cause twisting in the assembled part. Accordingly, it is important to produce parts whose finished shape closely matches the designed surface. Usually corrections to compensate for springback are made by modifying the shape of the stamping tools (dies).
The design of these modifications, or die compensation, is a complex process. Two commonly used methods are the trial-and-error and spring-forward methods. The trial-and-error method predicts die modifications based on engineering experience. Usually many years of die-shop experience are necessary before an engineer can successfully guess how to change the dies. The trial-and-error method is also very time consuming: fabrication of a modified die set usually takes months of time. In addition, several trial-and-error corrections are frequently required before adequately compensated parts are obtained. Accordingly, the trial-and-error process is very expensive, often requiring over one million dollars to make a die which produces "good" parts. When new materials are used or when a new design is adopted, previous experience cannot be applied directly. These problems with the trial-and-error method can result in costs and lead-times which are out of control.
However, there are several major limitations to this process. First, the die has very limited access once it has been set up to stamp parts. It is quite cumbersome to separate a tool and die once it has been assembled to modify the die. Second, the dies are very complex, and altering one area of the die, or one bend, will affect another area, or a subsequent bend. The situation arises wherein a series of bends or other deformations each have springback errors compounding one after the other. In such complex parts, even the most skilled artisan has difficulty accommodating for springback. Third, even if the trial and error method could yield the perfect die shape to produce precisely dimensioned parts with the desired shape, the time and effort required to modify the die is tremendous and lengthens the overall development time of the vehicle. There is therefore a need for a predictive process and tool to create a die that will produce a part having exactly the desired dimensions in a shorter period of time, thus reducing the start to finish development time of new vehicles or other products.
Computer simulation has gained popularity in the stamping industry due to its speed and low cost, and it has been proven to be effective in prediction of formability and springback behaviors. However, to date no effective simulation method has been found to compensate the die based on the springback prediction.
The finite element method is a technique for obtaining approximate numerical solutions to boundary value problems which predict the response of physical systems subjected to external loads. The finite element method is described in detail by Thomas J. R. Hughes in "The Finite Element Method" (1987), published by Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey, which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety. One common use of the finite element method is in the field of solid mechanics where it is used to analyze structural problems such as the formation of stamped sheet metal parts or the springback of stamped sheet metal parts. The equations describing the physical event of interest are generally overly complex to be solved exactly.
The finite element method is a technique where the geometry of the analyzed structure is approximated as a set of points in space. The points, which are referred to as nodes, are connected together to form finite elements.
The finite element method can be used to run two or three dimensional simulations. In a two-dimensional (2D) simulation the elements are areas. In a three-dimensional (3D) simulation the elements are volumes. All of the simulations illustrated in this example are 3D simulations. The elements are therefore three dimensional volumes. However, for ease of illustration and explanation cross sections are used to illustrate the invention. The elements and nodes form a mesh or grid, and these terms are used interchangeably throughout this application. Additionally, the elements are shown as cubes or rectangles, however other geometric shapes may be used.
In structural mechanics, the matrix equations describe the relationship between the stress and velocity fields and the acceleration field at a specific instant in time. To follow the deformation process, one needs to integrate the matrix equations in time. Due to non-linearities, an exact integration is generally not possible. A time discretization is necessary and one usually relies on a finite difference scheme to drive the solution forward in time. The matrix equations may be explicitly or implicitly integrated.
A well known simulation-based die compensation procedure is the spring-forward method. This method begins by performing a stamping simulation by finite element analysis ("FEA"), which provides information for the stamped part while it is still positioned in the closed dies. This information includes the geometry and material stress and strain data. The method then assumes that subsequent springback deformation will be driven by material stress, and that if the stress distribution through the material thickness is (artificially) reversed, the resulting springback deformation will also be in the reversed direction, as compared to the actual part. Based on this logic, the geometry which is obtained by springback analysis with reversed stress can be used to predict modifications to the dies. This method is very simple to apply, and it is the most popular numerical method. However, the method suffers from two major shortcomings which prohibit use in many practical applications.
The first major shortcoming of the spring-forward method is the so-called under-cut problem, where predicted die modifications lead to tools which are impossible to operate, as can be seen in FIG. 1B. Undercutting occurs when a tool wall or face in the compensated die geometry has a negative angle in relation to the stroke direction (the line of action in which the tools move during the punch and die closing process.) This creates interference between the punch and die as the tools close. Undercutting problems occur when compensating parts that have steep walls.
The second shortcoming of the spring-forward method is an issue of accuracy. Since the method can be applied only once, an unsatisfactory prediction of compensated geometry means that the method fails.
An additional difficulty in simulation-based springback compensation procedures used to date arises from the complexity of the die surfaces. Engineers typically make modifications to the original tool surface data using CAD software, then generate the FEA model again using the new CAD surfaces. This procedure is time consuming, and it is typically only applied to certain local areas of the tools. Accordingly, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make a global modification to the die design based on the numerical predictions.

System, method, and device for designing a die to stamp metal parts to an exact final dimension

Livermore Software Technology Corporation