Patient specific temperature distribution in organs, due to an ablative device, is simulated. The effects of ablation are modeled. The modeling is patient specific. The vessel structure for a given patient, segmented from medical images, is accounted for as a heat sink in the model of biological heat transfer. A temperature map is generated to show the effects of ablation in a pre-operative analysis. Temperature maps resulting from different ablation currents and ablation device positions may be used to determine a more optimal location of the ablative device for a given patient. Other models may be included, such as accounting for the tissue damage during the ablation.

The present embodiments relate to ablation planning. In particular, computation of temperature maps is provided.
Ablation is one option for cancer treatment. In spite of recent advances in cancer therapy, treatment of primary and metastatic tumors of the abdomen remains a significant challenge. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for example is one the most common malignancies encountered throughout the world (e.g., >1 million cases per year). In the U.S. alone, 1 in 153 individuals will develop HCC with reported 5-year survival rates of less than 15%.
For both primary liver cancer and hepatic metastases, liver resection (partial hepatectomy) is the current preferred option in patients having confined disease. In selected cases of early HCC, total hepatectomy with liver transplantation may also be considered. Unfortunately, less than 25% of patients with primary or secondary liver cancer are candidates for resection or transplantation, primarily due to tumor type, location, or underlying liver disease. Consequently, increasing interest has been focused on ablative approaches for the treatment of unresectable liver tumors. Rather than extirpation, this technique uses complete local in situ tumor destruction. A variety of methods have been employed to locally ablate tissue. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the most commonly used, but other techniques are also used, including ethanol injection, cryo-therapy, irreversible electroporation, and microwave ablation.
The RFA procedure is performed by placing a probe within the target area, the tumor, in the liver parenchyma. Electrodes at the tip of the probe create heat, which is conducted into the surrounding tissue, causing coagulative necrosis at temperatures between 50° C. and 100° C. In addition to increasing the number of patients eligible for curative therapy of liver cancer in unresectable patients, local tissue ablation has a significant advantage as ablation may be performed using a minimally invasive approach, including percutaneously and laparoscopically.
To place the probe at the target location, the physician relies on intra-operative imaging techniques, such as ultrasound. However, the success of the procedure depends on the optimal placement of the probe and heat delivery. Different placements may have different results. The success of ablation is further challenged by the hepatic blood vessels that dissipate heat, thus potentially reducing RFA efficiency.

Patient specific planning and simulation of ablative procedures


Apparatus for analysis of a sample includes a radiation source, which is adapted to direct a converging beam of X-rays toward a surface of the sample. At least one detector array is arranged to sense the X-rays scattered from the sample as a function of elevation angle over a range of elevation angles simultaneously, and to generate output signals responsively to the scattered X-rays. The detector array has a first configuration in which the detector array senses the X-rays that are reflected from the surface of the sample at a grazing angle, and a second configuration in which the detector array senses the X-rays that are diffracted from the surface in a vicinity of a Bragg angle of the sample. A signal processor processes the output signals so as to determine a characteristic of the surface layer of the sample.

X-ray reflectometry (XRR) is a well-known technique for measuring the thickness, density and surface quality of thin film layers deposited on a substrate. Such reflectometers typically operate by irradiating a sample with a beam of X-rays at grazing incidence, i.e., at a small angle relative to the surface of the sample, in the vicinity of the total external reflection angle of the sample material. Measurement of X-ray intensity reflected from the sample as a function of angle gives a pattern of interference fringes, which is analyzed to determine the properties of the film layers responsible for creating the fringe pattern.
A method for analyzing XRR data to determine film thickness is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,226, to Komiya et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. After measuring X-ray reflectance as a function of angle, an average reflectance curve is fitted to the fringe spectrum. The average curve is based on a formula that expresses attenuation, background and surface roughness of the film. The fitted average reflectance curve is then used in extracting the oscillatory component of the fringe spectrum. This component is Fourier transformed to find the film thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,548, to Koppel, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes an X-ray thickness gauge based on reflectometric measurement. A curved, reflective X-ray monochromator is used to focus X-rays onto the surface of a sample. A position-sensitive detector, such as a photodiode detector array, senses the X-rays reflected from the surface and produces an intensity signal as a function of reflection angle. The angle-dependent signal is analyzed to determine properties of the structure of a thin film layer on the sample, including thickness, density and surface roughness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,720, to Barton et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, also describes an X-ray spectrometer based on a curved crystal monochromator. The monochromator has the shape of a tapered logarithmic spiral, which is described as achieving a finer focal spot on a sample surface than prior art monochromators. X-rays reflected or diffracted from the sample surface are received by a position-sensitive detector.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,512,814 and 6,639,968, to Yokhin et al., whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, describe an X-ray reflectometry system that includes a dynamic shutter, which is adjustably positionable to intercept the X-rays incident on the sample. This shutter, along with other features of the system, permits detection of XRR fringe patterns with high dynamic range. These patents also disclose improved methods for analysis of the XRR fringe pattern in order to determine thin film properties, including density, thickness and surface roughness. The high dynamic range enables the system to determine these properties accurately not only for the upper thin film layer, but also for one or more underlying layers on the surface of the sample.
XRR may also be used in situ, within a deposition furnace, to inspect thin film layers in production on a semiconductor wafer, as described, for example, by Hayashi et al., in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2001/0043668 A1, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. The furnace is provided with X-ray incidence and extraction windows in its side walls. The substrate upon which the thin film has been deposited is irradiated through the incidence window, and the X-rays reflected from the substrate are sensed through the X-ray extraction window.
X-ray diffractometry (XRD) is a well-known technique for studying the crystalline structure of matter. In XRD, a sample is irradiated by a monochromatic X-ray beam, and the locations and intensities of the diffraction peaks are measured. The characteristic scattering angles and the scattered intensity depend on the lattice planes of the sample under study and the atoms that occupy those planes. For a given wavelength λ and lattice plane spacing d, diffraction peaks will be observed when the X-ray beam is incident on a lattice plane at angles θ that satisfy the Bragg condition: nλ=2d sin θ, wherein n is the scattering order. The angle θ that satisfies the Bragg condition is known as the Bragg angle. Distortions in the lattice planes due to stress, solid solution, or other effects lead to observable changes in the XRD spectrum.
XRD has been used, inter alia, for measuring characteristics of crystalline layers produced on semiconductor wafers. For example, Bowen et al. describe a method for measuring germanium concentration in a SiGe structure using high-resolution XRD in "X-Ray metrology by Diffraction and Reflectivity," Characterization and Metrology for ULSI Technology, 2000 International Conference (American Institute of Physics, 2001), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Combined X-ray reflectometer and diffractometer


A cyclone evaporator includes an evaporator body with an evaporation chamber therein. The evaporation chamber preferably includes a thermally conductive sidewall having a generally cylindrical upper portion and a downwardly tapered lower portion. The evaporator body further includes a cover having a vapor outlet opening into the evaporation chamber and an outlet tube. The outlet tube circumscribes the vapor outlet and extends into a lower portion of the evaporation chamber. A liquid precursor passage and a carrier gas passage extend through the evaporator body and open into the evaporation chamber. In one embodiment, the carrier gas passage is positioned to direct carrier gas parallel to liquid precursor flow and intersect the liquid precursor at a liquid precursor passage outlet within the evaporation chamber. In another embodiment, the carrier gas passage is positioned to direct carrier gas across an outlet of liquid precursor passage. In both embodiments, the carrier gas facilitates atomization of the liquid precursor and flows cyclonically to distribute the atomized liquid precursor within the evaporation chamber. The liquid precursor deposits on the thermally conductive evaporation chamber wall and evaporates to form a gas precursor. The gas precursor flows with the carrier gas and exits the cyclone evaporator through the outlet tube and the vapor outlet. The cyclone evaporator is particularly advantageous for evaporating low vapor pressure liquids useful in semiconductor fabrication processes such as chemical vapor deposition.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the conversion of liquid phase materials into vapor phase materials, and more particularly relates to the conversion of liquid phase materials into vapor phase materials in a cyclone evaporator for use in a variety of applications.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of applications use vapor (gas) phase materials. One such application involves the fabrication of integrated circuit elements on a wafer in a chemical vapor deposition ("CVD") reaction chamber. To deposit materials on the wafer in the CVD reaction chamber, a composition of reactant gases and carrier gases is introduced into the CVD reaction chamber. The reactant gases chemically react to facilitate formation of the integrated circuit elements. In a growing number of CVD processes, one source of the reactant gas introduced into the CVD reaction chamber is an evaporated liquid precursor.
The liquid precursor may be either an organic or inorganic compound and has a characteristic vapor pressure that depends on the liquid precursor chemical composition. When depositing metal in a CVD reaction chamber, metal-organic liquids are generally used as the liquid precursors. The metal-organic liquid precursors typically have very low vapor pressures at room temperature and very fine decomposition points. Liquid precursors characterized by low vapor pressures have presented a significant challenge of increasing the vapor pressures of the liquid precursors to produce a controlled and economical quantity of vapor phase precursor ("gas precursor") while controlling liquid precursor evaporation rate and preventing decomposition.
The traditional way to evaporate liquid precursors is to use a bubbler such as those manufactured by Schumacher Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif. In the bubbler, the liquid precursor is maintained at an elevated temperature while a carrier gas is bubbled through it. As the carrier gas bubbles through the liquid precursor, a portion of the liquid precursor undergoes a transformation from liquid phase to vapor phase to form a gas precursor. The carrier gas entrains the gas precursor and transports it to the CVD reaction chamber.
Bubblers have several disadvantages. For example, the liquid precursor must be kept at elevated temperatures for extended periods of time by elevating the temperature of a surface element in proximate contact with a portion of the liquid precursor. The liquid precursor portion in proximate contact with the elevated temperature surface element often disadvantageously decomposes which denigrates the integrity of the liquid precursor. Furthermore, the gas precursor flow rate is a sensitive function of both the liquid precursor temperature and the remaining liquid precursor volume. Therefore, the liquid precursor volume must be monitored and the surface element temperature adjusted accordingly to maintain a steady flow of gas precursor.
A second approach to evaporating liquid precursor involves atomizing the liquid precursor and evaporating the droplets in a hot gas stream as discussed in an abstract by Richard Ulrich, et al, "MOCVD of Superconducting YBCO Films Using an Aerosol Feed System," Extended Abstracts, American Institute of Chemical Engineers 1994 Annual Meeting, Nov. 13-18, 1994, p. 16. However, this approach is unsuitable when used with low vapor pressure liquid precursors. When used with low vapor pressure liquids, the initial evaporation cools the droplet to a point where it has negligible vapor pressure (vapor pressure depends non-linearly on temperature). The gas precursor thus formed provides an insufficient quantity and an unsteady flow of gas precursor to efficiently and accurately sustain a CVD process.
A third approach to evaporating the liquid precursor involves flash vaporizing liquid precursor on a vaporization matrix structure at an elevated temperature as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,314, by Kirlin, et al.

Process of evaporating a liquid in a cyclone evaporator


An object is to provide a memory device for which a complex manufacturing process is not necessary and whose power consumption can be suppressed, and a signal processing circuit including the memory device. In a memory element including a phase-inversion element such as an inverter or a clocked inverter, a capacitor which holds data and a switching element which controls storing and releasing of electric charge in the capacitor are provided. For the above switching element, a transistor including amorphous silicon, polysilicon, microcrystalline silicon, or a compound semiconductor such as an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region is used. The channel length of the transistor is ten times or more as large as the minimum feature size or greater than or equal to 1 μm. The above memory element is used for a memory device such as a register or a cache memory in the signal processing circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory element including a semiconductor device and a signal processing circuit including a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transistors using amorphous silicon, polysilicon, microcrystalline silicon, or the like have been used for display devices such as liquid crystal displays conventionally. Nowadays, a technique in which such transistors are utilized for semiconductor integrated circuits is proposed (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
In recent years, a metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics, which is called an oxide semiconductor, has attracted attention as a novel semiconductor material having high mobility equivalent to that of polysilicon or microcrystalline silicon and having uniform element characteristics equivalent to those of amorphous silicon.
The metal oxide is used for a variety of applications. For example, indium oxide is a well-known metal oxide and used as a material of a transparent electrode included in a liquid crystal display device or the like. As metal oxides having semiconductor characteristics, for example, there are tungsten oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and the like, and a transistor in which a channel formation region is formed using such a metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics has been known (see Patent Documents 2 to 4).

Memory element and signal processing circuit

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An improved hand-held bowl lifter for safely lifting and transporting hot bowls from one area to another. The bowl lifter is used with bowls having a circular base, and a wall that tapers outward from the base in substantially circular cross-section. The bowl lifter is defined by a generally planar rigid board having a first end adapted to be grasped by a user, and a second end having a semi-circular opening that intersects an edge of the second end to define a pair of arms. The ends of the arms are separated by a dimension less than the diameter of the opening but greater than the diameter of the bowl base. A user grasps the first end of the board and moves it toward the bowl, allowing the arms to surround the base of the bowl adjacent the underlying support surface. Then the user raises the board so that the inner periphery of the arms evenly contact the outer periphery of the bowl. At this point the bowl is supported in an level and stable manner, and may be safely transported. When the user has positioned the bowl as desired, the bowl lifter is lowered until the base of the bowl contacts the support surface, whereafter the bowl lifer is lower to the support surface and removed without disturbing the bowl or its contents.

Traditionally, foods of a liquid nature such as soups have been prepared in pots or pans in a cooking area, and then transported to a serving area for distribution into bowls for individual consumption. However, with the introduction and widespread usage of microwave ovens, people commonly heat individual servings of soup and the like in an ordinary soup bowl, and then transport the bowl by hand to a table or serving area for consumption. A problem that arises is that ordinary bowls, unlike pots or pans, are not equipped with a handle, and the consumer is liable to burn his or her fingers in the process of transporting the hot bowl from the microwave oven to the serving area. While pot holders and the like have been used to protect consumers from burns, one-handed operation is difficult if not impossible (especially for the elderly), and these devices tend to slip, possibly leading to spillage of the contents, and scalding of the consumer.


A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a game program, the game program causing a computer to execute a process, including: an event occurrence process to cause occurrence of an event for allowing a player to obtain an item; an occurrence count acquisition process to acquire the number of times the event has occurred; a number determination process to determine the number of other players different from the player based on the number of times the event has occurred; and a consecutive event occurrence process to cause an event for allowing players to obtain an item to occur in a consecutive manner after the event for allowing the player to obtain the item, the number of the players being the determined number or less.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a game program, and an information processing device.
2. Related Art
A game program is known that causes a computer to execute a game for distributing an item from one player to another.
In such a game program, there is a possibility that distribution of an item increases due to successive occurrences of the opportunity where a plurality of players can obtain the item. This lowers the level of difficulty of a game, thereby making players lose interest in the game.

Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing game program, and information processing device


The invention relates to ecosustainable and biocompatible, low cost, ambient friendly electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as transistors and light-emitting transistors, made with silk fibroin or blended with other biopolymers, methods for fabrication and methods of using the silk-based electronics and optoelectronics. The silk-based electronics and optoelectronics can be implanted in vivo and in vitro for biomedical applications, such as for drug discovery or drug screening assays and devices. The silk-based devices may be used in the food industry and embedded in packaging for tracking and sensing, for security purposes or exploited as disposable not harmful for the environment efficient general electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Recently, innovative devices based on semiconductors (Rogers & Huang, 27 PNAS 10875-76 (2009); Kim & Rogers, 20 Adv. Mater. 4887-92 (2008)) have been developed. In particular, attempts have been made to use organic semiconductors as active materials for thin film transistors and in flexible electronics (Forrest, 428 Nature 911 (2004); Singh & Sariciftci, 36 Ann. Rev. Mater. Res. 199-230 (2006); Dodabalapur, 9 Materials Today 24-30 (2006); Santato et al., 86 Appl. Phys. Lett. 141106 (2005); Melpignano et al., 88 Appl. Phys. Lett. 153514 (2006)). Combining the unique properties of organic semiconducting materials, such as light weight and flexibility, to plastic substrates and low or room temperature processing, a new generation of rubbery and soft electronics may now be possible.
A constraint for a real disruptive revolution of the electronics market relies on the ecosustainability and biocompatibility of the fabricated electronic devices. This is a fundamental issue for an effective paradigm shift to a low cost highly efficient new generation of green and bio-electronic devices. Ecosustainability, biocompatibility and biodegradability in fabrication of electronic devices or optoelectronic devices enable manufacturers and consumers to move from an oil-based economy to a green-economy. As part of this paradigm shift, there is a need for replacing the plastic or other non-ecosustainable electrical or optoelectrical components with biodegradable materials for highly efficient transistor fabrication and transistor based devices. This invention answers that need.


The invention features an excavating device for excavating a hole in a geological formation, which excavating device includes:                a body rotatable inside the hole along a rotation axis;        a nozzle arranged on the body to jet a stream of an abrasive fluid onto a surface in the geological formation in order to generate the hole, wherein the stream has at least an radial velocity component and one parallel to the rotation axis. The excavating device further has        a distance holder arranged on the body to ensure a predefined distance between the nozzle outlet and the surface; wherein        the distance holder has a trumpet shaped inner surface section facing the geological formation, which trumpet shaped inner surface section is provided with an opening for allowing the stream to pass through.

WO-A-02/34653 shows such an excavating device. The described excavating device uses a jet of fluid under pressure in which abrasive particles are mixed to erode the material of a surface in order to generate a hole in said surface. The jet is placed under an angle relative to the advancement direction of the excavating device in the hole, and is rotatably operated inside the hole in order to create the hole. This is shown to result in a hole with a heap-shaped center part on the bottom of the hole, as a result of the rotation of the abrasive jet.
The excavating device according to the prior art comprises a distance holder in the form of an L-shaped bracket, in order to ensure a pre-determined distance of the nozzle to the bottom of the hole. The bracket contacts the hole bottom surface in the part of the hole bottom surface that is diametrically opposed to where the abrasive jet stream impacts the hole at that very moment. When the abrasive jet leaves the nozzle outlet it enters a free space.
This may lead to misalignment of the abrasive jet stream, and thereby undesired erosion into the bore hole wall, and a less effective use of the abrasive jet and the energy contained therein.

Abstract: The opening in the trumpet shaped inner surface section is defined by a recess that is formed in the inner surface of the wall of the distance holder, whereby the nozzle is arranged to discharge in the recess. The invention also features a distance holder such as described above.


A hanging luminous frame of a traffic sign plate includes elementary frame sections, each being a long hollow enclosure which defines a luminous frame surface and a concave back side, wherein the concave back side is to be supported against the marking surface of the traffic sign plate. Connecting edges allow the elementary frame sections to be connected to each other and form a frame. Luminous through holes are distributed over the luminous frame surfaces. Waterproof transparent covers have a housing enclosure part, a transparent covering part and a fitting and positioning part. LED lighting components have a circuit base plate, LED components and conductor wires, wherein the LED lighting component is held inside the waterproof transparent cover. A waterproof layer is filled in the housing enclosure parts to seal the inside circuit base plate. Positioning and reinforcing edges provide a stable locking interface for the locking and positioning component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an auxiliary part of a traffic sign plate, and more particularly to an innovative structural design of a combination-style and waterproof hanging luminous frame.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
Conventional traffic sign plates are not easily recognized during a dark night or when there is heavy rain or fog. This will definitely affect traffic safety. In response to this problem, some manufacturers developed new styles of traffic sign plates with an illuminating function. The luminous part of the traffic sign plate can be the sign itself or the frame. The present invention is targeted to the luminous structure of the frame. There are already a variety of prior-art designs of the luminous frame of traffic sign plates. However, problems and shortcomings still exist. For example, some luminous frames are configured according to the profile of the traffic sign plate. However, in such a style, a larger traffic sign plate will require a larger luminous frame to fit. The bulky size will definitely cause problems of space occupancy, difficult transportation and storage. In addition, some prior-art luminous frames are directly integrated into the product structure of the traffic sign late, i.e., the luminous frame is directly formed during the production of the traffic sign plate. Such a structural design is suitable for replacement, but not suitable for traffic sign plates which are currently still under use and unbroken. Complete replacement of all the traffic sign plates means a huge cost for local governments and is hard to realize due to limitation of financial budget.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Hanging luminous frame of a traffic sign plate


A system and method for determining the passing of a participant of an aquatic event by a water-based timing point including an RFID tag associated with the participant, an aquatic based RFID tag reading point having one or more aquatic tag reading assemblies placed in the water, each aquatic tag reading assembly having one or more RFID tag readers mounted thereon at a position above the surface of the water on an aquatic tag reader mounting assembly, the aquatic tag reader mounting assembly having a portion below the surface of the water and including at least one float system and at least one stabilization system.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
There are numerous events held with participants in water many of which are timed events. These include swimming races, surfboarding, and powered equipment events. Often the participants in these events are positioned in the water and are required to traverse a course or path in the water, or travel between two or more points or demarcation lines that are partially or wholly in the water. When timing many sporting events, such a running and biking events, it has become very common to use passive RFID tags for identifying the participant and the proximity of the participant to a monitored demarcation line or milestone such as a starting line, split point, turning point or finish line, by way of example. In such systems, the RFID tags are placed on a participant, on their clothing or a bib, or on the participant's vehicle for uniquely identifying the participant and for identifying the passing of the participant at the monitored point. For land based events, the RFID tag readers can easily be placed on a surface along the road or path for such sporting events even where there are numerous participants making a passing such as during a marathon race. For example, at a start of a marathon race, nearly all of the participants pass the starting line within a very short period of time. In such situations, one or more RFID tag readers with one or more RF antennas are placed at that starting line or are multiple points relative to the starting line to ensure that all participants' tags are read and the timing system logs their passing and the time of their individual passing.
However, for aquatic events, RFID tags and RFID tag readers have not been used with success. This is due to the RF absorption qualities of water, the position of the passive RFID tag on the participant or participant vehicle that may be at or near or under the surface of the water, or which may be immersed or covered with water at the time of the passing of the participant at a timed point at which the RFID tag reader is attempting to read the RFID tag of the participant. Additionally, the timing point readers would often be required to be placed in the water at the water located timing point. Due to these factors, the use of RFID tags and RFID tag readers for timed event systems has been extremely limited and often not used. Further, where attempted, it has been found to be very difficult to nearly impossible to stabilize the RF tag readers and their antennas in the water so as to consistently perform RF tag reads to the water located RFID tags that are approaching and passing the timing point. This is particularly true where there have been numerous to large number of RFID tags to be read that often requires sufficient advancing distances so as to not interfere with the participants and that provide for the desired accuracy of tag reads such that nearly all if not all participant tags are read and there are no missed tags. Further, the surface positioning of the RFID tag readers and in particular their RFID antenna are often moving due to changes in the surface and water flow conditions of the water, such as waves that may be due to displacement of the water by the participants or other sources including the wind and the tide.

RFID tag reading systems and methods for aquatic timed events


A status information notification system includes a network terminal device and a communication processing device that enables the network terminal device to communicate with another terminal device through a communication network. The network terminal device includes a terminal controlling system that controls processing of functional units and outputs status information representing operational status of the network terminal device, and a sleeping system that lowers a power consumption of the terminal control system when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The communication processing device has an examining system that examines whether a request for the status information is received from the another terminal device. A communication controlling system obtains the status information from a storing system or the terminal controlling system, and transmits the obtained status information to the communication network. The status information is obtained from the storing system when the terminal control system is in the sleep status.

The present invention relates to a status information notification system for a network, in which a status of a network terminal is notified to anther terminal. The present invention also relates to the network terminal and a communication processing device constituting the status information notification system.
Conventionally, a plurality of terminals such as computers and printers are connected with a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and signals are exchanged therebetween through the LAN.
There is known a printer having a function of notifying its operational status to another terminal device. When such a printer is connected to the communication network as one of the terminals, the operational status of such a printer can be transmitted to another terminal device directly or via a printer server.
An example of such a network is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. HEI 11-252119. According to the publication, a terminal device (e.g., a management device, computer or the like) can obtain the operational status information of a printer connected to the network through a printer server. In such a system, the print server issues request to the printer for the latest operational status whenever the status of the printer changes to obtain and accumulate the status information. It is examined whether the request from the terminal device is for the status information directly directed to the printer, or the accumulated status information in the printer server, and if the direct request to the printer, the print server obtains the status from the printer and then transmits the status information to the terminal. If the request is for the accumulated data, the print server transmits the accumulated status information to the terminal.
In the network system as discloses in the above-indicated publication, the printer needs to respond to a request for the status information from other terminal devices. Therefore, even if the printer is not required to carry out a printing operation, power should be continuously supplied to CPU and RAM which are used for controlling the operation of the printer. Therefore, the printer is impossible to operate in a so-called sleep mode, which makes it difficult to reduce the power consumption of the printer.


Microfluidic structures featuring substantially circular channels may be fabricated by embossing polymer sheets.

Existing structures for blood flow, such as hollow fibers, tubing, and machined structures are typically produced using conventional macroscale chemical and mechanical processing techniques. Microfluidic devices are typically fabricated using conventional lithographic or etching techniques combined with replica molding. The methods for generating these structures that attempt to mimic vascular networks typically suffer from difficulties in reproducing, on the microscale, the specific and vitally important features of blood vessels. Methods using hollow fibers or other tubular structures and machined or stereolithographically formed elements for therapeutic devices, such as renal dialysis cartridges, liver assist devices, and pulmonary support devices, are typically limited in terms of the minimum diameter achievable. In addition, vessel bifurcations in tube and fiber-based constructs typically contain sharp angles due to limitations in the assembly processes. These limitations also introduce sudden changes in diameter at vessel diameter expansions and contractions. The sharp and sudden non-physiologic features lead to disturbed flow and poor control over key parameters, such as wall shear stress, leading to increased levels of inflammation and clotting and difficulties in seeding cells along the walls of the channels.
Microfluidic devices have addressed some of the shortfalls associated with fiber, tubing, and machining or solid freeform techniques. Principally, microfluidics has enabled a dramatic reduction in minimum feature size and simplification of the assembly processes. However, existing microfluidic fabrication techniques typically do not enable smooth transitions at bifurcations or vessel diameter changes, because the processes used to build the microfluidic master molds often result in rectangular geometries and do not enable tapered transition regions.
Conventional techniques for microfluidics include the use of lithographically-formed master molds (conventional positive or negative photoresist or SU-8 epoxy resin) that produce rectangular or nearly-rectangular sidewalls. Techniques have been reported that produce curvature in the sidewalls using JSR photoresist or other photoresists combined with baking processes to slump the sidewalls. These processes are not well-controlled and do not produce an inverse-circular geometry needed for replica molding. In addition, these processes do not enable smooth transitions at bifurcations or smooth changes in vessel diameter because they are essentially layer-by-layer deposition and exposure techniques, and therefore by nature they result in step changes in geometry.
Etching processes such as plasma etching or wet etching typically have the same limitations as do the lithographic techniques. Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) techniques are highly anisotropic, and, when modified to produce graded sidewalls, still produce straight walls and sharp corners. Isotropic RIE techniques and isotropic wet etching techniques typically have very slow etch rates and are not well-controlled for longer etch times and arbitrary geometries. In addition, isotropic etching does not maintain a circular aspect ratio for deeper etching processes.

microfluidic structures for biomedical applications

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.


A nozzle plate and printhead allowing for control of a deflection direction of ejected droplets using electro-wetting, and methods of operating and manufacturing the same. The nozzle plate has at least one nozzle for ejecting fluid and includes electrode segments disposed along a circumference of the nozzle, an insulating layer disposed on a surface of each electrode segment so as to contact fluid in the nozzle, the insulating layer divided into at least two insulating layer segments corresponding to the electrode segments, and a wire pattern electrically coupled to the electrode segments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printhead. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nozzle plate and printhead that provide for control of a deflection direction of fluid ejected through a nozzle to improve a resolution of a printed image, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a printhead is a device for printing an image on a surface of an object by ejecting droplets of fluid on a desired location of the object. A common printhead is an inkjet printhead that may print using a plurality of colors. Such an inkjet printhead may be classified, according to the method of ink ejection, into a thermal inkjet printhead and a piezoelectric inkjet printhead.
In the thermal inkjet printhead, ink is quickly heated by a heater, formed of a heating element, when a pulsed current is applied to the heater. The ink is heated until it boils and generates bubbles. The bubbles expand and apply pressure to ink filled in an ink chamber, thereby ejecting the ink out of the ink chamber through a nozzle in the form of droplets. Thus, in the thermal inkjet printhead, the heater functions as an actuator that generates the ejecting force for the ink.
In the piezoelectric inkjet printhead, a piezoelectric material is used as an actuator. A shape transformation of the piezoelectric material generates pressure, thereby ejecting the ink out of an ink chamber.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical piezoelectric inkjet printhead. Referring to FIG. 1, a channel plate 10 is provided with an ink channel including a manifold 13, a plurality of restrictors 12 and a plurality of ink chambers 11. A nozzle plate 20 is provided having a plurality of nozzles 22 that corresponds to the plurality of ink chambers 11. A plurality of piezoelectric actuators 40 is disposed on the channel plate 10. The manifold 13 functions to supply ink from an ink storage region (not shown) to the plurality of ink chambers 11. The restrictor 12 functions as a channel through which ink is introduced from the manifold 13 to the corresponding ink chamber 11. The ink chamber 11 stores ink that is to be ejected. Ink chambers 11 may be arranged on one or both sides of the manifold 13. The volume of the ink chamber 11 varies as the corresponding piezoelectric actuator 40 is driven, thereby generating pressure variations to eject ink through the nozzle 22 and draw ink through the restrictor 12. In detail, a top wall (i.e., ceiling) portion of each ink chamber 11 on the channel plate 10 is designed to function as a vibration plate 14 that is deformed by the piezoelectric actuator 40.
The piezoelectric actuator 40 includes a lower electrode 41 disposed on the channel plate 10, a piezoelectric layer 42 disposed on the lower electrode 41 and an upper electrode 43 disposed on the piezoelectric layer 42. Disposed between the lower electrode 41 and the channel plate 10 is an insulating layer 31 such as a silicon oxide layer. The lower electrode 41 is formed on an overall top surface of the insulating layer 31 to function as a common electrode. The piezoelectric layer 42 is formed on the lower electrode 41 and is located above the corresponding ink chamber 11. The upper electrode 43 is formed on the piezoelectric layer 42 and functions as a driving electrode, applying voltage to the piezoelectric layer 42.
When an image is printed using the above-described typical inkjet printhead, the resolution of the image is significantly affected by the number of nozzles per inch. The number of nozzles per inch is represented by "Channels per Inch (CPI)" and the image resolution is represented by "Dots per Inch (DPI)." In the typical inkjet printhead, the improvement of the CIP depends on continuing improvements in processing technology. However, current trends in processing technology may not keep pace with demands for increasingly higher resolution images. Therefore, a variety of technologies for printing a higher DPI image using a low CPI printhead have been developed.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate examples of technologies for printing a higher DPI image using a low CPI printhead. Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles 51 and 52 are arranged along two or more rows and may be staggered. The array of the nozzles 51 and 52 may be used to print an image forming a single line. That is, dots 61, formed by the nozzles 51 arranged along the first row, and dots 62, formed by the nozzles 52 arranged along the second row, alternate on a print medium 60, e.g., a sheet of paper. In the illustrated example, the image DPI formed on the paper 60 is two times the CPI of the printhead 50.
However, in order to precisely print the image, the nozzles 51 and 52 must be arranged accurately along the respective rows. Therefore, this requires an alignment system that can precisely arrange the nozzles 51 and 52, which may increase the printhead size and cost.
In the example depicted in FIG. 3, printing utilizes a printhead 70, having a relatively low CPI, which is inclined at a predetermined angle Θ with respect to a print medium 80, e.g., a flexible substrate or a sheet of paper. The inclination of the printhead 70 results in the intervals between dots 81 formed on the paper 80 becoming less than the intervals between the nozzles 71 of the printhead 70. Thus, the DPI of the image printed on the paper 80 is higher than the CPI of the printhead 70. In this example, the greater the inclined angle Θ, the higher the DPI. However, the inclination of the printhead causes the printing area to be reduced so that the length of the printhead 70 must be increased in order to maintain coverage of the paper 80.

Nozzle plate, printhead having the same and methods of operating and manufacturing the same


A system of evaluating the reliability of deterioration-effect multi-state flow network and method thereof are disclosed in present invention. The system can evaluate the probability that d units of data of flow can be transmitted from a source node to a sink node. In practical application, the flow in a deterioration-effect multi-state flow network may undergo a loss due to deterioration. For example, electrical power will decrease if the transmission distance is too great. Therefore, how to evaluate the reliability of deterioration-effect multi-state flow network becomes an important issue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a network reliability evaluating system and method thereof, and particularly is related to an system for evaluating the reliability of a deterioration-effect multi-state flow network, and method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A traditional flow network model comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of arcs that connect with the plurality of nodes. Many complex systems and projects can be presented via the flow network model easily, so policy-makers apply the flow network model to manage the complex systems and projects. Among all, one of the most effective decision-analyzing tools is to evaluate the network reliability.
Users often use the network reliability to measure the performance of a system, such as computer communication systems, mobile-phone network systems, petroleum transportation pipeline systems, electricity transportation systems, or computer network systems. In prior arts, when performances of various systems are measured, it is assumed that the data will not lost or damage when it is transmitted via arcs, so the network reliability can be evaluated. However, in a real world, the data loss or damage happens during transmission of the arcs in the systems, for example, the petroleum transportation pipeline systems, the electricity transportation systems, and the water transportation systems. Therefore, how to calculate the reliability of the flow network whose arcs have a data loss becomes an important issue. The flow network model whose arcs have a data loss is defined formally as a deterioration-effect multi-state flow network.
According to the above problem in the prior arts, a novel evaluating system and method thereof to evaluate the reliability of a deterioration-effect multi-state flow network are needed. With the evaluating system and method thereof, the issue of data loss during transmission of the arcs in the real system can be solved.

Evaluating the reliability of deterioration-effect multi-state flow network system and method thereof


Methods and systems for directed creation of construction documentation are provided. Example embodiments provide a Directed Documentation System (a “DDS”), which directs, in a computer-assisted manner, the creation of a historical record of a portion or an entire construction project. In one embodiment, the DDS comprises a directed construction data organization process/component, a directed documentation data acquisition process/component, a construction documentation data retrieval process/component, and a construction documentation data distribution process/component. These components cooperate to direct the documentation of a construction project in a manner that insures that all desired aspects of the project are documented thoroughly and uniformly. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Construction projects present major complications to the ability to accurately assess time, progress, and quality at all stages and tasks of a project. This phenomenon is partially due to the inherent nature of construction to permanently cover earlier work. Critical elements are continually covered and increasingly inaccessible after the fact. If the work relating to a particular task is not assessed at the right moment in time, it may become impossible to assess. Furthermore, the pace and multi-disciplined subcontracting approach of modern construction leads to numerous simultaneous tasks, which makes tracking each task at the correct time all the more challenging.
The difficulty in determining the conditions and exact time frames in which each task is completed, especially in a large construction project, is an industry wide challenge. These determinations are important in defining payment schedules, code compliance, legal claims legitimacy, quality control, and maintenance procedures. Better determinations can lead to early corrections of design issues, fewer misunderstandings, better compliance with codes, cost containment, and the like.
The industry has evolved numerous ways to track and control information surrounding construction. Such information may include condition and progress information, for example, what dates and times particular activities or tasks have been performed; who has performed them; whether they have been performed as specified by the construction documents, for example, using specified materials, techniques, etc.; what adjustments have been made that diverge from the plans; whether the activity or task is complete, or the portion completed; etc. Traditionally, these tracking methods center around written paper reports that are discipline specific received from sub-contractors, which are manually compiled by the general contractor (or other personnel in charge) and then submitted to the owner. Often owners engage their own representative to observe and report on the condition and progress of a project as it is progressing. Current commercially available construction management software endeavors to track and combine many different types of traditional paper documents into one system. However, there is no mechanism for insuring who's view of the world is correct.

Method and system for directed documentation of construction projects


An optical gauge for measuring the dimension of a hole in a workpiece employs an interferometric technique using a partially coherent radiation source. A beam of the radiation is directed to a beam splitter positioned a known distance from one of the known surfaces to produce a first sub-beam extending to a mirror and a second sub-beam along the axis of measurement. The mirror is adjustably positioned along the first sub-beam axis by a micrometer head. A radiation detector positioned on the opposite side of the beam splitter from the mirror receives light reflected by the second workpiece surface and light reflected by the mirror. Interference between the numerous wavelengths in the two beams results in a mixture of constructive and destructive interference at all positions of the mirror except that position where the path lengths are exactly equal. When the mirror is adjusted to this position, all wavelengths which make up the beams interfere constructively and a high amplitude signal is generated by the detector. The light at the detector has a speckle pattern and each detector element is approximately the size of a speckle. Three such sensors may be combined in a single gauge suspended in a bore for measuring the distances at 120 degree angles from the gauge to the bore wall and the true diameter is computed from the three distances.

In recent years industries such as aircraft, automotive and electronics have created a demand for very high precision metal parts. It is becoming increasingly common to specify dimensions in thousandths-of-an-inch rather than hundredths-of-an-inch as was the general practice a decade ago. Drilling and boring of precision holes in metal parts in particular requires accurate measurements to ensure that the inside hole diameter tolerance is satisfied for all depths, that the out-of-round tolerance is not exceeded and that the surface roughness is within specification.
The best commercially available bore diameter measuring instruments are hand operated, mechanical contact devices with digital readout, and the accuracy of the measurements they produce usually depends upon the skill of the operator. Using these instruments out-of-round measurements are achieved through multiple readings along different diameters and the accuracy of the measurements tends to be subjective.
Very high precision measurements of bore holes and the like can be made using coherent optical interferometric techniques employing lasers as the coherent light source, but these instruments are delicate, expensive, slow and not generally amenable to hand-held use. A current paper, Dresel et al, "Three-dimensional sensing of rough surfaces by coherence radar", Applied Optics, 31, 919-925 (1992), not known to be prior art discloses optical interferometric techniques not limited to coherent light and teaches acquiring three dimensional data of rough objects as well as the use of wide band radiation.

Environmental Research Institute of Michigan


A method of forming via structures between a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive layer is formed, and a dielectric layer is formed over the first electrically conductive layer. A first photoresist layer is formed over the dielectric layer, and patterned with a first via hole pattern. The first via hole pattern includes via holes that are all disposed within a first distance one from another, called dense via holes, and excludes via holes that are disposed at greater than the first distance one from another, called isolated via holes. The dense via holes are etched into the dielectric layer at first etch conditions until the dense via holes are properly formed, and the first photoresist layer is removed. A second photoresist layer is formed over the dielectric layer, and is patterned with a second via hole pattern. The second via hole pattern excludes dense via holes and includes isolated via holes. The isolated via holes are etched into the dielectric layer at second etch conditions until the isolated via holes are properly formed, and the second photoresist layer is removed. Electrically conductive vias are formed within both the dense via holes and the isolated via holes, and the second electrically conductive layer is formed over the dielectric layer. Electrical continuity exists between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer through the electrically conductive vias.

Integrated circuits are fabricated by forming a layer, performing some type of processing in regard to that formed layer—such as etching—and then forming an overlying layer. This process is repeated many times until the completed integrated circuit is formed.
As the term is used herein, "integrated circuit" includes devices such as those formed on monolithic semiconducting substrates, such as those formed of group IV materials like silicon or germanium, or group III–V compounds like gallium arsenide, or mixtures of such materials. The term includes all types of devices formed, such as memory and logic, and all designs of such devices, such as MOS and bipolar. The term also comprehends applications such as flat panel displays, solar cells, and charge coupled devices.
One layer type that is commonly used is a dielectric or electrically insulating layer between two electrically conductive layers, such as metal layers. An oxide of some type, most commonly silicon dioxide, is often used to form the dielectric layer. These dielectric layers are used to electrically insulate the adjacent electrically conductive layers one from another. However, it is typically desirable to form a pattern of via holes through the dielectric layer after it is formed, and fill the via holes with an electrically conducting material, such as metal, so that selective electrical connections can be made between the overlying and underlying conductive layers, through the dielectric layers.
Such via holes are typically formed by an etching process of some type. A layer of photoresist is applied to the dielectric layer, and exposed and developed to produce a via hole pattern in the photoresist. The substrate is then subjected to a wet or dry etch, such as a physical ion or reactive ion etching process. The photoresist protects the dielectric layer from etching in those areas where the photoresist layer remains, but where the photoresist layer has been developed away, the dielectric layer etches in the via hole pattern.
Etching preferably continues until all of the via holes in the pattern have been etched to the desired depth. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, some of the via holes tend to etch at a different rate than others of the via holes. For example, those via holes that are grouped together in a relatively dense pattern of via holes tend to etch at a rate that is somewhat greater than those via holes that are in a relatively isolated pattern. If the dielectric layer is allowed to etch for a length of time that is sufficient to completely etch the relatively isolated via holes, then the relatively dense via holes tend to be over etched. Conversely, if the dielectric layer is etched for a length of time that is only sufficient to completely etch the relatively dense via holes, then the relatively isolated via holes tend to be under etched. In either case, the operation of the integrated circuit tends to be compromised.
Various etching parameters can be adjusted in order to reduce the difference in etch rate between the relatively dense via holes and the relatively isolated via holes. This difference is sometimes referred to a lag in the etch rate of the relatively isolated via holes. For example, the kind of gas that is used for the dry etching, the gas flow rates, the chamber pressure, the substrate temperature, and the processing power can all be adjusted in order to try to reduce the etch lag. However, these parameters all tend to also effect other characteristics of the etch process, such as the etch rate, etch selectively, and etch profiles, one or more of which may be deleterious to the process.
What is needed, therefore, is a method of etching relatively dense via holes and relatively isolated via holes in a manner that generally reduces problems such as those described above, at least in part.


An optical amplifying and relaying system capable of easily and highly accurately monitor troubles in optical amplifiers provided in an up and a down optical fiber transmission line opposing each other is disclosed. Monitoring light signal folding-back lines including variable optical attenuators 4a and 4b and wavelength selective reflecting means 5a and 5b, respectively, are provided between optical transmission lines L1 and L2, which oppose each other and on which optical amplifiers 4a and 4b are disposed each other.

The present invention relates to optical amplifying and relaying systems and, more particularly, to optical amplifying and relaying systems for amplifying light signals in optical fiber transmission lines or the like and also monitoring the transmission line state.
The optical communication utilizing optical fibers has various merits compared to conventional electric communication with electric signals through the copper wire. Particularly, the optical communication can be adopted for high rate and large capacity communication and is excellent in anti-noise characteristics against electromagnetic noise or the like. In the optical communication, coherent light beams such as laser beams are transmitted on very thin optical fiber cables. Although the optical fiber cable has low optical attenuation characteristic and permits long distance transmission, in order to maintain the signal quality the light signal is amplified by optical amplifier/relays provided at a predetermined interval. Prior art techniques in such technical field are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-116502 entitled "High Output Optical Amplifier/Relay having monitoring Loop-Back Circuit", Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 9-153862 entitled "Monitoring Method in Optical Amplifying/Relaying Transmission System" and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-59306 entitled "Optical Amplifier/Relay" and so forth.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the structure of a prior art optical amplifier/relay (or optical amplifying and relaying system). This optical amplifier/relay 1 comprises a first and a second optical amplifier 2a and 2b, a first (optical) coupler 3a, a second coupler 3b, a first and a second wavelength selective reflecting means 5a and 5b and a first and a second terminal part 6a and 6b. In this prior art technique, light branching/wavelength selective reflecting means connected at subsequent stages to the optical amplifiers 2a and 2b in paired optical transmission lines for transmission and reception, transmit monitoring signals to the opposite lines.
FIG. 18 is a view illustrating operation of the optical amplifier/relay shown in FIG. 17 in the case of transmitting monitoring light signals to the opposite optical transmission lines for the monitoring thereof. In this optical amplifier/relay, in the optical transmission line a monitoring light signal (λsv) and a main light signal (λ1 to λ4) are inputted to the optical amplifier 2a and transmitted via subsequent stage optical branching function constituted by the first optical coupler 3a, the wavelength selective reflecting means 5a and the second coupler 3b to the opposite optical transmission line, and monitoring light signal(λsv) and the reflectivity of the optical grating are obtained on the opposite optical transmission line side.
In this optical amplifier/relay, the light intensity variation in the optical amplifier in each line and the light intensity variation of the monitoring light signal transmitted to the opposite line are equal. In this case, a problem arises in the event of a trouble occurred in the optical amplifier, the output of which is subject to very little variation, that the trouble can not be recognized or that the recognition requires long time. Also, the monitoring light signal folded back to the opposite line permits obtaining only data concerning the output level of the optical amplifier.


A device for indicating the status of a valve includes a position indicator, wherein the position indicator includes a monitoring element, and a communication element. A method for indicating the status of at least one valve includes monitoring positions of a device enclosed by a first valve with a position indicator and communicating the positions of the device enclosed by the first valve with a communications element.

Non-rising stem gate valves, butterfly valves, ball valves and similar types of valves may be operated by a number of different processes, including manual and electronic actuation. For example, non-rising stem gate valves provide a means to isolate and to stop flow in a piping system by rotating an internal threaded stem that moves the gate into proper alignment, i.e. to an open or closed position. Likewise, a butterfly valve rotates an internal disk that allows or prevents the flow of water through the valve. However, it can be difficult to determine whether a non-rising stem gate valve, a butterfly valve or similarly constructed valves are open or closed simply by viewing it from the outside.


The electronic device includes a first casing, a second casing, and a connecting member engaging with the first casing to allow the first casing to turn about a first axis of rotation, and engaging with the second casing to allow the second casing to turn about a second axis of rotation. When a turning angle is 0 or 360 degrees, a distance between the first and second axes of rotation equals to the sum of a half of the sum of the thicknesses of the first and second casings and a clearance between the first and second casings, and the first axis of rotation is arranged at a position shifted from the center of the first casing in a reference direction to the second casing side, by a half of a value calculated by subtracting the thickness of the first casing from the thickness of a first casing-side connecting portion.

Electronic devices in which a first casing and a second casing are configured to be able to turn have been known. As one of this type of electronic devices, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 90 includes a first casing 91 in a flat plate shape having a substantially uniform thickness and including a front surface and a rear surface parallel to the front surface, a second casing 92 in a flat plate shape having a substantially uniform thickness and including a front surface and a rear surface parallel to the front surface, and a connecting member 93 connecting the first casing 91 and the second casing 92.
The connecting member 93 engages with the first casing 91 in such a manner as to allow the first casing 91 to turn about a first axis of rotation A91 passing through first casing-side connecting portions 91a formed at one end of the first casing 91. Further, the connecting member 93 engages with the second casing 92 in such a manner as to allow the second casing 92 to turn about a second axis of rotation A92, parallel to the first axis of rotation A91, passing through second casing-side connecting portions 92a formed at one end of the second casing 92.
Thereby, the electronic device 90 is configured such that the turning angle, which is an angle formed between the first casing 91 and the second casing 92, is changeable between 0 degree (a state shown in FIG. 2) and 360 degrees (a state shown in FIG. 3).
Patent Document 1: JP 2005-155750 A


An eyewear system for supporting lenses in front of a person's eyes includes a resilient or malleable frame having two opposing ends each fixed with a lower frame and an upper frame that each include two rims mutually affixed at a central bridge. The frame further includes two elongated temples that project rearwardly away from the frame, and two nose pad mounts with nose pads that each projects rearwardly away from one of the lower rims. As such, with the lenses each engaged with the rims, the lower rims and the upper rims sandwich and retain the lenses therebetween. A bridge coupler attaches with the upper bridge and the lower bridge to lock together the relative position of the upper bridge and the lower bridge to retain the lenses within the frame. Interchangeable parts can attach to the nose pad mounts, frame and temples to provide a unique appearance.

Eyewear for correcting vision or shielding the eyes from glare are well known, and many styles and types of frames and lenses exist in the prior art. Custom prescription lenses to correct eyesight are expensive and once a set of frames for the lenses are selected it is difficult or impossible to change the frames, which is often desired to match one's particular outfit or just to alter the person's look somewhat periodically. Further, with prior art frames it is difficult to change the various pieces without tools.
Therefore, there is a need for eyewear that allows the user to change the look of the frames periodically with interchangeable parts having a different look. Such a needed invention would allow the user to swap-out pieces without the need for tools, and would further allow for use with custom prescription lenses as well as tinted lenses to reduce glare. Such a needed system would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and intuitive to use. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.


An optical detection device includes a light source device from which a light beam is irradiated on an object; an image processing unit for receiving a reflected light beam from the object by a camera and producing image data; a half-mirror provided one of between the camera and the object and between the light source device and the object; and a recognition element for carrying out a recognition process of the object based on the image data produced by the image processing unit. An irradiation angle of the light beam from the light source device is continuously varied with respect to the half-mirror, and the light beam from the light source device is always irradiated on the object via the half-mirror.

The present invention generally relates to optical detection devices and lighting methods used in optical detection processes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical detection device in which recognition and detection of an object is carried out by irradiating a light beam onto the object, receiving a reflected light beam from the object using a camera such as a CCD to produce image data, and processing the image data, and a lighting method used for such an optical detection device.
Recently, a number of manufacturing processes are automated and, accordingly, a need for automated detection means of a product has been increased. In a process of manufacturing semiconductor elements, it becomes possible to carry out a control of wafers by recognizing an ID provided on the surface of each wafer using such automated detection means. Thus, yields of semiconductor elements may be increased and a production efficiency may be improved by analysis based on the information obtained. For this reason, the ID recognition techniques in the semiconductor manufacturing processes have become increasingly important.
When an examination (recognition process) of an object is performed in a conventional manner, using image processing, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a light beam from a light source device 1 is irradiated onto an object (in this case an ID 5 provided on a semiconductor wafer 4), a reflected light beam from the object is received by using a CCD 2, which is a camera means, to produce image data, and the image data is processed using an image processing apparatus 3.
There are two main lighting methods used in an optical detecting process--one is a coaxial lighting method shown in FIG. 1 in which a light beam is irradiated from the same axis as a camera axis and the other is a non-coaxial lighting method shown in FIG. 2 in which a light beam is irradiated diagonally. In the coaxial lighting method shown in FIG. 1, since the light source device 1 and the CCD 2 cannot be located at the same position, a half-mirror 6 is provided so that the axis of the light beam from the light source device 1 is superimposed with the axis of the CCD 2.
Usually, one of the above two lighting methods which is appropriate for examining an object is selected. This is because a better contrast or higher quality of an image suitable for an optical detection process may be obtained using one over the other. Also, both the coaxial and the non-coaxial lighting methods may be used at the same time for image processing on some occasions.
When the recognition of the ID 5 provided on the semiconductor wafer 4 is performed, both the coaxial and the non-coaxial lighting methods shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, may be used. Note that the ID 5 is formed before circuits are fabricated on the wafer 4. Also, the ID 5 is practically formed by shaving the surface of the wafer 4 using a laser beam. Thus, the ID 5 has a groove shape, and hence may be recognized optically.
However, when an examination is conducted on objects of varying shape in the above-mentioned optical detection process, since the shape of the objects varies, it is necessary to irradiate a light beam from various directions. In such a case, it is necessary to carry out irradiation operations of a light beam from various directions and select the best lighting mode.
In the above-mentioned coaxial and non-coaxial lighting methods or the combination thereof, however, the configuration of the lighting device tends to be complicated and the cost as well as the size of the optical detection device may be increased. Also, it is not possible to continuously change the irradiation angle of the light beam using the conventional non-coaxial lighting method (or device). That is, the irradiation angle must be changed using certain intervals (5.degree. interval, for instance). For this reason, the angles of the light irradiation which may be used are limited even if a plurality of non-coaxial lighting devices are employed. Hence, there is a danger that an optical detection process may not be performed under good conditions.
Also, when the ID 5 formed on the wafer 4 is detected using the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is necessary to carry out the detection process by irradiating a light beam from various directions by combining the coaxial and the non-coaxial systems since the structure of each ID 5 may be different depending on the method used for the ID 5 formation or the manufacturing process of semiconductors. However, if the irradiation angle of the light beam may not be varied continuously in the non-coaxial system, there is a danger that the best irradiating angle may not be used, and hence it is difficult to perform the light irradiation process for the ID 5 under the best conditions.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the depth of the groove of the ID 5 formed on the wafer 4 may be deepened so that a larger contrast may be obtained from the reflective light. However, since an extremely fine process is performed in the wafer process, debris of the wafer from the groove portion after the irradiation of the laser beam affects the processes which follow. The deeper the depth of the groove portion, the larger the scale of the affection.
That is, the debris remains in the portion which is assigned to the circuit portion and causes problems. Thus, it is desirable that the depth of the groove of the ID 5 be as shallow as possible. However, a good image contrast is hard to obtain from the shallow groove using the conventional coaxial lighting system or non-coaxial lighting system, and hence it becomes difficult to accurately detect the ID 5.

Optical detection device and lighting method with varied irradiation angle in optical detection process


A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fiora Pink’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly rounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; and relatively large decorative-type inflorescences that are initially dark pink in color becoming lighter pink with development.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Fiora Pink'.
The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniformly mounding and freely flowering Chrysanthemum plants with unique and attractive ray floret coloration.
The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium in September, 2008 of Chrysanthemum×morifolium 'Busca', not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Chrysanthemum×morifolium 'Alessi Pink', not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium in October, 2009.
Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium in February, 2010. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A monitoring apparatus that acquires counter information from an image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a snapshot generation job to the image forming apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive a completion notification indicating completion of the snapshot generation job, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire the snapshot indicating the counter information from the image forming apparatus in response to reception of the completion notification, wherein the snapshot generation job is managed with a queue for a job related to printing processing and is restricted from being canceled by general user authority.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique which manages counter information accumulated according to an execution of a job in an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Until now, in general, counter information indicating the number of printed sheets has been acquired from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine so as to be used for periodical charging and maintenance work. For the charging, department charging and user charging have widely prevailed.
A case is assumed where printing is performed by an image forming apparatus while counter information for each department/user and total counter information are sequentially acquired from an external apparatus via a network. In this case, the sum of the acquired counter information for each department/user is not consistent with the total counter information. The counter information in which such inconsistency occurs is inappropriate to be used for charging to a user.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-18500 discusses a technique which ensures that a charging counter is not acquired while printing is being performed. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-18500, total counter information is first acquired and then a counter required for charging is acquired and the total counter information is acquired again. If there is no difference between the former and the latter total counter information, the charging counter is regarded as effective.
Although the above conventional technique is capable of acquiring counter information appropriate for use in charging, delay in acquiring appropriate counter information sometimes occurs while a user is performing a large amount of printing in acquiring a counter, for example. Then, it seems to be desirable to provide a different technique for acquiring the appropriate counter information without delay due to job processing such as printing and copying.

Monitoring apparatus, monitoring method, and storage medium for acquiring counter information from an image forming apparatus


A roll shell, material is composed of C: 1.5.about.3.5%, Si: 1.5% or less, Mn: 1.2% or less, Cr: 5.5.about.12.0%, Mo: 2.0.about.8.0%, V: 3.0.about.10.0%, Nb: 0.6.about.7.0%, and satisfies the following formulae (1) and (2): EQU V+1.8 Nb.ltoreq.7.5 C-6.0 (%) (1) EQU 0.2.ltoreq.Nb/V.ltoreq.0.8 (2). and remainder of Fe and inherent impurities.

Recently, the most widely used rolls for hot rolling mills, have been composite type rolls composed of an outer shell and a core material. The conventional method of producing these rolls is centrifugally casting technique, where the shell metal is first poured into the rotating mold then the core metal is added to the mold after shell solidification. Usually, wear resistant cast iron such as nickel-chromium alloyed grain iron (Ni-G) or high chromium iron (Hi-Cr) precipitating cementaite type carbide is used for the shell material, and gray iron or ductile iron is used for the core material.
For a demand for more severe rolling condition and for improvement of productivity in rolling, a roll having higher wear resistance and crack resistance has been required.
In view of such circumstance. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 60-124407 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication(Kokai) No. 61-177355 propose application of high Vanadium (V) iron for the shell material of the centrifugal cast roll.

Roll shell material and centrifugal cast composite roll


A new cultivar of Hebe, ‘Tulpink’, characterized by its compact and rounded plant habit, its foliage that is dark green with a thin red margin and red midrib, its cerise pink flowers and its ability to consistently produce healthy plants.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hebe, botanically of hybrid origin and known as Hebe 'Tulpink' and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Tulpink'. 'Tulpink' is grown for use as a container plant and as a landscape shrub.
The new cultivar was selected as a seedling that arose from the open pollination of unnamed proprietary Hebe plants (not patented) from the Inventor's breeding program growing in a trial garden in the Inventor's nursery in summer of 2007 in Ballyboughal, Dublin County, Ireland. The parentage is unknown as seeds had been collected and sown from many female plants.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by softwood cuttings in Ballyboughal, Dublin County, Ireland in summer of 2007. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has been determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The present invention provides an apparatus and method for chilling beverages in containers. The apparatus includes a tubular body having a first opening, a second opening, an inner surface and an outer surface. The first opening, the inner surface and the second opening cooperate to define a passage through the tubular body for receiving a beverage container. The inner surface and outer surface of the tubular body are formed of and defined by a continuous film of flexible material. A non-gaseous temperature-retaining fluid is received between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body. The apparatus is pre-chilled prior to use, and then is rolled onto the beverage container such that the beverage container is received within the passage through the tubular body to rapidly chill the beverage to a desired serving temperature.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for chilling beverages in containers.
2. Description of Related Art
Beverages are conveniently packaged in sealed containers such as aluminum cans, glass or plastic bottles, and paper cartons. Most beverage containers are shipped and stored at ambient temperature. Accordingly, the beverage containers must be placed into a refrigerated environment for a sufficient time to adequately chill the beverage to an appropriate serving temperature.
Chilling a beverage in a refrigerator can take several hours. The chilling process can be expedited by immersing the beverage container in an ice bath or by pouring the beverage from the container into a glass containing ice. But ice is not always available and some beverages such as wine, for example, are not ordinarily served over ice. An apparatus and method for rapidly chilling beverages in containers is needed.

Apparatus and method for chilling beverages in containers


An adjustable fastener includes a male part and a female part, both of which are preferably made of soft pliable, sewable plastic. The female fastener part preferably has two or more spaced apart openings. Each having a broad portion and a narrow portion. The male fastener part has a base with an upstanding riser with a flange at the end of the riser. The female fastener part is made of a single thin wall which is sewn to the fabric of the garment. The base of the male part is also made of a single thin wall which is sewn to the fabric of the garment. The single wall construction of the female fastener part makes it more flexible, less easily seen, and not felt so much by the wearer. The female fastener part is provided with a bend between the openings so that it lies flat against the back when the male and female parts are coupled to the tightest position. The center of the riser of the male part is offset from the center of the flange. This allows the flange to be made larger and the narrow portion of each opening in the female part to be made smaller.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fasteners for clothing. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable fastener for a brassiere or similar garment.
2. State of the Art
Many articles of clothing are provided with adjustable fasteners. In particular, brassieres are typically provided with an adjustable fastener for connecting right and left center backs of the garment. These fasteners usually include one or more hooks and multiple eyelets spaced apart from each other so that the snugness of the garment eye can be adjusted by mating the hook(s) with the appropriate eyelet(s).
The known brassier fasteners have several disadvantages. First, being located at the back of the garment, they are difficult to manipulate. Second, the hooks and eyelets are typically made of metal and feel uncomfortable pressing against the back of the wearer. Third, the fastener is typically thicker than the garment to which it is attached and is visible through outerwear as a bump.
Many attempts have been made to provide a brassier fastener which is easy to operate, comfortable to the wearer and less visible. While these fasteners may solve some of the problems described above, they typically do not solve all of the problems and often introduce new problems. For example, in attempting to overcome the problems described above, many brassier fasteners sacrifice stability for comfort. This permits the fastener to accidentally detach. Also, some fasteners which attempt to solve the problem of visibility have actually increased the difficulty in operation of the fastener.
The previously incorporated co-owned U.S. patent discloses an adjustable fastener that includes a male part and a female part, both of which are made of soft pliable, sewable plastic. The female fastener part has three spaced apart openings. Each opening has a broad portion and a narrow portion. The male fastener part has a base with an upstanding riser with a flange at the end of the riser. The flange is dimensioned to fit into the broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part and the riser is dimensioned to fit snugly into the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. The back side of the male fastener part is provided with parallel grooves which enhance gripping when releasing the fastener. Both of the fastener parts have a pair of parallel flanges at one end between which the garment back end is inserted and secured to the fastener part. The fastener parts thus become extensions to the garment and are easily visible as such unless covered with additional material. The fastener parts are preferably attached to the garment's center backs or back straps so that the openings in the female fastener part face the back of the wearer and the riser and flange on the male fastener part face away from the back of the wearer. The back of the female fastener part is preferable covered with fabric and/or bears a trademark or a design.
According to one embodiment, the flange on the male fastener part is substantially circular and has a centrally located nub rising from its surface. The broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part is substantially circular and the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part has a nub-receiving well. This structure adds stability to the fastener, preventing accidental unfastening.
According to another embodiment, the flange on the male fastener part is substantially elliptical. The broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part is substantially elliptical and a pair of ears extend between the broad portion and the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. This structure also adds stability to the fastener, preventing accidental unfastening.
According to one method of manufacture, both parts are injection molded and are fastened to brassier center backs by sewing. According to another method of manufacture, the male fastener part is injection molded, but the female fastener part is made from a laminate structure which includes two outer layers and two inner layers. The outer layers are made of a soft fabric material and the inner layers are made of soft plastic. One of the plastic layers has the openings as described and the other plastic layer has thick portions which surround the openings in the other plastic layer to create a space for receiving the male fastener part. The plastic spacer is made by embossing a plastic sheet and the outer fabric layers are made from a single layer which is folded.
It has since been discovered that some of the features of the fastener described in the previously incorporated patent are, in fact, disadvantages. For example, the manner in which the fastener parts are attached to the garment is relatively complicated when it is desirable to make the fastener less visible. In addition, while the fastener is made of soft plastic, its presence is still detectable by the wearer on the wearer's back. Furthermore, the overall size of the fastener parts is relatively large making them more easily seen and felt.


The present invention relates to a variable clamp equalization method and apparatus, the method includes measuring optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) values for each wavelength, computing a raw power adjustment value for each wavelength, computing a raw power adjustment correction factor for each computed raw power adjustment value based on a computed OSNR range value in accordance with a pre-defined variable clamp value schedule, wherein a larger clamp is scheduled for use when the computed OSNR range value is larger, and a smaller clamp is scheduled for use when the computed OSNR range value is smaller. The method further includes determining a clamped power adjustment value for each wavelength, applying the corresponding determined clamped power adjustment value to each wavelength, and iterating the aforementioned until the computed OSNR range value is within pre-defined boundaries, whereby the signal is considered equalized.

Today's optical fiber networks carry many channels over long distances. When a signal is transmitted via an optical fiber, the signal's power level degrades the longer the transmission distance becomes, as the incident photons interact with glass fiber molecules and/or with photons from adjacent wavelengths. Power level degradation is a significant challenge in maintaining optical fiber networks; manifesting as phenomena such as chromatic dispersion, self-phase modulation, four wave mixing, cross-phase modulation, stimulated brilloin scattering, stimulated raman scattering, and polarization mode distortion.
To compensate for power level degradation, nodes having light amplifiers are provided at predetermined intervals to amplify the signal before transmitting it on to the next fiber span. Existing methods of power level adjustment, or "equalization" as it is referred to in Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) systems, involve a process whereby channels are individually adjusted using non-real time algorithms to optimize overall system performance.
Measured values for variables such as current channel input power, amplifier noise level, current transmission setting, optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR), and the like are input into an equalization algorithm. The output provides a resultant recommended equalization factor, or transmission power adjustment value.
The recommended transmission power adjustment value is typically capped by what is known in the industry as a "clamp". Existing clamps are fixed values that limit the maximum power adjustment on any given iteration of the algorithm. A large clamp will result in a fast, sub-optimal convergence, and a small clamp will result in a slow, optimal convergence, so that using a fast convergence of the equalization algorithm is typically at the expense of optimality, while optimal convergence of the algorithm is typically at the expense of speed.
The problem is that existing clamping methods are a compromise between optimality and speed. What is needed is a way to divorce these two conflicting objectives so that equalization can be performed with both optimality and speed.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved method of equalization.

Variable clamp equalization method and apparatus