The present disclosure relates to a method for conducting a transaction while in proximity of a local retail network operated by a retail point of sale comprising: a) receiving an identification signal related to one or more media identifiers associated with a media control device and from a user mobile device, wherein the user mobile device is connected to a first network; b) transmitting data to the user mobile device to render a media control interface on the user mobile device; c) receiving one or more instruction signals from the user mobile device, wherein the one or more instruction signals are related to one or more outputs of one or more media devices in proximity to the user mobile device; d) transmitting the one or more instruction signals to a media control device, such that the media control device instructs the one or more media devices to generate the one or more outputs; e) disabling a connection between the user mobile device and the media control device based upon occurrence of a pre-determined condition.

While at a retail establishment, often individuals have the opportunity to interact with media devices to enjoy an in-location user experience. These media devices typically include televisions, screens, speakers, headphones, lighting, and the like. Individuals can interact with these media devices via buttons, touchscreens, and other tactile inputs. Interaction may include actions like learning more about the devices, having music play from a certain set of speakers or headphones, changing what television is turned on at a retail display, having a video play on a television, turning on one or more lights, playing one or more video games, ordering food and/or drinks, virtually trying on apparel, and the like. The buttons, touchscreens, and tactile inputs may be part of the media device, in direct communication attached to the media device, or even in indirect communication with the media device, but are located at and part of the retail establishment. These tactile inputs may pose a concern when it comes to the transmission of pathogens.
One or more diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza, and even the common cold, may have pathogens which remain active on surfaces for hours and even days. As tactile inputs may be located in high traffic areas of a retail establishment and are connected to electrical components, it can be difficult to adequately and frequently sanitize these tactile inputs. As awareness increases of these diseases and how they spread, customers may become hesitant to interact with the media devices, resulting in lost sales at the retail establishment. Thus, what is needed is a method for a user to interact with these media devices while avoiding contact with equipment on display at the retail establishment.
Adding onsite user interfaces to interact with media devices at a retail establishment can prove costly, both initially and overtime. The onsite user interfaces may be part of kiosks or displays associated with media devices or other goods and services available for purchase at the retail establishment. These onsite user interfaces not only create an installation cost associated with their purchase and installation, but also ongoing maintenance costs for cleansing and maintaining. Additionally, many of these onsite user interfaces are in the form of tablets or other personal computing devices and may be subject to damage by customers or even theft. Thus, what is needed is a method to provide a user interface to interact with goods and services available at a retail establishment without having to install onsite user interfaces.
Typically, consumers tend to carry smart phones and tablets on their person. These smart phones and tablets are generally able to be connected to wireless networks. Most retail establishments have onsite local retail networks. These local networks have point-of-sale equipment connected thereto, including terminals, display units, receipt printers, cash registers, and the like. Additionally, these local networks have employee computing equipment, administrative equipment, customer files, and even media devices, and the like, connected thereto. The onsite local retail networks are typically secure and do not permit guests, such as consumers, to connect. Thus, what is needed is a means of easily communicating with the media devices located within a retail network while avoiding the use of the local retail network and exposing the local retail network to security concerns.

Non-contact media control system and method


A precision, low cost, capacitor sensor comprised of two parallel plates, with an air dielectric, with preferably both substrates comprised of vitreous materials and electrically conductive coating, but with at least one of the substrates and coating being transparent. The coatings are preferably of identical material, thickness and pattern to offset stress distortion of the sensor plates from thermal expansion and contraction. Uniform spacing between the plates is provided by means of glass fibers of uniform diameter, dispersed in a matrix of adhesive and bonded under pressure, deposited between the plates as two thin semicircular seal rings surrounding the dielectric and separated by a diametrical gap, allowing entrance or escape of air dielectric. A novel feature, provided by at least one plate and coating being transparent, is use of optical measuring techniques during fabrication to verify acceptability of the manufacturing process and uniformity of the sensor product. This permits easy, rapid, efficient and economical grading and process control of the sensors during fabrication with resulting improved precision performance of the product and economical cost to manufacture. As an option, three or more of the four faces of the two substrates will bear conductive coatings, for structural stability, to minimize distortion in capacitance due to changes in temperature.

Transducers using capacitance sensors have been previously known but have been difficult to fabricate economically with precision and with uniform reproducibility, due to variations in the manufacturing process and inherent distortions resulting in interferences which degrade the precision and accuracy of capacitance output. Previous capacitor sensor transducers have had less than desirable response characteristics due to nonlinearity and hysteresis of the substrates, and have been undesirably sensitive to variations in temperature. No previous mention or use of a liquid crystal display cell as a capacitor has been found or is known in the literature or in the art and industry of force transducers.


A rolling brush assembly includes a rolling brush having a rolling brush roller, at least two brush bars, and a protruding strip extending lengthwise along an axis. Each brush bar extends lengthwise in a longitudinal direction of the rolling brush roller. The brush bars are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction of the rolling brush roller with the protruding strip located between adjacent two brush bars. The at least two brush bars are fixed on the rolling brush roller in one of a flocking or an inserting manner. An engagement portion is formed between the brush bars and the rolling brush roller. A distance from an outer end of the engagement portion to the axis is less than a distance from an outer end of the protruding strip to the axis.

The dust collector (also known as a vacuum cleaner) is an electric cleaning appliance used for removing dust on floors, carpets, walls, furniture, clothes and various gaps. Generally, the dust collector mainly comprises a suction device and a suction pipeline, wherein the suction device mainly formed by a motor and a fan is arranged in the dust collector body, the suction pipeline comprises a suction head, a dust collection rigid pipe and a dust collection hose, the suction head is provided with a suction port with a downward opening and is communicated with an air inlet of the fan in the dust collector body through the dust collection rigid pipe and the dust collection hose.
The rolling brush of the existing dust collector is usually only provided with flocking, and in case of the flocking, when treating the surface to be cleaned, the hairs on the surface to be cleaned are very easily attached to the flocking and tightly wound on the roller body surface of the rolling brush along with the rotation of rolling brush, so that the rolling brush is difficult to clean, and the rolling brush is even caused to be entangled and unable to rotate normally.

Rolling brush assembly and dust collector with the same

SKYBEST ELECTRIC APPLIANCE (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.


According to one embodiment, a display device includes a liquid crystal layer between a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a wiring line and a pixel electrode. The liquid crystal layer contains a stripe-shaped polymer extending in a first direction and a liquid crystal molecule. The liquid crystal layer contains a first polymer in an area overlapping the wiring line and a second polymer in an area overlapping the pixel electrode. The first polymer includes a first portion extending in a direction different from the first direction. The second polymer includes a second portion extending in a direction different from the first direction. A density of the first portion is higher than a density of the second portion.

Recently, various illumination devices including light modulation elements which exhibit scattering properties or transparent properties with respect to light have been proposed. For example, the light modulation element includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer as a light modulation layer. The light modulation element is disposed behind a light guide and scatters light which enters from a side surface of the light guide.


A collapsible walker that includes a front frame, a pair of side frames, and a pair of levers. The front frame has a pair of skewed surfaces. The pair of side frames are hingedly attached to the front frame and are parallel thereto when the collapsible walker is in the closed position and are perpendicular thereto when the collapsible walker is in the open position. The pair of side frames have notches therein with skewed surfaces, with the pair of skewed surfaces of the front frame being vertically movable in the notches. The skewed surfaces of the pair of side frames move relative to the pair of skewed surfaces of the front frame as the collapsible walker is achieving the open position, until such time as it achieves the open position in which the pair of skewed surfaces of the front frame and drop down in the notches and mate with, and abut against, the skewed surfaces therein so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween and further rotation of the pair of side frames in both directions. The pair of levers are pivotally mounted to the pair of side frames and selectively lift the pair of skewed surfaces of the front frame out of engagement with the skewed surfaces of the pair of side frames, and into the notches so as free the pair of side frames to pivot inwardly and allow the collapsible walker to achieve the closed position.

The present invention relates to a walker. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collapsible walker having an open position defined by an open rear adapted to have a user enter and leave therethrough and being lightweight with a strength to weight ratio sufficient to assist a user in walking when the collapsible walker is in the open locked position, with the open position being automatically maintained when the collapsible walker achieves the open position, and further having a closed position where the collapsible walker is collapsed to reduce required storage space.


An X-ray detecting device, and a fabricating method thereof, that reduces ground line breakage. In the device and method, a storage electrode is formed along a ground line. Accordingly, a step between the storage electrode and the ground line is prevented, which reduces ground line breakage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to X-ray detectors. More particularly, it relates to an X-ray detecting device, and to a fabricating method thereof, having reduced ground line breakage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an X-ray imaging system photographs an object using X-ray sensitive film. Such systems have been useful in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. While photographic films have been useful, another X-ray imaging system that uses X-ray detecting panels to convert X-rays into electrical signals is becoming more common. Such an X-ray detecting panel is illustrated in FIG. 1. That panel includes a photo sensitive layer 6 for converting X-rays into electrical signals and a thin film transistor substrate 4 that selectively outputs those electrical signals.
The thin film transistor substrate 4 includes pixel electrodes 5 that are arranged in a pixel unit and thin film transistors (TFT's). Each thin film transistor is connected to a charging capacitor Cst, to a gate line 3, and to a data line (which is not shown). On the upper portion of the photosensitive layer 6 is a dielectric layer 7 and an upper electrode 8. The upper electrode is connected to a high voltage generator 9. The photosensitive layer 6 is comprised of selenium with a thickness of hundreds of μm. That layer detects incident X-rays and converts them into electrical signals. To do this, the photosensitive layer 6 produces electron-hole pairs in response to incident X-rays. The electron-hole pairs are separated by a high voltage (several kVs) applied to the upper electrode 8 by the high voltage generator 9. Separated charges are stored in the charging capacitor Cst by way of the pixel electrode 5. However, some of the separated charges accumulate on the surface of the pixel electrode 5. This reduces the charge stored in the charging capacitor Cst. In order to prevent such a reduction, a charge-blocking layer 11 is formed on the pixel electrodes 5. The thin film transistors (TFT) respond to gate signals input on the gate line 3 by applying pixel signals from the charging capacitors Cst to data lines. Those pixel signals are applied, via a data reproducer, to a display device that produces an image.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing part of the thin film transistor substrate 4 of FIG. 1. Referring now to FIG. 2, in the thin film transistor substrate 4 each pixel electrode 5 is formed in a unit pixel area defined by gate lines 3 and data lines 10. Each charging capacitor Cst includes a storage electrode 25, a transparent electrode (which is not shown) above the storage electrode 25, and an interposed storage insulation layer 32. A ground line 22 crosses each pixel electrode 5. The ground line resets residual electric charges on the charging capacitor Cst.
Each thin film transistor (TFT) is formed at an intersection between a data line 10 and a gate line 3. Each TFT includes a gate electrode 12 that extends from a gate line 3, a source electrode 16 that extends from a data line 10, a drain electrode 14 that connects, via a drain contact hole 15, to a pixel electrode 5, and semiconductor layers (which are not shown) that connect to the source electrode 16 and to the drain electrode 14.
One end of each gate line 3 and one end of each data line 10 respectively have a gate pad 18 and a data pad 20. Those pads connect to a driving integrated circuit (IC). The gate line 3, the gate electrode 12 and the gate pad 18 are made from the same metallic structure. That structure is beneficially comprised of sequentially disposed aluminum (Al) and molybdenum (Mo). To produce good signal transfer characteristics, the data line 10 is beneficially comprised of a molybdenum metal. The data pad 20 has a structure similar to the gate pad 18. This enables connecting the driving IC using an Al wire bonding. Since the data pads 20 are formed on a level that is different than the data lines 10, the data pads connect to the driving IC(s) via a contact hole 21 that passes through a gate insulating film (which is not shown). The gate pads 18 and the data pads 20 have an Al layer that is exposed, respectively, through contact holes 13a and 13b.
FIG. 3A to FIG. 3G are section views showing a method of fabricating the thin film transistor substrate shown in FIG. 2. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the gate electrode 12 is formed by sequentially depositing an Al metal 12a and a Mo metal 12b on a substrate 2, and then patterning those metals.
As shown in FIG. 3B, a gate insulating film 32, an active layer 34a, and an ohmic contact layer 34b are then formed by depositing an insulating material and first and second semiconductor layers over the entire surface of the substrate 2 (including over the gate electrode 12), and then patterning the first and second semiconductor layers to form a semiconductor structure 34.
After formation of the semiconductor structure 34, as shown in FIG. 3C, a transparent drain electrode 17 and the storage electrode 25 are formed by depositing and patterning a transparent conductive material over the gate insulating film 32. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the source electrode 16, the drain electrode 14, and the ground line 22 are formed by depositing a data metal film over the substrate 2 (including over the transparent drain electrode 17 and over the storage electrode 25) and then patterning the data metal film. The drain electrode 14, the transparent drain electrode 17, and the ground line 22 electrically contact the storage electrode 25. Referring now to FIG. 3F, a storage insulating layer 36 is then formed by depositing an insulating material over the gate insulating film 32 in such a manner as to cover the source electrode 16, the drain electrode 14 and the ground line 22.
As shown in FIG. 3E, a transparent storage electrode 35 is then formed by depositing a transparent conductive material over the storage insulating layer 36, and then patterning that transparent conductive material. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3F, a drain contact hole 15, and first and second storage contact holes 19a and 19b are formed by depositing an insulating material over the storage insulating layer 36 to form a protective layer 40, and then patterning that protective layer 40 to form the holes.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 3G, a pixel electrode 5 that is electrically connected to the transparent drain electrode 17 and to the transparent storage electrode 35 is then formed by depositing a transparent conductive material onto the protective film 40, and then patterning that transparent conductive material.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the storage electrode 25 and the gate line 3 are spaced at a desired distance H. Thus, the storage electrode 25 is formed on the gate insulating film 32 (see FIG. 3C) in such a manner as to produce a step as shown in FIG. 4. If a ground line 22 is formed on the storage electrode 25 over the step breaking the ground line 22 at the step can occur.

X-ray detecting device and fabricating method thereof


Certain embodiments for reducing instruction storage space for a processor integrated in a network adapter chip may include generating MIPS instructions from corresponding new instructions. The new instructions may be in patch code instruction (PCI) format. The new instructions may be decoded and the MIPS instructions may be generated by a MIPS processor within a network adapter chip. Decoding the new instructions may also be referred to as interpreting the new instructions. The new instructions may comprise fewer bits than the generated MIPS instructions. The generated MIPS instructions may be executed by the MIPS processor within the network adapter chip.

High-speed digital communication networks over copper and optical fiber are used in many network communication and digital storage applications. Ethernet and Fiber Channel are two widely used communication protocols, and the protocols continue to evolve in response to increasing demand for higher bandwidth in digital communication systems.
The Ethernet protocol may provide collision detection and carrier sensing in the physical layer of the OSI protocol model. The physical layer, layer 1, is responsible for handling all electrical, optical, opto-electrical and mechanical requirements for interfacing to the communication media. Notably, the physical layer may facilitate the transfer of electrical signals representing an information bitstream. The physical layer may also provide services such as, for example, encoding, decoding, synchronization, clock data recovery, and transmission and reception of bit streams. Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), which initially found application in gigabit servers, is becoming widespread in personal computers, laptops, and switches, thereby providing the necessary infrastructure for handling data traffic for PCs and servers.
As the demand for higher data rates and bandwidth continues to increase, equipment vendors are employing new design techniques for manufacturing network layer 1 equipment capable of handling these increased data rates. However, the equipment vendors are also trying to limit cost rise associated with the newer equipment, if not reduce the cost, with respect to the previous generation of equipment. Chip real estate and printed circuit board (PCB) real estate are generally expensive.
Traditionally, network equipment vendors have used memory external to a processor in which to store boot code for the processor. The external memory, which may be at least one memory chip, may incur further expenses to the manufacturer in addition to a cost of the memory chip. For example, the additional cost may be due to the additional printed circuit board real estate required for the chip, and/or the increased complexity for layout of the signal traces from the memory chip to the processor, and other chips to which the memory chip may be coupled.
Accordingly, boot code may be stored in a ROM section of a processor chip. In this manner, an additional large ROM chip or NVRAM chip may not be needed to store boot code for the processor chip. However, for these cases in which modification to the code in the ROM is desired, executable code may be stored in a small NVRAM. However, depending on the size of the executable code, it may be necessary to increase the size of the NVRAM. As the size of the NVRAM increases, the cost associated with the NVRAM may increase due to the chip cost, the additional real estate needed, and the interconnect cost if more pins are required for the larger NVRAM.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for reducing instruction storage space for a processor integrated in a network adapter chip


A process of growing a dielectric layer includes a step of heating a gas mixture of at least one gas having a first chemical element of oxygen and a second chemical element other than oxygen to a first predetermined temperature to produce reactive precursors of the gas mixture. The reactive precursors are then introduced into a reaction chamber that houses at least one wafer to grow the dielectric layer on the wafer within the reaction chamber at a second predetermined temperature below the first predetermined temperature. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of growing the dielectric layer is also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to integrated circuit fabrication. More particularly, this invention relates to an arrangement for growing, at low temperatures, a thin dielectric layer with maximized reliability, maximized resistance to boron penetration, maximized immunity to hot carriers and/or plasma damage, and better thickness control.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known that introducing nitrogen into a wafer oxidation process can grow a silicon oxynitride dielectric layer on the wafer. This process of growing an oxynitride layer is typically referred to as oxynitridation process. The oxynitride layer can be relatively thin and typically has a relatively high reliability with respect to the dielectric breakdown. In addition, the oxynitride layer can provide relatively high resistance to boron penetration and relatively high immunity to hot carriers and/or plasma damage. Moreover, the oxynitridation process typically increases thickness control of the dielectric layer.
One prior art technique of accomplishing the oxynitridation process to grow an oxynitride dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer is through the use of a conventional single-chamber (or tube) furnace, which is shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 1, a reaction system 10 includes a manifold 11 that receives reaction gaseous species containing the chemical elements of nitrogen and oxygen (such as N.sub.2 O, NO, NO.sub.2, and NO.sub.3) through pipes 13 through 15. The manifold 11 mixes the reaction gases and then feed the mixed gases to a reaction chamber 12 of the reaction system 10 via a pipe 16. The reaction chamber 12 houses at least one wafer (not shown in FIG. 1) for oxynitridation. The reaction chamber 12 is typically a vacuum chamber or tube. The vacuum is provided by a pump (not shown in FIG. 1) via an exhaust pipe 17. The reaction chamber 12 is heated by a furnace (not shown) to an elevated temperature of approximately 1000.degree. C. at which the gases react or decompose due to the heat in the reaction chamber 12. The decomposed gases are then deposited on the surface of the wafer to form the oxynitride layer. The process typically takes place inside the reaction chamber 12 at atmospheric pressure.
Disadvantages are, however, associated with this prior art oxynitridation technique. One disadvantage associated is that the reaction temperature of the reaction chamber 12 is typically relatively high (e.g., about 1000.degree. C.). The relatively high temperature is needed in order for the gases to react or decompose. This relatively high temperature, however, typically causes undesirable dopant diffusion to occur on the wafer. This is due to the fact that dopant diffuision typically occurs when the temperature of the wafer (i.e., wafer temperature or substrate temperature) exceeds approximately 800.degree. C. The undesirable dopant diffusion is unacceptable and unwanted because it changes the electrical properties of the wafer. However, it is equally unacceptable if the reaction temperature of the reaction chamber 12 is below 850.degree. C. to grow the oxynitride layer. When the temperature of the reaction chamber 12 is below 850.degree. C., the gaseous species containing the chemical elements of oxygen and nitrogen do not react with each other or do not decompose and the oxynitridation process cannot take place.

Arrangement for growing a thin dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer at low temperatures


A bulb-type LED lamp includes a cooling structure, an LED module, a transparent shade and a lamp head. The cooling structure includes a thermally conductive plate and a plurality of cooling fins configured by being bended upwardly from a periphery of the thermally conductive plate, and each cooling fins are disposed by being interspaced to each other. The LED module is attached onto a bottom face of the thermally conductive plate. The transparent shade covers the LED module correspondingly and is connected fixedly to the thermally conductive plate. The lamp head is fitted and connected to each cooling fin and electrically connected to the LED module. Thereby, the thermal convection is enhanced and the cooling efficiency is further promoted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention in general relates to a lighting device, in particular, to a bulb-type LED lamp and a cooling structure thereof.
2. Description of Prior Art
Common incandescent bulb takes tungsten filament as lighting source, so the structure is simple, and the arrangement and exchange therefor are very convenient. In the structure of an incandescent bulb, a tail end of the spherical shade is usually fixedly connected an adapter, on which there are threads adapted to be screwed in a common bulb socket. When power is conducted, the tungsten filament arranged in the shade can emit heat and light, and the light shines outwardly via the shade to reach a lighting purpose. However, during the operation when the tungsten filament generates illuminating light, a large amount of heat is also generated. Therefore, this kind of lighting device is very power-consuming and energy wasting, and has very short lifespan because the tungsten filament is easily burned to black out the incandescent bulb.
LED, a kind of lighting source in solid state, can transfer electricity into light. In the meantime, LED has the merits of small size, low driving voltage, quick reaction speed, vibration resistance and long lifespan. Besides, following the continuity of development and progress of technology, the trend of electronic component is toward compactness, such that the bulb-type LED lamp has gradually replaced the incandescent bulb to become a lighting device that is applied in large amount and comprehensively.
According to prior arts, a bulb-type LED lamp mainly includes a circuit board, a plurality of LEDs electrically connected to the circuit board, a transparent shade covering each LED, an aluminum-extruded cooling seat attached by the circuit board and an adapter fixed to the aluminum-extruded cooling seat. However, since the cooling efficiency of the aluminum-extruded cooling seat is decided by the surface area thereof, and because the surrounding air can only make heat exchange with the surface of the aluminum-extruded cooling seat, the cooling efficient is limited and the cooling speed is slow, further influencing the working performance of this kind of bulb-type LED lamp.
Accordingly, after a substantially devoted study, in cooperation with the application of relative academic principles, the inventor has finally proposed the present invention designed reasonably to possess the capability to improve the drawbacks of the prior arts significantly.


A system and method for modeling a power over Ethernet component using a common information model. With the profiling of components based on the common information model, a remote agent can query status/capabilities or configure a power over Ethernet component based on messaging that is consistent with a power over Ethernet common information model schema.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to Power over Ethernet (PoE) and, more particularly, to a system and method for modeling a PoE component using a common profile model.
2. Introduction
The IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at PoE specifications provide a framework for delivery of power from power sourcing equipment (PSE) to a powered device (PD) over Ethernet cabling. Various types of PDs exist, including voice over IP (VOIP) phones, wireless LAN access points, Bluetooth access points, network cameras, computing devices, etc.
In an enterprise environment, management of various PoE services and assets represents a significant challenge to IT administrators. A key area of concern is obtaining a proper inventory of such services and assets in an efficient manner. What is needed therefore is a mechanism that enables a remote agent to query status/capabilities and configure specific functions of PoE components.

System and method for modeling a power over ethernet component in a computing device platform using a common information model


A joystick adapter is provided for mounting over the depressible buttons of a directional keypad on a video game controller. The adapter includes a joystick having a knob and a separable base. The knob is configured for manual manipulation, while the underside of the base is configured to contact and be supported by the depressible buttons of the keypad. The knob and base are pressfit together so that the individual components can be removed and replaced. The adapter further includes a clip having a shell that is supportable on the controller body. The shell defines an opening to receive the joystick therethrough with the knob above the shell and the base between the shell and the keypad. The adapter further includes an elastic T-shaped band that surrounds the bottom and sidewalls of the controller body. The band includes three arms with resilient openings in each of the arms. The openings are adapted to engage a corresponding tab projecting from the shell of the joystick adapter clip. In use, the resilient knob and base of the joystick are assembled through the clip opening. The clip is then placed on the upper surface of the controller body so that the shell of the clip surrounds the keypad and further so that the joystick base is supported by the depressible buttons of the keypad. The three arms of the elastic retaining band are engaged to respective tabs on the clip so that the clip is held in position on the controller body.

The present invention pertains to an adapter for converting manually depressible keys to joystick control. In a specific embodiment, the invention contemplates a joystick adapter for use with a video game controller for mounting over the directional keypad.
Since the advent of the home video game explosion in the late 1970's, the game controller has become a fixture in a majority of the American homes. In its typical form, the video game controller constitutes a hand-held base with a keypad for directional control buttons and a keypad for buttons that perform a variety of functions, such as fire, run, jump, etc. As one might expect, the great commercial success of home video games has spawned a growing secondary market for modified game controllers. Much of the design work in this field has been focused upon making the controllers more ergonomic and more easily used by the video game enthusiast of any age.
For example, manufacturers of game controllers have modified the arrangement and orientation of the directional control buttons of the keypad, as well as the operational buttons. Others have modified the structure of the controller to include pistol grips or other types of gripping surfaces. In these instances, the structure of the controller promotes operation of the various keypad buttons by the user's left and right thumbs. Still other game controller manufacturers have substituted the hand held game controller for a supported unit that includes a separate joystick in lieu of the directional keypad.
While the fixed based controllers incorporating joysticks have managed to capture the benefits of using a joystick, these devices suffer from the need to be supported on a table or flat surface, or on the user's lap. In this sense, these types of game controllers are not hand held. At the same time, the fixed base joystick controller generally must be manipulated by grabbing the joystick, which is generally not ergonomic or comfortable to the user.
One approach that has been suggested for modifying hand held game controllers is shown in the patent of Hultstrand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,261. This patent discloses an adapter for a keypad that includes a disc mounted on top of each of the directional keys. While this device approximates the function of a joystick, it does not have the same lever arm as a typical joystick. Moreover, the device shown in the '261 Patent must be held in position by the user since it is not separately connected to the game control pad.
Other similar approaches have been taken in the design of adapters for cursor control keys on a typical computer keyboard. For example, the patents of Tal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,357; Fisher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,019; Martovitz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,574 show joystick adapters that are freely supported on the keyboard surface and that toggle to depress the respective cursor keys. In each of these three designs, the joystick adapter is specifically configured for use on a computer keyboard, utilizing one of the keys as a fulcrum point for the operation of the remaining keys.
In another genre of patents, a joystick adapter is separately mounted to a computer keyboard, as represented by the patents of Lugaresi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,591; Langewis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,768 and DuBosque, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,219. Again, these patents focus on joystick control for cursor keys on a computer keypad. Moreover, each of these patents show a very complicated structure for supporting the joystick on the keyboard body, a structure that is not feasible for use with a hand held video game controller.
There remains a need in the video game industry for an adapter for use with a hand-held game controller, and particularly an adapter for converting manual buttons of a manual keypad to joystick control. This same need can apply to computer keyboards where a simple and ergonomically feasible joystick adapter can be beneficial.

Joystick adapter for a directional keypad on a game controller


A system and method for retrieving and normalizing product information is described. The system may collect product information from suppliers. The product information may relate to a product that is described differently by two or more of suppliers. The system may further provide a normalized representation of the product.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for collecting and presenting product and vendor information on a distributed network such as the Internet.
2. Background and Related Art
It is known to sell products on a distributed network such as the Internet. Online sales or e-commerce is a rapidly growing segment of the economy. Systems for selling products on a distributed network are sometimes referred to as electronic merchandising systems or virtual storefronts. It is further known to aggregate in one user interface access to multiple online vendors to enable a user to choose among several retailers goods. Sites containing multiple vendors are sometimes referred to as electronic or virtual malls, or shopping agents or "bots." An electronic vendor or electronic mall provides a display that generally includes images and descriptions of merchandise. These sites also generally provide the vendors' prices for the product. Shopping agents or "bots" aggregate product pricing information from multiple vendors on a single site.
In addition to serving as an avenue for commerce, a distributed network allows consumers to access considerable amounts of information about products. For example, consumers can research products by accessing information provided by manufacturers, vendors, distributors, etc. Consumers also may research products through third-party sites, such as ConsumerReports.org®, that publish industry reviews of products.
Consumers may further communicate with each other to exchange product experiences and information. For example, consumers may interact on Usenet discussion groups to share information such as personal experiences with products. In addition, it has been proposed by the assignee of the present disclosure to survey consumers regarding the quality of particular products and/or services and to publish or advertise the results of the survey as numerical ratings. Recently, with the rapid technological advancement of the Internet, it has become further possible for individual consumers to provide narrative reviews of products and/or services, in addition to the standardized scaled ratings.
A consumer can also research information on vendors. For example, vendors typically provide on their websites information such as their shipping, billing and return policies. As with products, consumers also may communicate with other users to exchange experiences and information related to vendors on online discussion groups or at third-party sites that allow users to rate and review vendors. There further exist websites, such as gomez.com and bizrate.com, that allow users to rate vendors.
Although there is an abundance of vendor and product information on the Internet, this information is distributed over numerous websites. To access the information, consumers need to locate these various websites. However, consumers may have difficulties finding the various websites. For instance, searching under a product name on a search engine may locate millions of websites, most of which provide little or no relevant information. According y, there presently exists a need for a methodology to provide a single source for information on products and vendors.
Furthermore, even if a user locates the various websites containing the desired product and vendor information, the large amount of information provided is not organized for easy access by the user. Because there exists so much information, consumers may have difficulty sorting, comparing and using it. Consequently, there further exists a need for a methodology to organize and present product and vendor information for easy access by consumers.
It is generally known to use a database to electronically organize and store information. In the most general sense, a database is a collection of data. Various architectures have been devised to organize data in a computerized database. Typically, a computerized database includes data stored in mass storage devices, such as tape drives, magnetic hard disk drives and optical drives. The three principal database architectures are termed hierarchical, network and relational. A hierarchical database assigns different data types to different levels of the hierarchy, with each record having one owner. In this way, links between data items on one level and data items on a different level are simple and direct. However, a single data item can appear multiple times in a hierarchical database, which creates data redundancy. To eliminate data redundancy, a network database stores data in nodes having direct access to any other node in the database. In the network database, each record has multiple owners, and there is no need to duplicate data since all nodes are universally accessible. Alternatively, in a relational database such as Oracle®, Sybase®, Informix®, Microsoft SQL Server®, Access®, and others, the basic unit of data is a relation that comprises attributes and tuples. The records in a relational database have no owner.
In an implementation of a relational database, a relation corresponds to a table having rows, where each row corresponds to a tuple, and columns, where each column corresponds to an attribute. From a practical standpoint, rows represent records of related data and columns identify individual data elements. A table defining a retailer's product line may, for example, have product names, product numbers (e.g., Stock Keeping Units or SKUs), prices and other product features. Each row of this table holds data for a single product and each column holds a single attribute, such as a product name. The order in which the rows and columns appear in a table has no significance. In a relational database, one can add a new column to a table without having to modify older applications that access other columns in the table. Relational databases thus provide flexibility to accommodate changing needs.
All databases require a consistent structure, termed a schema, to organize and manage the information. In a relational database, the schema is a collection of tables. Similarly, for each table, there is generally one schema to which it belongs. Once the schema is designed, a tool, known as a database management system (DBMS), is used to build the database and to operate on data within the database. The DBMS stores, retrieves and modifies data associated with the database. Lastly, to the extent possible, the DBMS protects data from corruption and unauthorized access.
A human user controls the DBMS by providing a sequence of commands selected from a data sublanguage. The syntax of data sublanguages varies widely, but the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have adopted Structured English Query Language (SQL) as a standard data sublanguage for relational databases. SQL comprises a data definition language (DDL), a data manipulation language (DML) and a data control language (DCL). DDL allows users to define a database, to modify its structure and to destroy it. DML provides the tools to enter, modify and extract data from the database. DCL provides tools to protect data from corruption and unauthorized access. Although SQL is standardized, most implementations of the ANSI standard have subtle differences. Nonetheless, the standardization of SQL has greatly increased the utility of relational databases for many applications, including retail sales and merchandising operations.
Although access to relational databases is facilitated by standard data sublanguages, users still must have detailed knowledge of the database's terminology to obtain needed information from a database since one can design many different schemas to represent the storage of a given collection of information. For example, in an electronic merchandising system, a merchant may elect to store product information, such as a product SKU, product name, product description, price and tax code, within a relational database. Another merchant may elect to store a different product SKU, product name, description, price and tax code in a table. In this situation, an SQL query designed to retrieve a product price from one merchant's database is not useful for retrieving the price for the same product in the other merchant's database because the differences in data types require the use of different SQL queries. As a consequence, developers of retail applications accessing product information from relational databases have to adapt their SQL queries to each individual schema. This, in turn, prevents their applications from being used in environments where there are a wide variety of databases having different schemas, such as the World Wide Web.
The rapid development of the World Wide Web (Web) has facilitated the use of online merchant systems. Online merchant systems enable merchants to creatively display and describe their products to a global audience of shoppers using Web pages defined by an output language such as hypertext markup language (HTML). HTML enables merchants to lay out and display content, such as text, pictures, sound and video. Web shoppers access a merchant's page using a browser, such as Microsoft Explorer® or Netscape Navigator®, installed on a client connected to the Web through an online service provider, such as the Microsoft Network® or America OnLine®. The browser interprets the HTML to format and display the merchant's page for the shopper. The online merchant system likewise enables shoppers to browse through a merchant's store to identify products of interest, to obtain specific product information and to electronically purchase products after reviewing product information. Merchants often store product data, such as product descriptions, prices and pictures, in relational databases. Online merchant systems, therefore, have to interface with merchant databases to access and display product information. As each merchant organizes their product information differently, there is a large installed base of databases having a wide variety of data types for product information.
This problem is even greater for websites that seek to advertise and sell products from a variety of online merchant systems. A problem with finding product information on the Internet is that the same product may have numerous names or identifiers depending on the merchant's site on which it is stored. In particular, a product may be identified by its model name, serial number, SKU assigned by the vendor, distributor, part number, etc. Even these identifiers may vary greatly. For example, a product may have numerous model names because the name varies from country to country, the manufacturer may periodically change the product's name, or the manufacturer, consumers and merchants may use numerous different names to refer to the same product. Similarly, different vendors use different SKU numbers. As a result, a user may have great difficulty correlating product information about the same product from different sources.
Much information on products is available on the web. For example, it is well known for vendors to provide information, such as product price, on a website. U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,425 by Povilus, for DATA STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR PUBLISHING ELECTRONIC AND PRINTED PRODUCT CATALOGS, incorporated herein by reference, provides a data structure and method for creating a product database, which defines classes of product groupings and preferably includes a listing of SKUs that correspond to a product or a component of a product. The product database further includes product information for each associated SKU. Similarly, many manufacturers of products provide online information about their products. The manufacturers may further provide technical support and assistance over the Internet. In addition, many Internet sites provide reviews of products. These sites may have writers that test and review the products. Alternatively, the sites may allow users to place their opinions about a product for other users to view. These consumer-posted reviews provide special insights into products because they reflect actual experiences with the product.
However, because the product information from different sources cannot be viewed together, the utility of this abundance of information is limited.
In a preferred embodiment, the website allows the user to select the product from a list of multiple products. In turn, the website may allow the user to select the list of products from a list of classes of products. Alternatively, the website may allow the user to select desired product features and then create a list of products that possess these features.
In another embodiment, the website may allow the user to add a review or rating of the product. The website may also optionally indicate what information other users have found to be useful.
In another embodiment, the website includes decision guides that suggest a product to the user in response to a user input.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a single website to provide and organize the product and vendor information available on a distributed network, such as the Internet.
According to a preferred embodiment, the disclosure provides three principal instrumentalities for collecting, normalizing, associating and presenting data to a user. In order to be able to carry out attribute- or parameter-based searches of a database for products or other data objects (for simplicity, hereinafter the term "product" shall be used generically to mean any data object searchable on a database, such as for example products, services, news items, demographic, historical, scientific or statistical information, financial instrument or securities information, real estate information, and the like), consistent terminology and ontology must exist in the database. Additionally, in order to avoid having "orphaned" or non-related items of data present in the database, it is desirable to provide the capability of associating such items of data with other, similar products, based on shared attributes. Thirdly, it is desirable to reduce the time required to complete a parameter-based product search of a database.

System and method for retrieving and normalizing product information


A drive device for moving a flap of a vehicle includes a first fastening element which can be connected to one of a moveable component and a fixed component, and a housing tube which is axially movable relative to the first fastening element. The housing tube has an end opposite the first fastening element which carries a second fastening element which can be connected to the other of the moveable component and the fixed component. A spindle drive includes a threaded spindle having end mounted for rotation in the housing tube and fixed against axial movement with respect to the housing tube, and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle. The spindle nut is connected to the first fastening element and secured against rotation with respect to the housing tube, and a rotary drive is arranged to drive the spindle in rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive device, in particular for a flap of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known drive device has a first fastening element which can be connected to a fixed component or to a moveable component and a housing tube which, at the end opposite the first fastening element, is moveable axially relative thereto and has a second fastening element which can be fastened to the moveable component or to the fixed component. The first fastening element and the housing tube can be driven in an axially moveable manner relative to each other by means of a spindle drive which has a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle, the spindle drive being drivable rotatably by a rotary drive.
In the case of drive devices of this type, it is known to design the fastening elements as fastening ears in order to support the moment of the spindle nut with respect to the moveable component and the fixed components.
However, this leads to a complicated installation of the drive device. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a drive device of the type mentioned at the beginning which is of simple construction and can easily be fitted.


A communication control method of an Internet facsimile may provide transmitting and receiving document information via the Internet and transmitting and receiving facsimile image information via a public switched telephone network. The method may include receiving a relay result returned from a relay broadcast distribution station in the form of an electronic mail if a transmission error occurs in transmitting information from the Internet facsimile to a destination via the Internet. Based on the received relay result, a communication management report may be prepared that indicates the occurrence of the error if the error occurs. An image corresponding to the information may be attached to the report. The report may be output in the form of an electronic mail. An Internet facsimile may include a communication section, a communication management report preparation section, an image attaching section, and a communication management report output section, which carry out such a method.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication control method of an Internet facsimile and an Internet facsimile, and particularly to those to attach an image of at least a part of an untransmitted document to a communication management report to be output when a transmission error is caused to occur.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, an Internet facsimile has been in practical use, which has a function of transferring data on a local area network (LAN) and on the Internet, and a function of transmitting and receiving a normal facsimile message via a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Since such an Internet facsimile can be used to transfer image information between remote locations on the Internet, the communication costs can be reduced drastically.
When a document transmitted as a normal facsimile message causes a transmission to occur, a report indicating non-transmission with the untransmitted document attached is also output on the Internet facsimile like a normal facsimile.
However, if a document transmitted by electronic mail causes a transmission error to occur in the Internet facsimile in the related art, the Internet facsimile receives only electronic mail indicating non-transmission and thus it is difficult for the user of the transmitting person to determine which document causes the transmission error to occur.
Since the time required for receiving electronic mail indicating a transmission error increases in proportion to the information amount of a communication history, confusion of the user is caused.

Communication control method of internet facsimile and internet facsimile


A novel injector/reactor apparatus and an efficient process for the partial oxidation of light hydrocarbon gases, such as methane, to convert such gases to useful synthesis gas for subsequent hydrocarbon synthesis. Sources of a light hydrocarbon gas, such as methane, and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas are preheated and pressurized and injected through an injector means at high velocity into admixture with each other in the desired proportions, preferably at comparable momentums, at a plurality of mixing nozzles which are open to the reaction zone of a reactor and are spaced over the face of the injector, to form a reactant gas premix having a pressure drop equal to at least 1% of the lowest upstream pressure of either of said gas streams. The gas premix is ejected in a time period which preferably is less than 9 milliseconds, at a velocity between about 25 to 1000 feet/second, into a reaction zone comprising a partial oxidation zone, so that the gas mixture reacts therein. The partially-oxidized effluent is then passed into a steam reforming catalyst zone to reduce the amounts of CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and heat produced by the partial oxidation reaction to form the useful syngas, which is cooled, recovered and/or further processed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in processes and apparatus for producing synthesis gas, or syngas, from light hydrocarbon gas such as methane or natural gas by the partial oxidation and autothermal steam reforming thereof. Such syngas, comprising a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is useful for the preparation of a variety of other valuable chemical compounds, such as by application of the Fischer-Tropsch process.
The combustion stoichiometry of methane gas at 1000.degree. F. is highly exothermic and produces CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O according to the following reaction: EQU CH.sub.4 +2O.sub.2 .fwdarw.CO.sub.2 +2H.sub.2 O
(-190.3kcal/g mol CH.sub.4).
The formed gases are not useful for the production of valuable chemical compounds, and the high temperatures generated present problems with respect to reactors and catalysts which would be required to produce valuable products from the formed gases.
It is known to produce useful gases, known as synthesis gases or syngases, by partial oxidation of methane and other light hydrocarbon gases, by steam or CO2 reforming of methane and other light hydrocarbon gases, or by some combination of these two chemistries. The partial oxidation reaction of methane is a less highly exothermic reaction which, depending upon the relative proportions of the methane and oxygen and the reaction conditions, can proceed according to the following stoichiometry: EQU 2CH.sub.4 +2O.sub.2 =2CO+2H.sub.2 +2H.sub.2 O
(-64kcal/g mol CH.sub.4.) EQU 2CH.sub.4 +1.50.sub.2 =2CO+3H.sub.2 +1H.sub.2 O
(-34.9 kcal/g mol CH.sub.4.)
or EQU 2CH.sub.4 +O.sub.2 =2CO+4H.sub.2 +OH.sub.2 O
(-5.7kcal/g mol CH.sub.4.)
It is most desirable to enable the partial oxidation reaction to proceed according to the latter reaction in order to produce the most valuable syngas and minimize the amount of heat produced, thereby protecting the apparatus and the catalyst bed, and to reduce the formation of steam, thereby increasing the yield of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and enabling the steam-reforming reaction to convert any steam and hydrogen into useful syngas components.
Conventional syngas-generating processes include the gas phase partial oxidation process (GPOX), the autothermal reforming process (ATR), the fluid bed syngas generation process (FBSG), the catalytic partial oxidation process (CPO) and various processes for steam reforming. Each of these processes has advantages and disadvantages when compared to each other.
The GPOX process, illustrated for example by U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,246; UK Application GB 2,202,321A and EPO Application 0 312 133, involves the oxidation of the feed hydrocarbon gaseous, liquid or solid form, in the gas phase rather than on a catalyst surface. The individual components are introduced at a burner where they meet in a diffusion flame, which produces over-oxidation and excessive heat generation. The gas may be preheated and pressurized, to reduce the reaction time.
The ATR process and the FBSG process involve a combination of gas phase partial oxidation and steam reforming chemistry.
In the conventional ATR process, illustrated for example by U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,649 and Canadian Application 2,153,304, the hydrocarbon feed and the oxygen feed, and optionally steam, are heated, and mixed in a diffusion flame at the outlet of a single large coaxial burner or injector which discharges into a gas phase oxidation zone. The gases are reacted in the gas phase in the partial oxidation combustion zone, and then flow into a large bed of steam reforming catalyst, such as large catalyst pellets, or a monolithic body or ceramic foam, to catalyze the steam reforming reaction. The entire hydrocarbon conversion is completed by a single reactor aided by internal combustion. The burner is the key element because it mixes the feedstreams in a turbulent diffusion flame. The reaction products are introduced to the fixed bed catalyst zone, preferably of large catalyst pellets, at high temperatures from the combustion zone, due to the over-oxidation which occurs in the diffusion flame of the burner, where the oxygen and hydrocarbon gas meet. The diffusion flame includes oxygen-rich and hydrocarbon-rich zones. These result in both complete combustion and substantially higher temperatures, in the oxygen-rich zones, and hydrocarbon cracking and soot-formation, in the hydrocarbon-rich zones.
In the ATR process, the gases are intended to react before they reach the catalyst, i.e., the oxidation chemistry occurs in the gas phase, and only the steam reforming chemistry occurs in the catalytic bed. In fact, long residence times are required because diffusion flames are initiated with a large amount of over-oxidation, accompanied by a large amount of heat. Thus, time is required for the relatively slow, endothermic gas phase steam reforming reactions to cool the gas enough to prevent thermal damage to the catalyst.
The gas phase partial oxidation and steam reforming chemistry employed in the FBSG and the Autothermal Reforming (ATR) process have very similar material balance when using similar feed. However, ATR is limited in size by the scaleability of its injector design, and the more-scalable FBSG is economically debited by the cost of fluid solids and dust cleanup and by the expense of replacing agglomerated and/or eroded catalyst. The dust comprises catalyst fines due to catalyst attrition in the bed, and these fines are expensive to clean out of the syngas. While the chemistry is correct, these two processes have significant drawbacks. Both require very large reactors. For FBSG there is a significant expense in fluid solids management. For Autothermal Reforming there is a large and problematic methane/oxygen feed nozzle.
In the autothermal reforming process, the methane and oxygen-containing gases are mixed and reacted in a diffusion flame, and the oxidized effluent is passed into a steam reforming zone for steam reforming of the effluent in the presence of a fixed arrangement of a conventional steam reforming catalyst, such as a fixed catalyst bed or a ceramic foam or monolith carrier impregnated with a steam reforming catalyst.
The high temperature in the catalytic reforming zone places great demands on the reforming catalyst, which must withstand these conditions and be capable of substantially retaining its catalytic activity and stability over many years of use.
Conventional steam-reforming catalysts, or autothermal or combined reforming catalyst, can be described as being selected from the group consisting of uranium, Group VII metals, and Group VIII noble and non-noble metals. Metals may be used in combination with each other and with other metals such as lanthanum and cerium. The metals are generally supported on thermally-stable inorganic refractory oxides. Preferred catalyst metals are the Group VIII metals, particularly nickel. In the case of nickel, any nickel-containing material is useful, e.g. nickel supported on alpha alumina, nickel aluminate materials, nickel oxide, and preferably a supported nickel containing material.
Support materials include .alpha.-alumina, aluminosilicates, cement, and magnesia. Alumina materials, particularly fused tabular alumina are particularly useful as catalyst support. Preferred catalyst supports may be Group II metal oxides, rare earth oxides, .alpha.-alumina, modified .alpha.-aluminas, .alpha.-alumina-containingoxides, hexa-aluminates, Ca-aluminate, or magnesium-alumina spinel. In some cases, catalysts are stabilized by addition of a binder, for example calcium aluminum oxide. Silicon Dioxide level in the catalyst is preferred to be maintained at a very low level, e.g. less than 0.3 wt % to avoid volatilization and fouling of downstream equipment.
The shape of the catalyst carrier particles may vary considerably. Raschig rings 16 mm in diameter and height having a single 6-8 mm hole in the middle are well known in the art. Other forms, such as saddles, stars, and spoked wheels are commercially available.
According to the autothermal steam reforming process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,649 the production of high amounts of carbon or soot in the diffusion flame oxidation step is avoided by mixing the methane gas with the oxidizer gas while swirling the latter at the injection nozzle to provide a large number of mixing points in the diffusion flame. However, such process still produces the partial oxidation reaction in a diffusion flame, which results in overoxidation and an excessively high temperature effluent which can damage the steam reforming catalyst and the face of the injector.
According to Canadian Application 2,153,304, the formation of soot is avoided or reduced by reducing the molar feed ratio of steam to carbon to increase the steam reforming temperature between about 1100.degree. to 1300.degree. C., and/or by introducing the gaseous hydrocarbon feed in increments.

Multi-injector autothermal reforming process and apparatus for producing synthesis gas (law 565).


In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, an actuation system is configured for actuation of an airfoil member with a flap mechanism. The actuation system can include an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape, each partially wrapped around a first bearing and second bearing. An inboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. Similarly, an outboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. The inboard frame is coupled to the upper drive tape, while the outboard frame is coupled to the lower drive tape. An actuation of the inboard frame and outboard frame in a reciprocal manner acts move a flap input lever reciprocally upward and downward. A flap mechanism is configured to convert the movement of the flap input lever into rotational movements of the airfoil member.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to an active element actuation system for a rotor blade.
2. Description of Related Art
It can be desirable to implement an actively controlled aerodynamic member on a rotor blade to improve rotor blade performance during aircraft operation. One conventional design uses a push/pull rod connected to a bell crank on a trailing edge flap. Such a configuration can have several undesirable limitations. For example, the bell crank can penetrate the profile of the rotor blade, thereby negatively increasing the drag. Further, rod end elements can have high coulomb friction and produce an uneven stick-slip motion. Even further, wear over time can eventually produce backlash from mechanical slop between the actuator and the flap, thereby reducing controllability of the flap. Even further, conventional designs can include a potential single point failure, such as a ball screw on an electromechanical actuator, which is susceptible to a mechanical jam.
Hence, there is a need for an improved actuation system for an active element on a rotor blade.

Actuation system for an active element in a rotor blade


A patch panel system including a chassis and a plurality of modules. The chassis includes elongated structures configured to interconnect top, bottom and side portions of the chassis. The elongated structures are also configured to receive and secure a printed circuit board and the plurality of modules to the chassis. The modules include a housing and a module card. The card can include a variety of connections that provide communication to connections located on a back plane of the chassis. The system can include a combination of passive and active modules that are interchangeable to provide a variety of interface configurations.

Patch panels are used to provide an interconnection between network elements. Patch panels typically a number of interconnecting modules positioned within a patch panel housing.
Conventional patch panel housings are manufactured from bent sheetmetal. That is, the process of manufacturing such housings includes bending sheetmetal to form a top, a bottom and sides of the housing. The top, bottom and sides of the sheetmetal housing are typically held together by a number of fasteners. Additional fasteners are used to secure a back plane or panel to the sheet metal housing. The number of bent sheetmetal constructions and fasteners involve significant time and labor in the manufacture and assembly of conventional patch panel housings.
Conventional interconnecting modules used with these patch panel housings are generally configured as pass-through interconnections that provide patching interfaces to cables. If more functionality is required, such as power injection, a dedicated panel or external ancillary device (such as a power supply) along with additional patch cables are required.
In general, improvement has been sought with respect to such system and arrangements, generally to better accommodate: manufacture and assembly of the system, and adaptability of the system for a variety of applications.


A locking bolt for helping make connections between beams and columns of a building under construction includes an elongated body having a rear threaded section. This threaded section connects with a smooth toggle section having a rounded front end. An inverted L-shaped slot in the toggle section includes a deep front recess that connects with a shallow rear recess. A toggle bar is carried in the slot by a pivot pin that extends loosely through an opening in a base of the toggle bar. Connecting with the toggle base is a rearward extending locking arm. When the toggle bar locking arm seats in the slot, the front end of locking bolt may readily pass through bolt holes in a beam and a web of an adjoining column. Once the toggle bar is clear of the column web, the toggle bar locking arm is free swing from the slot and into a locking mode where held by interference fits between edge segments of the toggle bar base and walls of the slot deep recess. In this mode the beam and column are conditionally joined by tightening a nut on the bolt threaded section so that an end edge of the toggle bar locking arm engages the column web.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to fastening devices that simplify joining structural members of a building under construction and more particularly to a locking bolt adapted to aid making a connection between a vertical column and horizontal beams.
2. Prior Art
Difficulties of joining structural members during erection of a building have long been recognized and continue because there is no universally accepted solution.
One example of an assembly particularly adapted for joining sections of structural angle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,258. On ends of the angle sections to be joined are block-shaped fittings that extend beyond the respective angle ends. Each fitting has a calibrated hole positioned between a pair of plain holes. With the fittings placed end-to-end, a drift pin is inserted through the now aligned calibrated holes. Nut-bolt assemblies then are placed in the fitting plain holes to hold the fittings and related angle sections together.
U.S. Patent No. 4,254,542 then discloses a nut and bolt assembly for forming an initial loose connection between a horizontal floor beam and a vertical column of a building under construction. The bolt has a hex-shaped head on an end of a large diameter shank portion. This shank portion then is connected to a small diameter threaded end by a tapered section. Because the threaded end of the bolt has a diameter smaller than an opening in a column, initial alignment between the bolt and column opening need not be exact. Once inserted, the bolt is held in place by a nut having a sleeve that fits against a web of the column.
Additionally, locking-type fasteners that include a toggle have been known and in use for many years.
One early locking-type fastener is set out in U.S. Pat. No. 1,075,759 and includes a headless cylindrical body. Near an outer end of the body are perpendicularly offset, transversely positioned long and short slots. A locking lever is pivotally secured in the long slot by a pivot pin having ends slidably disposed respectively in the short slots. The lever pivot pin is longitudinally offset to be closer to an inner end of the lever. For use an outer end of the fastener passes through an opening in a support structure, such as a wall, until the inner end of the locking lever clears an inner side of the wall. Because of the lever pivot is offset, the lever then rotates from the long slot. Next, the fastener body is drawn inward. Serrations on a bottom edge of the lever seat against the wall inner side as a top edge of the lever fits against an outer end of the long slot.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,340,470 discloses another locking-type bolt having a threaded, cylindrical-shaped body. On each side of an outer end of the body is a recess having an L-like shape. One recess faces up while the other recess faces down. Pivotally secured in each recess is a complementary shaped toggle. For use the body of the bolt is pressed through aligned openings in spaced apart inner and outer plates, for example. Once the toggles clear an inner side of the inner plate, the toggle in the downward facing recess rotates out of its recess. The bolt then is secured by seating the rotated toggle against the inner plate. Once seated, toggle rotation is inhibited by contact between a shoulder of the toggle and a shoulder of its recess.


A system for interactive online instruction includes an instructional subscription website and video management system configured to process video recordings. The video recordings may include (i) student videos uploaded by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos. A method of interactive online instruction is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing prerecorded course materials on an instructional subscription website including video lessons accessible by subscribing students, and providing a video management system configured to process video recordings including (i) student videos submitted by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to an instructional subscription website and video management system for interactive online instruction and methods for their use.
2. Description of Related Art
Personal instruction such as private guitar lessons can be relatively expensive, and when given by a master musician may be quite expensive. Group lessons are generally less expensive. With few exceptions, however, the amount of feedback a particular student receives from the instructor in a group is more limited as opposed to private lessons.
The "Master Class" approach is an alternative by which an instructor teaches an "evaluated student" in front of an audience of other students who passively observe the interaction between the instructor and the evaluated student. The audience of other students learn from the instructor feedback given to the evaluated student. In this Master Class approach, the evaluated student receives more feedback from the instructor relative to that given in group lessons, and at a lower cost than private lessons, namely because the expense of private lessons is subsidized by the presence of the other students. Master Classes, however, may be few and far between, limited by the relative scarcity of master musicians and/or geographically prohibited.
Online instructional methods are known. The amount of human feedback, however, is quite limited. Moreover, certain instruction requires the instructor to watch the student perform, for example, playing a guitar, swinging a golf club, performing comedy, acting, and other like activities. Lack of instruction may result in uncorrected bad habits. The difficulties of handling vast video content, and the limitations thereof complicate the matter.
It would therefore be useful to provide an instructional subscription website and video management system for interactive online instruction which overcome the above and other disadvantages of known instructional methods.

Video management system for interactive online instruction


A lighting apparatus includes a frame, a first member rotatably connected to the frame for rotation about a first axis, and a second member rotatably connected to the frame for rotation about the first axis independently of the first member. A first light assembly has a first structure and a first plurality of lights rigidly mounted to the first structure. A second light assembly has a second structure and a second plurality of lights rigidly mounted to the second structure; The first light assembly is rotatably connected to the first member for rotation about a second axis and the second light assembly is rotatably connected to the second member for rotation about a third axis.

When hunting wild hogs at night, it is desirable to use a light that is perceptible by the hunter, but not by hogs or other game. Hunters therefore use colored lights, such as red lights or green lights, in the form of flashlights or lights mounted to a bow, rifle, etc.


Metal films are deposited with uniform thickness and excellent step coverage. Copper metal films were deposited on heated substrates by the reaction of alternating doses of copper(I) NN′-diispropylacetamidinate vapor and hydrogen gas. Cobalt metal films were deposited on heated substrates be the reaction of alternating doses of cobalt(II) bis(N,N′-diispropylacetamidinate) vapor and hydrogen gas. Nitrides and oxides of these metals can be formed by replacing the hydrogen with ammonia or water vapor, respectively. The films have very uniform thickness and excellent step coverage in narrow holes. Suitable applications include electrical interconnects in microelectronics and magnetoresistant layers in magnetic information storage devices.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to materials and processes for deposition of conformal films containing metals on solid substrates, and in particular, to films inc and iron metals or their oxides or nitrides. This invention may be applied to the fabrication of microelectronics devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the speed and functionality of semiconductor microelectronic devices are improved, new materials are needed. For example, materials with higher electrical conductivity are needed to form the wiring between transistors in integrated circuits. Copper has higher electrical conductivity and better stability against electro-migration than does aluminum. Therefore, copper is becoming more commonly used in silicon semiconductors. This trend is described in the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, published on the Internet at http://public.itrs.net/Files/2001ITRS/Home.htm.
Copper interconnections must also be disposed conformally in structures, such as narrow holes, and the resulting films must have highly uniform thickness. If there are variations in thickness, the electrical conductivity of the copper in a trench or via is degraded because of increased electron scattering from the rough surface of the copper. Thus high-quality barrier/adhesion layers desirably have very smooth surfaces.
One method that is suitable for making smooth, conformal layers is "atomic layer deposition", or ALD (also known as atomic layer epitaxy). The ALD process deposits thin layers of solid materials using two or more different vapor phase precursors. The surface of a substrate onto which film is to be deposited is exposed to a dose of vapor from one precursor. Then any excess unreacted vapor from that precursor is pumped away. Next, a vapor dose of the second precursor is brought to the surface and allowed to react. This cycle of steps can be repeated to build up thicker films. One particularly important aspect of this process is that the ALD reactions are self-limiting, in that only a certain maximum thickness can form in each cycle, after which no further deposition occurs during that cycle, even if excess reactant is available. Because of this self-limiting character, ALD reactions produce coatings with highly uniform thicknesses. Uniformity of ALD film thicknesses extends not only over flat substrate surfaces, but also into narrow holes and trenches. This ability of ALD to make conformal films is called "good step coverage."
ALD of copper has been demonstrated from the copper precursor Cu(II)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate by P. Martensson and J. O. Carlsson in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, volume 145, pages 2926-2931 (1998). Unfortunately, copper from this ALD process only grows on pre-existing platinum surfaces, and does not nucleate or adhere to most other surfaces in the temperature range (<200° C.) in which there is a true self-limiting ALD process. Other reactions have been suggested for ALD of copper, but no data have been published to demonstrate that the proposed surface reactions are actually self-limiting. Therefore it would be highly advantageous to have an ALD process for copper that nucleates and adheres to surfaces other than platinum.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,836 reports improvement in the adhesion of copper by use of a "glue" layer of cobalt between the copper and a substrate. However, known chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques for depositing cobalt have poor step coverage, giving only 20% thickness at the bottom of a hole with aspect ratio 5:1, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,444,263. ALD of cobalt has been claimed in US Patent Application No. 2002/0081381 for the reaction of cobalt bis(acetylacetonate) [Co(acac)2] with hydrogen, but no step coverage data were given and growth was seen only on preexisting iridium surfaces. US Patent Application No. 2002/0081381 also claims non-selective growth of cobalt by the reaction of Co(acac)2 with silane, but this cobalt may be contaminated with silicon. Thus it would be advantageous to have a deposition process for pure cobalt having high step coverage.
Thin layers of copper and cobalt are also used to form magnetoresistant write and read heads for magnetic information storage. These layers need to have very uniform thicknesses and very few defects or pinholes. While successful commercial processes exist for making these devices, it would be advantageous to have deposition processes for copper and cobalt that produced layers with more uniform thickness and fewer defects.
Advanced designs for magnetic memory integrated with microelectronic circuits (see, for example, US Patent Application No. 2002/0132375 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,090) call for highly uniform and conformal layers of metals (particularly Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Mn) with tightly controlled thickness and sharp interfaces. There are no known methods for depositing these metal layers with the required conformality and control of thickness.

Atomic layer deposition using metal amidinates

President and Fellows of Harvard University


Systems and methods for producing product gas fuel and solid char fuel from a carbon-containing feedstock are described. Feedstock is introduced into and transported through at least one substantially horizontal sublimation reaction chamber. An initial and final sublimation temperature is maintained within less than ±10° C. in an atmosphere free from external oxygen and externally supplied catalyst. The system is configured to not have any product gas leak out of the reaction chamber or oxygen leak into a hot box configured to heat the reaction chamber.

Natural gas and crude oil are the sourced of the vast majority of fuels used today. These sources are obtained from limited underground reserves. As the earth's natural gas and crude oil supplies are depleted, the world-wide demand for energy is simultaneously growing. Over the next ten years, depletion of the remaining world's easily accessible natural gas and crude oil reserves will lead to a significant increase in cost for fuel obtained from them.
Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a fuel gas mixture consisting primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often some carbon dioxide. It is commonly used as an intermediate in creating synthetic natural gas, synthetic petroleum, and products to drive gas turbines. Production methods include the gasification of carbon-containing biomass such as, for example, gasification of agricultural waste and municipal waste. However, syngas has less than half the energy density of natural gas and the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide created are considered harmful contributors to global warming.
The search to find processes that can efficiently convert renewable materials to fuels suitable for transportation, generation of electricity, and/or heating is an important factor in meeting the ever-increasing demand for energy. Methods and systems for efficiently converting carbon-based feedstocks such as biomass into gaseous fuel with energy densities on the order at least that of natural gas are needed. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides various advantages over the prior art.

System and method using a horizontal sublimation chamber for production of fuel from a carbon-containing feedstock


A flow control apparatus for enriching gas containing oxygen with ozone includes a generator for producing the enriched mixture. A flow meter is connected to the generator outlet to measure the flow of the generated enriched gas. A mass flow control device is connected downstream of the flow meter. A flow control comparator compares a flow value as obtained from the measuring means and a preset constant value. A signal output of the flow control comparator is connected to a signal input of the mass flow control device for varying the mass flow in accordance with the comparison. An outlet of the mass flow control device is connected to an inlet of a compressor for compressing gas, the inlet gas pressure varying to keep compressed gas at a constant pressure. Feedback is provided between an outlet and an inlet of the compressor. A second mass control device is intermediately connected along the feedback connection for adjusting the mass flow of gas passing through the feedback means. A pressure control comparator compares the inlet pressure of the compressor to a second preset constant value. A signal output of the pressure control device is connected to a signal input of the mass flow control device for varying the mass flow being fedback in accordance with the comparison. The flow controlled compressed gas is delivered to a reactor at a constant pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of producing an ozoniferous process gas in which oxygen or an oxygen-containing charge gas is enriched with ozone in one or more ozone producers, the process gas leaving the ozone producer or ozone producers and enriched with ozone. The enriched gas is fed to a compressor or a compressor group consisting of a plurality of compressors connected in parallel. Pressure is increased relative to the pressure on the suction side of the compressor, and is then fed to a reactor or another consumer, the process-gas delivery flow being adjustable and/or controllable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,703 for example, discloses a method of this generic category.
2. Discussion of Background
In industrial applications, in the compression of gases to predeterminable final pressures, the delivery flow must also always be controlled, in which case, especially in processing applications where chemicals have to interact with one another, the mass flow and not the volumetric flow will be the variable to be controlled. Depending on compressor type and in particular depending on volumetrically acting compressor type (delivered volumetric flow is approximately constant and independent of the density). In the case of reciprocating pressure-piston, gear, screw compressors, rotating compressors and liquid ring pumps, this control may be effected according to the prior art via a speed control, a throttle control on the pressure side, intermittent operation of the compressor in combination with an accumulator or via a compressor bypass control.
If the gas flow to be compressed in such a processing application is an ozoniferous gas, such as for the bleaching of pulp by means of ozone for example, or in circuits having as high an ozone absorption in water as possible, apart from the requirement for controllability of the mass delivery flow there is also the requirement to prevent as far as possible the destruction of the ozone in the compressor, e.g. as a result of temperature rise during compression.
For the compression of ozoniferous gas, these requirements can best be fulfilled with water ring pumps, although the suitability of water-cooled single screw compressors is also mentioned in the technical literature. The compression of such ozoniferous gases by means of injectors is also possible, but is restricted to applications having a smaller pressure increase. In the case of the water ring pump mainly used (cf., e.g., LUEGGER volume 6 "Lexikon der Energietechnik und Kraftmaachinen", Deutsche Verlagsanstalt Stuttgart 1967, page 387, keyword "Flussigkeitsring-Verdichter"), delivery-flow control via adaptation of the vane rotor speed can be used only to a very limited extent on account of the requisite stability of the water ring formed, and an intermittent operation or variable throttling on the pressure side are ruled out for reasons of economy and because of the higher pressure-increase rates desired. Up to now such water ring pumps for the applications mentioned have been controlled for mass delivery flow by means of a combination of suction-flow control member and compressor bypass control (circulation control). In this case, the compressor is always operated with the same power input and the same gas flow, and the differential flow between compressor gas flow and the desired gas delivery flow is expanded to suction pressure via a bypass control valve and fed to the compressor again. Here, the control variable for the bypass is the adjustable (but otherwise kept constant) suction pressure of the compressor. At positive compression pressures of 10 to 14 bar for example, the delivery flow could thus be controlled within an appropriate range of about 50 to 100%, the compressor suction pressure being set just below the ozone gas pressure. The ozone-producer pressure is always higher than the atmospheric pressure and is kept constant; the positive pressure is typically between 0.4 bar and 2.0 bar, which means that the pressure upstream of the compressor is also always higher than the atmospheric pressure. This is a special mode of operation of such water ring compressors which up to now has only been used in combination with ozone production (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,703).
In applications of water ring pumps with this control concept, however, ozone decomposition has nonetheless been observed, the extent of which has turned out to be approximately proportional to the set bypass flow and which has therefore led to undesirable additional consumption of energy and charge gas, especially at lower delivery-flow part loads.


Provided in the present disclosure are a message management method and terminal, the method comprising: receiving a first input of an operating body for a target message on a group communication interface; in response to the first input, displaying a message management widget, the message management widget comprising processing progress information of the target message; when a processing feedback message of at least one message receiving subject for the target message is received, updating display content of the message management widget.

With popularization of terminals such as mobile phones and tablets, contact between people relies more and more on social communication software in the terminals, and people join more and more communication groups. When a user sends, to a communication group, a message that needs to be processed by other users, the user needs to learn processing progress of the message in time. However, as the communication group has numerous messages, the user often needs to constantly pay attention to messages in a group communication interface, or search related messages from the numerous messages one by one. Otherwise, the user may not be able to learn in time or even miss some processing progress of the message. It can be learned that the problem of relatively complicated and cumbersome operation exists when the user learns the processing progress of the message in the communication group in related technologies.

Method of managing processing progress of a message in a group communication interface and terminal