The present invention is a Christmas display (10) resembling a ski-lift and ski-slope, for use in conjunction with a Christmas tree (92). The display (10) comprises a track (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16), wherein the first end is at a higher elevation than the second end, and a lift (18) disposed between the first end (14) and the second end (16). The device also comprises a plurality of figurines (30) having a base configured for slidable movement along track (12) from the first end of track (12) to the second end of track (12) whereby the lift (18) transports the figurine (30) back to the first end (14) of the track (12) in a continuous manner. In the preferred embodiment, the display also comprises a support mechanism (90) for supporting the display on a Christmas tree.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to decorative displays, and more specifically to decorative displays incorporating moving elements. Most particularly, the present invention pertains to decorative displays of the aforementioned type particularly suited for use as Christmas displays.
2. Background Art
A wide variety of ornamental displays incorporating moving elements exist. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,685 (Udagawa) discloses such a display comprising an inclined track having a first raised end and a second end therebeneath, with a lifting means disposed between the two ends. The lifting means transports a plurality of moving figurines from the second end of the track to the first end whereupon the figurines, which are mounted on rollers, traverse the track from the first end to the second end, and so on. A drawback to the Udagawa device is that it is capable of operation only when supported on a relatively flat surface, such as a ground surface or a table top. The devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,678,449 and 4,609,363 suffer similar drawbacks.
It is, therefore, an object the present invention to provide a display which is capable of operation while suspended above a ground surface. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Christmas display, incorporating moving elements, for use in conjunction with a Christmas tree, thereby creating a visually pleasing effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a Christmas display, incorporating moving elements and a track upon which the moving elements traverse, for use in conjunction with a Christmas tree, comprising a mechanism for positioning the track about the tree and above a ground surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a Christmas display of the aforementioned type which simulates a ski-lift and a ski-slope, and which incorporates lifting means for lifting a plurality of figurines from one end of the ski-slope to the other whereupon the figurines traverse the ski-slope, thereby creating an "action" scene.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide means for optionally supporting the display on a ground surface.

Action ornament with Christmas tree mounting therefor


The invention relates to an illumination device for a surgical microscope comprising a main objective lens (1) surrounding a main optical axis (6) and an illumination optical system (2) having a light source (3). Two prisms (4, 5) are provided between the main objective lens (1) and the illumination optical system (2). During operation, the first prism (4) causes part of the light flow from the illumination optical system (2) to be deflected at a small angle to the main optical axis (6) and the second prism (5) causes another part of the light flow from the illumination optical system (2) to be deflected along the main optical axis (6). Both prisms (4, 5) are arranged next to each other. The light entry surfaces (7) of both prisms face the illumination optical system (2) in such a way that light flux can be independently adjusted for the two prisms (4, 5). This results in a compact design and a good light flux distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an illumination system for a surgical microscope. Quite varied illumination systems are known in microscopy. Illumination is a particularly difficult subject in surgical microscopy, and, there, especially, in ophthalmology. That is because optimal illumination can be critical for surgical success and also because the light intensity under the microscope cannot be made as high as might be desired because of danger to the tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
German Patent C2-40 28 605 and its family member, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,877, present a known illumination system. A still older illumination system which works well, was marketed in 1985 by the applicant""s predecessor company as xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 Illumination Systemxe2x80x9d (see the Wild Heerbrugg AG brochure M1 668d-X.85 of Oct. 1985).
In this design, the entire light beam is deflected from an illumination optical system with its lamp by a first prism, from a perpendicular to the optical axis of the main objective of the microscope into an oblique beam at a small angle (e. g., 6xc2x0) from the optical axis. This is the main illumination of the surgical field. But, to get the xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 illuminationxe2x80x9d particularly desired for eye surgery because of the xe2x80x9cred reflectionxe2x80x9d which it produces, a transparent disk parallel to the principal plane of the main objective is placed between the first prism and the main objective. This disk can be rotated about the main axis. The disk carries a second prism, which is relatively narrow in comparison with the first one. This second prism moves part of the light beam diverted by the first prism into the main axis by means of two approximately parallel mirror surfaces.
Thus, rotation of the mirror can optionally add xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 illuminationxe2x80x9d to standard illumination at a small angle to the main axis. That process reduces the light flux of the standard illumination in proportion to the light flux which it uses. Theoretically, it is possible to control the distribution of the light by the angular position about the main axis.
As well proven as this known design is, there has been a great desire for newer solutions which work without rotating disks. The solution of the German C and U.S. patents cited was noted initially as one such solution.
A significantly more recent design is reported in Japanese Patent Application 9-105866. It is somewhat comparable with the old xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 Illuminationxe2x80x9d of the predecessor of the applicant, in that it has, below the first prism, a second prism with two mirror surfaces, but it does not rotate about the main axis. This design gives a fundamentally constant division of the light flux between the 0xc2x0 portion and the larger portion that is permanently incident at a small angle. Apparently it is possible to reduce the joint light flux by a diaphragm which can be inserted into the beam path of the illumination optical system.
This Japanese design has in common with the xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 Illuminationxe2x80x9d that two prisms are placed in succession, so that both require a certain distance in front of the main objective. In addition, control of the light flux in the main axis region necessarily changes the light flux which is incident on the object at a small angle.
One of those effects, and preferably the other also, are intended to be avoided according to the invention.
The object of the invention, then, is to provide a compact illumination system with at least one oblique (with respect to the main axis) light flux and at least one parallel light flux, so that as much as possible the two light fluxes can be controlled independently of each other.
This object is attained, for the first time, by an illumination system according to the present invention. The illumination system generally comprises an illumination means for providing an illumination beam of light along an illumination optical axis, and a plurality of prisms located to receive and divert respective portions of the illumination beam through the objective lens of the microscope either along the main optical axis of the objective lens or at a small angle relative thereto.
An elegant solution with symmetric illumination of the object includes a central prism for diverting a portion of the illumination beam along the main optical axis, and a pair of prisms located on each opposite side of the central prism for diverting portions of the illumination beam at a small angle to the main optical axis, wherein the three prisms have a combined light entry surface area facing the illumination beam that essentially admits the entire illumination beam when unblocked.
The present invention gives a small height, as the prisms are now side by side. It also assures that the light entry areas of the two prisms can be supplied with a partial flux of light independently of each other, so that each of these partial light fluxes can be controlled independently of the other.
Placing an adjustable diaphragm between the illumination optical system and at least one light entry surface of at least one prism presents an example of one such potential for regulation. Adjustable diaphragms such as an opaque disk with windows which can be selectively placed so as to allow the illumination beam to enter different light entry surfaces to different extents, as needed, are simply adjustable diaphragms. An LCD which, under electronic control, allows freely selectable portions to enter the light entry surfaces is a particularly user-friendly diaphragm. LCDs can be used as gray filters by selective darkening. On the other hand, electronically stored window shapes can be used to provide quite varied illumination adjustments.
The invention is not limited to these stated diaphragms, though. It can instead be equipped with any known or novel system for light control without losing its essential feature, the flat, compact design and the ability to control independently.
In a particular embodiment and possibly an alternative to those described previously, at least one light-interrupting part is positioned at at least one of the reflective surfaces of the prisms, in such a way that the light-interrupting part can be moved or swiveled with electronic means, or can be electro-optically controlled so as to refract the total reflection. It can reasonably be used alternatively or even in combination. If needed, it also leads to an improved and even more symmetric illumination.
The term xe2x80x9clight-interrupting partxe2x80x9d is understood to mean any element in which total reflection is eliminated at the contact site when in contact with a total reflection surface. They could, for example, be prisms, glass plates, or even certain, possibly non-transparent, plastic or metal plates or liquids. This particular embodiment provides not only the possibility for light control, but also the possibility for dividing a light flux for use of another optional mirror element to produce another illumination beam at an angle to the main axis. There is another preferred embodiment in which only the xe2x80x9c0xc2x0 Illuminationxe2x80x9d is controlled by using the interruption of total reflection or, in case the light flux is diverted out of the second prism, it is directed to another oblique illumination beam independent of the first oblique illumination beam.
According to the invention, a means for controlling the color of the light can also be provided, independently of, or in addition to, the light flux regulation.

Lighting device for a surgical microscope


A purge control device for an evaporative control system comprises a single housing having two solenoid actuated valves controlling parallel orifices leading from an inlet chamber to an exit flow path. The two solenoid valves have different sized orifices to provide different flow capacities. Purge flow is controlled by an electronic control module which regulates the duty cycle of the solenoids. Each valve receives its own signal so that the flow through the orifices is individually controlled.

Evaporative control systems are commonly employed on motor vehicles to reduce emissions of fuel vapor. Generally a storage canister containing activated charcoal adsorbs fuel vapor emitted from the fuel tank. To purge the canister, vacuum from the engine intake manifold draws air through the canister. The air carries the adsorbed fuel vapor into the intake manifold for combustion in the engine. To avoid purging an excess amount of vapor when the vacuum is high, i.e., at idle or light engine load, a purge control device is situated in the vacuum line between the canister and the intake manifold. One type of purge control device is controlled by the engine control module through a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. The effective flow area of the device is proportional to the duty cycle of the PWM signal. The duty cycle for a given frequency is the ratio of the on time of the signal to the period of the signal expressed as a percent. For current applications this method of purge control is adequate. Future regulations may require a larger canister and therefore, a more rapid canister purge. That would lead to a requirement for improved control of the purge flow, particularly during idle operation of the vehicle when the engine is least capable of consuming the fuel.


An information management system is leveraged to mitigate risks associated with data objects in a computer system. The information management system collects information about the data objects and classifies the data objects into one or more categories. The results of the classification and/or the collected information can be stored in a data repository and used to mitigate legal and/or security risks. For instance, the data repository can be searched and/or queried to identify data objects that a party associated with the computer system is legally required to disclose to an adverse party in a legal proceeding. Alternately or additionally, the information in the data repository can be used to classify a data object into a category requiring one or more security and/or legal measures. The information management system maps the category to a service level and orchestrates execution of the service level.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information management. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for mitigating security and legal risks associated with data objects stored in a computer system by leveraging an information management system.
2. the Relevant Technology
The world is slowly and continually moving from being paper-based to being electronic-based. This evolution is apparent in almost every aspect of life, from the workplace, to government institutions, to home life. In each area, old paper-based methods of communication and storage are being replaced by electronic information. Businesses have replaced bulky paper files and expensive storage rooms with electronic files and searchable databases. Tax-payers are encouraged to submit returns electronically rather than in paper form, and email is rapidly becoming the principal form of communication.
There are several reasons for this transition, one of which is the convenience and accessibility of electronic systems. Email, for example, often arrives shortly after sending it, and information submitted electronically can be quickly formatted, processed, and stored without the inconvenience of manually reviewing each submission by hand.
As entities become more dependent on electronic data, the ability to manage electronic data becomes crucial for a variety of different reasons. For example, much of the electronic data maintained by an entity or organization often relates to different aspects of the entity and is often subject to various considerations. Without an effective way to manage the electronic data, it is difficult to apply the appropriate considerations to the data.
Further, there are often risks associated with storing electronic data. For instance, entities involved in litigation or other legal proceedings often have a legal duty to disclose to adverse parties all electronic data that is relevant to the litigation during discovery. Failure to identify and disclose all relevant electronic data can result in sanctions against an entity, such as attorneys' fees, admissions of fact, default judgments, and the like. Additionally, laws and/or regulations may exist that define information which must be retained for specific periods of time and/or which must not be kept longer than a specified period of time.
As another example, entities often possess electronic data containing sensitive and/or confidential information that should not be exposed to external entities or to too wide a group of users within the entity. Failure to maintain such information in a secure fashion can subject an entity to serious repercussions, including expenses associated with regulatory compliance when sensitive/confidential information is compromised, lost revenue due to a negative public perception, and adverse effects on potential business deals, to name a few.
Consequently, there currently exists a need in the art for mitigating risks associated with electronic data.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Data classification and management for risk mitigation


A carton for packaging pourable material. Upper end panel sections are connected by gussets to sloped upper side panel sections, and the latter are connected by overlapping horizontal flaps. Separation of an end tear strip portion of the horizontal flaps allows an upper end panel section to be folded out to form a pouring spout configuration. The tab remaining after separation of the tear strip portion is inserted in a slit in the upper end panel section to hold the section in place after being reclosed.

Particles or flakes of dry material, such as cereal, are conventionally packaged in rectangular boxes having a top panel which can be opened to gain access to the contents. Typically, the top panel includes overlapping flaps connected to the side panels and underlying glue flaps connected to the end panels. The package is opened by separating the outer top panel flap from the inner top panel flap, and is closed by inserting an end tab on the outer flap into a locking slot in the inner flap. The slot is initially hidden from view by the overlapping flap and is exposed upon separating the two flaps. A common complaint against this package design is the difficulty in separating the flaps. The glue adhering the overlapping flaps to each other and to the underlying short glue flaps is often so strong or so liberally applied that the outer flap tears instead of separating along the glue line. If the tab is completely torn off, the top panel flaps cannot be connected together to close the package. Even if the tab is only partially torn or the outer flap is weakened by tearing in other areas, the flaps cannot normally be securely held in place after opening.
Another complaint against the conventional package has to do with pouring the contents. Pouring takes place over an end edge of the top opening and over the adjacent end glue flap. This relatively wide area makes it difficult to control the flow of the particles, sometimes resulting in the particles spilling out over the outer sides of the glue flaps.
It would be desirable to be able to package pourable material in cartons that can be easily opened without tearing and readily closed again to a secure position. It would also be desirable to be able to better direct the flow of the contents during pouring.


Cooling is performed efficiently by constituting: a fan which is provided with an outlet; a heatsink which is provided with an inlet with a larger size than that of the outlet of the fan in a height direction and through the interior of which an airflow generated by the fan passes; and a guide member which is disposed between the fan and the heatsink and which is configured to guide the airflow to an outer surface of the heatsink.

Cooling devices are known, which include: heat-dissipating fins that dissipate heat emitted from components; and a fan that cools down the heat-dissipating fins by blowing air onto them (for example, Patent Literature 1 listed below).
In general, such a cooling device employs a structure in which most of the airflow from the fan is directed to the heat-dissipating fins, in order to enhance the heat-dissipation effect of the heat-dissipating fins.
For electronic apparatuses, such as notebook personal computers, a slim device package is in demand. In an electronic apparatus of this type, the fan and the heat-dissipating fins are subjected to a stricter layout restriction than other mounted components are. For this reason, it is rare that a fan with a larger opening than the height of heat-dissipating fins is installed.
Accordingly, for electronic apparatuses, a configuration in which the airflow from the fan is directed between the heat-dissipating fins is employed.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-200144
By employing the configuration in which the airflow from the fan is directed between the heat-dissipating fins, the air from the fan is inhibited from flowing through part excluding the heat-dissipating fins. Therefore, this configuration may cause a disadvantage in that the heat tends to be retained within the gap between the heat-dissipating fins and the package, which is outside a space where the heat-dissipating fins are disposed.

Cooling unit, electronic apparatus, and guide member


A left eye image is projected from a projector 1L, and a right eye image is projected from a projector 1R. The images projected from the projectors 1L and 1R pass through light transmitting portions 21 in light shading means 2a. Consequently, pairs of right and left eye images are formed on a dispersion panel 2b. The light shading means 2a is composed of a liquid crystal display panel, for example. The width of each of the light transmitting portions 21 is made so small that two or more pairs of right and left eye images can exist in each of predetermined regions of the dispersion panel 2b. Further, the position of each of the light shading portions 21 can be shifted in the transverse direction. Each of the pairs of right and left eye images formed on the dispersion panel 2b is introduced into the right and left eyes of a viewer upon being separated by a lens portion of a lenticular lens 2c. A sensor 10 detects the position of the viewer. A driving and control unit 12 changes the positions of the light transmitting portions 21 in the light shading means 2a on the basis of an output of the sensor 10.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic display capable of viewing a stereoscopic image without using special glasses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a method of realizing display of a stereoscopic image without requiring special glasses, a method of a double lenticular system using two liquid crystal display (LCD) projectors as well as using a double lenticular screen as a screen has been proposed. This system is a system of respectively displaying a left eye image and a right eye image from one LCD projector 1a and the other LCD projector 1b, and projecting the images on a double lenticular screen 200 arranged ahead of the projectors, as shown in FIG. 10. The double lenticular screen 200 is so constructed that lenticular screens 200a and 200c are arranged ahead of and behind a dispersion panel 200b on which the images are formed such that the dispersion panel 200b is interposed therebetween.
The left eye image and the right eye image are respectively changed into vertically striped images 200bL and 200bR by the function of the lenticular screen 200a on the side of the LCD projectors 1a and 1b (on the incidence side), and are alternately formed on the dispersion panel 200b. The right eye striped image and the left eye striped image out of the vertically striped images formed on the dispersion panel 200b are introduced upon being respectively separated into the right eye (3R) and the left eye (3L) of a viewer 3 by the function of the lenticular screen 200c arranged on the light emission side of the dispersion panel 200b (on the side of the viewer). The viewer who views the left and right eye striped images with his or her respective eyes can view a stereoscopic image without wearing special glasses by the function of binocular parallax.
In this type of stereoscopic display, regions where a right eye image or a left eye image can be viewed alternately exist at the optimum viewing distance (D) from a screen 200, as shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, a range indicated by an arrow R is a right eye image viewing region, and a region indicated by an arrow L is a left eye image viewing region. When the right eye 3R and the left eye 3L of the viewer 3 are respectively in the R region and the L region (a position indicated by A), a stereoscopic image can be viewed. On the other hand, in the reverse case (a position indicated by B), a stereoscopic image cannot be viewed due to reversed view.
As a method of preventing a reversed view state created by the shift in the position of the head of the viewer, a method of detecting the position of the head of a viewer 3 by a sensor 100 for detecting the position of the head of the viewer 3, and replacing the right and left images displayed by the LCD projectors 1a and 1b (which are not illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13) when it is judged that the head of the viewer 3 is in a reversed viewing position, for example, has been conventionally known, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. That is, when the position of the viewer 3 is changed from a just image viewing position as shown in FIG. 12 to a reversed viewing position, the right and left eye images displayed are replaced with each other, as shown in FIG. 13. Consequently, an image viewing region R indicated by a rhombus is positioned in the position of the right eye of the viewer, and an image viewing region L indicated by a rhombus is positioned in the position of the left eye of the viewer.
In the above-mentioned prior art, however, means for replacing the right and left images with each other is required. A large screen display is viewed by a plurality of viewers in many cases. In this case, when only one of the viewers moves, and the right and left images are replaced with each other by its head tracking, the other viewers in just image viewing positions cannot view a proper image.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has for its object to provide a stereoscopic display requiring no means for replacing right and left images with each other and capable of properly viewing, even when it is viewed by a lot of viewers, a stereoscopic image by each of the viewers.


Fuel cell systems comprising ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel and an anode and/or cathode which comprises a non-noble metal (e.g., copper) or a non-metallic substance (e.g., an iron electron-transfer mediating complex) as a catalyst are disclosed. Fuel cell systems comprising ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel and a peroxide as an oxidant are also disclosed. Uses of the fuel devices are further disclosed.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to energy conversion and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a direct liquid fuel cell system, which utilizes ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel, and to applications employing a fuel cell system.
A fuel cell (FC) is an electrochemical device that continuously converts chemical energy directly to electrical energy as long as a fuel (commonly hydrogen, or hydrogen-containing compounds) and an oxidant (commonly oxygen) are supplied. One of the main advantages of fuel cells is their high energy density (typically 8,000-9,000 Wh/kg), which is about 18 times higher than conventional electrochemical power sources (such as, for example, Pb—PbO2; Zn—O2; Zn—Ag; Ni—Cd; Li-ion etc.).
Fuel cells are characterized by high efficiency compared to internal combustion engines. In addition, fuel cells are ecologically friendly and several types can function at temperatures as high as 100° C.
The development of fuel cells is one of the main directions in the field of new power engineering. Several types of fuel cells based on H2/O2, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, alkaline, proton exchange membrane, direct methanol and solid oxide were developed in the last two decades [Carrette et al., Chem Phys Chem. 2000, 1, 162; Springer et al., J. Electrochem Soc. 1991, 8, 2334; Atkinson et al., Nature, 2004, 3, 17; Steele and Heinzel, Nature, 2001, 14, 345]. However, these fuel cells are still far from mass production due to multiple practical limitations.
Some of the obstacles associated with fuel cell development include complex electrode and cell design, catalysts poisoning and mechanical instability, high catalyst cost, low potential and slow oxidation kinetic.
In the last years, research efforts were focused on hydrogen-rich boron compound derivative-based fuel cells such as sodium borohydride fuel cells [see, for example, Miley et al. J. Pow Sour. 2007, 165, 509; Amendola et al. J. Pow Sour. 1999, 84, 130; Leon et al. J. Pow Sour. 2006, 155, 172; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,562,497, 6,758,871 and 6,630,226; Leon et al. J. Pow Sour. 2007, 164, 441; Raman and Shukla, Fuel cell, 2007, 3, 225; Wee, J. H. J. Pow. Sour. 2006, 155, 329; Li et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2003, 150, A868; Liu et al. J. Pow. Sour. 2008, 175, 226; Kim et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2004, 151, A1039; and Choudhury et al. J. Pow. Sour. 2005, 143, 1].
Sodium borohydride is stable in solid state, and is characterized by an electrical capacity of 5,670 Ah/kg, energy density of 9,300 Wh/kg and hydrogen content of 11% (w/w). Sodium borohydride has no kinetic limitations, especially when utilized in the presence of noble metal catalysts. The standard potential of reduction (E0) of sodium borohydride (BH4−) is −1.24 V (see, equation 1 below).BH−4+8OH−→BO−2+6H2O+8e− E°=−1.24 V  (1)
One of the first NaBH4-based fuel cells, developed by Amendola et al. (supra), consists of BH4− solution as fuel (in 6M NaOH), O2 as oxidant, OH− ion as conducting membrane and Au/Pt anode and cathode as catalysts. This fuel cell functions only at 70° C., and shows high specific power density of 60 mW/cm2 (I=120 mA/cm2). This type of fuel cells, however, suffers from several drawbacks: the use of noble metal catalysts for increasing the cell efficiency is both costly and impractical, because BH4− is not chemically stable in the presence of such catalysts (due to hydrogen gas evolution), especially at the cell's working temperature (70° C.); the cathode/anode poisoning as a result from the existence of CO in air (carbonization), which requires a special scrubbing device to remove CO from air inlet; the inherent instability of BH4− anion in alkali solutions other than concentrated alkali solutions (>6M NaOH), with the latter being user unfriendly; and the slow kinetic of oxygen reduction.
Sodium borohydride-based fuel cells which utilize hydrogen peroxide as oxidant have therefore been developed (see, for example, Walsh et al, supra). These fuel cells have all the above-described inherent disadvantages of BH4−/noble metal catalysts, and, moreover, a concentrated alkali solution (6M NaOH) in the anode compartment and a concentrated acidic solution (2M HCl) in the cathode compartment are used.
NaBH4\H2O2 fuel cells which use metal catalysts (for anode and cathode) and Nafion-961 membrane, have also been developed (see, Shukla et al, supra). These fuel cells are characterized by modest current density and are further disadvantageous for using concentrated acidic and basic solutions.
Ammonia-borane (AB, NH3BH3) has recently been suggested as an alternative hydrogen-rich boron material. Ammonia borane (or borazane) is characterized by an electrical capacity of 5200 Ah/kg, energy density of 8400 Wh/kg (as NaBH4) and hydrogen content of 19% (w/w). AB is stable in aqueous solutions at pH≧6.5, in contrast to BH4−. The standard potential of reduction (E0) of Ammonia-borane is −1.216 V (see, equation 2 below).NH3BH3+6OH−→BO2−+NH4++4H2O+6e− E0=−1.216 V  (2)
Yao et al. [Journal of Power Sources 2007, 165, 125; referred to herein throughout as Zhung] described a fuel cell consisting of 0.5M AB (2M NaOH)—Ag catalyst//air/MnO2 catalyst. The cell produces an open circuit potential (EOCP) of −1.15 V, a current of 1 mA/cm2 for EW=0.9 V, a current of 2 mA/cm2 for EW=0.8 V and a current of 10 mA/cm2 for EW=0.4 V.
Zhang et al. [J. Pow. Sour. 2007, 168, 167; referred to herein throughout as Xu-1] describe a fuel cell consisting of AB (2M NaOH)-air fuel cell using Pt catalyst (0.15 mg/cm2 for anode and cathode). In this fuel cell, thiourea (1 mM) was added to the background electrolyte in order to prevent fuel spontaneous hydrolysis (decomposition). The cell produces a current of 24 mA/cm2 (EW=0.8 V) at RT. Zhang et al. [J. Pow. Sour. 2008, 182, 515; referred to hereinthroughout as Xu-2] further described fuel cell that consists of anode −0.5M AB (2M NaOH)/Pt-0.9 mg/cm2//cathode Pt-1.3 mg/cm2, humidified O2. Pump was used for fuel supply and fan was used for air (O2) supply. The cell produces a current of 50 mA/cm2 at EW=0.75 V (EOCP=−1.08 V).
U.S. Patent Application having Publication No. 2007/0151153, by Xu et al. describes a method of hydrogen generation which is effected by contacting ammonia borane with a metal catalyst, a solid acid or carbon dioxide, and further teaches using the generated hydrogen as fuel for fuel cells. JP Patent Application No. 2006-286549 teaches a direct liquid type fuel cell that utilizes an aqueous solution of a borane ammonium compound.
Additional background art includes U.S. Pat. No. 7,544,837 and U.S. Patent Application having Publication No. 2007/0128475, which teach a method of dehydrogenating an amine-borane using a base metal catalyst. The method, according to the teachings of these documents, may be used to generate H2 for portable power sources, such as fuel cells; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,285,142, which teaches a hydrolytic in-situ hydrogen generator that contains an amine borane (AB) complex in a solid or a slush form, at least one hydrogen generation catalyst, being an inorganic metal complex of the platinum group of metals, and water or other hydroxyl group containing solvent.
Further background art includes a review by Demirchi and Miele [Energy & Environmental Sci, 2009, DOI 10. 1039/b900595a)], in which sodium borohydride-based fuel cells vs. ammonia borane-based fuel cells are discussed.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is characterized by high standard potential of reduction (E0) of 1.77 V, and is therefore considered as a potent oxidant.
An AB/H2O2 fuel cell is characterized by a theoretical energy of 15,500 W/kg while a SB/O2 fuel cell is characterized by a theoretical energy of only 9,400 W/kg [see, for example, Demirchi's review, supra].
In the last years, non noble cathodes such as MnO2 were used as catalysts for the electro-oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, but were found ineffective [see, for example, as review by Walsh at al., J. power sources, 155 (2006) 172].
Lead sulfate (PbSO4) was also used as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) catalyst [A. Shukla, Fuel cell 07; (2007) No. 3; 225-231].
Many electrochemical H2O2 sensors were fabricated, based on different electron mediators such as Prussian blue [Arkady et al. Anal. Chem., 1995, 67 (14), pp 2419-2423], ferrocene (FeC) [Mulchandani et al., Anal. Chem. 1995, 67, 94-100] and others [see, for example, A. Shinishiro; Chem. Sens, v.21 sup.B (2005) 61], however, the methodologies utilizing such catalysts produced a relatively low current.
Shukla et al. described the use of Prussian blue (PB) as an inorganic electron-transfer mediator (on carbon black; C/PB and polymer) as a catalyst for H2O2 reduction in a SB/H2O2 fuel cell [Shukla at al., J. Power sources, 2008, 178, 86]. The taught C/PB electrode was associated with a complicated fabrication protocol and a modest current density of about 35 mA/cm2.
Ferrocene is known as a potent electron-transfer mediator [see, for example, Anthony et al., Anal. Chem., 1984, 56, 667-671; Gagne et al., Inorg. Chem. 1980, 19, 2854-2855]. Ferrocene is chemically stable in acid solutions and is characterized by good absorption to carbon materials (via π-π interaction).
Attempts to adapt C/Fc for fuel cell technology have been described [see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,842; and K. Gong, Science, 2009, 223, 760]. The described methodologies, however, involved a treatment at a temperature of 700° C., which results in decomposition of the C/Fc catalyst.
Additional art includes Logan B. E. and Regan J. M., Environmental Science & Technology, Sep. 1, 2006, 5172-5180.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Direct liquid fuel cell having ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel


An equipment label comprising an identity plate bearing information markings and an electronic tag having electrical contacts. The identity plate is provided with means for attachment to an item of equipment and is adapted to mount the electronic tag such that in use the label can be attached to the item of equipment with the identity plate""s markings exposed to be read and the electrical contacts accessible for communication with the tag.

This application claims priority of United Kingdom patent Application No. 0011148.4, filed on May 10, 2000.
The present invention is concerned with labelling of equipment and more specifically with a label utilising an electronic tag.
Electronic equipment used in vital applications such as (but not limited to) military command control communications requires reliable maintenance and updating. The serial number of the equipment and the so called modification number are important to ensure a unique identity and definition of the equipment by being referenced to the complete control drawings and specifications for the equipment. Changes to these documents are then capable of close control so that any changes are fully approved to ensure interchangeability, compatibility and interoperability of the equipment with other systems.
It is known to permanently fix a visible rugged metal identity plate inscribed with the serial and modification numbers to the equipment. Often this information will additionally be in a bar code format to facilitate its reading and recording for asset control.
Electronic data devices, referred to in the art and in the present specification simply as xe2x80x9celectronic tagsxe2x80x9d incorporating non volatile semiconductor memories and associated circuitry are now available which enable the above information to be recorded electronically and read by means of a contact wand which is connected to a desk top computer or other recording device. Such tags may be both readable and writable. The ability to change the electronic data by means of electronic signals transmitted via the contact wand enables variable information such as maintenance actions, environmental exposure etc. to be logged with the identification data. Out of limit electrical parameters and elapsed time may also be logged by providing suitable electrical connection to the equipment, as disclosed in the applicant""s patent application.
Hence electronic tags offer significant advantages in their flexibility and in ease of machine reading of data. However the conventional identity plate is advantageous for its robust construction and its compatibility with existing methods of reading, eg. using a bar code reader or of course the naked eye.
An object of the present invention is to provide an equipment label which is both flexible in terms of its storage capacity and compatible with existing methods of reading stored information. It is desired that the label should be robust and capable of straightforward manufacture.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is an equipment label comprising an identity plate bearing information markings and an electronic tag having electrical contacts, the identity plate being provided with means for attachment to an item of equipment and being adapted to mount the electronic tag such that in use the label can be attached to the item of equipment with the identity plate""s markings exposed to be read and the electrical contacts accessible for communication with the tag.
Hence in a simple and robust manner the advantages of both electronic tag and identity plate can be combined.
Preferably the electronic tag has a portion for trapping between the identity plate and the item of equipment to mount the electronic tag, the electronic tag being accessible in use by virtue of an opening in the identity plate. Again this construction can be both simple and robust.
Most preferably the tag has a rear flange for trapping between the identity plate and the item of equipment and a body received in the opening in the identity plate, an uppermost face of the body bearing the electrical contacts.
The means for securing the identity plate to the equipment may simply be formed as through going bores for receipt of rivets or other fastenings.


A method and apparatus for synchronizing presentation of multi-domain measurements using actual or quasi 3-D representation. The synchronization between data streams acquired in different measurement domains is performed by using timestamps, a common trigger event, or a common clock, or a combination of any or all of them. In this way, for example, a transient anomaly in the RF spectrum of a communications signal may be correlated with, and displayed with, a related corrupted data communications packet.

Signals acquired from relatively simple systems can be viewed and understood using two-dimensional graphing techniques that represent electrical activity at one or more nodes in a circuit under test. Testing of more complex systems requires that many nodes (often hundreds) be viewed, and the information content and different timing relationships of these signals must be presented to the user.
A problem arises because different measurement instruments are used to gather information in different measurement domains, and each measurement domain provides a different view of circuit activity over time. For example, an oscilloscope provides representations of electrical phenomena associated with a circuit node, a logic analyzer provides representations of information content (i.e., logic level and transition timing) on a (typically) related set of nodes, and a spectrum analyzer represents the intensity or energy associated with each of a plurality of frequency components. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a user to correlate information derived from each of the measurement domains to arrive at a higher level of understanding of the operation or failure of a system under test.
What is needed is a method and apparatus for combining the measurement results from the different measurement domains into a correlated, and easy to understand display.

Three dimensional correlated data display


Techniques are provided for updating a local cache database of an application system in a multi-system environment having a central system that maintains central data objects that are shared by the multiple systems. A first application system executes an application and processes a document using a data object having a version identifier. A message is sent to a second application system including the data object used to process the document and a corresponding version identifier for the data object. The second application system receives the message, and the version identifier in the message is compared to a version identifier of a corresponding data object stored in the second application system. If the version identifier of the data object stored in the second application system indicates that a more recent version of the data object exists, the more recent version of the data object is requested from a central system that maintains the data objects and the second system is updated.

A multiple-system network architecture may include a central system that contains a central database of data objects that are used by other computing systems in the network. The use of the central data objects by the other systems in the network may be accomplished by storing a local copy of the central data objects in each system's local cache database. The local cache database of each system may be updated whenever a change is made to the central data objects in the central system via asynchronous messages that are sent from the central system to the other systems in the network.
The various systems in the network run applications and may create, for example, business documents that are exchanged between the systems for processing. A first system may generate and process a document using the version of the central data objects stored in its local cache database and send that document to a second system in the network for further processing. When the document arrives at the second system, further processing may be performed using the version of the central data objects that exists at the time in the second system's local cache database, and that existing information may be merged with the existing data in the document. Because asynchronous messaging may be used to update the local cache databases of the first and second systems, these systems may have different versions of the central data objects stored in their respective local cache databases at any given point in time. Thus, there is a potential for conflicts between the information merged into the document by the first and second systems during the processing of the document.

Updating and maintaining data in a multi-system network using asynchronous message transfer


A flow rate selection valve includes a gate cylinder having a gate cylinder rotational axis and having at least two flow rate determining passageways and passing laterally through the gate cylinder at orientations angularly displaced from each other and having cylinder rotation structure; and a valve housing containing a flow passageway and having a cylinder receiving bore intersecting the flow passageway into which the gate cylinder is rotatably and sealingly mounted, the gate cylinder dividing the flow passageway into a passageway inlet end and a passageway outlet end, the flow passageway containing a passageway registration barrier extending across the flow passageway and sealingly abutting the gate cylinder and having several flow ports with different minimum diameters, each flow port positioned to register with one of the flow rate determining passageway.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of medication administration devices. More specifically the present invention relates to a flow rate selection valve such as for placement between a piercing tube structure referred to as a spike structure for piercing and draining solution from a standard intravenous bag and a drip chamber which opens into an intravenous line. The valve includes a gate cylinder having at least two flow rate determining passageways and passing diametrically through the gate cylinder at orientations angularly displaced from each other, and having a rotation engagement structure preferably in the form of a finger grip structure at one cylinder end for gate cylinder rotation; and which further includes a valve housing having a flow passageway and having a cylinder receiving bore intersecting and preferably perpendicular to the flow passageway into which the gate cylinder is rotatably and sealingly mounted, dividing the flow passageway into a passageway inlet end and a passageway outlet end. A passageway registration barrier extends across the passageway outlet end and sealingly fits partly around and against the gate cylinder and has several flow ports, each flow port corresponding to and registering with one of the flow rate determining passageways such that only one flow port registers with one rate determining passageway at a time.
The flow ports have different minimum diameters so that selection of the rate determining passageway and its corresponding flow port selects one of several available flow rates through the valve. Alternatively, the flow rate determining passageways have different minimum diameters, once again so that selection of a given flow rate determining passageway selects one of several available flow rates through the valve.
The standard spike structure is understood to include a tubular inlet passageway having a bag piercing tube upper end, a tubular spike structure body and a spike structure outlet port surrounded by a downwardly opening spike structure perimeter slot. The standard drip chamber is understood to include a tubular chamber side wall with a side wall upper end terminating in a side wall upper rim defining a drip chamber inlet opening, and a side wall lower end terminating in a chamber bottom wall with a drip chamber outlet opening encircled by a downwardly extending intravenous line fitting nozzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous tubular liquid delivering lines used in medical treatment, one of which is the intravenous line for delivering a solution from an intravenous bag to a catheter inserted into a vein of a patient. An intravenous bag piercing tube structure or spike structure pierces the intravenous bag and opens downwardly into a transparent drip chamber which in turn opens into the intravenous line. A problem with these prior intravenous assemblies has been that no suitable provision has been made for precisely selecting one of several desired flow rates from for a solution passing from the intravenous bag into the line.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a flow rate selection valve for liquid deliver lines such as intravenous lines which provides several different, precise and individually selectable flow rates.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a flow rate selection valve having an inlet end which sealingly fits to a standard spike structure and an outlet end which sealingly fits to a standard drip chamber to regulate flow from the spike structure to the drip chamber.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a flow rate selection valve which is suitable for a wide variety of liquid delivery applications.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a flow rate selection valve which is safe, reliable, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to connect and use.


An apparatus having a radiant heater, an upwardly convex reflector, a vertically-oriented cylindrical ring shield joined to the reflector at the outside reflector diameter, an upwardly convex metal hood, and an upwardly convex cap having a cap diameter greater than the diameter of a hood opening, wherein exhaust gases emitted upwardly from the exhaust port draw cooler air through the cylindrical opening, the exhaust gases and cooler air pass upward through the hood, drawing additional cooler air through the annular space between the reflector and the hood, into a mixing chamber formed by the cap and the hood, where the cooler air and the exhaust gases mix and the mixed air and exhaust gases then pass outward through the annular space between the cap and the hood, exiting the apparatus at the outer diameter of the cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of heating apparatus for human comfort and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for heating in the vicinity of a patio umbrella and host dining or patio table.
2. Discussion of the State of the Art
There are a wide variety of outdoor heating apparatus that are available for space heating in outdoor or otherwise un-heated settings. A typical fuel-burning radiant heater may be placed in an outdoor dining area, for example to provide radiant heat for patrons sitting within the influence sphere of the heater. Some businesses such as restaurants with an outdoor patio area have provided such heaters placed strategically throughout the patio dining area to provide such heating of the area.
A typical radiant heater currently available burns natural gas or propane. The heater operates at temperatures at which infrared radiant heat is produced. An annular or quasi-annular shield-type reflector redirects a small portion of the heat downward. Most of the heat travels outward heating objects in its path but not the air. A typical unit is tall, approximately 8 feet in height. The combustion chamber of the heater is supported by a hollow pillar with the reflector mentioned above located just above the heater to re-direct a small portion of the heat. Such heaters are large and cumbersome and may present as obstacles for patrons when placed in numbers to heat a general area, and can conflict with umbrellas in the same area.
The inventor is aware of a radiant heater integrated with a mechanically-operated patio umbrella that may be used in an outdoor dining area to eliminate the conflict, clutter and safety issues created by the use of separate heaters and umbrellas. This is U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,233 issued Oct. 12, 1999 to the present inventor and a joint inventor, now deceased. The estate of the deceased inventor has assigned all rights to the present inventor, and the assignment has been recorded.
In this prior apparatus the heater and chimney apparatus is integrated into the pole apparatus of the umbrella, the heater and a reflector mounted below the canopy support apparatus. The reflector redirects the heat downward and outward. Products of combustion are drawn up the chimney, forming a rising, concentrated column of hot gases. These gases eventually mix with the ambient air and are cooled to temperatures that can safely be in contact with combustible materials. A major drawback of this configuration is that the distance the gas must travel before cooling to a safe temperature is several times greater than for an unmodified patio heater. This is a major safety issue relating to building projections, trees and other overhanging objects. FIG. 3 of this prior-art patent is particularly indicative of the details of the apparatus that are improved upon by the present invention.
While the heated umbrella better utilizes available patio space than does a large cumbersome floor heater, there are several additional problems with current heated umbrellas. The center is open at the top and may allow rain to get into the controls and heater valve. Also, the center opening can allow leaves and other debris to clog the opening impeding the evacuation of combustion gases, and create a fire hazard from the ignition of trapped debris. Moreover, umbrella parts and fabric proximal to the upper edge of the canopy are exposed directly to heat, leading to overheating in those areas, often to beyond an acceptable level. These and still other problems ultimately affect safe operation of the umbrella heater of the prior art.
Therefore, what is clearly needed is an umbrella heating unit that solves the issues described above.


A method, apparatus and computer program product utilize digital signatures to efficiently identify objects of interest within images and cause graphical presentation data to be accurately displayed for the objects of interest. The method receives one or more images generated by an image capture device. The method determines one or more digital signatures associated with one or more objects within the one or more images. Based on the one or more digital signatures, the method also determines graphical data placement information comprising one or more graphical data placement regions for the one or more objects. The method also receives graphical presentation data comprising one or more graphical assets. The method also causes display of the graphical presentation data that includes overlaying at least one graphical asset of the one or more graphical assets on the at least one graphical data placement region.

Applications of Augmented Reality (AR) may involve superimposing a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. In some examples, three-dimensional (3D) video may be enhanced in real-time by overlaying a camera image with additional graphical presentation data (e.g., text, images, and/or the like). The graphical presentation data may be related to what is being shown in the video.
In some examples, an AR environment may not be sufficiently defined to permit the most appropriate graphical presentation data to be identified, thereby potentially causing graphical presentation data to be presented in an undesirable manner. Further, certain environmental conditions, such as lighting, weather, seasonal effects and/or the like, may affect the appearance of the environment such that graphical presentation data overlaid onto an object from a video may appear unnatural or distracting, such as in instances in which the graphical presentation data was created under different environmental conditions.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for displaying virtual graphical data based on digital signatures


A new Diascia plant particularly distinguished by its dark apricot flowers, which produces no seeds, and has a growing habit that is compact, spreading and ascending.

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia barberae.
The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of 'A75-1' and 'A64-1'. 'A75-1' is an pink flowering Diascia. 'A75-1' is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. 'A64-1' is an coral flowering Diascia. 'A64-1' is not commercially available and is not Known by any synonyms. Neither 'A75-1' nor 'A64-1' has been patented.
As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1999 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three-year periold. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The new Diascia plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 7, 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.


An apparatus and method for cloud-based storage, retrieval and sharing of files tagged with barcodes and alphanumeric coding is provided. This application and method includes: either scanning a barcode by mobile device or inputting a code into a computer; decoding of the code or barcode provided, by installed application; accessing, by a cloud based storage system which hosts the associated or tagged file; and retrieving the file associated with the barcode or alphanumeric code. This method also includes a process by which: either by smart phone or personal computer; uploading or storing of files onto a cloud-based storage system; tagging of those stored files with a unique bar code and alphanumeric code; generating a barcode and alphanumeric code to associate with those tag files; and a method of transmitting barcodes or alphanumeric codes between smart phone users or computer uses for the purposes of sharing.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiments relate to mobile tagging, and more particularly but not exclusively, to mobile tagging utilizing multidimensional barcodes. Embodiments also relate to PC and other computer tagging.
2. Description of Related Art
Multidimensional bar codes, such as the two dimensional (2D) Quick Response (QD) (trademarked) barcode as described in Masahiro, U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,435 and Masahiro, Jap. Pat. No. 2938338, allow users to enjoy both the convenience of traditional print media and the completeness of online media. Multidimensional bar codes with embedded URL codes often appear in magazine articles, business cards, item tags, and advertisements. Individuals, who wish to supplement this published media, may do so by taking a picture of a 2D bar code with a camera enabled cell phone that will redirect them to the programmed URL. The programmed URL can contain unlimited information to supplement the published media, including a products details, videos or contact information. Publishers and users can also print their own 2D barcodes for others.
For the most part, 2D bar codes have been commercially unavailable to individuals who merely want to generate a bar code and associate it with a video, photograph or document. Ordinary consumers and small businesses, find that the expense of investing into this technology exceeds the benefit provided. Further, another difficulty in using this technology is that the URL or video link usually requires a published website or hosting server. Moreover, current 2D bar codes cannot be processed visually and typically require a scanning mechanism.
Cloud storage providers, examples of whom include: Google Drive (trademarked), Rapidshare (trademarked) or Mega, are based on a model of storage where users upload data onto third party hosted servers. Cloud storage providers own large data centers and allow their customers to pay to buy or lease storage capacity on these websites. Some providers, like Rapidshare (trademarked), encourage sharing of user-submitted data by generating unique URL links to user-submitted content. In turn, users share their content with other by providing a URL link to this content. Typically, those who wish to enjoy user-submitted content must download this content through the unique link. For these reasons, clouds storage has become an incredibly popular service for users to upload and share photographs, videos, documents and other information.
Cloud storage models contain numerous disadvantages. URL links are often difficult to input by a user, unattractive on the text, and out of place when inserted into printed media. Further, users are often forced to download content before they may access it. Moreover, the interface of a cloud storage system is not friendly for a novel user and the files are not easily retrievable and shareable.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an improved, more user friendly, 2D code tagging systems, storage system, and processes for retrieving these tagged images for mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices.

Memorytag hybrid multidimensional bar text code


A helical heating wire is disposed so as to surround a reaction tube, and is held by a heat insulating structure. Support members are arranged at predetermined pitches on the inner circumference of the heat insulating structure to support the heating wire on the inner circumference of the heat insulating structure so as to enable the heating wire to make thermal expansion and thermal contraction. Fixing means are attached to one loop out of every suitable number of loops of the helical heating wire to fix the heating wire to the heat insulating structure.

Various heat treatment apparatuses are used in, for example, fabricating a semiconductor device to subject a semiconductor wafer, i.e., a workpiece, to an oxidation process, a diffusion process, a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process and the like. A generally known heat treatment apparatus comprises a reaction tube (process tube) defining a processing chamber for containing a semiconductor wafer for processing, a resistance heating device disposed so as to surround the reaction tube, and a heat insulating structure disposed so as to surround the resistance heating device, and the resistance heating device is supported on the inner surface of the heat insulating structure by supporting members.
A resistance heating device, for example, for a heat treatment apparatus capable of carrying out a batch process employs a heating wire wound in a helical coil and disposed on the inner surface of a cylindrical heat insulating structure and is capable of heating the interior of a furnace at a high temperature of, for example, about 1200.degree. C. The heat insulating structure is, for example, is made by winding a heat insulating material, such as ceramic fibers, in a cylinder, and burning the cylinder. The heat insulating structure reduces the quantity of heat dissipated by radiation and conduction to enhance heating efficiency. The support members are made of, for example, a ceramic material and are disposed at predetermined intervals to support the heating wire so as to allow the thermal expansion and thermal contraction of the heating wire.
Incidentally, in the foregoing heat treatment apparatus, the heating wire is wound in a helical coil and is supported with a clearance between the heating wire and the heat insulating structure so as to be able to make thermal expansion and thermal contraction. However, the heating wire is subject to creep strain because the same is used at a high temperature, and the length of the heating wire increases with time. When energized for heating, the heating wire makes thermal expansion. The elongation of the heating wire appears at one end of the heating wire, the diameter of a coil of the heating wire at one end of the heating wire increases and the coil comes into contact with the heat insulating structure, a portion of the heating wire in contact with the heat insulating structure and portions of the same around the portion in contact with the heat insulating structure are subject to buckling deformation and are liable to be broken, which reduces the durability of the hating wire.
Particularly, in a vertical heat treatment apparatus, a heating wire is divided into a plurality of sections corresponding respectively to a plurality of zones, and the sections of the heating wire are fixed to a heat insulating structure by terminal strips. Therefore, elongations in the sections of the heating wire resulting from creep or thermal expansion are concentrated on the lowermost coils of the sections of the heating wire, and the lowermost coils of the sections of the heating wire come into contact with the heat insulating structure and become unable to absorb the elongations. Consequently, buckling deformation or the like of the heating wire occurs, the heating wire is liable to brake and the durability of the heating wire is deteriorated.


A multiple speed transmission producing a gear ratio in response to movement of a gear selector lever and manipulation of a clutch pedal includes three planetary gearsets each including a sun gear, ring gear, carrier rotatably supporting a set of planet pinions in continues meshing engagement with the corresponding sun gear and ring gear, and a brake drum driveably connected to one component of each gearset and adapted for alternate engagement by a brake band. The brake band is biased into engagement with the corresponding brake drum by a spring and is released from that engagement using a clutch pedal. A shift lever moves the band to the gearset that produces the desired gear ratio. Engagement of the brake band with each of the drums holds a component of the gearset against rotation on the transmission housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of automotive transmissions. It pertains particularly to such transmissions providing synchronized speed ratio changes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional manually-operated automotive transmissions employ a system of meshing gear-pinion pairs supported on a main shaft and a parallel countershaft or layshaft. However, various attempts have been made to use epicyclic gearing in a manual transmission. Epicyclic gearing is a system of gears in which one or more gears travel around the inside or outside of another gear whose axis is fixed. An epicyclic train is a combination of epicyclic gears, in which some or all the gears rotate about an axis and translate or revolve around that axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 787,908 describes a manual transmission producing a direct drive forward speed ratio and forward and reverse low speed ratios by alternately engaging two brake bands and a clamping disc, each associated with one of these speed ratios. The transmission includes a cluster pinion having three gears, each pinion meshing with a gear driven by an engine shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,005,186 describes a transmission that produces low speed forward drive and reverse drive by selective engaging brake bands for holding sun gears against rotation. A cluster gear having three planet pinions meshes with an output sun gear, a forward drive sun gear and a reverse drive sun gear, respectively. A friction clutch driveably connects the transmission output and a drive shaft.
Each of these transmissions produces reverse drive and low speed forward drive by alternately depressing pedals that cause engagement of a corresponding brake band. Direct drive results when these pedals are released. The axial position of each brake band is fixed so that the band continually surrounds the corresponding brake drum; its position is not altered by any other action including manipulation of a gear selector lever by the vehicle operator.


Various embodiments determine a sale price of an item via a smart price tag associated with the item. In one embodiment, the smart price tag is detected as being shaken. Responsive to detecting the smart price tag as being shaken, a request for a current sale price of the item for sale is sent to a back end price server. The current sale price of the item for sale is received from the back end price server and displayed for a predetermined period of time. The current sale price may be displayed on the smart price tag or a separate display sign. The current price is displayed until expiration of a predetermined period of time unless a lock request is detected which locks the price of the item for sale at the current sale price. If a price unlock button is pressed, the sale price of the item is unlocked.

The present disclosure generally relates to obtaining real time pricing, and more particularly to obtaining real-time pricing using smart-price-tags.
The prices of items for sale in retail stores are typically fixed (i.e. static). In some cases, such as during a sale, a display sign or tag may state a current discount for a product, which may be applied to the product upon checkout. However, the discounted price may not updated or is incorrect at the cash register, which can result in a disgruntled customer(s) while time is spent price checking or if the customer overpays, due to not immediately noticing the error.
There are known ways of delivering en-mass and personalized coupons offering discounts to customers. However, these methods are generally push-based; that is, if the store does not push the offer, the customer will not receive the coupon or pricing. Further, if a customer specifically wants to know about a product, they have no way of obtaining a coupon without using additional devices (such as a mobile phone/browser, etc.)
In addition, associating a product with the customer's "wants" and then searching often turns out to be a difficult task, which often results in no available coupon/discount for the product associated at all. Sporadic pull-based pricing may be available in some retail stores where separate price check counters or stations are installed, but the users need to walk to the counter or station to scan the product and get the price.

Method, medium, and system for real-time pricing through smart-price-tags

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to dura substitutes to be used as prostheses for dural defects in the field of neurosurgery and processes for producing the same. The present invention provides artificial dura mater materials comprising sheets of microbial-derived polysaccharide processed to have the necessary strength characteristics, conformability and physical properties.

Dura mater is the outermost membrane that comprises the meningeal membrane between the cranial bones and brain. Its function is to protect the brain and inhibit leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Dura mater also covers the spinal cord providing a similar function. In the field of neurosurgery, any defect or contracture of the dura mater has to be repaired. Various materials have been used for this purpose.
Human-derived dura mater allograft from donors was the most utilized material for repairing the dura mater. However, the incidence of transmission of the agent that causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) through the use of the human cadaver dura mater has greatly reduced its use. In addition, human dura mater allograft has several disadvantages including low homogeneity and a limited supply.
Other materials have been used as dura substitutes including synthetic polymers such as silicone or ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) and naturally occurring polymers such as collagen. Each of these materials has its own drawbacks. For example, silicone has been reported to predispose patients to meningorrhagia. Silicone acts as a chronic stimulant for the surrounding tissue causing hypertrophy of the granulation tissue. Similar non-biodegradable synthetic materials, such as ePTFE, have been developed but have not become popular because a similar chronic foreign body response develops with their use and their handling characteristics are poor. Other synthetic materials used in bio-absorbable sutures such as polylactides and polyglycolides (PLA/PGA) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,034 have been developed. However, these materials have yet to show improved clinical performance over earlier unsuccessful synthetic predecessors.
Various naturally occurring biodegradable materials have been investigated. For example, gelatin was one of the earliest biomaterials investigated. Gelatin did not gain acceptance because it had insufficient suture strength for integral use with the internal dura mater. Similarly, other collagenous biomaterials that also lack the necessary suture strength have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,895. These materials have been commercially available and have gained widespread use as onlay materials. However, when hydrated, these materials convert to a gelatinous mass that has no structural integrity. Thus, there is still a need for a dura substitute that possesses the desirable physical properties such as strength and conformability and in some cases, suturability, and one that has minimal foreign body response.
Microbial cellulose has been suggested for some medical uses. For example, the use of microbial derived cellulose in the medical industry as liquid loaded pads (U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,146), wound dressings (U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,213) and other topical applications (U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,049). Mello et al., (Mello, L. R., et al., Duraplasty with Biosynthetic Cellulose: An Experimental Study. Journal of Neurosurgery, V. 86, 143-150 (1997)) published the use of biosynthetic cellulose similar to the one described in (U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,049) as a duraplasty material in an experimental animal study. Their results showed that the dried form of the microbial derived cellulose was adequate as a dural substitute. However, the material described by Mello et al. does not undergo a depyrogenation step and the material is fully dried while being stretched as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,049.
In contrast, the instant invention provides a non-pyrogenic implantable material and uses either a mechanical or a thermal dehydration method to partially dehydrate the surgical mesh without drying, resulting in two materials that have unique characteristics. Further, these materials can be dried using a supercritical carbon dioxide technology so as to provide a dried product. This processing endows the invention with superior conformability and absorption properties not available in previously described cellulosic materials including the air-dried cellulose of Mello et al.

Dura substitute and a process for producing the same


Spherical particles of fluoride up-converter phosphors having a particle size of 1 micron and less can be made from their corresponding precursor hydroxycarbonate particles by heating the hydroxycarbonate particles in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to convert the hydroxycarbonate to the corresponding oxide but without changing the size and shape of the particles, and then heating the phosphor oxide particles to their corresponding fluoride particles by heating in SF.sub.6, at a temperature that will crack the SF.sub.6 but will not change the size or shape of the phosphor particles.

Phosphors typically comprise one or more rare earth metals in a host material. Up-converter phosphors emit light in the visible wavelength radiation range (550-800 nanometers) when excited by long wavelength radiation, e.g., light in the infrared wavelength spectrum. This is accomplished by multiple absorption of infrared photons and energy transfer between the absorbing and emitting ions. For example, it is known that yttrium fluorides doped with certain activator couples such as ytterbium and erbium, will be excited by 0.98 micron wavelength radiation. Such radiation can be provided by semiconductor lasers.
Such phosphors have been tried as phosphorescent labels for biological assays. Detection methods for macromolecules such as proteins, drugs, polynucleotides and the like include an analytical reagent that binds to a specific target macromolecular species and produces a detectable signal, which is provided by a label such as a radioisotope or a covalently-linked fluorescent dye or phosphor.
Up-converting phosphors have several advantages over other known materials, such as radioisotopes and covalently-linked fluorescent dyes, for such label applications. Radioimmunoassays, while they are sensitive, use radioactive materials which are potential health hazards for the operators of the tests, and they also require special handling and present expensive disposal problems. Radioisotopes are unstable, and they do not produce strong signals in the ultraviolet, infrared or visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and thus they cannot be used for methods including microscopy, image spectroscopy and flow cytometry that employ optical methods for detection of the label.
Fluorescent labels have come into widespread use for such assay methods. They include small organic dye molecules that can be illuminated with light of a particular excitation frequency, so that they give off emissions that can be detected by electro-optical sensors. However, these dyes have a short lifetime and they bleach in the presence of light.
The use of up-converting phosphors for immunoassays has been disclosed. These phosphors can be excited by photons of a frequency which can be provided by inexpensive near-infrared laser diodes or light-emitting diodes for example, and they emit light of a lower frequency band, in the visible range. Thus the photons of the emitted radiation are of higher energy than the excitation energy, and the emitted radiation is "up-shifted" from the excitation radiation. This reduces the background noise of the visible emission signal. Solid state diode lasers can be tailored to operate at a variety of wavelengths in the near infrared range, and they are inexpensive.
In order to use them as labels, the phosphor particles should be small, such as one micron or less, and they should desirably have a uniform particle size and morphology. The size, weight and morphology of the particles are important because they affect the strength of particle binding, and the specificity of the separation process of the assay. Further, since in an assay application each of the particles should have a like number of active binding sites, it is also desirable that the particles be of similar size.
Small particle size oxide and oxysulfide up-converter phosphors are known that have uniform particle size of one micron or less, and the particles are all spherical.
Fluoride up-converter phosphors are more efficient than other phosphor hosts, such as the oxides and oxysulfides, and they do not saturate as readily at high infrared flux. Since newer laser diodes have high power, saturation of the phosphor probes is becoming a limitation in the sensitivity of assays. However, such fluoride up-converter phosphors have not been available up to the present time. Attempts to prepare fluoride phosphors by reaction with ammonium fluoride have not been successful.
Submicron sized phosphor particles are also useful as pigments for ink jet printer inks. The phosphor particles can be coated or encapsulated so that they can be suspended in an ink formulation. However, the present phosphors are only available in particles that are about 10 microns in size. Since ink formulations require the phosphor particles to be about 1 micron or less in size, the particles must be milled to reduce their size. Thus at present, small particle size, e.g., less than one micron size particles, fluoride phosphors are only available as milled particles. Milling does not produce uniform particle sizes however, but rather a gaussian-type distribution of particle size is obtained. Thus the present requirement that all pigment particles be less than one micron cannot be obtained for fluoride phosphors even when the average particle size is less than one micron without a separation process, which would be very difficult and expensive.
It is believed that small, uniform particle size up-converter fluoride phosphors would have superior luminescent efficiency over oxide or oxysulfide phosphors, and would be highly desirable for use in ink jet printer inks as well as for use in diagnostic assays.

Method for preparing small particle size fluoride up-converting phosphors


A hollow transparent decorated object and a method of decorating a hollow transparent object wherein an elongated cylindrical side wall is simultaneously imprinted with an inner design and an outer design separated by a background substrate. The inner and outer design and the background substrate form a single decal, the background substrate and outer design having aligned openings which in the outer design forms an integral part of the outer design through which a viewer may see the inner design opposite the opening. The method involves applying an inner design and an outer design having an opening between which is positioned a background substrate having an opening aligned with the outer design opening and all forming a single decal. The combined inner design, background substrate and outer design forming the single decal is applied simultaneously to the outside side wall surface so that a viewer may see through the outer design opening, the background substrate opening and the side wall to view the inner design.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorated transparent objects such as glassware and methods of making same and particularly to cylindrical glassware such as tumblers and the like having a design with three dimensional visual perception.
Decorative designs on glassware have been utilized for quite some time. For instance, surfaces of tumblers have been decorated with designs formed in the glass by cutting, sand and shot blasting, etching with suitable compounds and solutions and by painting the surfaces with a variety of paints and other substances. Other processes have been used for accomplishing the decoration of such items.
An interesting application of tumbler decoration is included in U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,977 (Pyles) wherein a pair of separate designs are imprinted around the circumference of a glass cylinder, one on top of the other, and separated from one another by a neutral background and an opening through the outermost design and the neutral background forming an integral part of the outermost design through which a viewer may see the innermost design through the glass wall of the cylinder. The design is accomplished by printing on the circumference of the cylindrical glass object a scene or design in a reversed or mirror image of the scene to be viewed, then direct printing a background or overlay on top of the innermost scene or design and around the circumference except for an opening diametrically opposite the principal area of the innermost design. A second outermost design or scene is directly printed on top of the neutral background or overlay which scene or design incorporates the opening in the background as an integral element of the outermost scene or design. The designs and background are preferably made by using ceramic enamels directly printed on glass which are set by conventional firing methods.
While this prior art object and method have been generally accepted, it has been limited in clarity, detail and color because of the numerous passes that must be made over the surface of the cylinder to apply the various enamels that give extensive color and light to the design. Moreover, the process is expensive, taking quite some time to apply one by one the various colors to the tumbler surface in order to complete the design. Moreover, waste is often excessive in that any one misaligned pass of the application of enamel on the surface of the tumbler will ruin the product even though most of the enamel coats have been previously applied without error.
The concept is an interesting one and opens the market for a multitude of activity if highly credible and attractive designs can be applied to cylindrical glassware through a design that can result in three dimensional visual perception. It is to this need that the present application is directed.

Decorative glassware and method of decorating same


Provided is a bead in which an adsorbent and an organic contaminant-degrading microorganism are supported, wherein an adsorbent for adsorbing organic contaminants is supported on the bead together with an organic contaminant-degrading microorganism for degrading the organic contaminants adsorbed to the adsorbent to allow for the adsorbent to remove organic contaminants in water and to allow for the organic contaminant-degrading microorganism to regenerate the adsorbent.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a bead in which an adsorbent and an organic contaminant-degrading microorganism are supported and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a bead in which an adsorbent and an organic contaminant-degrading microorganism are supported, wherein an adsorbent for adsorbing organic contaminants is supported on the bead together with an organic contaminant-degrading microorganism for degrading the organic contaminants adsorbed to the adsorbent to allow for the adsorbent to remove organic contaminants in water and to allow for the organic contaminant-degrading microorganism to regenerate the adsorbent. The present disclosure also relates to a method for preparing the bead.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wastewater includes sparingly-degradable organic contaminants, such as chlorophenols. Such sparingly-degradable organic contaminants are not removed by a general biological method for treating wastewater, and thus are removed through an adsorbent.
Such adsorbents for removing sparingly-degradable organic contaminants include use of a nanoscale iron (C. B. Wang, W. X. Zhang, Synthesizing nanoscale iron particles for rapid and complete dechlorination of TCE and PCBs, Environmental Science & Technology, 31 (1997) 2154-2156), use of a composite of calcium alginate with powdered activated carbon (Jorda and Mijangos, Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 38, No. 8, 1851-1867), or the like.
Meanwhile, it is required to regenerate an adsorbent in order to use the adsorbent again after removing organic contaminants in water. According to the related art, adsorbents have been regenerated by applying heat to an adsorbent or treating an adsorbent with a chemical. However, heat application causes a problem of deformation of an adsorbent and chemical treatment causes a chemical to remain in an adsorbent so that it may function as another contamination source.

Bead immobilized with absorbent and microorganisms

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A synchronization circuit for ATM cells transferred in an ATM communication system, wherein the synchronization circuit receives and holds in a bit serial manner the input bit trains constituting the received ATM cells by a shift register unit, performs a CRC operation in a bit serial manner on the held input bit trains by a continuous CRC arithmetic unit in accordance with a simplified CRC operation process different from the usual CRC operation process, and performs the necessary synchronization control upon receiving the CRC arithmetic operation result at a synchronization control unit, thereby enabling CRC arithmetic operations to be performed continuously and by simple hardware on the headers in the ATM cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronization circuit, in particularly a synchronization circuit in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication system for synchronization of ATM cells connected on the lines in the system, that is, cell synchronization.
2. Description of the Related Art
At the present time, the Consultative Committee for International Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT) is proposing ATM communications suitable for broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs) etc., that is, data transfer by an asynchronous transfer mode, and is pressing forward with standardization of such systems. One proposal is for use of a full ATM for a layer.
If full ATM is used for a layer in accordance with that CCITT proposal, technology would become necessary for extracting each and every ATM cell which are units of data transfer by the ATM communications network. That is, it would be necessary to establish cell synchronization and detect the positions of the cells.
To extract cells in this way, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) arithmetic operations are said to be extremely effective. That is, a CRC arithmetic operation is performed on the header of a cell, the cells are detected when the results of the CRC arithmetic operation becomes fixed values, and cell synchronization is performed. In this case, even detection of errors of the cell header itself can naturally be performed by the inherent CRC function. Note that even when an error is included in a cell, cell synchronization can be sufficiently ensured by so-called front protection and rear protection.
Usually, ATM cells include the header and a payload for transmitting information. The header includes a field known as a header error control (HEC). The result of the CRC arithmetic operation are written into this HEC. The present invention relates to a synchronization circuit which writes, at the transmission side of the ATM cell, the result of the CRC arithmetic operation on the header in the HEC as a cell synchronization establishment signal and detects, at the reception side of the ATM cell, the coincidence of the results of the CRC arithmetic operation on the header of the received ATM cell and the result of the CRC arithmetic operation written at the transmission side in the HEC of the ATM cell so as to detect if cell synchronization has been achieved and to output a synchronization detection signal.
A detailed explanation will be made later of several conventional CRC arithmetic units referring to the attached figures. However, conventional CRC arithmetic units basically are constructed to receive input bits trains having definite time series, to perform CRC arithmetic operations on the bit trains, and to obtain a CRC arithmetic operation result.
On the other hand, in the ATM transmission art, a synchronization circuit of the full ATM transmission system does not cover such input bit trains having definite time series, but cover input bit trains having indefinite time series (ATM cell groups), so it is necessary to shift the input bit trains one bit at a time to continuously obtain CRC arithmetic operations results C.sub.out.
If the conventional CRC arithmetic unit is assembled and designed to perform a CRC arithmetic operation on such input bit trains having indefinite time series (ATM cell groups), the assembled CRC arithmetic operation circuit would enlarge the size of the apparatus (hardware). Further, if the CRC arithmetic operation is performed on ultrahigh speed data, the problem will arise of an increased processing delay.


Described is a novel method for the formation of topological features during the processing of a semiconductor wafer into integrated circuit devices. The present invention is most useful for those processes used to form advanced multilevel ultra-large scale integrated circuits where global planarization techniques, such as chemical mechanical polishing, is used. The present invention is applicable to all processes used to form modem high density, multilevel integrated circuits and without respect of the number of layers formed or materials used. In the present invention, a substrate is a semiconductor wafer or portion thereof, and is the material on which the described processes alter and the layers are formed.

(1) Technical Field
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for making integrated circuits and more particularly, the invention relates to methods that prevent die loss resulting from planarization using chemical mechanical polishing.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The following four documents relate to methods dealing with chemical mechanical polishing of integrated circuits formed on semiconductor wafers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,798 issued Dec. 21, 1993 to G. Sandhu et al., remedies the problems associated with selective etching of material, in particular tungsten, by locally removing the material, e.g. tungsten, from the alignment marks through wet etching without the need for any photo steps. Either before or after chemical mechanical polishing, the wafers are flatly aligned and a tungsten etching agent is introduced through an etching dispensing apparatus onto the alignment marks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,669 issued Nov. 8, 1994 to J. Boyd et al., discloses a method of chemical mechanical polishing using polish stops in wide trenches.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,691 issued Mar. 28, 1995 to Caldwell, shows a method of forming an alignment mark using an inverse open frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,110 issued Lee et al. shows a method for eliminating a window mask process in the fabrication of a semiconductor wafer when chemical mechanical polish planarization is used.
The fabrication of integrated circuits on a semiconductor wafer involves a number of steps where patterns are transferred from photolithographic photomasks onto the wafer. The photomasking processing steps opens selected areas to be exposed on the wafer for subsequent processes such as inclusion of impurities, oxidation, or etching.
During the forming of integrated circuit structures, it has become increasingly important to provide structures having multiple metallization layers due to the continuing miniaturization of the circuit elements in the structure. Each of the metal layers is typically separated from another metal layer by an insulation layer, such as an oxide layer. To enhance the quality of an overlying metallization layer, one without discontinuities of other blemishes, it is imperative to provide an underlying surface for the metallization layer that is ideally planar. The process of planarizing is now a standard process application of integrated circuit manufacturers.
Plasma, or reactive ion etching of the oxide layers having a resist planarizing medium, are conventional planarization techniques that are used to provide a smooth surface and a local planarization with a range of 1 um.
To meet the demand for larger scale integration, and more metal and oxide layers in devices and the exacting depth of focus needed for submicron lithography, a new planarization method, known as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), was developed and is presently used by most major semiconductor manufacturers. CMP planarization of a wafer involves supporting and holding the wafer against a rotating polishing pad wet with a polishing slurry and at the same time applying pressure. Unlike the conventional planarization techniques, CMP provides a substantially improved overall planarization, that is, an improvement of 2 to 3 orders of magnitude over conventional methods. Although CMP planarization is effective, die loss still occurs. Referring now to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the problem associated with present CMP planarization is a "high plateau" effect, surrounding alignment targets 11, 12 and the outside periphery 21 of the die array 20 which can cause a non-uniform polishing of the substrate surface. Stepping fields 15, 16 and 21 are skipped during alignment and exposure of substrate 10, the photoresist layers over blank stepping fields 15, 16 and 21 are never exposed during the process. Thus, all layers deposited on substrate 10 are always deposited over blank stepping fields 15, 16 and 21 but are never removed or etched away. The blank stepping fields 15, 16 and 21, therefore, consists of the worse case (highest) elevation structure on the wafer.
As noted, the build up of the deposited materials on the blank stepping fields 15, 16 and 21 appears to the polisher as a high plateau area. Since the area is large and flat, the polish rate of blank stepping fields 15, 16 and 21 is slow, like that of a blank wafer. The high plateau of the blank stepping fields lowers the polish rate of the edges of the IC die 20 which immediately surround blank stepping field 15, 16 and the wafers edge 21. The high plateau effect, therefore, can cause an unacceptable yield falloff on die which border blank stepping fields.
As a result, the prior art technique has difficulty in providing trouble free device patterns causing open contact or via and thus, causes a problem that the process margin in fabricating semiconductor devices is reduced, so as to lower production yield.

Prevention of die loss to chemical mechanical polishing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.